THELARGECATECHISMOFMARTINLUTHER

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THELARGECATECHISMOFMARTINLUTHER

TRANSLATEDBYHENRYEYSTERJACOBS,D.D.

PhiladelphiaUNITEDLUTHERANPUBLICATIONSOCIETY

©1911/2018

LutheranLibrary.org

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CopyrightInformation

Copyright©2018byTheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistryLutheranLibrary.org

Allrightsreserved.

Whiletheoriginaltextisinthepublicdomain,theformattingandcontentsofthisvolumeareundercopyright.

Pleaserespectthelaborthathasgoneintotherestorationofthiswork.

Originallypublished1911bytheUnitedLutheranPublicationHouse,Philadelphia.

Coverimage“PortraitofMartinLuther”byLouisCranachtheElder,1533.

Unabridged.

194–v3r1

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Contents

CopyrightInformation

Contents

TheLargeCatechismofDr.MartinLuther.

FirstPreface.

ShortPrefaceOfDr.MartinLuther.

PartFirst.TheTenCommandments.

TheFirstCommandment.

ExpositionoftheAppendixtotheFirstCommandment.

TheSecondCommandment.

TheThirdCommandment.

TheFourthCommandment.

TheFifthCommandment.

TheSixthCommandment.

TheSeventhCommandment.

TheEighthCommandment.

TheNinthandTenthCommandments.

ConclusionoftheTenCommandments.

PartSecond.OfTheCreed.

ArticleI.

ArticleII.

ArticleIII.

PartThird.OfPrayer–TheLord’sPrayer.

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TheFirstPetition.

TheSecondPetition.

TheThirdPetition.

TheFourthPetition.

TheFifthPetition.

TheSixthPetition.

TheSeventhandLastPetition.

PartFourth.OfBaptism.

OfInfantBaptism.

PartFifth.OfTheSacramentOfTheAltar.

AbouttheAuthor

SelectedBibliography

PrefacebyHenryEysterJacobs

NoteontheTranslation

AbouttheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistry

SomeAuthorsForYouToDiscover

GreatNarratives

Topics

HowCanOneFindPeaceWithGod?

IfYouFindTypographicErrors

WanttobenotifiedofFutureReleases?

CatalogofTitles

“Extras”

TheLutheranLibrary

Benediction

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TheLargeCatechismofDr.MartinLuther.

FirstPreface.

A Christian, Profitable and Necessary Preface, and Faithful, Earnest Exhortation of Dr. MartinLuther to allChristians, but especially to all Pastors and Preachers, in order that theymay dailyexercisethemselvesinthecatechism,whichisashortsummaryoftheentireHolyScriptures,andthattheymayalwaysPracticethesame.

WehavenoslightreasonforurgingsoconstantlytheCatechism,andforbothdesiringandbeseechingothers todothesame,sinceweseetooursorrowthatmanypastorsandpreachersareinthissoverynegligent,andslightnotonlytheiroffice,buteventhedoctrineitself;somefromgreatandambitiousart,butothersfrompureindolenceandcarefortheirpalates,beingnototherwisedisposedthanifitwereforthesakeoftheirappetitesthattheyarepastorsandpreachers,andasthoughtheyhadnothingtodobuttospendandconsumeaslongastheylive;astheyhavebeenaccustomedtodounderthePapacy.

Andalthoughtheyhaveeverythingthattheyaretopreachandteachsetforthnowsofully,clearly,andintelligiblyinsomanyexcellentbooks,andSermonesperseloquentes,Dormisecure,ParatosetThesauros1,asinformertimestheywerecalled;yettheyarenotsogodlyandhonestastobuythesebooks,orevenif they have them, they do not look at them or read them. Alas! they areshameful gluttons and ministers of their appetites, who would much moreproperlybeswineherdsanddog-fanciersthanpastorsandGospelministers.

And now that they are delivered from the unprofitable and burdensomebubblingconcerning theSevenCanonicalHours, oh that, instead thereof, theywouldonly,morning,noonandnight,readapageortwointheCatechism,thePrayerBook,theNewTestament,orelsewhereintheBible,andpraytheLord’sPrayer once for themselves and their parishioners, so that they might renderhonorandreturnthankstotheGospel,bywhichtheyhavebeendeliveredfrom

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burdensandtroublessomanifold,andmighthavesomelittleshamebecauselikebrutestheyretainnomoreoftheGospelthansuchcorrupt,pernicious,shameful,carnal liberty! For, alas! the common people regard theGospel altogether toolightly;sothateventhoughweusealldiligence,weaccomplishnogreatresults.Whatwillbetheconsequenceifwebecarelessandindolent,aswewereunderthePapacy?

Tothisthereisaddedthisshamefulviceandsecretinfectionofsecurityandsatiety,viz.thatmanyregardtheCatechismasaplain,unimportantstatementofdoctrinewhichtheycanreadoveronce,andthenthrowthebookintoacorner,andbeashamedtoreadinitagain.

Yea,evenamongthenobilitytherearesomerudeandniggardlyfellows,whodeclarethat,fromnowon,thereisneedneitherofpastorsnorpreachers;thatwehave everything in books, and every one can learn it for himself; and in thisconfidence theyallowtheparishes to fall intodecayanddesolation,andcausepastorsandpreacherstosufferhungerandextremedistress.SuchconductistobeexpectedfromcrazyGermans.ForweGermanshavesuchdisgracefulpeople,andmustendurethem.

ButthisIsayformyself.Iamalsoadoctorandapreacher,yea,aslearnedandexperienced as allwhohave suchpresumption and security.Yet I do as achildwho isbeing taught theCatechism.Everymorningandwhenever Ihavetime I read and say, word for word, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, theLord’sPrayer, thePsalms,etc.AndImuststill readandstudydaily,andyet IcannotmasteritasIwish,butmustremain,andthattoogladly,achildandpupilof the Catechism. And yet these delicate, fastidious fellows pretend with onereadingtobedoctorsabovealldoctors,andtoknoweverythingandbeinneedofnothing.Andthisisindeedasuresignthatotheydespiseboththeirofficeandthesoulsofthepeople,yeaevenGodandhisWord.Theyneednotbeafraidofafall,sincetheyarealreadyfallenalltoohorribly;buttheyneedbecomechildren,andbegintolearntheiralphabet,whichtheyimaginethattheyhavelongsinceoutgrown.

Therefore I beg such indolent epicures or presumptuous saints, for God’ssake,tobelieveandbepersuadedthattheyarebynomeanssolearnedorsuchgreatdoctorsas they imagine;andnever topresumethat theyhave thoroughlylearnedthis[allthepartsoftheCatechism],orknowenoughofeverything,eventhoughtheythinkthattheyknowiteversowell.Forthoughtheyshouldknowandunderstanditperfectly(which,however,isimpossibleinthislife),yetif itbedailyreadandpracticedinthoughtandspeech,ityieldsmuchprofitandfruit;

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forinsuchreadingandrepetitionandmeditationtheHolyGhostispresent,andever bestows new andmore light and devoutness, so thatwe daily relish andappreciate itbetter,accordingasChristpromises(Matt.18:20):“Where twoorthreearegatheredtogetherinmyname,thereamIinthemidstofthem.”

Besides,nothing ismoreeffectualagainst thedevil, theworldand thefleshandall evil thoughts than tobeoccupiedwith theWordofGod, and to speakthereof,andmeditateuponit;sothatthefirstPsalmdeclaresthoseblessedwhomeditateuponthelawofGoddayandnight.Undoubtedly,youwillneverofferanyincenseorothersavoragainstSatanmoreefficaciousthanemploymentuponGod’scommandmentsandwords,andspeaking,singing,orthinkingthereof.Forthis is indeed the truly holywater and holy sign fromwhich he flees, and bywhichheisdrivenaway.

Ifyouhadnootherprofitandfruittherefrom,forthisreasonaloneyououghtgladly to read, speak, think of and practice these things, viz. thereby to driveawaythedevilandevilthoughts.ForhecannothearorendureGod’sWord;andGod’sWordisnotlikeanycarelesstalk,asthatofDietrichofBerne2,etc.,butasSt.Paulsays(Rom.1:16):“ThepowerofGod.”Yea,indeed,thepowerofGodwhich gives the devil extreme pain, and strengthens, comforts and helps usbeyondmeasure.

Andwhatneedisthereofmanywords?IfIweretorecountalltheprofitandfruitwhichGod’sWordproduces,whencewouldIhaveenoughpaperandtime?Thedeviliscalledthemasterofathousandarts.ButwhatshallwesayofGod’sWord,which drives away and brings to naught thismaster of a thousand artswith all his arts and power? It must of course be the master of more than ahundred thousand arts. And shall we frivolously despise such power, profit,strengthandfruit–we,especially,whowishtobepastorsandpreachers?Ifso,weshouldnotonlyhavenothinggivenustoeat,butbedrivenoutwiththedogs,andbecastawaywithrefuse,becausewenotonlydailyneedthisall,aswedoourdailybread,butmustalsodailyuseitagainstthedailyandincessantattacksandstratagemsofthedevilwithhisthousandarts.

AndifthiswerenotsufficienttoadmonishustoreadtheCatechismdaily,yetGod’s command even alone ought to constrain us,which inDeut. 6:6 sqq. hesolemnlyenjoins,thatweshouldalwaysmeditateuponhisprecepts,whenwesitdown,andwhenwewalk forth,andwhenwe liedown,andwhenwe riseup,andshouldhavethembeforeoureyesandinourhandsasaconstantmarkandsign.Doubtlesshedidnotsosolemnlyrequireandenjointhiswithoutapurpose;butbecauseheknewourdangerandneed, aswell as theconstant and furious

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assaults and temptations of devils, he wishes to warn, equip and preserve usagainst them, as with a good armor against their fiery darts and with goodmedicineagainsttheirpoisonousdrafts.

Oh,whatmad,senselessfoolsarewe,thatwhilewemusteverliveanddwellamong suchmighty enemies as devils,wenevertheless despise our armor anddefense, andare too indolent to look for, or thinkof them!Andwhat else aresuchsupercilious,presumptuoussaints,whoareunwillingtoreadandstudytheCatechismdaily,doing,butesteemingthemselvesmuchmorelearnedthanGodhimself with all his saints, angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and allChristians?ForinasmuchasGodhimselfisnotashamedtoteachthesamedaily,since he knows nothing better to teach, and always keeps teaching the samething, anddoesnot takeupanythingnewordifferent, andall the saintsknownothingbetter to learn,ordifferent,andcannot learn thisperfectly,arewenotwonderfulmentoimagine,ifwehaveoncereadorheardit,thatweknowitall,andhavenofartherneedtoreadandlearn,butcanlearnperfectly inonehourwhatGodhimselfcannotfinishteaching,sincehecontinuesteachingitfromthebeginningtotheendoftheworld,andallprophets,togetherwithallsaints,havebeenoccupiedwithlearningitbutinpart,andarestillpupils,andmustremainsuch?

ForitiscertainthatwhoeverknowstheTenCommandmentsperfectlymustknowalltheScriptures,sothat,inallcircumstancesandevents,hecanadvise,help, comfort, judge and decide both spiritual and temporal matters, and isqualified to sit in judgment upon all doctrines, estates, spirits, laws, andwhateverelseisintheworld.AndwhatindeedistheentirePsalterbutthoughtsandexercisesupontheFirstCommandment?ButnowIknowofatruththatsuchindolent epicures and presumptuous spirits do not understand a single psalm,muchlesstheentireScriptures;andyettheypretendthattheyknowanddespisethe Catechism, which is a compend and brief summary of all the HolyScriptures.

ThereforeIagainimploreallChristians,especiallypastorsandpreachers,nottobedoctorstoosoon,andimaginethattheyknoweverything(forimaginationand stretched cloth fall far short of themeasure), but that they daily exercisethemselves in these studies and constantly apply them to practice. Let themguardwith all care anddiligence against the poisonous on a infectionof suchsecurityandpresumption,andpersevereinreading,teaching,learning,thinking,meditating,notceasinguntiltheyhavelearnedbyexperienceandaresurethat,

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by this teaching, they have killed Satan, and have becomemore learned thanGodhimselfandallhissaints.

If theymanifest such diligence, then Iwill agreewith them, and theywillperceivewhat fruit theywill have, andwhat excellentmenGodwillmake ofthem;sothatinduetimetheythemselveswillacknowledgethatthelongerandthemoretheyhavestudiedtheCatechism,thelesstheyknowofit,andthemoretheyfindyettolearn;andthenonly,ashungryandthirstyones,willtheytrulyappreciatethatwhichnow,becauseofgreatabundanceandsatiety,theycannotendure.TothisendmayGodgranthisgrace!Amen.

1. TitlesofcollectionsofPostils.↩2. The reference is to verses commemorating the exploits of Theodoric,

kingoftheOstrogoths.↩

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ShortPrefaceOfDr.MartinLuther.

Thislittleworkhasbeenplannedandundertakeninordertofurnishacourseof instruction for children and the simpleminded. Hence of old such worksreceived in Greek the name Catechism, i.e. instruction for children. This ofnecessityeveryChristianshouldknow;sothathewhodoesnotknowthisshouldnot be reckoned amongChristians nor be admitted to the sacrament, just as amechanicwhodoesnotunderstandtherulesandcustomsofhistradeisrejectedandregardedincapable.ThereforetheyoungshouldbethoroughlyinstructedinthepartswhichbelongtotheCatechismorinstructionforchildren,andshoulddiligentlyexercisethemselvestherein.

Therefore it is the duty of every father of a family at least once aweek toexaminehischildrenandservants,andtoascertainwhattheyknowofit,orhavelearned,and, if theybenot familiarwith it, tokeep themfaithfullyat it.For Iwellrememberthetime–anditmayevennowbedailyseen–whentherewereadultsandevenagedpersonssouncultivatedastoknownothingofthesethings,and who, nevertheless, went to Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and usedeverything belonging to Christians, notwithstanding the fact that those whocome oQi to the Lord’s Supper ought to know more and have a fullerunderstandingofallChristiandoctrinethanchildrenandnewscholars.However,forthecommonpeople,wewouldbesatisfiedwiththethreeparts,whichhavebeeninChristendomfromofold,buthavebeenlittletaughtandemployed,untiltheyaregenerallyanddiligentlypracticed,andhavebecomefamiliartoall,bothyoung and old, who wish to be and to be called Christians. These are thefollowing:

I.TheTenCommandments.

1)Thoushalthavenoothergodsbeforeme.2)ThoushaltnottakethenameoftheLordthyGodinvain;fortheLordwill

notholdhimguiltlessthattakethhisnameinvain.3)RemembertheSabbath-daytokeepitholy.

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4) Honor thy father andmother, that thy daysmay be long upon the landwhichtheLordthyGodgiveththee.

5)Thoushaltnotkill.6)Thoushaltnotcommitadultery.7)Thoushaltnotsteal.8)Thoushaltnotbearfalsewitnessagainstthyneighbor.9)Thoushaltnotcovetthyneighbor’shouse.10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’swife, nor hisman-servant, nor his

maid-servant,norhisox,norhisass,noranythingthatisthyneighbor’s.

II.TheChiefArticlesOfOurFaith.

1)IbelieveinGod,theFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth.2)And in JesusChrist his only Son, our Lord;whowas conceived by the

Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, wascrucified,deadandburied;hedescended intohell; the thirddayhe roseagainfromthedead,heascendedintoheaven,andsittethontherighthandofGod,theFatherAlmighty;fromthenceheshallcometojudgethequickandthedead.

3)IbelieveintheHolyGhost,theholyChristianChurch,thecommunionofsaints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the lifeeverlasting.Amen.

III.TheLord’sPrayer.1

OurFatherwhoartinheaven,1Hallowedbethyname,2Thykingdomcome,3Thywillbedoneonearth,asitisinheaven:4Giveusthisdayourdailybread,5Andforgiveusour trespassesasweforgivethosewhotrespassagainstus.6Andleadusnotintotemptation,7Butdeliverusfromevil.Forthineisthekingdomandthepowerandtheglory,foreverandever.Amen.

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ThesearethemostnecessarypartswhicheveryChristianshouldfirstlearntorepeatword forword, andwhich our children should be accustomed to recitedailywhen they arise in themorning,when they sit down to theirmeals, andwhentheyretireatnight;anduntiltheyrepeatthemtheyshouldbegivenneitherfoodnordrink.Thesamedutyisalsoincumbentuponeveryheadofahouseholdwith respect tohisman-servants andmaid-servants, if theydonotknow thesethingsandareunwillingtolearnthem.Forapersonwhoissoheathenishastobeunwillingtolearnthesethingsisnottobetolerated;forinthesethreepartseverything contained in the Scriptures is comprehended in short, general andsimple terms. For the holy Fathers or apostles (whoever theywere) have thusembracedinasummarythedoctrine,life,wisdomandartofChristians,ofwhichtheyspeakandtreat,andwithwhichtheyareoccupied.

When these three parts are apprehended, we ought to know how to speakconcerning our sacraments, which Christ himself instituted, viz. Baptism, andtheholybodyandbloodofChrist,accordingtothetextwhichMatthew(28:19sqq.)andMark(16:15sq.)recordatthecloseoftheirGospelsastohowChristgavehislastinstructionstohisdisciplesandsentthemforth.

IV.OfBaptism.

Goandteachallnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost.Hethatbelievethandisbaptizedshallbesaved;buthethatbelievethnotshallbedamned.

So much is sufficient for a plain person to know from the Scripturesconcerning Baptism. In like manner, also, concerning the other sacrament, inshort,simplewords,accordingtothetextofSt.Paul.1Cor.11:23sq.

V.OfTheLord’sSupper.

OurLordJesusChrist,thesamenightinwhichhewasbetrayed,tookbread:andwhenhehadgiventhanks,hebrakeit,andgaveittothedisciples,andsaid,Take,eat;thisismybody,whichisgivenforyou:thisdo,inremembranceofme.

Afterthesamemanneralsohetookthecup,whenhehadsupped,gavethanks,andgaveittothem,saying,Drink,yeallofit:thiscupisthenewtestamentinmyblood,whichisshedforyou,fortheremissionofsins:thisdoye,asoftasyedrinkit,inremembranceofme.

ThusthereareinallfivepartsoftheentireChristiandoctrinewhichshouldbe constantly practiced and required [of children], and heard recitedword forword.Foryoumustnotdependuponthatwhichtheyoungpeoplemaylearnand

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retainfromthesermonalone.Whenthesepartshavebeenwelllearned,youmayassignbesidessomepsalmsorhymns,basedthereupon,inordertoenforcethesame,andthustoleadtheyouthintotheScriptures,andaccustomthemtomakedailyprogresstherein.

Yet it is not enough for them alone to comprehend and recite these partsverbatim.Lettheyoungpeoplealsoattendthepreaching,especiallyduringthetimewhich is devoted to theCatechism, that theymay hear it explained, andmaylearntounderstandwhateverypartcontains,and, intheir turn,beabletoexplainwhattheyhaveheard,andwhenaskedmaygiveacorrectanswer,sothatthepreachingmaynotbewithoutprofitandfruit.ForthereasonthatweexercisesuchdiligenceinpreachingsooftenupontheCatechisminorderthatitstruthsmay be inculcated on our youth, not in an ambitious and acute manner, butbriefly andwith thegreatest simplicity, so as to enter themind readily andbefixedinthememory.

Therefore we propose to take up the above-mentioned articles in regularolder,andtreatofthemasplainlyaspossibleandasfullyasnecessitydemands.

1. Lit.:ThePrayer,or“OurFather,”whichChristtaught.↩

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PartFirst.TheTenCommandments.

TheFirstCommandment.

Thoushallhavenoothergodsbeforeme.

That is: Thou shalt have [andworship]me alone as thyGod.What is theforceofthis,andhowisittobeunderstood?Whatisittohaveagod?or,whatisGod?

Answer:Agodisthatwheretowearetolookforallgoodandtotakerefugeinalldistress;sothattohaveagodistotrustandbelievehimfromthewholeheart;asIhaveoftensaidthattheconfidenceandfaithoftheheartalonemakebothGodandanidol.Ifyourfaithandtrustberight,thenisyourgodalsotrue.And,ontheotherhand,ifyourtrustbefalseandwrong,thenyouhavenotthetrueGod; for these two belong together, viz. faith andGod. That now, I say,uponwhichyousetyourheartandputyourtrustisproperlyyourgod.Thereforeit is the intentof this commandment to require such true faithand trustof theheartasregardstheonlytrueGod,andrestinhimalone.Thatisasmuchastosay: “See to it thatyou letmebeyourGod, andyounever seekanother,” i.e.“Whateveryoulackingood,seekitofme,andlooktomeforit,andwheneveryousuffermisfortuneanddistress,layholdofmeandclingfasttome.Iverilywillgiveyouenoughandhelpyououtofeverynecessity;onlyletnotyourheartcleavetoorrestinanyother.”

This Imust unfold somewhatmore plainly, that it may be understood andperceivedbyordinaryexamplesof thecontrary,ManyaonethinksthathehasGodandeverythinginabundancewhenhehasmoneyandpossessions,inwhichhetrustsandboastssoarrogantlyastocarefornoone.Lo,suchamanalsohasagod,Mammon by name, i.e.money and possessions, onwhich he sets all hisheart,andwhichisalsothemostcommonidolonearth.Hewhohasmoneyandpossessionsfeelssecure,andisasjoyfulandundismayedasthoughhewereinthe midst of Paradise. On the other hand, he who has none doubts and isdespondent,asthoughheknewofnoGod.Forveryfewaretobefoundwhoareofgoodcheer,andwhoneithermournnorcomplainiftheyhavenotMammon.

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This [careanddesire formoney]adheresandclings toournature,even to thegrave.

Sotoo,whoever trustsandboasts in thepossessionofgreatskill,prudence,power, favor, friendship and honor has also a god, but not the only trueGod.Thisappearsagainwhenyounoticehowpresumptuous,secureandproudpeopleare because of such possessions, and how despondent when without them ordeprivedofthem.ThereforeIrepeatthatthetrueexplanationofthispointisthattohaveagodistohavesomethinguponwhichtheheartentirelytrusts.

Besides,considerwhat,inourblindness,wehavehithertobeendoingunderthe Papacy. If any one had toothache, he fasted and honored St. Apollonia[macerated his flesh by voluntary fasting to the honor of St.Apollonia]; if hewere afraid of fire, he sought St. Laurence as his deliverer; if he dreadedpestilence,hemadeavowtoSt.SebastianorRachio,andacountlessnumberofsuchabominations,whereeveryoneselectedhisownsaintwhomheworshipedandinvokedindistress.Herebelongthosealsowhoseidolatryismostgross,andwhomakeacovenantwith thedevil, inorder thathemaygive themplentyofmoney or help them in love-affairs, preserve their cattle, restore to them lostpossessions, etc., as e.g. sorcerers andnecromancers.For all theseplace theirheartandtrustelsewherethaninthetrueGod,andneither looktohimforanygoodnorseekanythingfromhim.Thusyoucaneasilyunderstandwhatandhowmuch this commandment requires, viz. that man’s entire heart and all hisconfidencebeplacedinGodalone,andinnooneelse.FortohaveGod,youcaneasilyperceive,isnottolayholdofhimwithourhandsortoputhiminabag[asmoney], or to lock him in a chest [as silver vessels]. But he is said to beapprehended when the heart lays hold of him and depends upon him. But todependuponhimwiththeheartisnothingelsethantotrustinhimentirely.Forthis reasonhewishes towithdrawusfromeverythingelse,and toattractus tohimself, viz. because he is the only eternal good. As though he would say:Whateveryouhaveheretoforesoughtofthesaints,orforwhichyouhavetrustedinMammon,aswellasallelse,expectofme,andregardmeastheonewhowillhelpyouandendowyourichlywithallgoodthings.

Lo,youhaveherethetruehonorandserviceofGod,whichpleasesGod,andwhichhecommandsunderpenaltyofeternalwrath,viz.thattheheartknownoothertrustorconfidencethaninhim,anddonotsufferitselftobetornfromhim,but, forhim, riskanddisregardeverythinguponearth.On theotherhand,youcaneasilyseeandjudgehowtheworldpracticesonlyfalseworshipandidolatry.Fornopeoplehaseverbeensogodlessasnottoinstituteandobservesomesort

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ofdivineservice.Thuseveryonehassetupashisowngodwhateverhelookedtoforblessings,helpandcomfort.

When,forexample,theheathenwhoaimedatpoweranddominionelevatedJupiterasthesupremegod,theothers,whowerebentuponriches,happiness,orpleasure and a life of ease, venerated Hercules, Mercury, Venus, or others.Womenwith childworshipedDiana or Lucina. Thus every onemakes that towhichhisheart is inclinedhisgod.So thateven in themindof theheathen tohaveagod isnothingbut to trustandbelieve.But theirerror is this, that theirtrustisfalseandwrong;foritisnotplacedintheonlyGod,besidewhomthereistrulynootherinheavenoruponearth.Whereforetheheathenreallyformtheirself-inventednotionsanddreamsofGodintoanidol,andputtheirtrustinthatwhichisaltogethernothing.Thusisitwithallidolatry;foritconsistsnotmerelyinerectinganimageandworshipingit,butratherintheheart,whichisintentonsomethingelse,andseekshelpandconsolationfromcreatures,saintsordevils,and neither accepts God, nor looks to him for good to such an extent as tobelieve that he is willing to help; neither believes that whatever good itexperiencescomesfromGod.

Besides, there is alsoa falsedivine serviceandextreme idolatry,whichwehavehithertopracticed,and is stillprevalent in theworld,uponwhichalsoallecclesiasticalordersarefounded,andwhichaloneconcernstheconscience,thatseeksinitsownworkshelp,consolationandsalvation,presumestowrestheavenfromGod,andreckonshowmany institutions ithas founded,howoften ithasfasted,attendedMass,etc.Uponsuchthingsitdepends,andofthemboasts,asthoughunwillingtoreceiveanythingfromGodgratuitously,butdesiresitselftoearnthemormeritthemsuperabundantly,asthoughhewereinourserviceanddebt, andwe his lord.What is this but reducingGod to an idol, yea, amerePomona1,andelevatingandregardingourselvesasGod?Butthisisslightlytoosubtle,andcannotbecomprehendedbyyoungpupils.

But let this be said to the simpler, in order that they may well note themeaningofthiscommandmentandretainitinmemory,viz.thatwearetotrustinGodalone,andlooktohimandexpectfromhimallgood,asfromonewhogives us body, life, food, drink, nourishment, health, protection, peace and allnecessaries of both temporal and eternal things; who also preserves us frommisfortune,andifanyevilbefallusdeliversandaidsus,sothatitisGodalone(ashasbeensufficientlysaid)fromwhomwereceiveallgood,andbywhomwearedeliveredfromallevil.Hencealso,Ithink,weGermansfromancienttimesdesignateGod(moreelegantlyandappropriatelythaninanyotherlanguage)by

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that name from thewordGood, since he is an eternal fountainwhich gushesforthandoverflowswithpuregood,andfromwhichemanatesallthatisandiscalledgood.

Foreventhoughotherwiseweexperiencemuchgoodfrommen,wearestillto considerwhateverwe receive by his command or arrangement as receivedfromGod.Forourparents,andallrulers,andeveryonebesides,withrespecttohisneighbor,have received fromGod thecommand that theyshoulddousallmannerofgood;sothatwereceivetheseblessingsnotfromthem,but,throughthem,fromGod.Forcreaturesareonlythehand,channelsandmeanswherebyGodgivesall things,ashegives to themotherbreastsandmilk tosupportherchild,andcornandallmannerofproducespringfromtheearthfornourishment,noneofwhichcouldbeproducedbyanycreatureofhimself.

ThereforenomanshouldpresumetotakeorgiveanythingexceptasGodhascommanded; in order that thereby itmay be acknowledged asGod’s gift, andthanksmayberenderedhimforit.Onthisaccountalsothesemeansofreceivinggood gifts through creatures are not to be rejected, neither should we inpresumption seek other ways and means than God has commanded. For thatwouldnotbereceivingfromGod,butseekingofourselves.

Leteveryone,then,seetoitthatheesteemthiscommandmentgreatandhighaboveallthings,anddonotderideit.Askandexamineyourheartdiligently,andyouwillfindwhetheritcleavetoGodaloneornot.Ifyouhaveaheartthatcanexpect of him nothing but what is good, and this too especially in want anddistress, and that renounces and forsakes everything that is notGod, then youhavetheonlytrueGod.If,onthecontrary,itcleavetoanythingelse,ofwhichitexpectsmoregoodandhelpthanofGod,anddonotfindrefugeinhim,butinadversityfleefromhim,thenyouhaveanidol,anothergod.

In order that it may be seen that God will not have this commandmentdisregarded,butwillmoststrictlyenforceit,hehasattachedtoitfirstaterriblethreat, and then a beautiful consolatory promisewhich it is important to learnandtoimpressuponyoungpeople,thattheymaytakeittoheartandretainit:

ExpositionoftheAppendixtotheFirstCommandment.

ForItheLordthyGodamajealousGod,visitingtheiniquityofthefathersuponthechildrenuntothe thirdand fourthgenerationof themthathateme;andshowingmercyunto thousandsof them

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thatlovemeandkeepmycommandments.

Althoughthesewordspertaintoallthecommandments(asweshallhereafterlearn),yettheyarejoinedtothisasthechiefcommandment,toindicatethatitisoffirst importance thatmenhavearighthead; forwhere thehead is right, thewholelifemustberight,andviceversa.Learn,therefore,fromthesewordshowangryGodiswiththosewhotrustinanythingbuthim,andagainhowgoodandgraciousheistothosewhotrustandbelieveinhimalonewiththewholeheart;sothathisangerdoesnotceaseuntil thefourthgeneration,while,ontheotherhand,hisblessingandgoodnessextendtomanythousands.Learnthis,thatyoumaynot live insuchsecurityandcommityourself tochance,asmenofbrutalheart,who think that itmakesnogreat differencehow they live.He is aGodwho,ifmenturnfromhim,willnotleaveitunavenged,andwillnotceasetobeangry until the fourth generation, even until they are utterly exterminated.Therefore he is to be feared, and not to be despised. This also he hasdemonstratedinallhistory,astheScripturesfullyshowanddailyexperiencecanwellteach.For,fromthebeginning,hehasutterlyextirpatedallidolatry,and,onaccountofit,bothheathenandJews;evenasatthepresentdayheoverthrowsallfalse worship, so that all who remain therein must finally perish. Therefore,althoughproud,powerful and richworldlings arenow tobe found,whoboastdefiantlyoftheirMammon,notwithstandingthatGodisangryorlaughsatthem,intheconfidencethattheycanendurehiswrath;yet,beforetheyareaware,theyshallbewrecked,withallinwhichtheytrusted;asallothershaveperishedwhohavethoughtthemselvesmoresecureorpowerful.

Andjustbecauseofsuchhardenedmenwhoimagine,becauseGodconnivesand allows them to rest in security, that he either is entirely ignorant or caresnothingaboutsuchmatters,hemustdeal thusseverelyand inflictpunishment,notforgettingthemuntochildren’schildren;sothateveryonemayseethatthisisnotamatterofsporttohim.Fortheyarethosewhomhemeanswhenhesays:“Whohateme,”i.e.thosewhopersistintheirdefianceandpride;whowillnothearwhat is preachedor said to them;who, if theybe reproved, inorder thatbeforepunishmentbegintheymaylearntoknowthemselvesandamend,aresomadand foolish that theyclearlymeritwrath; aswe seenowdaily inbishopsandprinces.

But terrible as are these threatenings, so much the more powerful is theconsolationofthepromise,thatthosewhotrustinGodaloneshouldbesurethathe will show them mercy, i.e. that he will show them pure goodness andblessing, not only for themselves, but also to their children and children’s

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children, even to the thousandth generation.This ought certainly tomove andimpelus, ifwewish all temporal andeternalgood, to stayourheartswith allconfidence uponGod; since the SupremeMajestymakes such gracious offersandsuchrichpromises.

Thereforeleteveryonegivethemostearnestheedthatitbenotregardedasthoughthiswerespokenbyaman.For toyouit isaquestioneitherofeternalblessing, happiness and salvation, or of eternal wrath, misery and woe.Whatmorewouldyouhaveordesirethanthatwhichhesokindlypromises,viz.tobeyourswitheveryblessing,andtoprotectandhelpyouinallneed?

But this, alas! is thegreat calamity, that theworldbelievesnothingof this,and regards itnotasGod’sWord,because it sees that thosewho trust inGod,and not inMammon, suffer care and want, and the devil opposes and resiststhem; that theyhaveneithermoney, favornorhonor, andbesides can scarcelysupport life;while, on theother hand, thosewho serveMammonhavepower,favor, honor, possessions and every comfort in the eyes of theworld.For thisreason, against such appearances, these wordsmust be grasped; andwemustrememberthattheydonotlieordeceive,butmustprovetrue.

Reflect for yourself or make inquiry and tell me: Do all they who haveemployedalltheircareanddiligencetoaccumulategreatpossessionsandwealthfinallyattain them?Youwill find that theyhave laboredand toiled invain,oreventhough[withmuchtoil]theyhaveamassedgreattreasures,theyhavebeendispersedandscattered,sothat theythemselveshaveneverfoundhappiness intheirwealth,anditneverreachedthethirdgeneration.Inallhistories,aswellasin theexperienceofagedpeople,youwill findenoughexamples.Seethatyouonlyregardandponderthem.

Saulwas a great king, chosen ofGod, and a godlyman; butwhen hewasestablished inhis throne,he lethisheartdeclinefromGod,puthis trust inhiscrownandpower,andperishedwithallthathehad;sothatnoneofhischildrenremained.

David,ontheotherhand,wasapoor,despisedman,hunteddownandchased,sothathenowherefeltsecureofhislife;yethewastobepreferredtoSaul,andbecomeking.Forthesewordsmustabideandprovetrue,sinceGodcannotlieordeceive.Onlyletnotthedevilandtheworlddeceiveyoubyappearances,whichindeedremainforatime,butfinallyarenothing.

Let us then learnwell the FirstCommandment, thatwemay see howGodwillallownopresumptionnoranytrustinanyotherobject,andhowherequiresnothinghigherofusthanconfidencefromtheheartforeverythinggood;sothat

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wemayproceedstraightforwardandemployalltheblessingswhichGodgivesno farther than as a shoemaker uses his needle, awl and thread forwork, andthenlaysthemaside,orasatravelerusesaninn,andfoodandhisbed,onlyfortemporalnecessity,eachoneinhisstation,accordingtoGod’sorder,andwithoutallowinganyofthesethingstobeourlordoridol.LetthissufficewithrespecttotheFirstCommandment,whichwehavehadtoexplainat length,sinceit isofchief importance, because, as before said, where the heart is rightly disposedtowardGodandthiscommandmentisobserved,alltherestfollow.

TheSecondCommandment.

ThoushaltnottakethenameoftheLordthyGodinvain.

AstheFirstCommandmenthasinstructedtheheartandtaughtitfaith,sothiscommandmentleadsusforthanddirectsthemouthandtonguetoGod.Forthefirst objects that, springing from the heart, manifest themselves are words.ThereforeasIhavetaughtabovewhat it is tohaveagod,soit isnecessarytocomprehend simply the meaning of this and all the commandments, and toansweraccordingly.

