American Lutheranism Vindicated; or, Examination of the Lutheran Symbols, on Certain Disputed Topic | Page 3

must therefore receive credit for
moderation. Those volumes were hailed with exultation by the four or
five Old-School papers of our church, and all of them, even the
Missionary, invite the continuance of the discussion in pamphlet form.
Those publications did not agitate the church, neither will this. That
man must be ignorant of human nature, who does not perceive a vast

difference between a controversy conducted in the newspapers of the
church, and one confined to independent pamphlets or volumes. In the
former case, the dispute is forced upon all who see the paper, and
reaches fifty times as many persons, amongst whom may be many who,
from prejudice, or want of sufficient intelligence, do not appreciate the
importance of the discussion; in the latter, it reaches only those who
desire to see it, and feel sufficient interest to purchase the volume. Yet
the Definite Platform, be it remembered, was not the cause but the
result of Symbolic agitation, continual, progressive, and aggressive, in
the several Old-School papers and periodicals, for eight or ten years
past. As it evinced a spirit of resistance, they of course pounced down
upon it, and labored hard for its destruction. But their continued
discussion has brought to light such high-toned and intolerant grounds
of opposition, that the church generally, we doubt not, will settle down,
in a just appreciation of the case.
The course pursued by the ministers of the General Synod, has always
been a liberal one. They have freely expressed their sentiments on these
disputed topics, and cheerfully conceded to others the same liberty.
This principle pervades the Constitution of the General Synod and of
her Seminary. Even within the last few weeks, the Directors of the
Seminary have listened to a vindication of the entire symbolic system,
in the Inaugural of their German Theological Professor, and resolved to
publish it, although it advocates some views rejected by the majority of
the Board, and by the other members of the Faculty. After such a
specimen of liberality, we may well hope that the propriety of any of
the other Professors advocating the doctrines, which have from the
beginning been taught in the institution, will be conceded by all.
For the information of those foreign brethren who have recently taken
part in our ministry, we deem it just to remark, that the term American
was employed in reference to our church, many years before the
existence of the political party now designated by this name, and is
used by us, not in distinction from those born in foreign lands, but to
designate those peculiarities of doctrine, discipline, and worship, which
characterize the great mass of the churches of the General Synod, as the
terms Danish Lutheran, or Swedish Lutheran, and German Lutheran,

indicate the peculiarities of our church in those countries. Some of our
best American Lutherans are natives of foreign lands.
In conclusion, we repeat the assurance, that it has been with deep regret
that we have felt compelled, in defence of American, that is, New
School Lutheranism, to exhibit what we regard the errors of the former
symbols. But as the existence of these errors has of late years been
perseveringly denied, and New School Lutherans have been incessantly
reproached for not yielding an unqualified assent, to these books,
necessity was laid on us; and the evil of the controversy, if any, lies at
the door of the aggressors.
Praying that our Divine Master may bless this little volume to the
advancement of his glory and the welfare of his church, we submit it to
the friends of truth.
S. S. SCHMUCKER. Gettysburg, April 23d, 1856.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.....13 Religious Controversy. Plea of
Rev. Mann. Apostolic Church. Authority of Creeds. Apostles' Creed.
Augsburg Confession-altered by Melancthon.
CHAPTER II.
REPLY TO THE GENERAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE PLEA.....24
Augsburg Confession the only universal symbol of the Lutheran
Church. Definite Platform liberal. The Episcopalians, Presbyterians and
Methodists, altered their European Creeds in this country. Creeds
subordinate, to Scripture. Progressive light of Scripture. Human creeds
fallible. Drs. Lochman, Endress, F. C. Schaeffer, Hazelius, Bachman,
&c. Origin of the Definite Synodical Platform. Dr. Kocher on Creeds.
CHAPTER III.

DISADVANTAGES UNDER WHICH THE AUGSBURG
CONFESSION WAS PREPARED.....47 Diet of Augsburg. Alarm of
Melancthon-his complaints to Luther-his letters to Camerarius,
remarkable letter to Campegius. Luther checks Melancthon's
Concessions.
CHAPTER IV.
POSITIONS OF THE DEFINITE SYNODICAL PLATFORM
ESTABLISHED.....57 The Reformers progressive. Rigid Symbolic
System rejected in Germany. Reinhard, Knapp, Storr, Olshausen,
Tholuk, Hengstenberg, &c. Analysis of the American Recension of the
Augsburg Confession, it is almost the entire Augsburg Confession.
CHAPTER V.
SYNODICAL DISCLAIMER.....63 Luther on the Elevation of the
Host. Ceremonies of the Mass. Drs. Murdock, Fuhrman. Import of the
term Mass among Romanists, and amongst the Reformers whilst in the
Romish Church. Testimony of Luther in his