# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Januar 1859_S15
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The History of the Doctrine of the Spiritual Office, etc.        15

7. Christ administers his office according to an eternal order.

"But the papists are blind and leaders of the blind; they look only to
their own person and work, just as though the sacrament had to become
valid or not because they are such persons and do such works, asking
nothing after the order or institution of Christ; and yet indeed our
person and work can contribute nothing to it — it is Christ's order
alone that must do it." 11)

"So it is, indeed, with created things, that our doing and working
accomplishes nothing, but only God's command and order. As when we
plow, sow, and plant, we do our work, which is commanded us. But such
work of ours brings forth not one little grain; rather it is the
command and order of God, when he says to the earth: Let the earth
bring forth grass, herb, and every kind of tree, etc. Let only the
devil or man, whether a rogue or a godly man, do this work — plant,
sow, or water — the order and command of God nevertheless goes
forward, and the earth brings forth fruit. — — So it is likewise here
with the sacraments. We put water and word together, as he bids us,
but such doing of ours does not make it baptism; rather it is Christ's
command and order. We do, according to his command, bread and wine to
the word of Christ; but such doing of ours does not change it, but
rather Christ's word and order does. If here the devil, or his member,
kept Christ's order and acted accordingly, it would nevertheless be
the true baptism and sacrament. For Christ, for the sake of the devil
or of wicked people, becomes neither a liar nor a deceiver of his
church, but baptizes it and gives it his body and blood, whatever hand
it may be through which he does it, whoever and whatsoever that hand
may be." 12)

8. Church order is nothing but a serving of the church within
the order of Christ's office.

"For God be praised, in our churches we can show a Christian a true
Christian Mass according to the order and institution of Christ, and
also according to the true intent of Christ and the church. There our
pastor, bishop, or minister in the pastoral office steps before the
altar — rightly and honestly, and publicly called, but before that
consecrated, anointed, and born a priest of Christ in baptism, whatever
be made of the back-room chrism — and he sings publicly and plainly
the order of Christ instituted in the Supper, takes the bread and
wine, gives thanks, distributes it, and gives it by the power of
Christ's words, this is my body, this is my blood, do this, etc., to
us others, as we are there and wish to receive it, kneeling beside,
behind, and around him — man, woman, young, old, master, servant,
wife, maid, parents, children, as God there brings us together — all
of us true, holy fellow-priests, sanctified through Christ's blood,
and consecrated and anointed in baptism through the Holy Spirit.

11) The same, p. 1554. 12) The same, p. 1552 ff.