If,then,itbeasked:HowdoyouunderstandtheSecondCommandment,andwhat ismeant by takingGod’s name in vain?we answer briefly: It is takingGod’s name in vain if we call upon the Lord God in any way in support offalsehood or wrong of any kind. Therefore this commandment forbids themention of God’s name, or taking it upon the lips, when the heart knows orshould know differently, as among those who take oaths in courts of justice,where one side falsifies against the other. For God’s name cannot be moreabused thanwhenused tosupport falsehoodanddeceit.Let thisbeconsideredtheplainandmostsimplemeaningofthiscommandment.

From this every one can readily inferwhen and in howmanywaysGod’snameistakeninvain,althoughitisimpossibletoenumerateallitsabuses.Yet,inafewwords,allabuseofGod’snameoccursfirstinworldlybusinessandinmatterswhichconcernmoney,possessions,honor,whetheritbepubliclybeforecourts of justice, in themarket or elsewhere, wheremenmake false oaths inGod’sname,ortaketheresponsibilityofthematterupontheirsouls.Andthisisespeciallyprevalentinmarriageaffairs,wheretwosecretlybetroththemselvestooneanother,andafterwardabjure.

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But, the greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters, which pertain to theconscience,whenfalsepreachersriseupandoffertheirlyingvanitiesasGod’sWord.

Behold,allthisisdecoratingone’sselfwithGod’sname,orwishingtobefairand maintain our cause, whether it occur in gross, worldly business or insublime, subtle matters of faith and doctrine. And among liars belong alsoblasphemers,notalonethosewhoareverygross,wellknowntoeveryone,who,withoutfear,disgraceGod’sname(theybelongnottoourschool,buttothatofthehangman);butalso thosewhopublicly traduce2 the truthandGod’sWord,andreferittothedevil.Ofthisthereisnoneedtospeakfurther.

Here, then, let us learn and thoroughly understand the importance of thiscommandment, that we diligently be on our guard against every abuse of theholyname,as thegreatest sin thatcanbeoutwardlycommitted.For to lieanddeceive is in itself a great sin, but is greatly aggravated by attempting ajustification,andwhere,toconfirmit,thenameofGodisinvokedandisusedasacloakforshame,sothatfromasinglelieadoublelie,naymanifoldlies,result.

Therefore, to this commandmentGod has added also a solemn threat, viz.:“FortheLordwillnotholdhimguiltlessthattakethhisnameinvain.”Thatis:Itshallinnowisebeoverlookedorpassunpunishedinanyone.Forjustashewillnot leave it unavenged if any one turn his heart from him, so toowill he notsuffer his name to be employed to support a lie. Now, alas! it is a commoncalamity inall theworld that thereare so fewwhoarenotguiltyofusing thenameofGodinfalsehoodandallwickedness.TheyareasfewasthosewhointheirhearttrustaloneinGod.

Forbynatureweallhavewithinusthisbeautifulvirtue,viz.thateveryonewhohascommittedawrongwouldlike tocoverupandadornhisdisgrace,sothatnoonemaysee itorknow it; andnoone is soboldas toboast toall theworldof thewickedness hehas perpetrated, butwishes everything to bedonesecretly,andwithoutanyonebeingawareofit.Thenifanyonebearraigned,thenameofGodmustsufferfor it,andchangethevillainyintogodliness,andtheshameintohonor.This is thecommoncourseof theworld,which, likeagreatdeluge,hasinundatedalllands.Hencewehavealsoasourrewardthatwhichweseek and merit, pestilences, wars, famines, conflagrations, floods, faithlesswives, spoiled children, faithless servants, and trouble of every kind.Whenceelseshouldwehavesomuchmisery?Itisstillagreatmercythattheearthbearsandsupportsus.

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Therefore, above all things, the attention of our young people should bedirectedtothiscommandment,andtheyshouldbeaccustomedtoholdthisandtheFirstCommandmentinhighregard;andincasetheytransgress,resortmustatoncebehadtotherod,andthecommandmentmustbeheldbeforethem,andbe constantly inculcated, so that they may be brought up not only withpunishment,butalsointhereverenceandfearofGod.

Thus you now understand what it is to take God’s name in vain, viz. (torecapitulate briefly) either simply in falsehood, to present, in God’s name,anythinguntrue,ortocurse,swear,conjureand,inshort,topracticewickednessinanyway.

ButbesidesthisyoumustalsoknowhowtousethenameofGodaright.Forby thewords:“Thoushaltnot take thenameof theLord thyGod invain,” hegives us plainly to understand that it is to be used properly. For it has beenrevealedandgiventousfortheverypurposethatitmaybeofconstantuseandprofit.Therefore,sincetheuseofthisholynameforfalsehoodorwickednessishereforbidden,itnecessarilyfollowsthatweare,ontheotherhand,commandedtoemployitfortruthandforallgood,aswhereoneswearstrulywherethereisneedanditisdemanded.Soalsowhenitisrightlytaught,andwhenthenameisinvoked in trouble or praised and thanked in prosperity, etc.; all of which iscomprehended summarily and commanded in the passage (Ps. 50:15): “Calluponmeinthedayoftrouble;Iwilldeliverthee,andthoushaltglorifyme.”Forallthisisbringingitintotheserviceoftruth,andusingitinablessedway,andthushisnameishallowed,asweprayintheLord’sPrayer.

Thusyouhaveanexplanationof thesumof theentirecommandment.Andwith this understanding the questionwithwhichmany teachers have troubledthemselves issolved,viz.Why, in theGospel,swearing isprohibited,3andyetChrist,St.Paulandothersaintsoftenswore?Theexplanationisbrieflythis:Wearenottoswearinsupportofevil,i.e.infalsehood;andwherethereisnoneedoruse,butforthesupportofgoodandtheadvantageofourneighbor.Foritistruly a good work whereby God is praised, truth and justice are established,falsehood is refuted, peace is made among men, obedience is enforced, andcontentions are suppressed. For thus God himself interposes and decidesbetweenrightandwrong,goodandbad.Iftheonesideswearfalsely,theyhavetheirsentencethattheyshallnotescapepunishment,andthoughitbedeferredalongtime,theyshallnotsucceed;sothatallthattheymaygaintherebywillslipout of their hands, and they neverwill enjoy it; as I have seen in the case of

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manywhorepudiatedtheirmarriage-vows,thattheyhaveneverhadagoodhourorahealthfulday,andthusperishedmiserablyinbody,soulandpossessions.

ThereforeIagainandagainadviseandexhort,thatbymeansofwarningandterror, restraint and punishment, they be accustomed to shun falsehood, andespecially to avoid the use of God’s name in its support. For where they areallowedtodothus,nogoodwillresult,asitisevennowevidentthattheworldisworsethanithaseverbeen,andthatthereisnogovernment,noobedience,nofidelity,nofaith,butonlypresumptuous, licentiousmen,whomno teachingorreproofhelps;allofwhichisonlyGod’swrathandpunishmentforsuchflagrantcontemptofthiscommandment.

On the other hand, they should be constantly urged and incited to honorGod’sname,andtohaveitalwaysupontheirlipsineverythingthatmayhappentothemorcometotheirnotice.Fortogivetruehonortohisnameistolooktoitand implore it for all consolation; so that (as we have heard above) first theheart, by faith, gives God the honor due him, and afterwards the lips, byconfession.

Thishabitisnotonlyblessedanduseful,butespeciallypowerfulagainstthedevil, who is ever about us, and lies in wait to bring us into sin and shame,calamity and trouble, but who is always offended to hear God’s name, andcannotremainlongwhereitismentionedandcalleduponfromtheheart.And,indeed,manyaterribleandshockingcalamitywouldbefallusif,byourcallinguponhisname,Goddidnotpreserveus.Ihavemyself triedit,andlearnedbyexperience that often sudden great calamity was immediately averted andremovedduringsuchinvocation.Tovexthedevil,Isay,weshouldalwayshavethisholynameinourmouth,sothathemaynotbeabletoinjureusashewouldwish.

ForthisenditisalsoofservicethatwebeinthehabitofdailycommendingourselvestoGod,withsoulandbody,wife,child,servantsandallthatwehave,againstallnecessitiesthatmayoccur;whencealsotheblessingandthanksgivingatmeals,andotherprayersmorningandevening,haveoriginatedandremaininuse. Likewise also the practice of children to cross themselves and exclaim,whenanythingmonstrousorterribleisseenorheard:“LordGod,protectus!”“Help,dearLordJesus!”etc.Thustoo,ifanyoneexperienceunexpectedgood,howevertrivial,thathesay:“Godbepraisedandthankedforbestowingthisonme!”AsformerlythechildrenwereaccustomedtofastandpraytoSt.Nicholasand other saints.Thiswould bemore pleasing and acceptable toGod than allmonasticismandCarthusiansanctity.

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Sowemightthustrainouryouth,inachildlikewayandinthemidstoftheirplays, in God’s fear and honor, so that the First and Second Commandmentsmightbefamiliarandinconstantpractice.Thensomegoodmightadhere,springupandbearfruit,andmengrowupinwhomanentirelandmightrejoiceandbeglad. This would be the true way to bring up children; since, by means ofkindness,andwithdelight,theycanbebecomeaccustomedtoit.Forwhatmustonly be forcedwith rods and blowswill have no good result, and at farthest,under such treatment, theywill remain godly no longer than the rod descendsupontheirbacks.

ButthismanneroftrainingsospreadsitsrootsintheheartthattheyfearGodmore than rods and clubs.This I saywith such simplicity, for the sake of theyoung,thatitmaypenetratetheirminds.Forsincewearepreachingtochildren,wemust also prattlewith them.Thus havewe prevented the abuse, and havetaughttherightuseofthedivinename,whichshouldconsistnotonlyinwords,butalsoinpracticeandlife;sothatwemayknowthatGodiswellpleasedwiththis,andwillasrichlyrewarditashewillterriblypunishitsabuse.

TheThirdCommandment.

RemembertheSabbathday,tokeepitholy.

The word Sabbath (Feiertag) is derived from the Hebrew word whichproperly signifies to rest (feiren), i.e. to abstain from labor. Hence we areaccustomed to say, in German,Feierabendmachen, i.e. to cease working, orgive a holy evening [sanctify the Sabbath]. Now, in the Old Testament, Godseparated the seventh day, and appointed it for rest, and commanded that itshouldberegardedholyaboveallothers.Accordingtothisexternalobservance,thiscommandmentwasgiven to theJewsalone, that theyshouldabstain fromtoilsomework,andrest,sothatbothmanandbeastmightrecuperate,andmightnotbedebilitatedbyunremittinglabor.Althoughtheyafterwardsinterpretedthistoostrictly,4andgrosslyabusedit,sothattheytraducedandcouldnotendureinChristthoseworkswhichtheythemselveswereaccustomedtodothereon,aswereadintheGospel; justasthoughthecommandmentwerefulfilledinthis,viz.that no external [manual] work whatever be performed, which was not, themeaning,but,asweshallhear,thattheysanctifytheSabbathorDayofRest.

Thiscommandment, therefore,accordingtoitsgrosssense,doesnotpertaintousChristians;foritisaltogetheranexternalmatter,liketheotherordinances

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of theOldTestament,whichwerebound toparticular customs, persons, timesandplaces,andallofwhichhavenowbeenmadefreethroughChrist.

But to derive henceChristian instruction for the simple as towhat, in thiscommandment,Godrequires,letitbeobservedthatwekeepthefestaldays,notforthesakeofintelligentandlearnedChristians(fortheyhavenoneedofthisobservance), but first of all for bodily causes and necessities, which natureteaches and requires; and for the common people, man-servants and maid-servants,whoareoccupiedthewholeweekwiththeirworkandtrade,thatforadaytheymayforbear,inordertorestandberefreshed.

Secondly, andmost especially, that on such day of rest (since otherwise itcannotbeaccomplished)timeandopportunitybetakentoattenddivineservice,sothatwemeettohearandtreatofGod’sWord,andafterwardstopraiseGodinsingingandprayer.

Butthis,Isay,isnotsolimitedtoanytime,aswiththeJews,thatitmustbejuston thisor thatday; for in itselfnooneday isbetter thananother,and thisshould indeed occur daily; but since the mass of people cannot give suchattendance,theremustbeatleastonedayintheweeksetapart.Butsincefromof old Sunday [the Lord’sDay] has been appointed for this purpose, we alsoshouldcontinuethesame,thateverythingbedoneinharmoniousorder,andnoone,byunnecessaryinnovation,createdisorder.

Therefore the simple meaning of the commandment is this, viz. sinceholidays areobserved, suchobservancebedevoted tohearingGod’sWord; sothat the special employment of this day be the ministry of theWord for theyoung and themass of poor people; yet that the observance of rest be not sostrictlyinterpretedastoforbidanyotherincidentalandnecessarywork.

When, then, it is asked: “What ismeant by the commandment: ‘Rememberthesabbath-daytosanctifyit’?”

Answer:TosanctifytheSabbathisthesameas“tokeepitholy.”Butwhatismeant by “keeping it holy”?Nothing else than to be occupied in holywords,worksandlife.Forthedayneedsnosanctificationforitself;forinitselfithasbeen created holy [from the beginning of the creation it was sanctified by itsCreator]. ButGod desires it to be holy to thee. Therefore it becomes holy orunholyonthyaccount,accordingas thouanoccupiedonthesamewith thingsthatareholyorunholy.

Howthendoessuchsanctificationoccur?Notthat[withfoldedhands]wesitbehind the stove and do no rough [external] work, or deck ourselves with a

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garland and put on our best clothes, but (as has been said) that we occupyourselveswithGod’sWord,andexerciseourselvestherein.

And indeedweChristians ought always to keep such a Sabbath, and to beoccupiedwithnothingbutholythings,i.e.dailytomeditateuponGod’sWord,andcarryitinourheartsanduponourlips.Butbecause(ashasbeensaid)wedonot all have leisure,wemust devote several hours aweek to the young, or atleastadaytothemassofpeople,inorderthatwemaybeconcernedaboutthisalone, and especially urge the TenCommandments, the Creed and the Lord’sPrayer,andthusdirectourwholelifeandbeingaccordingtoGod’sWord.TheSabbathis trulykeptwhenever timeisdevotedtoearnestattentionto this,andthepracticeofit;butthatcannotbecalledatrueChristianSabbathwherethisisnotdone.For theywhoarenotChristianscankeepholidayandbe idle justaswell as theentire swarmofourecclesiastics,who standdaily in thechurches,singing, and ringing bells, but who keep no Sabbath day holy, because theyneitherpreachnorpracticeGod’sWord,butteachandlivecontrarytoit.

FortheWordofGodisthesanctuaryaboveallsanctuaries,yea,theonlyonewhichweChristians know and have. For thoughwe had the bones of all thesaints,orallholyandconsecratedgarmentsuponaheap,theywouldnotavailusanything;forallthatisadeadthingwhichcansanctifynobody.ButGod’sWordis the treasury which sanctifies everything whereby even all the saintsthemselvesweresanctified.Whateverbe thehourwhenGod’sWord is taught,preached, heard, read or meditated upon, person, day and work are thensanctified thereby, notbecauseof the externalwork, butbecauseof theWord,whichmakessaintsofusall.ThereforeIconstantlysaythatallourlifeandworkmustbeguidedbyGod’sWord,ifitistobepleasingtoGodorholy.Wherethisoccurs,thiscommandmentexertsitspowerandisfulfilled.

On the contrary, anymatter orwork that iswithoutGod’sWord is unholybeforeGod, nomatter how brilliant itmay appear, even though it be coveredwithrelics,suchasthefictitiousspiritualorders,whichknownothingofGod’sWordandseekholinessintheirownworks.

Notice, therefore that the power and efficacy of this commandment consistnotintheresting,butinthesanctifying,sothattothisdaybelongsaspecialholyexercise.Forotherworksandoccupationsarenotproperlyholyexercises,unlesstheman himself be first holy.But here awork is to be donewherebyman ishimselfmadeholy,whichoccurs(aswehaveheard)alonethroughGod’sWord.Forthis,then,fixedplaces,times,persons,andtheentireexternalorderofdivine

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service have been created and appointed, so that it may be publicly andconstantlyexercised.

Since, therefore, so much depends upon God’s Word that without it noSabbathcanbekeptholy,weought toknow thatGodwill insistupona strictobservanceofthiscommandment,andwillpunishallwhodespisehisWordandare not willing to hear and learn it, especially at the time appointed for thepurpose.

ThereforethiscommandmentisviolatednotonlybythosewhogrosslyabuseanddesecratetheSabbath,asthosewho,onaccountoftheiravariceorfrivolity,ceasetohearGod’sWord,orlieintaverns,andaredeaddrunk,likeswine;butalso by that other great crowd,who listen toGod’sWord as though itwere atrifle,andattenduponpreachingonly fromcustom,andat theendof theyearknow as little of it as at the beginning. For hitherto the opinion has beenprevalentthatit isproperlyhallowedwhenonSundayaMassortheGospelisheard;butnoonehasaskedaboutGod’sWord,asalsonoonetaughtit.Yetnow,evensincewehaveGod’sWord,weneverthelessdonotcorrect theabuse;butwhile constantly attendinguponpreaching and exhortation,wehear itwithoutcareandseriousness.

Know,therefore,thatitisnotonlytobeheard,buttobelearnedandretainedin memory, and do not regard it as an optional matter or one of no greatimportance,butasGod’scommandment,whowillrequireofyouhowyouhaveheard,learntandhonoredhisWord.

Likewise those fastidious spirits are to be reproved who when they haveheardasermonortwo,findittediousanddull,thinkingthattheyknowallthatwell enough, and need nomore instruction. For just that is the sinwhich hasbeen hitherto reckoned amongmortal sins, and is called αχηοια i.e. torpor orsatiety,amalignant,dangerousplaguewhichthedevilinfusesintotheheartsofmany,thathemaysurpriseusandsecretlywithdrawGod’sWordfromus.

For letme tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be alreadymasterofallthings,youarestilldailyinthedominionofthedevil,whoceasesneitherdaynornighttostealunawaresuponyou,sothathemaykindleinyourheartunbeliefandwicked thoughtsagainst the foregoingaswellasagainstallthecommandments.ThereforeyoumustalwayshaveGod’sWordinyourheart,uponyourlipsandinyourears.Butwheretheheartisidle,andtheWorddoesnotsound,hebreaksinanddoesthedamagebeforeweareaware.Ontheotherhand, such is theefficacyof theWordwherever seriouslycontemplated,heardand used, that it never departs without fruit, but always awakens new

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understanding, pleasure and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and purethoughts.Forthesewordsarenotinoperativeordead,butcreative,livingwords.And even though no other interest or necessity impel us, yet this ought toinfluenceeveryone,sincetherebythedevilisputtoflightanddrivenaway,and,besides,thiscommandmentisfulfilled,whichismorepleasingtoGodthananyworkofhypocrisy,howeverbrilliant.

TheFourthCommandment.

Thus far we have learned the first three commandments, viz those whichrelatetoGod.First,thatwithourwholeheartandthroughoutallourlifewetrustinhimandfearandlovehim.Secondly,thatweabusenothisholynameinthesupportoffalsehoodoranybadwork,butemployittothepraiseofGodandtheprofit and salvation of our neighbor and ourselves. Thirdly, that in theobservanceoftheSabbathandofrestwediligentlyuseandemployGod’sWord,sothatallouractionsandourentirelifebedirectedbyit.Nowfollowtheotherseven,whichrelatetoourneighbor,amongwhichthefirstandgreatestis:

Honorthyfatherandthymother

The parental estate God has especially honored above all estates that arebeneathhim,sothathenotonlycommandsustoloveourparents,buttohonorthem. For with respect to brothers, sisters and our neighbors in general hecommands nothing higher than that we love them; so that he separates anddistinguishes fatherandmotheraboveallotherpersonsuponearth,andplacesthem next to himself. For to honor is far higher than to love, inasmuch as itcomprehendsnotonlylove,butalsomodesty,humilityanddeferenceasthoughto amajesty therehidden, and requiresnotonly that theybe addressedkindlyandwithreverence,butmostofallthatbothinheartandwiththebodywesoactas to show thatweesteem themveryhighly,and that,next toGod,we regardthem the very highest. For onewhomwehonor from the heartwemust trulyregardashighandgreat.

Wemust, therefore, impress itupon theyoung that theyshouldregard theirparentsinGod’sstead,andrememberthathoweverlowly,poor,frailandqueertheymaybe,nevertheless theyarefatherandmothergiventhembyGod.Andtheyarenottobedeprivedoftheirhonorbecauseoftheirmodeoflifeortheirfailings.Thereforewearenottoregardtheirpersons,howtheymaybe,butthe

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will of God who has thus appointed and ordained. In other respects we are,indeed,allalikeintheeyesofGod;butamongustheremustnecessarilybesuchinequality and distinctionwith respect to order, and thereforeGod commandsthatyoubecarefultoobeymeasyourfather,andthatIhavetheprecedence.

Learn, therefore, first, what is the honor towards parents required by thiscommandment, viz. first, that they be held in honor and esteemed above allthings, as themost precious treasure on earth. Secondly, that in ourwords tothemweobservemodesty,anddonotspeakroughly,haughtilyanddefiantly;butyieldtotheminsilence,eventhoughtheygotoofar.Thirdly,also,withrespecttoworks, thatwe show them such in honor,with body and possessions, as toservethem,helpthem,andprovideforthemwhenold,sick,infirm,orpoor,andallthatnotonlygladly,butwithhumilityandreverence,asdoingitbeforeGod.Forhewhoknowshowtoregardtheminhisheartwillnotallowthemtosufferhunger orwant, butwill place them above and near him, andwill sharewiththemwhateverhehasandcanobtain.

Secondly,noticehowgreat,goodandholyaworkishereassignedchildren,which is, alas! somuch neglected and disregarded, and no one perceives thatGodhascommandeditorthatitisaholy,divineWordanddoctrine.Forifithadbeenregardedassuch,everyonecouldhaveperceivedthatitrequiredholymentoliveaccordingtothesewords,andtherewouldhavebeennoneedofinventingmonasticism and spiritual orders, but every child would have abided by thiscommandment, and couldhavedirectedhis conscience toGod, and said: “If Iamtodoagoodandholywork,Iknowofnonebetterthantorenderallhonorandobediencetomyparents,becauseGodhashimselfcommandedit.ForwhatGodhascommandedmustbemuchandfarnoblerthaneverythingthatwemayourselves devise; and because there is no higher or better teacher to be foundthanGod,therecanbenobetterdoctrinethanheimparts.Nowheteachesfullywhat we should do if we wish to perform truly good works; and in that hecommandsthem,heshowsthat theypleasehim.If, then, it isGodwhomakesthiscommand,andwhoknowsnothowtoappointanythingbetter,Iwillneverimproveuponit.”

Inthismannerwewouldhavehadgodlychildrenproperlytaughtandrearedin true blessedness,whowould have remained at home in the service of theirparentsandinobediencetothem,causingthemmuchpleasureandjoy.AndyetGod’s commandmentwasnot thushonored,butwasneglectedandallowed topassoutofsight,sothatachildcouldnotlayittoheart,andmeanwhilegapedinignorantastonishmentatourdevices,andneveracknowledgedGod’sauthority.

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Letustherefore,atlength,learn,forGod’ssake,thatplacingallotherthingsout of sight, our youths look first to this commandment, if theywish to serveGodwithtrulygoodworks,viz.thattheydowhatispleasingtotheirfathersandmothers,ortothosetowhomtheymaybesubjectintheirstead.Foreverychildthatknowsanddoesthishas,inthefirstplace,thisgreatconsolationinhisheart,thathecanjoyfullyexultandsay(inspiteofandagainstallwhoareoccupiedwithworksoftheirowndevice):"BeholdthisworkiswellpleasingtomyGodinheaven,thatIknowforcertain."Letthemallcometogetherwiththeirmanygreat,distressinganddifficultworksandmaketheirboast;wewillseewhethertheycanshowonethatisgreaterandnoblerthanobediencetoparents,towhomGodhasappointedandcommandedobediencenexttohisownmajesty;sothatifGod’sWordandwill are accomplished,nothing shall be esteemedhigher thanthewill andword of parents; yet see that we abide in obedience toGod andviolatenottheformercommandments.

ThereforeyoushouldbeheartilygladandthankGodthathehaschosenyouandmadeyouworthytodoaworksopreciousandacceptabletohim.Onlyseethatyouesteemitgreatandprecious,althoughitberegardedasthemosthumbleanddespised,notonaccountofourworthiness,butbecauseitiscomprehendedandestablishedinthejewelandsanctuary,namelytheWordandcommandmentofGod.OhhowgladlymightallCarthusians,monksandnunspayahighpricefor this jewel, if in all their ecclesiastical establishments and institutions theycould bring a single work into God’s presence done by virtue of hiscommandment, and be able before his face to say with joyful heart: “Now Iknowthat thiswork iswellpleasing to thee.”Whatwillbecomeof thesepoorwretchedpersonswhen,inthesightofGodandalltheworld,contrastedwithalittlechildwhohaslivedaccordingtothiscommandment,theyshallblushwithshame, and shall be obliged to confess thatwith theirwhole life they are notworthy to give it a drinkofwater?But it serves them right in return for theirSatanic perversion in treading God’s commandment under foot, that theytormentthemselveswithworksoftheirowndevice,andinadditionhavescornandlossfortheirreward.

Shouldnottheheartthereforeleapandmeltforjoyifitmaygotoworkanddowhatiscommanded,sothatitcansay:Lo,thisisbetterthanallholinessoftheCarthusians, even though they kill themselves fasting and prayingwithoutceasing,upontheirknees?Foryouhaveasuretestandadivinetestimonythathe has commanded this, but concerning the other not a word. But this is thecalamityand sadblindnessof theworld,viz. thatnoonebelieves it, since the

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devilhassodeceiveduswithfalseholinessandtheoutwardspeciousnessofourownworks.

Therefore Iwouldbeveryglad (I sayagain) ifmenwouldopen their eyesandears,andtakethistoheart,inorderthatwemaynotbeagainledastrayfromthepureWordofGodtothelyingvanitiesofthedevil.Thusalsomatterswouldbeinagoodcondition;sothatparentswouldhavemorejoy,love,friendshipandconcord in theirhouses; thus the childrencould captivate theirparents’hearts.Whentheyareobstinate,ontheotherhand,andwillnotdowhattheyoughtuntilarodislaidupontheirback,theyoffendbothGodandtheirparents,sothattheydeprive themselves of this treasure and joy of conscience, and lay up forthemselvesonlymisfortune.Therefore,aseveryonecomplains,thecourseoftheworldnowissuchthatbothyoungandoldarealtogetherdissoluteandbeyondcontrol,havenomodestynorsenseofhonor,donothinggoodexceptastheyaredriventoitbyblows,andperpetratewhatwronganddetractiontheycanbehindeachother’sback;thereforeGodalsopunishesthem,thattheysinkintoallkindofindecencyandmisery.Thustheparentscommonlyarethemselvesstupidandignorant;onefoolbegets[teaches]another,andastheyhavelived,solivetheirchildrenafterthem.

Thisnowshouldbethefirstandmostimportantconsideration(Isay)tourgeustotheobservanceofthiscommandment;onwhichaccount,evenifwehadnofather and mother, we ought to wish that God would set up wood and stonebeforeus,thatwemightcallthemfatherandmother.Howmuchmore,sincehehas given us living parents, should we rejoice to show them honor andobedience,becauseweknowitissohighlypleasingtotheDivineMajestyandtoallangels,andvexesalldevils,andisbesidesthehighestworkwhichwecando, after the sublime divine worship comprehended in the previouscommandments; so thatgivingofalmsandeveryothergoodwork towardourneighborarenotequaltothis!ForGodhasassignedthisestatethehighestplace,yea in his own stead, upon earth. This will and pleasure of God ought to besufficienttocauseandinduceustodowhatwecanwithgoodwillandpleasure.

Besides this, it is our duty before theworld to be grateful for benefits andevery goodwhichwe have of parents.But in this again the devil rules in theworld,sothatthechildrenforgettheirparents,asweallforgetGod,andnooneconsiders how God nourishes, protects and defends us, and bestows so greatgood on body and soul: especially if an evil hour comewe are offended andmurmurwithimpatience,andallgoodwhichwehaveallourlifereceivedisasifitneverhadbeen.Justsoalsowedowithourparents,andthereisnochildthat

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understandsandconsiders this, except itbeenlightenedand led theretoby theHolyGhost.

Godknowsverywellthisperversenessoftheworld;thereforeheadmonishesandurgesbycommandmentsthateveryoneconsiderwhatparentshavedoneforhim,andhewillfindthatheowestothembodyandlife,aswellassustenance,supportandrearing,sinceotherwisehewouldhaveperishedahundredtimesinhisownfilth.Thereforeitisatrueandgoodsayingofoldandwisemen:Deo,parentibus et magistris non potest satis gratiae rependi, that is, to God, toparents and to teachers we can never render sufficient gratitude andcompensation. He that regards and considers this will indeed withoutcompulsiondoallhonortohisparents,andcherishthemasthosethroughwhomGodhasdonehimallgood.

Besidesall this, itshouldbeagreatinducementtoinfluenceusthemoretoobediencetothiscommandment,thatGodaddstothesameatemporalpromiseand says: “That thy daysmay be long upon the landwhich the Lord thyGodgiveththee”

HerewecanseehowmuchGodisinearnestinrespecttothiscommandment,inasmuchashenotonlydeclaresthatitiswellpleasingtohim,andhowmuchjoy and delight he has therein; but also that it shall be for our prosperity andpromote our highest good; so thatwemayhave a pleasant and agreeable life,furnishedwitheverygoodthing.ThereforealsoSt.Paulindicatesthesameandhighlyrejoicesinit,whenhesays(Eph.6:2,3):This“isthefirstcommandmentwith promise, that it may be well with thee and thoumayest live long on theearth.” For although the rest also include their promises, yet in none is it soplainlyandexplicitlystated.

Herethenthouhastthefruitandthereward,viz.thatwhoeverobservesthiscommandmentshallhavegooddays,happinessandprosperity;andontheotherhand,also,thepunishment,thatwhoeverisdisobedientshallthesoonerperish,andneverenjoy life.For tohave long life in thesenseof theScriptures isnotonly to become old, but to have everything which belongs to long life, as,namely,health,wifeandchild, support,peace,goodgovernment, etc.,withoutwhich this life can neither be enjoyed in cheerfulness nor long endure. If,therefore, thouwilt not obey father andmother and submit to discipline, thenobey the inquisitor; if thouwilt not obeyhim, then submit to the executioner,i.e.death[deaththeall-subduer,theteacherofwickedchildren].ForinregardtothisGod isdetermined:Either ifyouobeyhim, rendering loveandservice,he

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willgrantyouexceedinggreatrecompensewithallgood,orifyouoffendhimhewillsenduponyoudeathandthetorturer.

Whence come so many criminals that must daily be hanged, beheaded,brokenuponthewheel,butfromdisobedience[toparents],becausetheywillnotsubmit todiscipline ingoodpart?and theresult is [since theyareunwilling tohearthereproofofparentsgiveninkindnessandlove]that,bythepunishmentofGod,theybringuponthemselvesmisfortuneandgrief.Foritseldomhappensthatsuchwickedpeopledieanaturalortimelydeath.

Butthegodlyandobedienthavethisblessing,thattheylivelonginquietness,and see their children’s children (as said above) to the third and fourthgeneration.

Asexperiencealsoteachesthatwheretherearehonorable,oldfamilieswhostandwellandhavemanychildren, theyhavetheirorigin in thisfact,viz. thatsomeof themwerewellbroughtupandwereregardfulof theirparents.Soontheotherhanditiswrittenofthewicked(Ps.109:13):“Lethisposteritybecutoff; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.” ThereforeconsiderwellhowgreatathinginGod’ssightobedienceis,sincehesohighlyesteemsit,issohighlypleasedwithit,andrewardsitsorichly,andbesidesissorigidinpunishingthosewhotransgresswithrespecttoit.

All this I say, that it may be well impressed upon the young. For no onebelieves how necessary this commandment is, since it has not been thusesteemed and taught hitherto under the papacy. Every one thinks they areinsignificant and easywordswhich he has always known, thereforemen passthis lightlyby,areeagerly intentuponothermatters,anddonotseeorbelievethatGodissogreatlyoffendedifthisbedisregarded,orthatheesteemsitaworksowellpleasingandpreciousifitbeobserved.

Inconnectionwiththiscommandmentitispropertospeakfurtherofallkindsofobediencetopersonsinauthoritywhohavetocommandandtogovern.Forallauthorityflowsandispropagatedfromtheauthorityofparents.Forwhereafatherisunablealonetoeducatehis[rebelliousandirritable]child,heemploysaschoolmaster5thathemayinstructit;ifhebetooweak,heobtainstheassistanceofhisfriendsandneighbors;ifhedepart,heconfersanddelegateshisauthorityandgovernmenttootherswhoareappointedforthepurpose.

Likewise he must have domestics, man-servants and maid-servants, underhimforthemanagementofthehousehold,sothatallwhomwecallmastersareintheplaceofparentsandmustderivetheirpowerandauthoritytogovernfromthem.Hence also they are all called fathers in theScriptures, as thosewho in

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theirgovernmentperformthefunctionsoftheofficeofafather,andshouldhavea paternal heart toward their subordinates.As also from antiquity theRomansandother nations called themasters andmistresses of the householdpatres etmatres familiae, that is house-fathers and house-mothers. So also they calledtheirnationalrulersandchiefspatrespatriae,thatisfathersofthecountry,foragreat shame touswhowouldbeChristians thatwedonotcall themso,or, atleast,donot esteemandhonor themas such.Whatachildowes to fatherandmother the sameowe allwho are embraced in the household.Thereforeman-servants andmaid-servants should be careful not only to be obedient to theirmastersandmistresses,butalsotohonorthemastheirownfathersandmothers,andtodoeverythingwhichtheyknowisexpectedofthem,notfromcompulsionand with reluctance, but with pleasure and joy for the cause just mentioned,namely,thatitisGod’scommandandispleasingtohimaboveallotherworks.Thereforetheyoughtrathertopaywagesinadditionandbegladthattheymayobtainmastersandmistresses,tohavesuchjoyfulconsciencesandtoknowhowtheymaydotrulygoldenworks;amatterwhichhashithertobeenneglected,anddespised, when instead everybody ran, in the devil’s name, into convents orpilgrimagesandforindulgences,withloss[oftimeandmoney]andwithanevilconscience.

If indeed this truthcouldbe impressedupon thepoorpeople, a servant-girlwouldleapandthankandpraiseGod,andwithhermenialworkforwhichshereceives support and wages she would acquire such a treasure as all that areesteemed the greatest saints have not obtained. Is it not an excellent boast toknowandsaythis,thatifyouperformyourdailydomestictaskitisbetterthanall the ascetic life and sanctity of monks? And if you have the promise inadditionthatyoushallfarewellandprosperinallgood,howcanyoubemoreblessed or lead a holier life in regard toworks? For in the sight ofGod faithalonecanrenderholyandservehim,buttheworksarefortheserviceofman.ThenyouhaveallgoodprotectionanddefenseintheLord,ajoyfulconscienceandagraciousGodbesides,whowillrewardyouahundredfold,sothatyouareevenanoblemanifyoubeonlypiousandobedient.Butifnot,youhaveinthefirst place only the wrath and displeasure of God, no peace of heart, andafterwardsallmannerofplaguesandmisfortunes.

