■ ■i w yw ww iu W MJUMWW i mwmMn i 
 
 CATECHISATIONS 
 
 ON 
 
 LUTHER'S SMALL 
 CATECfflSM 
 
 t 
 
 R£V« H. h SCHUH 
 
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tihvaxy of t:he t:heological ^tminaxy 
 
 PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Mrs. Frank Harrington 
 
 BX 8070 .L7 S35 1915 
 Luther, Martin, 1483-1546. 
 Catechisations on Luther's 
 small catechism 
 
Catechisations 
 
 Luther's Small Catechism 
 
 REV. H. J/SCHUH 
 
 A Helper for Teachers of the Catechism Classes in 
 Sunday Schools and for Pastors and Parish 
 School Teachers in their Cate- 
 chetical Work 
 
 Lutheran Book Concern 
 
 Columbus, Ohio 
 191") 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 TTie Sunday-school is the principal agency of religious instruc- 
 tion for the vast majority of the children of our church. Thousands 
 of them can not be reached by us through any other means. It 
 therefore stands to reason that we must put forth every effort to 
 make the teaching of our Sunday-school just as effective as we can 
 possibly make it. J^uther's Smaller Catechism is the best text book 
 for religious instruction that has yet been offered to the church. For 
 nearly 400 years it has held this place in our church and millions 
 have drank this "milk of the Gospel" as the very best food for 
 spiritual babes. The Catechism is the true "mother-milk" for 
 Lutheran children. 
 
 One of the weaknesses of our Sunday-school teaching has 
 hitherto been that it made too little use of this "Layman's Bible." 
 Luther placed over each one of the chief parts the words: "As the 
 head of the family should teach them in all simplicity to his house- 
 hold." If the head of the average family is expected to teach the 
 catechism it is certainly not asking too much of the average Sunday- 
 school teacher to teach it. What more important things can we 
 teach children than the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's 
 Prayer aind the Sacraments? 
 
 Let us not overlook the importance of memory work. Memory 
 is about the first mental faculty that begins to develop in the child, 
 and it should be given first attention. Teach the infant classes the 
 Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer. Then go on to the Creed. 
 After this let the primary classes memorize a few of the simpler 
 proof passages under the Ten Commandments and the Creed. Our 
 Book Concern is publishing these passages in card form, selected 
 according to the age and ability of the scholar. Let the intermediate 
 classes go on and memorize Luther's explanation of the Command- 
 ments, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. TTien go on in the more 
 advanced classes with the Sacraments. Thus in a few years the 
 whole text of the Catechism and all the principal proof passages 
 will have been committed to memory. 
 
 But we believe more can be done to teach the Catechism in the 
 Sunday-school than mere memory work. The Pastor should catechise 
 the whole school on some portion of the Catechism every Sunday. 
 And teachers of more advanced classes can very profitably make 
 use of the Catechism as a text book. This volume of catechisations 
 has been prepared as an aid to teachers in this work. It presupposes 
 scholars of the age of about thirteen or fourteen years who have 
 studied Bible History and memorized the text of the Catechism and 
 its chief proof passages. It is intended as an illustration of how to 
 teach the Catechism in the Sunday-school. Each scholar should have 
 a copy of the Catechism published by our Ohio Synod, to which the 
 numbers in parentheses refer, and also a Bible for ready reference. 
 The looking up of proof passages is of the greatest importance. Our 
 children should get better acquainted with their Bibles and a little 
 practice will enable them to turn to any passage at a moment's 
 notice. 
 
 If, incidentally, the author has done his bi-ethren in the ministry 
 a favor in preparing these catechisations, and they find them helpful 
 in their catechetical work, it would be a source of great satisfaction, 
 as there is a wonderful dearth of practical literature of this kind 
 in the English language. ]\Iay God l)less our efforts to bring up the 
 children entrusted to us in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 
 
 Anna, Ohio, July 30th, 1914. THE AUTHOR. 
 
 (3) 
 
NTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS. 
 
 LESSON 1. RELIGION. 
 
 (Questions 1 and 2.) 
 
 1. (1) Read the first question in the second part of your Catechism. 
 
 "What is your faith?" 
 
 2. What is the subject of this question? The subject of this ques- 
 
 tion is faith. 
 
 3. To what have we reference, when we speak of men as Christian, 
 
 Mohammedan or Heathen? We have reference to their faith. 
 
 4. Give me another word for "Faith." The word "Religion." 
 
 5. When we look around us in the world, what do we see? We see 
 
 trees, animals, hills, rivers and men. 
 
 6. How do we see these things? We see them with our eyes. 
 
 7. What do we call the power by which we see? We call it sight. 
 
 8. Sight is one of the senses. How many senses have we? We 
 
 have five senses. 
 
 9. Name them. Seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting. 
 
 10. By these senses we learn to know the world. Who made the 
 
 world? God made the world. 
 
 11. Read the Scripture passage. Ps. 104, 24. "O Lord, how manifold 
 
 are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the 
 earth is full of thy riches." 
 
 12. Of whom should we think when we look upon all these things 
 
 around us? We should think of God who made them. 
 
 13. Yes. and we should not only think of him, but learn to know 
 
 him. Arithmetic, geography, and the like, teach us concern- 
 ing God's works. But what does religion teach us? It 
 teaches us concerning God. 
 
 14. But religion is more than mere teaching. With whom does it 
 
 unite us? It unites us with God. 
 
 15. Read the passage, Ps. 103, 13. "Like as a father pitieth his chil- 
 
 dren, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." 
 
 16. With what is the relation between God and us here compared? 
 
 With the relation between a father and his children. 
 
 17. What does true religion teach and bring about? The proper 
 
 relation between God and man. 
 
 18. Now. what do we call ourselves, according to the answer to 
 
 Question 1, in the Catechism? We call ourselves Christians. 
 
 19. After whom do we call ourselves Christians? We call ourselves 
 
 Christians after Christ. 
 
 20. Why do we call ourselves after Him? Because he is the founder 
 
 of our religion. 
 
 21. What religion is it which we confess? We confess the Christian 
 
 religion, 
 
 22. What other religions are there besides the Christian religion? 
 
 Thp Jewish, Mohammedan, and the Pagan religions. 
 
 (&) 
 
6 LESSON I. 
 
 23. How many true religions are there? There is but one. 
 
 24. Which is this? The Christian religion. 
 
 25. Then what are all the others? All others are false religions. 
 
 26. Open your Bibles and read the last sentence of the passage 
 
 Acts 11, 26. "And the disciples were called Christians first 
 in Antioch." 
 
 27. Where were the disciples first called Christians? In the city of 
 
 Antioch.' 
 
 28. Where is Antioch? Antioch is in Syria. 
 
 29. Who were called Christians? The disciples were called Chris- 
 
 tians. 
 
 30. What does the word "disciple" mean? It means scholar or 
 
 follower. 
 
 31. Whose disciples or followers are here meant? The disciples of 
 
 Christ. 
 
 32. What does the term "disciples of Christ" mean? Those who be- 
 
 lieve in and follow him. 
 
 33. (2) The second question in the catechism reads: "Why are you a 
 
 Christian?" Read the answer. "Because I believe in God 
 the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and am baptised in His 
 name." 
 
 34. In whom do you believe? I believe in God, the Father, Son and 
 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 35. Read the first four words of this answer. "I believe in God." 
 
 36. In whose existence do you believe? I believe in the existence 
 
 of God. 
 
 37. What do we call people who do not believe in the existence 
 
 of God? We call them unbelievers, infidels, atheists. 
 
 38. Open your Bibles again, and read the passage "Ps. 14, 1." "The 
 
 fool hath said in his hearty There is no God." 
 
 39. What do the Scriptures call such people who deny the existence 
 
 of God? They call them fools. 
 
 40. Who is the God in whom j^ou believe? God the Father, Son and 
 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 41. How many Gods are there? There is one God. 
 
 42. But why do you mention three names? Because there are three 
 
 persons in God. 
 
 43. Yes, there are three, and yet there is but one. Let me give you 
 
 a word that expresses this thought. The word "Triune." 
 What does the first syllable of this word stand for? It stands 
 for three. 
 
 44. And what does the second syllable stand for? It stands for one. 
 
 45. What, then, does the word "Triune" mean? It means three 
 
 in one. 
 
 46. What do you call people who believe in the Triune God? We 
 
 call them Christians. 
 
 47. What do the various pagan religions teach with reference to the 
 
 number of Gods? They teach that there are many Gods. 
 
 48. What does the Christian religion teach? It teaches there is 
 
 one God. 
 
 49. Jews and Mohammedans also teach there is one God. but what 
 
 do they deny? They deny that there are three persons. 
 
Lesson 2. 7 
 
 50. What religion alone teaclies that God is three in one? The 
 
 Christian religion. 
 
 51. In the Catechism, Answer 2, there is another reason given for 
 
 your l)eing a Christian. What is it? "I am baptised in 
 His name." 
 
 52. In whose name are you baptised? In the name of God the 
 
 Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 
 
 53. When were you baptised? 1 was baptised In infancy. 
 
 54. Wliat did you become througli baptism? I became a Christian. 
 
 55. Wliat important command did the Savior give liis Apostles? 
 
 Matt. 28, 19. "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, bap- 
 tising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
 of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 56. The expression "teach" here means, make disciples, christianize 
 
 all nations. How then were the disciples to make Christians 
 of all nations? By baptising them in the name of the Triune 
 God. 
 
 57. What else did the Savior command in the last verse of that chap- 
 
 ter? "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I 
 have commanded you." 
 
 58. What were the apostles to do with those who had been baptised? 
 
 They were to teach them all that the Savior had commanded. 
 
 59. This is the order which we observe with you, children; first you 
 
 were made Christians through baptism, now you are being 
 taught the faith or religion in which you were baptised. 
 What religion is this? It is the Christian Religion. 
 
 LESSON 2. THE CATECHISM. 
 
 (Question 3.) 
 
 1. (3) "What do you believe concerning God the Father, son and 
 
 Holy Ghost?" "All that is contained In the five chief parts 
 of Christian doctrine, or in the Catechism." 
 
 2. When the Savior was twelve years old he accompanied his par- 
 
 ents to Jerusalem, and when they returned the child .Jesus 
 tarried behind in the city. Where did his parents find him 
 when they went back seeking him? They found him in the 
 Temple. 
 
 3. In whose company was he? He was with the doctors. 
 
 4. These doctors were teachers. What were they doing in the 
 
 temple? They were teaching the word of God. 
 
 5. So what does the title "Doctor" mean in the Scriptures? It 
 
 means a teacher. 
 
 6. If "Doctor" means a teacher, then what does "Doctrine" mean? 
 
 It means that which is taught. 
 
 7. What doctrine is it that is spoken of in the answer to question 
 
 3? It is the Christian doctrine. 
 
 8. The word "Christian" is taken from what other word? From the 
 
 word "Christ." 
 
 9. Why is this doctrine that is contained in the Catechism called 
 
 "Christian"? Because Christ taught it. 
 10. To whom did Christ teach this doctrine? He taught it to his 
 disciples. 
 
8 LESSON 2. 
 
 11. What were the disciples to do with this doctrine? They were to 
 
 teach it to others. 
 
 12. Yes, and they again to others. And so you are being taught in 
 
 accordance with the will and command of the Savior. But 
 this doctrine is called Christian not only because Christ is 
 its author, but because He is its chief contents. Who is the 
 great center and heart of Christian doctrine? Our Lord 
 Jesus .Christ. 
 
 13. Turn to 1 Cor. 1, 23, and read what the apostle says about his 
 
 preaching. "We preach Christ and him crucified." 
 
 14. Whom did the apostle preach and teach? He preached Christ. 
 
 15. Yes, Jesus Christ, as the only Savior of sinful men, was the bur- 
 
 den of all his preaching. What doctrine did he teach? He 
 taught the Christian doctrine. 
 
 16. This doctrine we still teach and preach. How many parts of 
 
 Christian doctrine are there? There are five chief parts of 
 Christian doctrine. 
 
 17. What kind of parts do we call them? We call them chief parts. 
 
 18. Why do we call them chief parts? Because they are the prin- 
 
 cipal, the most important parts. 
 
 19. Yes, they are the things which every Christian should know, be- 
 
 lieve and practice. If we are really Christians we should 
 know the chief parts of Christian doctrine. In what little 
 book are these five chief parts of Christian doctrine set be- 
 fore us and explained? In the Catechism. 
 
 20. There are different ways of teaching. When a minister of the 
 
 Gospel preaches from the pulpit he teaches, and what do the 
 people do? They listen. 
 
 21. But when a teacher instructs children, how does he go about it? 
 
 He asks questions. 
 
 22. And what do the children do? They answer. 
 
 23. What do we call this method of teaching by means of questions 
 
 and answers? We call it catechising. 
 
 24. What do we call a text-book which follows this method? We 
 
 call it a Catechism. 
 
 25. Now turn to the title page of the first part of your Catechism, 
 
 page 5, and read the first word. "Enchiridion." 
 
 26. This means a manual, a hand-book. For what purpose do we use 
 
 manuals or hand-books? For the purpose of instruction. 
 
 27. Then why is the Catechism called a manual? Because it is a 
 
 hand-book for instruction. 
 
 28. For what kind of instruction is the Catechism to be a hand- 
 
 book? For religious instruction. 
 
 29. What do we propose to teach by means of the Catechism? The 
 
 Christian religion. 
 
 30. What catechism is it that we have before us? The Smaller 
 
 Catechism. 
 
 31. Whose smaller catechism is it? Dr. Martin Luther's smaller 
 
 catechism. 
 
 32. What other Catechism did Luther write besides this smaller Cate- 
 
 chism? The Larger Catechism. 
 
 33. Tell me from the title, page 5, for whom did Luther write this 
 
 smaller Catechism? For Pastors and preachers. 
 
LESSON 2. y 
 
 34. What purpose was it to serve? It was to be a hand-book for 
 
 pastors and preachers to be used when they instructed chil- 
 dren in the Christian religion. 
 
 35. Whose duty is it first of all to teach children the Christian re- 
 
 ligion? It is the duty of parents. 
 
 36. Read what the apostle says on this subject, Eph. 6, 4. "Ye 
 
 fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them 
 up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." 
 
 37. Luther reminds parents of this duty in the words he places at 
 
 the head of each one of the five chief parts. Read these 
 words, page 13. "The Ten Commandments, as the head of 
 the family should teach them in all simplicity to his house- 
 hold." 
 
 38. Do parents, as a rule, teach their children the Catechism? They 
 
 do not. 
 
 39. What does the Savior command his apostles in John 21, the last 
 
 sentence of the 15th verse. "He saith unto him. Feed my 
 lambs." 
 
 40. Who are the lambs in Christ's flock? They are the children. 
 
 41 . Then whose duty is it, next to that of the parents, to teach chil- 
 
 dren the Christian religion? It is the duty of the pastors. 
 
 42. Yes, and because your parents have not the time and often 
 
 neither the ability nor the willingness to teach these things, 
 it is all the more necessary that pastors and teachers should 
 do it. What text-book do we irse for this religious instruc- 
 tion? Luther's Smaller Catechism. 
 
 43. And besides the smaller Catechism, which we have in the first 
 
 part of our manual, what have we in the second part? Read 
 from page 45. "Short explanation of the doctrinal parts of 
 the Catechism." 
 
 44. This second part is intended to lead us to a better understand- 
 
 ing of the Catechism. It is based on and follows Luther's 
 smaller Catechism. What induced Luther to write his 
 smaller Catechism? Read from the preface, page 7. "The 
 deplorable destitution which I recently observed, during a 
 visitation of the churches, has impelled and constrained me 
 to prepare this catechism or Christian doctrine Fn such a 
 small and simple form. Alas, what manifold misery I be- 
 held! The common people, especially in the villages, know 
 nothing at all of Christian doctrine and many pastors are 
 quite unfit and incompetent to teach." 
 
 45. This Luther wrote in 1529. What was the condition of the 
 
 church at that time? There was gross ignorance among 
 both pastors and people. 
 
 46. Yes, and not only gross ignorance, but much superstition and 
 
 false doctrine. What great work did Luther accomplish by 
 the help of God? He accomplished the work of the Reforma- 
 tion. 
 
 47. What little book was a very powerful instrument in the accom- 
 
 plishment of this great work? The smaller Catechism. 
 
 48. What useful things are you tauarbt in the nubiif schools? Read- 
 
 ing, writing, arithmetic, geography and the like. 
 
 49. Why is it so important that vou shnnbl lenvn these things'' So 
 
 that we may get along well in the world. 
 
 50. But what is even more important than your welfare in this 
 
 world? Our welfare in the world to copie, 
 
10 LESSON 3. 
 
 51. Where are you taught what is necessary for your spiritual and 
 
 eternal welfare? In church, at Sunday-school and in the 
 catechetical class. 
 
 52. What text-book do we use for this purpose? Luther's Smaller 
 
 Catechism. 
 
 53. How, then, should you regard the study of the Catechism? We 
 
 should regard it as very important. 
 
 LESSON 3. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 (Questions 4-7.) 
 
 1. (4) "Whence is the catechism taken?" Give me the answer from 
 
 question 4. "From the Word of God or the Bible." 
 
 2. The word "Bible" means book. Why is this book called the 
 
 book? Because it is the most important of all books. 
 
 3. Whose word is the Bible? It is God's word. 
 
 4. Who speaks to us In the Bible? God himself speaks to us in the 
 
 Bible. 
 
 5. (5) Question 5 tells us why we call the Bible the word of God. 
 
 Read the answer. "Because God gave it in writing through 
 the prophets in the Old Testament and through the Evan- 
 gelists and Apostles in the New." 
 
 6. A word may bi- spoken or written. In what way did God give 
 
 us his word? He gave it in writing. 
 
 7. What name of the Bible expresses this? The Holy Scriptures. 
 
 8. What advantage is there in giving a word in writing? Writing 
 
 preserves and keeps it from change. 
 
 9. When teaching is done simply by word of mouth, what is liable 
 
 to occur as the matter passes from one person to another? 
 Things are omitted, changed or added. 
 
 10. What, kind of things are usually put down in writing? Impor- 
 
 tant things, such as deeds, agreements, wills, contracts, etc. 
 
 11. Yes, God had something very important to tell us, and so he had 
 
 it put down in writing. Who were the men through whom 
 God gave us his word in writing? The Prophets, Evan- 
 gelists and Apostles. 
 
 12. How did these men write what is recorded in the Bible? Give 
 
 me the answer by repeating the passage 2 Peter 1, 21, "But 
 holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy 
 Ghost." 
 
 13. In the passage 2 Tim. 3, 15-17, St. Paul tells how the Holy Scrip- 
 
 tures were given. Look at the passage and tell me. "All 
 
 Scripture is given by inspiration of God." 
 !14. In 1 Cor. 2, 12-13, the apostle tells us how he came to know the 
 
 things which he spoke and wrote. What does he say? "We 
 
 know the things that are freely given to us of God." 
 15. How came these men to know the things which they taught and 
 
 wrote? They were given them by God. 
 ■"6. 4nd what does the apostle say about the words in which they 
 
 expressed the thoughts that were given them by God? 
 
 "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's 
 
 wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth." 
 
LESSON 3. 11 
 
 17. Yes, not only the thoughts but the very words of the Bible are 
 
 inspired. Therefore what do we properly call the Bible? 
 We call it the word of God. 
 
 18. Into what two parts is the Bible divided? Into the Old and New 
 
 Testaments. 
 
 19. Name the books of the Old Testament. You will find them in 
 
 the index of your Bibles. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Num- 
 bers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 
 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, 
 Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs. Ecclesiastes, The Song of 
 Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, 
 Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, 
 Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, Malachi. 
 
 20. The books of the Old Testament were first given to the Jewish 
 
 people. Therefore in what language were they written? In 
 the Jewish or Hebrew language. 
 
 21. Name the books of the New Testament. You will find them in 
 
 the index to your Bibles. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, 
 Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of Paul 
 to the Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 
 Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thes- 
 salonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, 
 Epistle of James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, 
 Jude, Revelation. 
 
 22. At the time when the New Testament was written the Greek 
 
 language was universally known by men of letters, therefore 
 in M^hat language were these writings given? They were 
 given in the Greek language. 
 
 23. The books of the Bibie were not all written at the same time. 
 
 Between the first and last there lies a period of about 1,600 
 years. And yet they not only all have the same divine ori- 
 gin, but they all teach the same doctrine. What is it that 
 the liOrd teaches us in the Bible? He teaches us the way 
 of salvation. 
 
 24. Repeat the Scripture passage 2 Tim. .3. 15-17. "And that from a 
 
 child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able 
 to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in 
 Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 
 and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 
 instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be 
 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 
 
 25. To whom did St. Paul write these words? He wrote them to 
 
 Timothy. 
 
 26. When had Timothy begun to learn the Scriptures? He learned 
 
 the Scriptures in his childhood. 
 
 27. It is well for children to learn the Scriptures early. What did 
 
 St. Paul say the Scriptures were able to do for his young 
 friend Timothy? He said they were able to make him wise 
 unto salvation. 
 
 28. And what is the way of salvation as taught in the Scriptures? 
 
 The way of salvation is by faith in Christ Jesus. 
 
 29. The apostle here also tells us what the purpose of the Bible is. 
 
 What are the Scriptures profitable for? "For doctrine, for 
 reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 
 
12 Lesson 3. 
 
 30. The apostle talis us in the closing clause of this verse: "That 
 
 the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto 
 all good works." When God does a thing he does it right. 
 What else do we need beside the Holy Scriptures to teach us 
 the way of life? We need nothing else. 
 
 31. When a man has the Bible, how is he furnished with reference 
 
 to life and godliness? He is perfect, thoroughly furnished 
 unto all good works. 
 
 32. The Bible is God's word. What does the Savior say of God's 
 
 word. John 17, the latter part of the 17th verse? "Thy 
 word is truth." 
 
 33. Yes, when God says a thing in the Bible there can be no mistake 
 
 about it. How should we, therefore, regard the teachings of 
 the Bible? We should regard the teachings of the Bible as 
 absolutely true. 
 
 34. When there seems to be a difference between the teachings of 
 
 the Bible and those of science, which of the two should we 
 regard as correct? The teachings of the Bible. 
 
 35. (6) "What are the five chief parts of Christian doctrine?" "The 
 
 Ten Commandments the Christian Creed, the Lord's Prayer, 
 Holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper." 
 
 36. (7) "What is in general the right use and benefit of all these 
 
 chief parts"? "That we learn to know: 1. Who we are, 
 and how we stand in the sight of the Lord our God; 2. Who 
 God is, and how we may become reconciled and united with 
 Him." 
 
 37. Whom are we to learn to know first of all? We are to learn to 
 
 know ourselves. 
 
 38. Where are we told about ourselves, our creation, fall into sin, re- 
 
 demption, sanctification and eternal salvation? We are told 
 these things in the Bible. 
 
 39. Who certainly knows us better than we know ourselves? God, 
 
 who knows all things. 
 
 40. Where does God teach us what we are? In the Bible. 
 
 41. What are we in the sight of a holy and righteous God? We are 
 
 poor sinners. 
 
 42. And what does the Bible say we have deserved by our sins? We 
 
 have deserved punishment. 
 
 43. What else are we to learn from the five chief parts of Christian 
 
 doctrine? We are to learn who God is and how we may be- 
 come reconciled and united with him. 
 
 44. How has God revealed himself to us in nature? He has revealed 
 
 himself through his works. 
 
 45. Yes, from nature we learn that God is mighty, wise and good. 
 
 But what is still more necessary for sinful man to know? 
 Tell me from the last clause of the answer to question 7. 
 "How we may become reconciled and united with him." 
 
 46. Where a reconciliation is necessary between two persons, what 
 
 relation must have existed between them? They must have 
 been enemies. 
 
 47. What caused this enmity between God and men? Sin caused 
 
 this enmity. 
 
 48. What do we call a man who stands between two opposing parties 
 
 and tries to make peace? We call him a peacemaker, a 
 mediator. 
 
LESSON 4. 13 
 
 49. Now open your Bible and read the passage 1 Tim. 2, 5. 6. "For 
 
 there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, 
 the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to 
 be testified in due time. 
 
 50. Who is the one mediator between God and men? The man 
 
 Christ Jesus. 
 
 51. Now repeat the passage John 5, 39. "Search the Scriptures, for 
 
 in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they 
 which testify of me." 
 
 52. What does the Savior here mean when he says, "Search the 
 
 Scriptures"? He means study the Scriptures. 
 
 53. What are we to find in the Scriptures? We are to find eternal 
 
 life. 
 
 54. And of whom do they testify? They testify of the Savior. 
 
 55. Yes, let this be our earnest purpose in studying the Bible and 
 
 the catechism that we may learn to know and believe on the 
 Savior. Who then is the great center and heart of the 
 Bible? Our Savior Jesus Christ. 
 
 56. But let us not only hear and learn the word of God. What else 
 
 is necessary in order that we may become truly blessed? 
 Tell me the answer by repeating Luke 11, 28. "Blessed are 
 they that hear the word of God and keep it." 
 
 57. What does the Savior here mean by keeping the word of God? 
 
 He means remembering it and obeying it. 
 
 58. Yes, we should keep God's word in our memory, ])ut where else 
 
 should we keep it? We should keep it in our hearts. 
 
 OF THE FIRST CHIEF PART OF THE CATECHISM OR 
 THE HOLY TEN COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 LESSON 4. THE LAW. 
 
