What the Christians should think when they go with the corpse, and of some special cases, how we should comfort ourselves inside.
Your beloved ones have heard how Christians, for the sake of the hope they have, do not want to mourn and weep so miserably, and how they want to care for the dead as the pagans do. Cause: Just as Christ did to the widow
As he raised his Son from death with a word, so he will also raise his Christians on that day, that they may live forever with us, if we are Christians in any other way. Therefore their departure from us shall not be otherwise in our hearts, than as if they were from the dead.
He has left our city and country for another country for some time, and we are to follow him in his own time, so that we may again spend our lives with one another. There you can see how natural it is to worry about such departures. But besides the sorrow, hearts always hold on to the consolation: "It is a matter of this little time, and then we will be together again. So it should be here, too; then the sorrow and grief for the sake of hope would be finely lost.
(2) But whoever does not want to give up his thoughts because of the dead can think other and more useful thoughts, which rhyme with such hope and improve us. As you will hear, the Scriptures themselves point us to other thoughts.
For when you are with people who have died, or at the funeral, you have great cause to remember with all your heart and earnestness that you are also a human being; and as it has now happened to this friend, acquaintance or relative, so it will also happen to you one day, that God will claim you from this life.
4 Therefore, do not be sure to continue in deliberate sins, but remember God's judgment, and prepare yourself for such a journey, so that you will not be taken by surprise and overtaken by God's right but terrible judgment, like unrepentant sinners. If you take such thoughts seriously, you will have so much to do with yourself, you will find such misery and sorrow in yourself that you will forget the deceased, not weep over them, but judge them blessedly; but over you, who are still in such burden and sorrow of sin, you will weep from the heart. Such weeping is necessary and useful, for it brings correction; whereas that weeping is useless and annoying, for it deprives us of the hope we have through Christ, which should comfort us. Therefore the wise man says, Ecclesiastes 7:3, 4, 5: "It is better to go to the house of lamentation than to go to the house of revelry. In the latter you see how all men come to an end, and the living take it to heart. It is mourning
better than laughter, for through mourning the heart is improved. Therefore the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of joy." Remember this saying diligently, and when you walk with a corpse, learn what your thoughts should be. You must not worry about the one who has now finished his misery and has fallen asleep in the right confession of the Son of God; but worry for your own sake, remember, you must also go down.
How would you now be sent on such a journey? Behold, thou liest in fornication, thou revels and boozes, thou scantiest and stingiest, thou art in public hatred and enmity against thy neighbor. You have done public harm to your neighbor and have neither repudiated nor refuted such harm. This is a certain indication that you are not afraid of death. But if he hastened you, as happens to many, how would you stand before God's judgment? Therefore, let yourself go in time and send yourself like a Christian, so that God may find a good will and a good intention in you at least (because life and deeds are so bad). But what happens? We go to the grave, we see that this one goes today, that one tomorrow, since we have been around and around all the days; yes, we know that death has never overtaken nor spared anyone, no one comes again: and yet we go just like the blind, who see just as little in the middle of the day as in the pitch dark of night; we do not let such an example go to our hearts; we do not think that it will also be with us today or tomorrow. Therefore we remain in the old skin, and always go on in the old trot before us, like the old cart horses, which do not let themselves be driven out of their stride. Therefore, because we have so many warnings every day, but do not perceive them at all and improve ourselves so little from them, we are truly in great danger.
(6) But Christians, remembering this and other things, may lose good friends, though flesh and blood are in pain, so that they nevertheless hold on to the joyful hope, knowing that they have not lost them altogether, that God has only hidden them for a time and kept them safe.
But he will bring them back with him through Christ and deliver them to us again, provided we remain true Christians. Therefore, they are satisfied for the sake of the deceased. But they think of themselves when it is up to them and how God will find them. These are useful and good thoughts, since certain recovery follows. Therefore the wise man, that we may have cause for it, admonishes us that we should gladly let ourselves be found in the house of complaint. For there we see the example before our eyes, how it will end with us so soon and easily.