Whoeverwillnotbeinfluencedbythisandinclinedtopietyweleavetothehangmanandtodeath.ThereforeleteveryonewhoallowshimselftobeadvisedrememberthatGodisnotmakingsport,andknowthatitisGodwhospeakswith

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youanddemandsobedience.Ifyouobeyhimyouarehisdearchild,butifyoudespisethiscommandment,thentakeshame,calamityandgriefforyourreward.

Thesamealsois tobesaidofobediencetocivilgovernment,which(aswehave said) is embraced in the estate of fatherhood and extends farthest of allrelations.Forherethefatherisnotoneofasinglefamily,butofasmanypeopleas he has tenants, citizens or subjects. ForGod through them, as through ourparents,givestoussupport,estate,protectionandsecurity.Thereforesincetheybearsuchnameandtitlewithallhonorastheirhighestdignity,itisourdutytohonor them and to esteem them great as the greatest treasure and the mostpreciousjeweluponearth.

He,now,whoisobedienthere,iswillingandreadytoserve,andcheerfullydoesallthatpertainstohonor,knowsthatheispleasingGodandwillreceivejoyandhappinessforhisreward.Ifhewillnotdoitinlove,butdespisesandresistsauthorityor rebels, let himknowon theother hand also that he shall havenofavororblessing,andwherehethinkstogainaflorinthereby,hewillelsewherelose ten times as much, or become a victim to the hangman, perish by war,pestilenceandfamine,orexperiencenogoodinhischildren,andbeobligedtosuffer injury, injustice and violence at the hands of his servants, neighbors orstrangersand tyrants; so thatwhatweseekanddeservecomesuponusasourreward.

Ifwewouldonlyoncegiveitfairconsiderationthatsuchworksarepleasingto God and have so rich a reward, we would be established in possession ofpurelysuperabundantgoodandwouldhavewhatourheartdesires.Butbecausethe word and command of God are so lightly esteemed, as though somevagabondhadspokenit,letusseethereforewhetheryouarethemantoopposehim.Howdifficultitwillbeforhimtorecompenseyou!Thereforeitisbetterforyoutolivethuswiththedivinefavor,peaceandhappinessthanwithdispleasureand misfortune. Why, think you, is the world now so full of unfaithfulness,disgrace,calamityandmurder,but thateveryonedesirestobehisownmasterand subject to no authority, to care nothing for any one, and dowhat pleaseshim?ThereforeGodpunishesoneknavebymeansofanother,sothatwhenyoudefraud anddespise yourmaster, another comes anddeals the samewithyou,yea in your household you must suffer ten times more from wife, child orservants.

Wefeel indeedourmisfortune,wemurmurandcomplainofunfaithfulness,violenceandinjustice,butareunwillingtoseethatweourselvesareknaveswhohave trulydeserved thispunishment, andyet arenot thereby reformed.Wedo

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not reallydesire thedivinefavorandhappiness, therefore it isbut fair thatwehavemisfortunewithoutmercy.Theremustsomewhereuponearthbestillsomegodly people thatGod yet allows us somuch good!On our own accountweshouldhaveneitherafarthinginthehousenorastalkofstrawinthefield.AllthisIhavebeenobligedtourgewithsomanywords,inhopethatsomeonemaytakeittoheart,thatwemayberelievedoftheblindnessandmiseryinwhichwehave lain so long, and may truly understand theWord and will of God. andearnestly accept it. For therein we would learn how we could have joy,happiness,andsalvation,bothtemporalandeternal,inabundance.

Thuswehavetwokindsoffatherspresentedinthiscommandment,fathersinbloodandfathersinoffice,orthosetowhombelongsthecareofthefamily,andthosetowhombelongsthecareofthenation.Besidesthesetheyareyetspiritualfathers;notlikethoseinthePapacy,whohaveindeedcausedthemselvesbesodesignated,buthavenotperformedthefunctionsofthepaternaloffice.ForthoseonlyaretobecalledspiritualfatherswhogovernandguideusbytheWordofGod.OfthisnameSt.Paulboasts(1Cor.4:15),wherehesays:“InChristJesusIhavebegottenyouthroughtheGospel.”Becausetheyarefathers indeedtheyare entitled to honor above all others. But they are regarded of the leastimportance: for the only honor theworld has to confer upon them is to drivethemoutofthecountryandtogrudgethemapieceofbread,andinshorttheymust be (as says St. Paul, 1 Cor. 4:13) “as the filth of the world and theoffscouringofallthings.”

Yet there isneed that this alsobeurgedupon thepopulace, that thosewhowould be Christians are under obligation in the sight of God to esteem themworthy of double honor whominister to their souls, that they deal well withthemandprovideforthem.Forthat,Godwishestogiveyouadditionalblessingandwillnot letyoucome towant.But in thiseveryonewithholdsandmakesobjections, and all are afraid that they will perish from bodily want, andthereforecannotnowsupportarespectablepreacher,whereformerlytheyfilledtengormandizers.InthiswealsodeservethatGoddepriveusofhisWordandblessing,andagainallowpreachersofliestoarisetoleadustothedevil,andinadditiontodrainoursweatandblood.

ButthosewhokeepinsightGod’swillandcommandmenthavethepromisethat everything which they bestow upon temporal and spiritual fathers, andwhatever theydo to honor them, shall be richly recompensed to them, so thattheyshallhavenotonlybread,clothingandmoneyforayearortwo,butlonglife,supportandpeace,andshallbeeternallyrichandblessed.Thereforeonlydo

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whatisyourduty,andletGodtakecarehowheshallsupportyouandprovideyouwithabundance.Sincehehaspromisedit,andhasneveryetlied,hewillnotbefoundlyingtoyouinthis.

This ought indeed to encourage us, and give us hearts that would melt inpleasureand love toward those towhomweowe thishonor, so thatwewouldraiseourhandsandjoyfullythankGodwhohasgivenussuchpromises,inducedby which we ought to run to the ends of the world [to the remotest parts ofIndia].Foralthoughthewholeworldshouldcombine,itcouldnotaddanhourtoourlifeorgiveusasinglegrainfromtheearth.ButGodwishestogiveyouallexceeding abundantly according to your heart’s desire. He who despises andregardsthisisnotworthyevertohearawordofGod.Thisisindeedsuperfluoustosaytothosewhocomeundertheinstructionofthiscommandment.

Inaddition,itwouldnotbeamisstopreachtotheparents,andsuchasbeartheir office, as to how they should deport themselves toward those who arecommitted to them for theirgovernment.For although this isnot expressed intheTenCommandments, it isneverthelessabundantlyenjoinedinmanyplacesin the Scriptures.AndGod desires to have it embraced in this commandmentwhenhespeaksoffatherandmother.Forhedoesnotwishtohaveinthisofficeandgovernmentknavesandtyrants;nordoesheassigntothemthishonor,viz.power and authority to govern, and to allow themselves to beworshiped; butthey should consider that they areunderobligationsofobedience toGod; andthat firstofall theyareearnestlyandfaithfully todischarge thedutiesof theiroffice, not only to support and provide for the bodily necessities of theirchildren, servants, subjects, etc., but especially to train them to the honor andpraiseofGod.Thereforedonotthinkthatthisisappointedforthypleasureandarbitrarywill; but that it is a strict command and institutionofGod, towhomalsothoumustgiveaccountofthematter.

Butthisisagainasadevil,thatnooneperceivesorheedsthis,andallliveonasthoughGodgaveuschildrenforourpleasureoramusement,andservantsthatweshouldemploythemlikeacoworass,onlyforwork,orasthoughallwehadtodowithoursubjectswereonlytogratifyourwantonness,withoutanyconcernonourpartastowhattheylearnorhowtheylive;andnooneiswillingtoseethatthisisthecommandoftheSupremeMajesty,whowillmoststrictlycallustoanaccountandpunishforit;notthatthereissogreatneedtobesointenselyanxiousabout theyoung.For ifwewish tohaveproper andexcellentpersonsbothforcivilandecclesiasticalgovernment,wemustsparenodiligence,timeorcost in teaching and educating our children, that theymay serveGod and the

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world,andwemustnotthinkonlyhowwemayamassmoneyandpossessionsforthem.ForGodcanindeedwithoutussupportandmakethemrich,ashedailydoes.But for thispurposehehasgivenuschildren,andhascommandedus totrainandgovernthemaccordingtohiswill,elsehewouldhavenoneedoffatherandmother.Leteveryoneknow,therefore,thataboveallthingsitishisduty,orotherwisehewill losethedivinefavor, tobringuphischildreninthefearandknowledge ofGod; and, if they have talents, to give them also opportunity tolearnandstudy,thattheymaybeabletoavailthemselvesofthatforwhichthereisneed[tohavetheminstructedandtrainedinaliberaleducation,thatmenmaybeabletohavetheiraidingovernmentandinwhateverisnecessary].

IfthatweredoneGodwouldalsorichlyblessusandgiveusgrace,thattherewould be men trained by whom land and people would be reformed, andlikewise well-educated citizens, chaste and domestic wives, who afterwardswould continue to rear godly children and servants. Here think what deadlyinjury you are doing if you be negligent and fail to bring up your child tousefulness and piety, and how you bring upon yourself all sin and wrath,meritinghelleveninyourdealingswithyourownchildren,eventhoughyoubeotherwise ever so pious and holy. And because this is disregarded, God sofearfullypunishestheworldthatthereisnodiscipline,governmentorpeace,ofwhichweallcomplain,butdonotseethatitisourfault,foraswetrainthemwehave spoiled and disobedient children and subjects. Let this be sufficientexhortation;fortoamplifythisbelongstoanothertime.

TheFifthCommandment.

Thoushallnotkill.

We have now completed the discussion of both spiritual and temporalgovernment,thatis,divineandpaternalauthorityandobedience,Butherewegoforth fromourownhouse toourneighbor’s, to learnhowweshould livewithrespecttooneanother,everyoneforhimselftowardhisneighbor.ThereforeGodand government are not included in this commandment, nor the powerwhichtheyhavetokill.ForGodhasdelegatedhisauthoritytogovernmentstopunishevil-doersinsteadofparents,whoaforetime(aswereadinMoses)wererequiredtobring their children to judgment and sentence them todeath.Therefore thisprohibitionpertainstoindividualsandnottogovernment.

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This commandment is now easy enough, and is often treated, because wehear itannually in theGospelofSt.Matthew(5:21sqq),whereChristhimselfexplainsandsumsitup–namely,thatwemustnotkill,eitherwithhand,heart,mouth,signs,gestures,helporcounsel.Thereforeitisforbiddentoeveryonetobeangry,exceptthose(aswesaid)whoareintheplaceofGod,thatis,parentsandgovernment.For it isproperforGod,andforeveryonewhostands inhisstead, to be angry, to reprove and punish, even on account of those whotransgressthisandtheothercommandments.

ButthecauseandneedofthiscommandmentisthatGodwellknowsthattheworld is evil, and that this lifehasmuchunhappiness; thereforehehasplacedthis and the other commandments between the good and thewicked.As nowtherearemanytemptationsagainstallthecommandments,sothetemptationinrespect to this is thatwemust liveamongmanypeoplewhodouswrong, thatwehavecausetobehostiletothem.

Aswhenyourneighborseesthatyouhavebetterpossessionsfromproperty,andmorehappiness[alargerfamilyandmorefertilefields]fromGod,thanhe,heisoffended,enviesyou,andspeaksnogoodofyou.

Thusbythedevil’sincitementyouwillhavemanyenemieswhocannotbearto see you have any good, either bodily or spiritual.Whenwe see them it isnatural forourhearts in their turn to rageandbleedand takevengeance.Thusthere arise cursing and blows, from which follow finally misery and murder.ThereforeGod likeakind fatheranticipates, interposesandwishes tohaveallquarrelssettled,thatnomisfortunecomeofthem,noronedestroyanother.Andinfinehewouldherebydefend,liberateandkeepinpeaceeveryoneagainstallthe crime and violence of every one else; and has, as it were, placed thiscommandmentasawall,fortressandrefugeaboutourneighbor,thatwedohimnobodilyharmorinjury.

Thus this commandment insists upon it that no one offendhis neighbor onaccountofanyinjury,eventhoughhehavefullydeservedit.Forwheremurderisforbidden,allcausealsoisforbiddenwhencemurdermayoriginate.Formanya one, although he does not kill, yet curses andmakes imprecations,which iffulfilledwith respect to anyone,hewouldnot live long.Since this inheres inevery one by nature, and is a matter of ordinary experience, that no one iswilling to suffer at the hands of another, Godwishes to remove the root andsourcebywhichtheheartisembitteredagainstourneighbor,andtoaccustomusever tokeep inview thiscommandment, alwaysas inamirror tocontemplateourselves in it, to regard the will of God, and with hearty confidence and

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invocationofhisnametocommendtohimthewrongwhichwesuffer;andthusletourenemiesrageandbeangry,doingwhattheycan.Thuswemaylearntocalmourwrath,andtohaveapatient,gentleheart,especiallytowardthosewhogiveuscausetobeangry,i.e.ourenemies.

Therefore theentiresumof thiscommandment is tobe impressedupon thesimple-mindedmost explicitly, viz.What is themeaningofnot to kill? In thefirst place, that we hurt no one with our hand or deed. Then that we do notemployour tongue to instigateor counsel thereto.Further, thatweneitherusenorassent toanykindofmeansormethodswherebyanyonemaybe injured.Andfinallythattheheartbenotill-disposedtowardanyone,norfromangerandhatredwishhimill, so thatbodyandsoulmaybe innocent in respect toeveryone,butespeciallyinrespecttothosewhowishyoueviloractuallycommitsuchagainstyou.Fortodoeviltoonewhowishesanddoesyougoodisnothuman,butdiabolical.

Secondly,itistobeobservedthatnotonlyhewhodoeseviltohisneighborisguilty of violating this commandment, but he also who can do him good,anticipate,prevent,defendandsavehim,sothatnobodilyevilorharmhappentohim,andyetdoesitnot.If,therefore,yousendawayonethatisnakedwhenyou could clothe him, you have caused him to freeze; if you see one sufferhungeranddonotgivehimfood,youhavecausedhimtostarve.Soalsoifyousee any one innocently sentenced to death or in like distress, and do not savehim,althoughyouknowwaysandmeanstodoso,youhavekilledhim.Anditwillnotavailtomakethepretextthatyoudidnotaffordanyhelp,counseloraidthereto, for you have withheld your love from him and deprived him of thebenefitwherebyhislifewouldhavebeensaved.

Therefore God also properly calls all those murderers who do not affordcounselandhelp indistressanddangerofbodyand life,andwillpassamostterriblesentenceupontheminthelastday,asChristhimselfhasannounced,asheshallsay(Matt.25:42sq.):“Iwasanhungeredandyegavemenomeat; Iwas thirstyandyegavemenodrink; Iwasastrangerandye tookmenot in:naked,andyeclothedmenot;sickandinprison,andyevisitedmenot.”Thatis:Youwouldhavesufferedmeandminetodieofhunger, thirstandcold,wouldhavesufferedthewildbeaststotearustopiecesorleftustodecayinprisonorperish in distress. What else is that but to reproach them as murderers andbloodhounds? For although you have not actually done all this, you havenevertheless,sofarasyouwereconcerned,sufferedhimtoperishinmisfortune.

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ItisjustasifIsawsomeonestrugglingindeepwateroronefalleninthefire,andcouldextendtohimthehandtosavehimandpullhimout,andyetrefusedto do it.Would I not appear even in the eyes of theworld amurderer and acriminal?ThereforeitisGod’sultimatepurposethatwesufferharmtobefallnoman,but show toeveryone loveandallgood; and (aswehave said) thishasespecial reference to our enemies. For to do good to our friends is but amiserableheathenvirtue,asChristdeclaresit(Matt.5:46).

ThusweagainhavetheWordofGodwherebyhewouldencourageandurgeustotrulynobleandsublimeworks,asgentleness,patience,and,inshort,loveandkindnesstoourenemies,andwouldeverremindustoreflectupontheFirstCommandment, thathe isourGod, i.e. thathewillhelp,assistandprotectus,thatthushemayextinguishthedesireofrevengeinus.

Thisweoughttopracticeandinculcate,andwewouldhaveanabundanceofgoodworkstodo.Butthiswouldnotbepreachingtothebenefitofthemonks;itwouldbegreatlytothedetrimentoftheecclesiasticalestate,andaninfringementupon the sanctityofCarthusians, andwouldeven forbid theirgoodworksandclear the convents. For in thiswise the state of commonChristianswould beconsideredashigh,andevenhigher,andeverybodywouldseehowtheymockanddeludetheworldwithafalse,hypocriticalappearanceofholiness,becausetheydisregardthiscommandmentliketheothers,andesteemthemunnecessary,as though they were not commandments, but mere advice; and besides, theyhaveshamelesslyproclaimedandboastedoftheirhypocriticalestateandworksas themostperfect life; for, inorder that theymight leadapleasant,easy life,withoutthecrossandwithoutpatience,theyalsohaveresortedtotheircloisters,sothattheymightnotbeobligedtosufferwrongfromanyoneortodohimanygood.

Butknownowthatthesearethetrulyholyandgodlyworks,inwhich,withall theangels,herejoices, incomparisonwithwhichallhumanholiness isbutfilthandstench,anddeservesonlywrathanddamnation.

TheSixthCommandment.

Thoushaltnotcommitadultery.

Thecommandmentsthatfollowareeasilyunderstoodfromtheexplanationofthepreceding;fortheyarealltotheeffectthatwebecarefultoavoiddoinganykindofinjurytoourneighbor.Buttheyarearrangedinverypreciseorder.Inthe

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firstplace,theytreatofhisperson.Thenweproceedtothepersonnearesthim,orthepossessionnearesthisbody,namelyhiswife,whoisonefleshandbloodwithhim;sothatwecannotinflictahigherinjuryuponourneighborinanygoodthat ishis.Therefore it is explicitly forbiddenhere tobringanydisgraceuponhiminrespect tohiswife.Heexpresslymentionsadultery,becauseamongtheJews it was a command and appointment that every one must be married.Thereforealso theyoungwereearlymarried, so that the stateof celibacywasheldinsmallesteem,neitherwerepublicprostitutionandlewdnesstoleratedasnow.Thereforeadulterywasthemostcommonformofunchastityamongthem.

Butbecausethereisamongussuchashamefulmixtureandtheverydregsofall kinds of vice and lewdness, this commandment is also directed against allmannerofimpurity,whateveritmaybecalled;andnotonlyistheexternalactforbidden,buteverykindofcause,incitementandmeans,sothattheheart,thelips and the whole body may be chaste and afford no opportunity, help, orpersuasionforimpurity.Andnotonlythis,butthatwealsodefend,protectandrescuewherever there isdangerandneed; andgivehelpandcounsel, soas tomaintainourneighbor’shonor.Forwhereveryouallowsuchathingwhenyoucouldprevent it, or conniveat it as if it didnot concernyou,youare as trulyguiltyas theoneperpetrating thedeed.Thus it is required, inshort, thateveryonebothlivechastelyhimselfandhelphisneighbordothesame.ThusGodbythiscommandmentwishestosurroundandprotectasifwithbarseverywifeandhusband,thatnooneinjure,harmortouchthem.

Butsincethiscommandmentisdirectedtothestateofmatrimonyandgivesoccasion to speakof the same, youmaywellmark andunderstand, first, howhighlyGodhonorsandextolsthisestate,inasmuchasbyhiscommandmentheboth sanctionsandguards it.Hehasalready sanctioned it above in theFourthCommandment:“Honorthyfatherandthymother;”butherehehas(aswesaid)guardedandprotectedit.Thereforehealsowishesustohonorit,andtomaintainanduseitasatrulydivineandblessedestate;becauseinthefirstplacehehasinstituted it above all others, and therefore created man and woman (as isevident)not for lewdness,but to live in themarried relation,be faithful,begetchildren,andnourishandtrainthemtothegloryofGod.

ThereforeGodhasalsomostrichlyblessedthisestateaboveallothers;andinaddition has applied and appropriated everything in the world to it, that thisestatemayindeedberichlyprovidedfor.Marriedlifeisthereforenosubjectforjestoridleinquisitiveness;butitisanexcellentthing,andoneconcerningwhichtheearnestnessofGodisoccupied.Foritisofthehighestimportancetohimthat

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to fightagainstwickednessand thedevilmenberaisedupwhomayserve theworldandpromotetheknowledgeofhimself,godlylivingandallvirtues.

Therefore I have always taught that this estate be not despised nor held indisrepute,asisdonebytheblindworldandourfalsespiritualguides;butthatitberegardedaccordingtoGod’sWord,bywhichitisadornedandsanctified,sothatitisnotonlyplacedonanequalitywithotherconditionsinlife,butthatittranscendsthemall,whethertheybethatofemperor,prince,bishoporwhatevertheywill.Forbothecclesiasticalandcivilestatesmusthumblethemselves,andallmustbefoundinthisestate,asweshallhear.Thereforeitisnotaparticularestate, but at the same time the most common and the most noble whichpervadesallChristendom,yeawhichevenextendsthroughalltheworld.

Inthesecondplace,youmustknowthatitisnotonlyanhonorablebutalsoanecessary state, solemnly commanded by God; so that, in general, in allconditions,manandwoman,whohavebeencreatedforit,shallbefoundinthisestate; yet with some exceptions (although few) whom God has especiallyexempted, because they are not fit for the married estate, or who by highsupernaturalgiftscanmaintainchastitywithoutthisestate.Forwherenaturehasits course, as it is implanted by God, it is not possible to maintain chastitywithoutmarriage.For flesh andblood remain flesh andblood, and thenaturalinclination and excitement have their course without let or hindrance, as theobservationandexperienceofalltestify.That,therefore,itmaybethemoreeasyin some degree to avoid unchastity, God has commanded the estate ofmatrimony, that every one may have his proper portion, and be satisfiedtherewith;althoughGod’sgraceisyetnecessarythattheheartalsomaybepure.

Fromthisyouseehowthepopishcrew,priests,monksandnuns,resistGod’sorderandcommandment, inasmuchas theydespiseandforbidmatrimony,andpresumeandvowtomaintainperpetualchastity,andbesidesdeceivethesimple-minded with lying words and appearances. For no one has so little love andinclinationtochastityasjustthosewhobecauseofgreatsanctityavoidmarriage,andeitherindulgeinopenandshamelessprostitutionorsecretlydoevenworse,viz.thatwhichistoobadtomention,ashas,alas!beenlearnedtoofully.Andinshort, even though theyabstain from theact, theirheartsare so fullof impurethoughts and evil desires that there is a continual burning and secret sufferingwhichcanbeavoidedinthemarriedlife.Thereforeareallvowsofchastityoutof themarried state condemnedby this commandment; and free permission isgranted, yea even the command is given, to all poor constrained conscienceswhichhavebeendeceivedbytheirmonasticvows,toabandontheconditionof

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unchastityandenter themarried life,considering thateven if themonastic lifehaddivinesanction,itwereneverthelessoutoftheirpowertomaintainchastity,and if theyremain in thatcondition theymustonlysinmoreandmoreagainstthiscommandment.

I speak of this now in order that the youngmay be so instructed as to beinduced tomarry, and to know that it is a blessed estate andwell pleasing toGod.Forinthiswayitmightinthecourseoftimeagainreceiveitsproperhonor,andwe shouldhave lessof thepernicious,horrible,disorderly lifewhichnowrunsriotinopenprostitutionandothershamefulviceswhicharetheresultofthedisregardofmarriedlife.Thereforeitisthedutyofbothparentsandgovernmenttoseetoouryouth,thattheybebroughtuptodisciplineandrespectability,andwhentheyhavecometoyearsofmaturitytohavethemmarriedhonorablyandinthefearofGod;andhewillnotfail toaddhisblessingandgrace, thatmenmayhavejoyandhappinessfromthesame.

From all this it can now be concluded that this commandment not onlydemandsthateveryonelivechastelyinthought,wordanddeedinhiscondition,that is, especially in the estateofmatrimony,but also that everyone loveandesteemhiswifeorherhusbandasagiftofGod.Forwheremaritalchastityistobe maintained, man and wife must by all means live together in love andharmony,thatonemaycherishtheotherfromtheheartandwithentirefidelity.For that is one of the principal points which enkindle the love and desire ofpurity; so that where this is found, chastity will follow as amatter of coursewithoutanycommand.ThereforealsoSt.Paulsodiligentlyexhortshusbandandwifetoloveandhonoroneanother.Hereyouhaveagainaprecious,yeamanyandgreatgoodworks,ofwhichyoucanjoyfullyboast,againstallecclesiasticalestates,chosenwithoutGod’sWordandcommandment.

TheSeventhCommandment.

Thoushaltnotsteal.

Afterourpersonandwifeorhusband,temporalpropertyisthenearestgood.That also God wishes to have secure, and has commanded that no one shalldamageorinjurehisneighborinhispossessions.Fortostealisnothingelsethantogetanother’spropertywrongfully intoourpossession.Thiscomprehendsallkindsofadvantageinallkindsoftradetothedisadvantageofourneighbor.Thisis indeed such a widespread and common crime, but so little regarded and

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observed,thatitexceedsallmeasure,sothatifallthieves–whoneverthelessdonotwish tobeconsidered such–were tobehanged to thegallows, theworldwould soon be desolate andwould bewithout both executioners and gallows.For aswe have just said to steal is not only to rob our neighbors’ coffer andpockets,but tobe too far-reaching in themarket, inall storesandshops,wineand beer-cellars, workshops, and in short whenever we trade or take or givemoney,goodsorwork.

As,for instance, toexplain thissomewhatroughlyfor thecommonmassofpeople,sothatitmaybeseenhowgodlyweare:Whenaman-servantormaid-servantdoesnotservefaithfully,anddoesdamage,oratleastallowsittooccurwhen it could be prevented, or otherwise from indolence, idleness or maliceneglects the goods entrusted to him, to the spite and vexation of master andmistress.Andwhen this is done purposely (for I do not speak of unavoidablecasualties),youcandisposeof thirty,fortydollarsayear,whichifanotherhadtaken secretly hewould be hung by the rope. But you even bid defiance andmakeyourboastofit,andnoonedarecallyouathief!

ThesameIsayofmechanics,workmenandday-laborers,whoallfollowtheirownwill,andknownotinhowmanywaystotakeadvantageofpeople,andyetare careless and unfaithful in their work. All these are far worse than secretthieves,againstwhomwecanguardwithlockandbolt,orwho,ifapprehended,are treated in suchamanner that theywillnotdo the sameagain.Butagainstthesenoonecanguard.Noonedareevenlookawryatthemoraccusethemoftheft, so that onewould ten times rather lose fromhis purse.Forhere aremyneighbors, good friends, my own servants, to whom I look for fidelity, whodefraudmefirstofall.

Likewisealsointhemarketandincommontradethiscourseprevailstothegreatest extent,whereoneopenlydefraudsanotherwithdefectivegoods, falsemeasures,weights,coins,andbytakingadvantagebyexpertartsanduncommontransactionsordexterous inventions, inshortbygetting thebestof thebargainandwantonlyoppressinganddistressinghim.Andwhoindeedcanevenrecountorimagineitall?Thisisinshortthemostgeneraltradeandthelargestguildonearth,andifweregardtheworld throughallconditionsof life itappears tobeonlyavast,widestall,fullofgreatthieves.

Therefore they also are called judicial robbers, despoilers of land andcommerce,notpickpocketsandsneak-thieveswhostealthereadycash,butwhosituponthebenchandarestyledgreatnoblemen,andhonorable,piouscitizens,andyetrobandstealuponagoodpretext.

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Yes,herewemightbesilentabout theinsignificant individual thievesifwewouldattack thegreat, powerful arch-thieves that are in thecompanyof lordsandprinces,whodailyplundernotonlyacityortwo,butallGermany.Yeawhatwouldbecomeoftheheadandsupremeprotectorofallthieves,theholychairatRome,withall its retinue,whichhasappropriated thewealthof all theworld,andhasitinpossessiontothisday?

This is, in short, the course of the world: that whoever can steal and robopenly goes in freedom and security unmolested by any one, and is yet to behonored.Butthesmall,secretthieveswhohaveoncereachedtoofarmustbearthe shameandpunishment tokeep the former inpositionsofhonor andpiety.ButletthemknowthatinthesightofGodtheyarethegreatestthieves,whoalsowillpunishthemastheydeserveandareworthy.

Because this commandment is so far-reaching and comprehensive, as justindicated, it is necessary to present the same with emphasis to the commonpeople, to let them know that these things cannot be donewith impunity, butalwaystokeepbeforetheireyesthewrathofGod,andinculcatethesame.ForthiswehavetopreachnottoChristians,butchieflytoknavesandscoundrels,towhom itwould bemore fitting for judges, jailers, and executioners to preach.Thereforeleteveryoneknowthatitishisduty,attheriskofGod’sdispleasure,not only to do no injury to his neighbor, nor to deprive him of gain, nor toperpetrate any act of unfaithfulness ormalice in any bargain or transaction oftrade,butfaithfullytopreservehispropertyforhim,tosecureandpromotehisadvantage;andthisespeciallyappliestoeveryonewhotakesmoney,wagesandsupportforsuchservice.

Henowwhowantonlydespises thismay indeedgohiswayandescape thehangman,butheshallnotescapethewrathandpunishmentofGod;andwhenhehaslongpracticedhisdefianceandarrogance,heshallyetremaina trampandbeggar,andinadditionhaveallplaguesandmisfortune.Now,whenyououghttopreserve thepropertyofyourmasterandmistress, forwhich serviceyouhaveyoursupport,yougoyourownway, takeyourwages likea thief,expect tobehonoredasanobleman,ofwhom therearearemany thatare insolent towardstheirmastersandmistresses,andareunwillingtodothemafavororservicebywhichtoprotectthemfromloss.

Butbeware,andconsiderwhatyouwillgain,thatwhenyouhaveyourownhousehold(towhichGodwillhelpwithallmisfortunes)itwillberecompensedtoyou,andyouwill find thatwhereyouhavedone injuryordefrauded to thevalueofonemite,youwillhavetopaythirtyagain.

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Suchshallbe the lotofmechanicsandlaborersofwhomwehearandfromwhomwe are obliged to suffer such intolerablemaliciousness, as though theywere noblemen in another’s possessions, and every one were obliged to givethemwhat they demand. Only let them continue practicing their exactions aslongastheycan;butGodwillnotforgethiscommandment;andhewillrewardthem according as they have served, and will hang them, not upon a greengallows,butuponadryone;sothatinalltheirlifetheyshallneitherprospernoraccumulateanything.Andindeediftherewereawell-orderedgovernmentintheland such wantonness might be checked and prevented, as was the case inancienttimesamongtheRomans,whensuchcharactersweresuddenlyvisitedinaway thatothers tookwarning.Nomore shallothersprosperwhochange theopen,freemarketintoacarrion-pitofextortionandadenofrobbery,wherethepooraredailyoppressed,andwhocausenewimpositionsandfamine,everyoneusingthemarketaccordingtohiscapriceinprouddefiance,asthoughitwerehisrightandprivilegetosellhispropertyforashighapriceasheplease,andnoonehadaright tosayawordabout it.Thesewewill indeedallowtopass,and letthempractice their exactions, extortionsandavarice,butwewill trust inGod,whoneverthelesswillsoarrangeitthatwhenyouhavecompletedyourextortionhewillpronouncehiscurse,andyourgrain in thestorehouse,yourbeer in thecellar, your cattle in the stalls shall all perish, and verily where you havedefraudedanyonetotheamountofaflorin,yourentirepileshallbeconsumedwithrust,sothatyoushallinnowiseenjoyit.

Andindeedweseethisbeingfulfilleddailybeforeoureyes,thatnostolenordishonestlyacquiredpossessionbringsprosperity.Howmanytherearewhorakeandscrapedayandnight,andyetgrownotafarthingricher!Andmen,thoughthey gather much, are subject to so many plagues and misfortunes that theycannotenjoyitortransmitittotheirchildren.Butbecausenoonetakesnoticeofit,andwegoonasthoughitdidnotconcernus,Godmustvisitusinadifferentmanner and teach us the mode of his government, so that he imposes onetaxation after another, or billets a troop of soldiers upon us,who in one houremptyour coffers andpurses, anddonotdesist as longaswehave a farthingleft;andinaddition,bywayofthanks,burnanddevastatehouseandhome,andoutrageandkillwifeandchildren.

And, inshort, ifyoustealmuch,dependuponit that twiceasmuchwillbestolen fromyou; and hewhowith violence andwrong robs and acquireswillfindonewhoshalldealafter thesamefashionwithhim.ForGod ismasterof

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thisart,thatsinceeveryonerobsandstealsofanother,hepunishesonethiefbymeansofanother.Whereelseshouldwefindenoughgallowsandropes?

WhoeveriswillingtobeinstructedcanbesurethatthisisthecommandmentofGod, and that itmustnotbe treatedas a jest.For althoughyoudespiseus,defraud, steal and rob, we will indeed submit, suffer and endure yourhaughtiness,andaccording to theLord’sPrayer forgiveandshowpity; forweknow that the godly shall have enough, and you injure yourself more thananother.

Butofthisbeware:Whenthepoormancomestoyou(ofwhomtherearesomanynow)whomustbuywiththepennyofhisdailywages,andliveuponit,and you are harsh to him, as though every one lived by your favor, and youextortandexact to theutmostamount,andbesideswithprideandhaughtinessturnhimoffwhomyououghttohelpwithagift,hewillgoawaywretchedandsorrowful;andbecausehecancomplaintonoonehewillcryandcalltoheaven,–thenbeware(Isayagain)asofthedevilhimself.Forsuchgroaningandcallingwillbenojest,butwillhaveaweightandemphasisthatwillprovetooheavyforyouandalltheworld.ForitwillreachHimwhotakescareofthepoorsorrowfulhearts,andwillnotallowthisinjurydonethemtoescapehisvengeance.ButifyoudespisethatcryanddefyHimwhohearsit,thenrememberwhomyouhavebroughtuponyou.Ifyouaresuccessfulandprosperousyoumay,beforealltheworld,callGodandmealiar.

Nowwehaveexhorted,warnedandprotestedenough;hewhowillnotheedorbelieveitmaygoonuntilhelearnthisbyexperience.Yet it is important toimpress this upon the young, that they may be careful not to follow the oldlawless crowd, but keep their eyes fixed upon God’s commandment, lest hiswrathandpunishmentcomeuponthem.Nothingfurtherbelongstous,excepttoinstructandreprovewithGod’sWord;buttochecksuchopenwantonnessthereis need of government and princes who have eyes and voice, by which toestablish andmaintainorder in allmannerof trade and commerce, so that thepoorbenotburdenedandoppressedorburdenthemselveswithothers’sins.

Letthissufficeconcerningtheexplanationofwhatisstealing,thatithenottakentoonarrowly,butextendasfaraswehavetodowithourneighbors.Andbriefly,inasummary,liketheformercommandments,itisherewithforbiddeninthe first place to do our neighbor any injury or wrong (of whatever sortsupposableincurtailinghispossessionsandproperty,orpreventingorhinderinghisenjoymentofthem),oreventoconsentorallowsuchathing,buttointerposeand prevent it.And, on the other hand, it is commanded thatwe improve his

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possessions and promote all his interests; and, in case he sufferwant, thatwehelp,communicateandlendbothtofriendsandfoes.

