They threaten us with death.  If they were as smart as they are stupid, they would threaten us with life. It is a shame and disgrace to try to threaten and terrify Christ and his Christians with death for, after all, they are lords and victors over death. It is just like trying to frighten a man by bridling and saddling his horse and bidding him to ride on it.

However, they do not believe that Christ rose from the dead and is a Lord over life and death. For them he is still in the grave, yes, in hell. But we are happy and confident because we know that Christ rose and that death is no more than the end of sin and the end of itself. For the life in this flesh still cleaves to us and is still lived in sin; this life cannot be without sin by reason of the flesh. And that prompts the incipient spirit in us to cry: Come, death and Judgment Day, and put an end both to sin and death. Amen. [That is the meaning of] St. Paul’s words in Romans 7 [:18–19] and 8 [:22–23].  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.63)

 Picture:  The First Article (Der Erst Artickel) 
Wir Glauben Das Gott einig im wesen dreÿfach in der Persö seÿ.
“We believe that God is united in the essence of three persons.”
Deut. 6, v. 4 ; “Hear, O Israel : The Lord our God is one Lord.”
I John 5, v. 7 :  “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost : and these three are one.”

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

Therefore we are not concerned with our woes, but with the wretchedness of our persecutors; for we ourselves are well provided for. We are certain that they cannot detract from that; rather, the more they rage against us, the more they destroy themselves and prosper us, as St. Paul states in Philippians 1 [:18]. “Who can harm us since we have a Lord who holds the death and life of all our adversaries in his hand” [Rom. 14:9], and who addresses our heart so comfortingly in John 16 [:33] saying, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.63)

Picture:  Left:  The Augsburg Confession; Right: The everlasting Gospel

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

However, this thirst not only is not slaked by its speaking, it is also made worse with gall and vinegar, as was the thirst which Christ experienced on the cross [John 19:29]. St. Paul felt such a thirst, Acts 26 [:29], when he wished that everyone were as he himself—except for his chains. [In] Romans 11 [9:3] he wished to be cut off from Christ for the sake of his brethren, the Jews.

See here, you too have been given such a thirst for the salvation of your brethren, which is a reliable sign of a genuine faith.  It is only the gall and the vinegar that still awaits you, that is, the vilification, the shame, and the persecution for the sake of your thirsty speech. Wherever Christ is, Judas, Pilate, Herod, Caiaphas, and Annas will inevitably be also, so also his cross. If not, he is not the true Christ.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.62-63)

Picture:  Each of the seven rays are designated with a few words and a Scripture verse:
To comfort – Romans 15:12, “Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
To satisfy – Romans 14:7, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”
To sanctify – Romans 1:4, “…and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
To strengthen – Ephesians 3:16, “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,”
To enlighten – 1 Corinthians 12, “v.1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:…”
To receive eternal life – Romans 5:16, “And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.”
To ignite – Romans 12:11, “…not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

However, this noble word naturally brings with it a burning hunger and unquenchable thirst that can never be filled. Even though many thousands of people believed in it, we would still desire that no person would want for it. Such thirst is ever active and knows no rest, but impels us to speak, as David states in Psalm 116 [:10], “I believe, therefore I speak.” And (as St. Paul declares in II Corinthians 4 [:13]), “We have the same spirit of faith, therefore we, too, speak,” until we include and incorporate everyone with us and make them one communion with us, wherever this is possible.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.62)

Picture:  At the top of each of the seven branches is a burning candle.
[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

It is the nature of the divine word to be heartily received by a few, but to be persecuted ruthlessly by many. Wolves and bears and lions do not persecute it, but men do, all men do, Christ says. Is it any wonder, then, that the world is full of people, that is, full of persecutors of Christ? What is the world other than people? But the word makes gods of men, as Psalm 71 [82:6] says, “I have said, you are gods, children of the Most High, all of you.” Christ himself interprets this statement in John 10 [:34, 35], saying, “Scripture calls them gods to whom the word of God came.” And in John 1 [:12], “To those who believe in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” Thus it ever remains true that men persecute God’s word and God’s children.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.62)

Picture:  At the end of the rays coming from the dove are the seven branches of the lampstand with three roundlets designating the first 21 articles of the Augsburg Confession.
One: XVI, XVII, XVIII
Two: X, XI, XII
Three: IIII, V, VI
Four: I, II, III
Five: VII, VIII, IX
Six: XIII, XIIII, XV
Seven: XIX, XX, XXI

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

Therefore I could not refrain from visiting you in the spirit with this letter to tell you of my joy. For I can truthfully boast that the condemnation and persecution of the pope and all the world do not offend and sadden me as much as I am strengthened and delighted when I hear that a person grasps and praises the tender truth. How much more it comforts me when I discovered and daily do discover that this truth has been recognized so zealously by you and others of your class, and is openly confessed. God mercifully permits me to see that his Word does not go forth in vain, as he declares in Isaiah 44 [55:11], in order to comfort me so that my faith will grow stronger and so that I will not have only sadness. He also informs me that all the world opposes this, as he says in Matthew 24 [:9], “You must be hateful to all nations for my name’s sake.”  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.61-62)

Picture: At the top of the etching, a dove is hovering with seven rays extending down to the seven branches of the lampstand.  Above the dove are the words, “The Spirit of God is yours/for you.’  Each of the seven rays is designated with the words:
To receive eternal life (Romans 5:16)
To strengthen (Ephesians 3:16)
To satisfy (Romans 14:7)
To comfort (Romans 15:12)
To sanctify (Romans 1:4)
To enlighten (1 Corinthians 12)
To ignite (Romans 12:11)
[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

We wish you, kind sir and dear friend in Christ, the favor and peace of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Two of your letters, the one to His Imperial Majesty, the other to the mendicant orders, came to my attention and were read by me with great joy.  I thank my God for the favor and gift of the knowledge of Christian truth bestowed on you and in addition for your delight and active love for it. Moreover, one certainly senses that your words well forth from the bottom of an ardent heart, giving proof that the word of God does not just dwell lightly on your tongue or flit past your ears, as is true of many, but that it resides earnestly and enduringly in your heart. You have been so imbued with it that it has made you ready and bold to extol and to confess it, not only with your lips, but with your deeds and in writing, before and against all the world, and, above all, before exalted and clever minds. But the unusual measure of such a gift cannot be duly esteemed by any other than by him who is endowed with the Spirit that reveals what has been given us and teaches us to interpret spiritual truths spiritually, as St. Paul says in I Corinthians 2 [:14], “The unspiritual man does not perceive this.”  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.61)

Picture:  At the top of the etching is a hovering dove with the words, “Spirit of God is yours/for you.”  [All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]