AN EXPLANATION OF LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM

A Handbook for the Catechetical Class: an Outline and Analysis forthe Pastor's Oral Instruction, and a Summary for the Catechumens'Study and Review at Home

BY JOSEPH STUMP, D. D. 

1910

PREFACE

This book aims to present both an analysis of Luther's Small Catechismand a clear, concise, yet reasonably full explanation of its contents. It is an attempt, upon the basis of twenty years' experience and a studyof the literature of the subject, to meet the peculiar wants of thecatechetical class in our Lutheran Church in America. The object of thebook is twofold: first, to furnish an outline of teaching which thepastor may use as a guide in his oral explanation and questioning; andsecondly, to furnish a sufficiently complete summary by means of whichthe catechumens may review the lesson and fix its salient points intheir minds. No text-book can, of course, adequately supply theparenetical side of the catechetical instruction or take the place ofthe living exposition by the pastor. But it can and should support hiswork, so that what he explains at one meeting may not be forgottenbefore the next meeting, but may be fixed in the minds of thecatechumens by study at home. 

Since the task of the pastor in catechization is not only to impartreligious instruction, but to impart it on the basis of that pricelessheritage of our Church, Luther's Small Catechism, the explanation hereoffered follows the catechism closely. The words of the catechism areprinted in heavy-faced type and are used as headings wherever possible;and thus the words of the catechism may be traced as a thread runningthrough the entire explanation. 

Wherever he deemed it necessary, the author has added a fullerexplanation of the text of the catechism than that which Luther gives, and has supplemented its contents with such additional matter as theneeds of our catechumens require. He does not agree with thosecatechetical writers who maintain that the pastor, in his catechization, must confine himself to an explanation of _Luther's explanation_. Such aprinciple would exclude from the catechetical class much which ourcatechumens should be taught. But all such additional matters areintroduced under an appropriate head as an organic part of the wholeexplanation, thus preserving its unity. 

This book is written in the thetical form instead of the traditionalform of questions and answers. There is nothing in the nature ofcatechization which would require the use of the interrogative form insuch a text-book, and accordingly the thetical form has for years beenemployed by numerous writers of text-books for the catechetical class inGermany. While questions have an important place in catecheticalinstruction, the matter and not the form is the vital thing. Catechization is _not a method_ of instruction by means of questions andanswers. Neither the original meaning of the word nor the history ofcatechization justifies such a definition. (See my article, "A BriefHistory of Catechization, " in the Lutheran Church Review, January, 1902;comp. V. Zezschwitz: System der christl. -kirchl. Katechetik, vol. I. Pp. 17 seq. , and vol. Ii. , 2. 1. , pp. 3 seq. ) And since Christian truth isnot something to be brought forth from the mind of the child by means ofquestions, but something divinely revealed and hence _to becommunicated_ to the child, the most natural form in which to set itbefore him in a text-book is the thetical. Luther's catechism itself is, indeed, in the form of questions and answers. But his catechism isconfessional as well as didactic, and its words, memorized by thecatechumen, are to become a personal confession of faith. Theexplanations of a text-book, on the other hand, are not to be memorized, but are meant to aid the catechumen in grasping the _thoughts_ of thecatechism. For this purpose, the thetical form is better than theinterrogative, because the explanation is not continually broken byquestions, and is thus better adapted to give the catechumens aconnected idea of the doctrines taught. 

Each chapter of this explanation is followed by a number of questions. After the pastor has explained a lesson at one meeting, the catechumensshould prepare themselves to give an answer to the printed questions _intheir own words_ at the next meeting. The pastor may, of course, substitute other questions, assign additional ones, or eliminate some. The proof passages for the teachings set forth are cited in the margin. The more important passages, particularly those which the catechumensmay be expected to memorize, are specially indicated by a dagger (+), and are printed in full at the end of the chapter. The use of aScripture lesson is, of course, optional with the pastor. One isindicated, however, for each chapter, and may be read in class or beassigned to the catechumens to be read at home. The Scripturalillustrations are cited for the convenience of the pastor in his oralexposition. The division into chapters has been regulated by thesubject-matter, and will, it is hoped, aid in the survey of the contentsof the book as a whole. It is not intended that each chapter shallnecessarily constitute one lesson. Some lessons will doubtless includeonly a part of a chapter, while others will include several chapters, asthe pastor may determine. 

While the author, in the preparation of this explanation of Luther'scatechism, has gone his own way, careful consideration has been given tothe voice of those whose study of the problems involved entitled them tobe heard. Luther's other catechetical writings, the standard theoreticalworks on Catechetics, and numerous monographs have been constantly athand. Explanations of the catechism for the use of pastors and teachershave been freely consulted, --among others, those of Schuetze, Fricke, Mehliss, Kahle, Zuck, Kaftan, v. Zezschwitz, Palmer, Harnack, Nissen, Hempel, Schultze, Th. Hardeland, O. Hardeland, Nebe, Buchrucker, andCremer. Acknowledgment is due also to the authors of numerous Americanand German text-books and helps for the catechetical class, whose workshave been carefully scanned, in order that the fruits of past experienceand the best results of former labors in this field might, if possible, be embodied in this work. 

May the Lord bless this explanation of Luther's Small Catechism to theupbuilding of His kingdom and the glory of His name. 

JOSEPH STUMP. 

PHILLIPBURG, N. J. , REFORMATION DAY, 1907. 

LUTHER'S PREFACE

_Martin Luther to all faithful and godly Pastors and Preachers: Grace, Mercy and Peace, in Jesus Christ, our Lord!_

The deplorable condition in which I found religious affairs during arecent visitation of the congregations, has impelled me to publish thisCatechism, or statement of the Christian doctrine, after having preparedit in very brief and simple terms. Alas! what misery I beheld! Thepeople, especially those who live in the villages, seem to have noknowledge whatever of Christian doctrine, and many of the pastors areignorant and incompetent teachers. And, nevertheless, they all maintainthat they are Christians, that they have been baptized, and that theyhave received the Lord's Supper. Yet they cannot recite the Lord'sPrayer, the Creed, or the Ten Commandments; they live as if they wereirrational creatures, and now that the Gospel has come to them, theygrossly abuse their Christian liberty. 

Ye bishops! what answer will ye give to Christ for having so shamefullyneglected the people, and paid no attention to the duties of youroffice? I invoke no evil on your heads. But you withhold the cup in theLord's Supper, insist on the observance of your human laws, and yet, atthe same time, do not take the least interest in teaching the people theLord's Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, or any other part of theword of God. Woe unto you!

Wherefore I beseech you in the Name of God, my beloved brethren, who arepastors or preachers, to engage heartily in the discharge of the dutiesof your office, to have mercy on the people who are entrusted to yourcare, and to assist us in introducing the Catechism among them, andespecially among the young. And if any of you do not possess thenecessary qualifications, I beseech you to take at least the followingforms, and read them, word for word, to the people, on this wise:--

In the first place; let the preacher take the utmost care to avoid allchanges or variations in the text and wording of the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, the Sacraments, etc. Let him, on thecontrary, take each of the forms respectively, adhere to it, and repeatit anew, year after year. For young and inexperienced people cannot besuccessfully instructed, unless we adhere to the same text or the sameforms of expression. They easily become confused, when the teacher atone time employs a certain form of words and expressions, and, atanother, apparently with a view to make improvements, adopts a differentform. The result of such a course will he, that all the time and laborwhich we have expended will be lost. 

This point was well understood by our venerable fathers, who wereaccustomed to use the same words in teaching the Lord's Prayer, theCreed, and the Ten Commandments. We, too, should follow this plan whenwe teach these things, particularly in the case of the young andignorant, not changing a single syllable, nor introducing any variationswhen, year after year, we recur to these forms and recite them anewbefore our hearers. 

Choose, therefore, the form of words which best pleases you, and adhereto it perpetually. When you preach in the presence of intelligent andlearned men, you are at liberty to exhibit your knowledge and skill, andmay present and discuss these subjects in all the varied modes which areat your command. But when you are teaching the young, retain the sameform and manner without change; teach them, first of all, the TenCommandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, etc. , always presenting thesame words of the text, so that those who learn can repeat them afteryou, and retain them in the memory. 

But if any refuse to receive your instructions, tell them plainly thatthey deny Christ and are not Christians; such persons shall not beadmitted to the Lord's Table, nor present a child for baptism, nor enjoyany of our Christian privileges, but are to be sent back to the pope andhis agents, and, indeed, to Satan himself. Their parents and employersshould, besides, refuse to furnish them with food and drink, and notifythem that the government was disposed to banish from the country allpersons of such a rude and intractable character. 

For although we cannot, and should not, compel them to exercise faith, we ought, nevertheless, to instruct the great mass with all diligence, so that they may know how to distinguish between right and wrong intheir conduct towards those with whom they live, or among whom theydesire to earn their living. For whoever desires to reside in a city, and enjoy the rights and privileges which its laws confer, is also boundto know and obey those laws. God grant that such persons may becomesincere believers! But if they remain dishonest and vicious, let them atleast withhold from public view the vices of their hearts. 

In the second place; when those whom you are instructing have becomefamiliar with the words of the text, it is time to teach them tounderstand the meaning of those words, so that they may becomeacquainted with the object and purport of the lesson. Then proceed toanother of the following forms, or, at your pleasure, choose any otherwhich is brief, and adhere strictly to the same words and forms ofexpression in the text, without altering a single syllable; besides, allow yourself ample time for the lessons. For it is not necessary thatyou should, on the same occasion, proceed from the beginning to the endof the several parts; it will be more profitable if you present themseparately, in regular succession. When the people have, for instance, at length correctly understood the First Commandment, you may proceed tothe Second, and so continue. By neglecting to observe this mode, thepeople will be overburdened, and be prevented from understanding andretaining in memory any considerable part of the matter communicated tothem. 

In the third place; when you have thus reached the end of this ShortCatechism, begin anew with the Large Catechism, and by means of itfurnish 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 theadvantages which follow the performance of those duties, and also thedangers and losses which result from the neglect of them. Insist in anespecial manner on such. Commandments or other parts as seem to be mostof all misunderstood or neglected by your people. It will, for example, be necessary that you should enforce with the utmost earnestness theSeventh Commandment, which treats of stealing, when you are teachingworkmen, dealers and even farmers and servants, inasmuch as many ofthese are guilty of various dishonest and thievish practices. So, too, it will be your duty to explain and apply the Fourth Commandment withgreat diligence, when you are teaching children and uneducated adults, and to urge them to observe order, to be faithful, obedient andpeaceable, as well as to adduce numerous instances mentioned in theScriptures, which show that God punished such as were guilty in thesethings, and blessed the obedient. 

Here, too, let it be your great aim to urge magistrates and parents torule wisely, and to educate the children, admonishing them, at the sametime, that such duties are imposed on them, and showing them howgrievously they sin if they neglect them. For in such a case theyoverthrow and lay waste alike the kingdom of God and the kingdom of theworld, acting as if they were the worst enemies both of God and man. Andshow 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 Godwill inflict an awful punishment upon them. It is, indeed, necessary topreach on these things; for parents and magistrates are guilty of sinsin this respect, which are so great that there are no terms in whichthey can be described. And truly, Satan has a cruel design in fosteringthese evils. 

Finally; inasmuch as the people are now relieved from the tyranny of thepope, they refuse to come to the Lord's Table, and treat it withcontempt. On this point, also, it is very necessary that you should givethem instructions, while, at the same time, you are to be guided by thefollowing principles: That we are to compel no one to believe, or toreceive the Lord's Supper; that we are not to establish any laws on thispoint, or appoint the time and place; but that we should so preach as toinfluence the people, without any law adopted, by us, to urge, and, asit were, to compel us who are pastors, to administer the Lord's Supperto them. Now this object may be attained, if we address them in thefollowing manner; It is to be feared that he who does not desire toreceive the Lord's Supper at least three or four times during the year, despises the Sacrament, and is no Christian. So, too, he is noChristian, who neither believes nor obeys the Gospel; for Christ did notsay: "Omit or despise this, " but "This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, "etc. He commands that this should be done, and by no means be neglectedand despised. He says: "This do. "

Now he who does not highly value the Sacrament, shows thereby that hehas no sin, no flesh, no devil, no world, no death, no danger, no hell;that is to say, he does not believe that such evils exist, although hemay be deeply immersed in them, and completely belong to the devil. Onthe other hand, he needs no grace, no life, no Paradise, no heaven, noChrist, no God, no good thing. For if he believed that he was involvedin such evils, and that he was in need of such blessings, he could notrefrain from receiving the Sacrament, wherein aid is afforded againstsuch evils, and, again, such blessings are bestowed. It will not benecessary to compel him by the force of any law to approach the Lord'sTable; he will hasten to it of his own accord, will compel himself tocome, and indeed urge you to administer the Sacrament to him. 

Hence, you are by no means to adopt any compulsory law in this case, asthe Pope has done. Let it simply be your aim to set forth distinctly theadvantages and losses, the wants and the benefits, the dangers and theblessings, which are to be considered in connection with the Sacrament;the people will, doubtless, then seek it without urgent demands on yourpart. If they still refuse to come forward, let them choose their ownways, and tell them that those who do not regard their own spiritualmisery, and do not desire the gracious help of God, belong to Satan. Butif you do not give such solemn admonitions, or if you adopt odiouscompulsory laws on the subject, it is your own fault if the people treatthe Sacrament with contempt. Will they not necessarily be slothful, ifyou are silent and sleep? Therefore consider the subject seriously, yePastors and Preachers! Our office has now assumed a very differentcharacter from that which it bore under the Pope; it is now of a verygrave nature, and is very salutary in its influence. It consequentlysubjects us to far greater burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, while it brings with it an inconsiderable reward, and very littlegratitude in the world. But Christ himself will be our reward, if welabor with fidelity. May He grant such mercy unto us who is the Fatherof all grace, to whom be given thanks and praises through Christ, ourLord, for ever! Amen. 

WITTENBERG, A. D. 1529. 

THE SMALL CATECHISM

PART I. 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 

_In the plain form in which they are to be taught by the head of afamily. _

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 

I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. 

[Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness ofanything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, orthat is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself tothem, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visitingthe iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourthgeneration of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands ofthem that love Me, and keep my commandments. ]

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Answer_. We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. 

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT. 

Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lordwill not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as not to curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive, by His Name, but call upon Him in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. 

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 

Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. 

[Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day isthe Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in sixdays the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. ]

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as not to despise His Word and thepreaching of the Gospel, but deem it holy, and willing to hear and learnit. 

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. 

Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the landwhich the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as not to despise nor displease ourparents and superiors, but honor, serve, obey, love, and esteem them. 

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. 

Thou shalt not kill. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as not to do our neighbor anybodily harm or injury, but rather assist and comfort him in danger andwant. 

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. 

Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as to be chaste and pure in ourwords and deeds, each one also loving and honoring his wife or herhusband. 

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. 

Thou shalt not steal. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as not to rob our neighbor of hismoney or property, nor bring it into our possession by unfair dealing orfraudulent means, but rather assist him to improve and protect it. 

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. 

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as not deceitfully to belie, betray, slander, nor raise injurious reports against our neighbor, butapologize for him, speak well of him, and put the most charitableconstruction on all his actions. 

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as not to desire by craftiness togain possession of our neighbor's inheritance or home, or to obtain itunder the pretext of a legal right, but be ready to assist and serve himin the preservation of his own. 

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor hismaid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thyneighbor's. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

_Ans. _ We should so fear and love God as not to alienate our neighbor'swife from him, entice away his servants, nor let loose his cattle, butuse our endeavors that they may remain and discharge their duty to him. 

_What does God declare concerning all these Commandments?_

_Ans. _ He says: I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting theiniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourthgeneration of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands ofthem that love Me and keep my commandments. 

_What is meant by this declaration?_

_Ans. _ God threatens to punish all those who transgress thesecommandments. We should, therefore, dread His displeasure, and not actcontrarily to these commandments. But He promises grace and everyblessing to all who keep them. We should, therefore, love and trust inHim, and cheerfully do what He has commanded us. 

PART II. 

THE CREED. 

_In the plain form in which it is to be taught by the head of a family. _

FIRST ARTICLE. --OF CREATION. 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 

_What is meant by this Article?_

_Ans. _ I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that Hehas given and still preserves to me my body and soul with all my limbsand senses, my reason and all the faculties of my mind, together with myraiment, food, home, and family, and all my property; that He dailyprovides me abundantly with all the necessaries of life, protects mefrom all danger, and preserves me and guards me against all evil; allwhich He does out of pure, paternal, and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I am in duty boundto thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true. 

SECOND ARTICLE. --OF REDEMPTION. 

And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by theHoly Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, wascrucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day Herose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on theright hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come tojudge the quick and the dead. 

_What is meant by this Article?_

_Ans. _ I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Fatherfrom eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord;who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, secured anddelivered me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with His holy and precious blood, and withHis innocent sufferings and death; in order that I might be His, liveunder Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness; even as He is risen from the dead, and livesand reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. 

THIRD ARTICLE. --OF SANCTIFICATION. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the Communion ofSaints; the Forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection of the body; and theLife everlasting. Amen. 

_What is meant by this Article?_

_Ans. _ I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe inJesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called methrough the Gospel, enlightened me by His gifts, and sanctified andpreserved me in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, andpreserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the true faith; in whichChristian Church He daily forgives abundantly all my sins, and the sinsof all believers, and will raise up me and all the dead at the last day, and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true. 

PART III. 

THE LORD'S PRAYER. 

_In the plain form in which it is to be taught by the head of a family. _

INTRODUCTION. 

Our Father Who art in heaven. 

_What is meant by this Introduction?_

_Ans. _ God would thereby affectionately encourage us to believe that Heis truly our Father, and that we are His children indeed, so that we maycall upon Him with all cheerfulness and confidence, even as belovedchildren entreat their affectionate parent. 

FIRST PETITION. 

Hallowed be Thy Name. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

_Ans. _ The Name of God is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in thispetition that it may be hallowed also by us. 

_How is this effected?_

_Ans. _ When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, lead holy lives, in accordance with it; to thismay our blessed Father in heaven help us! But whoever teaches and livesotherwise than as God's Word prescribes, profanes the Name of God amongus; from this preserve us, Heavenly Father!

SECOND PETITION. 

Thy kingdom come. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

_Ans. _ The kingdom of God comes indeed of itself, without our prayer;but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also. 

_When is this effected?_

_Ans. _ When our Heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by Hisgrace we believe His holy Word, and live a godly life here on earth, andin heaven for ever. 

THIRD PETITION. 

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

_Ans. _ The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without ourprayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done by us also. 

_When is this effected?_

_Ans. _ When God frustrates and brings to naught every evil counsel andpurpose, which would hinder us from hallowing the Name of God, andprevent His kingdom from coming to us, such as the will of the devil, ofthe world, and of our own flesh; and when He strengthens us, and keepsus steadfast in His Word, and in the faith, even unto our end. This isHis gracious and good will. 

FOURTH PETITION. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

_Ans. _ God gives indeed without our prayer even to the wicked also theirdaily bread; but we pray in this petition that He would make us sensibleof His benefits, and enable us to receive our daily bread withthanksgiving. 

_What is implied in the words: "Our daily bread"?_

_Ans. _ All things that pertain to the wants and the support of thispresent life; such as food, raiment, money, goods, house and land, andother property; a believing spouse and good children; trustworthyservants and faithful magistrates; favorable seasons, peace and health;education and honor; true friends, good neighbors, and the like. 

FIFTH PETITION. 

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass againstus. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

_Ans. _ We pray in this petition, that our Heavenly Father would notregard our sins, nor deny us our requests on account of them; for we arenot worthy of anything for which we pray, and have not merited it; butthat He would grant us all things through grace, although we dailycommit much sin, and deserve chastisement alone. We will therefore, onour part, both heartily forgive, and also readily do good to those whomay injure or offend us. 

SIXTH PETITION. 

And, lead us not into temptation. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

_Ans. _ God indeed tempts no one to sin; but we pray in this petitionthat God would so guard and preserve us, that the devil, the world, andour own flesh, may not deceive us, nor lead us into error and unbelief, despair, and other great and shameful sins; and that, though we may bethus tempted, we may, nevertheless, finally prevail and gain thevictory. 

SEVENTH PETITION. 

But deliver us from evil. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

_Ans. _ We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our HeavenlyFather would deliver us from all manner of evil, whether it affect thebody or soul, property or character, and, at last, when the hour ofdeath shall arrive, grant us a happy end, and graciously take as fromthis world of sorrow to Himself in heaven. 

CONCLUSION. 

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever andever. Amen. 

_What is meant by the word "Amen"?_

_Ans. _ That I should be assured that such petitions are acceptable toour Heavenly Father, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commandedus to pray in this manner, and has promised that He will hear us. Amen, Amen, that is, Yea, yea, it shall be so. 

PART IV. 

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM. 

_In the plain form in which it is to be taught by the head of a family. _

I. _What is Baptism?_

_Ans. _ Baptism is not simply water, but it is the water comprehended inGod's command, and connected with God's Word. 

_What is that Word of God?_

_Ans. _ It is that which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke, as it is recordedin the last chapter of Matthew, verse 19: "Go ye, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of theHoly Ghost. "

II. _What gifts or benefits does Baptism confer?_

_Ans. _ It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and confers everlasting salvation on all who believe, as the Word andpromise of God declare. 

_What are such words and promises of God?_

_Ans. _ Those which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke, as they are recorded inthe last chapter of Mark, verse 16: "He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. "

III. _How can water produce such great effects?_

_Ans. _ It is not the water indeed that produces these effects, but theWord of God which accompanies and is connected with the water, and ourfaith, which relies on the Word of God connected with the water. For thewater, without the Word of God, is simply water and no baptism. But whenconnected with the Word of God, it is a baptism, that is, a graciouswater of life, and a "washing of regeneration" in the Holy Ghost; as St. Paul says to Titus, in the third chapter, verses 5-8: "According to Hismercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of theHoly Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ ourSaviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirsaccording to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying. "

IV. _What does such baptizing with water signify?_

_Ans. _ It signifies that the old Adam in us is to be drowned, anddestroyed by daily sorrow and repentance, together with all sins andevil lusts; and that again, the new man should daily come forth andrise, that shall live in the presence of God in righteousness and purityforever. 

_Where is it so written?_

_Ans. _ St. Paul, in the Epistle to the Romans, chapter 6, verse 4, says:"We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death; that like as He wasraised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we alsoshould walk in newness of life. "

OF CONFESSION. 

_What is Confession?_

_Ans. _ Confession consists of two parts: the one is, that we confess oursins; the other, that we receive absolution or forgiveness through thepastor as of God himself, in no wise doubting, but firmly believing thatour sins are thus forgiven before God in heaven. 

_What sins ought we to confess?_

_Ans. _ In the presence of God we should acknowledge ourselves guilty ofall manner of sins, even of those which we do not ourselves perceive; aswe do in the Lord's Prayer. But in the presence of the pastor we shouldconfess those sins alone of which we have knowledge, and which we feelin our hearts. 

_Which are these?_

_Ans. _ Here reflect on your condition, according to the TenCommandments, namely: Whether you are a father or mother, a son ordaughter, a master or mistress, a manservant or maidservant--whether youhave been disobedient, unfaithful, slothful--whether you have injuredany one by words or actions-whether you have stolen, neglected, orwasted aught, or done other evil. 

PART V. 

THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR, OR, THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

_In the plain form in which it is to be taught by the head of a family. _

_What is the Sacrament of the Altar?_

_Ans. _ It is the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under thebread and wine, given unto us Christians to eat and to drink, as it wasinstituted by Christ Himself. 

_Where is it so written?_

_Ans. _ The Holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, together with St. Paul, write thus:

"Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, tookbread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and gave it to Hisdisciples, 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, gavethanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: this cup is thenew testament in my Blood, which is shed for you, for the remission ofsins: this do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. "

_What benefits are derived from such eating and drinking?_

_Ans. _ They are pointed out in these words; "given and shed for you, forthe remission of sins. " Namely, through these words, the remission ofsins, life and salvation are granted unto us in the Sacrament. For wherethere is remission of sins, there are also life and salvation. 

_How can the bodily eating and drinking produce such great effects?_

_Ans. _ The eating and the drinking, indeed, do not produce them, but thewords which stand here, namely: "given, and shed for you, for theremission of sins. " These words are, besides the bodily eating anddrinking, the chief things in the Sacrament; and he who believes thesewords, has that which they declare and set forth, namely, the remissionof sins. 

_Who is it, then, that receives this Sacrament worthily?_

_Ans. _ Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a good externaldiscipline; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who believes thesewords, "given and shed for you, for the remission of sins. " But he whodoes not believe these words, or who doubts, is unworthy and unfit: forthe words: "FOR YOU, " require truly believing hearts. 

 * * * * *

MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER. 

_In the plain form in which it is to be taught by the head of a family_. 

MORNING. 

PP _In the Morning, when thou risest, thou shalt say:_

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. 

PP _Then, kneeling or standing, thou shalt say the_ Apostles' Creed _andthe_ Lord's Prayer. 

PP _Then mayest than say this Prayer_:

I give thanks unto Thee, Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ Thy dearSon, that Thou hast protected me through the night from all danger andharm; and I beseech Thee to preserve and keep me this day also, from allsin and evil; that in all my thoughts, words, and deeds, I may serve andplease Thee. Into Thy hands I commend my body and soul, and all that ismine. Let Thy holy angel have charge concerning me, that the wicked onemay have no power over me. Amen. 

PP _And then shouldst thou go with joy to thy work, after a Hymn, or the_Ten Commandments, _or whatever thy devotion may suggest. _

EVENING. 

PP _In the Evening, when thou goest to bed, thou shall say:_

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

PP _Then, kneeling or standing, thou shalt say the_ Apostles' Creed _andthe_ Lord's Prayer. 

PP _Then mayest thou say this Prayer:_

I give thanks unto Thee, Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ Thy dearSon, that Thou hast this day so graciously protected me, and I beseechThee to forgive me all my sins, and the wrong which I have done, and byThy great mercy defend me from all the perils and dangers of this night. Into thy hands I commend my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let Thyholy angel have charge concerning me, that the wicked one may have nopower over me. Amen. 

PP _And then lie down, in peace, and sleep. _

 * * * * *

BLESSING AND THANKSGIVING AT TABLE. 

_In the plain form in which they are to be taught by the head of afamily. _

BEFORE MEAT. 

PP _Before meat, the members of the family surrounding the tablereverently and with folded hands, there shall be said:_

The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord: and Thou givest them their meatin due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire ofevery living thing. 

PP _Then shall be said the_ Lord's Prayer, _and after that this_ Prayer:

O Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless unto us these Thy gifts, which of Thytender kindness Thou hast bestowed upon us, through Jesus Christ ourLord. Amen. 

PP _After meat, reverently and with folded hands, there shall be said:_

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. He giveth food to all flesh; He giveth to the beast his food, andto the young ravens which cry. The Lord taketh pleasure in them thattear Him; in those that hope in His mercy, PP _Then shall be said the_ Lord's Prayer, _and after that this_ Prayer:

We give thanks, to Thee, O God. Our Father, for all Thy benefits, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth, forever and ever. Amen. 

 * * * * *

TABLE OF DUTIES. 

_Or, certain passages of the Scriptures, selected for various orders andconditions of men, wherein their respective duties are set forth. _

BISHOPS, PASTORS, AND PREACHERS. 

A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, ofgood behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, nostriker, not greedy of filthy lucre: but patient, not a brawler, notcovetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children insubjection with all gravity; not a novice, but holding fast the faithfulword as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine bothto exhort and to convince the gainsayers. --I Tim. 3:2-6; Tit. 1:9. 

WHAT DUTIES HEARERS OWE THEIR BISHOPS. 

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel shouldlive of the Gospel. --[I Cor. 9:14. ] Let him that is taught in the Wordcommunicate unto him that teacheth in all good things, --Gal. 6:6. Letthe elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especiallythey who labor in word and doctrine. For the Scripture saith, Thou shaltnot muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthyof his reward. --I Tim. 5:17, 18. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that mustgive account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief; for thatis unprofitable for you. --Heb. 13:17. 

MAGISTRATES. 

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no powerbut of God; the powers that be are ordained of God; for rulers are not aterror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid ofthe power? do that which is good, and thou shall have praise of thesame; for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou dothat which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: forhe is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him thatdoeth evil. --Rom. 13:1-4. 

WHAT DUTIES SUBJECTS OWE MAGISTRATES. 

Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's. --Matt. 22:21. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, etc. Wherefore we mustneeds be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. Forthis cause pay ye tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attendingcontinually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues;tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whomfear; honor to whom honor. --Rom. 13:1, 5. I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving ofthanks be made for all men; for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness andhonesty. --I Tim. 2. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities andpowers, etc. --Tit. 3:1. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man forthe Lord's sake: whether it be to the king as supreme; or unto governorsas unto them that are sent, etc. --I Pet. 2:13. 

