DR. MARTIN LUTHER'S CATECHISM, PART 1, OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. "I AM the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." What is intended by this commandment ? That we should fear, love, and trust in God, above all things. THE SECOND COMMANDMENT. "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." What is required of us in this commandment ? That we should so fear and love God, as not to curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive in his name; but call upon him in every time of need, and worship him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. "Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy." What is enjoined in this commandment? That we should so fear and love God, as not to despise his word and the preaching of his gospel; but deem it holy, and willingly hear and learn it. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. "Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee." What is the signification of this commandment? That we should so fear and love God, as not to despise or displease our parents or superiors; but honour, serve, obey, love and esteem them. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. "Thou shalt not kill." 'What is the purport of this commandment ? That we should so fear and love God, as not to do our neighbour any bodily injury; but rather assist and comfort him in danger or want. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. "Thou shalt not commit adultery." What do you understand by this commandment? That we should so fear and love God, as to live chaste and undefiled in words and deeds, and each to love and honour his wife or her husband. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. "Thou shalt not steal." What is meant by this commandment? That we should so fear and love God, as not to rob our neighbour of his property, or bring it into our possession by unfair dealing or fraudulent means; but help him to augment and protect it. THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." What is inculcated in this commandment? That we should so fear and love God, as not to belie, betray, slander, or raise injurious reports against our neighbour, but apologize for him, speak well of him, and put the most charitable construction on all his actions. THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house." What is enjoined in this commandment? That we should so fear and love God, as not to cherish improper desires for the inheritance or estate of our neighbour, or aim at obtaining it by deceit or the false appearance of a legal right, but be ready to assist and serve him in the preservation of his own. THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." What is required in this commandment? That we should so fear and love God, as not even to wish to seduce our neighbour's spouse, to corrupt or alienate from him his servants, or to force away from him or let loose his cattle; but rather to use our endeavours that they may continue with, and discharge their duty to him. What saith the Lord God concerning these commandments? He saith: "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments." What do we learn from this declaration? God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments; we should therefore dread his displeasure, and not act contrary to his laws. But he also promises grace and every blessing to all such as obey these laws; we should therefore love and confide in him, and cheerfully do what he has commanded us. PART II. OF THE CREED, OR THE ARTICLES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. Of what does the first article treat? Rehearse it. I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and earth. What do you profess to believe in this article? I believe that God hath created me and all that exists; that he hath given and still preserves to me, my body and soul, with all their members and faculties, and all that I possess ; that he richly and daily provides me with all |