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the other He did not command a word。 But this is the plight and
miserable blindness of the world that no one believes these things； to
such an extent the devil has deceived us with false holiness and the
glamour of our own works。
Therefore I would be very glad （I say it again） if men would open
their eyes and ears and take this to heart； lest some time we may
again be led astray from the pure Word of God to the lying vanities of
the devil。 Then； too； all would be well； for parents would have more
joy； love； friendship； and concord in their houses； thus the children
could captivate their parents' hearts。 On the other hand； when they are
obstinate； and will not do what they ought until a rod is laid upon
their back； they anger both God and their parents； whereby they deprive
themselves of this treasure and joy of conscience and lay up for
themselves only misfortune。 Therefore； as every one complains； the
course of the world now is such that both young and old are altogether
dissolute and beyond control； have no reverence nor sense of honor； do
nothing except as they are driven to it by blows； and perpetrate what
wrong and detraction they can behind each other's back； therefore God
also punishes them； that they sink into all kinds of filth and misery。
As a rule； the parents； too； are themselves stupid and ignorant； one
fool trains ＇teaches＇ another； and as they have lived； so live their
children after them。
This； now； I say should be the first and most important consideration
to urge us to the observance of this commandment； on which account；
even if we had no father and mother we ought to wish that God would set
up wood and stone before Us； whom we might call father and mother。 How
much more； since He has given us living parents； should we rejoice to
show them honor and obedience； because we know it is so highly pleasing
to the Divine Majesty and to all angels； and vexes all devils； and is；
besides； the highest work which we can do； after the sublime divine
worship comprehended in the previous commandments； so that giving of
alms and every other good work toward our neighbor are not equal to
this。 For God has assigned this estate the highest place； yea； has set
it up in His own stead； upon earth。 This will and pleasure of God ought
to be a sufficient reason and incentive to us to do what we can with
good will and pleasure。
Besides this； it is our duty before the world to be grateful for
benefits and every good which we have of our parents。 But here again
the devil rules in the world； so that the children forget their
parents； as we all forget God； and no one considers how God nourishes；
protects； and defends us； and bestows so much good on body and soul；
especially when an evil hour comes we are angry and grumble with
impatience and all the good which we have received throughout our life
is wiped out ＇from our memory＇。 Just so we do also with our parents；
and there is no child that understands and considers this ＇what the
parents have endured while nourishing and fostering him＇； except the
Holy Ghost grant him this grace。
God knows very well this perverseness of the world； therefore He
admonishes and urges by commandments that every one consider what his
parents have done for him and he will find that he has from them body
and life； moreover； that he has been fed and reared when otherwise he
would have perished a hundred times in his own filth。 Therefore it is a
true and good saying of old and wise men： Deo； parentibus et magistris
non potest satis gratiae rependi； that is； To God； to parents； and to
teachers we can never render sufficient gratitude and compensation。 He
that regards and considers this will indeed without compulsion do all
honor to his parents； and bear them up on his hands as those through
whom God has done him all good。
Over and above all this； another great reason that should incite us the
more ＇to obedience to this commandment＇ is that God attaches to this
commandment a temporal promise and says： That thou mayest live long
upon the land which the Lord； thy God； giveth thee。
Here you can see yourself how much God is in earnest in respect to this
commandment； inasmuch as He not only declares that it is well pleasing
to Him； and that He has joy and delight therein； but also that it shall
be for our prosperity and promote our highest good； so that we may have
a pleasant and agreeable life； furnished with every good thing。
Therefore also St。 Paul greatly emphasizes the same and rejoices in it
when he says； Eph。 6； 2。 3： This is the first commandment with promise：
That it may be well with thee； and thou mayest live long on the earth。
For although the rest also have their promises contained in them； yet
in none is it so plainly and explicitly stated。
Here； then； you have the fruit and the reward； that whoever observes
this commandment shall have happy days； fortune； and prosperity； and on
the other hand； the punishment； that whoever is disobedient shall the
sooner perish； and never enjoy life。 For to have long life in the sense
of the Scriptures is not only to become old； but to have everything
which belongs to long life； such as health； wife； and children；
livelihood； peace； good government； etc。； without which this life can
neither be enjoyed in cheerfulness nor long endure。 If； therefore； you
will not obey father and mother and submit to their discipline； then
obey the hangman； if you will not obey him； then submit to the
skeleton…man； i。e。； death ＇death the all…subduer； the teacher of
wicked children＇。 For on this God insists peremptorily： Either if you
obey Him rendering love and service； He will reward you abundantly with
all good； or if you offend Him； He will send upon you both death and
the hangman。
Whence come so many knaves that must daily be hanged； beheaded； broken
upon the wheel； but from disobedience ＇to parents＇； because they will
not submit to discipline in kindness； so that； by the punishment of
God； they bring it about that we behold their misfortune and grief？ For
it seldom happens that such perverse people die a natural or timely
death。
But the godly and obedient have this blessing； that they live long in
pleasant quietness and see their children's children （as said above） to
the third and fourth generation。 Thus experience also teaches； that
where there are honorable； old families who fare well and have many
children； they owe their origin to the fact； to be sure； that some of
them were brought up well and were regardful of their parents。 On the
other hand； it is written of the wicked； Ps。 109；13： Let his posterity
be cut off； and in the generation following let their name be blotted
out。 Therefore heed well how great a thing in God's sight obedience is
since He so highly esteems it； is so highly pleased with it； and
rewards it so richly； and besides enforces punishment so rigorously on
those who act contrariwise。
All this I say that it may be well impressed upon the young。 For no one
believes how necessary this commandment is； although it has not been
esteemed and taught hitherto under the papacy。 These are simple and
easy words； and everybody thinks he knew them a fore； therefore men
pass them lightly by； are gaping after other matters； and do not see
and believe that God is so greatly offended if they be disregarded； nor
that one does a work so well pleasing and precious if he follows them。
In this commandment belongs a further statement regarding all kinds of
obedience to persons in authority who have to command and to govern。
For all authority flows and is propagated from the authority of
parents。 For where a father is unable alone to educate his ＇rebellious
and irritable＇ child； he employs a schoolmaster to instruct him； if he
be too weak； he enlists the aid of his friends and neighbors； if he
departs this life； he delegates and confers his authority and
government upon others who are appointed for the purpose。 Likewise； he
must have domestics； man…servants and maid…servants； under himself for
the management of the household； so that all whom we call masters are
in the place of parents and must derive their power and authority to
govern from them。 Hence also they are all called fathers in the
Scriptures； as those who in their government perform the functions of a
father； and should have a paternal heart toward their subordinates。 As
also from antiquity the Romans and other nations called the masters and
mistresses of the household patres… et matresfamiliae that is；
housefathers and housemothers。 So also they called their national
rulers and overlords patres patriae； that is fathers of the entire
country； for a great shame to us who would be Christians that we do not
likewise call them so； or； at least do not esteem and honor them as
such。
Now； what a child owes to father and mother； the same owe all who are
embraced in the household。 Therefore man…servants and maid…servants
should be careful not only to be obedient to their masters and
mistresses but also to honor them as their own fathers and mothers； and
to do everything which they know is expected of them； not from
compulsion and with reluctance； but with pleasure and joy for