 (Questions 8-9.) 
 
 1. (8) "What is the first chief part of the catechism? "The Holy 
 
 Ten Commandments." 
 
 2. What are these commandments called? They are called holy. 
 
 3. Who gave us these commandments? God gave them. 
 
 4. What quality or attribute of God is reflected in these command- 
 
 ments that makes them holy? His holiness. 
 
 5. Then what is one reason why these commandments are called 
 
 holy? Because God, who gave them, is holy. 
 
 6. Turn to Lev. 19, 2, and read what is there written. "Ye shall be 
 
 holy: for I, the Lord your God, am holy." 
 
 7. God is not only holy himself, but what does he require of us 
 
 also? He requires that we too should be holy. 
 
 8. Yes, and this requirement of God is set before us in the ten 
 
 commandments. This, then, is another reason why the com- 
 mandments are called holy. State it. Because in them God 
 asks us to be holy. 
 
 9. (9) "What are the holy ten commandments?" "They are the 
 
 sum of the divine law., which God at creation implanted in 
 man, and then solemnly repeated on Mt. Sinai." 
 
14 LESSON 4. 
 
 10. What is set before us in tliese commandments? The divine laW. 
 
 11. What is a commandment? A commandment is a law. 
 
 12. What does a law tell us? It tells us what we should do. 
 
 13. And when a law forbids us certain things, what does it tell us? 
 
 It tells us what we should not do. 
 
 14. What two things then does the law set before us? What we 
 
 should do and what we should not do. 
 
 15. A lav/ lays down a line of conduct. When you want to draw a 
 
 straight line, what do you use? We use a ruler. 
 
 16. Because the law lays down a straight line for our conduct, what 
 
 may it be called? It may be called a rule. 
 
 17. What law is it that is contained in the ten commandments? The 
 
 divine law. 
 
 18. Divine law means whose law? God's law. 
 
 19. Why are the ten commandments called the divine law? Because 
 
 God gave them. 
 
 20. Our answer to question 9 does not simply say the ten command- 
 
 ments are the divine law, but what else does it say? They 
 are the sum of the divine law. 
 
 21. What is the sum of two or more numbers? It is a figure that 
 
 expresses what they amount to when added up. 
 
 22. God gave many laws, but in what short form does he give the 
 
 sum and substance of all his laws? In the ten command- 
 ments. 
 
 23. Who gave us this law? God gave it. 
 
 24. Why has God a right to give us a law? Because he is the Lord. 
 
 25. Yes, he is the Creator and Ruler of all things, and what do we 
 
 owe him? We owe him obedience. 
 
 26. To whom did God give this law? God gave this law to man. 
 
 27. When did God first give his law to man? He first gave it at 
 
 creation. 
 
 28. How did God give man his law at creation? He implanted it 
 
 in him. 
 
 29. Repeat the Scripture passage Rom. 2, 14. 15. "For when the 
 
 Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things 
 contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law 
 unto themselves; which show the work of the law written in 
 their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and 
 their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one 
 another." 
 
 30. When the Apostle here speaks of the Gentiles whom does he 
 
 mean? He means the heathen. 
 
 31. When he says they have not the law, what law does he mean? 
 
 He means the ten commandments. 
 
 32. And yet he says they know something of the law. He even says 
 
 something about the law's being written for them. What 
 does he say? The law is written in their hearts. 
 
 33. At creation the law was implanted in man's heart. What does 
 
 this mean? The law was written in his heart. 
 
 34. The apostle here also tells us how the Gentiles do the law. 
 
 What does he say about it? By nature they do the things 
 written in the law. 
 
 35. Is it necessary for water to be told to run down hill? No, be- 
 
 cause it does so by nature, of its own accord. 
 
LESSON 4. 
 
 15 
 
 36. Yes, God made it so. It is the nature of water to run down hill, 
 of fire to burn, of the sun to shine. What did man, when 
 he was first created, take pleasure in doing? He took pleas- 
 ure in doing God's will. 
 
 .37. Before man fell into sin it was as natural for him to do right as 
 it is for water to run down hill, for fire to burn, for the sun 
 to shine. But man is no longer in the condition in which 
 he was at creation. What sad change took place in him? 
 He fell into sin. 
 
 38. And by that fall he lost the perfect knowledge of and cheerful- 
 
 ness to do the will of God. When I tell you a thing and you 
 do not properly understand nor remember it, what must I do 
 to make it clear and fix it in your minds? You must re- 
 peat it. 
 
 39. According to question 9, what did God do with his law? He 
 
 repeated it. 
 
 40. Why was this necessary? Because men had forgotten and did 
 
 not properly understand the law. 
 
 41. Men by nature know something of the law. But what kind of 
 
 knowledge do they lack? They lack a clear and distinct 
 knowledge. 
 
 42. What do we call that voice in man which accuses him when he 
 
 does wrong? We call it conscience. 
 
 43. But man's conscience is by nature no longer clear and reliable. 
 
 Some think a thing is right and others that it is wrong. If 
 we had nothing to go by but our consciences we could never 
 be sure what is- right or wrong. Now what did God do in 
 order that we mi,ght have an absolutely reliable standard of 
 right and wrong? He gave us the ten commandments. 
 
 44. What did I just call the ten commandments? An absolutely re- 
 
 liable standard of right and wrong. 
 
 45. On that account they are sometimes called the moral law. 
 
 Where did God give this law? He gave it at Mt. Sinai. 
 
 46. Through whom did God give the law? He gave it through 
 
 Moses. 
 
 47. Of what people was Moses the leader? He was leader of the 
 
 Jews. 
 
 48. But for whom was this law intended besides the .Jews? It was 
 
 intended for all men. 
 
 49. You say in the answer to question 9 God solemnly repeated his 
 
 law on Mt. Sinai. Let us notice some of the solemn things 
 which took place during the giving of the law. Turn to Lev. 
 19 and 20 and read the account of the giving of the law. 
 Tell me from chapter 19. verse 18. what was to be seen on 
 this occasion? "Mt. Sinai was altogether on a smoke be- 
 cause the Lord descended on it in fire. The whole mountain 
 quaked greatly." 
 
 50. Now tell nie from the same chapter, verse 16. what was to be 
 
 heard? "There were thunders . . . and the voice of the 
 trumpet exceedingly loud." 
 
 51. And again verso 19. "And when the voice of the trumpet waxed 
 
 louder and louder, Moses spake and the Lord answered him 
 by a voice." 
 
 52. What impression did this make upon the people? Verse 19. 
 
 "All the people that was in the camp trembled." 
 
16 LESSON 5. 
 
 53. And again chapter 20, verse 19. "And they said unto Moses, 
 
 speak thou with us and we will hear, but let not God speak 
 with us lest we die." 
 
 54. What did Moses answer? Verse 20. "Fear not: for God is come 
 
 to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, 
 that ye sin not." 
 
 55. It was God's intention to impress the people with the sacredness 
 
 of his law. How should we accordingly regard it? As some- 
 thing solemn and sacred. 
 
 LESSON 5. THE FIRST TABLE OF THE LAW. 
 
 (Questions 10-13.) 
 
 1. (10) "How are the Ten Commandments divided?" Into two 
 
 parts, called Tables." 
 
 2. Through whom did God give the Ten Commandments? He gave 
 
 them through Moses. 
 
 3. How did he give the Commandments to Moses? On two tables 
 
 of stone. 
 
 4. What do you call a table or tablet of stone used for writing? We 
 
 call it a slate. 
 
 5. Read what is written Exodus 24, 12. "And the Lord said unto 
 
 Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I 
 will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and command- 
 ments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them." 
 
 6. And again what is written Exodus 31, 18. "And he (God) gave 
 
 unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with 
 him upon Mt. Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, 
 written with the finger of God." 
 
 7. God not only spoke the commandments, but what did he do? 
 
 He wrote them. 
 
 8. A word may be spoken or written. What advantage is there in 
 
 writing what you have to say? It fixes and preserves the 
 saying. 
 
 9. Who wrote the ten commandments? God himself wrote them. 
 
 10. When God takes the pains to put down a thing in writing, how 
 
 must he regard it? He must regard it as very important. 
 
 11. How then should we regard the commandments? As of the very 
 
 greatest importance. 
 
 12. How did God impress the fact upon us that his law is fixed and 
 
 unalterable? By writing it upon stone. 
 
 13. On how many stone tables were the commandments written? 
 
 They were written on two tables. 
 
 14. Do the Scripture passages which you have just read tell us any- 
 
 thing as to how many commandments were on each table? 
 They do not. 
 
 15. Neither do the Scriptures anywhere else tell us this. And yet 
 
 the commandments themselves show us how we may divide 
 them. Some tell us our duties toward God, others our duties 
 toward man. And so we make the division on the ground of 
 their contents. The first three Commandments tell us of our 
 duties toward God, therefore we place them on which table? 
 We place them on the first table. 
 
LESSON 5. 17 
 
 16. (11) "Of what does the first table of the law treat?" "Of love 
 
 to God." 
 
 17. What then is our duty toward God? To love him. 
 
 18. Now tell me, of what does the second table of the law treat? 
 
 You will find the answer given under question 50. "Of love 
 to our neighbor." 
 
 19. What is our duty toward our neighbor? To love him. 
 
 20. What then do both tables of the law ask of us? They ask love. 
 
 21. You will find this expressed in Romans 13, 10. Read the latter 
 
 half of the passage. "Therefore, love is the fulfilling of 
 the law." 
 
 22. How is the law fulfilled? The law is fulfilled by love. 
 
 23. (12) "What is the sum or contents of the first table?" "Thou 
 
 Shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with 
 all thy soul, and with all thy mind." 
 
 24. What does this Scripture passage show us? It shows us the 
 
 sum or contents of the first table of the law. 
 
 25. Let us read the passage in its connection. Matt. 22,34-40. What 
 
 question had one of the Pharisees put to the Savior? Verse 
 36. "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" 
 
 26. What did he mean by the great commandment? The principal 
 
 or most important commandment. 
 
 27. And to this question the Savior gave the answer you have just 
 
 recited. What did he thereby declare the commandment of 
 love towards God to be? The most important of all com- 
 mandments. 
 
 28. Yes, and more than this. Read what he says, verse 40. "On 
 
 these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 
 
 29. He declares not only that these commandments requiring love 
 
 are the great commandments, but what else? That all the 
 law hangs on these commandments. 
 
 30. What does he mean by this? That what the law requires is 
 
 that we love God and our neighbor. 
 
 31. What then, is the one thing which the law requires? It requires 
 
 love. 
 
 32. Whom would God have us love first of all? He would have us 
 
 love himself. 
 
 33. When we love a thing, how do we regard it? We regard it 
 
 highly. 
 
 34. When we love a person what do we think of him? We think a 
 
 great deal of him. 
 
 35. How has God shown himself worthy of our love? By doing us 
 
 good. 
 
 36. What are some of the good things which should move us to love 
 
 him? He has created us and keeps us. He sent us the 
 Savior. 
 
 37. What induces God to bestow upon us such blessings? He 
 
 loves us. 
 
 38. Read the passage, .John .!, 16. "God so loved the world that he 
 
 gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him 
 should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
 
 39. What is here said of God's relation to the world? He loved the 
 
 world. 
 
18 LESSON 5. 
 
 40. What did his love for the world induce him to do? It induced 
 
 him to give his only begotten Son. 
 
 41. To what should this great love of CJod move us? It should move 
 
 us to love him in return. 
 
 42. This is expressed in the passage, 1 John 4, 19.- Read it. "We 
 
 love him because he first loved us." 
 
 43. Now tell me, how does God say you should love him? "With all 
 
 thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." 
 
 44. Love, then, is something that is not done with the hand, or the 
 
 mouth. But where is the seat of love? In the heart, soul 
 and mind. 
 
 45. This is expressed in Psalm 84, 2. Read the passage. "My soul 
 
 longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my 
 heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God." 
 
 46. God does not simply regard our words and actions, but what does 
 
 he look upon? He looks upon our hearts. 
 
 47. In 1 Samuel 16, the latter half of the 7th verse, the Lord him- 
 
 self tells us this. Read it. "Man looketh on the outward 
 appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 
 
 48. What does God say as to how we should love him? "With ail 
 
 thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind." 
 
 49. What little word here occurs three times? The word "all." 
 
 50. Why does God repeat this word three times? Because he wants 
 
 our whole heart, soul and mind. 
 
 51. The relation between God and us is sometimes compared with 
 
 the relation between a bridegroom and his bride. How does 
 a bride regard her bridegroom? She loves him. 
 
 52. How many does she love besides him? None. She loves him 
 
 only. 
 
 53. When are people not on speaking terms with each other? When 
 
 they hate each other. 
 
 54. But when they love each other. What do they delight in? In 
 
 each other's company. They like to talk to each other. 
 
 55. And if we love God how will this love manifest itself? We will 
 
 delight to Ije with him and to speak to him. 
 
 56. How may we do this? We may do this in prayer. 
 
 57. In which commandment are we asked to worship God with 
 
 prayer, praise and thanksgiving? In the second command- 
 ment. 
 
 58. If we love God we will delight to be with him, to hear his word. 
 
 In which commandment are we asked to gladly hear and 
 learn his word? In the third commandment. 
 
 59. If we truly love God, we will not only pray to, praise and thank 
 
 him, and hear his word, but we will do more. What does 
 the Savior say John 14, 15? "If ye love me, keep my com- 
 mandments." 
 
 60. How may we show our love to him? By keeping his command- 
 
 ments. 
 
 61. What is to be our motive in keeping God's commandments? Our 
 
 love to him. 
 
 62. This thought is also expressed in 1 John 5, 3. Read the passage. 
 
 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his command- 
 ments; and his commandments are not grievous." 
 
LfiSSON 6. 19 
 
 63. Of what Is our Obedience to God's commandments to be an evi- 
 
 dence? It is to be an evidence that we love him. 
 
 64. (13) "How many commandments does the first table contain?" 
 
 "The first three." 
 
 LESSON 6. THE PREFACE TO THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Question 14-15.) 
 
 1. (14) "Which is the First Commandment?" "I am the Lord, thy 
 
 God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." 
 
 2. (15) "What does this mean?" "We should fear, love and trust 
 
 in God above all things." 
 
 3. Repeat the first sentence of tliis commandment. "I am the Lord, 
 
 thy God." 
 
 4. What part of speech is the first word of this sentence? A per- 
 
 sonal pronoun. 
 
 5. For what does a personal pronoun stand? It stands for a person. 
 
 6. For what does the pronoun "I" stand in the First Command- 
 
 ment? It stands for the Lord God. 
 
 7. Yes, God is not a mere thing, or a name, or an idea in the mind 
 
 of man, but a person. Personal pronouns may be of how 
 many persons? Of the first, second or third persons. 
 
 8. Of which is the pronoun "I"? Of the first person. 
 
 9. Why? Because it stands for the person speaking. 
 
 10. Then how does this commandment place God before us? As the 
 
 person speaking. 
 
 11. Repeat the first two words in the sentence. "I am." 
 
 12. Can a rock or an image say, "I am"? It can not. 
 
 13. What kind of a being is it that can say "I am"? A living being, 
 
 or a person. 
 
 14. Read the passage. .ler. 10. 10 "But the Lord is the true God, he 
 
 is the living God, and an everlasting king." 
 
 15. An idol is a dead thing, but what is here said of the true God? 
 
 "He is the living God." 
 
 16. By what two words in this preface does God say that he lives? 
 
 When he says, "I am." 
 
 17. God said this over 3,000 years ago,' but when does he still say 
 
 it? He says it now, and at all times. 
 
 18. Where is God when he says, "I am"? God is everywhere. 
 
 19. Yes, children, the God who says "I am," always was, is now and 
 
 always will be. Ho is everywhere. He is with us this mo- 
 ment, though we can not see him. What does God call him- 
 self in this preface? "The Lord, thy God." 
 
 20. What is a lord? One who rules or commands. 
 
 21. Turn to Gen. 42, 30. What did Joseph's brethren say of him? 
 
 That he was the lord of the land. 
 
 22. Why did they say this? Because the king had made him ruler 
 
 of the land of Egypt. 
 
 23. What has a lord a right to give out? To give out commands. 
 
 24. Why has God a right to give us commandments? Because he is 
 
 our Lord. 
 
20 LESSON 6. 
 
 25. But in this preface God does not call himself a h rd, but what 
 
 does he say? "I am the Lord." 
 
 26. Why does he call himself the Lord, and not a lord? Because he 
 
 is the only lord. 
 
 27. If he is Lord, then what are we? We are servants, subjects. 
 
 28. And if it is his to command, what is our duty? Our duty is to 
 
 obey. 
 
 29. When God says, "Thou shalt," what should we say? We should 
 
 say, I will. 
 
 30. What other personal pronoun have we in this preface, besides 
 
 the pronoun "I"? The pronoun "thy." 
 
 31. What person does this pronoun stand for? For the second 
 
 person. 
 
 32. Which is the second person? The person spoken to. 
 
 33. To what people was God speaking when he first ,^poke these 
 
 words? To the children of Israel. 
 
 34. But to whom does he speak now in these words? He speaks 
 
 to us. 
 
 35. God here calls himself "Thy God." Does he speak in the sin- 
 
 gular or plural number? He speaks in the singular number. 
 
 36. How would he say if he spoke in the plural number? He would 
 
 say: your God. 
 ;;7. God has special reasons for speaking in the singular number as 
 he does in all the commandments. When you hear him 
 say, "Thy God," "Thou shalt," to what individual person is 
 he speaking? He is speaking to me. 
 
 38. Yes, it is as though God singled you out and spoke to you per- 
 
 sonally. When you speak to others of your father, what 
 personal pronoun do you use in connection with the word 
 "father"? I say, my father. 
 
 39. And how does your father speak of you? He says, My son or 
 
 my daughter. 
 
 40. What does this pronoun say in this connection? It says that my 
 
 father is mine, and I am his. 
 
 41. Yes, it expresses a personal, a family relation. You are not 
 
 strangers. You belong to each other. To whom could you 
 not say "my"? To a stranger. 
 
 42. When God calls himself, "Thy God," what does he want to say? 
 
 What does he express by the word "thy"? That he is mine; 
 that he belongs to me. 
 
 43. What word expresses this intimate relation of God to us? The 
 
 word "father." 
 
 44. If God is your lather, then what are you? I am his child. 
 
 45. Where does the Savior himself teach us to call God "Father"? 
 
 in the Lord's Prayer. 
 
 46. When God calls himself "Thy God," what does this express with 
 
 reference to the past? That he always was my God. 
 
 47. And what did he do for you as your God? He created me. He 
 
 cared for me. 
 
 48. And what do these words, "Thy God," imply with reference to 
 
 the future? That he will always be my God. 
 
 49. And of what may you then be confident? That he will care for 
 
 and keep me. 
 
LESSON 7. 21 
 
 f.O. Luther, giving us the meaning of the first commandment, tells 
 us what we ow^ God because he is in deed and truth our 
 God. What does he say? "We should fear, love and trust 
 in God above all things." 
 
 LESSON 7. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE FIRST 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 16-17.) 
 
 1. Repeat the second sentence of the First Commandment. "Thou 
 
 shalt have no other gods before me." 
 
 2. What do these words speak of? Of other gods. 
 
 3. (16) "What do you understand by 'other gods'"? Read the first 
 
 part of the answer to question 16. "All that men devise in 
 the place of God, and to which they give the honor due to 
 God." 
 
 4. Are there really any other gods besides the one true God, who 
 
 says, "I am the Lord, thy God"? There are not. 
 
 5. When a man is in a fever, or not in his right mind, he often sees 
 
 things that do not exist, and speaks to persons who are not 
 present. What word expresses this? He imagines things. 
 
 6. Yes, and so men have imagined other things to be God, although 
 
 they are not, and have put these things in the place of God. 
 And what dO' they give these things? They give them the 
 honor due to God. 
 
 7. The answer to question 16 tells us some of the things which men 
 
 imagine to be gods, and to which they give the honor due to 
 God. What is mentioned under number 1? "The idols of 
 the heathen." 
 
 8. Open your Bibles and read, Psalm 115, 2-8. What is here said of 
 
 idols in verse 4? "Their idols are silver and gold, the work 
 of men's hands." 
 
 9. Tell me from verse 2, who is it that makes and worships such 
 
 idols? The heathen make and worship idols. 
 10. What is said of these idols, verses 5 to 7? They can neither 
 
 speak, nor see, nor hear, nor smell, nor handle. 
 jl. What would you say of a thing that can neither speak, see, hear, 
 
 smell nor handle? It is a dead thing. 
 
 12. Yes, and yet men in their blindness will fall down and worship 
 
 such a dead thing. What did the children of Israel at Mt. 
 Sinai make in the place of God? They made a golden calf. 
 
 13. How did they honor this calf? They fell down and worshiped it. 
 
 14. What kind of honor did they thus show this idol? They showed 
 
 it divine honor. 
 
 15. Turn to Ex. 32, 4, and tell me what they called this golden calf 
 
 which they had made with their own hands. "These be thy 
 gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of 
 Egypt." 
 
 16. But the heathen do not worship dead images only; some worship 
 
 the sun, others worship animals, such as cattle or serpents, 
 and some worship fire. What do they make of all these 
 things? They make idols of them. 
 
22 L£sso^f 7- 
 
 17. Read the passage, Acts 14, 8-15. Here we are told of a case Of 
 
 gross idolatry? When Paul had healed the impotent man, 
 what did the people say? Verse 11. "The gods are come 
 down to us." 
 
 18. What two gods did they mention. Verse 12., They called Bar- 
 
 nabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius. 
 
 19. These were two imaginary gods of the ancient Greeks, of whom 
 
 they had images in their temples. But what did Paul ad- 
 monish the people to do? Verse 15. To turn from these 
 vanities unto the living God. 
 
 20. What is mentioned under number 2, of question 16, as something 
 
 which men put in the place of God? "Pictures and carved 
 images that are set up for worship." 
 
 21. Read what is written, Ex. 20, 4-5, and tell me what is there for- 
 
 bidden. To make any graven images or likeness. 
 
 22. For what purpose did the heathen make these images or statues? 
 
 For the purpose of worship. 
 
 23. Read what is said in the 5th verse of this chapter. "Thou shalt 
 
 not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them." 
 
 24. What, then, is it that God forbids with reference to pictures and 
 
 images? He forbids worshiping them. 
 
 25. Tell me from number ?, of question 16, what else do men put in 
 
 the place of God? "Departed saints, if they be invoked." 
 
 26. Read the passage Isa. 63, 16, and tell me of what departed pious 
 
 man or saint does it speak. It speaks of Abraham. 
 
 27. What does it say of Abraham? That he is ignorant of us. 
 
 28. What good would it do us to pray to departed saints? It would 
 
 do us no good. 
 
 29. Now turn to the passage, Rev. 19, 10. It was an angel of God 
 
 who had been speaking to St. John. What was the Apostle 
 about to do? He fell at his feet to worship him. 
 
 30. But what did the angel say? "See thou do it not: I am thy fel- 
 
 low-servant and one of thy brethren." 
 
 31. If it is wrong to worship even an angel, then what other worship 
 
 is surely also wrong? The worship of saints. 
 
 32. Where is this worship carried on? In the Roman Catholic 
 
 Church. 
 
 33. What saint particularly do they worship? The Virgin Mary. 
 
 34. Now tell me from number 4, question 16, what else do men put 
 
 in the place of God? "All gifts and possessions of men, if 
 one puts his trust in them." 
 
 35. Turn to Eph. 5, 5. and tell me what is there said of the covetous 
 
 man. He is an idolater. 
 
 36. What is the idol or false god that he worships? He worships 
 
 his money. 
 
 37. The same kind of idolatry is referred to in Job 31, 24. Read 
 
 the passage. "If I have made gold my hope, or have said 
 to the fine gold: Thou art my confidence." 
 
 38. Now turn to Phil. 3, 19, and tell me another god that men make. 
 
 "They make their belly their god." 
 
 39 . Yes, whom do men, who think only of themselves and know and 
 
 care for nothing higher than to eat, drink and enjoy the 
 good things of this life, really worship? They worship them- 
 selves. 
 
LESSON 7. 23 
 
 40. In Acts 12, 21-23, there is a case of idolatry recorded. Who is 
 
 the wicked man there referred to? Herod. 
 
 41. What was he pleased to have the people say of him, when he 
 
 spoke? "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man." 
 
 42. When a man or woman is vain and self-conceited, proud of his 
 
 wisdom, strength, beauty, skill and the like, what does such a 
 person make of himself? He makes an idol of himself. 
 
 43. What does God say of the honor that is due him? Repeat the 
 
 passage Isa. 42, 8. "I am the Lord, that is my name: and 
 my glory will I riot give to another, neither my praise to 
 graven images." 
 
 44. (17) "What, then, is forbidden in this commandment?" "That we 
 
 give to any creature whatever the honor that belongs to God 
 alone." 
 
 45. Repeat the passage. Matt. 4, 10. "Thou shalt worship the Lord, 
 
 thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." 
 
 46. What honor are we here asked to give God? We are asked to 
 
 worship and serve him. 
 
 47. To whom alone, then, does the honor of worship belong? It be- 
 
 longs to God alone. 
 
 48. When the Indian worships the sun, what honor is he showing it? 
 
 The honor which belongs to God alone. 
 
 49. Now tell me of the first commandment, what does this mean? 
 
 "We should fear, love and trust in God above all things." 
 
