large catechism-第13章

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equality　with　other　estates；　but　that　it　precedes　and　surpasses　them
all；　whether　they　be　that　of　emperor；　princes；　bishops；　or　whoever　they
please。　For　both　ecclesiastical　and　civil　estates　must　humble
themselves　and　all　be　found　in　this　estate　as　we　shall　hear。　Therefore
it　is　not　a　peculiar　estate；　but　the　most　common　and　noblest　estate；
which　pervades　all　Christendom；　yea　which　extends　through　all　the
world。　

In　the　second　place；　you　must　know　also　that　it　is　not　only　an
honorable；　but　also　a　necessary　state；　and　it　is　solemnly　commanded　by
God　that；　in　general；　in　all　conditions；　men　and　women；　who　were
created　for　it；　shall　be　found　in　this　estate；　yet　with　some　exceptions
（although　few）　whom　God　has　especially　excepted；　so　that　they　are　not
fit　for　the　married　estate；　or　whom　He　has　released　by　a　high；
supernatural　gift　that　they　can　maintain　chastity　without　this　estate。
For　where　nature　has　its　course；　as　it　is　implanted　by　God；　it　is　not
possible　to　remain　chaste　without　marriage。　For　flesh　and　blood　remain
flesh　and　blood；　and　the　natural　inclination　and　excitement　have　their
course　without　let　or　hindrance；　as　everybody　sees　and　feels。　In
order；　therefore；　that　it　may　be　the　more　easy　in　some　degree　to　avoid
unchastity；　God　has　commanded　the　estate　of　matrimony；　that　every　one
may　have　his　proper　portion　and　be　satisfied　therewith；　although　God's
grace　besides　is　required　in　order　that　the　heart　also　may　be　pure。　

From　this　you　see　how　this　popish　rabble；　priests；　monks；　and　nuns；
resist　God's　order　and　commandment；　inasmuch　as　they　despise　and　forbid
matrimony；　and　presume　and　vow　to　maintain　perpetual　chastity；　and；
besides；　deceive　the　simple…minded　with　lying　words　and　appearances
＇impostures＇。　For　no　one　has　so　little　love　and　inclination　to　chastity
as　just　those　who　because　of　great　sanctity　avoid　marriage；　and　either
indulge　in　open　and　shameless　prostitution；　or　secretly　do　even　worse；
so　that　one　dare　not　speak　of　it；　as　has；　alas！　been　learned　too　fully。
And；　in　short；　even　though　they　abstain　from　the　act；　their　hearts　are
so　full　of　unchaste　thoughts　and　evil　lusts　that　there　is　a　continual
burning　and　secret　suffering；　which　can　be　avoided　in　the　married　life。
Therefore　all　vows　of　chastity　out　of　the　married　state　are　condemned
by　this　commandment；　and　free　permission　is　granted；　yea；　even　the
command　is　given；　to　all　poor　ensnared　consciences　which　have　been
deceived　by　their　monastic　vows　to　abandon　the　unchaste　state　and　enter
the　married　life；　considering　that　even　if　the　monastic　life　were
godly；　it　would　nevertheless　not　be　in　their　power　to　maintain
chastity；　and　if　they　remain　in　it；　they　must　only　sin　more　and　more
against　this　commandment。　

Now；　I　speak　of　this　in　order　that　the　young　may　be　so　guided　that　they
conceive　a　liking　for　the　married　estate；　and　know　that　it　is　a　blessed
estate　and　pleasing　to　God。　For　in　this　way　we　might　in　the　course　of
time　bring　it　about　that　married　life　be　restored　to　honor；　and　that
there　might　be　less　of　the　filthy；　dissolute；　disorderly　doings　which
now　run　riot　the　world　over　in　open　prostitution　and　other　shameful
vices　arising　from　disregard　of　married　life。　Therefore　it　is　the　duty
of　parents　and　the　government　to　see　to　it　that　our　youth　be　brought　up
to　discipline　and　respectability；　and　when　they　have　come　to　years　of
maturity；　to　provide　for　them　＇to　have　them　married＇　in　the　fear　of　God
and　honorably；　He　would　not　fail　to　add　His　blessing　and　grace；　so　that
men　would　have　joy　and　happiness　from　the　same。　

Let　me　now　say　in　conclusion　that　this　commandment　demands　not　only
that　every　one　live　chastely　in　thought；　word；　and　deed　in　his
condition；　that　is；　especially　in　the　estate　of　matrimony；　but　also
that　every　one　love　and　esteem　the　spouse　given　him　by　God。　For　where
conjugal　chastity　is　to　be　maintained；　man　and　wife　must　by　all　means
live　together　in　love　and　harmony；　that　one　may　cherish　the　other　from
the　heart　and　with　entire　fidelity。　For　that　is　one　of　the　principal
points　which　enkindle　love　and　desire　of　chastity；　so　that；　where　this
is　found；　chastity　will　follow　as　a　matter　of　course　without　any
command。　Therefore　also　St。　Paul　so　diligently　exhorts　husband　and　wife
to　love　and　honor　one　another。　Here　you　have　again　a　precious；　yea；
many　and　great　good　works；　of　which　you　can　joyfully　boast；　against　all
ecclesiastical　estates；　chosen　without　God's　Word　and　commandment。

