按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the other hand； it is commanded that we advance and improve his
possessions； and in case he suffers want； that we help； communicate；
and lend both to friends and foes。
Whoever now seeks and desires good works will find here more than
enough such as are heartily acceptable and pleasing to God； and in
addition are favored and crowned with excellent blessings； that we are
to be richly compensated for all that we do for our neighbor's good and
from friendship； as King Solomon also teaches Prov。 19； 17： He that
hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord； and that which he hath
given will He pay him again。 Here； then you have a rich Lord； who is
certainly sufficient for you； and who will not suffer you to come short
in anything or to want； thus you can with a joyful conscience enjoy a
hundred times more than you could scrape together with unfaithfulness
and wrong。 Now； whoever does not desire the blessing will find wrath
and misfortune enough。
The Eighth Commandment。
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor。
Over and above our own body； spouse； and temporal possessions； we have
yet another treasure； namely； honor and good report ＇the illustrious
testimony of an upright and unsullied name and reputation＇； with which
we cannot dispense。 For it is intolerable to live among men in open
shame and general contempt。 Therefore God wishes the reputation； good
name； and upright character of our neighbor to be taken away or
diminished as little as his money and possessions； that every one may
stand in his integrity before wife； children； servants； and neighbors。
And in the first place； we take the plainest meaning of this
commandment according to the words （Thou shalt not bear false witness）；
as pertaining to the public courts of justice； where a poor innocent
man is accused and oppressed by false witnesses in order to be punished
in his body； property； or honor。
Now； this appears as if it were of little concern to us at present； but
with the Jews it was quite a common and ordinary matter。 For the people
were organized under an excellent and regular government； and where
there is still such a government； instances of this sin will not be
wanting。 The cause of it is that where judges； burgomasters； princes；
or others in authority sit in judgment； things never fail to go
according to the course of the world； namely； men do not like to offend
anybody； flatter； and speak to gain favor； money； prospects； or
friendship； and in consequence a poor man and his cause must be
oppressed； denounced as wrong； and suffer punishment。 And it is a
common calamity in the world that in courts of justice there seldom
preside godly men。
For to be a judge requires above all things a godly man； and not only a
godly； but also a wise； modest； yea； a brave and bold man； likewise； to
be a witness requires a fearless and especially a godly man。 For a
person who is to judge all matters rightly and carry them through with
his decision will often offend good friends； relatives； neighbors； and
the rich and powerful； who can greatly serve or injure him。 Therefore
he must be quite blind； have his eyes and ears closed； neither see nor
hear； but go straight forward in everything that comes before him； and
decide accordingly。
Therefore this commandment is given first of all that every one shall
help his neighbor to secure his rights； and not allow them to be
hindered or twisted； but shall promote and strictly maintain them； no
matter whether he be judge or witness； and let it pertain to whatsoever
it will。 And especially is a goal set up here for our jurists that they
be careful to deal truly and uprightly with every case； allowing right
to remain right； and； on the other hand； not perverting anything ＇by
their tricks and technical points turning black into white and making
wrong out to be right＇； nor glossing it over or keeping silent
concerning it； irrespective of a person's money； possession； honor； or
power。 This is one part and the plainest sense of this commandment
concerning all that takes place in court。
Next； it extends very much further； if we are to apply it to spiritual
jurisdiction or administration； here it is a common occurrence that
every one bears false witness against his neighbor。 For wherever there
are godly preachers and Christians； they must bear the sentence before
the world that they are called heretics； apostates； yea； seditious and
desperately wicked miscreants。 Besides the Word of God must suffer in
the most shameful and malicious manner； being persecuted blasphemed；
contradicted； perverted and falsely cited and interpreted。 But let this
pass； for it is the way of the blind world that she condemns and
persecutes the truth and the children of God； and yet esteems it no
sin。
In the third place； what concerns us all； this commandment forbids all
sins of the tongue whereby we may injure or approach too closely to our
neighbor。 For to bear false witness is nothing else than a work of the
tongue。 Now； whatever is done with the tongue against a fellow…man God
would have prohibited； whether it be false preachers with their
doctrine and blasphemy； false judges and witnesses with their verdict；
or outside of court by lying and evil…speaking。 Here belongs
particularly the detestable； shameful vice of speaking behind a
person's back and slandering； to which the devil spurs us on and of
which there would be much to be said。 For it is a common evil plague
that every one prefers hearing evil to hearing good of his neighbor；
and although we ourselves are so bad that we cannot suffer that any one
should say anything bad about us； but every one would much rather that
all the world should speak of him in terms of gold； yet we cannot bear
that the best is spoken about others。
Therefore； to avoid this vice we should note that no one is allowed
publicly to judge and reprove his neighbor； although he may see him
sin； unless he have a command to judge and to reprove。 For there is a
great difference between these two things； judging sin and knowing sin。
You may indeed know it； but you are not to judge it。 I can indeed see
and hear that my neighbor sins； but I have no command to report it to
others。 Now； if I rush in； judging and passing sentence； I fall into a
sin which is greater than his。 But if you know it； do nothing else
than turn your ears into a grave and cover it； until you are appointed
to be judge and to punish by virtue of your office。
Those； then； are called slanderers who are not content with knowing a
thing； but proceed to assume jurisdiction； and when they know a slight
offense of another； carry it into every corner； and are delighted and
tickled that they can stir up another's displeasure ＇baseness＇； as
swine roll themselves in the dirt and root in it with the snout。 This
is nothing else than meddling with the judgment and office of God； and
pronouncing sentence and punishment with the most severe verdict。 For
no judge can punish to a higher degree nor go farther than to say： 〃He
is a thief； a murderer； a traitor；〃 etc。 Therefore； whoever presumes to
say the same of his neighbor goes just as far as the emperor a