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第2章

  VII。TheSixthRequestAndleadusnotintotemptation。
  Q。Whatdoesthismean?
  A。Godtemptsnoone,ofcourse,butweprayinthisrequestthatGodwillprotectusandsaveus,sothattheDevil,theworldandourbodilydesireswillneitherdeceiveusnorseduceusintoheresy,despairorotherseriousshameorvice,andsothatwewillwinandbevictoriousintheend,eveniftheyattackus。
  VIII。TheSeventhRequestButsetusfreefromtheEvilOne。
  Q。Whatdoesthismean?
  A。Weprayinthisrequest,asasummary,thatourFatherinHeavenwillsaveusfromeverykindofevilthatthreatensbody,soul,propertyandhonor。Wepraythatwhenatlastourfinalhourhascome,Hewillgrantusablesseddeath,and,inHisgrace,bringustoHimselffromthisvalleyoftears。
  IX。Amen。
  Q。Whatdoesthismean?
  A。ThatIshouldbecertainthatsuchprayersareacceptabletotheFatherinHeavenandwillbegranted,thatHeHimselfhascommandedustoprayinthiswayandthatHepromisestoanswerus。Amen。
  Amen。Thismeans:Yes,yesitwillhappenthisway。
  PartFour:HolyBaptismTheSacramentofHolyBaptism:
  TheSimpleWayaFatherShouldPresentittoHisHousehold
  I。
  Q。WhatisBaptism?
  A。Baptismisnotjustplainwater,butitiswatercontainedwithinGod'scommandandunitedwithGod'sWord。
  Q。WhichWordofGodisthis?
  A。TheonewhichourLordChristspokeinthelastchapterofMatthew:
  Gointoalltheworld,teachingallheathennations,andbaptizingtheminthenameoftheFather,theSonandoftheHolySpirit。
  II。
  Q。WhatdoesBaptismgive?Whatgoodisit?
  A。Itgivestheforgivenessofsins,redeemsfromdeathandtheDevil,giveseternalsalvationtoallwhobelievethis,justasGod'swordsandpromisesdeclare。
  Q。WhatarethesewordsandpromisesofGod?
  A。OurLordChristspokeoneoftheminthelastchapterofMark:
  ``Whoeverbelievesandisbaptizedwillbesaved;butwhoeverdoesnotbelievewillbedamned。''
  III。
  Q。Howcanwaterdosuchgreatthings?
  A。Waterdoesn'tmakethesethingshappen,ofcourse。ItisGod'sWord,whichiswithandinthewater。Because,withoutGod'sWord,thewaterisplainwaterandnotbaptism。ButwithGod'sWorditisaBaptism,agrace-filledwateroflife,abathofnewbirthintheHolySpirit,asSt。PaulsaidtoTitusinthethirdchapter:
  ``ThroughthisbathofrebirthandrenewaloftheHolySpirit,whichHepouredoutonusabundantlythroughJesusChrist,ourSavior,thatwe,justifiedbythesamegracearemadeheirsaccordingtothehopeofeternallife。Thisisafaithfulsaying。''
  IV。
  Q。WhatisthemeaningofsuchawaterBaptism?
  A。ItmeansthattheoldAdaminusshouldbedrownedbydailysorrowandrepentance,anddiewithallsinsandevillusts,and,inturn,anewpersondailycomeforthandrisefromdeathagain。
  HewillliveforeverbeforeGodinrighteousnessandpurity。
  Q。Whereisthiswritten?
  A。St。PaulsaystotheRomansinchaptersix:
  ``WeareburiedwithChristthroughBaptismintodeath,sothat,inthesamewayChristisrisenfromthedeadbythegloryoftheFather,thusalsomustwewalkinanewlife。''
  PartFive:ConfessionHowOneShouldTeachtheUneducatedtoConfessI。
  Q。Whatisconfession?
  A。Confessionhastwoparts:
  First,apersonadmitshissinSecond,apersonreceivesabsolutionorforgivenessfromtheconfessor,asiffromGodHimself,withoutdoubtingit,butbelievingfirmlythathissinsareforgivenbyGodinHeaventhroughit。
  II。
  Q。Whichsinsshouldpeopleconfess?
