large catechism-第13章

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and　they　keep　the　property　with　such　title　that　no　one　can　make
complaint　or　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　through　relationships；　and　by　any　means　he　can；　that
the　other　is　judicially　deprived　of　it；　and　it　is　adjudicated　to　him；
and　confirmed　with　deed　and　seal　and　declared　to　have　been　acquired　by
princely　title　and　honestly。　

Likewise　also　in　common　trade　where　one　dexterously　slips　something　out
of　another's　hand；　so　that　he　must　look　after　it；　or　surprises　and
defrauds　him　in　a　matter　in　which　he　sees　advantage　and　benefit　for
himself；　so　that　the　latter；　perhaps　on　account　of　distress　or　debt；
cannot　regain　or　redeem　it　without　injury；　and　the　former　gains　the
half　or　even　more；　and　yet　this　must　not　be　considered　as　acquired　by
fraud　or　stolen；　but　honestly　bought。　Here　they　say：　First　come；　first
served；　and　every　one　must　look　to　his　own　interest；　let　another　get
what　he　can。　And　who　can　be　so　smart　as　to　think　of　all　the　ways　in
which　one　can　get　many　things　into　his　possession　by　such　specious
pretexts？　This　the　world　does　not　consider　wrong　＇nor　is　it　punished　by
laws＇；　and　will　not　see　that　the　neighbor　is　thereby　placed　at　a
disadvantage；　and　must　sacrifice　what　he　cannot　spare　without　injury。
Yet　there　is　no　one　who　wishes　this　to　be　done　to　him；　from　which　we
can　easily　perceive　that　such　devices　and　pretexts　are　false。　

Thus　it　was　done　formerly　also　with　respect　to　wives：　they　knew　such
devices　that　if　one　were　pleased　with　another　woman；　he　personally　or
through　others　（as　there　were　many　ways　and　means　to　be　invented）
caused　her　husband　to　conceive　a　displeasure　toward　her；　or　had　her
resist　him　and　so　conduct　herself　that　he　was　obliged　to　dismiss　her
and　leave　her　to　the　other。　That　sort　of　thing　undoubtedly　prevailed
much　under　the　Law；　as　also　we　read　in　the　（Gospel　of　King　Herod　that
he　took　his　brother's　wife　while　he　was　yet　living；　and　yet　wished　to
be　thought　an　honorable；　pious　man；　as　St。　Mark　also　testifies　of　him。
But　such　an　example；　I　trust；　will　not　occur　among　us；　because　in　the
New　Testament　those　who　are　married　are　forbidden　to　be　divorced；
except　in　such　a　case　where　one　＇shrewdly＇　by　some　stratagem　takes　away
a　rich　bride　from　another。　But　it　is　not　a　rare　thing　with　us　that　one
estranges　or　alienates　another's　man…servant　or　maid…servant；　or
entices　them　away　by　flattering　words。　

In　whatever　way　such　things　happen；　we　must　know　that　God　does　not　wish
that　you　deprive　your　neighbor　of　anything　that　belongs　to　him　so　that
he　suffer　the　loss　and　you　gratify　your　avarice　with　it；　even　if　you
could　keep　it　honorably　before　the　world；　for　it　is　a　secret　and
insidious　imposition　practiced　under　the　hat；　as　we　say；　that　it　may
not　be　observed。　For　although　you　go　your　way　as　if　you　had　done　no　one
any　wrong；　you　have　nevertheless　injured　your　neighbor；　and　if　it　is
not　called　stealing　and　cheating；　yet　it　is　called　coveting　your
neighbor's　property；　that　is；　aiming　at　possession　of　it；　enticing　it
away　from　him　without　his　will；　and　being　unwilling　to　see　him　enjoy
what　God　has　granted　him。　And　although　the　judge　and　every　one　must
leave　you　in　possession　of　it；　yet　God　will　not　leave　you　therein；　for
He　sees　the　deceitful　heart　and　the　malice　of　the　world；　which　is　sure
to　take　an　ell　in　addition　wherever　you　yield　to　her　a　finger's
breadth；　and　at　length　public　wrong　and　violence　follow。　

