This is the Church Order for the Palatinate, commissioned by Frederick III in 1563. It is translated from Die evangelischen Kirchenordnungen des XVI. Jahrhunderts (14. Band): Kurpfalz  (1969) by Google Gemini 2.5 Pro.

31. Church Order, how it is to be held with the Christian doctrine, holy sacraments, and ceremonies in the principality of the most illustrious, high-born prince and lord, Lord Frederick, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Arch-Steward and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke in Bavaria etc., held in the Electorate of the Rhine. [from November 15, 1563]

We Frederick, by the grace of God Count Palatine of the Rhine, Arch-Steward and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke in Bavaria etc., offer to all and everyone our superintendents, pastors, preachers, church and school ministers of our Electorate of the Palatinate of the Rhine our grace and greeting, and make known to you herewith:

Since we in the recently passed January had a summary instruction or catechism of our Christian religion drawn from the Word of God and published in print, with necessary indication and explanation of what caused and moved us to do so, but especially because we found all sorts of incorrectness and inequality in the teaching and instruction of the youth, from which no small misunderstanding and disorder arose and emerged, so that through this such defects might be cut off and henceforth a certain and constant form and measure be kept.

So that now also in the ceremonies, administration of the holy sacraments, and other church practices (in which hitherto no less inequality has been felt and found), according to the required necessity, correctness and uniformity may be kept, and thus our dear subjects may be brought and led simultaneously in doctrine and also in the outward ceremonies to the true knowledge of God's Word and will through a harmonious path founded in the Holy Scripture;

We have had a short church order—detailing how the church ministers shall conduct themselves uniformly throughout the churches of our Electorate in the proclamation of God's Word, administration of the holy sacraments, and other matters—inspected by our prominent theologians, superintendents, church ministers, and other godly, learned men and councilors for the above-mentioned reasons, and finally published in print.

We therefore graciously request and command all and each of you that you accept our aforementioned church order and follow it with earnest diligence; thus we are of the undoubted confidence that this will lead to the spreading of the saving Word of God, and also to the Christian edification of our subjects.

Datum Mosbach, the 15th day of November in the year 1563.

Register, on which leaf each title is to be found.

• Introduction to the sermon and exhortation to prayer before the sermon.

• Of doctrine and preaching (fol. 1)

• Of holy baptism (fol. 2)

• Form for baptizing (fol. 3)

• Of the catechism (fol. 9)

• Catechism (fol. 10)

• Verses of Holy Scripture (fol. 35)

• Short summary of the catechism (fol. 39)

• Of preparation for the holy Lord's Supper (fol. 43)

• Of the holy Lord's Supper (fol. 46)

• Form for holding the holy Lord's Supper (fol. 46)

• Of the Christian ban or church discipline (fol. 52)

• Of the almoners (fol. 53)

• Of the church prayer (fol. 54)

• Prayer on Sunday before the sermon (fol. 54)

• Prayer on Sunday after the morning sermon (fol. 54 and 55)

• Prayer on Sunday after the midday sermon (fol. 59)

• Prayer after the catechism sermon (fol. 61)

• Of the sermons held on weekdays (fol. 62)

• Prayer to be used before and after the sermon on common prayer days in the week for all the needs and concerns of Christendom (fol. 62)

• Morning prayer (fol. 66)

• Evening prayer (fol. 67)

• Order of the holidays (fol. 68)

• Order of the solemnization of marriage (fol. 69)

• How betrothed couples are to be proclaimed (fol. 69)

• Form of exhortation to the married couple when they are joined before the Christian congregation (fol. 70)

• Of church singing and clothing (fol. 76)

• Of visiting the sick (fol. 77)

• Prayer with the sick (fol. 78)

• Prayer with the dying (fol. 79)

• Of visiting prisoners (fol. 80)

• Of burial (fol. 82)

Introduction to the sermon and exhortation to prayer, to be used by the church ministers before the sermon.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us call upon our faithful God and Father and humbly pray that He would turn His face away from our sins, with which we provoke His wrath against us without ceasing. And because we are unfortunately altogether unworthy to appear before His majesty, that He would look upon us in His beloved Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and accept the merit of His suffering and death as payment for all our sins and thereby make us acceptable to Him. That He would also illuminate us with His Holy Spirit to a right understanding of His Word and grant us His grace to receive the same with true fear and humility, so that we may learn from it to withdraw all our trust from all creatures ever more and more and place it in Him alone, to serve and honor Him, so that His holy name may be praised with our whole life, and that we may thus show Him the love and obedience which faithful servants owe their master and children their father, since it has pleased Him to call and accept us as His servants, children, and heirs of future glory.

Let us therefore pray to Him as our faithful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has taught us to pray, saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven, etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

Of Doctrine and Preaching.

The Lord Jesus Christ speaks in John chapter 17 [3]: This is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. To lead His elect to this knowledge and eternal life, the Lord Jesus Christ has ordained the preaching of repentance and the forgiveness of sins, so that the knowledge of God and eternal life through such means (instituted because of our weakness, which could not bear the voice of God) may be begun in our hearts on this earth, until we reach perfection in heaven without outward means, when we shall see God face to face.

Since God makes Himself known in His Word, which is perfectly contained in the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, all sermons shall be taken from it and founded upon it, and directed at all times toward the present shortcomings and failings of the people, according to the saying of the holy apostle Paul, 2 Tim. 3 [16-17]: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

And since the Word of God usually directs its teaching first to lead people to the knowledge of their sins and misery, then also instructs them how they are redeemed from all sins and misery, and thirdly, how they should be thankful to God for such redemption, the preachers shall diligently look to these three parts in their chosen text and thus continually take good care that they use the medicine rightly according to the need of wounded consciences. They shall also know how to adapt their sermons to the poor, limited understanding of the common people, so that the article of the catechism to which the doctrine they are presenting relates is introduced and understandably impressed upon the people.

The pastors shall also not undertake to explain any book of the Holy Scripture on their own without the advice and knowledge of their superintendents, who shall ensure that the books of the New Testament which are most useful to the common man and most edifying to the church are primarily presented and explained on Sundays.

Of Holy Baptism.

Because the children of Christians are included in the covenant of God, Acts 2 [39], holy baptism shall be imparted to them as the sign and seal of this covenant, and they shall thus be distinguished from the children of unbelievers. It is also certain that children as well as adults receive the Holy Spirit, who plants faith in the hearts; for whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ is not His, as the apostle says, Rom. 8 [9]. But those who have the Spirit of God, nothing can prevent them from being baptized, as is written in the 10th chapter of Acts [47]. Furthermore, children are not the least part of the Christian church, which church, together with all its members, is redeemed and cleansed by the blood of Christ through the washing of water by the word, Eph. 5 [26]. From these and other reasons it is clear that young children should by no means be excluded from baptism.

Concerning the persons who shall baptize, the Lord Jesus Christ gave this command in the last chapter of Matthew [19-20]: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. In these words, the Lord Christ commands only those to baptize who are called to preach His holy Word, and joins both, preaching and baptizing, together in one command and office. Therefore, it is not proper for any creature to separate this command and to allow a person to baptize who is forbidden the office of preaching.

Therefore, children shall be baptized by the preachers at any proper time, if it is orderly requested on their behalf and they are brought into the church before the ministers of the Word. And this shall primarily happen on Sunday, a holiday, or otherwise during the week when the congregation of God is gathered together, so that everyone may be reminded of his own baptism and the Christian congregation may unanimously call upon the name of God over the child.

In all cases, the father of the child, if he is present, shall speak to the church minister about the baptism beforehand and request it, or, if he is not present, one of his friends, so that the preacher may inquire who the godparents will be, so that he may exhort them in good time not to use any frivolous, vicious, or otherwise unfit persons for this, so that the holy sacrament of baptism is not dishonored, and the child is not neglected in Christian discipline by such godparents.

Moreover, the father, if he is present, shall also present himself for baptism for the following reason: first, that he may thank God the Lord for the creation of himself and his child, and also for the redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ, which is sealed to the child through holy baptism; also to call upon God for His grace, that he may raise his child to His praise and honor. Accordingly, so that the preacher may orderly write the names of the father, the mother, the child, and the godparents in a special book, which shall be made for this purpose in every church and remain there.

And if a child is born out of wedlock, whose father's name cannot be immediately known, the names of the mother, the godparents, and the child shall be written down, the child baptized, and this brought to the attention of the authorities, to take proper Christian order with it.

Form for Baptizing.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth [Ps. 124:8], Amen.

Because our Lord Jesus Christ says that we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we are born again [John 3:3, 5], He gives us a certain indication that our nature is thoroughly perverted and cursed, and therefore exhorts us herewith that we should humble ourselves before God and be displeased with ourselves, and thus prepares us to desire His grace, through which all our wickedness and the curse of our old nature may be blotted out; for we are not capable of God's grace unless all trust in our own ability, wisdom, and righteousness is first taken out of our hearts, yes, until we completely and utterly condemn all that is in us.

But after Christ has thus placed our misery before our eyes, He comforts us much more through His mercy, in that He promises us and our children that He will wash us from all our sins, that is, not impute them to us because of the shedding of His blood, and also renew our nature again to His image through His Holy Spirit. And to confirm such a promise to our weak faith and to seal it on our own body, He has commanded that we should be baptized in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, first, since He wills that we be baptized with water in the name of the Father, He testifies to us, as with a visible oath all the days of our life, that God will be our Father and the Father of our seed, to provide for us with all the necessities of body and soul and to turn all evil to our good, because all creatures, on account of the covenant we have with God, cannot harm us, but must serve for our salvation.

Secondly, in that we are baptized in the name of the Son, He promises us that all that the Son of God has done and suffered shall be our own, so that He is the Savior of us and our children, anoints us with His saving grace, has redeemed us from all impurity and sins through His holy conception, birth, suffering, and death, and has nailed all our curse and malediction to the cross, washed it away with His blood, and buried it with Him, and thus delivered us from the pains of hell, so that He clothes us with His righteousness through His resurrection and ascension, and now intercedes for us before the heavenly Father, and at the last judgment will present us glorious and without blemish before the face of the Father.

Thirdly, since we are baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit, it is promised to us that the Holy Spirit will be the teacher and comforter of us and our children forever, will make us true members of the body of Jesus Christ, so that we have fellowship with Christ and all His goods, together with all the members of the Christian church, so that our sins will never be remembered in eternity, and the sin and weakness that still remains in us will be put to death more and more, and a new life begun in us, and finally be perfectly revealed in us in the blessed resurrection (when this our flesh will be conformed to the glorious body of Christ).

