Thank you for all of your support of Magdeburg Press. We are pleased to announce that the second edition of the Sacred Meditations will be available soon. The translation remains almost entirely the same, but a good deal of formatting has been done for a cleaner appearance and easier reading experience. For those of you who have read the Meditations before, or haven't read them in a while, here's a taste:
XVII. Concerning the fruits of Baptism.
Baptism is a holy washing.
Remember, faithful soul, the great grace granted you in the salutary washing of Baptism. Baptism is a washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5). Whoever has therefore been moistened in the washing of Baptism is no longer completely lost1 in the former ways of his carnal birth. Rather, because he has been born of God, that is, through water and the Spirit (John 3:5), he is also a son of God, and because he is a son, he is also likewise an heir of eternal blessedness (Romans 14:17). Thus,2 the eternal Father proclaimed the following words at Christ’s Baptism: “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). Therefore, he adopts all who believe and are baptized as sons. In Christ’s Baptism, the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove. So also, the Holy Spirit is present in our Baptism, giving it its power. Yes indeed, he confers himself to those who believe and affects a new impulse within them so that they are as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). Just as he acted in creation, so also he acts in our own regeneration. In the beginning of creation, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the waters and conferred upon them a vital power. So also, in the water of Baptism the Holy Spirit is present and works to save us by this means of regeneration. Jesus Christ himself, our Savior, chose to be baptized to testify to us that we are made his members through Baptism. Frequently medicine is applied to the head to heal other members of the body. Our spiritual head is Christ. He received the baptismal medicine for the salvation of his mystical body.3 In circumcision, God entered a covenant with his people in the Old Testament (Genesis 17:11). Similarly, we are received into the covenant of God in the New Testament through Baptism since Baptism has taken the place of circumcision (Colossians 2:11). Therefore, whoever is in the covenant of God should not fear the accusations of the devil. The Christian is clothed with Christ in Baptism (Galatians 3:27). Hence, the saints are said to have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14). The righteousness of Christ is that most beautiful of clothing. Whoever has thus been clothed with this clothing should not fear the stain of sin.
There was a pool near the sheep gate4 in Jerusalem. At certain times, an angel used to descend and turn the waters of it. Whoever descended into it5 first after the waters were turned was healed of whatever disease he had suffered (John 5:2-4). The water of Baptism is that pool which heals us from all the disease of sins when the Holy Spirit descends into it and turns it with the blood of Christ, who was made the [sacrificial] victim for us, just as the sheep to be sacrificed were also washed in that pool in Jerusalem. At Christ’s Baptism, the heavens were opened. Likewise, in our Baptism, the doors of heaven are opened. In Christ’s Baptism, the entire Most Holy Trinity was present (Matthew 3:16). So also, it is present in our Baptism. And so, in the words of promise that are joined with the element of water, faith receives the grace of the Father who adopts6 us, the merits of the Son who cleanses us, and the efficacy of the Holy Spirit who regenerates us.
When Pharaoh and all his armies were submerged7 in the Red Sea, the Israelites were saved and passed through it unscathed (Exodus 14:28). Thus, in Baptism, all the armies of sin are submerged and the faithful pass safely through to the promise of the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom. For this reason Baptism is also like that sea of glass which John saw (Revelation 4:6). Through it, like through a glass, the splendor of the Son of Righteousness enters into our minds. That sea was before the throne of the Lamb. The throne of the Lamb is the Church, in which alone the grace of Holy Baptism is held. The prophet Ezekiel saw waters flowing from the temple, making all alive and healing them (Ezekiel 47:1). Likewise in God’s spiritual temple, that is, in the Church, the saving waters of Baptism, in whose depths our sins are cast, still gush (Micah 7:19). All who come to this stream are healed and live. Baptism is the spiritual flood in which our sinful flesh is drowned. The unclean raven exits and the dove, the Holy Spirit, brings back the olive branch, that is, inspires peace and tranquility for the soul. Therefore, remember, faithful soul, this highest grace made yours in Baptism and give due thanks to God.
