equeathed in such wise that He would have had no other
reason to die except that He wished to make such a testament; so
fervently desirous was He to pour out His eternal treasures, as
He says: "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with
you before I die." [Luke 22:15] Hence, too, it comes that in
spite of many masses we remain so blind and cold, for we do not
know what the mass is, what we do in it, nor what we get from it.

[Sidenote: Faith in the word the True Preparation for the Mass]

Since then it is nothing else than a testament, the first and by
far the best preparation for the mass is a hungry soul and a firm
joyful faith of the heart accepting such a testament Who would
not go with great and joyful desire, hope and comfort, and demand
a thousand _gulden_, if he knew that at a certain place they had
been bequeathed him; especially if there were no other condition
than that he remember, honor, and praise the testator? So, in
this matter, you must above all else take heed to your heart,
that you believe the words of Christ, and admit their truth, when
He says to you and to all: "This is My blood, a new testament, by
which I bequeath you forgiveness of all sins and eternal life."
How could you do Him greater dishonor and show greater disrespect
to the holy mass than by not believing or by doubting? For He
desired this to be so certain that He Himself even died for it.
Surely such doubt would be naught else than denying and
blaspheming Christ's sufferings and death, and every blessing
which He has thereby obtained.

14. For this reason, I have said, everything depends upon the
words of this sacrament, which are the words of Christ, and which
we verily should set in pure gold and precious stones, and keep
nothing more diligently before the eyes of the heart, that faith
be exercised thereby. Let another pray, fast, go to confession,
prepare himself for mass and the sacrament as he will. Do thou
the same, but know that all that is pure fool's-work and
self-deception, if you do not set before you the words of the
testament and arouse yourself to believe and desire them. A long
time would you have to polish your shoes, pick the lint[7] off
your clothes, and deck yourself out to get an inheritance, if you
had no letter and seal with which you could prove your right to
it. But if you have letter and seal, and believe, desire, and
seek it, it must be given you, even though you were scaly,
scabby, stinking and