But since in every covenant both parties obligate themselves, we also promise God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that through His grace we will recognize and confess Him alone as our only, true, and living God, call upon Him alone in all need, and live as obedient children, as this new birth requires, which consists in these two parts: First, that out of true repentance and sorrow for our sin we deny all our reason and desires and submit to the will of God, and hate and flee all sin from the heart. Then also, that we begin to have desire and love to live according to the Word of God in all holiness and righteousness.

But when we sometimes fall into sins out of weakness, we should not remain lying in them nor despair, nor seek forgiveness of sins through any other means than through Christ, but always be reminded by our baptism to turn away from them and firmly trust that they shall nevermore be remembered for the sake of the blood-shedding of Christ, since holy baptism is an undoubted testimony to us that we have an eternal covenant with God and are baptized in the living fountain of the eternal mercy of the Father and the most holy suffering and death of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Although our little children do not yet understand, much less can confess, these mentioned reasons and mysteries, they shall nevertheless by no means be excluded from holy baptism, because they are called by God to His covenant, which God made with Abraham, the father of all believers and his seed, and thus also with us and our children: I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you [Gen. 17:7].

Now, however, our Lord Jesus Christ has come into the world, not to diminish the grace of His heavenly Father, but much more to spread the covenant of grace, which was previously enclosed in the people of Israel, throughout the whole world, and has ordained holy baptism in place of circumcision as the sign and seal of this covenant for us and our children, as the holy apostle Peter expressly teaches such confirmation of the covenant in the Acts of the Apostles in the 2nd chapter [38-39], where he says: Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. Moreover, the Lord Christ Himself commands the little children to be brought to Him and promises them the kingdom of heaven with words and deeds, as is written in Mark 10 [13-16]: Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. From these words it is evident that our children are also in the kingdom and in the covenant of God, and therefore shall also receive baptism as the seal of the covenant, even if they do not yet understand the mystery of baptism because of their age, just as the little children were blessed by Jesus Christ Himself with words and deeds and were circumcised in the old church on the eighth day, although they did not yet understand the blessing of the Lord, nor the mystery of circumcision.

Let us call upon God thus:

Almighty, eternal God, who according to Your severe judgment punished the unbelieving and unrepentant world with the flood, and preserved the believing Noah and his family of eight out of Your great mercy, and drowned the obstinate Pharaoh with all his people in the Red Sea, but led Your people Israel dry-shod through it, by which this baptism was signified: We pray You through Your boundless mercy, that You would graciously look upon this Your child [or these Your children] and incorporate him into Your Son Jesus Christ through Your Holy Spirit, that he may be buried with Him in His death, and also rise with Him in a new life, in which he may joyfully bear his cross following Him daily, cleaving to Him with true faith, firm hope, and fervent love, so that he may comfortingly leave this life, which is nothing else than a death, for Your sake, and appear without fear at the last day before the judgment seat of Christ, Your Son, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, in eternity, Amen.

Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

Confess also with me the articles of our ancient, universal, undoubted Christian faith, upon which this child is baptized.

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and an eternal life, Amen.

Question.

Do you then desire, out of true faith in the promise of God in Jesus Christ, which is given to us and our children, that He will be the God not only of us, but also of our seed to the thousandth generation, that this child be baptized upon this and receive the sealing of the adoption of God?

Answer.

Yes.

Here it is unnecessary to unwrap the child, but it is enough that its head be bared.

And then let the church minister say that they should name the child, and after that let him pour water on it and say:

N., I baptize you in the name of God the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving.

Let us thank God, the Lord.

Almighty, merciful God and Father, we give You praise and thanks that You have forgiven us and our children all our sins through the blood of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, and have adopted us as members of Your only begotten Son through Your Holy Spirit, and thus as Your children, and have sealed and confirmed all this to us with holy baptism. We also pray You through the same Your dear Son, that You would always govern this child [or these children] with Your Holy Spirit, so that it may be raised in a Christian and godly manner and grow and increase in the Lord Jesus Christ, so that it may acknowledge Your fatherly goodness and mercy, which You have shown to it and to us all, and live in all righteousness under our only Teacher, King, and High Priest Christ Jesus, and fight valiantly against sin, the devil, and his whole kingdom and overcome, to praise and glorify You and Your Son Jesus Christ together with the Holy Spirit, the one and true God, eternally, Amen.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, since you have taken on this child, remember that our God is a truthful God and desires that we serve Him in truth. And therefore you, friends and relatives, but especially you, father and godparents, should apply all diligence that this child be raised in the true knowledge and fear of God according to the articles of the Christian faith and the doctrine which God has revealed from heaven and is contained in the Old and New Testaments, to the Lord Christ, and, when it comes to understanding, exhort it that, by receiving this divine covenant sign and seal of holy baptism publicly before the face of God, His holy angels, and the Christian congregation, it has renounced the devil and the world with all their works and lusts, and has surrendered and pledged itself to the Lord, to serve Him its whole life long in all holiness and obedience to His holy gospel. May the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ grant this to you and to it, Amen.

Of the Catechism.

Catechism in our Christian religion means a short and simple, oral instruction of the principal parts of the Christian doctrine, in which the young and simple are asked and heard in turn what they have learned. For all the godly from the beginning of the Christian church have endeavored to instruct their children at home, in schools, and in churches in the fear of the Lord, undoubtedly for the following reasons, which should also rightly move us to do so. For first, they well considered that innate wickedness would take the upper hand and subsequently ruin church and political government if it were not countered in good time with wholesome doctrine. Secondly, the express command of God also drove them to it, Exod. 12 [26-27], 13 [8-9, 14], Deut. 4 [37-40], 6 [1-9], and 11 [18-21], where the Lord speaks thus: These words (the Ten Commandments) which I command you today shall be in your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up [Deut. 6:6-7]. Finally also, just as the children of Israel after circumcision, when they came to understanding, were instructed in the mystery of the same covenant sign and also in the covenant of God, so also our children should be instructed concerning their received baptism, true Christian faith, and repentance, so that, before they are admitted to the table of the Lord, they may confess their faith before the whole Christian congregation. This custom of practicing the catechism, which has its origin from the command of God, remained in the Christian churches as long as the wretched Satan through the Antichrist, the Pope, tore it apart like all other good orders, and in its place established his smear-work and slap on the cheek and other abominations, which he calls confirmation.

Therefore, the catechism shall be held in the following form.

First, because the old people were raised in the papacy without a catechism and easily forget the parts of the Christian religion, it is considered highly necessary that on all Sundays and holidays in villages and towns, likewise also in the cities, before beginning to preach, the church minister shall read a part of the catechism clearly and understandably to the people, so that it is read through in nine Sundays. The first Sunday up to the second part, the second up to the article of God the Son, the third up to the question of the ascension of Christ, the fourth up to the question: What does it profit you that you believe all this?, the fifth up to the holy Lord's Supper, the sixth up to the third part of the catechism, the seventh up to the question: What does God require in the fifth commandment?, the eighth up to prayer, the ninth up to the end of prayer. On the tenth Sunday, the pastor shall read the verses before the sermon, in which everyone is reminded of his calling, as they are set at the end of the catechism.

Furthermore, every Sunday afternoon at the hour that is convenient for each place, a catechism sermon shall be held, so that the church minister first, after the singing, prays the Lord's Prayer and calls upon God for a right understanding of His Word, then reads the Ten Commandments understandably to the people. Then he shall hear the beginners, who cannot yet learn the questions being preached, and orderly guide them first for a time to the text, then also gradually to the questions. After this, he shall have some among the youth recite a certain number of questions in the catechism (as we have divided it into Sundays for this reason), which were explained in previous and especially in the last sermon and which they learned beforehand in school or at home. And when these have thus been recited in the presence of the congregation by some, the church minister shall explain and expound some of the following questions simply and briefly, so that he preaches through the catechism at least once every year.

Of the Preparation for the Holy Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper shall be held in cities at least every month, in villages every two months once, and in both on Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas; however, where the edification or custom and need of the churches require it, it is Christian and right that it happen more often. And when the Supper is to be held, it shall always be announced by the church minister to the congregation of God eight days beforehand with an exhortation that the whole congregation prepare themselves for it.

In addition, he shall also exhort the parents and heads of households to bring their children and other young people who wish to go to the table of the Lord for the first time to the church minister on the Saturday or another preceding, convenient day according to the church's need after the sermon, so that they may receive further instruction.

On the Saturday before the Lord's Supper, the preparation shall be held, that is, a sermon on the right understanding and use of the holy Lord's Supper, as the church ministers find guidance for this in the catechism and in the order of the Supper.

At the end of the sermon, the minister shall exhort the people to remain to hear further instruction and to make confession of their faith. Then the minister shall step before the table and first exhort the young people present who have not gone to the table of the Lord before, that they present themselves and make confession of their faith. Then the church minister shall have those who present themselves recite first the articles of the Christian faith, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer, then ask them from the catechism about the Supper. But if some, out of timidity, cannot recite and recount such parts orderly word for word, but are otherwise not blameworthy, they shall be reminded of the principal articles of Christian faith by the church minister and admitted to the Lord's Supper after making confession with the congregation.

After the examination is completed, the church minister shall present the following examination and confession to the people in the form of questions.

Because the Word of God sets these three parts before us: first our sins, secondly our redemption, thirdly the thankfulness which we owe God in return, let everyone set before his eyes the summary of the commandments of God, namely: You shall love the Lord your God with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself [Luke 10:27], in which the will of God is held before us; on the other hand also, since we have never kept any of these parts, our sins and misery, and finally also eternal damnation are presented as in a mirror. Therefore I ask you first, whether you confess this with me before the face of God and therefore are displeased with yourselves and thirst for the righteousness and grace of Jesus Christ?

Answer.

Yes.

Secondly, do you also believe that God is not only merciful, but also just, who will not let sin go unpunished, and (because all creatures could not bear such punishment for us) that the only Son of God was sent into this world out of the mercy of the Father, took true human body and soul upon Himself, so that He might bear the punishment and wrath of God, which we had deserved, for us in that same our flesh and blood, and that, according to the certain promise of the gospel, this perfect payment of the Son of God for our sin is given as a possession to everyone individually who accepts it with heartfelt trust, and that everyone has forgiveness of his sins for himself as certainly as if he had never committed nor had any sin, and is also henceforth held so righteous and holy before God as if he himself had accomplished all righteousness which Jesus Christ, his Savior, accomplished for him and gave to him out of grace without any of his merit, regardless of the fact that he is completely unworthy of it and that there are still many weaknesses in him, for these are all covered with the suffering and obedience of Jesus Christ until they are finally taken away completely.

