Luther's Daily Devotions for Year – Tägliche Hausandacht (Der Lutheraner, 1877)

Pastors Geo. Link, Joel Baseley

      While processing the text of Der Lutheraner, I ran across a book review of interest for today in several ways.  An extensive compilation of the sermons of Martin Luther was made for every day of the year by Pastor Georg Link (1829-1908). The excellent translator of Old Missouri works Pastor Joel Baseley prepared the English version of this book from 1884. Sadly it appears no longer to be available for purchase, but contact the seller (j_baseley@hotmail.com ) to confirm this since there is no "Out of Print" designation on his Mark V Publications website.  It has 700 pages (!).  — The book review of the first edition follows, from vol. 33, (1877) p. 184:

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Luther's Daily Home Devotions on All Days of the Church Year. Collected from Dr. Martin Luther's writings by George Link, Lutheran pastor at St. Louis, Mo. [German book here] 

Under the above title, a book has just appeared in the publishing house of our synod, which, as the reader will see, is intended to serve daily home devotions. It is true that the first and noblest book from which a Christian householder reads to his family during morning or evening devotions is and remains the Holy Scriptures themselves. But it is not only not to be rejected, but rather very good and salutary, if besides the Bible also human books are used, in which the pure doctrine of the divine Word is clearly and understandably presented and explained for the instruction and edification, for the comfort and admonition of the household. Among all human writings, however, there are none in which greater treasures of divine wisdom and knowledge are laid down, which could therefore serve better for instruction and edification than the writings of Dr. Martin Luther. In them the trumpet of heavenly truth gives such a clear sound; in them the divine law is preached with such crushing earnestness and the sweet gospel is proclaimed in such a comforting and heart-satisfying manner; in them true sanctification, divine life, is urged so powerfully: that everyone who prayerfully reads or hears them derives the greatest benefit for his soul. Should it not therefore be highly welcome to every householder if such passages from Luther's writings, which are especially suitable for reading aloud in house devotions, are offered to him collected in one book? And such a book is the above. In it, the Christian reader receives for each day of the church year a not too long and not too short reflection on a Bible verse, unabridged, without omissions and additions, in Luther's own words. Of course, in the selection of these contemplations, due consideration has been given to the order of the church year, so that the reader receives Advent contemplations during Advent, Passion devotions during Passion, and generally such passages from Luther's writings which either refer to each time of the church year, or are in some way related to the Gospels or Epistles of the church year. At the end of each reflection there is a suitable verse from a beautiful hymn, which can also be sung together. Thus, in "Luther's Home Devotions" one receives such strong food, filling the soul with heavenly joy, that one can pursue one's earthly occupation strengthened and refreshed, or confidently and cheerfully lay down one's head to rest. The dear book is therefore warmly recommended to all domestic fathers, indeed to all Lutheran Christians. We are convinced that from the devotional reading and listening to these precious reflections, each one will draw a great, salutary benefit for his faith and his life. May they therefore not be missing in any Lutheran family!

The 720-page book, beautifully and durably bound, is available for $2.50 and 20 Cts. Postage from the general agent, Mr. M. C. Barthel here. E. W. K. [Kähler?]

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Even if Pastor Baseley's book is not available in print, it remains available in Google Books for free to read HERE. (Please advise me if the reader should learn more on the status of the print version, I would then update this post.)