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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
Christ； and to please Him。 However； if you say： But the words are
added； As oft as ye do it； there He compels no one； but leaves it to
our free choice； answer： That is true； yet it is not written that we
should never do so。 Yea； just because He speaks the words； As oft as ye
do it； it is nevertheless implied that we should do it often； and it is
added for the reason that He wishes to have the Sacrament free； not
limited to special times； like the Passover of the Jews； which they
were obliged to eat only once a year； and that just upon the fourteenth
day of the first full moon in the evening； and which they must not vary
a day。 As if He would say by these words： I institute a Passover or
Supper for you which you shall enjoy not only once a year； just upon
this evening； but often； when and where you will； according to every
one's opportunity and necessity； bound to no place or appointed time；
although the Pope afterwards perverted it； and again made a Jewish
feast of it。
Thus； you perceive； it is not left free in the sense that we may
despise it。 For that I call despising it if one allow so long a time to
elapse and with nothing to hinder him yet never feels a desire for it。
If you wish such liberty； you may just as well have the liberty to be
no Christian； and neither have to believe nor pray； for the one is just
as much the command of Christ as the other。 But if you wish to be a
Christian； you must from time to time render satisfaction and obedience
to this commandment。 For this commandment ought ever to move you to
examine yourself and to think： See； what sort of a Christian I am！ If I
were one； I would certainly have some little longing for that which my
Lord has commanded ＇me＇ to do。
And； indeed； since we act such strangers to it； it is easily seen what
sort of Christians we were under the Papacy； namely； that we went from
mere compulsion and fear of human commandments； without inclination and
love； and never regarded the commandment of Christ。 But we neither
force nor compel any one； nor need any one do it to serve or please us。
But this should induce and constrain you by itself； that He desires it
and that it is pleasing to Him。 You must not suffer men to coerce you
unto faith or any good work。 We are doing no more than to say and
exhort you as to what you ought to do； not for our sake； but for your
own sake。 He invites and allures you； if you despise it； you must
answer for it yourself。
Now； this is to be the first point； especially for those who are cold
and indifferent； that they may reflect upon and rouse themselves。 For
this is certainly true； as I have found in my own experience； and as
every one will find in his own case； that if a person thus withdraw
from this Sacrament； he will daily become more and more callous and
cold； and will at last disregard it altogether。 To avoid this； we must；
indeed； examine heart and conscience； and act like a person who desires
to be right with God。 Now； the more this is done； the more will the
heart be warmed and enkindled； that it may not become entirely cold。
But if you say： How if I feel that I am not prepared？ Answer： That is
also my scruple； especially from the old way under the Pope； in which a
person tortured himself to be so perfectly pure that God could not find
the least blemish in us。 On this account we became so timid that every
one was instantly thrown into consternation and said to himself： Alas！
you are unworthy！ For then nature and reason begin to reckon our
unworthiness in comparison with the great and precious good； and then
it appears like a dark lantern in contrast with the bright sun； or as
filth in comparison with precious stones。 Because nature and reason see
this； they refuse to approach and tarry until they are prepared so long
that one week trails another； and one half year the other。 But if you
are to regard how good and pure you are； and labor to have no
compunctions； you must never approach。
We must； therefore； make a distinction here among men。 For those who
are wanton and dissolute must be told