 INTRODUCTION A Christian, profitable, and necessary preface and faithful earnest exhortation of Dr. Martin Luther to all Christians, but especially to all pastors and preachers, that they should daily exercise themselves in the Catechism, which is a short summary and epitome of the entire Holy Scriptures, and that they may always teach the same. We have no slight reasons for treating the Catechism so constantly in sermons, and for both desiring and beseeching others to teach it, since we see to our sorrow that many pastors and preachers are very negligent in this, and slight both their office and this teaching. Some from great and high art, giving their mind as they imagined too much higher matters, but others from sheer laziness and care for their ponches, assuming no other relation to this business than if they were pastors and preachers for their bellies' sake, and had nothing to do but to spend and consume their emoluments as long as they live, as they have been accustomed to do under the papacy. And although they have now everything that they are to preach and teach placed before them so abundantly, clearly, and easily, in so many excellent and helpful books, and the true Sermones Perce Locuentes, Dormi Secure, Poratos et Tesaros, as they were called in former times, yet they are not so godly and honest as to buy these books, or even when they have them, to look at them or read them. Alas, they are altogether shameful glutton and servants of their own bellies who ought to be more properly swine-herds and dog-tenders than caretakers of souls and pastors. And now that they are delivered from the unprofitable and burdensome babbling of the seven canonical hours, oh, that instead thereof they would only, morning, noon, and evening, read a page or two in the catechism, the prayer-book, the New Testament, or elsewhere in the Bible, and pray the Lord's prayer for themselves and their parishioners, so that they might render, in return, honour and thanks to the gospel, by which they have been delivered from burdens and troubles so manifold, and might feel a little shame because, like pigs and dogs, they retain no more of the gospel than such a lazy, pernicious, shameful carnal liberty. For alas, as it is, the common people regard the gospel altogether too lightly, and we accomplish nothing extraordinary even though we use all diligence. What then will be achieved if we shall be negligent and lazy as we were under the papacy? To this there is added the shameful vice and secret infection of security and satiety, that is, that many regard the catechism as a poor, mean teaching, which they can read through at one time, and then immediately know it, throw the book into a corner, and be ashamed, as it were, to read in it again. Yet even among the nobility there may be found some louts and scrimps who declare that there is no longer any need, either of pastors or preachers, that we have everything in books, and everyone can easily learn it by himself, and so they are content to let the parishes decay and become desolate, and pastors and preachers, to suffer distress and hunger aplenty, just as it becomes crazy Germans to do, for we Germans have such disgraceful people, and must endure them. But for myself I say this, I am also a doctor and preacher, yea, as learned and experienced, as all those may be who have such presumption and security. What I do as a child who is being taught the catechism, and every morning, and whenever I have time, I read and say, word for word, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Psalms, etc. And I must still read and study daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the catechism, and am glad so to remain. And yet these delicate, fastidious fellows would with one reading promptly be doctors above all doctors, know everything, and be in need of nothing. Well, this too is indeed a sure sign that they despise both their office and the souls of the people, yea, even God in his word. They do not have to fall, they are already fallen all too horribly. They would need to become children, and begin to learn their alphabet, which they imagine that they have long since outgrown. Therefore, I beg such lazy, ponches or presumptuous saints to be persuaded and believe for God's sake that they are verily, verily not so learned or such great doctors as they imagine, and never to presume that they have finished learning this, the parts of the catechism, or know it well enough in all points, even though they think that they know it ever so well. For though they should know and understand it perfectly, which, however, is impossible in this life, yet there are manifold benefits and fruits still to be obtained if it be daily read and practised in thought and speech, namely, that the Holy Ghost is present in such reading and repetition and meditation and bestows ever new and more light and devoutness, so that it is daily relished and appreciated better, as Christ promises, in Matthew 1820, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Besides, it is an exceedingly effectual help against the devil, the world and the flesh, and all evil thoughts to be occupied with the word of God, and to speak it and to meditate upon it, so that the first psalm declares those blessed who meditate upon the law of God day and night. Undoubtedly you will not start a stronger incense or other fumigation against the devil than by being engaged upon God's commandments and words, and speaking, singing, or thinking of them. For this is indeed the true holy water and holy sign from which he flees, and by which he may be driven away. Now, for this reason alone you ought gladly to read, speak, think, and treat of these things if you had no other prophet and fruit from them than that by doing so you can drive away the devil and evil thoughts, for he cannot hear or endure God's word, and God's word is not like some other silly prattle, as that about Dietrich of Berna, etc. But as St. Paul says, Romans 1, 16, The power of God, yea, indeed, the power of God which gives the devil burning pain and strengthens comforts and helps us beyond measure. And what need is there of many words? If I were to recount all the prophet and fruit which God's word produces, once would I get enough paper and time? The devil is called the master of a thousand arts. But what shall we call God's word, which drives away and brings to naught this master of a thousand arts with all his arts and power? It must indeed be the master of more than a hundred thousand arts. And shall we frivolously despise such power, prophet, strength, and fruit? We especially, who claim to be pastors and preachers? If so, we should not only have nothing given us to eat, but be driven out, being baited with dogs and pelted with dung, because we not only need all this every day, as we need our daily bread, but must also daily use it against the daily and unabated attacks and lurking of the devil, the master of a thousand arts. And if this were not sufficient to admonish us to read the catechism daily, yet we should feel sufficiently constrained by the command of God alone, who solemnly enjoins, in Deuteronomy 6.6. and following, that we should always meditate upon his precepts, sitting, walking, standing, lying down, and rising, and have them before our eyes and in our hands as a constant mark and sign. Doubtless he did not so solemnly require and enjoined this without a purpose, but because he knows our danger and need. As well as the constant and furious assaults and temptations of devils, he wishes to warn, equip, and preserve us against them, as with a good armor against their fiery darts, and with good medicine against their evil infection and suggestion. O what mad, senseless fools are we that, while we must ever live and dwell among such mighty enemies as the devils are, we nevertheless despise our weapons and defence, and are too lazy to look at or think of them. And what else are such supercilious, presumptuous saints, who are unwilling to read and study the catechism daily, doing, than esteeming themselves much more learned than God himself with all his saints, angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and all Christians? For inasmuch as God himself is not ashamed to teach these things daily, as knowing nothing better to teach, and always keeps teaching the same thing, and does not take up anything new or different, and all the saints know nothing better or different to learn, and cannot finish learning this. Are we not the finest of all fellows to imagine, if we have once read or heard it, that we know it all, and have no further need to read and learn, but can finish learning in one hour what God himself cannot finish teaching, although he is engaged in teaching it from the beginning to the end of the world, and all prophets, together with all saints, have been occupied with learning it, and have ever remained pupils, and must continue to be such? For it needs must be that whoever knows the Ten Commandments perfectly must know all the scriptures, so that in all affairs and cases he can advise, help, comfort, judge, and decide both spiritual and temporal matters, and is qualified to sit in judgment upon all doctrines, estates, spirits, laws, and whatever else is in the world. And what indeed is the entire Psalter, but thoughts and exercises upon the First Commandment? Now I know of a truth that such lazy, Pontius and presumptuous spirits do not understand a single Psalm, much less the entire Holy Scriptures, and yet they pretend to know and despise the Catechism, which is a compendent and brief summary of all the Holy Scriptures. Therefore I again implore all Christians, especially pastors and preachers, not to be doctors too soon, and imagine that they know everything, for imagination and cloth untrunk, and false weights fall far short of the measure, but that they daily exercise themselves well in these studies and constantly treat them. Moreover, that they guard with all care and diligence against the poisonous infection of such security and vain imagination, but steadily keep on reading, teaching, learning, pondering, and meditating, and do not cease until they have made a test and are sure that they have taught the devil to death, and have become more learned than God himself and all his saints. If they manifest such diligence, then I will promise them, and they shall also perceive, what fruit they will obtain, and what excellent man God will make of them, so that in due time they themselves will acknowledge that the longer and the more they study the Catechism, the less they know of it, and the more they find yet to learn, and then only, as hungry and thirsty ones, will they truly relish that which now they cannot endure because of great abundance and satiety. To this end may God grant his grace. Amen. Read of The Introduction to Luther's Large Catechism, Recording by John Leader Bloomington, Illinois. Section 1 of Luther's Large Catechism. