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properly instructed. Moreover, he expressly commanded in his law that they
should teach them, and that the mysteries of the sacraments should be
explained. Now since it is well known from the writings of the Evangelists and
apostles that God has no less concern for the youth of his new people, when he
openly testifies and says: "Let the children come to me; for to such belongs the
kingdom of heaven" (Mark 10:14), the pastors of the churches act most wisely
when they early and carefully caetchize the youth, laying the first grounds of
faith, and faithfully teaching the rudiments of our religion by expounding the Ten
Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the doctrine of the
sacraments, with other such principles and chief heads of our religion. Here let
the Church show her faith and diligence in bringing the children to be catechized,
desirous and glad to have her children well instructed.
THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. Since men are never exposed to more grievous
temptations than when they are harassed by infirmities, are sick and are
weakened by diseases of both soul and body, surely it is never more fitting for
pastors of churches to watch more carefully for the welfare of their flocks than in
such diseases and infirmities. Therefore let them visit the sick soon, and let them
be called in good time by the sick, if the circumstance itself would have required
it. Let them comfort and confirm them in the true faith, and then arm them against
the dangerous suggestions of Satan. They should also hold prayer for the sick in
the home and, if need be, prayers should also be made for the sick in the public
meeting; and they should see that they happily depart this life. We said above
that we do not approve of the popish visitation of the sick with extreme unction
because it is absurd and is not approved by canonical Scriptures.
CHAPTER XXVI
Of the Burial of the Faithful,
and of the Care to Be Shown for the Dead;
of Purgatory, and the Appearing of Spirits
THE BURIAL OF BODIES. As the bodies of the faithful are the temples of the
Holy Spirit which we truly believe will rise again at the Last Day, Scriptures
command that they be honorably and without superstition committed to the earth,
and also that honorable mention be made of those saints who have fallen asleep
in the Lord, and that all duties of familial piety be shown to those left behind, their
widows and orphans. We do not teach that any other care be taken for the dead.
Therefore, we greatly disapprove of the Cynics, who neglected the bodies of the
dead or most carelessly and disdainfully cast them into the earth, never saying a
good word about the deceased, or caring a bit about those whom they left behind
them.
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