 50. What according to this is the first honor which we should show 
 
 God? We should fear him above all things. 
 
 51. Repeat the passage. Matt. 10, 28. "Fear not them that kill the 
 
 body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him 
 which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 
 
 52. When we fear men as much as or more than we fear God, what 
 
 kind of honor are we showing them? We are showing them 
 divine honor, the honor that belongs to God alone. 
 
 53. What is the second honor which we owe God? We should love 
 
 him above all things. 
 
 54. When we love any person or thing as much as or more than we 
 
 love God, what honor are we giving that person or thing? 
 We are giving it divine honor, the honor which belongs to 
 God alone. 
 
 55. Whom do parents love most among all men? They love their 
 
 children. 
 
 56. Whom do children love most among all men? They love their 
 
 parents. 
 
 57. And yet, what are we warned against, Matt. 10, 37? "He that 
 
 loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; 
 and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not 
 worthy of me." 
 
 58. Yes, there are people that fairly worship their children. What 
 
 do they make of them when they love them as much or more 
 than God? They make idols of them. 
 
 59. What is the third honor which we owe God? We should trust 
 
 in him above all things. 
 
 60. But when we trust in our friends, our money, our wisdom, or 
 
 skill as much as or more than we trust in God, what kind of 
 honor are we showing them? We are showing them divine 
 honor, the honor that belongs to God alone. 
 
24 LESSON 8. 
 
 61. What does God say of him that trusteth in men instead of God? 
 Jer. 17. 5. "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and 
 maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the 
 Lord." 
 
 LESSON 8. WHAT IS COMMANDED IN THE FIRST 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 18-22.) 
 
 1. (18) "What on the other hand is commanded in the First Com- 
 
 mandment?" "That we should fear, love and trust in God 
 above all things." 
 
 2. (19) "What does this mean?'"To stand in childlike awe of God, 
 
 to regard him as the highest good, and to look to Him for 
 every blessing." 
 
 3. What three words in the answer to question 18 express our duty 
 
 toward God? The words "fear," "love" and "trust." 
 
 4. In the answer to question 19 these words are explained. What 
 
 does it mean to fear God? It means to stand in childlike 
 awe of God. 
 
 5. Read the passage Gen. 3, 9. 10. and tell me from the 10th verse 
 
 how did Adam feel toward God after he had sinned? He 
 said, "I was afraid." 
 
 6. Why v/as Adam afraid of God? Because he had sinned. 
 
 7. What was he afraid of? He was afraid of punishment. 
 
 8. Children, it is not this fear which the First Commandment asks 
 
 of us. "Fear" here does not mean to be afraid of, but what 
 does it mean according to question 19? To stand in awe of. 
 
 9. Read the passage Ps. 33, 8. "Let all the earth fear the Lord: 
 
 let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." 
 
 10. According to this passage, then, what does it mean to fear the 
 
 Lord? To stand in awe of him. 
 
 11. What kind of awe or fear should this be? It should be child- 
 
 like awe. 
 
 12. In whom do we find such awe or respect? In children toward 
 
 their parents. 
 
 13. We cannot fear or reverence God without knowing him. But the 
 
 better we know him. his wonderful attributes, his glorious 
 works, the more will we stand in awe of him. To know 
 .lesus Christ is to know God. This we learn from .John 17, 3. 
 Repeat the passage. "This is eternal life, that they might 
 know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou 
 hast sent." 
 
 14. What does this childlike fear of children towards their parents 
 
 induce them to avoid? To avoid what displeases their 
 parents. 
 
 15. The same is true of our fear of God. What does it induce us 
 
 to avoid? Give me the answer by reading Prov. 16, 6, the 
 latter half. "By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil." 
 
 16. When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wicked wife to commit 
 
 adultery, what did he answer? Gen. 39, 9. "How can I do 
 this great wickedness and sin against God?" 
 11, Of whom did he think when he was tempted to sin? He thought 
 of God. 
 
LESSON 8. 25 
 
 18. Yes, he knew God was present and saw all things. How did he 
 
 regard sin? As great wickedness. 
 
 19. Against whom did he know sin was an offense? An offense 
 
 against God. 
 
 20. If we are really God's dear children what should we fear to do? 
 
 We should fear to offend God. 
 
 21. And how is God offended? God is offended by sin. 
 
 22. Why would not the three pious Jews, Shadrach, Meshach and 
 
 Abednego fall down and worship the golden image? Be- 
 cause tliey feared God. 
 
 23. They feared God more than they feared whom? IVlore than tliey 
 
 feared the king. 
 
 24. Why would not Luther take back what he had written against 
 
 the pope when asked to do so before the Diet of Worms? 
 Because he feared God. 
 
 25. More than whom did he fear God? IVlore than the emperor or 
 
 the pope. 
 
 26. How does the catechism say we should fear God? We should 
 
 fear him above all things. 
 
 27. What else does God ask of us besides that we fear him above 
 
 all things? That we love him above all things. 
 
 28. Tell me from the answer to question 19 how our love to God 
 
 should move us to regard him. We should regard him as 
 the highest good. 
 
 29. How do we regard things that we love? We regard them as 
 
 good. 
 
 30. How should we regard God? As the highest good. 
 
 31. What does the psalmist say of his relation to God in Ps. 73, 
 
 25. 26? "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is 
 none upon the earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh and 
 my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and 
 my portion forever." 
 
 32. Tell me from this how much he loved God. He loved God more 
 
 than anything in heaven or on earth. 
 
 33. Abraham had a son Isaac whom he dearly loved. What strange 
 
 command did God give him concerning his son? That he 
 should sacrifice his son as a burnt offering. 
 
 34. What was Abraham willing to do when God gave him this 
 
 strange command? He was willing to obey, and was about 
 to offer up his son. 
 
 35. Abraham loved his son, but whom did he love more? He loved 
 
 God more. 
 
 36. Turn to 1 John 4, 19, and tell me why we should love God. 
 
 Because he first loved us. 
 
 37. Now tell me from 1 John 5, 3. how we may show our love to God. 
 
 "This is the love of God that we keep his commandments." 
 
 38. What else does God ask of us besides that we fear and love him 
 
 above all things? That we trust in him above all things. 
 
 39. Tell me from the answer to question 19 what it means to trust 
 
 in God above all things. To look to him for every good. 
 
 40. Read the passage James 1, 17. "Every good gift and every per- 
 
 fect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of 
 lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of 
 turning." 
 
26 LESSON 8. 
 
 41. From whom do all good things come? They come from God. 
 
 42. When we look to any person for something good we are con- 
 
 vinced that he is both able and willing to give it. What can 
 you say of God's ability to give us what we need? He is 
 able to do all things, he is almighty. 
 
 43. Tell me this with a scripture passage. You will find it in Luke 
 
 1, 37. "For with God nothing shall be impossible." 
 
 44. Now what ^bout his willingness to give us all we need? He is 
 
 not only able but also willing to give us what we need. 
 
 45. What does God say, Ps. 50, 15? "Call upon me in the day of 
 
 trouble, I will deliver thee." 
 
 46. Men would often be willing to help us if they only could, and 
 
 they could often if they only would, but what is the case 
 with God? He is both able and willing to help. 
 
 47. Yes, and therefore how should we regard him and his promises? 
 
 We should put confidence in him and his promises. 
 
 48. Tell me this by repeating Prov. 3, 5. "Trust in the Lord with 
 
 all thine heart: and lean not on thine own understanding." 
 
 49. When Israel was pursued by Pharaoh's hosts at the Red Sea in 
 
 whom did Moses put his trust? Tell me by reading what he 
 said to the people. Ex. 14, 13. "And Moses said unto the 
 people, fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of 
 the Lord." 
 
 50. Yes, and they saw it; for their trust in the Lord was not put to 
 
 shame. How was their trust in the Lord proven to be well 
 placed? The children of Israel passed safely through the 
 Red Sea and the Egyptians were drowned. 
 
 51. When David and Goliath met to decide the victory between 
 
 Israel and the Philistines, in what did Goliath put his con- 
 fidence? In his great strength and in his mighty weapons. 
 
 52. In whom did David trust? He trusted in God. 
 
 53. What words of David plainly show this? Read 1 Saml. 17, 45. 
 
 "Then David said to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with 
 a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to 
 thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies 
 of Israel whom thou hast defied." 
 
 ti4. And how did the issue show that David's confidence in God was 
 not vain? David slew the giant and cut off his head. 
 
 o8. What did it require on the part of Abraham when in obedience 
 to God's command in his old age he left his fatherland to go 
 into a far off country that God would show him, not knowing 
 where he was going? It required great faith and confidence 
 in God. 
 
 56. How does the Catechism say we should trust in God? We 
 
 should trust in God above all things. 
 
 57. Repeat the passage Ps. 118, 8. 9. "It is better to trust in the 
 
 Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in 
 the Lord than to put confidence in princes." 
 
 58. Why is it better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in 
 
 men? Because he is more able and willing to help than 
 they. 
 
 59. Now read what is written Ps. 42. 11. "Why art thou cast down, 
 
 O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope 
 thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of 
 my countenance, and my God." 
 
LESSON 9. 27 
 
 60. (20) "Why is it that Luther begins the explanation of each com- 
 
 mandment with the words: We should fear and love God?" 
 "He would thereby point out the source whence all the works 
 required in the Ten Commandments should flow; namely 
 fear and love to God." 
 
 61. What is the source of all true obedience to God's commandments? 
 
 The fear and love of God. 
 
 62. Yes, children, not the hope of reward nor the fear of punishment 
 
 should move us to keep God's commandments. Why do the 
 wicked som.etimes outwardly keep the law? Because they 
 hope to be rewarded or they fear punishment. 
 
 63. But why do God's dear children walk in the way of his command- 
 
 ments? Because they fear and love their heavenly Father. 
 
 64. (21) "Why do you not repeat the Ten Commandments in just as 
 
 many words as Moses recorded them?" "Because part per- 
 tains to the Jews only, and part is but a further explanation." 
 
 65. Now turn to the account of the giving of the law and read what 
 
 is written, Ex. 20, 1. 2. "And God spake all these words say- 
 ing: I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of 
 the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." 
 
 66. To whom did this deliverance refer? It referred to the children 
 
 of Israel. 
 
 C7. Now read Ex. 20. 4. 5. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any 
 graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven 
 above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water 
 under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 
 nor worship them." 
 
 68. Of which commandment are these words a further explanation? 
 
 They are a further explanation of the first commandment. 
 
 69. (22) "Could they, however, not in good conscience be repeated in 
 
 full?" "Certainly; but in the entire New Testament they 
 are nowhere so repeated; we are therefore right in following 
 the Apostles." 
 
 LESSON 9. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE NAME OF GOD. 
 
 (Questions 23-25.) 
 
 1. (23) "Which is the second commandment?" "Thou shalt not 
 
 take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." 
 
 2. (24) "What does this mean?" "We should fear and love God, 
 
 that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie or deceive 
 by his name; but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise 
 and give thanks." 
 
 3. Of what does this commandment treat? It treats of the name of 
 
 God. 
 
 4. (25) "What does the name of God imply?" "All that God has 
 
 revealed of himself in the Holy Scriptures, such as his es- 
 sence, attributes, will and command." 
 
 5. With whom is the name of a person closely connected? With 
 
 the person himself. 
 
 6. When we wish to designate a person, what do we mention first 
 
 of all? We mention his name. 
 
28 LESSON 9. 
 
 7. For whom does the name of a person stand? It stands for the 
 
 person. 
 
 8. What kind of noun is the name of a person? It is a proper noun. 
 
 9. What is a proper noun? The name of a particular person or 
 
 place. 
 
 10. When we say "George Washington," of whom do we think? 
 
 We think of the first President of the United States. 
 
 11 . When we mention the name "Martin Luther," of whom do we 
 
 think? We think of the great Reformer. 
 
 12. So when we mention the name of God, of whom do we think? 
 
 We think of God himself. 
 
 13. What are some of the names of God? God, The Lord, Jehovah, 
 
 Jesus Christ, the Savior, Immanuel, Holy Ghost. 
 
 14. Read the passage, Ex. 3, 13-15, and tell me what Moses asked 
 
 God to tell him? He asked God to tell him His name. 
 
 15. What does God say in answer to this question? Verse 14. "And 
 
 God said unto Moses. I am that I am." 
 
 16. And again Verse 15. "The Lord God of your fathers, the God 
 
 of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath 
 sent me unto you: this is my name forever." 
 
 17. From this we see that the name of God indicates the living, eter- 
 
 nal God himself. But when we mention the name of a per- 
 son we also think of his attributes or qualities. The name 
 not only tells us who, but what he is. For instance, when 
 I say "John Smith," what does this name tell me with ref- 
 erence to the sex of the person who bears this name? It 
 tells me that he is a man. 
 
 18. When I hear the name "Methuselah." of what does it remind me 
 
 with reference to the age of the person so named? That he 
 was the oldest person who ever lived. 
 
 19. When I mention the name "Samson," what does this name re- 
 
 mind me of? That he was the strongest man. 
 
 20. When I say, "Solomon," of what am I reminded with reference 
 
 to wisdom? That he was the wisest man that ever lived. 
 
 21. So the names of God remind us of his attributes. What name 
 
 do we give- God when we wish to speak of him as all-power- 
 ful? We call him the Almighty. 
 
 22. What name indicates that he is without beginning or end? The 
 
 Eternal. 
 
 23. To whom else can these names be applied? To no one else. 
 
 24. Why not? Because no one else has these attributes. 
 
 25. These names. "The Almighty, The Eternal, The Allwise," be- 
 
 cause they properly belong to God alone, are what kind of 
 names? They are proper names. 
 
 26. Men sometimes have names which do not at all indicate what 
 
 they are. For instance, a girl with dark complexion and 
 black hair may be called "Clara," that is "the fair one." 
 Or a quarrelsome boy may be called "Frederick," that is, 
 "rich in peace." But this is never the case with God. What 
 do His names always indicate? They indicate just what 
 he is. 
 
 27. Read the passage. Ex. 34, 5-7. What are we told in the 5th 
 
 verse that God Himself proclaimed to Moses. He pro- 
 claimed the name of the Lord. 
 
LESSON 9. 29 
 
 28. What did he call himself, verse 6? He called Himself, "The 
 
 Lord, the Lord God." 
 
 29. And what did he say of his attributes? He called himself, mer- 
 
 ciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness 
 and truth. 
 .jO. So in proclaiming the name of the Lord, what did God mention? 
 He mentioned his attributes. 
 
 31. Read the passage, Deut. 18, 18-19, and tell me how God says the 
 
 prophet who was to be sent would speak? "He shall speak 
 in my name." 
 
 32. Whose will or command should he make known to the people? 
 
 The will and command of God. 
 
 33. Whose name was he to reveal to the people when he told them 
 
 the will and command of God? He was to reveal the name 
 of God. 
 
 34. Tlien M'hat else does the name of God stand for? It stands for 
 
 His will and command. 
 
 35. Where has God revealed himself, that is, his name, to us? In 
 
 the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 36. W'hen a stranger introduces himself to us, what does he men- 
 
 tion? He mentions his name. 
 
 37. So God introduces himself to us in the Bible. What does he tell 
 
 us about himself? He tells us his name. 
 
 38. In telling us his name, he not only gives us the words by which 
 
 he is called, but what else? He tells us his attributes. 
 
 39. And what else? His will and command. 
 
 40. God is holy, and therefore how should we regard everything that 
 
 has reference to him? We should regard it as holy. 
 
 41. When we revere a person, how do we regard everythiug that is 
 
 connected with that person? We regard it with reverence. 
 
 42. So the houses in which great men lived, the liooks or pens 
 
 which they used, the clothing which they wore, the arms 
 which thej' carried are prized very highly. Why is this 
 done? For the sake of the persons who used these things. 
 
 43. Your father perhaps gave you a ring or a watch, why do yon 
 
 prize these things so highly? For the sake of my father 
 who gave them to me. 
 
 44. Of whom do these gifts remind you? They remind me of the 
 
 person who gave them. 
 
 45. So it is with other sacred or holy things. Why do we spe^k of 
 
 the Bible as the "holy" Bible? .Because God gave it to us. 
 
 46. Why do we speak of Baptism as "holy" baptism? Because it 
 
 was instituted by God. 
 
 47. Why do we call the sacrament of the altar the "holy" com- 
 
 munion? Because it is Christ's sacrament. 
 
 48. How should we regard all these things? We should regard 
 
 them with reverence. 
 
 49. Why should we regard tliem as sacred? Because they are con- 
 
 nected with God. 
 
 50. Yes, the reverence whicli we owe God's name, also includes those 
 
 things upon which the sacredness of his name is reflected. 
 Mention some such things. The Bible, the Sacraments, the 
 Church. 
 
 51. How does God regard any disrespect shown these things? As a 
 
 dishonor toward himself. 
 
30 LESSON lO. 
 
 LESSON 10. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SECOND 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 26-32.) 
 
 1. (26) "What is forbidden in tliis commandment?" "To take the 
 
 name of God in vain; that is, we should not curse, swear, 
 use witchcraft, lie or deceive by his name." 
 
 2. Repeat the second commandment. "Thou shalt not take the 
 
 name of the Lord thy God in vain." 
 
 3. When is a thing taken or used in vain? When we use it to no 
 
 purpose. 
 
 4. Yes, or we might say when we use it for purposes for which 
 
 it is not intended. God has revealed his name to ns for a 
 purpose. Now when we use liis name thoughtlessly or 
 irreverently, or wrongfully, how do we use it? We use it 
 in vain. 
 
 5. In the answer to question 24 some wrong uses of the name 
 
 of God are mentioned. What is the first thing we should 
 not do by the name of God? We should not curse by tne 
 name of God. 
 
 6. (27) "What does it mean to curse by the name of God?" "It 
 
 means to blaspheme God, or also by the holy name of God 
 to wish evil to one's self or to our neighbor." 
 
 7. Repeat the passage I>ev. 24, 1.5. 16. "Speak unto the children of 
 
 Israel, saying: Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his 
 sin, and he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall 
 surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall cer- 
 tainly stone him." 
 
 8. What two words are here used to express the same thing? The 
 
 words "curse" and "blaspheme." 
 
 9. To blaspheme means to speak sneeringly of God, to insult him 
 
 or express hatred of him or his word. What awful punish- 
 ment was to be visited on him who cursed or blasphemed 
 God? He was to be put to death. 
 
 10. What else is meant by cursing besides blasphemy? To wish 
 
 evil to one's self or to our neighbor in the name of God. 
 
 11. What does one wish himself or another when he curses him? 
 
 He wishes him evil. 
 
 12. It is bad enough to wish any one evil, but in whose name does 
 
 one wish evil who curses? He wishes evil in the name of 
 God. 
 
 13. Who does he wish should do the evil to the one whom he 
 
 curses? He wishes that God should do him evil. 
 
 14. Yes, for instance when a man wishes that God should damn 
 
 another, he drags God down to be a partner of his own 
 hatred and wickedness. Repeat the passage, James 3, 9. 10. 
 "With the tongue bless we God, even the Father; and there- 
 with curse we men, which are made after the similitude of 
 God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and curs- 
 ing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." 
 
 15. What two things come out of the same mouth? Out of the same 
 
 mouth proceed blessing and cursing. 
 
 16. How are these two things related to each other? The one is the 
 
 opposite of the other. 
 
LESSON lO. 3l 
 
 17. If cursing means to wish evil in the name of God. what does 
 
 blessing mean? It means to wish good. 
 
 18. For which of these two things should we use our tongues? We 
 
 should use them for blessing only. 
 
 19. The same is taught in Rom. 12, 14. Repeat the passage. "Bless 
 
 them which persecute you, bless and curse not." 
 
 20. What else is forbidden in the name of God besides cursing? 
 
 Swearing is also forbidden. 
 
 21. What kind of language is cursing and thoughtless or false swear- 
 
 ing? It is profane language. 
 
 22. (28) "What does it mean to swear by the name of God?" "It 
 
 means to appeal to God as witness of the truth and avenger 
 of the untruth." 
 
 23. To swear means to take an oath. Upon whom do we call when 
 
 we take an oath? We call upon God. 
 
 24. Yes, we appeal to him, as St. Paul did in 2 Cor. 1, 23. Read the 
 
 passage. "Moreover I call God for a record." 
 
 25. The same he does in Rom. 1, 9. Read this passage. "For God 
 
 is my witness." 
 
 26. For what purpose does he call upon God? He calls upon God 
 
 as a witness. 
 
 27. What is a witness to do? He is to testify to what he has seen 
 
 or heard. 
 
 28. In taking an oath what do we ask God to witness? To witness 
 
 the truth of what we are saying. 
 
 29. Why is God able to do this? Because he is everywhere present, 
 
 sees and hears all things. 
 
 30. But for what other purpose do we call upon God when we take 
 
 an oath? We also call upon him as avenger of the untruth. 
 
 31. What does it mean to avenge? It means to punish. 
 
 32. When any one is put under oath he is asked to stand up, to hold 
 
 up his right hand, to lay his hand on the Bible, or to kiss 
 the Bible. The officer says: "You do solemnly Sivear by 
 Almighty God, etc. The taking of an oath is therefore what 
 kind of a matter? It is a very solemn matter. 
 
 33. (29) "Dare we, then, according to this commandment not swear 
 
 at all?" "We may when the honor of God, our neighbor's 
 need or the courts demand it." 
 
 34. When may we, first of all, take an oath? When the honor of 
 
 God demands it. 
 
 35. In Deut. 6, 13. God commands the taking of an oath. Repeat the 
 
 passage. "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and shalt serve 
 him, and shalt swear by his name." 
 
 36. The same is said in Jer. 4, 2. Repeat this passage. "And thou 
 
 shalt swear, The Lord liveth in truth, in judgment and in 
 righteousness." 
 
 37. When the Savior stood before the high priest he was asked un- 
 
 der oath whether he was the Son of God. Matt. 26, 63. 64. 
 His own honor and the honor of God was at stake. What 
 did he do under these circumstances? He answered under 
 oath. 
 
 38. Under what other circumstances may we take an oath? When 
 
 our neighbor's need demands it. 
 
32 LESSON 10 
 
 39. Repeat the passage Heb. 6, 16. "For men verily swear by a 
 
 greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of 
 all strife." 
 
 40. Yes, an oath serves to confirm or make sure our testimony. 
 
 Who alone has a right to demand an oath of us? The courts, 
 or the government alone has this right. 
 
 41. In whose name do the courts act when they demand an oath? 
 
 They act in the name of God. 
 
 42. (30) "What swearing is forbidden?" "Thoughtless and false 
 
 swearing." 
 
 43. The oaths that you hear constantly on the streets in ordinary 
 
 conversation from the lips of wicked men who do not think 
 of what they are doing, are what kind of oaths? They are 
 thoughtless oaths. 
 
 44. When men on entering the many so-called secret societies of our 
 
 day, bind themselves under oath to keep secret what shall 
 be told them, not knowing whether these things may be kept 
 secret with a good conscience, what kind of swearing is 
 this? It is thoughtless and therefore wicked swearing. 
 
 45. Read the passage Matt. 14, 7. "Whereupon he promised with an 
 
 oath to give her whatsoever she would ask." 
 
 46. King Herod promised the daughter of Herodias, who had danced 
 
 before him, that he would give her anything she would ask, 
 not knowing what she might ask. What kind of an oath was 
 this? It was a thoughtless, wicked oath. 
 
 47. Now repeat what the Savior says Matt. 5, 33-37. "Again, ye have 
 
 heard that it has been said by them of old time. Thou shalt 
 not foreswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine 
 oaths: but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by 
 heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth for it is his 
 footstool: neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great 
 King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou 
 canst not make one hair white or black. But let your com- 
 munication be, yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more 
 than these cometh of evil." 
 
 48. What are thoughtless oaths? They are oaths that are taken 
 
 without thinking. 
 
 49. Yes, such oaths as: O Lord, by Christ, by God and the like, 
 
 as we hear them on the streets daily. How should we re- 
 gard such thoughtless oaths? We should regard them as 
 wicked and profane. 
 
 50. What should an honest man's word be equal to? An honest 
 
 man's word should be as good as his oath. 
 
 51. What other swearing is forbidden besides thoughtless swearing? 
 
 False swearing is also forbidden. 
 
 52. Repeat the passage Lev. 19, 12. "Ye shall not swear by my name 
 
 falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God; for 
 I am the Lord your God." 
 
 53. What is here forbidden? To swear falsely by the name of God. 
 
 54. What does it mean to swear falsely? It means to swear to a lie. 
 
 55. False swearing is called perjury, and is punished by the courts 
 
 as a crime. What does one who swears falsely ask God to 
 do? He asks God to punish him. 
 
LESSON 10. 33 
 
 56. To take a false oath is to commit perjury- The perjurer asks 
 
 God to withdraw from him every blessing, to exclude him 
 from heaven, to condemn him to hell. An example of such a 
 false oath we have in Peter during the trial of Christ before 
 the high priest. Can you tell me what awful sin Peter 
 there committed? He denied with an oath that he even 
 knew the Savior. 
 
 57. An example of how the wicked secretly band themselves together 
 
 by oaths is recorded in Acts 2.3, 12. Read the passage. "And 
 when it was day certain of the Jews banded together, and 
 bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would 
 neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul." 
 
 58. We should not curse nor swear by the name of God, but what 
 
 else is forbidden in the second commandment? We should 
 not use witchcraft. 
 