Even more, the more plentiful the grace that has been conferred upon us through Baptism, the more diligently we ought to guard that gift that has been given. “We have been buried with Christ through Baptism into death, therefore, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead in the glory of the Father, we also should enter into a new life” (Romans 6:4). We were healed. Therefore, let us sin no more lest something more detrimental happen to us (John 5:14). We have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ, by far the most precious clothing there is. Therefore, let us not stain it with the blemish of sins. Our old man was crucified and died in Baptism. Let the new man now live. We have been regenerated and the attitude of our minds has been renewed in Baptism (Ephesians 4:23). For this reason, do not let the flesh dominate the spirit. “The old has passed away. Behold, everything has been made new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Let not the oldness of the flesh prevail upon the newness of the spirit. We have been made sons of God through spiritual regeneration. Let us then lead a life worthy of such a Father. We have been made the temple of the Holy Spirit. Let us thus prepare a hospitable seat for such a great guest. We have been received into the covenant of God. Let us therefore take care that we do not labor for the wage of the devil and thus be cut off from the grace of the covenant.
Work all this in us, O Blessed Trinity, one God, who has given such great grace in Baptism, and grant that we may persevere in this great grace.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Scriptures Must Be Read in the Fear of God
8. The Sacred Scriptures must be read in the fear of God, so that we may stand securely and turn aside neither to the right nor to the left, whether in faith, in morals, or in any other actions (Joshua 1:7,8; Deuteronomy 5:32). For the fear of God is also the highest wisdom, so that it alone knows the right way and is heard in this, its house, as the one and only head of the household.
How to Understand the Sacred Scriptures, page 69
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Problem of Interpreters
Interpreters, who indeed ought to be the greatest help to the unlearned for learning the Sacred Scriptures, often darken them more than they explain them, whether from ignorance or malice, as they introduce their own thoughts and dreams into Scripture, and affix to it a wax nose (as the impious Jesuits of Cologne blaspheme Scripture).
How to Understand the Sacred Scriptures, page 49
Sorry for the Wait...A New Publication
We are excited to announce that How to Understand the Scriptures (from the Clavis Scripturae Sacrae) by Matthias Flacius is in the final stages of preparation for publication. This work, designed to help the Christian interpret the Scriptures, or rather let them interpret themselves, will be a useful tool for students of the Bible. Even more, it includes a wonderful and thorough introduction by Dr. Jack Kilcrease. Stay tuned for details. Excerpts will follow.
So, It's Been a Long Time
Needless to say, the blog has been neglected. Time to become useful again. We are now preparing for the publication of Flacius' insightful principles for the interpretation of Scripture. Some will soon be included on this blog. God's blessings as we celebrate the Epiphany!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Even Death Passage
MIKE HEARD VOICES in the other room. He rubbed his eyes. What time was it? He looked at the clock. 9:15AM. It couldn’t be right. He found his watch. Same time. He sat on the edge of the bed and massaged his legs, bringing them back to life. He put on his glasses and stumbled out of the room. As he turned the corner at the end of the hall, he stopped suddenly and began quietly retracing his steps to his room, closing the door.
A moment later, the pastor knocked. “Herr Loesch?”
“Come in, Pastor,” Mike answered.
“Sorry about the surprise.” The pastor grinned. “The ladies called this morning, asking if you’d found your friends. When I told them no, they insisted on coming over to prepare a proper breakfast.”
“There’s no mirror in here, but I’m pretty sure I’d like to wash up before I say hello,” Mike said with the first traces of a smile on his face.
“Not a bad idea,” the pastor laughed, looking at Mike’s frazzled hair. “I’ll be in the kitchen. There’s quite the spread in there. They’ll be offended if you don’t have some of it all.”
“Trust me, your ladies are no different than mine,” Mike assured him, the smile gaining ground.