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Large Catechism by Martin Luther. Translated by F. Benty and W. H. T. Dow. The Short Preface. This sermon is designed and undertaken that it might be an instruction for children and the simple-minded. Hence of old it was called in Greek, catechism, that is, instruction for children, what every Christian must needs know, so that he who does not know this could not be numbered with the Christians nor be admitted to any sacrament. Just as a mechanic who does not understand the rules and customs of his trade is expelled and considered incapable. Therefore, we must have the young learn the parts which belong to the catechism or instruction for children well and fluently and diligently exercise themselves in them and keep them occupied with them. Therefore it's the duty of every father of a family to question and examine his children and servants at least once a week to ascertain what they know of it or are learning, and, if they do not know it, to keep them faithfully at it. However I well remember the time. Indeed, even now it's a daily occurrence that one finds rude old persons who knew nothing and still know nothing of these things and who, nevertheless, go to baptism and the Lord's Supper and use everything belonging to Christians not withstanding that those who come to the Lord's Supper ought to know more and have a fuller understanding of all Christian doctrine than children and new scholars. However, for the common people were satisfied with the three parts which have remained in Christendom from of old, though little of it has been taught and treated correctly until both young and old who are called and wish to be Christians are well trained in them and familiar with them. These are the following. First, the ten commandments of God. 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 3. Thou shalt sanctify the holy day, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 4. Thou shalt honour thy father and mother that thou mayest live long upon the earth. 5. Thou shalt not kill. 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 7. Thou shalt not steal. 8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 9. Thou shalt not cover thy neighbour's house. 10. Thou shalt not cover thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maid servant, nor his cattle, ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is his. Secondly, the chief articles of our faith. 1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. 2. And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 3. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen. Thirdly, the prayer, or our Father which Christ taught. Our Father who art in heaven. 1. Hallowed be thy name. 2. Thy kingdom come. 3. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 4. Give us this day our daily bread. 5. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. 6. And lead us not into temptation. 7. But deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. These are the most necessary parts which one should first learn to repeat word for word and which our children should be accustomed to recite daily when they arise in the morning, when they sit down to their meals and when they retire at night. And until they repeat them they should be given neither food nor drink. Likewise every head of a household is obliged to do the same with respect to his domestics, man servants and maid servants, and not to keep them in his house if they do not know these things and are unwilling to learn them. For a person who is so rude and unruly as to be unwilling to learn these things is not to be tolerated. For in these three parts everything that we have in the Scriptures is comprehended in short, plain and simple terms. For the Holy Fathers or Apostles, whoever they were, have thus embraced in a summary the doctrine, life, wisdom and art of Christians of which they speak and treat and with which they are occupied. Now, when these three parts are apprehended, it behoves a person also to know what to say concerning our sacraments which Christ himself instituted, baptism and the holy body and blood of Christ. Namely the text which Matthew chapter 28 verses 19 and following and Mark chapter 16 verse 15 and following record at the close of their gospels when Christ said farewell to his disciples and sent them forth. Of baptism, Go ye and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. So much is sufficient for a simple person to know from the Scriptures concerning baptism. In like manner also concerning the other sacrament in short, simple words, namely the text of Saint Paul, 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 23 and following. Of the sacrament, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks he break it and gave it to his disciples and said, Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, gave thanks and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of it. This cup is the new testament in my blood which is shed for you for the remission of sins. This do ye as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. Thus you would have in all five parts of the entire Christian doctrine which should be constantly treated and required of children and heard recited word for word. For you must not rely upon it that the young people will learn and retain those things from the sermon alone. When these things have been well learned, you may, as a supplement and to fortify them, lay before them also some psalms or hymns which have been composed on these parts and thus lead the young into the scriptures and make daily progress therein. However, it's not enough for them to comprehend and recite these parts according to the words only. But the young people should also be made to attend the preaching, especially during the time which is devoted to the catechism, that they may hear it explained and may learn to understand what every part contains so as to be able to recite it as they have heard it and, when asked, may give a correct answer so that the preaching may not be without profit and fruit. For the reason why we exercise such diligence in preaching the catechist so often is that it may be inculcated on our youth, not in a high and subtle manner, but briefly and with the greatest simplicity so as to enter the mind readily and be fixed in the memory. Therefore we shall now take up the above mentioned articles one by one and in the plainest manner possible say about them as much as is necessary. Recording by Anna Roberts The Large Catechism by Martin Luther Translated by F. Benty and W. H. T. Dow Part First The First Commandment The First Commandment Thou shalt have no other gods before me That is, thou shalt have and worship me alone as thy God. What is the force of this and how is it to be understood? What does it mean to have a God or what is God? A God means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe him from the whole heart. As I have often said that the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol. If your faith and trust be right then is your God also true and on the other hand if your trust be false and wrong then you have not the true God for these two belong together, faith and God. That now I say upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your God. Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith and trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God and clings to him alone. That is as much as to say, see to it that you let me alone be your God and never seek another. That is, whatever you lack of good things expect it of me and look to me for it and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress creep and cling to me. I, yes I will give you enough and help you out of every need only let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other. This I must unfold somewhat more plainly that it may be understood and perceived by ordinary examples of the contrary. Many a one thinks he has God and everything in abundance when he has money and possessions. He trusts in them and both of them with such firmness and assurance as to care for no one. Lo, such a man also has a God, mammon by name, that is money and possessions on which he sets all his heart and which is also the most common idol on earth. He who has money and possessions feels secure and is joyful and undismayed as though he were sitting in the midst of paradise. On the other hand, he who has none doubts and is despondent as though he knew of no God for very few are to be found who are of good cheer and who neither mourn nor complain if they have not mammon. This, care and desire for money, sticks and clings to our nature even to the grave. So too, whoever trusts and boasts that he possesses great skill, prudence, power, favor, friendship and honor has also a God, but not this true and only God. This appears again when you notice how presumptuous, secure and proud people are because of such possessions and how despondent when they no longer exist or are withdrawn. Therefore, I repeat that the chief explanation of this point is that to have a God is to have something in which the heart entirely trusts. Besides, consider what in our blindness we have hitherto been practicing and doing under the papacy. If anyone had toothache, he fasted and honored St. Apollonia, acerated his flesh by voluntary fasting to the honor of St. Apollonia. If he was afraid of fire, he chose St. Lawrence as his helper in