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thanks may be rendered Him for it； as this commandment requires。 On
this account also these means of receiving good gifts through creatures
are not to be rejected； neither should we in presumption seek other
ways and means than God has commanded。 For that would not be receiving
from God； hut seeking of ourselves。
Let every one； then； see to it that he esteem this commandment great
and high above all things； and do not regard it as a joke。 Ask and
examine your heart diligently； and you will find whether it cleaves to
God alone or not。 If you have a heart that can expect of Him nothing
but what is good； especially in want and distress； and that； moreover
renounces and forsakes everything that is not God； then you have the
only true God。 If on the contrary； it cleaves to anything else； of
which it expects more good and help than of God； and does not take
refuge in Him； but in adversity flees from Him； then you have an idol；
another god。
In order that it may be seen that God will not have this commandment
thrown to the winds； but will most strictly enforce it； He has attached
to it first a terrible threat； and then a beautiful； comforting promise
which is also to be urged and impressed upon young people； that they
may take it to heart and retain it：
＇Exposition of the Appendix to the First Commandment。＇
For I am the Lord； thy God； strong and jealous； 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 these words relate to all the commandments （as we shall
hereafter learn）； yet they are joined to this chief commandment
because it is of first importance that men have a right head； for
where the head is right； the whole life must be right； and vice versa。
Learn； therefore； from these words how angry God is with those who
trust in anything but Him； and again； how good and gracious He is to
those who trust and believe in Him alone with the whole heart； so that
His anger does not cease until the fourth generation； while； on the
other hand； His blessing and goodness extend to many thousands lest you
live in such security and commit yourself to chance； as men of brutal
heart； who think that it makes no great difference ＇how they live＇。 He
is a God who will not leave it unavenged if men turn from Him； and will
not cease to be angry until the fourth generation； even until they are
utterly exterminated。 Therefore He is to be feared； and not to be
desisted。
He has also demonstrated this in all history； as the Scriptures
abundantly show and daily experience still teaches。 For from the
beginning He has utterly extirpated all idolatry； and； on account of
it； both heathen and Jews； even as at the present day He overthrows all
false worship； so that all who remain therein must finally perish。
Therefore； although proud； powerful； and rich worldlings
＇Sardanapaluses and Phalarides； who surpass even the Persians in
wealth＇ are now to be found； who boast defiantly of their Mammon； with
utter disregard whether God is angry at or smiles on them； and dare to
withstand His wrath； yet they shall not succeed； but before they are
aware； they shall be wrecked； with all in which they trusted； as all
others have perished who have thought themselves more secure or
powerful。 And just because of such hardened heads who imagine because
God connives and allows them to rest in security； that He either is
entirely ignorant or cares nothing about such matters； He must deal a
smashing blow and punish them； so that He cannot forget it unto
children's children； so that every one may take note and see that this
is no joke to Him。 For they are those whom He means when He says： Who
hate Me； i。e。； those who persist in their defiance and pride； whatever
is preached or said to them； they will not listen； when they are
reproved； in order that they may learn to know themselves and amend
before the punishment begins； they become mad and foolish so as to
fairly merit wrath； as now we see daily in bishops and princes。
But terrible as are these threatenings； so much the more powerful is
the consolation in the promise； that those who cling to God alone
should be sure that He will show them mercy that is； show them pure
goodness and blessing not only for themselves； but also to their
children and children's children； even to the thousandth generation and
beyond that。 This ought certainly to move and impel us to risk our
hearts in all confidence with God； if we wish all temporal and eternal
good； since the Supreme Majesty makes such sublime offers and presents
such cordial inducements and such rich promises。
Therefore let everyone seriously take this to heart； lest it be
regarded as though a man had spoken it。 For to you it is a question
either of eternal blessing； happiness； and salvation； or of eternal
wrath； misery； and woe。 What more would you have or desire than that He
so kindly promises to be yours with every blessing； and to protect and
help you in all need？
But； alas！ here is the failure； that the world believes nothing of
this； nor regards it as God's Word； because it sees that those who
trust in God and not in Mammon suffer care and want； and the devil
opposes and resists them； that they have neither money； favor； nor
honor； and； besides； can scarcely support life； while； on the other
hand； those who serve Mammon have power； favor； honor； possessions； and
every comfort in the eyes of the world。 For this reason； these words
must be grasped as being directed against such appearances； and we must
consider that they do not lie or deceive； but must come true。
Reflect for yourself or make inquiry and tell me： Those who have
employed all their care and diligence to accumulate great possessions
and wealth； what have they finally attained？ You will find that they
have wasted their toil and labor； or even though they have amassed
great treasures； they have been dispersed and scattered； so that the
themselves have never found happiness in their wealth； and afterwards
never reached the third generation。 Instances of this you will find a
plenty in all histories； also in the memory of aged and experienced
people。 Only observe and ponder them。
Saul was a great king； chosen of God and a godly man； but when he was
established on his throne； and let his heart decline from God； and put
his trust in his crown and power； he had to perish with all that he
had； so that none even of his children remained。 David； on the other
hand； was a poor； despised man； hunted down and chased； so that he
nowhere felt secure of his life； yet he had to remain in spite of Saul；
and become king。 For these words had to abide and come true； since God
cannot lie or deceive。 Only let not the devil and the world deceive you
with their show； which indeed remains for a time； but finally is
nothing。
Let us； then； learn well the First Commandment； that we may see how God
will tolerate no presumption nor any trust in any other object； and how
He requires nothing higher of us than confidence from the heart for
everything good； so that we may proceed right and straightforward and
use all the blessings which God gives no farther than as a shoemaker
uses his needle； awl； and thread for work； and then lays them aside； or
as a traveler uses an inn； and food； and his bed only for temporal
necessity； each one in his station； according to God's order； and
without allowing any of these things to be our food or idol。 Let this
suffice with respect to the First Commandment； which we have had to
explain at length； since it is of chief importance； because； as before
said； where the heart is rightly disposed toward God and this
commandment is observed； all the others follow。
The Second Commandment。
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord； thy God； in vain。
As the First Commandment has instructed the heart and taught ＇the
basis of＇ faith； so this commandment leads us forth and directs the
mouth and tongue to God。 For the first objects that spring from the
heart and manifest themselves are words。 Now； as I have taught above
how to answer the question； what it is to have a god； so you must learn
to comprehend simply the meaning of this and all the commandments； and
to apply it to yourself。 If； then； it be asked： How do you understand
the Second Commandment； or what is meant by taking in vain； or misusing
God's name？ answer briefly thus： It is misusing God's name when we call
upon the Lord God no matter in what way； for purposes of falsehood or
wrong of any kind。 Therefore this commandment enjoins this much； that
God's name must not be appealed to falsely； or taken upon the lips
while the heart knows well enough； or should know； differently； as
among those who take oaths in court； where one side lies against the
other。 For God's name cannot be misused worse than for the support of
falsehood and deceit。 Let4this remain the exact German and simplest
meaning of this commandment。
From this every one can readily infer when and in how many ways God's
name is misused； although it is impossible to enumerate all its
misuses。