Furthermore, that Christ also confirms to everyone among you individually this redemption, which He once promised and gave to him in holy baptism, now again with His holy Lord's Supper as with certain letters and seals through the working of the Holy Spirit in his heart, first, that His body was as certainly offered and broken for him on the cross and His blood shed for him as he sees with his eyes that the bread, which the Lord calls His body, is broken for him and the cup of thanksgiving communicated to him. And secondly, that the Lord Christ Himself feeds and gives drink to his hungry and contrite heart and weary soul to eternal life through the working of the Holy Spirit with His crucified body and shed blood as certainly as he receives the holy bread and cup of the Lord from the hand of the minister and eats and drinks it orally in remembrance of Him, and that therefore the suffering and death of Christ is as certainly his own as if he himself had suffered everything in his own body, that the Lord suffered for him on His blessed body, as then for the sake of this comfort the Lord Jesus instituted His holy Supper, so that we hold it with heartfelt thanksgiving and joy until He comes in the clouds and perfectly delivers us from the cross, which we are to bear patiently after Him in this valley of tears, and takes us to Himself in the eternal kingdom of His Father with body and soul; is this your faith?

Answer.

Yes.

Thirdly, let everyone also examine his heart whether he also desires to show himself thankful to the Lord Christ his whole life long, whether he has also renounced all envy and hatred and bitterness from the heart and forgiven his neighbor, just as the Lord Jesus has forgiven us poor sinners many thousand times more, whether he is also an enemy from the heart of all cursing, unchaste words and deeds, gluttony and drunkenness, and other sins, so that he resolves firmly here before the face of the Lord not to do them anymore his whole life long through God's grace.

Answer.

Yes.

All who now find this in their hearts shall not doubt that through the holy suffering and death of Christ they already have forgiveness of all their sins and certainly retain it as long as they persevere in this resolve, regardless of the fact that there are still many remaining weaknesses in them, which are nevertheless covered with the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Thereupon let everyone who desires this from the heart say: Amen.

Kneel down and pray as the Lord has taught us: Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

After the prayer, the church minister shall say.

May the God of peace sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it, Amen. [1 Thess. 5:23-24].

The church minister shall also, if the edification of the church requires it and time permits, instruct the people from the catechism or summary of the catechism in the principal points according to necessity, as he shall then also endeavor to do this most understandably in the immediately preceding Sunday sermon together with the preparation, so that the people may grasp the summary of the Christian religion and retain it through frequent repetition.

And if anyone had a private concern about which he would like to speak with his church minister, this shall not be denied to him.

Of the Holy Lord's Supper of the Lord.

On those days when the Lord's Supper is to be held, a sermon on the death and Supper of the Lord shall take place, in which the institution, order, causes, use, and fruit of the holy Lord's Supper are dealt with. And in this sermon the minister shall strive for brevity for the sake of the following action, in which the Supper is sufficiently carried out. And immediately after the sermon and Sunday prayer have taken place, as is reported below, before singing, the minister of the Word shall read this following exhortation at the table where the Supper is to be held, understandably, expressly, and earnestly.

Form for holding the Holy Lord's Supper.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, hear the words of the institution of the holy Lord's Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the holy apostle Paul describes to us in the first epistle to the Corinthians in the 11th chapter [23-29]: For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

So that we may now hold the Supper of the Lord to our comfort, it is necessary above all things that we first rightly examine ourselves; secondly, that we direct it to the end for which the Lord Christ ordained it, namely to His remembrance.

The true examination of ourselves consists in these three parts: First, let everyone consider by himself his sin and curse, so that he may be displeased with himself and humble himself before God, because the wrath of God against sin is so great that, rather than let it go unpunished, He punished it on His dear Son Jesus Christ with the bitter and shameful death of the cross.

Secondly, let everyone examine his heart whether he also believes this certain promise of God, that all his sins are forgiven him solely for the sake of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, and the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed and given to him as his own, as if he himself in his own person had paid for all his sins and fulfilled all righteousness.

Thirdly, let everyone examine his conscience whether he is also minded henceforth with his whole life to show himself thankful to God the Lord and to walk uprightly before the face of God, whether he also without all hypocrisy renounces all enmity, envy, and hatred from the heart and has an earnest resolve to live hereafter in true love and unity with his neighbor.

Those who are now so minded, God will certainly receive into grace and acknowledge as worthy table guests of His Son Jesus Christ.

On the other hand, however, those who do not feel this testimony in their hearts eat and drink judgment to themselves. Therefore we also, according to the command of Christ and the apostle Paul, warn all those who know themselves to be afflicted with the following vices away from the table of the Lord and proclaim to them that they have no part in the kingdom of Christ, such as are all idolaters, all who invoke deceased saints, angels, or other creatures, who venerate images, all sorcerers and fortune-tellers, who bless cattle and people along with other things, and those who give credence to such blessings, all despisers of God and His Word and the holy sacraments, all blasphemers, all who desire to cause division and mutiny in churches and secular government, all perjurers, all who are disobedient to their parents and authorities, all murderers, brawlers, quarrelers, who live in envy and hatred against their neighbor, all adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, thieves, usurers, robbers, gamblers, the covetous, and all those who lead an offensive life. All these, as long as they persist in such vices, shall consider and abstain from this food, which Christ has ordained only for His believers, so that their judgment and damnation may not become all the heavier.

But this is not set before us, dear Christians, to make the contrite hearts of believers fainthearted, as if no one might go to the Lord's Supper unless they were without all sin. For we do not come to this Supper to testify that we are perfect and righteous in ourselves, but on the contrary, because we seek our life outside ourselves in Jesus Christ, we confess that we are in the midst of death. Therefore, although we still find many failings and miseries in ourselves, such as that we do not have a perfect faith, that we also do not devote ourselves with such zeal to serving God as we are bound to do, but have to struggle daily with the weakness of our faith and the evil lusts of our flesh, nevertheless, because by the grace of the Holy Spirit we are heartily sorry for such failings and we earnestly desire to resist our unbelief and to live according to all the commandments of God, we shall be certain and sure that no sin nor weakness, which still remains in us against our will, can hinder God from receiving us into grace and thus making us worthy and partakers of this heavenly food and drink.

Secondly, let us now also consider for what purpose the Lord instituted His Supper for us, namely that we should do this in remembrance of Him.

But we shall remember Him thus: first, that we completely trust in our hearts that our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the promises made to the patriarchs from the beginning, was sent into this world by the Father, took our flesh and blood upon Himself, bore the wrath of God, under which we would have had to sink eternally, from the beginning of His incarnation to the end of His life on earth for us, and fulfilled all obedience to the divine law and righteousness for us, especially when the burden of our sins and the wrath of God pressed the bloody sweat from Him in the garden, when He was bound so that He might unbind us, then suffered innumerable reproaches so that we might never be put to shame, innocently condemned to death so that we might be acquitted before the judgment of God, let His blessed body be nailed to the cross so that He might nail the handwriting of our sins to it, and thus took the curse from us upon Himself so that He might fill us with His blessing, and humbled Himself to the deepest reproach and hellish anguish of body and soul on the tree of the cross, when He cried with a loud voice: My God, my God, why have You forsaken me [Matt. 27:46], so that we might be taken to God and nevermore forsaken by Him, finally concluding and confirming the new and eternal testament, the covenant of grace and reconciliation, with His death and blood-shedding, as He said: It is finished [John 19:30].

But so that we might firmly believe that we belong in this covenant of grace, the Lord Jesus in His last Supper took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to His disciples and said: Take, eat, this is my body, which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after the supper He took the cup, gave thanks and said: Take and drink all of it, this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. That is, as often as you eat of this bread and drink of this cup, you shall thereby be reminded and assured as by a certain memorial and pledge of this my heartfelt love and faithfulness toward you, that I give my body to death on the tree of the cross and shed my blood for you, who otherwise would have had to die eternal death, and feed and give drink to your hungry and thirsty souls with the same my crucified body and shed blood to eternal life, as certainly as this bread is broken before your eyes for each one and this cup is given to him and you eat and drink the same with your mouth in my remembrance.

From this institution of the holy Lord's Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ we see that He directs our faith and trust to His perfect sacrifice, once made on the cross, as to the only ground and foundation of our salvation, where He became the true food and drink of eternal life for our hungry and thirsty souls. For by His death He took away the cause of our eternal hunger and distress, namely sin, and obtained for us the life-giving Spirit, so that through the same Spirit, who dwells in Christ as the Head and in us as His members, we might have true communion with Him and be made partakers of all His goods, eternal life, righteousness, and glory.

Afterwards, that we also through the same Spirit might be united with one another as members of one body in true brotherly love, as the holy apostle speaks: For we, though many, are one bread and one body, for we all partake of that one bread [1 Cor. 10:17]. For as out of many grains one meal is ground and one bread is baked, and out of many berries pressed together one wine and drink flows and mixes together, so shall we all, who are incorporated into Christ by true faith, be one body altogether through brotherly love for the sake of Christ, our dear Savior, who loved us so highly beforehand, and show this not only with words, but with deeds toward one another. May the almighty, merciful God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ help us to this through His Holy Spirit, Amen.

Let us pray.

Merciful God and Father, we pray You that in this Supper, in which we celebrate the glorious memory of the bitter death of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, You would work in our hearts through Your Holy Spirit, that we may surrender ourselves more and more with true trust to Your Son Jesus Christ, so that our weary and contrite hearts may be fed and refreshed with His true body and blood, yes with Him, true God and man, the only bread of heaven, through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we may no longer live in our sins, but He in us and we in Him, and truly partake of the new and eternal testament and covenant of grace, so that we do not doubt that You will eternally be our gracious Father, nevermore impute our sins to us, and provide for us in everything for body and soul, as Your dear children and heirs. Grant us also Your grace, that we may comfortingly take our cross upon us, deny ourselves, confess our Savior, and in all tribulation with uplifted head await our Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, when He will make our mortal bodies like His glorified glorious body and take us to Himself in eternity, Amen.

Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13]

Would You also strengthen us through this holy Lord's Supper in the universal, undoubted Christian faith, of which we make confession with mouth and heart, saying: I believe in God etc.

So that we may now be fed with the true bread of heaven, Christ, let us not cling with our hearts to the outward bread and wine, but lift our hearts and faith upward into heaven, where Christ Jesus is, our Advocate at the right hand of His heavenly Father, to which the articles of our Christian faith also direct us, and not doubt that we are as truly fed and given drink in our souls with His body and blood through the working of the Holy Spirit, as we receive the holy bread and drink in His remembrance.

Here the church minister shall break the bread of the Lord for everyone and say while distributing it:

The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ [1 Cor. 10:16].

And the other church minister shall say while distributing the cup:

The cup of thanksgiving, with which we give thanks, is the communion of the blood of Christ [1 Cor. 10:16].

During this, according to the opportunity of the number of communicants, also according to the form of each church, either singing shall take place during the communion or some chapters serving the memory of the death of Christ shall be read, such as the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th of John and Isaiah 53, and whatever is most fitting and edifying for each church may be used here.

