Sacrament　should　know。　For　it　is　not　our　intention　to　admit　to　it　and
  to　administer　it　to　those　who　know　not　what　they　seek；　or　why　they
  come。　The　words；　however；　are　these：
  Our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　the　same　night　in　which　He　was　betrayed；　took
  bread；　and　when　He　had　given　thanks；　He　brake　it；　and　gave　it　to　His
  disciples；　and　said；　Take；　eat；　this　is　My　body；　which　is　given　for
  you：
  this　do　in　remembrance　of　Me。
  After　the　same　manner　also　He　took　the　cup　when　He　had　supped；　gave
  thanks；　and　gave　it　to　them；　saying；　Drink　ye　all　of　it；　this　cup　is
  the　new　testament　in　My　blood；　which　is　shed　for　you　for　the　remission
  of　sins：　this　do　ye；　as　oft　as　ye　drink　it；　in　remembrance　of　Me。
  Here　also　we　do　not　wish　to　enter　into　controversy　and　contend　with　the
  traducers　and　blasphemers　of　this　Sacrament；　but　to　learn　first　（as　we
  did　regarding　Baptism）　what　is　of　the　greatest　importance；　namely　that
  the　chief　point　is　the　Word　and　ordinance　or　command　of　God。　For　it　has
  not　been　invented　nor　introduced　by　any　man；　but　without　any　one's
  counsel　and　deliberation　it　has　been　instituted　by　Christ。　Therefore；
  just　as　the　Ten　Commandments；　the　Lord's　Prayer；　and　the　Creed　retain
  their　nature　and　worth　although　you　never　keep；　pray；　or　believe　them；
  so　also　does　this　venerable　Sacrament　remain　undisturbed；　so　that
  nothing　is　detracted　or　taken　from　it；　even　though　we　employ　and
  dispense　it　unworthily。　What　do　you　think　God　cares　about　what　we　do　or
  believe；　so　that　on　that　account　He　should　suffer　His　ordinance　to　be
  changed？　Why；　in　all　worldly　matters　every　thing　remains　as　God　has
  created　and　ordered　it；　no　matter　how　we　employ　or　use　it。　This　must
  always　be　urged；　for　thereby　the　prating　of　nearly　all　the　fanatical
  spirits　can　be　repelled。　For　they　regard　the　Sacraments；　aside　from　the
  Word　of　God；　as　something　that　we　do。
  Now；　what　is　the　Sacrament　of　the　Altar！
  Answer：　It　is　the　true　body　and　blood　of　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　in　and
  under　the　bread　and　wine　which　we　Christians　are　commanded　by　the　Word
  of　Christ　to　eat　and　to　drink。　And　as　we　have　said　of　Baptism　that　it
  is　not　simple　water；　so　here　also　we　say　the　Sacrament　is　bread　and
  wine；　but　not　mere　bread　and　wine；　such　as　are　ordinarily　served　at　the
  table；　but　bread　and　wine　comprehended　in；　and　connected　with；　the　Word
  of　God。
  It　is　the　Word　（I　say）　which　makes　and　distinguishes　this　Sacrament；　so
  that　it　is　not　mere　bread　and　wine；　but　is；　and　is　called；　the　body　and
  blood　of　Christ。　For　it　is　said：　Accedat　verbum　ad　elementum；　et　At
  sacramentum。　If　the　Word　be　joined　to　the　element　it　becomes　a
  Sacrament。　This　saying　of　St。　Augustine　is　so　properly　and　so　well　put
  that　he　has　scarcely　said　anything　better。　The　Word　must　make　a
  Sacrament　of　the　element；　else　it　remains　a　mere　element。　Now；　it　is
  not　the　word　or　ordinance　of　a　prince　or　emperor；　but　of　the　sublime
  Majesty；　at　whose　feet　all　creatures　should　fall；　and　affirm　it　is　as
  He　says；　and　accept　it　with　all　reverence　fear；　and　humility。