 59. (31) "What does it mean to use witchcraft by the name of God?" 
 
 "It means not only, with the help of the devil to harm our 
 neighbor in his person or property, but also by a supersti- 
 tious abuse of God's name and word, or by other means, 
 seemingly to work good; for instance to drive away sickness 
 in man and beast, discover concealed things, stop blood and 
 the like." 
 
 60. With whose help do those who use witchcraft accomplish the 
 
 things which they do? They do these things with the help 
 of the devil. 
 
 61. What do such people do or pretend to do? To harm their neigh- 
 
 bor, or even seemingly to work good. 
 
 62. What are some of the things which they pretend to do? To 
 
 drive away sickness, discover concealed things, stop blood 
 and the like. 
 
 63. How do they accomplish these things? By a superstitious abuse 
 
 of God's name and Word or other means. 
 
 64. Most of these things are mere deception. But where such things 
 
 are really accomplished they are wrong, if done by means 
 which God has forbidden. WUiat does God say of all such 
 practices, Dent. 18, 10-12? "There shall not be found among 
 you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through 
 the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or 
 an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter of 
 familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that 
 do these things are an abomination unto the Lord." 
 
 65. How does God regard all such practices as fortune telling, pow- 
 
 wowing, calling the spirits of the dead and the like? He 
 hates them, they are an abomination to him. 
 
 66. The account written in 1 Sam. 28, 5-25, tells what king Saul did 
 
 after the Spirit of God had departed from him on account of 
 his disobedience. For whom did he send? He sent for a 
 woman having a familiar spirit, a witch. 
 
 67. Yes, people who believe in wizards and witches plainly show 
 
 that they do not stand right with God. What do they lack? 
 They lack confidence in God. 
 
 68. What else is forbidden in the second commandment besides curs- 
 
 ing, swearing and using witchcraft? Lying and deceiving by 
 his name is also forbidden. 
 
 69. (32) "What does it mean to lie and deceive by the name of God?" 
 
 "It means to palm off false doctrine as the Word of God, or 
 to have God's word on the lips only." 
 
S4 LESSON II. 
 
 70. What is a lie? A lie is an untruth. 
 
 71. But what special lying is forbidden in the second commandment? 
 
 Lying and deceiving by the name of God. 
 
 72. Repeat the passage Jer. 23, 31. 32. "Behold I am against the 
 
 prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say: 
 He saith, Behold I am against them that prophesy false 
 dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my peo- 
 ple to err by their lies, and by their lightness, yet I sent 
 them not, nor commanded them: therefore, they shall not 
 profit this people at all, saith the Lord." 
 
 73. What kind of prophets were these whom God had not sent and 
 
 who prophesied false dreams? They were false prophets. 
 
 74. What do false prophets teach or palm off as God's Word? They 
 
 palm off false doctrine as God's Word. 
 
 75. Whose name do they use to cover up this false doctrine? They 
 
 use God's name. 
 
 76. But there is another way of lying and deceiving in the name ot 
 
 God. What is it? To have God's word on the lips only. 
 
 77. Repeat the passage Matt. 1.5. 8. "This people draweth nigh unto 
 
 me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but 
 their heart is far from me." 
 
 78. Give also the passage Ps. 50, 16. 17. "But unto the wicked God 
 
 saith: What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that 
 thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? seeing that 
 thou hatest instruction, and castest my word behind thee." 
 
 79. And again Matt. 7, 21. "Not every one that saith unto me. Lord, 
 
 Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that 
 doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." 
 
 80. When men use an outward appearance of piety as a cloak with 
 
 which to cover up their wickedness, what do we call them? 
 We call them hypocrites. 
 
 81. Whose name do hypocrites abuse? They abuse the name of God. 
 
 LESSON 11. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE SECOND 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 33-37.) 
 
 1. (33) "What is enjoined upon us in this commandment?" "That 
 
 we use the name of God aright; or call upon it in every 
 trouble, pray, praise and give thanks." 
 
 2. Where has God revealed his name, that is himself, to us? He 
 
 has revealed himself to us in the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 3. He has done this for a purpose. In what relation does he stand to 
 
 us and we to him? He is our Father, and we are his chil- 
 dren. 
 
 4. As a Father God speaks to us in his word, and what should we 
 
 also do to him? We should also speak to him. 
 
 5. When do we do this? We do this when we pray. 
 
 6. When does a child call its father by name? When it has some- 
 
 thing to ask of him. 
 
 7 . So we should call upon the name of God. When, particularly, 
 
 should we call upon the name of God? We should call upon 
 him in every trouble. 
 
LESSON II. 3^5 
 
 8. (34) "What does it mean to call upon God in every trouble?" 
 
 "It means in every need to flee to God alone for refuge, and 
 in childlike trust seek help of Him." 
 
 9. To whom should we flee in every need? We should flee to God. 
 
 10. Repeat the passage, Ps. 50, 15. "Call upon me in the day of 
 
 trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." 
 
 11. What has God promised to do when you call upon him in trouble? 
 
 He says, "I will deliver thee." 
 
 12. Jacob was in danger when his brother Esau went out with 400 
 
 soldiers to take revenge on him as he returned to his home 
 in Canaan. What did Jacob do in his great trouble? Turn 
 to Gen. 32, 11, and answer. He prayed to God: "Deliver me, 
 I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of 
 Esau." 
 
 13. David was in danger of his life, for Saul sought to kill him. Tell 
 
 me from Ps. 35, 17, what he did in such trouble. He called 
 on God, saying: "Lord . . . rescue my soul from their 
 destructions." 
 
 14. What did the Syrophenician woman do when she was in great 
 
 trouble on account of her daughter? Matt. 15, 25. She fell 
 down at Jesus' feet and prayed: "Lord, help me." 
 
 15. The ten lepers were in great trouble, for they were afflicted 
 
 with an incurable disease What did they do when they saw- 
 Jesus? Luke 17, 13. 'They lifted up their voices and said, 
 Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 
 
 16. But we are to flee to God in every need. That is, not only when 
 
 we are in bodily trouble, but also when we are in spiritual 
 need. What was the matter with the poor publican who 
 stood in the temple and would not so much as lift up his 
 eyes unto heaven? He was in trouble on account of his sins. 
 
 17. What did he do in this trouble? He prayed, "God be merciful to 
 
 me a sinner." 
 
 18. David also is an example of how we should call upon God when 
 
 in trouble on account of our sins. Read the first verse of 
 the 51st Psalm. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according 
 to thy loving kindness: according to the multitude of thy 
 tender mercies blot out my transgressions." 
 
 19. Tell me from the answer to question 34, how we should seek 
 
 help from God. "In childlike trust." 
 
 20. This childlike trust is set forth in Ps. 145, 18-19. Repeat the 
 
 passage. "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon 
 him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the 
 desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, 
 and will save them." 
 
 21. The Catechism not only says that we should call upon the name 
 
 of God in every trouble; what else does it say we should do? 
 We should "pray, praise, and give thanks." 
 
 22. (35) "What does it mean to pray?" "It means to lift up our 
 
 heart in true devotion to God and ask for every good thing 
 in Jesus' name." 
 
 23. When we pray we not only lift u]) our voices lo Gud l)u( what do 
 
 we lift up? We lift up our hearts. 
 
 24. Yes, prayer is not the mere repetition of words, but it is a mat- 
 
 ter of the heart. How should we lift up our hearts to God? 
 We should lift up our hearts in true devotion, 
 
36 LESSON II. 
 
 25. What may we ask for, according to question 35? "For every 
 good thing." 
 
 2B. That is, for everything whicli we need. In whose name may we 
 ask for these things? We should ask in Jesus' name. 
 
 27. We poor sinners are not worthy of anything, and if we came be- 
 
 fore God depending on our own goodness we certainly would 
 get nothing. But we depend upon Jesus, who is God's own 
 dear. Son, and who reconciled us with God and told us to 
 pray to his and our Father. On his account alone we may 
 hope to be heard when we pray. What then does it mean 
 to pi'ay in the name of Jesus? It means to ask for his 
 sake, and because he told us. 
 
 28. Repeat the passage, 1 Tim. 2, 1. "I exhort, therefore, that, first 
 
 of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of 
 thanks be made for all men." 
 
 29. We should not only pray occasionally when we are in special 
 
 trouble; for what does the apostle say, Eph. 6, 18? "Pray- 
 ing always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, 
 and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplica- 
 tion for all saints." 
 
 30. And also, 1 Thess. 5, 17. "Pray without ceasing." 
 
 31. Yes, we should live every day in the spirit of prayer. What 
 
 else should we use God's name for, besides prayer? We 
 should also praise and give thanks. 
 
 32. (36) "What does it mean to praise and give thanks?" "It means 
 
 to laud and extol God for his glorious attributes and works, 
 and his manifold blessings." 
 
 33. How do we speak of a man when we praise him? We speak 
 
 well of him. 
 
 34. When Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet in the harbor 
 
 of Manila, what was everybody talking about? About what 
 great things Dewey had done. 
 
 35. When David slew Goliatli, what did tlie women of Israel say and 
 
 sing about him? Read 1 Sam. 18, 6-7. "Saul has slain his 
 thousands, but David his ten thousands." 
 
 36. So when -we praise God we say great things of him. What 
 
 great things can we ?ay of God as to his attributes? That 
 He is almighty, eternal, allwise, merciful and truthful. 
 
 37. And what great things can we say as to his works? That He 
 
 created the world. That He preserves it. That He sent us 
 the Savior. 
 
 38. Yes, children, these things are well worth speaking of, and when 
 
 we speak of them and make them known, what do we do? 
 We praise God. 
 
 39. Repeat the passage Ps. 103, 1-2. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
 
 and all that is within me, bless his Holy name. Bless the 
 Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. 
 
 40. What is here said about the name of the Lord? We should 
 
 bless it. 
 41 . To bless the Lord means to praise him. What does the Psalmist 
 
 say about this, Ps. 146, 2? "While I live will I praise the 
 
 Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any 
 
 being." 
 42. In what other way should we use God's name besides in prayer 
 
 and praise? We should also give thanks. 
 
LESSON 12. 37 
 
 43. When should we give thanks? When some one has done us a 
 
 favor. 
 
 44. For what shouhl we give God thanks, accoi'ding to the answer 
 
 to question 3G? "For His manifold blessings." 
 
 45. What are some of these hlessings? Tell me by repeating Luther's 
 
 explanation of the First Article. "I believe that God has 
 made me and all creatures; that he has given me my body 
 and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and 
 all my senses, and still preserves them; also clothing and 
 shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife and children, 
 fields, cattle, and all my goods; that he richly and daily pro- 
 vides me with all that I need to support this body and life; 
 that he defends me against all danger, and guards and pro- 
 tects me from all evil; and all this purely out of fatherly, 
 divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness 
 in me; for all which it is my duty to thank and praise, to 
 serve and obey him. This is most certainly true." 
 
 46. What has induced God to bestow such blessings upon you? All 
 
 this he does "out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy." 
 
 47. What do you owe him for this goodness? ''For all this it is my 
 
 duty to thank and praise, to serve and obey him." 
 
 48. To what does the 106th Psalm, verse 1, admonish us? "O give 
 
 thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy en- 
 dureth forever." 
 
 49. What does the Apostle Paul say, Eph. 5, 20? "Giving thanks 
 
 always for all things unto God and the Father in the name 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 50. You, remember the story of the ten lepers. When .Tesus had 
 
 healed them, what did one of them do? Luke 17, 16. He 
 fell down at Jesus' feet and gave thanks. 
 
 51. (37) "What is threatened in this commandment?" "The Lord will 
 
 not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name In vain." (Ex. 
 20, 7. Deut. 5, 11.) "I will be a swift witness against the 
 sorcerers, and against the adulterers and against false swear- 
 ers." (Mai. 3, 5. Ezek. 17, 11-20.) 
 
 52. When God says he will not hold a man guiltless, how does he 
 
 regard such a man? He regards him guilty. 
 
 53. Yes, God will not excuse a guilty man, but what will He do? He 
 
 will punish him. 
 
 54. Against whom will God be a swift witness, that is, to whom will 
 
 he mete out swift justice? Against sorcerers, and against 
 adulterers, and against false swearers. 
 
 LESSON 12. THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 (Questions 38-44.) 
 
 1. (38) "Which is the third commandment?" "Remember the Sab- 
 
 bath Day to keep it holy." 
 
 2. (39) "What does this mean?" "We should fear and love God 
 
 that we may not despise preaching and his word, but hold 
 it sacred and gladly hear and learn it." 
 
 3. (40) "What is the Holy Day or Sabbath?" "The day on which 
 
 we rest or cease from labor." Gen. 2, 2. 3. 
 
38 LESSON 12. 
 
 4. Turn to this passage and read it. "And on the seventh day God 
 
 ended his work which he had made; and rested on the sev- 
 enth day, from all his work which he had made. And God 
 blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it 
 he had rested from all his work which God created and 
 made." 
 
 5. In the acccRint of the giving of the law, Ex. 20, 9-11, this com- 
 
 mandment is given at great length. Let us read the pas- 
 sage. In how many days did God make heaven and earth? 
 He made heaven and earth in six days. 
 
 6. What did God do on the seventh day? He rested from all his 
 
 work. 
 
 7. What did God do with the seventh day? He blessed the seventh 
 
 day and sanctified it. 
 
 8. That means he set it apart as a holy day. As he himself had 
 
 rested after his work, what does he also ask us to do? He 
 asks us to rest after work. 
 
 9. God made man for work, but he is not to work all the time. 
 
 What are we in need of after work? We are in need of rest. 
 
 10. This is indicated by the name which God gave the seventh day. 
 
 What did he call it? He called it the Sabbath. 
 
 11. The word "Sabbath" means rest. But rest was not the only 
 
 oljject that God had in view when he set apart and sanc- 
 tified the seventh day. Read the passage Lev. 23, 3. "Six 
 days shall work be done; but the seventh day is the sabbath 
 of rest., a holy convocation." 
 
 12. Here the saljbath is called not only a day of rest, but what else 
 
 is it called? It is called a Holy Convocation. 
 
 13. That means a day on which the people were to come together. 
 
 For what purpose were they to assemble? • They were to 
 come together for worship. 
 
 14. So the Sabbath was not only to be a day of rest, but what else? 
 
 It was also to be a day of worship. 
 
 15. To whom did God first give his law? He gave it to the Jews. 
 
 16. We have already seen that some things in God's law concerned 
 
 the Jews only. They were God's peculiar, chosen people. 
 Ho gave them regulations concerning sacrifices, distinction 
 of meats and special holy days, which do not concern all 
 men. So the setting apart of a peculiar day of rest and 
 worship concerned the Jews only. Of whom does God re- 
 quire rest and worship? He requires rest and worship of 
 all men. 
 
 17. Of whom did he require that this rest and worship be done on 
 
 the seventh day? This he required of the Jews only. 
 
 18. The Old Testament was in force up to whose coming? Up to 
 
 the coming of Christ. 
 
 19. When Christ came, what was done with all the special laws 
 
 which concerned the Jews only? They were done away 
 with. 
 
 20. (41) "Why do we Christians no longer keep the seventh day of 
 
 the week, as did the children of God in the Old Testament?" 
 "Because God's children in the New Testament are no longer 
 bound to a fixed day and to its legal observance." 
 
 21. Who were the children of God in the Old Testament? The Jews 
 
 were God's children in the Old Testament. 
 
LESSON 12. Bd 
 
 22. What day of the week had God set apart and fixed as their day 
 
 of rest and worship? He had set apart the seventh day. 
 
 23. When Jesiis' disciples, on the Sabbath day, walked through a 
 
 grain field and plucked the ears and ate, the Jews thought 
 they committed a great sin, as we see from Matt. 12, 1-13. 
 But what did the Savior say with reference to the Sabbath? 
 "The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." 
 
 24. Yes, this appointment of a fixed day was not one of the unalter- 
 
 able things in God's law. It had served its purpose when 
 the Lord of the Sabbath had appeared. How long was it to 
 be in force? It was to be in force until Christ came. 
 
 25. What does St. Paul say, Col. 2, 16-17? "Let no man, therefore, 
 
 judge you in meat or drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of 
 the new moon, or of the Sabbath days; which are a shadow 
 of things to come; but the body is of Christ." 
 
 26. The apostle here puts the law of the Sabbath days in the sam.e 
 
 class with what other laws? With the laws concerning 
 meats, drinks and holidays. 
 
 27. God had given the Jews special laws with reference to meats. 
 
 What kind of meat, for instance, were they not allowed to 
 eat? They were not allowed to eat pork. 
 
 28. He had also given them special laws with reference to holidays. 
 
 What feast were they to keep in memory of their deliver- 
 ance from the bondage of Egypt? The feast of the Pass- 
 over. 
 
 29. The apostle in Col. 2, 16-17, says. Let no man judge you in re- 
 
 spect to these things. He means, let no man condemn you 
 ■for not keeping these special laws. For of whom were all 
 these things to be a shadow? They were to be a shadow of. 
 Christ. 
 
 30. The shadow of a thing is cast before, and is a sign or picture of 
 
 the thing. But when have we no need of the shadow or pic- 
 ture of a thing? When we have the thing itself, 
 
 31. The Old Testament was a time of fixed forms and special ap- 
 
 pointments. God dealt with the Jews as with children 
 whom we keep under strict regulations, but as children 
 become older they are allowed more liberty. So St. Paul 
 speaks of the liberty of God's children in the New Testa- 
 ment. Gal. 5, 1. Repeat the passage. "Stand fast, there- 
 fore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and 
 be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage." 
 
 32. What does he say Christ did for us? He made us free. 
 
 33. Yes, and he means that Christ made us free from the special 
 
 laws and regulations which rested as a yoke on the Jews, 
 and among these is also the appointment of a fixed day and 
 its legal observance. What was the object of the appoint- 
 ment of the Sabbath? Its object was rest and worship. 
 
 34. This God asks of all men, but what can you say with reference 
 
 to the time for such rest and worship? This is left to our 
 own judgment. 
 
 35. So we conclude from what the apostle says. Rom. 14, 5-6. Read. 
 
 "One man esteemeth one day above another; another es- 
 teemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded 
 in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it 
 unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the 
 Lord he doth not regard it." 
 
40 LESSON 12. 
 
 36. To a Christian one day is in itself not holier than another. In 
 
 the first church at Jerusalem the believers met every day 
 for worship, as we see from Acts 2, 46. Read the passage. 
 "And they continued daily with one accord In the temple." 
 
 37. (42) "Why then do we Christians keep a certain day?" "Be- 
 
 cause It is in keeping with good order to have an appointed 
 day for the public worship required by God." 
 
 38. What then is also required of us Christians? The public wor- 
 
 ship of God is required of us. 
 
 39. God not only asks everyone of us to worship him in private, but 
 
 what else does he require? That we all come together and 
 worship him in public. 
 
 40. When men are to meet for any purpose, what is necessary as to 
 
 time? It is necessary that they agree upon and appoint a 
 time for meeting. 
 
 41. So what is necessary for public worship? It is necessary that 
 
 we have a set time. 
 
 42. What does the Apostle say, 1 Cor. 14, 40? "Let all things be 
 
 done decently and in order." 
 
 43 Christians are to do everything orderly, and this applies to their 
 public worship also. What kind of a matter is the appoint- 
 ment of a special day for public worship? It Is a matter of 
 order. 
 
 44. Which day has been set apart as our day of rest and public wor- 
 
 ship? Sunday has been set apart as a day of rest and public 
 worship. 
 
 45. Which day of the week is Sunday? Sunday is the first day of 
 
 the week. 
 
 46. (43) "Why do we take Sunday?" "Because it is the day of the 
 
 resurrection of Christ, and the church has kept it since the 
 time of the Apostles." 
 
 47. Christians were at liberty to meet for worship any day of the 
 
 week. Why did the first day of the week seem to them the 
 most appropriate? Because it was the day on which the 
 Lord Jesus arose from the dead. 
 
 48. Yes, and this resurrection of the Savior is of such great impor- 
 
 tance that we do well to think of it often and celebrate it 
 every week. When do we do this? We do this on Sunday. 
 
 49. Read the passage, Mark 16, 2. "And very early in the morning, 
 
 the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at 
 the rising of the sun." 
 
 50. And now, let us see from Acts 20, 7, how the early Christians 
 
 observed this day. "And upon the first day of the week, 
 when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul 
 preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow." 
 
 51. On which day of the week did they meet for preaching and 
 
 prayer? On the first day of the week. 
 
 52. The same is evident from 1 Cor. 16, 2. "Upon the first day of 
 
 the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God 
 has prospered him." 
 
 53. Since when has the first day of the week been observed as a day 
 
 of rest and public worship? Since the days of the apostles. 
 
 54. "WTio agreed upon this day in the exercise of Christian liberty? 
 
 The church agreed upon it. 
 
LESSON 13. 41 
 
 55. What did the Jews call their day of warship? They called it 
 
 the Sabbath. 
 
 56. Nowhere in the New Testament is the Christian's day of worship 
 
 called Sabbath. But in Rev. 1, 10, we find the day called by 
 a much more appropriate name. Read the passage. "I was 
 in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and heard behind me a great 
 voice as of a trumpet." 
 
 57. Why may the first day of the week be called the Lord's Day? 
 
 Because it is the day of his resurrection. 
 
 58. What other holidays have we in the Christian church besides the 
 
 Lord's Day or Sunday? Christmas, Easter, Pentecost. 
 
 59. (44) "Why do we in addition, keep other days, such as Christ- 
 
 mas, Easter, Pentecost?" "That we may have a fixed time 
 in common to consider the great deeds of God, and render 
 him due praise for the same." 
 
 60. What great event do we celebrate on Christmas day? We cele- 
 
 brate the birth of Christ. 
 
 61. Yes, for what do we praise God on this day? That he sent his 
 
 only begotten Son into the world to be our Savior. 
 
 62. What are the four Sundays previous to Christmas called? They 
 
 are called Advent Sundays. 
 
 63. Advent means "Coming." For whose coming does the advent 
 
 season prepare us? It prepares us for the coming of Christ. 
 
 64. What great event do we celebrate on Easter? We celebrate the 
 
 resurrection of Christ. 
 
 65. What holidaj'^ do we keep three days before Easter? We keep 
 
 Good Friday. 
 
 66. What took place on this day? Christ was crucified. 
 
 67. What are the six weeks before Easter called? They are called 
 
 Lent. 
 
 68. What should we think of during this season? We should think 
 
 of the sufferings and death of the Savior. 
 
 69. What great event do we celebrate on Pentecost? We celebrate 
 
 the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles and first 
 Christians. 
 
 70. The Sunday after Pentecost is called Trinity Sunday, and how 
 
 are all the remaining Sundays of the Church year nirmbered 
 and named? As so many Sundays after Trinity. 
 
 71. Repeat the passage Ps. 26, 6-8. "I will wash mine hands in inno- 
 
 cency, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord, that I may pub- 
 lish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of thy wondrous 
 works." 
 
 72. What then is the object of special holidays in the church? To 
 
 remember God's wondrous works and give him thanks for 
 them. 
 
 LESSON 13. KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 (Questions 45-49.) 
 
 1. (45) "What is enjoined on us in this (Third) Comm.andment?" 
 "That we remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, or that 
 we hold preaching and his Word sacred and gladly hear and 
 learn it." 
 
42 LESSON 13. 
 
 2. What do we Christians call the first day of the week? We call 
 
 it Sunday or the Lord's day. 
 
 3. How should we keep this day? We should keep it holy. 
 
 4. Read what is written 1 Tim. 4, 4. 5. "For every creature of God 
 
 is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with 
 thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the Word of God and 
 prayer." 
 
 5. To sanctify a thing means to set it apart and regard it holy. 
 
 How are things sanctified or made holy? By the Word of 
 God and prayer. 
 
 6. What is it. then, that makes the Lord's day holy? The Word of 
 
 God and prayer. 
 
 7. The Lord's day has been set apart for what purpose? For the 
 
 preaching of the Word of God and for prayer or worship. 
 
 8. Yes, this is the real object of the Lord's day. How should we 
 
 regard preaching and his Word? We should hold it sacred. 
 
 9. What does this mean? We should regard it as something holy. 
 
 10. What is preached to us on the Lord's day? The Word of God is 
 
 preached to us. 
 
 11. When God's Word is preached to us how should we conduct our- 
 
 selves toward it? We should gladly hear and learn it. 
 
 12. What is the first thing here mentioned? We should hear the 
 
 Word of God. 
 
 13. And how should we hear it? We should hear it gladly. 
 
 14. Yes. we should be glad that we have the opportunity to hear it, 
 
 of which many are deprived. It is a blessed privilege. Read 
 what is written Eccles. 5, 1. "Keep thy foot when thou goest 
 to the house of God and be more ready to hear than to give 
 the sacrifice of fools." 
 
 15. When we hear the preaching of the Gospel who is it that is 
 
 speaking to us? God himself is speaking to us. 
 
 16. Read what the Savior says, Luke 10, 16. "He that heareth you 
 
 heareth me." 
 
 17. We should jiot only hear the Word of God; what else does the 
 
 Catechism say we should do? We should learn It. 
 
 18. Read what is written .Tames 1, 25. "But whoso looketh into the 
 
 perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not 
 a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be 
 blessed in his deed." 
 
 19. What kind of hearing does the Apostle here warn against? 
 
 Against forgetful hearing. 
 
