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upon this Commandment； since parents are commanded to teach them
to their children； as Psalm lxxviii。 says； 〃How strictly has He
commanded our fathers； that they should make known God's
Commandments to their children； that the generation to come might
know them and declare them to their children's children。〃 This
also is the reason why God bids us honor our parents； that is；
to love them with fear； for that other love is without fear；
therefore it is more dishonor than honor。
Now see whether every one does not have good works enough to do；
whether he be father or child。 But we blind men leave this
untouched； and seek all sorts of other works which are not
commanded。
IV。 Now where parents are foolish and train their children after
the fashion of the world； the children are in no way to obey
them； for God； according to the first three Commandments； is to
be more highly regarded than the parents。 But training after the
fashion of the world I call it； when they teach them to seek no
more than pleasure； honor and possessions of this world or its
power。
To wear decent clothes and to seek an honest living is a
necessity； and not sin。 Yet the heart of a child must be taught
to be sorry that this miserable earthly life cannot well be
lived； or even begun； without the striving after more adornment
and more possessions than are necessary for the protection of the
body against cold and for nourishment。 Thus the child must be
taught to grieve that； without its own will； it must do the
world's will and play the fool with the rest of men； and endure
such evil for the sake of something better and to avoid something
worse。 So Queen Esther wore her royal crown； and yet said to God；
Esther xiv； 〃Thou knowest； that the sign of my high estate； which
is upon my head； has never yet delighted me； and I abhor it as
a menstruous rag； and never wear it when I am by myself； but when
I must do it and go before the people。〃 The heart that is so
minded wears adornment without peril； for it wears and does not
wear； dances and does not dance； lives well and does not live
well。 And these are the secret souls； hidden brides of Christ；
but they are rare； for it is hard not to delight in great
adornment and parade。 Thus St。 Cecilia wore golden clothes at the
command of her parents； but within against her body she wore a
garment of hair。
Here some men say： 〃How then could I bring my children into
society； and marry them honorably？ I must make some display。〃
Tell me； are not these the words of a heart which despairs of
God； and trusts more on its own providing than on God's care？
Whereas St。 Peter teaches and says； I。 Peter v； 〃Cast all your
care upon Him； and be certain that He cares for you。〃 It is a
sign that they have never yet thanked God for their children；
have never yet rightly prayed for them； have never yet commended
them to Him； otherwise they would know and have experienced that
they ought to ask God also for the marriage dower of their
children； and await it from Him。 Therefore also He permits them
to go their way； with cares and worries； and yet succeed poorly。
V。 Thus it is true； as men say； that parents； although they had
nothing else to do； could attain salvation by training their own
children； if they rightly train them to God's service； they will
indeed have both hands full of good works to do。 For what else
are here the hungry； thirsty； naked； imprisoned； sick； strangers；
than the souls of your own children？ with whom God makes of your
house a hospital； and sets you over them as chief nurse； to wait
on them； to give them good words and works as meat and drink；
that they may learn to trust； believe and fear God； and to place
their hope on Him； to honor His Name； not to swear nor curse； to
mortify themselves by praying； fasting； watching； working； to
attend worship and to hear God's Word； and to keep the Sabbath；
that they may learn to despise temporal things； to bear
misfortune calmly； and not to fear death nor to love this life。
See； what great lessons are these； how many good works you have
before you in your home； with your child； that needs all these
things like a hungry； thirsty； naked； poor； imprisoned； sick
soul。 O what a blessed marriage and home were that where such
parents were to be found！ Truly it would be a real Church； a
chosen cloister； yea； a paradise。 Of such says Psalm cxxviii：
〃Blessed are they that fear God； and walk in His Commandments；
thou shalt eat of the labor of thine hands； therefore thou shalt
be happy； and it shall be well with thee。 Thy wife shall be as
a fruitful vine in thine house； and thy children shall be as the
young scions of laden olive trees about thy table。 Behold； thus
shall the man be blessed； that feareth the Lord；〃 etc。 Where are
such parents？ Where are they that ask after good works？ Here none
wishes to come。 Why？ God has commanded it； the devil； flesh and
blood pull away from it； it makes no show； therefore it counts
for nothing。 Here this husband runs to St。 James； that wife vows
a pilgrimage to Our Lady； no one vows that he will properly
govern and teach himself and his child to the honor of God； he
leaves behind those whom God has commanded him to keep in body
and soul； and would serve God in some other place； which has not
been commanded him。 Such perversity no bishop forbids； no
preacher corrects； nay； for covetousness' sake they confirm it
and daily only invent more pilgrimages； elevations of saints；
indulgence…fairs。 God have pity on such blindness。
VI。 On the other hand； parents cannot earn eternal punishment in
any way more easily than by neglecting their own children in
their own home； and not teaching them the things which have been
spoken of above。 Of what help is it； that they kill themselves
with fasting； praying； making pilgrimages； and do all manner of
good works？ God will； after all； not ask them about these things
at their death and in the day of judgment； but will require of
them the children whom He entrusted to them。 This is shown by
that word of Christ； Luke xxiii； 〃Ye daughters of Jerusalem； weep
not for me； but for yourselves and for your children。 The days
are coming； in which they shall say： Blessed are the wombs that
never bare； and the paps which never gave suck。〃 Why shall they
lament； except because all their condemnation comes from their
own children？ If they had not had children； perhaps they might
have been saved。 Truly； these words ought to open the eyes of
parents； that they may have regard to the souls of their
children； so that the poor children be not deceived by their
false； fleshly love； as if they had rightly honored their parents
when they are not angry with them； or are obedient in worldly
matters； by which their self…will is strengthened； although the
Commandment places the parents in honor for the very purpose that
the self…will of the children may be broken； and that the
children may become humble and meek。
Just as it has been said of the other Commandments； that they are
to be fulfilled in the chief work； so here too let no one suppose
that the training and teaching of his children is sufficient of
itself； except it be done in confidence of divine favor； so that
a man doubt not that he is wellpleasing to God in his works； and
that he let such works be nothing else than an exhortation and
exercise of his faith； that he trust God and look to Him for
blessings and a gracious will； without which faith no work lives；
or is good and acceptable； for many heathen have trained their
children beautifully； but it is all lost； because of their
unbelief。
VII。 The second work of this Commandment is to honor and obey the
spiritual mother； the holy Christian Church； the spiritual power；
so that we conform to what she commands； forbids； appoints；
orders； binds and looses； and honor； fear and love the spiritual
authority as we honor； love and fear our natural parents； and
yield to it in all things which are not contrary to the first
three Commandments。
Now with regard to this work； things are almost worse than with
regard to the first。 The spiritual authority should punish sin
with the ban and with laws； and constrain its spiritual children
to be good； in order that they might have reason to do this work
and to exercise themselves in obeying and honoring it。 Such zeal
one does not see now； they act toward their subjects like the
mothers who forsake their children and run after their lovers；
as Hosea ii。 says； they do not preach； they do not teach； they
do not hinder； they do not punish； and there is no spiritual
government at all left in Christendom。
What can I say of this work？ A few fast…days and feast…days are
left； and these had better be done away with。 But no one gives
this a thought； and there is nothing left except the ban for
debt； and this should not be。 But spiritual authority should look
to