THE FAMILY ALTAR: 

April I5.

"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy

sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Cor. 15, 54—57.

"To-morrow I am going home!" repeatedly exclaimed the

sainted Dr. Walther the day before his death. For this faithful

servant of our Savior, death was really swallowed up in victory

and had lost its very last vestige of terror. To our pious teacher,

the restorer of our ruined American Lutheran Church, the grave

was but the door through which he entered into the home of ever-

lasting rest and joy of Jesus. With Job he could say, and did

say in all his many sermons and writings: "I know that my

Eedeemer liveth." In his ever-memorable sermon on Easter Day,

1851, in which he so convincingly refutes all the arguments brought

forth by modern unbelief against our Savior's resurrection, he gave

the following eloquent testimony of his faith: "That [the resur-

rection of Christ] is the reason why all Christians can declare

before all the world: 'Know, 0 world, that we actually enjoy

the grace of God.' Does the world say: 'But are you not still

sinners and therefore debtors ?' They can answer : ' No ; who shall

lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justi-

fieth. He justified our Bondsman, and in Him justified us.' Does

the world object: 'But does not the Law still condemn you?'

They can reply: 'No; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ

that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right

hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us, — He fulfilled

the Law.' Does the world again say: 'But does not death still

await you and hell threaten you?' They can answer: 'No; our

death is no longer death, but the door of life ; and hell ? — we

can laugh it to scorn; for death is swallowed up in victory.'

In conclusion, does the religious fanatic ask: 'But do you not

feel that you still have sin? How, then, can you boast of grace and

righteousness ?' They can answer : 'True, the sense of sin and guilt

lies as a heavy stone on our heart and conscience. But go with us

to the garden of Joseph of Arimathea. In this grave He was im-

prisoned who had taken upon Himself our sins. But behold ! the

stone is rolled away, the grave is empty, and shining messengers of

God say to us : "He is risen!" ' 0 glorious message : 'The stone is

rolled away from the grave of my sins, my death, my condemna-

tion! Hallelujah!'"