  With　this　Word　you　can　strengthen　your　conscience　and　say：　If　a
  hundred　thousand　devils；　together　with　all　fanatics；　should　rush
  forward；　crying；　How　can　bread　and　wine　be　the　body　and　blood　of
  Christ？　etc。；　I　know　that　all　spirits　and　scholars　together　are　not　as
  wise　as　is　the　Divine　Majesty　in　His　little　finger。　Now　here　stands　the
  Word　of　Christ：　Take；　eat；　this　is　My　body；　Drink　ye　all　of　it；　this　is
  the　new　testament　in　My　blood；　etc。　Here　we　abide；　and　would　like　to
  see　those　who　will　constitute　themselves　His　masters；　and　make　it
  different　from　what　He　has　spoken。　It　is　true；　indeed；　that　if　you　take
  away　the　Word　or　regard　it　without　the　words；　you　have　nothing　but　mere
  bread　and　wine。　But　if　the　words　remain　with　them　as　they　shall　and
  must；　then；　in　virtue　of　the　same；　it　is　truly　the　body　and　blood　of
  Christ。　For　as　the　lips　of　Christ　say　and　speak；　so　it　is；　as　He　can
  never　lie　or　deceive。
  Hence　it　is　easy　to　reply　to　all　manner　of　questions　about　which　men
  are　troubled　at　the　present　time；　such　as　this　one：　Whether　even　a
  wicked　priest　can　minister　at；　and　dispense；　the　Sacrament；　and
  whatever　other　questions　like　this　there　may　be。　For　here　we　conclude
  and　say：　Even　though　a　knave　takes　or　distributes　the　Sacrament；　he
  receives　the　true　Sacrament；　that　is；　the　true　body　and　blood　of
  Christ；　just　as　truly　as　he　who　＇receives　or＇　administers　it　in　the
  most　worthy　manner。　For　it　is　not　founded　upon　the　holiness　of　men；　but
  upon　the　Word　of　God。　And　as　no　saint　upon　earth；　yea；　no　angel　in
  heaven；　can　make　bread　and　wine　to　be　the　body　and　blood　of　Christ；　so
  also　can　no　one　change　or　alter　it；　even　though　it　be　misused。　For　the
  Word　by　which　it　became　a　Sacrament　and　was　instituted　does　not　become
  false　because　of　the　person　or　his　unbelief。　For　He　does　not　say：　If
  you　believe　or　are　worthy；　you　receive　My　body　and　blood；　but：　Take；
  eat　and　drink；　this　is　By　body　and　blood。　Likewise：　Do　this　（namely；
  what　I　now　do；　institute；　give；　and　bid　you　take）　。　That　is　as　much　as
  to　say；　No　matter　whether　you　are　worthy　or　unworthy；　you　have　here　His
  body　and　blood　by　virtue　of　these　words　which　are　added　to　the　bread
  and　wine。　Only　note　and　remember　this　well；　for　upon　these　words　rest
  all　our　foundation；　protection；　and　defense　against　all　errors　and
  deception　that　have　ever　come　or　may　yet　come。
  Thus　we　have　briefly　the　first　point　which　relates　to　the　essence　of
  this　Sacrament。　Now　examine　further　the　efficacy　and　benefits　on
  account　of　which　really　the　Sacrament　was　instituted；　which　is　also　its
  most　necessary　part；　that　we　may　know　what　we　should　seek　and　obtain
  there。　Now　this　is　plain　and　clear　from　the　words　just　mentioned：　This
  is　My　body　and　blood；　given　and　shed　FOR　YOU；　for　the　remission　of
  sins。　Briefly　that　is　as　much　as　to　say：　For　this　reason　we　go　to　the
  Sacrament　because　there　we　receive　such　a　treasure　by　and　in　which　we
  obtain　forgiveness　of　sins。　Why　so？　Because　the　words　stand　here　and
  give　us　this；　for　on　this　account　He　bids　me　eat　and　drink；　that　it　may
  be　my　own　and　may　benefit　me；　as　a　sure　pledge　and　token；　yea；　the　very