need. If he dreaded pestilence, he made a vow to St. Sebastian or Rocio, an accountless number of such abominations, where everyone selected his own saint, worshipped him, and called for help to him in distress. Here belong those also, as in, for example, sorcerers and magicians whose idolatry is most gross and who make a covenant with the devil in order that he may give them plenty of money or help them in love affairs, preserve their cattle, restore to them lost possessions, etc. For all these place their heart and trust elsewhere than in the true God, look for nothing good to him, nor seek it from him. Thus you can easily understand what and how much this commandant requires, namely that man's entire heart and all his confidence be placed in God alone and in no one else. For to have God you can easily perceive is not to lay hold of him with our hands or to put him in a bag as money or to lock him in a chest as silver vessels. But to apprehend him means when the heart lays hold of him and clings to him. But to cling to him with the heart is nothing else than to trust in him entirely. For this reason he wishes to turn us away from everything else that exists outside of him and to draw us to himself, namely, because he is the only eternal good. As though he would say, whatever you have here to force thought of the saints or for whatever things you have trusted in mammon or anything else, expect it all of me and regard me as the one who will help you and pour out upon you richly all good things. Lo, here you have the meaning of the true honor and worship of God, which pleases God and which he commands under penalty of eternal wrath, namely that the heart know no other comfort or confidence than in him and do not suffer itself to be torn from him, but for him risk and disregard everything upon earth. On the other hand you can easily see and judge how the world practices false worship and idolatry. For no people has ever been so reprobate as to not institute and observe some divine worship. Everyone has set up as his special God whatever he looked to for blessings, help, and comfort. Thus, for example, the heathen who put their trust in power and dominion elevated Jupiter as the supreme God, the others who are bent upon riches, happiness, or pleasure and a life of ease, Hercules, Mercury, Venus, or others, women with child Diana or Lucina and so on. Thus everyone made that his God to which his heart was inclined so that even in the mind of the heathen to have a God means to trust and believe. But their error is this that their trust is false and wrong for it is not placed in the only God besides whom there is truly no God in heaven or upon earth. Therefore the heathen really make their self-invented notions and dreams of God and idol and put their trust in that which is altogether nothing. Thus it is with all idolatry that it consists not merely in erecting an image and worshiping it, but rather in the heart which stands gaping at something else and seeks help and consolation from creatures, saints, or devils. And neither cares for God nor looks to him for so much as to believe that he is willing to help. Neither believes that whatever good it experiences comes from God. Besides, there is also a false worship and extreme idolatry which we have hitherto practiced and is still prevalent in the world in which also all ecclesiastical orders are founded and which concerns the conscience alone that seeks in its own works help, consolation, and salvation presumes to rest heaven from God and reckons how many bequests it has made how often it has fasted celebrated mass, etc. Upon such things it depends and of them boasts as though unwilling to receive anything from God as a gift but desires itself to earn or merit it super abundantly just as though he must serve us better and we his liege lords. What is this but reducing God to an idol, yea, a fig image or an apple God and elevating and regarding ourselves as God but this is slightly too subtle and is not for young pupils. But let this be said to the simple that they may well note and remember the meaning of this commandment namely that we are to trust in God alone and look to him and expect from him not but good as from one who gives us body, life, food, drink, nourishment, health, protection, peace and all necessaries of both temporal and eternal things. He also preserves us from his fortune and if any evil befall us delivers and rescues us so that it is God alone as has been sufficiently said from whom we receive all good and by whom we are delivered from all evil. Hence also I think we Germans from ancient times call God more elegantly and appropriately than any other language by that name from the word good as being an eternal fountain gushes forth abundantly nothing but what is good and from which flows forth all that is and is called good. For even though otherwise we experience much good from men, still whatever we receive by his command or arrangement is all received from God. For our parents and all rulers and everyone besides with respect to his neighbor have received from God the command that they should do us all manner of good so that we receive these blessings not from them but through them from God. For creatures are only the hands, channels and means whereby God gives all things as he gives to the mother breasts and milk to offer to her child and corn in all manner of produce from the earth for nourishment. None of which blessings could be produced by any creature of itself. Therefore no man should presume to take or give anything except as God has commanded in order that it may be acknowledged as God's gift and thanks may be rendered him for it as this commandment requires. On this account also these means of good gifts through creatures are not to be rejected. Neither should we in presumption seek other ways and means than God has commanded. For that would not be receiving from God but seeking of ourselves. Let everyone then see to it that he esteem this commandment great and high above all things and do not regard it as a joke. Ask and examine your heart diligently and you will find whether it cleaves to God alone or not. If you have a heart that can expect of him nothing but what is good especially in want and distress and that, moreover, renounces and forsakes everything that is not God then you have the only true God. If on the contrary it cleaves to anything else of which it expects more good and help than of God and does not take refuge in him but in adversity flees from him then you have an idol, another God. In order that it may be seen that God will not have this commandment thrown to the winds but will most strictly enforce it he is attached to at first a terrible threat and then a beautiful comforting promise which is also to be urged and impressed upon young people that they may take it to heart and retain it. Exposition of the appendix to the first commandment for I am the Lord thy God strong and jealous visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and showing mercy and to thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Although these words relate to all the commandments as we shall hereafter learn yet they are joined to this chief commandment because it is of first importance that men have a right head for where the head is right the whole life must be right and vice versa. Learn therefore from these words how angry God is with those who trust in anything but him and again how good and gracious he is to those who trust and believe in him alone with the whole heart so that his anger does not cease until the fourth generation while on the other hand his blessing and goodness extend to many thousands lest you live in such security with the whole heart who think that it makes no great difference how they live he is a God who will not leave it on avenged if men turn from him and will not cease to be angry until the fourth generation even until they are utterly exterminated therefore he is to be feared and not to be desisted he has also demonstrated this in all history as the scriptures abundantly show and daily experience still teaches for from the beginning he has utterly extirpated all idolatry and on account of it both heathen and Jews even as at the present day he overthrows all false worship so that all who remain therein must finally perish therefore although proud, powerful and rich worldlings Sardana Pellousis and phallorides who surpass even the Persians in wealth are now to be found who boast defiantly of their mammon with utter disregard whether God is angry yet or smiles on them and dare to withstand his wrath yet they shall not succeed but before they are aware with all in which they trusted as all others have perished who have thought themselves more secure or powerful and just because of such hardened heads who imagine God connives and allows them to rest in security that he either is entirely ignorant or cares nothing about such matters he must deal a smashing blow and punish them so that he cannot forget it until children's children so that everyone may take note and see that this is no joke to him he means when he says who hate me that is those who persist in their defiance and pride whatever is preached or said to them they will not listen when they are reproved in order that they may learn to know themselves and amend before the punishment begins they become mad and foolish so as to fairly merit wrath as now we see daily in bishops and princes but terrible as are these threatenings so much more the powerful is the consolation in the promise that those who cling to God alone would be sure that he will show them mercy that is show them pure goodness and blessing not only for themselves but also to their children and children's children even to the thousandth generation and beyond that this ought certainly to move and impel us to risk our hearts in all confidence with God if we wish all temporal and eternal good since the supreme majesty makes such sublime offers and presents such cordial inducements and such rich promises therefore let everyone seriously take this to heart lest it be regarded as though a man had spoken it for to you it is a question either of eternal blessing