HUSBANDS. 

Ye husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honorunto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together ofthe grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. --1 Pet. 3:7. Andbe not bitter against them. --Col. 3:19. 

WIVES. 

Wives submit yourselves unto your husbands, as unto the Lord--even asSarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose daughters ye are, as longas ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. --Eph. 5:22; IPet. 3:6. 

PARENTS. 

Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in thenurture and admonition of the Lord. --Eph. 6:4. 

CHILDREN. 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thyfather and thy mother; which is the first commandment with promise; thatit may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. --Eph. 6:1-3. 

MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS AND LABORERS. 

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to theflesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as untoChrist; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants ofChrist doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doingservice as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing that whatsoever goodthing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether hebe bond or free. --Eph. 6:5-8

MASTERS AND MISTRESSES. 

Ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening;knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect ofpersons with Him. --Eph. 6:9

YOUNG PERSONS IN GENERAL. 

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of yoube subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for Godresisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselvestherefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in duetime. --I Pet. 5:5, 6. 

WIDOWS. 

She that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, andcontinueth in supplications and prayers night and day; but she thatliveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. --I Tim. 5:5, 6. 

CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL. 

Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. Herein are comprehended all thecommandments. --Rom. 13:9, 10. And persevere in prayer for all men. --ITim. 2:1, 2. 

AN EXPLANATION

OF

LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM

INTRODUCTION. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE BIBLE. 

THE BIBLE is the inspired and unerring record of what God has revealedto men concerning Himself and the Way of Salvation. [II Tim. 3:16+, Gal. 1:8] Hence, if we ask, "What must I do to be saved?" the answer to ourquestion must be sought in the Bible. It tells us what to believe andwhat to do in order that we may belong to God's kingdom on earth and inheaven. [Matt. 6:33+, Acts 16:30+, John 5:39+] It is the only rule andstandard of Christian faith and life. 

WHY NEEDED. Even without the Bible, men know that there is a HigherBeing. Their own conscience tells them that there is a God who willpunish them if they do wrong; [Rom 2:14, 15] and the works of natureproclaim that there is an Almighty Being who created them. [Ps. 19:1+]But the knowledge of God which men gain from their own conscience andfrom nature is insufficient. Neither nature nor conscience can tell usanything about the Way of Salvation which God has prepared for us inJesus Christ. It is only from the Bible that we can learn how we shallbe saved. 

ITS INSPIRATION. The Bible is the Word of God. It was written by holymen whom God inspired. [II Pet. 1:21+] It contains knowledge which noman could have discovered by his own power. It foretells events which nouninspired man could have foreseen. It contains teachings so exalted andholy that they could not have originated in the heart of man. Itpossesses a power such as no merely human book ever did or couldpossess. [Heb. 4:12]

ITS OBJECT is to make us wise unto salvation. [II Tim. 3:15+, Prov9:10+] It is to be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path [Ps. 119:105+] to guide us safely through this world to our heavenly home. Itcontains all that we need to know and all that we ever shall know inthis world concerning God and His will. [Luke: 6:31] It is the final andabsolute authority in all matters of religion. We should, therefore, paymost earnest heed to its teachings, believe them with all our heart, andapply them in our lives. 

ITS CONTENTS. It consists of sixty-six "books, " written between theyears 1500 B. C. And 100 A. D. , and contains the History and the Doctrinesof the Kingdom of God. 

OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. The Bible consists of two parts: The OldTestament and the New Testament, The Old Testament reaches from Creationto about 400 B. C. , and shows how God prepared the world for Christ'skingdom. The New Testament reaches from the birth of Christ to the endof the world, and shows how Christ came and established His kingdom. 

LAW AND GOSPEL. The Bible contains Law, [Micah 6:8+] telling us what wemust do, and Gospel, [John 3:16+] telling us how we are to be saved. TheOld Testament contains principally Law, and the New Testament containsprincipally Gospel. But there are Law and Gospel in both. The Gospel inthe Old Testament is prophetical. The Old Testament prepared the way forthe New; the New Testament is the fulfilment of the Old. With the NewTestament, God's revelation to men was completed; [Heb. 1:1, 2+, Heb. 2:1-3] no further revelation will be given. 

THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 

_Historical. _

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. 

_Poetical. _

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. 

_Prophetical. _

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. 

The _historical_ books of the Old Testament give an account of thecreation of the world and of man, of the entrance of sin and death, ofGod's covenant with Israel to save them, and of the history of Israel asGod's chosen people. The _poetical_ books give the teachings of the OldTestament covenant in prayers, proverbs and hymns. The _prophetical_books contain many instructions, admonitions and prophecies (especiallyconcerning Christ who should come to save men) which God sent to theIsraelites through the prophets. The first four prophets are called theMajor Prophets; and the last twelve, the Minor Prophets. 

THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

_Historical. _

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts. 

_Didactical. _

Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John, III John, Jude

_Prophetical. _

Revelation. 

The _historical_ books of the New Testament give an account of the lifeof our Lord Jesus Christ and of some of His apostles. The _didactical_books (the epistles or letters) explain the Gospel of Christ more fully, and show how we are to believe in Him aright and live aright. The_prophetical_ book tells in figurative language what shall take place inthe Church of Christ up to the time when there shall be new heavens anda new earth. 

CANONICAL BOOKS. The sixty-six books enumerated above are inspired, andare called the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments. Theso-called Apocryphal Books, printed in some editions of the Bible, arenot a part of the Bible: they are not inspired. 

OUR ENGLISH BIBLE. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek. Our English Bible is a translation fromthe Hebrew and the Greek. The English Bible which is in ordinary use iscalled the Authorized Version, or King James' Version. It is atranslation made by a body of learned men and published in England in1611, during the reign of James I. The Revised Version is an improvedtranslation made by a body of learned men in England and America andpublished in 1881-1885. The Bible in whole or in part has beentranslated into more than three hundred languages. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What is the Bible? 2. What does it tell us? 3. Why do weneed it? 4. Why do we say that the Bible is the Word of God? 5. What isits object? 6. What does it contain? 7. Of what two parts does the Bibleconsist, and how far do they reach? 8. What do we mean by Law andGospel, and where are they found? 9. What is the relation between theOld and New Testaments? 10. Name the books of the Old Testament. 11. What do the historical, poetical and prophetical books of the OldTestament contain. 12. Name the books of the New Testament. 13. What dothe historical, didactical and prophetical books of the New Testamentcontain? 14. How many canonical books of the Bible are there? 15. Inwhat languages was the Bible originally written? 16. Tell what you knowabout the English Bible? 17. Into how many languages has the Bible inwhole or in part been translated?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --II Tim. 3:16, 17. All Scripture is given byinspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, forcorrection, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may beperfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 

Matt. 6:33. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; andall these things shall be added unto you. 

Acts 16:30, 31. What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe onthe Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 

John 5:39. Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternallife: and they are they which testify of me. 

Ps. 19:1. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmamentshoweth his handiwork. 

II Pet. 1:21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

II Tim. 3:15. From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, whichare able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is inChrist Jesus. 

Prov. 9:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 

Ps. 119:105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

Micah 6:8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth theLord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walkhumbly with thy God. 

John 3:16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlastinglife. 

Heb. 1:1, 2. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake intime past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last daysspoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, bywhom also he made the worlds. 

READING. --The Child Jesus in the Temple, Luke 2:41-52; or Mary sittingat Jesus' Feet, Luke 10:38-42. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Study of the Scriptures:_ Jesus and the Apostles athome in them, Matt. 4:4-10, Acts 2: 14 _seq. _ Timothy, II Tim. 3:15. TheBereans, Acts 17:10-12. _Variously received:_ The Parable of the Sower, Luke 8:5-15. 

CHAPTER II. 

THE CATECHISM. 

The object of catechetical instruction is to fit us for communicantmembership in the Church. Those who were baptized in infancy are membersof the Church; but they are not admitted to the Lord's Supper, and hencedo not become communicant members, until they have been instructed andconfirmed. 

Luther's Small Catechism is our text-book for catechetical instruction. It is not only the best book for this purpose, but is one of theConfessions of our Church, and should become our personal confession offaith, it is called Luther's _Small_ Catechism, because Luther wrote alarger one also. 

THE AUTHOR of our catechism was Dr. Martin Luther (b. 1483, d. 1546), the great Reformer, through whom God effected the Reformation of theChurch, in the sixteenth century. He began the Reformation with hisNinety-five Theses against the sale of indulgences, contended againstthe many errors and abuses that had crept into the Church, and preachedand taught the pure truth of the Gospel, until his death. (Ninety-fiveTheses, 1517; Translation of the Bible into German, 1522-34; Larger andSmaller Catechisms, 1529; Augsburg Confession adopted 1530. )

THE CATECHISM Contains the principal teachings of the Bible, --thosethings which we need to know in order to be saved and to lead a rightChristian life. [Acts 16:30, Matt. 6:33] It is not meant to displace theBible, but to fit us to read and study the Bible with greater profit. [John 5:39]

THE FIVE PRINCIPAL PARTS of the catechism are 1. The Ten Commandments. 2. The Creed. 3. The Lord's Prayer. 4. The Sacrament of Holy Baptism. 5. The Sacrament of the Altar[1]. To these are added Questions onConfession, Morning and Evening Prayers, Thanksgiving before and afterMeat, and A Table of Duties. 

[Footnote 1: Luther says that three things are necessary for every onewho would be saved. Like a sick person, 1. He must know what hissickness is. 2. He must know where the medicine is which will cure him. 3. He must desire and seek the medicine, and have it brought to him. Oursickness (sin) is revealed to us by the Ten Commandments. The medicine(God's grace) is made known to us in the Creed. We seek and ask for itin the Lord's Prayer. It is brought to us in the Sacraments. ]

QUESTIONS. --1. What is the object of catechetical instruction? 2. Whatis to be said about the relation of baptized children to the Church? 3. What is Luther's Small Catechism, and what should it become for us? 4. Who was the author of our Catechism? 5. What does our Catechism contain?6. Name the five principal parts of the catechism, and the additions tothem. 

SCRIPTURE READING. --Paul confesses his Faith, Acts 26. 

PART I. 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE LAW. 

The Ten Commandments are called the _Moral Law_, or more briefly theLaw, and sometimes the Decalogue or the Ten Words. They make known to usGod's will, which is the law for all His creatures. Each commandment hasa _negative_ side, and _forbids_ something; each has also a _positive_side, and _commands_ or enjoins something. 

The Giving Of The Law. The Law of God was originally written in man'sheart at creation. [Rom. 2:15] We call that law in the heart, Conscience. After the fall into sin, the conscience became darkened, andmen did not always know right from wrong, and fell into gross idolatry. [Rom. 1:21-23] God, therefore, through Moses at Mount Sinai, gave menHis law anew, [Exod. 20:1] written on two Tables of stone. [Exod. 31:18]He also gave the Israelites national and ceremonial laws. These, beingmeant for a particular people and a certain era of the world, are nolonger binding upon us. But the Moral Law has been expressly confirmedby our Lord Jesus Christ as valid for all time and binding upon all men. [Matt. 22:37-40+]

The substance of the law is, "Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God with allthy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. " and "Thou shaltlove thy neighbor as thyself. "

The purpose of the law is, 1. To put a check upon wicked men, [I Tim. 1:9] 2. To convince us of our sinfulness [Rom. 3:20+] and our need ofthe Saviour, [Gal. 3:24+] and 3. To be our rule and guide for Christianconduct. [John. 14:15+, Matt. 7:12+] It is especially with respect tothe second purpose here mentioned, that the Ten Commandments wereassigned by Luther to the first and not to a later place in hiscatechism. 

The Two Tables. The Ten Commandments may be divided into two parts, called the Two Tables of the Law. [Exod. 31:18] The First Table includesthe first three commandments, and teaches us our Duty to God. The SecondTable Includes the last seven commandments, and teaches us our Duty toour Fellow-men. [2]

[Footnote 2: The Ten Commandments are not numbered in the Bible. Atwo-fold numbering is found among Christians. The first is that which isgiven in our Catechism, and which is accepted by the majority ofChristians, The other numbering makes two commandments of our first (thesecond being the command not to make any images), and joins our ninthand tenth into one. This makes a difference in the numbering of all thecommandments except the first. ]

 * * * * *

Questions. --1. What other names are given to the Tea Commandments? 2. What do they make known to us? 3. What two sides are there to eachcommandment? 4. Where was the law of God originally written? 5. Why andwhen was the Law given anew? 6. Why is the Moral Law binding upon us, while the national and ceremonial laws of Israel are not? 7. What is thesubstance of the Law? 8. What is the threefold purpose of the Law? 9. Into how many Tables is the Law divided, and what does each Table teach?10. How many commandments does each Table include?

 * * * * *

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Matt. 22:37-40. Jesus said unto him, Thou shall lovethe Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with allthy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second islike unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these twocommandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

Rom. 3:20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh bejustified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Gal. 3:24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us untoChrist, that we might be justified by faith. 

John 14:15. If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Matt. 7:12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should doto you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 

Reading. --The Giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, Exod. 19 and 20. 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE LAWGIVER. 

I am the Lord thy God. 

These introductory words show who is the Lawgiver. [Jas. 4:12] Asearthly kings place their names at the beginning of their decrees togive them authority, so God places His name at the beginning of thecommandments in order to make known who gives them, and whosedispleasure we shall incur if we disobey them. These introductory wordsbelong not only to the first but to all the commandments. 

I AM. By these words God reminds us that He is a Person. He speaks tous. He is not an impersonal God who pervades and is a part of nature. Heis above nature and has created it. [Gen 1:1]

THE LORD. The word here translated "Lord" means in the original Hebrew"I AM THAT I AM. " [Exod 8:14+] God thereby declares that He is the Oneand Only Self-existent, [Isa 44:6+] Eternal, [Ps 90:1, 2+] andUnchangeable Being. [Mal 3:6+] He is the true and living God incontradistinction from all so-called gods. [Jer 10:10] The name Jehovahor "LORD" is used in the Old Testament Scriptures to designate God asthe covenant God of Israel. It signified that He stood in a speciallynear relation to them as His chosen people. The name has the samecomforting meaning for Christians; for they are the New Testament peopleof God. [Tit 2:14+, I Pet 2-9]

THY GOD. These words express God's good-will toward us. He is _our God_who loves [Jer 31:3+] us and cares for us. [I Pet 5:7] He said toIsrael, "I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land ofEgypt, out of the house of bondage. " He has delivered _us_ from thestill greater bondage of sin, death, and the devil through His Son JesusChrist, [Col 1:13+] and has a right to expect our gratitude and love. 

THE LORD THY GOD. He who gives us these commandments is a Spirit [John4:24+] of infinite majesty and goodness. He is:

1. _Eternal_; He always was and always will be. [Ps 90:2]

2. _Unchangeable_; He always was and always will be the same. [Mal 3:6]

3. _Omnipresent_; He is present everywhere at the same time and all thetime. [Ps 139:7-11]

4. _Omniscient_; He knows all the past, present, and future, and isacquainted with every thought, desire, and purpose of our hearts. [Ps139:2]

5. _Omnipotent_, or Almighty; He is able to do all things which He willsto do. [Luke 1:37]

6. _Holy_; He is perfectly pure, and separate from all that is evil. [Isa. 6:3]

7. _Just_; He will bless those who keep His law, and punish those whobreak it. [Rom. 2:6]

8. _All-wise_; He always knows what is the best thing to do, and thebest way to do it. [Col. 2:3]

9. _Good_; He is Love itself. [I John 4:8] He is kind even to theunthankful, [Matt. 5:45] merciful to the penitent soul for Jesus' sake, [John 3:16] and longsuffering toward the impenitent in order to leadthem to repentance by His goodness. [II Pet. 3:9, Rom. 2:4]

10. _Faithful and True_; He can be absolutely relied upon to do all thatHe has promised or threatened. [Numb. 23:19]

Because of the Majesty and Goodness of the Lord our God, we should FEARand LOVE HIM, and KEEP His commandments. 

QUESTIONS--1. What do the introductory words show? 2. Of what do thewords "I am" remind us? 3. What is the meaning of the Hebrew wordtranslated "Lord"? 4. What do the words "thy God" express? 5. From whatbondage has God delivered us? 6. Name and define God's attributes? 7. Why should we fear and love God?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Exod. 3:14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM. 

Isa. 44:6. Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his Redeemer theLORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there isno God. 

Ps. 90:1, 2. LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed theearth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

Mal. 3:6. For I am the LORD. I change not. 

Tit. 2:14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from alliniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of goodworks. 

Jer. 31:3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore withlovingkindness have I drawn thee. 

Col. 1:13, 14. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, andhath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we haveredemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. 

John 4:24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship himin spirit and in truth. 

READING. --Ps. 14: Ps. 121. 

THE FIRST TABLE OF THE LAW. 

OUR DUTY TO GOD. 

"_Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thymind, and with all thy soul_. " [Matt. 22:37]

CHAPTER V. 

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

GOD. 

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

_What is meant by this commandment?_

We should fear, love and trust in God above all things. 

 * * * * *

THE GREAT COMMANDMENT. This is the great commandment of the Law, becauseit includes all the rest. [Matt. 22:37, 38] Obedience to all thecommandments must proceed from the love of God which the firstcommandment requires. [Rom. 13:9, 10] Hence the explanation of the othernine begins with the words, "We should so fear and love God. "

This Commandment _forbids_ us to worship false gods, and _commands_ usto worship the true God by fearing, loving and trusting in Him above allthings. 

I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN. 

1. ALL IDOLATRY. "Thou shalt have no other gods. " Idolatry is committedby all who put anything in God's place, the highest place in the heart. "Whatever we set our heart upon is our god. "

_Open Idolatry_ [Exod. 32:1-9, Ps. 135:15-17, Isa. 42:8, Rom. 1:22-23]is committed by those who worship imaginary beings, the sun, moon, orstars, animals, dead ancestors, idols made with hands, images, [3]pictures, the Virgin Mary, saints, angels, the devil, or any othercreature. 

[Footnote 3: When God gave the commandments to Israel, He forbade themto make any graven images or likenesses. God being a Spirit, the makingof an image of God would at that period necessarily have resulted inidolatry. But since Christ has come in the flesh and was visible amongmen, we are permitted to make pictures and images of Him. Lutherpreached very forcibly against those persons who, during his absencefrom Wittenberg, destroyed the pictures and images in the churches. Hesaid that we make a picture of Christ in our heart whenever we think ofHim, and put pictures of Him in the Bible and other books; and thattherefore it is not wrong to place pictures or images of Him in ourchurches, so long as we do not worship them. ]

_Secret Idolatry_ is committed by all who put (a) Self, [Prov. 3:6, 6. +, Jer. 9:23, 24] (b) Fellow-men [Acts 5:29+, Matt. 10:28+, Matt. 10:37+, Ps. 146:3-5] or (c) Objects of this world [I John 2:15-17+] (money, fame, business, pleasure, etc. ) above God, by fearing, loving, ortrusting in them more than in God. 

2. Godlessness. [Sam. 2:30, Ps. 10:4] Neglect to worship the true God, unbelief, scepticism, superstition, Infidelity, and atheism are atransgression of this commandment. 

3. Double service. [Matt. 6:24+] God forbids us to have other godsbefore or besides Him, He demands our whole heart. 

II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. 

We should give God the highest place in our hearts, and "fear, love andtrust in. Him above all things. " [Matt. 4:10+]

1. WE SHOULD FEAR GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS. We should be more afraid of Hisanger than of anything else in the whole world. [Gen. 39:9+, Ps. 33:8, 9. ] Rather than disobey Him, we should be willing to suffer ridicule, persecution, loss of money, property, position, or friends, and evendeath itself. [Matt. 10:28+, Acts 5:29]

_Why_. We should fear God above all things, 1. Because He is omniscient, and we cannot hide anything from Him, not even our thoughts. [Ps. 139:1, 2+] 2. Because He is holy, and hates everything that is evil. [Lev. 19:2] 3. Because He is just, and will punish every sin. [Ps. 5:4]

_How_. As Christians, our fear of God should be a child-like and not aslavish fear. Child-like fear is fear mingled with love. We shouldrefrain from evil not simply from fear of punishment, but from fear ofoffending the God whom we love. [Rom. 8:15+] "Slavish fear Is afraid Godwill come; child-like fear is afraid He will go away. "

2. WE SHOULD LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS, "with all our heart, and withall our mind and with all our soul. " [Matt. 22:37] Our first aim and ourhighest delight should always be to do God's will. [I John 5:3+] Weshould be far more anxious to please Him than to please ourselves or anyof our fellow-men. We should love Him far more than we love any one else[Matt. 10:37+] (parents, brothers, sisters, friends, etc. ), or anyearthly objects [I John 2:15+] (money, pleasure, business and the like). 

_Why_. We should love God above all things 1. Because He is most worthyof our love. [Ps. 73:25, 26+] 2. Because He first loved us, [I John4:19+, I John 4:9+] and gave His Son to die for us. 3. Because ourhighest happiness is found in loving Him. 

_How we should show our Love_. We should show that we love God above allthings 1. By leading a godly life. [II John 6] 2. By loving the thingsof God, especially the Church and the Gospel. [John 8:47] 3. By lovingour fellow-men for His sake. [I John 4:20+]

3. WE SHOULD TRUST IN GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS. We should rely with all ourheart upon His love and care, [Prov. 3:5+] placing our chief dependenceon Him, and not on our own wisdom, skill, or strength, or upon men, money etc. 

_Why_. We should trust in God with all our heart because 1. He loves us. [Rom. 8:32] 2. He knows all our wants. [Matt. 6:32] 3. He knows what isbest for us. 4. He is able to do all things. 5. He has promised to carefor us. [Heb. 13:5, Isa. 54:10, Isa. 41:10]

_How we should show our Trust_. If we trust in God above all things wewill show that trust, 1. By freedom from unbelieving care and worry. [Matt. 6:25, I Pet. 5:7+] 2. By reliance upon God's help and protectionat all times. [Ps. 33:18, 19] 3. By committing the entire ordering ofour lives to Him. [Ps. 37:5+]

We have all broken this first commandment; for we have not always andeverywhere feared, loved and trusted in God above all things. 

QUESTIONS--1. Why is this the Great Commandment? 2. Why does theexplanation of all the other commandments begin with the words, "Weshould so fear and love God"? 3. What does this first commandmentforbid? 4. What does it command? 5. What two kinds of Idolatry arethere? 6. Mention some forms of open idolatry. 7. Mention some forms ofsecret idolatry. 8. What does it mean to fear God above all things? 9. Why should we fear him? 10. How should we fear Him? l1. What does itmean to love God above all things? 12. Why should we love God above allthings? 13. How should we show our love to God? 14. What does it mean totrust in God above all things? 15. Why should we trust in God above allthings? 16. How should we show our trust in God? 17. Have we kept thiscommandment?

 * * * * *

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Prov. 3:5, 6. Trust In the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

Acts 5:29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We oughtto obey God rather than men. 

Matt. 10:28, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able tokill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both souland body in hell. 

Matt. 10:37. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthyof me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy ofme. 

1 John 2:15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in theworld. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

Matt. 6:24. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate theone, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despisethe other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

Matt. 4:10. Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thouserve. 

Gen. 38:9. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Ps. 139:1, 2. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowestmy downsitting and my uprising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off. 

Rom. 8:15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 

I John 5:3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:and his commandments are not grievous. 

Ps. 73:25, 28. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none uponearth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth; but Godis the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

I John 4:19. We love him, because he first loved us. 

I John 4:9. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, becausethat God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might livethrough him. 

I John 4:20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is aliar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can helove God whom he hath not seen?

I Pet. 5:7. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 

Ps. 37:5. Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him; and he shallbring it to pass. 

READING. --The Golden Calf, Exod. 32; or, The Golden Image, Dan. 3. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Secret_ Idolatry: Goliath, I Sam. 17:41 _seq_;Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4:25 _seq_. ; Herod, Acts 12:21-23; The Rich YoungRuler, Matt. 19:16-22; The Rich Fool, Luke 12:15-21. _Slavish Fear_:Adam, Gen. 3:10-11. _Child-like Fear_: Joseph, Gen. 39:9. _Love to God_:Abraham, Gen. 22:1-14; Peter and John, Acts 4:19, 20; Jesus, John 4:34. _Trust in God_: David Fighting Goliath, I Sam. 17. Daniel in the Lion'sDen, Dan. 6. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT. 

GOD'S NAME. 

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lordwill not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not to curse, swear, conjure, lie ordeceive by His name, but call upon Him in every time of need, andworship Him with prayer, praise and thanksgiving. 

 * * * * *

THE NAME OF GOD. [Ps. 111:9, Mal. 2:2, Rev. 15:4] A name is that bywhich we know a person. God's name means all by which He is known to us;hence not only the words God, Lord, Jehovah, Jesus Christ, the Almighty, the Eternal, the Omniscient One, etc. , but the Word of God and theSacraments, and all holy things. 

This Commandment _forbids_ the wrong use, and _commands_ the right useof God's holy name. 

I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN. 

TAKING GOD'S NAME IN VAIN:

1. _Thoughtlessly_. God's name is taken in vain thoughtlessly by usingit as an exclamation in our conversation, by reading or hearing God'sWord without devotion, jesting about sacred things, quoting Scripture infun, and the like. Thoughtlessness is no excuse. We must give an accountto God for every idle word; [Matt. 12:36+] how much more for every vainuse of His name. 

2. _Intentionally. _ This is done by those who

CURSE; [Jas. 3:9, 10, Matt. 5:44, Rom. 12:14+] that is, by those whocall on God to do evil to themselves or to others. Disguised forms ofcursing are sinful also. 

SWEAR. We are forbidden to confirm what we say by the use of God's name, either

_Needlessly_ [Matt. 5:34-37+] in our ordinary conversation, or

_Falsely_ [Lev. 19:12+] before a magistrate. 

There is a Legal Oath: [Deut. 6:13, Heb. 5:16] 1. Of Witness. 2. OfInnocence. 3. Of Allegiance, 4. Of Office. The oath taken by our Lordbefore the high-priest shows that the oath before a magistrate is notforbidden. [Matt. 26:63, 64] When taking a legal oath, we must becareful to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. False swearing or perjury is a great sin. It is punished by the State, and will be punished by God. [Ezek. 17:19]

Swearing by anything besides God's name is forbidden also. [Matt. 5:34-37+]

CONJURE. [Deut. 18:10-12+] This commandment forbids all magic arts, witchcraft, sorcery, pow-wowing, fortune-telling, and all attempts bysigns or formulas to discover what God has kept hidden or to attain whatHe has withheld. If results are obtained by such means, _e. G. _, bypow-wowing, that is no justification for their use. [Matt. 16:26] If wedesire to obtain help through the use of God's name, we must pray andnot conjure. 

LIE. The eighth commandment forbids lying in general; this commandmentforbids lying by God's name. It is broken by those who teach falsehoodand error and yet declare that they are teaching God's Word. [Gal. 1:8]

DECEIVE BY HIS NAME. This is done by those who assume Christ's name bycalling themselves Christians, and yet are hypocrites, and use religionas a cloak. [II Tim. 3:5+, Matt. 15:8]

Sins against this Second Commandment are common, but not small sins. Godwill not hold him guiltless who commits them. 

II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. 

We should

CALL UPON HIM. God has given us His name so that we might call upon Himfor His help and grace. [Ps. 145:18+]

IN EVERY TIME OF NEED. We should call upon God in every time of trouble, danger or distress. [Ps. 50:15+] But if we call upon God only in timesof special need, and do not call upon His name at other times also, weare not keeping this commandment. 

AND WORSHIP HIM [Col. 3:16] in our hearts, in our homes and in church, WITH PRAYER [Matt. 7:7+] for ourselves and for others, [I Tim. 2:1, 2]

PRAISE [Ps. 145:1] for His majesty and glory and wonderful works, AND THANKSGIVING for temporal and spiritual blessings. [Ps. 106:1+]

QUESTIONS. --1. What is meant by God's name? 2. What does this secondcommandment forbid and command? 3. How is God's name taken in vainthoughtlessly? 4. How is God's name taken in vain intentionally? 5. Define cursing? 6. Define swearing? 7. What kind of swearing isforbidden? 8. What kind of swearing is permitted? 9. When taking a legaloath, what must we be careful to do? 10. Define conjuring, lying, anddeceiving by God's name? 11. What is the right use of God's name? 12. Why should we call upon God? 13. When should we call upon Him? 14. Whereshall we worship Him? 15. How shall we worship Him?

 * * * * *

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Matt. 12:36. But I say unto you, That every idle wordthat men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day ofjudgment. 

Rom. 12:14. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 

Matt. 5:34-37. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven;for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool:neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neithershalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair whiteor black. But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; forwhatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 

Lev. 19:12. Ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thouprofane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. 

