And
show them very plainly the shocking evils of which they are the authors,
when they refuse their aid in training up children to be pastors,
preachers, writers, etc., and set forth that on account of such sins God
will inflict an awful punishment upon them. It is, indeed, necessary to
preach on these things; for parents and magistrates are guilty of sins
in this respect, which are so great that there are no terms in which
they can be described. And truly, Satan has a cruel design in fostering
these evils.
Finally; inasmuch as the people are now relieved from the tyranny of the
pope, they refuse to come to the Lord's Table, and treat it with
contempt. On this point, also, it is very necessary that you should give
them instructions, while, at the same time, you are to be guided by the
following principles: That we are to compel no one to believe, or to
receive the Lord's Supper; that we are not to establish any laws on this
point, or appoint the time and place; but that we should so preach as to
influence the people, without any law adopted, by us, to urge, and, as
it were, to compel us who are pastors, to administer the Lord's Supper
to them.
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