“I have a few belt notches worth of proof if you need it. Did Agent Schultz call?”
“No. I called him, though. Nothing new. They said there was no reason for us to come down yet, so I figured I’d let you sleep. We can head down after you eat if you’d like.”
“Sounds good,” Mike answered as he grabbed the towel the pastor had hung on the door for him the night before. He snuck down to the bathroom and hurriedly showered. He sniffed his shirt before pulling it on. His other clothes were in the car. He’d have to live with a little ripeness. The pastor had offered him a change of clothes, but Mike preferred his own dirty clothes to another’s clean attire.
“Ach, Pastor Loesch,” the ladies called as he walked into the kitchen, faces filled with maternal concern. “Hier, hier, sitzen Sie, bitte,” one of them said, pulling out a chair. “Kaffee?” another asked, holding the coffee pitcher next to her face as she hobbled over toward the table.
“Ja, bitte,” Mike answered, still somewhat groggily. “Danke.”
Another held a cup of sugar in front of him. He reached toward the spoon. She was quicker to the draw and shovelled a heep into his cup.
“Milch?” another asked as she poured it into his cup.
“Danke.” He grinned and nodded.
“Und für Pastor,” the coffee lady said dutifully, warming up his cup.
“The ladies offered to come to the station with us,” the pastor explained to Mike, “but I told them we should be fine without them. It was pretty crowded there as it was, wasn’t it, Pastor Loesch?”
“Ja, das is wahr, aber danke,” Mike said, bobbing his head in agreement as he worked through the German in his head. Being sure to take a little of everything, Mike filled his plate. The ladies watched with rapt attention as he took each bite, occasionally whispering to one another, speculating about what he had particularly enjoyed or not liked so much, making secret plans for supper, should he be back with them again.
A moment later, the pastor knocked. “Herr Loesch?”
“Come in, Pastor,” Mike answered.
“Sorry about the surprise.” The pastor grinned. “The ladies called this morning, asking if you’d found your friends. When I told them no, they insisted on coming over to prepare a proper breakfast.”
“There’s no mirror in here, but I’m pretty sure I’d like to wash up before I say hello,” Mike said with the first traces of a smile on his face.
“Not a bad idea,” the pastor laughed, looking at Mike’s frazzled hair. “I’ll be in the kitchen. There’s quite the spread in there. They’ll be offended if you don’t have some of it all.”
“Trust me, your ladies are no different than mine,” Mike assured him, the smile gaining ground.
“I have a few belt notches worth of proof if you need it. Did Agent Schultz call?”
“No. I called him, though. Nothing new. They said there was no reason for us to come down yet, so I figured I’d let you sleep. We can head down after you eat if you’d like.”
“Sounds good,” Mike answered as he grabbed the towel the pastor had hung on the door for him the night before. He snuck down to the bathroom and hurriedly showered. He sniffed his shirt before pulling it on. His other clothes were in the car. He’d have to live with a little ripeness. The pastor had offered him a change of clothes, but Mike preferred his own dirty clothes to another’s clean attire.
“Ach, Pastor Loesch,” the ladies called as he walked into the kitchen, faces filled with maternal concern. “Hier, hier, sitzen Sie, bitte,” one of them said, pulling out a chair. “Kaffee?” another asked, holding the coffee pitcher next to her face as she hobbled over toward the table.
“Ja, bitte,” Mike answered, still somewhat groggily. “Danke.”
Another held a cup of sugar in front of him. He reached toward the spoon. She was quicker to the draw and shovelled a heep into his cup.
“Milch?” another asked as she poured it into his cup.
“Danke.” He grinned and nodded.
“Und für Pastor,” the coffee lady said dutifully, warming up his cup.
“The ladies offered to come to the station with us,” the pastor explained to Mike, “but I told them we should be fine without them. It was pretty crowded there as it was, wasn’t it, Pastor Loesch?”
