# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Januar 1859_S22
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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

—confirmed. For if not all men were permitted to preach, and one
alone had the power to speak, what would be the need of maintaining
and commanding an order? And precisely because they all have the
power and authority to preach, it is necessary to maintain an order.
— — Away with you, villain! All Christians have good right and title
to read and preach from Holy Scripture, though you should burst
asunder for it. 37)

20. The sacraments are instituted either for admission into the
congregation, as baptism is, or for common enjoyment, as the
Holy Supper is; they should therefore be administered only
publicly before the congregation, or, where this is not
possible, the public minister who represents the public
fellowship should administer them. That is the sole reason
why not every Christian may administer the sacrament in his
own house, when a Christian congregation is present.

"Therefore it means nothing to say: the sacrament is made by the
word, therefore I may make it at home. For it is not God's order and
command that I do so; rather he wills that the sacrament be
administered through a public office; for the sacrament is instituted
for public confession, as Christ says: Do this in remembrance of me —
that is, as St. Paul says: proclaim and confess the death of Christ." 38)

21. Anyone might indeed preach publicly and administer the
sacrament, when this happens with the consent of the
congregation.

"Therefore let us look at Paul: for in that passage he strikes down,
with great thunderclaps, the pope's lies about authority and power to
preach. Thus Paul says, 1 Cor. 14:27-30: If any speak in a tongue, let
it be two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one
interpret. If there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the
church before the people, and speak to himself and to God. But let
two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. And if a
revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent.
For you may all prophesy, so that all may learn and all be
encouraged, says Paul. What will you idols and masks of the pope say
against this? Paul says that they may all prophesy, and each in turn,
in order. So that the one who sits and listens, if something is
revealed to him, may rise up, and the one who was speaking first
shall be silent and give way to him; and of all who preach or read,
the hearers shall be allowed to judge, and they shall be subject to
them." 39)

37) On the Abuse of the Mass, to the Augustinians at Wittenberg, vol.
19, 1326 to 1328. 38) cf. On Domestic Communion, vol. 10, 2738, 2739.
39) On the Abuse of the Mass, to the Augustinians at Wittenberg, vol.
19, 1327.