Gerhard and Walther

Therefore sin is spiritual death to the soul. Through mortal sin man loses God.—Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditations I.

There is only one way a person can die gently, confidently, and blessed. He must learn to go to God as a poor sinner and to call upon Him for grace for Christ’s, His Savior’s, sake. He must learn to seize Christ and His promises of grace in faith. He must taste and see how friendly, how good, how gracious, and how merciful the Lord is.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 739.