After the communion is completed, the minister shall say:

Beloved in the Lord, since the Lord has now fed our souls at His table, let us all together praise His name with thanksgiving, and let everyone say in his heart thus:

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him [Ps. 103:1-4, 8, 10-13]. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? [Rom. 8:32]. Therefore God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life [Rom. 5:8-10]. Therefore my mouth and heart shall proclaim the praise of the Lord from now on until eternity, Amen.

Or thus:

Almighty, merciful God and Father, we thank You from the bottom of our hearts that out of fathomless mercy You have given us Your only begotten Son as a Mediator and sacrifice for our sins and as food and drink of eternal life, and give us true faith, whereby we become partakers of such Your benefits; You have also had Your dear Son Jesus Christ institute His holy Lord's Supper to strengthen the same. We pray You, faithful God and Father, that through the working of Your Spirit You would let this remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ and proclamation of His death prosper to daily increase in true faith and the blessed communion of Christ, through the same Your dear Son Jesus Christ, Amen.

But because to the right and godly administration and practice of the holy sacraments belongs not only that they be held in such a manner as ordained by God and instituted by Him for this purpose, but also that they not be administered to such persons whom He has forbidden to be admitted to them, it is necessary that Christian excommunication in the church happen not only with words, but also be executed with deeds, that is, if there are some in the congregation afflicted with blasphemous doctrine or severe vices, that they not be admitted to the Lord's Supper until they show amendment. And as the marital necessity requires that the Christian church be freed from the intolerable wantonness and the abominable tyranny of the papal ban, with which the pope and his crowd have thrown everything under their feet. Thus, because not only the evil is to be rooted out and torn down, but also the good is to be planted and built in its place, it is also no less necessary that a Christian and lawful ban be maintained because of the command of Christ in Matthew 18 [15-18] and the church's salvation and necessity in the Christian congregation.

So that this exclusion from the use of the sacraments does not fall into abuse and disorder, as happened in the papacy, such order and measure shall be kept therein as is prescribed by Christ and St. Paul, and above all things, that it not be in the power of one or several church ministers or other persons, but stand with a whole Christian congregation, and that the church ministers as well as the least member of the church be subject to it; for if every preacher were to excommunicate at his pleasure whomever he wanted, this would not be the ban instituted by Christ, but the one devised by the Antichrist.

Therefore, at every place, according to the opportunity and necessity of the same, several honorable and God-fearing men shall be ordained from the congregation, who, on behalf of and in the name of the whole congregation, alongside the church ministers, shall faithfully and earnestly exhort such persons who are either afflicted with dangerous errors of faith or are offensive in their lives, such as fornicators, the covetous, idolaters, blasphemers, drunkards, or otherwise those who lead disorderly lives, for the first, second, and third time according to the nature of the matter for amendment, and, if they do not heed this, separate them from the Christian congregation by forbidding the holy sacraments until they promise and show amendment. And further order shall be made as to how this is to be proceeded with.

Of the Almoners.

Because it belongs to the building of the Christian church that the poor and needy members of Christ be maintained, fed, and given drink, for which the first Christian church had its deacons and almoners, so in all cities and villages the preachers shall diligently and earnestly exhort the people to help the poor with their alms, and common chests shall be ordained in all churches, and on Sunday and holidays during the sermon the alms shall be collected from the people with the bag, for which pious and godly men shall also be chosen according to the command of St. Paul, 1 Tim. 3 [8-13], who have to collect and distribute the alms, as further order shall be made herein.

Of the Church Prayer.

Before the sermon, especially on Sundays and holidays in the morning and on days of prayer, this following prayer shall be spoken before the people, in which the Christian congregation expressly remembers human misery and desires the saving grace of God, so that hearts may be prepared for humility and receive the word of grace all the more eagerly.

Grace, peace, and mercy etc.

Heavenly Father, eternal and merciful God, we acknowledge and confess before Your divine majesty that we are poor, miserable sinners, conceived and born in all wickedness and corruption, prone to all evil, useless for any good, and that with our sinful life we transgress Your holy commandments without ceasing, thereby provoking Your wrath against us and bringing upon ourselves eternal damnation according to Your righteous judgment. But, O Lord, we bear repentance and sorrow that we have angered You, and accuse ourselves and our vices, and desire that Your grace may come to the aid of our misery and distress. Would You therefore have mercy upon us, O most gracious God and Father, and forgive us all our sins through the holy suffering of Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and would You henceforth grant us the grace of Your Holy Spirit, who teaches us to recognize our unrighteousness from the whole heart, so that we displease ourselves, so that sin may thus be put to death in us and we rise in a new life, in which we may bring forth righteous fruit of holiness and righteousness, which may be pleasing to You for Christ's sake.

Would You also give us to understand Your holy Word according to Your divine will, so that we may learn from it to place all our trust in You alone and withdraw it from all creatures, that also our old man with all his desires may be crucified more and more from day to day, and that we may offer ourselves to You as a living sacrifice to the honor of Your holy name and the edification of our neighbor, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has thus taught us to pray:

Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13]

On Sunday after the morning sermon the church minister shall speak:

Beloved in the Lord, since we see in the commandments of God as in a mirror how great and manifold our sins are, by which we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, let us confess the same from the heart to our faithful Father, therefore speak with me thus:

I, a poor sinner, confess before You, my God and Creator, that I have unfortunately sinned grievously and manifoldly against You, not only with outward gross sins, but much more with inward innate blindness, unbelief, doubt, faintheartedness, impatience, pride, evil covetousness, secret envy, hatred, and malice, also other evil tricks, as You, my Lord and God, recognize in me and I unfortunately cannot sufficiently recognize, I repent of them and am sorry for them, and desire grace from the heart, through Your dear Son Jesus Christ.

Thereupon he shall proclaim the forgiveness of sins to the believers and the judgment of God to the impenitent, and speak thus:

Now hear the certain comfort of the grace of God, which He promises to all believers in His gospel.

Thus speaks the Lord Christ in John 3 [16]: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

As many of you now as have a displeasure in yourselves and your sins and trust that they are completely and utterly forgiven you through the merit of Jesus Christ alone, and have the resolve to abstain from sins more and more and to serve the Lord in true holiness and righteousness, to the same (because they believe in the Son of the living God) I proclaim from the command of God that they are loosed from all their sins (as He promises in His holy gospel) in heaven through the perfect satisfaction of the most holy suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

But as many among you as have a pleasure in your sins and disgraces or persist in sins against your conscience, to the same I proclaim from the command of God that the wrath and judgment of God remains upon them and that all their sins are retained in heaven and they cannot be loosed from eternal damnation until they repent.

Since we now do not doubt that we and our prayer are sanctified through the suffering of Jesus Christ and acceptable to God, let us call upon Him from the heart and speak thus:

Prayer on Sunday after the sermon.

Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, we thank You from the bottom of our hearts that You have created us, preserved, fed, and nourished us and our children up to this day, and will continue to preserve and govern us. Especially we thank You that You have given us to know Your Son Jesus Christ, whom You promised in Paradise, and have forgiven us our sins through His bitter suffering and death. And we pray You that You would renew us to the image of Your Son Jesus Christ through the preaching of Your Word and the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that we may live with You eternally with body and soul and praise You, for which we were originally created, and would You ward off Satan, that he may not tear Your holy Word out of our hearts, as he did to our first parents Adam and Eve. Because You also will to govern us in this life through the hand of our authorities, Your servants, we pray You, who have their hearts in Your hand, that You would grant them all, the imperial and royal majesty, all princes and lords, especially our most gracious Elector and sovereign, Duke Frederick, Count Palatine, together with their electoral grace's spouse, young lordship, councilors, and officials (also an honorable council of this city) [an honorable congregation of this place] grace and unity, that they may direct their entire government so that our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom You have given all power in heaven and on earth, may rule over them and their subjects, so that the poor people, who are creatures of Your hands and sheep of Your pasture, for whom also the Lord Jesus shed His blood, may be governed in all holiness and righteousness, that we also for Your sake may show them all due honor and fidelity and lead an honorable, peaceful, and Christian life among them. Give also Your blessing and benediction to the fruit of the earth, so that we may thereby recognize You as a Father and source of all mercy and goods. We pray You also not only for ourselves, but also for all people of the whole world, that You would graciously have mercy upon them all together, but especially those who are our members in the body of Jesus Christ and suffer persecution from the Turk and the Pope for the sake of Your truth. Would You, O Father of all grace, hold back such raging of Your enemies, who persecute Your Son Jesus in His members, and strengthen the persecuted with invincible steadfastness and the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that they may accept such persecution from Your hand with thanksgiving and feel such joy in their tribulation, which surpasses all understanding. Comfort and strengthen all the poor, imprisoned, sick, widows, and orphans, pregnant women, and troubled and tempted hearts, and give them Your peace, through our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us this certain promise: Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you [John 16:23], and has commanded us to pray upon this thus:

Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13]

Or thus:

Almighty God, heavenly Father, who have promised us that whatever we ask of You in the name of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ, You will certainly give us [John 16:23].

[Hallowed be Thy name.]

We pray You that You would work in us through Your Holy Spirit, that we may rightly know You and sanctify, glorify, and praise You in all Your works, in which Your almighty power, wisdom, goodness, righteousness, mercy, and truth shine forth, and that we may also direct our whole life, thoughts, words, and works so that Your name may not be blasphemed for our sake, but honored and praised.

[Thy kingdom come.]

Also rule us thus by the scepter of Your Word and the power of Your Holy Spirit, that we and all people may submit and surrender to Your majesty from day to day more and more, preserve and increase Your church and destroy all works of the devil and all false and evil counsels devised against Your holy Word. Put Your enemies to shame by the power of Your truth and righteousness, so that all power that exalts itself against Your honor may be destroyed and annihilated from day to day, until the perfection of Your kingdom comes, when You will reveal Your glory in us at the last judgment and be all in all in eternity.

[Thy will be done etc.]

Grant also that we and all people may renounce our own will and all the lusts of our flesh and obey Your only good will without any contradiction, so that everyone may perform his office and calling as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.

[Give us this day our daily bread.]

Would You also provide us with all bodily necessities, grant us peace and good government, so that we may thereby recognize that You are the only source of all good and a faithful Father who cares for His children, that also without Your blessing neither our care and labor nor Your gifts can prosper us, and that we therefore withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it in You alone.

[Forgive us our debts etc.]

Would You also not impute to us poor sinners all our iniquity and debts, also the evil that still always clings to us, for the sake of the blood-shedding of Jesus Christ, just as we find this testimony of Your grace in our hearts, that we forgive our neighbor from the heart and desire to promote his benefit.