Deut. 18:10-12. There shall not be found among you any one that makethhis son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that usethdivination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or acharmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or anecromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto theLORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive themout from before thee. 

II Tim. 3:5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:from such turn away. 

Matt. 15:8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, andhonoureth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. 

Ps. 143:18. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to allthat call upon him in truth. 

Ps. 50:15. Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, andthen shalt glorify me. 

Matt. 7:7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 

Ps. 106:1. Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he isgood: for his mercy endureth forever. 

READING. --Balaam, Numb. 22; Herod's Oath, Matt. 14:1-12; Saul and theWitch at Endor, I Sam. 28. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Cursing_: Job 3:1-7. Shimei, II Sam. 16:5-14. _Swearing_: Herod; Peter, Matt. 26:89-75. _Conjuring_: Saul at Endor;Bar-jesus, Acts 13:1-12. _Lying and Deceiving_: The Pharisees, Matt. 23:13-38. _Calling on God's Name_: Jesus, Matt. 26:39-44; John 17:Jacob, Gen. 32:9-12; The First Christians, Acts 2:42. 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 

GOD'S DAY. 

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not to despise His Word and thepreaching of the Gospel, but deem it holy and willingly hear and learnit. 

 * * * * *

THE LORD'S DAY. Under the Old Testament the Israelites, by God'scommand, observed the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as the Sabbathor day of rest, because God rested from the work of Creation on theseventh day. [Gen. 2:2-3] For the Christians all days are holy. [Rom. 14:5, 6, Col. 2:16, Acts 2:46] But from the earliest times the ChristianChurch set apart Sunday as a special day of worship, [Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2] because it is the day on which Christ rose from the dead. TheSabbath of the Old Testament commemorated the completion of _Creation_;the Lord's Day of the New Testament commemorates the completion of_Redemption_. 

A HOLY DAY. The Lord's Day is to be kept _holy_ by devoting it to holythings. It is to be a day of rest in order that it may be a day ofworship. Any unnecessary work or any recreation which hinders us fromhearing and profiting by God's Word is sinful. 

I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN. 

We are not

TO DESPISE GOD'S WORD AND THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL, [Luke 10:16+] by

1. Making light of God's Word, or regarding and treating it as the wordof man. 

2. Neglecting to go to church, and pleading poor excuses for absence. [Heb. 10:25+]

3. Inattention and lack of devotion in church. [Eccl. 5:1+]

4. Filling the mind with worldly things on Sunday (business, pleasure, Sunday-newspapers, etc. ), so that God's Word cannot be rightly receivedinto the heart. [Luke 8:5, 12]

5. Making Sunday a holiday, lounging-day, or pleasure-day. 

6. Making it a working-day, and thus preventing attendance at church. 

II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. 

We are

TO DEEM GOD'S WORD HOLY, AND WILLINGLY HEAR AND LEARN IT, by

1. Regarding it as God's voice speaking to us. [I Thess. 2:13+]

2. Going to church gladly and regularly. [Ps. 122:1, 2+]

3. Listening attentively and devoutly to God's Word, and joiningheartily in the service. [Luke 11:28+, Col. 3:16, Jas. 1:21, 22+, Rom. 10:17]

4. Attending Sunday-school and learning our lessons. 

5. Teaching in Sunday-school when we have become old enough and ourservices are needed. 

6. Reading the Bible and good books. 

7. Doing whatever promotes the worship and honoring of God by ourselvesor by others. [Jas. 1:27+]

A DAY OF REST. Sunday is meant for the good of the soul. But a rest onone day out of seven is necessary also for the welfare of the body. Sunday is a blessed privilege for body, mind, and soul. Sometimes, however, both the rest for body and mind and the attendance at churchmust be sacrificed in order to perform works of mercy as a duty to ourfellow-men. 

THE CHURCH-YEAR. The Church has also arranged a Church-year for thecommemoration of the principal events in the Savior's life. The order ofthe Church-year is as follows: Four Sundays in Advent, Christmas, NewYear, Epiphany (January 6), from two to six Sundays after Epiphany(according as Easter comes early or late); three Sundays calledSeptuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima; Ash Wednesday (the first day inLent), six Sundays in Lent (the sixth being Palm Sunday), Holy Week(including Good Friday), Easter, five Sundays after Easter, AscensionDay, Sunday after Ascension, Pentecost or Whitsunday, Trinity Sunday;and from twenty-three to twenty-seven Sundays after Trinity. TheLutheran Church observes also the festival of the Reformation on the31st day of October. Each Sunday and Festival Day has its own Gospel andEpistle lesson, as well as its own Introit and Collect. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What is the difference between Sabbath and Sunday? 2. Whyis Sunday to be a day of rest? 3. What does this commandment forbid? 4. In what way is this commandment broken? 5, What does this commandmentcommand? 6. How is this commandment to be kept? 7. Why is Sunday ablessed privilege? 8. When must our Sunday's rest and our attendance atchurch be sacrificed? 9. What is the object of the Church-year? 10. Givethe order of the Church-year. 

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Luke 10:16. He that heareth you heareth me; and hethat despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth himthat sent me. 

Heb. 10:25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as themanner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, asye see the day approaching. 

Eccl. 5:1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and bemore ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for theyconsider not that they do evil. 

I Thess. 2:13. When ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, yereceived it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word ofGod, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 

Ps. 122:1, 2. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into thehouse of the LORD. 

Luke 11:28. But he said, Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear theword of God, and keep it. 

Jas. 1:21, 22. Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is ableto save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

Jas. 1:27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father isthis, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and tokeep himself unspotted from the world. 

READING. --Jesus in Nazareth on the Sabbath, Luke 4:16-30. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --The Child Jesus in the Temple, Luke 2:42-52. Simeon andAnna, Luke 2:27 _seq_. Mary, Luke 10:39. The Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts 8:27_seq_. Lydia, Acts 16:14. 

THE SECOND TABLE OF THE LAW. 

OUR DUTY TO OUR FELLOW-MEN. 

"_Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. _" [Matt. 22:39]

OUR NEIGHBOR means every one. We are to love all men as we loveourselves; [Matt. 7:12] not only our relatives, friends, andacquaintances, but strangers, enemies, and people of all nations andclimes. We must be ready to do good to all who are in need of our helpand kindness. Compare the Parable of the Good Samaritan. [Luke 10:30-37]

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. 

OUR PARENTS AND SUPERIORS. 

Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the landwhich the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

EXPLANATION. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not to despise nor displease ourparents and superiors, but honor, serve, obey, love and esteem them. 

 * * * * *

PARENTS are God's representatives in the family for the maintenance oflaw and order in it. They are charged by God with the care and trainingof their children, and are clothed by Him with authority over them. Their will is law for their children, so long as it does not conflictwith the law of God. 

SUPERIORS are those who are placed over us in a position of authority inthe Family, Church, School, or State; e. G. , guardians, step-parents, grand-parents, pastors, teachers, rulers, etc. They also are God'srepresentatives to maintain order, and are to be honored and obeyed assuch. In every case of a conflict of authority, we must "obey God ratherthan men. " [Acts 5:29]

This commandment _forbids_ us to despise or displease our parents andsuperiors, and _commands_ us to honor, serve, obey, love, and esteemthem. 

OUR DUTY TO OUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, GUARDIANS, ETC. 

I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN. 

We must not

DESPISE them, mock at them, [Prov. 39:17+] make light of them, thinkourselves wiser or above their authority, nor speak disrespectfully ofthem or to them. [Deut 27:16+]

We must not

DISPLEASE them by lack of affection, grumbling, disobedience, stubbornness, rebelliousness, or wickedness. [Exod. 21:15+]

II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. 

We should

HONOR them as those who are placed over us by God's appointment, look upto them, and always treat them with proper respect [Lev. 19:3, Eph 6:2, 3+] and consideration. 

SERVE them, be helpful to them, lighten their burdens, and anticipatetheir wishes. [I Tim. 5:4]

OBEY them by cheerfully and promptly doing their will, even when it isnot to our liking. [Eph. 6:1, Col. 3:20+, Prov. 1:8]

LOVE them, and show our love by a constant desire and effort to pleasethem. We should call to mind what they have done and still do for us, that our love for them may grow deep and tender. [John 19:26, 27]

ESTEEM them. We should regard and appreciate them as a precious gift ofGod. Children who have lost father or mother have met with a great loss. 

IN LATER YEARS. We should honor, love and _obey_ our parents while weare young; and we should still _love_ and _honor_ them when we areolder. We must not despise or be ashamed of them if we happen to rise toa higher position in life than they. When they have grown old andfeeble, we should care tenderly for them; and after they are dead, weshould treasure their memory. 

OUR DUTY TO OUR SUPERIORS. [Rom. 13:7+]

The Pastor is to be honored for the sake of the office which he holds. He is the ambassador of Christ; [II Cor. 5:20] and when he preaches theGospel, or speaks words of admonition and counsel in private, theSaviour speaks through him. Those who hear him hear Christ; those whodespise him despise Christ. [Luke 10:16] We should heed his admonitions, [Heb. 13:17+, I Thess. 5:12, 13] and, as far as we are able, help andencourage him in his work. 

Our Teachers in Sunday-school and in other schools are placed over us ina position of authority, and must therefore be respected and honored. 

Rulers and the Government. The State is God's servant to regulatetemporal affairs and to maintain law and order in the land. Rulers andofficials of the government must be respected and honored. [Matt. 22:21+, Rom. 13:1-4+] Christians must be good citizens. They must alwaysobey the law, so long as it does not conflict with the law of God. [IPet. 2:13, Acts 5:29] They should be patriotic, pray for their country, be ready to defend it, pay their taxes, and be concerned that it shallbe a Christian land. Every voter shares in the responsibility ofsecuring righteous government, and should cast his vote conscientiously. 

OLD PERSONS in general are to be treated with respect and honor. [Lev. 19:32+]

A special blessing is promised to those who keep this commandment. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What does the Second Table of the Law teach? 2. What ismeant by "our neighbor"? 3. What is the position of parents in thefamily? 4. What is meant by "superiors"? 5. To whom is our highestobedience due? 6. What does this commandment forbid, and what does itcommand? 7. In order to avoid despising or displeasing our parents, whatshould we not do? 8. Why and how should we honor them? 9. How should weserve them? 10. How should we obey them? 11. How should we show our loveto them? 12. What should we always remember concerning our parents? 13. What is meant by esteeming them? 14. How should we regard and treat themwhen we have grown older? 15. What is our duty to our pastor? 16. Whatis our duty to our teachers? 17. Why should we honor our rulers? 18. What are a Christian's duties to his country? 19. How must we treat oldpersons in general? 20. What special blessing is promised to those whokeep this commandment?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Prov. 30:17. The eye that mocketh at his father, anddespiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick itout, and the young eagles shall eat it. 

Deut. 27:16. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or hismother: and all the people shall say, Amen. 

Exod. 21:15. And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall besurely put to death. 

Eph. 6:2, 3. Honour thy father and mother; which is the firstcommandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayestlive long on the earth. 

Col. 3:20. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is wellpleasing unto the Lord. 

Rom. 13:7. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tributeis due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 

Heb. 13:17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submityourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must giveaccount, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that isunprofitable for you. 

Matt. 22:21. Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;and unto God the things that are God's. 

Rom. 13:1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For thereis no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 

Lev. 19:32. Thou shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the faceof the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. 

READING. --Joseph and his Father, Gen. 47:1-12. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Despising and displeasing parents_: Jacob's sons, Gen. 37; Eli's sons, I Sam. 2:22-25; Absalom, II Sam. 25. _Honoring them_:Jesus, Luke 2:51. 

 * * * * *

CHAPTER IX. 

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. 

HUMAN LIFE. 

Thou shall not kill. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not to do our neighbor any bodily harmor injury, but rather assist and comfort him in danger and want. 

 * * * * *

Human life is sacred. It is man's most precious earthly possession; forwithout it he cannot enjoy any other. This commandment is meant to guardit. We dare not shorten another person's life, nor our own. God giveslife, and He alone has the right to take it away. 

This commandment _forbids_ us to kill or injure other persons orourselves. It _commands_ us to assist and comfort our neighbor in dangerand want. 

I. WHAT is FORBIDDEN. 

We must not

1. KILL OR INJURE OTHER PERSONS. 

_Murder_. To destroy any human life, even if it be very young or yetunborn, is a great crime. He who commits murder is to be punished withdeath. [Gen. 9:6+] Among the motives which prompt to murder are anger, hatred, [Gen. 4:1-8] envy, [Gen. 37] jealousy, revenge, [Matt. 14:3-11, Rom. 12:19+] frivolity, avarice, robbery, and a desire to hide past sin. [II Sam. 11] We must be on our guard against all that would ever temptus to this great crime. 

_Duels_. It is foolish as well as sinful to pretend to establish theright or wrong of a question by a duel. 

_Unjust Wars_ are wholesale murder. Rulers must do all that theyhonorably can to prevent war. Yet as a last resort to maintain theright, war is justifiable. 

_Hatred_ is murder in the heart. "He that hateth his brother is amurderer. " [I John 3:15, Matt. 5:21, 22+, Eph. 4:31, 32+]

_Tempting Others_ to useless risks in which they may perish or beinjured, or to drunkenness, dissipation, etc. Which will shorten theirlife, is a transgression of this commandment. 

_Causing Accidents_ by neglect, carelessness or bad workmanship, or

_Shortening Other People's Lives_ [Gen. 37:31-35] by maltreatment, overwork, worriment, etc. Makes men guilty of sin against thiscommandment. 

_Neglect to Warn_ others of impending danger _or neglect to assist_ themin need may result in their injury or death. 

The law recognizes our right to defend our life when it is unjustlyassailed. But killing others in self-defense must he our last resort. Many persons act hastily. The official who inflicts the death penalty oncondemned criminals is not guilty of wrong, but is doing his duty as anofficer of the State. [Rom 13:4]

It is a sin to kill our neighbor's _soul_ by tempting him to sin, orenticing him to wrong-doing by our evil example. 

We must not

2. --KILL OR INJURE OURSELVES. 

Suicide is often prompted by despair, remorse, [Matt. 27:35] cowardice, recklessness, or insanity. But it is sinful as well as foolish andcowardly. He who commits it robs himself of the opportunity to repent, and leaves others to bear the burdens from which he shrank. If we aretempted to despair, we should not commit suicide, but seek comfort andstrength in God's Word. If we have fallen into disgrace by sin, weshould repent and lead a better life. 

_Duels_. We not only have no right to endanger another's life by a duel, but we have no right to endanger our own. The duel, which was once acommon practice, has justly fallen under the condemnation of publicopinion. 

_A Life of Sin_. Impurity, drunkenness, gluttony, or dissipation willshorten our life, and make us die before our allotted time. 

_Disregard of the Laws of Health_, overwork, needless exposure, carelessness, violent anger, needless worry, are all forbidden by thiscommandment. 

The voluntary sacrifice of our life for truth and right (martyrdom), orin defense of our country, or in an effort to rescue and save others, isnot only justifiable but noble. [I John 3:16]

II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. 

We should ASSIST AND COMFORT OUR NEIGHBOR. [Gal. 6:10+, Luke 10:30-35, Matt. 5:7+, Matt. 5:44+, Rom. 12:20, Matt. 22:39, Matt. 7:12+, Prov. 24:17]

1. IN DANGER. We should Warn him of danger. Defend and rescue him. Wardoff danger from him. Save him from worry and anxiety whenever we can. 

2. IN WANT. We should Aid the poor and destitute. Minister to the sick. Comfort the afflicted and distressed. Give to organized charities:orphanages, asylums, hospitals, rescue-work, etc. Give to missions inorder to save souls. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What is to be said about the sacredness of human life? 2. What does this fifth commandment forbid? 3. What does it command? 4. Whom are we forbidden to kill or injure? 5. Mention some ways in whichthis commandment is broken with respect to others. 6. What is to be saidabout the sin of murder and its punishment? 7. What are some of themotives which prompt men to murder? 8. What is to be said about duels?9. Is war right? 10. What does the Bible say about hatred? 11. What isto be said about useless risks, accidents, maltreatment, etc. ? 12. Whatis to be said about neglecting to warn or assist others? 13. What is tobe said about the right of self-defense? 14. What is to be said aboutthe official who inflicts the death-penalty on criminals? 15. Mentionsome ways in which this commandment is broken with respect to self. 16. What motives prompt men to suicide, and how should we guard against sucha sin? 17. What is to be said about the folly and cowardice of thesuicide's act? 18. What is to be said of the voluntary sacrifice of ourlife? 19. How are we to assist our neighbor in danger? 20. How are we toassist and comfort him in want?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Gen. 9:6. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shallhis blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man. 

Rom. 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give placeunto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saiththe Lord. 

Matt. 5:21, 22. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thoushalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of thejudgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brotherwithout a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shallsay to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; butwhosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 

Eph. 4:31, 32. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kindone to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God forChrist's sake hath forgiven you. 

Gal. 6:10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto allmen, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

Matt, 5:7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

Matt. 5:44, 45. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them thatcurse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them whichdespitefully use you, and persecute you: that ye may be the children ofyour Father which is in heaven. 

Matt. 7:12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should doto you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 

READING. --Cain kills Abel. Gen. 4:1-16. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Murder_: Cain; Joab, II Sam. 3:22, 29; Ahab andJezebel, I Kings 21:1-19; Herod, Matt. 2:16-18. _Hatred_: Joseph'sBrethren, Gen. 37. _Suicide_: Saul, I Sam. 31:5; Judas, Matt. 27:5. _Assisting and Comforting_: The Good Samaritan, Luke, 10:25-37. 

CHAPTER X. 

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. 

PURITY. MARRIAGE. 

Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as to be chaste and pure in our words anddeeds, each one also loving and honoring his wife or her husband. 

 * * * * *

This commandment is meant to preserve our personal purity, and to guardthe holy estate of marriage. It _forbids_ adultery and all impurity. It_commands_ chastity and purity in thought, word, and deed. 

I. PURITY. 

We should be CHASTE AND PURE

_In Heart. _ We should keep our heart free from impure thoughts anddesires. [Matt. 5:8+, Prov. 4:23+, Ps. 51:10] God judges us by the stateof our heart. [I Sam. 16:7] Unchaste thoughts must not be delighted innor harbored, but subdued and stamped out. They poison the soul. Theyare themselves a transgression of this commandment, [Matt. 5:28+] andthey lead to further transgressions of it by word and deed. 

IN WORDS. We must avoid immodest conversation, unchaste words, vilestories, and shameless jests. [Eph. 5:3-4, Eph. 4:29+] Such things arenot smart, as many think, but vile and despicable. We should never takepart in nor listen to a conversation which we would be ashamed to haveoverheard by persons whom we respect. 

IN DEEDS. We should carefully avoid every act which would bring theblush of shame to our cheeks if it were known to our parents or otherswhose opinion we cherish. Our bodies are to be God's temple, [I Cor. 6:19, 20+] and they dare not be given over to sin and impurity. [Rom. 6:13] We should remember that God sees even in secret, and knows all ouractions. [Ps. 139:1-12]

_Impurity_ of heart and life will not go unpunished. [I Cor. 3:16, 17+, Gal. 5:19-21+] It is often followed by the most dreadful consequences: aruined body, an enfeebled mind, a poisoned soul, a tortured conscience, public shame, dreadful disease and an untimely death. 

_To Keep ourselves Pure_ we should watch and pray, [Matt. 26:41+] avoididleness, evil company, bad books and papers, indecent songs andpictures, immoral plays, intemperance in eating and drinking, and allthat would incite to impurity. We should keep our minds occupied withgood thoughts and desires, so that we have no room for evil ones. [Rom. 13:14]

II. MARRIAGE. 

Marriage is the union of one man and one woman for life in the bonds oflove and faithfulness. 

_A Holy Estate_. Marriage was instituted by God in Eden [Gen. 2:13] andwas sanctioned by Christ, who performed His first miracle at a wedding. [John 2:1-11] It is a holy estate. Celibacy is not a holier estate thanmarriage, as the Roman Catholic Church maintains. [I Tim. 4:1-3]

_Indissoluble_. The marriage tie is binding until one of the marriedpersons dies. [Matt. 19:6+] Except by death, the marriage relationcannot be broken or dissolved without sin against this sixthcommandment. [Matt. 5:32+, Matt 19:9] If one party to the marriage isguilty of adultery, the innocent party may obtain a divorce. No otherdivorces are allowed by Christ. 

_An Important Step_. Marriage is a most important step in life. It mustnot be entered into hastily or thoughtlessly. If a mistake is made inthe choice of a partner for life, the mistake can never be remedied. Those who contemplate such a step should pray for God's guidance. Marriage should not be entered upon for money, social advantages, andthe like, but for love. Parents should be consulted. While marriage by acivil magistrate is valid, Christians should seek God's blessing upontheir union and be married by His ordained servant. The laws of theState must be carefully obeyed. Marriage between near relatives isforbidden by God's Word. [Lev. 18] Those who are married should, ifpossible, be of the same faith. Marriages between Protestants and RomanCatholics are seldom happy. 

_Duty of Husband_ [Eph. 5:25+, Col. 3:19] _and Wife. _ [Eph. 5:22+, Col. 3:18] EACH SHOULD LOVE AND HONOR HIS WIFE OR HER HUSBAND. The man is thehead of the family, but he must not be a tyrant. The wife is not hisslave, but his dearest companion. They are no longer two but one, with acommon love, a common life, a common property, common children, commonhopes and aspirations, and a common Saviour. [I Pet. 3:7, I Pet. 3:1]They should be patient with one another's faults, just to one another'svirtues, and should unselfishly seek one another's happiness. Theyshould live together in mutual love and faithfulness till separated bydeath. Only when husband and wife continue to love and honor one anothercan they be happy. The breaking of the marriage covenant is followed byshame and misery. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What is this commandment meant to preserve and guard? 2. What does it forbid and command? 3. What is it to be said about purityof heart? 4. What is to be said about purity in words? 5. What is to besaid about purity in deeds? 6. Mention some of the consequences whichoften follow upon impurity. 7. How may we keep ourselves pure? 8. Whatis marriage? 9. Why is marriage a holy estate? 10. How long is themarriage tie binding? 11. When only and by whom dare a divorce beobtained? 12. Why must marriage not be entered upon hastily orthoughtlessly? 13. What care should be exercised by those who think ofbeing married? 14. What is the duty of husband and wife?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Matt. 5:8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for theyshall see God. 

Prov. 4:23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are theissues of life. 

Matt. 5:28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman tolust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

Eph. 4:29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, butthat which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister graceunto the hearers. 

I Cor. 6:19, 20. What I know ye not that your body is the temple of theHoly Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not yourown? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your bodyand in your spirit, which are God's. 

I Cor. 3:16, 17. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that theSpirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, himshall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy; which temple ye are. 

Gal. 5:19-21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: ofthe which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, thatthey which, do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

Matt. 26:41, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: thespirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

Matt. 19: 6. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man putasunder. 

Matt. 5:32. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: andwhosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

Eph. 5:25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved thechurch, and gave himself for it. 

Eph. 5:22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto theLord. 

READING. --The Creation of Eve, Gen. 2:18-25; or, The Marriage at Cana, John 2:1-11. 

CHAPTER XI. 

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. 

PROPERTY. HONESTY. 

Thou shalt not steal. 

_What is meant by this commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not to rob our neighbor of his moneyor property, nor bring it into our possession by unfair dealing orfraudulent means, but rather assist him to improve and protect it. 

 * * * * *

The object of this commandment is to protect every man in the possessionof that which is lawfully his own. Without such protection theindividual could not support his life, and society could not exist. Theindustrious and thrifty would be at the mercy of the lazy and wicked. This commandment _forbids_ us to use dishonest means of acquiringproperty. It _commands_ us to assist our neighbor to improve and protecthis own. 

PROPERTY consists of whatever each person lawfully acquires of theearth's lands, forests, water, mines, houses, goods or money. It may berightfully acquired by original claim, inheritance, gift, or labor ofbody or mind. Honest labor united with economy is the best way toacquire it. 

UNEQUAL DIVISION. God, who is the absolute owner of all things, [I Cor. 10:26] divides to each as He will. [Jer. 27:5] He "maketh poor andmaketh rich. " [I Sam. 2:7, Prov. 22:2+] Much poverty, however, is due tomen's own laziness, idleness, [II Thess. 3:10+] carelessness orextravagance; and much wealth has been wrongfully gained contrary toGod's will as expressed in this commandment. _Communism_, or the equaldivision of property among all men, is not practicable. It failed in theapostolic Church. [Acts 5:1-10] If all things were equally divided, somewould soon clamor for another division. 

POVERTY AND RICHES. The happiest person is he who is neither rich norpoor, but has sufficient for his needs. [Prov. 30:7-9+, Prov. 15:16-17+]Poverty may tempt a man to dishonesty; and riches may lead him toavarice, hardness of heart, worldliness and extravagance. [I Tim. 6:9, 10, I Tim. 6:17+] Riches make it hard for a man to enter into thekingdom of God. [Matt. 19:24+, Matt. 13:22] We should respect men forwhat they are, and not for what they have. We should not flatter therich nor despise the poor. [Jas. 2:1-4]

USE OF PROPERTY. God entrusts earthly property to us as His stewards. [Luke 19:12-27, Matt. 25:14-30, Luke 16:1-8] Whether we are rich orpoor, we should so use our property as to be able to give an account toGod. _For ourselves_ and those dependent on us [I Tim. 5:8+] we shoulduse it for the supply of our bodily needs (food, clothing, shelter, areasonable amount of pleasure) and of our spiritual needs [Luke 12:15+, Matt. 6:33, I Cor. 9:14] (the Church and the Gospel). _For ourfellow-men_ we should, when necessary, use it according to our abilityfor their bodily needs (the poor) and their spiritual needs (Home andForeign Missions). [Matt. 22:39]

I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN. 

1. ROBBING OUR NEIGHBOR. The grossest forms of dishonesty are Robbery, Theft, Burglary, Embezzlement, and Forgery. These are recognized by allas wrong. But it is also wrong to bring our neighbor's property into ourpossession, by

2. UNFAIR DEALING AND FRAUDULENT MEANS, [Prov. 29:24, Lev. 6:2, 3, Ps. 37:21, Jer. 22:13, Lev. 19:35, 36, Hab. 2:6, Prov. 15:6, Deut. 24:14, Jas. 5:4, Prov. 11:1] such as Concealing stolen property, Withholdinglost or borrowed property, Evading taxes, Refusing to pay debts, Wilfulidleness and beggary, Betting and gambling, Lotteries and chancing, Bribery, Useless lawsuits, Negligent management of another's property, Stealing car-rides, Unfaithful labor, Insufficient wages, Cornering themarket, Overcharging, Usury, Adulterating goods, Giving short weight ormeasure, and Cheating of any kind. 

3. _Dishonesty in the Heart_. Dishonesty has its source in thecovetousness and greed of the human heart. [Mic. 2:2] Men first covet, and then steal or defraud. We must beware of covetousness. [Luke 12:15+]The love of money is a root of all evil. [I Tim. 6:10+] We must behonest even in small matters. He who is dishonest in little will bedishonest in much. [Luke 16:10] We must avoid all that would tempt us todishonesty; namely, evil companions, idleness, speculation, extravagance, etc. 

II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. 

We should

1. ASSIST OUR NEIGHBOR TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT HIS PROPERTY. [Exod. 23:4, 5, Matt. 7:12] We should help him to get along well in the world, and dowhat we can to prevent him from being deprived of his possessions. 

2. _Restore to the real owner_ whatever has been dishonestly gotten. [Luke 19:8]

3. _Be Ready to use our money_ and property in order to help and benefitour neighbor. [Eph. 4:28+, Heb. 13. 18+, I Pet. 4:10] We must be helpfuland charitable toward our fellow-men. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What is the object of the seventh commandment? 2. Whatdoes this commandment forbid? 3. What does it command? 4. How mayproperty be rightfully acquired? 5. Explain why property is unequallydivided among men? 6. What is to be said about communism? 7. Why is hewho is neither rich nor poor the happiest man? 8. What is the right useof property? 9. Mention some gross forms of dishonesty? 10. Mention someother ways in which this commandment is broken? 11. Where doesdishonesty have its source? 12. If we would be honest, what must weguard against? 13. In what ways does this commandment require us toassist our neighbor?

SCRIPTURE VERSES--Prov. 22:2. The rich and poor meet together: the LORDis the maker of them all. 

II Thess. 3:10. This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 

Prov. 30:7-9. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them notbefore I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neitherpoverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 

Prov. 15:16-17. Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than greattreasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where loveis, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. 

I Tim. 6:17. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be nothighminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, whogiveth us richly all things to enjoy. 

Matt. 19:24. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to gothrough the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into thekingdom of God. 

I Tim. 5:8. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for thoseof his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than aninfidel. 

Luke 12:15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware ofcovetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of thethings which he possesseth. 

I Tim. 6:10. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which whilesome coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and piercedthemselves through with many sorrows. 

