large catechism-第2章

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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；　i。e。；　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　is　the　duty　of　every　father　of　a　family　to　question　and
examine　his　children　and　servants　at　least　once　a　week　and　to
ascertain　what　they　know　of　it；　or　are　learning　and；　if　they　do　not
know　it；　to　keep　them　faithfully　at　it。　For　I　well　remember　the　time；
indeed；　even　now　it　is　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；　notwithstanding　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　we　are　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　honor　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　neighbor。　

9。　Thou　shalt　not　covet　thy　neighbor's　house。　

10。　Thou　shalt　not　covet　thy　neighbor's　wife；　nor　his　man…servant；　nor
his　maidservant；　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；
ma…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；　pain；　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　arts　are　apprehended；　it　behooves　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
＇28；　19　ff。＇　and　Mark　＇16；　15　f。＇　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；　baptizing　them　in　the　name　of　the　Father；
and　of　the　Son；　and　of　the　Holy　Ghost。　He　that　believeth　and　is
baptized　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　St。　Paul　＇1　Cor。
11；　23　f。＇。

OF　THE　SACRAMENT　

Our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　the　same　night　in　which　He　was　betrayed；　took
bread；　and　when　He　had　given　thanks；　He　brake　it；　and　gave　it　to　His
disciples　and　said；　Take；　eat；　this　is　My　body；　which　is　given　for　you：
this　do　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　oft　as　ye　drink　it；　in　remembrance　of　Me。　

Thus；　ye　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　these　things　from　the　sermon　alone。
When　these　parts　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　is　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　Catechism　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。　

　

　Part　First。　The　Ten　Commandments。　
　

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？　Answer：　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；〃　i。e。：　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　that
he　has　God　and　everything　in　abundance　when　he　has　money　and
possessions；　he　trusts　in　them　and　boasts　of　them　with　such　firmness
and　assurance　as　to　care　for　no　one。　Lo；　such　a　man　also　has　a　god；
Mammon　by　name；　i。e。；　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　any　one　had　toothache；　he
fasted　and　honored　St。　Apollonia　＇lacerated　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　Rochio；　and　a　countless　number　of　such
abominations；　where　every　one　selected　his　own　saint；　worshiped　him；
and　called　for　help　to　him　in　distress。　Here　belong　those　also；　as；
e。g。；　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　commandment
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　percei