American Lutheranism Vindicated; or, Examination of the Lutheran Symbols, on Certain Disputed Topic | Page 4

Treatise on the Mass, in his
letters to Spangler, to Duke George, in the Short Confession, letter to
Justus Jonas, &c. Testimony of Melancthon, in his letter to Luther
during the Diet. Testimony of other Reformers, Aurifaber, Spalatin.
Testimony of the Romish Refutation of the Augsburg Confession.
Internal evidence from the Augsburg Confession itself. Separate
captions and articles for Mass and the Lord's Supper. The two kept
distinct in Melancthon's translation; if you exchange the words the
articles make nonsense. The Romanists understood the Confession to
mean mass proper. Melancthon in the Apology to the Confession so
understands it. Refutation of the proofs. Reference to the author's
former works, the Popular Theology, the History of the American
Lutheran Church.
CHAPTER VI.
PRIVATE CONFESISONAND ABSOLUTION.....97 Import of the
phrase. Dr. Funck's early Lutheran Directories for Worship.

Formularies for private Confession and Absolution, Luther's, that of
Wolfgang, &c., in 1557. Proof that this rite is inculcated in the
Augsburg Confession. Siegel, Prof. Jacobsen. Augsburg Confession
admits the want of Scripture authority for it. God alone can forgive sin.
CHAPTER VII.
DENIAL OF THE DIVINE INSTITUTION AND OBLIGATION OF
THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.....107 Proofs of the Charge, Drs.
Rucker, Hengstenberg, Walter, Murdock. Ground taken by the Plea.
The same opinion taught by Luther in his Commentary, Larger
Catechism, &c., and by Melancthon, in Loci Communes, or system of
Divinity, &c., in Augsburg Confession, and in his Apology to it.
CHAPTER VIII.
GENERAL NATURE OF THE SACRAMENTAL
INFLUENCE.....121 Doctrine of the Plea-not fully developed.
Scriptural view of Sacramental Influence. Man a sinner by nature and
practice, Divine truth the grand instrumentality of the Spirit in our
spiritual renovation. The stage of progress in this renovation, morally
requisite for pardon, is that of living faith, or entire surrender to God.
Evidence of this pardon or justification, is internal; peace, love, joy,
testimony of the Spirit, fruits of the Spirit, and not any outward
rite-Sacraments therefore only mediate and not immediate conditions of
pardon-proofs, Mosheim, Reinhard, Knapp.
CHAPTER IX.
BAPTISMAL REGENERATION.....135 Is taught in Symbolical books
and by the Reformers and early Theologians, Hunnius, Gerhard,
Buddeus. Influence of this doctrine on the pulpit-proofs against it.
CHAPTER X.
THE LORD'S SUPPER.....148 Extracts from the Symbols. Arguments.
Supposed Sin-forgiving Power of the Eucharist.

CHAPTER XI.....
155 EXORCISM. Altered interpretation of this rite. Proofs that it was
regarded as symbolic and was practised in different parts of the
Lutheran Church. Testimony of Drs. Guericke, Koellner,
Baumgarten-Crusius, Augusti, Siegel, Sigismund, Baumgarten. At
some periods regarded as a test of orthodoxy.
CHAPTER XII.
CONCLUDING REMARKS.....161 What is our duty under these
circumstances? Erroneous reasonings of the rigid Lutherans. Four
different remedies considered--the true one.
APPENDIX.....169
EXAMINATION OF THE LUTHERAN SYMBOLS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
Religious controversy, though it often degenerates from that calm and
dignified character, which it should ever sustain as a mutual search
after truth, seems sometimes to be necessary and proper. It springs out
of the nature of that moral evidence, never amounting to demonstration,
by which religious doctrines are sustained, and from the fact, that
whilst the word of God reveals what is necessary to salvation with
entire distinctness, it leaves undecided, or to be deduced from clearer
passages of Scripture, many points which are both interesting and
important, as well as naturally sought for by the constitutional,
systematizing tendencies of the human mind. Discussions on such
topics of practical utility, are alike pleasing to God and beneficial to the
church, if conducted in a Christian spirit, and if the parties have truth
and not victory for their aim. Truth is the will of God, exhibited in the
diversified creations of his hand, either physical, intellectual, or moral,
and the revelations of his word, correctly apprehended by the human

mind. Since truth, therefore, is of God, it need fear no investigation.
The divinity that is in it, will secure its ultimate triumph. Though it
may for a season be obscured, or crushed to earth by passion, prejudice,
or irresponsible authority, it will sooner or later assert its rights, and
secure the homage of all upright minds. No friend of truth should dread
impartial investigation. If he has unconsciously imbibed erroneous
opinions, he will thus be conducted to the truth; and if his views are
correct, they will be confirmed by investigation. "Eternal vigilance has
been styled the price of civil 'liberty;'" and to "search the Scriptures
daily," to "prove all things and hold fast that which is good," is the
grand safeguard of religious truth and ecclesiastical purity. No new
enterprise of Christian benevolence has ever been achieved, no
reformation of established institutions or doctrines ever been
accomplished in the church of Christ, without discussion and
controversy either oral or written; because error when assailed by the
truth, will always make more or less resistance. The life of the greatest
moral