 20. (46) Question 46 of the Catechism tells us more at length how 
 
 we should keep the Lord's day. The question reads: "When 
 is this done?" "When we hold God's Word as our highest 
 treasure, and therefore not only make diligent use of it 
 ourselves at home, but also with heartfelt pleasure and devo- 
 tion hear it in public worship and more and more learn to 
 understand and do it." 
 
 21. How should we regard the Word of God? We should regard it 
 
 as our highest treasure. 
 
 22. Yes, there is nothing more precious than God's Word. It is sa- 
 
 cred and we should regard it with awe. This we see from 
 Isa. 66, 2. Repeat the passage. "But to this man will I 
 look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and 
 that trembleth at my word." 
 
Liis^ON 13. 4ii 
 
 2;>. Fvepeat the passage 1 Thess. 2, I:;. "When ye received the Word 
 of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word 
 of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God." 
 
 24. How did these people regard and receive the Apostle's preach- 
 
 ing'' They received it as the Word of God. 
 
 25. Tell me from the answer to question 46 what should we do with 
 
 God's Word at home? We should make diligent use of it. 
 
 26. How can we make diligent use of it at home? By reading and 
 
 learning it. 
 
 27. Yes, read a chapter every day, learn your Sunday-school lesson, 
 
 think over it, talk about it, ask God to help you understand 
 it. But in what other way does question 46 tell us to use 
 God's Word'' With heartfelt pleasure and devotion to hear 
 it in public worship. 
 
 28. Why should we delight to go to church? That we may hear the 
 
 preaching of God's Word. 
 
 29. How should we hear it? We should hear it with heartfelt pleas- 
 
 ure and devotion. 
 
 30. When God speaks to us, what should we do? We should hear 
 
 and give attention. 
 
 31. What did Samuel say when he heard the voice of God in the 
 
 temple? 1 Sam. 3, 10. He said, "Speak; for thy servant 
 heareth." 
 
 32. When your father or your teacher speaks to you, what should 
 
 you do? I should listen to what they are saying. 
 
 33. How much more when God speaks to you. But not only should 
 
 you try to understand God's Word : what else does question 
 46 say? We should do the Word of God. 
 
 34. Yes, that means take it to heart and live and act according to it. 
 
 What does the Savior himself say about this, Luke 11, 28? 
 "Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it." 
 
 35. When the Savior v^as twelve years old, where did he go with his 
 
 parents? He went to Jerusalem at the feast of the Pass- 
 over. 
 
 36. When they missed him on the way home and went back seelving 
 
 him, where did they find him? They found him in the 
 temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors. 
 
 37. What was he doing there? He was hearing them and asking 
 
 questions. 
 
 38. What else does the minister do in church besides preach? He 
 
 baptizes and gives the Holy Communion. 
 
 39. And how sliould we regard these acts? We should regard them 
 
 as holy. 
 
 40. And how should we follow and take part in these ordinances? 
 
 With reverence and devotion. 
 
 41. In what else does public worship consist besides preaching and 
 
 administering the sacraments? It also consists in song and 
 prayer. 
 
 42. What does the proper keeping of the Lord's day require of us 
 
 with reference to these parts of the service? It requires 
 that we join with the congregation in singing and prayer. 
 
 4n . What is taken up during the singing after the sermon? The col- 
 lection or offering is taken up. 
 
 44. What is this offering for? It is for the support of the church. 
 
44 LESSON 13 
 
 45. Tell me from 1 Cor. 16, 1. 2. concerning what did the apostle 
 
 write to the Christians at Corinth? He wrote concerning 
 the collection for the saints. 
 
 46. When was this collection to be taken up? It was to be taken up 
 
 on the first day of the week, 
 
 47. Yes, on the Lord's day when they came together for public wor- 
 
 ship. How was every one to give in this collection? He 
 was to give as God had prospered him. 
 
 48. If we love the services of God's house we should be glad to give 
 
 what is necessary to keep them up. What does the apostle 
 write in Gal. 6, 6? "Let him that is taught in the Word 
 communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." 
 
 49. (47) "\\^at is foi'bidden in this commandment." "We should 
 
 not despise preaching and God's word." 
 
 50. (48) "When is this done?" "When we look upon it is a matter of 
 
 indifference, and therefore without necessity neglect to hear 
 and consider it." 
 
 51. Suppose your father sent you word that he wanted to speak to 
 
 you and you paid no attention and did not come to hear 
 what he had to say, how would he regard such conduct? 
 He would regard it as an insult. 
 
 52. What would it show on your part? It would show that I had no 
 
 respect for my father, that I despised him. 
 
 53. And how do the wicked show that they have no reverence for 
 
 God and despise him? By refusing to hear his Word. 
 
 51. What is it that keeps people away from public worship? Their 
 work, amusement or mere carelessness. 
 
 55. What does the Savior say to the .Tews, .John 8. 47? "He that is 
 
 of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, 
 because ye are not of God." 
 
 56. When people use the Ix)rd's day as a day of common labor, of 
 
 idleness, drunkenness, gluttony or sinful lust what do they 
 show with reference to their relation to God? They show 
 that they despise God. 
 
 57. Repeat the passage Luke 10, 16. "He that heareth you heareth 
 
 me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that 
 despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." 
 
 58. Against what does the apostle warn in Heb. 10, 25? He warns 
 
 against "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as 
 the manner of some is.'' 
 
 59. For what purpose should Christians assemble on the Lord's 
 
 day? They should assemble for public worship. 
 
 60. And they who neglect this not only sin against God; how do 
 
 they sin against themselves? They deprive themselves of a 
 great blessing. 
 
 61. (49) "What is threatened in this commandment?" "Because 
 
 thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee." (Ho- 
 sea 4, 6.) 
 
 62. Whom do people reject when they reject the knowledge which 
 
 God's Word alone gives? They reject God. 
 
 63. And what punishment will be visited upon such people? God 
 
 will reject them. 
 
LESSON 14. 45 
 
 LESSON 14. THE SECOND TABLE OF THE LAW. 
 (Questions 50-54.) 
 
 1. (50) "Of what does the second table of the divine law treat?" 
 
 "Of love to our neighbor." 
 
 2. How do we divide the holy ten commandments? Into two parts 
 
 called tables. 
 
 3. How many commandments are on the first table? The first 
 
 three. 
 
 4. Of what do they treat? They treat of love to God. 
 
 5. What is it that God asks of us with reference to himself? He 
 
 asks that we love him. 
 
 6. Tell me this with a Scripture passage. "Thou shalt love the 
 
 Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and 
 with all thy mind." 
 
 7. Whom else should we love besides God? We should also love 
 
 our neighbor. 
 
 8. What then is the one thing that God asks of us in the law? He 
 
 asks love. 
 
 9. (51) Yes, love to God and love to our neighbor. The second 
 
 table of the law asks us to love our neighbor "What is the 
 sum of this table?" "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy- 
 self (Matt. 22, 39)." "All things whatsoever ye would that 
 men should do to you, do ye even so to them." 
 
 10. (52) "Who is our neighbor?" "Every one who stands in need 
 
 of our counsel and assistance, be he friend or foe or who he 
 may." 
 
 11. It is important that we understand first of all who our neighboi 
 
 is. Who is generally meant by the term "neighbor"? The 
 person who lives next door. 
 
 12. Yes, but there are persons who are closer to us than those who 
 
 live next door. Who are they? Those who live in the same 
 family with us, our parents, brothers and sisters, children 
 and all of our own household. 
 
 13. Turn to 1 Tim. 5, 8. and read what is there written. "And if 
 
 any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his 
 house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an 
 infidel." 
 
 14. What persons are here s])oken of as those for whom we should 
 
 care? We should care for those of our own house. 
 
 15. Yes, these are so to speak our nearest neighbors, and have the 
 
 first claim on our love. Now read what is written Gal. <^. 
 10. "As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto 
 all m.en, but especially unto them who are of the household 
 of faith." 
 
 16. What household is here spoken of? The household of faith. 
 
 17. Yes, this is the spiritual family of the church. How should we 
 
 regard all Christians? We should regard them as our 
 brethren. 
 
 18. If they are our brethren on what have they a special claim? 
 
 They have a claim on our love. 
 
 19. To whom are we specially asked to do good? To those of the 
 
 household of faith. 
 
 20. But the apostle in the passage just read asks us to do good to 
 
 whom? To do good to all men. 
 
46 LESSON 14. 
 
 21. Then how should we regard all men? We should regard ail men 
 
 as our neighbors. 
 
 22. On one occasion a certain lawyer put the question to the Savior: 
 
 "Who is my neighbor?" You will find the Savior's answer 
 recorded in Luke 10, 2.5-.37. Turn to the passage and let us 
 read it. What story did Jesus relate in answer to the law- 
 yer's question? He related the story of the good Samaritan. 
 
 23. In this story Jesus wants to impress on us the fact that all men 
 
 are our neighbors. Who was the poor man who went down 
 from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves? He was 
 a Jew. 
 
 24. And who was the man who had mercy upon him? He was a 
 
 Samaritan. 
 
 25. How did these men differ from each other? They differed as to 
 their nationality. 
 
 26. And how else did they differ? They were of different religions. 
 
 27. Is it probable that they knew each other? No, very likely they 
 
 were strangers. 
 
 28. What was the feeling between the Jews and the Samaritans at 
 
 that time? They were enemies. 
 
 29. After relating the story to the lawyer what question did the Sa- 
 
 vior put to him? You will find it in verse 36. "Which now 
 of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that 
 fell among the thieves?" 
 
 30. And what answer did the man give? "He that shewed mercy 
 
 on him. 
 
 31 . What other persons are mentioned in the story besides the 
 
 Samaritan? The priest and the Levite. 
 
 32. Of what nationality were they? They were Jews. 
 
 33. What was their religion? They were of the Jewish religion. 
 
 34. And yet how did they act toward their poor neighbor? They 
 
 acted very unneighborly. 
 
 3.5. And how did the Samaritan, who was a stranger to him and dif- 
 fered 4"rom him in nationality and religion, act? He acted 
 the neighbor. 
 
 36. Our neighbors then are not only our relatives, but who else? 
 
 Not only relatives but strangers, are our neighbors. 
 
 37. Not only our friends, but who else? Our enemies are also our 
 
 neighbors. 
 
 38. Read what is written in Mai. 2, 10. "Have we not all one father? 
 
 Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacher- 
 ously every one against his brother, by profaning the cov- 
 enant of our fathers?" 
 
 39. And what does the Lord Jesus say Matt. 5. 44. 45? "Love your 
 
 enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that 
 hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and 
 persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father 
 which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil 
 and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the 
 unjust." 
 
 40. Now having seen who our neighbor is, let us also see what we 
 
 owe him. What should we do to our neighbor? We should 
 love him. 
 
LESSON 14. 47 
 
 41. (53) "How should we love our neighbor?" "Not above all 
 
 things, but as ourselves, so that we as heartily and con- 
 stantly wish and show him ail manner of good as we do our- 
 selves." 
 
 42. Whom should we love above all things? We should love God 
 
 above all things. 
 
 43. What is Luther's explanation of the First Commandment? "We 
 
 should fear, love and trust in God above all things." 
 
 44. And how should we love our neighbor? We should love him as 
 
 we love ourselves. 
 
 45. How does every man feel toward himself? He loves himself. 
 
 46. Why does God not expressly tell us to love ourselves? Because 
 
 we do that without being told. 
 
 47. Yes, it is natural for us to love ourselves. When this love for 
 
 self gets to be so strong that we forget others what do we 
 call it? We call it selfishness. 
 
 48. This natural self-love in us is to be the measure of what other 
 
 love? Of the love we owe our neighbor. 
 
 49. The Lord Jesus in the passage which you repeated a bit ago 
 
 tells us what our love to our neighbor should prompt us to 
 do. What does he say we should do even to our enemies? 
 We should love our enemies. 
 
 50. What should we do to those who hate us? We should do good 
 
 to them that hate us. 
 
 51. What should we do to those who despitefully use and persecute 
 
 us? We should pray for them. 
 
 52. How did the Savior himself do what he here asks of us? He 
 
 prayed for his murderers on the cross. He healed one of 
 the men who had come to take him prisoner. 
 
 53. How did the good Samaritan feel toward his poor unfortunate 
 
 neighbor? He had compassion on him. 
 
 54. What did this compassion lead him to do? He went to him and 
 
 bound up his wounds. 
 
 55. What else did he do? He took him to an inn and took care of 
 
 him. 
 
 56. And what provision did he make for him when he departed? He 
 
 gave the host two pence to care for him. 
 
 57. And what did he promise to do on his return? "Whatsoever 
 
 thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee." 
 
 58. This is a true example of how we should love our neighbor. Un- 
 
 der question 51 there are two Scripture passages quoted. 
 Repeat the second. "All things whatsoever ye would that 
 men should do to you, do ye even so to them." 
 
 59. Here the Savior lays down a rule telling us to do to others as 
 
 we would have them do to us. What is this rule called? 
 It is called the golden rule. 
 
 60. Yes, and it well deserves this name. What feeling should mark 
 
 all our conduct toward our neighbor. The feeling of love. 
 
 61. Now read what is written Rom. 13, 8-9. "Owe no man anything. 
 
 but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath 
 fulfilled the law. For this, thou shalt not commit adultery, 
 thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear 
 false witness, thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other 
 commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, 
 namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." 
 
48 LESSON 15. 
 
 62. So in what words is all that the second table of the law requires 
 
 of us briefly expressed? In the words: "Thou shalt love 
 thy neighbor as thyself." 
 
 63. (54) "How many commandments does the second table con- 
 
 tain?" "The last seven." 
 
 LESSON 15. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE FOURTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 55-59.) 
 
 1. (55) "Which is the Fourth Commandment?" "Thou shalt honor 
 
 thy father and thy mother." 
 
 2. (56) "Wliat does this mean?" "We should fear and love God, 
 
 that we may not despise our parents and masters, nor pro- 
 voke them to anger: but give them honor, serve and obey 
 them, and hold them in love and esteem." 
 
 3. Of whom does this fourth commandment treat? It treats of 
 
 father and mother. 
 
 4. Wiio are spoken of in Luther's explanation of the commandment? 
 
 Parents and masters. 
 
 5.(57) "Whom do you understand by parents and masters?" "All 
 those whom God has placed over others, particularly natural 
 parents and those who act in their stead, as also civil govern- 
 ment." 
 
 6. On which table of the law is this Commandment? It is on the 
 
 second table. 
 
 7. Of what does the second table treat? It treats of love to our 
 
 neighbor. 
 
 8. Who are our nearest neighbors? Those in our own family. 
 
 9. Mention them. Parents, children, brothers and sisters. 
 
 10. Not all stand on the same level, but according to question 57 
 
 Avhat difference is there among men? God has placed some 
 over others. 
 
 11. Whose arrangement is this in the world that some persons are 
 
 placed over others? It is God's arrangement. 
 
 12. Whom has He placed over you in the family? Our parents, 
 
 father and mother. 
 
 13. What other parents may there be in the family besides natural 
 
 parents? Step-parents, foster-parents, grand-parents and 
 parents-in-law. 
 
 14. Read Gen. 28, 13. "And behold the Lord stood above it, and 
 
 said: I am the Lord God of Abraham, thy father, and the 
 God of Isaac." 
 
 15. This is from the story of Jacob's ladder. God was talking to 
 
 .Jacob and what did he call himself? He called himself the 
 God of Abraham thy father. 
 
 16. Who was the natural father of Jacob? Isaac was his father. 
 
 17. How was Abraham related to Jacob? He was his grandfather. 
 
 18. And yet God called him his father. What do we see from this 
 
 with reference to grand-parents? That we should regard 
 them also as parents. 
 
LESSON 15. .49 
 
 19. Yes, and so with reference to the other kinds of parents. Whose 
 
 place do step and foster-parents take? They take the place 
 of natural parents. 
 
 20. Read 2 Kings 2, 12. "And Elisha saw it and he cried: My 
 
 father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen 
 thereof!" 
 
 21. Elisha was looking up as the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven, 
 
 and what did he call him? He called him father. 
 
 22. He was not his natural father, but in what relation did Elijah 
 
 stand to Elisha? He was his teacher. 
 
 23. And yet what did Elisha call him? He called him father. 
 
 24. So whom does the term father also include? It also includes 
 
 teachers. 
 
 25. In whose stead do teachers stand in school? In the stead of 
 
 parents. 
 
 26. But whom does Luther in the explanation of the fourth com- 
 
 mandment mention besides parents? He also mentions mas- 
 ters. 
 
 27. Who are our masters at work? Foremen, overseers and proprie- 
 
 tors. 
 
 28. Read Mai. 1, 6. "A son honoreth his father and a servant his 
 
 master." 
 
 2;). What two persons are here put on the same level? A father 
 and a master, a son and a servant. 
 
 30. Now read 2 Kings 5, 13. "And his servant came near, and spake 
 unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee 
 do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it?" 
 
 81. This is from the story of Naaman the Leper. What did his ser- 
 vant call him? He called him father. 
 
 32. We see from this that servants should honor their masters as 
 
 fathers and mothers. Now turn to 1 Sam. 24, 11 and tell 
 me from the story of Saul and David what David called Saul. 
 He called him father. 
 
 33. AVho was David's natural father? Jesse was the father of David. 
 
 34. Who was Saul? Saul was king. 
 
 35. And yet what did David call him? He called him father. 
 
 36. Now read 1 Cor. 4, 15. "For though ye have ten thousand in- 
 
 structors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in 
 Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel." 
 
 37. What honor did St. Paul hero claim with reference to the Corin- 
 
 thians? The honor of being their father. 
 
 38. Why does he claim this honor? Because he had first preached 
 
 the Gospel to them. 
 
 39. Yes, he was their spiritual father. Whom then should we also 
 
 honor as fathers? Our ministers and pastors. 
 
 40. Read what is written 1 Tim. 5, 1. "Rebuke not an elder, but 
 
 entreat him as a father." 
 
 41. How does St. Paul hero ask that elders or old ])eople be treated? 
 
 They should be treated as fathers. 
 43. Read also Lev. 19, 32. "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary 
 head, and honor the face of the old man." 
 
50 • LESSON l6. 
 
 43. (58) Old people should be honored as fathers and mothers. 
 
 Now "What is forbidden in this commandment?" "We 
 should not despise our parents and masters, nor provoke 
 them to anger." 
 
 44. (59) "What does this mean?" "We should not make light of 
 
 them in our hearts, nor offend them in word or act." 
 
 45. To despise a person means to think how of him? To think light 
 
 of him. 
 
 46. To despise a person is to think less of him than we ought. Who 
 
 has placed our parents and masters over us. God has placed 
 them over us. 
 
 47. When we despise our parents and masters, what do we forget or 
 
 fail to believe? That God has placed them over us. 
 
 48. And when we forget or deny this, how will we treat them? We 
 
 will treat them with disrespect. 
 
 49. If we thus make light of them in our hearts what will naturally 
 
 follow according to question 59? We will offend them in 
 word and act. 
 
 50. How did Absalom offend his father? He stirred up a rebellion 
 
 and tried to drive him from the throne. 
 
 51. How did the wicked sons of Eli offend their father? They of- 
 
 fended him by their wickedness. 
 
 52. How did the sons of Jacob offend their father? They offended 
 
 him by their wickedness and especially by selling their 
 brother Joseph into slavery. 
 
 53. How did the children at Bethel offend the prophet Elisha? 
 
 .They mocked him. 
 
 54. Repeat the passage Prov. 30, 17. "The eye that mocketh at his 
 
 father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the 
 valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." 
 
 55. What kind of children are here spoken of? Wicked, disobedient 
 
 children. 
 
 56. Yes, disobedient children are wicked children. I^uther once said 
 
 he would, rather have a dead son than a disobedient one. 
 Repeat the passage Exod. 21, 17. "He that curseth his 
 father or his mother shall surely be put to death." 
 
 57. How were children in the Old Testament, who cursed their 
 
 parents, to be punished? They were to be put to death. 
 
 LESSON 16. WHAT IS COMMANDED IN THE FOURTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions GO-65.) 
 
 1. (60) "What is on the other hand commanded in the Fourth Com- 
 
 mandment?'" "That we honor our father and mother, or give 
 honor to our parents and masters, serve and obey them, and 
 hold them in love and esteem." 
 
 2. (61) "What is meant by this?" "To hold them in high regard 
 
 as persons acting in God's stead, to please them, cheerfully 
 be subject to them, and to requite them with all manner of 
 good." 
 
LKSSOX 1 6. 5l 
 
 ^. Repeat the Fourth Commanclnient. "Thou shalt honor thy father 
 and thy mother, that it may be well with thee and thou may- 
 est live long on the earth." 
 
 4. What is it that God here asks of us with reference to father and 
 
 mother? That we honor them. 
 
 5. What does question 61 say? How should we hold them? We 
 
 should hold them in high regard, as persons acting in God's 
 stead. 
 
 6. Who has placed them over us? God has placed them over us. 
 
 7. In whose stead do they act? They act in God's stead. 
 
 8. Who gave us life? God gave us life. 
 
 9. Through whom did he give us life? Through our parents. 
 
 10. Who provides us with food, shelter and raiment? God provides 
 
 all these things. 
 
 11. Through whom does he do this? Through our parents. 
 
 12. So our parents are whose agents or representatives? They are 
 
 God's agents. God blesses us through them. 
 
 13. And this is true of all whom God has placed over us. What 
 
 does the apostle say, Rom. 13, 1? "Let every soul be sub- 
 ject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of 
 God, the powers that be are ordained of God." 
 
 14. The apostle is here speaking of civil government. What does he 
 
 say of the powers that be? He says they are ordained of 
 God. 
 
 15. This is true of our own government also. We elect our officers, 
 
 and yet they are ordained of God. When a man is properly 
 elected or appointed to an office, who is it that has really 
 placed him there? It is God. 
 
 16. How does God place men in office in this country? Through the 
 
 voice of the people. 
 
 17. Yes, civil authorities are God's representatives in matters of pub- 
 
 lic order. What is the highest honor we can show those in 
 public office? That we regard them as persons acting in 
 God's stead. 
 
 18. What does the Savior say of ministers of the Gospel in Luke 10, 
 
 16? "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that de- 
 spiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me de- 
 spiseth him that sent me." 
 
 19. When a pastor speaks God's word, either publicly or privately, 
 
 how should we regard him? As Christ's representative, as a 
 person acting in God's stead. 
 
 20. Repeat the passage Mai. 1. 6. "A son honoreth his father and a 
 
 servant his master." 
 
 21. What do both son and servant owe those whom God has placed 
 
 over them? They owe them honor. 
 
 22. This honor may also be called fear, that is, childlike reverence, 
 
 as in Lev. 19, 3. What is the passage? "Ye shall fear every 
 man his father and his mother." 
 
 23. What else does the catechism, question 61, say that we should 
 
 do to our parents and masters besides holding them in high 
 regard? We should please them. 
 
 24. How can we do this? By doing what they like without being 
 
 told. 
 
 25. What else do we owe our superiors? We should cheerfully be 
 
 subject to them. 
 
52 LESSON 1 6. 
 
 26. Why should we obey them? Because God says so. 
 
 27. Tell me this with the Scripture passage Col. 3, 20. "Children, 
 
 obey your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing unto 
 the Lord." 
 
 28. How does the catechism say we should be subject to them? We 
 
 should be subject to them cheerfully. 
 
 29. And what el^e could you say as to how we should obey? We 
 
 should obey promptly. 
 
 30. The Savior himself gave us an example of such willing obedi- 
 
 ence. Turn to Luke 2, 51, and read what is there written 
 about the child Jesus and his parents. "And he went down 
 with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto 
 them." 
 
 31. How did Ruth honor her mother-in-law Naomi? Ruth 1, 16. She 
 
 would not leave her after the death of her husband but said: 
 "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following 
 after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou 
 lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy 
 God my God." 
 
 32. What wicked command did king Nebuchadnezzar give out? Dan. 
 
 3, 4-5. That all men should worship the golden image that 
 he had set up. 
 
 33. Who refused to obey this command? The three pious Jews, 
 
 Shadrsch, Meshach and Abed-nego. 
 
 34. Why was it right to refuse obedience to such a command 
 
 although the king had given it? Because the command was 
 against God's law. 
 
 35. When those in authority command one thing and God commands 
 
 another, whose command should we obey? Give me the an- 
 swer by repeating the passage Acts 5, 29. "We ought to 
 obey God rather than men." 
 
 36. What else does the Catechism say that we owe our parents ac- 
 
 cording to the latter part of question 61? We should requite 
 them with all manner of good. 
 
 37. Now repeat the passage Prov. 23, 22. "Hearken unto thy father 
 
 that begat-thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old." 
 
 38. When particularly should you not despise your mother? When 
 
 she is old. 
 
 39. Some godless children are ashamed of their old parents. You 
 
 remember the story of Joseph. How did he honor his aged 
 father? He sent for him to come down from Canaan during 
 the famine and live with him in Egypt. 
 
 40. When it was told him that his father had come, what did he do? 
 
 He made ready his chariots and went out to meet him; he 
 fell on his neck and kissed him. 
 
 41. And what other great honor did he show him? He introduced 
 
 him to King Pharaoh. 
 
 42. And what provision did he make for his father and the whole 
 
 family? He gave them the land of Goshen as their dwelling 
 place and provided them with everything they needed. 
 
 43. Repeat what the apostle says 1 Tim. 5, 4. "To requite their 
 
 parents: for that is good and acceptable before God." 
 
