the small catechism of dr. martin luther. edited by henry eyster … · i. the small catechism of...
TRANSCRIPT
THESMALLCATECHISMOFMARTINLUTHER.EDITEDBYHENRYEYSTERJACOBS
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THESMALLCATECHISMOFMARTINLUTHER
EDITEDBYHENRYEYSTERJACOBS,D.D.
PhiladelphiaUNITEDLUTHERANPUBLICATIONSOCIETY
©1911/2018
LutheranLibrary.org
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CopyrightInformation
Copyright©2018byTheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistryLutheranLibrary.org
Allrightsreserved.
Whiletheoriginaltextisinthepublicdomain,theformattingandcontentsofthisvolumeareundercopyright.
Pleaserespectthelaborthathasgoneintotherestorationofthiswork.
Originallypublished1911bytheUnitedLutheranPublicationHouse,Philadelphia.
Coverimage“TheCatechismLesson”byJules-AlexisMeunier,1889.
Unabridged.
302–v3r1
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Contents
CopyrightInformation
Contents
I.TheSmallCatechismofDr.MartinLuther.
PrefaceforPastorsandPreachers.
PartFirst.TheTenCommandments.
TheFirstCommandment.
TheSecondCommandment.
TheThirdCommandment.
TheFourthCommandment.
TheFifthCommandment.
TheSixthCommandment.
TheSeventhCommandment.
TheEighthCommandment.
TheNinthCommandment.
TheTenthCommandment.
PartSecond.TheCreed.
TheFirstArticle-OfCreation.
TheSecondArticle–OfRedemption.
TheThirdArticle–OfSanctification.
PartThird.TheLord’sPrayer.
TheIntroduction.
TheFirstPetition.
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TheSecondPetition.
TheThirdPetition.
TheFourthPetition.
TheFifthPetition.
TheSixthPetition.
TheSeventhPetition.
PartFourth.TheSacramentOfHolyBaptism.
OfConfession1
PartFifth.TheSacramentOfTheAltarorTheLord’sSupper.
AppendixI.MorningAndEveningPrayer.
MorningPrayer.
EveningPrayer.
AppendixII.TheBlessingAndThanksgivingAtTable.
GracebeforeMeat.
ThanksafterMeat.
AppendixIII.TableOfDuties.
Bishops,PastorsandPreachers.
WhatDutiesHearersowetheirBishops.1
Magistrates.
WhatDutiesSubjectsOweMagistrates.2
Husbands.
Wives.
Parents.
Children.
MaleandFemaleServants,andLaborers.
MastersandMistresses.
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YoungPersonsinGeneral.
Widows.
ChristiansinGeneral.
AbouttheAuthor
SelectedBibliography
Preface
AbouttheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistry
SomeAuthorsForYouToDiscover
GreatNarratives
Topics
HowCanOneFindPeaceWithGod?
IfYouFindTypographicErrors
WanttobenotifiedofFutureReleases?
CatalogofTitles
“Extras”
TheLutheranLibrary
Benediction
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I.TheSmallCatechismofDr.MartinLuther.
Enchiridion[Handbook].
PrefaceforPastorsandPreachers.
MartinLuthertoallFaithfulandGodlyPastorsandPreachers:Grace,MercyandPeaceinJesusChrist,ourLord.
The deplorable condition inwhich I found religious affairs during a recentvisitation of the congregations has impelledme to publish this Catechism, orstatement of the Christian doctrine, after having prepared it in very brief andsimpleterms.AlasIwhatmiseryIbeheld!Thepeople,especiallythosewholiveinthevillages,seemtohavenoknowledgewhateverofChristiandoctrine,andmanyof thepastors are ignorant and incompetent teachers.And, nevertheless,theyallmaintainthattheyareChristians,thattheyhavebeenbaptizedandthattheyhavereceivedtheLord’sSupper.YettheycannotrecitetheLord’sPrayer,the Creed, or the Ten Commandments; they live as if they were irrationalcreatures,andnow that theGospelhascome to them, theygrosslyabuse theirChristianliberty.
Ye bishops! what answer will ye give to Christ for having so shamefullyneglectedthepeopleandpaidnoattentiontothedutiesofyouroffice?Iinvokenoevilonyourheads.ButyouwithholdthecupintheLord’sSupper,insistontheobservanceofyourhumanlaws,andyet,at thesametime,donot take theleast interest in teaching the people the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, the TenCommandments,oranyotherpartoftheWordofGod.Woeuntoyou!
WhereforeIbeseechyouinthenameofGod,mybelovedbrethren,whoarepastors or preachers, to engage heartily in the discharge of the duties of your
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office,tohavemercyonthepeoplewhoareentrustedtoyourcare,andtoassistusinintroducingtheCatechismamongthem,andespeciallyamongtheyoung.Andifanyofyoudonotpossessthenecessaryqualifications,Ibeseechyoutotakeatleastthefollowingformsandreadthem,wordforword,tothepeopleonthiswise:
Inthefirstplace,letthepreachertaketheutmostcaretoavoidallchangesorvariationsinthetextandwordingoftheTenCommandments,theLord’sPrayer,theCreed,theSacraments,etc.Lethim,onthecontrary,takeeachoftheformsrespectively, adhere to it, and repeat it anew year after year. For young andinexperiencedpeoplecannotbesuccessfully instructedunlessweadhere to thesametextorthesameformsofexpression.Theyeasilybecomeconfusedwhentheteacheratonetimeemploysacertainformofwordsandexpressions,andatanother,apparentlywithaviewtomakeimprovements,adoptsadifferentform.The resultof suchacoursewillbe, thatall the timeand laborwhichwehaveexpendedwillbelost.
This point was well understood by our venerable fathers, who wereaccustomedtousethesamewordsinteachingtheLord’sPrayer,theCreed,andtheTenCommandments.We,too,shouldfollowthisplanwhenweteachthesethings,particularlyinthecaseoftheyoungandignorant,notchangingasinglesyllable,norintroducinganyvariationswhen,yearafteryear,werecurtotheseformsandrecitethemanewbeforeourhearers.
Choose,therefore,theformofwordswhichbestpleasesyou,andadheretoitperpetually.Whenyoupreachinthepresenceofintelligentandlearnedmen,youareatlibertytoexhibityourknowledgeandskill,andmaypresentanddiscussthesesubjectsinallthevariedmodeswhichareatyourcommand.Butwhenyouare teaching the young, retain the same in form andmanner without change:teach them, firstof all, theTenCommandments, theCreed, theLord’sPrayer,etc.,alwayspresentingthesamewordsof thetext,sothat thosewholearncanrepeatthemafteryouandretaintheminthememory.
Butifanyrefusetoreceiveyourinstructions,tellthemplainlythattheydenyChristandarenotChristians; suchpersonsshallnotbeadmitted to theLord’sTable,norpresentachildforbaptism,norenjoyanyofourChristianprivileges,butaretobesentbacktothePopeandhisagents,and,indeed,toSatanhimself.Theirparents andemployers should,besides, refuse to furnish themwith foodanddrink,andnotifythemthatthegovernmentwasdisposedtobanishfromthecountryallpersonsofsucharudeandintractablecharacter.
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Foralthoughwecannot, and shouldnot, compel them toexercise faith,weought, nevertheless, to instruct the great mass with all diligence; so that theymayknowhowtodistinguishbetweenrightandwrongintheirconducttowardthosewithwhomtheyliveoramongwhomtheydesiretoearntheirliving.Forwhoeverdesirestoresideinacity,andenjoytherightsandprivilegeswhichitslaws confer, is also bound to know and obey those laws.God grant that suchpersonsmaybecomesincerebelievers!Butiftheyremaindishonestandvicious,letthematleastwithholdfrompublicviewthevicesoftheirhearts.