WhoevernowseeksanddesiresgoodworkswillfindhereinabundancesuchasareheartilyacceptableandpleasingtoGod,andinadditionarefavoredandcrowned with most excellent blessings, that we can be sure of a richcompensation for all that we do for our neighbor’s good and from truefriendship;asKingSolomonalsoteaches(Prov.19:17):“Hethathathpityuponthepoor lendethunto theLord;and thatwhichhehathgivenwillhepayhimagain.”HerethenthouhastarichLordwhoiscertainlysufficientforthee,andwhowillnot suffer thee towantor tocomeshort inanything; thus thoucanstwithajoyfulconscienceenjoyahundredtimesmorethanthoucouldstacquireby extortion in unfaithfulness and wrong. But whoever does not desire theblessingwillfindwrathandmisfortuneenough.

TheEighthCommandment.

Thoushallnotbearfalsewitness.

Besides body, wife or husband, and temporal possessions, we have yetanothertreasure,namely,personalhonorandgoodreport,withwhichwecannotdispense. For it is intolerable to live amongmen in open shame and generalcontempt. Therefore God wishes the reputation, character and honor of ourneighbortobeassailedordiminishedaslittleashismoneyandpossessions,thateveryonemaystandinhisintegritybeforewife,child,servantsandneighbors.Andinthefirstplacewetakethemostmanifestmeaningofthiscommandmentaccording to the words (Thou shalt not bear false witness), as pertaining tocourtsofjustice,whereapoorinnocentmanisaccusedandoppressedbyfalsewitnessesinordertobepunishedinhisbody,propertyorhonor.

This appears indeed little to concern us now, but with the Jews it was acommonandordinarymatter.Forthepeoplewereorganizedunderanexcellentandregulargovernment;andwheresuchagovernmentis,itisnotadministeredwithout cases of this sin. The cause of it is, that where judges, magistrates,princesorothersinauthoritysitinjudgment,itcannotinthecourseoftheworldbe otherwise but that men will be unwilling to give offence, will flatter andspeak with regard to favor, money, hope or friendship; and in consequence apoor man and his cause must be oppressed and be subject to wrong and

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punishment. And it is a common calamity in the world that those who sit injudgmentareseldomgodlymen.

For a judge ought necessarily to be above all things a godlyman, and notonlygodly,butalsowise,modest,yea,abraveandfearlessman.Soalsooughtawitnesstobefearless,butespeciallyagodlyman.Forhewhowouldjudgeallmatters rightly and decide themby his verdictwill often offend good friends,relatives, neighbors and the rich andpowerfulwhocangreatly serveor injurehim.Thereforehemustbequiteblind,closingeyesandears,neitherseeingnorhearing, but going straight forward in everything that comes before him, anddecidingaccordingly.

Thereforethiscommandmentisgivenfirstofallthateveryoneshallhelphisneighbortosecurehisrights,andnotallowthemtobehinderedorviolencetobedonethem,buttostrictlymaintainandpromotethemasGodmaygrant,whetherhebejudgeorwitness,andletitaffectwhatitwill.Andespeciallyisagoalsetuphere forour jurists that theyusealldiligence indealing trulyanduprightlywitheverycase,allowingrighttoberight,andneitherpervertingnorglossingitoverorkeepingsilentconcerningit,irrespectiveofmoney,possession,honororpower. This is one part and the most immediate sense of this commandmentrespectingallthattakesplaceincourt.

Afterwards, however, it extends much further, if we apply it to spiritualjurisdictionoradministration;hereitisafactthateveryonebearsfalsewitnessagainsthisneighbor.ForwherevertherearegodlypreachersandChristians,theymust bear the judgment of the world, and be called heretics, apostates, yeaseditiousanddesperatelywickedmiscreants.AndbesidestheWordofGodmustbe subjected to the most shameful and virulent persecutions, blasphemies,contradictions,perversionsandfalseexplanationsandapplications.Butthatwewill let pass; for it is the way of the blind world that she condemns andpersecutesthetruthandthechildrenofGod,andyetesteemsitnosin.

Inthethirdplace,whatconcernsusall,thiscommandmentforbidsallsinsofthe tongue whereby we can injure or molest our neighbor. For to bear falsewitnessisnothingelsebutaworkofthetongue.Whateverthereforeisdonewiththetongueagainstafellow-manisherebyforbiddenbyGod;whetheritbefalsepreachers with their doctrine and blasphemy, false judges and witnesses withtheirunjustverdicts,oroutsideofcourtbylyingandevil-speaking.Herebelongsparticularly the detestable vice of gossip and slander, with which the devilinstigates us, and ofwhich there ismuch to be said. For it is a common evilplaguethateveryoneprefershearingevil tohearinggoodofhisneighbor;and

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althoughweourselvesareeversobad,wecannotsufferthatanyoneshouldsayanything bad about us, but every one would much rather that all the worldshouldspeakofhimintermsofgold;andyetwecannotbearthatonlythebestbesaidofothers.

Therefore, to avoid this vice we should consider that no one is allowedpubliclytojudgeandreprovehisneighbor,althoughhemayseehimsin,unlesshe have a command to judge and to reprove. For there is a great differencebetweenthesetwothings,viz.judgingsinandknowingit.Youmayindeedknowit,butyouarenottojudgeit.Icanindeedseeandhearthatmyneighborsins,butIhavenocommandtoreportittoothers.IfthereforeIrushon,judgingandpassingsentence,Ifall intoasinwhichisgreaterthanhis.Butifyouknowit,changeyourearsintoagraveandcoverit,untilyouareappointedasjudgeandtopunishbyvirtueofyouroffice.

Those are called slandererswho are not contentwith knowing a thing, butproceedtoexercisejudgment,andwhentheyknowaslightoffenceofanother,carry it into every corner, and are gratified that they can stir up another’sbaseness,asswinerollthemselvesinthedirtandrootinitwiththesnout.Itisnothing else than meddling with the office and judgment of God, andpronouncingsentenceandpunishmentwiththemostsevereverdict.Fornojudgecan punish to a higher degree nor go further than to say: “He is a thief, amurderer, a traitor,” etc. Therefore, whoever presumes to say the same of hisneighborgoesjustasfarastheemperorandallgovernments.Foralthoughyoudonotwield the sword, you employ your poisonous tongue to the shame andhurtofyourneighbor.

God therefore forbids that any one speak evil of another although he beguilty, and the formerknow it rightwell;much less if hedonotknow it, andhaveitonlyfromhearsay.Butyouanswer:ShallInotsayit if itbethetruth?Answer:Whydoyounotmakeaccusationtoaregularjudge?Yes.ButIcannotprove it publicly, and thus I might be silenced and turned away in a harshmanner[incurthepenaltyofafalseaccusation].Ah!here’stherub.6 Ifyoudonotventure to standbefore theproperauthoritieswithyourcharges, thenholdyourtongue.Butifyouknowit,knowitforyourselfandnotforanother.Forifyourepeatit,althoughitbetrue,youwillappearasaliar,becauseyoucannotproveit,andyouarebesidesactingwickedly.Forweoughtnevertodepriveanyoneofhishonororgoodnameunlesshebepubliclycondemned.

Everything,therefore,whichcannotbeproperlyprovedisfalsewitness.

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Therefore what is not made public by sufficient proof no one shall makepublicordeclarefortruth:andinshort,whateverissecretshouldbekeptsecretorsecretlyreproved,asweshallhear.Therefore,ifyouencounteraneviltonguewhichbetraysandslandersanother,contradictsuchaonetohisface,thathemayblush;thusmanyaonewillkeepsilencewhoelsewouldbringsomepoormanintobadrepute,fromwhichhewouldnoteasilyextricatehimself.Forhonorandagoodnameareeasilytarnished,butnoteasilyrestored.

Thusyousee,inshort,itisforbiddentospeakanyevilofourneighbor,andyet the civil government, preachers, father andmother are excepted, that thiscommandmentmaybesounderstoodthatevilbenotunreproved.Justthereforeas,accordingtotheFifthCommandment,nooneistobeinjuredinbody,andyettheexecutioner is excepted,who,byvirtueofhisoffice,doeshisneighbornogood, but only evil and harm, and nevertheless does not sin against God’scommandment,becauseGodhas,onhisownaccount instituted thatoffice; forhehasreservedpunishmentforhisowngoodpleasure,ashehas threatenedintheFirstCommandment,–justsoalso,althoughnoonehasarightinhisownperson to judge and condemn another, yet if they to whose office it belongsrefusetodoit,theysinaswellashewhoshoulddosowithoutsuchoffice.Forhere necessity requires one to speak of the evil, to make accusation, toinvestigateandtestify;anditisnotdifferentfromthecaseofaphysicianwhoissometimescompelledtohandleandexamineapatientinpartsotherwisenottobeexamined.Justsogovernments, fatherandmother,brothersandsisters,andothergoodfriends,areunderobligationtoeachothertoreproveevilwhereveritisneedfulandprofitable.

ButthetruewayinthismatterwouldbetoobservetheorderaccordingtotheGospel(St.Matt.18:15),whereChristsays:“Ifthybrothershalltrespassagainstthee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone”Here you have apreciousandexcellentdoctrinewherebytogovernwellthetongue,whichistobecarefullyobservedagainstthisabuse.Letthis,then,beyourrule,thatyoudonottooreadilyspeakevilofyourneighbortoothers;butadmonishhimprivatelythathemayamend.Likewise,also, ifsomeonereport toyouwhat thisor thatonehasdone,teachhimalso,ifhehaveseenithimself,togoandadmonishhim;butifnot,lethimkeepsilent.

Thesameyoucanlearnalsofromthedailygovernmentofthehousehold.Forwhenthemasterofthehouseseesthattheservantdoesnotdowhatheought,hehimselftakeshimtoaccount.Butifheweresofoolishastolettheservantsitathome,andwentonthestreetstocomplainofhimtohisneighbors,hewouldno

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doubtbetold:“Youfool!whatdoesthatconcernus?goandtellhimhimself.”See, thatwouldbeactingquitebrotherly,sothat theevilwouldbestayed,andyour neighbor’s honor would bemaintained. As Christ also says in the sameplace: “If he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Then you have done agoodwork;fordoyouthinkitisalittlemattertogainabrother?Letallmonksandholyorders step forth,withall theirworksmelted together intoonemass,andseeiftheycanboastthattheyhave“gainedabrother.”

Further,Christteaches:_“Butifhewillnothearthee,thentakewiththeeoneor twomore, that in themouth of two or threewitnesses everywordmay beestablished_.”Sohewhomitconcerns isalways tobe treatedwithpersonally,and not to be spoken ofwithout his knowledge.But if that do not avail, thenbringitbeforethepublic,whetherbeforethecivilortheecclesiasticaltribunal.For then you do not stand alone, but you have those witnesses with you bywhomyoucanconvicttheguiltyone,relyingonwhomthejudgecanpronouncesentence of punishment. This is the right and regular course for checking andreformingawickedperson.But ifweonlygossipaboutanother inallcorners,andstiruphisbaseness,noonewillbereformed,andafterwardswhenwearetostandupandbearwitnesswedenyhavingsaidso.Thereforeitwouldbewellforsuch tongues that their delight in thus talkingwere severely punished, so thatothers would profit by the example. If you were acting for your neighbor’sreformationorfromloveofthetruth,youwouldnotactinanunderhandedwayandshunthedayandthelight.

Allthisreferstosecretsins.Butwherethesinispublic,sothatthejudgeandeverybodyknowit,youcan,withoutanysin,avoidhimandlethimgo,becausehehasbroughthimselftoshame,andalsoyoumaypubliclytestifyagainsthim.Forwhenamatterispublicinthelightofday,therecanbenoslanderorfalsejudgmentorwitness.Aswenow reprove thePopewithhisdoctrine,which ispubliclysetforthinbooksandproclaimedinalltheworld.Forwherethesinispublic,thereproofalsomustbepublic,thateveryonemaylearntoguardagainstit.

Thuswehavenowthesumandgeneralunderstandingofthiscommandment,viz.thatnoonedoanyinjurywiththetonguetohisneighbor,whetherfriendorfoe; nor speak evil of him, whether it be true or false, unless it be done bycommandmentor forhis reformation;but thateveryoneemployhis tongue tosay the best of every one else, to cover his neighbor’s sins and infirmities,excusinghim,apologizingforhimandadorninghimwithduehonor.Thechiefconsideration iswhatChrist indicates in theGospel, inwhichhecomprehends

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allcommandmentsrespectingourneighbor(Matt.7:12):“Whatsoeveryewouldthatmenshoulddotoyou,doyeevensotothem”

Evennatureteachesthesamethinginourownbodies,asSt.Paulsays(1Cor.12:22):“Muchmore, thosemembersof thebodywhichseemtobemore feebleare necessary: and those members of the body which we think to be lesshonorable,uponthesewebestowmoreabundanthonor;andouruncomelypartshavemoreabundantcomeliness.”Noonecoversface,eyes,noseandmouth.Forthey, as in themselves the most honorable members which we have, do notrequire it.But themost infirmmembers, ofwhichwe are ashamed,we coverwithalldiligence,yea,hands,eyesandthewholebodymusthelptocoverandconceal them. Thus also shouldwe among ourselves adorn to the best of ourabilitywhateverblemishesandinfirmitieswefindinourneighbor,andserveandhelphimtopromotehishonor;andontheotherhandpreventwhatevermaybediscreditable tohim.And it is especiallyanexcellentandnoblevirtue foronealwaystoputthebestconstructionuponallhemayhearofhisneighbor(ifitbenot a public crime), and present it in a favorable light against the poisonoustongues that are busy wherever they can pry out and discover something toblame inaneighbor,and thatpervert it in theworstway;as isespeciallynowdonewiththepreciousWordofGodanditspreachers.

There are comprehended, therefore, in this commandment verymany goodworkswhichpleaseGodmosthighly,andbringabundantgoodandblessing,ifonlytheblindworldandthefalsesaintscouldrecognizethemassuch.Forthereisnothingonorintheentiremanwhichcandobothgreaterandmoreextensivegoodorharminspiritualand in temporalmatters than the tongue, though it istheleastandfeeblestmember.

TheNinthandTenthCommandments.

Thoushaftnotcovetthyneighbor’shouse.Thoushaltnotcovetthyneighbor’swife,norhisman-servant,norhismaid-servant,norhisox,norhisass,noranythingthatisthyneighbor’s.

ThesetwocommandmentsaregivenespeciallytotheJews,althoughinparttheyalsoconcernus.Fortheydonotinterpretthemasreferringtounchastityortheft,becausetheseareforbiddenabove.Theyalsothoughtthattheyhadkeptallthosewhentheyhaddoneornotdonetheexternalact.ThereforeGodhasaddedthesetwocommandmentsinorderthatitbeesteemedassinandbeforbiddentodesireor inanyway toaimatgettingourneighbor’swifeorpossessions;and

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especially because under the Jewish government man-servants and maid-servantswerenot free,asnow, toserveforwagesas longas theypleased,butweretheirmaster’sproperty,withtheirbodyandalltheyhad,ascattleandotherpossessions. So, too, every man had power over his wife to put her awaypubliclybygivingherabillofdivorce,andtotakeanother.Thereforetheywereinconstantdangeramongeachotherthatifonetookafancytoanother’swifehemight take occasion both to dismiss his ownwife and to estrange the other’swife from him, that hemight obtain her under pretext of right. That was notconsideredasinnordisgracewiththem;aslittleasnowwithhiredhelp,whenaproprietordismisseshismanservantormaid-servant,ortakesanother’sservantsfromhiminanyway.

Therefore (I say) they thus interpreted, as is right also (although it goesfarther and higher) that no one think or purpose to obtain another’s wife,servants,houseandestate,land,meadows,cattle,evenwithappearanceofrightorbyseeminglypropermeans,yetwithinjurytohisneighbor.Forabove,intheSeventhCommandment,theviceisforbidden,whereoneappropriatestohimselfthe possessions of others or keeps them from his neighborwithout right. Buthereit isalsoforbiddentotakeanythingfromyourneighbor,eventhoughyoucoulddosohonorablyintheeyesoftheworld,sothatnoonecouldaccuseorblameyouasthoughyouhadobtaineditbyfraud.

Forweareso inclinedbynature thatnoonedesires toseeanotherhaveasmuch as himself, and eachone acquires asmuch as he can,without regard tohowanothermayfare.Andyetweallpretendtobegodly,adornourselvesmostfinelyandconcealourrascality,resorttoandinventadroitdevicesanddeceitfulartifices(suchasnowaredailymostingeniouslycontrived)asthoughtheywerederivedfromjustice;yea,weevendaretoimpertinentlyrefertoit,andboastofit,anddonotwishtohaveitcalledrascality,butshrewdnessandcaution.Inthisjuristsandcounselorsassist,who twistandstretch the lawas itwillhelp theircause,irrespectiveofequityortheirneighbor’snecessity.And,inshort,whoeveris themostexpertandcunningfindsmosthelp in law,as theythemselvessay:Thelawsfavorthewatchful(Vigilantibusjurasubveniunt).

This last commandment therefore isgivennot for rogues in theeyesof theworld,butjustforthemostpious,whowishtobepraisedandbecalledhonest,upright people who have not offended against the former commandments, asespecially the Jews claimed to be; and even now for many great noblemen,gentlemenandprinces.Fortheothercommonmassesbelongyetfartherdown,

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under the Seventh Commandment, as those who do not ask how they mayacquiretheirpossessionswithhonorandright.

Thisoccursprincipallyinlitigations,whereitisthepurposetogetsomethingfromourneighborandtoejecthimfromhispossessions.As(togiveexamples)whenpeoplequarrel andwrangle for a large inheritance, real estate, etc., theyavail themselves of, and resort to, whatever has the appearance of right, sodressing and adorning everything that the lawmust favor their side, and theykeeppossessionofthepropertywithsuchtitlethatnoonecanmakecomplaintor lay claim thereto. In like manner, if any one desire to have a castle, city,duchy, or any other great thing, he practices so much financiering throughrelationships andby anymeanshe can that another is deprivedof it, and it isjudicially declared to be his, and confirmed with deed and seal as acquiredhonestlyandbyprincelytitle.

Likewisealsoincommontradewhereonedexterouslyslipssomethingoutofanother’s hand so that hemust look after it, or surprises and defrauds him inwhatheregardsashisadvantageandbenefit,sothatthelattercannotregainorredeemitwithoutinjury,debtorperhapsdistress;andtheformergainsthehalforevenmore;andyetthismustnotbeconsideredasacquiredbyfraudorstolen,buthonestlybought.Heretheysay:Thefirstisthebest,andeveryonemustlooktohisowninterest, letanothergetwhathecan.Andwhocanbesowiseastothinkofallthatonecangetintohispossessionbysuchspeciouspretexts?Thistheworlddoesnotconsiderwrong,andwillnotseethattheneighboristherebyputtoadisadvantageandmustsacrificewhathecannotsparewithoutinjury.Yetthere is no onewhowishes this to be done him; fromwhich they can easilyperceivethatsuchdeviceandappearancearefalse.

Thuswasthecaseformerlyalsowithrespecttowives.Theywereskilledinsuchdevicesthatifonewerepleasedwithanotherwoman,hehimselforthroughothers (as there were many ways and means to be thought of) caused herhusbandtoconceivesomedispleasuretowardher,orhadherresisthimandsoconduct herself that he was obliged to dismiss her. That sort of thingundoubtedlyprevailedmuchunder theLaw, as alsowe read in theGospel, ofking Herod, that he took his brother’s wife while he was yet living, and yetwishedtobethoughtanhonorable,piousman,asSt.Markalsotestifiesofhim.But such an example I trustwill not be found among us, because in theNewTestamentthosewhoaremarriedareforbiddentobedivorced–exceptincasewhere one shrewdly by some stratagem takes away a rich bride from another.

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But it is not a rare thingwith us that one estranges or entices away another’sman-servantormaid-servant,oralluresthembyflatteringwords.

InwhateverwaysuchthingshappenwemustknowthatGoddoesnotwishthatyoudepriveyourneighborofanythingthatbelongstohim,thathesufferthelossandyougratifyyouravaricewith it,even ifyoucouldclaim ithonorablybefore theworld; for it is a secret and dastardly imposition practiced under adisguisethatitmaynotbeknown.Foralthoughyougoyourwayasifyouhaddonenooneanywrong,youhaveneverthelessinjuredyourneighbor.Andifitbenotstealingandcheating,ityetisdesiringyourneighbor’sproperty;thatis,aimingatpossessionofit,enticingitawayfromhimwithouthiswill,andbeingunwillingtoseehimenjoywhatGodhasgrantedhim.Andalthoughthejudgeand every onemust leave you in possession of it, yetGodwill not leave youtherein. For he sees the deceitful heart and the malice of the world, whowhereveryeyieldtoherafinger’sbreadth,issuretotakeanellinaddition,andatlengthpublicwrongandviolencefollow.

Thereforeweabidebythecommonsenseofthesecommandments,thatinthefirstplacewedonotdesireourneighborharm,norevenassistnorgiveoccasionfor it, but gladly leave and see him in the enjoyment of his own, and besidesadvance and preserve for him what may be for his profit and service, as weshould wish to be treated. Thus these commandments are especially givenagainstenvyandmiserableavarice,thatGodmayremoveallcausesandsourceswhenceariseseverythingbywhichwedoinjurytoourneighbor,andthereforeheexpressesitinplainwords:Thoushaltnotcovet,etc.Forhewouldespeciallyhave the heart pure, althoughwe shall never attain to that as long aswe livehere:sothat thiscommandment, likeall therest,willconstantlyaccuseusandshowhowungodlyweareinthesightofGod.

ConclusionoftheTenCommandments.

ThuswehavetheTenCommandments,acompendofdivinedoctrine,as towhat we shall do, that our whole life may be pleasing to God, and the truefountain and channel from and in which everything must flow that is to beconsideredagoodwork,sothatoutsideoftheseTenCommandmentsnoworkorthingcanbegoodorpleasingtoGod,howevergreatorpreciousitbeintheeyesof theworld. Let us see nowwhat our great saints can boast of their spirtualordersandtheirgreatandgrievousworkswhichtheynaveinventedandsetup,

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withtheomissionofthoseofthecommandmentsasthoughtheywereoffartoolittleconsequenceorwerelongagoperfectlyfulfilled.

I am of opinion that here any one will find his hands full, and will haveenough to do to observe these, viz.:meekness, patience and love to enemies,chastity,kindness,etc.,andwhatsuchvirtuesimply.Butsuchworksarenotofvalueandmakenodisplayintheeyesoftheworld;fortheyarenotunusualandambitiousandrestrictedtoparticulartimes,places,customsandpostures,butarecommon, everyday domestic works which one neighbor can practice towardanother,andthereforetheyarenotofhighesteem.

But the otherworks claim the astonished attention ofmen, being aided bytheirgreatdisplay,expenseandmagnificentbuildings,andthese theysoadornthat everything shines andglitters; theywaft incense, they singand ringbells,theylighttapersandcandles,sothatnothingelsecanbeseenorheard.Foritisregardedamostpreciousworkwhichnoonecansufficientlypraise if aprieststand there in a surplice embroidered with gilt, or a layman continue all dayuponhiskneesinchurch.Butifapoorgirltendalittlechild,andfaithfullydowhat she is told, that isnothing; forelsewhat shouldmonksandnunsseek intheircloisters?

But see, is not that a shocking presumption of those desperate saints,whodaretoinventahigherandbetterlifeandconditionthantheTenCommandmentsteach,pretending(aswehavesaid)thatthisisaplainlifeforthecommonman,but that theirs is for saints and perfect ones? Neither do the miserable blindpeople see that noman can it achieve somuch as to observe one of the TenCommandments as it should be, but both the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’sPrayer must help us (as we shall hear), by which we must strive after thatattainment[powerandstrengthtokeepthecommandments],andprayforitandreceiveitcontinually.ThereforealltheirboastingamountstoasmuchasthoughIboastedthatIhadnotapenny,but thatIwouldconfidentlyundertaketopaytenflorins.

All this I say andurge, to do awaywith the sad abusewhichhas taken sodeeproot,andstillcleavestoeverybody,andthatmenaccustomthemselvesinallconditionsuponearth to lookonlyhere,and tobeconcernedwith this law.ForitwillbealongtimebeforetheywillinventadoctrineorstateequaltotheseTen Commandments; because they are so high that no one, by mere humanpower, can attain to them. And whoever attains to them will be a heavenly,angelic man, far above all holiness in the world. Only occupy yourself withthem,andtryyourbest,applyallpowerandability,andyouwillfindsomuchto

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do that you will neither seek nor esteem any other work or holiness. This issufficientfor thefirstpartof thecommonChristiandoctrine,bothfor teachingand exhortation. Yet in conclusion we must repeat the text which belongs tothesecommandments,ofwhichwehavetreatedalreadyinconnectionwiththeFirstCommandment,thatwemaylearnhowstrenuouslyGodinsistsuponitthatwelearn,teachandpracticetheTenCommandments:

“ForItheLordthyGodamajealousGod,visitingtheiniquityofthefathersuponthechildrenuntothethirdandfourthgenerationof themthathateme,andshowingmercyuntothousandsof them,thatlovemeandkeepmycommandments.”

Although(aswehaveheardabove) thisappendixwasprimarilyattached totheFirstCommandment, itwas nevertheless laid down for the sake of all thecommandments, as all of them together are here referred to, and should bethereby enforced. Therefore I have said that this should be presented to andinculcatedupontheyoung,thattheymaylearnandrememberit;thattheymayseewhatistourgeandmoveustokeeptheseTenCommandments.Anditistoberegardedasthoughthisdeclarationwerespeciallyaddedtoeach,andinheredinandpervadedthemall.

Nowthereiscomprehendedinthesewords(assaidbefore)bothathreateningofwrathandafriendlypromise,soasnotonlytoterrifyandwarnus,butalsotoinduceandencourageus to receiveandhighlyesteemhisWordasamatterofdivineearnestness,becausehehimselfdeclareshowmuchhe is inearnestandhowrigidlyhewillenforceit,namely,thathewillseverelyandterriblypunishallwhodespiseandtransgresshiscommandments;andagainhowrichlyhewillreward,blessanddoallgood to thosewhohold them inhighesteem,andaregladtoactandliveaccordingtothem.TherebyhedemandsthattheyallproceedfromaheartwhichfearsGodaloneandregardshim,andfromsuchfearavoidseverythingagainsthiswill, lest it shouldmovehim towrath;andon theotherhandalsotrustsinhimalone,andfromlovetohimdoesallhewishes,becausehe expresses himself as friendly as a father, and offers us all grace and everygood.

Just this is also the import and true interpretation of the first and chiefcommandment, fromwhich all the othersmust flow and proceed. This word:“Thoushalthavenoothergodsbeforeme”thereforemeansnothingmoreorlessthantodemandinthesimplestway,Thoushaltfear,loveandtrustinmeasthineonlytrueGod.ForwheretheheartisthustowardsGod,ithasfulfilledthisandall theothercommandments.And,on theotherhand,whoever fearsand lovesanything else in heaven and upon earth will keep neither this nor any other

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commandment. Therefore the entire Scriptures have everywhere preached andinculcated this commandment as consisting in these two things: Fear of, andtrustinGod.AndespeciallytheprophetDavidinallhisPsalms,aswhenhesays(Ps.147:11):“TheLordtakethpleasureinthemthatfearhim,inthosethathopein hismercy”As if the entire commandment were explained in one verse, asmuchastosay:TheLordtakethpleasureinthosewhohavenoothergods.

Thus the FirstCommandment is to shine and impart its splendor to all theothers.Thereforemustthisdeclarationrunthroughallthecommandments,likeahoopinawreath,tojoinandholdtogethertheendandthebeginning;thatitbecontinually repeated and not forgotten; as, namely, in the SecondCommandment, that, moved by love and confidence derived according to theFirstCommandment,wefearGodanddonottakehisnameinvaintocurse,lie,deceive, and for othermodes of seduction and rascality; butmake proper andgood use of it, calling upon him in prayer, praise and thanksgiving. In likemannershallsuchfear,loveandtrusturgeandimpelusnottodespisehisWord,buttogladlyhear,learnandhonorit,andesteemitholy.

So afterwards, through all the following commandments of our dutiestowardsourneighbor,everythingmustproceedfromthepowerandinvirtueoftheFirstCommandment,viz.thatwehonorfatherandmother,mastersandallinauthority,andbesubjectandobedienttothem,notontheirownaccount,butforGod’ssake.Foryouarenottoregardorfearfatherormother,orfromloveofthemtodooromitanything.ButseetothatwhichGodwouldhaveyoudo,andwhat hewill quite confidently demand of you; if you omit that, you have anangryjudge,butinthecontrarycaseagraciousfather.

Likewise,thatyoudoyourneighbornoharm,injuryorviolence,norinanywisemolesthim,whetheritrespecthisbody,wife,property,honororrights,asallthesethingsarecommandedintheirorder,eventhoughyouhaveopportunityandcausetodoso,andnomancouldreproveyou;hutthatyoudogoodtoallmen, help them, and promote their interest wherever and whenever you can,purely from loveofGodand inorder topleasehim, in theconfidence thathewill abundantly reward you for everything. Thus you see how the FirstCommandment is the chief source and fountain-head whence all the restproceed;andagaintheyallreturntothatanddependuponit,sothatbeginningandendrunintoeachotherandareboundtogether.

This (I say) is necessary and profitable to teach, admonish and remind theyoungpeople,thattheymaybebroughtupinthefearandreverenceofGod,andnotwithblowsandcompulsion.Forwhereitisconsideredandlaidtoheartthat

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theyarenothuman trifles,but thecommandmentsof theDivineMajesty,whoinsistsuponthemwithsuchearnestness,isangrywiththosewhodespisethem,andwillassuredlypunishthem,but,ontheotherhand,willabundantlyrewardthosewhokeepthem,therewillbeaspontaneousimpulseandadesiregladlytodothewillofGod.Therefore it isnot invain that it iscommandedin theOldTestament towrite theTenCommandmentsonallwallsandcorners,yes,evenonthegarments,notforanidleshow,asdidtheJews;but thatwemighthaveoureyesconstantlyfixeduponthem,andhavethemalwaysinourmemory,andkeeptheminallouractionsandways;andthateveryonemakethemhisdailypracticeinallcases,ineverybusinessandbargain,asthoughtheywerewrittenin every placewherever hewould look, yea,wherever he goes or stays.Thustherewouldbeoccasionenough,bothathomeinourownhouseandabroadwithourneighbors,topracticetheTenCommandments,thatnooneneedrunfarforthem.

From this it again appears how far these Ten Commandments are to beexalted and extolled above all orders, commandments and works which aretaughtandpracticedasidefromthem.Forherewecanchallengeallthewiseandall saints tostep forthandsay,Letusseewhether theycanproduceanyworklike these commandments, uponwhichGod insistswith such earnestness, andwhichheenjoinswithhisgreatestwrathandpunishment,andbesidesaddssuchglorious promises of an outpouring of all good things and blessings upon us.Therefore they shouldbe taught above all others, andbe esteemed sacred andprecious,asthehighesttreasuregivenbyGod.

1. Pomona:InRomanmythology,thegoddesswhofosteredfruit-treesandpromotedtheirculture.–CenturyDictionary(1889).↩

2. Traduce: To misrepresent; hold up or expose to ridicule or calumny;defame;calumniate;vilify.–CenturyDictionary(1889).↩

3. SeeMatt.5:34sqq.;James5:12.↩4. Literally:“Stretchedthistootightly.”↩5. Themagistratum of Müller’s Latin is probably a typographical error

Pfaff,Hase,Franckehavemagistrum.↩6. Lit.: “Ah, indeeddoyou smell the roast?”Latinquotes fromTerrence,Andria:Hincillaelacrymae.↩

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PartSecond.OfTheCreed.

ThusfarwehaveheardthefirstpartofChristiandoctrine,inwhichwehaveseen all that God wishes us to do or to leave undone. The Creed, therefore,properlyfollows,whichteachesuseverythingthatwemustexpectandreceivefromGod;and, to speakmostexplicitly, teachesus toknowhimfully.This isintendedtohelpusdothatwhichaccordingtotheTenCommandmentsweoughttodo.For (assaidabove) theyaresetsohigh thatallhumanability is far toofeeble andweak to jk[attain to or] keep them. Therefore it is as necessary tolearnthispartinordertoknowhowtoattainthereto,andwhenceandwherebyto obtain such power. For if we could, of our own power, keep the TenCommandmentsas theyare tobekept,wewouldneednothingfurther,neitherCreednorLord’sPrayer.ButbeforesuchadvantageandnecessityoftheCreedare explained, it is sufficient at first for the simple-minded that they learn tocomprehendandunderstandtheCreeditself.

In the first place, the Creed has hitherto been divided into twelve articles.AlthoughifallpointswhicharewrittenintheScripturesandwhichbelongtotheCreedweretobedistinctlysetforth,therewouldbefarmorearticlesnorcouldtheybeclearlyexpressed in so fewwords.But that itmaybemosteasilyandclearlyunderstood,as it is tobe taught tochildren,wewillbrieflysumup theentireCreed in threearticles,according to the threepersons in theGodhead towhomeverything thatwebelievepertains; so that the first article,OfGod theFather, explains Creation, the second article, Of God the Son, explainsRedemption,andthethird,OfGodtheHolyGhost,explainsSanctification.AsthoughtheCreedwerebrieflycomprehendedinsomanywords:IbelieveinGodtheFather,whohascreatedme;IbelieveinGodtheSon,whohasredeemedme;IbelieveintheHolyGhost,whosanctifiesme.OneGodandonefaith,butthreepersons,thereforealsothreearticlesorconfessions.Letusthusbrieflyrunoverthewords.

ArticleI.

IbelieveinGodtheFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth.

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Thisrepresentsandsetsforthmostbrieflytheessence,will,actionandworkofGodtheFather.SincetheTenCommandmentshavetaughtthatwearetohavenoother gods, it is natural to ask thequestion:What kindof a being isGod?Whatdoeshedo?Howshallwepraise,representordescribehim,thathemaybeknown?Thatistaughtinthisandthefollowingarticle.SothattheCreedisnothingelsethantheanswerandconfessionofChristians,arrangedwithrespectto theFirstCommandment.Asifyouwere toaska littlechild:Mydear,whatsortofaGodhaveyou?whatdoyouknowofhim?Hecouldsay:First,indeed,myGod is God the Father, who has created heaven and earth; besides him IbelieveinnothingelseasGod;forthereisnooneelsewhocouldcreateheavenandearth.