“Ja, das is wahr, aber danke,” Mike said, bobbing his head in agreement as he worked through the German in his head. Being sure to take a little of everything, Mike filled his plate. The ladies watched with rapt attention as he took each bite, occasionally whispering to one another, speculating about what he had particularly enjoyed or not liked so much, making secret plans for supper, should he be back with them again.
Thoughts for the New Year
This time of year is a time of reflection. For many, especially in our part of the nation, this year has been testing in many ways. There are temptations to worry and fret, to doubt and seek deceptive consolations. Here are Gerhard's thoughts:
Accordingly, whoever adheres to God firmly with his love and inwardly enjoys divine consolation cannot have his rest disturbed by external evils. In sad things he is glad; in poverty rich; in the tribulations of this age secure; in the storms of this world tranquil; in the insults and contempt of men peaceful; in death itself alive. He pays no attention to the threats of tyrants because inside he experiences the rich consolations of the divine. He is not saddened by adversity because the Holy Spirit inwardly and effectively consoles him. He does not anguish in poverty because his riches are in the goodness of God. He is not troubled by the insults of men because he enjoys the joy of honor from the divine. He pays no attention to the will of the flesh because he has more satisfaction in the kindness of the Spirit. He does not seek worldly friendships because he knows the joys of friendship with God himself. He does not store up earthly treasures because he has the greatest treasure of all stored up in heaven. He does not fear death because he always lives in God. He does not exceedingly desire worldly wisdom because he has an inner teacher: the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20). The perfect takes away the imperfect (1 Corinthians 13:10). He does not fear lightening and storms, fires and floods of water, unfavorable configurations of planets and darkness of heavenly lights, for, having been elevated above nature, he rests in Christ by faith and lives in him. He is not drawn away by the allurements of this age because he hears the more pleasant voice of Christ within him. He does not fear the power of the devil because he knows divine indulgence. The One who lives within him and conquers is more powerful than the devil, who consumes himself in vain with conquering that man. He does not follow the enticements of the flesh because, living in the Spirit, he perceives the riches of the Spirit. He mortifies and crucifies the flesh by the vivifying Spirit (Galatians 5:24). He does not fear the accusations of the devil because he knows that his intercessor is Christ (1 John 2:1).
Accordingly, whoever adheres to God firmly with his love and inwardly enjoys divine consolation cannot have his rest disturbed by external evils. In sad things he is glad; in poverty rich; in the tribulations of this age secure; in the storms of this world tranquil; in the insults and contempt of men peaceful; in death itself alive. He pays no attention to the threats of tyrants because inside he experiences the rich consolations of the divine. He is not saddened by adversity because the Holy Spirit inwardly and effectively consoles him. He does not anguish in poverty because his riches are in the goodness of God. He is not troubled by the insults of men because he enjoys the joy of honor from the divine. He pays no attention to the will of the flesh because he has more satisfaction in the kindness of the Spirit. He does not seek worldly friendships because he knows the joys of friendship with God himself. He does not store up earthly treasures because he has the greatest treasure of all stored up in heaven. He does not fear death because he always lives in God. He does not exceedingly desire worldly wisdom because he has an inner teacher: the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20). The perfect takes away the imperfect (1 Corinthians 13:10). He does not fear lightening and storms, fires and floods of water, unfavorable configurations of planets and darkness of heavenly lights, for, having been elevated above nature, he rests in Christ by faith and lives in him. He is not drawn away by the allurements of this age because he hears the more pleasant voice of Christ within him. He does not fear the power of the devil because he knows divine indulgence. The One who lives within him and conquers is more powerful than the devil, who consumes himself in vain with conquering that man. He does not follow the enticements of the flesh because, living in the Spirit, he perceives the riches of the Spirit. He mortifies and crucifies the flesh by the vivifying Spirit (Galatians 5:24). He does not fear the accusations of the devil because he knows that his intercessor is Christ (1 John 2:1).
May the Author and Giver of this only true rest of the soul, our Lord, God blessed for all the ages, grant it to us.
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