American Lutheranism Vindicated; or, Examination of the Lutheran Symbols, on Certain Disputed Topic

American Lutheranism
Vindicated; or, Examination of
the Lutheran Symbols, on
Certain Disputed Topics

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or,
Examination of the Lutheran Symbols, on Certain Disputed Topics, by
Samuel Simon Schmucker This eBook is for the use of anyone
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Title: American Lutheranism Vindicated; or, Examination of the
Lutheran Symbols, on Certain Disputed Topics Including a Reply to
the Plea of Rev. W. J. Mann
Author: Samuel Simon Schmucker
Release Date: April 2, 2006 [EBook #18107]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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AMERICAN LUTHERANISM ***

Produced by Rev. Kurt A. T. Bodling, presently at the State Library of
Pennsylvania

AMERICAN LUTHERANISM VINDICATED; OR, EXAMINATION
OF THE LUTHERAN SYMBOLS, on CERTAIN DISPUTED
TOPICS: INCLUDING A REPLY TO THE PLEA OF Rev. W. J.
MANN. BY S. S. SCHMUCKER, D. D., Professor of Christian
Theology in the Theological Seminary of General Synod at Gettysburg,
Pa.
Earnestly contend for the faith, once delivered to the saints. JUDE 3.
BALTIMORE: PUBLISHED BY T. NEWTON KURTZ, No. 151
WEST PRATT STREET. 1856
Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1856, BY S. S.
SCHMUCKER, IN THE CLERK'S OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF
THE UNITED STATES, FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF
PENNSYLVANIA. STEREOTYPED BY GEORGE CHARLES, NO.
9 SANSOM ST., PHILA. PRINTED BY C. SHERMAN & SON.
TO THE READER. The design of the following treatise, and the
occasion which elicited it, are indicated both on the title page and in the
introduction of the work itself. Its primary object is not to discuss the
obligation of Synods to adopt the doctrinal basis of the Platform. What
we felt it a duty to the church to publish on that subject, we have
presented in the Lutheran Observer. But the pamphlet of the Rev. Mann,
entitled Plea for the Augsburg Confession, having called in question
the accuracy of some of the interpretations of that Confession contained
in the Definite Synodical Platform, and affirmed the Scriptural truth of
some of the tenets there dissented from; it becomes a question of
interest among us as Lutherans, which representation is correct. For the
points disputed are those, on the ground of which the constitutions of
the General Synod and of her Seminary avow only a qualified assent to
the Augsburg Confession. In hope of contributing to the prevalence of

truth, and the interests of that kingdom of God which is based on it, the
writer has carefully re-examined the original documents, and herewith
submits the results to the friends of the General Synod and her basis.
Since these results as to the question, what do the symbols actually
teach? are deduced impartially, as must be admitted, from the original
symbolical books themselves, as illustrated by the writings of Luther,
Melancthon, and of the other Reformers of the same date; those who
approve of those books should so far sustain our work: and those who
reject these tenets, that is, the New School portion of the church, will
not object to seeing a vindication of the reason why they and the
General Synod avow only a qualified assent even to the Augsburg
Confession, namely, because these errors are there taught.
The topics here discussed, are all such as are left free to individual
judgment, both by the Constitution of the General Synod, and that of
her Theological Seminary. Both explicitly bind to the Augsburg
Confession, only so far as the fundamental doctrines, not of that
confession, but of the Scriptures are concerned. A fundamental doctrine
of Scripture is one that, is regarded by the great body of evangelical
Christians as essential to salvation, or essential to the system of
Christianity; so that he who rejects it cannot be saved, neither be
regarded as a believer in the system of Christian doctrine. The doctrinal
peculiarities of no denomination, though often highly important, can
therefore be regarded as fundamental, without unchurching all other
denominations and consigning them to perdition. The topics here
discussed are, 1. Ceremonies of the Mass. 2. Private Confession and
Absolution. 3. The Divine institution of the Christian Sabbath. 4.
Nature of Sacramental Influence. 5. Baptismal Regeneration. 6. The
nature of the Saviour's presence in the Lord's Supper; and, 7. Exorcism.
Now, not one of these is found in the list of fundamentals published by
the Synod of Maryland, and by the great Evangelical Alliance of all the
prominent Christian denominations assembled in London in 1846,
consisting of more than a thousand ministers of Christ, delegated from
nearly all parts of Europe and America. That list is found in the
Lutheran Manual,