  same　treasure　that　is　appointed　for　me　against　my　sins；　death；　and
  every　calamity。
  On　this　account　it　is　indeed　called　a　food　of　souls；　which　nourishes
  and　strengthens　the　new　man。　For　by　Baptism　we　are　first　born　anew；　but
  （as　we　said　before）　there　still　remains；　besides；　the　old　vicious
  nature　of　flesh　and　blood　in　man；　and　there　are　so　many　hindrances　and
  temptations　of　the　devil　and　of　the　world　that　we　often　become　weary
  and　faint；　and　sometimes　also　stumble。
  Therefore　it　is　given　for　a　daily　pasture　and　sustenance；　that　faith
  may　refresh　and　strengthen　itself　so　as　not　to　fall　back　in　such　a
  battle；　but　become　ever　stronger　and　stronger。　For　the　new　life　must　be
  so　regulated　that　it　continually　increase　and　progress；　but　it　must
  suffer　much　opposition。　For　the　devil　is　such　a　furious　enemy　that　when
  he　sees　that　we　oppose　him　and　attack　the　old　man；　and　that　he　cannot
  topple　us　over　by　force；　he　prowls　and　moves　about　on　all　sides；　tries
  all　devices；　and　does　not　desist　until　he　finally　wearies　us；　so　that
  we　either　renounce　our　faith　or　yield　hands　and　feet　and　become
  listless　or　impatient。　Now　to　this　end　the　consolation　is　here　given
  when　the　heart　feels　that　the　burden　is　becoming　too　heavy；　that　it　may
  here　obtain　new　power　and　refreshment。
  But　here　our　wise　spirits　contort　themselves　with　their　great　art　and
  wisdom；　crying　out　and　bawling：　How　can　bread　and　wine　forgive　sins　or
  strengthen　faith？　Although　they　hear　and　know　that　we　do　not　say　this
  of　bread　and　wine；　because　in　itself　bread　is　bread；　but　of　such　bread
  and　wine　as　is　the　body　and　blood　of　Christ；　and　has　the　words　attached
  to　it。　That；　we　say；　is　verily　the　treasure；　and　nothing　else；　through
  which　such　forgiveness　is　obtained。　Now　the　only　way　in　which　it　is
  conveyed　and　appropriated　to　us　is　in　the　words　（Given　and　shed　for
  you）。　For　herein　you　have　both　truths；　that　it　is　the　body　and　blood　of
  Christ；　and　that　it　is　yours　as　a　treasure　and　gift。　Now　the　body　of
  Christ　can　never　be　an　unfruitful；　vain　thing；　that　effects　or　profits
  nothing。　Yet　however　great　is　the　treasure　in　itself；　it　must　be
  comprehended　in　the　Word　and　administered　to　us；　else　we　should　never
  be　able　to　know　or　seek　it。
  Therefore　also　it　is　vain　talk　when　they　say　that　the　body　and　blood　of
  Christ　are　not　given　and　shed　for　us　in　the　Lord's　Supper；　hence　we
  could　not　have　forgiveness　of　sins　in　the　Sacrament。　For　although　the
  work　is　accomplished　and　the　forgiveness　of　sins　acquired　on　the　cross；
  yet　it　cannot　come　to　us　in　any　other　way　than　through　the　Word。　For
  what　would　we　otherwise　know　about　it；　that　such　a　thing　was
  accomplished　or　was　to　be　given　us　if　it　were　not　presented　by
  preaching　or　the　oral　Word？　Whence　do　they　know　of　it；　or　how　can　they
  apprehend　and　appropriate　to　themselves　the　forgiveness；　except　they
  lay　hold　of　and　believe　the　Scriptures　and　the　Gospel？　But　now　the
  entire　Gospel　and　the　article　of　the　Creed：　I　believe　a　holy　Christian
  Church；　the　forgiveness　of　sin；　etc。；　are　by　the　Word　embodied　in　this
  Sac