 44. What does it mean to requite parents? To pay them back. 
 
 45. For what are we indebted to them? For food, clothing, shelter, 
 
 education and nursing in days of sickness. 
 
LESSON 1 6. 53 
 
 46. When have we opportunity to pay this liack? When our parents, 
 
 in their old age, become feeble and helpless. 
 
 47. What reason does the apostle assign why we should do this? 
 
 •'For this is good and acceptable before God." 
 
 48. Yes, how can we, as children, best show that we fear and love 
 
 God? When we honor, serve, obey and requite our parents. 
 
 49. (62) "What is the special promise attached to this command- 
 
 ment?" "That it may be well with thee and thou mayest 
 live long on the earth." 
 
 50. Read the passage, Eph. fi, 2-:]. "Honor thy father and mother, 
 
 which is the first commandment with promise. That it may 
 be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." 
 
 51. Where has God placed this Fourth Commandment in the second 
 
 table? He has placed it at the head of the second table, 
 
 52. And by this he has made it prominent. But in what other way 
 
 has he distinguished this commandment from all others? By 
 adding to it a special promise. 
 
 53. What is this special promise? "That it may be well with thee 
 
 and thou mayest live long on the earth." 
 
 54. What has he promised to those who keep this commandment? 
 
 Weil-being and long life. 
 
 55. (63) "Why did God add this promise to this commandment?" 
 
 "To show how high parents stand in his eyes, and how im- 
 portant is obedience to the Fourth Commandment." 
 
 56. Yes, all real welfare in this world depends on obedience to the 
 
 Fourth Commandment in the family, school, church, and 
 state. We can not overestimate its importance. .Joseph is 
 a beautiful example of how God blesses obedient, pious chil- 
 dren. What kind of a boy was .Joseph at home? He was an 
 obedient, God-fearing boy. 
 
 57. And although for a time it seemed as though God had forsaken 
 
 him, what position did he at lasfoccupy? He was a ruler 
 of all Egypt, the next man to the king. 
 
 58. (64) "What is threatened in this commandment?" "Cursed be 
 
 be that setteth light by his father or his mother." (Deut. 
 27, 16.) 
 
 59. How was this curse visited on Absalom? He perished miserably 
 
 by the hand of Joab in the rebellion which he had stirred up 
 against his father. 
 
 60. (65) "What does God require of parents and all superiors?" 
 
 "That they have and manifest a parental heart toward their 
 children and subordinates." 
 
 61. Parents and all in authority hold a responsible position. What 
 
 are parents to provide for their children? Clothing, food and 
 shelter. 
 
 62. But in Eph. 6, 4, the apostle mentions more than this. Repeat 
 
 the passage. "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to 
 wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of 
 the Lord." 
 
 63. How should they bring up their children? In the nurture and 
 
 admonition of the Lord. 
 
 64. What does the apostle say, 1 Tim. 5, 8? "But if any provide not 
 
 for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he 
 hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 
 
64 
 
 LESSON 17. 
 
 65. Children should honor their parents, but how should parents 
 
 prove themselves with reference to this honor? They should 
 prove themselves worthy of this honor. 
 
 66. The same is true of the goveniment. What are those in public 
 
 office to look after? They are to look after the public 
 welfare. 
 
 67. And what are teachers to look after? They are to look after the 
 
 education and training of their scholars. 
 
 68. What are pastors to do? They are to look after the spiritual 
 
 welfare of those committed to their care. 
 
 LESSON 17 WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE FIFTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 66-69.) 
 
 1. (66) "Which is the Fifth Commandment?" "Thou shalt not 
 
 kill." 
 
 2. (67) "What does this mean?" "We should fear and love God, 
 
 that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body; but 
 help and befriend him in every bodily need." 
 3.(68) "What is forbidden in this commandment?" "We should not 
 kill; or not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body." 
 
 4. What does it mean to kill? It means to destroy life. 
 
 5. What life is here referred to? Human life is referred to. 
 
 6. How did God form man's body? Gen. 2, 7. He formed it out of 
 
 the dust of the ground. 
 
 7. How did man get his life? Gen. 2, 7. God breathed into his nos- 
 
 trils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. 
 
 8. When God made other living creatures, how did He go about it? 
 
 Gen. 1, 24. "And God said, Let the earth bring forth the liv- 
 ing creature." 
 
 9. So we see Jthat man's life is altogether different from the life of 
 
 animals. In whose image was man created? He was cre- 
 ated in the image of God. 
 
 10. When God says: "Thou shalt not kill," what does he wish to pro- 
 
 tect? He wants to protect man's life. 
 
 11. What life may we destroy? We may destroy the life of animals. 
 
 12. For what purpose may we kill animals? For food and clothing, 
 
 and when they are dangerous to our own life. 
 
 13. But even though it becomes necessary to kill animals, what 
 
 should we avoid with reference to them? We should avoid 
 all cruelty. 
 
 14. How does Luther explain the Fifth Commandment? Question 
 
 (j7. "We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor 
 harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in 
 every bodily need." 
 
 15. What is said in the first part of this answer? That we should 
 
 fear and love God. 
 
 16. And why should we reverence and put such a high value on the 
 
 life of man? Because man was made in the image of God, 
 and his life is the breath of the Almighty. 
 
LESSON 17. 55 
 
 17. (68) "What is forbidden in this commandment?" "We should 
 
 not kill; or, not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body." 
 
 18. (69) "How is this done?" "Through hateful thoughts, words and 
 
 deeds." 
 
 19. What is here mentioned first? Hateful thoughts. 
 
 20. Who was the first murderer? Cain, who killed his brother, 
 
 21. How did Cain feci toward his brother before he slew him? Gen. 
 
 4, 5-6. He was angry with him. 
 
 22. And what grew out of this anger? Murder grew out of it. 
 
 23. When anger is kept and nursed in the heart, what do we call it? 
 
 We call it hatred. 
 
 24. What then is the root of murder? Anger and hatred. . . 
 
 25. How does God look upon him that hateth his brother? Give me 
 
 the answer by repeating the passage, 1 John 3, 15. "Who- 
 soever hateth his brother is a murderer, and ye know that 
 no murdered hath eternal life abiding in him." 
 
 26. Now let us hear what the Savior says of the heart of man in 
 
 Matt. 15, 19. "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, mur- 
 ders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphe- 
 mies." 
 
 27. What kind of hearts must we have by nature if such things 
 
 proceed out of them? Very wicked hearts. 
 
 28. Who sees and knows these murderous thoughts of our hearts? 
 
 God, who sees and knows all things. 
 
 29. To what does the apostle admonish us in Eph. 4, 26? "Be ye 
 
 angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your 
 wrath." 
 
 30. What should we do before the sun goes down? We should give 
 
 up our anoer and be reconciled. 
 
 31. Repeat what the apostle says. Rom. 12, 19-20. "Avenge not your- 
 
 selves, but rather give place unto wrath: for It is written 
 vengeance Is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore 
 if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; 
 for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." 
 
 32. What does it mean to avenge? To pay back like for like. 
 
 33. The world says: Revenge is sweet. But what should we Chris- 
 
 tians think of it? We should not take revenge, but leave 
 that to God. 
 
 34. How do hateful thoughts find expression first of all? Through 
 
 hateful words. 
 
 35. Yes, and hateful, insulting words are sharp and cutting like a 
 
 sword. What do we inflict by such words? We inflict pain 
 and injury. 
 
 36. Read what is written in the latter half of Jer. 18, 18. "Come and 
 
 let us smite him with the tongue." 
 
 87. How did his enemies propose to smite the Prophet .Jeremiah? 
 With the tongue. 
 
 ;j8. How could they (]o (his? By cutting hirn wjth Insulting, glander- 
 ous language. 
 
56 LESSON 17. 
 
 39. Repeat the passage, Matt. 5, 21-22. "Ye have heard that it was 
 
 said by them of old times, thou shalt not kill; and whoso- 
 ever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment; but I say 
 |unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without 
 a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever 
 shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the coun- 
 cil; but whosoever shall say. Thou fool, shall be in danger of 
 hell fire." 
 
 40. Which commandment is the Lord Jesus here explaining? He is 
 
 explaining the Fifth Commandment: Thou shalt not kill. 
 
 41. And what does he count among tlie transgressions of this com- 
 
 mandment? To be angry with one's brother without a cause. 
 
 42. And what else does he speak of as deserving punishment? To 
 
 call one's brother, Raca, or. Thou fool. 
 
 43. That is, to insult him by hateful words, to call him ugly names. 
 
 But how else is this commandment transgressed, besides 
 with hateful thoughts and words? Through hateful acts. 
 
 44. What hateful deed was Cain guilty of against his brother Abel? 
 
 He slew him. He killed him. 
 
 45. Wlhat awful crime did he thereby commit? He committed a 
 
 murder. 
 
 46. Murder is the wilful destruction of human life. What evil de- 
 
 sign had David against Uriah? 2 Sam. 11, 14-15. He ar- 
 ranged to have him killed. 
 
 47. Yes, and although he did not kill him himself, yet why was he 
 
 guilty of his death? Because he arranged to have others 
 kill him. 
 
 48. What did Herod do to the children of Bethlehem? He had all 
 
 those that were two years old and under killed. 
 
 49. What an awful crime it is to kill innocent little children! And 
 
 yet in our days, thousands of infants are killed before they 
 are born, and others are neglected until they die, or are in- 
 jured in health. 
 
 50. If a man have a vicious animal and through his carelessness a 
 
 person is killed or injured, who is responsible? Exod. 21, 
 28-29. The owner of the animal is responsible. 
 
 51. So any other carelessness by which our neighbor is endangered 
 
 or Injured is a transgression of this commandment, as we 
 see from Dent. 22, S. Read the passage. "When thou 
 buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for 
 thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any 
 man fall from thence." 
 
 52. It is a sin to destroy our neighbor's life, but what else does 
 
 Luther, in his explanation of the Fifth Commandment, say 
 we should not do to our neighbor? We should not hurt nor 
 harm our neighbor in his body. 
 
 53. What evil intent did .Joseph's brothers have against him? They 
 
 wanted to kill him. 
 
 54. And although they did not do this, what other harm did they do 
 
 him? They threw him into a pit to let him perish and after- 
 ward sold him into slavery. 
 
 55. What harm did the Egyptians do to the children of Israel? They 
 
 oppressed them with heavy burdens and killed all their male 
 children. 
 
 56. How did they make life to the Jews? They made life miserable. 
 
LESSOiNT 1 8. 57 
 
 57. How did King Saul come to his end? 1 Sam. 31, 4. He fell 
 
 upon his own sword. 
 
 58. What awful crime did he commit? He committed suicide, took 
 
 his own life. 
 
 59. Which one of the disciples committed the same terrible deed? 
 
 Matt. 27, 5. Judas Iscariot. 
 
 60. Every other sin a man may repent of. But when a man puts an 
 
 end to his own life, what opportunity is thereby cut off? 
 The opportunity for repentance. 
 01. Repeat the passage. Acts 16, 28. "Do thyself no harm." 
 
 62. This is what the apostle called out to the jailer at Phillippi. 
 
 What was the jailer about to do because he thought the 
 prisoners had escaped? He was about to take his own life.. 
 
 63. It is a sin to take one's own life, but to Injure one's self or 
 
 shorten life is also a transgression of this commandment. 
 How do men often shorten their lives? By over-work, un- 
 necessary exposure, neglect, drunkenness, excessive eating, 
 and the like. 
 
 LESSON 18. WHAT IS COMMANDED IN THE FIFTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 70-71.) 
 
 1. Repeat the fifth commandment. Thou shait not kill. 
 
 2. What does this mean? "We should fear and love God that we 
 
 may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body but help 
 and befriend him in every bodily need." 
 
 3. In our last lesson we saw what God forbids in this command- 
 
 ment. What is to be the subject of this lesson? What is 
 commanded in the fifth commandment. 
 
 4. (70) "What is on the contrary commanded?" "That we with 
 
 kindness and tenderness render assistance to our neighbor 
 in all needs of the body and life." 
 
 5. According to Luther's explanation, what does God forbid in the 
 
 fifth commandment? That we hurt or harm our neighbor in 
 his body. 
 0. And what should we on the contrary do? We should help and 
 befriend our neighbor in every bodily need. 
 
 7. What does a man need for his body? He needs clothing, food, 
 
 drink, shelter, health and the like. 
 
 8. A man is in bodily need when he lacks these things. What 
 
 other word expresses this? The word want or distress. 
 
 9. After the people had listened to the Lord's preaching for three 
 
 days, what were they in need of, or what did they lack? 
 Matt. 1.5, 32. They had nothing to eat. 
 
 10. What would have become of them without food? They would 
 
 have perished. 
 
 11. Why do we need food? To preserve life. 
 
 12. And what else do we need to preserve life besides food? We 
 
 need clothing, and shelter. 
 
 13. What does God wish to protect by the fifth commandment? He 
 
 wishes to protect human life. 
 
^8 LESSON 1 8. 
 
 14. The term "bodily need" ijiay also mean bodily distress or trouble. 
 
 The Lord Jesus In the parable of the good Samaritan tells 
 us of a man who was in great distress. What had happened 
 to him? He fell among thieves, who stripped him of his rai- 
 ment and left him half dead. 
 
 15. What would have become of him if no one had helped him? He 
 
 would have died. 
 IG. In what bqdily need or distress were many people who sought 
 the Savior's help? They were sick, blind, deaf and troubled 
 with all manner of diseases. 
 
 17. What does the Catechism say we should do when our neighbor 
 
 is in bodily need? We should help and befriend him. 
 
 18. How should it affect us when we see people in trouble and dis- 
 
 tress? We should pity them. 
 
 19. Yes, this is plainly told us in Col. ;!, 12-1:]. "Put on therefore, as 
 
 the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kind- 
 ness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; for- 
 bearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man 
 have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so 
 also do ye." 
 
 20. When Jesus beheld the hungry multitude around him, how did it 
 
 affect him? He had compassion on them. 
 
 21. And what did he do because he pitied them? He fed them. 
 
 22. When the Savior saw the poor widow of Nain, who was about- to 
 
 bury her only son, how did it affect him? He pitied her. 
 
 23. And how did he express his compassion? He spoke kindly to 
 
 her, and raised her son to life. 
 
 24. To have compassion on a man means to share his suffering. 
 
 We are members one of another. When my hand or my eye 
 is injured, how does it affect the other members of my body? 
 They also feel the pain. 
 
 25. And what do they do? They try to relieve the pain. 
 
 26. When the good Samaritan found the man who had fallen among 
 
 thieves, what did he do? He had compassion on him and 
 helped him. 
 
 27. When we are wronged by anybody, what do we naturally feel 
 
 like doing? We feel like paying him back. 
 
 28. What do we call this paying back evil for evil? We call it 
 
 taking revenge. 
 
 29. What does the apostle say about taking revenge, Rom. 12, 19? 
 
 "Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: 
 for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the 
 Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he 
 thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals 
 of fire on his head." 
 
 30. Instead of taking vengeance on our enemies, what are we admon- 
 
 ished to do? To do them good. 
 
 31. How does the Savior say we should treat enemies. Matt. 5, 44- 
 
 45? "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good 
 to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully 
 use you and persecute you." 
 
 32. And what does he say in Matt. 5, 25? "Agree with thine adver- 
 
 sary quickly while thou art in the way with him; lest at 
 any time the adversary deliver thee to the Judge, and the 
 judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into 
 prison." 
 
LESSON i8. 59 
 
 33. How should we be disposed toward those who have injured us? 
 
 We should be ready to forgive. 
 
 34. What does the apostle in the passage Col. 3, 13 remind us of 
 
 W'ith reference to the Savior? That he forgave us. 
 
 ?>5. And to what should this move us? We should also forgive those 
 who sin against us. 
 
 3G. We should not only forgive but we should give. Repeat the pas- 
 sage Isa. 58, 7. "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, 
 and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? 
 When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that 
 thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" 
 
 37. Repeat also what is written Heb. 13, 16. "To do good and to 
 
 communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well 
 pleased." 
 
 38. The word "communicate" here means give. How does God re- 
 
 gard cheerful giving? He is well pleased with it. 
 
 39 . The fifth commandment not only tells us not to destroy human 
 
 life, but on the contrary what does it ask of us? To do what 
 we can to preserve it. 
 
 40. Read what the Savior says in his sermon on the mount, Matt. 5, 
 
 Verse 5. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the 
 earth." 
 
 41. And also verse 7. "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain 
 
 mercy." 
 
 42. And verse 9. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be 
 
 called the children of God." 
 
 43. What does the Savior here say of those who make peace between 
 
 contending persons and nations? He calls them blessed, and 
 says they shall be called the children of God. 
 
 44. As friends and neighbors we shovld do everything in our power 
 
 to make peace, and as Christian citizens we should use every 
 effort to avert war and bloodshed. For all unjust wars are 
 contrary to which commandment? The fifth, which says, 
 "Thou Shalt not kill." 
 
 45. What does the fifth commandment ask of us with reference to 
 
 our own life? That we take care to preserve it. 
 
 46. How do we do this? By providing proper food, clothing, shelter, 
 
 exercise, ventilation, medicine and the like. 
 
 47. Yes, life is a precious gift of God and we should do all we can 
 
 to preserve it. It is that gift without which none of the 
 other earthly gifts of God can be enjoyed. Next to our own 
 lives we should be concerned about the lives of our children. 
 What should parents do to protect and preserve the lives of 
 their children? They should see to it that they have proper 
 food, clothing and shelter. 
 
 48. What should they do in case of sickness? Nurse them and pro- 
 
 vide medicine. 
 
 49. (71) "What is threatened in this commandment?" "Whoso 
 
 sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed." (Gen. 
 9, 6.) "All they that take the sword shall perish by the 
 sword." (Matt. 26, 52.) 
 
 50. What punishment is dealt out to a wilful and malicious mur- 
 
 derer? He is put to death. 
 
 51. Who executes this i)unishmeu( ? The courts and those in public 
 
 office. 
 
60 LESSON 19. 
 
 52. Who gave the civil authorities the right to punish evil doers? 
 
 God himself gave them this right. 
 
 53. Yes, read what is wi'itten Rom. 13, 3. 4. "For rulers are not a 
 
 terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be 
 afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou wilt 
 have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee 
 for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for 
 he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of 
 God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." 
 
 54. How does God deal out justice iu this world? Through the civil 
 
 courts. 
 
 55. When a sheriff executes sentence of death upon a criminal, 
 
 whose representative is he in so doing? He is the minister 
 or servant of God. 
 
 56. The apostle says of the government that it beareth not the 
 
 sword in vain. What is the sword used for? To cut and 
 kill. 
 
 57. What does he mean by saying the government shall not bear the 
 
 sword in vain? He means it shall make use of the sword. 
 
 58. Aagainst whom shall the sword be used? Against those who do 
 
 evil. 
 
 59. When men are accused of evil, who is to give them fair trial and 
 
 thus to establish their innocence or guilt? The courts are 
 to do this. 
 
 60. And if, after fair trial, a man is found guilty, who is to punish 
 
 him? The public authorities are to punish him. 
 
 61 . When a disorderly crowd or mob deals out punishment to a sup- 
 
 posed evil doer, what do we call such an act of violence? 
 We call it lynching. 
 
 62. Yes, and lynching is murder, and a gross sin against which com- 
 
 mandment? It Is a gross sin against the fifth command- 
 ment. 
 
 LESSON ^9. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SIXTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 72-75.) 
 
 1. (72) "Which is the sixth commandment?" "Thou shalt not com- 
 
 mit adultery." 
 
 2. (73) "What does this mean?" "We should fear and love God, 
 
 that we may lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed, 
 and each love and honor his spouse." 
 
 3. Read what is written of the creation of man. Gen. 1, 27. "So God 
 
 created man in his own image, in the image of God created 
 he him, male and female created he them," 
 
 4. Of how many kinds did God create human beings? Of two kinds, 
 
 male and female. 
 
 5. What do we call this difference? We call it sex. 
 
 0. And the Sixth Commandment treats of this difference of sex. It 
 teaches the proper relation of the sexes to each other. What 
 does it teach? It teaches the proper relation of the sexes to 
 each other. 
 
LESSON 19. 61 
 
 7. The comiiiaiulment speaks of adultery. What does it mean to 
 
 adulterate a thing? It means to mix it with inferior sub- 
 stances. 
 
 8. What is the difference between pure flour and adulterated flour? 
 
 Pure flour is nothing but flour, adulterated flour is mixed 
 with some inferior stuff. 
 
 9. What is the difference between pure lard and adulterated lard? 
 
 Pure lard is nothing but lard, adulterated lard is mixed with 
 some cheaper grease. 
 
 10. What effect has it on an article to adulterate it. It makes it 
 
 bad, it spoils it. 
 
 11. When an article is adulterated, what has it lost? It has lost its 
 
 purity, 
 
 12. Yes, and so God wants us to avoid everything by which our sex- 
 
 ual purity is spoiled or adulterated. What is the opposite 
 of sexual purity? Sexual adulteration or adultery. 
 
 13. (75) The commandment says, "Thou shalt not commit adul- 
 
 tery." "Whereby is this done?" "By unchaste thoughts, 
 words and deeds." 
 
 14. What is the first thing here mentioned? Unchaste thoughts. 
 
 15. Repeat the passage Matt. 15, 19. "Out of the heart proceed evil 
 
 thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false wit- 
 ness, blasphemies." 
 
 16. Adulteries and fornications are here classed among what kind of 
 
 thoughts? They are classed among evil thoughts. 
 
 17. Instead of evil thoughts, what might you say? Bad thoughts. 
 
 18. Yes, and bad thoughts are shameful, mean, dirty, smutty 
 
 thoughts, such thoughts as you would be ashamed to have 
 known. These unchaste thoughts give rise to what kind of 
 words and acts? To unchaste words and acts. 
 
 19. Po what is the root of mean, dirty, smutty words and acts? 
 
 Mean, dirty and smutty thoughts. 
 
 20. Men, of course, can only hear our words and see our acts, but 
 
 what does God take note of? He takes note even of our 
 thoughts. 
 
 21. Read what is written 1 Sam. IG, 7, the latter half of the verse. 
 
 "For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord 
 looketh on the heart." 
 
 22. What does the Savior say Matt. 5, 27. 28? "Ye have heard that 
 
 it was said by them of old time. Thou shalt not commit 
 adultery: but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a 
 woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her 
 already in his heart." 
 
 23. What kind of adultery does the Lord here speak of? He speaks 
 
 of adultery in the heart. 
 
 24. When does a man commit this adultery in his heart? When he 
 
 looks upon a woman to lust after her. 
 
 25. Yes, or when he looks at mean, dirty pictures. Our hearts are 
 
 l)y nature full of evil, sinful Inst. And when such thoughts 
 enter our hearts, what should we do? We should crowd 
 them out. 
 20. When the wicked wife of Potiphar looked upon and lusted after 
 .Joseph, what sin did she commit? She committed adultery 
 in her heart, and w/th her eyes. 
 
62 LESSON 19. 
 
 27. Read what the Savior says in the latter half oi Matt. 12, 34. 
 
 "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." 
 
 28. When the heart is full of a thing, how will it find expression? It 
 
 will find expression in words. 
 
 29. So with the unchaste, unclean thoughts of the heart, what will 
 
 they lead to? They will lead to the same kind of words. 
 
 30. Read (or repeat) the passage Eph. 5, 3. 4. "But fornication and 
 
 all unoleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named 
 among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor fool- 
 ish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather 
 giving of thanks." 
 
 31. When the apostle says fornication and uncleanness should not 
 
 be so much as once named among us, what does he mean? 
 He means that we should not talk about such things. 
 
 32. When he speaks of filthiness, foolish talking and jesting, what 
 
 kind of talk does he mean? He means dirty, shameful, 
 smutty talk, jokes and stories. 
 
 33. Yes, children, never talk of nor listen to things that you would 
 
 be ashamed to have your mothers or sisters hear. For who 
 is it that knows not only our thoughts, but hears all our 
 words? God, who sees and hears ail things. 
 
 34. Such conversation is not smart, as boys sometimes think, but 
 
 how should we regard it? We should regard it as wicked. 
 
 35. What does question 75 speak of besides unchaste thoughts and 
 
 words? Unchaste deeds. 
 
 36. In the passage Eph. 5, 3. 4. some such unchaste deeds are men- 
 
 tioned. How does the passage begin? "But fornication and 
 all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named 
 among you." 
 
 37. God has ordained that man and woman shall live together in 
 
 marriage. Fornication is the living together of men and 
 women without being married. What does the apostle say 
 of this awful sin? It should not be even named among us. 
 
 38. Much less should we be guilty of such things. When husband 
 
 and wife join in marriage, what do they promise each other? 
 That they will love and honor each other. 
 
 39. Yes, they promise before God that they will allow no one to take 
 
 the place of husband or wife. When this promise is broken, 
 and husband or wife loves or becomes intimate with or runs 
 away with another, what tie is broken? The marriage tie 
 is broken. 
 
 40. This was the case with Potiphar's wicked wife. Instead of 
 
 loving her husband, she fell in love with Joseph, and asked 
 him to commit what sin with her? She asked him to com- 
 mit the sin of adultery. 
 
 41. When David took the wife of Uriah, what sin was he guilty of? 
 
 He was guilty of the sin of adultery. 
 