But the fools, that is, such people who do not accept God's word and do not fear God, still shy away from it, cannot and do not want to be around dying people, rather find themselves in the tavern, seeking joy and amusement. But how do they finally get out? Because they do not see such distress before them, and worry only about the world and what is good for them, God's judgment and sentence suddenly overtakes them, so that they do not know what is happening to them, and they are completely desolate. This does not happen to wise, God-fearing people; they like to be around people who are dying, because they do not laugh or rejoice, but mourn and lament. For by this they are corrected and reminded that they should also prepare themselves for such a journey home, live in the fear of God, and wait for such an hour every day; for this reason they are not safe, like the great multitude. When God comes to them, he does not find them asleep, as those do, but alert and cheerful, who take good care of their things and know how to get out. Whereas they, like a man who is attacked in his sleep, do not know what happens to them, where to go out or where to come in.
8. then it follows that they open their hearts and mouths to God, confess their sin, and ask for forgiveness of sins and for the Holy Spirit to strengthen faith in them, to kindle love, to awaken the hope of eternal life through Christ, and to sweep out and dampen the remaining sin; so that flesh and blood and the poisonous Satan will not bring them back into his snares and disobedience, and thus out of God's kingdom and grace.
(9) For with this the wicked Satan goeth forth without ceasing, to provoke our flesh, and
The Holy Spirit drives us against God's word and will, and it would be impossible for us to resist such an enemy if the Holy Spirit did not sit with us and help us to fight. See, here you will find such thoughts again, which will improve you excellently, and point from the deceased, who now lies in God's rest, to yourself, and teach you how you should prepare and send yourself properly for such a journey. Thus prays the holy prophet Moses in the 90th Psalm. After he has made a long lamentation about how miserable it is for us humans, who bear all kinds of hardship and misery here on earth, and then still have to fear the wrath of God, and have to wait for eternal death because of our sins, he says: "Oh God, who believes that you are so angry, and who is afraid of such your wrath? Therefore teach us to remember that we must die, that we may be wise."
What kind of prayer is this? Should our Lord God teach us this first of all? We see it before us every day, yes, we experience it daily, that it is always leaning toward the pit with us. Why then does Moses ask that God teach him and all of us such things? Answer: It is true, we all see it before us every day; but it does not go to all of our hearts, we do not consider it seriously that such things can happen to us every moment; otherwise we would probably arrange our lives differently, we would not be so concerned about the temporal, much less would we burden ourselves with sins for the sake of it and be caught in God's wrath; We would gladly help and serve everyone, be at odds with no one, harm no one; but always deal with God's word, and ask God to keep us in it and give us a blessed end. This is called Moses being wise. Again, this is the greatest foolishness, that we do not remember God, God's judgment, God's wrath and the eternal goods, but instead worry about the temporal, which we must finally leave behind.
(11) Just as Moses prays and sets an example for all of us, that we should not forget the last hour, but always pray that he may be with us with his grace in his word.
and right faith, and comfort us by the Holy Spirit: so our dear Lord Christ also teaches and tells us to pray in the Lord's Prayer, when we say: Deliver us from evil. For this cannot happen sooner, nor in any other way, for God will take us to Himself with grace and put an end to this temporal life. But if you want to think seriously about how easy it is for the devil to deceive us and throw us into sin, you will certainly take the sixth petition with you, and ask not only for deliverance from all evil, but also that God will not lead us into temptation, that is, that He will stand with us in all kinds of trials and temptations, and lead us out again through His Word and Holy Spirit, so that we do not get stuck in them. Behold, thou shalt have so much to do with thyself, if thou wilt otherwise keep thyself right with men that are dead, that thou shalt justly forget the dead, and care for thyself alone, and weep.
12 Thirdly, this shall also follow: Where you are about deceased Christians, that you should thank God from the bottom of your heart first for the deceased and then also for yourself, that he has let both of you come to the knowledge of his dear word, and in such confession has preserved your dear friend to the end; for this is the greatest grace and the highest benefit. But we should honor God in this case, and put our trust firmly in Him that He will also grant us such an hour, and, as we hope, not only preserve our dear brothers and sisters, who have departed in the right confession, until that day, but also gather us to them and let us live with each other for eternity.
(13) That is to say, to keep oneself rightly and Christianly with the corpse: not only to make a measure of lamentation and weeping, but to comfort oneself with this hope that through Christ she and we will remain heirs of eternal life, and of the dear angels, patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, and of all the saints of God who have ever been, companions in eternity. For just as Christ here raises the widow's son from death by his word, so Christ will raise up all those who believe in him.
