The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

if there be harmony in faith. Our Church desires uniformity not as if it
were itself unity, or could be made a substitute for it, but because it
illustrates unity, and is one of its natural tendencies and its safeguard. If
there be a High-Churchism genuinely Lutheran, it is a very different thing
from that which bears that name in other churches. The Lutheran Church
does claim that it is God's truth which she confesses, and by logical
necessity regards the deviations from the doctrines of the Confession as
deviations from divine truth, but she does not claim to be the whole
Church. "The Christian Church and Christian holiness, both name and
thing, are the common possession of all churches and Christians in the
world." 130
Liberality and Charity of the Lutheran Church.
It is enough for her to know that she is a genuine part of it, and she
can rejoice, and does rejoice, that the Saviour she loves has his own true
followers in every part of Christendom. She says: "The Catholic
[Christian] Church consists of men scattered throughout the whole world,
from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.” 131 She unchurches
none of other names, even though they may be unsound. It is not her
business to do this. They have their own Master, to whom they stand or
fall. She protests against error; she removes it by spiritual means from her
own midst; but she judges not those who are without. God is her judge
and theirs, and to Him she commits herself and them. Our Church
confesses "that among those who are upon the true foundation there are
many weak ones, who build upon the foundation perishing stubble, that is,
empty human notions and opinions, and yet because they do not
overthrow the foundation, are still Christians, and their faults may be
forgiven them, or even be emended." 132 "An error," says Luther, "however
great it may be, neither can be called heresy, nor is heresy, unless it be
held and defended obstinately as right." "Erring makes no heretics; but the
defending and protecting error with stiffness of neck, does." "There never
has been a heresy which did not also affirm some truth. Wherefore we
must not deny the truth (it contains) on account of the falsehood (it mixes
with it)." 133 "Heretics not merely err, but refuse to be
130 Luther.
131 Apology, Art. IV.
132 Apology, Art. IV.
133 Werke, Walch. xxi. 120; xviii. 1771; iii. 2294.