Butforthelearned,andthosewhohaveacquiredsomescripturalknowledge,thesethreearticlesmaybeextendedanddividedintoasmanypartsastherearewords.Butnowforyoungscholars let itsuffice to indicate themostnecessarypoints,namely,aswehavesaid, that thisarticlerefers to theCreation: thatweemphasize thewords:Creatorofheavenand earth.Butwhat is the forceofthisorwhatdoyoumeanbythesewords:"IbelieveinGodtheFatherAlmighty,Maker,etc.?Answer:IbelieveandmeantosaythatIamacreatureofGod;thatis, that he has given and constantly preserves to me my body, soul and life,members great and small, all my senses, reason and understanding, food anddrink,shelterandsupport,wifeandchild,domestics,houseandpossessions,etc.Besides,hecausesallcreaturestoserveforthenecessitiesandusesoflife–sun,moon and stars in the firmament, day and night, air, fire, water, earth andwhatever it bears and produces, bird and fish, beasts, grain and all kinds ofproduce, and whatever else there is of bodily and temporal goods, goodgovernment,peace,security.Sothatwelearninthisarticlethatnoneofushashis life of himself, or anything that is here enumerated or can be enumerated,neithercanheofhimselfpreservethem,howeversmallandunimportantathingitmightbe,foralliscomprehendedintheword:Creator.

BesidesthiswealsoconfessthatGodtheFatherhasnotonlygivenusallthatwehaveandseebeforeoureyes,butdailypreservesanddefendsagainstalleviland misfortune, averts all sort of danger and calamity; and that he does allwithoutourmeritofpureloveandgoodness,asafriendlyfather,whocaresforusthatnoevilbefallus.Buttospeakmoreofthispertainstotheothertwopartsofthisarticle,wherewesay:“FatherAlmighty”

Hencewemustinferandconclude,sinceeverythingwhichwehaveandare,andwhateverisinheavenandupontheearth,aredailygivenandpreservedtous

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byGod,thatitisourdutytolove,praiseandthankhimwithoutceasing;andinshort to serve him with all these things, as he has enjoined in the TenCommandments.

Herewecouldsaymuchifwewouldattempttoshowhowfewtherearethatbelievethisarticle.Forweallpassoverit,hearit,andsayit,butneitherseenorconsiderwhatthewordsteachus.Forifwebelieveditwiththeheart,wewouldalso act accordingly, and not stalk about proudly, bid defiance and boast asthoughwehadlife,riches,powerandhonor,etc.allofourselves,sothatothersmustfearandserveus,asisthepracticeoftheunhappy,pervertedworld,whichisimmuredindarkness,andabusesallthegoodthingsandgiftsofGodonlyforits own pride, avarice, lust and luxury, and never once regardsGod, so as tothankhimoracknowledgehimasLordandCreator,

Therefore,ifweonlybelievedit, thisarticlemusthumbleandterrifyusall.Forwesindailywitheyes,ears,hands,bodyandsoul,moneyandpossessions,andwitheverythingwehave,asespeciallydothosewhoevenfightagainsttheWord of God. Yet Christians have this advantage, that they acknowledgethemselvesindutyboundtoserveGodforallthesethings,andtobeobedienttohim[whichtheworldknowsnothowtodo].

Weought, therefore,dailytopractice thisarticle, torememberandconsiderinallthatwesee,andinallgoodthatfallstoourlot,andwhereverweescapefromcalamityordanger,thatitisGodwhogivesanddoesallthesethings;thatthereinweperceiveandseehispaternalheartandhistranscendentlovetowardus.Therebytheheartwouldbearousedandkindledtobethankfulforallsuchgoodthings,andtoemploythemtothehonorandpraiseofGod.Thuswehavemostbrieflypresentedthemeaningofthisarticle,asmuchasisatfirstnecessaryforthemostsimpletolearn,bothastowhatwehaveandreceivefromGod,andwhatweoweinreturn,whichisamostexcellentobjectofknowledge,butafargreatertreasure.ForhereweseehowtheFatherhasgivenhimselftous,togetherwithallcreatures,andhasmostrichlyprovidedforusinthislife,besidesthathehasoverwhelmeduswithunspeakable,eternaltreasuresinhisSonandtheHolyGhost,asweshallhear.

ArticleII.

And in JesusChrist his onlySon, ourLord;whowas conceived by theHolyGhost, born of theVirginMary;sufferedunderPontiusPilate,wascrucified,deadandburied;hedescendedintohell;

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thethirddayheroseagainfromthedead,heascendedintoheaven,andsittethontherigidhandofGodtheFatherAlmighty;fromthenceheshallcometojudgethequickandthedead.

HerewelearntoknowthesecondpersonoftheGodhead,sothatweseewhatwe have from God over and above those temporal goods already spoken of;namely, how completely he has poured forth his riches andwithheld nothing.Thisarticleisthereforeveryrichandbroad;butthatwemaybrieflytreatofitinachildlikeway,wewilltakeuponewordandcomprehendinthattheentiresumof the article, namely (as we have said), that we may learn how we areredeemed.Thisistaughtinthewords:“InJesusChristourLord.”

If nowyou are asked,What do you believe in the second article,Of JesusChrist?answerbriefly:IbelievethatJesusChrist,trueSonofGod,hasbecomemyLord.Butwhatisit“tobecomeLord”?Itisthathehasredeemedmefromsin,fromthedevil,fromdeathandallevil.ForbeforeIhadnoLordorKing,butwascaptiveunderthepowerofthedevil,condemnedtodeath,boundinsinandblindness.

ForwhenwehadbeencreatedbyGodtheFather,andhadreceivedfromhimallmannerofgood,thedevilcameandledusintodisobedience,sin,death,andall evil, so that we fell under his wrath and displeasure and were doomed toeternaldamnation,aswehadmeritedanddeserved.Therewasnocounsel,helporcomfortuntilthisonly-begottenandeternalSonofGodinhisunfathomablegoodness had compassion upon ourmisery andwretchedness, and came fromheaventohelpus.Thusthereforethetyrantsandjailersareallexpelled,andintheir stead stands JesusChrist,Lordof life, righteousness, salvationandofallgood, and who delivered us poor lost mortals from the jaws of hell, hasredeemedusandmadeusfree,andbroughtusagainintothefavorandgraceoftheFather,andhastakenusashisownpropertyunderhisshelterandprotection,that he may govern us by his righteousness, wisdom, power, life andblessedness.

Let it then be considered the sum of this article that the little word LordsignifiessimplyasmuchasRedeemer,i.e.HewhohasbroughtusfromSatantoGod,fromdeathtolife,fromsintorighteousness,andwhopreservesusinthesame.Butallthepointswhichfollowinorderinthisarticleonlyservetoexpressandexplainthisredemption;thatis,howandwherebyitwasaccomplished,howmuch be suffered and what he paid and risked, that hemight redeem us andbringusunderhisdominion,namely, thathebecameman,conceivedandbornwithout [any stain of] sin, of theHolyGhost and of theVirginMary, that hemight be Lord over sin; that he suffered, died and was buried, that hemight

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makesatisfactionformeandpaywhatIowe,notwithsilvernorgold,butwithhis ownpreciousblood.And all that inorder tobecomemyLord.Forhedidnoneoftheseforhimself,norhadheanyneedofit.Andafterthatheroseagainfrom the dead, destroyed and swallowed up death, and finally ascended intoheavenandassumedthegovernmentattheFather’srighthand;sothatthedevilandallprincipalitiesandpowersmustbesubjecttohimandlieathisfeet,untilfinallyatthelastdayhewillpartandseparateusfromthewickedworld,fromthedevil,death,sin,etc.

Buttoexplainallthesesinglepointsespeciallybelongsnottobriefsermonsforchildren,but rather to theampler sermons thatextendover theentireyear,especiallyatthosetimeswhichareappointedforthepurpose,totreatatlengthofeacharticle–ofthebirth,sufferings,resurrection,ascensionofChrist,etc.

Ay,theentireGospelwhichwepreachconsistsinthis,viz.thatweproperlyunderstand this article as that uponwhich our salvation and all our happinessdepend,andwhichissorichandcomprehensivethatwenevercanlearnitfully.

ArticleIII.

I believe in theHolyGhost; the holy ChristianChurch, the communion ofsaints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the lifeeverlasting.Amen.

This article I cannot explain better than (as I have said) that it treats ofSanctification,viz.thattherebytheHolyGhost,withhisoffice,isdeclaredandsetforth,namely,thathemakesholy.

ThereforewemustestablishourselvesuponthewordHolyGhost,becauseitissopreciseandcomprehensivethatwecannotuseanotherlikeit.Fortherearebesidesmany kinds of spiritsmentioned in theHolyScriptures – the spirit ofman,heavenlyspiritsandevil spirits.But theSpiritofGodalone iscalled theHolyGhost, that is,Hewhich has sanctified and still sanctifies us. For as theFather iscalledCreator, theSonRedeemer,so theHolyGhost, fromhiswork,mustbecalledSanctifier,oronethatmakesholy.Butwhatistheprocessofsuchsanctification?Answer:Justas theSonobtainsdominion,wherebyheredeemsus, by his birth, death, resurrection, etc., so also the Holy Ghost effects oursanctification, as follows, namely, by the communion of saints or ChristianChurch,forgivenessofsins,resurrectionofthebodyandeternallife;thatis,he

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first leads us into his holy congregation, and places us in the bosom, of theChurch,wherebyhepreachestousandbringsustoChrist.

ForneitheryounorIcouldeverknowanythingofChrist,orbelieveonhimandhavehimforourLord,exceptasitisofferedtousandgrantedtoourheartsbytheHolyGhostthroughthepreachingoftheGospel.Theworkisfinishedandaccomplished;forChrist,byhissuffering,death,resurrection,etc.,hasacquiredandgained the treasure forus.But if thework remainedconcealed, so thatnooneknewofit, thenitwereinvainandlost.Thatthistreasurethereforemightnotlieburied,butbeappropriatedandenjoyed,GodhascausedtheWordtogoforthandbeproclaimed,inwhichhegivestheHolyGhosttobringthistreasurehomeandapplyittous.ThereforesanctificationisnothingelsebutbringingustoChristtoreceivethisgood,towhich,ofourselves,wecouldnotattain.

Learnthentounderstandthisarticlemostclearly.Ifyouareasked:Whatdoyoumeanbythewords:“IbelieveintheHolyGhost”?youcananswer:IbelievethattheHolyGhostmakesmeholy,ashisnameimplies.Butwherebydoesheaccomplish this?orwhat arehismeans andmethod to this end?Answer:TheChristianChurch,theforgivenessofsin,theresurrectionofthebody,andthelifeeverlasting. For in the first place he has a peculiar congregation in theworld,whichisthemotherthatbearseveryChristianthroughtheWordofGod,whichhe revealsandpreaches,and throughwhichhe illuminesandenkindleshearts,thattheyunderstandandacceptit,clingtoitandpersevereinit.

Forwherehedoesnotcauseittobepreachedandmadealiveintheheart,soastobeunderstood,itislost,aswasthecaseunderthePapacy,wherefaithwasentirelyputunderabushel,andnoonerecognizedChristashisLordortheHolyGhostashisSanctifier,i.e.noonebelievedthatChristisourLordinthesensethathehasacquiredthistreasureforus,and,withoutourworksandmerit,madeus acceptable to theFather.Andwhat indeedwas the cause?This, verily, thatHolyGhostwasnottheretorevealit,andcausedittobepreached;butmenandevilspiritswerethere,whotaughtustoobtaingraceandbesavedbyourworks.ThereforeitisnoChristianChurch;forwhereChristisnotpreachedthereisnoHolyGhostwhomakes,callsandgathers theChristianChurch,withoutwhichnoonecancometoChristtheLord.Letthissufficeconcerningthesumofthisarticle.Butbecausethedifferentpoints,whicharehereenumerated,arenotquitecleartothesimple,wewillrunoverthem.

TheholyChristianChurchtheCreeddenominatesacommunionofsaints,forbothexpressionsaretakentogetherasoneidea.Butformerlytheonepointwasnot there, as it is alsounintelligible in the translation. If it is tobegivenvery

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plainly,itmustbeexpressedquitedifferently.Forthewordecclesiaisproperlyanassembly.Butweareaccustomedtothewordchurchwhichthesimpledonotrefer to an assembled multitude, but to the consecrated house or building.Althoughthehouseoughtnottobecalledchurch,exceptforthereasonthatthemultitude assembles there. For we who assemble constitute and occupy aparticularspace,andgiveanametothehouseaccordingtotheassembly.

Therefore the word “church” (Kirche) means really nothing else than acommonassembly,andisnotGerman,butGreek(asisalsothewordecclesia);for in their own language they call it kyria, as in Latin it is called curia.Therefore inourmother-tongue, ingenuineGerman, itought tobeaChristiancongregationorassembly(eineChristlicheGemeineoderSammlung),or,bestofallandmostclearly,aholyChristianpeople(eineHeiligeChristenheit).

So also theword communion,which is added, oughtnot tobe communion(Gemeinschaft), but congregation (Gemeine). And it is nothing else than aninterpretation or explanation whereby some one meant to explain what theChristianChurchis.ThisthoseofuswhounderstoodneitherLatinnorGermanhave renderedGemeinschaft derHeiligen, although no onewould speak so inGerman,norisitunderstood.But,tospeakcorrectGerman,itoughttobeeineGemeinederHeiligen,acongregationofsaints,thatis,acongregationmadeuppurely of saints, or, to speak yet more plainly, ein Heilige Gemeine, a holycongregation.ImakethisexplanationinorderthatthewordsGemeinschaftderHeiligenmaybeunderstood,becausetheexpressionhasbecomesoestablishedbycustomthatitcannotwellbeeradicated,anditistreatedalmostasheresyifoneshouldattempttochangeaword.

Butthisisthemeaningandsubstanceofthisaddition:Ibelievethatthereisupon earth a holy assembly and congregation of pure saints, under one head,even Christ, called together by the Holy Ghost in one faith, one mind andunderstanding, withmanifold gifts, yet one in love, without sects or schisms.AndIalsoamapartandmemberofthesame,aparticipantandjointownerofall the good it possesses, brought to it and incorporated into it by the HolyGhost,inthatIhaveheardandcontinuetoheartheWordofGod,whichisthemeansofentrance.Forformerly,beforewehadattainedtothis,wewereofthedevil,knowingnothingofGodandofChrist.Thus,untilthelastday,theHolyGhostabideswith theholycongregationorChristianpeople.Bymeansof thiscongregation he brings us toChrist and teaches and preaches to us theWord,wherebyheworksandpromotessanctification,causing[thiscommunity]daily

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to grow and become strong in the faith and the fruits of the Spirit, which heproduces.

Wefurtherbelievethat in thisChristianChurchwehaveforgivenessofsin,which iswrought through theholy sacraments andabsolution, and throughallmannerofconsolatorypromisesof theentireGospel.Thereforewhatever is tobe preached concerning the sacraments belongs here, and in short the wholeGospelandallthedutiesofChristianity,whichalsomustbepreachedandtaughtwithout ceasing.For although thegraceofGod is secured throughChrist, andsanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost through theWord of God in theunityoftheChristianChurch,yetonaccountofourfleshwhichwebearaboutwithusweareneverwithoutsin.

EverythingthereforeintheChristianChurchissoorderedthatweshalldailyobtainfreeandfullforgivenessofsinthroughtheWordandsigns,appointedtocomfortandencourageourconsciencesaslongaswelivehere.Thus,althoughwehavesin,theHolyGhostdoesnotallowittoinjureus,becauseweareintheChristianChurch,wherethereisfullforgivenessofsin,bothinthatGodforgivesus,andinthatweforgive,bearwithandhelpeachother.

But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is noforgiveness,asalsotherecanbenosanctification.ThereforeallwhodonotseeksanctificationthroughtheGospelandforgivenessofsin,butexpecttomerititbytheirworks,haveexpelledandseveredthemselvesfromthisChristianChurch.

Yet meanwhile, since sanctification has begun and is growing daily, weexpect thatourfleshwillbedestroyedandburiedwithall itsuncleanness,andwill come forth gloriously, and arise to entire and perfect holiness in a neweternallife.Fornowweareonlyhalfpureandholy,sothattheHolyGhosthasever to continue his work in us through the Word, and daily to dispenseforgiveness,untilweattaintothatlifewheretherewillbenomoreforgiveness,but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of godliness and righteousness,deliveredandfreefromsin,fromdeathandfromallevil,inanew,immortalandglorifiedbody.

Behold,all this is tobe theofficeandworkof theHolyGhost,viz. thathebeginanddailyincreaseholinessupontheearthbymeansoftwothings,namely,theChristianChurchand the forgivenessof sin.But inourdissolutionhewillaccomplishandperfect it inan instant,andwill foreverpreserveus thereinbythelasttwothingsconfessedintheCreed.

But the term Afuerstehung des Fleisches (Resurrection of the flesh) hereemployedisnotaccordingtogoodGermanidiom.ForwhenweGermanshear

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thewordFleisch (flesh), we think no farther than the shambles. But in goodGerman idiom we would say Auferstehung des Leibs, or Leishnams(Resurrection of the body).Yet it is not amatter ofmuchmoment ifwe onlyunderstandthewordsintheirtruesense.

This is the forceof this article,whichmust ever continue inoperation.Forcreationisaccomplishedandredemptionisfinished.ButtheHolyGhostcarrieson his work without ceasing to the last day. And for that purpose he hasappointed a congregation upon the earth, by which he speaks and doeseverything. For he has not yet brought together all his Christian people norcompleted the distribution of forgiveness. Therefore we believe in Him whothroughtheWorddailybringsusintothefellowshipofthisChristianpeople,andthrough the same Word and the forgiveness of sins bestows, increases andstrengthens faith, in order thatwhen he has accomplished it all andwe abidetherein,anddietotheworldandtoallevil,hemayfinallymakeusperfectlyandforeverholy;whichnowweexpectinfaiththroughtheWord.

Behold,hereyouhavetheentiredivineessence,willandworkdepictedmostexquisitely inquiteshortandyet richwords,whereinconsistsallourwisdom,which surpasses the wisdom, mind and reason of all men. For although thewholeworldwithalldiligencehasendeavoredtoascertainthenature,mindandworkofGod,yethassheneverbeenabletodetermineanythingwhateverofit.Butherewehaveeverythinginrichestmeasure;forhereinallthreearticleshehasrevealedhimself,andopenedthedeepestrecessesofhispaternalheartandofhispureunutterablelove.Forhehascreatedusforthisveryobject,viz.thathemightredeemandsanctifyus;andinadditionhehasgivenandimpartedtouseverythinginheavenanduponearth,andhasgiventousevenhisSonandtheHolyGhost,bywhomtobringustohimself.For(asexplainedabove)wecouldneverattaintotheknowledgeofthegraceandfavoroftheFatherexceptthroughtheLordChrist,whoisamirrorofthepaternalheart,outsideofwhomweseenothingbutanangryand terrible Judge.ButofChristwecouldknownothingexceptbytherevelationoftheHolyGhost.

ThesearticlesoftheCreed,therefore,separateanddistinguishusChristiansfromallotherpeopleuponearth.ForalloutsideofChristianity,whetherheathen,Turks, Jews or false Christians and hypocrites, although they believe in andworshiponlyone trueGod,yetknownotwhathismind towards them is, andcannotconfideinhisloveorexpectanygoodfromhim;thereforetheyabideineternalwrathanddamnation.FortheyhavenottheLordChrist,andbesidesarenotilluminedandfavoredbythegiftsoftheHolyGhost.

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FromthisyouperceivethattheCreedcontainsquiteadifferentdoctrinefromtheTenCommandments.Forthelatterteachesindeedwhatweoughttodo,buttheformertellswhatGodhasdoneforandgivestous.TheTenCommandmentsalsoarewritten in theheartsof allmen,but theCreednohumanwisdomcancomprehend,but itmustbetaughtbytheHolyGhost.TheLaw, therefore,canmakenoChristian,forthewrathanddispleasureofGodabideuponusforever,aslongaswecannotkeepitanddowhatGoddemandsofus;butthefaithoftheCreedbringspuregrace,andmakesusgodlyandacceptabletoGod.ForbytheknowledgeofthisweloveanddelightinallthecommandmentsofGod;becauseweseethatGod,withall thathehas,giveshimself tous–theFather,withallcreatures;theSon,withhisentirework;andtheHolyGhost,withallhisgifts–toassistandenableustokeeptheTenCommandments.

LetthissufficeconcerningtheCreedtolayafoundationforthesimple,thattheymaynotbeburdened;sothatiftheyunderstandthesubstanceofittheymayafterwards strive to acquire more, and to refer whatever they learn in theScripturestotheseparts,andevertogrowandincreaseinricherunderstanding.Foraslongaswelivehereweshalldailyhaveenoughofthistopreachandtolearn.

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PartThird.OfPrayer–TheLord’sPrayer.

Wehavenowheardwhatwemustdoandbelieve,andiwhereinconsiststhebestandhappiestlife.Nowfollowsthethirdpart,i.e.howweoughttopray.ForsincewearesosituatedthatnomancanperfectlykeeptheTenCommandments,even thoughhehavebegun to believe, and since thedevilwith all his power,togetherwiththeworldandourownflesh,resistsourendeavorstokeepthem,nothingissonecessaryasthatweshouldresorttotheearofGodandcalluponhimandpraytohim, thathewouldgive,preserveandincrease inusfaithandthefulfillmentoftheTenCommandments,andthathewouldremoveeverythingthatisinourwayandopposesustherein.Butthatwemightknowwhatandhowtopray,ourLordChristhashimselftaughtusboththemodeandthewords,asweshallsee.

But before we enter upon the explanation of the Lord’s Prayer, it is mostnecessarytoexhortandincitepeople toprayer,asbothChristandtheapostleshavedone.Andthefirstconsiderationis, that it isourduty topraybecauseofGod’scommandment.ForthiswelearnedintheSecondCommandment:“Thoushalt not take the name of the Lord thyGod in vain,”which requires thatwepraisethatholyname,andcalluponitineverytimeofneed,orpray.FortocalluponthenameofGodisnothingelsethantopray.PrayeristhereforeasrigidlyandearnestlyandsacredlycommandedastohavenootherGod,nottokill,nottosteal,etc.Letnoonethink, therefore, that it is thesamewhetherheprayornot,ascarelesspeoplewhogoaboutinsuchdelusion,andask:“WhyshouldIpray? Who knows whether God will hear my prayer, or pay any attentionthereto?IfIdonotpray,someoneelsewill.”Andthustheyfallintothehabitofnever praying; and even console themselves, because we condemn false andhypocriticalprayers,asthoughwetaughtthatthereisnodutyorneedofprayer.Butthisisevertrue,viz.thatserviceswhichhavebeenpracticedhithertointhechurches by repetitions and intonations were no prayers. For such externalmatters, when they are properly observed,may be a good exercise for youngchildren,scholarsandsimplepersons,andmaybecalledsingingorreading,butarenotreallypraying.Butpraying,astheSecondCommandmentteaches,istocalluponGodineverytimeofneed.Thisherequiresofus,andhasnotleftitto

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ourchoice.ButitisourdutyandobligationtoprayifwewouldbeChristians,asmuchasareourdutyandobligationtoobeyourparentsandthegovernment;forinprayer andby callingupon it thenameofGod is trulyhonored and rightlyemployed. This we must therefore mark, above all things, that thereby wesilenceandrepelsuchthoughtsaswoulddeterandkeepusfromprayer.Justasitwouldbeidleforasontosaytohisfather,“Ofwhatadvantageismyobedience?I will go and do what I can; it is all the same;” but there stands thecommandment,Thoushaltandmustdoit.Soalsohereitisnotlefttomywilltodoortoleaveundone,butIshallandmustpray[attheriskofGod’swrathanddispleasure.1

This is therefore to be considered and noticed before everything else, thattherebywemaysilenceandrepel the thoughtswhichwouldkeepanddeterusfrompraying–asthoughitwerenotofmuchconsequencewhetherweprayornot, or itwere commanded thoseonlywhoareholier and inbetter favorwithGodthanwe–asindeedthehumanheartisbynatureeverdespairing,sothatitalwaysfleesfromGod,inthethoughtthathedoesnotwishordesireourprayer,becausewe are sinners and havemerited nothing but hiswrath.Against suchthoughts(Isay)weshouldregardthiscommandmentandturntoGod, thatwemay not by such disobedience excite his anger still more. For by thiscommandmenthegivesusplainlytounderstandthathewillnotrejectusorcastusoft*althoughwearesinners,butthathewouldratherdrawustohimself,sothatwemighthumbleourselvesbeforehim,acknowledgeourmiseryandruin,andprayforgraceandhelp.ThereforewereadintheScripturesthatheisangryalsowiththosewhodidnotreturntohim,andbytheirprayersassuagehiswrathandseekhisgracewhentheyweresmittenfortheirsins.]

From this you are to conclude and think, because it is so solemnlycommandedtopray,thatyoushouldbynomeansdespiseyourprayer,butratherset great store by it, and always seek an illustration from the othercommandments. A child should by nomeans despise obedience to father andmother,butshouldalwaysthink:Theworkisaworkofobedience,andwhatIdo, I do with no other intention but because I walk in the obedience andcommandment ofGod, inwhich I can establishmyself and stand firm, and Iesteemitagreatthing,notonaccountofanyworthinessofmine,butonaccountofthecommandment.SoherealsowhatandforwhatweprayweshouldregardasdemandedbyGod,andweshoulddoitinobediencetohim,thinking:Onmyaccountitwouldamounttonothing;butitshallavail,forthereasonthatGodhas

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commanded it.Thereforewhateverbeanyone’snecessityordesire,he shouldalwayscomebeforeGodinprayerinobediencetothiscommandment.

Wepray,therefore,andexhortmostdiligentlyeveryonetotakethistoheartand by nomeans to despise our prayer. For hitherto it has been taught in thenameofSataninsuchamannerthatnooneesteemedit,andmensupposedittobeenoughtodothework,whetherGodwouldhearitornot.Butthatisstakingprayeronarisk,andmurmuringitonaventure;andthereforeitisalostprayer.Forwe allow such thoughts as these todeter us and leadus astray: “I amnotholyorworthyenough;ifIwereasgodlyandholyasSt.PeterorSt.Paul,thenIwouldpray.”Butput such thoughts far away, for just the samecommandmentwhichappliedtoSt.Paulappliesalsotome;andtheSecondCommandmentisgivenasmuchonmyaccountasonhisaccount,sothathecanboastofnobetterorholiercommandment.

Thereforethoushouldstsay:“Myprayerisasprecious,holyandpleasingtoGodasthatofSt.Paulorofthemostholysaints.”Andthisisthereason:“ForIwill gladly grant that he is holier in his person, but not on account of thecommandment;sinceGoddoesnotregardprayeronaccountoftheperson,butonaccountofhiswordandobedience thereto.Yet thereason is this: I restmyprayeruponthesamecommandmentwith thoseofall thesaints,andbesidesIpray for the same thingand for the same reason forwhich theyprayandeverhaveprayed;andthereforeitisasprecioustome,aswellasmuchmoreneedful,astothosegreatsaints.”

Thisisthefirstandmostimportantpoint,thatallourprayersarebasedandrestuponobediencetoGod,irrespectiveofourperson,whetherwebesinnersorsaints,worthyorunworthy.AndwemustknowthatGodwillnothaveittreatedasajest,butthatheisangry,andwillpunishallwhodonotprayassurelyashepunishesallotherdisobedience;besides,thathewillnotsufferourprayerstobeinvainorlost.Forifhehadnotpurposedtoansweryourprayer,hewouldnotbidyouprayandgivesosolemnacommandmentforthatpurpose.

Inthesecondplace,weshouldbethemoreurgedandincitedtopraybecauseGodhasalsomadethepromise,anddeclaredthatitshallsurelybetousaswepray,ashesays(Ps.50:15):“Calluponmeinthedayoftrouble:Iwilldeliverthee.”AndChrist,intheGospelofSt.Mattthew(7:7):"Askanditshallbegivenyou;"“For every one that asketh receiveth.”Suchpromises ought certainly toencourageandanimateourheartstotakepleasureanddelightinprayer,sincehetestifies in his Word that our prayer is heartily pleasing to him, and shall

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assuredlybeheardandgranted,thatwemaynotdespiseitorthinklightlyofit,andprayuponanuncertainty.

Thisyoucanholduptohimandsay:“HereIcome,dearFather,andpray,notof my own purpose or upon my own worthiness, but according to thycommandment and promise, which cannot fail or deceive me.” Whoever,therefore,doesnotbelievethispromise,mustknowagainthatheexcitesGodtoangerbymosthighlydishonoringhimandreproachinghimwithfalsehood.

Besidesthis,weshouldbealluredandinducedtopraybecause,inadditiontothis commandment and promise,God anticipates us, and himself arranges thewordsandformofprayerforus,andplacesthemuponourlips,astohowandwhatweshouldpray,thatwemayseehowheartilyhepitiesusinourdistress,andmayneverdoubtthatsuchprayeristrulypleasingtohim,andshallcertainlybeanswered.Thisgivesindeedagreatadvantagetothis[theLord’sPrayer]overallprayersthatwemightourselvescompose.Forinthemtheconsciencewouldeverbe indoubt,andmightsay:Ihaveprayed,butwhoknowshowitpleaseshim,orwhetherIhaveadoptedtherightformandproportions?Hencethere isnonoblerprayertobefounduponearththantheLord’sPrayerwhichwedailypray,becauseithasthisexcellenttestimony,thatGodlovestohearit,whichweoughtnottosurrenderforalltherichesoftheworld.

Andthereforealsoisitprescribedthatweshouldseeandconsiderthedistresswhichoughttourgeandcompelustopraywithoutceasing.Forwhoeverwouldpraymusthavesomethingtopresent,stateandnamewhichhedesires;ifnot,itcannotbecalledaprayer.

Therefore we have rightly rejected the prayers of monks and priests, whohowl and growl in a hostilemanner day and night, but none of them think ofpraying for a hair’s breadth of anything. And if we would collect all thechurches, togetherwithall ecclesiastics, theywouldbeobliged toconfess thattheyhaveneverfromtheheartprayedforevenadropofwine.FornoneofthemhaseverpurposedtoprayfromobediencetoGodandfaithinhispromise,norhasanyone regardedanydistress,but theyonly thought (when theyhaddonetheir best) that they had done a good work, whereby they paid God for hisbenefitsasmenunwilling to takeanythingfromhim,butwishingonly togivehimsomethingoftheirown.

Butwhere there is tobea trueprayer theremustbeearnestness.Menmustfeel their distress, and suchdistress as presses themand compels them to callandcryout;thenprayerwillbemadespontaneously,asitoughttobe,andmenwill requireno teachinghow toprepare themselvesand toattain to theproper

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devotion.But the distresswhich ought to concern usmost, both for ourselvesand for every one, you will find abundantly set forth in the Lord’s Prayer.Thereforeitistoservealsotoremindusofthesame,thatwecontemplateitandlay it to heart that we may not become remiss in prayer. For we all havenecessities and wants enough, but the great want is that we do not feel andrealize them. Therefore God also requires that we lament and plead ournecessities and wants, not because he does not know them, but that we maykindle our hearts to stronger and greater desires, and open wide our arms toreceivesomuchthemore.

Itiswell,therefore,foreveryonetoaccustomhimselffromhisyouthdailytoprayforallhiswants,wheneverheissensibleofanythingaffectinghisinterestsorthatofotherpeople,amongwhomhemaybe,asforpreachers,government,neighbors, domestics; and always (as we have said) to hold up to God hiscommandment and promise, knowing that hewill not have them disregarded.This I say,because Iwould like to seepeoplebroughtagain topray trulyandearnestly, and not have them go about coldly and indifferently, whereby theybecomedailymoreunabletopray;whichisjustwhatthedevildesires,andforwhatheworkswithallhispowers.Forheiswellawarewhatdamageandharmitdoeshiscauseifmenexercisethemselvesrightlyinprayer.

Forthiswemustknow,thatallourshelterandprotectionrestinprayeralone.Forwearefartoofeebletocopewiththedevilandallhispowersandadherentsthat set themselvesagainstus, and theymighteasilycrushusunder their feet.Therefore we must consider and have recourse to those weapons with whichChristiansmustbe armed inorder to standagainst thedevil.Forwhatdoyouthink has hitherto accomplished so much in defending us and frustrating thecounsels and purposes of our enemies, as well as restraining the murder andinsurrection whereby the devil thought to crush us, together with the Gospel,exceptthattheprayerofafewgodlymenintervenedlikeawallofirononourside?Weshouldindeedhavebeenspectatorsofafardifferentplay,viz.howthedevil would have destroyed all Germany in its own blood. Now they mayconfidentlyderideitandmakeamockofit.Butbyprayeralone,ifweshallonlypersevereandnotbecomeslackwewillyetbeamatchboth for themand thedevil.For,wheneveragodlyChristianprays:“DearFather,letthywillbedone,”Godspeaksfromonhighandsays:“Yes,dearchild,itshallbeso,inspiteofthedevilandofalltheworld.”

Letthisbesaidasanexhortation,thatmenmaylearn,firstofall,toesteemprayer as something great and precious, and to make a proper distinction

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between “vain repetitions” and praying for something. For we by no meansrejectprayer,butthebare,uselesshowlingandmurmuringwereject,asChristhimselfalso rejectsandprohibits“vain repetitions.”Nowwewillmostbrieflyand clearly treat of the Lord’s Prayer. Here we find all needs and distressescomprehended in seven successive articles or petitions, which never cease topertaintous,andeachsogreatthatitoughttoconstrainustoprayandpleadthesameallourlives.

TheFirstPetition.

Hallowedbethyname.

Thisisindeedsomewhatobscure,andnotingoodGermanidiom.Forinourmother-tonguewewouldsay:“HeavenlyFather,helpthatthynamemaybyallmeansbeholy.”Butwhatisittopraythathisnamemaybeholy?Isitnotholyalready?Answer:Yesitisalwaysholyinitsnature,butnotinouruse.ForGod’snameisgiventousbecausewehavebeenbaptizedandhavebecomeChristians,sothatwearecalledchildrenofGod,andhavethesacraments,wherebyhesounitesuswithhimselfthateverythingwhichishismustserveforouruse.

But here a great necessity rests upon us, for which we ought to be mostconcerned,thatthisnamehaveitsproperhonor,beesteemedholyandsacred,asourgreatesttreasureandsanctuary;andthatasgodlychildrenwepraythatthename ofGod,which is holy in heaven,may also be and remain holywith usuponearthandinalltheworld.

Buthowdoesitbecomeholyamongus?Answer,asplainlyasitcanbesaid:WhenbothourdoctrineandlifearegodlyandChristian.ForsinceinthisprayerwecallGodourFather,itisourdutyalwaystodeportanddemeanourselvesasgodlychildren,thatwemaynotlivetohisshame,buttohishonorandpraise.

NowthenameofGodcanbeprofanedbyuseitherinwordsorinworks.(Forwhateverwedoupontheearthmustbeeitherwordsorworks,speechoract.)Inthefirstplace,itisprofanedifmenpreach,teachandspeakerroranddelusioninthenameofGod,sothat thisnamemustservetoadornandtofindmarketforfalsehood. Such is indeed the greatest profanation and dishonor of the divinename.Inthenextplacealso,wheremenmakeuseoftheholynameasacloakfor their shame by swearing, cursing, conjuring, etc. In the third place, by anopenlywickedlifeandworks,whenthosewhoarecalledChristiansandpeopleofGodareadulterers,drunkards,avaricious,gourmands,enviousandslanderers.

