# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Januar 1856_S22
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

22 Excerpts as Contributions to Pastoral Casuistry.

1. Since the holy Supper requires both a giving and a receiving person, it
would seem more correct and more in accord with Christ's institution for him
to receive the sacrament rather from another than from himself. 2. If there is
an analogy between the sacraments of Baptism and the Supper, and Christ did
not baptize himself but availed himself of the office of the Baptist, by whom,
as is believed, the disciples of Christ were also baptized, what hinders one, in
the holy Supper as well, from asking others to administer to him the saving
food and the saving drink? 3. Since no one can absolve himself, and it does
not read: where you forgive yourself your sins, but rather: whose sins you
remit, Matt. 16:19, John 20:21, why should one not, just as one must, according
to the custom of the whole Church, seek absolution from a faithful minister,
do likewise in respect to the holy Supper? 4. In order to declare his agreement
in religion and in the true faith, the presence of another pastor or minister
seems necessary; and so that the recipient, through this token imparted to him
by another, may confess the mutual love of the brethren and that he is a
member of a certain church, he should also accept a neighboring fellow-
worker in the church as a witness of his true faith. 5. For the sake of the
reverence due to the office, namely so that he who receives the sacrament
from ministers, since Christ himself instituted this holy estate, may gladly
bear witness that he too honors and esteems other ministers. 6. For the sake
of a fuller confirmation of his faith; for it can happen that one is restless and
full of doubt and must be raised up and strengthened by the voice of another,
and at times, in respect to life and conduct as well, especially where one has
to promise amendment and a new life, must be exhorted, and hence Paul too
was commanded to go to Ananias, Acts 6:9, just as Cornelius was commanded
to send for Peter, Acts 10:5. 7. Nor do we read that it was customary in the
old apostolic Church for anyone to administer the bread and wine to himself
at the celebration of the sacrament. — Rightly, however, Pelargus adds at this
point that the case of necessity is to be excepted. If, then, a village pastor,
because of great distance, can neither bring his neighbor to himself nor go to
him, let him first examine and search himself, ask God for forgiveness of his
sins, and then take the body and blood of the Son of God, not as from his
own hand but from the hand of Christ, who administers both. As for the
statement of Luther (in the Smalcald Articles), it is in fact directed against
the papal private Masses, in which the sacrificing priest alone communes, it
being held that from this a benefit accrues to the onlooking people.“
(Loc. de sacr. coen. § 18.)

Johann Benedict Carpzov writes concerning the aforementioned passage
of the Smalcald Articles as follows: „This must be understood of the practice