In the second place, when those whom you are instructing have becomefamiliarwith thewords of the text, it is time to teach them to understand themeaningofthosewords,sothattheymaybecomeacquaintedwiththeobjectandpurportofthelesson.Thenproceedtoanotherofthefollowingforms,or,atyourpleasure,chooseanyotherwhichisbrief,andadherestrictlytothesamewordsand formsofexpression in the text,withoutalteringa single syllable;besides,allowyourselfampletimeforthelessons.Foritisnotnecessarythatyoushould,it on the sameoccasion, proceed from thebeginning to the endof the severalparts; it will be more profitable if you present them separately, in regularsuccession.When thepeoplehave, for instance, at lengthcorrectlyunderstoodtheFirstCommandment,youmayproceed to theSecond,andsocontinue.Byneglecting to observe this mode the people will be overburdened, and bepreventedfromunderstandingandretaininginmemoryanyconsiderablepartofthemattercommunicatedtothem.
In the third place, when you have thus reached the end of this ShortCatechism,beginanewwiththeLargeCatechism,andbymeansofitfurnishthepeoplewithfullerandmorecomprehensiveexplanations.Explainhereat largeeveryCommandment,everyPetition,and,indeed,everypart,showingthedutieswhich they severally impose, and both the advantages which follow theperformanceofthoseduties,andalsothedangersandlosseswhichresultfromthe neglect of them. Insist in an especial manner on such Commandments orotherpartsasseemtobemostofallmisunderstoodorneglectedbyyourpeople.It will, for example, be necessary that you should enforce with the utmostearnestnesstheSeventhCommandment,whichtreatsofstealing,whenyouareteachingworkmen,dealers,andevenfarmersandservants,inasmuchasmanyofthese are guilty of various dishonest and thievish practices. So, too, itwill beyourduty toexplainandapply theFourthCommandmentwithgreatdiligencewhen you are teaching children and uneducated adults, and to urge them toobserve order, to be faithful, obedient and peaceable, as well as to adduce
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numerousinstancesmentionedintheScriptureswhichshowthatGodpunishedsuchaswereguiltyinthesethingsandblessedtheobedient.
Here, too, let it be your great aim to urge magistrates and parents to rulewisely and to educate the children, admonishing them, at the same time, thatsuchdutiesareimposedonthem,andshowingthemhowgrievouslytheysinifthey neglect them. For in such a case they overthrow and laywaste alike thekingdomofGodandthekingdomoftheworld,actingasiftheyweretheworstenemiesbothofGodandofmen.Andshowthemveryplainlytheshockingevilsofwhichtheyaretheauthorswhentheyrefusetheiraidintrainingupchildrentobepastors,preachers,writers,etc.,andsetforththatonaccountofsuchsinsGodwillinflictanawfulpunishmentuponthem.Itis,indeed,necessarytopreachonthesethings;forparentsandmagistratesareguiltyofsinsinthisrespectwhicharesogreat that thereareno terms inwhich theycanbedescribed.And truly,Satanhasacrueldesigninfosteringtheseevils.
Finally, inasmuch as the people are now relieved from the tyranny of thePope,theyrefusetocometotheLord’sTable,andtreatitwithcontempt.Onthispoint,also,itisverynecessarythatyoushouldgivetheminstructions,while,atthesametime,youaretobeguidedbythefollowingprinciples:Thatwearetocompel no one to believe, or to receive theLord’s Supper; thatwe are not toestablish any laws on this point, or appoint the time and place; but that weshouldsopreachastoinfluencethepeople,withoutanylawadoptedbyus, tourge, and, as itwere, to compel us,who are pastors, to administer the Lord’sSupper to them. Now this object may be attained if we address them in thefollowingmanner: It is tobefeared thathewhodoesnotdesire to receive theLord’sSupperatleastthreeorfourtimesduringtheyeardespisestheSacrament,and isnoChristian.So, too,he isnoChristianwhoneitherbelievesnorobeystheGospel;forChristdidnotsay,“Omitordespisethis,”but,“Thisdoye,asoftasyedrinkit,”etc.Hecommandsthatthisshouldbedone,andbynomeansbeneglectedanddespised.Hesays,“Thisdo.”
Now,hewhodoesnothighlyvaluetheSacramentshowstherebythathehasnosin,noflesh,nodevil,noworld,nodeath,nodanger,nohell;thatistosay,hedoesnotbelieve that suchevilsexist, althoughhemaybedeeply immersed inthem,andcompletelybelongtothedevil.Ontheotherhand,heneedsnograce,no life, no Paradise, no heaven, no Christ, no God, no good thing. For if hebelieved that hewas involved in such evils, and that hewas in need of suchblessings, he could not refrain from receiving the Sacrament, wherein aid isaffordedagainstsuchevils,and,again,suchblessingsarebestowed.Itwillnot
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be necessary to compel him by the force of any law to approach the Lord’sTable;hewillhastentoitofhisownaccord,willcompelhimselftocome,andindeedurgeyoutoadministertheSacramenttohim.
Hence,youarebynomeanstoadoptanycompulsorylawinthiscase,asthePopehasdone.Let itsimplybeyouraimtoset forthdistinctly theadvantagesandlosses,thewantsandthebenefits,thedangersandtheblessings,whicharetobe considered in connectionwith theSacrament; thepeoplewill, doubtless,then seek itwithout urgent demands on your part. If they still refuse to comeforward, let themchoose theirownways, and tell them that thosewhodonotregard their own spiritualmisery, and do not desire the gracious help ofGod,belongtoSatan.Butifyoudonotgivesuchsolemnadmonitions,orifyouadoptodiouscompulsorylawsonthesubject,itisyourownfaultifthepeopletreattheSacramentwithcontempt.Willtheynotnecessarilybeslothfulifyouaresilentand sleep? Therefore consider the subject seriously, ye Pastors and Preachers.Ourofficehasnowassumedaverydifferentcharacter fromthatwhich itboreunder the Pope; it is now of a very grave nature, and is very salutary in itsinfluence.Itconsequentlysubjectsustofargreaterburdensandlabors,dangersandtemptations,whilstitbringswithitaninconsiderablerewardandverylittlegratitude in theworld.ButChrist himselfwill beour reward ifwe laborwithfidelity.MayHe grant suchmercy unto us who is the Father of all grace, towhombegiventhanksandpraisesthroughChrist,ourLord,forever!Amen.
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PartFirst.TheTenCommandments.
IntheplainforminwhichtheyaretobetaughtbytheHeadofafamily.
TheFirstCommandment.
IamtheLordthyGod.Thoushalthavenoothergodsbeforeme.WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.Weshouldfear,love,andtrustinGodaboveallthings.
TheSecondCommandment.
ThoushaltnottakethenameoftheLordthyGodinvain;fortheLordwillnotholdhimguiltlessthattakethhisnameinvain.
WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.WeshouldsofearandloveGodasnottocurse,swear,conjure,lie,
ordeceivebyhisname,butcalluponhim inevery timeofneed,andworshiphimwithprayer,praise,andthanksgiving.
TheThirdCommandment.
RemembertheSabbathday,tokeepitholy.WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.WeshouldsofearandloveGodasnottodespisehisWordandthe
preachingoftheGospel,butdeemitholy,andwillinglyhearandlearnit.
TheFourthCommandment.
Honor thy fatherand thymother, that thydaysmaybe; longupon the landwhichtheLordthyGodgiveththee.
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WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.WeshouldsofearandloveGodasnottodespisenordispleaseour
parentsandsuperiors,buthonor,serve,obey,love,andesteemthem.
TheFifthCommandment.
Thoushaltnotkill.WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.WeshouldsofearandloveGodasnottodoourneighboranybodily
harmorinjury,butratherassistandcomforthimindangerandwant.