[Lead us not into temptation etc.]

And because we are indeed so weak of ourselves that we cannot stand for a moment, and in addition our sworn enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh, do not cease to tempt us, would You preserve and strengthen us by the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that we may make a firm stand against them and not succumb in this spiritual struggle, but remain steadfast until we finally obtain the victory completely and reign eternally in Your kingdom with Your Son, our Lord and Protector Jesus Christ.

All of which we ask of You, so that thereby not we, but You may be eternally praised, and that You can do such as an almighty God and will do as a faithful Father, as certainly as we desire this from You from the heart, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

Praise the Lord with your singing.

After the singing the minister shall speak:

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace, Amen. [Num. 6:24-26]

On all Sundays and holidays in the afternoon around twelve o'clock a sermon shall be held in the cities. The introduction with the prayer before the sermon shall be held as in the morning, but the prayer after the sermon in this manner:

Lord, almighty God, do not let Your holy honor be dishonored for the sake of our sins, for we have otherwise sinned against You in many ways, in that we are not obedient to Your holy Word and provoke Your wrath daily against us with ignorance, unthankfulness, and murmuring, therefore You justly punish us. But, O Lord, be mindful of Your great mercy and have mercy upon us, give us knowledge and repentance of our sins and amendment of our lives. Strengthen Your servants and authorities with Your Spirit, that they may preach Your Word with faithfulness and steadfastness and wield the secular sword with righteousness and equity. Protect us from all falsehood and unfaithfulness, destroy all false and evil counsels devised against Your Word and church. O Lord, do not take Your Spirit and Word from us, but give us true faith, patience, and steadfastness. Come to the aid of Your church and relieve it of all oppression, mockery, and tyranny. Strengthen also all weak and troubled minds and send us Your peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who has given us this certain promise: Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you [John 16:23], and has commanded us to pray upon this thus:

Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

Would You also give us steadfastness and daily increase in the old, true, and undoubted Christian faith, so that through it we may partake more and more of Christ and all His goods. Of which faith we make confession with mouth and heart, saying:

I believe in God etc.

Or thus:

Beloved in Christ, since we are all members of one body, whose head is Christ, each member should care for the other and pray for one another, this we should gladly do from the heart by the command of our Lord Christ and His holy apostle.

Pray thus:

Almighty, merciful, eternal God and Father, a Lord of heaven and earth. We pray You heartily, that You would govern Your holy church with its ministers through the Holy Spirit, so that they may be preserved in the true pasture of Your almighty and eternal Word, whereby faith toward You may be strengthened and love toward all people may grow and increase in us.

Would You also grant grace and unity to the secular authorities, the Roman Emperor, all kings, princes, and lords, but especially to our gracious Elector and sovereign, Duke Frederick, Count Palatine etc., together with their electoral grace's spouse, young lordship, councilors, and officials, also an honorable, wise council of this city, [an honorable congregation of this place], to govern the subjects according to Your divine will and pleasure, so that righteousness may be promoted, wickedness hindered and punished, so that we may accomplish our lives in quiet rest and good peace, as is proper for Christians.

That also our enemies and adversaries may desist and betake themselves to live peacefully and gently with us.

All those who are in tribulation, poverty, sickness, bonds, and other temptation, also those who are tempted, imprisoned, or otherwise suffer persecution for the sake of Your holy name and the truth, comfort them, O God, with Your Holy Spirit, that they may receive and recognize all this for the sake of Your fatherly will.

Would You also grant all fruits of the earth, belonging to bodily necessity, to prosper and thrive with fruitful growth.

We also pray for everything for which You, O eternal God, will to be prayed, that You would graciously grant it to us through the bitter suffering and death of Christ Jesus, Your only Son, our beloved Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, true and equal God, highly praised in eternity, Amen.

In the cities and villages on all Sundays and holidays in the afternoon at a convenient hour the catechism shall be held, as reported above. And so that the people may become accustomed from youth to the contemplation of whom they are addressing, and to the contemplation of the persons, one may recite the following form to them after the catechism sermon.

Prayer after the sermon of the catechism.

O almighty, truthful God, eternal and only Father of our Savior Jesus Christ, together with Your only begotten Son and Holy Spirit, Creator of heaven and earth, of angels, men, and all creatures, You who are wise, good, just, truthful, pure, merciful, and willing. I confess that I am unfortunately a poor, sinful person, and I am heartily sorry that I have angered You. But I pray You, that You would graciously forgive all my sins and make me righteous for the sake of Your most beloved Son Jesus Christ and through Him, who was a sacrifice for our sin and died on the cross and has risen again from death and lives in eternity. And is ordained out of inexpressible wisdom and mercy as Mediator, Reconciler, Intercessor for us, and Savior. And would You for His sake and through Him with the Holy Spirit always and forever sanctify me to eternal life and govern me, that I may rightly know You, truthful God, and call upon You in true faith and that I may serve You in right obedience and not fall into error or sins. Would You also always and forever gather a true holy church for Yourself in this land and graciously preserve it and give blessed government and nourishment and always preserve the body and soul of us and our poor little children. Give and increase Your grace in them, that they may always grow in Christ, Your Son, our common Head, until they reach His perfect, manly age in all wisdom, holiness, and righteousness.

All this would You graciously do for the sake of Your dear Son, who certainly hears our sighing and prays for us, and we believe that our calling upon You for His sake is pleasing to You and not in vain, and speak with the poor man in Mark 9 [24]: Lord, I believe; help my unbelief, Amen.

Of the sermons held on weekdays, item of the morning and evening prayer.

On the weekdays in the week, two sermons shall be held in every city, namely on Wednesday and on Friday, and German psalms sung before and after, and one of them shall be concluded with the little prayer: Lord, almighty God, do not let Your holy honor be dishonored for the sake of our sins etc.

The other sermon, however, shall be held with the common prayer, in which the need of the whole Christendom is presented to God, the Lord.

In villages, however, a weekly sermon shall take place together with the common prayer for all the concerns of the Christian churches, and, since the people are suited for singing, a psalm serving for repentance shall be sung to it. For because the wrath of God is kindled with all sorts of disgraces and vices in the whole world, therefore He also justly punishes us, we as true believers should confess our sins, so that we displease ourselves and turn back to the Lord, call upon Him with true humility, so that He may graciously forgive us our sins. Therefore, every week on a special, designated day, which is most convenient at each place, a sermon shall happen from the Old or New Testament, which is serviceable for the knowledge of sins and the wrath of God, and before the sermon a German psalm shall be sung, after which the church minister shall speak the prayer before the sermon as on Sunday. And in the sermon he shall indicate the present need, such as war, famine, etc. Necessity also requires that the people be exhorted often on Sundays to betake themselves to the common prayer in the week, as also the prophets in the Old and the apostles in the New Testament exhorted the people to pray and fast earnestly, as often as a severe concern of the Christian churches requires such. And because it is to be a day of prayer, on which all the need of the Christian churches is to be considered, the sermon shall be all the shorter, so that the common prayer for all estates and all sorts of need may happen after the sermon, as follows.

Prayer after the sermon for all the need and concerns of Christendom.

Almighty, merciful God, we recognize in ourselves and confess before You, as the truth is, that we are not worthy to lift up our eyes to heaven and to present our prayer to You, if You were to look upon our merit and worthiness, for our conscience accuses us and our sins bear witness against us, so we also know that You are a righteous Judge, who punishes the sin of those who transgress Your commandments. Therefore, O Lord God, when we estimate and consider our whole life, we find nothing else in us but pure damnation. But, O Lord, because out of Your inexpressible mercy You have commanded us to call upon You alone in all need, have also promised us that You will hear our prayer, not because of our merit, but because of the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom You have set before us as Mediator and Intercessor, so we renounce all other help and have all our refuge solely in Your mercy.

First, O Lord, above the innumerable benefits which You show in common to all people on earth, You have shown us in particular so much and great grace, that it is impossible for us to express it or sufficiently consider it. Especially it has pleased You to call us to the knowledge of Your holy gospel, have delivered us from the miserable service of the devil, in which we were, and redeemed us from the cursed idolatry of the pope, in which we were drowned, and have led us to the light of Your truth. And nevertheless we have forgotten Your benefits through unthankfulness, have departed from You and followed our own desires, have not honored You as we were bound to do. Therefore we have sinned, O Lord, and grievously angered You and, if You were to deal with us according to our merit, we could expect nothing else but death and eternal damnation. For if we wanted to excuse ourselves, our own conscience is there, which accuses us, and our wickedness bears witness against us. And indeed, dear Lord God, we recognize by the punishments that meet us daily that You justly visit us with Your rod, for because You are just, You punish no one without cause, yes we also see even now Your hand lifted up to punish us. But if You punish us much harder than You have ever done hitherto, and that we should suffer a hundred punishments for one, yes if even all the plagues fell upon us with which You visited the sins of Your people Israel, we confess that You, O Lord, would not do unjustly, and do not speak against it, as if we had not well deserved it. But yet, O Lord, You are our God and we are only earth and dust, You are our Creator and we are the work of Your hands, You are our Shepherd and we are Your flock, You are our Redeemer, we are the people that You have redeemed, You are our Father, we are Your inheritance. Therefore would You not punish us in Your fierce wrath, but chastise us graciously, rather preserve the work that You have begun in us through Your grace, so that the whole world may know that You are our God and our Savior. Your people Israel sometimes angered You with sins and You justly punished them, but, as often as they turned back to You, You always received them into grace and, however grievous their sin was, You nevertheless turned away Your wrath and curse, which was ready for them, because of the covenant which You made with Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so that the prayer of Your people has never been rejected by You. Now we have through Your grace the very same covenant, but much more glorious and powerful, made and established between You and us in the hand of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, which covenant You have signed for us with His blood and confirmed with His holy suffering and death. Therefore, O Lord, we deny ourselves and all human hope and have all our refuge in this blessed covenant of grace, through which our Lord Jesus Christ, in that He gave His body once on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for us to You, has reconciled us with You in eternity. Therefore, O Lord, look upon the face of Your Anointed and not our sin, so that Your wrath may be appeased by His intercession and that Your face may shine upon us for joy and for salvation. Would You also henceforth take us into Your holy guidance and protection and govern us with Your Holy Spirit, who renews us to a better life, in which we may praise and glorify Your name.

Although we are not worthy to open our mouths to pray for ourselves, yet, because You have commanded us to pray for the whole Christian church and authorities, yes also for all people, so we pray You for all churches and church ministers, that You would give Your blessing to the preaching of Your holy gospel and send faithful servants into Your harvest [Matt. 9:38], on the other hand would You root out all false teachers, ravenous wolves and hirelings, who seek their own honor and benefit and not the honor of Your holy name alone and the salvation and blessedness of poor souls.

