large catechism-第33章
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and all misfortune。
Thus you have； on the part of God； both the command and the promise of
the Lord Jesus Christ。 Besides this； on your part； your own distress
which is about your neck； and because of which this command； invitation
and promise are given； ought to impel you。 For He Himself says： They
that be whole need not a physician； but they that be sick； that is；
those who are weary and heavy…laden with their sins； with the fear of
death temptations of the flesh and of the devil。 If therefore； you are
heavy…laden and feel your weakness； then go joyfully to this Sacrament
and obtain refreshment； consolation； and strength。 For if you would
wait until you are rid of such burdens； that you might come to the
Sacrament pure and worthy； you must forever stay away。 For in that case
He pronounces sentence and says： If you are pure and godly； you have no
need of Me； and I； in turn； none of thee。 Therefore those alone are
called unworthy who neither feel their infirmities nor wish to be
considered sinners。
But if you say： What； then； shall I do if I cannot feel such distress
or experience hunger and thirst for the Sacrament？ Answer： For those
who are so minded that they do not realize their condition I know no
better counsel than that they put their hand into their bosom to
ascertain whether they also have flesh and blood。 And if you find that
to be the case； then go； for your good； to St。 Paul's Epistle to the
Galatians； and hear what sort of a fruit your flesh is： Now the works
of the flesh （he says ＇chap。 5； 19ff。＇） are manifest； which are these：
Adultery fornication uncleanness； lasciviousness； idolatry； witchcraft；
hatred； variance； emulations； wrath； strife； seditions； heresies；
envyings； murders； drunkenness； revelings； and such like。
Therefore； if you cannot feel it； at least believe the Scriptures； they
will not lie to you and they know your flesh better than you yourself。
Yea； St。 Paul further concludes in Rom。 7； 18： l know that in me； that
is； in my flesh； dwelleth no good thing。 If St。 Paul may speak thus of
his flesh； we do not propose to be better nor more holy。 But that we do
not feel it is so much the worse； for it is a sign that there is a
leprous flesh which feels nothing； and yet ＇the leprosy＇ rages and
keeps spreading。 Yet as we have said； if you are quite dead to all
sensibility； still believe the Scriptures； which pronounce sentence
upon you。 And； in short； the less you feel your sins and infirmities；
the more reason have you to go to the Sacrament to seek help and a
remedy。
In the second place； look about you and see whether you are also in the
world； or if you do not know it； ask your neighbors about it。 If you
are in the world； do not think that there will be lack of sins and
misery。 For only begin to act as though you would be godly and adhere
to the Gospel； and see whether no one will become your enemy； and；
moreover； do you harm； wrong； and violence； and likewise give you cause
for sin and vice。 If you have not experienced it； then let the
Scriptures tell you； which everywhere give this praise and testimony to
the world。
Besides this； you will also have the devil about you； whom you will not
entirely tread under foot； because our Lord Christ Himself could not
entirely avoid him。 Now； what is the devil？ Nothing else than what the
Scriptures call him； a liar and murderer。 A liar； to lead the heart
astray from the Word of God； and to blind it； that you cannot feel your
distress or come to Christ。 A murderer； who cannot bear to see you live
one single hour。 If you could see how many knives； darts； and arrows
are every moment aimed at you； you would be glad to come to the
Sacrament as often as possible。 But there is no reason why we walk so
securely and heedlessly； except that we neither think nor believe that
we are in the flesh； and in this wicked world or in the kingdom of the
devil。
Therefore； try this and practice it well； and do but examine yourself；
or look about you a little； and only keep to the Scriptures。 If even
then you still feel nothing； you have so much the more misery to lament
both to God and to your brother。 Then take advice and have others pray
for you； and do not desist until the stone be removed from your heart。
Then； indeed； the distress will not fail to become manifest； and you
will find that you have sunk twice as deep as any other poor sinner；
and are much more in need of the Sacrament against the misery which
unfortunately you do not see； so that； with the grace of God； you may
feel it more and become the more hungry for the Sacrament； especially
since the devil plies his force against you； and lies in wait for you
without ceasing； to seize and destroy you； soul and body； so that you
are not safe from him one hour。 How soon can he have brought you
suddenly into misery and distress when you least expect it！
Let this； then； be said for exhortation； not only for those of us who
are old and grown； but also for the young people； who ought to be
brought up in the Christian doctrine and understanding。 For thereby the
Ten Commandments； the Creed； and the Lord's Prayer might be the more
easily inculcated to our youth； so that they would receive them with
pleasure and earnestness； and thus would practice them from their youth
and accustom themselves to them。 For the old are now well…nigh done
for； so that these and other things cannot be attained； unless we train
the people who are to come after us and succeed us in our office and
work； in order that they also may bring up their children successfully
that the Word of God and the Christian Church may be preserved。
Therefore let every father of a family know that it is his duty by the
injunction and command of God； to teach these things to his children；
or have them learn what they ought to know。 For since they are baptized
and received into the Christian Church； they should also enjoy this
communion of the Sacrament； in order that they may serve us and be
useful to us； for they must all indeed help us to believe； love； pray；
and fight against the devil。
End
