Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

O my Lord Jesus, how can I not extol the holy twelve apostles, since You made such a show of them in the Old Testament so long ago?  The twelve wells of Elim (Ex. 15:27) also depict Your twelve holy apostles, for their teaching refreshes me in fever and tribulation.  Just as Aaron wore twelve precious stones on his ministerial breastpiece (Ex. 28:21), so You equipped the twelve apostles for the ministry of the New Testament, wearing them on Your heart like a precious treasure.  Their teaching is the most precious treasure of my heart.  Just as the footstep of the high priest was perceived from the twelve cymbals on the hem of his garment (Ex. 28:35), so Your certain presence is discerned in the Christian Church whenever the teaching of the holy twelve apostles is sounded. -- Blessed Valerius Herberger, The Great Works of God III/IV, p. 297.