large catechism-第7章

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Jews；　that　it　must　be　just　on　this　or　that　day；　for　in　itself　no　one
day　is　better　than　another；　but　this　should　indeed　be　done　daily；
however；　since　the　masses　cannot　give　such　attendance；　there　must　be　at
least　one　day　in　the　week　set　apart。　But　since　from　of　old　Sunday　＇the
Lord's　Day＇　has　been　appointed　for　this　purpose；　we　also　should
continue　the　same；　in　order　that　everything　be　done　in　harmonious
order；　and　no　one　create　disorder　by　unnecessary　innovation。　

Therefore　this　is　the　simple　meaning　of　the　commandment：　since
holidays　are　observed　anyhow；　such　observance　should　be　devoted　to
hearing　God's　Word；　so　that　the　special　function　of　this　day　should　be
the　ministry　of　the　Word　for　the　young　and　the　mass　of　poor　people；　yet
that　the　resting　be　not　so　strictly　interpreted　as　to　forbid　any　other
incidental　work　that　cannot　be　avoided。　

Accordingly；　when　asked；　What　is　meant　by　the　commandment：　Thou　shalt
sanctify　the　holy　day？　answer：　To　sanctify　the　holy　day　is　the　same　as
to　keep　it　holy。　But　what　is　meant　by　keeping　it　holy？　Nothing　else
than　to　be　occupied　in　holy　words；　works；　and　life。　For　the　day　needs
no　sanctification　for　itself；　for　in　itself　it　has　been　created　holy
＇from　the　beginning　of　the　creation　it　was　sanctified　by　its　Creator＇。
But　God　desires　it　to　be　holy　to　you。　Therefore　it　becomes　holy　or
unholy　on　your　account；　according　as　you　are　occupied　on　the　same　with
things　that　are　holy　or　unholy。　

How；　then；　does　such　sanctification　take　place？　Not　in　this　manner；
that　＇with　folded　hands＇　we　sit　behind　the　stove　and　do　no　rough
＇external＇　work；　or　deck　ourselves　with　a　wreath　and　put　on　our　best
clothes；　but　（as　has　been　said）　that　we　occupy　ourselves　with　God's
Word；　and　exercise　ourselves　therein。　

And；　indeed；　we　Christians　ought　always　to　keep　such　a　holy　day；　and　be
occupied　with　nothing　but　holy　things；　i。e。；　daily　be　engaged　upon
God's　Word；　and　carry　it　in　our　hearts　and　upon　our　lips。　But　（as　has
been　said）　since　we　do　not　at　all　times　have　leisure；　we　must　devote
several　hours　a　week　for　the　sake　of　the　young；　or　at　least　a　day　for
the　sake　of　the　entire　multitude；　to　being　concerned　about　this　alone；
and　especially　urge　the　Ten　Commandments；　the　Creed；　and　the　Lord's
Prayer；　and　thus　direct　our　whole　life　and　being　according　to　God's
Word。　At　whatever　time；　then；　this　is　being　observed　and　practiced；
there　a　true　holy　day　is　being　kept；　otherwise　it　shall　not　be　called　a
Christians'　holy　day。　For；　indeed；　non…Christians　can　also　cease　from
work　and　be　idle；　just　as　the　entire　swarm　of　our　ecclesiastics；　who
stand　daily　in　the　churches；　singing；　and　ringing　bells　but　keeping　no
holy　day　holy；　because　they　neither　preach　nor　practices　God's　Word；
but　teach　and　live　contrary　to　it。　

For　the　Word　of　God　is　the　sanctuary　above　all　sanctuaries；　yea；　the
only　one　which　we　Christians　know　and　have。　For　though　we　had　the　bones
of　all　the　saints　or　all　holy　and　consecrated　garments　upon　a　heap；
still　that　would　help　us　nothing；　for　all　that　is　a　dead　thing　which
can　sanctify　nobody。　But　God's　Word　is　the　treasure　which　sanctifies
everything；　and　by　which　even　all　the　saints　themselves　were
sanctified。　At　whatever　hour　then；　God's　Word　is　taught；　preached；
heard；　read　or　meditated　upon；　there　the　person；　day；　and　work　are
sanctified　thereby；　not　because　of　the　external　work；　but　because　of
the　Word　which　makes　saints　of　us　all。　Therefore　I　constantly　say　that
all　our　life　and　work　must　be　ordered　according　to　God's　Word；　if　it　is
to　be　God…pleasing　or　holy。　Where　this　is　done；　this　commandment　is　in
force　and　being　fulfilled。　

