Old Lutherans

310. Wednesday after Eighth Sunday after Trinity.

Lord, let thy word penetrate
to the very marrow of our bones. Amen.

Ezekiel 3, 17-21. Son of Man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

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It is our duty to say to the unconverted: “You are on the way to eternal death. We dare not fail to warn you; for in that case we would be responsible for the loss of your soul. If you do not repent, you cannot be saved. Your life in the service of sin leads you to hell; and you must by no means imagine that you will be saved. The devil will hold you in fancied security, and give you hope; but the word of God makes it plain that you must come to grief in eternity. How should the righteous God spare the obstinate sinners? He would then be unjust, as they are! Or how can the ungodly and worldly-minded be received into his holy heaven? In that case heaven would become the home of wickedness! Understand this, that it is the devil, not God, who gives you hope of salvation in the midst of your impenitence. Bear in mind that this hope is false, and will rob you of eternal happiness! Alas, man, you who were created for heavenly glory and eternal life in communion with God; will you for the sake of a little sordid and unclean enjoyment, lasting but a short time, plunge yourself into endless misery? You shall be cast into everlasting fire, if you do not betimes turn to the Lord your God!”

This shall be said to you with all the emphasis and clearness possible; else we were false prophets and the servants of the devil. But it is not to be said as a mere matter of duty; even a hireling in the house of God might do that much. But it shall be spoken out of a heart which cares for you, and feels sincere pity for you; out of his love who gave his life and blood for you. When I put myself in your place, as you are weighed down with the fetters of Satan, and drag your heavy way as fast as possible to perdition, approaching ever nearer to the verge of the eternal pit without seeing it, blind to your misery and a stranger to your God, who loves you, and has a heaven full of salvation for you; — my bosom burns, and I cannot hold my peace. I am forced to cry out: “Repent; turn to the Lord! Go no farther on that way; stop, for Jesus’ sake, and save your soul! Do you not see the danger? Do you not feel that you are unhappy? Wait upon the Lord, hear his voice, and return to your God.” — I will take you out of the devil’s power; by means of the word of life I will set you free from the enchantment, tear you by the power of the Spirit out of the assassin’s hands, and carry you to Jesus, and place you in his arms. — Repent, and you shall be saved; come, and remain on the path of righteousness, and you shall live!

I should myself be lost, did I not warn you. You must die in your iniquity, and be eternally lost, if you do not repent; but the Lord would require your soul at my hand, if I did not warn you; and what could I answer him? Do turn to the Lord, and continue on the path of righteousness, that you may live!

Lord, thou great and good Shepherd of Israel; give us a heart after thee, give us of thy Spirit the mind of a true shepherd and the tongue of a true prophet. Lord, convert and save the erring, for the sake of Jesus Christ; and keep the righteous from falling again into sin. Amen.*

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring ones, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Though they are slighting him, still he is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently:
He will forgive, if they only believe.

[suggested tune: Alma Redemptoris mater (× 2), TLH 531; listen here]

* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.