  A。WhenspeakingtoGod,weshouldpleadguiltytoallsins,eventhosewedon'tknowabout,justaswedointhe``OurFather,''butwhenspeakingtotheconfessor,onlythesinsweknowabout,whichweknowaboutandfeelinourhearts。
  Q。Whicharethese?
  A。ConsiderhereyourplaceinlifeaccordingtotheTenCommandments。Areyouafather?Amother?Ason?Adaughter?
  Ahusband?Awife?Aservant?Areyoudisobedient,unfaithfulorlazy?Haveyouhurtanyonewithyourwordsoractions?Haveyoustolen,neglectedyourduty,letthingsgoorinjuredsomeone?
  PartSix:TheSacramentoftheAltarTheSacramentoftheAltar:
  TheSimpleWayaFatherShouldPresentittohisHouseholdI。
  Q。WhatistheSacramentoftheAltar?
  A。ItisthetruebodyandbloodofourLordJesusChristunderbreadandwineforusChristianstoeatandtodrink,establishedbyChristHimself。
  II。Q。Whereisthatwritten?
  A。TheholyapostlesMatthew,MarkandLukeandSt。Paulwritethis:
  ``OurLordJesusChrist,inthenightonwhichHewasbetrayed,tookbread,gavethanks,brokeit,gaveittoHisdisciplesandsaid:``Take!Eat!ThisisMybody,whichisgivenforyou。DothistorememberMe!''InthesamewayHealsotookthecupaftersupper,gavethanks,gaveittothem,andsaid:``Takeanddrinkfromit,allofyou!ThiscupistheNewTestamentinmyblood,whichisshedforyoutoforgivesins。Thisdo,asoftenasyoudrinkit,torememberMe!''
  III。
  Q。Whatgooddoesthiseatinganddrinkingdo?
  A。Thesewordstellus:``Givenforyou''and``Shedforyoutoforgivesins。''Namely,thattheforgivenessofsins,lifeandsalvationaregiventousthroughthesewordsinthesacrament。
  Because,wheresinsareforgiven,thereislifeandsalvationaswell。
  IV。
  Q。Howcanphysicaleatinganddrinkingdosuchgreatthings?
  A。Ofcourse,eatinganddrinkingdonotdothesethings。Thesewords,writtenhere,dothem:``givenforyou''and``shedforyoutoforgivesins。''Thesewords,alongwithphysicaleatinganddrinkingaretheimportantpartofthesacrament。Anyonewhobelievesthesewordshaswhattheysayandwhattheyrecord,namely,theforgivenessofsins。
  V。
  Q。Who,then,receivessuchasacramentinaworthyway?
  A。Ofcourse,fastingandotherphysicalpreparationsareexcellentdisciplinesforthebody。Butanyonewhobelievesthesewords,``Givenforyou,''and``Shedforyoutoforgivesins,''isreallyworthyandwellprepared。Butwhoeverdoubtsordoesnotbelievethesewordsisnotworthyandisunprepared,becausethewords,``foryou''demandaheartthatfullybelieves。
  MorningPrayerMyHeavenlyFather,IthankYou,throughJesusChrist,YourbelovedSon,thatYoukeptmesafefromallevilanddangerlastnight。Saveme,Ipray,todayaswell,fromeveryevilandsin,sothatallIdoandthewaythatIlivewillpleaseyou。Iputmyselfinyourcare,bodyandsoulandallthatIhave。LetYourholyAngelsbewithme,sothattheevilenemywillnotgainpoweroverme。Amen。
  EveningPrayerMyHeavenlyFather,IthankYou,throughJesusChrist,YourbelovedSon,thatYouhaveprotectedme,byYourgrace。Forgive,I
  pray,allmysinsandtheevilIhavedone。Protectme,byYourgrace,tonight。Iputmyselfinyourcare,bodyandsoulandallthatIhave。LetYourholyangelsbewithme,sothattheevilenemywillnotgainpoweroverme。Amen。