Gerhard and Walther

How was it that the holy martyrs managed to endure their pains with such great patience—indeed, even with laughter and joy? They felt the mighty comfort of the Holy Spirit in their hearts.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis, III:174.


Whatever a person pursues in this world that hinders him from the pursuit of Christ is eventually taken from him so he can become embittered toward the world and awakened to the love of Christ.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 522 [Weedon notes: a remarkably similar thought to that expressed by Francis Thompson in his “Hound of Heaven”:

All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might’st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child’s mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:
Rise, clasp My hand, and come!’]