large catechism-第18章

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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；　joining　the　end　to　the　beginning
and　holding　them　all　together；　that　it　be　continually　repeated　and　not
forgotten；　as；　namely；　in　the　Second　Commandment；　that　we　fear　God　and
do　not　take　His　name　in　vain　for　cursing；　lying；　deceiving；　and　other
modes　of　leading　men　astray；　or　rascality；　but　make　proper　and　good　use
of　it　by　calling　upon　Him　in　prayer；　praise；　and　thanksgiving；　derived
from　love　and　trust　according　to　the　First　Commandment。　In　like　manner
such　fear；　love；　and　trust　is　to　urge　and　force　us　not　to　despise　His
Word；　but　gladly　to　learn；　hear；　and　esteem　it　holy；　and　honor　it。　

Thus　continuing　through　all　the　following　commandments　towards　our
neighbor　likewise；　everything　is　to　proceed　by　virtue　of　the　First
Commandment；　to　wit；　that　we　honor　father　and　mother；　masters；　and　all
in　authority　and　be　subject　and　obedient　to　them；　not　on　their　own
account；　but　for　God's　sake。　For　you　are　not　to　regard　or　fear　father
or　mother；　or　from　love　of　them　do　or　omit　anything。　But　see　to　that
which　God　w