Millions have walked in it since his day, and found it a good, safe, and happy Way. No one who has ever left it for another way has gained thereby.
To abandon the Lutheran Church for another is to exchange a system that is based on sound and well-established principles of interpretation, logical, consistent, thoroughly scriptural, and therefore changeless in the midst of changes, for one without fixed principles of interpretation, only partially loyal to the inspired record, more or less inconsistent, uncertain, shifting and changing with the whims or notions of a fickle age.
It is to exchange a faith that satisfies, brings peace, and manifests itself in a child-like, cheerful, joyous trust in an ever-living and ever-present Redeemer, for one that ofttimes perplexes, raises doubts, and is more or less moody and gloomy. A faith that is built either on uncertain and ever-varying experience or on an inexorable and loveless decree, cannot be as steadfast and joyous as one that rests implicitly in a Redeemer, who tasted death for every man.
We conclude with the eloquent words of Dr. Seiss: "We do not say that none but Lutherans in name and profession can be saved. But we do assert that if salvation cannot be attained in the Lutheran Church, or the highway of eternal life cannot be found in her,
there is no such thing as salvation. There is no God but the God she confesses. There is no sacred Scripture which she does not receive and teach. There is no Christ but the Christ of her confession, hope and trust. There are no means of Grace ordained of God, but those which she uses, and insists on having used. There are no promises and conditions of divine acceptance, but those which she puts before men for their comfort. And there is no other true Ministry, Church, or Faith, than that which she acknowledges and holds."
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
My Church! my Church! my dear old Church!
My fathers' and my own!
On Prophets and Apostles built,
And Christ the Corner-stone!
All else beside, by storm or tide
May yet be overthrown;
But not my Church, my dear old Church,
My fathers' and my own!
My Church! my Church! my dear old Church!
My glory and my pride!
Firm in the faith Immanuel taught,
She holds no faith beside.
Upon this rock, 'gainst every shock,
Though gates of hell assail,
She stands secure, with promise sure,
"They never shall prevail."
My Church! my Church! my dear old Church!
I love her ancient name;
And God forbid a child of hers
Should ever do her shame!
Her mother-care I'll ever share,
Her child I am alone,
Till He who gave me to her arms
Shall call me to His own.
My Church! my Church! my dear old Church!
I've heard the tale of blood,
Of hearts that loved her to the death—
The great, the wise, the good.
Our martyred sires defied the fires
For Christ the Crucified;
The once-delivered faith to keep
They burned, they bled, they died.
My Church! my Church! I love my Church,
For she exalts my Lord;
She speaks, she breathes, she teaches not
But from His written Word;
And if her voice bids me rejoice,
From all my sins released,
'Tis through th' atoning sacrifice,
And Jesus is the Priest.
My Church! my Church! I love my Church,
For she doth lead me on
To Zion's palace Beautiful,
Where Christ my Lord hath gone.
From all below she bids me go
To Him, the Life, the Way,
The truth to guide my erring feet
From darkness into day.
Then here, my Church! my dear old Church!
Thy child would add a vow
To that whose token once was signed
Upon his infant brow:
Assault who may, kiss and betray,
Dishonor and disown,
MY CHURCH SHALL YET BE DEAR TO ME,
MY FATHERS' AND MY OWN!