large catechism-第19节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


by　our　works。　Therefore　it　is　not　a　Christian　Church　either；　for　where
Christ　is　not　preached；　there　is　no　Holy　Ghost　who　creates；　calls；　and
gathers　the　Christian　Church；　without　which　no　one　can　come　to　Christ
the　Lord。　Let　this　suffice　concerning　the　sum　of　this　article。　But
because　the　parts　which　are　here　enumerated　are　not　quite　clear　to　the
simple；　we　shall　run　over　them　also。　

The　Creed　denominates　the　holy　Christian　Church；　communionem
sanctorum；　a　communion　of　saints；　for　both　expressions；　taken
together；　are　identical。　But　formerly　the　one　＇the　second＇　expression
was　not　there；　and　it　has　been　poorly　and　unintelligibly　translated
into　German　eine　Gemeinschaft　der　Heiligen；　a　communion　of　saints。　If
it　is　to　be　rendered　plainly；　it　must　be　expressed　quite　differently　in
the　German　idiom；　for　the　word　ecclesia　properly　means　in　German　eine
Versammlung；　an　assembly。　But　we　are　accustomed　to　the　word　church；　by
which　the　simple　do　not　understand　an　assembled　multitude；　but　the
consecrated　house　or　building；　although　the　house　ought　not　to　be
called　a　church；　except　only　for　the　reason　that　the　multitude
assembles　there。　For　we　who　assemble　there　make　and　choose　for
ourselves　a　particular　place；　and　give　a　name　to　the　house　according　to
the　assembly。　

Thus　the　word　Kirche　（church）　means　really　nothing　else　than　a　common
assembly　and　is　not　German　by　idiom；　but　Greek　（as　is　also　the　word
ecclesia）；　for　in　their　own　language　they　call　it　kyria；　as　in　Latin　it
is　called　curia。　Therefore　in　genuine　German；　in　our　mother…tongue；　it
ought　to　be　called　a　Christian　congregation　or　assembly　（eine
christliche　Gemeinde　oder　Sammlung）；　or；　best　of　all　and　most　clearly；
holy　Christendom　（eine　heilige　Christenheit）。　

So　also　the　word　communio；　which　is　added；　ought　not　to　be　rendered
communion　（Gemeinschaft）；　but　congregation　（Gemeinde）。　And　it　is
nothing　else　than　an　interpretation　or　explanation　by　which　some　one
meant　to　explain　what　the　Christian　Church　is。　This　our　people；　who
understood　neither　Latin　nor　German；　have　rendered　Gemeinschaft　der
Heiligen　（communion　of　saints）；　although　no　German　language　speaks
thus；　nor　understands　it　thus。　But　to　speak　correct　German；　it　ought　to
be　eine　Gemeinde　der　Heiligen　（a　congregation　of　saints）；　that　is；　a
congregation　made　up　purely　of　saints；　or；　to　speak　yet　more　plainly；
eine　heilige　Gemeinde；　a　holy　congregation。　I　say　this　in　order　that
the　words　Gemeinschaft　der　Heiligen　（communion　of　saints）　may　be
understood；　because　the　expression　has　become　so　established　by　custom
that　it　cannot　well　be　eradicated；　and　it　is　treated　almost　as　heresy
if　one　should　attempt　to　change　a　word。　

But　this　is　the　meaning　and　substance　of　this　addition：　I　believe　that
there　is　upon　earth　a　little　holy　group　and　congregation　of　pure
saints；　under　one　head；　even　Christ；　called　together　by　the　Holy　Ghost
in　one　faith；　one　mind；　and　understanding；　with　manifold　gifts；　yet
agreeing　in　love；　without　sects　or　schisms。　I　am　also　a　part　and　member
of　the　same　a　sharer　and　joint　owner　of　all　the　goods　it　possesses；
brought　to　it　and　incorporated　into　it　by　the　Holy　Ghost　by　having
heard　and　continuing　to　hear　the　Word　of　God；　which　is　the　beginning　of
entering　it。　For　formerly；　before　we　had　attained　to　this；　we　were
altogether　of　the　devil；　knowing　nothing　of　God　and　of　Christ。　Thus；
until　the　last　day；　the　Holy　Ghost　abides　with　the　holy　congregation　or
Christendom；　by　means　of　which　He　fetches　us　to　Christ　and　which　He
employs　to　teach　and　preach　to　us　the　Word；　whereby　He　works　and
promotes　sanctification；　causing　it　＇this　community＇　daily　to　grow　and
become　strong　in　the　faith　and　its　fruits　which　He　produces。　

We　further　believe　that　in　this　Christian　Church　we　have　forgiveness　of
sin；　which　is　wrought　through　the　holy　Sacraments　and　Absolution；
moreover；　through　all　manner　of　consolatory　promises　of　the　entire
Gospel。　Therefore；　whatever　is　to　be　preached　concerning　the　Sacraments
belongs　here；　and；　in　short；　the　whole　Gospel　and　all　the　offices　of
Christianity；　which　also　must　be　preached　and　taught　without　ceasing。
For　although　the　grace　of　God　is　secured　through　Christ；　and
sanctification　is　wrought　by　the　Holy　Ghost　through　the　Word　of　God　in
the　unity　of　the　Christian　Church；　yet　on　account　of　our　flesh　which　we
bear　about　with　us　we　are　never　without　sin。　

