October 11

Drink ye all of it. Matthew 26:27.

It is a sad fact that the words of institution have been greatly corrupted. The worst was the perversion of the Lord's Supper into the so-called Mass. The priests claim that in the Mass they change bread and wine into the substance of Christ's body and blood. When this change is made, Christ's body and blood are offered up as an unbloody sacrifice for the sins of the living and the dead. This connects the Mass with purgatory and the pocket-books of the faithful. The faithful on earth are incessantly reminded of their alleged duty to help the souls in purgatory by having masses said for them. But such sacrifices are just as wrong as they are unnecessary. "For by one offering Christ hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Now, where remission of sins is, there is no more offering for sin." Hebrews 10:14. 18.

The Lord does not say: "This is My changed body," as though the bread were changed into the body of Christ, which is that shameful Roman Catholic perversion of the Gospel upon which they have built that horrible doctrine of the Mass, upon

which, again, the whole papal system rests. Christ further says by mouth of His apostle: "As often as ye eat of this bread and drink of this cup"; again: "Whosoever shall eat of this bread and drink of this cup." Speaking of the elements after consecration He still calls them "this bread" and "this cup." Hence there is no change of the elements. The bread remains bread, and the wine remains wine; and in, with, and under the bread and wine we receive the body and blood of Christ.

We also reject that wicked doctrine of the Roman Church which denies the cup to its lay members. Christ Jesus, who instituted the holy Sacrament, particularly said with regard to the cup, "Drink ye all of it." And St. Mark expressly states that they "all drank of it." The Romanists say that the apostles drank as apostles and not as laymen. But the words of St. Paul: "As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, are addressed to all members of the local congregation. The priests mutilate the Lord's Supper by not giving the people the wine, contrary to Christ's command.

Prayer.

Dear Savior, the pledge of Thy undying love has become the occasion of a betrayal fouler than that of Judas, and -to our shame we must confess - even some former members of our own dear Lutheran Church have yielded to the temptation. Oh, grant us grace to remain true! Let us forever esteem Thy holy Sacrament as one of our greatest treasures, make proper use of it, and by partaking of it be preserved in unwavering fidelity to Thee and to Thy truth. Amen.

How sad the sight, how bad the plight, When God's Word is neglected, And Christians all, both great and small, Are taught e'en to reject it. To hear instead what man hath said, And Popes and priests to follow, Who lead them on, and down and down To works and worship hollow.