happiness and salvation or of eternal wrath misery and woe what more would you have or desire than that he so kindly promises to be yours with every blessing and to protect and help you in all need but alas here is the failure that the world believes nothing of this nor regards it as God's word because it sees that those who trust in God and not in mammon suffer care and want and the devil opposes and resists them that they have neither money favor nor honor and besides can scarcely support life while on the other hand those who serve mammon have power favor honor possessions and every comfort in the eyes of the world for this reason these words must be grasped as being directed against such appearances and we must consider that they do not lie or deceive but must come true reflect for yourself or make inquiry and tell me those who have employed all their care and diligence to accumulate great possessions and wealth what have they finally attained you will find that they have wasted their toil and labor or even though they have amassed great treasures they have been dispersed and scattered so that they themselves have never found happiness in their wealth and afterwards never reached the third generation instances of this you will find a plenty in all histories also in the memory of aged and experienced people only observe and ponder them Saul was a great king chosen of God and a godly man but when he was established on his throne and let his heart decline from God and put his trust in his crown and power he had to perish with all that he had so that none even of his children remained David on the other hand was a poor despised man hunted down and chased so that he nowhere felt secure of his life yet he had to remain in spite of Saul and become king for these words had to abide and come true since God cannot lie or deceive only let not the devil in the world deceive you with their show which indeed remains for a time but finally is nothing let us then learn well the first commandment that we may see how God will tolerate no presumption nor any trust in any other object and how he requires nothing higher of us than confidence from the heart for every good thing so that we may proceed right and straight forward and use all the blessings which God gives no farther than as a shoemaker uses his needle all and thread for work and then lays them aside or as a traveler uses an inn and food and his bed only for temporal necessity each one in his station according to God's order and without allowing any of these things to be our food or idol let this suffice with respect to the first commandment which we have had to explain at length since it is of chief importance because as before said where the heart is rightly disposed toward God and this commandment is observed all the others follow end of section 2 section 3 of Luther's large catechism this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Anna Roberts the large catechism by Martin Luther translated by F. Benty and W. H. T. Dow section 3 the second commandment the second commandment thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain as the first commandment has instructed the heart and taught the basis of faith so this commandment leads us forth and directs the mouth and tongue to God for the first objects that spring from the heart and manifest themselves are words now as I have taught above how to answer the question what it is to have a God so you must learn to comprehend simply the meaning of this and all the commandments to apply it to yourself if then it be asked how do you understand the second commandment or what is meant by taking in vain or misusing God's name answer briefly thus it is misusing God's name when we call upon the Lord God no matter in what way for purposes of falsehood or wrong of any kind therefore this commandment enjoins this much that God's name must not be appealed to falsely or taken upon the lips while the heart knows or should know differently as among those who take oaths in court where one side lies against the other for God's name cannot be misused worse than for the support of falsehood and deceit let this remain the exact German and simplest meaning of this commandment from this everyone can readily infer when and in how many ways God's name is misused although it is impossible to enumerate all its misuses yet to tell it in a few words all misuse of the divine name occurs first in worldly business and in matters which concern money, possessions, honor whether it be publicly in court, in the market, or wherever else men make false oaths in God's name or pledge their souls in any matter and this is especially prevalent in marriage affairs where two go and secretly betray themselves to one another and afterward abjure their plated troth but the greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters which pertain to the conscience when false preachers rise up and offer their lying vanities as God's word behold all this is decking oneself out with God's name or making a pretty show or claiming to be right whether it occur in gross worldly business or in sublime subtle matters of faith and doctrine and among liars belong also blasphemers not alone the very gross well known to everyone who disgrace God's name without fear these are not for us but for the hangman to discipline but also those who publicly traduce the truth and God's word and consign it to the devil of this there is no need now to speak further here then let us learn and take to heart the great importance of this commandment that with all diligence we may guard against and dread every misuse of the holy name as the greatest sin that can be outwardly committed for to lie and deceive isn't itself a great sin but it is greatly aggravated when we attempt to justify it and seek to confirm it by invoking the name of God and using it as a cloak for shame so that from a single lie a double lie may manifold lies result for this reason too God has added a solemn threat to this commandment to it for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain that is it shall not be condoned to anyone nor pass unpunished for as little as he will leave it on avenged if anyone turn his heart from him as little will he suffer his name to be employed for dressing up a lie now alas it is a common calamity in all the world that there are as few who are not using the name of God for purposes of lying and all wickedness as there are those who with their heart trust alone in God for by nature we all have within us this beautiful virtue to it that whoever has committed a wrong would like to cover up and adorn his disgrace so that no one may see it or know it and no one is so bold as to boast to all the world of the wickedness he has perpetrated all wish to act by stealth and without anyone being aware of what they do then if anyone be arraigned the name of God is dragged into the affair and must make the villainy look like godliness and the shame like honor this is the common course of the world which like a great deluge has flooded all lands hence we have also as our reward what we seek and deserve pestilences wars famines conflagrations floods wayward wives children servants and all sorts of defilement whence else should so much misery come it is still a great mercy that the earth bears and supports us therefore above all things our young people should have this commandment earnestly enforced upon them and they should be trained to hold this and the first commandment in high regard and whenever they transgress we must at once be after them with the rod and hold the commandment before them and constantly inculcate it so as to bring them up not only with punishment but also in the reverence and fear of God we now understand what it is to take God's name in vain that is to recapitulate briefly either simply for purposes of falsehood and to allege God's name for something that is not so or to curse, swear, conjure and in short to practice whatever wickedness one may besides this you must also know how to use the name of God a right for when saying thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain he gives us to understand at the same time that it is to be used properly it has been revealed and given to us for the very purpose that it may be of constant use and profit hence it is a natural inference since using the holy name for falsehood or wickedness is here forbidden that we are on the other hand commanded to employ it for truth and for all good as when one swears truly when there is need and it is demanded so also when there is right teaching and when the name is invoked in trouble or praised and thanked in prosperity etc all of which is comprehended and commanded in the passage Psalm 50 verse 15 call upon me in the days of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me for all this is bringing it to the service of truth and using it in a blessed way and thus his name is hallowed as we pray in the Lord's prayer thus you have the sum of the entire commandment explained and with this understanding the question with which many teachers have troubled themselves has been easily solved to wit why swearing is prohibited in the gospel and yet Christ, Saint Paul and other saints often swore the explanation is briefly this we are not to swear in support of evil that is a false hood and where there is no need or use but for the support of good and the advantage of our neighbor we should swear for it is a truly good work by which God is praised truth and writer established falsehood is refuted pieces made among men obedience is rendered and quarrels are settled for in this way God himself interposes and separates between right and wrong good and evil if one parts were as falsely he has his sentence that he shall not escape judgment and though it be deferred a long time he shall not succeed that all he may gain thereby will slip out of his hands and he will never enjoy it as I have seen in the case of many who perjured themselves in their marriage vows that they have never had a happy hour or a healthful day and thus perished miserably in body soul and possessions therefore I advise and exhort as before that by means of warning and threatening