Everything；　therefore；　in　the　Christian　Church　is　ordered　to　the　end
that　we　shall　daily　obtain　there　nothing　but　the　forgiveness　of　sin
through　the　Word　and　signs；　to　comfort　and　encourage　our　consciences　as
long　as　we　live　here。　Thus；　although　we　have　sins；　the　＇grace　of　the＇
Holy　Ghost　does　not　allow　them　to　injure　us；　because　we　are　in　the
Christian　Church；　where　there　is　nothing　but　＇continuous；
uninterrupted＇　forgiveness　of　sin；　both　in　that　God　forgives　us；　and　in
that　we　forgive；　bear　with；　and　help　each　other。　

But　outside　of　this　Christian　Church；　where　the　Gospel　is　not；　there　is
no　forgiveness；　as　also　there　can　be　no　holiness　＇sanctification＇。
Therefore　all　who　seek　and　wish　to　merit　holiness　＇sanctification＇；　not
through　the　Gospel　and　forgiveness　of　sin；　but　by　their　works；　have
expelled　and　severed　themselves　＇from　this　Church＇。　

Meanwhile；　however；　while　sanctification　has　begun　and　is　growing
daily；　we　expect　that　our　flesh　will　be　destroyed　and　buried　with　all
its　uncleanness；　and　will　come　forth　gloriously；　and　arise　to　entire
and　perfect　holiness　in　a　new　eternal　life。　For　now　we　are　only　half
pure　and　holy；　so　that　the　Holy　Ghost　has　ever　＇some　reason　why＇　to
continue　His　work　in　us　through　the　Word；　and　daily　to　dispense
forgiveness；　until　we　attain　to　that　life　where　there　will　be　no　more
forgiveness；　but　only　perfectly　pure　and　holy　people；　full　of　godliness
and　righteousness；　removed　and　free　from　sin；　death；　and　all　evil；　in　a
new；　immortal；　and　glorified　body。　

Behold；　all　this　is　to　be　the　office　and　work　of　the　Holy　Ghost；　that
He　begin　and　daily　increase　holiness　upon　earth　by　means　of　these　two
things；　the　Christian　Church　and　the　forgiveness　of　sin。　But　in　our
dissolution　He　will　accomplish　it　altogether　in　an　instant；　and　will
forever　preserve　us　therein　by　the　last　two　parts。　

But　the　term　Auferstehung　des　Fleisches　（resurrection　of　the　flesh）
here　employed　is　not　according　to　good　German　idiom。　For　when　we
Germans　hear　the　word　Fleisch　（flesh）；　we　think　no　farther　than　of　the
shambles。　But　in　good　German　idiom　we　would　say　Auferstehung　des
Leibes；　or　Leichnams　（resurrection　of　the　body）。　However；　it　is　not　a
matter　of　much　moment；　if　we　only　understand　the　words　aright。　

This；　now；　is　the　article　which　must　ever　be　and　remain　in　operation。
For　creation　we　have　received；　redemption；　too；　is　finished。　But　the
Holy　Ghost　carries　on　His　work　without　ceasing　to　the　last　day。　And　for
that　purpose　He　has　appointed　a　congregation　upon　earth　by　which　He
speaks　and　does　everything。　For　He　has　not　yet　brought　together　all　His
Christian　Church　nor　dispensed　forgiveness。　Therefore　we　believe　in　Him
who　through　the　Word　daily　brings　us　into　the　fellowship　of　this
Christian　Church；　and　through　the　same　Word　and　the　forgiveness　of　sins
bestows；　increases；　and　strengthens　faith　in　order　that　when　He　has
accomplished　it　all；　and　we　abide　therein；　and　die　to　the　world　and　to
all　evil；　He　may　finally　make　us　perfectly　and　forever　holy；　which　now
we　expect　in　faith　through　the　Word。　

Behold；　here　you　have　the　entire　divine　essence；　will；　and　work
depicted　most　exquisitely　in　quite　short　and　yet　rich　words　wherein
consists　all　our　wisdom；　which　surpasses　and　exceeds　the　wisdom；　mind；
and　reason　of　all　men。　For　although　the　whole　world　with　all　diligence
has　endeavored　to　ascertain　what　God　is；　what　He　has　in　mind　and　does；
yet　has　she　never　been　able　to　attain　to　＇the　knowledge　and
understanding　of＇　any　of　these　things。　But　here　we　have　everything　in
richest　measure；　for　here　in　all　three　articles　He　has　Himself　revealed
and　opened　the　deepest　abyss　of　his　paternal　heart　and　of　His　pure
unutterable　love。　For　He　has　created　us　for　this　very　object；　that　He
might　redeem　and　sanctify　us；　and　in　addition　to　giving　and　imparting
to　us　everything　in　heaven　and　upon　earth；　He　has　given　to　us　even　His
Son　and　the　Holy　Ghost；　by　whom　to　bring　us　to　Himself。　For　（as
explained　above）　we　could　never　attain　to　the　knowledge　of　the　grace
and　favor　of　the　Father　except　through　the　Lord　Christ；　who　is　a　mirror
of　the　paternal　heart；　outside　of　whom　we　see　nothing　but　an　angry　and
terrible　Judge。　But　of　Christ　we　could　know　nothing　either；　unless　it
had　been　revealed　by　the　Holy　Ghost。　

These　articles　of　the　Creed；　therefore；　divide　and　separate　us
Christians　from　all　other　people　upon　earth。　For　all　outside　of
Christianity；　whether　heathen；　Turks；　Jews；　or　false　Christians　and
hypocrites；　although　they　believe　in；　and　worship；　only　one　true　God；
yet　know　not　what　His　mind　towards　them　is；　and　cannot　expect　any　love
or　blessing　from　Him；　therefore　they　abide　in　eternal　wrath　and
damnation。　For　they　have　not　the　Lord　Christ；　and；　besides；　are　not
illumined　and　favored　by　any　gifts　of　the　Holy　Ghost。