large catechism-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


cannot　be　a　vain；　but　must　be　a　most　precious　thing；　though　in
appearance　it　were　of　less　value　than　a　straw。　If　hitherto　people　could
consider　it　a　great　thing　when　the　Pope　with　his　letters　and　bulls
dispensed　indulgences　and　confirmed　altars　and　churches；　solely　because
of　the　letters　and　seals；　we　ought　to　esteem　Baptism　much　more　highly
and　more　precious；　because　God　has　commanded　it；　and；　besides；　it　is
performed　in　His　name。　For　these　are　the　words；　Go　ye　baptize；　however；
not　in　your　name；　but　in　the　name　of　God。　

For　to　be　baptized　in　the　name　of　God　is　to　be　baptized　not　by　men；　but
by　God　Himself。　Therefore　although　it　is　performed　by　human　hands；　it
is　nevertheless　truly　God's　own　work。　From　this　fact　every　one　may
himself　readily　infer　that　it　is　a　far　higher　work　than　any　work
performed　by　a　man　or　a　saint。　For　what　work　greater　than　the　work　of
God　can　we　do？　

But　here　the　devil　is　busy　to　delude　us　with　false　appearances；　and
lead　us　away　from　the　work　of　God　to　our　own　works。　For　there　is　a　much
more　splendid　appearance　when　a　Carthusian　does　many　great　and
difficult　works　and　we　all　think　much　more　of　that　which　we　do　and
merit　ourselves。　But　the　Scriptures　teach　thus：　Even　though　we　collect
in　one　mass　the　works　of　all　the　monks；　however　splendidly　they　may
shine；　they　would　not　be　as　noble　and　good　as　if　God　should　pick　up　a
straw。　Why？　Because　the　person　is　nobler　and　better。　Here；　then；　we
must　not　estimate　the　person　according　to　the　works；　but　the　works
according　to　the　person；　from　whom　they　must　derive　their　nobility。　But
insane　reason　will　not　regard　this；　and　because　Baptism　does　not　shine
like　the　works　which　we　do；　it　is　to　be　esteemed　as　nothing。　

From　this　now　learn　a　proper　understanding　of　the　subject；　and　how　to
answer　the　question　what　Baptism　is；　namely　thus；　that　it　is　not　mere
ordinary　water；　but　water　comprehended　in　God's　Word　and　command；　and
sanctified　thereby；　so　that　it　is　nothing　else　than　a　divine　water；　not
that　the　water　in　itself　is　nobler　than　other　water；　but　that　God's
Word　and　command　are　added。　

Therefore　it　is　pure　wickedness　and　blasphemy　of　the　devil　that　now　our
new　spirits；　to　mock　at　Baptism；　omit　from　it　God's　Word　and
institution；　and　look　upon　it　in　no　other　way　than　as　water　which　is
taken　from　the　well；　and　then　blather　and　say：　How　is　a　handful　of
water　to　help　the　soul？　Aye；　my　friend；　who　does　not　know　that　water　is
water　if　tearing　things　asunder　is　what　we　are　after？　But　how　dare　you
thus　interfere　with　God's　order；　and　tear　away　the　most　precious
treasure　with　which　God　has　connected　and　enclosed　it；　and　which　He
will　not　have　separated？　For　the　kernel　in　the　water　is　God's　Word　or
command　and　the　name　of　God　which　is　a　treasure　greater　and　nobler　than
heaven　and　earth。　

Comprehend　the　difference；　then；　that　Baptism　is　quite　another　thing
than　all　other　water；　not　on　account　of　the　natural　quality；　but
because　something　more　noble　is　here　added；　for　God　Himself　stakes　His
honor　His　power　and　might　on　it。　Therefore　it　is　not　only　natural
water；　but　a　divine；　heavenly；　holy；　and　blessed　water；　and　in　whatever
other　terms　we　can　praise　it；　　all　on　account　of　the　Word；　which　is　a
heavenly；　holy　Word；　that　no　one　can　sufficiently　extol；　for　it　has；
and　is　able　to　do；　all　that　God　is　and　can　do　＇since　it　has　all　the
virtue　and　power　of　God　comprised　in　it＇。　Hence　also　it　derives　its
essence　as　a　Sacrament；　as　St。　Augustine　also　taught：　Aocedat　verbum　ad
elementum　et　fit　sacramentum。　That　is；　when　the　Word　is　joined　to　the
element　or　natural　substance；　it　becomes　a　Sacrament；　that　is；　a　holy
and　divine　matter　and　sign。　

