large catechism-第31章

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be　my　own　and　may　benefit　me；　as　a　sure　pledge　and　token；　yea；　the　very
same　treasure　that　is　appointed　for　me　against　my　sins；　death；　and
every　calamity。　

On　this　account　it　is　indeed　called　a　food　of　souls；　which　nourishes
and　strengthens　the　new　man。　For　by　Baptism　we　are　first　born　anew；　but
（as　we　said　before）　there　still　remains；　besides；　the　old　vicious
nature　of　flesh　and　blood　in　man；　and　there　are　so　many　hindrances　and
temptations　of　the　devil　and　of　the　world　that　we　often　become　weary
and　faint；　and　sometimes　also　stumble。　

Therefore　it　is　given　for　a　daily　pasture　and　sustenance；　that　faith
may　refresh　and　strengthen　itself　so　as　not　to　fall　back　in　such　a
battle；　but　become　ever　stronger　and　stronger。　For　the　new　life　must　be
so　regulated　that　it　continually　increase　and　progress；　but　it　must
suffer　much　opposition。　For　the　devil　is　such　a　furious　enemy　that　when
he　sees　that　we　oppose　him　and　attack　the　old　man；　and　that　he　cannot
topple　us　over　by　force；　he　prowls　and　moves　about　on　all　sides；　tries
all　devices；　and　does　not　desist　until　he　finally　wearies　us；　so　that
we　either　renounce　our　faith　or　yield　hands　and　feet　and　become
listless　or　impatient。　Now　to　this　end　the　consolation　is　here　given
when　the　heart　feels　that　the　burden　is　becoming　too　heavy；　that　it　may
here　obtain　new　power　and　refreshment。　

But　here　our　wise　spirits　contort　themselves　with　their　great　art　and
wisdom；　crying　out　and　bawling：　How　can　bread　and　wine　forgive　sins　or
strengthen　faith？　Although　they　hear　and　know　that　we　do　not　say　this
of　bread　and　wine；　because　in　itself　bread　is　bread；　but　of　such　bread
and　wine　as　is　the　body　and　blood　of　Christ；　and　has　the　words　attached
to　it。　That；　we　say；　is　verily　the　treasure；　and　nothing　else；　through
which　such　forgiveness　is　obtained。　Now　the　only　way　in　which　it　is
conveyed　and　appropriated　to　us　is　in　the　words　（Given　and　shed　for
you）。　For　herein　you　have　both　truths；　that　it　is　the　body　and　blood　of
Christ；　and　that　it　is　yours　as　a　treasure　and　gift。　Now　the　body　of
Christ　can　never　be　an　unfruitful；　vain　thing；　that　effects　or　profits
nothing。　Yet　however　great　is　the　treasure　in　itself；　it　must　be
comprehended　in　the　Word　and　administered　to　us；　else　we　should　never
be　able　to　know　or　seek　it。　

Therefore　also　it　is　vain　talk　when　they　say　that　the　body　and　blood　of
Christ　are　not　given　and　shed　for　us　in　the　Lord's　Supper；　hence　we
could　not　have　forgiveness　of　sins　in　the　Sacrament。　For　although　the
work　is　accomplished　and　the　forgiveness　of　sins　acquired　on　the　cross；
yet　it　cannot　come　to　us　in　any　other　way　than　through　the　Word。　For
what　would　we　otherwise　know　about　it；　that　such　a　thing　was
accomplished　or　was　to　be　given　us　if　it　were　not　presented　by
preaching　or　the　oral　Word？　Whence　do　they　know　of　it；　or　how　can　they
apprehend　and　appropriate　to　themselves　the　forgiveness；　except　they
lay　hold　of　and　believe　the　Scriptures　and　the　Gospel？　But　now　the
entire　Gospel　and　the　article　of　the　Creed：　I　believe　a　holy　Christian
Church；　the　forgiveness　of　sin；　etc。；　are　by　the　Word　embodied　in　this
Sacrament　and　presented　to　us。　Why；　then；　should　we　allow　this　treasure
to　be　torn　from　the　Sacrament　when　they　must　confess　that　these　are　the
very　words　which　we　hear　everywhere　in　the　Gospel；　and　they　cannot　say
that　these　words　in　the　Sacrament　are　of　no　use；　as　little　as　they　dare
say　that　the　entire　Gospel　or　Word　of　God；　apart　from　the　Sacrament；　is
of　no　use？　

