no one is able through the powers of man, to attain it; and whoever attains it, is a heavenly, angelic being, far superior to all the sanctity of the world. Take these commandments into consideration, then, and use every exertion, devoting all your power and energy to them, and you will find so much to perform, indeed, that you will neither seek nor esteem any other works. Let this suffice, in reference to the first part of the common Christian doctrine, being considered at sufficient length, both for instruction and admonition; yet in conclusion, we must repeat the text which belongs here, and which we have also spoken of before, in the first commandment, in order that we learn what God wishes to have depending on it, so that we may diligently learn to inculcate and exercise the ten commandments.

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

Although this Declaration as we have already heard, is annexed to the first commandment, yet it was laid down for the sake of all of them, since they should conjointly be referred and directed to it. For this reason I have said that it should be held forth to youth, and be impressed upon their minds, so that they may learn and retain it, in order that they may see what should urge and constrain us to observe these ten commandments; and we should not regard it in any other light, than that it is joined with each one in particular, so that it pertains and relates to all of them.

Now, as we have already said, there is both a terrible menace and a gracious promise embraced in these words, for the purpose of terrifying and warning, and moreover, of provoking and enticing, in order that we may receive God's word in holy sincerity, since he himself expresses how much is depending upon it, and how inflexibly he will insist upon it, namely: that he will severely and terribly punish all who contemn and transgress his commandments; and again, how abundantly he will reward, favor, and bless with every kind of beneficence, those who greatly esteem them, and cheerfully act and live according to them. By this means he requires that all should proceed from a heart which fears God alone, and keeps him ever present to its thoughts through such fear, abstaining from all that is contrary to his will, so as not to provoke him; and, on the other hand, which trusts in him alone, and performs, through love to him, that which he desires, since he permits himself to be heard as affectionately as a father, and offers unto all favors and blessings.

And in like manner the true meaning and the proper explanation

of the first and principal commandment, from which all others should spring and proceed, is nothing else but that which these words: Thou shalt have no other gods-express in the simplest terms, as required here: thou shalt fear and love me as thine own true God, and trust in me; for whatever heart is thus inclined towards God, has fulfilled this and all other commandments. And again, whoever fears and loves any thing else either in heaven or on earth, observes neither this nor any other commandment. Therefore, the whole Scripture has every where enforced and inculcated this commandment, directing all things upon these two,-fear and confidence in God; and especially does the psalmist David teach it throughout the Psalms, for instance, where he says: "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy," Psalm 147, 11, -explaining this commandment in one verse, and implying even thus much the Lord taketh pleasure in those who have no other gods.

Let the first commandment, then, enlighten the whole; let it diffuse its radiance over the rest; and let the Declaration attached to the first commandment, unite and hold them all together in bright harmony, like a wreath of flowers on a circular band, which the eye may continue to pass over repeatedly, without forgetting a single flower. For instance, we are taught in the second commandment to fear God, and not to misuse his name in swearing, lying, cheating, and in other deceptive and dishonorable practices, but to use it correctly and truthfully in supplication, prayer, praise, and giving of thanks, through the love and confidence resulting from the first commandment. And in like manner this reverence should inspire warm confidence and love; not contempt of his word, but a desire to hear and learn it cheerfully, to honor it and to hold it sacred.

And it extends, moreover, through the following commandments, all of which are to be observed towards our neighbor by virtue of the first commandment; and this order should be followed out, that we honor our father and our mother, our superiors, and the whole magistracy, and be subservient and obedient, not on account of their will, but on account of the will of God. And you should not be urged to the performance or to the neglect of any of these duties, merely in consideration of your parents, or through fear or love towards them; but you should especially observe that which God desires, and will very strictly require of you: if you neglect it, you incur the displeasure of a wrathful Judge, or if, on the other hand, you observe it, you secure a benevolent Father.

Again, that you do your fellow man no injury or violence, nor encroach upon his rights in any respect, whether it be in reference to his own body, or to his wife, or to his property, or to his honor, or to his just claims, as they are commanded in this order, even if you might have room and occasion for it, and if no one would reprove you for it; but that you do good unto all, helping and promoting them whenever and in whatever respect you can, through love and pleasure towards God alone, in full confidence that he will abundantly reward you for all. Thus you see then, how the first commandment is the head or fountain, which passes through all the others, and to which they all return and cleave; so that the end and the beginning are indissolubly united and bound up in each other.

