Martin Luthers Large Catechism | Page 7

Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. So much is
sufficient for a simple person to know from the Scriptures concerning
Baptism. In like manner, also, concerning the other Sacrament in short,
simple words, namely the text of St. Paul [1 Cor. 11, 23 f.].
OF THE SACRAMENT
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took
bread; and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and gave it to His
disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you:
this do in remembrance of Me.
After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped,
gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; this cup is
the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the remission
of sins: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.
Thus, ye would have, in all, five parts of the entire Christian doctrine
which should be constantly treated and required [of children] and heard
recited word for word. For you must not rely upon it that the young
people will learn and retain these things from the sermon alone. When
these parts have been well learned, you may, as a supplement and to
fortify them. lay before them also some psalms or hymns, which have
been composed on these parts, and thus lead the young into the
Scriptures, and make daily progress therein.
However, it is not enough for them to comprehend and recite these
parts according to the words only, but the young people should also be
made to attend the preaching, especially during the time which is
devoted to the Catechism, that they may hear it explained and may

learn to understand what every part contains, so as to be able to recite it
as they have heard it, and, when asked, may give a correct answer, so
that the preaching may not be without profit and fruit. For the reason
why we exercise such diligence in preaching the Catechism so often is
that it may be inculcated on our youth, not in a high and subtle manner,
but briefly and with the greatest simplicity, so as to enter the mind
readily and be fixed in the memory. Therefore we shall now take up the
above mentioned articles one by one and in the plainest manner
possible say about them as much as is necessary.
Part First. The Ten Commandments.
The First Commandment.
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
That is: Thou shalt have [and worship] Me alone as thy God. What is
the force of this, and how is it to be understood? What does it mean to
have a god? or, what is God? Answer: A god means that from which
we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all
distress, so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe
Him from the [whole] heart; as I have often said that the confidence
and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol. If your faith
and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if
your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these
two belong together faith and God. That now, I say, upon which you set
your heart and put your trust is properly your god.
Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith and
trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God and clings to
Him alone. That is as much as to say: "See to it that you let Me alone
be your God, and never seek another," i.e.: Whatever you lack of good
things, expect it of Me, and look to Me for it, and whenever you suffer
misfortune and distress, creep and cling to Me. I, yes, I, will give you
enough and help you out of every need; only let not your heart cleave
to or rest in any other.
This I must unfold somewhat more plainly, that it may be understood
and perceived by ordinary examples of the contrary. Many a one thinks
that he has God and everything in abundance when he has money and
possessions; he trusts in them and boasts of them with such firmness
and assurance as to care for no one. Lo, such a man also has a god,
Mammon by name, i.e., money and possessions, on which he sets all

his