That is, those who take comfort in his suffering and death will also awaken to eternal life on the last day. This is the comfort we are to have in our dear brothers and sisters who pass away confessing Christ and his word.
(14) But there are raw people who do not respect God's word in a healthy body, who do not go to the reverend sacrament, but lie in sin and public displeasure. And even though they are in a bad way, they let themselves be persuaded against their will to call some church servant and to receive the sacrament from him. They are not really serious, however, and do it more for the sake of habit and so that they are not thought to be unbelievers than for the comfort of their conscience. For this reason, it often happens that they do not concern themselves with God, but with money, goods and the like. For such people one may pray with earnestness, because they are still alive, that God may enlighten their hearts and turn them to His word. But it is a very dangerous trade with them. And sometimes, by such examples, God wants to warn others who are around and with them, so that in time they will refrain from sins, keep the Word, and become devout. For from time to time there are many indications that one must be concerned that such people will die and go badly.
(15) Although the bodily loss, and especially the public display of God's wrath against such persons, must be hard on a true Christian's heart, and make him sorrowful and miserable (for the hope we spoke of above is not there), let them see that God does so with a favorable judgment, and that the world has good need of such examples, so that it may learn the more earnestly and hurriedly to send itself to God's Word and a Christian life. But they are to be moved to thanksgiving for themselves by the fact that God has given them a different heart, and to command Him the matter with those who die without light and cross, that is, without knowledge and confession of God's Son, the Crucified One, because they are certain that He is just and merciful; therefore no one is wronged by Him.
16 Except in this case, however, it carries itself.
It happens very often that we think that some people have an annual farewell from this life. When people are sometimes found dead in bed, or otherwise suddenly go to their deaths, we think to ourselves: Who knows whether he also thought of God in such distress, called upon Him, desired His help? If he had lain on a bed, and had only a few hours with a person who had taught him God's word and comforted him with the holy sacrament, there would be more hope that he would have come to a happy end. So we commonly remember and grieve over them; for they have been dear to us, and would not like that they had gone badly.
Item 17: It happens a lot, especially in the dying days, that people go astray because of great weakness in the head and remain in such weakness until the end. It helps nothing and is in vain if one tells them about God's word for a long time. This also seems to be a dangerous dying, since there is little hope or comfort.
(18) In such cases, we should focus on two things in particular, and then eliminate all other thoughts. For we cannot lack these two things. The first is to look at the lives of such people as they led while they were still healthy and in good health. If you find that they have loved the word, diligently kept it, not despised the holy sacrament, confessed and loved the Lord Jesus, and comforted themselves, be satisfied if they pass away suddenly. For though weakness and sin have come under, yet trust in the Lord Christ has been there; the same is the right burning fire, which consumes all sin and all filthiness, and purifies us.
(19) To such a hope serves the other part: that we should not take away the name of our Lord God, and that we should leave the office of the Lord Christ JEsu unhindered and unobstructed. What then is the name of God? He is called merciful and gracious, and has testified to such mercy and grace with His highest treasure, His only begotten Son, whom He made man and let die on the cross for sinners. This is God's
Name and complete will. Besides, consider also: what the Son of God's actual office is; namely, that he should seek the poor sinners, acquire mercy for them, free them from sins and make them blessed. But how could God come to lose such a name for the very reason that this man has suddenly gone away or fallen into madness? Should he not be merciful for this reason? Should he not help for that reason?
(20) Yes, the greater the need and the higher the journey, the more you should believe that God, according to His name, has been with such a person through His Holy Spirit, and does not want to judge him according to how He found him at that time, since by chance he was no longer a real person, but a half-dead person, or even a person deprived of his reason. No, God does not want to be so tyrannical, he does not want to judge us as we are, when we are weakest and most miserable. He is more interested in public confession, in trusting in His Son, and in the fact that you let the Word be dear to you while you were still healthy and able, than in all the other sins and infirmities that went along with it. So, how could the Son of God do that now, especially in such distress, he should leave his office and not seek the poor sinner by his grace, not help him and not assist him by his spirit, when he is most in need and the distress is most severe and greatest? That would be to revile the pious, gracious Lord to the highest degree, who would consider him ungracious, since grace is most needed.
