Gerhard and Walther

God also has a gracious good pleasure in everything that He has commanded. For how could He command something for which He had no desire? He has commanded that we are to place our hope in Him. Therefore, He will bear a gracious pleasure over this….The Lord has pleasure…in those who hope in His goodness (Psalm 147:11).—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:153.

Whenever the tree of the Church has blossomed in faith, the fruits of brother love have appeared right away. During the first three centuries of the Christian era, when so many thousands of believers sealed their faith with their blood under the persecution of heathen emperors, love was stronger than it has been at any time sense. Although Christians were scattered in many countries, they were still bound by love as to a great family.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 511.