large catechism-第6章

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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
impel　us；　yet　this　ought　to　urge　every　one　thereunto；　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。
　
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　neighbor　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　neighbor　among　which　the　first　and　greatest　is：　

Thou　shalt　honor　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　honor　them。　For　with　respect　to
brothers；　sisters；　and　our　neighbors　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　honor　than　to　love　one；
inasmuch　as　it　comprehends　not　only　love；　but　also　modesty；　humility；
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　honor　from　the　heart　we　must　truly　regard　as
high　and　great。　

We　must；　therefore　impress　it　upon　the　young　that　they　should　regard
their　parents　as　in　God's　stead；　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　honor　because
of　their　conduct　or　their　failings。　Therefore　we　are　not　to　regard
their　persons；　how　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　honor　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　honor　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　holy　a　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。　For　if　it　had　been　regarded　as　such；　every　one　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　honor　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　shows　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　under　foot；　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；　that；　placing　all
other　things　out　of　sight；　our　youths　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　that　He　has　chosen
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　on　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　all；　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　blush　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　loss　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　blindness　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；　lest　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　every　one　complains；　the
course　of　the　world　now　is　such　that　both　young　and　old　are　altogether
dissolute　and　beyond　control；　have　no　reverence　nor　sense　of　honor；　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
fool　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　honor　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
alms　and　every　other　good　work　toward　our　neighbor　are　not　equal　to
this。　For　God　has　assigned　this　estate　the　highest　place；　yea；　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；　ther