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HerealsomustthenameofGodcometoshameandbeprofanedbecauseofus.For just as it is a shameanddisgrace toanatural father tohaveabad, ruinedchild that opposes him in words and deeds, so that on its account he suffersreproachandcontempt;soalsoitbringsdishonoruponGodifwewhoarecalledbyhisnameandhaveallmannerofgoodsfromhimteach,speakandliveinanyothermannerexceptasgodlyandheavenlychildren,thathemusthearitsaidofusthatwecannotbethechildrenofGod,butmustratherbethechildrenofthedevil.

Thusyouperceive that in thispetitionwepray just for thatwhichGodhasenjoined in theSecondCommandment; namely, that his namebe not taken invaintoswear,curse,lie,deceive,etc.,butberightlyemployedtothepraiseandhonor of God. Forwhoever employs the name of God for any sort of wrongprofanes anddesecrates this holy name, as aforetime a churchwas considereddesecratedwhenamurderor anyother crimehadbeenperpetrated therein, orwhenapyxoraltarwasdesecrated,asthoughholyinthemselves,yetbecomingunholy in use. Thus this point is easy and clear as soon as the language isunderstood,viz.thattohallowisthesameasinouridiomtopraise,magnifyandhonorbothinwordanddeed.

Herelearnofhowgreatneedsuchprayeris.Forbecauseweseehowfulltheworldisofsectsandfalseteachers,whoallweartheholynameasacoverandshamforthedoctrinesofdevils,weoughtbyallmeanstopraywithoutceasing,andtocryandcalluponGodagainstallsuchaspreachandbelievefalselyandwhatever opposes and persecutes our Gospel’s pure doctrine, and wouldsuppress it, as bishops, tyrants, fanatics, etc. Likewise also for ourselveswhohave the Word of God, but are not thankful for it, nor live as you oughtaccordingtothesame.Ifnowyouprayforthiswithyourheart,youcanbesurethatitpleasesGod.Forhewillnothearanythingmoredeartohimthanthathishonorandpraisebeconsideredaboveeverythingelse,andhisWordbetaughtinitspurityandbeesteemedpreciousandholy.

TheSecondPetition.

Thykingdomcome.

As in the First Petitionwe prayed that, as respects the honor and name ofGod, he would prevent the world from adorning its lies and wickednesstherewith,but cause it tobeesteemedhighandholyboth indoctrineand life,

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thathemaybepraisedandmagnified inus;soherewepray thathiskingdommay come. But just as the name of God is in itself holy, and we praynevertheless that it be holy among us, so also his kingdom comes of its ownpowerwithoutourprayer,yetweprayneverthelessthatitmaycometous;thatis,thatitprevailamongusandwithus,sothatwemaybeapartofthoseamongwhomhisnameishallowedandhiskingdomprospers.

ButwhatisthekingdomofGod?Answer:Nothingelsethanwhatwelearnedin the Creed, that God sent his Son Jesus Christ our Lord into the world toredeemanddeliverusfromthepowerof thedevil,and tobringus tohimself,andtogovernusasaKingofrighteousness,lifeandsalvationagainstsin,deathandanevilconscience.AndbesideshehasgivenushisHolyGhost,toapplythesametousbyhisholyWord,andtoillumineandstrengthenusbyhispowerinthefaith.

Thereforeweprayhereinthefirstplacethatthismaybecomeeffectivewithus, and that the name of God be so praised through his holy Word and aChristian life thatwewhohaveaccepted itmayabideanddailygrow therein,and that itmay gain approbation and adherence among other people, proceedwithpowerthroughouttheworld,thatmanymayfindentranceintothekingdomofgrace,bemadepartakersofredemption,andbesoledbytheHolyGhostthatweshallforeverremainaltogetherinakingdomnowbegun.

ForGod’skingdomcomestousintwoways;first,heretemporarilythroughtheWord and faith; and secondly, in eternity for ever through revelation.Wethereforeprayforboth,viz.thatitmaycometouswhoarenotyettherein,andtouswhohavereceivedthesame,bydailyincrease,andhereafterineternallife.Allthatisbutasmuchastosay:DearFather,wepray,givefirstthyWord,thattheGospelbepreachedeffectivelythroughouttheworld;andsecondly,thatitbereceived in faith, and work and live in us, so that through theWord and thepoweroftheHolyGhostthykingdommayprevailamongus,andthekingdomofthedevilbeovercome,thatitmayhavenorightorpoweroverus,untilatlastit shallbeutterlydestroyed,andsin,deathandhell shallbeexterminated, thatwemayliveforeverinperfectrighteousnessandblessedness.

From this you perceive that we pray here not for a crust of bread or atemporal,perishablegood;but foraneternal, ineffable treasureandeverythingthatGodhimselfcaneffect;whichisfartoogreatforanyhumanhearttothinkofdesiringifhehadnothimselfcommandedustoprayforthesame.

Butbecausehe isGodheclaims thehonorofgivingmuchmoreandmorerichlythananyonecancomprehend–likeaneternal,unfailingfountain,which

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themore it pours forth and overflows, themore it continues to give – and hedesiresnothingmoreearnestlyofusthanthatweaskmuchandgreatthingsofhim,andagainisangryifwedonotaskandprayconfidently.

Forjustas if therichestandmostmightyemperorwouldbidapoorbeggaraskwhateverhemightdesire,andwerepreparedtogivegreatimperialpresents,andthefoolwouldbegonlyforadishofgruel;hewouldberightlyconsideredarogueandascoundrel,whowasdespisingandmakingamonkoftheinvitationof his imperial majesty, and who would not be worthy of coming into hispresence.Soalsoit isagreatreproachanddishonortoGodifwetowhomheoffersandpledgessuchgreatandunspeakabletreasuresdespisethesame,anddonothavesufficientconfidencetoreceivethem,butscarcelyventuretoprayforapieceofbread.

ThatisallthefaultoftheshamefulunbeliefwhichdoesnotlooktoGodforasmuchgoodaswillsatisfythestomach;muchlessexpectswithoutdoubtsucheternaltreasuresofGod.Thereforewemuststrengthenourselvesagainstit,andletthisbeourfirstprayer.Thenindeedwillallelseberichlybestoweduponus,as Christ teaches (Matt. 6:33): “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and hisrighteousness;andallthesethingsshallbeaddeduntoyou.”Forhowcouldheallowastosufferwantintemporalthingswhenhepromisesthatwhichiseternalandimperishable?

TheThirdPetition.

Thywillbedoneonearth,asitisinheaven.

Thus far we have prayed that God’s name be honored by us, and that hiskingdom prevail among us; in which two points is comprehended all thatpertains to the honor of God and to our salvation, that we come into theownershipofGodandallhispossessions.But thegreatneed is, thatweclingfirmlytothem,anddonotsufferourselvestobetorntherefrom.Forasinagoodgovernment it is not only necessary that there be thosewho build and governwell, but also those who make defense, afford protection and maintain it insecurity; so here also, althoughwe have prayed for the things of the greatestneed,viz.fortheGospel,faithandtheHolyGhost, thathemaygovernusandredeemusfromthepowerofthedevil,wemustalsopraythathiswillbedone.Forifwearetoabidetherein,therewillbequitewonderfulencounters,sothat,

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onaccountofthem,wemustsuffermanythrustsandblowsfromeverythingthatventurestoopposeandpreventthefulfillmentofthetwopetitionsthatprecede.

Fornoonebelieveshowthedevilopposesandexertsallhispowersagainstthem, and cannot suffer that anyone teachorbelieve aright.And it hurts himbeyond measure to suffer his lies and abominations, that have been honoredunderthemostspeciouspretextsofthedivineName,tobeexposed,andthathebedisgraced,andbesidesbedrivenoutoftheheart,andsuffersuchabreachtobemadeinhiskingdom.Therefore,withallhispowerandmighthechafesandragesasafierceenemy,andmarshalsallhissubjects,andenliststheworldandourownfleshashisallies.Forourfleshisinitselfindolentandinclinedtoevil,eventhoughwehaveacceptedandbelievetheWordofGod.Theworld,too,isperverseandwicked;thisheincitesagainstusinvariousways,andkindlesandaddsfuel,thathemayhinderanddriveusback,causeustofallandagainbringusunderhispower.Thatisallhiswill,mindandthought,forwhichhestrivesdayandnight,andneverrestsamoment,butemploysallarts,maliciousdevices,waysandmeanswhichhecaninvent.

We thereforewhowouldbeChristiansmust surely reckonuponhaving thedevilwithallhisangels,togetherwiththeworld,asourenemies,whowillbringevery possible misfortune and grief upon us. For where theWord of God ispreached,acceptedorbelieved,andproduces fruit, there theholycrosscannotbe wanting. And let no one think that he shall have peace; but he must riskwhatever he has upon earth – possessions, honor, house and estate, wife andchild,bodyandlife.ThathurtsindeedourfleshandtheoldAdam.Forthetestistobesteadfastandtosufferwithpatiencewhateverafflictionsbefallus,andtoyieldwhateveristakenfromus.

Therefore there is just as much need, as in everything else, that we praywithoutceasing:“DearFather,thywillbedone,notthewillofthedevilandofourenemies,norofanythingthatwouldpersecuteanddestroythyholyWord,orhinder thy kingdom; and grant that we may bear with patience and mayovercomeinwhateveritbeourlottosufferonaccountofthisthywill,sothatourpoorfleshmaynotyieldorfallawayfromweaknessorindolence.”

In these three petitionswe find expressed in the simplestmanner the needwhich pertains to God himself, yet all for our sakes. For whatever we prayconcernsonlyus,namely,aswehavesaid,thatthewillofGod,whichmustbedonewithoutus,mayalsobedoneinus.Forashisnamemustbehallowedandhiskingdomcomewithoutourprayer,soalsohiswillmustbedoneandsucceed,although the devil with all his adherents raise a tumult and rage in fury, and

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undertaketoutterlyexterminatetheGospel.Butforourownsakewemustpraythat,evenagainsttheirfury,hiswillbealsodonewithouthindranceinus, thatthey may accomplish nothing, and we remain firm against all violence andpersecution,andsubmittothewillofGod.

Such prayer must indeed be our protection and defense now, to repel andovercomeall that thedevil, Pope, bishops, tyrants andheretics cando againstourGospel.Let themrageall togetherandattempt theirutmost,anddeliberateandresolvehowtheymaydestroyandexterminateus,thattheirwillandcounselmay prevail. One or two Christians with this petition alone shall be our wallagainstthem,uponwhichtheyshalldashthemselvestopieces.Thisconsolationand confidencewe have, that thewill and purpose of the devil and of all ourenemiesmustfailandcometonaught,howeverproud,secureandpowerfultheyknow themselves to be. For if their will were not broken and frustrated, thekingdomofGodcouldnotabideupontheearthorhisnamebehallowed.

TheFourthPetition.

Giveusthisdayourdailybread.

Herewearemindfulof thepoorbread-basket,namely,ofourbodyand thenecessariesofthetemporallife.Itisabriefandsimpleword,butitisalsoverybroad and comprehensive. For if you speak of, and pray for, daily bread, youpray foreverything that isnecessary inorder tohaveandenjoy thesame,andalsoagainsteverythingwhichinterfereswithit.Thereforeyoumustenlargeyourthoughtsandextendthemafar,notonlytotheovenortheflour-barrel,buttothedistant field and the entire land,whichbears andbrings to us daily bread andevery sort of sustenance. For if God did not cause it to grow, and bless andpreserveitinthefield,wecouldnevertakebreadfromtheovenorhaveanytosetuponthetable.

Tospeakbriefly, thispetition includeseverything thatbelongs toourentirelifeintheworld.Foronthataccountalonedoweneeddailybread.Buttoourlife it is not only necessary that our body have food and covering and othernecessaries,butalsothatweliveinpeaceandquietwiththoseamongwhomwelive and have our intercourse in daily business and conversation and in everymanner possible; in short, whatever pertains to the interests of family, ofneighbors and of government. For where these things do not prosper as theyought,thenecessariesoflifealsomustfail,andlifecannotbemaintained.

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There is, besides, the greatest need to pray for temporal authority andgovernment,asthatbywhich,mostofall,Godpreservestousourdailybreadand all the comforts of this life. For thoughwehad received ofGod all goodthingsinabundance,weshouldnotbeabletoretainanyofthem,orusetheminsecurity and happiness, if he did not give us a permanent and peacefulgovernment.Forwheretherearedissension,strifeandwar,therethedailybreadisalreadytakenaway,oratleastdiminished.

Thereforeitwouldbeverypropertoplaceinthecoat-of-armsofeverypiousprincethefigureofaloafofbread,insteadofthatofalionorofawreathofrue,ortostampituponthecoin,toremindboththemandtheirsubjectsthatbytheirofficewehaveprotectionandpeace,andthatwithoutthemwecouldnoteatandretainourdailybread.Whereforealso theyareworthyofallhonor,so thatweshouldgivetothemfortheirofficewhatweoughtandcan,astothosethroughwhomweenjoyinpeaceandquietnesswhatwehave,inasmuchasotherwisewecouldnotretainafarthing;andthatinadditionweshallalsoprayforthemthatthroughthemGodmaybestowonusstillmoreblessingandgood.

Thuswehaveverybrieflyindicatedhowfarthispetitionextendsthroughallinterestsuponearth.Ofthisanyonemightindeedmakealongprayer,andwithmanywordsenumerateall the things thatare included therein,as thatweprayGodtogivetousfoodanddrink,garments,houseandestate,andhealthofbody,also thathe cause thegrainand fruitsof the field togrowandproduce richly.And that afterwards he help us in our families, giving and preserving to us agodlywife,piouschildrenandservants;causeourwork,handicraft,orwhateverwehavetodotoprosperandsucceed,andfavoruswithfaithfulneighborsandgoodfriends,etc.Alsotogivetoemperors,kingsandallranks,andespeciallytoour rulers and all counselors, magistrates and officers, wisdom, strength andsuccessforgoodgovernmentandvictoryovertheTurksandallourenemies;togivetosubjectsandthecommonpeopleobedience,peaceandharmonyintheirlifewithoneanother;andthathewouldpreserveusfromallsortsofcalamitytobodyandsupport,aslightning,hail,fire,flood,poison,pestilence,cattle-plague,warandbloodshed,famine,destructivebeastsandwickedmen,etc.Allthisitisimportanttoimpressuponthesimple,viz.thatthesethingscomefromGodandmustbeprayedforbyus.

Butthispetitionisespeciallydirectedagainstourchiefenemy,thedevil.ForallhisthoughtanddesireisoccupiedwithdeprivingusofallthatwehavefromGodandhinderingus in its enjoyment; andhe is not satisfied to obstruct anddestroy spiritualgovernment inorder thathemay lead souls astraybyhis lies

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andbringthemunderhispower,buthealsoseekstopreventthestabilityofallgovernment and honorable peaceable relations upon earth. Thus he causes somuchcontention,murder,seditionandwar,also lightningandhail,destructionofgrainandcattle,poisoningtheair,etc.;inshort,heissorrythatanyonehasamorselofbreadfromGodandeatsthesameinpeace;andifitwereinhispower,andourprayer(nexttoGod)didnotpreventhim,hewouldnotallowastalkinthe field or a farthing in the house, yea, not even an hour of life, to thoseespeciallywhohavetheWordofGodandendeavortobeChristians.

ThusGodalsowishestoindicatetoushowhecaresforusinallourneedandfaithfullyprovidesalsoforourdailymaintenance.Andalthoughhegrantsandpreservesthesameeventothewickedandknaves,yethewishesthatwepraytohimforit;sothatwemayrecognizethatwereceiveitfromhishand,andmayfeelhispaternalgoodness towardus therein.Forwhenhewithdrawshishandnothing can prosper or be maintained to the end, as is daily seen andexperienced.Howmuchtroublethereisnowintheworldonlyonaccountofbadcoin, yea on account of daily oppression and imposition in common trade,bargaining and labor on the part of thosewhowantonly oppress the poor anddeprivethemoftheirdailybread!Thisindeedwemustallowthemtodo;butletthemtakecarethattheydonotomitthecommonprayer,andthatthispetitionintheLord’sPrayerbenotagainstthem.

TheFifthPetition.

Andforgiveusourtrespasses,asweforgivethosewhotrespassagainstus.

Thispointnowpertainstoourpoormiserablelife,which,althoughwehaveandbelievetheWordofGod,anddoandsufferhiswill,andaresupportedbyhisgifts and blessings, is nevertheless notwithout sin. Forwe stumble daily andtransgressbecauseweliveintheworld,amongmenwhodousgreatwrongandgivecauseforimpatience,anger,revenge,etc.AndbesideswehaveSatanatourback,whoattacksusoneveryside,andfights(aswehaveheard)againstalltheforegoing petitions, so that it is not possible to stand always firm in such apersistentconflict.

ThereforethereishereagaingreatneedtocalluponGodandtopray:“DearFather, forgiveusour trespasses.”Notas thoughhedidnotwithout, andevenbefore,ourprayerforgivesin(forhehasgivenustheGospel,inwhichispureforgiveness)beforeweprayedoreverthoughtaboutit.Butthisistotheintent

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thatwemayrecognizeandacceptsuchforgiveness.Forsincethefleshinwhichwedaily live isof suchanature that it neitherbelievesnor trustsGod, and iseveractiveinevillustsanddevices,thatwesindailyinwordanddeed,insinsofomissionandcommission,bywhichpeaceofconscienceisdestroyed,sothatitisafraidofthewrathanddispleasureofGod,andthuslosesthecomfortandconsolationoftheGospel,itisanunceasingnecessitythatwehaverecoursetothis petition, and obtain therein consolation wherewith to again comfort theconscience.

But this should serve to break our pride and keep us humble. For he hasreserved thisprerogative tohimself, that if anyoneboastofhisgodlinessanddespiseothers,hemayregardhimselfinthelightofthisprayer,andthushewillfind that he is no better than others, and that in the presence ofGod allmustlowertheirplumes,andbegladmerelythattheycanattainforgiveness.Andletnoonethinkthataslongasweliveherehecanreachsuchpositionthathewillnotneedsuchforgiveness.Inshort, ifGoddonotforgivewithout intermissionwearelost.

It is therefore the intentof thispetition thatGodwouldnot regardour sinsandbringinaccountagainstuswhatwedailydeserve;butwoulddealgraciouslywithus,andforgive,ashehaspromised,andthusgrantusajoyfulandconfidentconscience to stand before him in prayer. For where the heart is not in rightrelationtowardsGod,norcantakesuchconfidence,itwillnevermoreventuretopray.Butsuchconfidentandjoyfulheartisimpossibleexceptintheassuranceoftheforgivenessofsin.

Butthereisanecessaryyetconsolatoryadditionattached:"Asweforgive."He has promised that we shall be sure that everything is forgiven and

pardoned,yetinsofaraswealsoforgiveourneighbor.ForjustaswedailysinmuchagainstGod–andyetheforgivesusallthroughgrace–sowemusteverforgiveourneighborwhodoesusinjury,violenceandwrong,andshowsmalicetoward us, etc. If, therefore, you do not forgive, then do not think that Godforgivesyou;but ifyou forgive,youhave this consolationandassurance, thatyou have forgiveness in heaven. This is not on account of your forgiving, forGodforgivesfreelyandwithoutcondition,outofpuregrace,becausehehassopromisedastheGospelteaches.Buthehasratherappointedthisasatokenforourconfirmationandassurance inaddition to thepromise (whichaccordsalsowith this prayer), (Luke 6:37): "Forgive and ye shall be forgiven" ThereforeChristalso repeats it after theLord’sPrayer,andsays (Matt.6:14):“For if yeforgivementheirtrespassesyourheavenlyFatherwillalsoforgiveyou.”

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This sign is therefore annexed to this petition, that when we pray werememberthepromiseandthink:“DearFather,forthisreasonIcomeandpraytheetoforgiveme;notthatIcanmakesatisfaction,orcanmeritanythingbymyworks, but because thou hast promised and attached the seal thereto, that Ishould be as sure as though I had absolution pronounced by thyself.” For asgreateffectsasBaptismandtheLord’sSupperproduce,whichareappointedasexternalsigns,thissigncanalsoproducetoconfirmourconsciencesandcausethem to rejoice.And it is especiallygiven for thispurpose,viz. thatwemightpractice andmake use of it every hour, as that whichwe havewith us at alltimes.

TheSixthPetition.

Andleadusnotintotemptation.

Wehavenowheardenoughof thestruggleand toil required topreserveallthat for which we pray, and to persevere therein, which, nevertheless, is notachievedwithoutinfirmitiesandstumbling.Besides,althoughwehavereceivedforgivenessandagoodconscienceandareentirelyacquitted,yet isour lifeofsuchanaturethatonestandsto-day,andto-morrowfalls.Therefore,eventhoughwebe godly and stand beforeGodwith a good conscience, yetwemust everpraythathewouldnotsufferustorelapseandyieldtotrialsandtemptations.

Butthistemptation,or(asouroldSaxonsusedtosay)Bekocrunge,isofthreekinds,namely,oftheflesh,oftheworldandofthedevil.Forwealldwellintheflesh and carry the old Adam on our shoulders; he exerts himself and dailyincitesus towantonness, indolence,excess ineatinganddrinking,avariceanddeception,todefraudourneighborandtoimposeuponhim,and,inshort,toallmannerofevillustswhichcleavetousbynature,andtowhichweareincitedbythe societyandexampleofotherpeople, andbywhatwehearand see,whichoftenirritateandcorruptevenaguiltlessheart.

Thencomestheworld,whichoffendsusinwordanddeed,andimpelsustoanger and impatience. In short, there is nothing but hatred and envy, enmity,violence andwrong, unfaithfulness, vengeance, cursing, raillery, slander, prideandhaughtiness,withsuperfluousornament,honor, fameandpower,wherenooneiswillingtobetheleast,buteveryonedesirestositat theheadandtobeseenbeforeall.

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Thencomesthedevil,incitingandprovokinginalldirections,butespeciallyexerting himself in spiritual matters and such as pertain to the conscience,namely,toinduceustodespiseanddisregardtheworksandWordofGod,totearusfromourfaith,fromhopeandfromlove,andbringusintoapervertedfaithorunbelief,falsesecurityandobduracy;or,ontheotherhand,todespair,denialofGod,blasphemyandinnumerableothershockingthings.Theseareindeedsnaresandnets–yea,realfierydartswhichthedevilshootsmostvenomouslyintotheheart,andnotfleshandblood.

Great and grievous indeed are these dangers and temptations which everyChristianmustbear,eventhougheachonewerealonebyhimself.Sothateveryhourthatweareinthisvilelife,whereweareattackedonallsides,chasedandhunteddown,wearemovedtocryoutandtopraythatGodwouldnotsufferusto become weary and faint and to relapse into sin, shame and unbelief; forotherwiseitwouldbeimpossibletoovercomeeventheleasttemptation.

This,then,is“notleadingusintotemptation”viz.whenhegivesuspowerandstrengthtoresist,evenwhenthetemptationbenottakenaway.orremoved.For sincewe live in the flesh andhave thedevil about us, noone can escapetemptationandallurements;anditcannotbeotherwisethanthatwemustenduretrials–yea,evenbeentangledinthem;butforthiswepray,viz.thatwemaynotfallandbedrownedtherein.

To feel temptation is therefore a far different thing from consenting oryieldingtoit.Wemustallfeelit,althoughnotallinthesamemanner,butsomein a greater degree and more severely than others; as youth suffer especiallyfrom the flesh,afterwards they thatattain tomiddle lifeandoldage, from theworld, but others who are occupied with spiritual matters – that is, strongChristians–fromthedevil.Butsuchfeeling,aslongasitisagainstourwillandweprefertoberidofit,canharmnoone.Forifwedidnotfeelit,itcouldnotbecalledatemptation.Buttoconsenttheretoiswhenwegiveitloosereinsanddonotresistorprayagainstit.

ThereforeweChristiansmust be armed and daily expect to be incessantlyattacked, so that no one go on in security and heedlessly, as though the devilwerefarfromus,butatalltimesexpectandreturnhisblows.ForthoughInowamchaste,patient,kindandinfirmfaith,thedevilwillyetthishoursendsuchanarrowintomyheartthatIcanscarcelystand.Forheisanenemythatneverdesists nor becomes tired, so that when one temptation ceases, others alwaysariseanew.

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Thereforethereisnohelporcomfort,excepttorunhitherandtotakeholdofthe“Lord’sPrayer”andthusaddressGodfromtheheart:“DearFather,thouhasttaughtme topray.Letmenot relapsebecauseof temptations.”Thusyoushallseethattheymustdesist,andfinallyyield.Elseifyouventuretohelpyourselfby your own thoughts and counsel, youwill onlymake thematterworse andgive the devil more space. For he has a serpent’s head, which if it gain anopening intowhich he can pry, thewhole bodywill followwithout detention.Butprayercanpreventhimanddrivehimback.

TheSeventhandLastPetition.

Butdeliverusfromevil.Amen.

IntheGreektextthispetitionsays:“Deliverorpreserveusfromtheevilone,orthemaliciousone;”andlooksasifitwerespeakingofthedevil,asthoughhewouldcomprehendeverythinginone,thattheentiresubstanceofallourprayershould be directed against our chief enemy. For it is he who prevents anddestroyseverythingamongusthatweprayfor:thenameorhonorofGod,God’skingdomandwill,ourdailybread,acheerfulgoodconscience,etc.

Thereforewefinallysumitallupandsay:“DearFather,prayhelpthatweberidofallthesecalamities.”,Butthereisneverthelessalsoincludedwhatevermayhappentousunderthedevil’skingdom–poverty,shame,death,and,inshort,allmiseryandsorrowwhichissowithoutlimitupontheearth.Forsincethedevilisnotonlyaliar,butalsoamurderer,heconstantlyseeksourlife,andwreakshisanger whenever he can affect our bodies withmisfortune and harm. Hence itcomesthatheoftenbreaksmen’snecksordrivesthemtoinsanity,drownssome,and induces many to commit suicide, and to many other terrible calamities.Thereforewehavenothing left uponearth todobut toprayagainst this arch-enemywithout ceasing. For unlessGod preserved uswewould not be secureagainsthimforevenanhour.

HenceyouseeagainhowGodwishesustopraytohimforeverythingalsowhich affects our bodily interests, thatwe seek and expect help nowhere elseexceptinhimalone.Butthispointheputlast.Forifwearetobepreservedanddeliveredfromallevil, thenameofGodmustbesanctifiedinus,hiskingdommustbewithusandhiswillbedoneamongus.After thathewillpreserveusfromsinandshame,andbesidesfromeverythingthatmightharmorinjureus.

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Thus God has briefly placed before us all the necessities which may everconcernus, so thatwemighthaveno excuse fornotpraying.But all dependsupon this, thatwe learn to say “Amen” that is, thatwe do not doubt that ourprayer will surely be heard, and that what we pray shall be done. For this isnothingelsethanthewordofundoubtingfaith,notofoneprayingataventure,butofonewhoknows thatGoddoesnot lie tohim, sincehehaspromised tograntit.Where,therefore,thereisnosuchfaith,therealsocanbenotrueprayer.It is, therefore, a pernicious delusion of thosewho thus pray that they cannotfromtheheartsay“Amen”thereto,andpositivelyconcludethatGodwillanswertheirprayer,butthattheyremainindoubtandsay,“HowshouldIbesoboldastoboastthatGodwillanswermyprayer?SinceIamnothingbutapoorsinner,”etc.

Thereasonforthisis,theyregardnotthepromiseofGod,buttheirownworkand worthiness, whereby they despise God and reproach himwith lying, andthereforetheyreceivenothing.AsSt.Jamessays(1:6):“Butlethimaskinfaith,nothingwavering:forhethatwaverethislikeawaveofthesea,drivenwiththewindandtossed.ForletnotthatmanthinkthatheshallreceiveanythingoftheLord.”OnlyconsidertheimportancethatGodattachestoourbeing,surethatwedonotprayinvain,andtoouravoidanceofalightestimationofprayer.

1. Thepartenclosedinbrackets,whichendswithparagraph11,iswantingintheEd.Pr.oftheLargeCatechism,butfoundintheeditionsfrom1530on.ItwasnotinsertedinthefirstGermaneditionoftheBookofConcordbutwasadoptedbytheLatinedition.↩

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PartFourth.OfBaptism.

We have now finished the three chief parts of commonChristian doctrine.BesidesthesewehaveyettospeakofourtwosacramentsinstitutedbyChrist,ofwhich also every Christian ought to have at least some short elementaryinstruction, because without them there can be no Christian; although, alas!hithertonoinstructionconcerningthemhasbeengiven.Butainthefirstplacewe takeupbaptism,bywhichweare first received into theChristianChurch.Thatitmaybereadilyunderstood,wewillcarefullytreatofit,andkeeponlytothatwhichitisnecessarytoknow.Forhowitistobemaintainedanddefendedagainsthereticsandsectswewillcommendtothelearned.

Inthefirstplace,itisimportantaboveallthingstoknowwellthewordsuponwhichbaptismisfounded,andtowhicheverythingpertainsthatistobesaidonthe subject, namely, where the Lord Christ speaks (Matt. 28:19): “Go yethereforeandteachallnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost.”

Likewise in St. Mark, the last chapter (v. 16): “He that believeth and isbaptizedshallbesaved;buthethatbelievethnotshallbedamned”

In these words we must notice, in the first place, that here stands God’scommandmentandinstitutionthatweshallnotdoubtthatbaptismisdivine,andnotdevisedandinventedbymen.ForastrulyasIcansaynomanhasspuntheTenCommandments,theCreedandtheLord’sPrayeroutofhishead,buttheyare revealed andgivenbyGodhimself, so also I canboast that baptism is nohumantrifle,butthatitisinstitutedbyGodhimself,andthatitismostsolemnlyand rigidly commanded thatwemustbebaptizedorwecannotbe saved. It isnot,then,toberegardedatriflingmatter,liketheputtingonofanewcoat.Foritis of the greatest importance that we esteem baptism excellent, glorious andexalted,forwhichwechieflycontendandfight,becausetheworldisnowsofullof sects exclaiming that baptism is a merely external thing, and that externalthings are of no use. But let it be ever somuch an external thing, here standGod’s Word and commandment which have instituted, established andconfirmed baptism. ButwhatGod has instituted and commanded cannot be avain,uselessthing,butmustbemostprecious,thoughinexternalappearanceit

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beoflessvaluethanastraw.Ifhitherto,whenthePopewithhislettersandbullsdispensedindulgencesandconsecratedaltarsandchurches,solelybecauseithasbeen considered a great thing of the letters and seals; we ought to esteembaptismmuchmorehighlyandmoreprecious,becauseGodhascommandedit,anditisperformedinhisname.Forthesearethewords.Go...baptize–butnotinyourname,butinthenameofGod.

FortobebaptizedinthenameofGodistobebaptizednotbymen,butbyGod himself. Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it isnevertheless God’s own work. From this fact every one may himself readilyinfer that it is a far higherwork than theworkof anymanor saint. ForwhatgreaterworkcanwedothantheworkofGod?

Butherethedevilmakeshisgreateffortstodeludeuswithfalseappearances,andleadusawayfromtheworkofGodtoourownworks.FortheappearanceismuchmoresplendidwhenaCarthusiandoesmanygreatanddifficultworks;andwe all think much more of that which we do and merit ourselves. But theScripturesteachthus:Eventhoughwecollect inonemasstheworksofall themonks, however splendidly they may shine, they would not be as noble andgoodasifGodshouldpickupastraw.Why?Becausethepersonisnoblerandbetter.Andherewemustnotestimatethepersonaccordingtotheworks,buttheworks according to the person, fromwhom theymost derive theirworth.Butinsane reason does not regard this, and because baptism does not present theattractiveappearanceoftheworkswhichwedo,itistobeesteemedasnothing.

Fromthisnowderiveaproperunderstandingofthesubject,andwhenaskedwhatbaptismis,answer,thatitisnotsimplywater,butwatercomprehendedinGod’sWordandcommandment,andsanctifiedthereby,sothatitisnothingelsethanadivinewater;notthatthewaterinitselfisbetterthanotherwater,butthatGod’sWordandcommandmentareadded.

Thereforeitispurewickednessandblasphemyofthedevilthatnowournewspiritsmockatbaptism,separateitfromGod’sWordandinstitution,andregardnothingbutthewaterwhichistakenfromthewell;andthentheyprateandsay:Howisahandfulofwater tosavesouls?Yesindeed,myfriend,whodoesnotknowasmuchasthat,thatiftheybeseparatedfromoneanotherwateriswater?ButhowdareyouthusinterferewithGod’sorder,andtearoutthemostpreciousjewelwithwhichGodhasconnected it and set it, andwhichhewillnothaveseparated?ForthegerminthewaterisGod’sWordandcommandmentandthenameofGod,whichisatreasuregreaterandnoblerthanheavenandearth.

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Thuswenowcomprehendthedifference,thatbaptismisquiteanotherthingfromallotherwater;notonaccountofthenaturalwater,butbecausesomethingmorenobleishereadded.ForGodhimselfstakeshishonor,hispowerandmightthereon.Thereforeitisnotsimplynaturalwater,butadivine,heavenly,holyandblessedwater,andinwhateverothertermswecanpraiseit,–allonaccountoftheWord,whichisaheavenly,holyWord,thatnoonecansufficientlyextol,forithasandisabletodoallthatGodisandcando[sinceithasallthevirtueandpowerofGodcomprisedinit].Hencealsoitderivesitscharacterasasacrament,as St. Augustine also taught: “Accedat verbum ad elementum et fitsacramentum.” That is, when the Word is joined to the element or naturalsubstanceitbecomesasacrament,thatis,somethingholyanddivine,andaholyanddivinesign.

ThereforewealwaysteachthatthesacramentsandallexternalthingswhichGodhasordainedandinstitutedshouldnotberegardedaccordingtothecoarse,externalmask,asweregardtheshellofanut,butastheWordofGodisincludedtherein.Forthuswealsospeakoftheparentalestateandofcivilgovernment.Ifwewouldregardthepersonsinsuchestateaccordingtotheirnoses,eyes,skin,andhair,fleshandbones,weshouldfindthemtolooklikeTurksandheathen.And you might well proceed to say: Why should I esteem them more thanothers?ButbecausethecommandmentofGodisadded:“Honorthyfatherandthymother”Iseequiteanotherman,adornedandclothedwiththemajestyandgloryofGod.Thecommandment(Isay)isthechainofgoldabouthisneck,yea,the crownuponhis head,which shows tomehowandwhy I shall honor thisfleshandblood.

Thus,andmuchmoreeven,wemusthonorbaptism,andesteemitglorious,on account of the Word, as being honored both in word and deed by Godhimself,andconfirmedwithmiraclesfromheaven.Fordoyouthinkitwasajestthat when Christ was baptized the heavens opened and the Holy Ghostdescendedvisibly,andtherewasnothingpresentbutdivinegloryandmajesty?

Therefore I exhort again that these two, thewater and theWord, be by nomeansseparated.For if theWordbe takenaway, thewater is thesameas thatwithwhichtheservantcooks,andmayindeedbecalledabathkeeper’sbaptism.ButwhentheWordisadded,asGodhasordained,itisasacrament,andiscalledChristian baptism.This is the first part of the essence and dignity of the holysacrament.

