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body； and the life everlasting。 Amen。
Thirdly。
THE PRAYER； OR 〃OUR FATHER；〃 WHICH CHRIST TAUGHT
Our Father who art in heaven。
1。 Hallowed be Thy name。
2。 Thy kingdom come。
3。 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven。
4。 Give us this day our daily bread。
5。 And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us。
6。 And lead us not into temptation。
7。 But deliver us from evil。 ＇For Thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory； forever and ever。＇ Amen。
These are the most necessary parts which one should first learn to
repeat word for word and which our children should be accustomed to
recite daily when they arise in the morning when they sit down to their
meals； and when they retire at night； and until they repeat them； they
should be given neither food nor drink。 Likewise every head of a
household is obliged to do the same with respect to his domestics；
ma…servants and maid…servants and not to keep them in his house if they
do not know these things and are unwilling to learn them。 For a person
who is so rude and unruly as to be unwilling to learn these things is
not to be tolerated； for in these three parts everything that we have
in the Scriptures is comprehended in short； pain； and simple terms。 For
the holy Fathers or apostles （whoever they were） have thus embraced in
a summary the doctrine； life； wisdom； and art of Christians； of which
they speak and treat； and with which they are occupied。 Now； when these
three arts are apprehended； it behooves a person also to know what to
say concerning our Sacraments； which Christ Himself instituted； Baptism
and the holy body and blood of Christ； namely； the text which Matthew
＇28； 19 ff。＇ and Mark ＇16； 15 f。＇ record at the close of their Gospels
when Christ said farewell to His disciples and sent them forth。
OF BAPTISM。
Go ye and teach all nations； baptizing them in the name of the Father；
and of the Son； and of the Holy Ghost。 He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved； but he that believeth not shall be damned。 So
much is sufficient for a simple person to know from the Scriptures
concerning Baptism。 In like manner； also； concerning the other
Sacrament in short； simple words； namely the text of St。 Paul ＇1 Cor。
11； 23 f。＇。
OF THE SACRAMENT
Our Lord Jesus Christ； the same night in which He was betrayed； took
bread； and when He had given thanks； He brake it； and gave it to His
disciples 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； 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 ye； as oft as ye drink it； in remembrance of Me。
Thus； ye would have； in all； five parts of the entire Christian
doctrine which should be constantly treated and required ＇of children＇
and heard recited word for word。 For you must not rely upon it that the
young people will learn and retain these things from the sermon alone。
When these parts have been well learned； you may； as a supplement and
to fortify them。 lay before them also some psalms or hymns； which have
been composed on these parts； and thus lead the young into the
Scriptures； and make daily progress therein。
However； it is not enough for them to comprehend and recite these
parts according to the words only； but the young people should also be
made to attend the preaching； especially during the time which is
devoted to the Catechism； that they may hear it explained and may learn
to understand what every part contains； so as to be able to recite it
as they have heard it； and； when asked； may give a correct answer； so
that the preaching may not be without profit and fruit。 For the reason
why we exercise such diligence in preaching the Catechism so often is
that it may be inculcated on our youth； not in a high and subtle
manner； but briefly and with the greatest simplicity； so as to enter
the mind readily and be fixed in the memory。 Therefore we shall now
take up the above mentioned articles one by one and in the plainest
manner possible say about them as much as is necessary。
Part First。 The Ten Commandments。
The First Commandment。
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me。
That is： Thou shalt have ＇and worship＇ Me alone as thy God。 What is the
force of this； and how is it to be understood？ What does it mean to
have a god？ or； what is God？ Answer： A god means that from which we are
to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress；
so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe Him
from the ＇whole＇ heart； as I have often said that the confidence and
faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol。 If your faith and
trust be right； then is your god also true； and； on the other hand； if
your trust be false and wrong； then you have not the true God； for
these two belong together faith and God。 That now； I say； upon which
you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god。
Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith
and trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God and clings
to Him alone。 That is as much as to say： 〃See to it that you let Me
alone be your God； and never seek another；〃 i。e。： Whatever you lack of
good things； expect it of Me； and look to Me for it； and whenever you
suffer misfortune and distress； creep and cling to Me。 I； yes； I； will
give you enough and help you out of every need； only let not your heart
cleave to or rest in any other。
This I must unfold somewhat more plainly； that it may be understood and
perceived by ordinary examples of the contrary。 Many a one thinks that
he has God and everything in abundance when he has money and
possessions； he trusts in them and boasts of them with such firmness
and assurance as to care for no one。 Lo； such a man also has a god；
Mammon by name； i。e。； money and possessions； on which he sets all his
heart； and which is also the most common idol on earth。 He who has
money and possessions feels secure； and is joyful and undismayed as
though he were sitting in the midst of Paradise。 On the other hand； he
who has none doubts and is despondent； as though he knew of no God。 For
very few are to be found who are of good cheer； and who neither mourn
nor complain if they have not Mammon。 This ＇care and desire for money＇
sticks and clings to our nature； even to the grave。
So； too； whoever trusts and boasts that he possesses great skill；
prudence； power； favor friendship； and honor has also a god； but not
this true and only God。 This appears again when you notice how
presumptuous； secure； and proud people are because of such
possessions； and how despondent when they no longer exist or are
withdrawn。 Therefore I repeat that the chief explanation of this point
is that to have a god is to have something in which the heart entirely
trusts。
Besides； consider what in our blindness； we have hitherto been
practicing and doing under the Papacy。 If any one had toothache； he
fasted and honored