We also pray You for all authorities of the world, for the Roman Emperor and King, also all other kings, princes, and lords, and especially for our most gracious Elector and sovereign, Duke Frederick, Count Palatine, together with their electoral grace's spouse, young lordship, councilors, and officials, also an honorable, wise council of this city, grant them Your grace, that they may direct their entire government so that the King of all kings Jesus Christ may rule over them and their subjects and that the kingdom of the devil, which is the kingdom of all disgraces and vices, may be destroyed more and more through them as Your servants and we may lead a quiet and peaceful life under them in all godliness and reverence [1 Tim. 2:2].

Furthermore we pray You for all our fellow brethren who suffer under the tyranny of the pope and Turks' persecution, would You comfort them with Your Holy Spirit and graciously deliver them. Do not permit, O Lord, that Your Christendom be completely devastated. Do not allow the memory of Your name to be eradicated on earth and that the Antichrist and Turk together with unbelievers boast to Your disgrace and blasphemy. But if Your divine will is that Your believers give witness to Your truth with their death and praise Your name, then would You grant them steadfastness to the last drop of their blood. We also pray You for all to whom You send tribulation, poverty, imprisonment, sickness, childbirth pains, and other temptation, comfort them all, as You know that their need requires. Grant that this Your chastisement may serve them to the knowledge of their sins and to amendment, give them endurance and patience, alleviate their tribulation and deliver them finally, so that they may rejoice in Your goodness and praise Your name eternally. Finally have mercy upon those who still stick in darkness and error and lead them into the light of Your truth, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For these and all other needs we pray You, as our faithful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself has taught us: Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

On the other weekdays altogether, in cities every morning, a chapter from the Holy Scripture shall be read understandably without singing and the summary of the chapter and principal doctrine from it, as is most serviceable for comfort, exhortation, and edification, briefly and simply presented to the people and thereupon the morning prayer with the Lord's Prayer and Ten Commandments spoken before them, so that the reading, exhortation, and prayer do not extend beyond half an hour.

Morning Prayer.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us kneel before the face of God and call out from the bottom of our hearts thus:

Merciful, eternal God and Father, we thank You that You have so graciously protected us this night and let us live to see this day, and pray You, You would also protect us this day and show Your grace, that we may spend this whole day in Your service so that we think, speak, nor do anything except that we obey Your fatherly will and please You, so that all our works may redound to the honor of Your holy name and the edification of our neighbor. And as You now wonderfully let Your sun shine on the earth to give light to our body, so would You also illuminate our understanding and hearts through the clarity of Your Holy Spirit, so that we may be led on the right path of Your righteousness, so that in all things to which we shall apply ourselves, we may have this special and principal resolve, that we walk in Your fear, serve You and honor You and expect all our goods and welfare solely from Your divine blessing and benediction, so that we do not undertake to do anything that is not pleasing to You. In addition, grant us also Your grace, that we may work for the body and this temporal life in such a way that we nevertheless always seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and do not doubt that the other things will also fall to us [Matt. 6:33]. Would You also protect us in body and soul and strengthen us against all temptation of the devil and deliver us from all danger that might meet us in this world. But because it is nothing to have begun well once if one does not persevere, so we pray You, that You would not only take us into Your holy guidance and protection this day, but also all our life long would You confirm and increase Your grace in us daily, until You have brought us to the perfect union with Your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is the true sun of our souls, shining day and night without ceasing and in eternity. Give also Your blessing to the preaching of Your holy gospel, destroy all works of the devil, strengthen all church ministers and authorities of Your people, comfort all persecuted and troubled hearts. But so that we may obtain such and other necessities from You, would You forgive us all our sins for the sake of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, who has promised us that You will certainly give us everything that we ask You in His name [John 16:23] and therefore has commanded us to pray thus: Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

Grant us also Your grace, that we may live according to Your will, which You have revealed to us in Your law and comprised in these Ten Commandments: The first.

I am the Lord, your God, etc. [Ex. 20:2-17].

Likewise every evening the church minister shall again read a chapter understandably at a convenient hour with an attached short teaching and exhortation from it and speak the evening prayer together with the Lord's Prayer and the Creed before them.

And where it can be had in the villages with the church ministers, one shall also hold the morning and evening prayer with the chapter on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Evening Prayer.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us kneel before the face of God, call upon Him from the bottom of our hearts and speak:

Lord God, heavenly Father, because according to Your divine wisdom You have created the night for man to rest in the same way as You have ordained the day for him to work, so we pray You, You would grant us Your grace, that we may rest with the body in such a way that nevertheless our hearts always remain awake in Your love and that we thus lay aside all worldly care from us, to refresh ourselves according to the necessity of our weakness, that we nevertheless never forget, but that always the contemplation of Your goodness and grace remains in constant memory with us, that also our consciences may have their inward, spiritual rest through such means, as the body receives its outward rest. In addition, that our sleep may not be immoderate to the laziness of our flesh, but solely for the preservation of our weak nature, so that we may be all the more fit to serve You.

Would You also preserve us unspotted in body and soul and protect us from all danger, that also our sleep may redound to Your honor. And since this day has not passed without manifold transgression (since we are poor, miserable sinners), so we pray You, just as in the night everything is hidden by the darkness which You send upon the earth, that You would also thus bury all our sins through Your mercy, so that we may not be cast away from Your face because of them.

Give also rest and comfort to all sick, troubled, and tempted hearts, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has thus taught us to pray: Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13]

I believe in God etc.

On Saturday before the Sunday when the Supper is to be held, the preparation shall take place instead of the evening prayer, as previously reported.

Order of the Holidays.

On the holidays it shall be held as on Sunday.

These holidays, however, shall be kept:

All Sundays.

Christmas Day together with the next day thereafter.

New Year's Day.

Easter Day together with the next day thereafter.

The Ascension of Christ.

Pentecost Day together with the following Monday thereafter.

On Christmas Day together with the next day thereafter, the foundation of our salvation, namely the two natures in Christ together with the benefit we receive from it, shall be explained in the histories of the birth of Christ, as is comprised at the end of the first part and beginning of the second part of the catechism.

The church ministers in cities may also, according to the opportunity of each church, begin to explain the histories of the Passion on the Sunday Invocavit and carry it out until Easter.

On Easter Day and the Monday thereafter, one shall preach the histories of the resurrection of Christ, so that the Christian congregation may receive good, thorough instruction from Holy, Divine Scripture concerning the two main articles of our Christian faith, namely that Christ rose from the dead on the third day and we also shall rise from the dead.

The feast of the Ascension of Christ also brings with it its own histories, as they are described in the Acts of the Apostles in the 1st chapter and elsewhere, that thereupon from the articles of our faith, in which we confess Christ has ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God and will come from thence to judge the living and the dead, shall be taught and preached.

On Pentecost Day and on the Monday thereafter, the second chapter in the Acts of the Apostles shall be preached.

Order of the Solemnization of Marriage.

Since God, the Lord, initially in Paradise Himself brought and gave to Adam his spouse, Eve, it is proper that the new married couples be introduced in the church before the Christian congregation, so that they and also others who are already in the marital estate may be exhorted of their calling, also to peacefulness and patience in their estate by the church ministers from God's Word, and the whole assembly may call upon God with them for His blessing upon them.

But the proclamation and introduction of the new married couples shall happen with the following order.

First, the people shall be exhorted to this and held to it, that those who have betrothed themselves in marriage, together with several witnesses on both sides, come to the pastor and announce themselves to him a good time before they go to the church, so that one may inquire whether such people may live together in marriage according to divine and natural law without any hindrance and not be joined together today out of ignorance, whom one must afterwards separate from one another with shame and offense. Therefore, henceforth every couple in cities and towns shall be proclaimed publicly three times and on three Sundays also in a church, when the congregation is assembled together.

How betrothed couples are to be proclaimed.

N. and N. intend to enter the holy estate of marriage according to divine order, desire for such a common Christian prayer, that they may begin this Christian, marital estate in God's name and blessedly complete it to God's praise. And if anyone has anything to say against it, let him indicate such in good time or keep silent thereafter and refrain from undertaking any hindrance against it. May God give them His blessing, Amen.

The names of the married couples and witnesses shall also be written in a special book, which shall remain with every church.

When they now come into the church, they shall remain standing quietly in the front pews until they are called by the pastor. But the pastor shall read the following exhortation concerning the marital estate to the new married couple before the table where the Supper is usually held.

Because married couples commonly encounter manifold adversity and crosses because of sins, so that you N. and N., who are taking your marital duty in God's name before the Christian church, may be assured in your hearts of the certain help of God in your cross, hear from God's Word how the marital estate is honorable and an institution of God which pleases Him, therefore He also will bless the married couple and stand by them, but the fornicators and adulterers He will judge and punish.

And first you should know that God, our Father, after He had created heaven and earth and everything that is in them, created man in His image and likeness, who was to be a lord over the animals of the earth, over the fish in the sea, and over the birds of the heavens. And after He had created the man, He said: It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him a helper comparable to him. Then God, the Lord, caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept. And God took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. And God, the Lord, created a woman from the rib which He took from the man, and brought her to him. Then the man said: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh [Gen. 2:19-24]. Therefore you should not doubt that the marital estate pleases God, the Lord, because He created His spouse for Adam and brought her to him Himself and gave her to him as a spouse, to testify thereby that even today He brings to everyone his spouse as if with His own hand. Therefore also the Lord Jesus Christ honored the marital estate so highly, with His presence, gift, and miracles at Cana in Galilee, to testify thereby that the marital estate should be kept honorable by all and that He will always show His help and assistance to the married couples, even when one least expects it.

But so that you may live in a godly manner in this estate, you should know the reasons for which God instituted the marital estate.

The first reason is that one should faithfully help and stand by the other in all things pertaining to temporal and eternal life.

The second, that, after they receive bodily heirs, they raise them in the true knowledge of God to His honor.

The third, that everyone may avoid all unchastity and evil lusts and thus live with a good, quiet conscience. For to avoid fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband, so that all who come of age and do not have the gift of chastity are obligated and bound by the command of God to enter into the marital estate according to Christian order with the will and knowledge of their parents or guardians and friends, so that the temple of God, that is, our body, may not be defiled, for if anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him.

After that you should also know how one is bound to behave toward the other according to God's Word. First you, the husband, should know that God has set you as the head of the wife, so that you may guide, instruct, comfort, and protect her reasonably according to your ability, just as the head governs the body, yes just as Christ, the Head, is the wisdom, comfort, and assistance of His congregation. Above this, you should love your wife as your own body, just as Christ loved His congregation, should not be bitter against her, but dwell with her with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered [Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:19; 1 Pet. 3:7]. And since it is the command of God that the man shall eat his bread in the sweat of his face [Gen. 3:19], you should work faithfully and diligently in your divine calling, so that you may nourish your household with God and honor and also have something to share with the needy.