It is useful and necessary, I say then, to present these things continually to the young, and to inculcate and impress them deeply on their minds, in order that they may be reared up, not merely by constraint and through fear of the rod, like beasts, but in the fear and honor of God. For they themselves would be spontaneously moved and urged to perform the will of God with cheerfulness, if they seriously consider and cordially reflect, that these are not the idle talk of men, but the commandments of that Divine Being, who so seriously enjoins them, and who punishes those who contemn them, pouring out his wrath over them; but on the other hand, remunerating those who observe them, with inestimable benignity. Therefore it was commanded in the Old Testament not without reason, that the ten commandments should be written on all the walls and every corner, yes, even upon their garments, not merely for the purpose of standing written here, and of being carried about as a spectacle, as the Jews did, but to be perpetually before our eyes, and continually in our memory, in all our business and actions. And let each one permit them to be his daily exercise, in all circumstances, occupations, and dealings, as if they were standing written on every place at which he directs his eyes, yes, wherever he stands or goes. Thus we would find sufficient cause to exercise the ten commandments, both for ourselves at home, and towards our neighbors, so that it would be unnecessary for any one to labor in seeking a cause.

Now, from all this we can easily perceive how highly these ten commandments should be exalted and extolled, above all orders, commands, and works, which men otherwise teach and exercise. For here we can boast and say, let all the wise and the saints come forward, and see whether they are able to produce a single work like these commandments, which God requires so solemnly, and en

joins with his most terrible threatenings of punishment, and adds, besides, a most glorious promise, that he will shower us over with all blessings and benignity. We should, therefore, teach them in preference to all others, holding them high and precious in our estimation, as the noblest treasure given of God.

PART II.

OF THE CREED.

Hitherto we have heard the first part of the Christian doctrine, and perceived all that God wishes us to perform, and all from which he desires us to abstain. Here then, the Creed properly follows, which presents to us all that we must expect and receive from God; and to speak briefly, it teaches us to acknowledge him wholly and entirely. Which should contribute even to enable us to perform that which is required of us in the ten commandments; for they are, as we have stated above, so sublime and lofty in their institution, that all the powers of man are far too low and feeble to observe them. It is as necsssary, therefore, to teach this part, as it is to teach the former, in order that we may know how to observe the commandments, and from what source and through what means this power is to be derived. For if we were able to keep them by our own powers, as they should be kept, we would have no need of any thing further, neither the Creed, nor the Lord's prayer. But before we proceed to explain these benefits, and the necessity of the Creed, it is sufficient, first, for those who are entirely inexperienced to learn to comprehend and understand the Creed in itself.

Heretofore, in the beginning, the creed was divided into twelve articles. Although there are a great many more articles, if we should comprehend singly all the particulars which are in the Scriptures, and which pertain to the Creed; nor could they be distinctly defined with so few words. But, in order that it may be comprehended in the easiest and most simple manner, as it is to be taught to children, we shall briefly comprise the Creed in three chief articles, according to the three persons of the Trinity, and to these articles all that we believe is referred, so that the first article, concerning God the Father, explains creation; the second, concerning the Son, redemption; the third, concerning the Holy Spirit, sanctification. As if the creed were briefly comprehended in so many words: I believe in God the Father, who has created me; I believe in God the Son,

who has redeemed me; I believe in the Holy Spirit who sanctifies me. One God and one faith but three persons; therefore, also three articles or confessions. Thus we shall now briefly pass over the words of the Creed.

ARTICLE I.

I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and earth. Here it is delineated and prefigured in very few words, what the essence, the will, the operation, and the influence of God the Father are. For, since the ten commandments teach that we should not have more than one God, the question might then arise: What kind of a being is this God? what does he do? how can he be praised, or delineated and described, so as to be known? This the following article teaches, so that faith is nothing but an answer and a confession of Christians, founded on the first commandment. As when we ask a child: Beloved, what kind of God have you? -what do you know about him?-that it can reply: This is my God, first, the Father who has created the heaven and the earth; excepting this one alone, I hold nothing else as God; for there is no one else who could create heaven and earth.

But for the learned, and those who have made some proficiency in the knowledge of the Scriptures, we might expatiate upon each of these three articles, and divide them into as many parts as there are words. But for young pupils, it is sufficient, at present, to notice the most important points, namely, as we have stated, that this article pertains to creation, and that we rely upon the words: Creator of heaven and earth. What then is implied, or what do you understand by the words: I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker, &c.? Answer: I mean and believe that I am a creature of God; that is, that he has given me, and continually preserves my body, soul, and life, and all my members; my senses, reason, and understanding, and the like; meat and drink, raiment and sustenance, wife and children, domestics, house and residence, &c. And besides; he permits all creatures to contribute to the benefits and necessaries of life-the sun, the moon, and the stars in the firmament; day and night; air, fire, water, earth, and whatever they produce and are able to bring forth; fowls, fish, animals, grain, and all kinds of growth. Again, those blessings which are of a more secular and temporal kind, good government, peace, and security. So that we learn from this article, that no one of us possesses life, or any of those things which we have just enumerated, or which may be hereafter mentioned, of himself; nor is he able to preserve any of