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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 altogether nothing。 Thus it is with all idolatry； for it
consists not merely in erecting an image and worshiping it； but rather
in the heart； which stands gaping at something else； and seeks help and
consolation from creatures saints； or devils； and neither cares for
God； nor looks to Him for so much good as to believe that He is willing
to help； neither believes that whatever good it experiences comes from
God。
Besides； there is also a false worship and extreme idolatry； which we
have hitherto practiced； and is still prevalent in the world； upon
which also all ecclesiastical orders are founded； and which concerns
the conscience alone that seeks in its own works help； consolation； and
salvation； presumes to wrest heaven from God； and reckons how many
bequests it has made； how often it has fasted； celebrated Mass； etc。
Upon such things it depends； and of them boasts； as though unwilling to
receive anything from God as a gift； but desires itself to earn or
merit it superabundantly； just as though He must serve us and were our
debtor； and we His liege lords。 What is this but reducing God to an
idol； yea； ＇a fig image or＇ an apple…god； and elevating and regarding
ourselves as God ？ But this is slightly too subtle； and is not for
young pupils。
But let this be said to the simple； that they may well note and
remember the meaning of this commandment； namely； that we are to trust
in God alone； and look to Him and expect from Him naught but good； as
from one who gives us body； life； food； drink； nourishment； health；
protection； peace； and all necessaries of both temporal and eternal
things。 He also preserves us from misfortune； and if any evil befall
us； delivers and rescues us； so that it is God alone （as has been
sufficiently said） from whom we receive all good； and by whom we are
delivered from all evil。 Hence also； I think； we Germans from ancient
times call God （more elegantly and appropriately than any other
language） by that name from the word good as being an eternal fountain
which gushes forth abundantly nothing but what is good； and from which
flows forth all that is and is called good。
For even though otherwise we experience much good from men； still
whatever we receive by His command or arrangement is all received from
God。 For our parents； and all rulers； and every one besides with
respect to his neighbor； have received from God the command that they
should do us all manner of good； so that we receive these blessings not
from them； but； through them； from God。 For creatures are only the
hands； channels； and means whereby God gives all things； as He gives to
the mother breasts and milk to offer to her child； and corn and all
manner of produce from the earth for nourishment； none of which
blessings could be produced by any creature of itself。
Therefore no man should presume to take or give anything except as God
has commanded； in order that it may be acknowledged as God's gift； and
thanks may be rendered Him for it； as this