Therefore　we　allow　these　commandments　to　remain　in　their　ordinary
meaning；　that　it　is　commanded；　first；　that　we　do　not　desire　our
neighbor's　damage；　nor　even　assist；　nor　give　occasion　for　it；　but
gladly　wish　and　leave　him　what　he　has；　and；　besides；　advance　and
preserve　for　him　what　may　be　for　his　profit　and　service；　as　we　should
wish　to　be　treated。　Thus　these　commandments　are　especially　directed
against　envy　and　miserable　avarice；　God　wishing　to　remove　all　causes
and　sources　whence　arises　everything　by　which　we　do　injury　to　our
neighbor；　and　therefore　He　expresses　it　in　plain　words：　Thou　shalt　not
covet；　etc。　For　He　would　especially　have　the　heart　pure；　although　we
shall　never　attain　to　that　as　long　as　we　live　here；　so　that　this
commandment　will　remain；　like　all　the　rest；　one　that　will　constantly
accuse　us　and　show　how　godly　we　are　in　the　sight　of　God！　

　Conclusion　of　the　Ten　Commandments。　

Thus　we　have　the　Ten　Commandments；　a　compend　of　divine　doctrine；　as　to
what　we　are　to　do　in　order　that　our　whole　life　may　be　pleasing　to　God；
and　the　true　fountain　and　channel　from　and　in　which　everything　must
arise　and　flow　that　is　to　be　a　good　work；　so　that　outside　of　the　Ten
Commandments　no　work　or　thing　can　be　good　or　pleasing　to　God；　however
great　or　precious　it　be　in　the　eyes　of　the　world。　Let　us　see　now　what
our　great　saints　can　boast　of　their　spiritual　orders　and　their　great
and　grievous　works　which　they　have　invented　and　set　up；　while　they　let
these　pass；　as　though　they　were　far　too　insignificant；　or　had　long　ago
been　perfectly　fulfilled。　

I　am　of　opinion　indeed；　that　here　one　will　find　his　hands　full；　＇and
will　have　enough＇　to　do　to　observe　these；　namely；　meekness；　patience；
and　love　towards　enemies；　chastity；　kindness；　etc。；　and　what　such
virtues　imply。　But　such　works　are　not　of　value　and　make　no　display　in
the　eyes　of　the　world；　for　they　are　not　peculiar　and　conceited　works
and　restricted　to　particular　times；　places；　rites；　and　customs；　but　are
common；　every…day　domestic　works　which　one　neighbor　can　practice　toward
another；　therefore　they　are　not　of　high　esteem。　

But　the　other　works　cause　people　to　open　their　eyes　and　ears　wide；　and
men　aid　to　this　effect　by　the　great　display；　expense；　and　magnificent
buildings　with　which　they　adorn　them；　so　that　everything　shines　and
glitters。　There　they　waft　incense；　they　sing　and　ring　bells；　they　light
tapers　and　candles；　so　that　nothing　else　can　be　seen　or　heard。　For　when
a　priest　stands　there　in　a　surplice　embroidered　with　gilt；　or　a　layman
continues　all　day　upon　his　knees　in　church；　that　is　regarded　as　a　most
precious　work　which　no　one　can　sufficiently　praise。　But　when　a　poor
girl　tends　a　little　child　and　faithfully　does　what　she　is　told　that　is
considered　nothing；　for　else　what　should　monks　and　nuns　seek　in　their
cloisters？　

But　see；　is　not　that　a　cursed　presumption　of　those　desperate　saints　who
dare　to　invent　a　higher　and　better　life　and　estate　than　the　Ten
Commandments　teach；　pretending　（as　we　have　said）　that　this　is　an
ordinary　life　for　the　common　man；　but　that　theirs　is　for　saints　and
perfect　ones？　And　the　miserable　blind　people　do　not　see　that　no　man　can
get　so　far　as　to　keep　one　of　the　Ten　Commandments　as　it　should　be　kept；
but　both　the　Apostles'　Creed　and　the　Lord's　Prayer　must　come　to　our　aid
（as　we　shall　hear）；　by　which　that　＇power　and　strength　to　keep　the
commandments＇　is　sought　and　prayed　for　and　received　continually。
Therefore　all　their　boasting　amounts　to　as　much　as　if　I　boasted　and
said：　To　be　sure；　I　have　not　a　penny　to　make　payment　with；　but　I
confidently　undertake　to　pay　ten　florins。　

All　this　I　say　and　urge　in　order　that　men　might　become　rid　of　the　sad
misuse　which　has　taken　such　deep　root　and　still　cleaves　to　everybody；
and　in　all　estates　upon　earth　become　used　to　looking　hither　only；　and
to　being　concerned　about　these　matters。　For　it　will　be　a　long　time
before　they　will　produce　a　doctrine　or　estates　equal　to　the　Ten
Commandments；　because　they　are　so　high　that　no　one　can　attain　to　them
by　human　power；　and　whoever　does　attain　to　them　is　a　heavenly；　angelic
man　far　above　all　holiness　of　the　world。　Only　occupy　yourself　with
them；　and　try　your　best；　apply　all　power　and　ability　and　you　will　find
so　much　to　do　that　you　will　neither　seek　nor　esteem　any　other　work　or
holiness。　

