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compunctions； you must never approach。
We must； therefore； make a distinction here among men。 For those who
are wanton and dissolute must be told to stay away； for they are not
prepared to receive forgiveness of sin since they do not desire it and
do not wish to be godly。 But the others； who are not such callous and
wicked people； and desire to be godly； must not absent themselves； even
though otherwise they be feeble and full of infirmities； as St。 Hilary
also has said： If any one have not committed sin for which he can
rightly be put out of the congregation and esteemed as no Christian； he
ought not stay away from the Sacrament； lest he may deprive himself of
life。 For no one will make such progress that he will not retain many
daily infirmities in flesh and blood。
Therefore such people must learn that it is the highest art to know
that our Sacrament does not depend upon our worthiness。 For we are not
baptized because we are worthy and holy； nor do we go to confession
because we are pure and without sin； but the contrary because we are
poor miserable men and just because we are unworthy； unless it be some
one who desires no grace and absolution nor intends to reform。
But whoever would gladly obtain grace and consolation should impel
himself； and allow no one to frighten him away； but say： I； indeed；
would like to be worthy； but I come； not upon any worthiness； but upon
Thy Word； because Thou hast commanded it； as one who would gladly be
Thy disciple； no matter what becomes of my worthiness。 But this is
difficult； for we always have this obstacle and hindrance to encounter；
that we look more upon ourselves than upon the Word and lips of Christ。
For nature desires so to act that it can stand and rest firmly on
itself； otherwise it refuses to make the approach。 Let this suffice
concerning the first point。
In the second place； there is besides this command also a promise； as
we heard above； which ought most strongly to incite and encourage us。
For here stand the kind and precious words： This is My body； given for
you。 This is My blood； shed for you； for the remission of sins。 These
words； I have said； are not preached to wood and stone； but to me and
you； else He might just as well be silent and not institute a
Sacrament。 Therefore consider； and put yourself into this YOU； that He
may not speak to you in vain。
For here He offers to us the entire treasure which He has brought for
us from heaven； and to which He invites us also in other places with
the greatest kindness； as when He says in St。 Matthew 11； 28： Come unto
Me； all ye that labor and are heavy laden； and I will give you rest。
Now it is surely a sin and a shame that He so cordially and faithfully
summons and exhorts us to our highest and greatest good； and we act so
distantly with regard to it； and permit so long a time to pass ＇without
partaking of the Sacrament＇ that we grow quite cold and hardened； so
that we have no inclination or love for it。 We must never regard the
Sacrament as something injurious from which we had better flee but as a
pure wholesome； comforting remedy imparting salvation and comfort；
which will cure you and give you life both in soul and body。 For where
the soul has recovered； the body also is relieved。 Why； then； is it
that we act as if it were a poison； the eating of which would bring
death？
To be sure； it is true that those who despise it and live in an
unchristian manner receive it to their hurt and damnation； for nothing
shall be good or wholesome to them； just as with a sick person who from
caprice eats and drinks what is forbidden him by the physician。 But
those who are sensible of their weakness； desire to be rid of it and
long for help； should regard and use it only as a precious antidote
against the poison which they have in them。 For here in the Sacrament
you are to receive from the lips of Christ forgiveness of sin which
contains and brings with it the grace of God and the Spirit with all
His gifts； protection； shelter； and power against death and the devil
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