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as we need our daily bread but must also daily use it against the daily
and unabated attacks and lurking of the devil； the master of a thousand
arts。
And if this were not sufficient to admonish us to read the Catechism
daily； yet we should feel sufficiently constrained by the command of
God alone； who solemnly enjoins in Deut。 6； 6 ff。 that we should always
meditate upon His precepts； sitting； walking； standing； Lying down； and
rising； and have them before our eyes and in our hands as a constant
mark and sign。 Doubtless He did not so solemnly require and enjoin this
without a purpose； but because He knows our danger and need； as well as
the constant and furious assaults and temptations of devils； He wishes
to warn； equip； and preserve us against them； as with a good armor
against their fiery darts and with good medicine against their evil
infection and suggestion。
Oh； what mad； senseless fools are we that； while we must ever live and
dwell among such mighty enemies as the devils are； we nevertheless
despise our weapons and defense； and are too lazy to look at or think
of them！ And what else are such supercilious； presumptuous saints； who
are unwilling to read and study the Catechism daily； doing than
esteeming themselves much more learned than God Himself with all His
saints； angels ＇patriarchs＇； prophets； apostles； and all Christians For
inasmuch as God Himself is not ashamed to teach these things daily； as
knowing nothing better to teach； and always keeps teaching the same
thing； and does not take up anything new or different； and all the
saints know nothing better or different to learn； and cannot finish
learning this； are we not the finest of all fellows to imagine； if we
have once read or heard it； that we know it all； and have no further
need to read and learn； but can finish learning in one hour what God
Himself cannot finish teaching； although He is engaged in teaching it
from the beginning to the end of the world； and all prophets； together
with all saints； have been occupied with learning it and have ever
remained pupils； and must continue to be such ？
For it needs must be that whoever knows the Ten Commandments perfectly
must know all the Scriptures； so that； in all affairs and cases； he can
advise； help； comfort； judge； and decide both spiritual and temporal
matters and is qualified to sit in judgment upon all doctrines；
estates； spirits； laws； and whatever else is in the world。 And what；
indeed； is the entire Psalter but thoughts and exercises upon the First
Commandment？ Now I know of a truth that such lazy paunches and
presumptuous spirits do not understand a single psalm； much less the
entire Holy Scriptures； and yet they pretend to know and despise the
Catechism； which is a compend and brief summary of all the Holy
Scriptures。
Therefore I again implore all Christians； especially pastors and
preachers； not to be doctors too soon； and imagine that they know
everything （for imagination and cloth unshrunk ＇and false weights＇ fall
far short of the measure）； but that they daily exercise themselves well
in these studies and constantly treat them； moreover； that they guard
with all care and diligence against the poisonous infection of such
security and vain imagination； but steadily keep on reading； teaching；
learning； pondering； and meditating； and do not cease until they have
made a test and are sure that they have taught the devil to death and
have become more learned than God Himself and all His saints。
If they manifest such diligence； then I will promise them； and they
shall also perceive； what fruit they will obtain； and what excellent
men God will make of them； so that in due time they themselves will
acknowledge that the longer and the more they study the Catechism； the
less they know of it； and the more they find yet to learn； and then
only； as hungry and thirsty ones； will they truly relish that which now
they cannot endure because of great abundance and satiety。 To this end
may God grant His grace！ Amen。
SHORT PREFACE OF DR。 MARTIN LUTHER。
This sermon is designed and undertaken that it might be an instruction
for children and the simple…minded。 Hence of old it was called in Greek
catechism； i。e。； instruction for children； what every Christian must
needs know； so that he who does not know this could not be numbered
with the Christians nor be admitted to any Sacrament； just as a
mechanic who does not understand the rules and customs of his trade is
expelled and considered incapable。 Therefore we must have the young
learn the parts which belong to the Catechism or instruction for
children well and fluently and diligently exercise themselves in them
and keep them occupied with them。
Therefore it is the duty of every father of a family to question and
examine his children and servants at least once a week and to
ascertain what they know of it； or are learning and； if they do not
know it； to keep them faithfully at it。 For I well remember the time；
indeed； even now it is a daily occurrence that one finds rude； old
persons who knew nothing and still know nothing of these things； and
who； nevertheless； go to Baptism and the Lord's Supper； and use
everything belonging to Christians； notwithstanding that those who come
to the Lord's Supper ought to know more and have a fuller understanding
of all Christian doctrine than children and new scholars。 However； for
the common people we are satisfied with the three parts； which have
remained in Christendom from of old； though little of it has been
taught and treated correctly until both young and old who are called
and wish to be Christians； are well trained in them and familiar with
them。 These are the following：
First。
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD。
1。 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me。
2。 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord； thy God； in vain ＇for the
Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain＇。
3。 Thou shalt sanctify the holy…day。 ＇Remember the Sabbath…day to keep
it holy。＇
4。 Thou shalt honor thy father and mother ＇that thou mayest live long
upon the earth＇。
5。 Thou shalt not kill。
6。 Thou shalt not commit adultery。
7。 Thou shalt not steal。
8。 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor。
9。 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house。
10。 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife； nor his man…servant； nor
his maidservant； nor his cattle ＇ox； nor his ass＇； nor anything that is
his。
Secondly。
THE CHIEF ARTICLES OF OUR FAITH。
1。 I believe in God the Father Almighty； Maker of heaven and earth。
2。 And in Jesus Christ； His only Son； our Lord； who was conceived by
the Holy Ghost； born of the Virgin Mary； suffered under Pontius Pilate；
was crucified； dead and buried； He descended into hell； the third day
He rose again from the dead； He ascended into heaven； and sitteth on
the right hand of God the Father Almighty； from thence He shall come to
judge the quick and the dead。
3。 I believe in the Holy Ghost； the holy Christian Church； the
communion of saints； the forgiveness of sins； the resurrection of the
body； and the life everlasting。 Amen。
Thi