Let　this　be　sufficient　concerning　the　first　part　of　the　common
Christian　doctrine；　both　for　teaching　and　urging　what　is　necessary。　In
conclusion；　however；　we　must　repeat　the　text　which　belongs　here；　of
which　we　have　treated　already　in　the　First　Commandment；　in　order　that
we　may　learn　what　pains　God　requires　to　the　end　we　may　learn　to
inculcate　and　practice　the　Ten　Commandments：　

For　I　the　Lord；　thy　God；　am　a　jealous　God；　visiting　the　iniquity　of　the
fathers　upon　the　children　unto　the　third　and　fourth　generation　of　them
that　hate　Me；　and　showing　mercy　unto　thousands　of　them　that　love　Me　and
keep　My　commandments。　

Although　（as　we　have　heard　above）　this　appendix　was　primarily　attached
to　the　First　Commandment；　it　was　nevertheless　＇we　cannot　deny　that　it
was＇　laid　down　for　the　sake　of　all　the　commandments；　as　all　of　them　are
to　be　referred　and　directed　to　it。　Therefore　I　have　said　that　this；
too；　should　be　presented　to　and　inculcated　upon　the　young；　that　they
may　learn　and　remember　it；　in　order　to　see　what　is　to　urge　and　compel
us　to　keep　these　Ten　Commandments。　And　it　is　to　be　regarded　as　though
this　part　were　specially　added　to　each；　so　that　it　inheres　in；　and
pervades；　them　all。　

Now；　there　is　comprehended　in　these　words　（as　said　before）　both　an
angry　word　of　threatening　and　a　friendly　promise　to　terrify　and　warn
us；　and；　moreover　to　induce　and　encourage　us　to　receive　and　highly
esteem　His　Word　as　a　matter　of　divine　earnestness；　because　He　Himself
declares　how　much　He　is　concerned　about　it；　and　how　rigidly　He　will
enforce　it；　namely；　that　He　will　horribly　and　terribly　punish　all　who
despise　and　transgress　His　commandments；　and　again；　how　richly　He　will
reward；　bless；　and　do　all　good　to　those　who　hold　them　in　high　esteem；
and　gladly　do　and　live　according　to　them。　Thus　He　demands　that　all　our
works　proceed　from　a　heart　which　fears　and　regards　God　alone；　and　from
such　fear　avoids　everything　that　is　contrary　to　His　will；　lest　it
should　move　Him　to　wrath；　and；　on　the　other　hand；　also　trusts　in　Him
alone；　and　from　love　to　Him　does　all　He　wishes；　because　he　speaks　to　us
as　friendly　as　a　father；　and　offers　us　all　grace　and　every　good。　

Just　this　is　also　the　meaning　and　true　interpretation　of　the　first　and
chief　commandment；　from　which　all　the　others　must　flow　and　proceed；　so
that　this　word：　Thou　shalt　have　no　other　gods　before　Me；　in　its
simplest　meaning　states　nothing　else　than　this　demand：　Thou　shalt　fear；
love；　and　trust　in　Me　as　thine　only　true　God。　For　where　there　is　a
heart　thus　disposed　towards　God；　the　same　has　fulfilled　this　and　all
the　other　commandments。　On　the　other　hand；　whoever　fears　and　loves
anything　else　in　heaven　and　upon　earth　will　keep　neither　this　nor　any。
Thus　the　entire　scriptures　have　everywhere　preached　and　inculcated　this
commandment；　aiming　always　at　these　two　things：　fear　of　God　and　trust
in　Him。　And　especially　the　prophet　David　throughout　the　Psalms；　as　when
he　says　＇Ps。　147；11＇：　The　Lord　taketh　pleasure　in　them　that　fear　Him；
in　those　that　hope　in　His　mercy。　As　if　the　entire　commandment　were
explained　by　one　verse；　as　much　as　to　say：　The　Lord　taketh　pleasure　in
those　who　have　no　other　gods。　

Thus　the　First　Commandment　is　to　shine　and　impart　its　splendor　to　all
the　others。　Therefore　you　must　let　this　declaration　run　through　all　the
commandments；　like　a　hoop　in　a　wreath；　join