# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juni 1862_S172
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

172    Essay on the Right Mean of the Lutheran Liturgy.

expound or prophesy, and speak with the sense or the understanding. And where this does not happen, the congregation is not at all bettered by the lesson, as has happened hitherto in cloisters and chapters, where they have only [made noise at] the walls." (L. WW. 22, 154.)

The same, p. 156: "The sum of it is that everything should be so done that the Word remains in full swing and does not turn once more into mere droning and chanting, as it has been until now. Everything else is better let go than the Word, and nothing is better practiced than the Word; for that the same should be kept in full swing among the Christians, the whole of Scripture shows, and Christ himself also says, Luke 10 (39, 42): One thing is needful, that Mary sit at Christ's feet and hear his Word daily; that is the best part, which is to be chosen and shall never be taken away. It is an eternal Word; the other must all pass away, however much it may give Martha to do. To this end may God help us. Amen."

b. Since the Word calls to and draws toward the Sacrament, and the latter seals the former for the strengthening of faith, let the Holy Supper — where communicants are present — follow the sermon, and so form the keystone and completion of the divine service.

Acts 2:42: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers." Cf. 5:17ff.

1 Cor. 11:20ff. shows that the Christians, as often as they assembled, kept the Lord's Supper.

Augustine: "There are people who partake daily of the Lord's body and blood; others receive it on set days; in some places no day passes without the Supper being held; in others it is kept only on the Sabbath and on the Lord's Day; in yet others, only on Sunday."

Apology, Art. 12 (cf. Augsburg Confession, Art. 24): "First we must say this here at the outset, that we do not abolish the Mass, for on all Sundays and festivals Masses are held in our churches, at which the Sacrament is administered to those who desire it, but only after they have first been examined and absolved. So also are Christian ceremonies observed, with reading, with hymns, prayers, and the like."

Luther, The Manner of Celebrating a Christian Mass: "As for the German sermon, we hold that it does not matter whether it is delivered after the Patrem or before the Introit, although a reason could be given why it might better take place before the Mass, since the Gospel is a calling voice in the wilderness, inviting the hearts of unbelievers to faith, whereas the Mass ought to be the use or benefit of the Gospel and the distribution of the Sacrament, which belongs to believers alone and ought properly to be held in another place, apart from unbelievers. Yet since we are free, this practice shall not bind us,