An Explanation of Luther's Small CatechismLuther, Martin
ReligionChristian
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms -- English
In the third place; when you have thus reached the end of this Short
Catechism, begin anew with the Large Catechism, and by means of it
furnish the people with fuller and more comprehensive explanations.
Explain here at large every Commandment, every Petition, and, indeed,
every part, showing the duties which they severally impose, and both the
advantages which follow the performance of those duties, and also the
dangers and losses which result from the neglect of them. Insist in an
especial manner on such. Commandments or other parts as seem to be most
of all misunderstood or neglected by your people. It will, for example,
be necessary that you should enforce with the utmost earnestness the
Seventh Commandment, which treats of stealing, when you are teaching
workmen, dealers and even farmers and servants, inasmuch as many of
these are guilty of various dishonest and thievish practices. So, too,
it will be your duty to explain and apply the Fourth Commandment with
great diligence, when you are teaching children and uneducated adults,
and to urge them to observe order, to be faithful, obedient and
peaceable, as well as to adduce numerous instances mentioned in the
Scriptures, which show that God punished such as were guilty in these
things, and blessed the obedient.
Here, too, let it be your great aim to urge magistrates and parents to
rule wisely, and to educate the children, admonishing them, at the same
time, that such duties are imposed on them, and showing them how
grievously they sin if they neglect them. For in such a case they
overthrow and lay waste alike the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the
world, acting as if they were the worst enemies both of God and man. And
show them very plainly the shocking evils of which they are the authors,
when they refuse their aid in training up children to be pastors,
preachers, writers, etc., and set forth that on account of such sins God
will inflict an awful punishment upon them. It is, indeed, necessary to
preach on these things; for parents and magistrates are guilty of sins
in this respect, which are so great that there are no terms in which
they can be described. And truly, Satan has a cruel design in fostering
these evils.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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