TheSixthCommandment.
Thoushaltnotcommitadultery.WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.We should so fear and love God as to be chaste and pure in our
wordsanddeeds,eachonealsolovingandhonoringhiswifeorherhusband.
TheSeventhCommandment.
Thoushaltnotsteal.WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.Weshould so fear and loveGodasnot to robourneighborofhis
money or property, nor bring it into our possession by unfair dealing orfraudulentmeans,butratherassisthimtoimproveandprotectit.
TheEighthCommandment.
Thoushaltnotbearfalsewitnessagainstthyneighbor.WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.Weshouldso fearand loveGodasnotdeceitfully tobelie,betray,
slander,norraise injuriousreportsagainstourneighbor,butapologizeforhim,speakwellofhim,andputthemostcharitableconstructiononallhisactions.
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TheNinthCommandment.
Thoushaltnotcovetthyneighbor’shouse.WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.WeshouldsofearandloveGodasnottodesirebycraftinesstogain
possession of our neighbor’s inheritance or home, or to obtain it under thepretextofalegalright,butbereadytoassistandservehiminthepreservationofhisown.
TheTenthCommandment.
Thoushaltnotcovetthyneighbor’swife,norhisman-servant,norhismaid-servant,norhisox,norhisass,noranythingthatisthyneighbor’s.
WhatismeantbythisCommandment?Answer.We should so fear and loveGod as not to alienate our neighbor’s
wife from him, entice away his servants, nor let loose his cattle, but use ourendeavorsthattheymayremainanddischargetheirdutytohim.
WhatdoesGoddeclareconcerningalltheseCommandments?Answer,Hesays:ItheLordthyGodamajealousGod,visitingtheiniquity
ofthefathersuponthechildrenuntothethirdandfourthgenerationofthemthathateme:andshewingmercyuntothousandsofthemthatloveme,andkeepmycommandments.
Whatismeantbythisdeclaration?Answer. God threatens to punish all those who transgress these
commandments. We should, therefore, dread his displeasure and not actcontrarilytothesecommandments.Buthepromisesgraceandeveryblessingtoallwhokeepthem.Weshould,therefore,loveandtrustinhim,andcheerfullydowhathehascommandedus.
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PartSecond.TheCreed.
IntheplainforminwhichitistobetaughtbytheHeadofafamily.
TheFirstArticle-OfCreation.
IbelieveinGodtheFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth.WhatismeantbythisArticle?Answer. I believe that God has createdme and all that exists; that he has
givenandstillpreservestomemybodyandsoul,withallmylimbsandsenses,my reason and all the faculties of mymind, together withmy raiment, food,home, and family, and allmy property; that he daily providesme abundantlywith all thenecessaries of life, protectsme fromall danger, andpreservesmeandguardsmeagainstallevil;whichhedoesoutofpure,paternal,anddivinegoodnessandmercy,withoutanymeritorworthinessinme;forallwhichIamindutyboundtothank,praise,serve,andobeyhim.Thisismostcertainlytrue.
TheSecondArticle–OfRedemption.
AndinJesusChristHisonlySon,ourLord;whowasconceivedbytheHolyGhost, born of the VirginMary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,dead,andburied;Hedescendedintohell; thethirddayHeroseagainfromthedead;Heascendedintoheaven,andsittethontherighthandofGodtheFatherAlmighty;fromthenceHeshallcometojudgethequickandthedead.
WhatismeantbythisArticle?Answer. I believe that Jesus Christ, trueGod, begotten of the Father from
eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord; who hasredeemedme,alostandcondemnedcreature,securedanddeliveredmefromallsins,fromdeath,andfromthepowerofthedevil,notwithsilverandgold,butwithhisholyandpreciousblood,andwithhisinnocentsufferingsanddeath;inorder that I might be his, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in
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everlasting righteousness, innocence andblessedness: even as he is risen fromthedead,andlivesandreignstoalleternity.Thisismostcertainlytrue.
TheThirdArticle–OfSanctification.
Ibelieve in theHolyGhost; theHolyChristianChurch, theCommunionofSaints; the Forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection of the body; and the Lifeeverlasting.Amen.
WhatismeantbythisArticle?Answer.IbelievethatIcannotbymyownreasonorstrengthbelieveinJesus
ChristmyLord,orcometohim;buttheHolyGhosthascalledmethroughthegospel,enlightenedmebyhisgifts,andsanctifiedandpreservedmeinthetruefaith; in likemanner as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies thewholeChristianChurchonearth,andpreservesitinunionwithJesusChristinthetruefaith; inwhichChristianChurchhedaily forgivesabundantlyallmysins, andthesinsofallbelievers,andwillraiseupmeandallthedeadatthelastday,andwillgrant everlasting life tomeand toallwhobelieve inChrist.This ismostcertainlytrue.
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PartThird.TheLord’sPrayer.
IntheplainforminwhichitistobetaughtbytheHeadofafamily.
TheIntroduction.
OurFatherwhoartinheaven.WhatismeantbythisIntroduction?Answer.Godwouldtherebyaffectionatelyencourageustobelievethatheis
trulyourFather,andthatwearehischildrenindeed,sothatwemaycalluponhimwithallcheerfulnessandconfidence,evenasbelovedchildrenentreattheiraffectionateparents.
TheFirstPetition.
Hallowedbethyname.WhatismeantbythisPetition?Answer.ThenameofGodisindeedholyinitself;butweprayinthispetition
thatitmaybehallowedalsobyus.Howisthiseffected?Answer.WhentheWordofGodis taught inits truthandpurity,andwe,as
thechildrenofGod,leadholylivesinaccordancewithit;tothismayourblessedFatherinheavenhelpus!ButwhoeverteachesandlivesotherwisethanasGod’sWord prescribes, profanes the name ofGod among us; from this preserve us,HeavenlyFather!
TheSecondPetition.
Thykingdomcome.WhatismeantbythisPetition?
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Answer.ThekingdomofGodcomesindeedofitself,withoutourprayer;butweprayinthispetitionthatitmaycomeuntousalso.
Whenisthiseffected?Answer.WhenourheavenlyFather givesushisHolySpirit, so that byhis
grace we believe his holy Word, and live a godly life here on earth, and inheavenforever.
TheThirdPetition.
Thywillbedoneonearth,asitisinheaven.WhatismeantbythisPetition?Answer. The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our
prayer;butweprayinthispetitionthatitmaybedonebyusalso.Whenisthiseffected?Answer.WhenGod frustrates and brings to naught every evil counsel and
purposewhichwouldhinderusfromhallowingthenameofGodandpreventhiskingdomfromcomingtous,suchasthewillofthedevil,of theworld,andofourownflesh;andwhenhestrengthensus,andkeepsussteadfastinhisWordandinthefaith,evenuntoourend.Thisishisgraciousandgoodwill.
TheFourthPetition.
Giveusthisdayourdailybread.WhatismeantbythisPetition?Answer.Godgives indeedwithoutourprayereven to thewickedalso their
dailybread;butwepray in thispetition thathewouldmakeussensibleofhisbenefits,andenableustoreceiveourdailybroadwiththanksgiving.
Whatisimpliedinthewords:“Ourdailybread”?Answer.All things thatpertain to thewants and the supportof thispresent
life;suchasfood,raiment,money,goods,houseandland,andotherproperty;abelieving spouse and good children; trustworthy servants and faithfulmagistrates; favorable seasons; peace and health; education and honor; truefriends,goodneighbors,andthelike.
TheFifthPetition.