Eph. 4:28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to giveto him that needeth. 

Heb. 13:16. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with suchsacrifices God is well pleased. 

READING. --The Unjust Steward, Luke 16:1-7; or, Matt. 25: 31-46. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Poverty and Riches_: The Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke16:19-31; The Rich Fool, Luke 12:15-21; The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11seq. _Dishonesty_: Achan, Josh. 7. Gehazi, II Kings 5. Judas, Luke 12:6, Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5. _Benevolence_: The Good Samaritan, Luke10:30-37; Dorcas, Acts 9:36; Cornelius, Acts 10:2. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. 

TRUTHFULNESS. 

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 

_What is meant by this commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not deceitfully to belie, betray, slander, nor raise injurious reports against our neighbor, but apologizefor him, speak well of him, and put the most charitable construction onall his actions. 

 * * * * *

THE OBJECT of this commandment is to secure truthfulness, [Eph. 4:25+]and to guard our good name. [Prov. 22:1+] Without truthfulness we couldnot believe anything we heard, and the utmost confusion would prevail inthe affairs of men. A good name is one of our most precious earthlypossessions. 

This commandment _forbids_ all lying. It _commands_ perfect truthfulnessand a charitable judgment of others. 

I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN. 

ALL LYING is forbidden. [Ps. 34:13+] False witness against other_persons_ is the worst form of lying. All lesser forms of lying areforbidden along with the greater. 

1. _False Witness against our Neighbor. _ We must not tell a falsehoodabout another person either in court or in every-day life. We must not

BELIE him, that is, tell an untruth about him. 

BETRAY. [Prov. 11:13+, Prov. 24:28] We must not abuse our neighbor'sconfidence by revealing his innocent secrets, and thus annoying orharming him. One who pretends to be another's friend, and yet betrayshim, is acting a lie. We dare not, however, hide crime; and we must tellwhat we know about others if the court, or parents, or persons who havea right to know, inquire of us. 

SLANDER NOR RAISE INJURIOUS REPORTS. [Exod. 23:1+, Lev. 19:16, Ps. 15:1-3] We must not invent nor repeat false reports concerning ourneighbor. We must not say behind his back what we fear to say to hisface. We must not magnify his faults, [Matt. 7:3-5] nor impute evilmotives to him, nor make his words and conduct look as bad as possible. The slanderer is worse than a thief and causes incalculable sufferingand misery. [Prov. 25:18+, Jas. 3:5-8] We should remember that wordsonce spoken live on for good or evil, and cannot be unsaid; and that wemust give an account to God for every word we speak. [Matt. 12:36]

2. _Lying of Any Kind. _ A lie is a conscious falsehood uttered with thepurpose of deceiving. It may be acted as well as spoken. [Prov. 6:13] Wemust not deceive nor try to deceive others by telling an untruth, byhiding the truth or a part of it, by hypocrisy, flattery, boasting, broken promises, conventional lies, "white lies, " "lies of necessity, "guesses given as facts, etc. 

II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. 

1. _Truthfulness. _ Truth is of God; [Deut. 32:4] lying is of the devil. [John 8:44] As children of God we must be truthful. [Col. 3:9+] A liaris an abomination in God's sight. [Prov. 12:22, Prov. 17:15] Ifnecessary, we should be ready to suffer and die for the truth. 

2. _A Charitable Judgment of Others. _ We should

APOLOGIZE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR, and defend him when his character isunjustly assailed. [Matt. 7:12, Prov. 31:8, 9] We must be careful, however, not to excuse or make light of sin. [Isa. 5:20+] We should

SPEAK WELL OF HIM whenever we can do so truthfully. We should speak ofhis virtues rather than of his faults. [Matt. 7:1, 2+, Jas. 4:11] If wecannot speak well of him, then, unless it is absolutely necessary, wehad better not speak of him at all. We should

PUT THE MOST CHARITABLE CONSTRUCTION ON ALL HIS ACTIONS. [I Pet. 4:8+, ICor. 13:4-7, Gal. 6:1] We should, as far as possible, make the best andnot the worst of what our neighbor says and does. We should think andspeak of him only in kindness. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What a the object of this commandment? 2. What does itforbid? 3. What does it command? 4. What is the worst form of lying? 5. What is included under false witness? 6. What is meant by belying ourneighbor? 7. What is to be said about betraying him? 8. What is to besaid about slander and the slanderer? 9. Define a lie. 10. In what waysdo men speak and act lies? 11. Why should we be truthful? 12. What is tobe said about apologizing for our neighbor? 13. What rule should wefollow in speaking of others? 14. How should we think and speak of ourneighbor?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Eph. 4:25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak everyman truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 

Prov. 22:1. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, andloving favour rather than silver and gold. 

Ps. 34:13. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 

Prov. 11:13. A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of afaithful spirit concealeth the matter. 

Exod. 23:1. Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand withthe wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 

Matt. 7:3-5. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother'seye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wiltthou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out thebeam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast outthe mote out of thy brother's eye. 

Prov. 25:18. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is amaul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. 

Col. 3:9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the oldman with his deeds. 

Is. 5:20. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that putdarkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Matt. 7:1, 2. Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgmentye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall bemeasured to you again. 

I Pet. 4:8. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 

READING. --The False Witnesses against Stephen, Acts 6:8-15. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_False Witness_: Against Christ, Matt. 26:60; againstNaboth, I Kings 21:10; against Paul, Acts 25:7. _Slander_: Absalomagainst David, II Sam. 15:1 seq. ; _Lying_: Jacob, Gen. 27:19; Jacob'sSons, Gen. 37:32. _Betrayal_: Judas. _Speaking well_: Jonathan, I Sam. 19:4. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE NINTH AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS. 

A RIGHT HEART. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not to desire by craftiness to gainpossession of our neighbor's inheritance or home, or to obtain it underthe pretext of a legal right; but be ready to assist and serve him inthe preservation of his own. 

 * * * * *

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor hismaid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thyneighbor's. 

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not to alienate our neighbor's wifefrom him, entice away his servants, nor let loose his cattle, but useour endeavors that they may remain and discharge their duty to him. 

 * * * * *

Both these commandments forbid coveting; hence, we may consider themtogether. They deal with the root and source of all sin; namely, theevil lusts and desires of the heart. [Matt. 15:19+, Jas. 1:14, 15]

THE OBJECT of these two commandments is to emphasize the necessity of aright state of heart. [I Sam. 16:7+, Matt. 5:5] All the commandmentsmust, indeed, be kept in thought as well as in word and deed. But byadding these two special commandments against coveting, God desires toimpress upon us most strongly that wrong thoughts and desires make usguilty before Him. We are not keeping God's commandments unless we arefree from the _desire_ to transgress them. As a man "thinketh in hisheart, so is he. " [Prov. 23:7]

THE HEART BY NATURE SINFUL. We are born with a sinful nature and anatural inclination to evil (Original sin), which we have inherited fromour ancestors as a result of the fall into sin. [John 3:6+, Jer. 17:9]This natural inclination to evil manifests itself in wrong thoughts anddesires which arise in the heart. [Rom. 7:18, 19+] These wrong desiresor lusts are in themselves sinful: and if they are not subdued, theylead to sins of words and deeds. [Jas. 1:14, 15+]

These commandments _forbid_ us to covet anything that is our neighbor's. They _command_ us to assist and serve him in retaining his own. 

I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN. 

COVETING, To covet means to desire what we have no right to have. Towish to obtain something in a lawful way is not coveting. But we mustnot have

1. _An Unlawful Desire_ [Gal. 5:24+] for our neighbor's possessions, whether it be his property, wife, servants, cattle, or anything that ishis. We must not envy him on account of them, nor begrudge them to him, nor wish that we had them in his stead. We must not make

2. _Any Attempt to Gratify such Unlawful Desires_ and TO GAIN POSSESSIONOF OUR NEIGHBOR'S INHERITANCE OR HOME

BY CRAFTINESS, shrewdness, cunning, deceit and the like. [Prov. 15:6]Nor dare we seek TO OBTAIN IT

UNDER THE PRETEXT OF A LEGAL RIGHT; that is, by ways which human lawsallow and appear to sanction, but which are not right before God. [Matt. 23:14+] Nor dare we attempt to

ALIENATE (estrange), ENTICE or drive away from him his wife, servants, or cattle, by persuasion, flattery, falsehood, promises, threats, orforce. 

II. WHAT is COMMANDED. 

ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE. We should

1. ASSIST AND SERVE HIM IN THE PRESERVATION OF HIS OWN. [Phil. 2:4+, Gal. 5:12] Instead of wishing to get his property away from him, weshould most heartily wish that he may be able to keep it, and shouldhelp him to retain it. We should

2. USE OUR ENDEAVORS THAT THEY who belong to him MAY REMAIN ANDDISCHARGE THEIR DUTY TO HIM. We should help him to retain theiraffection and faithfulness. We should heartily wish them to remain, andpersuade them to do so. 

QUESTIONS. --1. Why may these two commandments be considered together? 2. With what do they deal? 3. What is the object of these two commandments?4. When only are we keeping God's commandments? 5. What is to be saidabout the natural state of the heart. 6. What do these commandmentsforbid? 7. What do they command? 8. Define coveting. 9. If we wouldavoid breaking this commandment, what must we not do? 10. How should webe of assistance and service to our neighbor?

 * * * * *

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Matt. 15:19. For out of the heart proceed evilthoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 

I Sam. 16:7. The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on theoutward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 

John 3:6. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which isborn of the Spirit is spirit. 

Rom. 7:18, 19. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth nogood thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform thatwhich is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not: but theevil which I would not, that I do. 

Jas. 1:14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of hisown lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forthsin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

Gal. 5:24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with theaffections and lusts. 

Matt. 23:14. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for yedevour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore, ye shall receive the greater damnation. 

Phil. 2:4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also onthe things of others. 

READING. --Naboth's Vineyard, I Kings 21:1-19. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Coveting_: Ahab; David, II Sam. 12; Absalom, II Sam. 15. _Assistance and Service_: Paul, Philemon 10-17. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE CONCLUSION OF THE COMMANDMENTS. 

PUNISHMENT OR BLESSING. 

_What does God declare concerning these Commandments?_

He says: "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity ofthe fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation ofthem that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love meand keep my commandments. "

_What in meant by this Declaration?_

God threatens to punish all those who transgress these commandments; weshould therefore dread His displeasure and not act contrarily to thesecommandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keepthem; we should therefore love and trust in him, and cheerfully do whathe has commanded us. 

 * * * * *

A JEALOUS GOD. God claims our highest love, and is grieved and offendedif we turn our affections away from Him and disobey His law. He willpunish or bless men according as they hate or love Him: [Rom. 2:6-10, Deut. 11:26-28, Gal. 6:7-8] "to the third and fourth generation of themthat hate him, " and "unto thousands of them that love Him and keep Hiscommandments. "

I. PUNISHMENT. 

GOD THREATENS TO PUNISH

1. _Whom?_ ALL THOSE WHO TRANSGRESS THESE COMMANDMENTS [Rom: 1:18+, Lev26:14-15, Isa 59:2, Ezek. 18:4+, Rom. 6:23+] by commission, (doing whatis forbidden) or omission (not doing what is commanded), whether it betransgression by deed or word or thought. Every transgression, great orsmall, is sin, and makes men guilty and punishable. [Gal. 3:10]

2. _Why?_ Because justice demands it. [Gal. 6:7+] God cannot be unjust. He cannot overlook or excuse sin. [Eccl. 11:9] Earthly governments mustand do punish offenders, or they would be unjust to those persons whoobey the law. A law without a penalty would amount to nothing. God, whogoverns the universe, is and must be just. [Gen. 18:25+]

3. _How?_

_In this World_ God punishes sin by Pangs of Conscience; [Matt. 26:75, Matt. 27:3-4] Pains and Sufferings which are the results of wrong-doing, [Jer. 17:10] _e. G. _, the results of drunkenness and licentiousness;Legal Penalties which the State, as God's servant to punish crime, inflicts by fines, imprisonment and hanging; [Rom. 13:4] SpecialJudgments upon individuals [1 Cor. 10:5] in the form of sickness, accidents and reverses, though we must remember that afflictions are notalways a judgment, but are often sent upon the godly as a chastening;[Heb. 12:6+] General Judgments upon wicked communities, such as thatwhich God sent upon Sodom and Gomorrah. [Gen. 19:24]

Children are often obliged to suffer for the sins of their parents. [Jer. 31:29] If the children also are wicked, their sufferings are apunishment; [Ezek. 18:20, Prov. 3:12, Rom. 8:28] if they are godly, their sufferings are a chastening. 

_In the Next World_ God will punish by Exclusion from Heaven and fromHis Presence; [Matt. 22:13] and by Eternal Misery in Hell. [Rev. 21:8, Matt. 25:41]

II. BLESSING. 

GOD PROMISES GRACE AND EVERY BLESSING. [Rom. 2:10+]

1. _To Whom?_ TO ALL WHO KEEP THESE COMMANDMENTS. It is true, all menare sinners, and no one keeps these commandments perfectly. [Rom. 3:23+]But the godly try earnestly to keep them, [I Cor. 9:27] and are trulysorry for every failure to do so. [Rom. 7:24] To them, therefore, Godpromises grace and every blessing. 

2. _Why?_ God will bless them, not because they have earned a reward, but because He is merciful and gracious. [Ps. 103:11+, Joel 2:13] Wecannot earn anything from God but punishment. His blessing is bestowedupon us solely as a gift of grace. 

3. _How?_

_In this World_ God blesses the godly with: Peace of Heart; [John 14:27]His Favor and Guidance; [Ps. 34:15+] True Success in Life; [Rom. 8:28]and a Blessed Hope of Salvation. [Rev. 2:10+]

Children and remote descendants share in the blessing of godlyancestors. 

_In the Next World_ God will grant them: Entrance into Heaven forChrist's Sake; [Matt. 25:34] and Eternal Glory and Blessedness. [John14:2-3, Rev. 3:21]

A WARNING. An impenitent life will bring upon us God's punishment intime and eternity. WE SHOULD THEREFORE DREAD HIS DISPLEASURE, AND NOTACT CONTRARILY TO THESE COMMANDMENTS. 

AN ENCOURAGEMENT. A _godly life_ will bring upon us God's blessing intime and eternity. WE SHOULD THEREFORE LOVE AND TRUST IN HIM, CHEERFULLYDO WHAT HE HAS COMMANDED US. 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS CONDEMN US; for we have broken them by thought, word, and deed. [John 1:8-10+, Rom 3:23, Eccl 7:20, Jas 2:10+]

We are not able to keep them perfectly. [Rom 7:18-19] Consequently wecannot be saved by them. [Gal 3:11] They are meant to show us oursinfulness, [Rom 3:20] to lead us to repentance, and to direct as toChrist for salvation. [Gal 3:24] We can be saved only through Him. [John14:6+, Acts 4:12+] We are taught concerning Christ, and confess ourfaith in Him in the Second Part of the Catechism which now follows, namely, The Creed. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What does God mean when He says that He is a jealous God?2. Whom will God punish? 3. Why will He punish? 4. How does He punish?5. To whom does God promise grace and blessing? 6. Why will He blessthem? 7. How will He bless them? 8. What warning is contained in theConclusion of the Commandments? 9. What encouragement is contained init? 10. Why can we not be saved by the Ten Commandments? 11. What arethe Commandments meant to do? 12. How only can we be saved? 13, Whereare we taught concerning Christ?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Rom. 1:18. For the wrath of God is revealed fromheaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold thetruth in unrighteousness. 

Ezek. 18:4. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. 

Rom. 6:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternallife through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Gal. 6:7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a mansoweth, that shall he also reap. 

Gen. 18:25. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Heb. 12:6. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. 

Rom. 2:10. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good;to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. 

Rom. 3:23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. 

Ps. 103:11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is hismercy toward them that fear him. 

Ps. 34:1-5. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his earsare open unto their cry. 

Rev. 2:10. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown oflife. 

I John 1:8-9. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, andthe truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and justto forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Jas. 2:10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in onepoint, he is guilty of all. 

John 14:6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is noneother name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

READING. --The Fall into Sin and its Punishment, Gen. 3. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Punishment_: Adam and Eve; Cain, Gen. 4:9-15; TheDeluge, Gen. 6-8; Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 19; The Ten Plagues, Exod. 7-12; Korah, Numb. 16; Saul, I Sam. 15; The Assyrian and BabylonianCaptivities, II Kings 17, II Kings 25. _Blessing_: Abraham, Gen. 12:2;Joseph, Gen. 45:4-8; David, II Sam. 7:16; Cornelius, Acts 4:10. 

PART II. 

THE CREED. 

CHAPTER XV. 

CREEDS OR CONFESSIONS. 

THE CREED, from the Latin _Credo, I believe_, means that which we asChristians believe. The Creed given in our Catechism is the Apostles'Creed. It is so called, not because it was written by the apostles, butbecause it contains, in a brief summary, the doctrines which theapostles taught. It grew out of the words of the baptismal formula: "Inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. " [Matt28:19] It has come down to us from the early centuries of the Church'shistory, and is _her confession of faith_. It should be our confessionalso; we should say from the heart, "I believe in God, etc. " There are

Two KINDS OF CREEDS or Confessions of Faith:--

I. _Oecumenical_ or Universal Creeds, which are accepted by the wholeChristian Church throughout the world. They are

1. The Apostles' Creed. 

2. The Nicene Creed. 

3. The Athanasian Creed. 

II. _Particular_ Creeds or Confessions, which are accepted by thevarious Churches and Denominations as their distinctive confessions. 

Our Lutheran Confessions are:--

1. The Augsburg Confession. 

2. The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession. 

3. The Schmalcald Articles. 

4. The Small Catechism. 

5. The Large Catechism. 

6. The Formula of Concord. 

These nine confessions together form the Book of Concord. 

THE APOSTLES' CREED CONTAINS, in Three Articles, a statement of what theTriune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, has done and stilldoes for us. 

Article I. Treats of God the Father and His work of _Creation_. 

Article II. Treats of God the Son and His work of _Redemption_. 

Article III. Treats of God the Holy Ghost and His work of_Sanctification_. 

THE TRINITY. There is only one God, [Deut. 6:4] but there are threePersons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Hence, we say that God is the HolyTrinity, or the Three in One. We cannot understand or explain how Godcan be three Persons and yet only one God. But we must not expect withour finite mind to comprehend the infinite God. We must accept the truthconcerning God as He himself has revealed it to us in His Word. Heplainly tells us that He is One; for He says, "_I_ am the Lord thy God;thou shalt have no other gods before _Me_. " [Exod. 20:2-3] Yet He alsoplainly tells us that there are three Persons. They are expresslymentioned in Christ's command to His disciples, "Go ye, and makedisciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father andof the Son and of the Holy Ghost. " [Matt. 28:19] And they were allrevealed at the baptism of Jesus, when the Father spoke from heaven andsaid, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, " and the HolyGhost descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. [Matt. 3:16-17] EachPerson of the Holy Trinity has a share in the work of our salvation. TheFather sent His Son to save us; [John 3:16] the Son became man and diedfor us; [Rom. 5:8] and the Holy Spirit applies redemption to our souls[I Cor. 12:3] through the Word of God and the Sacraments. 

QUESTIONS. --1. Define the word Creed. 2. Why is the Apostles' Creed socalled? 3. How did it originate? 4. What two kinds of creeds are there?5. Name the oecumenical creeds. 6. Name the particular creeds orconfessions of the Lutheran Church? 7. What does the Apostles' Creedcontain? 8. Of what do the three articles of the Apostles' Creed treat?9. What is meant by the Holy Trinity? 10. How do we know that God isonly one God? 11. How do we know there are three Persons? 12. How do thethree Persons of the Trinity share in the work of our salvation?

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE FIRST ARTICLE. 

OF GOD THE FATHER, OR CREATION. 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 

_What is meant by this Article?_

I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that He has givenand still preserves to me my body and soul, with all my limbs andsenses, my reason and all the faculties of my mind, together with myraiment, food, home and family, and all my property: that He dailyprovides me abundantly with all the necessaries of life, protects mefrom all danger, and preserves me and guards me against all evil; allwhich He does out of pure, paternal and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I am in duty boundto thank, praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true. 

I BELIEVE IN, that is, I trust in, I rely upon. 

GOD THE FATHER, He is the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, [Matt. 11:25]and the first Person of the Holy Trinity. Through Christ He is also myFather. [John 20:17, Eph. 1:3+]

ALMIGHTY, He is able to do all things, and to help me in every time ofneed. 

MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. [Ps. 102:25] He has made all things, --theuniverse and all that it contains. The world did not come into being ofitself or by chance, nor did it exist from eternity. God made it out ofnothing. In the beginning He created the heaven and the earth. [Gen. 1:1+, Ps 33:6, 9] They were at first a formless mass; [Gen. 1:2] but insix days God fashioned the formless mass into the world as it nowexists. On these six days He created, 1. Light, 2. The Firmament, 3. Land and Sea, 4. Sun, moon and stars, 5. Fishes and birds, 6. Beasts andman. [Gen 1:3-31]

God's Chief Creatures are the angels in heaven and men on earth. All Hiscreatures, as they came from His hands, were very good. [Gen. 3:31] Butsome of the angels sinned, and became bad angels or devils. [II Pet. 2:4] And man also, though created in the image of God, fell into sin, and lost his original righteousness and holiness. [Gen. 3, Gen. 8:21, Eph. 4:24]

Luther's explanation of this Article in the catechism tells us:

I. What God has done and still does for me, II. Why God does all this for me, III. What I owe to God in return. 

I. WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND STILL DOES FOR ME. 

I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS

1. CREATED ME [Job. 33:4+] AND ALL THAT EXISTS; [Neh. 9:6, Col. 1:16+]THAT HE HAS GIVEN TO ME

MY BODY, --WITH ALL MY LIMBS AND SENSES. Though my body, like that of thebeasts, is made of the dust of the ground, [Gen. 2:7+] it is vastlysuperior to their bodies, and is a marvelous piece of divineworkmanship, [Ps. 139:14] exquisitely adapted to be the earthlytabernacle of the soul which inhabits it. 

MY SOUL, [Gen. 2:7+]--MY REASON AND ALL THE FACULTIES OF MY MIND, bywhich I am placed so far above the brute creation. God made the humansoul to be a likeness of Himself; [Gen. 1:27, Gen. 9:6] that is, He gaveto man in a limited measure those powers and faculties which He Himselfpossesses in unlimited and infinite measure. And while the human mindhas become dimmed by the fall, its powers and faculties are still mostwonderful. 

2. PRESERVES ME. [Neh. 9:6] All that has helped to support my life hasbeen God's gift; namely, MY RAIMENT, FOOD, HOME AND FAMILY, AND ALL MYPROPERTY. I continue to live because He sustains me. [Jas. 1:17+, Acts17:28+]

HE DAILY PROVIDES ME ABUNDANTLY WITH ALL THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE. [Ps. 115:15-16+] His care for me is a constant, daily care. His mercies arenew every morning. [Matt. 6:31-32+, Lam. 3:22-23+]

HE PROTECTS ME FROM ALL DANGER, SEEN AND UNSEEN. [Ps. 34:7, Matt. 10:30]I am beset with perils on every hand. If God withdrew His protectinghand, I should perish immediately. 

HE PRESERVES ME AND GUARDS ME AGAINST ALL EVIL. [Ps 121:5, 8+] No realevil can come upon God's children. What seems an evil is meant for agood purpose, and is a blessing in disguise. [Rom. 8:28+, Isa. 55:8-9, Jer. 29:11, Ps. 23:4+]

II. WHY GOD DOES ALL THIS FOR ME. 

He does it purely

1. OUT OF PATERNAL AND DIVINE GOODNESS AND MERCY. [Ps. 103:13+] It is

PATERNAL or fatherly [Ps 103:13+] goodness and mercy, because He is myFather through Jesus Christ, and loves me as His child. It is

DIVINE goodness and mercy, because God is love, [I John 4:16+] and onlyHis unspeakable love could move Him to bestow His great benefits uponsinful men, even upon the wicked and unthankful. [Matt. 5:45+]

2. WITHOUT ANY MERIT OR WORTHINESS IN ME. [Gen. 32:10+] I have merited(deserved) nothing and I am worthy of nothing but punishment; for I am asinful being, [Ps. 51:5] and I have broken God's law many times bythoughts and words and deeds. [Jer. 14:7]

III. WHAT I OWE TO GOD IN RETURN. 

For all His goodness and mercy

I AM IN DUTY BOUND [Ps. 116:12+, Ps. 50:14]

1. TO THANK AND PRAISE HIM. I must not receive God's benefits as amatter of course, but must recognize them as gifts of His grace, anddaily thank and praise Him in my heart and with my lips. [Ps. 103:1+]

2. TO SERVE AND OBEY HIM. I must show my gratitude in my life by obeyingGod's commandments and giving myself with all my heart to His service. [Rom. 12:1+]

THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE; namely, 1. That all the blessings I enjoycome from God, 2. That they are the gifts of His grace and that I amunworthy of them, 3. That I owe to God the fullest gratitude of heartand life. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What does "I believe" mean? 2. Why do we say "God the_Father_"? 3. What does "Almighty" mean? 4. What has God made? 5. NameHis chief creatures. 6. What three things does Luther's explanation ofthis article tell us? 7. What has God done and what does He still do forus? 8. In creating us, what has God given us? 9. How does He preserveus? 10. Why does God do all this for us? 11. Why are we not worthy ofit? 12. What do we owe to God in return? 13. What is meant by thankingand praising Him? 14. What is meant by serving and obeying Him? 15. Whatis most certainly true according to this article?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Eph. 1:3. Blessed be the God and father of our LordJesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings inheavenly places in Christ. 

Gen. 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 

Job 33:4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightyhath given me life. 

Col. 1:16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, andthat are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, ordominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. 

Gen. 2:7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, andbreathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a livingsoul. 

Jas. 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, andcometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

Acts 17:28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being. 

Ps. 145:15, 16. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest themtheir meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest thedesire of every living thing. 

Matt. 6:31, 32 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink, or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after allthese things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweththat ye have need of all these things. 

Lam 3:22, 23. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. 

Ps. 34:7. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fearhim, and delivereth them. 

Ps. 121:5, 8. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thyright hand. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in fromthis time forth, and even for evermore. 

Rom. 8:28. And we know that all things work together for good to themthat love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

Ps. 23:4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff theycomfort me. 

Ps. 103:13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieththem that fear him. 

I John 4:16. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

Matt. 5:45. He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, andsendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 

Gen. 32:10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of allthe truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant. 

Ps. 116:12. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefitstoward me?

Ps. 103:1. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, blesshis holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all hisbenefits. 

Rom. 12:1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable untoGod, which is your reasonable service. 

READING. --The Creation of the World, Gen. 1. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Provides_: Manna, Exod. 16:14; Elijah, I Kings 17:6, 14; Feeding the Five Thousand, Matt. 14:15-21. _Protects_: TheIsraelites, Exod. 14:19 _seq. _; Daniel, Dan. 6:22; Paul, Acts 22:12-33;Acts 27: 42-44. _Guards from evil_: Joseph; Job. _Thankfulness_: Noah, Gen. 8:20; The Samaritan, Luke 17:15, 16. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

THE SECOND ARTICLE

OF GOD THE SON, OR REDEMPTION. 

And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the HolyGhost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, wascrucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day Herose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on theright hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come tojudge the quick and the dead. 

_What is meant by this Article?_

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father frometernity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord; whohas redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, secured and delivered mefrom all sins, from death and from the power of the devil, not withsilver and gold, but with His holy and precious blood, and with Hisinnocent sufferings and death, in order that I might be His, live underHim in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, and livesand reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. 

 * * * * *

The Second Article treats of Jesus Christ, THE SON OF GOD, and his workof REDEMPTION. Prompted by His infinite love, God pitied our lost race, and determined to save us by sending a Redeemer in the person of Hisonly Son. [John 3:16+, I Tim. 1:15+] Throughout the centuries of OldTestament history He repeatedly gave the promise of redemption: In Eden, [Gen. 3:15] to the patriarchs, [Gen. 12:3, Gen. 26:4] to David, [II Sam. 7:12-13] and through the prophets. [Isa. 9:2-7, Mic. 5:2] In the fulnessof time God seat His Son into the world. [Gal. 4:4]

Article II. And its Explanation may be analyzed as follows:--

I. OUR LORD. 

1. _His Names_: Jesus, Christ. 

2. _His Person and Nature_: True God and True Man. 

3. _His Life_: His Humiliation and His Exaltation. 

II. HIS WORK OF REDEMPTION. 

1. _Whom He has redeemed. _

2. _From what He has redeemed me. _

3. _How He has redeemed me. _

4. _Why He has redeemed me. _

OUR LORD. 

