large catechism-第3章
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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 perceive； is not to lay hold of Him with our hands or to put Him
in a bag ＇as money＇； or to lock Him in a chest ＇as silver vessels＇。 But
to apprehend Him means when the heart lays hold of Him and clings to
Him。 But to cling to Him with the heart is nothing else than to trust
in Him entirely。 For this reason He wishes to turn us away from
everything else that exists outside of Him； and to draw us to Himself；
namely； because He is the only eternal good。 As though He would say：
Whatever you have heretofore sought of the saints； or for whatever
＇things＇ you have trusted in Mammon or anything else； expect it all of
Me； and regard Me as the one who will help you and pour out upon you
richly all good things。
Lo； here you have the meaning of the true honor and worship of God；
which pleases God； and which He commands under penalty of eternal
wrath； namely； that the heart know no other comfort or confidence than
in Him； and do not suffer itself to be torn from Him； but； for Him；
risk and disregard everything upon earth。 On the other hand； you can
easily see and judge how the world practices only false worship and
idolatry。 For no people has ever been so reprobate as not to institute
and observe some divine worship； every one has set up as his special
god whatever he looked to for blessings； help； and comfort。
Thus； for example； the heathen who put their trust in power and
dominion elevated Jupiter as the supreme god； the others； who were bent
upon riches； happiness； or pleasure； and a life of ease； Hercules；
Mercury； Venus or others； women with child； Diana or Lucina； and so on；
thus every one made that his god to which his heart was inclined； so
that even in the mind of the heathen to have a god means to trust and
believe。 But their error is this that their trust is false and wrong
for it is not placed in the only God； besides whom there is truly no
God in heaven or upon earth。 Therefore the heathen really make their
self…invented notions and dreams of God an idol； and put their trust in
that which is alto