restraint and punishment the children be trained to be times to shun falsehood and especially to avoid the use of God's name in its support for where they are allowed to do as they please no good will result as is even now evident that the world is worse than it has ever been and that there is no government no obedience no fidelity no faith but only daring unbridled men whom no teaching or reproof helps all of which is God's wrath and punishment for such wanton contempt of this commandment on the other hand they should be constantly urged and incited to honor God's name and to have it always upon their lips in everything that may happen to them or come to their notice for that is the true honor of his name to look to it and implore it for all consolation so that as we have heard above first the heart by faith gives God the honor do him and afterwards the lips by confession this is also a blessed and useful habit and very effectual against the devil who is ever about us and lies in wait to bring us into sin and shame, calamity and trouble but who is very loathe to hear God's name and cannot remain long where it is uttered and called upon from the heart and indeed many a terrible and shocking calamity would befall us if by our calling upon his name God did not preserve us I have myself tried it and learned by experience that often sudden great calamity was immediately averted and removed during such invocation to vex the devil I say we should always have this holy name in our mouth so that he may not be able to injure us as he wishes for this end it is also of service that we form the habit of daily commending ourselves to God with soul and body wife children servants and all that we have against every need that may occur whence also the blessing and thanksgiving at meals and other prayers morning and evening have originated and remain in use likewise the practices of children to cross themselves when anything monstrous or terrible is seen or heard and to exclaim Lord God protect us help dear Lord Jesus etc thus too if anyone meets with unexpected good fortune however trivial that he say God be praised and thanked this God has bestowed on me etc as formerly the children were accustomed to fast and pray to Saint Nicholas and other saints this would be more pleasing and acceptable to God than all monasticism and Carthusian sanctity behold thus we might train our youth in a child like way and playfully in the fear and honor of God so that the first and second commandments might be well observed and in constant practice then some good might take root spring up and bear fruit and men grow up whom an entire land might relish and enjoy moreover this would be the true way to bring up children well as long as they can become trained with kindness and delight for what must be enforced with rods and blows only will not develop into a good breed and at best they will remain godly under such treatment no longer than while the rod is upon their back but this manner of training so spreads its roots in the heart that they fear God more than rods and clubs this I say with such simplicity for the sake of the young that it may penetrate their minds for since we are preaching to children we must also prattle with them thus we have prevented the abuse and have taught the right use of the divine name which consists not only in words but also in practices and life so that we may know that God is well pleased with this and will as richly rewarded as he will terribly punish the abuse and of section three of Luther's large cataclysm section four the third commandment of Luther's large cataclysm this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the large cataclysm by Martin Luther translated by F. Bente and W. H. T. Dowell part first the third commandment that shall sanctify the holy day remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy the word holy day firetark is rendered from the Hebrew word Sabbath which properly signifies to rest that is to abstain from labour hence we are accustomed to say firebent marchen that is to cease working or halligan arbent gaben sanctify the Sabbath now in the Old Testament God separated the seventh day and appointed it for rest and commanded that it should be regarded as holy above all others as regards this external observance this commandment was given to the Jews alone that they should abstain from toilsome work and rest so that both man and beast might recuperate and not be weakened by unremitting labour although they afterwards restricted this too closely and grossly abused it so that they traduced and could not endure in Christ those works which they themselves were accustomed to do on that day as we read in the Gospel just as though the commandment were fulfilled by doing no external or manual work whatever which however was not the meaning but as we shall hear that they sanctify the day or day of rest this commandment therefore according to its gross sense does not concern us Christians for it is altogether an external matter like other ordinances of the Old Testament which were attached to particular customs, persons, times and places and now have been made free through Christ but to grasp a Christian meaning for the simple as to what God requires in this commandment note that we keep holy days not for the sake of intelligent and learned Christians for they have no need of it that is holy days but first of all for bodily causes and necessities which nature teaches and requires for the common people manservants and maid servants who have been attending to their work and trade for the whole week that for a day they may in order to rest and be refreshed secondly and most especially that on such a day of rest since we can get no other opportunity freedom and time be taken to attend divine service so that we come together to hear and treat of God's and then to praise God to sing and pray however this I say is not so restricted to any time as with the Jews that it may be just on this or that day for in itself no one day is better than another but this should indeed be done daily however since the masses cannot give such attendance there must be at least one day in the week set apart since from of old Sunday the Lord's day has been appointed for this purpose we also should continue the same in order that everything be done in harmonious order and that no one create disorder by unnecessary innovation therefore this is the simple meaning of the commandment since holidays are observed anyhow such observance should be devoted to hearing God's word so that the special function of this day should be the ministry of the word for the young and the mass of poor people yet that the resting be not so strictly interpreted as to forbid any other incidental work that cannot be avoided accordingly when asked what is meant by the commandment thou shall sanctify the holy day answer to sanctify the holy day is the same as to keep it holy but what is meant by keeping it holy nothing else than to be occupied in holy words works and life for the day needs no sanctification for itself for in itself it has been created holy from the beginning of the creation it was sanctified by its creator but God desires it to be holy to you therefore it becomes holy or unholy on your account according as you are occupied on the same with things that are holy or unholy how then does such sanctification take place not in this manner that with folded hands we sit behind the stove and do no rough or external work or deck ourselves with a wreath and put on our best clothes but as has been said that we occupy ourselves with God's word and exercise ourselves therein and indeed we Christians ought always to keep such a holy day and be occupied with nothing but holy things always daily be engaged upon God's word and carry it in our hearts and upon our lips but as has been said since we do not at all times have leisure we must devote several hours a week for the sake of the young or at least a day for the sake of the entire multitude to being concerned about this alone and especially urge the Ten Commandments the Creed and the Lord's Prayer and thus direct our whole life and being according to God's word at whatever time then this is being observed and practised there a true holy day is being kept otherwise it shall not be called a Christians holy day for indeed non Christians can also cease from work and be idle just as the entire swarm of ecclesiastics who stand daily in the churches singing and ringing bells but keeping no holy day holy because they neither preach nor practise God's word but teach and live contrary to it for the word of God is the sanctuary above all sanctuaries yea the only one which we Christians know for though we had the bones of all the saints or all holy and consecrated garments upon a heap still that would help as nothing for all that is a dead thing which can sanctify nobody but God's word is the treasure which sanctifies everything and by which even all the saints themselves were sanctified at whatever hour then God's word is taught preached heard, read or meditated upon there the person, day and work are sanctified thereby not because of the external work but because of the word which makes saints of us all therefore I constantly say that all our life and work must be ordered according to God's word if it is to be God pleasing or holy where this is done this commandment is in force and being fulfilled on the contrary any observance or work that is practised without God's word is unholy before God no matter how brilliantly it may shine even though it be covered with relics such as the fictitious spiritual orders which know nothing of God's word and seek holiness in their own works note therefore that the force and power of this commandment lies not in the resting but in the sanctifying so that to this day belongs a special holy exercise for other works and occupations are not properly called holy exercises unless the man himself be first holy but here a work is done by which man himself is made holy which is done as we've heard alone through God's word for this then fixed places, times, persons and the entire external order of worship have been created and appointed so that it may