021 He saith, I will judge no man: but my word shall judge them that believe not. This is not said of those who are now deprived of their reason and are no longer true men, but of those who have their reason, who can use their ears, eyes and other members according to their will. If they go, do not ask for the word, despise the sacrament, they already have their judgment. Because they do not want grace, they are not helped; they will not find another word or another Christ. But here, since one either dies suddenly, or goes out in madness
If a person falls into weakness, there is no need, because it is known that such people in a healthy body have loved God's word, have not despised the sacraments, and have not otherwise led an unchristian life. For no one can be without sin and not have an evil conscience because of sin. But such an evil conscience is helped by faith in Christ; where this is, there is grace and forgiveness of sins. Yes, Christ says: He is the physician of sins and will not be found anywhere else except in sinners.
(22) Therefore in such cases every Christian should think thus: Behold, there are two things; the first, that I die and after such death through Christ shall be eternally blessed. The other: how, when or where I will die, or God has set my death upon me. Now the first part: that I shall die and be saved, that I know for certain, praise God! and neither the devil nor the gates of hell shall take it from me; for Christ is a Savior, he has paid for my sin, reconciled me to God, overcome death and opened the entrance to life. This is certain; and wretched, yes, condemned is the man who allows himself to be made uncertain of these things. Since this is certain, we should not worry about the other thing that is uncertain, namely, how God will take us from this life. If the dear God will let me come to bed, then I trust in His graces, and I also pray daily that He will keep me in the right faith in His word, which is a power of God that makes alive and blessed those who believe in it, until the end. But if he will take me away suddenly, this is good; for I have a Savior who has promised me eternal life after my life, even though he has not made sure how he will let me die. This is in his hand; we are his, we die or live. Let us therefore not be anxious about it, but give thanks to his grace day and night that we are provided for after this life.
(23) But this shall be in all ways, because we are uncertain of our end, when or how God shall require us to be in
We must keep our consciences clear and guard against public anger. We will never be able to live here on earth without sin. But there is a big difference between Christians and unbelievers. Christians recognize their sin, are sorry for it, renounce it and ask for mercy through Christ. The unbelievers do not do this; that is why they live in a very great fare. If you have seen this in your dear friend, that he does not knowingly and willingly want to do wrong; moreover, that he has diligently kept the word, sought comfort in it, practiced it and diligently kept to it, then let God rule. It is called well lived, because one lives in the faith and word of God; and must also follow that one dies well on it. For we have a merciful, gracious God, and we know that our dear Lord Christ will not pardon himself for his ministry to poor sinners, but will stand by them in all distress.
24. Because the distress is greater where one is suddenly and unthinkingly attacked with death in bed or in other circumstances, or where one is deprived of one's senses in such distress, do not doubt that the right sin doctor will be there, and God will not judge such people as He finds them in such distress: do not doubt that the right sin doctor will be there, and the gracious, merciful God will not judge such people as He finds them at that time in such distress, when they are no longer real people; but as He found them before, when they were fresh and healthy and in their right mind, heard God's word, rejoiced in it, comforted themselves with it and confessed it. Therefore, such death is not a terrible death.
(25) He is terrible to those who live or are caught in public blasphemies; as some ungodly preachers in Berlin, Leipzig, Merseburg and other places, blaspheming God and his word in the pulpit, suddenly fell down and died like cattle. Item, those who live in public trouble, despise the word and the sacraments, live and revel in drunkenness day and night, practice fornication and other sins, and do not desist from them.
When such people suddenly go there, it is a terrible death, since eternal damnation must surely follow. For God does not want the contempt of His word.
As Paul says in Gal. 5:19-21: "The works of the flesh are manifest, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, envy, wrath, strife, dissensions, divisions, hatred, murders, boasting, devouring, and such like. Of whom I have told you before, and still say before, that they which do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Therefore everyone in times of
and mend his ways before God's wrath and judgment overtakes him.
(27) Enough has been said for this lesson on how to deal with Christians who have died. May the almighty, eternal Father in heaven, for the sake of Christ His Son, through His Holy Spirit, graciously keep us in His Word, and when our hour comes, grant us a blessed end, amen.
To God the Father, to God the Son, and to God the Holy Spirit, the one true God, be praise and glory for this beneficial teaching and all His benefits, forever and ever, amen.