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Andforgiveusourtrespasses,asweforgivethosewhotrespassagainstus.WhatismeantbythisPetition?Answer.Wepray in thispetition thatourheavenlyFatherwouldnot regard
oursins,nordenyusourrequestsonaccountofthem;forwearenotworthyofanythingforwhichwepray,andhavenotmeritedit;butthathewouldgrantusall things through grace, although we daily commit much sin, and deservechastisementalone.Wewilltherefore,onourpart,bothheartilyforgive,andalsoreadilydogoodto,thosewhomayinjureoroffendus.
TheSixthPetition.
Andleadusnotintotemptation.WhatismeantbythisPetition?Answer.God indeed temptsnoone to sin; butwepray in this petition that
Godwouldsoguardandpreserveusthatthedevil,theworld,andourownfleshmaynotdeceiveus,norleadusintoerrorandunbelief,despair,andothergreatand shameful sins; and that, though we may be thus tempted, we mayneverthelessfinallyprevailandgainthevictory.
TheSeventhPetition.
Butdeliverusfromevil.WhatismeantbythisPetition?Answer.Weprayinthispetition,asinasummary,thatourheavenlyFather
would deliver us from all manner of evil, whether it affect the body or soul,propertyorcharacter,and,atlast,whenthehourofdeathshallarrive,grantusahappy end, and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to himself inheaven.
Whatismeantbytheword“Amen”?Answer. That I should be assured that such petitions are acceptable to our
heavenlyFather,andareheardbyhim;forhehimselfhascommandedustoprayinthismanner,andhaspromisedthathewillhearus.Amen,Amen;thatis,Yea,yea,itshallbeso.
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PartFourth.TheSacramentOfHolyBaptism.
IntheplainforminwhichitistobetaughtbytheHeadofafamily.I.WhatisBaptism?Answer. Baptism is not simplywater, but it is the water comprehended in
God’scommand,andconnectedwithGod’sWord.WhatisthatWordofGod?Answer.ItisthatwhichourLordJesusChristspake,asitisrecordedinthe
lastchapterofMatthew,verse19:“Goye,andteachallnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost.”
II.WhatgiftsorbenefitsdoesBaptismconfer?Answer.Itworkethforgivenessofsins,deliversfromdeathandthedevil,and
conferseverlastingsalvationonallwhobelieveastheWordandpromiseofGoddeclare.
WhataresuchwordsandpromisesofGod?Answer.ThosewhichourLordJesusChristspake,astheyarerecordedinthe
lastchapterofMark,verse16:“Hethatbelievethandisbaptized,shallbesaved;buthethatbelievethnot,shallbedamned.”
III.Howcanwaterproducesuchgreateffects?Answer.Itisnotthewaterindeedthatproducestheseeffects,buttheWordof
Godwhichaccompaniesand isconnectedwith thewater,andour faith,whichreliesontheWordofGodconnectedwiththewater.Forthewater,withouttheWord of God, is simply water and no baptism. But when connected with theWordofGod,itisabaptism;thatis,agraciouswateroflifeanda“washingofregeneration” in theHolyGhost, asSt.Paul says toTitus in the third chapter,vers.5-8:“Accordingtohismercyhesavedus,bythewashingofregenerationandrenewingoftheHolyGhost;whichheshedonusabundantlythroughJesusChrist ourSaviour; that being justifiedbyhis grace,we shouldbemadeheirsaccordingtothehopeofeternallife.Thisisafaithfulsaying.”
IV.Whatdoessuchbaptizingwithwatersignify?Answer.ItsignifiesthattheoldAdaminus-istobedrownedanddestroyed
by daily sorrow and repentance, togetherwith all sins and evil lusts; and that
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again the new man should daily come forth and rise, that shall live in thepresenceofGodinrighteousnessandpurityforever.
Whereisitsowritten?Answer.St.Paul,intheEpistletotheRomans,chapter6,verse4,says:“We
areburiedwithChristbybaptismintodeath;thatlikeashewasraisedupfromthedeadbythegloryoftheFather,evensowealsoshouldwalkinnewnessoflife.”
OfConfession1
Howplainquestionsshouldbetaughtconcerningit.WhatisConfession?Answer.Confessionconsistsoftwoparts:theoneis,thatweconfessoursins;
theother,thatwereceiveabsolutionorforgivenessthroughthepastorasofGodhimself,innowisedoubting,butfirmlybelievingthatoursinsarethusforgivenbeforeGodinheaven.
Whatsinsoughtwetoconfess?Answer.InthepresenceofGodweshouldacknowledgeourselvesguiltyof
allmannerofsins,evenofthosewhichwedonotourselvesperceive;aswedoin theLord’sPrayer.Butn thepresenceof thepastorweshouldconfess thosesinsalonewhichwehaveknowledgeandwhichwefeelinourhearts.
Whicharethese?Answer.Herereflectinyourcondition,accordingtotheTenCommandments,
namely: Whether you are a father or mother, a son or daughter, a master ormistress, aman-servant ormaidservant –whether you have been disobedient,unfaithful, slothful, whether you have injured any one by words or actions,whetheryouhavestolen,neglected,orwastedaught,ordoneotherevil.
Pleaseshowmeashortwaytoconfess.Answer. You should speak to the confessor thus: Reverend and dear sir, I
beseechyoutohearmyconfession,andtoannouncetomeforgivenessforGod’ssake.
Say:I,apoorsinner,confessbeforeGodthatIamguiltyofallsins;especiallyI
confessbeforetheethatIamaman-servant,amaid-servant,etc.Butalas,Iservemymasterunfaithfully; forhere and there Ihavenotdonewhathe toldme; Ihaveprovokedhim,andcausedhimtocurse;Ihaveneglectedmanythingsand
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letthemgotowaste;likewise,inwordsanddeedsIhavebeenimmodest;Ihavebeenangrywithmyonaequals;Ihavegrumbledandswornatmywife.ForallthisIamsorry,andprayforgrace:Imeantodobetter.
Amasterormistressshouldsaythus:InparticularIconfessbeforetheethatIhavenotbeenfaithfulintrainingmy
children, domestics and wife [family] for God’s glory. I have cursed. I havegivenabadexamplebyunchastewordsandworks.Ihaveinjuredmyneighbor.Ihave slandered, have overcharged and have given spurious goods and shortmeasure.
And whatever more he has done in violation of God’s command and hisstation,etc.But ifanyonedonot feel thathe isoppressedby theseorgreatersins, he shouldnot be anxious, or search for or devise other sins, and therebymakeatortureoutofconfession,2butshouldmentiononeortwosinsknowntohimself.Thus:InparticularIconfessthatIoncecursed.Ionceusedimmodestwords.Ihaveneglectedthisorthat,etc.Letthissuffice.
But if you know of none at all (which, however, is scarcely possible),mention none in particular, but receive the forgiveness after the generalconfessionwhichyoumakebeforeGodtotheminister.
ThentheConfessorshouldsay:Godbemercifuluntotheeandstrengthenthyfaith.Amen.Andagain:DostthoubelievethatmyforgivenessistheforgivenessofGod?Answer.Yes,dearsir.Thenlethimsay:Asthoubelievest,sobeitdoneuntothee.AndinthenameofourLordJesus
Christ,Iforgivetotheethysins,inthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost.Amen.Departinpeace.
But thosewhohavegreatburdensupon their consciences,or aredistressedandtempted,afatherconfessorwillknowwellhowtoconsolewithpassagesofScriptureandtoencouragethemtofaith.Thisshouldonlyserveasanordinaryformofconfessionfortheuncultivated.
1. Müllermakesofthisadistinctpart.HasegivesitasanAppendixtoPartIV.,OfBaptism.Franckeentitlesit“IntroductiontoPartV.”Thisis theviewofWalchIntroduction,p.611sqq.↩
2. Cf.Aug.Conf.,xxv.:7sqq.;Apology,Art.xi.(iv.):63.p.166.↩
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PartFifth.TheSacramentOfTheAltarorTheLord’sSupper.
