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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 as many parts as there are words。 But now for
young scholars let it suffice to indicate the most necessary points；
namely； as we have said； that this article refers to the Creation： that
we emphasize the words： Creator of heaven and earth But what is the
force of this； or what do you mean by these words： I believe in God the
Father Almighty； Maker； etc。？ Answer： This is what I mean and believe；
that I am a creature of God； that is； that He has given and constantly
preserves to me my body； soul； and life； members great and small； all
my senses； reason； and understanding； and so on； food and drink；
clothing and support； wife and children； domestics； house and home；
etc。 Besides； He causes all creatures to serve for the uses and
necessities of life sun； moon and stars in the firmament； day and
night； air； fire； water； earth； and whatever it bears and produces；
birds and fishes； beasts； grain； and all kinds of produce； and whatever
else there is of bodily and temporal goods； good government； peace；
security。 Thus we learn from this article that none of us has of
himself； nor can preserve； his life nor anything that is here
enumerated or can be enumerated； however small and unimportant a thing
it might be； for all is comprehended in the word Creator。
Moreover； we also confess that God the Father has not only given us all
that we have and see before our eyes； but daily preserves and defends
us against all evil and misfortune； averts all sorts of danger and
calamity； and that He does all this out of pure love and goodness；
without our merit； as a benevolent Father； who cares for us that no
evil befall us。 But to speak more of this belongs in the other two
parts of this article； where we say： Father Almighty
Now； since： all that we possess； and； moreover； whatever； in addition；
is in heaven and upon the earth； is daily given； preserved； and kept
for us by God； it is readily inferred and concluded that it is our duty
to love； praise； and thank Him for it without ceasing； and； in short；
to serve Him with all these things as He demands and has enjoined in
the Ten Commandments。
Here we could say much if we were to expatiate； how few there are that
believe this article。 For we all pass over it； hear it and say it； but
neither see nor consider what the words teach us。 For if we believed it
with the heart； we would also act accordingly； and not stalk about
proudly； act defiantly； and boast as though we had life； riches； power；
and honor； etc。； of ourselves； so that others must fear and serve us；
as is the practice of the wretched； perverse world； which is drowned in
blindness； and abuses all the good things and gifts of God only for its
own pride； avarice； lust； and luxury； and never once regards God； so
as to thank Him or acknowledge Him as Lord and Creator。
Therefore； this article ought to humble and terrify us all； if we
believed it。 For we sin daily with eyes； ears； hands； body and soul；
money and possessions； and with everything we have； especially those
who even f