Martin Luther's Large Catechism, translated by Bente and DauLuther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Martin Luther's Large Catechism, translated by Bente and Dau
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms -- English
From this you see how this popish rabble, priests, monks, and nuns,
resist God's order and commandment, inasmuch as they despise and forbid
matrimony, and presume and vow to maintain perpetual chastity, and,
besides, deceive the simple-minded with lying words and appearances
[impostures]. For no one has so little love and inclination to chastity
as just those who because of great sanctity avoid marriage, and either
indulge in open and shameless prostitution, or secretly do even worse,
so that one dare not speak of it, as has, alas! been learned too fully.
And, in short, even though they abstain from the act, their hearts are
so full of unchaste thoughts and evil lusts that there is a continual
burning and secret suffering, which can be avoided in the married life.
Therefore all vows of chastity out of the married state are condemned
by this commandment, and free permission is granted, yea, even the
command is given, to all poor ensnared consciences which have been
deceived by their monastic vows to abandon the unchaste state and enter
the married life, considering that even if the monastic life were
godly, it would nevertheless not be in their power to maintain
chastity, and if they remain in it, they must only sin more and more
against this commandment.
Now, I speak of this in order that the young may be so guided that they
conceive a liking for the married estate, and know that it is a blessed
estate and pleasing to God. For in this way we might in the course of
time bring it about that married life be restored to honor, and that
there might be less of the filthy, dissolute, disorderly doings which
now run riot the world over in open prostitution and other shameful
vices arising from disregard of married life. Therefore it is the duty
of parents and the government to see to it that our youth be brought up
to discipline and respectability, and when they have come to years of
maturity, to provide for them [to have them married] in the fear of God
and honorably; He would not fail to add His blessing and grace, so that
men would have joy and happiness from the same.
Let me now say in conclusion that this commandment demands not only
that every one live chastely in thought, word, and deed in his
condition, that is, especially in the estate of matrimony, but also
that every one love and esteem the spouse given him by God. For where
conjugal chastity is to be maintained, man and wife must by all means
live together in love and harmony, that one may cherish the other from
the heart and with entire fidelity. For that is one of the principal
points which enkindle love and desire of chastity, so that, where this
is found, chastity will follow as a matter of course without any
command. Therefore also St. Paul so diligently exhorts husband and wife
to love and honor one another. Here you have again a precious, yea,
many and great good works, of which you can joyfully boast, against all
ecclesiastical estates, chosen without God's Word and commandment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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