 42. When husband and wife consent together in holy wedlock, how 
 
 long is this union to last? As long as they both shall live. 
 
 43. Who alone has a right to separate them? God, who joined them 
 
 together. 
 
 44. What do we call any other separation of husband and wife? 
 
 We call it divorce. 
 
 45. Read what the Savior says Matt 19. 6. "What God therefore 
 
 hath joined together, let no man put asunder." 
 
LESSON 20. 63 
 
 iG. What does the Savior say of a man who puts away his wife and 
 marries another, Matt. 19. 9? "And I say unto you, whoso- 
 ever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, 
 and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and whoso 
 marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." 
 
 47. The Savior is here speaking of divorce. For what reason only 
 
 may a man put away his wife, that is, refuse to live with 
 her, so that she shall no longer be his wife? When she is 
 guilty of fornication. 
 
 48. Yes, when she herself has already ])rolven the marriage tie by 
 
 loving and living with another man. And the same is, of 
 course, true of the wife. When may slie put away or refuse 
 to live with her husband? When he is guilty of loving and 
 living with another woman. 
 
 49. God has forbidden the marriage of near relatives. This is called 
 
 the sin of incest. Read what the apostle writes 1 Cor. 5, 1. 
 "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among 
 you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among 
 the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife." 
 
 50. There was a man in the congregation at Corinth who lived with 
 
 his step-mother as his wife, what does the apostle call this 
 relation? He calls it fornication. 
 
 51. Yes, and he says that even the heathen would be ashamed of 
 
 such a thing. Much more should who be ashamed of it? 
 Much more should we Christians be ashamed of it. 
 
 52. Now repeat Eph. 5. 12. "For it is a shame even to speak of 
 
 those things which are done of them in secret." 
 
 53. The apostle here speaks of what wicked people do in secret 
 
 What does he say of these things? It Is a shame even to 
 speak of them. 
 
 54. Yes, they are so shameful that even to mention them brings the 
 
 blush of shame to the cheek. Boys or girls, when they are 
 alone, in secret, do things which I dare not even name, they 
 are so shameful. O children, never forget that God is every- 
 where, sees and knows all things. Every abuse of the body 
 and its members, which tends to make us impure and base, 
 we should avoid and shun as the very devil himself. 
 
 LESSON 20. WHAT IS COMMANDED IN THE SIXTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 76-79.) 
 
 1. Repeat the Sixth Commandment. "Thou shalt not commit adul- 
 
 tery." 
 
 2. W^hat is forbidden in this commandment? We should not com- 
 
 mit adultery. 
 
 3. (76) "What is on the contrary enjoined in this commandment?" 
 
 "That we lead a chaste and decent life in thought, word and 
 deed, and each love and honor his spouse." 
 
 4. Repeat the first part of this answer. That we lead a chaste and 
 
 decent life, in thought, word and deed. 
 
 5. What kind of life should we lead? We should lead a chaste and 
 
 decent life. 
 
64 LESSON 20. 
 
 6. How should this chastity and decency show itself first of all? 
 
 It should show itself in our thoughts. 
 
 7. (77) "When do we live chaste in thoughts?" "When we, 
 
 through the grace of God, subdue all unchaste desires." 
 
 8. What does the word "chaste" here mean? It means clean, pure. 
 
 9. Repeat the passage Ps. 51, 10. "Create in me a clean heart, O 
 
 God, and renew a right spirit within me." 
 
 10. V/hat kind of heart does the Psalmist ask for? He asks for a 
 
 clean heart. 
 
 11. What does he thereby acknowledge with reference to his heart? 
 
 He acknowledges that it is unclean. 
 
 12. And whence must a clean heart come? God must create it with- 
 
 in us. 
 
 13. When we feel evil, unclean desires arising out of our hearts, 
 
 what should we do? We should ask God to make our hearts 
 clean. 
 
 14. The Savior reminds us of this duty to pray when we are in temp- 
 
 tation, Matt. 26, 41. Repeat the passage. "Watch and pray, 
 that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing, but 
 the flesh is weak." 
 
 15. What does he say of our flesh? He says it is weak. 
 
 16. By the flesh he means our sinful nature. Our hearts are so weak 
 
 that they need constant watching. But watching alone will 
 not suffice; to what else does the Savior admonish us? He 
 admonishes us to pray. 
 
 17. Tell me from question 77 how we are to subdue all unchaste de- 
 
 sires. Through the grace of God. 
 
 18. When a man is drunk, what kind of thoughts arise in his heart? 
 
 Bad, unclean thoughts. 
 
 19. Against what, therefore, does the apostle admonish us, Eph. 5, 
 
 18? "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be 
 filled with the Spirit." 
 
 20. Read what is written Matt. 5, 29. "'And if thy right eye offend 
 
 thee, pluck it out; and cast it from thee, for it is profitable 
 for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy 
 whole body be cast into hell." 
 
 21. When things that are in themselves innocent get to be danger- 
 
 ous, we should deny ourselves of them rather than run the 
 risk of being ruined forever. Eating and drinking are not 
 sinful, but intemperance in eating and drinking is. To what 
 kind of desires do intemperance and idleness lead? They 
 lead to evil, unchaste, unclean desires. 
 
 22. Therefore, what should we avoid as leading to unchastity? We 
 
 should avoid gluttony, drunkenness and idleness. 
 
 23. To what awful sin did Potiphar's wife tempt Joseph? She 
 
 tempted him to adultery. 
 
 24. What did Joseph answer? Gen. 39, 9. "How can I do this great 
 
 wickedness and sin against God?" 
 
 25. Evil thoughts are like fire, they burn and consume. How do we 
 
 regard playing with fire? It is very dangerous. 
 
 26. Joseph did not play with the evil desires which Potiphar's wife 
 
 tried to kindle in his heart. He had no pleasure in them; on 
 the contrary, he abhorred them. Of whom did he think 
 when he was tempted? He thought of God. 
 
Lesson 20. 65 
 
 27. Yes, and the thought that adultery was a sin against Ood saved 
 
 him. Thus the grace of God subdued all evil desires in him. 
 We should be chaste and pure in our thoughts, but how else 
 should this chastity and purity show itself? We should also 
 be chaste and pure in our words. 
 
 28. (78) "When do we live chaste in words?" "When we shun all 
 
 unchaste talk, and strive to be pure in all our words." 
 
 29. Repeat the passage Ei)h. 4, 29. "Let no corrupt communication 
 
 proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use 
 of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." 
 
 30. How do we communicate our thoughts to our neighbor? By 
 
 talking to him. 
 
 31. What kind of communication or talk does the apostle here warn 
 
 against? He warns against corrupt communication. 
 
 32. Give me another word for the word "corrupt." Foul, rotten, 
 
 dirty. 
 
 33. What kind of language, then, does the apostle warn against? 
 
 Against foul, dirty language. 
 
 34. What does the catechism call such language in question 78? 
 
 It calls such language "unchaste talk." 
 
 35. What would you do if you happened to get hold of a rotten 
 
 apple or a bad egg? Would you put them in your mouths 
 No, I would throw them away. 
 
 36. What kind of language on the contrary should we use? We 
 
 should use pure, clean language. 
 
 37. In order to be pure ourselves we should be careful with whom 
 
 we associate. There is an old proverb which says: "Tell me 
 M'ith whom you associate and I will tell you who you are." 
 If a man is clean and pure, what kind of company will he 
 keep? He will keep clean and pure company. 
 
 38. If a man delights in the company and conversation of mean and 
 
 unchaste persons, what does this show? It shows that he 
 himself is unchaste and mean. 
 
 39. Yes, because "Birds of a feather flock together." What does the 
 
 apostle say 1 Cor. 15, 38? "Evil communications corrupt 
 good manners." 
 
 40. What danger is there in associating with a person that has the 
 
 smallpox? There is danger of catching the disease. 
 
 41. Yes, and moral corrui)tion is worse than smallpox. It poisons 
 
 both soul and body. What effect has bad company on good 
 manners? It corrupts them. 
 
 42. If I put one rotten apple among six sound ones, what will the 
 
 effect be? They will all get rotten. 
 
 13. We should be chaste and pure not only in our thoughts and 
 words, but in what other way? Also in our deeds. 
 
 44. (79) "When do we live chaste in deeds?" "When we shun all 
 
 unchaste doings and all opportunity for them." 
 
 45. What does the catechism ask of us with reference to unchaste 
 
 doings? We should shun them. 
 
 4G. What does the apostle say 1 Cor. 6, 18? "Flee fornication." 
 
 47. If you saw a rattlesnake lying in your path, would you continue 
 right on? No, I would turn and run away. 
 
66 LESSON 21. 
 
 48. There are men and women who are more dangerous than rattle- 
 
 snakes. There are houses that are more loathsome than pest 
 houses. What should we do with reference to such persons 
 and places? We should avoid them. 
 
 49. Give me an example of this. Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife. 
 
 50. Repeat the passage 1 Tim. 5, 22. "Keep thyself pure." 
 
 51. This purity refers to both body and soul. To what does the 
 
 apostle admonish his young friend Timothy in 2 Tim. 2, 22? 
 "Flee also youthful lusts." 
 
 52. The lusts which the apostle here refers to are particularly dan- 
 
 gerous to what kind of people as to age? They are particu- 
 larly dangerous to young people. 
 
 53. Yes, and therefore young people particularly should be on their 
 
 guard with reference to sins against the sixth command- 
 ment. What people sometimes call love is often nothing 
 but sinful lust. What does Solomon say, Prov. 1, 10? "My 
 son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." 
 
 54. Children, you will be tempted by wicked people, as Joseph was. 
 
 What does the wise man urge upon you under such circum- 
 stances? We should not consent. 
 
 55. Yes, do not yield to the temptation but fight against it. Have 
 
 the courage to say No! What does the Savior teach us to 
 pray for in the sixth petition? "Lead us not into tempta- 
 tion." 
 
 56. When we are tempted, to whom should we flee for help? We 
 
 should flee to God for help. 
 
 57. Since we are to ask God not to lead us into temptation, but to 
 
 preserve us from it. how foolish and sinful it would be for 
 us to run into temptation. There are places where tempta- 
 tion to sins against the sixth commandment are particularly 
 great. Among these I would mention the dance and the 
 • theater. Question 79 tells us to avoid not only all unchaste 
 doings, but what else should we shun? All opportunity for 
 them. 
 
 58. Anything that has a tendency to arouse our sinful passions we 
 
 should avoid. We should not put ourselves in the way of 
 danger, but on the contrary what should we do? We should 
 avoiti danger. 
 
 59. Repeat the passage 1 Tim. 2, 9. "In like manner also that 
 
 women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame- 
 facedness and sobriety. 
 
 GO. With what kind of apparel should women adorn themselves? 
 With modest apparel. 
 
 61. That is, they should put on decent clothing. To what sin does 
 
 all indecent exposure of the body tend? It tends to unchas- 
 tity and adultery. 
 
 62. The same is true of all indecent books, papers and pictures. 
 
 How should we therefore regard these things? As danger- 
 ous and sinful, and should avoid them. 
 
 LESSON 21. MARRIAGE. 
 
 (Questions 80-81.) 
 
 Repeat the sixth commandment. "Thou shalt not commit adul- 
 tery." 
 
LESSON 21. 67 
 
 2. What does this mean? "We should fear and love God that we 
 
 may lead a chaste and decent life In word and deed, and each 
 love and honor his spouse." 
 
 3. What is here said of one's spouse? Each should love and honor 
 
 his spouse. 
 
 4. (80) "What does it mean to love and honor one's spouse?" "To 
 
 look upon one's husband or wife as a dear gift of God, and 
 to remain constant in affection and fidelity to each other." 
 
 5. What does the word "spouse" mean? It means husband or wife. 
 
 6. Read what is written Gen. 2, 18. "And the Lord God said, it is 
 
 not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a 
 help meet for him." 
 
 7. What did God do because He saw that it was not good for a man 
 
 to be alone? He made a woman to be his wife. 
 
 8. Who then is the author of marriage? God himself is the author 
 
 of marriage. 
 
 9. In what moral condition were man and woman when God brought 
 
 them together? They were pure and holy. 
 
 10. With what words did God bless the iirst couple? Gen. 1, 28. 
 
 "And God blessed them and said unto them: be fruitful and 
 multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." 
 
 11. God, who is holy, is the author of marriage; therefore marriage 
 
 is what kind of a state? It is a holy state. 
 
 12. What two kinds of persons did God unite in marriage? One man 
 
 and one woman. 
 !.'>. According to God's order then a husband should have how many 
 wives? A husband should have one wife. 
 
 14. And a wife should have hOAV many husbands? A wife should 
 
 have one husband. 
 
 15. When husband and wife enter marriage, how long are they to 
 
 remain together? As long as they both live. 
 
 16. What may either do upon the death of the other? Either may 
 
 marry again. 
 
 17. On what occasion was the Lord Jesus a guest in the town of 
 
 Cana of Galilee? He was guest at a wedding. 
 
 18. What remarkable thing did .Jesus do at this wedding? Jesus 
 
 turned water into wine. 
 
 19 . This was a miracle. Jesus performed many miracles, but what 
 
 can you say of this particular one? It was his first miracle. 
 
 20. What does this show as to how Jesus regarded marriage? He 
 
 was pleased with it. 
 
 21. What does the Catechism, question 80. say as to how each should 
 
 regard one's husband or wife? As a dear gift of God. 
 
 22. What then should a husband think about his wife? That God 
 
 gave her to him. 
 
 2.3. And the same, of course, a wife should think of her husband. In 
 order that this may be the case young people should be very 
 careful when they enter the married state. When Isaac was 
 old enough to marry, what promise did Al)raham his father 
 take from Elioser his eldest servant? Gen. 24, ?>. He made 
 him swear that he would not take one of the women of 
 Canaan to be Isaac's wife. 
 
 24. Why do you suppose Abraham was so very particular about this? 
 Because the Canaanites were wicked idolaters. 
 
68 LESSON 21. 
 
 25. Yes, it is very frequently tlie cause of much strife and misery 
 
 wtien liusband and wife are not of the same religion, or when 
 one is wicked and frivolous. Many look simply upon beauty, 
 wealth or social standing when they engage to be married. 
 What is much more important than these? Faith and piety. 
 
 26. Who was very much concerned in the selection of Isaac's wife? 
 
 His father Abraham. 
 
 27. Whom should young people consult when they choose life part- 
 
 ners? They should consult their parents. 
 
 28. As in all matters of importance, whom above all should we ask 
 
 for guidance in the selection of husband or wife? We should 
 ask God. 
 
 29. Read what is written Matt. 19, 6. "Wherefore they are no more 
 
 twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined to- 
 gether, let no man put asunder." 
 
 30. How should husband and wife look upon their union? That they 
 
 are not two but one. And that God has joined them to- 
 gether. 
 
 31. Through whom does God pronounce his blessing upon a couple 
 
 when they are married? Through the minister of the 
 Gospel. 
 
 32. What does Luther in his explanation of the sixth commandment 
 
 say of the proper relation between husband and wife. Each 
 should love and honor the other. 
 
 33. And what does the latter half of question 80 say? They should 
 
 remain constant in affection and fidelity to each other. 
 
 34. Each should love the other. Turn to Eph. .5, 25, and read what 
 
 the apostle there says to husbands. "Husbands, love your 
 wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave him- 
 self for it." 
 
 35. How did Christ show his love for the Church? He died for the 
 
 Church. 
 
 36. So a husband, if need be, should be willing to die for his wife. 
 
 ' And in the same chapter, verse 24, he tells the wives their 
 duty toward their husband. Read the verse. "Therefore as 
 the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their 
 own husbands in every thing." 
 
 37. The Church is subject to Christ not from compulsion but from 
 
 love. Then what should be the relation of a wife to her 
 husband? She should love her husband. 
 
 38. What then is the first and most important duty that husband and 
 
 wife owe each other? They should love each other. 
 
 39. Luther in his explanation says they should not only love each 
 
 other, but what else should they do? They should honor 
 each other. 
 
 40. What is the greatest honor that each can show the other? You 
 
 will find it expressed in the first part of question 80. That 
 each look upon the other as a dear gift of God. 
 
 H. .\nd how should we regard all gifts of God? We should think 
 highly of them. 
 
 42. A God-fearing husband will see good (lualities in his wife that 
 no one else notices, and so a wife in her husband. But none 
 of us is perfect. How should they regard each other's faults? 
 They should overlook and be patient with them. 
 
LESSON 22. HO 
 
 43. (81) "What is threatened in this commandment?" "Whoremon- 
 
 gers and adulterers God will judge." (Heb. 13, 4.) "Be not 
 deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, 
 nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor 
 thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extor- 
 tioners shall inherit the kinqdom of God." (1 Cor. 6, 9. 10.) 
 
 44. What is liere said of whorenionsers and adulterers? God will 
 
 judge them. 
 
 45. V/hat does this men? God will punish them. 
 
 46. The inhabitants of Sodom were particularly given to sins against 
 
 the sixth commandment. How did God punish them? He 
 destroyed them with fire from heaven. 
 
 47. So the Canaanites were given to these sins. What did God com- 
 
 mand Israel to do with these godless people? Lev. 18, 24. 
 2.5. To destroy them utterly. 
 
 48. Children, there are no sins which God punishes more certainly 
 
 and terribly than those against this sixth commandment. 
 Loathsome disease, pain, misery, shame and disgrace, yea 
 death itself, are visited upon those who live unclean lives. 
 The curse of God rests on men and women who are unchaste 
 in their thoughts, words and deeds. Even children and chil- 
 dren's children must often suffer from the sins of such 
 wicked people. What does the apostle say of them in the 
 latter part of question 81? "They shall not inherit the king- 
 dom of God." 
 
 49. What does he mean by this? They can not go to heaven. 
 
 50. No, not unless they repent and turn from their wickedness. 
 
 Read wliat is written Rev. 2], 8. "But the fearful, and un- 
 believing, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore- 
 mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall 
 have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and 
 brimstone: which is the second death." 
 
 51 . The misery and wretchedness which such people bring upon 
 
 themselves in this world is only the beginning of a wretch- 
 edness which shall never end in the world to come. How 
 should we regard this wrath of God? We should fear his 
 wrath and not act contrary to his commandment. 
 
 LESSON 22. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SEVENTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 82-85.) 
 
 (82) "Which is the seventh commandment?" "Thou shalt not 
 steal." 
 
 (83) "What does this mean?" "We should fear and love God that 
 we may not take our neighbor's money or goods, nor get 
 them by false wares or dealing; but help him to improve and 
 protect his property and business." 
 
 (84) "What is forbidden in this commandment?" "We should 
 not steal; or take our neighbor's money or goods, nor get 
 them by false wares or dealing." 
 
 What does the seventh commandment say we should not do? It 
 says we should not steal. 
 
70 LESSON 22. 
 
 5. What is stealing? Stealing is taking a thing that does not be- 
 
 long to us. 
 
 6. What does Luther, in his explanation of this commandment 
 
 (Question 83), say we should not take? He says we should 
 not take our neighbor's money or goods. 
 
 7. The fifth commandment protects our neighbor's life, the sixth his 
 
 chastity. What does this seventh commandment protect? 
 It protects his money or goods. 
 
 8. Give me one word which expresses both money and goods. The 
 
 word property. 
 
 9. A man's property is that wliich he owns. To whom does that 
 
 belong which is a man's own? It belongs to him. 
 
 10. Who is the creator and rightful owner of all things in heaven 
 and on earth? God is the creator and owner of all things. 
 
 IT. Read the passage. 1 Cor. TO, 26. "For the earth is the Lord's, 
 and the fulness thereof." 
 
 12. What then belongs to God? The earth and the fulness thereof 
 
 belong to God. 
 
 13. What does this moan? It means the world and everything that 
 
 is in it. 
 
 14. Yes, God is the original and rightful owner of all things. Now 
 
 read what the Lord says, .ler 27, 5. "I have made the earth, 
 the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my 
 great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it 
 unto whom it seemed meet unto me." 
 
 15. The earth with its land, forests, minerals, plants and animals 
 
 belongs to God who made them and He never gives up His 
 right of ownership. And yet, what is said in the second part 
 of the passage you have just read? That God has given the 
 earth to whom it pleased him. 
 
 16. Now let us see in what sense God gives to men the earth and its 
 
 goods. Read what is written, 1 Peter 4, TO. "As every man 
 has received the gift^ even so minister the same one to an- 
 other, as stewards of the manifold grace of God." 
 
 17. What are men called in the second half of this passage? They 
 
 are called stewards. 
 
 18. In the parable of the unjust steward, Lulce T6, T-12, how is God 
 
 represented? He is represented as a rich man. 
 
 19. And how are we represented? We are represented as stewards. 
 
 20. Yes, God entrusts the goods of this world to us. We hold them 
 
 in trust. Now let us see how God does this, how we rightly 
 come into the possession of those things which God intends 
 us to have and to hold in trust for him. Isaac was a wealthy 
 man. He possessed immense flocl^s and herds. Where did 
 he get all this wealth? He inherited it from his father, 
 Abraham. 
 2T. This is one way in which God deals out the goods of this world. 
 Give me the word that expresses this way of getting prop- 
 erty. By inheritance. 
 
 22. .Tacob also became a rich man. Although Avhen he left home he 
 
 took nothing with him but a staff. Gen. 32, TO. He stayed 
 Avith his uncle Laban for 20 years. What did he do while he 
 was with his uncle? He had charge of his flocks. 
 
 23. Under what conditions did he perform this labor? He worked 
 
 for wages. 
 
Lesson 22. 71 
 
 24. So this is another way in which God deals out the goods of this 
 
 world. When may a man lay just claim to money or goods? 
 When he earns them by his labor. 
 
 25. And yet how did Jacob feel toward (lod with reference to his 
 
 great wealth? Cen. ;;2, 10. He said: "I am not worthy of 
 the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou 
 hast showed unto thy servant." 
 
 26. Yes, it was not simply his labor that made him rich, but the 
 
 blessing of God. When Solomon became king of Israel he 
 asked for wisdom, but God gave him even more than he had 
 asked for. Turn to 1 Kings 3, 13, and tell me what God 
 gave him in addition to wisdom. God gave him riches and 
 honor. 
 
 27. Read what is written, Ir^rov. 10, 22. "The blessing of the Lord, 
 
 it maketh rich." 
 
 28. When .Jacob, returning from Mesopotamia, met his brother Esau 
 
 what did the latter offer him? Gen. 32, 13-17. He offered 
 him presents. 
 
 29. Why would it have been right for Esau to take these gifts? 
 
 Because his brother offered them to him as a present. 
 
 30. So here is another way in which we may rightly come into the 
 
 possession of money or goods. What is it? When they are 
 given to us as a present. 
 
 31. When Abraham wanted the cave at Machpelah as a burial place, 
 
 how did he propose to get it? Gen. 23, 8. 9. He proposed to 
 buy it. 
 
 32. So here is another way in which we may get earthly possessions. 
 
 What is this way? We may buy them. 
 
 33. When a thing is lost, and all efforts at finding the owner are 
 
 fruitless, to whom does the thing then belong? It belongs to 
 the finder. 
 
 34. These then are the ways by which we may rightly come into the 
 
 possession of property. Repeat them. By inheritance, labor, 
 gift, purchase, finding or discovery. 
 
 35. These are God's ways of dividing worldly possessions. These 
 
 are the ways in which He blesses men in temporal things. 
 He that holds property in one of these ways, holds it by right. 
 And, because God has so ordered it, what may we call this 
 right of property? We may call it a divine right. 
 
 36. Yes, the right to have and to hold property is just as much a 
 
 divine right as the right to live. In fact the one can not 
 exist without the other, for what do we need to live? We 
 need food, houses, clothing, money, goods and the like. 
 
 37. Now tell me from question 84, what is forbidden in this seventh 
 
 commandment? We should not steal, or take our neighbor's 
 money or goods., nor get them by false wares or dealing. 
 
 38. (85) "When is this done?" "When we wrongfully desire or 
 
 appropriate the goods cf our neighbor." 
 
 39. What is here mentioned first? When we wrongfully desire the 
 
 goods of our neighbor. 
 
 40. Repeat the passage Matt. 15, 19. "Out of the heart proceed evil 
 
 thougths, rpurders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false wit- 
 ness, blasphemies." 
 
 41. What sin is here mentioned against the seventh commandment? 
 
 The sin of theft. 
 
72 LESSON 22. 
 
 42. Where, according to the Saviour's word, do these sins come 
 
 from? They proceed out of the heart. 
 
 43. When a man has evil desires towards his neighbor's goods, he 
 
 begins to look after them lustfully. Repeat the passage, 
 Prov. 23, 5. "Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is 
 not." 
 
 44. In the seventh chapter of Joshua we are told about a man by the 
 
 name of Achan who set his heart and cast his eyes on things 
 that were not his own. Read what he says, verse 21. 
 "When 1 saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, 
 and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of 
 fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them." 
 
 45. What was this coveting and taking? It was stealing. 
 
 46. When my neighbor has something that I need or want, how may 
 
 I rightfully get it? I may buy and pay for it. 
 
 47. Yes, I exchange my money for his goods. What do we call such 
 
 exchange? We call it buying and selling, or business. 
 
 48. What should we carefully guard against in all matters of busi- 
 
 ness? We should guard against dishonesty and fraud. 
 
 49. Repeat the passage 1 Thess. 4, 6. "That no man go beyond and 
 
 defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is 
 the avenger of all such." 
 