be publicly in operation since therefore so much depends upon God's word that without it no holy day can be sanctified we must know that God insists upon a strict observance of this commandment and will punish all who despise his word and are not willing to hear and learn it especially at the time appointed for the purpose therefore not only those sin against this commandment who grossly misuse and desecrate the holy day as those who on account of their greed or frivolity neglect to hear God's word or lie in taverns and are dead drunk like swine but also that other crowd who listen to God's word as to any other trifle and only from custom come to preaching and go away again at the end of the year know as little of it as at the beginning for hitherto opinion prevailed that you had properly hallowed Sunday when you had heard a mass or the gospel read but no one cared for God's word as also no one taught it now while we have God's word we nevertheless do not correct the abuse we suffer ourselves to be preached to and admonished but we listen without seriousness and care know therefore that you must be concerned not only about hearing but also about learning and retaining it in memory and do not think that it is optional with you or of no great importance but that it is God's commandment who will require of you how you have heard learned and honoured his word likewise those fastidious spirits are to be reproved who when they've heard a sermon or two find it tedious and dull thinking that they know all that well enough and need no more instruction for just that is the sin which has hitherto been reckoned among mortal sins and is called akidia that is torpa or satiety a malignant dangerous plague with which the devil bewitches and deceives the hearts of many that he may surprise us and secretly withdraw God's word from us for let me tell you this even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things still you are daily in the dominion of the devil who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments therefore you must always have God's word in your heart upon your lips and in your ears but where the heart is idle and the word does not sound he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware on the other hand such is the efficacy of the word whenever it is seriously contemplated heard and used that it is bound never to be without fruit but always awakens new understanding pleasure and devoutness and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts for these words are not inoperative or dead but creative living words and even though no other interest or necessity impellers yet this ought to urge everyone there on too because thereby the devil is put to flight and driven away and besides this commandment is fulfilled and this exercise in the word is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy however brilliant End of section 4 Section 5 of Luther's Large Catechism This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Andrew Coleman The Large Catechism by Martin Luther Translated by F. Benty and W. H. T. Dow The Fourth Commandment Thus far we have learned the first three commandments which relate to God first that with our whole heart we trust in him and fear and love him throughout all our life secondly that we do not misuse his holy name in the support of falsehood or any bad work but employ it to the praise of God and the profit and salvation of our neighbour and ourselves Thirdly that on holidays and when at rest we diligently treat and urge God's word so that all our actions and our entire life be ordered according to it Now follow the other seven which relate to our neighbour among which the first and greatest is Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother To this estate of fatherhood and motherhood God has given the special distinction above all estates that are beneath it that he not simply commands us to love our parents but to honour them for with respect to brothers sisters and our neighbours in general he commands nothing higher than that we love them so that he separates and distinguishes father and mother above all other persons upon earth and places them at his side for it is a far higher thing to honour than to love one in as much as it comprehends not only love but also modesty and deference as to a majesty there hidden and requires not only that they be addressed kindly and with reverence but most of all that both in heart and with the body we so act as to show that we esteem them very highly and that next to God we regard them as the very highest for one whom we are to honour from the heart we must truly regard high and great we must therefore impress it upon the young that they should regard their parents as in God's dead and remember that however lowly poor, frail and queer they may be nevertheless they are father and mother given them by God they are not to be deprived of their honour because of their conduct or their failings therefore we are not to regard their persons as they may be but the will of God who has thus created and ordained in other respects we are indeed all alike in the eyes of God but among us there must necessarily be such inequality and ordered difference and therefore God commands it to be observed that you obey me as your father and that I have the supremacy learn therefore first what is the honour towards parents required by this commandment to wit that they be held in distinction and esteem above all things as the most precious treasure on earth furthermore that also in our words we observe modesty toward them do not accost them roughly, haughtily and defiantly but yield to them and be silent even though they go too far thirdly that we show them such honour also by works that is with our body and possessions that we serve them help them and provide for them when they are old, sick infirm or poor and all that not only gladly but with humility and reverence as doing it before God for he who knows how to regard them in his heart will not allow them to suffer want or hunger but will place them above him and at his side and will share with them whatever he has and possesses secondly notice how great, good and holier work is here assigned children which is alas utterly neglected and disregarded and no one perceives that God has commanded it or that it is a holy, divine word and doctrine if it had been regarded as such everyone could have inferred that they must be holy men who live according to these words thus there would have been no need of inventing monasticism nor spiritual orders but every child would have abided by this commandment and could have directed his conscience to God and said if I am to do good and holy works I know of none better than to render all honour and obedience to my parents because God has himself commanded it for what God commands must be much and far nobler than everything that we may devise ourselves and since there is no higher or better teacher to be found than God there can be no better doctrine indeed than he gives forth now he teaches fully what we should do if we wish to perform truly good works and by commanding them he knows that they please him if then it is God who commands this and who knows not how to appoint anything better I will never improve upon it behold in this manner we would have had a godly child properly taught reared in true blessedness and kept at home in obedience to his parents and in their service so that men should have had blessing and joy from the spectacle however God's commandment was not permitted to be thus with such care and diligence commended but had to be neglected and trampled underfoot so that a child could not lay it to heart and meanwhile gaped like a panting wolf at the devices which we set up without once consulting or giving reverence to God let us therefore learn at last for God's sake all other things out of sight I use look first to this commandment if they wish to serve God with truly good works that they do what is pleasing to their fathers and mothers or to those to whom they may be subject in their stead for every child that knows and does this has in the first place this great consolation in his heart that he can joyfully say and boast in spite of and against all who are occupied with works of their own choice behold this work is well pleasing to my God in heaven that I know for certain let them all come together with their many great distressing and difficult works and make their boast we will see whether they can show one that is greater and nobler than obedience to father and mother to whom God has appointed and commanded obedience next to his own majesty so that if God's word and will are in force and being accomplished nothing shall be esteemed higher than the will and word of parents yet so that it too is subordinated to obedience toward God and is not opposed to the preceding commandments therefore you should be heartily glad and thank God in you and made you worthy to do a work so precious and pleasing to him only see that although it be regarded as the most humble and despised you esteem it great and precious not an account of our worthiness but because it is comprehended in and controlled by the jewel and sanctuary namely the word and commandment of God oh what a high price would call Carthusians Monks and Nuns pay if in all their religious doings they could bring into God's presence a single work done by virtue of his commandment and be able before his face to say with joyful heart now I know that this work is well pleasing to thee where will these poor wretched persons hide when in the sight of God and all the world they shall with shame before a young child who has lived according to this commandment and shall have to confess that with their whole life they are not worthy to give it a drink of water and it serves them right for their devilish perversion in treading God's commandment under foot that they must vainly torment themselves with works of their own device and in addition have scorn and lost for their reward should not the heart then leap and melt for joy when going to work and doing what is commanded saying lo this is better than all holiness of the Carthusians even though they kill