Ah, today is Johann Gerhard's feast day in the Church, so, again, here's some things you may not have known about Gerhard from his writings: The man was an expert in the Church Fathers, seemingly quoting them from memory, but what source he quotes from isn't known. It's assumed that Lomard's "Sentences" is the main source, but it's certainly possible he read everything and just memorized as he went.

You know, before and since becoming a pastor, I've heard parents give many reasons why they weren’t in church on Sunday morning. Sports, busy schedules, all kinds of life intruded on the holy day that all of society had set aside. Now, that doesn't mean they were really Christians, but at least it gave churches a fighting chance of being able to bring people into the doors. Of course, societal pressure helped a lot, too. When your neighbors went to church on Sunday, you used to feel the pressure to do it.

Safe, legal, and rare.
Safe and legal.
Legal. Only at risk of mother’s life.
Only at risk of mother.
Only at risk of mother’s well-being.
Only at risk of mother’s convenience.