large catechism-第38部分

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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