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martyrs and are won with their blood； must again make martyrs。
Of this more another time。
I。 We have now seen how many good works there are in the Second
Commandment； which however are not good in themselves； unless
they are done in faith and in the assurance of divine favor； and
how much we must do； if we take heed to this Commandment alone；
and how we； alas！ busy ourselves much with other works； which
have no agreement at all with it。 Now follows the Third
Commandment： 〃Thou shalt hallow the day of rest。〃 In the First
Commandment is prescribed our heart's attitude toward God in
thoughts； in the Second； that of our mouth in words； in this
Third is prescribed our attitude toward God in works； and it is
the first and right table of Moses； on which these three
Commandments are written； and they govern man on the right side；
namely； in the things which concern God； and in which God has to
do with man and man with God； without the mediation of any
creature。
The first works of this Commandment are plain and outward； which
we commonly call worship； such as going to mass； praying； and
hearing a sermon on holy days。 So understood there are very few
works in this Commandment； and these； if they are not done in
assurance of and with faith in God's favor； are nothing； as was
said above。 Hence it would also be a good thing if there were
fewer saint's days； since in our times the works done on them are
for the greater part worse than those of the work days； what with
loafing； gluttony； and drunkenness； gambling and other evil
deeds； and then； the mass and the sermon are listened to without
edification； the prayer is spoken without faith。 It almost
happens that men think it is sufficient that we look on at the
mass with our eyes； hear the preaching with our ears； and say the
prayers with our mouths。 It is all so formal and superficial！ We
do not think that we might receive something out of the mass into
our hearts； learn and remember something out of the preaching；
seek； desire and expect something in our prayer。 Although in this
matter the bishops and priests； or they to whom the work of
preaching is entrusted； are most at fault； because they do not
preach the Gospel； and do not teach the people how they ought to
look on at mass； hear preaching and pray。 Therefore； we will
briefly explain these three works。
II。 In the mass it is necessary that we attend with our a hearts
also； and we do attend； when we exercise faith in our hearts。
Here we must repeat the words of Christ； when He institutes the
mass and says； 〃Take and eat； this is My Body； which is given for
you〃； in like manner over the cup； 〃Take and drink ye all of it：
this is a new； everlasting Testament in My Blood； which is shed
for you and for many for the remission of sins。 This shall ye do；
as oft as ye do it； in remembrance of Me。〃 In these words Christ
has made for Himself a memorial or anniversary； to be daily
observed in all Christendom； and has added to it a glorious；
rich； great testament； in which no interest； money or temporal
possessions are bequeathed and distributed； but the forgiveness
of all sins； grace and mercy unto eternal life； that all who come
to this memorial shall have the same testament； and then He died；
whereby this testament has become permanent and irrevocable。 In
proof and evidence of which； instead of letter and seal； He has
left with us His own Body and Blood under the bread and wine。
Here there is need that a man practise the first works of this
Commandment right well； that he doubt not that what Christ has
said is true； and consider the testament sure； so that he make
not Christ a liar。 For if you are present at mass and do not
consider nor believe that here Christ through His testament has
bequeathed and given you forgiveness of all your sins； what else
is it； than as if you said： 〃I do not know or do not believe that
it is true that forgiveness of my sins is here bequeathed and
given me〃？ Oh； how many masses there are in the world at present！
but how few who hear them with such faith and benefit！ Most
grievously is God provoked to anger thereby。 For this reason also
no one shall or can reap any benefit from the mass except he be
in trouble of soul and long for divine mercy； and desire to be
rid of his sins； or； if he have an evil intention； he must be
changed during the mass； and come to have a desire for this
testament。 For this reason in olden times no open sinner was
allowed to be present at the mass。
When this faith is rightly present； the heart must be made joyful
by the testament； and grow warm and melt in God's love。 Then will
follow praise and thanksgiving with a pure heart； from which the
mass is called in Greek Eucharistia； that is； 〃thanksgiving；〃
because we praise and thank God for this comforting； rich；
blessed testament； just as he gives thanks； praises and is
joyful； to whom a good friend has presented a thousand and more
gulden。 Although Christ often fares like those who make several
persons rich by their testament； and these persons never think
of them； nor praise or thank them。 So our masses at present are
merely celebrated； without our knowing why or wherefore； and
consequently we neither give thanks nor love nor praise； remain
parched and hard； and have enough with our little prayer。 Of this
more another time。
III。 The sermon ought to be nothing else than the proclamation
of this testament。 But who can hear it if no one preaches it？
Now； they who ought to preach it； themselves do not know it。 This
is why the sermons ramble off into other unprofitable stories；
and thus Christ is forgotten； while we fare like the man in II。
Kings vii： we see our riches but do not enjoy them。 Of which the
Preacher also says； 〃This is a great evil； when God giveth a man
riches； and giveth him not power to enjoy them。〃 So we look on
at unnumbered masses and do not know whether the mass be a
testament； or what it be； just as if it were any other common
good work by itself。 O God； how exceeding blind we are！ But where
this is rightly preached； it is necessary that it be diligently
heard； grasped； retained； often thought of； and that the faith
be thus strengthened against all the temptation of sin； whether
past； or present； or to come。
Lo！ this is the only ceremony or practice which Christ has
instituted； in which His Christians shall assemble； exercise
themselves and keep it with one accord； and this He did not make
to be a mere work like other ceremonies； but placed into it a
rich； exceeding great treasure； to be offered and bestowed upon
all who believe on it。
This preaching should induce sinners to grieve over their sins；
and should kindle in them a longing for the treasure。 It must；
therefore； be a grievous sin not to hear the Gospel； and to
despise such a treasure and so rich a feast to which we are
bidden； but a much greater sin not to preach the Gospel； and to
let so many people who would gladly hear it perish； since Christ
has so strictly commanded that the Gospel and this testament be
preached； that He does not wish even the mass to be celebrated；
unless the Gospel be preached； as He says： 〃As oft as ye do this；
remember me〃； that is； as St。 Paul says； 〃Ye shall preach of His
death。〃 For this reason it is dreadful and horrible in our times
to be a bishop； pastor and preacher； for no one any longer knows
this testament； to say nothing of their preaching it； although
this is their highest and only duty and obligation。 How heavily
must they give account for so many souls who must perish because
of this lack in preaching。
IV。 We should pray； not as the custom is； counting many pages or
beads； but fixing our mind upon some pressing need； desire it
with all earnestness； and exercise faith and confidence toward
God in the matter； in such wise that we do not doubt that we
shall be heard。 So St。 Bernard instructs his brethren and says：
〃Dear brethren； you shall by no means despise your prayer； as if
it were in vain； for I tell you of a truth that； before you have
uttered the words； the prayer is already recorded in heaven； and
you shall confidently expect from God one of two things： either
that your prayer will be granted； or that； if it will not be
granted； the granting of it would not be good for you。〃
Prayer is； therefore； a special exercise of faith； and faith
makes the prayer so acceptable that either it will surely be
granted； or something better than we ask will be given in its
stead。 So also says St。 James： 〃Let him who asketh of God not
waver in faith； for if he wavers； let not that man think that he
shall receive any thing of the Lord。〃 This is a clear statement；
which says directly： he who does not trust； receives nothing；
neither that which he asks； nor anything better。
And to call forth such faith； Christ Himself has said； Mark xi：
〃Therefore I say unto you； What things soev