we may learn what pains God requires to the end we may learn to
inculcate and practice the Ten Commandments：
For I the Lord； thy God； am a jealous God； 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 （as we have heard above） this appendix was primarily attached
to the First Commandment； it was nevertheless ＇we cannot deny that it
was＇ laid down for the sake of all the commandments； as all of them are
to be referred and directed to it。 Therefore I have said that this；
too； should be presented to and inculcated upon the young； that they
may learn and remember it； in order to see what is to urge and compel
us to keep these Ten Commandments。 And it is to be regarded as though
this part were specially added to each； so that it inheres in； and
pervades； them all。
Now； there is comprehended in these words （as said before） both an
angry word of threatening and a friendly promise to terrify and warn
us； and； moreover to induce and encourage us to receive and highly
esteem His Word as a matter of divine earnestness； because He Himself
declares how much He is concerned about it； and how rigidly He will
enforce it； namely； that He will horribly and terribly punish all who
despise and transgress His commandments； and again； how richly He will
reward； bless； and do all good to those who hold them in high esteem；
and gladly do and live according to them。 Thus He demands that all our
works proceed from a heart which fears and regards God alone； and from
such fear avoids everything that is contrary to His will； lest it
should move Him to wrath； and； on the other hand； also trusts in Him
alone； and from love to Him does all He wishes； because he speaks to us
as friendly as a father； and offers us all grace and every good。
Just this is also the meaning and true interpretation of the first and
chief commandment； from which all the others must flow and proceed； so
that this word： Thou shalt have no other gods before Me； in its
simplest meaning states nothing else than this demand： Thou shalt fear；
love； and trust in Me as thine only true God。 For where there is a
heart thus disposed towards God； the same has fulfilled this and all
the other commandments。 On the other hand； whoever fears and loves
anything else in heaven and upon earth will keep neither this nor any。
Thus the entire scriptures have everywhere preached and inculcated this
commandment； aiming always at these two things： fear of God and trust
in Him。 And especially the prophet David throughout the Psalms； as when
he says ＇Ps。 147；11＇： The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him；
in those that hope in His mercy。 As if the entire commandment were
explained by one verse； as much as to say： The Lord taketh pleasure in
those who have no other gods。
Thus the First Commandment is to shine and impart its splendor to all
the others。 Therefore you must let this declaration run through all the
commandments； like a hoop in a wreath； joining the end to the beginning
and holding them all together； that it be continually repeated and not
forgotten； as； namely； in the Second Commandment； that we fear God and
do not take His name in vain for cursing； lying； deceiving； and other
modes of leading men astray； or rascality； but make proper and good use
of it by calling upon Him in prayer； praise； and thanksgiving； derived
from love and trust according to the First Commandment。 In like manner
such fear； love； and trust is to urge and force us not to despise His
Word； but gladly to learn； hear； and esteem it holy； and honor it。
Thus continuing through all the following commandments towards our
neighbor likewise； everything is to proceed by virtue of the First
Commandment； to wit； that we honor father and mother； masters； and all
in authority and be subject and obedient to them； not on their own
account； but for God's sake。 For you are not to regard or fear father
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