IntheplainforminwhichitistobetaughtbytheHeadofafamily.WhatistheSacramentoftheAltar?Answer. It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the
breadandwine,givenuntousChristianstoeatandtodrink,asitwasinstitutedbyChristhimself.
Whereisitsowritten?Answer. The holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, together with
St.Paul,writethus:1“OurLordJesusChrist,thesamenightinwhichhewasbetrayed,tookbread:
andwhenhehadgiventhanks,hebrakeit,andgaveittothedisciples,andsaid,Take,eat; this ismybody,which isgivenforyou: thisdo, in remembranceofme.”
“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 the newtestamentinmyblood,whichisshedforyou,fortheremissionofsins:thisdoye,asoftasyedrinkit,inremembranceofme.”
Whatbenefitsarederivedfromsucheatinganddrinking?Answer.Theyarepointedoutinthesewords:“Given,andshedforyou,for
theremissionofsins.”Namely,throughthesewords,theremissionofsins,lifeandsalvationaregranteduntousintheSacrament.Forwherethereisremissionofsins,therearealsolifeandsalvation.
Howcanthebodilyeatinganddrinkingproducesuchgreateffects?Answer.The eating and thedrinking, indeed,donotproduce them,but the
wordswhichstandhere,namely:“Given,andshedforyou,fortheremissionofsins.”Thesewordsare,besidesthebodilyeatinganddrinking,thechiefthingsintheSacrament;andhewhobelievesthesewordshasthatwhichtheydeclareandsetforth,namely,theremissionofsins.
Whoisit,then,thatreceivesthisSacramentworthily?Answer.Fastingandbodilypreparationareindeedagoodexternaldiscipline;
butheistrulyworthyandwellprepared,whobelievesthesewords:“Given,and
25
shed for you, for the remission of sins.” But he who does not believe thesewords,orwhodoubts,isunworthyandunfit;forthewords:“ForYou,”requiretrulybelievinghearts.
1. Matt.26:26-28;Mark14:22-24;Luke22:19,20;1Cor.11:23-25.↩
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AppendixI.MorningAndEveningPrayer.
IntheplainforminwhichitistobetaughtbytheHeadofafamily.
MorningPrayer.
In themorning,when thou risest, thou shaltmake the signof theholycross,andsay:
InthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost.Amen.Then kneeling or standing thou shalt say the Apostles’ Creed and the
Lord’sPrayer.TothesethoucanstalsoaddthisPrayer:Igivethanksuntothee,heavenlyFather,throughJesusChrist,thydearSon.
that thouhastprotectedme through thenight fromalldangerandharm;and Ibeseechtheetopreserveandkeepmethisdayalsofromallsinandevil;thatinallmythoughts,words,anddeedsImayserveandpleasethee.IntothyhandsIcommendmybodyandsoul,andallthatismine.Letthyholyangelhavechargeconcerningme,thatthewickedonehavenopoweroverme.Amen.
Andthen thoushouldstgowith joy to thywork,afterperhapsahymnhas been sung, as the Ten Commandments, or what thy devotion maysuggest.
EveningPrayer.
Intheevening,whenthougoesttobed,thoushaltmakethesignoftheholycross,andsay:
InthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost.Amen.Then kneeling or standing, thou shall say theApostles’ Creed and the
Lord’sPrayer.Then,ifthouwilt,thoumayestaddthisPrayer:Igivethanksuntothee,heavenlyFather, throughJesusChrist thydearSon,
thatthouhastthisdaysograciouslyprotectedme,andIbeseechtheetoforgive
27
meallmysins,andthewrongwhichIhavedone,andbythygreatmercydefendmefromalltheperilsanddangersofthisnight.IntothyhandsIcommendmybodyandsoul,andall that ismine.Let thyholyangelhavechargeconcerningme,thatthewickedonehavenopoweroverme.Amen.
Thenthoushouldstgotosleepimmediatelyandjoyfully.
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AppendixII.TheBlessingAndThanksgivingAtTable.
IntheforminwhichitistobetaughtbytheHeadofafamily.
GracebeforeMeat.
Beforemeat,themembersofthefamilystandingatthetablereverentlyandwithfoldedhands,thereshallbesaid:
Theeyesofallwaitupon thee,OLord:and thougivest them theirmeat indue season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every livingthing.1
Note.–Pleasure (Wohlgefallen)means, that all animals receive somuch toeatthat theyareonthisaccountjoyfulandofgoodcheer;forcareandavaricehindersuchpleasure.
ThenshallbesaidtheLord’sPrayer,andafterthatthisPrayer:LordGod,heavenlyFather,blessuntousthesethygifts,whichofthytender
kindnessthouhastbestoweduponus,throughJesusChristourLord.Amen.
ThanksafterMeat.
Aftermeat,allstandingreverentlyandwithfoldedhands,thereshallbesaid:
OgivethanksuntotheLord,forheisgood:forhismercyendurethforever.He giveth food to all flesh: he giveth to the beast his food and to the youngravenswhichcry.Hedelightethnot in the strengthof thehorse;he takethnotpleasureinthelegsofaman.TheLordtakethpleasureinthemthatfearhim,inthosethathopeinhismercy.
ThentheLord’sPrayerandthefollowingPrayer:Wegivethankstothee,OGodourFather,forallthybenefits,throughJesus
ChristourLord,whowiththeelivethandreignethforeverandever.Amen.
29
1. Ps. 145:16. Otherwise rendered: “Fillest every living thing withpleasure.”↩
30
AppendixIII.TableOfDuties.
Or certain passages of the Scriptures, selected for various orders andconditionsofmen,whereintheirrespectivedutiesaresetforth.
Bishops,PastorsandPreachers.
Abishopmustbeblameless,thehusbandofonewife,vigilant,sober,ofgoodbehavior, given to hospitality apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, notgreedyof filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that rulethwell his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; not anovice,butholdingfastthefaithfulWord,ashehathbeentaught,thathemaybeablebysounddoctrinebothtoexhortandtoconvincethegainsayers.1Tim.3:2-6;Tit.1:9.
WhatDutiesHearersowetheirBishops.1
EvensohaththeLordordainedthattheywhichpreachtheGospelshouldliveoftheGospel(1Cor.9:14).LethimthatistaughtintheWordcommunicateuntohim that teacheth inallgood things (Gal.6:6).Let theelders that rulewellbecountedworthyofdoublehonor,especiallytheywholaborinwordanddoctrine.FortheScripturesaith,Thoushaltnotmuzzletheoxthattreadethoutthecorn.And,Thelaborerisworthyofhisreward(1Tim.5:17,18).Obeythemthathavetheruleoveryou,andsubmityourselves:fortheywatchforyoursouls,astheythatmustgiveaccount,thattheymaydoitwithjoyandnotwithgrief;forthatisunprofitableforyou.Heb.13:17.
Magistrates.
Leteverysoulbesubjectuntothehigherpowers.ForthereisnopowerbutofGod:thepowersthatbeareordainedofGod;forrulersarenotaterrortogood
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works,buttotheevil.Wiltthouthennotbeafraidofthepower?Dothatwhichisgood,andthoushalthavepraiseofthesame;forheistheministerofGodtotheeforgood.Butifthoudothatwhichisevil,beafraid;forhebearethnottheswordinvain:forhe is theministerofGod,arevenger toexecutewrathuponhimthatdoethevil.Rom.13:1-4.