I. HIS NAMES. 

I BELIEVE THAT

JESUS. This was our Lord's personal name, given to Him by the angel. [Matt. 1:21] It signified, "He shall save. "

CHRIST. This was His official name, corresponding with the Old Testamentname "Messiah, " [John 1:41] and signified "The Anointed One. " Godanointed Him with the Holy Spirit for the work of redemption, [Luke4:18-21] to a threefold office:--

1. As Prophet, to teach us God's will. [Acts 3:22]

2. As Priest, to atone for our sins, and to intercede for us. [Heb. 4:14]

3. As King, [Matt. 21:5, Rev. 17:14] to reign over us in the Kingdom ofPower, of Grace, and of Glory. 

II. HIS PERSON AND NATURE. 

He is

TRUE GOD, BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER FROM ETERNITY. Christ is true God, [Rom. 9:5+] just as the Father is God. [John 5:23+, John 20:28+, John8:58+, Mat. 16:16] He is the Son of God, not as a good or great man whohas been received or adopted as God's son, but He is in His very naturethe Son of God, _begotten by His Father_ [John 3:16+] _from alleternity_. [John 1:1, John 17:5] He is "God of God, Light of Light, VeryGod of Very God, Begotten, not made, being of one substance with theFather. " [John 10:30+] The Scriptures show this by ascribing to Himdivine names, attributes, power, honor, and works. At His baptism and atHis transfiguration the Father spoke from heaven, and said, "This is mybeloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. " [Matt. 3:17, Matt. 17:5] Hisdivine nature is proved by His teaching, His miracles, His holy life, and especially by His resurrection from the dead. 

ALSO TRUE MAN, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Christ was in all respects ahuman being such as we are, except that He was without sin. [I Pet. 2:22+] He was "conceived by the Holy Ghost, " and thus had God alone forHis Father. [Luke 1:35] But He was "born of the Virgin Mary, " [Luke 2:7]with a human body [Heb. 2:14] and soul. [Matt. 26:38] He grew, increasedin wisdom and stature, [Luke 2:52] and reached the age of manhood. Hesuffered our human wants, [Matt. 4:2, John 4:6-7] such as hunger, thirst, weariness, and pain. He was moved by human emotions, [Luke10:21, Matt. 26:38, Matt. 21:12] such as joy, sorrow, and indignation. He wept, [John 11:35] prayed, [Matt. 26:39] suffered, and died. [I Pet. 2:23-24] He could not have done these things if He had not been trueman. 

Christ is therefore both God and man in one Person. [Rom. 1:3-4, John1:14+] Consequently He is the _God-Man. _ It was necessary that theRedeemer should be both God and man. [I Tim. 1:15+] If He had not beenGod, but only man, He could not have paid a sufficient ransom for ourdeliverance from sin, nor have acquired any merit to bestow upon us. Even a sinless man could have saved no one but himself. On the otherhand, if Christ had not become man, but remained God only, He could nothave put Himself in our place under the law, nor have suffered and diedin our stead. But as the _God-man_, Christ was able to accomplish, anddid perfectly accomplish, our redemption. [Rom. 3:24+] Thus He becameand

IS MY LORD, WHO HAS REDEEMED ME, and in whom I trust for salvation. [Rom. 8:38-39, Rom. 5:1+]

QUESTIONS. --1. Of what does the Second Article treat? 2. How did Godplan to save man? 3. Analyze the Second Article and its Explanation. 4. Give the meaning of the names of our Lord. 5. What was Christ'sthreefold office? 6. What is to be said about the person and nature ofChrist? 7. In what sense is Christ the Son of God, and how do we knowit? 8. How do you know that Christ was true man? 9. Why was it necessarythat the Redeemer should be both God and man? 10. What name do we giveto Christ in view of His two-fold nature?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gavehis only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should notperish, but have everlasting life. 

I Tim. 1:15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I amchief. 

Rom. 9:5. Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. 

John 5:23. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour theFather. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father whichhath sent him. 

John 20:28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 

John 8:58. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, BeforeAbraham was, I am. 

John 10:30. I and my Father are one. 

I Pet. 2:22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. 

John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and webeheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) fullof grace and truth. 

Rom. 3:24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemptionthat is in Christ Jesus. 

Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with Godthrough our Lord Jesus Christ. 

READING. --The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-20; or, The Eternal Word, John1:1-18. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

OUR LORD. 

III. HIS LIFE. 

The Saviour's life includes two states; namely, His Humiliation and HisExaltation. 

HIS HUMILIATION. 

Christ's state of humiliation comprises His life on earth, during whichHe laid aside the full use of His divine glory and was content to appearamong men in the form of a servant. He humbled Himself, and becameobedient unto death, even the death of the cross, [Phil. 2:8+] in orderthat He might redeem us. He gave men glimpses of His divine glory: inthe authority with which He taught, [Matt. 7:28-29] in the holy lifewhich He led, [John 8:46] and in the miracles which He performed. [John2:11] But in general He appeared like other men. 

This state of humiliation includes five stages:--He was

1. CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Christ mighthave appeared among men in the full splendor of His divine glory andmajesty. But, in order to redeem us, He was content to be born inpoverty, [Luke 2:7, II Cor. 8:9+, Matt. 8:20+] to grow up in obscurity, [Matt. 2:23] and to appear to most men as if He were simply a man. 

2. SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE. The whole life of Jesus on earth was alife of suffering endured for our sakes. He bore all the trials andhardships which have come upon our race as a result of its sinfulness. He also suffered constant persecution at the hands of his enemies. [Heb. 12:3; John 1:11] But His greatest sufferings came at the end of Hislife, in the agony of Gethsemane, [Matt. 26:36-46] in the mock-trialbefore the Jewish Council, [Matt. 26:57-75] and in His sufferings underPontius Pilate, the Roman governor. [Matt. 27:1-30] He was mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on, crowned with thorns, and scourged; andthen He

3. WAS CRUCIFIED. [Luke 23:33] Though innocent and holy, He was treatedas though He were a malefactor, and was put to a cruel and shamefuldeath. He was nailed to a cross, and left suspended there till He died. So great was His agony, that He cried out, "My God, my God, why hastThou forsaken me?" [Mark 15:34]

4. DEAD. After unspeakable sufferings, Jesus died on the cross. [Mark15:37] He was really, and not seemingly, dead. [John 19:33-34] Hevoluntarily gave up His life for ours. [John 10:18-19+] His death was_vicarious_. He suffered the penalty for our sins. [I Pet. 3:18, Isa. 53:5+]

5. BURIED. His body was laid away in the grave, where our bodies shalldecay. But since Christ was "the Holy One of God, " His body could not"see corruption. " [Ps. 16:10]

HIS EXALTATION. 

After the work of redemption was completed, Christ assumed the full useof the glory and majesty which had belonged to Him as the Son of Godfrom eternity; His human nature was exalted to a full share in the gloryof His divine nature. [Phil. 2:9-11+] He had humbled Himself as a man;and He was exalted as a man. His divine nature, being unchangeable, canneither be humbled nor exalted. [Heb. 13:8]

Christ's exaltation, like His humiliation, includes five stages:--

1. HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. Immediately before His resurrection Hedescended into the place of the departed spirits and proclaimed Hisvictory. [I Pet. 3:19]

2. THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD. Having paid in full thepenalty for our sins, He rose again from the dead, triumphant, on thethird day (Easter). He had power to lay down His life, and power to takeit again. [John 10:19] As His death had been a real death, so Hisresurrection was a real resurrection. He re-appeared to His disciples, not as a spirit, but with the same body that was crucified, the printsof the nails and of the spear being plain in His hands and side. [Luke24:36-40] But His body was a transformed and glorified body, with newproperties and powers. [John 20:19]

_The Resurrection a Fact_. The reality of the resurrection isestablished beyond all doubt. The strongest proof of its reality isfound in the fact that the disciples themselves were so unwilling tobelieve it, but were obliged to do so by the evidence of their ownsenses. Even the doubting Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord, and my God. " [John20:28] During the forty days between His resurrection and His ascensionthe Lord gave His disciples so many proofs of His resurrection that alltheir doubts were removed. [Acts 1:3] The women on Easter morn found thegrave empty and were told by an angel that He had risen. [Mark 16:6] Hewas seen by Mary in the Garden, [John 20:14-16] by Peter, [Luke 24:34]by the two disciples at Emmaus, [Luke 24:15] twice by the eleven as theywere gathered together, [John 20:19-29] by seven disciples at the Sea ofTiberias, [John 21:1] by more than five hundred brethren at once, [ICor. 15:6] by James, [I Cor. 15:7] and by the eleven when He accompaniedthem to Mount Olivet and ascended before their eyes to heaven. [Acts1:9-12] The wonderful change which took place in the apostles when therisen and ascended Christ had sent the Holy Spirit upon them, [Acts 2]and the wonderful change which took place in Paul, [Acts 9:1-29] arefurther proofs of the reality of the resurrection of Christ. 

_The Resurrection proves_ 1. That Jesus is the Son of God. [John 20:28, Rom. 1:4+, Acts 2:36] 2. That the sacrifice which He made for sin wassufficient and accepted. [Rom. 8:34, I Thess. 1:10] 3. That we alsoshall rise from the dead. [Rom. 4:25+, I Cor. 15:19-20+, I Cor. 6:14]

3. HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN from Mount Olivet forty days after Hisresurrection. [Acts 1:9] Having finished His work on earth, He returnedto the heaven from which He had come. He has gone to prepare a place forus. [Acts 14:2]

4. AND SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY; that is, onthe right hand of God's power. As the God-man He now wields all power inheaven and earth. [Matt. 28:18+, Eph. 1:20-22+] He rules over allcreatures in the realm of Power; over the believers in the realm ofGrace (the Church on earth); and over angels and saints in the realm ofGlory in heaven. He continues His office of High-priest, and intercedesfor us with the Father. [Rom. 8:34+, Heb. 4:14-16]

5. FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD. At the endof the world Christ will come again visibly, [Mark 13:26+] suddenly, andunexpectedly, [Matt. 24:36-42, Luke 21:27] with power and great glory, to judge both the quick (living) and the dead. [II Cor. 5:10+, Matt. 25:31-46] He will separate the believing from the unbelieving; receivethe believers unto Himself; and cast the impenitent and unbelieving intoouter darkness and torment. His coming will fill the believers with joy, [Luke 21:28] and the unbelievers with dismay. [Rev. 6:15-17] No oneknows or can compute the exact time of His coming. We should be alwaysready. [Matt. 24:42, 44+] His coming will be preceded by signs. [Luke21:25-26] The present order of the world shall pass away; [II Pet. 5:10]and there shall be new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwellethrighteousness. [II Pet. 3:13+]

QUESTIONS. --1. What two states does Christ's life include? 2. What ismeant by His state of humiliation? 3. How many stages were there in Hishumiliation? 4. Name them. 5. Was Christ's glory entirely hidden duringhis state of humiliation? 6. How might Christ have appeared, and how didHe appear among men? 7. Describe the sufferings of Christ? 8. What is tobe said of Christ's crucifixion? 9. What is to be said of Christ'sdeath? 10. What is to be said of His burial? 11. What is meant byChrist's exaltation? 12. How many stages were there in His exaltation?13. Name them. 14. What is meant by the descent into hell? 15. How didChrist re-appear to His disciples? 16. Prove that the resurrection was afact. 17. What does the resurrection of Christ prove? 18. When and whydid Christ ascend into heaven? 19. What is meant by His sitting at theright hand of the Father? 20. What can you tell about Christ's secondcoming?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Phil. 2:8. And being found in fashion as a man, hehumbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of thecross. 

II Cor. 8:9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye throughhis poverty might be rich. 

John 10:18, 19. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down mylife, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay itdown of myself. 

Isa. 53:5. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for ouriniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with hisstripes we are healed. 

Phil. 2:9-11. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given hima name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every kneeshould bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things underthe earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Heb. 13:8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. 

Rom. 1:4. Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to thespirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 

Rom. 4:25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again forour justification. 

I Cor. 15:19, 20. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are ofall men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, andbecome the firstfruits of them that slept. 

Matt 28:18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power isgiven unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Eph. 1:22. And hath put all things under his feet. 

Rom. 8:34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yearather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, whoalso maketh intercession for us. 

Mark 13:26. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the cloudswith great power and glory. 

II Cor. 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;that every one may receive the things done in his body, according tothat he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 

Matt. 24:44. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye thinknot the Son of man cometh. 

II Pet. 3:13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for newheavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

READING. --The Death and Resurrection of Christ, Luke 23-24:9; and TheAscension of Christ, Acts 1:1-11. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

CHRIST'S WORK OF REDEMPTION. 

I. WHOM HE HAS REDEEMED. 

He HAS REDEEMED

ME. Christ died for all; [I Pet. 2:24+, I John 2:2+, John 1:29+] andconsequently for me also. [Gal. 2:20+] Believing on Him, all theblessings of His redemption belong to me In time and in eternity. He is_my_ Saviour, _my_ Redeemer. 

A LOST AND CONDEMNED CREATURE. I was lost, [Isa. 53:6+, I Pet. 2:25]because my sin had separated me from God, and I could not have found myway back to Him, if Christ had not sought and found me. I was condemned, [Eph. 2:3] because I had broken God's commandments and deserved eternalpunishment. 

II. FROM WHAT HE HAS REDEEMED ME. 

He has SECURED AND DELIVERED ME

FROM ALL SINS; namely, from the _guilt_ of sin by paying its penalty forme on the cross; [I John 1:7, II Cor. 5:21+] and from the _dominion_ ofsin by giving me grace to fight against it and overcome it. [Rom 6:14, Rom. 8:2-4]

FROM DEATH: not from bodily death, for even the Christian must die; butfrom the fear of bodily death; [Phil. 1:23, I Cor. 15:55, 57] fromspiritual death; [Eph. 2:6] and from everlasting death. [John 3:16]

AND FROM THE POWER OF THE DEVIL. [I John 3:8+] On account of my sins, Iwas in Satan's power. But Christ has freed me. Since He has paid thepenalty for my sins, Satan no longer has any claim upon me, and can nolonger harm me. [John 10:27-28] He still tempts me to sin; but Christgives me grace to resist. He still accuses me before God on account ofmy sins; but Christ shields me against Satan's accusations by thesatisfaction which He, my Saviour, has made for all my sins. [I John2:1]

III. HOW HE HAS REDEEMED ME. 

NOT WITH SILVER AND GOLD; [I Pet. 1:18, 19+] for no material wealthcould purchase freedom from spiritual slavery and death. Nor has Heredeemed me merely by becoming my great teacher and example; for thiswould not take away my guilt;

BUT WITH HIS HOLY AND PRECIOUS BLOOD. [I John 1:7+] His blood was theprice which Christ paid for my ransom. It was holy, because He was holy;and precious, because He was the Son of God. The shedding of Christ'sblood for my sins was the only way in which I could be redeemed; forwithout the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. [Heb. 9:22]

AND WITH HIS INNOCENT SUFFERINGS [I Pet. 3:18+] AND DEATH. [Rom. 5:7-8+]Christ suffered and died, not for any sins of His own, but for _my_sins. He was innocent and had no sin at all. But He voluntarily bore thepunishment which I deserved, and thus satisfied all the demands ofdivine justice for me. Since He has borne the punishment for me, I, believing on Him, need no longer be punished. 

_Christ was my Substitute. _ By His holy life He perfectly fulfilledGod's law in my place; [Rom 5:19] and by His innocent sufferings anddeath He bore the punishment for my sins in my place. [II Cor. 5:21+]All that Christ has done is imputed to me by faith; [Rom. 4:24] that is, it is all counted as if I myself had done it. [Rom. 4:5] His death, therefore, frees me from guilt and condemnation; and His holy life makesme appear righteous In God's sight and fit to enter into heaven. Myentire hope of salvation rests on Christ and what He has done for me. [II Cor. 5:19]

IV. WHY HE HAS REDEEMED ME. 

IN ORDER THAT

I MIGHT BE HIS. He desired me for His own, and therefore purchased mewith His precious blood. [II Cor. 5:15+] Hence I now belong to Him, andnot to Satan or to myself. He wishes me to yield myself fully to Him inheart and life. [Gal. 2:20+] If I refuse to do so, I am withholding whatbelongs to Him. 

LIVE UNDER HIM IN HIS KINGDOM; namely, in His kingdom of Grace on earthby a life of faith, and in His kingdom of Glory in heaven. [Col. 1:12-14]

AND SERVE HIM IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, INNOCENCE AND BLESSEDNESS. [I Pet. 2:9+] I am to serve Him and do His will, not as a slave bycompulsion, but willingly, gladly, and out of love. [Mat. 16:24+] Withmy best efforts I only partially succeed in doing His will on earth, forI am still imperfect. [Rom. 7:21-24] But in the next world I shall befreed from all sin, and be transformed and glorified in body and soul. Then I shall serve Him in perfect holiness and happiness for ever. [Rev. 7:15]

EVEN AS HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, AND LIVES AND REIGNS TO ALL ETERNITY. As Christ rose from the dead, so I am to rise from the death of sin tonewness of life in Him. [Rom. 6:4] As He lives and dies no more, so I amto live in righteousness and no more become a servant of sin. [Rom. 6:9, 10] As He reigns to all eternity, so I am to live and reign with Himfor ever. [Rev. 3:21]

THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE: 1. That Jesus Christ, true God and trueMan, is my Lord, who has redeemed me. 2. That He has paid the penaltyfor my sins with His holy and precious blood and His innocent sufferingsand death. 3. That consequently I belong to Him, and should serve Himnow and for ever. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What four things does the explanation of the secondarticle tell us about Christ's redemption? 2. Whom has Christ redeemed?3. What was I before Christ redeemed me, and why? 4. From what hasChrist redeemed me? 5. What is meant by redemption from sin? from death?and from the devil? 6. How has Christ redeemed me? 7. Why was theshedding of Christ's blood necessary? 8. Why did Christ suffer and dieif He was innocent? 9. What is meant when we say that Christ was oursubstitute? 10. Why has Christ redeemed me? 11. To whom do I now belong, and what is my duty therefore? 12. What is meant by living under Christin His kingdom? 13. In what spirit am I to serve Him? 14. What hope hasChrist secured for me? 15. What three things are most certainly trueaccording to this second article?

 * * * * *

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --I Pet. 2:24. Who his own self bare our sins in hisown body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live untorighteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

I John 2:2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for oursonly, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of theworld. 

Gal. 2:20. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gavehimself for me. 

Isa. 53:6. All we like sheep have gone astray. 

II Cor. 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

I John 3:8. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that hemight destroy the works of the devil. 

I Pet. 1:18, 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed withcorruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversationreceived by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood ofChrist, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

I John 1:7. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

I Pet. 3:18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just forthe unjust, that he might bring us to God. 

Rom. 5:7, 8. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yetperadventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But Godcommendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

II Cor. 5:15. He died for all, that they which live should nothenceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, androse again. 

Gal. 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh Ilive by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself forme. 

I Pet. 2:9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holynation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of himwho hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 

Matt. 16:24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will comeafter me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

READING. --Jesus our High Priest, Heb. 9:11-15. 

CHAPTER XX. 

THE THIRD ARTICLE

OF GOD THE HOLY GHOST, OR SANCTIFICATION

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the Communion ofSaints; the Forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection of the Body; and theLife Everlasting. Amen. 

_What is meant by this article?_

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in JesusChrist my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me throughthe Gospel, enlightened me by His gifts, and sanctified and preserved mein the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, andsanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and preserves it inunion with Jesus Christ in the true faith; in which Christian Church Hedaily forgives abundantly all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and will raise up me and all the dead at the last Day, and will granteverlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is mostcertainly true. 

 * * * * *

THE THIRD ARTICLE treats of GOD THE HOLY GHOST and His work ofSANCTIFICATION. It tells us how we become partakers of the Redemptionwhich is described in the Second Article. Christ _has accomplished_ ourredemption, and the Holy Ghost _applies_ that redemption to our souls. The work of the Holy Ghost _in_ us is as necessary for our salvation asthe [Cor. 2:14] work of Christ _for_ us. We must believe in Christ, ifwe would be saved; [Mark 16:16] and it is the Holy Ghost who causes usto believe. [1 Cor. 12:3]

Article. III, and its Explanation may be analyzed as follows:--

THE HOLY GHOST, I. _His Person and Nature_: He is True God. 

II. _His Work_: He Calls, Enlightens, Sanctifies, and Preserves me inthe true Faith. 

III. _His Workmanship_: The Holy Christian Church. 

IV. _The Fruits of His Work_: 1. The Forgiveness of Sins. 2. TheResurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlasting. 

THE HOLY GHOST. 

I. HIS PERSON AND NATURE. 

I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST. The Holy Ghost is true God. He is notsimply a power or energy of God, but a Person. [Acts 5:3-4] "Heproceedeth from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Sontogether is worshipped and glorified. " [John 14:26, John 15:26] TheScriptures ascribe to Him divine names, attributes, power, honor, andworks. Christ commanded His disciples to baptize men in the name of theFather and of the Son _and of the Holy Ghost_. [Matt. 28:19]

The Holy Spirit instructed the prophets and teachers of Old Testamenttimes, [II Peter 1:21] and was poured out upon the apostles on the dayof Pentecost. [Acts 2] He inspired the Holy Scriptures. [II Tim. 3:16]He comes into our hearts through the Word of God and the Sacraments. 

II. HIS WORK. 

The work of the Holy Ghost is _Sanctification_. This word is used here, at the head of the Third Article, in the wide sense, and includes theHoly Spirit's entire work upon our souls; namely, Calling, Enlightening, Sanctification in the narrower sense, and Preservation in the Faith. 

1. ITS NECESSITY. If the Holy Spirit does not work in us, we cannot besaved. Hence, we say in the catechism, I BELIEVE THAT I CANNOT BY MY OWN REASON OR STRENGTH BELIEVE IN JESUSCHRIST MY LORD, OR COME TO HIM. For as I am by nature, my _reason_ is sodarkened by sin, [I Cor. 2:14+] that I do not see my need of theSaviour; and I am so lacking in spiritual _strength_ (being dead intrespasses and sins), [Eph. 2:1] that I am unable to believe in Christ. Consequently it is necessary that the Holy Spirit should teach me to seein Christ my only Saviour, and give me strength to believe in Him. 

2. ITS NATURE. BUT THE HOLY GHOST HAS

CALLED ME THROUGH THE GOSPEL. [II Tim. 1:9] He has caused His Word to bewritten [II Thess. 2:14, II Tim. 3:16] and causes it to be continuallyproclaimed [John 20:31+, II Cor. 5:20, I Cor. 1:21] for the purpose ofmaking God's grace known to me, and inviting me to share in it. He callsall men, and means His call earnestly. He does not merely seem to callsome, but actually calls all who hear or read His Word. [I Tim. 2:4+, IPet. 3:9] And along with the call, He gives us the strength which weneed in order to believe. [Eph. 2:4-6] Those who obey the call are theElect or Chosen [Matt. 20:16] ones, and obtain salvation. Those whorefuse to obey the call are lost. [Mark 16:16]

ENLIGHTENED ME BY HIS GIFTS. The Holy Ghost shows me my lost conditionand God's saving mercy, and thus leads me to Repentance through the Law, [John 16:8, Rom. 3:20] and to Faith through the Gospel. [John 15:26, John 1:17]

_Repentance_ includes

1. An Acknowledgment and Confession of Sin. [Ps. 51:3, 4]

2. Sincere Sorrow for Sin. [Luke 22:62] It must be sorrow for the sinitself, and not merely for the consequences of sin. 

3. The Hating and Forsaking of Sin. [Ps. 51:10]

4. An Earnest Desire for Forgiveness. [Ps. 51:2, 9]

True repentance always leads to faith. [II Cor. 7:10] Sorrow for sinwhich does not lead to faith, is not repentance but remorse, and oftendrives men to despair. [Matt. 27:3-5]

_Faith_ includes

1. A Knowledge of the Facts of the Gospel. [Rom. 10:14]

2. A Belief of the Facts. [Rom. 4:20, 21]

3. Trust or Confidence in Christ our Saviour. [II Tim. 1:12+] This trustis the chief part of faith. 

True faith is not a mere matter of the head, but of the heart. It is nota mere intellectual belief that God exists or that Christ lived anddied; but it is a firm confidence that Christ is actually _our_ Saviour, and that all _our_ sins are washed away by His precious blood. Faithsays, "The Son of God loved [I John 1:7] _me_, and gave Himself _forme_. " [Gal. 2:20]

True faith is always preceded by repentance. The impenitent have nopromise of forgiveness, and therefore cannot have faith. They cannotbelieve a promise which has not been given to them. 

_Regeneration and Conversion. _ Those whom the Holy Spirit has brought torepentance and faith are in a state of regeneration and conversion. Thechange which has taken place in them is called a new birth orregeneration, [John 3:5, 6] because a new life has been planted in them. [II Cor. 5:17+] It is called conversion, [Acts 3:19] because they havebeen converted or turned from sin to righteousness, from self to God. 

It is not necessary that a Christian should be able to point to theexact time of his conversion. The important question is not, "When werewe converted?" but, "Are we now in a converted state?" that is, "Are wenow penitent and believing?"

_Justification. _ All those who have true faith are justified: [Rom. 5:1+, Rom. 4:5] their sins are forgiven, and the righteousness of Christis imputed (counted as belonging) to them. [Phil. 3:9] When we believein Christ, all that He has done and suffered for us is regarded by Godas if we had done and suffered it ourselves; [II Cor. 5:21, Rom. 8:1+]for Christ was our substitute. Consequently, those who believe in Christare _justified_ for His sake; that is, they are pronounced by God to berighteous and fit to enter into heaven. 

_By Faith Alone. _ We are justified and saved by faith alone, withoutworks. [Rom. 3:28+] We shall enter heaven, not because we deserve toenter, [Gal. 2:16+] but only because we believe in Christ. Salvation isa _Gift_: acquired for us by Christ's holy life and innocent death;bestowed upon us freely by God's grace; and accepted by faith. [Eph. 2:8, 9+] Our faith is not a merit on account of which we are forgiven, but it is the hand with which we reach out and accept the free gift offorgiveness which God offers for Christ's sake. 

Our own works have nothing to do with our justification. [Rom. 3:20+] IfGod took them into consideration at all, they would condemn us; for atbest we are imperfect and sinful creatures. [Rom. 7:18-23, Gal. 3:10+]In order to be saved, we need a _perfect_ righteousness, Christ'srighteousness alone is perfect. It becomes ours by faith. 

AND SANCTIFIED. Those who have true faith are sanctified by the HolySpirit; that is, they are made holy in heart and life. [Rom. 8:5+, Rom. 6:22] While good works do not save us, they do and must follow faith asits fruit. [Matt. 7:18] Believers do good works out of love to God andgratitude for His mercy. Faith that does not result in a holy life is adead faith, [Jas. 2:26+] and cannot save. The Christian dare not live insin. [Rom. 6:2+] He has become a new creature; for he is born again: andconsequently he leads a new life. We shall, indeed, never become sinlessin this world, but we must honestly and earnestly _try_ to do God's willin all things. [Phil. 3:12-14, Matt. 5:16+] We should grow more and moreholy every day. [Eph. 4:22-24, Rom. 12:2, I Thess. 4:1] We cannot dothis by our own power, but we can by the help of God. We should, therefore, be diligent and faithful in the use of the Word of God andthe Sacraments; for these are the means which the Holy Ghost uses forour sanctification. [4]

[Footnote 4: Faith in Christ does not at once make us perfectly holy andsinless, as some persons maintain; but it takes away the guilt of oursin. We are completely justified and forgiven as soon as we believe; butwe are not completely sanctified. Sanctification is a gradual process, which will be completed only when we are transformed and glorified inheaven. ]

PRESERVED ME IN THE TRUE FAITH. As it is the Holy Ghost who brings us tofaith, so it is He who preserves us in it. [Phil. 1:6+] The world, theflesh, and the devil are enemies who seek to destroy our faith and torob us of our salvation. We should constantly pray for strength toresist these enemies, [Matt. 26:41+, Rev. 2:10] and should obey thepromptings of the Holy Spirit. We must avoid wilful, intentional sin, [Eph. 4:30+] and live a life of daily repentance. If we sin wilfully, wefall from grace and are lost, unless we come to true and lastingrepentance. If we faithfully use the Means of Grace, and earnestlystrive to lead a Christian life, the Holy Spirit will preserve us in thefaith to the end. [Phil. 2:12, 13+]

QUESTIONS. --1. Of what does the Third Article treat? 2. What is to besaid about the importance of the Holy Spirit's work? 3. Analyze theThird Article and its Explanation. 4. What is to be said about theperson and nature of the Holy Ghost? 5. How does the Holy Ghost comeinto our hearts? 6. Describe the Work of the Holy Ghost. 7. Why can wenot be saved if the Holy Spirit does not work in us? 8. How has the HolySpirit called me? 9. How has He enlightened me? 10. How does the HolyGhost bring me to repentance? 11. What does repentance include? 12. Howdoes the Holy Ghost bring me to faith? 13. What does faith include? 14. What is true faith? 15. What is meant by regeneration? 16. What is meantby conversion? 17. Must a Christian know the exact time of hisconversion? 18. What is meant by justification? 19. What is the relationof faith and works in salvation? 20. What is meant by sanctification?21. What is the relation between faith and good works? 22. How are wepreserved in the faith?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --I Cor. 2:14. But the natural man receiveth not thethings of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neithercan he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

John 20:31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus isthe Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have lifethrough his name. 