On　the　contrary；　any　observance　or　work　that　is　practiced　without
God's　Word　is　unholy　before　God；　no　matter　how　brilliantly　it　may
shine！　even　though　it　be　covered　with　relics；　such　as　the　fictitious
spiritual　orders　which　know　nothing　of　God's　Word　and　seek　holiness　in
their　own　works。　Note；　therefore；　that　the　force　and　power　of　this
commandment　lies　not　in　the　resting　but　in　the　sanctifying　so　that　to
this　day　belongs　a　special　holy　exercise。　For　other　works　and
occupations　are　not　properly　called　holy　exercises；　unless　the　man
himself　be　first　holy。　But　here　a　work　is　to　be　done　by　which　man　is
himself　made　holy；　which　is　done　（as　we　have　heard　）　alone　through
God's　Word。　For　this；　then；　fixed　places；　times；　persons；　and　the
entire　external　order　of　worship　have　been　created　and　appointed；　so
that　it　may　be　publicly　in　operation。　

Since；　therefore；　so　much　depends　upon　God's　Word　that　without　it　no
holy　day　can　be　sanctified；　we　must　know　that　God　insists　upon　a　strict
observance　of　this　commandment；　and　will　punish　all　who　despise　His
Word　and　are　not　willing　to　hear　and　learn　it；　especially　at　the　time
appointed　for　the　purpose。　

Therefore　not　only　those　sin　against　this　commandment　who　grossly
misuse　and　desecrate　the　holy　day；　as　those　who　on　account　of　their
greed　or　frivolity　neglect　to　hear　God's　Word　or　lie　in　taverns　and　are
dead　drunk　like　swine；　but　also　that　other　crowd；　who　listen　to　God's
Word　as　to　any　other　trifle；　and　only　from　custom　come　to　preaching；
and　go　away　again；　and　at　the　end　of　the　year　know　as　little　of　it　as
at　the　beginning。　For　hitherto　the　opinion　prevailed　that　you　had
properly　hallowed　Sunday　when　you　had　heard　a　mass　or　the　Gospel　read；
but　no　one　cared　for　God's　Word；　as　also　no　one　taught　it。　Now；　while
we　have　God's　Word　we　nevertheless　do　not　correct　the　abuse；　we　suffer
ourselves　to　be　preached　to　and　admonished；　but　we　listen　without
seriousness　and　care。　

Know；　therefore；　that　you　must　be　concerned　not　only　about　hearing；　but
also　about　learning　and　retaining　it　in　memory；　and　do　not　think　that
it　is　optional　with　you　or　of　no　great　importance；　but　that　it　is　God's
commandment；　who　will　require　of　you　how　you　have　heard；　learned；　and
honored　His　Word。　

Likewise　those　fastidious　spirits　are　to　be　reproved　who；　when　they
have　heard　a　sermon　or　two；　find　it　tedious　and　dull；　thinking　that
they　know　all　that　well　enough；　and　need　no　more　instruction。　For　just
that　is　the　sin　which　has　been　hitherto　reckoned　among　mortal　sins；　and
is　called　_achedia_；　i。e。；　torpor　or　satiety；　a　malignant；　dangerous
plague　with　which　the　devil　bewitches　and　deceives　the　hearts　of　many；
that　he　may　surprise　us　and　secretly　withdraw　God's　Word　from　us。　

For　let　me　tell　you　this；　even　though　you　know　it　perfectly　and　be
already　master　in　all　things；　still　you　are　daily　in　the　dominion　of
the　devil；　who　ceases　neither　day　nor　night　to　steal　unawares　upon　you；
to　kindle　in　your　heart　unbelief　and　wicked　thoughts　against　the
foregoing　and　all　the　commandments。　Therefore　you　must　always　have
God's　Word　in　your　heart；　upon　your　lips；　and　in　your　ears。　But　where
the　heart　is　idle；　and　the　Word　does　not　sound；　he　breaks　in　and　has
done　the　damage　before　we　are　aware。　On　the　other　hand；　such　is　the
efficacy　of　the　Word；　whenever　it　is　seriously　contemplated　heard；　and
used；　that　it　is　bound　never　to　be　without　fruit；　but　always　awakens
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：　

T