WhatDutiesSubjectsOweMagistrates.2
RenderthereforeuntoCaesarthethingsthatareCaesar’s(Matt.22:21).Leteverysoulbesubjectuntothehigherpowers,etc.Whereforewemustneedsbesubject,notonlyforwrath,butalsoforconscience’sake.Forforthiscausepayyetributealso;fortheyareGod’sministers,attendingcontinuallyuponthisverything.Renderthereforetoalltheirdues;tributetowhomtributeisdue;customtowhomcustom;feartowhomfear;honortowhomhonor(Rom.13:1,5sqq.).Iexhort,therefore,that,firstofall,supplications,prayers,intercessionsandgivingofthanksbemadeforallmen;forkingsandforallthatareinauthority,thatwemayleadaquietandpeaceablelifeinallgodlinessandhonesty(1Tim.2:1sq.).Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, etc. (Tit. 3:1).SubmityourselvestoeveryordinanceofmanfortheLord’ssake:whetheritbetothekingassupreme;oruntogovernorsasthosethataresent,etc.1Pet.2:13sq.
Husbands.
Yehusbands, dwellwith yourwives according to knowledge, giving honoruntothewife,asuntotheweakervessel,andasbeingheirstogetherofthegraceoflife,thatyourprayersbenothindered(1Pet.3:7).Andbenotbitteragainstthem.Col.3:29.
Wives.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as unto the Lord. Even asSarahobeyedAbraham,callinghimlord:whosedaughtersyeare,aslongasyedowell,andarenotafraidwithanyamazement.Eph.5:22;1Pet3:6.
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Parents.
Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in thenurtureandadmonitionoftheLord.Eph.6:4.
Children.
Children,obeyyourparentsintheLord:forthisisright.Honorthyfatherandmother;whichisthefirstcommandmentwithpromise;thatitmaybewellwiththee,andthoumayestlivelongontheearth.Eph.6:1-3.
MaleandFemaleServants,andLaborers.
Servants, be obedient to them that are yourmasters according to the flesh,withfearandtrembling,insinglenessofyourheart,asuntoChrist;notwitheye-service, asmen-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing thewill ofGodfromtheoheart;withgood-willdoingservice,astotheLord,andnottomen;knowingthatwhatsoevergoodthinganymandoeth,thesameshallhereceiveoftheLord,whetherhebebondorfree.Eph3;5-8.
MastersandMistresses.
Yemasters, do the same thingsunto them, forbearing threatening;knowingthatyourMasteralsoisinheaven;neitheristhererespectofpersonswithhim.Eph.6:9;Col.4:1.
YoungPersonsinGeneral.
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.Yea, all of you besubjectonetoanother,andbeclothedwithhumility:forGodresisteththeproud,andgivethgracetothehumble.HumbleyourselvesthereforeunderthemightyhandofGod,thathemayexaltyouinduetime.1Pet.5:5,6.
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Widows.
Shethatisawidowindeed,anddesolate,trustethinGod,andcontinuethinsupplicationsandprayersnightandday;butshe that liveth inpleasure isdeadwhilesheliveth.1Tim.5:5,6.
ChristiansinGeneral.
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Herein are comprehended all thecommandments (Rom. 13:9, 10).And persevere in prayer for allmen. 1Tim.2:1,2.
1. OmittedinGerman.↩2. OmittedinGerman↩
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AbouttheAuthor
HenryEysterJacobs(November10,1844–July7,1932)wasanAmericaneducatorandLutherantheologian.JacobswasborninGettysburg,Pennsylvania,the son of professor Michael and Juliana M (Eyster) Jacobs. His sister JuliaJacobs Harpster became a missionary in India; his brother Michael WilliamJacobsbecame a judge.Hegraduated fromPennsylvaniaCollege in 1862 andfromtheLutheranTheologicalSeminaryatGettysburg in1865.Between1870and 1883, he was professor at Pennsylvania College. He was then appointedprofessor of systematic theology in The Lutheran Theological Seminary inMount Airy, where he also assumed the office of dean in 1894. In 1920, hebecamePresidentoftheSeminarywhentheofficeofdeanwasabolished.
Heservedaspresidentofhischurch’sboardofforeignmissions(1902–07),of theGeneral Conference of Lutherans (1899, 1902, 1904), of theAmericanSocietyofChurchHistory(1907–08),andofthePennsylvaniaGermanSociety(1910–11).HealsotranslatedvariousGermantheologicalworksandeditingtheLutheran Church Review (1882–96), and Lutheran Commentary (1895-98).Henry Eyster Jacobs, working with John A.W. Haas, published The LutheranCyclopediain1899.
SelectedBibliography
First Free Lutheran Diet in America, Philadelphia, December 27–28,1877(1878)
TheLutheranmovementinEnglandduringthereignsofHenryVIIIandEdwardVI,anditsliterarymonuments(1890)
HistoryoftheLutheranChurchinAmerica(1893)
ElementsofReligion(1894)
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Annotations on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans and I. Corinthians(1896)
Annotations on the Epistles of Paul to I. Cortinthians VII-XVI, II.CorinthiansandGalatians(1897)
MartinLuther,theheroofthereformation(1898)
TheGermanEmigrationtoAmerica,1709-40(1899)
SummaryoftheChristianFaith(1905)
36
Preface
TheChurch’sConfessionsofFaithareitsauthorizeddeclarationsonsubjectsconcerningwhich its teachinghasbeenmisunderstoodormisrepresented,or isliable to such misunderstanding and misrepresentation. They are notcomprehensive systems of doctrine covering the entire sphere of divinerevelation, but have arisen entirely from historical circumstances, where theteachingoftheChurchhasbecomeamatterofcontroversy.Anexceptiontothisstatementmayprobablybefound inLuther’sCatechisms ;andyet,while theywerewritten forother thanpolemicalpurposes, theywereofferedasstandardsforthemorepopularpresentationofthetruthsoftheChristianreligionatacrisiswhenbothpastorsandpeopleneededespecialguidance.IneachConfessionthetopicstreated,aswellastheorder,theextent,andthemodeoftreatmentofeachtopic, are not ideal or determined by any effort to present an exhaustive andlogicalsummaryofthefaith,asawhole,fromtheHolyScriptures,butonlytomeetanhistoricalneedandtorespondtoacallforaparticularemergency.EachConfessionisinrealityonlyapartoftheoneConfessionofthefaith,whichtheChurch,undertheguidanceoftheHolySpirit, iscontinuallydrawingfromtheHolyScripturesandfromcommunionwiththeChurch’sLord.
The Holy Scriptures are the sole source and authority of the Church’steaching,andamplysufficientforallordinarypurposesofinstruction;butwhenthatwhich theHolyScriptures teach is called intoquestion, it is theChurch’sduty,inallages,asawitnesstothetruthandsetforitsdefense,togiveclearandunmistakabletestimonyastowhatisthemeaningofGod’sWordonthesubjectsunder discussion. All the authority of such testimonies depends upon theirconformitywithHolyScripture.Confessionsareauthoritative,notbecause theChurchhasadoptedthem,butbecauseoftheWordofGodwhichtheyarefoundtocontain."WeaccepttheUnalteredAugsburgConfession,notbecauseitwascomposed by our theologians, but because it has been derived from God’sWord."(FormulaofConcord,p.536,5.)
WhattheChurchhasonceconfessed,withrespecttoquestionsofmorethanmerelytemporaryorlocalsignificance,becomesapartofherverylife.Ifitbe
37
whattheConfessiondeclaresthatitis,theverytruthofGod’sWord,expressedintermssoclearandunambiguousastoguardagainstallmisunderstanding,theChurchofthefuturecannotbeindifferenttoit,butcherishesitasasacredtrust(“the deposit,” 1 Tim. 6:20), which is to be transmitted to posterity that latergenerations may be profited by the experience of their predecessors.Nevertheless, in so doing, the Church cannot restrict Its testimony, as newcircumstancesarise,simplytothatwhich,underentirelydifferentcircumstances,hasbeengivenatsomeparticularcrisis in thepast.She isnotsobound to thepastastobeunabletodefineherfaithintermsadaptedtonewconditions,butis“readyalwaystogiveanswertoeveryonethataskethareason”ofherfaith(1Pet.1:15).Accordingly,theAugsburgConfessionveryappropriatelyassertstheprincipleofConfessionaldevelopmentinitsclosingwords:
“Ifanythingfurtherhedesired,weareready,Godwilling,topresentamplerinformationaccordingtotheScriptures”(p.67sq.).