I Tim. 2:4. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto theknowledge of the truth. 

Matt. 20:16. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many becalled, but few chosen. 

II Tim. 1:12. For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that Heis able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 

II Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with Godthrough our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Rom. 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are inChrist Jesus. 

Rom. 3:28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faithwithout the deeds of the law. 

Gal. 2:16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. 

Eph. 2:8, 9. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not ofyourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man shouldboast. 

Rom. 3:20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh bejustified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Gal. 3:10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under thecurse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in allthings which are written in the book of the law to do them. 

Rom. 8:5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of theflesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

Jas. 2:26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith withoutworks is dead also. 

Rom. 6:2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live anylonger therein?

Matt. 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see yourgood works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Phil. 1:6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath beguna good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. 

Matt. 26:41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: thespirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

Eph. 4:30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealedunto the day of redemption. 

Phil. 2:12, 13. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; forit is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his goodpleasure. 

READING. --The Outpouring of the Holy Ghost, Acts, 2:1-41. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Calling_: The Great Supper, Luke 14:16-24; The Marriageof the King's Son, Matt. 22; Matthew, Matt. 9:9; Peter and Andrew, Matt. 4:19; Nathanael, John 1:45. _Repentance_: David, Ps. 51; Peter, Luke22:62; Zaccheus, Luke 19; The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-24; The Publican, Luke 18:13. _Impenitence_: Cain, Gen. 4:13; Judas, Matt. 27:4, 5; ThePharisee, Luke 18:10-12, _Faith_: The Centurion, Matt. 8:5-13; The Womanof Cana, Matt. 15:22-28; Peter, John 6:68, 69. _Doubt_: Thomas, John20:22-28. _Conversion_: The Twelve Disciples; The Three Thousand, Acts2; The Thief on the Cross, Luke 23:39-43; The Philippian Jailor, Acts16:25-34. _Faithfulness_: Paul, II Cor. 11:23-33; II Tim. 4:7. _Apostasy_: Ananias, Acts 4:5; Demas, II Tim. 4:10. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

THE HOLY GHOST. 

III. HIS WORKMANSHIP. 

The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints. 

 * * * * *

WHAT THE CHURCH IS. The Church is "The Communion of Saints" orfellowship of believers. It consists of all those persons who trulybelieve in Christ. [Matt. 16:16, 18] We call it the _Workmanship_ of theHoly Ghost, because He brings men to faith and thus produces the Church. HE CALLS, GATHERS, ENLIGHTENS AND SANCTIFIES THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN CHURCHON EARTH, AND PRESERVES IT IN UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST IN THE TRUE FAITH. [Eph. 3:25-27]

The Church may also be called the Holy Spirit's _Workshop_, because Heabides and works in it through the Means of Grace, --the Word of God andthe Sacraments. 

WHEN FOUNDED. The Holy Christian Church was founded on the day ofPentecost, when the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the disciples. [Acts2:1-41] On that day the Gospel of the crucified and risen Saviour wasfirst preached by the apostles, the first converts were made, and thefirst Christian baptisms were administered. 

VISIBLE OR INVISIBLE. The Church is invisible, because we cannot readmen's hearts nor tell who are real believers. But if we regard theChurch as an external organization which includes all who profess tobelieve, it is visible. In this outward visible Church there are manypersons who are not real believers. But Christ knows His own. [II Tim2:19+, John 10:14+] The angels on the day of judgment will separate thehypocrites from the true Christians. [Matt. 13:41, 42]

THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH. The Church is found wherever the Gospel isrightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered. For whereverGod's Word is preached, some persons believe it, [Isa. 55:10, 11] andwhere believers are, there is the Church. 

THE CHURCH IS ONE. It consists of the true believers out of all thedifferent churches, denominations, and sects. There is one Flock, withone Shepherd. [John 10:16] The Church is the Body of which Christ is theHead. [Col. 1:18, Eph 1:22, 23]

ITS NAMES. The Church is called _Holy_, because the Holy Spirit works init and through it, and because its members, though not perfect, leadholy lives. It is called _Christian_, because it consists of those whobelieve in Christ. It is called _Catholic_ or Universal, because it ismeant to include all men everywhere. Catholic does not mean _Roman_Catholic. 

MILITANT AND TRIUMPHANT. The Church, consisting of true believers, isone and the same Church on earth and in heaven. On earth it is theChurch Militant, because its members are still fighting the good fightof faith. [I Tim. 6:12+] In heaven it is the Church Triumphant, becauseits members have won the victory of faith. [Rev. 7:9-14, Rev. 2:18, Rev. 3:21] The only way into the Church Triumphant is through the ChurchMilitant. 

THE CHURCH'S WORK. 

The Church is the agency or instrument which the Holy Spirit uses forthe evangelization of the world. [Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15] It is theinstitution through which He does His work of applying redemption to thesouls of men. The Church, therefore, has a work to do: namely, to makedisciples of all men. 

THE MEANS through which the Church, as an agency of the Holy Spirit, isto do its work are the Word of God and the Sacraments. They aresufficient for the purpose for which they are intended, because the HolySpirit works through them and endows them with supernatural power. [Rom. 1:16, Heb. 4:12]

THE WORKMEN who are to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments arethe _ministers_. They must be properly called and ordained by theChurch. [Act 14:23, Tit. 1:5] In the New Testament all pastors arecalled elders or bishops. It was only at a later period that the officeof a bishop was made superior to that of elder, pastor or minister. Theoffice of an apostle was a separate and higher office. The apostles werethe witnesses of Christ's redemption, and possessed miraculous powers. They have no successors. Ministers are the ambassadors of Christ, beseeching men to be reconciled to God. [II Cor. 5:20+] Christ speaksthrough them. He who hears them, hears Christ; he who despises them, despises Christ. [Luke 10:16] If a minister should happen to be ahypocrite, his official acts, such as baptisms and the like, would stillbe valid. [II Tim. 2:13] _Deacons_ [Acts 6:1-6] are officers whose dutyit is to assist the pastor, and to look after the temporal interests ofthe congregation. _Deaconesses_ [Rom. 16:1] are consecrated to the workof love and mercy, and minister to the sick, the needy, the neglected, the ignorant, the fallen, and the friendless. 

THE VARIOUS CHURCHES. 

While the Church, in the strict sense of the word, is the "communion ofsaints" and therefore _one_, yet outwardly it has become divided, in thecourse of time, into many different churches, denominations, and sects. It contains Four Great Branches: _The Greek Catholic Church_; _The RomanCatholic Church_; _The Evangelical Lutheran Church_; and _The ReformedChurches_, comprising a great number of denominations and sects. TheLutheran Church and the Reformed Churches are called Protestant. (Forthe names and relations of various branches of the Church, see theaccompanying Diagram, on page 106. )

THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church is in reality the old original Churchwhich came into existence on the day of Pentecost. Luther simply threwout the errors which had crept into the Church during the course of thecenturies, and held fast the doctrines taught in God's Word. As aseparate and distinct Church, the Lutheran Church dates from the year1530, when the Augsburg Confession was read before the emperor and dietof the German Empire. [5] Her doctrines are laid down in her sixConfessions, contained in the Book of Concord. 

[Footnote 5: Since a particular Church is no older than her distinctiveconfession, the Lutheran Church is more than thirty years older than theRoman Catholic Church; for the Augsburg Confession was adopted in 1530, while the Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, which are theConfession of the Roman Catholic Church, were not completed until 1563. The ecumenical creeds are accepted by both Churches, and therefore provenothing as regards their _relative_ age. ]

THE CHURCH OF THE PURE GOSPEL. The Lutheran Church receives the HolyScriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the only rule and standardof religious teaching. The Roman Catholic Church accepts the traditionof the Church as of equal authority with the Holy Scriptures. 

The Lutheran Church teaches the great central doctrine of the Gospel, that we are saved by _faith alone_ without works. The Roman CatholicChurch teaches that we are justified by faith _and works_. 

The Lutheran Church abides by the teachings of Scripture even when shecannot understand them. The other Protestant Churches explain away andreject some teachings of Scripture because they cannot understand them. 

HER NAME. The name Lutheran was first given to our Church by herenemies. But she accepted it, because she believes the doctrines whichLuther taught. The name which she chose for herself is Evangelical (trueto the Gospel). She is now known by both names taken together, Evangelical Lutheran. 

WHERE FOUND. The Lutheran Church is found in nearly all parts of theworld, especially in Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States. In1905 she numbered over 73 million baptized members, or practically asmany as all the other Protestant Churches taken together. In the UnitedStates she has almost two million confirmed members (statistics for1906), and ranks third in size among the Protestant Churches of thecountry. 

IN AMERICA. The Lutheran Church in North America comprises the followinggeneral bodies: The General Synod, organized in 1821; the GeneralCouncil, organized in 1867; the Synodical Conference, organized in 1872;the United Synod South, organized in 1886. To these general bodies therebelong various synods. There are also a number of Independent Synodswhich are not connected with any general body. Synods are oftensubdivided into Conferences. 

HER WORK. The Lutheran Church, like the Church in general, is to makedisciples (Christians) of men. She is all the more bound to do her work, because she is the Church of the Pure Gospel. Her work is done in localcongregations, in Home Missions, Foreign Missions, Inner Missions, andin maintaining the necessary institutions of learning (colleges, seminaries, etc. ) and of mercy (orphanages, asylums, hospitals). 

DUTIES OF HER MEMBERS. It is the duty of her members to lead a Christianlife, to be loyal to their own Church, and to co-operate heartily in allher local and general work, for the glory of God and the salvation ofimmortal souls. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What is the Christian Church? 2. Why do we call it theWorkmanship of the Holy Ghost? 3. When was it founded? 4. Is the Churchvisible or invisible? 5. What are the marks of the Church? 6. Why is theChristian Church one? 7. Why is the Church called Holy, Christian, Catholic? 8. What is meant by the Church Militant and the ChurchTriumphant? 9. What use does the Holy Spirit make of the Church? 10. What are the means which the Church uses for its work? 11. Who are theChurch's workmen, and what is their work? 12. Name the four greatbranches of the Christian Church? 13. How old is the Lutheran Church?14. What three fundamental principles characterize the Lutheran Church?15. Explain how the Lutheran Church got its name. 16. Where is theLutheran Church found? 17. How large is it? 18. Name the General Bodiesof the Lutheran Church in North America. 19. Describe the work of theLutheran Church? 20. What are the duties of her members?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Matt. 16:18. Upon this rock I will build my church;and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

II Tim. 2:19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, havingthis seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one thatnameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 

John 10:14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known ofmine. 

Eph. 1:22, 23. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him tobe the head over all things to the church, which is his body, thefulness of him that filleth all in all. 

I Tim. 6:12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good professionbefore many witnesses. 

Rom. 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is thepower of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. 

Heb. 4:12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper thanany two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of sold andspirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughtsand intents of the heart. 

II Cor, 5:20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God didbeseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled toGod. 

READING. --The Church at Jerusalem, Acts 2:41-47. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

THE HOLY GHOST. 

IV. THE FRUITS OF HIS WORK. 

The Forgiveness of Sins; the Resurrection of the Body; and the LifeEverlasting. 

The fruits of the Holy Spirit's work in us are: 1. The Forgiveness ofSins. 2. The Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting. 

1. _THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS_ has been acquired for me by my SaviourJesus Christ; [I John 1:7+] but it is made mine by the Holy Ghost, whohas brought me to faith and preserved me in it. For it is through faiththat I obtain forgiveness. [Rom 5:1]

IN WHICH CHRISTIAN CHURCH. The forgiveness of sins is made mine _in theChurch_ through the Word of God and the Sacraments. Faith takes hold ofand clings to the promises therein given. Special assurance offorgiveness is also given in Confession and Absolution. 

HE DAILY FORGIVES ABUNDANTLY ALL MY SINS. Even if I am a sincereChristian, I am an imperfect and sinful creature, and I need God'sforgiveness every day. [I John 1:8, 9, Rom. 7:18-25] By keeping me in astate of repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit secures to me thecontinuous forgiveness of all my sins. The Christian's life is a dailyrepentance and a daily believing that God for Christ's sake graciouslypardons all our transgressions and shortcomings. [Luke 11:3, 4, Rom8:32+]

AND THE SINS OF ALL BELIEVERS. All who lead a life of daily repentanceand faith are daily and abundantly forgiven. 

2. _THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING_. The work ofthe Holy Spirit in me will not be completed until the last day. 

HE WILL RAISE UP ME AND ALL THE DEAD AT THE LAST DAY. The bodies of allmen shall be raised from the dead and re-united with the souls fromwhich they were parted at death. [John 5:28, 29+, Acts 24:15+] Thesebodies will be essentially the same which we had on earth, but they willbe immortal and incorruptible. [I Cor. 15:42] The bodies of thebelievers will be endowed with new and glorious properties, like thebody of Christ after His resurrection. [I Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:21+]They will be fit tabernacles for the glorified souls to inhabit throughall eternity. They will be spiritual bodies, freed from all theimperfections and limitations to which they were subject on earth. Thebodies of those believers who are still alive at Christ's second comingshall undergo the same change in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. [I Cor. 15:51-53]

AND WILL GRANT EVERLASTING LIFE TO ME TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST. [John 3:16] The believers shall then enter upon the full and perfectenjoyment of eternal salvation. [Matt. 25:34] Here we have theforgiveness of sins, but there we shall have life everlasting. Thebelievers shall obtain an eternal inheritance in heaven, [I Pet. 1:4+]and enter upon the enjoyment of a bliss so exalted that we cannot formany adequate conception of it here on earth. There will be differencesof glory proportioned to the strength of faith and the zeal in labormanifested on earth. [I Cor 15:41, 42, Luke 19:17-19] But all shall beperfectly happy. They shall be free from sin and from every evil, [Rev. 21:4+] and dwell in the light of God's presence forever. [I Thess. 4:17, John 17:24, Rev. 7:15]

_Eternal Death_. The impenitent and unbelieving shall be cast intoeternal torment, [Matt. 25:41] and shall suffer indescribable pain andmisery for ever. [Rev. 14:11] The greater their wickedness and neglectedopportunities on earth, the deeper will be their remorse and anguish. [Luke 12:47, 48, Matt. 25:41] Having refused to let the Holy Spirit makethem fit for entrance into heaven, [Rev. 21:27, Matt. 7:23] they shallbe cast out into the only place for which they are fit, into hell. [Luke16:23, 24]

QUESTIONS. --1. What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit's work in us? 2. How does the forgiveness of sins become yours? 3. Where is theforgiveness of sins made yours? 4. How do we obtain daily forgiveness?5. When will the Holy Spirit's work in you be completed? 6. Describe theresurrection of the dead. 7. What is to be said about everlasting life?8. Why will the impenitent and unbelieving be cast into hell?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --I John 1:7. The blood of Jesus Christ his Soncleanseth us from all sin. 

Rom. 8:32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for usall, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

John 5:28, 29. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the whichall that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth;they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they thathave done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

Acts 24:15. There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the justand unjust. 

Phil. 3:21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashionedlike unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is ableeven to subdue all things unto himself. 

I Pet. 1:4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and thatfadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 

Rev. 21:4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and thereshall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall therebe any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

READING. --Christ Judging the World, Matt. 25:31-46. 

PART III. 

THE LORD'S PRAYER. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

PRAYER. 

Prayer is the conversation of the believing heart with God. [Ps. 19:14+]It is as necessary for the life of the soul, as breathing is for that ofthe body. As children of God we must live in communion with Him; and wecannot be Christians without prayer. For this reason God has given usHis name to use in prayer, and the Saviour has taught us how to pray inthe Lord's Prayer. 

To WHOM WE SHOULD PRAY. Our prayers should be addressed to God alone, [Matt. 4:10. ] and not to the Virgin Mary, the saints, the angels, or anyother creatures. 

WHY WE SHOULD PRAY. We should pray, 1. Because we constantly need God'smercy in temporal and spiritual things. 2. Because we owe God our thanksfor his many benefits. [Ps. 103, Jas. 1:17] 3. Because God has commandedus to pray. [Matt. 6:9, Matt. 26:41] 4. Because God has promised to hearus. [Matt. 7:7, 8+, Ps. 50:15]

WHEN WE SHOULD PRAY. 1. Always; [Luke 21:36+] that is, our soul shouldlive in constant communion with God, and always be open toward Him. 2. Whenever we feel special need of prayer: in danger, [Matt. 8:25]distress, anxiety, [Matt. 8:25] sickness, [Jas. 5:14, 15] bereavement, sorrow, [Ps. 25:16, 17] temptation, [Matt. 26:41] or when we areburdened with the sense of our guilt. [Luke 18:13. ] 3. At fixed times:[Dan. 6:10] every morning and evening, at meal-times; in family worship;[Josh. 24:15+] in church. [Matt. 18:20+]

FOR WHOM WE SHOULD PRAY. 1. For ourselves. 2. For our fellow-Christians. [Eph. 6:18+] 3. For all men: [I Tim. 2:1+] for friends and foes, [Matt. 5:44+] the poor and the rich, the afflicted and the tempted. 4. For theChurch. 5. For the State. 

OUR PRAYERS SHOULD CONTAIN: 1. Adoration, 2. Thanksgiving. 3. Confession, 4. Petition. 5. Intercession. 

THE MANNER. Our prayers should be the sincere utterance of our hearts;otherwise they will be a mere mockery. [Matt. 6:5] They may be in ourown words or those of another. It will often be profitable to use theprayers found in good prayer-books or in the Liturgy, and to drawlargely from the Psalms, which are a treasury of good and beautifulprayers. We should not lengthen our prayers by vain repetitions, norrepeat the Lord's Prayer or any other prayer a certain number of timesas if that were a merit. [Matt. 6:7] Nor should we shorten our prayersthrough laziness, indifference, and the like. The Lord's Prayer shouldgenerally be added to our own prayers as a summary of those things forwhich we should pray. 

THE POSTURE which we assume should indicate reverence to God. We shouldkneel or stand with folded hands. If we are unable to assume either ofthese postures, we may pray in any position. We stand in church onSunday, because it is the day of the Lord's resurrection and a day ofjoy. We should not sit still in church while others stand, unless we aretoo weak or ill to stand. Kneeling is an attitude of humiliation, particularly appropriate for the confession of sins. 

IN CHRIST'S NAME. We should always pray in Christ's name, and never omitHis name to please men or avoid offence; for our prayers are only heardfor Christ's sake. We have the promise that whatever we ask in His namewill be given to us. [John 16:23] To pray in Christ's name means topray, 1. As one who trusts in Christ and asks to be heard for His sake. [Eph. 2:18+, Rom. 5:2] 2. As one who prays in Christ's spirit, submitting all things to God's will, and saying with Christ, "Not mywill, but Thine, be done. " [Matt. 26:29, Matt 6:10]

IN FAITH. We should pray in faith, believing that God will answer ourprayer for Jesus' sake. [Jas. 5:16+] If we do not pray in faith, weshall not be heard. [Jas. 1:6, 7]

THE ANSWER TO PRAYER. God always answers the prayer of the believer. Those who ask and receive not, have either asked amiss, [Jas. 4:3] orhave not asked in faith. If we ask anything according to His will, Heheareth us. [John 5:14+] He answers our prayer, 1. By granting us whatwe ask, though perhaps after a long delay, by which He tries our faithand patience. 2. He grants us good things instead of the hurtful thingsfor which we ignorantly ask. 3. He gives us strength to bear the burdenwhich we pray to have removed, [II Cor. 12:9] and thus confers a greaterblessing than the removal of the burden would be. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What is prayer? 2. To whom alone should we pray? 3. Whyshould we pray? 4. When should we pray? 5. For whom should we pray? 6. What should our prayers contain? 7. What is to be said about the mannerof our praying? 8. What is to be said about the posture in prayer? 9. Why must we pray in Christ's name? 10. What is meant by praying inChrist's name? 11. What is to be said about the importance of praying infaith? 12. Does God always answer prayer? 13. In what ways does Heanswer?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Ps. 19:14. Let the words of my mouth, and themeditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. 

Matt. 7:7, 8. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that askethreceiveth, and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh itshall be opened. 

Luke 21:36. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may beaccounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, andto stand before the Son of man. 

Josh. 24:15. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 

Matt. 18:20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

Eph. 6:18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in theSpirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplicationfor all saints. 

I Tim. 2:1, 2. I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; forkings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet andpeaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 

Matt. 5:44. Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 

Eph. 2:18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto theFather. 

Jas. 5:16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availethmuch. 

I John 5:14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if weask anything according to his will, he heareth us. 

II Cor. 12:9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: formy strength is made perfect in weakness. 

READING. --The Pharisee and the Publican in the Temple, Luke 18:10-14. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. --_Prayer for Self_: The Lepers, Luke 17:12, 13; The BlindBeggar, Luke 18:35-43; The Publican, Luke 18:13; _For Others_: Jesus, John 17, Luke 23:32; Abraham, Gen. 18:23-33; Moses, Exod. 32:11;Stephen, Acts 7:60. _Answer to Prayer_: Israel in Bondage, Exod. 2:23, 24; Hannah, I Sam. 1:9-20; Elijah, I Kings 17:21, 22; Jas. 5:17; TheEarly Church, Acts 12:5-17; Paul, Acts 16:25; II Cor. 12:7-9. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE LORD'S PRAYER. 

The Lord's Prayer is so-called because it was given to us by the LordJesus Christ. [Matt. 6:9-13, Luke 11:1-4] It teaches us how to prayaright, and is the model after which we should fashion all our prayers. It shows us the manner in which we should come to God, and the thingsfor which we should ask. 

ITS CONTENTS. The Lord's Prayer contains an Introduction, SevenPetitions, and a Conclusion. The first three petitions regard God'sglory, and deal with His Name, His Kingdom, and His Will; the last fourregard our bodily and spiritual needs, and deal with our Daily Bread, Forgiveness, Temptation, and Deliverance from Evil. Six petitions, thefirst three and the last three, refer to spiritual gifts; and only one, the fourth, refers to earthly gifts. Thus we are taught that, when wepray, we should think first of God's glory; and that we should pray morefor spiritual than for temporal benefits. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Our Father Who art in Heaven. 

_What is meant by this Introduction?_

God would thereby affectionately encourage us to believe that He istruly our Father, and that we are His children indeed, so that we maycall upon Him with all cheerfulness and confidence, even as belovedchildren entreat their affectionate parent. 

 * * * * *

This Introduction shows us the manner in which we should come to God inprayer; namely, as His children, who are asking their Father for whatthey need, and who are sure that He loves them and will answer theirprayer. 

OUR FATHER. [6] God is our Father and we are His children through Christour Saviour. [Gal 3:26+, 1 John 3:1, 2, Rom. 8:16] We should thereforebe sure that He will receive us kindly for Jesus' sake whenever we comebefore him with our prayers. We should CALL UPON HIM WITH ALLCHEERFULNESS AND CONFIDENCE, EVEN AS BELOVED CHILDREN ENTREAT THEIRAFFECTIONATE PARENT. [Matt. 7:11+, Rom. 8:15+, Heb. 4:16]

[Footnote 6: Observe how the name "Father, " by which we are here taughtto address God, corresponds with the duty "to fear, love, and trust inHim above all things" as enjoined by the First Commandment. ]

We are taught to say _our_ and not _my_ Father, because the Lord'sPrayer was given to believers to use in their common worship as well asin their private devotions; and because we should pray not only forourselves but for our fellow-believers and for all men. 

WHO ART IN HEAVEN. An earthly father is not always able to do what hischildren ask, even if he desires to do so. But the Father to whom wehere pray is our Heavenly Father, and is abundantly able to answer allour prayers, [Eph. 3:20+] He not only loves us with an everlasting love, but is almighty, omniscient, and all-wise. He is able to do all thingswhich He wills to do, and will answer all our prayers in the very waythat is best for us. 

QUESTIONS. --1. Why is the Lord's Prayer so called? 2. What does it teachus? 3. What does it contain? 4. What can you say about the sevenpetitions? 5. What does the introduction show? 6. Why do we say Our_Father_? 7. How should this encourage us to call upon Him? 8. Why do wesay _Our_ Father? 9. What is to be said about our heavenly Father incomparison with earthly fathers?

 * * * * *

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Gal. 3:26. For ye are all the children of God byfaith in Christ Jesus. 

Matt. 7:11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts untoyour children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven givegood things to them that ask him?

Rom. 8:15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 

Eph. 3:20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly aboveall that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

READING. --Christ teaches His Disciples to pray, Luke 11:1-4. 

CHAPTER XXV. 

THE FIRST PETITION. 

Hallowed be Thy name. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

The name of God is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petitionthat it may be hallowed also by us. 

_How is this effected?_

When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as thechildren of God, lead holy lives in accordance with it; to this may ourblessed Father in heaven help us. But whoever teaches and livesotherwise than as God's Word prescribes, profanes the name of God amongus; from this preserve us, heavenly Father. 

 * * * * *

In this Petition we pray for grace to hallow God's name[7] by the pureteaching of His Word and by childlike obedience to it. 

[Footnote 7: There is a parallel between this Petition and the SecondCommandment. We here pray for grace to avoid what the Second Commandmentforbids, and to do what it commands. ]

THE NAME OF GOD means not only the names by which we address Him, butall by which He is known to us. Compare the Second Commandment. 

IS INDEED HOLY IN ITSELF. [Ps. 99:3] God's name is holy, because He isholy. We cannot increase or diminish God's holiness by anything that wedo. This petition does not imply, therefore, that we are to _make_ God'sname holy. 

BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT IT MAY BE HALLOWED ALSO BY US. Wehallow God's name when we regard and treat it as holy; in other words, when we honor and glorify God by worshiping and serving Him inaccordance with the revelation which He has given of Himself in HisWord. [John 17:6+, Ps. 100:2, 3]

I. HOW GOD'S NAME IS HALLOWED. 

1. WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS TAUGHT IN ITS TRUTH AND PURITY. God hasrevealed Himself to us in His Word, and it is only from that Word thatwe can learn to know Him and worship Him aright. [John 1:18+] Those, therefore, who in the Church, the school, or the home, teach God's Word, as well as those who gladly hear, read, and learn it, hallow His name. [John 17:17+] But the Word must be taught in its truth and purity; thatis, it must be taught as it is recorded in the Scriptures, with nothingadded, taken away, or changed. [Gal. 1:9, Rev 22:18, 19]

AND WE AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD LEAD HOLY LIVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH IT. Inorder to hallow God's name, we must not only hear but obey His Word. [Jas. 1:22+, Matt. 5:16] As God's children we should think, speak, andact according to the rule which He has laid down in His Word, and thusglorify His name. 

TO THIS MAY OUR BLESSED FATHER IN HEAVEN HELP US. We cannot preserveGod's Word in its truth and purity against its foes, nor believe andobey it by our own strength: hence we pray for God's help. 

II. HOW GOD'S NAME IS PROFANED. 

BUT WHOEVER TEACHES AND LIVES OTHERWISE THAN AS GOD'S WORD PRESCRIBES, PROFANES THE OF GOD AMONG US. [Rom. 2:21-24, Tit. 1:16] False teachers, who deny God's Word, or change it, or add to it, or subtract from it, profane the name of God, because they hide the glory of God from thosewho believe their teachings. Those who live otherwise than as God's Wordprescribes, and are hypocrites or impenitent and unbelieving persons, profane God's name, because they refuse to glorify Him by obedience toHis Word. 

FROM THIS PRESERVE US, HEAVENLY FATHER. We pray thus, because we are bynature inclined to error and sin, and have need of God's grace topreserve us from profaning His name. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What do we pray for in this first petition? 2. What doesthe name of God mean? 3. Why is God's name holy in itself? 4. What doesit mean to hallow God's name? 5. How is God's name hallowed? 6. Why dowe pray for God's help? 7. How is God's name profaned? 8. Why do we prayGod to preserve us from profaning His name?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --John 17:6. I have manifested thy name unto the menwhich thou gavest me out of the world. 

John 1:18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

John 17:17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

Jas. 1:22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceivingyour own selves. 

READING. --The Name of Jesus, Acts 4:1-21. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE SECOND PETITION. 

Thy kingdom come. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

The kingdom of God comes indeed of itself without our prayer; but wepray in this petition that it may come unto us also. 

_When is this effected?_

When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His gracewe believe His holy Word, and live a godly life here on earth and inheaven forever. 

