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From Martin Chemnitz on traditions, quoting his Examination of the Council of Trent, Part I, trans. Fred Kramer (St. Louis: Concordia, 1971) 244. So far we have included Chemnitz’s discussion of three kinds of traditions: 1) the oral tradition of the apostles, 2) the transmission of the apostolic scriptures, and 3) the rule of faith, or the Apostles’ Creed. This post continues Chemnitz’s discussion of the various kinds of traditions with his description of the fourth kind of traditions.

“SECOND TOPIC: Concerning Traditions / Section IV: The Fourth Kind of Traditions

“The fourth kind of traditions is concerning the exposition, the true sense, or natural meaning of the Scripture. It is certain from Irenaeus and from Tertullian that their dispute with the heretics was not only concerning the Scripture but also concerning the exposition , or meaning, of the Scripture. For Tertullian says: ‘This sect, even if it receives Scriptures as complete up to a point, nevertheless twists them by inventing different interpretations. And a false interpretation hinders the truth as much as one who corrupts the text.’ Again he says: ‘Where diversity of doctrine is found, there we must suspect corruption both of the Scripture and of the exposition.’”

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O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ordr’est all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree,
Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save;
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Lutheran Service Book 357

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The TeDeum, Laudamus is traditionally considered to be a composition of Ambrose, prepared for the occasion of the baptism of Augustine. Luther considered the TeDeum to be one of the great creedal confessions of the church. The practice in the congregation I first served was to sing Matins every fifth Sunday. At the end of the service, we would all stand around the font and sing the TeDeum. The following version is from Lutheran Service Book, Matins, 223-225. A written text simply does not do it justice. It must be sung to fully appreciate its beauty. I hope you have the privilege (and the blessing) of singing this great canticle in your own church. [the senior editor]

 1. We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord.
All the earth now worships You, the Father everlasting.
To You all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the pow’rs therein.
To You cherubim and seraphim continually do cry:

2. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory.
The glorious company of the apostles praise You.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise You.

3. The noble army of martyrs praise You.
The holy Church throughout all the world does acknowledge You:
The Father of an infinite majesty; Your adorable, true, and only Son;
also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.

4. You are the king of glory, O Christ;
You are the everlasting Son of the Father.

5. When You took upon Yourself to deliver man,
You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin.
When You had overcome the sharpness of death,
You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

6. You sit at the right hand of God
in the glory of the Father.
We believe that You will come
to be our judge.

7. We therefore pray You to help Your servants,
whom You have redeemed with Your precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with Your saints
in glory everlasting.

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One of the great hymns by Ambrose, translated by Luther. Fitting for this season of Advent. The following version is from Lutheran Service Book 332.

1. Savior of the nations, come,
Virgin’s Son, make here Your home!
Marvel now, O heav’n and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

2. Not by human flesh and blood,
By the Spirit of our God,
Was the Word of God made flesh—
Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

3. Here a maid was found with child,
Yet remained a virgin mild.
In her womb this truth was shown:
God was there upon His throne.

4. Then stepped forth the Lord of all
From His pure and kingly hall;
God of God, yet fully man,
His heroic course began.

5. God the Father was His source,
Back to God he ran His course.
Into hell His road went down,
back then to His throne and crown.

6. For You are the Father’s Son
Who in flesh the vict’ry won.
By Your mighty pow’r make whole
All our ills of flesh and soul.

7. From the manger newborn light
Shines in glory through the night.
Darkness there no more resides;
In this light faith now abides.

8. Glory to the Father sing,
Glory to the Son, our king,
Glory to the Spirit be
Now and through eternity.

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