Conversely, you, the wife, should know how you should behave toward your husband according to the Word of God. You should love, honor, and fear your husband, also be obedient to him in all fair things as to your lord, just as the body is subject to the head and the congregation to Christ. You should not rule over your husband, but be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve to be a helper for Adam. And after the fall God spoke to Eve and in her person to the whole female sex: Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you [Gen. 3:16]. You should not resist this order of God, but much rather follow the command of God and the example of the holy women, who trusted in God and were subject to their husbands, just as Sarah was obedient to her husband Abraham and called him lord [1 Pet. 3:5-6]. You should also be helpful to your husband in all good things, pay good attention to your child and household, walk in all discipline and honor without worldly splendor, so that you give others a good example for discipline.

Therefore you, N. and N., having understood how God instituted the marital estate and what He has commanded you, are you then willing to live in the holy estate of marriage as you testify here before the Christian congregation and desire that this your marital estate be confirmed?

Answer.

Yes.

Then the minister shall speak:

I take you all who are here as witnesses, however, if anyone knew that one of these were bound by marital duty to another person or otherwise a hindrance were present, he should indicate it now.

If no one objects, the minister shall continue thus:

Since no one objects and no hindrance is present, may our dear Lord God confirm your holy undertaking, which He has given you, and may your beginning be in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Accordingly the church minister shall speak to the bridegroom:

Do you N. confess here before God and His holy congregation that you have taken and take as your wedded spouse and wife N., here present, and promise nevermore to leave her, to love her and faithfully nourish her, as a faithful and God-fearing husband owes his wife, that you also will live with her holily, keep faith and trust in all things according to the Word of God and His holy gospel?

Answer.

Yes.

Then the minister shall speak to the bride thus:

Do you N. confess here before God and His holy congregation that you have taken and take N. as your wedded husband, to whom you promise to be obedient and to serve and help him, nevermore to leave him, to live holily with him, to keep faith and trust in all things, as a pious and faithful wife owes her wedded husband to do according to the Word of God and His holy gospel?

Answer.

Yes.

Then the church minister shall join their hands together and speak:

The Father of mercy, who has called you by His grace to this holy estate of marriage, bind you with true love and fidelity and give you His blessing, Amen.

If they have rings, they may give them to one another.

Hear now the holy gospel, how strong this marital bond is, as the holy evangelist Matthew describes it in the 19th chapter [3-9]: The Pharisees came to the Lord Jesus, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" And He answered and said: "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh' [Gen. 2:24]? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" He said: "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." Believe these words of the Lord Christ and be assured and certain of this, that our dear Lord God has joined you together in this holy marital estate and therefore accept everything that meets you in this marital estate with patience and thanksgiving as from the hand of God, who has joined you together, Amen.

After this the minister shall bid the married couple kneel down and speak:

Let us pray.

Almighty God, who show Your goodness and wisdom in all Your creatures and orders and have spoken from the beginning that it is not good that man should be alone, and therefore created a helper for him, who should be around him [Gen. 2:18] and ordained that two should be one [Gen. 2:24], also punish all impurity, we pray You that, since You have called and bound these two persons to the holy estate of marriage, You would give them Your Holy Spirit, so that they may live holily in true and firm faith according to Your divine will, to resist all evil. Would You also bless them, as You blessed the believing fathers and Your friends and faithful servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so that they, as fellow heirs of the covenant established with those same fathers, may receive holy children and raise them in a godly manner to the honor of Your holy name and for the promotion of their neighbor and the spreading of Your holy gospel. Hear us, O Father of all mercy, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, our Lord, Amen.

Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13]

Hear the promise of God from the 128th Psalm:

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.

When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

The Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!

May our dear Lord God fill you with His grace and grant that you may live together long and holily in all good things, Amen.

Of Church Singing and Clothing.

As far as the singing of the psalms is concerned, the apostle Paul exhorts that it should happen not only with the mouth, but also with the heart, and that all this should serve for the edification of the church. But because the heart cannot praise God with that which it does not understand [cf. 1 Cor. 14:14-17], we therefore will that no other than German psalms be sung in our churches. The church ministers shall also use honorable and modest clothing in the performance of the church offices, as well as otherwise.

Of Visiting the Sick.

The office of a true and faithful minister of the church requires not only that he preach publicly to the people, to whom he is ordained as a shepherd, but also that, as much as is ever possible, he exhort, punish, and comfort everyone individually. Now, however, man never has greater need of divine teaching and true comfort than when he is visited by adversity, such as sicknesses and the like, but especially in the agonies of death. For then his conscience is more opposed than otherwise in his whole life, because he feels that he is summoned before the judgment of God, partly also because of the attacks and temptations of the devil, who then sets upon him with force, so that he might completely suppress the poor, sick, and troubled heart and plunge it into the abyss of despair. Therefore, because the ministers of the church are servants of God and God bears this title among other names of His majesty primarily, that He is a refuge of the miserable, a Savior of those who are of a broken heart [Isa. 57:15], so the servants of God shall also with all compassion, faithfulness, and diligence comfort the troubled hearts and direct them to the Son of God through the preaching of His holy gospel, who promises them help: Come to Me (He says), all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest [Matt. 11:28]. Although all troubled and sick people do not have the same concern and therefore no such comfort can be written that is directed to the form and circumstances of everyone's concern, nevertheless these following main points and teachings shall generally be presented to all the sick.

First, that all sicknesses are not sent to us by chance, but from the hand of God and His fatherly providence, so that we may recognize our sins as the cause of all our misery and humble ourselves before God.

The church minister shall hold this cause of sickness well before the eyes of those sick people who do not rightly feel their sin. Just as, on the other hand, in the case where the sick person is anguished with the pains of his conscience, the church minister shall not further anguish the wounded conscience, but much rather diligently impress upon him the saving grace of God. For this the church minister may use the first question of the catechism and well impress the same upon the sick person with cited verses from the Holy Scripture, namely that the poor, sick body, as it lies there, together with the soul, is the property of the Lord Christ and is redeemed and purchased from all sins by the blood of Jesus Christ etc. This the church minister shall also explain to the sick person for greater comfort through the articles of the Christian faith and indicate to him how he has to comfort himself from each article for his own person in his sickness, as this can easily be done from the catechism and the verses cited with it.

Also sometimes, especially when the sick person is visited for the first time, this following exhortation may be spoken with such or similar words.

Dear friend, because our Lord God has visited you with the weakness of your body, so that you commit it to God's will, you should know:

First, that such our bodily sickness is sent to us by God, the Lord, because of our sins, and that original sin, which we inherited from Adam, brings with it death and everything that belongs in the realm of death, such as infirmity, sickness, misery, sorrow, etc., for if we had remained without sin, neither death nor any kind of sickness could have done anything to us.

Secondly, however, so that we would not have to despair in our sins, sickness, and all sorts of temptation, also the anguish and distress of death, the holy gospel teaches us that Christ, God's Son, will make us free from sin and saved, if we believe in His promise, and such happens in two ways: first, that He cleanses our hearts and consciences here on earth through the gospel and the holy sacraments, Acts 15 [9]: He purified their hearts by faith; secondly, when our consciences are thus cleansed from sins and reconciled with God, the Father, through faith, the sin must also be swept out and eradicated from our nature and being, and we finally cleansed from all sins and become perfect in true righteousness and purity, which God requires of us, so that we may live eternally with God.

Thirdly, so that such may happen and be accomplished in us, our dear Lord God sends us sickness, yes even death, not with the intention that He is angry with us and wants to destroy us, but out of great grace, so that He may drive us to true repentance and faith in this life and finally make us free from the sins in which we are still stuck, and from all misfortune both bodily and spiritually, as the Holy Scripture abundantly testifies. For thus says St. Paul 1 Cor. 11 [32]: But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Item to the Romans in the 8th [28, 35]: All things work together for good to those who love God, and nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus, be it fire, sword, hunger, death, or life, etc.

Fourthly, because it is thus and you are most certain and sure of it from the holy gospel preached through the mouth of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and testified with His death and resurrection, that all your sin is completely and utterly taken away from you onto Christ, yes now also by Christ, and eternally eradicated, and thus there is no cause of wrath and damnation present before God's face over the believers, but pure grace, comfort, life, and salvation, since our dear Lord God now has you in eyes, not as an evil, condemned sinner born of Adam, but as a completely righteous, holy, and dear child in Christ, in whose righteousness and life you shall so certainly live and be saved (provided you believe it) eternally, as certainly and truly as He bore God's wrath and died not in His own, but in your sins, so see and comfort yourself with such grace and know that sin, God's judgment, death, and hell have absolutely nothing more to do with you, but Christ, the only Lamb of God, bears them, John 1 [29], who took them upon Himself and not only took them upon Himself, but also overcame them by Himself and eternally eradicated them. Therefore you should expect all grace, comfort, salvation, and blessedness to God, the Father, through and in the same your Lord Jesus Christ, and surrender yourself in such comforting confidence to His gracious, fatherly will and say: The Lord is my light, whom shall I fear? [Ps. 27:1] My Father in heaven, Your will be done [Matt. 6:9-10], into Your hands I commit my spirit [Luke 23:46], Amen.

And since the church ministers shall visit the sick not only once, but also often uninvited, so that this does not pass without fruit, he shall, if it is not otherwise burdensome for the sick person to hear because of weakness, read a chapter from Holy Scripture, which is especially serviceable for the comfort of the sick, to the sick person, as there are the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th chapters of John, the 15th chapter of Luke, the 5th and 8th chapters to the Romans, the 15th chapter of the 1st to the Corinthians, the 4th and 5th of the 2nd to the Corinthians, the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, item the 25th, the 51st, or the 103rd Psalms, and whatever similar an understanding pastor finds for the sick.

The church minister shall also pray with the sick person together with those present, as often as it may be, the Christian prayer in the following or similar manner.

Prayer with the sick.