The simplest and briefest of all the Confessions, the Apostles’ Creed,historical investigations show was the product of a gradual growth of fourhundredyears,assuccessivecontroversiesfurnishedtheoccasionforadditionalarticles. Itwas not primarily a liturgical formula, as it iswith us today, but aclearanddistinctutteranceonvariouscontrovertedpoints,withoutmentioningthosewhotaughtotherwise.AsimilargrowthcanbetracedwithoutdifficultyintheNiceneCreed,wheretheCouncilofNicemarksonlyaparticularstageinitsformulation,butneitheritsbeginningnoritscompletion.TheAthanasianCreedis the ultimate fruit of centuries of controversy concerning theTrinity and theIncarnation, as thearena for theologicaldiscussion ispassing from theEast totheWest.
Neither the structure nor the contents of the Augsburg Confession can beadequately interpreted without the study of the historical occasion for eacharticle.Evenwhereitisleastpolemical,anhistoricalmotiveforeachstatementis present.TheApology is the author’s ownprotest against perversions of themeaningandtheattemptstoanswerthepositionsoftheAugsburgConfession;in other words, it is the official interpretation of those who prepared andpresentedtheAugustana.
When, some years later, after the conciliatory spirit that animates theAugsburgConfessionhadfailedtomakeanimpressiononitsopponents,Luther,intheSmalcaldArticles,providedfortheGeneralCouncilthattheEmperorhadpromised to call a statement of the issues involved in the controversies with
38
Romethatwasentirelyuptodate,whileMelanchthonsupplementeditwithanappendixonChurchPower,thatisthefoundationofallLutheranChurchPolity.
The last of the Confessions, the Formula of Concord, after more than agenerationhadpassedsincethecontroversywithRomewasmostacute,attemptsto afford a common basis uponwhich Lutherans could stand, and thus end aperiod of confusion, division, and estrangement that had broken the LutheranChurch of Germany into fragments. Never was there a more careful anddiscriminating Church document written, guarding in each article againstexaggerationsoneachside,andthen,inmostpreciseanddefinitewords,settingforth the teaching from theHoly Scriptures on the subjects concerningwhichthere had beanmisunderstanding and alienation of feeling. In it the LutheranChurch shows her fidelity in judging errors within, just as in the other greatConfessions she had judged errors fromwithout, her borders. To judge otherswithoutalsojudgingourownselves(1Cor.11:31)istobefairandjustneithertoourselvesnortoothers.
Upon the basis of all these Confessions the foundations of the LutheranChurchinAmericawerelaid.TheywereincludednotonlyintheConstitutionsof many of the earlier congregations, but also in the first Constitution of theMother Synod. With the entrance of a period when the importance of thisconfessionalpositionwasnotrecognized, therecameintoourhistoryretardinganddisorganizing forces that threatened theveryexistenceofourChurchas itbecameanglicized,andthattothepresentdayhavegreatlydividedandconfusedit.
With a widespread and all but general return towards the confessionalposition of the Fathers, a period of new life and promise for our Church inAmerica has begun.Upon the hearty acceptance of theseConfessions in theirhistorical sense, and their consistent application in the spirit of the Gospel topractice, the General Council, in common with others, offers a basis for theunionoftheentireLutheranChurchinAmerica.Theworkinwhichshehassosuccessfully cooperated in the preparation of a Common Service will not becomplete until the agreement possible in such joint work is traced to a morethorough harmony in the faith than had been supposed, and its ultimateexpressioninagreementastothetermsofconfessionalstatement.
ButfortheattainmentofsuchendtheConfessionsmustbereadilyaccessibleinthecommonlanguageofthecountry,andshouldbefoundinthestudiesofallour pastors and in the homes and libraries of all our intelligent people. EvenalthoughourChurchhasneverasked its laymen tosubscribe tomore than the
39
Catechism,yettheimportanceoftheiracquaintancewithallthat,asmembersofLutheran synods, they require their pastors to know and teach cannot bequestioned.
Heretofore translations intoEnglishhavebeenaccessibleonly in expensiveeditions. The edition ofwhich this is a revisionwas undertaken in 1882 by aretiredclergyman,theRev.G.W.Frederick,atgreatpecuniaryrisk.Hesparednoexpenseinprovidingfortheworkamostattractiveform,andinenablingtheeditor to introduce any amount of matter, which he deemed of value forillustrating the history and teaching of the Confessions. That edition is notsupplanted by this. It will continue to be published by the General Council’sPublicationBoardfortheuseofscholars.Initwillbefoundthehistoryofeachconfession, and the various documents upon which they were based. But thepopular edition, here offered, fulfills the hope of the editor from the verybeginning, to have the Confessions published at such price that they may hescattered broadcast throughout all English-speaking lands, where there areconfessorsoftheLutheranfaithforCanadaandAustralia,forSouthAfricaandIndia,fortheWestIndiesandSouthAmerica,aswellasfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica. Such edition will serve an important office in deepening andstrengtheningthefaithofourpeopleindrawingthemtogetherinthebondsofacommonfellowship,andinenablingthemtoappreciateallthemorehighlytheirheritage. But beyond this, as the preceding editionwaswarmlywelcomed byeminentrepresentativesofotherdenominationsbecauseofmuchthattheyfoundinitencouragingthemintheirconflicts,sothiseditionwillcontinuetoamuchwider circle than the Lutheran Church the testimonywhich our Fathers gave,and,whileinmanyotherreligiousbodiesconfessionallineshavevanishedandconfessional obligations weakened, a standard is here raised around whichmillionsinthiswesternworldwillrally.Theattentivereader,whatevermaybehis antecedents, will see that the matters here treated are not antiquated orobsolescent,butentermostdeeplyintotheissuesofthehour.
Thetranslationsincludedinthisvolumearethoseofthetwo-volumeedition,except that, for the translation of the Augsburg Confession, credited in thatedition toDr.CharlesPorterfieldKrauth, butwhich is in reality a reprint of asixteenth century English translation, published in “The Harmony of theConfessions”in1586,wehavesubstitutedthetranslationofficiallyapprovedbythe General Council after its preparation by a joint committee of the varioussynodicalbodies,mentionedinthenoteintroducingitattheproperplace(p.32).Withthisexception,theplatesarethoseofthelargeredition.Anumberofminor
40
changes,however,havebeenmade,suggestedbytwenty-nineyears’useofthetranslationinthestudyandtheclass-room,andbycriticismsofwhichwehavebeeninformed.
We send forth this volume with gratitude for the privilege of having beencalled toedit it and itspredecessor,and in the full confidence that itwillbeablessingtoourChurchinAmerica,and,throughit,inadvancingthekingdomofourLordJesusChrist,inwhosenametheseconfessionswerewritten.
HenryEysterJacobs.
LutheranTheologicalSeminary.
Philadelphia,Pa.,February27,1911.
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Long,SimonPeter,(1860-1929)
Loy,Matthias,(1828-1915)
Schmauk,TheodoreEmanuel,(1860-1920)
GreatNarratives
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My experiences in themission field of SouthDakota during the years1892-1897byFrankAlbertKiess
MyDogsintheNorthlandbyEgertonRyersonYoung
DixieKittenbyEvaMarchTappan
LettersfromaCatbyHelenHuntJackson
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With best wishes to you for Reformation Day 2018 from the LutheranLibrary.