Therefore　we　always　teach　that　the　Sacraments　and　all　external　things
which　God　ordains　and　institutes　should　not　be　regarded　according　to
the　coarse；　external　mask；　as　we　regard　the　shell　of　a　nut；　but　as　the
Word　of　God　is　included　therein。　For　thus　we　also　speak　of　the　parental
estate　and　of　civil　government。　If　we　propose　to　regard　them　in　as　far
as　they　have　noses；　eyes；　skin；　and　hair　flesh　and　bones；　they　look
like　Turks　and　heathen；　and　some　one　might　start　up　and　say：　Why　should
I　esteem　them　more　than　others？　But　because　the　commandment　is　added：
Honor　thy　father　and　thy　mother；　I　behold　a　different　man；　adorned　and
clothed　with　the　majesty　and　glory　of　God。　The　commandment　（I　say）　is
the　chain　of　gold　about　his　neck；　yea；　the　crown　upon　his　head　which
shows　to　me　how　and　why　one　must　honor　this　flesh　and　blood。　

Thus；　and　much　more　even；　you　must　honor　Baptism　and　esteem　it
glorious　on　account　of　the　Word；　since　He　Himself　has　honored　it　both
by　words　and　deeds；　moreover；　confirmed　it　with　miracles　from　heaven。
For　do　you　think　it　was　a　jest　that；　when　Christ　was　baptized；　the
heavens　were　opened　and　the　Holy　Ghost　descended　visibly；　and
everything　was　divine　glory　and　majesty？　

Therefore　I　exhort　again　that　these　two　the　water　and　the　Word；　by　no
means　be　separated　from　one　another　and　parted。　For　if　the　Word　is
separated　from　it；　the　water　is　the　same　as　that　with　which　the　servant
cooks；　and　may　indeed　be　called　a　bath…keeper's　baptism。　But　when　it　is
added；　as　God　has　ordained；　it　is　a　Sacrament；　and　is　called
Christ…baptism。　Let　this　be　the　first　part　regarding　the　essence　and
dignity　of　the　holy　Sacrament。　

In　the　second　place；　since　we　know　now　what　Baptism　is；　and　how　it　is
to　be　regarded；　we　must　also　learn　why　and　for　what　purpose　it　is
instituted；　that　is；　what　it　profits；　gives　and　works。　And　this　also　we
cannot　discern　better　than　from　the　words　of　Christ　above　quoted：　He
that　believeth　and　is　baptized　shall　be　saved。　Therefore　state　it　most
simply　thus；　that　the　power；　work；　profit；　fruit；　and　end　of　Baptism　is
this；　namely；　to　save。　For　no　one　is　baptized　in　order　that　he　may
become　a　prince；　but；　as　the　words　declare；　that　he　be　saved。　But　to　be
saved。　we　know。　is　nothing　else　than　to　be　delivered　from　sin；　death；
and　the　devil；　and　to　enter　into　the　kingdom　of　Christ；　and　to　live
with　Him　forever。　

Here　you　see　again　how　highly　and　precious　we　should　esteem　Baptism；
because　in　it　we　obtain　such　an　unspeakable　treasure；　which　also
indicates　sufficiently　that　it　cannot　be　ordinary　mere　water。　For　mere
water　could　not　do　such　a　thing；　but　the　Word　does　it；　and　（as　said
above）　the　fact　that　the　name　of　God　is　comprehended　therein。　But　where
the　name　of　God　is；　there　must　be　also　life　and　salvation；　that　it　may
indeed　be　called　a　divine；　blessed；　fruitful；　and　gracious　water；　for
by　the　Word　such　power　is　imparted　to　Baptism　that　it　is　a　laver　of
regeneration；　as　St。　Paul　also　calls　it；　Titus　3；　5。　

But　as　our　would…be　wise；　new　spirits　assert　that　faith　alone　saves；
and　that　works　and　external　things　avail　nothing；　we　answer：　It　is
true；　indeed；　that　nothing　in　us　is　of　any　avail　but　faith；　as　we　shall
hear　still　further。　But　these　blind　guides　are　unwilling　to　see　this；
namely；　that　faith　must　have　something　which　it　believes；　that　is；　of
which　it　takes　hold；　and　upon　which　it　stands　and　rests。　Thus　faith
clings　to　the　water；　and　believes　that　it　is　Baptism；　in　which　there　is
pure　salvation　and　life；　not　through　the　water　（as　we　have　sufficiently
stated）；　but　through　the　fact　that　it　is　embodied　in　the　Word　and
institution　of　God；　and　the　name　of　God　inheres　in　it。　Now；　if　I
believe　this；　what　else　is　it　than　believing　in　God　as　in　Him　who　has
given　and　planted　His　Word　into　this　ordinance；　and　proposes　to　us　this
external　thing　wherein　we　may　apprehend　such　a　treasure？　

