and ministers of the churches are compelled publicly [and privately]
to instruct and hear the youth; and this ceremony produces the best
fruits. [And the Catechism is not a mere childish thing, as is the
bearing of banners and tapers, but a very profitable instruction.]
Among the adversaries, in many regions [as in Italy and Spain],
during the entire year no sermons are delivered, except in Lent [Here
they ought to cry out and justly make grievous complaint, for this
means at one blow to overthrow completely all worship. For of all
acts that is the greatest most holy, most necessary, and highest,
which God has required as the highest in the First and the Second
Commandment, namely, to preach the Word of God. For the ministry is
the highest office in the Church. Now, if this worship is omitted,
how can there be knowledge of God, the doctrine of Christ, or the
Gospel,] But the chief service of God is to teach the Gospel. And
when the adversaries do preach, they speak of human traditions, of
the worship of saints [of consecrated water], and similar tripes,
which the people justly loathe, therefore they are deserted
immediately in the beginning, after the text of the Gospel has been
recited. [This practise may have started because the people did not
wish to hear the other lies.] A few better ones begin now to speak of
good works, but of the righteousness of faith, of faith in Christ, of
the consolation of consciences, they say nothing; yea, this most
wholesome part of the Gospel they rail at with their reproaches.
[This blessed doctrine, the precious holy Gospel, they call Lutheran.
] On the contrary, in our churches all the sermons are occupied with
such topics as these: of repentance, of the fear of God, of faith in
Christ, of the righteousness of faith, of the consolation of
consciences by faith, of the exercises of faith; of prayer, what its
nature should be, and that we should be fully confident that it is
efficacious, that it is heard of the cross; of the authority of