　The　Seventh　Commandment。
　
Thou　shalt　not　steal。　

After　your　person　and　spouse　temporal　property　comes　next。　That　also
God　wishes　to　have　protected；　and　He　has　commanded　that　no　one　shall
subtract　from；　or　curtail；　his　neighbor's　possessions。　For　to　steal　is
nothing　else　than　to　get　possession　of　another's　property　wrongfully；
which　briefly　comprehends　all　kinds　of　advantage　in　all　sorts　of　trade
to　the　disadvantage　of　our　neighbor。　Now；　this　is　indeed　quite　a
wide…spread　and　common　vice；　but　so　little　regarded　and　observed　that
it　exceeds　all　measure；　so　that　if　all　who　are　thieves；　and　yet　do　not
wish　to　be　called　such；　were　to　be　hanged　on　gallows　the　world　would
soon　be　devastated　and　there　would　be　a　lack　both　of　executioners　and
gallows。　For；　as　we　have　just　said；　to　steal　is　to　signify　not　only　to
empty　our　neighbor's　coffer　and　pockets；　but　to　be　grasping　in　the
market；　in　all　stores；　booths；　wine…　and　beer…cellars；　workshops；　and；
in　short；　wherever　there　is　trading　or　taking　and　giving　of　money　for
merchandise　or　labor。　

As；　for　instance；　to　explain　this　somewhat　grossly　for　the　common
people；　that　it　may　be　seen　how　godly　we　are：　When　a　manservant　or
maid…servant　does　not　serve　faithfully　in　the　house；　and　does　damage；
or　allows　it　to　be　done　when　it　could　be　prevented；　or　otherwise　ruins
and　neglects　the　goods　entrusted　to　him；　from　indolence　idleness；　or
malice；　to　the　spite　and　vexation　of　master　and　mistress；　and　in
whatever　way　this　can　be　done　purposely　（for　I　do　not　speak　of　what
happens　from　oversight　and　against　one's　will）；　you　can　in　a　year
abscond　thirty；　forty　florins；　which　if　another　had　taken　secretly　or
carried　away；　he　would　be　hanged　with　the　rope。　But　here　you　＇while
conscious　of　such　a　great　theft＇　may　even　bid　defiance　and　become
insolent；　and　no　one　dare　call　you　a　thief。　

The　same　I　say　also　of　mechanics；　workmen；　and　day…laborers；　who　all
follow　their　wanton　notions；　and　never　know　enough　ways　to　overcharge
people；　while　they　are　lazy　and　unfaithful　in　their　work。　All　these　are
far　worse　than　sneak…thieves；　against　whom　we　can　guard　with　locks　and
bolts；　or　who；　if　apprehended；　are　treated　in　such　a　manner　that　they
will　not　do　the　same　again。　But　against　these　no　one　can　guard；　no　one
dare　even　look　awry　at　them　or　accuse　them　of　theft；　so　that　one　would
ten　times　rather　lose　from　his　purse。　For　here　are　my　neighbors；　good
friends；　my　own　servants；　from　whom　I　expect　good　＇every　faithful　and
diligent　service＇；　who　defraud　me　first　of　all。　

Furthermore；　in　the　market　and　in　common　trade　likewise；　this　practice
is　in　full　swing　and　force　to　the　greatest　extent；　where　one　openly
defrauds　another　with　bad　merchandise；　false　measures；　weights；　coins；
and　by　nimbleness　and　queer　finances　or　dexterous　tricks　takes
advantage　of　him；　likewise；　when　one　overcharges　a　person　in　a　trade
and　wantonly　drives　a　hard　bargain；　skins　and　distresses　him。　And　who
can　recount　or　think　of　all　these　things？　To　sum　up；　this　is　the
commonest　craft　and　the　largest　guild　on　earth；　and　if　we　regard　the
world　throughout　all　conditions　of　life；　it　is　nothing　else　than　a
vast；　wide　stall；　full　of　great　thieves。　

Therefore　they　are　also　called　swivel…chair　robbers；　land…　and
highway…robbers；　not　pick…locks　and　sneak…thieves　who　snatch　away　the
ready　cash；　but　who　sit　on　the　chair　＇at　home＇　and　are　styled　great
noblemen；　and　honorable；　pious　citizens；　and　yet　rob　and　steal　under　a
good　pretext。　

Yes；　here　we　might　be　silent　about　the　trifling　individual　thieves　if
we　were　to　attack　the　great；　powerful　arch…thieves　with　whom　lords　and
princes　keep　company；　who　daily　plunder　not　only　a　city　or　two；　but　all
Germany。　Yea；　where　sh