101Lehmanowsky,JohnJacob.ATaleofTwoCaptains
102Sandt,GeorgeWashington.BiographyofTheodoreSchmauk
103Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.NewTestamentConversions
104Schmauk,TheodoreEmanuel.TheConfessionalPrinciple
105Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.BiographyofWilliamPassavant
106Scriver,Christian.Gotthold’sEmblems
108Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.TheLutheranCountryChurch
109Jacobs,HenryEyster.ASummaryoftheChristianFaith
110Krauth,CharlesPorterfield.InfantBaptisminCalvinism
111Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.What’sWrongWithTheWorld
112Greenwald,Emanuel.WhyTheReformation?
114Jacobs,HenryEyster.MartinLuther:TheHerooftheReformation
116Gerberding,GeorgeHenry.ThePriesthoodofBelievers
117Jacobs,HenryEyster.TheBookofConcord:Epitome
120Luther,Martin.FirstPrinciplesoftheReformation
121White,RalphJerome.SixYearsinHammockLand
125Hosmer,JamesKendell.TheStoryoftheJews
133Greenwald,Emanuel.JustificationByFaith
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138Dolbeer,WilliamHenry.TheBenediction
139Stromme,PeerOlsen.ChurchHistory:JustTheBasics
141Fesperman,JosephHamilton.TheLifeofaSufferer
143Whitteker,JohnEdwin.GospelTruths
144Whitteker,JohnEdwin.ChurchandState
145Stump,Joseph.Melanchthon
149 Greenwald, Emanuel. Pastor Louis Harms and the Church atHermansburg
155Miller,CharlesArmand.ThePerfectPrayer
156Laird,Samuel.SelectionofSermons
158 Morris, John Gottlieb. Life Reminiscences of an Old LutheranMinister
163LutheranTreasuryofPrayers
168 Brown, James Allen. The Anti-Lutheran Theology of Dr. S. S.Schmucker
169Einspruch,Henry.TheMostNotedJewishBookintheWorld
170Lichtenstein,Isaac.AnAppealtotheJewishPeople
171Loy,Matthias.TheDoctrineofJustification
176Neve,JuergenLudwig.ChurchesandSectsofChristendom
180Loy,Matthias.TheStoryofMyLife
185Dau,WilliamHermanTheodore.LutherExaminedandReexamined
188Schuh,LewisHerman.FuneralSermonsofLutheranDivines
189Greenwald,Emanuel.TheBaptismofChildren
190Long,SimonPeter.TheWayMadePlain
196Kiess, FrankAlbert.My experiences in the mission field of SouthDakota
201Long,SimonPeter.PreparetoMeetThyGod
46
207Harms,JohnHenry.TheVictoryofFaith:LutheranMeditations
209Horine,Mahlon.TheBookofRuth
212Huber,Eli.FoodFortheHeavenlyWay
213Ochsenford, Solomon Erb. The Passion Story as Recorded by theFourEvangelists
221Keyser, Leander Sylvester. The Conflict Between FundamentalismandModernism
222 Keyser, Leander Sylvester. Election and Conversion. A FrankDiscussionofDr.FranzPieper’sBook
225Young,EgertonRyerson.MyDogsintheNorthland
236Sheldon,HenryClay.TheosophyandNewThought
240Lenski&Stellhorn.WhichPredestination:ReformedorLutheran?
241Lenski,Schmidt&Gohdes.IntuituFideiElectionInViewofFaith
242Lenski,Allwardt&Tressel.ElectionandPredestination:TheBlueIslandTheses
247Krauth, Charles Porterfield. A Sermon on the Burning of the OldLutheranChurch
249Sander,John.DevotionalReadingsfromLuther’sWorks
253Mahan,Milo.Palmoni:TheNumeralsofScripture
259Morris,John.ToRomeandBackAgain
272Wells,AmosRussel.ABibleYear
s01Krauth,CharlesPorterfield.SayingsofCharlesPorterfieldKrauth
s02Greenwald,Emanuel.TheTrueChurch
s03Wolf,EdmundJacob.JohnBurns:HeroofGettysburg
“Extras”
47
e10Diaz,Abby.TheCats’ArabianNights
e15Grimalkin,Tabitha.TalesfromCatland
e16Elwes,Alfred.TheAdventuresofaCat
e17Elwes,Alfred.TheAdventuresofaDog
e18Elwes,Alfred.TheAdventuresofaBear
e19Jackson,HelenHunt.LettersfromaCat
e22Jackson,Gabrielle.TheAdventuresofTommyPostOffice
e25Cowles,Julia.Crow’sLanguageLessons
e26Smith,Jeanie.Zephyr:AChristmasStory
e28Tappan,EvaMarch.DixieKitten
e32Bacon,Peggy.TheTruePhilosopherandOtherCatTales
e38Davis,RichardHarding.TheBarSinister
e41Carr,WalterE.TheStoryofFiveDogs
TheLutheranLibrary
The goal of theLutheranLibrary is to re-releasewell-written and readablebooks from sound, faithfulAmerican Lutherans of the past for the enjoymentand edification of a new generation. All books are available atlutheranlibrary.orgforfreedownloadinavarietyofformatsforKindle,Apple,andotherdevices.
Yourhelpisappreciatedinspreadingthewordasoftenandinasmanywaysasyoufeelisappropriate.
MayGod bless you and keep you, help you, defend you, and lead you toknowthedepthofHislove.Amen
48
Benediction
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present youfaultlessbeforethepresenceofhisglorywithexceedingjoy,
TotheonlywiseGodourSavior,begloryandmajesty,dominionandpower,bothnowandever.Amen.–Jude1:24-25
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TableofContents
CopyrightInformation 5Contents 6I.TheSmallCatechismofDr.MartinLuther. 9PrefaceforPastorsandPreachers. 9PartFirst.TheTenCommandments. 14
TheFirstCommandment. 14TheSecondCommandment. 14TheThirdCommandment. 14TheFourthCommandment. 14TheFifthCommandment. 15TheSixthCommandment. 15TheSeventhCommandment. 15TheEighthCommandment. 15TheNinthCommandment. 16TheTenthCommandment. 16
PartSecond.TheCreed. 17TheFirstArticle-OfCreation. 17TheSecondArticle–OfRedemption. 17TheThirdArticle–OfSanctification. 18
PartThird.TheLord’sPrayer. 19TheIntroduction. 19TheFirstPetition. 19TheSecondPetition. 19TheThirdPetition. 20TheFourthPetition. 20TheFifthPetition. 20TheSixthPetition. 21TheSeventhPetition. 21
PartFourth.TheSacramentOfHolyBaptism. 22OfConfession1 23
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PartFifth.TheSacramentOfTheAltarorTheLord’sSupper. 25AppendixI.MorningAndEveningPrayer. 27
MorningPrayer. 27EveningPrayer. 27
AppendixII.TheBlessingAndThanksgivingAtTable. 29GracebeforeMeat. 29ThanksafterMeat. 29
AppendixIII.TableOfDuties. 31Bishops,PastorsandPreachers. 31WhatDutiesHearersowetheirBishops.1 31Magistrates. 31WhatDutiesSubjectsOweMagistrates.2 32Husbands. 32Wives. 32Parents. 33Children. 33MaleandFemaleServants,andLaborers. 33MastersandMistresses. 33YoungPersonsinGeneral. 33Widows. 34ChristiansinGeneral. 34
AbouttheAuthor 35SelectedBibliography 35
Preface 37AbouttheLutheranLibraryPublishingMinistry 42SomeAuthorsForYouToDiscover 42GreatNarratives 42Topics 43HowCanOneFindPeaceWithGod? 43IfYouFindTypographicErrors 43WanttobenotifiedofFutureReleases? 44
CatalogofTitles 45
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“Extras” 47TheLutheranLibrary 48
Benediction 49
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