Sinceweknownowwhatbaptism is, andhow it is tobe administered,wemust, in thesecondplace,also learnwhyandforwhatpurpose it is instituted;

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thatis,whatitavails,givesandproduces.AndthisalsowecannotdiscernbetterthanfromthewordsofChristabovequoted:“Hethatbelievethandisbaptizedshallbesaved.”Thereforewe state itmost simply thus, that thepower,work,profit, fruit and end of baptism is this, viz. to save. For no one is baptized inorderthathemaybecomeaprince,but,asthewordsdeclare,thathebesaved.But tobesaved,weknow, isnothingelse than tobedeliveredfromsin,deathandthedevil,andtoenterintothekingdomofChrist,andtolivewithhimforever.

Here you see again how highly and precious we should esteem baptism,because in it we obtain such an unspeakable treasure, which also indicatessufficientlythatitcannotbesimplywater.Forwateralonecouldnotdosuchathing, but the Word does it, and (as said above) the name of God iscomprehendedtherein.ButwherethenameofGodis,therealsomustbelifeandsalvation, that itmay indeed be called a divine, blessed, fruitful and graciouswater; forby theWord suchpower is imparted tobaptism that it is a laverofregeneration,asSt.Paulalsocallsit(Tit.3:5).

Butasourwould-bewise,newspiritsdeclarethatfaithalonesaves,andthatworksandeverythingexternalavailnothing,weanswer:Itistrue,nothinginusisinanywayeffectualbutfaith,asweshallhearstillfurther.Butthistheseblindguides are unwilling to see, viz. that faithmust have somethingwhich it is tobelieve,somethingofwhichitmaytakehold,anduponwhichitcanstandandrest.Thusfaithclingstothewater,andbelievesthatinbaptismispuresalvationandlife;notinthewater(aswehavesaidplainlyenough),butintheWordandinstitutionofGodincorporatedtherein,andthenameofGodwhichinheresinit.IfIbelievethis,whatelseisthatbutbelievinginGodasinhimwhohasgivenand set hisWord in this ordinance, and proposes to us this external elementwhereinwemayapprehendsuchatreasure.

We therefore say that it ismadness to separate faith, and thatwherein faithadheresandtowhichitisbound,thoughitbesomethingexternal.Yea,itmustbesomethingexternal,thatitmaybeapprehendedbythesenses,comprehended,andtherebybebroughtintotheheart,asindeedtheentireGospelisanexternal,verbal proclamation. In short,whatGod does andworks in us he proposes towork through such external institutions. Wherever, therefore, he speaks, yea,wherebyorwhereinsoeverhespeaks, therefaithmust look,and to that itmusthold.Nowherewehavethewords:“Hethatbelievethandisbaptizedshallbesaved.”Towhatelsedotheyreferbuttobaptism,i.e.thewatercomprehended

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inGod’s institution?Hence it follows thatwhoever rejects baptism rejects theWordofGod,faithandChrist,whodirectsustobaptismandbindsusthereto.

In the third place, since we have learned the great benefit and power ofbaptism,letusseefurtherwhoisthepersonthatreceivesthesebenefitsandgiftsof baptism. That also is again most clearly and beautifully expressed in thewords:“He thatbelievethand isbaptizedshallbesaved.”That is, faithalonemakesthepersonworthytoreceiveprofitablythesaving,divinewater.Becausethese blessings are here promised and presented in thewords in andwith thewater,theycannotbereceived,exceptwebelieveitwiththeheart.Althoughitisinitselfatranscendentdivinetreasure,itisofnoavailwithoutfaith.Thereforeistheeffectofthissingleword,“Hethatbelieveth”–sogreatthatitexcludesandrejects all work which we can do in the opinion thereby to merit and obtainsalvation.For it is determined thatwhatever is not of faith avails nothing andreceivesnothing.

Butiftheysay,astheyareaccustomed,Baptismalsoisitselfawork,andyousay works are of no avail for salvation, what then would remain of faith?Answer:Yes,ourworksavailnothingforsalvation,butbaptismisnotourwork,buttheworkofGod(foryoumustmakeagreatdistinctionbetweenthebaptismofChristandabathkeeper’sbaptism).God’sworksaresavingandnecessaryforsalvation,anddonotexcludefaith,butdemandit;forwithoutfaiththeycannotbeapprehended.Forinthis,thatyousufferthewatertobepoureduponyou,youhavenotsoreceivedbaptismthatitbecomesablessingtoyou;butitwillbeablessing to you if you have yourself baptized with the purpose, according toGod’s command and institution, and besides inGod’s name, to receive in thewater the promised salvation. This the hand cannot do, nor the body; but theheartmustbelieveit.

Thusweseeplainlythatthisisnoworkofourdoing,butatreasurewhichhegives us, and which faith apprehends; just as the Lord Jesus Christ upon thecrossisnotawork,butatreasurecomprehendedintheWord,andofferedtousandreceivedbyfaith.Thereforetheydouswronginexclaimingagainstusthatwepreachagainst faith; sincewealone insistupon itasof suchnecessity thatwithoutitnothingcanbereceivedorenjoyed.

Thuswehavethesethreepartswhichitisnecessarytoknowconcerningthissacrament,especiallythattheinstitutionofGodistobeheldinallhonor,whichalone would be sufficient, though it be an entirely external thing. Just as thecommand“Honor thy fatherand thymother” refers tobodily fleshandblood,whereinwearetoregardnotthemerefleshandblood,butthecommandmentof

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God in which they are comprehended, and on account of which the flesh iscalled father and mother; so also, though we had no more than these words,_“Goyeandbaptize_”etc., itwouldbenecessaryforustoacceptanddoitasthe institution of God. Yet now we have not only God’s commandment andinjunction,butalsothepromise,onaccountofwhichitisstillfarmoregloriousthanwhateverelseGodhascommandedandordained,andisinshortsofullofconsolation and grace that heaven and earth cannot comprehend it. But itrequiresaspecialarttobelievethis,forthereisnowantoftreasure,butthereisawantoffaithtoapprehenditandholditfirmly.

ThereforeeveryChristianhasenoughinbaptismtolearnandtopracticeallhislife.Forhehasalwaysenoughtodotobelievefirmlywhatbaptismpromisesandbrings,viz.victoryoverdeathandthedevil,forgivenessofsin,thegraceofGod, the entire Christ and the Holy Ghost with his gifts. In short, it is sotranscendentthatiftimidnatureconsiderit,itmightwelldoubtwhetheritcouldbetrue.Foronlyconsider,ifIhereweresomewhereaphysicianwhounderstoodtheartofsavingmenfromdying,or, if theydied,of restoring themto life,sothattheywouldliveforever,howtheworldwouldpourinmoneylikesnowandrain,sothatbecauseofthethrongoftherichnoonecouldfindaccess!Butherein baptism there is brought free to every one’s door such a treasure and suchmedicineasutterlydestroysdeathandpreservesallmenalive.

Wemustsoregardbaptismandavailourselvesofitsblessings,thatwhenoursins and conscience oppress uswe strengthen ourselves and take comfort andsay: Iambaptized,and ifbaptized it ispromisedme that I shallbesavedandhaveeternallife,bothinsoulandbody.Forforthisreasontwothingsaredonein baptism, viz. the body which can apprehend nothing but the water issprinkled,andthewordisspokenforthesoultoapprehend.

But becausewater and theWord are united in baptism, therefore body andsoulmustbesavedandliveforever;thesoulthroughtheLordwhichitbelieves;butthebodybecauseitisunitedwiththesoul,andalsoapprehendsbaptismasitisabletoapprehendit.Wehave,therefore,nogreaterjewelinbodyandsoul,fortherebywe aremade holy and are saved,which otherwise no kind of life, noworkuponearth,couldattain.

Thismust suffice respecting the nature, blessing and use of baptism, for itanswersthepresentpurpose.

OfInfantBaptism.

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Here we are brought to a question by which the devil, through his sects,confusestheworld,namely–OfInfantBaptism.Whetherchildrenalsobelieve,anditberighttobaptizethem?Concerningthis,wesaybriefly:Letthesimpleandunlearneddismissthisquestionfromtheirminds,andreferittothelearned.Butifyouwillanswer,thenanswerthus:

That thebaptismof infants ispleasing toChrist is sufficientlyproved fromhis ownwork, namely, thatGod sanctifiesmany of themwhohave been thusbaptized,andhasgiventhemtheHolyGhost;andthatthereareyetmanyeventodayinbothwhoselifeanddoctrineweperceivethattheyhavetheHolyGhost;asit isalsogiventousbythegraceofGodthatwecanexplaintheScripturesand come to the knowledge of Christ, which is impossible without the HolyGhost.

ButifGoddidnotacceptthebaptismofinfants,hewouldnotgivetheHolyGhostnoranypartthereoftoanyofthem;thereforeduringthislongtimeuntothisdaynomanuponearthcouldhavebeenaChristian.ButsinceGodconfirmsbaptismby thegiftofhisHolyGhost, as isplainlyperceptible in someof theChurch Fathers, as St. Bernard, Gerson, John Huss and others, who werebaptizedininfancy,andsincetheholyChristianChurchcannotperishuntiltheendoftheworld,theymustacknowledgethatsuchinfantbaptismispleasingtoGod. For he can never be opposed to himself, or support falsehood andwickedness,orforitspromotionimparthisgraceandSpirit.Thisisindeedthebestandstrongestproofforthesimple-mindedandunlearned.Fortheyshallnottakefromusoroverthrowthisarticle:“IbelieveinaholyChristianChurch,thecommunionofsaints.”

Further, we say that we are not so much concerned to know whether theperson baptized believe or not; for on that account baptism does not becomespurious; but everything depends upon theWord and commandment of God.Thisnowisperhapssomewhatacute,butitrestsentirelyuponwhatIhavesaid,that baptism is nothing else butwater and theWord ofGod in andwith eachother,i.e.whentheWordisaddedtothewater,baptismisgenuine,eventhoughfaith be wanting. For my faith does not make baptism, but receives it; andbaptism does not therefore become spurious if it be wrongly received oremployed,asitisnotbound(assaid)toourfaith,buttotheWord.

ForeventhoughaJewshouldtodaycomewithevilpurposeandwickedness,andwe should baptize him in all good faith,wemust say that his baptism isneverthelessgenuine.ForhereisthewatertogetherwiththeWordofGod,even

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thoughhedonotreceiveitasheshould,justasthosewhounworthilypartakeoftheLord’sSupperreceivethetruesacrament,eventhoughtheydonotbelieve.

Thusyouseethattheobjectionofthesectariansisvain.For(aswehavesaid)eventhoughinfantsdidnotbelieve,which,however,is

notthecase(asweshallnowprove),yettheirbaptismwouldbegenuine,andnoone should rebaptize them. So too the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is notcorrupted though someone approach itwith evil purpose, and he is not to beallowedonaccountofhisabusetotakeitasecondtime, theselfsamehour,asthough he had not received the true sacrament at first; for that would be thegreatest profanation and contempt of the sacrament. How can we think itpossible that God’s Word and institution should therefore fail and be of noaccount,becausewemakeawronguseofit?

ThereforeIsay,ifyouhavenotbelieved,thenbelievenowandsaythus:Thebaptismindeedwasright,butI,alas!didnotreceiveitaright.ForImyselfalso,andallwhoarebaptized,mustspeakthusbeforeGod:“Icomeinmyfaithandinthatofothers,yetIcannotrestinthis,viz.thatIbelieve,andthatmanypeopleprayforme;butinthisIcanrest,thatitisthyWordandcommandment.JustasIreceive theLord’sSupper, trustingnot inmy faith, but in theWordofChrist;whetherIamstrongorweakIcommitmyself intothehandofGod.ButthisIknow,thathebidsmegoeatanddrink,etc.,andgivesmehisbodyandblood,thatwillnotdeceivemeorprovefalsetome.”

Thuswedoalsoininfantbaptism.Webringthechildinthepurposeandhopethat it may believe, and we pray that God may grant it faith: but we do notbaptizeituponthat,butsolelyuponthecommandofGod.Whyso?BecauseweknowthatGoddoesnotlie:Iandmyneighbor,andinshortallmen,mayerranddeceive,buttheWordofGodcannoterr.

Therefore theyarepresumptuousand likewiseobtuseminds thatdrawsuchinferencesandconclusionsasthatwherethereisnotthetruefaith,therealsocanbenotruebaptism.JustasifIwoulddrawtheinference:IfIdonotbelieve,thenChrist is nothing; or thus: If I am not obedient, then father, mother andgovernmentarenothing.Isitindeedacorrectconclusionthatwhereanyonedonotwhatheought,thethingthereforeinitselfshallbenothingandofnovalue?

My dear reader, just invert the argument and draw this inference. For thisvery reason baptism is something and is right, because it has been wronglyreceived. For if it were not something right and true in itself, it could not bewronglyreceivednorsinnedagainst.Thesayingis:“Anabusedoesnotdestroy

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amatter,butconfirmsit.”Forgoldisnotthelessgoldthoughaharlotwearitinsinandshame.

Therefore let itbedecided thatbaptismalways remains true, retains its fullnature, even though a person should be baptized, and yet should not trulybelieve.ForGod’sinstitutionandWordcannotbechangedorpervertedbymen.But these fanatics are so blinded that they do not see the Word andcommandment of God; and regard baptism only as they regard water in thebrookorinavessel;andthemagistrateonlyastheylookuponanotherman;andbecause they regard neither faith nor obedience, they conclude that theseinstitutionsthemselvesareofnoaccount.Herelurksaconcealedseditiousdevil,whowouldliketotearthecrownfromtheheadofauthoritytotrampleitunderfoot,andinadditionpervertandbringtonaughtalltheworksandinstitutionsofGod.Thereforewemustbebraveandwellarmed,andnotallowourselvestobeturned from theWord, so as not to regard baptism amere empty sign, as thefanaticsdream.

Finally, we must also know what baptism signifies, and why God hasordainedjustsuchexternalsignandformforthesacramentbywhichwearefirstreceivedintotheChristianChurch.Buttheactorformisthis,thatwearesunkunder the water, which passes over us, and afterwards are drawn out again.These two parts, to be sunk under thewater and drawn out again, signify thepowerandefficacyofbaptism,which isnothingelse thanputting todeath theoldAdam,andafter that the resurrectionof thenewman,bothofwhichmusttakeplaceinusallourlives.SothatatrulyChristianlifeisnothingelsethanadailybaptism,oncebegunandevertobecontinued.Forthismustbepracticedwithoutceasing,thatweeverkeeppurgingawaywhateverisoftheoldAdam,andthatthatwhichbelongstothenewmanmaycomeforth.Butwhatistheoldman? It is that which is born in us, from Adam, malicious, hateful, envious,lascivious, avaricious, indolent, haughty, yea, unbelieving, infected with allvices,andhavingbynaturenothinggoodinit.WhennowwearereceivedintothekingdomofChrist, these thingsmustdailydecrease, thatwedailybecomemoregentle,morepatient,moremeek,andeverwithdrawnmoreandmorefromunbelief,avarice,hatred,envy,haughtiness.

This is the true use of baptism among Christians, as signified by theemploymentofwater.Where this therefore isnotpracticed,but theoldmanisleft unbridled, so as to continually become stronger, that is not rightly usingbaptism,but strivingagainstbaptism.For thosewhoarewithoutChristcannothut daily become worse, according to the proverb which expresses the truth,

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“Worse andworse – the longer, theworse.” If a year ago onewas proud andavaricious,thenheistodaymuchprouderandmoreavaricious;sothatthevicegrowsandincreasesfromyouthup.Ayoungchildhasnospecialbadhabits;butifitgrowupitbecomesunchasteandimpure,andifitreachmaturityrealvicesbegintoprevailandbecomedailyworse.

Therefore theoldmangoesunrestrained inhisnature if hebenot checkedand suppressed by the power of baptism.On the other hand,wheremenhavebecome Christians, he daily decreases until he is finally destroyed. That isrightly to be buried in baptism, and to daily come forth again. Therefore theexternalsignisappointednotonlyforapowerfuleffectbutalsoforanimportantsignification.Where, therefore, faith flourishes with its fruits, there it has noempty significance,but thework [ofmortifying the flesh] is added;butwherefaithiswanting,itremainsamereunfruitfulsign.

And here you perceive that baptism, both in its power and significance,comprehendsalsothethirdsacrament,whichhasbeencalledrepentance,asitisreally nothing else than baptism. For what else is repentance but an earnestattackupontheoldman[thathislustsberestrained]atthebeginningofanewlife?Therefore ifyou live in repentance,youwalk inbaptism,whichnotonlysignifiessuchanewlife,butalsoproduces,beginsandexercisesit.Forthereinaregivengrace,spiritandpowertoovercometheoldman,sothatthenewmanmaycomeforthandbecomestrong.

Thereforeourbaptismabidesforever;andeventhoughsomeoneshouldfallfromitandsin,weneverthelessalwayshaveaccessthereto,thatwemayagainsubduetheoldman.Butwemustnotagainbesprinkledwithwater;forthoughwewereahundredtimesputunderthewater,itwouldneverthelessbeonlyonebaptism, although the act and significance continue and remain. Repentance,therefore,isnothingelsethanareturnandapproachtobaptism,thatwereturntoandpracticewhathadbeenbegunandhadbeenabandoned.

This I say, therefore, thatwedonot fall into theopinion inwhichweforalongtimehadbeen,byimaginingthatourbaptismissomethingpast,whichwecannolongeruseafterwehavefallenagainintosin.Andthereasonis, that itwasregardedonlyaccordingtotheexternalactonceperformedandcompleted.AndthisarosefromthefactthatSt.Jeromewrotethatrepentanceisthesecondplankbywhichwemustswimforthandcrossoveraftertheshipisbroken,bywhichweclimb, andonwhichweare carried across thedeepwhenwecomeintotheChristianChurch.Therebytheuseofbaptismissoremovedthatitcanprofitusnolonger.Thereforetheexpressionisnotcorrect,orelseneverrightly

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understood. For the ship never breaks, because (as we have said) it is theinstitutionofGod,andnotamatterofours;butithappens,indeed,thatweslipandfalloutoftheship.Yetifanyonefallout,lethimseetoitthatheswimupandclingtoittillheagaincomeintoitandliveinit,ashehadformerlybegun.

Thusitappearshowexcellentathingbaptismis,whichdeliversusfromthejawsofthedevilandmakesusGod’sown,suppressesandtakesawaysin,andafterwardsdaily strengthens thenewman;and is and remainseverefficaciousuntilwepassfromthisestateofmiserytoeternalglory.

Forthisreasonleteveryoneesteemhisbaptismasadailydrossinwhichheshallconstantlywalk,thathemayeverbefoundinthefaithanditsfruits,thathesuppresstheoldmanandgrowupinthenew.ForifwewouldbeChristianswemust practice the work whereby we are Christians. But if any one fall awaytherefrom,lethimagaincomeintoit.ForjustasChristthemercy-seatdoesnotabolishhimselforforbidusagaintocometohim,eventhoughwesin,soallhistreasureandgifts also remain. If, therefore,wehaveonce inbaptism receivedforgivenessofsin,itwillremaineveryday,aslongaswelive,thatis,aslongaswecarrytheoldmanaboutwithus.

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PartFifth.OfTheSacramentOfTheAltar.

Aswe have heard of holy baptism, sowemust speak also concerning theothersacrament,namely,concerningthesethreepoints:Whatit is,whatareitsbenefits, andwho shall receive it. And all these are established by thewordswherebyChristhasinstitutedit.ThiseveryonewhodesirestobeaChristianandgotothesacramentshouldknow.Forwedonotthinkthattheywhoknownotwhat they seek, or why they come, should be admitted or should have itadministeredtothem.Thewordsarethese:

"OurLordJesusChristthesamenightinwhichhewasbetrayed,tookbread;andwhenhehadgiventhanks,hebrakeit,andgaveittothedisciples,andsaid,Take,eat;thisismybody,whichisgivenforyou:thisdoinremembranceofme.

“Afterthesamemanneralsohetookthecup,whenhehadsupped,gavethanks,andgaveittothem,saying,Drinkyeallofit:thiscupisthenewtestamentinmyblood,whichisshedforyoufortheremissionofsins:thisdoye,asoftasyedrinkit,inremembranceofme.”

Here also we do not wish to enter into controversy and contend with thetraducersandblasphemersofthissacrament,butwemustfirstlearn(aswedidinrespectofbaptism)whatisofthegreatestimportance,namely,thatthechiefpoint is the Word and institution or command of God. For it has not beeninvented or introduced by any man, but without any one’s counsel anddeliberation it has been instituted by Christ. Therefore just as the TenCommandments,theLord’sPrayerandtheCreedretaintheirnatureandworth,althoughyouneverkeep thefirst,pray thesecondorbelieve the third;soalsodoes this precious sacrament remain undisturbed, so that nothing can bewithdrawnortakenfromit,eventhoughweemployanddispenseitunworthily.CanyouthinkindeedthatGodissoconcernedaboutwhatwedoandbelieve,ason thataccount tochangehis institutions?Yet inallworldly thingseverythingremainsasGodhascreatedandorderedit,nomatterhowweemployoruseit.This must always be maintained, for thereby the prating of nearly all thefanatical spirits can be repelled. For they regard the sacraments as somethingthatwedowithouttheWordofGod.

WhatisthereforetheSacramentoftheAltar?

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Answer:ItisthetimebodyandbloodofourLordJesusChristinandunderthebreadandwinewhichweChristiansarecommandedbytheWordofChristtoeatandtodrink.Andaswehavesaidofbaptismthatitisnotsimplywater,soherealsowesaythesacramentisbreadandwine,butnotmerebreadandwineas are ordinarily served at table, but bread and wine comprehended in andconnectedwiththeWordofGod.

ItistheWord(Isay)whichmakesanddistinguishesthissacrament,sothatitisnotmerebreadandwine,butisandisproperlycalledthebodyandbloodofChrist.For it is said:“Accedatverbumadelementum,et fit sacramentum.”“Ifthe Word be joined to the element it becomes a sacrament.” This saying ofSt.Augustineissoexplicitlyandsowellputthathehasscarcelysaidanythingbetter.TheWordmustmakeasacramentoftheelement,elseitremainsamereelement.Now,itisnotthewordorinstitutionofaprinceoremperor,butoftheExaltedMajesty,atwhosefeetallcreaturesshouldfallandsay:“Amen,itisashesays,”andacceptitwithallreverence,fearandhumility.WiththisWordyoucanstrengthenyourconscienceandsay:Ifahundredthousanddevils, togetherwithall fanatics raise theobjection,Howcanbreadandwinebe thebodyandbloodofChrist?etc.,IknowthatallspiritsandscholarstogetherarenotaswiseasistheDivineMajestyinhislittlefinger.ForherestandstheWordofChrist:“Take,eat;thisismybody;–Drinkyeallofthis,thisisthenewtestamentinmyblood,” etc. Here we abide, and would like to see those who will constitutethemselveshismasters,andmakeitdifferentfromwhathehasspoken.Itistrue,indeed,thatifyoutakeawaytheWordorregarditwithouttheWord,youhavenothingbutmerebreadandwine.But if theWordbeaddedthereto,as itmustbe,theninvirtueofthesameitistrulythebodyandbloodofChrist.ForasthelipsofChristhavespoken,soitis,ashecanneverlieordeceive.

Henceitiseasytoreplytoallmannerofquestionsaboutwhichatthepresenttimemenareanxious,as,forinstance:Whetherawickedpriestcanadministeranddistributethesacrament,andsuchlikeotherpoints.Forhereconcludeandsay:Eventhoughaknavetakeordistributethesacrament,hereceivesthetruesacrament, that is, the true body and blood of Christ, just as truly as hewhoreceivesoradministersitinthemostworthymanner.Foritisnotfoundedupontheholinessofmen,butupontheWordofGod.Andasnosaintuponearth,yea,no angel in heaven, can change bread and wine into the body and blood ofChrist,soalsocannoonechangeoralter it,eventhoughitbeabused.FortheWordbywhichitbecameasacramentandwasinstituteddoesnotbecomefalsebecauseofthepersonorhisunbelief.Forhedoesnotsay:Ifyoubelieveorare

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worthyyouwillreceivemybodyandblood,but:Take,eatanddrink,thisismybodyandblood.Likewise:Do this (namely,what Inowdo, institute,giveandbidyou take).That isasmuchas tosay,Nomatterwhetheryoubeworthyorunworthy,youhaveherehisbodyandbloodbyvirtueofthesewordswhichareadded to thebreadand thewine.Thismark, andobservewell; forupon thesewords rest all our foundation, protection and defense against all error andtemptationthathaveevercomeormayyetcome.Thuswehavebrieflythefirstpointwhichpertainstotheessenceofthissacrament.Nowletusfurtherlooktothe efficacy and benefits on account of which the sacrament was instituted;whichisalsothemostnecessaryparttherein,thatwemayknowwhatweshouldthere seek and obtain. This is plain and clear from thewords justmentioned:“Thisismybodyandblood,givenandshedforyou,fortheremissionofsins.”Thatisasmuchastosaybriefly:Weapproachthesacramentinordertoreceivethereatreasurebyandinwhichweobtainforgivenessofsins.Whyso?Becausethewordsstandhereandgiveus thesame; foron thisaccounthebidsmeeatand drink, that itmay bemy own andmay benefitme, as a sure pledge andtoken, yea, just the very same thing that is appointed forme againstmy sins,deathandeverycalamity.

On this account indeed is it called a food of souls, which nourishes andstrengthensthenewman.Forbybaptismwearefirstbornanew;but(aswesaidbefore)thereremainsbesidestheoldviciousnatureoffleshandbloodinman,andtherearesomanyhindrancesandtemptationsofthedevilandoftheworldthatweoftenbecomewearyandfaint,andsometimesalsostumble.

Thereforeitisgivenfordailyfoodandsustenance,thatfaithmayrefreshandstrengthen itself so as not to retire in such a battle, but that it become everstrongerandstronger.For thenew lifemustbeso regulated that it continuallyincreaseandprogress;butitmustsuffermuchopposition.Forthedevilissuchafuriousenemy that ifhe sees thatweopposehimandattack theoldman,andthat he cannot overpoweruswithviolence, heprowls andmoves about on allsides,attemptsallarts,anddoesnotdesist,untilhefinallyweariesus,sothatweeither renounce our faith or yield hands and feet and become careless orimpatient.Thereforeisthisconsolationheregivenwhentheheartfeelsthattheburden is becoming too heavy, so that it may here obtain new power andrefreshment. But here a willful misrepresentation is made by our wise spiritswiththeirgreatartandwisdom,cryingoutandprotesting:Howcanbreadandwineforgivesinsorstrengthenfaith?Althoughtheyhearandknowthatwedonotsay thisof suchbreadandwineas is in itselfbreadandwine,butof such

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breadandwineasisthebodyandbloodofChrist,andisunitedwiththewords.That,wesay,isthetreasure,andnothingelse,throughwhichsuchforgivenessisobtained.Nowtheonlywayinwhichitisgivenandappropriatedtousisinthewords:“Givenand shed for you.” For herein I have both truths, that it is thebodyandbloodofChrist,andthatitismineasatreasureandgift.Butthebodyof Christ can never be an unfruitful, vain thing, without efficacy andwithoutbenefits.Yethowevergreatbethetreasureinitself,itmustbecomprehendedintheWordandadministeredtous,elseweshouldneverbeabletoknoworseekit.

ThereforealsoitisvaintalkwhentheysaythatthebodyandbloodofChristarenotgivenandshedforusintheLord’sSupper,andthereforewecannothaveforgivenessof sins in the sacrament.Foralthough theworkwasaccomplishedandtheforgivenessofsinsacquiredonthecross,yetitcannototherwisecometous,butthroughtheWord.Forwhatwouldweotherwiseknowaboutit,thatsuchathingwasaccomplishedandistobegivenusifitwerenotdeliveredtousinthe preaching or administration of the oralWord?Whencewill they know, orhowcantheylayholdofandappropriatetothemselves,thisforgiveness,excepttheyholdandbelievetheScripturesandtheGospel?ButnowtheentireGospelandthearticleoftheCreed:“IbelieveaholyChristianChurch,theforgivenessofsin” etc., are by theWord embodied in this sacrament andpresented to us.Why shouldwe allow this treasure to be torn from the sacrament?Since theymustconfessthatthesearethewordswhichweheareverywhereintheGospel,andtheydarebynomeanssaythatthesewordsinthesacramentareofnouse,aslittleasthattheentireGospelorWordofGod,apartfromthesacrament,isofnouse.Thuswehavenowtheentiresacrament,bothastowhatitisinitselfandas towhat it bringsandprofits.Nowwemust also seewho is theperson thatreceivesthisefficacyandbenefit.Thatisansweredbriefly,aswesaidaboveofbaptism and often elsewhere:Whoever believes it haswhat thewords declareandbring,Fortheyarenotspokenorproclaimedtostoneandwood,buttothosewhobearthem,towhomhesays:“Takeandeat”etc.Andbecauseheoffersandpromisesforgivenessofsin,itcannotbereceivedotherwisethanbyfaith.ThisfaithhehimselfdemandsintheWordwhenhesays:“Givenandshedforyou”Asifhehadsaid:ForthisreasonIgiveit,andbidyoueatanddrink,thatyoumaypartakeofitandenjoyit.Whoevernowreceivesthesewords,andbelievesthatwhattheydeclareistrue,hasit.Butwhoeverdoesnotbelieveithasnothing,asitisofferedtohiminvain,andherefusestoenjoysuchasavinggood.Thetreasureindeedisopenedandplacedateveryone’sdoor,yea,uponeveryone’s

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table,butitisnecessarythatyoualsotakeofit,andconfidentlyregarditasthewordsgiveittoyou.

This now is the entire Christian preparation for receiving this sacramentworthily. For since this treasure is fully presented in the words, it can beapprehended and appropriated only by the heart. For such a gift and eternaltreasurecannotbeseizedbythehand.Fastingandprayer,etc.mayindeedbeanexternalpreparationanddiscipline, that thebodymaybear itselfmodestlyandreverentlytowardsthebodyandbloodofChrist;yetthatwhichisgiveninandwith it cannotbe seizedandappropriatedby thebody.But this isdoneby thefaithoftheheart,whichdiscernsthistreasureanddesiresit.Thismaysufficefor-thegeneralinstructionrespectingthissacrament;forwhatisfurthertobesaidofitbelongstoanothertime.

Inconclusion,sincewehavenowthetrueunderstandinganddoctrineofthesacrament, there is indeedneedof someexhortationandadmonition, thatmenmaynotneglectsogreata treasurewhichisdailyadministeredanddistributedamong Christians – that is, that thosewhowould be Christians often preparethemselves to receive this venerable sacrament. For we see that men arenegligentandindifferentwithrespecttoit;andthereisagreatmultitudeofsuch,who hear the Gospel, and who, because the nonsense of the Pope has beenabolished,andwearefreedfromhislawsandcoercion,goone,two,threeyearsor even longer without the sacrament, as though they were such strongChristians that they have no need of it; and some allow themselves to bepreventedanddeterredby thepretense thatwehave taught thatnooneshouldapproach it unless he feel hunger and thirst, andwhich urge him to it. Somepretendthatitisamatteroflibertyandnotnecessary,andthatitissufficienttobelievewithout it; and thus for themost part theygo so far that theybecomequitehardened,andfinallydespiseboththesacramentandtheWordofGod.

Now,itistrue,aswehavesaid,thatnooneshouldbecoercedorcompelled,lestweagaininstituteaninquisitiondestructivetosouls.Butthiswemustknow,nevertheless, that such people as so long a time deprive themselves of, andwithdraw from, the sacrament, are not to be consideredChristians. ForChristhasnotinstitutedittobetreatedasashow;buthasofferedittohisChristians,thattheymayeatanddrinkit,andtherebyrememberhim.

AndthoseindeedwhoaretrueChristians,andesteemthesacramentpreciousandholy,oughttourgeandimpelthemselvesthereto.Yetthatthesimple-mindedandtheweakwhoalsodesiretobeChristiansbethemoreincitedtoconsiderthecauseandneedwhichoughttoimpelthem,wewilltreatsomewhatofthispoint.

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Forasinothermatterspertainingtofaith,loveandpatience,itisnotenoughtoteach and instruct, but there is need also of daily exhortation, so here also isthereneedofimportunityinpreaching,thatmenmaynotbecomeindifferentandbe offended, since we know and feel how the devil always opposes this andeverythingChristian,anddrivesanddeterstherefromasmuchashecan.Andwehave, in the first place, the clear text in theverywordsofChrist:“Do this inremembranceofme.”Thesearewordsbiddingandcommandingus,bywhichallwhowouldbeChristiansareenjoinedtopartakeofthissacrament.ThereforewhoeverwouldbeadiscipleofChrist,withwhomheherespeaks,mustconsiderandobservethis,notfromcompulsion,asbeingforcedbymen,butinobedienceto the Lord Jesus Christ, and to please him. But if one say: It is written inimmediate connection, “as oft as ye do it” from which it appears that hecompelsnoone,butleavesittoourfreechoice,answer:Thatistrue,yetitisnotwrittenthatweshouldneverdoso.Yea,justbecauseheusesthewords,“asoftasyedoit”itisimpliedthatweshalloftendoit;andthereforeitisaddedthathewishestohavethesacramentfree,notlimitedtospecialtimes,likethePassoveroftheJews,whichtheywereobligedtoeatonlyonceayear,andjustuponthefourteenthdayofthefirstfullmoonintheevening,andwhichmustnotvaryaday.Asifhewouldsaythereby:IinstituteaPassoverorSupperforyouwhichyoushallenjoynotonlyonceayear,justuponthisevening,butoften,whenandwhereyouwill,accordingtoeveryone’sopportunityandnecessity,boundtonoplace or appointed time, although the Pope afterwards perverted it, and againmadeaJewishfeastofit.

Thus,youperceive,itisnotleftfreeinsuchasensethatwemaydespiseit.ForthatIcalldespisingitifoneallowsolongatimetoelapseandwithnothingtohinderhim,butyetneverfeelsdesireforit.Ifyouwishsuchlibertyyoumayaswellhavesomuchmore,andbenoChristian, thatyoumayneitherbelievenorpray.FortheoneisjustasmuchthecommandofChristastheother.ButifyouwishtobeaChristian,youmustfromtimetotimerendersatisfactionandobediencetothiscommandment.Forthiscommandmentoughtevertomoveyoutoexamineyourselfand to think:See,whatsortofaChristianIam!If Iweretrulyone, Iwouldsometimeshavesome little longing for thatwhichmyLordhascommandedmetodo.And,indeed,becausewearesomuchestrangedfromitweperceivewhatsortofChristianswewereunderthePapacy, thatwewentfrommere compulsion and fear of human commandments,without inclinationandlove,andneverregardedthecommandmentofChrist.Butweneitherurgenorcompelanyone;norneedanyonedoitasafavororservicetous.Butyou

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should be induced and constrained of your own accord, by this, viz. that hedesires itand that it ispleasing tohim.Youmustnotbe influencedbymentofaithortoanygoodwork.We,onourpart,donomorethantosayandexhortyouas towhatyouought todo–not foroursake,but foryourownsake.Heinvitesandalluresyou;andifyoudespiseit,youmustyourselfanswerforit.

