THE FAMILY ALTAR

November 10.

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power

of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Rom. 1:17.

This is Luther's birthday. He was born in the little Saxon

village of Eisleben, in 1483. At his birth, gross popish darkness

covered all Christian lands, and would still cover them, if the

merciful God had not sent us the blessed light of His saving Gospel

again through Luther. It is touching to read how Luther, in his

monkish blindness, sought in vain for pardon and peace. All his

fasting and all his prayers to the saints, his vigils and mortifica-

tions availed him nothing. Only after God in His mercy had

opened Luther's eyes to the central truth of the Gospel, namely,

that the penitent sinner is forgiven alone by grace through faith

in the all-sufficient merit of Christ, — only then did he find peace

of soul. When that divine truth of salvation by free grace dawned

in his agonizing heart, he thought the very doors of paradise had

opened to receive him, and his joy and gratitude to his God and

Savior knew no bounds. We know how courageously he battled

for that Gospel-truth all his life, and how in the hour of death

he fell peacefully asleep, confessing it to his last breath. Millions

in his day hailed the restored Gospel-light with rapturous joy:

many suffered persecution, even death, rather than deny it. But

let us look at the so-called Christian lands to-day. What is their

religious and social condition after four hundred years of restored

Gospel-light? Roman Catholic countries still refuse to accept it,

and in Protestant countries millions are ashamed to own it, and

give themselves up to unbelief and outspoken enmity against it.

What is the consequence? Where the converting and sanctifying

influence of the Gospel dies out among a people, their social and

political corruption gain the upper hand, and society falls a help-

less prey to the eagles of destruction. Oh, that we all who bear

Luther's name might follow his inspiring example, and never grow

ashamed of the Gospel, come what may ! Then will the blessed

Word of Christ prove also our salvation in this world and in the

world to come.

Ashamed of Thee! 0 dearest Lord,

I marvel how such wrong can be;

And yet how oft in deed and word

Have I been found ashamed of Thee !

Ashamed of Thee! 0 Lord, I pray

This cruel wrong no more may be;

And in Thy last great Advent day.

Oh, be not Thou ashamed of me!