Now；　they　are　so　mad　as　to　separate　faith　and　that　to　which　faith
clings　and　is　bound　though　it　be　something　external。　Yea；　it　shall　and
must　be　something　external；　that　it　may　be　apprehended　by　the　senses；
and　understood　and　thereby　be　brought　into　the　heart；　as　indeed　the
entire　Gospel　is　an　external；　verbal　preaching。　In　short；　what　God　does
and　works　in　us　He　proposes　to　work　through　such　external　ordinances。
Wherever；　therefore；　He　speaks；　yea；　in　whichever　direction　or　by
whatever　means　He　speaks；　thither　faith　must　look；　and　to　that　it　must
hold。　Now　here　we　have　the　words：　He　that　believeth　and　is　baptized
shall　be　saved。　To　what　else　do　they　refer　than　to　Baptism；　that　is；　to
the　water　comprehended　in　God's　ordinance？　Hence　it　follows　that
whoever　rejects　Baptism　rejects　the　Word　of　God；　faith；　and　Christ；　who
directs　us　thither　and　binds　us　to　Baptism。　

In　the　third　place　since　we　have　learned　the　great　benefit　and　power　of
Baptism；　let　us　see　further　who　is　the　person　that　receives　what
Baptism　gives　and　profits。　This　is　again　most　beautifully　and　clearly
expressed　in　the　words：　He　that　believeth　and　is　baptized　shall　be
saved。　That　is；　faith　alone　makes　the　person　worthy　to　receive
profitably　the　saving；　divine　water。　For；　since　these　blessings　are
here　presented　and　promised　in　the　words　in　and　with　the　water；　they
cannot　be　received　in　any　other　way　than　by　believing　them　with　the
heart。　Without　faith　it　profits　nothing；　notwithstanding　it　is　in
itself　a　divine　superabundant　treasure。　Therefore　this　single　word　（He
that　believeth）　effects　this　much　that　it　excludes　and　repels　all
works　which　we　can　do；　in　the　opinion　that　we　obtain　and　merit
salvation　by　them。　For　it　is　determined　that　whatever　is　not　faith
avails　nothing　nor　receives　anything。　

But　if　they　say；　as　they　are　accustomed：　Still　Baptism　is　itself　a
work；　and　you　say　works　are　of　no　avail　for　salvation；　what　then；
becomes　of　faith？　Answer：　Yes；　our　works；　indeed；　avail　nothing　for
salvation；　Baptism；　however；　is　not　our　work；　but　God's　（for；　as　was
stated；　you　must　put　Christ…baptism　far　away　from　a　bath…keeper's
baptism）。　God's　works；　however；　are　saving　and　necessary　for　salvation；
and　do　not　exclude；　but　demand；　faith；　for　without　faith　they　could　not
be　apprehended。　For　by　suffering　the　water　to　be　poured　upon　you；　you
have　not　yet　received　Baptism　in　such　a　manner　that　it　benefits　you
anything；　but　it　becomes　beneficial　to　you　if　you　have　yourself
baptized　with　the　thought　that　this　is　according　to　God's　command　and
ordinance；　and　besides　in　God's　name；　in　order　that　you　may　receive　in
the　water　the　promised　salvation。　Now；　this　the　fist　cannot　do；　nor　the
body；　but　the　heart　must　believe　it。　

Thus　you　see　plainly　that　there　is　here　no　work　done　by　us；　but　a
treasure　which　He　gives　us；　and　which　faith　apprehends；　just　as　the
Lord　Jesus　Christ　upon　the　cross　is　not　a　work；　but　a　treasure
comprehended　in　the　Word；　and　offered　to　us　and　received　by　faith。
Therefore　they　do　us　violence　by　exclaiming　against　us　as　though　we
preach　against　faith；　while　we　alone　insist　upon　it　as　being　of　such
necessity　that　without　it　nothing　can　be　received　nor　enjoyed。　

Thus　we　have　these　three　parts　which　it　is　necessary　to　know
concerning　this　Sacrament　especially　that　the　ordinance　of　God　is　to　be
held　in　all　honor；　which　alone　would　be　sufficient；　though　it　be　an
entirely　external　thing　like　the　commandment；　Honor　thy　father　and　thy
mother；　which　refers　to　bodily　flesh　and　blood。　Therein　we　regard　not
the　flesh　and　blood；　but　the　commandment　of　God　in　which　they　are
comprehended；　and　on　account　of　which　the　flesh　is