A Christian friend writes: “I spent most of the day in this majestic pile (Cologne Cathedral), revisited its chapels, and looked again at the relics, and in the evening attended the public service.”
“The responses were answered by hundreds of devotees, as the priest led the litany. The sermon, like the service, was in honor of the virgin Mary. The preacher told the congregation, which was composed chiefly of working men and poor women, how sorely they needed a friend, and how they should pray and attend service, even to the sacrifice of their money and their time, for the hours of prayer were sacred. The virgin, said he, would be their friend and their consoler. She heard their cries, for to her the triune God had delegated this office.”
“He had hardly ceased his sermon when the congregation lifted up its voice in a hymn, the men singing with their whole soul and voice. Then some two hundred persons went and knelt before the shrine of the virgin, and many drew near the altar. All were now bowing to the ground near me.”
“Then the women singers in the organ loft commenced with Ave Maria, the sweet, full tones of which literally rolled along and echoed from the lofty roof after the song had ceased: while before the echoes had died away, the organ led the congregation in a great volume of song praying to the virgin.”
“As they sang to her, the music made rhythm in my ears, and my heart whispered, Glory to the Lamb! Sadly, no strong, brave Luther, no noble reformer, as in days long since dead and gone, dared occupy the pulpit and confess Jesus, once slain but alive to die no more, in the midst of relic and virgin worship.”
Is this then Christianity? Are they indeed Christians who thus worship and pray to and proclaim the virgin?
Of what avail are such prayers? Are they better than those of the African to his fetish tree, or those addressed to blocks of wood and of stone?
Oh! Christians, men and women saved by the Son of God and washed in His blood who died upon the cross for you, lift up your souls and voices to magnify His Name in this our idolatrous Christendom. Christendom is going back into idolatry, and our own beloved land is giving up Christ. Away with these abominations, for none but Jesus is the Savior, and He is the Friend and the Consoler to whom our prayers shall arise. Heaven shall for endless ages echo “Glory to the Lamb,” and in that song shall all the redeemed, including the virgin, take their joyful part. Live to and sing His praise and His glory now.
Glory to the Lamb,
Honor to the Lamb,
Power to the Lamb,
World without end!
Of His pity, He has sought us,
With His own life-blood He bought us,
Peace, deep peace, in grace He brought us,
Hail! Mighty Friend.
Glory to the Lamb,
Honor to the Lamb,
Power to the Lamb,
Matchless His fame!
Grace, through Him, o’er sin abounded:
Foes before Him fall confounded,
Ever be His triumphs sounded -
Hail! Peerless Name.
Glory to the Lamb,
Honor to the Lamb,
Power to the Lamb,
Now throned above
Earth and hell shall bow before Him;
Saints in Heaven with love adore Him;
Sinners, now for grace implore Him;
Hail! Name of love.