themselves fasting and praying upon their knees without ceasing for here you have a sure text and a divine testimony that he has enjoined this but concerning the other he did not command a word but this is the plight and miserable kindness of the world that no one believes these things to such an extent the devil has deceived us with false holiness and the glamour of our own works therefore I would be very glad I say it again if men would open their eyes and ears and take this to heart less some time we may again be led astray from the pure word of God to the lying vanities of the devil then too all would be well for parents would have more joy, love, friendship and concord in their houses thus the children could captivate their parents hearts on the other hand when they are obstinate and will not do what they ought until a rod is laid upon their back they anger both God and their parents whereby they deprive themselves of this treasure and joy of conscience and lay up for themselves only misfortune therefore as everyone complains the course of the world now is such that both young and old are altogether disillute and beyond controlled have no reverence nor sense of honour do nothing except as they are driven to it by blows and perpetrate what wrong and detraction they can behind each other's back therefore God also punishes them that they sink into all kinds of filth and misery as a rule the parents too are themselves stupid and ignorant one full trains teaches another and as they have lived so live their children after them this now I say should be the first and most important consideration to urge us to the observance of this commandment on which account even if we had no father and mother we ought to wish that God would set up wood and stone before us whom we might call father and mother how much more since he has given us living parents should we rejoice to show them honour and obedience because we know it is so highly pleasing to the divine majesty and to all angels and vexes all devils and is besides the highest work which we can do after the sublime divine worship comprehended in the previous commandments so that giving of arms and every other good work toward our neighbour are not equal to this for God has assigned this estate the highest place yay has set it up in his own stead upon earth this will and pleasure of God ought to be a sufficient reason and incentive to us to do what we can with good will and pleasure besides this it is our duty before the world to be grateful for benefits and every good which we have of our parents but here again the devil rules in the world so that the children forget their parents as we all forget God and no one considers how God nourishes protects and defends us and bestows so much good on body and soul especially when an evil hour comes we are angry and grumble with impatience and all the good which we have received throughout our life is wiped out from our memory just so we do also with our parents and there is no child that understands and considers this what the parents have endured while nourishing and fostering him except the Holy Ghost grant him this grace God knows very well this perverseness of the world therefore he admonishes and urges us by commandments that everyone consider what his parents have done for him and he will find that he has from them body and life moreover that he has been fed and reared when otherwise he would have perished a hundred times in his own filth therefore it is a true and good saying of old and wise men Deo, parentibus et magistrisis non protest satis gratii rependi that is to God to parents and to teachers we can never render sufficient gratitude and compensation he that regards and considers this will indeed without compulsion do all honor to his parents and bear them up on his hands as those through whom God has done him all good over and above all this another great reason that should incite us the more to obedience to this commandment is that God attaches to this commandment a temporal promise and says that though mayest live long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee here you can see yourself how much God is in earnest in respect to this commandment in as much as he not only declares that it is pleasing to him and that he has joy and delight therein but also that it shall be for our prosperity and promote our highest good so that we may have a pleasant and agreeable life furnished with every good thing therefore also Saint Paul greatly emphasizes the same and rejoices in it when he says Ephesians chapter 6 verses 2 and 3 this is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth for although the rest also have their promises contained in them yet in none is it so plainly and explicitly stated here then you have the fruit and the reward that whoever observes this commandment shall have happy days fortune and prosperity and on the other hand the punishment that whoever is disobedient shall the sooner perish and never enjoy life for to have long life in the sense of the scriptures is not only to become old but to have everything which belongs to long life such as health wife and children livelihood, peace good government etc without which this life can neither be enjoyed in cheerfulness nor long in ture if therefore you will not obey father and mother and submit to their discipline then obey the Hank man if you will not obey him then submit to the skeleton man i.e. death death the all subduer the teacher of wicked children from this God insists peremptorily either if you obey him and love and service he will reward you abundantly with all good or if you offend him he will send upon you both death and the Hank man whence come so many naves that must daily be Hanked, beheaded broken upon the wheel but from disobedience to parents because they will not submit to discipline in kindness so that by the punishment of God they bring it about we behold their misfortune and grief for it seldom happens that such perverse people die a natural or timely death but the godly and obedient have this blessing that they live long in pleasant quietness and see their children's children as said above to the third and fourth generation thus experience also teaches that where there are honourable old families who fare well and have many children they owe their origin to the fact to be sure that some of them were brought up well and were regardful of their parents on the other hand it is written of the wicked Psalm 109 verse 13 let his posterity be cut off and in the generation following let their name be blotted out therefore heed well how greater God's sight obedience is since he so highly esteems it is so highly pleased with it and rewards it so richly and besides enforces punishment so rigorously on those who act contrary wise all this I say that it may be well impressed upon the young for no one believes how necessary this commandment is although it has not been esteemed and taught hitherto under the papacy these are simple and easy words and everybody thinks he knew them before therefore men pass them lightly by are gaping after other matters and do not see and believe that God is so greatly offended if they be disregarded nor that one does a work so well pleasing and precious if he follows them in this commandment belongs a further statement regarding all kinds of obedience to persons in authority who have to command and to govern for all authority flows and is propagated from the authority of parents for where a father is unable alone to educate his rebellious and irritable child he employs a school master to instruct him if he be too weak he enlists the aid of his friends and neighbours if he departs this life he segregates and confers his authority and government upon others who are appointed for the purpose likewise he must have domestics, manservants and maid servants under himself for the management of the household so that all whom we call masters are in the place of parents that must derive their power and authority to govern from them hence also they are all called fathers in the scriptures as those who in their government perform the functions of a father and should have a paternal heart toward their subordinates as also from antiquity the Romans and other nations called the masters and mistresses of the household patres et madres familiae that is house fathers and house mothers so also they called their national rulers and overlords patres patriae that is fathers of the entire country for a great shame to us who would be Christians that we do not likewise call them so or at least do not esteem and honour them as such now what a child owes to father and mother the same all who are embraced in the household therefore manservants and maid servants should be careful not only to be obedient to the masters and mistresses but also to honour them as their own fathers and mothers and to do everything which they know is expected of them not from compulsion and with reluctance but with pleasure and joy for the cause just mentioned namely that it is God's command and is pleasing to him above all other works therefore they ought rather to pay wages in addition and be glad that they may obtain masters and mistresses to have such joyful consciences and to know how they may do truly golden works a matter which has hitherto been neglected and despised when instead everybody ran in the devil's name into convents or to pilgrimages and indulgences with loss of time and money and with an evil conscience if this truth then could be impressed upon the poor people a servant girl would leap and praise and thank God and with her tidy work for which she receives support and wages she would acquire such a treasure as all that are esteemed to the greatest saints have not obtained is it not an excellent boast to know and say that if you perform your daily domestic task this is better than all the sanctity and ascetic life of monks and you have the promise in addition that you shall prosper in all good and farewell how can you lead a more blessed or holier life as far as your works are concerned for in the sight of God faith is what really renders a person holy and alone serves him but the works are for the service