 * * * * *

In this Petition we pray that the Kingdom of God may come to us[8] andto all men; that is, that we all by true faith and a godly life maybecome members of the Church on earth and in heaven. 

[Footnote 8: Since the Kingdom of God comes to us through the Gospel, there is a close relation between this Petition and the ThirdCommandment, which commands us to "deem God's Word holy and willinglyhear and learn it. "]

THE KINGDOM OF GOD is the Kingdom which Christ has founded, and to whichall who believe in Him belong. It is the Kingdom of Grace in this worldand the Kingdom of Glory in the next. [Mark 1:15, Matt. 25:34]

COMES INDEED OF ITSELF WITHOUT OUR PRAYER. Christ has established Hiskingdom and will continue to extend it, whether we pray for it or not. [Isa. 9:7]

BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT IT MAY COME TO US ALSO; that is, intoour hearts. In other words, we pray that we may become true Christians;[Matt. 7:21] and if we are Christians, we pray that we may become betterChristians. 

_Missions. _ This petition is also a prayer for missions. [Matt. 9:37, 38+, Mark 16:15] We here pray that God's kingdom may come to all men. Ifour prayer is sincere, then we must be willing also to give liberally, so that the Gospel may be preached to the heathen (Foreign Missions) andto the spiritually destitute in our own land (Home Missions and InnerMissions). 

HOW GOD'S KINGDOM COMES TO US. 

WHEN OUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVES US HIS HOLY SPIRIT. Since only believersbelong to God's kingdom, and we "cannot by our own reason or strengthbelieve in Jesus Christ our Lord, " we pray in this petition that Godwould give His Holy Spirit to us, SO THAT BY HIS GRACE WE BELIEVE HIS WORD, [I Cor. 12:3] AND LIVE A GODLYLIFE [Tit. 2:11-13+] HERE ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN FOREVER. The HolySpirit must teach us to repent of sin and to believe in Christ, andpreserve us in a life of daily repentance and faith. Then God's kingdomwill come to as more and more in this world, and in the next world weshall belong to it for ever. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What do we pray in this petition? 2. What is meant by thekingdom of God? 3. How does God's kingdom come without our prayer? 4. What do we mean when we pray that it may come to us? 5. What is to besaid about this petition and missions? 6. How does God's kingdom come tous? 7. Why do we need the Holy Spirit?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Matt. 9:37, 38. Then saith he onto his disciples, Theharvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye thereforethe Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into hisharvest. 

Mark 16:15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preachthe gospel to every creature. 

Tit. 2:11-13. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appearedto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, weshould live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the greatGod and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

READING. --The Harvest and the Laborers, Matt. 9:35-38. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

THE THIRD PETITION. 

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

The good and gracious will of God is done, indeed, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done by us also. 

_When is this effected?_

When God frustrates and brings to nought every evil counsel and purposewhich would hinder us from hallowing the name of God and prevent Hiskingdom from coming to us, --such as the will of the devil, of the world, and of our own flesh; and when he strengthens us and keeps us steadfastin His Word and in the faith even unto our end. This is His gracious andgood will. 

 * * * * *

In this Petition we pray for grace gladly to believe, do, and suffer allthat God wills us to believe, do, and suffer, so that His name may behallowed, and His kingdom may come. 

THY WILL. God's will is, 1. That we should believe the Gospel and besaved. [I Tim 2:4+] 2. That we should obey His commandments and be holy. [I Thess. 4:3+] 3. That we should willingly submit to all His dealingswith us, and suffer patiently when He lays a cross on us. [Rom. 8:17+]

BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. We pray that God's will may be doneby all men and especially by us, as heartily, as continually, and ascompletely as it is done by the holy angels. [Ps. 103:20, 21]

THE GOOD AND GRACIOUS WILL OF GOD. The will of God is always good andgracious, because He always wills those things which He, in His wisdomand love, [I John 4:16] sees are best. He does all things well, evenwhen we do not understand His ways. [Isa. 55:8, 9, Rom. 8:28]

IS DONE INDEED WITHOUT OUR PRAYER. There will always be some persons whopermit God to accomplish His good and gracious purposes in them, whetherwe pray for it or not. [Isa. 55:11]

BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT IT MAY BE DONE BY US ALSO; [Rom. 12:12] that is, that we may believe His Gospel, obey His Commandments, and trustfully permit Him to lead us in whatsoever paths He will. 

WHAT WE PRAY GOD TO DO. 

In order that God's good and gracious will may be done by us, allopposing wills must be overcome. [Luke 22:31] We therefore pray God

1. TO FRUSTRATE AND BRING TO NOUGHT THE WILL OF THE DEVIL, [II Cor. 2:11] OF THE WORLD [I John 2:15, 16] (wicked persons), AND OF OUR OWNFLESH [Gal. 5:17+] (our natural heart). For these are the great enemiesof our souls, who by their EVIL COUNSELS AND PURPOSES WOULD HINDER USFROM HALLOWING THE NAME OF GOD AND PREVENT HIS KINGDOM FROM COMING TOUS. They tempt us to oppose God's will by despising His Gospel, disobeying His Commandments, and murmuring against His dealings with us. We pray God

2. TO STRENGTHEN US, [Phil. 2:13] so that we may be able to overcomethese enemies and do God's will in spite of them. [Eph. 6:11, 12+] Theyare very powerful, but if we are in earnest about overcoming them, Godwill give us the needful strength in answer to our prayer. We pray God

3. TO KEEP US STEADFAST IN HIS WORD IN THE FAITH EVEN OUR END, [Phil. 1:6, I Pet. 4:19] so that we may believe the Gospel with all our heart, live holy Christian lives, trust God to lead us as He sees best, and befaithful unto death, that we may receive the crown of life. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What do we pray for in this petition? 2. What do we meanby God's will in this petition? 3. How do we pray that God's will may bedone? 4. Why is the will of God good and gracious? 5. How is God's willdone without our prayer? 6. When do we do God's will? 7. What threethings do we pray God to do? 8. What three wills oppose the will of God?9. What do the devil, the world, and our own flesh seek? 10. Why do wepray God to strengthen us? 11. When do we remain steadfast in God's Wordand in the faith?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --I Tim. 2:4. Who will have all men to be saved, and tocome unto the knowledge of the truth. 

I Thess. 4:3. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification. 

Rom. 8:17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirswith Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be alsoglorified together. 

Gal. 5:17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spiritagainst the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so thatye cannot do the things that ye would. 

Eph. 6:11, 12. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able tostand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against fleshand blood, but against principalities, against powers, against therulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness inhigh places. 

READING. --Jesus in Gethsemane, Matt. 26:36-44. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

THE FOURTH PETITION. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

God gives, indeed, without our prayer, even to the wicked also, theirdaily bread; but we pray in this petition that He would make us sensibleof His benefits, and enable us to receive our daily bread withthanksgiving. 

_What is implied in the words "our daily bread"?_

All things that pertain to the wants and the support of this presentlife; such as food, raiment, money, goods, house and land, and otherproperty; a believing spouse and good children; trustworthy servants andfaithful magistrates; favorable seasons, peace and health; education andhonor; true friends, good neighbors, and the like. 

 * * * * *

In this Petition we acknowledge that every good gift comes from God;[Jas. 1:17] and we pray that He would give us, day by day, those thingswhich we need for our earthly support and comfort, and would make uscontent and thankful. 

THE PETITION ITSELF. 

While we are to pray first and chiefly for spiritual blessings, theSaviour here teaches us that we may and should pray for temporalbenefits also. 

GIVE. By praying God to _give_ us our daily bread, we acknowledge thatit comes from Him. [9] He is the absolute owner of all things, [I Cor. 10:26] and divides to all men as He will. All that we have is His gift. He gives it as a blessing upon our labor; hence, we must work as well aspray. [II Thess. 3:10] But without His blessing, our labor would be invain. [Ps. 127:1] The farmer sows, but God gives the increase. 

[Footnote 9: Compare this Petition with the First Article of the Creedand its Explanation. ]

US. We are taught to pray not only for ourselves, but for others also. We should be concerned that they too may have their daily bread; and, when necessary, we should give them a portion of what God has firstgiven to us, and thus become the means through which He supplies theirwants. [Heb. 13:16]

THIS DAY. We are not to pray for "much goods for many years, " but onlyfor this one day's needful supply. When the morrow comes, if we arestill alive, we are to pray again. [Matt. 6:34+] We are to depend uponGod from day to day. We are, indeed, to make a proper provision for ourfuture, but we are not to give way to anxious, unbelieving care aboutit. 

OUR. We ask for bread which we may call our own, bread honestly gotten, bread which God intends we shall have as a reward of our labor; not someone's else bread, and not such things as God, in His wisdom, sees fit towithhold from us. 

DAILY BREAD. According to Luther's explanation in the Catechism, ourdaily bread includes

ALL THINGS WHICH PERTAIN TO THE WANTS AND THE SUPPORT OF THIS PRESENTLIFE; such as:--

FOOD, RAIMENT, to supply our bodily wants;

MONEY, GOODS, HOUSE AND LAND, AND OTHER PROPERTY, by means of which wemay procure the supply of our bodily wants;

A BELIEVING SPOUSE AND GOOD CHILDREN, that we may have a good Christianhome;

TRUSTWORTHY SERVANTS AND FAITHFUL MAGISTRATES, that we may have the helpand protection which we need for the enjoyment of our own;

FAVORABLE SEASONS, PEACE AND HEALTH, EDUCATION AND HONOR, TRUE FRIENDS, GOOD NEIGHBORS, AND THE LIKE, --all those things which increase ourearthly well-being and happiness. 

While we pray in this petition that God would give us all the thingsenumerated above, _if He sees fit_, we should remember that He is stillgiving us our daily bread when He gives us only those things which weactually must have for the support of our life. [1 Tim. 6:8]

WHY WE PRAY THUS. 

GOD GIVES INDEED, WITHOUT OUR PRAYER, EVEN TO THE WICKED [Matt. 5:45]ALSO THEIR DAILY BREAD; for God is good, and seeks to lead men torepentance by His goodness. [Rom. 2:4]

BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT HE WOULD MAKE US SENSIBLE OF HISBENEFITS, so that we may acknowledge them as His gifts, [Deut. 8:10] andnot ascribe them to our own efforts or to chance, as the worldly andunbelieving do. 

AND ENABLE US TO RECEIVE OUR DAILY BREAD WITH THANKSGIVING. [Eph. 5:20+]Since all the blessings we enjoy are God's gifts, bestowed without anyworthiness on our part, [Gen. 32:10] we pray that we may always receivethem with thankful hearts, and express our gratitude with our lips andin our lives. We should give thanks at every meal, and in all ourprayers. 

_Contentment_. True thankfulness implies contentment with those giftswhich God sees fit to bestow upon us. [Heb. 13:5+, 1 Tim. 6:6-8+] Wemust not murmur because He does not include in our daily bread somethings which we desire to have; nor dare we permit the withholding ofthose things to prevent us from being truly thankful for the manybenefits which God does bestow upon us. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What do we acknowledge and for what do we pray in thispetition? 2. Why do we pray God to "give"? 3. Why do we pray, "give_us_"? 4. Why do we pray "this day"? 5. Why do we say _our_ daily bread?6. What does daily bread include? 7. How much must God give us in orderto answer this prayer for daily bread? 8. Why does God give, even to thewicked? 9. What should we bear in mind with respect to all ourblessings? 10. How should we receive our daily bread? 11. How should weexpress our gratitude? 12. What is to be said about contentment?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Matt. 6:34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow:for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficientunto the day is the evil thereof. 

Eph. 5:20. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Fatherin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Heb. 13:5. Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be contentwith such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 

1 Tim. 6:6-8. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For webrought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothingout. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 

READING. --The Feeding of the Five Thousand, John 6:1-13. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE FIFTH PETITION. 

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass againstus. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

We pray in this petition that our heavenly Father would not regard oursins, nor deny us our requests on account of them; for we are not worthyof anything for which we pray, and have not merited it; but that Hewould grant us all things through grace, although we daily commit muchsin and deserve chastisement alone. We will, therefore, on our part bothheartily forgive and also readily do good to those who may injure oroffend us. 

In this Petition we acknowledge our sinfulness, pray for forgiveness, and promise to forgive our fellow-men. 

The word "And" connects this petition very closely with the precedingone. The daily forgiveness of our sins is as necessary for our souls asour daily bread is for our bodies. 

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES. 

These words are at once a Confession of Sin, and a Prayer for Pardon. 

1. _A Confession. _ The praying of this petition presupposes a penitentstate of heart. If we are not truly penitent, this petition is a mockeryon our lips. We have need to confess our guilt, because

WE DAILY COMMIT MUCH SIN. [I John 4:8] If we are true Christians, we donot sin wilfully and intentionally. But with our best efforts, we stillsin much through weakness, [Rom. 7:19] not only by commission, but stillmore by omission. Not a day passes by, in which we do not transgressGod's law by thoughts and words and deeds. We often do the wrong andomit doing the right without even knowing that we have done so. [Ps. 19:12]

AND DESERVE CHASTISEMENT (Punishment) ALONE. Our sins make us guilty anddeserving of punishment, even though they be sins of weakness. We mustnot excuse or extenuate them. God never excuses any one. But if wepenitently confess our sins, He will forgive us for Jesus' sake. [Ps. 32:5+, I John 1:9]

2. _A Prayer for Pardon. _ As in the fourth petition we daily pray"Give, " so in this fifth petition we daily pray "Forgive. " Since Jesushas taught us to pray thus, and we pray as God's children, this petitionpresupposes that we pray in faith. We pray as those who believe that Godwill be gracious and merciful to us for Jesus' sake. 

WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WOULD NOT REGARD OURSINS, [Ps. 25:7, Ps. 51:9] but would look upon the righteousness whichJesus has acquired for us "with His holy and precious blood and Hisinnocent sufferings and death. " [1 John 1:7]

NOR DENY US OUR REQUESTS ON ACCOUNT OF THEM. If God should regard oursins, He would send only punishment upon us, [Ps. 130:3+, Ps. 143:2] andnot give us any of those benefits for which we ask in our prayer. 

FOR WE ARE NOT WORTHY OF ANYTHING FOR WHICH WE PRAY, HAVE NOT MERITEDIT. Nothing which we have done or are able to do can make amends for oursins, or earn any blessing from God. [Dan. 9:18, Luke 15:18-19+] Wetherefore pray THAT HE WOULD GRANT US ALL THINGS THROUGH GRACE alone forJesus' sake, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. 

3. _A Promise to Forgive our Fellow-men. _ God's mercy to us must move asto be merciful to others. [Eph. 3:32] If it does not, God will withdrawHis mercy from us, [Matt. 6:14, 15+] as the master withdrew his from theunmerciful servant in the parable. [Matt. 18:32-35] Forgiving others isnot a merit which entitles us to receive God's forgiveness. It followsas a result of God's mercy to us. Because God so mercifully forgives usfor Jesus' sake, we promise that

WE WILL, THEREFORE, ON OUR PART, BOTH HEARTILY FORGIVE AND ALSO READILYDO GOOD TO THOSE WHO MAY INJURE OR OFFEND US. No matter how greatlyothers may have sinned against us, we have sinned much more against God. If He is willing to forgive us our great debt, we should be willing toforgive our fellow-men their lesser debt. If we refuse to forgiveothers, God will lay our own sins to our charge, and punish us. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What three things do we do in this petition? 2. What isto be said about the close connection between this petition and thepreceding one? 3. What does this petition presuppose? 4. Why do we needto confess our guilt to God? 5. Is sin ever excusable? 6. Why does thispetition presuppose faith? 7. What do we pray God to do with our sins?8. If God regarded our sins, how would He treat our requests? 9. Why dowe promise to forgive others? 10. Why must we be willing to forgivethem?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Ps. 32:5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mineiniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions untothe LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. 

Ps. 130:3. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shallstand?

Luke 15:18, 19. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no moreworthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 

Matt. 6:14, 15. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenlyFather will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men theirtrespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

READING. -The Unmerciful Servant, Matt. 18:23-35. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

THE SIXTH PETITION. 

And lead us not into temptation. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

God, indeed, tempts no one to sin; but we pray in this petition that Godwould so guard and preserve us, that the devil, the world, and our ownflesh may not deceive us, nor lead us into error and unbelief, despair, and other great and shameful sins; and that, though we may be thustempted, we may nevertheless finally prevail and gain the victory. 

As children of God we must not only seek forgiveness for past sins, butbe anxious to avoid sin in the future. We therefore pray that, as far asis possible according to His gracious will, God would keep us from beingtempted, and would give us strength to overcome when we are tempted. 

If we are in earnest in praying this Petition, we will not run intotemptation ourselves, [Matt. 4:7] nor lead others into it. 

HOW WE ARE TEMPTED. 

GOD INDEED TEMPTS NO ONE TO SIN: for He wishes us to do good, and notevil. But He leads us into circumstances in which we are _tried_, andmust decide for or against Him, for good or for evil. This is the sensein which the Bible speaks of God as tempting persons. [Gen. 22:1] Hetries or tests us. Remembering that we are weak, we pray in thispetition that God would spare us such trials as much as is possibleaccording to His will, and strengthen us in them, that we may befaithful. 

_The Devil, the World, and our own Flesh tempt us to Sin_. These are thegreat enemies of our souls, who will lead us to destruction if we do notearnestly resist them and repel their temptations. 

WHAT WE PRAY. 

1. _That we may not be Deceived or Misled by these Enemies_. 

WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT GOD WOULD SO GUARD AND PRESERVE US, THAT

THE DEVIL, who puts evil thoughts into our hearts, [Gen. 3:4, 5, II Cor. 11:3]

THE WORLD (wicked persons in the world), [Prov. 1:10+, John 15:18] whichtempts us by example, allurements, and threats, AND OUR OWN FLESH (our natural heart), [Rom. 8:7+] which inclines andurges us to sin, MAY NOT DECEIVE US, by promising us happiness in the paths of sin, whilein reality such paths lead only to misery and destruction. [Matt. 7:13, 14+]

NOR LEAD US INTO ERROR AND UNBELIEF, and thus into ruin, since oursalvation depends on believing the truth as it is in Jesus; nor into

DESPAIR; because we are lost if we despair of God's mercy, instead ofbelieving His precious promises in Christ;

AND OTHER GREAT AND SHAMEFUL SINS, in addition to the error, unbelief, and despair mentioned above. 

2. _That we may Overcome these Enemies and be saved_, AND THAT, THOUGH WE MAY BE THUS TEMPTED, WE MAY NEVERTHELESS FINALLYPREVAIL, AND GAIN THE VICTORY. The struggle against these enemies is awarfare (the good fight of faith) [I Tim. 6:12+] which lasts to the endof our days. We dare never think that we are safe without furtherwatchfulness, effort, and prayer. [I Cor. 10:12+] If we sometimes fall, we must not despair nor give up, but repent and determine to do better. If we earnestly pray for God's help, arm ourselves with His Word, andbeware of false security, we shall be enabled to overcome these foesmore and more each day. [I Cor. 10:13] And when, at last, our endapproaches and the warfare is over, God will give us the victory, andbestow upon us for Jesus' sake the crown of life. [Jas. 4:7, II Tim. 4:7, 8]

QUESTIONS. --1. Why do we pray this petition? 2. What do we mean by it?3. If we are in earnest in praying it, what will we not do? 4. In whatsense does God tempt? 5. Who tempts us to sin? 6. What do we prayagainst these enemies? 7. How does the devil tempt us? the world? ourown flesh? 8. How do they try to deceive us? 9. Into what do they try tomislead us? 10. How long must we fight against these enemies? 11. If wefall, what should we do? 12. How may we overcome these foes? 13. Whenonly shall we be completely victorious over them?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Prov. 1:10. My son, if sinners entice thee, consentthou not. 

Rom. 8:7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is notsubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Matt. 7:13, 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there bewhich go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

I Tim. 6:12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good professionbefore many witnesses. 

I Cor. 10:12. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

READING. --Peter denying the Lord, Luke 22:54-62; or, The Temptation ofJesus, Matt. 4:1-11. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

THE SEVENTH PETITION. 

But deliver us from evil. 

_What is meant by this Petition?_

We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our heavenly Fatherwould deliver us from ail manner of evil, whether it affect the body orthe soul, property or character, and at last, when the hour of deathshall arrive, grant us a happy end, and graciously take us from thisworld of sorrow to Himself in heaven. 

 * * * * *

As in the sixth Petition we pray to be preserved from sinning, so inthis seventh Petition we pray to be delivered from all the evil whichhas come upon our race as a consequence of sin. [10] But this petitioncomes last, because we should be more anxious to be delivered from thesin itself, than from the evil results which follow upon it. 

[Footnote 10: There is a very close connection between the last twopetitions, marked by the word "But. " "Temptation will not cease untildeliverance from evil [and from the evil one] has come; and again, whendeliverance from evil has come, temptation will cease to assailus. "--Luekrs. ]

WE PRAY IN PETITION AS IN A SUMMARY. All the petitions which precede itare included in this last one. 

THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WOULD DELIVER US FROM ALL MANNER OF EVIL:--

I. IN THIS WORLD. 

WHETHER IT AFFECT THE BODY, --sickness, pain, hunger, thirst, destitution, OR THE SOUL, --sin, impenitence, unbelief, sorrow, anxiety, care, despondency, insanity, and the like, PROPERTY, --poverty, want, famine, fire, flood, wars, riots, etc. , OR CHARACTER, --disgrace, slander, and the like. 

_How we pray for this Deliverance_. God wills that we should sometimessuffer affliction, in order that our repentance and faith may beincreased. [Isa. 48:10+, Rev. 3:19+, II Cor. 4:17, 18] Consequently, ourprayer for deliverance from evil in this world is a prayer: 1. That, whenever it is possible according to His will, God would ward offaffliction from us. 2. That He would give us grace to bear patientlythose afflictions which He sends, [II Cor. 12:9+, Rom 8:28] and wouldmake them a blessing in disguise for us. 3. That in His own time Hewould remove from us whatever distresses us. [I Sam. 2:6, 7]

We should not grow discouraged or despondent under affliction, but trustin God's mercy and bear our cross cheerfully. [Matt. 10:38] And weshould see to it that we do not, by our own sin and folly, bring uponourselves evils which might have been avoided. 

II. IN THE NEXT WORLD. 

In this world we shall have to endure some evils as long as we live. [John 16:33] But if we are faithful, God will not only overrule them allfor our good, [Gen. 50:20] but will finally, at death, deliver us fromall evil. [II Tim. 4:18]

AND AT LAST, WHEN THE HOUR OF DEATH SHALL ARRIVE, GRANT US A HAPPY END. An unhappy death is the worst of all evils. But a happy death will morethan compensate for all the evils endured in this world. [Rom. 8:18+] Ahappy death will be ours, if we persevere in the faith and die inChrist. [Rev. 14:13+] For then God will pardon all our sins for Jesus'sake, AND GRACIOUSLY TAKE US FROM THIS WORLD OF SORROW TO HIMSELF IN HEAVEN. [Rev. 7:14-15] There all evils shall cease for ever. [Rev. 21:4+] Forsin, and all that follows upon sin, shall be no more. In this entranceinto heaven at last, all our highest hopes and prayers shall find theircomplete and eternal fulfilment. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What do we pray for in this petition? 2. What connectionexists between the sixth and seventh petitions? 3. Why is this petitioncalled a summary? 4. From what kind of evils do we suffer in this world?5. How do we pray for deliverance from evil in this world? 6. When shallwe be completely delivered from all evil? 7. What is to be said about ahappy end? 8. Why shall we suffer from no evil in heaven?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Isa. 48:10. Behold, I have refined thee, but not withsilver: I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 

Rev. 3:19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealoustherefore, and repent. 

II Cor. 12:9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: formy strength is made perfect in weakness. 

Rom. 8:18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are notworthy to be compared with the glory which shall be repealed in us. 

Rev. 14:13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth;Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and theirworks do follow them. 

Rev. 21:4. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and havewashed their robes, and made them, white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and nightin his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 

READING. --The Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 16:19-31. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

THE CONCLUSION. 

For Thine Is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever andever. Amen. 

_What is meant by the word "Amen"_?

That I should be assured that such petitions are acceptable to ourheavenly Father, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded usto pray in this manner, and has promised that He will hear us. Amen, amen, that is, yea, yea, it shall be so. 

 * * * * *

In this Conclusion we give the reason why we address our prayer to ourheavenly Father, and why we expect to be heard. It contains a Doxology, and an Amen. 

THE DOXOLOGY. 

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM: Thou art King and Lord of all; [I Tim. 1:17]from Thee ail gifts must come. [Jas. 1:17]

AND THE POWER: with Thee nothing is impossible; [Luke 1:37] Thou artable to do abundantly above all that we ask or think. [Eph. 3:20]

AND THE GLORY: Thou art God alone, [Isa. 46:4] infinite in holiness, power, and love; to Thy name alone be all praise. [Ps. 115:1]

FOR EVER AND EVER. The kingdoms of earth and their glory pass away; butThy kingdom and power and glory endure for evermore. [Dan. 4:3, Ps. 145:11-13+]

THE AMEN. 

AMEN means Verily. By adding it to our prayer we express our assurance, THAT SUCH PETITIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND ARE HEARDBY HIM. The petitions for temporal and spiritual blessings which we herebring before Him are the very ones which He desires us to present. [IJohn 5:14]

FOR HE HIMSELF HAS TAUGHT US TO PRAY IN THIS MANNER, and to ask forthese things, AND HAS PROMISED THAT HE WILL HEAR US. [II Cor. 1:20] The promise is, that whatsoever we ask in Christ's name shall be given to us. [John16:23] Hence we add at the end of our prayer: Amen, that is, it shall beso; God will answer our prayer. [Matt. 7:9-11]

QUESTIONS. --1. Why do we add the conclusion to the Lord's Prayer? 2. What two parts does the conclusion contain? 3. What do we mean bysaying, "Thine is the kingdom"? the power? the glory? forever? 4. Whatdoes Amen mean? 5. Why do we add it to our prayer? 6. Why are we surethat these petitions are acceptable to our heavenly Father? 7. Whatpromise have we with respect to our prayers?

SCRIPTURE VERSE. --Ps. 145:13. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, andthy dominion endureth throughout all generations. 

READING. --Asking and Receiving, Luke 11:5-13. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

THE MEANS OF GRACE. 

The spiritual blessings spoken of in the Creed and asked for in theLord's Prayer are brought to us through the Means of Grace. 

WHAT THEY ARE. The Means of Grace are: 1. The Word of God, 2. TheSacrament of Holy Baptism, 3. The Sacrament of the Altar. They arecalled the means of grace, because they are the means or vehiclesthrough which God's grace comes to us. It is through the Word of God andthe Sacraments that the Holy Spirit does His work in us. 

THE WORD OF GOD. 

THE CHIEF MEANS OF GRACE is the Word of God. [I Pet. 1:23] For throughit the Holy Spirit "calls, enlightens, sanctifies, and preserves us inthe true faith. " Even in the Sacraments, the principal thing is the Wordof God with its command and promise; and without the Word of God therewould be no sacrament. 

ITS POWER. The Holy Spirit is always in the Word, and gives it savingpower. Through the Law and the Gospel which the Word contains, He bringsto repentance and faith all those persons who do not wilfully resist Hisgrace. [Heb. 4:12] Through it He not only tells us what to do, but givesus the power to obey. [Eph 2:4, 5] Because He is in the Word, "it is thepower of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. " [Rom 1:16](Compare what is said concerning the Bible in Chapter I. , and concerningthe Work of the Holy Spirit in Chapter XX. )

THE SACRAMENTS. 

WHAT A SACRAMENT IS. A sacrament is a holy ordinance, instituted byChrist, in which invisible heavenly gifts are bestowed upon us throughthe use of visible earthly elements. 

HOW MANY THERE ARE. In the sense in which we use the word "Sacrament"there are only two holy ordinances to which the name may be applied;namely, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. For these are the only two whichpossess the three essentials of a sacrament: 1. The Command of Christ;2. The Use of Earthly Elements; 3. The Communication of a HeavenlyGift. [11]

[Footnote 11: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there are sevensacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Confession, the Lord's Supper, Ordination, Marriage, and Extreme Unction. But five of these lack one ormore of the essentials of a sacrament enumerated above. ]

OLD TESTAMENT TYPES. The rite of Circumcision, practised in OldTestament times, was a type of Baptism; and the Passover was a type ofthe Lord's Supper. 

THEIR PURPOSE. The sacraments have been given to us in order that theymight bring a special comfort to our souls, in addition to the comfortwhich we find in God's Word. For the Grace of God which is offered toall men in the Word, is brought and sealed to each believer_individually_ in the sacraments. My baptism assures me that all theblessings of Christ's redemption are meant for _me_: and the Lord'sSupper assures me that Christ's body and blood were given and shed for_me_ for the remission of _my_ sins. 

