large catechism-第15部分

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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　would　have　you　do；　and　what　He　will　quite　surely　demand　of
you；　if　you　omit　that；　you　have　an　angry　Judge；　but　in　the　contrary
case　a　gracious　Father。　

Again；　that　you　do　your　neighbor　no　harm；　injury；　or　violence；　nor　in
any　wise　encroach　upon　him　as　touching　his　body；　wife；　property；　honor；
or　rights；　as　all　these　things　are　commanded　in　their　order；　even
though　you　have　opportunity　and　cause　to　do　so　and　no　man　would　reprove
you；　but　that　you　do　good　to　all　men；　help　them；　and　promote　their
interest；　howsoever　and　wherever　you　can；　purely　from　love　of　God　and
in　order　to　please　Him；　in　the　confidence　that　He　will　abundantly
reward　you　for　everything。　Thus　you　see　how　the　First　Commandment　is
the　chief　source　and　fountainhead　which　flows　into　all　the　rest；　and
again；　all　return　to　that　and　depend　upon　it；　so　that　beginning　and　end
are　fastened　and　bound　to　each　other。　

This　（I　say）　it　is　profitable　and　necessary　always　to　teach　to　the
young　people；　to　admonish　them　and　to　remind　them　of　it；　that　they　may
be　brought　up　not　only　with　blows　and　compulsion；　like　cattle；　but　in
the　fear　and　reverence　of　God。　For　where　this　is　considered　and　laid　to
heart　that　these　things　are　not　human　trifles；　but　the　commandments　of
the　Divine　Majesty；　who　insists　upon　them　with　such　earnestness；　is
angry　with；　and　punishes　those　who　despise　them；　and；　on　the　other
hand；　abundantly　rewards　those　who　keep　them；　there　will　be　a
spontaneous　impulse　and　a　desire　gladly　to　do　the　will　of　God。
Therefore　it　is　not　in　vain　that　it　is　commanded　in　the　Old　Testament
to　write　the　Ten　Commandments　on　all　walls　and　corners；　yes；　even　on
the　garments；　not　for　the　sake　of　merely　having　them　written　in　these
places　and　making　a　show　of　them；　as　did　the　Jews；　but　that　we　might
have　our　eyes　constantly　fixed　upon　them；　and　have　them　always　in　our
memory；　and　that　we　might　practice　them　in　all　our　actions　and　ways；
and　every　one　make　them　his　daily　exercise　in　all　cases；　in　every
business　and　transaction；　as　though　they　were　written　in　every　place
wherever　he　would　look；　yea；　wherever　he　walks　or　stands。　Thus　there
would　be　occasion　enough；　both　at　home　in　our　own　house　and　abroad　with
our　neighbors；　to　practice　the　Ten　Commandments；　that　no　one　need　run
far　for　them。　

From　this　it　again　appears　how　highly　these　Ten　Commandments　are　to　be
exalted　and　extolled　above　all　estates；　commandments；　and　works　which
are　taught　and　practiced　aside　from　them。　For　here　we　can　boast　and
say：　Let　all　the　wise　and　saints　step　forth　and　produce；　if　they　can；　a
＇single＇　work　like　these　commandments；　upon　which　God　insists　with　such
earnestness；　and　which　He　enjoins　with　His　greatest　wrath　and
punishment；　and；　besides；　adds　such　glorious　promises　that　He　will　pour
out　upon　us　all　good　things　and　blessings。　Therefore　they　should　be
taught　above　all　others；　and　be　esteemed　precious　and　dear；　as　the
highest　treasure　given　by　God。
　
Part　Second。　OF　THE　CREED。
　
Thus　far　we　have　heard　the　first　part　of　Christian　doctrine；　in　which
we　have　seen　all　that　God　wishes　us　to　do　or　to　leave　undone。　Now；
there　properly　follows　the　Creed；　which　sets　forth　to　us　everything
that　we　must　expect　and　receive　from　God；　and；　to　state　it　quite
briefly；　teaches　us　to　know　Him　fully。　And　this　is　intended　to　help　us
do　that　which　according　to　the　Ten　Commandments　we　ought　to　do。　For　（as
said　above）　they　are　set　so　high　that　all　human　ability　is　far　too
feeble　and　weak　to　＇attain　to　or＇　keep　them。　Therefore　it　is　as
necessary　to　learn　this　part　as　the　former　in　order　that　we　may　know
how　to　attain　thereto；　whence　and　whereby　to　obtain　such　power。　For　if
we　could　by　our　own　powers　keep　the　Ten　Commandments　as　they　are　to　be
kept；　we　would　need　nothing　further；　neither　the　Creed　nor　the　Lord's
Prayer。　But　before　we　explain　this　advantage　and　necessity　of　the
Creed；　it　is　sufficient　at　first　for　the　simple…minded　that　they　learn
to　comprehend　and　understand　the　Creed　itself。　

In　the　first　place；　the　Creed　has　hitherto　been　divided　into　twelve
articles；　although；　if　all　points　which　are　written　in　the　Scriptures
and　which　belong　to　the　Creed　were　to　be　distinctly　set　forth；　there
would　be　far　more　articles；　nor　could　they　all　be　clearly　expressed　in
so　few　words。　But　that　it　may　be　most　easily　and　clearly　understood　as
it　is　to　be　taught　to　children；　we　shall　briefly　sum　up　the　entire
Creed　in　three　chief　articles；　according　to　the　three　persons　in　the
Godhead；　to　whom　everything　that　we　believe　is　related；　So　that　the
First　Article；　of　God　the　Father；　explains　Creation；　the　Second
Article；　of　the　Son；　Redemption；　and　the　Third；　of　the　Holy　Ghost；
Sanctification。　Just　as　though　the　Creed　were　briefly　comprehended　in
so　many　words：　I　believe　in　God　the　Father；　who　has　created　me；　I
believe　in　God　the　Son；　who　has　redeemed　me；　I　believe　in　the　Holy
Ghost；　who　sanctifies　me。　One　God　and　one　faith；　but　three　persons；
therefore　also　three　articles　or　confessions。　Let　us　briefly　run　over
the　words。
　
Article　I。
　
I　believe　in　God　the　Father　Almighty；　Maker　of　heaven　and　earth。　

This　portrays　and　sets　forth　most　briefly　what　is　the　essence；　will；
activity；　and　work　of　God　the　Father。　For　since　the　Ten　Commandments
have　taught　that　we　are　to　have　not　more　than　one　God；　the　question
might　be　asked；　What　kind　of　a　person　is　God？　What　does　He　do？　How　can
we　praise　or　portray　and　describe　Him；　that　He　may　be　known？　Now；　that
is　taught　in　this　and　in　the　following　article；　so　that　the　Creed　is
nothing　else　than　the　answer　and　confession　of　Christians　arranged　with
respect　to　the　First　Commandment。　As　if　you　were　to　ask　a　little　child：
My　dear；　what　sort　of　a　God　have　you？　What　do　you　know　of　Him？　he　could
say：　This　is　my　God：　first；　the　Father；　who　has　created　heaven　and
earth；　besides　this　only　One　I　regard　nothing　else　as　God；　for　there　is
no　one　else　who　could　create　heaven　and　earth。　

But　for　the　learned；　and　those　who　are　somewhat　advanced　＇have
acquired　some　Scriptural　knowledge＇；　these　three　articles　may　all　be
expanded　and　divided　into