This week's Gospel Reading reminded me of Henric Schartau, an 18th century Swedish Lutheran pietist pastor. (Pietism was founded by Spener, a 17th century German Lutheran.) His sermons influenced other Swedish Lutheran pastors and ignited a revival in southern Sweden. Schartau's sermon "Jesus Only" is featured in part in Giertz's The Hammer of God (which, by the way, is an incredible novel about the gospel that spans about a hundred years in a particular Swedish town). Lars Walkers' four books are fine Norwegian Lutheran counterparts to Giertz, with Walker using Norse Vikings as the launchpad for the gospel.
The only extant English translation of Schartau's sermons that I have seen is his "Jesus Only" sermon and can be found at http://www.geocities.com/resourcesforlutherans/schartau.htm
(If anyone knows where to find other English translations of Schartau's sermons, PLEASE let me know!)
Jesus is the narrow door that opens into heaven's eternal life. Jesus only, as Schartau would say. What a sweet gospel that the Holy Spirit gives to His Church through the Word, holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper.
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