FAITH NECESSARY. Without faith, no one can obtain any benefit from thesacraments. But he who believes receives the heavenly gifts offered inthem, and has the blessed assurance that he is a child of God and anheir of heaven. 

QUESTIONS. --1. How are the spiritual blessings spoken of in the Creedand asked for in the Lord's Prayer brought to us? 2. What are the Meansof Grace? 3. Why are they so called? 4. What is the chief means ofgrace? 5. Why does the Word of God possess saving power? 6. What is aSacrament? 7. How many Sacraments are there? 8. What are the threeessentials of a sacrament? 9. What is the purpose of the sacraments? 10. Does every one who receives the sacraments derive a benefit from them?

SCULPTURE READING. --The Man Born Blind, John 9:1-7. 

PART IV. 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM

I. _What is Baptism?_

Baptism is not simply water, but it is the water comprehended in God'scommand, and connected with God's Word. 

_What is that Word of God?_

It is that which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke, as it is recorded in thelast chapter of Matthew, verse 19: "Go ye, and teach (make disciples of)all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son andof the Holy Ghost. "

 * * * * *

WHAT BAPTISM IS. 

Baptism consists in applying water to a person "in the name of theFather and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, " as Christ has commanded. [Matt. 28:19]

BAPTISM IS NOT SIMPLY WATER. In one sense, indeed, the water used inbaptism is simply ordinary water from well, cistern, or stream; [Acts8:36] but when used in baptism it ceases to be simply water, andpossesses special value and power, because

IT IS THE WATER COMPREHENDED IN GOD'S COMMAND. The water of baptism is awater which God has commanded us to use, --His command being, "Go ye andmake disciples of all nations, baptizing them, " etc. 

AND CONNECTED WITH GOD'S WORD. In baptism, water is applied "in the nameof the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost"; and thus it is usedin connection, with the very words of Christ Himself. The water and theWord together make the sacrament. 

ITS NECESSITY. Baptism is necessary for all, because Christ hascommanded that all should be baptized, and has connected the blessing ofsalvation with this sacrament. [Matt. 16:16] Those who despise it andrefuse to be baptized, cannot be saved. But if any person should desirebaptism and be unable to obtain it, he would not on that account belost. It is not the lack of baptism, but the despising of baptism thatcondemns. 

Baptism is to be administered by the pastor. But if there should beextreme peril of death before a minister could possibly arrive, anymember of the Church may baptize. Such lay-baptism, however, shouldafterwards be announced in church, and be declared valid. 

WHO ARE TO BE BAPTIZED. 

The command of Christ to "make disciples" includes "all nations. " Allthose persons, therefore, who are willing to become disciples are to bebaptized; namely, adults who have received the proper religiousinstruction and profess faith in Christ, and children whom competentsponsors present for baptism. 

INFANT BAPTISM. Infants should be baptized at a very early age, and thusbe received into God's covenant as His children. Since they cannot beinstructed before baptism, they should be carefully instructedafterwards [Matt. 28:20] and be brought up in the nurture and admonitionof the Lord, [Eph. 6:4] so that they may always remain faithful andobedient children of God. 

SPONSORS answer the questions for the child at its baptism, and promiseto see to it that the child is properly instructed and trained in theChristian religion. Sponsors must themselves be members in good standingin the Church. 

WHY CHILDREN SHOULD BE BAPTIZED. [12] As children were received into theOld Testament covenant by the rite of circumcision, which was a type ofbaptism, so God desires that they shall be received into the NewTestament covenant by baptism. Some of the reasons for infant baptismare the following:--

[Footnote 12: Baptists sometimes argue against infant baptism on thebasis of the Scripture passage: "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizingthem, " etc. , claiming that Christ says first teach and then baptize. But, as a matter of fact, Christ mentions baptizing before teaching inthis passage. For in its correct translation, as given in the RevisedVersion of the English Bible, it reads, "Go ye therefore, and _makedisciples_ of all the nations, _baptizing_ them into the name of theFather and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; _teaching_ them to observeall things whatsoever I commanded you. " If the order in which the twowords "baptize" and "teach" occur in this passage proved anything withrespect to the baptism of infants, it would prove that they _should_ bebaptized. For in the case of children, baptizing comes first andteaching follows, just as in the passage quoted. ]

1. Children form part of the "nations" whom Christ commanded Hisdisciples to baptize. 

2. They are by nature sinful and need God's grace as well as adults. [John 3:5, 6, Job 14:4] While they have not yet committed any conscioustransgressions, they have inherited a sinful heart, and the germs of sinin them will soon grow into actual transgressions. 

3. Christ has commanded that little children should be brought to Him, and we obey this command by baptizing them and teaching them. [Luke18:16]

4. Christ says of children, "Of such is the kingdom of God": [Mark10:14, 15+] and they have a right, therefore, to receive that sacramentby which we enter God's kingdom. 

5. The promise of God's grace is given to children as well as to adults. [Acts 2:39]

6. Children have capacity for faith. [Matt. 18:6]

7. The apostles baptized whole families. [Acts 16:33]

HOW BAPTISM IS TO BE ADMINISTERED. 

In His command to baptize, Christ does not specify any mode of baptism. It may be performed in any one of three ways; namely, by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. One mode of baptism is just as valid as theothers. The most convenient mode, the one best adapted to allcircumstances, and the one most widely used in the Christian Church, isby pouring or sprinkling. Immersion is not advisable in our climate, andin many cases, such as severe sickness, it could not possibly beemployed. 

IMMERSION NOT ESSENTIAL. The word "baptize" does not necessarily mean toimmerse, as the Baptists claim. When the Saviour instituted thissacrament, He did not coin a new word, but employed one already in use. The original Greek word from which our English word "baptize" isderived, is used in the New Testament in the sense of washing [Mark 7:4]and sprinkling. [I Cor. 10:2] The baptism of the three thousand on theday of Pentecost [Acts 2:41] and of the Philippian jailor [Acts 16:33]could hardly have been by immersion, on account of the scarcity of wateravailable for such a purpose. When Jesus was baptized, He "came up outof the water"; [Matt. 3:16] but it is quite probable that He stood inthe stream while John poured water on His head. 

THE ESSENCE OF BAPTISM consists in applying water "in the name of theFather and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost"; and its gracious effectdepends, not on the amount of water that is used, but on the Word of Godwith which the water is connected. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What does baptism consist in? 2. Why is baptism notsimply water? 3. What is meant by "water comprehended in God's command"?4. What is meant by "water connected with God's Word"? 5. What is to besaid about the necessity of baptism? 6. Who are to be baptized? 7. Whatis to be said about infant baptism? 8. Who may be sponsors, and what istheir duty? 9. Give some reasons for infant baptism. 10. What is to besaid about the mode of baptism? 11. Why is immersion not essential? 12. In what does the essence of baptism consist?

 * * * * *

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --John 3:5, 6. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I sayunto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannotenter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh;and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Mark 10:14, 15. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and saidunto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid themnot: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoevershall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall notenter therein. 

READING. -The Baptism of Jesus, Matt. 3:13-17. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

II. _What gifts or benefits does Baptism confer?_

It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, andconfers everlasting salvation on all who believe, as the Word andpromise of God declare. 

_What are such words and promises of God?_

Those which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke, as they are recorded in thelast chapter of Mark, verse 16: "He that believeth and is baptized shallbe saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. "

 * * * * *

THE BENEFITS OF BAPTISM. 

Baptism is God's means of receiving us into His covenant, and opening upto us all the treasures of Christ's redemption. Through this sacramentHe adopts us as His children and receives us into membership in HisChurch. [Gal. 3:36, 27+] We are baptized in (into) the name of theFather (who sent His Son to save us), and of the Son (who died to redeemus), and of the Holy Ghost (who applies Christ's redemption to oursouls). Therefore every baptized person may say, "God is _my_ Father, Christ is _my_ Redeemer, the Holy Ghost is _my_ Sanctifier, and all thebenefits of Christ's redemption are offered to _me_. " Hence we declareof baptism, that

IT WORKS FORGIVENESS OF SINS, [Acts 2:38+, Acts 22:16, Eph. 5:25, 26]DELIVERS FROM DEATH AND THE DEVIL, AND CONFERS EVERLASTING SALVATION. These are the very benefits which Christ has acquired for me by Hisinnocent sufferings and death (see Article II, of the Creed, ChapterXIX. ). And since I have been "baptized into Christ's death, " [Rom 6:3+]all these benefits belong to me if I only accept them by faith. [Mark16:16] I am regarded by God as having already suffered the full penaltyof my sins in Christ's death, and for His sake I am pardoned and saved. 

ON ALL WHO BELIEVE. Faith is the hand with which we grasp and hold fastthe treasures of God's grace offered in this sacrament. The benefits areoffered to every one who is baptized, but they are accepted andpossessed only by him who believes. 

AS THE WORD AND PROMISE OF GOD DECLARE. The benefits belong to all whoare baptized and believe, because God has said so. [Numb. 23:19] He haspromised, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. "

WITHOUT FAITH baptism will not save any one. "He that believeth notshall be damned" even though he is baptized. For while such a person hasbeen adopted as God's child, he is a disobedient and rebellious child, and therefore is disinherited, and loses the heavenly inheritance [Pet. 1:4] which would have been his, if he had remained faithful. 

BAPTISM PERMANENT. Baptism, once properly administered, is not to berepeated. It is a permanent covenant between God and us. While men areoften unfaithful to their covenant, God never is. [II Cor. 1:20, Rom. 3:3] He bestows the blessings of baptism on all who comply with itsconditions. Having received us by baptism as His children, He everafterwards remains our loving heavenly Father, to whom we may turn withfullest confidence. And if any who have fallen from grace repent andseek His mercy, they find Him standing with open arms to receive them. [Luke 15:11-24] Such persons need not be re-baptized; their old baptismstands. A rebellious son who repents needs not to be re-adopted, butneeds only to be forgiven. 

III. _How can water produce such great effects?_

It is not the water, indeed, that produces these effects, but the Wordof God which accompanies and is connected with the water, and our faithwhich relies on the Word of God connected with the water. For the waterwithout the Word of God is simply water, and no baptism. But whenconnected with the Word of God, it is a baptism, that is, a graciouswater of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost; as St. Paul says to Titus in the third chapter, verses 5-8: "According to Hismercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of theHoly Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, ourSaviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirsaccording to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying. "

 * * * * *

WHY BAPTISM HAS POWER TO CONFER SUCH BENEFITS. 

IT IS NOT THE WATER, INDEED, THAT PRODUCES THESE EFFECTS. Water alonecannot wash away sins. Yet the water of baptism is necessary, becauseChrist has commanded its use, and has connected the promise of salvationwith it. 

BUT THE WORD OF GOD WHICH ACCOMPANIES AND IS CONNECTED WITH THE WATER. It is the Word of God, with its command and promise, that makes baptisma sacrament, and gives it power to confer such great benefits. [John6:63]

AND OUR FAITH WHICH RELIES ON THE WORD OF GOD CONNECTED WITH THEWATER. [13] The baptism is a real baptism and offers these great benefits, whether we believe or not. But the benefits become ours, only when webelieve the promises of God. [Mark 16:16]

[Footnote 13: The story of Naaman the leper (II Kings 5:8-14) illustrateshow water, the Word of God, and faith can produce great effects. It wasnot the water of the Jordan that cured Naaman; yet he could not havebeen cured without the water, because the promise of healing wasconnected with its use. When he _believed_ the Word of promise and usedthe water as he was commanded, he was healed. So the water, the Word, and our faith, which trusts in the Word, cleanse us from the leprosy ofsin. ]

IT IS A GRACIOUS WATER OF LIFE, because the Word and promise of God, which are connected with it, give it power to bestow life and salvationon all who believe. 

AND A "WASHING OF REGENERATION" in the Holy Ghost, because it is themeans through which the Holy Ghost causes us to be "born again, " asGod's children. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What does God do for us through baptism? 2. What mayevery baptized person say? 3. What benefits does baptism confer? 4. Whohas acquired these benefits for you, and how? 5. Why do they becomeyours through baptism? 6. What has faith to do with the reception ofthese benefits? 7. How do we know that baptism confers all thesebenefits on all who believe? 8. What is to be said about those who arebaptized but do not believe? 9. What is to be said about the permanenceof baptism? 10. Why has baptism power to confer such great benefits? 11. Why is it a "gracious water of life, " and a "washing of regeneration"?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Gal. 3:26, 27. For ye are all the children of God byfaith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized intoChrist, have put on Christ. 

Acts 2:38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every oneof you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and yeshall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Rom. 6:3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into JesusChrist were baptized into his death?

Numb. 23:19. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son ofman, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? orhath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

READING. --Naaman, II Kings 5:1-14. 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

IV. _What does such baptising with water signify?_

It signifies that the old Adam in us is to be drowned and destroyed bydaily sorrow and repentance, together with all sins and evil lusts; andthat again the new man should daily come forth and rise, that shall livein the presence of God in righteousness and purity forever. 

_Where is it so written?_

St. Paul, in the epistle to the Romans, chapter 6, verse 4, says: "Weare buried with Christ by baptism into death; that like as He was raisedup from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walkin newness of life. "

 * * * * *

THE DUTY WHICH BAPTISM IMPOSES. 

Baptism bestows upon us the great privilege of being children of God;but it also imposes upon us the duty to live and act as God's children. Every one who is baptized promises, either with his own lips or throughhis sponsors, that he will live thus. God is always faithful to His partof the baptismal covenant; we should always be faithful to ours. Ourduty is two-fold:--

1. THE OLD ADAM IN US IS TO BE DROWNED, DESTROYED BY DAILY SORROW ANDREPENTANCE, TOGETHER WITH ALL AND EVIL LUSTS. By the "old Adam in us" ismeant our old sinful self, as we are by nature. For we are born into theworld with a sinful heart and a natural inclination to evil. This evilnature still clings to us even after we have been "born again" intosonship with God. [Rom. 7:18-24] This old sinful self, together with thesins and lusts to which it prompts us, must be suppressed, subdued, andgradually destroyed. [Eph. 4:22+, Gal. 5:24+] We should gain the masteryover it more and more every day. We shall do this, if we daily mournover our sinfulness, and ask God for Christ's sake to grant usforgiveness and strength. 

2. THE NEW MAN SHOULD DAILY COME FORTH AND RISE, THAT SHALL LIVE IN THEPRESENCE OF GOD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PURITY FOREVER. By the "new man" ismeant our new self, --what we have become by the work of the Holy Spiritin us. For if we have been baptized and believe, there has beenimplanted in us a new life. We have become new creatures, [II Cor. 5:17]who by God's grace hate sin and desire from the heart to do God's willalone. As the old man in us should daily become weaker and graduallydie, so the new man in us should daily grow stronger, [Eph. 4:23, 24+, II Pet 3:18] and cause us to live in constantly increasing righteousnessand purity here on earth, [Phil. 3:12+] till at last we are receivedinto God's presence for Jesus' sake, and live before Him in perfectrighteousness and purity forever. 

CONFIRMATION. 

The rite of confirmation is closely connected with the baptism ofchildren. For the children who have been baptized are afterwards to betaught "to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded"; [Matt. 28:20] and, when they have reached an age at which they are able toexamine themselves, they should be confirmed. 

PRECEDED BY INSTRUCTION. Confirmation is to be preceded by thoroughinstruction in the doctrines and duties of the Christian religion. Inaddition to the instruction received in the home and the Sunday-school, those who desire to be confirmed are specially instructed in thecatechetical class by the pastor. Confirmation is the Church's testimonythat the catechumens have received the necessary instruction to fit themfor intelligent and earnest participation in the full privileges ofChurch membership. This instruction is the principal thing, and withoutit confirmation would lose its meaning. 

WHAT CONFIRMATION IS. In confirmation the catechumen makes no newpromises, but repeats with his own lips the confession of faith and thepromise of faithfulness to Christ which were made for him by his sponsorat his baptism. Thereupon the minister lays his hand upon the head ofeach catechumen, and the minister and congregation pray that God wouldgive to each His Holy Spirit to keep him in the faith and to cause himto grow in holiness. 

WHY WE CONFIRM. Confirmation is not commanded in the Scriptures, but isa useful ordinance of the Church. It does not make us members of theChurch; for we become members by baptism; but it admits us to_communicant_ membership in the Church. Those who have been confirmedare admitted to the Lord's Supper. They are also entitled to act assponsors at the baptism of children. The right to vote depends upon theconstitution of the particular congregation. 

QUESTIONS. --1. What duty does baptism impose? 2. In what two-fold way isthis duty to be performed? 3. What is meant by "the old Adam in us"? 4. What shall be done with our old sinful self? 5. How shall we succeed ingaining the mastery over it? 6. What is meant by the "new man"? 7. Whatdoes our new self prompt us to do? 8. What should the new man in us do?9. What is to be done with children who have been baptized? 10. By whatis confirmation to be preceded? 11. What is to be said about theimportance of this instruction? 12. Tell what confirmation is? 13. Whydo we confirm? 14. What privileges does confirmation confer?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --Eph. 4:22. That ye put off concerning the formerconversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfullusts. 

Gal. 5:24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with theaffections and lusts. 

Eph. 4:24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created inrighteousness and true holiness. 

Phil. 3:12. Not as though I had already attained, either were alreadyperfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which alsoI am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

READING. --The Lame Man of Bethesda, John 5:1-14. 

PART V. 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR. 

I. _What is the Sacrament of the Altar?_

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the breadand wine, given unto us Christians to eat and to drink, as it wasinstituted by Christ Himself. 

_Where is it so written?_

The holy evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, together with St. Paul, write thus: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He wasbetrayed, took bread: and when He had given thanks, He broke it, andgave it to His disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body, which isgiven for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner alsoHe 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, as oft as yedrink it, in remembrance of Me. "

 * * * * *

ITS NAMES. This sacrament is called: 1. The Sacrament of the Altar, because it is administered at the altar. 2. The Lord's Supper, becauseit was instituted by the _Lord_ while the disciples were eating thePassover _Supper_. 3. The Table of the Lord, because the Lord here givesfood and drink to our souls. 4. The Communion, because it is a communionof bread and wine with the body and blood of Christ, a communion ofbelievers with Christ, and a communion of believers with one another. 5. The Eucharist--a name derived from a Greek word meaning to givethanks--because the administration of the Lord's Supper is attended withthanksgiving. 

WHAT THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR IS. 

The Lord's Supper was instituted by OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE SAME NIGHTIN WHICH HE WAS BETRAYED, while He and the disciples were eating thePassover Supper. [I Cor. 11:23-25, Matt. 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke22:19-20] What the Lord's Supper is, we learn from the words of ChristHimself as given by the evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and by St. Paul. 

THE EARTHLY ELEMENTS. The Lord TOOK BREAD, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT AND GAVE IT TO HIS DISCIPLES. AFTER THE SAME MANNER ALSO HETOOK THE CUP containing the wine, WHEN HE HAD SUPPED, GAVE THANKS, ANDGAVE IT TO THEM. The earthly elements used in this sacrament are, therefore, bread and wine. The wafers which are generally used inLutheran Churches are unleavened bread--the kind which Christused--because at the time of the Passover no other but unleavened breaddared be used by the Jews. The wine which Christ used was real wine, notunfermented grape juice. We are not permitted to substitute anythingelse in place of the earthly elements used by Christ in instituting thissacrament. 

THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. When Christ gave His disciples the bread, HE SAID, TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU. When Hegave them the wine, HE SAID, DRINK YE ALL OF IT; THIS CUP IS THE NEWTESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. Consequently, when we receive the bread in this sacrament, we receivealso the body of Christ; and when we receive the wine, we receive alsothe blood of Christ. And we say of the Sacrament of the Altar, that

IT IS THE TRUE BODY AND BLOOD OF OUR LORD CHRIST, UNDER (along with) THEBREAD AND WINE, GIVES UNTO US CHRISTIANS TO EAT TO AS IT WAS INSTITUTEDBY HIMSELF. The bread and wine _do not simply represent_ the body andblood of Christ (Zwingli's view). The bread and wine are _not changedinto_ the body and blood of Christ (the Roman Catholic view, ortransubstantiation). The bread and wine are not united with the bodyand blood of Christ into a third substance different from both(consubstantiation). The bread and wine remain real bread and winethroughout the administration of the Lord's Supper. [I Cor. 11:28] Butthere is a communion of the bread and wine with the body and blood ofChrist, [I Cor. 10:16+] so that when the communicant receives the breadhe receives also the body of Christ, and when he receives the wine, hereceives also the blood of Christ. The bread and wine are the earthlyvehicles through which the heavenly gift of Christ's body and blood, which were given, and shed for us for the remission of sins, arecommunicated to us. [I Cor. 10:28, 29]

DOCTRINES COMPARED. The Reformed, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic doctrinesof the Lord's Supper may be compared and illustrated thus:--

Reformed. Lutheran. Roman Catholic. 

Bread. Bread-Body. Body. Wine. Wine-Blood. Blood. 

According to the Reformed view, only bread and wine are present;according to the Roman Catholic[14] view, only the body and blood ofChrist are present; according to the Lutheran and Scriptural doctrine, both the bread and wine and the body and blood of Christ are present inthe Holy Supper, and are received by every communicant. 

[Footnote 14: Because of its false doctrine concerning the Lord's Supper, the Roman Catholic Church has fallen into these additional errors: 1. The Sacrifice of the Mass, in which the priest, by blessing the breadand wine, is supposed to turn them into the body and blood of Christ, and thus to offer an unbloody sacrifice of Christ which is as effectiveas Christ's death on the cross. 2. The Withholding of the cup from thelaity, lest a single drop of Christ's blood should be spilled. 3. TheElevation of the Host, in which the wafer or host is adored as the bodyof Christ. ]

A GREAT MYSTERY. The Lord's Supper is a great mystery; but also a greatcomfort. We cannot understand how Christ can give us His body and bloodin this sacrament. But it is the part of faith to take the Saviour atHis word. This the Lutheran Church does in her doctrine. 

QUESTIONS. --1. By what different names is this sacrament known and why?2. From what do we learn what the Lord's Supper is? 3. What is to besaid about the earthly elements? 4. When Christ gave His disciples thebread and the wine, what did He say? 5. What do we receive, therefore, in the Lord's Supper? 6. What is to be said about Zwingli's view? 7. What is to be said about the Roman Catholic view, and what is it called?8. What other false doctrine besides these two is to be rejected? 9. Howmay the Reformed, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic doctrines of the Lord'sSupper be compared? 10. Is the true doctrine to be rejected because wedo not understand it?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --I Cor. 10:16. The cup of blessing which we bless, isit not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

READING. --The Institution of the Lord's Supper, Matt. 26:17-30. 

II. _What benefits are derived from such eating and drinking?_

They are pointed out in these words: "given and shed for you, for theremission of sins"; namely, through these words, the remission of sins, life and salvation are granted unto us in the sacrament. For where thereis remission of sins, there are also life and salvation. 

 * * * * *

THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

The benefits offered in this sacrament and bestowed upon all who receiveit In faith ARE POINTED OUT IN THESE WORDS of the institution: "GIVENAND SHED FOR YOU, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. " Accordingly, the benefitsare: "REMISSION OF SINS, LIFE AND SALVATION. " For while only theremission (forgiveness) of sins is mentioned in the institution, yetWHERE THERE IS REMISSION OF SINS, THERE ARE ALSO LIFE AND SALVATION. [Rom. 6:22] The Lord's Supper confers all the benefits which Christsecured by His sufferings and death. [Eph. 1:7] Each communicant isassured by the words of Christ Himself that the body which he receivesalong with the bread was given for _him_, and that the blood which hereceives along with the wine was shed for _him_, for the remission of_his_ sins. The promise of grace and forgiveness held out to all in theGospel is thus brought home to each individual in the Lord's Supper. Each believing communicant is individually assured that Christ is _his_Saviour, and that _he_ has the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvationthrough Christ's death. 

 * * * * *

III. _How can the bodily eating and drinking produce such greateffects?_

The eating and the drinking, indeed, do not produce them; but the wordswhich stand here, namely, "given and shed for you for the remission ofsins. " These words are, besides the bodily eating and drinking, thechief things in the sacrament; and he who believes these words has thatwhich they declare and set forth; namely, the remission of sins. 

 * * * * *

WHY THE LORD'S SUPPER HAS POWER TO CONFER SUCH BENEFITS. 

THE EATING AND THE DRINKING, INDEED, DO NOT PRODUCE SUCH GREAT EFFECTS. For bread and wine have no power in themselves to bestow spiritualblessings. 

BUT THE WORDS WHICH STAND HERE, "GIVEN AND SHED FOR YOU, FOR THEREMISSION OF SINS. " It is the Word of God which gives the sacrament itspower. [John 6:63] For Christ has commanded us to use the bread and winein this way, and has connected the promise of forgiveness with theiruse. Without the Word, there would be nothing but bread and wine. ButChrist fulfils the promise which He has bound up with the BODILY EATINGAND DRINKING, and gives us, with the bread and the wine, His body andblood which were given and shed for us for the remission of sins. 

AND HE WHO BELIEVES THESE WORDS HAS THAT WHICH THEY DECLARE, [Matt. 8:13] NAMELY, THE REMISSION OF SINS. Forgiveness of sins, life, andsalvation are offered to all who partake of this sacrament, but they areaccepted and possessed only by those who believe. The impenitent andunbelieving, if they come to the Lord's Table, receive the body andblood of Christ also, but they receive it to their condemnation, becausethey do not receive it with a penitent and believing heart. [I Cor11:29+]

 * * * * *

IV. _Who is it that receives this sacrament worthily?_

Fasting and bodily preparation are, indeed, a good external discipline;but he is truly worthy and well prepared who believes these words:"given and shed for you, for the remission of sins. " But he who does notbelieve these words or who doubts, is unworthy and unfit; for the words"for you" require truly believing hearts. 

HOW THE LORD'S SUPPER IS TO BE RECEIVED. 

Those who come to the Lord's Table must prepare themselves to come_worthily_, if they would receive the benefits offered in thissacrament. [I Cor. 11:28+, II Cor. 13:5]

FASTING AND BODILY PREPARATION ARE INDEED A GOOD EXTERNAL DISCIPLINE. Fasting before the Lord's Supper is not required. It may be practiced bythose who desire to do so, if they do it in order to fit themselves fora more earnest participation in the Holy Supper, and not with the ideathat fasting constitutes a merit, The true preparation for the Lord'sSupper is not bodily, but spiritual. [Joel 2:13+]

HE IS TRULY WORTHY AND WELL-PREPARED, WHO BELIEVES THESE WORDS, "GIVEN, AND FOR YOU, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. " We are to come worthily, not inthe sense of deserving, but of earnestly _desiring_ the benefits offeredin the sacrament. We come worthily when we come with penitent andbelieving heart, [Ps. 51:17+, Matt. 11:28+] lamenting our sins, longingfor forgiveness and for strength to do better, and believing the wordsspoken to us, "given and shed for _thee_ for the remission of sins. "

THE CONFESSIONAL SERVICE. The administration of the Lord's Supper isalways preceded by the service of confession and absolution, so thatthose who desire to come to the Lord's Table may prepare themselves tocome worthily. At this service we make a public confession of our sins, of our faith in Christ our Saviour, and of our earnest determination byGod's grace to lead a holy life. Since Christ has conferred upon theChurch the Power of the Keys, saying, "Whosesoever sins ye remit, theyare remitted, unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they areretained, " [John 20:23] the minister uses this power and pronounces theabsolution. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the HolyGhost he declares to all who truly repent and believe, the entireforgiveness of all their sins. On the other hand, to all who areimpenitent and unbelieving he declares, that their sins are retained solong as they do not come to true repentance and faith. 

Our Church does not require private confession of sins to the pastor;but if any one is troubled in conscience, and desires to make confessionto the minister and to obtain the comfort of an absolution pronouncedspecially upon him, there is provision for private confession andabsolution. Such private confessions are regarded by every true pastoras sacredly confidential. (See the "Questions on Confession, " which formone of the additions to the Five Principal Parts of the Catechism. )

QUESTIONS. --1. What are the benefits derived from the Lord's Supper? 2. Where are they pointed out? 3. How have these benefits been secured forus? 4. What assurance does each communicant receive? 5. Why has theLord's Supper power to confer such benefits? 6. Does every communicantreceive the benefits offered? 7. How is the Lord's Supper to bereceived? 8. What is to be said about fasting as a preparation? 9. Whatis the true preparation? 10. What is meant by receiving the Lord'sSupper worthily? 11. Describe the confessional service? 12. What is tobe said about private confession and absolution?

SCRIPTURE VERSES. --I Cor. 11:29. For he that eateth and drinkethunworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning theLord's body. 

I Cor. 11:28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of thatbread, and drink of that cup. 

Joel 2:13. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto theLORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and ofgreat kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 

Ps. 51:17. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 

Matt. 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and Iwill give you rest. 

READING. --The Wedding Garment, Matt. 22:1-14.