Eternal, merciful God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You who alone have death and life in Your hand and care for us without ceasing so that neither health nor sickness nor anything good or evil happens to us, yes not even a hair can fall from our head without Your fatherly will, also turn everything that may meet us in this life to our salvation and blessedness, You who have spoken: Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me [Ps. 50:15], he desires Me, so I will help him out. He knows My name, therefore I will protect him. He calls upon Me, so I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. I will satisfy him with long life, and show him My salvation [Ps. 91:14-16]. We pray You, since You visit us with the weakness of our body or other tribulation, that You would also grant us the grace of Your Holy Spirit, that we may first recognize from the heart from such fatherly rods that we have well deserved it with our manifold sins, that You punish us much more severely, then also keep this living comfort constant and firm in our hearts, that such gracious visitation is not a sign of Your wrath, but of Your fatherly love toward us, since You chastise us for this reason, that we may not be condemned with this world, but through the exercise and increase of our faith, true conversion, childlike obedience, and calling upon Your grace be drawn more and more to You and made conformable to Your dear Son Jesus Christ as members to our Head in suffering and in glory. Therefore give us patience and steadfastness in true trust in Your mercy and let us appear with gracious alleviation of the cross that Your fatherly hand has laid upon us, and turn the same according to Your gracious will to the honor of Your holy name and the salvation and blessedness of our souls, through Your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us this promise: I say to you, if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them [Matt. 18:19-20]. And has commanded us to pray upon this promise thus: Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13]. Would You also grant us steadfastness and daily increase in the old, true, and undoubted Christian faith: I believe in God etc.

Prayer with the dying.

Almighty, merciful God and Father, You who have death and life in Your hands and care for us as for Your own children in life and in death, since You gave Your only begotten Son to death for us, so that we might live eternally through Him, and have promised us through Him: that whoever believes in Him has eternal life [John 3:36] and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life [John 5:24] and no one can snatch His sheep out of Your and out of His hands [John 10:28-29], we pray You, that You would, as You have promised us, nevermore let us be tempted beyond our ability, but make the temptation have such an end that we may be able to bear it [1 Cor. 10:13], but especially at the time when Your fatherly will is to take us out of this valley of tears to You into Your eternal kingdom, so would You graciously alleviate and take away from us the pains and terrors of bodily death, protect us from all temptation, strengthen the weakness of our flesh and the power of Your Holy Spirit and in true, constant trust in Your mercy, which You have shown us in Christ Jesus, in right calling upon Your name and peace of our heart take our spirit into Your hands, so that we may praise You in eternal life with all Your angels and elect, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has thus taught us to pray: Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

Would You also grant us steadfastness and daily increase in the old, true, and undoubted Christian faith: I believe in God, Father etc.

And because experience shows that many heads of households so neglect themselves and theirs in sicknesses that they sometimes pass away without any visitation and comfort, and only then are the church ministers called to many persons to comfort them and to administer the Supper to them when they are in the agonies of death or so burdened with sickness that they can no longer take in any instruction or give any account of themselves, so it is considered necessary that one shall let no sick person, especially who otherwise does not have people around him who are comforting to him, lie for more than three or four days without calling a church minister.

And although the people shall be diligently instructed in sermons and otherwise that they should be visited and comforted in the holy Supper and also in the proclamation of the promise of God, however, if the sick desire to hold the Supper of the Lord also at home in the houses, it shall not be denied to them, but yet with a twofold condition, which one shall diligently observe.

First, if the minister should suspect that the sick person were in the opinion de opere operato and of the necessity of such communion for his salvation, that he be faithfully and diligently turned away from such idolatrous error and instructed of the right use of the Supper.

And secondly, that those who are in the house or otherwise around the sick person be exhorted to communicate with him, so that this order of the Lord may not be broken, that He will have His Supper held by an assembly of Christians, be it large or small.

Concerning the form how the communion shall be held with the sick, the minister shall grasp a short summary from the above-set form for the instruction of the sick person, then the confession of sins, as one usually reads it on Sunday, together with the added comfort spoken to the sick person, also add the Lord's Prayer together with the words of the institution of the Supper, thereupon administer the Supper and conclude with the usual thanksgiving.

Of visiting prisoners.

But because the prisoners need comfort no less than the sick, they shall not only then be comforted by the church ministers when the law is to be executed upon them and they are overcome by the terror of death and can hardly understand or accept the comfort, but, where prisoners are present, they shall be visited and comforted diligently several times every week by a church minister, and, where there are more church ministers than one, they may do this in turns. But if a prisoner shows himself very fainthearted, the church ministers shall visit him even more often.

And because the prisoners often know little or nothing of the foundation of our salvation, the church ministers shall initially ask them about the Ten Commandments, the articles of our Christian faith, and the Lord's Prayer and explain the same to them according to the opportunity of the time, the persons, and their misdeed, especially the article of sin, the judgment of God, and our justification, also to exhort and comfort them hold these and similar verses before them and briefly explain them.

[Ps. 107:10-16] Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons—because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two.

[Isa. 1:16-18] Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice. "Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

[John 5:24] Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

[Rom. 5:20-21] But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Rom. 8:1] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

[Rom. 5:6-11] For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

[Luke 23:32-33, 39-43] There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Of Burial.

In burial all papist and superstitious ceremonies shall be avoided.

Nevertheless, we shall bury our departed and deceased honorably and properly in the earth with such services as may be of use to us who are still alive.

But so that the burial of the departed may be kept useful to us, one may first ring the bells, so that the people who want to accompany the corpse to the burial may have a sign of the time of their gathering. And equality shall be kept in such ringing with rich and poor.

After the corpse has been carried to the burial, the church minister shall read to the people the 4th chapter in the first to the Thessalonians concerning those who have departed in Christ, or the Gospel of John in the 11th chapter concerning Lazarus, or another similar argument, with approximately this preface:

Dear friends, we have now, as we are of comforting confidence and hope, accompanied a member of our Lord Jesus Christ out of Christian love to burial.

So that we now do not depart without instruction and comfort, we will hear the words of the holy apostle Paul (or) of the holy evangelist N., reading thus: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, etc. [1 Thess. 4:13-18] or: Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died," etc. [John 11:21-45] or: But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, etc. [1 Cor. 15:20-28].

Thereupon he shall give a short sermon or exhortation and abstain from excessive praise of the deceased, so that the funeral sermons do not fall into abuse.

But the sermons or exhortations at the burial shall primarily be directed to the following and similar points, which belong to the Christian contemplation of death and preparation for the same, as there are:

The reasons why the deceased corpses have always been buried in the church of God with honorable accompaniment and assembly, namely not with this opinion, as if something were helped for the deceased by our doing. For those who depart in true faith in Christ are taken into eternal salvation and therefore do not need our help. But those who die without faith in Christ are cast into eternal damnation and therefore cannot be helped by us. But such burial of the corpses happens so that the living thereby confess their faith in the resurrection of the dead, that they testify their love toward the deceased and their relatives, that they altogether thank God for this comfort, that we are certain that all believers depart from this life into eternal salvation and that He gathers an eternal church for Himself among us, and pray that He would preserve them in this comfort to the end and always prepare acceptable servants among them, also that they are reminded and caused to Christian contemplation of death, item, what belongs to right and wholesome contemplation of death.

As first, in what danger of death we all stand all the time of our life and what those have to expect whose departure from this life overtakes them in an impenitent walk.

Secondly, what the cause of death and all human misery is, namely sin.

Thirdly, how we should comfort ourselves in our and our loved ones' deadly departure.

And the first comfort is the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and reconciliation with God through Christ, which makes it so that Christians do not have to fear death, since they are now freed from sin, the wrath of God, and eternal damnation.

The second is the certain possession of eternal salvation after this life.

The third, that they are completely and utterly freed from all sins by temporal death, so that they cease to anger God with sins.

The fourth, that also this their body, which decays in the earth, will rise again at the last day and live eternally with God in heavenly clarity and glory.

The fifth, that God will also overcome all temptations and pains of death in us in the agonies of death through the assistance of His Holy Spirit and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear [1 Cor. 10:13].

The sixth, that we should gladly and willingly show our childlike obedience to God, our dear Father, in death and life ourselves or our loved ones.

The seventh, that we first through temporal death and suffering and afterwards through eternal life and glory shall be made conformable to Christ, our Head.

And fourthly, what belongs to such a preparation for death, that we may blessedly depart from this life in such comfort, as namely first a true, constant faith, with which we accept the grace of God in Christ.

The second, true conversion to God, constancy and increase in the same, because without this there can be no true faith.

The third, that we deny ourselves, that is, renounce all our lusts, surrender ourselves completely and utterly to the will of God and let nothing be so dear to us that we are not willing and ready to leave it for His sake.

The fourth, timely, constant, and earnest contemplation of our comfort and salvation, which is presented to us in God's Word, and of our departure from this life.

The fifth, a diligent and constant prayer to God for the grace of His Holy Spirit and a blessed end.

The people shall be briefly reminded of these and similar points at the burials through the explanation of such verses and places from Holy Scripture that belong to this, and the exhortation shall be concluded with such a prayer to which the funeral sermon is directed, as this form is:

Almighty, eternal, merciful God and Father, we thank You that You have not only given us bodily, temporal life and preserved it hitherto, but also have begun the spiritual and eternal life in us, since You so loved us that You gave Your only begotten Son to death for us, so that we all, who believe in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life [John 3:16] and have called us to the blessed communion of Your dear Son Jesus Christ through Your Word and Holy Spirit, also have hitherto graciously preserved us again from all the power and cunning of the evil enemy therein and have assured our hearts with certain comfort and hope that temporal death is an entrance into heavenly and eternal life for us, we pray You also, good God and Father, You would confirm and perfect in us what You have begun in us [Phil. 1:6], forgive us all our sins and deliver us from eternal death for the sake of Your dear Son Jesus Christ and put to death in us through the grace of Your Holy Spirit more and more our sinful nature and disposition, until You finally deliver us from all sin and tribulation. Grant that with firm faith we may comfort ourselves with the joyful resurrection of our flesh to eternal glory. Stand by us and save us against all temptation and attacks of the evil enemy and the weakness of our own flesh, especially when we shall depart from this life. Help that we may gladly be obedient to Your fatherly will in life and in death from the heart, deny ourselves and everything that may please us in this world, and seek what is above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God [Col. 3:1] and have all our desire and joy, not in the pleasure of this world, but in the contemplation of Your Word and will, always watch and pray, so that we do not fall into temptation [Matt. 26:41], but be found in right readiness when Your gracious will is to call us out of this miserable life, so that we may come to You through a blessed end into eternal rest and salvation and appear without fear before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ, Your Son, all of which, we pray You, You would graciously grant us through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who has thus taught us to pray: Our Father etc. [Matt. 6:9-13].

Would You also give us steadfastness and daily increase in the old, true, undoubted Christian faith, so that through it we may partake more and more of Christ and all His goods, of which faith we make confession with mouth and heart, saying: I believe in God etc.

Grant also to us all, that we, reconciled with Him through the death of Christ and cleansed from all sins, may rest after this life in divine peace, light, and joy until the day of the blessed resurrection, when we shall take possession of the promised inheritance of the eternal kingdom and look upon the glorious majesty of God in the face of Jesus Christ always and eternally. Would You thus strengthen us with this faith and also joyfully overcome death through Christ, Amen.