of man there you have everything good protection and defence in the Lord a joyful conscience and a gracious God who will reward you a hundred fold so that you are even a nobleman if you be only pious and obedient but if not you have in the first place nothing but the wrath and displeasure of God no peace of heart and afterwards all manner of plagues and misfortunes whoever will not be influenced by this and inclined to godliness we hand over to the rankman and to the skeleton man therefore let everyone who allows himself to be advised remember that God is not making sport and know that it is God who speaks with you and demands obedience if you obey him you are his dear child but if you despise to do it then take shame, misery and grief for your reward the same also is to be said of obedience which as we have said is all embraced in the estate of fatherhood and extends furthest of all relations for here the father is not one of a single family but of as many people as he has tenants, citizens or subjects for through them as through our parents God gives to us food, house and home protection and security therefore since they bear such name and title with all honour as their highest dignity it is our duty to honour them and to esteem them great as the dearest treasure and the most precious jewel upon earth he now who is obedient here is willing and ready to serve and cheerfully does all that pertains to honour knows that he is pleasing God and that he will receive joy and happiness for his reward if he will not do it in love but despises and resists authority or rebels let him also know on the other hand that he shall have no favour nor blessing and where he thinks to gain a flowing thereby he will elsewhere lose ten times as much or become a victim to the hangman perished by war pestilence and famine or experience no good in his children and be obliged to suffer injury, injustice and violence at the hands of his servants neighbours or strangers and tyrants so that what we seek and deserve is paid back and comes home to us if we would ever suffer ourselves to be persuaded that such works are pleasing to God and have so rich a reward we would be established in altogether abundant possessions and have what our heart desires but because the word and command of God are so lightly esteemed as though some babbler has spoken it let us see whether you are the man to oppose him how difficult do you think it will be for him to recompense you therefore you would certainly live much better with the divine favour peace and happiness than with his displeasure and misfortune why think you is the world now so full of unfaithfulness disgrace, calamity and murder but because everyone desires to be his own master and free from the emperor to care nothing for anyone and do what pleases him therefore God punishes one nave by another so that when you defraud and despise your master another comes and deals in like manner with you, yea in your household you must suffer 10 times more from wife children or servants indeed we feel our misfortune we murmur and complain of unfaithfulness, violence and injustice but we will not see that we ourselves are naves who have fully deserve this punishment and yet are not thereby reformed we will have no favour and happiness therefore it is but fair that we have nothing but misfortune without mercy there must still be somewhere upon earth some godly people because God continues to grant us so much good on our own account we should not have a farthing in the house nor a straw in the field all this I have been obliged to urge with so many words in hope that someone may take it to heart that we may be relieved of the blindness and misery in which we are steeped so deeply and may truly understand the word and will of God and earnestly accept it for thence we would learn how we could have joy, happiness and salvation enough both temporal and eternal thus we have two kinds of fathers presented in this commandment fathers in blood and fathers in office of those to whom belongs the care of the family and those to whom belongs the care of the country besides these there are yet fathers not like those in the papacy who have indeed had themselves called thus but have performed no function of the parental office for those only are called spiritual fathers who govern and guide us by the word of God as Saint Paul boasts his fatherhood 1 Corinthians 4 15 where he says in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel as they are entitled to their honour even above all others but here it is bestowed least for the way which the world knows for honouring them is to drive them out of the country and to grudge them a piece of bread and in short they must be as says Saint Paul 1 Corinthians 4 13 as the filth of the world and everybody's refuse and footrag yet there is need that this also be urged upon the populace that those who would be Christians are under obligation in the sight of God to esteem them worthy of double honour who minister to their souls that they deal well with them and provide for them for that God is willing to add to you sufficient blessing and will not let you come to want but in this matter everyone refuses and resists and all are afraid or perish from bodily want and cannot now support one respectable preacher where formally they filled ten fat porches in this we also deserve that God deprive us of his word and blessing and again allow preachers of lies to arise to lead us to the devil and in addition to drain our sweat and blood but those who keep in sight God's will and commandment have the promise that everything which they bestow upon temporal and spiritual fathers and whatever they do to honour them shall be richly recompense to them so that they shall have not bread, clothing and money for a year or two but long life, support and peace and shall be eternally rich and blessed therefore only do what is your duty and let God take care how he is to support you and provide for you sufficiently since he has promised it and has never yet lied he will not be found lying to you this ought indeed to encourage us and give us hearts that would melt in pleasure and love toward those to whom we owe honour so that we would raise our hands and joyfully thank God who has given us such promises for which we ought to run to the ends of the world to the remotest parts of India for although the whole world should combine it could not add an hour to our life or give us a single grain from the earth but God wishes to give you all exceeding abundantly according to your hearts desire he who despises and casts this to the winds is not worthy ever to hear a word of God this has now been stated more than enough for all who belong under this commandment in addition it would be well to preach to the parents also and such as bear their office as to how they should deport themselves toward those who are committed to them for their government for although this is not expressed in the Ten Commandments it is nevertheless abundantly enjoyed in many places in the scriptures and God desires to have it embraced in this commandment that speaks of father and mother for he does not wish to have in this office and government naves and tyrants nor does he assign to them this honour that is power and authority to govern that they should have themselves worshipped but they should consider that they are under obligations of obedience to God and that first of all they should earnestly and faithfully discharge their office not only to support and provide for the bodily necessities of their children servants, subjects etc but most of all to train them to the honour and praise of God therefore do not think that this is left your pleasure and arbitrary will but that it is a strict command and injunction of God to whom also you must give account for it but here again the sad plight arises that no one perceives or heeds this and all live on as though God gave us children for our pleasure or amusement and servants that we should employ them like a cow or ass only for work or as though we were only to gratify our wantonness with our subjects ignoring them as though it were no concern of ours what they learn or how they live and no one is willing to see that this is the command of the supreme majesty who most strictly call us to account and punish us for it nor that there is so great need to be so seriously concerned about the young for if we wish to have excellent and apt persons both for civil and ecclesiastical government we must spare no diligence time or cost in teaching and educating our children that they may serve God and the world and we must not think only how we may amass money and possessions for them for God can indeed without us support and make them rich as he daily does but for this purpose he has given us children and issued this command that we should train and govern them according to his will else he would have no need of father and mother let everyone know therefore that it is his duty on peril of losing the divine favour to bring up his children above all things in the fear and knowledge of God and if they are talented have them learn and study something that they may be employed for whatever need there is to have them instructed and trained in a liberal education that men may be able to have their aid in government and in whatever is necessary if that were done God would also richly bless us and give us grace to train men by whom land and people and likewise well educated citizens chased and domestic wives who afterwards would rear godly children and servants here consider now what deadly injury you are doing if you be negligent and fell on your part to bring up your child to usefulness and piety and have you bring upon yourself all sin and wrath thus earning hell by your own children even though you be otherwise this is pious and holy and because this is disregarded God so fearfully punishes the world that there is no discipline government or peace of which we all complain but do not see that it is our fault for as we train them we have spoiled and disobedient children and subjects let this be sufficient exaltation for to draw this out at length belongs to another time end of section 5