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Sacrament should know。 For it is not our intention to admit to it and
to administer it to those who know not what they seek； or why they
come。 The words； however； are these：
Our Lord Jesus Christ； the same night in which He was betrayed； took
bread； and when He had given thanks； He brake it； and gave it to His
disciples； and said； Take； eat； this is My body； which is given for
you：
this do in remembrance of Me。
After the same manner also He took the cup when He had supped； gave
thanks； and gave it to them； saying； Drink ye all of it； this cup is
the new testament in My blood； which is shed for you for the remission
of sins： this do ye； as oft as ye drink it； in remembrance of Me。
Here also we do not wish to enter into controversy and contend with the
traducers and blasphemers of this Sacrament； but to learn first （as we
did regarding Baptism） what is of the greatest importance； namely that
the chief point is the Word and ordinance or command of God。 For it has
not been invented nor introduced by any man； but without any one's
counsel and deliberation it has been instituted by Christ。 Therefore；
just as the Ten Commandments； the Lord's Prayer； and the Creed retain
their nature and worth although you never keep； pray； or believe them；
so also does this venerable Sacrament remain undisturbed； so that
nothing is detracted or taken from it； even though we employ and
dispense it unworthily。 What do you think God cares about what we do or
believe； so that on that account He should suffer His ordinance to be
changed？ Why； in all worldly matters every thing remains as God has
created and ordered it； no matter how we employ or use it。 This must
always be urged； for thereby the prating of nearly all the fanatical
spirits can be repelled。 For they regard the Sacraments； aside from the
Word of God； as something that we do。
Now； what is the Sacrament of the Altar！
Answer： It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ； in and
under the bread and wine which we Christians are commanded by the Word
of Christ to eat and to drink。 And as we have said of Baptism that it
is not simple water； so here also we say the Sacrament is bread and
wine； but not mere bread and wine； such as are ordinarily served at the
table； but bread and wine comprehended in； and connected with； the Word
of God。
It is the Word （I say） which makes and distinguishes this Sacrament； so
that it is not mere bread and wine； but is； and is called； the body and
blood of Christ。 For it is said： Accedat verbum ad elementum； et At
sacramentum。 If the Word be joined to the element it becomes a
Sacrament。 This saying of St。 Augustine is so properly and so well put
that he has scarcely said anything better。 The Word must make a
Sacrament of the element； else it remains a mere element。 Now； it is
not the word or ordinance of a prince or emperor； but of the sublime
Majesty； at whose feet all creatures should fall； and affirm it is as
He says； and accept it with all reverence fear； and humility。
With this Word you can strengthen your conscience and say： If a
hundred thousand devils； together with all fanatics； should rush
forward； crying； How can bread and wine be the body and blood of
Christ？ etc。； I know that all spirits and scholars together are not as
wise as is the Divine Majesty in His little finger。 Now here stands the
Word of Christ： Take； eat； this is My body； Drink ye all of it； this is
the new testament in My blood； etc。 Here we abide； and would like to
see those who will constitute themselves His masters； and make it
different from what He has spoken。 It is true； indeed； that if you take
away the Word or regard it without the words； you have nothing but mere
bread and wine。 But if the words remain with them as they shall and
must； then； in virtue of the same； it is truly the body and blood of
Christ。 For as the lips of Christ say and speak； so it is； as He can
never lie or deceive。
Hence it is easy to reply to all manner of questions about which men
are troubled at the present time； such as this one： Whether even a
wicked priest can minister at； and dispense； the Sacrament； and
whatever other questions like this there may be。 For here we conclude
and say： Even though a knave takes or distributes the Sacrament； he
receives the true Sacrament； that is； the true body and blood of
Christ； just as truly as he who ＇receives or＇ administers it in the
most worthy manner。 For it is not founded upon the holiness of men； but
upon the Word of God。 And as no saint upon earth； yea； no angel in
heaven； can make bread and wine to be the body and blood of Christ； so
also can no one change or alter it； even though it be misused。 For the
Word by which it became a Sacrament and was instituted does not become
false because of the person or his unbelief。 For He does not say： If
you believe or are worthy； you receive My body and blood； but： Take；
eat and drink； this is By body and blood。 Likewise： Do this （namely；
what I now do； institute； give； and bid you take） 。 That is as much as
to say； No matter whether you are worthy or unworthy； you have here His
body and blood by virtue of these words which are added to the bread
and wine。 Only note and remember this well； for upon these words rest
all our foundation； protection； and defense against all errors and
deception that have ever come or may yet come。
Thus we have briefly the first point which relates to the essence of
this Sacrament。 Now examine further the efficacy and benefits on
account of which really the Sacrament was instituted； which is also its
most necessary part； that we may know what we should seek and obtain
there。 Now this is plain and clear from the words just mentioned： This
is My body and blood； given and shed FOR YOU； for the remission of
sins。 Briefly that is as much as to say： For this reason we go to the
Sacrament because there we receive such a treasure by and in which we
obtain forgiveness of sins。 Why so？ Because the words stand here and
give us this； for on this account He bids me eat and drink； that it may
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
Sac