Thisisthefirstpoint,especiallyforthosewhoarecoldandindifferent,thattheymaycometoreflectionandbeawakened.Forthisiscertainlytrue,asIhavefound inmyownexperience, andas everyonewill find, that if aperson thuswithdraw from this sacrament, hewill daily becomemore andmore hardenedandcold,andwillatlastaltogetherdisregardit.Otherwisewemust,fromtimeto time, examine heart and conscience, and assume the position of thosewhodesiretoberightwithGod.Andthemorethisisdone,themorewilltheheartbewarmedandenkindled,thatitmaynotbecomeentirelycold.

But ifyousay:How if I feel that I amnotprepared?Answer:Thesame isalsomy temptation, especially from theoldwayunder thePope, inwhichwewerecompelledtoself-tortureinordertobesoperfectlypurethatGodcouldnotfindtheleastblemishinus.Onthisaccountwebecamesotimidthateveryonewas instantly thrown into consternation and said to himself: Alas! thou artunworthy! For then nature and reason begin to reckon our unworthiness incomparisonwith the great and precious good; and then it appears like a darklantern in contrastwith thebright sun,or as filth in comparisonwithpreciousstones.Becausenatureand reasonsee this they refuse toapproach, andwouldwaituntiltheyareprepared,solongthatoneweekbringsanother,andonehalfyeartheother.Butifyouaretoregardhowgoodandpureyouare,andlaborthatnothingburdentheconscience,youmustneverapproach.

Wemust, therefore,makeadistinctionhereamongmen.For thosewhoareshamelessanddissolutemustbetoldtostayaway.Fortheyarenotpreparedtoreceiveforgivenessofsin.Fortheydonotdesireit,anddonotwishtobegodly.Buttheothers,whoarenotsohardenedandwicked,anddesiretobegodly,mustnot absent themselves, even though they be feeble and full of infirmities: asSt.Hilaryalsosays:“Ifanyonehavenotcommittedsininsuchawayastobeproperly put out of the congregation and to be esteemed as no Christian, heoughtnottoabsenthimselffromthesacrament,thathemaynotdeprivehimselfoflife.”Fornoonewillreachsuchapositionthathewillnotretainmanydailyinfirmitiesinfleshandblood.

Therefore suchpeoplemust learn that it is thehighest art toknow thatoursacrament does not depend upon our worthiness. For we are not baptized

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becauseweareworthyandholy,nordowegotoconfessionbecausewearepureandwithoutsin,butthecontrary,aspoormiserablemen,andjustbecauseweareunworthy; unless it be some one who neither desires grace or absolution norintendstoreform.

Butwhoeverearnestlydesiresgraceandconsolationshouldfeelimpelledofhisownaccord,andshouldallownoonetodeterhim,butsay:I,indeed,desiretobeworthy;butIcomenotuponanyworthiness,butuponthyWord,becausethouhastcommandedit,andIdesiretobethydisciple,nomatterwhatbecomesofmyworthiness. But this is difficult. For we always have this obstacle andhindrance to encounter, viz. that we lookmore upon ourselves than upon theWordandlipsofChrist.Fornaturedesiressotoactthatitcanstandandrestinitself, and where it cannot do so it declines to take a step. Let this sufficeconcerningthefirstpoint.

Inthesecondplace,thereisbesidesthiscommandmentalsoapromise,asweheard above, which oughtmost strongly to incite and encourage us. For herestandthekindandpreciouswords:“Thisismybody,givenforyou.Thisismyblood,shedforyou,fortheremissionofsins.”Thesewords,Ihavesaid,arenotpreachedtowoodandstone,buttotheeandme.Elsehemightaswellbesilentand not institute a sacrament. Therefore consider, and bring thyself into thisYOU,thathisspeakingwiththeebenotinvain.

Forinthisheofferstoustheentiretreasurewhichhehasbroughtforusfromheaven,andtowhichhesoinvitesusinotherplaceswiththegreatestkindness,asinSt.Matt.11:28:“Comeuntome,allyethatlaborandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest.”Nowitisindeedasinandashamethathesocordiallyandfaithfullysummonsandexhortsustoourhighestandgreatestgood,andweactso distantly with regard to it, and permit so long a time to pass [withoutpartakingofthesacrament]thatwegrowquitecoldandhardened,andhavenoinclination or love for it. We must never regard the sacrament as somethinginjurious from which we had better flee, but as a remedy imparting onlysalvationandcomfort,whichwillcureusandgiveuslife,bothinsoulandbody.Forwhere thesoulhasrecoveredthebodyalso isrelieved.Howthenis it thatweregarditasifitwereapoison,theeatingofwhichwouldbringdeath?

It is indeedtrue that thosewhodespise itandlive inanunchristianmannerreceiveittotheirhurtandjudgment,fornothingshallbegoodorsavingtothem,just aswith a sickpersonwho fromcaprice eats anddrinkswhat is forbiddenhimbythephysician.Butthosewhoaresensibleoftheirweakness,desiretoberidofitandlongforhelp,shouldregardanduseitonlyasapreciousantidote

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againstthepoisonwhichisinthem.Forhereinthesacramentyoushallreceive,fromthelipsofChrist,forgivenessofsin,whichcontainsandbringswithitthegraceandSpiritofGod,withallhisgifts,protection,shelterandpoweragainstdeathandSatanandallmisfortune.Thusyouhave,onthepartofGod,boththecommandmentand thepromiseof theLordJesusChrist.Besides this,onyourpart, your own distress which oppresses you, and because of which thiscommandment, invitation and promise are given, ought to impel you. For hehimselfsays:“Theythatbewholeneednotaphysician,buttheythatbesick;”that is, thosewho areweary and heavy-ladenwith their sins,with the fear ofdeath,temptationsofthefleshandofthedevil.If,therefore,youareheavy-ladenand feel your weakness, then go joyfully to this sacrament and obtainrefreshment,consolationandstrength.Forifyouwouldwaituntilyouareridofsuch burdens, that youmight approachworthily and with entire purity to thesacrament,youmustforeverstayaway.Forinthatcasehepronouncessentenceandsays:Ifyouarepureandgodlyyouhavenoneedofme,andIhavenoneedof thee.Therefore they alone are to be called unworthywhoneither feel theirinfirmitiesnorwishtobeconsideredsinners.

But if you say:What shall I do if I cannot feel suchdistress or experiencehungerandthirstforthesacrament?Answer:Forthosewhoaresomindedthatthey do not realize their condition I know no better counsel than that theyexplore deeply their own heart to ascertain whether they also nave flesh andblood.Andifyoufindthattobethecase,thengo,foryourgood,toSt.Paul’sEpistle to theGalatians,andhearwhat is thenatureof thefruitsofyourflesh:“Now theworks of the flesh” (he says c. 5:19 sqq.)“aremanifest,which arethese: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness. lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft,hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,murders,drunkenness,revelingsandsuchlike.”

Thereforeifyoucannotfeelit,onlybelievetheScriptures.Theywillnotlietoyou,andtheyknowyourfleshbetterthanyouyourself.Yea,St.Paulfurtherconcludes(Rom.7:18):“Iknowthatinme,thatis,inmyflesh,dwellethnogoodthing”IfSt.Paul,therefore,speaksthusofhisflesh,wehadbetternotpretendtobemoreholy.Butthatwedonotfeelitissomuchtheworse;foritisasignthatthereisaleprousfleshwhichfeelsnothing,andyetragesandconsumes.Yet,aswe have said, even if you be quite dead to all sensibility, only believe theScriptures,whichpronouncesentenceuponyou.And,inshort,thelessyoufeelyour sins and infirmities, themore reason have you to go to the sacrament toseekhelpandaremedy.

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In the second place, look about you and see whether you are also in theworld.Orifyoudonotknowit,askyourneighbors.Andifyouareintheworld,donotthinkthattherewillbelackofsinsandmisery.Foronlybegintodeportyourself as though you would be godly and adhere to the Gospel, and seewhethernoonewillbecomeyourenemy,anddoyouharm,wrongandviolence,and likewisegiveyoucause for sinandcrime. Ifyouhavenotexperienced it,then learn it from the Scriptures, which everywhere give this praise andtestimonytotheworld.

Besides this, you will also have the devil about you, whom you will notentirely tread under foot, because our Lord Christ himself could not entirelyavoidhim.Now,whatisthedevil?Altogether,astheScripturescallhim,aliarandmurderer.AliartoleadtheheartastrayfromtheWordofGod,andtoblindit,thatyoucannotfeelyourdistressorcometoChrist.Amurderer,whocannotbearonesinglehour to seeyou live. Ifyoucouldseehowmanyknives,dartsandarrowsareeverymomentaimedatyou,youwouldbegladtocometothesacramentasoftenaspossible.Butthereisnoreasonwhymenwalksosecurelyand heedlessly, except that they neither think nor believe that they are in theflesh,andinthiswickedworldorinthekingdomofthedevil.

Therefore only try this and practice it well, and examine yourself, or lookabout you a little, and only keep to the Scriptures. If even then you still feelnothing, you have somuch themore need to lament both toGod and to yourbrother.Thentakecounselandseekothers’prayers,anddonotdesistuntil thestoneberemovedfromyourheart.Then,indeed,thedistresswillnotfailtobemanifest,andyouwillfindthatyouhavesunktwiceasdeepasanyotherpoorsinner, and aremuchmore in needof the sacrament against themiserywhichunfortunatelyyoudonotfeel,sothatGodmaygivehisgrace,andyoumayfeelitmore andhunger themore for the sacrament.This, too, especially since thedevilplieshisforcesagainstyou,randliesinwaitforyouwithoutceasing,toseizeanddestroyyou,soulandbody,sothatyouarenotsecureagainsthimonehour.How soonmight hehave suddenlybrought you intomisery anddistresswhenyouleastexpectedit!

Letthisthenbesaidforexhortation,notonlyforthoseofuswhoareadultsand aged, but also for the young people, who ought to be brought up in theunderstanding of Christian doctrine. For thereby the Ten Commandments, theCreed,andtheLord’sPrayermightbemoreeasilyinculcatedtoouryouth,andtheywouldlearnitwithzestandpleasure,andthuswouldaccustomthemselvestoitandpracticeit fromtheiryouth.For theoldarewellnighdefunct,sothat

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theseandotherthingscannotbeattained,unlesswetrainthepeoplewhoaretofollow and succeed us in our office and work, that they also bring up theirchildreningoodfruits,thattheWordofGodandtheChristianChurchmaybepreserved.Thereforeleteveryfatherofafamilyknowthatitishisduty,bytheinjunctionandcommandofGod, to teach these things tohischildren,orhavethem learnwhat theyought toknow.For since theyarebaptizedand receivedinto the Christian Church, they should also enjoy this communion of thesacrament,sothattheymayserveusandbeusefultous;fortheymustallindeedhelpusinbelieving,loving,prayingandfightingagainstthedevil.

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AbouttheAuthor

ThefollowingwasretrievedfromWikipedia,October29,2018:"HenryEysterJacobs(November10,1844–July7,1932)wasanAmerican

educatorandLutherantheologian.JacobswasborninGettysburg,Pennsylvania,the son of professor Michael and Juliana M (Eyster) Jacobs. His sister JuliaJacobs Harpster became a missionary in India; his brother Michael WilliamJacobsbecame a judge.Hegraduated fromPennsylvaniaCollege in 1862 andfromtheLutheranTheologicalSeminaryatGettysburg in1865.Between1870and 1883, he was professor at Pennsylvania College. He was then appointedprofessor of systematic theology in The Lutheran Theological Seminary inMount Airy, where he also assumed the office of dean in 1894. In 1920, hebecamePresidentoftheSeminarywhentheofficeofdeanwasabolished.

"Heservedaspresidentofhischurch’sboardofforeignmissions(1902–07),of theGeneral Conference of Lutherans (1899, 1902, 1904), of theAmericanSocietyofChurchHistory(1907–08),andofthePennsylvaniaGermanSociety(1910–11).HealsotranslatedvariousGermantheologicalworksandeditingtheLutheran Church Review (1882–96), and Lutheran Commentary (1895-98).Henry Eyster Jacobs, working with John A.W. Haas, published The LutheranCyclopediain1899.

SelectedBibliography

First Free Lutheran Diet in America, Philadelphia, December 27–28,1877(1878)

TheLutheranmovementinEnglandduringthereignsofHenryVIIIandEdwardVI,anditsliterarymonuments(1890)

HistoryoftheLutheranChurchinAmerica(1893)

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ElementsofReligion(1894)

Annotations on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans and I. Corinthians(1896)

Annotations on the Epistles of Paul to I. Cortinthians VII-XVI, II.CorinthiansandGalatians(1897)

MartinLuther,theheroofthereformation(1898)

TheGermanEmigrationtoAmerica,1709-40(1899)

SummaryoftheChristianFaith(1905)

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PrefacebyHenryEysterJacobs

TheChurch’sConfessionsofFaithareitsauthorizeddeclarationsonsubjectsconcerningwhich its teachinghasbeenmisunderstoodormisrepresented,or isliable to such misunderstanding and misrepresentation. They are notcomprehensive systems of doctrine covering the entire sphere of divinerevelation, but have arisen entirely from historical circumstances, where theteachingoftheChurchhasbecomeamatterofcontroversy.Anexceptiontothisstatementmayprobablybefound inLuther’sCatechisms ;andyet,while theywerewritten forother thanpolemicalpurposes, theywereofferedasstandardsforthemorepopularpresentationofthetruthsoftheChristianreligionatacrisiswhenbothpastorsandpeopleneededespecialguidance.IneachConfessionthetopicstreated,aswellastheorder,theextent,andthemodeoftreatmentofeachtopic, are not ideal or determined by any effort to present an exhaustive andlogicalsummaryofthefaith,asawhole,fromtheHolyScriptures,butonlytomeetanhistoricalneedandtorespondtoacallforaparticularemergency.EachConfessionisinrealityonlyapartoftheoneConfessionofthefaith,whichtheChurch,undertheguidanceoftheHolySpirit, iscontinuallydrawingfromtheHolyScripturesandfromcommunionwiththeChurch’sLord.

The Holy Scriptures are the sole source and authority of the Church’steaching,andamplysufficientforallordinarypurposesofinstruction;butwhenthatwhich theHolyScriptures teach is called intoquestion, it is theChurch’sduty,inallages,asawitnesstothetruthandsetforitsdefense,togiveclearandunmistakabletestimonyastowhatisthemeaningofGod’sWordonthesubjectsunder discussion. All the authority of such testimonies depends upon theirconformitywithHolyScripture.Confessionsareauthoritative,notbecause theChurchhasadoptedthem,butbecauseoftheWordofGodwhichtheyarefoundtocontain."WeaccepttheUnalteredAugsburgConfession,notbecauseitwascomposed by our theologians, but because it has been derived from God’sWord."(FormulaofConcord,p.536,5.)

WhattheChurchhasonceconfessed,withrespecttoquestionsofmorethanmerelytemporaryorlocalsignificance,becomesapartofherverylife.Ifitbe

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whattheConfessiondeclaresthatitis,theverytruthofGod’sWord,expressedintermssoclearandunambiguousastoguardagainstallmisunderstanding,theChurchofthefuturecannotbeindifferenttoit,butcherishesitasasacredtrust(“the deposit,” 1 Tim. 6:20), which is to be transmitted to posterity that latergenerations may be profited by the experience of their predecessors.Nevertheless, in so doing, the Church cannot restrict Its testimony, as newcircumstancesarise,simplytothatwhich,underentirelydifferentcircumstances,hasbeengivenatsomeparticularcrisis in thepast.She isnotsobound to thepastastobeunabletodefineherfaithintermsadaptedtonewconditions,butis“readyalwaystogiveanswertoeveryonethataskethareason”ofherfaith(1Pet.1:15).Accordingly,theAugsburgConfessionveryappropriatelyassertstheprincipleofConfessionaldevelopmentinitsclosingwords:

“Ifanythingfurtherhedesired,weareready,Godwilling,topresentamplerinformationaccordingtotheScriptures”(p.67sq.).

The simplest and briefest of all the Confessions, the Apostles’ Creed,historical investigations show was the product of a gradual growth of fourhundredyears,assuccessivecontroversiesfurnishedtheoccasionforadditionalarticles. Itwas not primarily a liturgical formula, as it iswith us today, but aclearanddistinctutteranceonvariouscontrovertedpoints,withoutmentioningthosewhotaughtotherwise.AsimilargrowthcanbetracedwithoutdifficultyintheNiceneCreed,wheretheCouncilofNicemarksonlyaparticularstageinitsformulation,butneitheritsbeginningnoritscompletion.TheAthanasianCreedis the ultimate fruit of centuries of controversy concerning theTrinity and theIncarnation, as thearena for theologicaldiscussion ispassing from theEast totheWest.

Neither the structure nor the contents of the Augsburg Confession can beadequately interpreted without the study of the historical occasion for eacharticle.Evenwhereitisleastpolemical,anhistoricalmotiveforeachstatementis present.TheApology is the author’s ownprotest against perversions of themeaningandtheattemptstoanswerthepositionsoftheAugsburgConfession;in other words, it is the official interpretation of those who prepared andpresentedtheAugustana.

When, some years later, after the conciliatory spirit that animates theAugsburgConfessionhadfailedtomakeanimpressiononitsopponents,Luther,intheSmalcaldArticles,providedfortheGeneralCouncilthattheEmperorhadpromised to call a statement of the issues involved in the controversies with

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Romethatwasentirelyuptodate,whileMelanchthonsupplementeditwithanappendixonChurchPower,thatisthefoundationofallLutheranChurchPolity.

The last of the Confessions, the Formula of Concord, after more than agenerationhadpassedsincethecontroversywithRomewasmostacute,attemptsto afford a common basis uponwhich Lutherans could stand, and thus end aperiod of confusion, division, and estrangement that had broken the LutheranChurch of Germany into fragments. Never was there a more careful anddiscriminating Church document written, guarding in each article againstexaggerationsoneachside,andthen,inmostpreciseanddefinitewords,settingforth the teaching from theHoly Scriptures on the subjects concerningwhichthere had beanmisunderstanding and alienation of feeling. In it the LutheranChurch shows her fidelity in judging errors within, just as in the other greatConfessions she had judged errors fromwithout, her borders. To judge otherswithoutalsojudgingourownselves(1Cor.11:31)istobefairandjustneithertoourselvesnortoothers.

Upon the basis of all these Confessions the foundations of the LutheranChurchinAmericawerelaid.TheywereincludednotonlyintheConstitutionsof many of the earlier congregations, but also in the first Constitution of theMother Synod. With the entrance of a period when the importance of thisconfessionalpositionwasnotrecognized, therecameintoourhistoryretardinganddisorganizing forces that threatened theveryexistenceofourChurchas itbecameanglicized,andthattothepresentdayhavegreatlydividedandconfusedit.

With a widespread and all but general return towards the confessionalposition of the Fathers, a period of new life and promise for our Church inAmerica has begun.Upon the hearty acceptance of theseConfessions in theirhistorical sense, and their consistent application in the spirit of the Gospel topractice, the General Council, in common with others, offers a basis for theunionoftheentireLutheranChurchinAmerica.Theworkinwhichshehassosuccessfully cooperated in the preparation of a Common Service will not becomplete until the agreement possible in such joint work is traced to a morethorough harmony in the faith than had been supposed, and its ultimateexpressioninagreementastothetermsofconfessionalstatement.

ButfortheattainmentofsuchendtheConfessionsmustbereadilyaccessibleinthecommonlanguageofthecountry,andshouldbefoundinthestudiesofallour pastors and in the homes and libraries of all our intelligent people. EvenalthoughourChurchhasneverasked its laymen tosubscribe tomore than the

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Catechism,yettheimportanceoftheiracquaintancewithallthat,asmembersofLutheran synods, they require their pastors to know and teach cannot bequestioned.

Heretofore translations intoEnglishhavebeenaccessibleonly in expensiveeditions. The edition ofwhich this is a revisionwas undertaken in 1882 by aretiredclergyman,theRev.G.W.Frederick,atgreatpecuniaryrisk.Hesparednoexpenseinprovidingfortheworkamostattractiveform,andinenablingtheeditor to introduce any amount of matter, which he deemed of value forillustrating the history and teaching of the Confessions. That edition is notsupplanted by this. It will continue to be published by the General Council’sPublicationBoardfortheuseofscholars.Initwillbefoundthehistoryofeachconfession, and the various documents upon which they were based. But thepopular edition, here offered, fulfills the hope of the editor from the verybeginning, to have the Confessions published at such price that they may hescattered broadcast throughout all English-speaking lands, where there areconfessorsoftheLutheranfaithforCanadaandAustralia,forSouthAfricaandIndia,fortheWestIndiesandSouthAmerica,aswellasfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica. Such edition will serve an important office in deepening andstrengtheningthefaithofourpeopleindrawingthemtogetherinthebondsofacommonfellowship,andinenablingthemtoappreciateallthemorehighlytheirheritage. But beyond this, as the preceding editionwaswarmlywelcomed byeminentrepresentativesofotherdenominationsbecauseofmuchthattheyfoundinitencouragingthemintheirconflicts,sothiseditionwillcontinuetoamuchwider circle than the Lutheran Church the testimonywhich our Fathers gave,and,whileinmanyotherreligiousbodiesconfessionallineshavevanishedandconfessional obligations weakened, a standard is here raised around whichmillionsinthiswesternworldwillrally.Theattentivereader,whatevermaybehis antecedents, will see that the matters here treated are not antiquated orobsolescent,butentermostdeeplyintotheissuesofthehour.

Thetranslationsincludedinthisvolumearethoseofthetwo-volumeedition,except that, for the translation of the Augsburg Confession, credited in thatedition toDr.CharlesPorterfieldKrauth, butwhich is in reality a reprint of asixteenth century English translation, published in “The Harmony of theConfessions”in1586,wehavesubstitutedthetranslationofficiallyapprovedbythe General Council after its preparation by a joint committee of the varioussynodicalbodies,mentionedinthenoteintroducingitattheproperplace(p.32).Withthisexception,theplatesarethoseofthelargeredition.Anumberofminor

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changes,however,havebeenmade,suggestedbytwenty-nineyears’useofthetranslationinthestudyandtheclass-room,andbycriticismsofwhichwehavebeeninformed.

We send forth this volume with gratitude for the privilege of having beencalled toedit it and itspredecessor,and in the full confidence that itwillbeablessingtoourChurchinAmerica,and,throughit,inadvancingthekingdomofourLordJesusChrist,inwhosenametheseconfessionswerewritten.

HenryEysterJacobs.

LutheranTheologicalSeminary.

Philadelphia,Pa.,February27,1911.

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NoteontheTranslation

The translation of the Augsburg Confession adopted in this volume is thewell-known one ofDr. Charles P.Krauth,which he has kindly revised as theproof-sheetspassed throughhishands. In theSmallCatechism, the translationpreparedbyDr.CharlesF.Schaefferwiththeco-operationofacommitteeoftheMinisteriumofPennsylvania,andinuniversaluseintheEnglishchurchesoftheGeneral Council, is reprinted, with the addition of the formula for confessioncontainedintheBookofConcord.TheLargeCatechismwastranslatedforthiswork byRev.A.Martin, Professor of theGermanLanguage andLiterature inPennsylvaniaCollege,towhomtheEditorisgreatlyindebtedforassistanceandadvice also in other directions. Some changes have, however, been made toconformitasnearlyaspossibletotheplanoftranslationadoptedintherestofthevolume.

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and theFormulaofConcordweretranslatedbytheEditor.TherenderingoftheApologyisfromtheLatin,theGermantranslationofJustusJonasoftheConcordienbuchbeing more of a paraphrase than a translation, differing sometimes from theoriginalbytheomission,introductionandtranspositionofentireparagraphs,andtherefore inducing the editors of some of the best German editions of theSymbolicalBookstopreparefreshtranslations.Wehave,accordingly,carefullyrevised our translation from the Latin, by comparing it with the GermantranslationsofSchopf,Kothe,SpiekerandBodemann.

TheSmalcaldArticlesweretranslatedfromtheGerman,andMelanchthon’sAppendix,"OfthePowerandPrimacyofthePope,"fromtheLatin,inwhichitwascomposed. In theFormulaofConcord theGerman,according to thesameprinciple,hasbeenusedasthestandardtext.

The chief variations of the alternate language, officially received in ourchurches, from the original language of each Confession, is indicated inbrackets,withtheexceptionoftheApology,wheretheywerefoundsonumerousandextensiveastorenderitnecessarytoinsertthemfrequentlyamongthefoot-notes.

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TheLatineditionofDr.FredericusFranke,publishedbyTauchnitz,Leipsic,1848,hasnotonlybeen largely followed in indicatingvariations, but has alsofurnishedmostofthenotes.

ThepagingofMüller’sSymbolischenBucherhasbeenprintedinthemargin,so as to enable this translation to furnish all references to this most widely-received and highly-esteemed edition of the Confessions. As the St. LouisGermanedition,published in1880asa jubileeoffering,adopts thesameplan,thiseditioncanbereadilyusedalsowithitbyobservingthemarginalnumbersineach.Thereferencesinthefoot-notesconformtothemarginalpaging.

The second edition of the New Market translation (1854), for which ourEnglishchurchesowesomuchtotheenergyanddevotionofthebrothersRevs.AmbroseandSocratesHenkel,aswellastheSwedishedition,publishedundersupervision of the Swedish Augustana Synod, Chicago, 1878, have beenfrequentlyconsulted,andhavefurnishedmaterialaid.

Additionalmatter, prepared as Introduction andAppendix to thiswork, butwhichhasswollentosuchanextentastoexceedthelimitsofthisvolume,willbepublishedinthenearfuture.Thesecondvolumewillcompriseabriefoutlineof the history of the Confessions; the documents from which MelanchthonelaboratedtheAugsburgConfession;thenon-LutheranConfessionsofAugsburg– the Tetrapolitan of the Reformed cities, Zwingli’s Medio Fidei and theConfutationoftheAugsburgConfessionbythePapists(soindispensableforanintelligentstudyoftheApology,whichisitsanswer);theVariolainitstwochiefforms; theOfficialAppendix to theBook ofConcord – viz. theCatalogue ofTestimonies;togetherwithaminuteindexonthebasisoftheexhaustiveindexinMüller.

Withallthecarethathasbeentaken,theEditorfullyexpectsthaterrorsthathave escaped his notice will be occasionally detected. Had he waited untilsatisfiedthathisworkwouldbeallhecouldwish,itwouldneverhaveappeared.All that he claims is that,with all themeans at his command, he hasmade asincereefforttosupplyadeeply-feltwant.

InthehopethatitmaystimulateafreshinterestinthepricelesstreasuresthataretheheritageoftheLutheranChurch,andpromotetheirmorethoroughstudy,and that it may bear also its part, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, inbringingtoaclearunderstandingofthefaithandunitinguponafirmly-groundedscriptural platform our perplexed and divided people, this new edition of theConfessions is, in God’s name and for His glory presented to the Americanpublic.

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HenryE.Jacobs

PennsylvaniaCollege.

Gettysburg,Pa.,February27,1882.

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AbouttheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistry

The Lutheran Library exists to promote knowledge, understanding andwisdombyfinding,carefullyrestoring,andrepublishingaccurate,well-written,andreadablebookssuitableforself-learning.Alltitlesareavailableatlittleornocharge inhand-formattedKindle,EPUB,andPDFversions toworkwithmostdevices.

The Lutheran Library editors believe, teach and confess the evangelicalChristian faith as described by the Ecumenical Creeds, The AugsburgConfession, The Formula of Concord, and the other sections of the Book ofConcord.

SomeAuthorsForYouToDiscover

Jacobs,HenryEyster,(1844-1932)

Krauth,CharlesPorterfield,(1823-1883)

Lehmanowsky,JohnJacob,(1773-1858)

Long,SimonPeter,(1860-1929)

Loy,Matthias,(1828-1915)

Schmauk,TheodoreEmanuel,(1860-1920)

GreatNarratives

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My experiences in themission field of SouthDakota during the years1892-1897byFrankAlbertKiess

MyDogsintheNorthlandbyEgertonRyersonYoung

DixieKittenbyEvaMarchTappan

LettersfromaCatbyHelenHuntJackson

Topics

Biography

Theology&History

Devotional

Missions&Service

Extras!

HowCanOneFindPeaceWithGod?

ThemostimportantthingtograspisthatoneismaderightwithGodnotbyanygoodthingsheorshemightdo.Justificationisbyfaithonly,andthatfaithrests in theone-time substitutionarydeathof JesusChrist forone’s sins.ReadyourBiblesteadily.GodworksHispowerinhumanbeingsthroughHisWord.

Prayersarerequestedforthenextgeneration,thattheLordwillplantinthema love of the truth, and that the hard-learned lessons of the past will not beforgotten.

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CatalogofTitles

All titles are available to you in a variety of formats at no charge. Read.Study.Reflect.GrowintheknowledgeofthegraceofourLord.

With best wishes to you for Reformation Day 2018 from the LutheranLibrary.

101Lehmanowsky,JohnJacob.ATaleofTwoCaptains

102Sandt,GeorgeWashington.BiographyofTheodoreSchmauk

103Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.NewTestamentConversions

104Schmauk,TheodoreEmanuel.TheConfessionalPrinciple

105Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.BiographyofWilliamPassavant

106Scriver,Christian.Gotthold’sEmblems

108Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.TheLutheranCountryChurch

109Jacobs,HenryEyster.ASummaryoftheChristianFaith

110Krauth,CharlesPorterfield.InfantBaptisminCalvinism

111Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.What’sWrongWithTheWorld

112Greenwald,Emanuel.WhyTheReformation?

114Jacobs,HenryEyster.MartinLuther:TheHerooftheReformation

116Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.ThePriesthoodofBelievers

117Jacobs,HenryEyster.TheBookofConcord:Epitome

120Luther,Martin.FirstPrinciplesoftheReformation

121White,RalphJerome.SixYearsinHammockLand

125Hosmer,JamesKendell.TheStoryoftheJews

133Greenwald,Emanuel.JustificationByFaith

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138Dolbeer,WilliamHenry.TheBenediction

139Stromme,PeerOlsen.ChurchHistory:JustTheBasics

141Fesperman,JosephHamilton.TheLifeofaSufferer

143Whitteker,JohnEdwin.GospelTruths

144Whitteker,JohnEdwin.ChurchandState

145Stump,Joseph.Melanchthon

149 Greenwald, Emanuel. Pastor Louis Harms and the Church atHermansburg

155Miller,CharlesArmand.ThePerfectPrayer

156Laird,Samuel.SelectionofSermons

158 Morris, John Gottlieb. Life Reminiscences of an Old LutheranMinister

163LutheranTreasuryofPrayers

168 Brown, James Allen. The Anti-Lutheran Theology of Dr. S. S.Schmucker

169Einspruch,Henry.TheMostNotedJewishBookintheWorld

170Lichtenstein,Isaac.AnAppealtotheJewishPeople

171Loy,Matthias.TheDoctrineofJustification

176Neve,JuergenLudwig.ChurchesandSectsofChristendom

180Loy,Matthias.TheStoryofMyLife

185Dau,WilliamHermanTheodore.LutherExaminedandReexamined

188Schuh,LewisHerman.FuneralSermonsofLutheranDivines

189Greenwald,Emanuel.TheBaptismofChildren

190Long,SimonPeter.TheWayMadePlain

196Kiess, FrankAlbert.My experiences in the mission field of SouthDakota

201Long,SimonPeter.PreparetoMeetThyGod

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207Harms,JohnHenry.TheVictoryofFaith:LutheranMeditations

209Horine,Mahlon.TheBookofRuth

212Huber,Eli.FoodFortheHeavenlyWay

213Ochsenford, Solomon Erb. The Passion Story as Recorded by theFourEvangelists

221Keyser, Leander Sylvester. The Conflict Between FundamentalismandModernism

222 Keyser, Leander Sylvester. Election and Conversion. A FrankDiscussionofDr.FranzPieper’sBook

225Young,EgertonRyerson.MyDogsintheNorthland

236Sheldon,HenryClay.TheosophyandNewThought

240Lenski&Stellhorn.WhichPredestination:ReformedorLutheran?

241Lenski,Schmidt&Gohdes.IntuituFideiElectionInViewofFaith

242Lenski,Allwardt&Tressel.ElectionandPredestination:TheBlueIslandTheses

247Krauth, Charles Porterfield. A Sermon on the Burning of the OldLutheranChurch

249Sander,John.DevotionalReadingsfromLuther’sWorks

253Mahan,Milo.Palmoni:TheNumeralsofScripture

259Morris,John.ToRomeandBackAgain

272Wells,AmosRussel.ABibleYear

s01Krauth,CharlesPorterfield.SayingsofCharlesPorterfieldKrauth

s02Greenwald,Emanuel.TheTrueChurch

s03Wolf,EdmundJacob.JohnBurns:HeroofGettysburg

“Extras”

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e10Diaz,Abby.TheCats’ArabianNights

e15Grimalkin,Tabitha.TalesfromCatland

e16Elwes,Alfred.TheAdventuresofaCat

e17Elwes,Alfred.TheAdventuresofaDog

e18Elwes,Alfred.TheAdventuresofaBear

e19Jackson,HelenHunt.LettersfromaCat

e22Jackson,Gabrielle.TheAdventuresofTommyPostOffice

e25Cowles,Julia.Crow’sLanguageLessons

e26Smith,Jeanie.Zephyr:AChristmasStory

e28Tappan,EvaMarch.DixieKitten

e32Bacon,Peggy.TheTruePhilosopherandOtherCatTales

e38Davis,RichardHarding.TheBarSinister

e41Carr,WalterE.TheStoryofFiveDogs

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Benediction

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present youfaultlessbeforethepresenceofhisglorywithexceedingjoy,

TotheonlywiseGodourSavior,begloryandmajesty,dominionandpower,bothnowandever.Amen.–Jude1:24-25

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TableofContents

CopyrightInformation 4Contents 5TheLargeCatechismofDr.MartinLuther. 7FirstPreface. 7ShortPrefaceOfDr.MartinLuther. 12PartFirst.TheTenCommandments. 16

TheFirstCommandment. 16ExpositionoftheAppendixtotheFirstCommandment. 19TheSecondCommandment. 22TheThirdCommandment. 26TheFourthCommandment. 30TheFifthCommandment. 40TheSixthCommandment. 43TheSeventhCommandment. 46TheEighthCommandment. 51TheNinthandTenthCommandments. 56ConclusionoftheTenCommandments. 59

PartSecond.OfTheCreed. 64ArticleI. 64ArticleII. 66ArticleIII. 68

PartThird.OfPrayer–TheLord’sPrayer. 74TheFirstPetition. 79TheSecondPetition. 80TheThirdPetition. 82TheFourthPetition. 84TheFifthPetition. 86TheSixthPetition. 88TheSeventhandLastPetition. 90

PartFourth.OfBaptism. 92

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OfInfantBaptism. 97PartFifth.OfTheSacramentOfTheAltar. 103

AbouttheAuthor 114SelectedBibliography 114

PrefacebyHenryEysterJacobs 116NoteontheTranslation 121AbouttheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistry 124SomeAuthorsForYouToDiscover 124GreatNarratives 124Topics 125HowCanOneFindPeaceWithGod? 125IfYouFindTypographicErrors 125WanttobenotifiedofFutureReleases? 126

CatalogofTitles 127“Extras” 129TheLutheranLibrary 130

Benediction 131

133