Thus　we　have　the　entire　Sacrament；　both　as　to　what　it　is　in　itself　and
as　to　what　it　brings　and　profits。　Now　we　must　also　see　who　is　the
person　that　receives　this　power　and　benefit。　That　is　answered　briefly；
as　we　said　above　of　Baptism　and　often　elsewhere：　Whoever　believes　it
has　what　the　words　declare　and　bring。　For　they　are　not　spoken　or
proclaimed　to　stone　and　wood；　but　to　those　who　hear　them；　to　whom　He
says：　Take　and　eat；　etc。　And　because　He　offers　and　promises　forgiveness
of　sin；　it　cannot　be　received　otherwise　than　by　faith。　This　faith　He
Himself　demands　in　the　Word　when　He　says：　Given　and　shed　for　you。　As　if
He　said：　For　this　reason　I　give　it；　and　bid　you　eat　and　drink；　that　you
may　claim　it　as　yours　and　enjoy　it。　Whoever　now　accepts　these　words；
and　believes　that　what　they　declare　is　true；　has　it。　But　whoever　does
not　believe　it　has　nothing；　as　he　allows　it　to　be　offered　to　him　in
vain；　and　refuses　to　enjoy　such　a　saving　good。　The　treasure；　indeed；　is
opened　and　placed　at　every　one's　door；　yea　upon　his　table；　but　it　is
necessary　that　you　also　claim　it；　and　confidently　view　it　as　the　words
suggest　to　you。　

This；　now；　is　the　entire　Christian　preparation　for　receiving　this
Sacrament　worthily。　For　since　this　treasure　is　entirely　presented　in
the　words；　it　cannot　be　apprehended　and　appropriated　in　any　other　way
than　with　the　heart。　For　such　a　gift　and　eternal　treasure　cannot　be
seized　with　the　fist。　Fasting　and　prayer；　etc。；　may　indeed　be　an
external　preparation　and　discipline　for　children；　that　the　body　may
keep　and　bear　itself　modestly　and　reverently　towards　the　body　and　blood
of　Christ；　yet　what　is　given　in　and　with　it　the　body　cannot　seize　and
appropriate。　But　this　is　done　by　the　faith　of　the　heart；　which　discerns
this　treasure　and　desires　it。　This　may　suffice　for　what　is　necessary
as　a　general　instruction　respecting　this　Sacrament；　for　what　is
further　to　be　said　of　it　belongs　to　another　time。　

Conclusion　

In　conclusion；　since　we　have　now　the　true　understanding　and　doctrine　of
the　Sacrament；　there　is　indeed　need　of　some　admonition　and　exhortation；
that　men　may　not　let　so　great　a　treasure　which　is　daily　administered
and　distributed　among　Christians　pass　by　unheeded；　that　is；　that　those
who　would　be　Christians　make　ready　to　receive　this　venerable　Sacrament
often。　For　we　see　that　men　seem　weary　and　lazy　with　respect　to　it；　and
there　is　a　great　multitude　of　such　as　hear　the　Gospel；　and；　because　the
nonsense　of　the　Pope　has　been　abolished；　and　we　are　freed　from　his　laws
and　coercion；　go　one；　two；　three　years；　or　even　longer　without　the
Sacrament；　as　though　they　were　such　strong　Christians　that　they　have　no
need　of　it；　and　some　allow　themselves　to　be　prevented　and　deterred　by
the　pretense　that　we　have　taught　that　no　one　should　approach　it　except
those　who　feel　hunger　and　thirst；　which　urge　them　to　it。　Some　pretend
that　it　is　a　matter　of　liberty　and　not　necessary；　and　that　it　is
sufficient　to　believe　without　it；　and　thus　for　the　most　part　they　go　so
far　that　they　become　quite　brutish；　and　finally　despise　both　the
Sacrament　and　the　Word　of　God。　

Now；　it　is　true；　as　we　have　said；　that　no　one　should　by　any　means　be
coerced　or　compelled；　lest　we　institute　a　new　murdering　of　souls。
Nevertheless；　it　must　be　known　that　such　people　as　deprive　themselves
of；　and　withdraw　from；　the　Sacrament　so　long　a　time　are　not　to　be
considered　Christians。　For　Christ　has　not　instituted　it　to　be　treated
as　a　show；　but　has　commanded　His　Christians　to　eat　and　drink　it；　and
thereby　remember　Him。　

And；　indeed；　those　who　are　true　Christians　and　esteem　the　Sacrament
precious　and　holy　will　urge　and　impel　themselves　unto　it。　Yet　that　the
simple…minded　and　the　weak　who　also　would　like　to　be　Christians　be　the
more　incited　to　consider　the　cause　and　need　which　ought　to　impel　them；
we　will　treat　somewhat　of　this　point。　For　as　in　other　matters
pertaining　to　faith；　love；　and　patience；　it　is　not　enough　to　teach　and
instruct　only；　but　there　is　need　also　of　daily　exhortation；　so　here
also　there　is　need　of　continuing　to　preach　that　men　may　not　become
weary　and　disgusted；　since　we　know　and　feel　how　the　devil　always
opposes　this　and　every　Christian　exercise；　and　drives　and　deters
therefrom　as　much　as　he　can。　

And　we　have；　in　the　first　place；　the　clear　text　in　the　very　words　of
Christ：　Do　this　in　remembrance　of　Me。　These　are　bidding　and　commanding
words　by　which　all　who　would　be　Christians　are　enjoined　to　partake　of
this　Sacrament。　Therefore；　whoever　would　be　a　disciple　of　Christ；　with
whom　He　here　speaks；　must　also　consider　and　observe　this；　not　from
compulsion；　as　being　forced　by　men；　but　in　obedience　to　the　Lord　Jesus
Chri