M.—Let us pass to the second table. S.—It begins, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” M.—What meaning do you give to the word “honor?” S.—That children be, with modesty and humility, respectful and obedient to parents, serving them reverentially, helping them in necessity, and exerting their labor for them. For in these three branches is … Continue reading “FIFTH
COMMANDMENT”
FOURTH COMMANDMENT
M.—Let us come to the fourth commandment. S.—Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy … Continue reading “FOURTH
COMMANDMENT”
THIRD COMMANDMENT
M.—Now for the third commandment. S.—Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain. M.—What is the meaning? S.—He forbids us to abuse the name of God, not only by perjury, but by swearing without necessity. M.—Can the name of God be lawfully used in making oath? S.—It may indeed, when used … Continue reading “THIRD
COMMANDMENT”
SECOND COMMANDMENT
M.—Let us pass to the second head. S.—Thou shalt not sculpture to thyself the image, or form any of those things which are either in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore nor serve them. M.—Does it entirely prohibit us from sculpturing or painting … Continue reading “SECOND
COMMANDMENT”
FIRST COMMANDMENT
M.—Repeat the first commandment or head. S.—Hear, O Israel, I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: thou shalt have no other gods before me. M.—Now explain the meaning of the words. S.—At first he makes a kind of preface to the whole … Continue reading “FIRST
COMMANDMENT”
THE LAW, THAT IS, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.
M.—What is the rule of life which he has given us? S.—His law. M.—What does it contain? S.—It consists of two parts; the former of which contains four commandments, the latter six. Thus the whole law consists of ten commandments in all M.—Who is the author of this division? S.—God himself; who delivered it to … Continue reading “THE
LAW, THAT IS, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.”
THE CHURCH
M.— Let us proceed. S.—Next comes the fourth part, in which we confess that we believe in one Holy Catholic Church. M.—What is the Church? S.—The body and society of believers whom God hath predestined to eternal life. M.—Is it necessary to believe this article also? S.—Yes, verily, if we would not make the death … Continue reading “THE
CHURCH”
THE HOLY SPIRIT
M.—Let us come now to the third part. S.—It relates to faith in the Holy Spirit. M.—What do we learn by it? S.—The object is to let us know that God, as he hath redeemed and saved us by his Son, will also by his Spirit make us capable of this redemption and salvation. M.—How? … Continue reading “THE
HOLY SPIRIT”
HIS SON JESUS CHRIST
M.—Let us now come to the second part. S.—It is that we believe “in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord.” M.—What does it chiefly comprehend? S.—That the Son of God is our Savior, and it at the same time explains the method by which he has redeemed us from death, and purchased life. M.—What … Continue reading “HIS
SON JESUS CHRIST”
GOD THE FATHER
M.—Since there is no God but one, why do you here mention three, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? S.—Because in the one essence of God, it behoves us to look on God the Father as the beginning and origin, and the first cause of all things; next the Son, who is his eternal Wisdom; … Continue reading “GOD
THE FATHER”