help nowhere else except in Him。 But this matter He has put last； for
if we are to be preserved and delivered from all evil； the name of God
must first be hallowed in us； His kingdom must be with us； and His will
be done。 After that He will finally preserve us from sin and shame；
and； besides； from everything that may hurt or injure us。
Thus God has briefly placed before us all the distress which may ever
come upon us； so that we might have no excuse whatever for not praying。
But all depends upon this； that we learn also to say Amen； that is；
that we do not doubt that our prayer is surely heard and ＇what we pray＇
shall be done。 For this is nothing else than the word of undoubting
faith； which does not pray at a venture； but knows that God does not
lie to him； since He has promised to grant it。 Therefore； where there
is no such faith； there cannot be true prayer either。
It is； therefore； a pernicious delusion of those who pray in such a
manner that they dare not from the heart say yea and positively
conclude that God hears them； but remain in doubt and say； How should I
be so bold as to boast that God hears my prayer？ For I am but a poor
sinner； etc。
The reason for this is； they regard not the promise of God； but their
own work and worthiness； whereby they despise God and reproach Him with
lying； and therefore they receive nothing。 As St。 James says ＇1； 6＇：
But let him ask in faith； nothing wavering； for he that wavereth is
like a wave of the sea； driven with the wind and tossed。 For let not
that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord。 Behold； such
importance God attaches to the fact that we are sure we do not pray in
vain； and that we do not in any way despise our prayer。
Part Fourth。
OF BAPTISM。
We have now finished the three chief parts of the common Christian
doctrine。 Besides these we have yet to speak of our two Sacraments
instituted by Christ； of which also every Christian ought to have at
least an ordinary； brief instruction； because without them there can be
no Christian； although； alas！ hitherto no instruction concerning them
has been given。 But； in the first place； we take up Baptism； by which
we are first received into the Christian Church。 However； in order that
it may be readily understood we will treat of it in an orderly manner；
and keep only to that which it is necessary for us to know。 For how it
is to be maintained and defended against heretics and sects we will
commend to the learned。
In the first place； we must above all things know well the words upon
which Baptism is founded； and to which everything refers that is to be
said on the subject； namely； where the Lord Christ speaks in the last
chapter of Matthew； v。 19：
Go ye therefore and teach all nations； baptizing them in the name of
the Father； and of the Son； and of the Holy Ghost。
Likewise in St。 Mark； the last chapter； v。 16：
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved； but he that
believeth not shall be damned 。
In these words you must note； in the first place； that here stand
God's commandment and institution； lest we doubt that Baptism is
divine； not devised nor invented by men。 For as truly as I can say； No
man has spun the Ten Commandments； the Creed； and the Lord's Prayer out
of his head； but they are revealed and given by God Himself； so also I
can boast that Baptism is no human trifle； but instituted by God
Himself； moreover； that it is most solemnly and strictly commanded that
we must be baptized or we cannot be saved； lest any one regard it as a
trifling matter； like putting on a new red coat。 For it is of the
greatest importance that we esteem Baptism excellent； glorious； and
exalted； for which we contend and fight chiefly； because the world is
now so full of sects clamoring that Baptism is an external thing； and
that external things are of no benefit。 But let it be ever so much an
external thing here stand God's Word and command which institute；
establish； and confirm Baptism。 But what God institutes and commands
cannot be a vain； but must be a most precious thing； though in
appearance it were of less value than a straw。 If hitherto people could
consider it a great thing when the Pope with his letters and bulls
dispensed indulgences and confirmed altars and churches； solely because
of the letters and seals； we ought to esteem Baptism much more highly
and more precious； because God has commanded it； and； besides； it is
performed in His name。 For these are the words； Go ye baptize； however；
not in your name； but in the name of God。
For to be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men； but
by God Himself。 Therefore although it is performed by human hands； it
is nevertheless truly God's own work。 From this fact every one may
himself readily infer that it is a far higher work than any work
performed by a man or a saint。 For what work greater than the work of
God can we do？
But here the devil is busy to delude us with false appearances； and
lead us away from the work of God to our own works。 For there is a much
more splendid appearance when a Carthusian does many great and
difficult works and we all think much more of that which we do and
merit ourselves。 But the Scriptures teach thus： Even though we collect
in one mass the works of all the monks； however splendidly they may
shine； they would not be as noble and good as if God should pick up a
straw。 Why？ Because the person is nobler and better。 Here； then； we
must not estimate the person according to the works； but the works
according to the person； from whom they must derive their nobility。 But
insane reason will not regard this； and because Baptism does not shine
like the works which we do； it is to be esteemed as nothing。
From this now learn a proper understanding of the subject； and how to
answer the question what Baptism is； namely thus； that it is not mere
ordinary water； but water comprehended in God's Word and command； and
sanctified thereby； so that it is nothing else than a divine water； not
that the water in itself is nobler than other water； but that God's
Word and command are added。
Therefore it is pure wickedness and blasphemy of the devil that now our
new spirits； to mock at Baptism； omit from it God's Word and
institution； and look upon it in no other way than as water which is
taken from the well； and then blather and say： How is a handful of
water to help the soul？ Aye； my friend； who does not know that water is
water if tearing things asunder is what we are after？ But how dare you
thus interfere with God's order； and tear away the most precious
treasure with which God has connected and enclosed it； and which He
will not have separated？ For the kernel in the water is God's Word or
command and the name of God which is a treasure greater and nobler than
heaven and earth。
Comprehend the difference； then； that Baptism is quite another thing
than all other water； not on account of the natural quality； but
because something more noble is here added； for God Himself stakes His
honor His power and might on it。 Therefore it is not only natural
water； but a divine； heavenly； holy； and blessed water； and in whatever
other terms we can praise it； all on account of the Word； which is a
heavenly； holy Word； that no one can sufficiently extol； for it has；
and is able to do； all that God is and can do ＇since it has all the
virtue and power of God comprised in it＇。 Hence also it derives its
essence as a Sacrament； as St。 Augustine also taught： Aocedat verbum ad
elementum et fit sacramentum。 That is； when the Word is joined to the
element or natural substance； it becomes a Sacrament； that is； a holy
and divine matter and sign。
Therefore we always teach that the Sacraments and all external things
which God ordains and institutes should not be regarded according to
the coarse； external mask； as we regard the shell of a nut； but as the
Word of God is included therein。 For thus we also speak of the parental
estate and of civil government。 If we propose to regard them in as far
as they have noses； eyes； skin； and hair flesh and bones； they look
like Turks and heathen； and some one might start up and say： Why should
I esteem them more than others？ But because the commandment is added：
Honor thy father and thy mother； I behold a different man； adorned and
clothed with the majesty and glory of God。 The commandment （I say） is
the chain of gold about his neck； yea； the crown upon his head which
shows to me how and why one must honor this flesh and blood。
Thus； and much more even； you must honor Baptism and esteem it
glorious on account of the Word； since He Himself has honored it both
by words and deeds； moreover； confirmed it with miracles from heaven。
For do you think it was a jest that； when Christ was baptized； the
heavens were opened and the Holy Ghost descended visibly； and
everything was divine glory and majesty？
Therefore I exhort again that these two the water and the Word； by no
means be separated from one another and parted。 For if the Word is
separated from it； the water is the same as that with which the servant
cooks； and may indeed be called a bath…keeper's baptism。 But when