"May we press toward our Synod’s holy objective of love." CFW Walther 1849

So we must also sufficiently recount the troubling things as we look back upon this year of the Synod’s life now ended. As we thank the Lord above for His gifts and grace, so we humble ourselves under His hand. We wait patiently. We hope and we pray. May we avoid fleshly impatience that would avoid the school of the cross and would use illicit means based upon fleshly zeal to advance the faithful building and maintenance of our Church in confessional fidelity. May we press toward our Synod’s holy objective of love, both inwardly and outwardly. So we happily and with confidence see this synodical year come to an end. We are absolutely certain that our faithful God and Lord will continue to bless us in our work as we have patience.

First of all, let each of us “work out [his] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippi- ans 2:12) and with diligence and seriousness, through faithful use of the Means of Grace. We should first be concerned for our own souls, paying attention to ourselves, lest while preaching to others, we ourselves become reprehensible.

Let us stand fast. Through prayer, petitions, brotherly counsel, admonition, and com- fort in mutual love, let us strengthen the unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace. And no strange and false spirit will sneak in anywhere or grow a bitter root through the deceit of the devil and our own flesh, causing many to perish. Let us firmly and immovably hold to the pure and clear words of our God and to the good Confession of our Church based thereupon. Let us happily and joyously uphold and bear witness to that good Con- fession, just as we have before, in doctrine and practice, love and walk, cross and suffering.

Let us, who are messengers of the Lord of hosts, co-workers of the Holy Spirit, and messengers of the Gospel of Christ, and the mouth and hand of God to men in delivering the holy Gospel and the Holy Sacraments—let us, who bear such a glorious office, full of absolute clarity that God makes of sinners those justified, of cursed the blessed, out of rejected and banned, citizens with the saints and God’s family, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—let us, who hold this office as faithful shepherds, earnestly pay attention to the souls of those entrusted to us, in self-denying love and holy zeal. Let us imitate the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. Let us together, according to God’s Word and in a sound, churchly way, publicly and especially teach, defend, punish, console, ad- monish, warn, and threaten, and so on, precisely as the need demands. In so doing, let us zealously watch, pray, and avoid in ourselves spiritual pride, an overbearing attitude, hot- temperedness, impatience, despondency, concern for the things of this life, fear of men, and laziness. Let us also be concerned to carry on life in a salutary way, bearing witness to the pure doctrine of God also in this inaudible sermon and this silent witness.

In sum, let us demonstrate that we are faithful ministers and disciples of the Lord Christ and of His holy apostles in doctrine, in life, and under the cross. Then each one of us, when his hour of death is at hand, may with good conscience boast with St. Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8). Amen.

"Blessed Beginnings," 1849 Synod Address in At Home in the House of My Fathers, translated by M.C.H.