Gerhard and Walther

As we journey here as pilgrims, the Lord is present with us, but in another and invisible form; in our home in the heavenly fatherland above we shall know Him, for we shall see Him as He is.—Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditation XXI

There are, however, more subtle enemies of the cross who present a better appearance… They do this by continually preaching about repentance, conversion, being born again, and sanctification, but they do not have mercy on the poor sinner and they do not want to give any comfort to those who can say nothing of themselves but that they are poor, lost sinners. They do this by describing faith and justification and pardon of a person in such a way that the Gospel appears to show how he himself must earn grace and climb to heaven under an unbearable yoke.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, pp. 863, 864.