 50. In Lev. 19, 35. 36, there are some dishonest things in trade or 
 
 business spoken of, what are they? "Ye shall do no un 
 righteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight or in 
 measure. Just balances, just weights, just ephah, and a just 
 hin, shall ye have." 
 
 51. All short measure, light weight, all adulterations or taking advan- 
 
 tage of the ignorance or inexperience of customers is a sin 
 against the seventh commandment. What does the passage, 
 Luke 3, 13, warn against? "Exact no more than that which 
 is appointed you." 
 
 52. Thl= forbids all overcharging or exorbitant prices. We should 
 
 never ask more for a thing than it is honestly worth. Re- 
 peat the passage Prov. 28, 8. "He that by usury and unjust 
 gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that 
 will pity the poor." 
 
 53. Usury is unjust and exorbitant interest. We should never take 
 
 advantage of our neighbor's need and charge him more for 
 the use of money or goods, just because he is hard pressed 
 and must have them. What does the passage say of such 
 gain? It is unjust gain. 
 
 54. And what else is said of such gain? "He shall gather it for him 
 
 that will pity the poor." 
 
 55. Yes, he can not keep his unjust gain, it will be taken away from 
 
 him and given to others who are not so hard-hearted. When 
 a man borrows money or goods to what is he obligated? He 
 is obligated to pay it back again. 
 
 56. What does the passage Ps. 37, 21 say? "The wicked borroweth 
 
 and payeth not again." 
 
 57. What kind of people are they who carelessly go into debt and are 
 
 indifferent about payment? They are wicked people. 
 
 58. Wiien a man works for another, what does the one for whom he 
 
 works owe him? He owes him his wages. 
 
LESSON 22 73 
 
 59. Repeat the passage Jer. 22, 13. "Woe unto him that buildeth his 
 
 house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that 
 useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him 
 not for his work." 
 
 60. What does God say of the man who useth his neighbor's service 
 
 without wages? He says, woe unto him. 
 
 61. And this means that the curse of God rests on such a man. God 
 
 is very particular about this question of wages. Read what 
 is written, Lev. 19, 13. "Thou shalt not defraud thy neigh- 
 bor, neither rob him; the wages of him that is hired shall 
 not abide with thee all night until the morning." 
 
 62. And when a man works for wages he should be careful to do an 
 
 honest day's work. But when he is lazy and careless about 
 his work, how does he come by his wages? He comes by 
 them dishonestly. 
 
 63. Not only should we be careful ourselves not to steal, but we 
 
 should carefully avoid taking any part with thieves, as in 
 concealing stolen property, or covering up dishonesty. Read 
 what is written, Prov. 29, 24. "Whoso is partner with a thief 
 hateth his own soul." 
 
 64. There are people who are too lazy to work, and yet they want 
 
 to live. What do such people do for a living? They beg or 
 steal. 
 
 65. Yes, and one is as disgraceful as the other. What does the 
 
 Apostle say of such lazy people, 2 Thess. 3, 10. 11? "For 
 even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that 
 if any would not work, neither should they eat. For we hear 
 that there are some which walk among you disorderly, work- 
 ing not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such 
 we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with 
 quietness they work, and eat their own bread." 
 
 66. Read also what is written, Prov. 18, 9. "He also that is slothful 
 
 in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." 
 
 67. All gambling and betting comes under the head of unjust gain. 
 
 The gambler places his own money in jeopardy unnecessarily 
 and, if he gains, it is illgotten, for it is neither inherited, 
 earned, given, bought nor found. Gamblers are either too 
 lazy to work or to eager to get rich and in either case they 
 sin against God's order in the seventh commandment. So 
 what may we rightly call the gambler? The gambler is a 
 thief. 
 
 68. When the poor man of whom the Savior speaks in Luke 10. 30, 
 
 went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and to whom the good 
 Samaritan afterward showed such mercy, into v/hose hands 
 did he fall? He fell among thieves. 
 
 69. What did they do to him? They stripped him of his raiment 
 
 and wounded him. 
 
 70. Yes, they robbed him even of his clothes. How did they take 
 
 the man's goods? They took them by force. 
 
 71 . But not all thieves use force, in what other way is robbery often 
 
 committed? By frayd or deceit, 
 
74 LESSON 23. 
 
 LESSON 23. WHAT IS COMMANDED IN THE SEVENTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 86-88.) 
 
 1. Repeat the seventh commandment. "Thou shalt not steal." 
 
 2. What doQS this mean? "We should fear and love God that we 
 
 may not take our neighbor's money or goods, nor get them 
 by false wares or dealing; but help him to improve and pro- 
 tect his property and business." 
 
 3. Tell me first what is forbidden in this commandment (Question 
 
 84). "We should not steal; or not take our neighbor's money 
 or goods, nor get them by false wares or dealing." 
 
 4. (86) "What on the contrary is commanded us?" "That we help 
 
 our neighbor to improve and protect his property and busi- 
 ness." 
 
 5. To whom do all things originally belong? They belong to God. 
 
 6. Why do all things properly belong to God? Because He created 
 
 all things. 
 
 7. Yes, God is the rightful owner of all property. How then does 
 
 man come into the possession of money or goods? God gives 
 them to him. 
 
 8. Yes, and yet God does not give us these things to do with them 
 
 as we please. He is still the rightful owner and will call us 
 to an account for their use. In what way does a man hold 
 that for which he is supposed to render an account? He 
 holds it in trust. 
 
 9. When a man holds things in trust according to whose will must 
 
 he use them? According to the will of the owner. 
 
 10. God entrusts money and goods to us for our support in this 
 
 world. What may we secure with money? We may buy 
 food, drink, clothing, houses and the like. 
 
 11. What do we need these things for? We need these things to live. 
 
 12. Yes, but God is kind and would have us secure not only the bare 
 
 necessities of life. We may also have the comforts and en- 
 joymehts. Mention other things for the securing of which 
 we may use money, besides the mere necessities of life. We 
 may use money to get an education or to travel. 
 
 13. Yes, only when it comes to securing things that are not really 
 
 necessary, we should be careful not to drift into sinful indul- 
 gence. Then besides the things we need for the body what 
 other wants have we? We have spiritual wants. 
 
 14. Mention some things which we need for our spiritual welfare. 
 
 We need the word of God and the holy sacraments. 
 
 15. Where do we find the word of God and the sacraments? We find 
 
 them in the church. 
 
 16. What office has God established in the church in order that the 
 
 Word of God may be preached and the sacraments admin- 
 istered? He has established the office of the ministry. 
 
 17. How is the office of the ministry to be supported? It is to be 
 
 supported by the contributions of the church members. 
 
 18. This is plainly taught in Gal. 8, R. Turn to and read the passage. 
 
 "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him 
 that teacheth In all good things." 
 
 19. And again 1 Cor. 9, 14. "Even so the Lord hath ordained, that 
 
 they which preach the Gospel should live' of the Gospel." 
 
LESSON 23. 75 
 
 20. So it it evident tliat God wants us to use the money and goods 
 
 which he entrusts to us for the support of the ministry and 
 the church. He wants onr spiritual as well as our bodily 
 wants supplied. But we should not be selfish in the use of 
 money or goods. God has entrusted these things to us not 
 simply for our own use but also for the good of others. When 
 a husband or father earns money, for whose welfare, besides 
 his own, should he use his wages? For the welfare of his 
 wife and children. 
 
 21. Turn to and read the passage 1 Tim. 5, 8. "But if any provide 
 
 not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he 
 hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 
 
 22. But in looking after the bodily and spiritual wants of others we 
 
 should not only think of those of our own households. For 
 what other purpose should we use our money? For the 
 benefit of the poor. 
 
 23. Repeat the passage 1 John 3, 17. "Whoso hath this world's 
 
 goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his 
 bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of 
 God in him?" 
 
 24. If the love of God dwells in our hearts how will we show it to- 
 
 ward those who are in need? We will help them. 
 
 25. Read what is written, Deut. 15, 7. 8. "If there be among you a 
 
 poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in 
 thy land which the Lord thy God giv.eth thee, thou shalt not 
 harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor 
 brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and 
 Shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which 
 he wanteth." 
 
 26. Now repeat the passage Matt. 5, 42. "Give to him that asketh 
 
 thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not 
 away." 
 
 27. What two things does the Savior here ask of us? That we give 
 
 and lend. 
 
 28. What is the difference between giving and lending? When we 
 
 give a thing we do not expect it back again, but when we 
 only lend it we expect it to be paid back again. 
 
 29. When our neighbor is in need it may not always be necessary to 
 
 give him, but what may at times be sufficient? It may be 
 sufficient to lend him what he needs. 
 
 30. Read what the Savior says, Luke 6, 35. "But love ye your ene- 
 
 mies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and 
 your reward shall be great." 
 
 31. What does the Savior here tell us not to be too much concerned 
 
 about when we lend to those who are in need? About get- 
 ting it back again. 
 
 32. Yes, and this he says even in reference to our enemies. We 
 
 should be liberal with the things which God has so richly 
 
 given LIS. Wliat does Solomon say, Prov. 11, 25? "The lib- 
 era! soul shall be made fat." 
 
 33. Now read what the apostle writes, Eph. 4. 28. "Let him that 
 
 stole steal no more; but rather let him labor with his hands 
 the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him 
 that needeth." 
 84. What does the apostle here assign as a reason why we should 
 work? That we may have to give to those who are in need. 
 
76 LESSON 23, 
 
 35. What commandment did the Savior give his disciples with refer- 
 
 ence to the fi-agments that were left after he had fed the 
 multitude? John 6, 12. "Gather up the fragments that re- 
 main, that nothing be lost." 
 
 36. Yes, we should let nothing go to waste. If we have more of food 
 
 or clothing than we need for ourselves, what should we do 
 with it? We should give it to the poor. 
 
 37. Read what is written, Heb. 13, 16. "But to do good and to com- 
 
 municate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well 
 pleased." 
 
 38. And this doing good and giving does not simply refer to the 
 
 bodily wants of our neighbor. What else should we be con- 
 cerned about? We should also be concerned about his spir- 
 itual wants. 
 
 39. How can we help people who are without the word of God and 
 
 ministers of the Gospel? We can send them Bibles and mis- 
 sionaries. 
 
 40. Yes, this is a very proper and God-pleasing way of using our 
 
 money and goods. What do we call this work of supplying 
 the spiritually destitute with the means of grace? We call 
 it the worl< of missions. 
 
 41. (86) Now tell me from question 86 what is commanded us in 
 
 the seventh commandment? "That we help our neighbor to 
 improve and protect his property and business." 
 
 42. (87) "When is this done?" "When we, as his property and busi- 
 
 ness demand, come to his aid with word and deed." 
 
 43. Every man is concerned about improving his own financial con- 
 
 dition. We are anxious to get along well in the world. But 
 the I.iord says we should love our neighbor as ourselves. If 
 we do this then how will we feel al)out our neighbor's tem- 
 poral welfare? We will be concerned that he gets along 
 well in the world, that his financial condition is improved. 
 
 44. Wliat else does the commandment ask of us besides that we 
 
 improve our neighbor's property and business? That we 
 protect his property and business. 
 
 45. Against what should we protect our neighbor? We should pro- 
 
 tect him against loss. 
 
 46. Of this we have an example in the passage Ex. 23, 4. Repeat the 
 
 verse, "if thou meet thine enemy's ox or ass going astray, 
 thou shalt surely bring it back to him again." 
 
 47. When Joseph was set over Potiphar's house what was he con- 
 
 cei-ned about with reference to his master's property? He 
 was anxious to improve and protect it. 
 
 48. How did his master g?t along financially under Joseph's manage- 
 
 ment? He got along well under it. 
 
 49. Suppose our neighbor's property be in danger from fire or water 
 
 what does this seventh commandment demand of us? It de- 
 mands that we help save our neighbor's property. 
 
 50. Or if he is in danger of losing his property by thieves or swind- 
 
 lers what should we do? We should warn him. 
 
 51 . (88) "What is threatened in this commandment?" "Know ye 
 
 not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of 
 God?" 
 
 52. By the unrighteous are here meant those who do not do right, 
 
 who are not honest. What does the apostle say of such? 
 He says they shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 
 
LESSON 24. 77 
 
 53. Yes, unless dishonest men and thieves turn from their wicked- 
 ness and repent what will become of them? They can not 
 enter heaven, they will be lost forever. 
 
 LESSON 24. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE EIGHTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 89-94.) 
 
 1. (89) "Which is the eighth commandment?" "Thou shalt not 
 
 bear false witness against thy neighbor." 
 
 2. (90) "What does this mean?" "We should fear and love God, 
 
 that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame 
 our neighbor: but excuse him, speak well of him, and put 
 the best construction on everything." 
 
 3. (91) "What is forbidden in this commandment?" "We should 
 
 not bear false witness; or, not deceitfully belie, betray, slan- 
 der or defame our neighbor." 
 
 4. To bear witness or testimony means to say something about a 
 
 person. What kind of witness is spoken of in this command- 
 ment? False witness is spoken of. 
 
 5. Witness or testimony may be of what two kinds? It may be true 
 
 or false. 
 
 6. What is injured when false reports are spread about a man? 
 
 His good name is injured. 
 
 7. So what does God wish to protect in the eighth commandment? 
 
 God wishes to protect our neighbor's good name. 
 
 8. What does God wish to protect in the fifth commandment? He 
 
 protects our neighbor's life. 
 
 9. What does he protect in the seventh commandment? He pro- 
 
 tects our neighbor's property. 
 
 10. Now in the eighth commandment God protects that which is even 
 
 more valuable than property. Read the passage Prov. 22, 1. 
 "A good name is rather to be chosen than riches, and loving 
 favor rather than gold and silver." 
 
 11. What is it, then, that is more valuable than riches? A good 
 
 name is more valuable than riches. 
 
 12. A good name is worth more than silver or gold. Money can not 
 
 buy it nor bring it back when it is lost. By what kind of 
 witness or testimony is a man's good name injured? By 
 false witness. 
 
 13. In Liither's explanation of the eighth commandment, question 90, 
 
 he mentions various ways of bearing false witness, what are 
 they? We should not deceitfully belie, betray, slander or 
 defame our neighbor. 
 
 14. (92) "How is this done?" "In a twofold way: in common life 
 
 and in court." 
 
 15. (93) "When is it done in common life?" "When that is said of 
 
 our neighbor which is not true, or which in charity should 
 not be said, or when he is condemned unheard." 
 
 16. What is the first thing which Luther says we should not do to- 
 
 ward our neighbor? We should not deceitfully belie our 
 neighbor. 
 
78 LESSON :24. 
 
 17. What is a lie? A lie is an untruth. 
 
 18. Repeat the passage Eph. 4. 4. 2.5. "Wherefore putting away 
 
 lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are 
 members one of another." 
 
 19. What should we put away? We should put away lying. 
 
 20. That means, we should tell no lies at all. But the catechism 
 
 here adds a word, to describe lying. How does it say we 
 should not belie our neighbor? We should not deceitfully 
 belie our neighbor. 
 
 21. What object have men when they lie? They want to deceive. 
 
 22. What does the Savior say. John 8, 44, of the wicked .Jews who 
 
 lied so shamefully about him? "Ye are of your father the 
 devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a mur- 
 derer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, be- 
 cause there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie he 
 speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." 
 
 23. What does the Savior here call the devil? He calls him a mur- 
 
 derer and a liar. 
 
 24. Yes, and he says the devil is the father of lies. Whose followers 
 
 then are all liars? They are followers of the devil. 
 
 25. Not only should we not belie our neighbor, but what else is for- 
 
 bidden? We should net betray him. 
 
 26. To betray a thing means to tell it, to give it away. Which one 
 
 of the disciples betrayed the Savior? Judas Iscariot be- 
 trayed him. 
 
 27. Vvhat did he reveal to the high priests? He revealed the place 
 
 where they could find the Lord, to take him prisoner. 
 
 28. Repeat the passage Prov. 11, 1?>. "A tale-bearer revealeth se- 
 
 crets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the 
 matter." 
 
 29. What does this passage call the man who reveals secrets? It 
 
 calls him a tale-bearer. 
 
 30. What do scholars in school call children who are everlastingly 
 
 telling tales about others? They call them tattletales. 
 
 31. Yes, and, this tale-bearing is a mean, ugly habit. What does the 
 
 passage just repeated say of him that is of a faithful spirit? 
 It says, "He concealeth the matter." 
 
 32. Yes, so long as we can with a good conscience, we should keep 
 
 silence with reference to the weaknesses and faults of 
 others. And yet, it may become necessary to reveal secrets. 
 For instance, when others are in danger on account of the 
 matter. When Jonathan knew that his father, king Saul, 
 had determined to kill David, he did not keep this secret, 
 but what did he do? He warned his friend David. 
 
 33. What does charity require of us? Give me the answer by re- 
 
 peating the passage 1 Peter 4. 8. "Charity shall cover the 
 multitude of sins." 
 
 34. In Christian charity we should not uncover but cover up our 
 
 neighbor's sins. If we can say nothing good of a man, what 
 should we rather do? We should rather say nothing about 
 him. 
 
 35. We have now seen that we should not deceitfully belie nor be- 
 
 tray our neighbor, but what else is forbidden in this eighth 
 commandment? We should not slander or defame our neigh- 
 bor. 
 
LESSON 24. 79 
 
 36. To slander means to spread reports about our neighbor that are 
 
 injurious to his character. For instance, wlien the Jews 
 said of the Savior that he was a Samaritan and had the devil 
 (John 8, 48), what did they do to him? They slandered him. 
 
 37. How did Potiphar's wicked wife slander Joseph? She told her 
 
 husband that he wished to commit adultery with her. 
 
 38. What effect had this slander on Joseph? His master believed 
 
 him to be a bad man and had him put in prison. 
 
 39. What does the apostle say, James 4, 11? "Speak not evil one of 
 
 another." 
 
 40. Repent the passage Ps. .50, IG. 19. 20. "But unto the wicked God 
 
 saith: Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue 
 frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy 
 brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son." 
 
 41. Of whom are these things said? They are said of the wicked. 
 
 42. Tell me from question 93, the last clause, another way of trans- 
 
 gressing this commandment. When we condemn our neigh- 
 bor unheard. 
 
 43. What does it mean to condemn a man unheard? It means to 
 
 condemn him without a hearing. 
 
 44. Before we condemn a man, or believe a bad report concerning 
 
 him, what should we do after we have heard others? We 
 should hear him. 
 
 45. Yes, every man should be given a chance to defend himself. And 
 
 how long should we consider a man innocent? Until he is 
 proven guilty, 
 
 46. What does the Savior say, Luke 6, 37? "Judge not and ye shall 
 
 not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be condemned." 
 
 47. This commandment is trangressed not only in common life but 
 
 in what other way? Question 92. It is also transgressed in 
 court. 
 
 48. (94) "When is it done in court?" "When knowingly the un- 
 
 truth is told, or the truth is suppressed." 
 
 49. When a witness appears in court he is put under oath to tell the 
 
 truth, and the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as he 
 shall answer to God at the last great day. And all who are 
 officially connected with the court, such as the judge, the 
 jury and the lawyers are also under oath to search after 
 and determine what is the truth, and to render a just deci- 
 sion. But how often this oath is violated! Repeat the pas- 
 sage Prov. 17, 1.5. "He that justifieth the wicked and he that 
 condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the 
 Lord." 
 
 50. How did Pontius Pilate show himself to be this kind of an un- 
 
 just Judge in the trial of the Savior when the Jews asked 
 him to release Barabbas instead of Jesus? Matt. 27, 20-26. 
 He condemned the innocent Savior and released the guilty 
 Barabbas. 
 
 51. Now read what is written in Dent. 1, 17. "Ye shall not respect 
 
 persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as 
 the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the 
 judgment is God's." 
 
 52. Read also what is written, Ex. 23, 8. "And thou shalt take no 
 
 gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words 
 of the righteous." 
 
80 
 
 LESSON 25. 
 
 53. When a person accuses another falsely in court he sins grossly 
 
 against this commandment. So the Jews did against the 
 Savior. Read Luke 23, 2. "And they began to accuse him, 
 saying, we found this fellow perverting the nation and for- 
 bidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is 
 Christ a king." 
 
 54. Christians should avoid going to court with each other (1 Cor. 
 
 6, 1-8). They should settle their difficulties among them- 
 selves. To what does the apostle admonish us in Rom. 12, 
 18? "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peace- 
 ably with all men." 
 
 55. And yet, when a Christian is wrongfully accused he may ask the 
 
 protection of the court, as we see from the example of St. 
 Paul. Acts 23, 12-17; 25, 11. Read the latter passage. "For 
 if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of 
 death, I refuse not to die: but if there is none of these things 
 whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. 
 I appeal unto Cesar." 
 
 56. But when a man is guilty he should not deny his guilt. So 
 
 Joshua admonished Achan in Josh. 7, 19. Read the passage. 
 "And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, 
 glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto 
 him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from 
 me." 
 
 57. When a case is on trial in court, what is the duty of the wit- 
 
 nesses? Their duty is to tell the truth and the whole truth 
 and nothing but the truth. 
 
 58. What does Prov. 19, 5, say of a false witness? "A false witness 
 
 shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not 
 escape." 
 
 59. As instances of such false witnesses we might mention the 
 
 wicked men who testified against Naboth (1 Kings 21, 13). 
 And the false witnesses that were brought in against Jesus 
 (Matt. 26, 59-61). As also the witnesses who testified against 
 Stephen (Acts 6, 13. 14). What were all these wickqd men 
 guilty of? They were all guilty of false witness. 
 
 60. Read the passage Ex. 23, 1. "Thou shait not raise a false report: 
 
 put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous 
 witness." 
 
 61. No one should have a hand with wicked people, to help them 
 
 along in their wickedness, as is done when an attorney tries 
 by dishonest means to protect a criminal from just punish- 
 ment, or to have an innocent person condemned. Such was 
 the case when the Jews brought in the orator or attorney 
 Tertullus against Paul. Acts 24. 1-8. 
 
 LESSON 25. WHAT IS COMMANDED IN THE EIGHTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 95-97.) 
 
 Repeat the eighth commandment. "Thou shalt not bear false 
 
 witness against thy neighbor." 
 What does this mean? "We should fear and love God, that we 
 
 may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our 
 
 neighbor: but excuse him, speak well of him and put the 
 
 best construction on everything." 
 
LESSON 25. 
 
 81 
 
 3. What is forbidden in tliis commandment? We should not bear 
 
 false witness, or not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or de- 
 fame our neighbor. 
 
 4. (95) "What is enjoined in this commandment?" "That we ex- 
 
 cuse our neighbor, speak well of him and put the best con- 
 struction on everything." 
 
 5. (96) "When is this done?" "When we think and speak well of 
 
 our neighbor, and in ail things strive to be truthful." 
 
 6. What should we, according to this answer, do in regard to our 
 
 neighbor? We should think and speak well of him. 
 
 7. In order that we may speal^ well of him, what must we first do? 
 
 We must first think well of him. 
 
 8. Yes, for what should our words express? They should express 
 
 our thougths. 
 
 9. We should not have evil but good thoughts concerning our neigh- 
 
 bor. That is, we should have a good opinion of him. Re- 
 peat the passage Zech. 7, 10. "Let none of you imagine evil 
 against his brother in your heart." 
 
 10. To think well of a man is to consider him honest, and truthful. 
 
 When we are warned against imagining evil against our 
 brother how are we asked to regard him? We should re- 
 gard him as honest, good, truthful. 
 
 11. But suppose others tell us the opposite, how should we regard 
 
 such evil reports? We should not believe them. 
 
 12. It is just as bad to believe a false report as to start or repeat 
 
 one. How long should we regard a man innocent when we 
 hear bad reports about him? Until he is proven guilty. 
 
 13. What does Luther in his explanation of this commandment say 
 
 we should do in regard to our neighbor? We should excuse 
 him, speak well of him and put the best construction on 
 everything. 
 
 14. What is the first thing we should do? We should excuse him. 
 
 15. The character of a man's actions depends a great deal on his 
 
 motives. When Peter denied the Savior what moved him 
 to do so? He was frightened into it. 
 
 16. Yes, it was ncjt a -deliberate act, but one done in haste and under 
 
 pressure. But when .Tildas betrayed the Savior, from what 
 motive did he act? He did it for money. 
 
 17. Which was the greater sin? The sin of Judas. 
 
 18. Why was the sin of .Judas greater than that of Peter? Because 
 
 Peter acted in haste and Judas acted deliberately. 
 
 19. What then could we say as an excuse for Peter's sin? We could 
 
 say that he acted not from malice, but from fear. 
 
 20. In what words did the Savior i)ray for his enemies on the cross? 
 
 Luke 2?>, 34. "Father forgive them, for they know not what 
 they do." 
 
 21. What excuse did .Tesus bore offer for the sins of his enemies? 
 
 He said they did not know what they were doing. 
 
 22. Repeat the passage 1 Cor. 13, 7. "Charity believeth all things, 
 
 hopeth all things, endureth all things." 
 
 23. This means that, because we love our neighbor, we should 
 
 always believe and hope the best concerning him. Which 
 should we rather believe of him. good or evil? We should 
 rather believe the good, 
 
 6 
 
82 LESSON 25. 
 
 24. What else should we do besides excusing our neighbor? We 
 
 should speak well of him. 
 
 25. Yes, especially when others speak ill of him. Now read 1 Sam. 
 
 19, 4. "And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his 
 father and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his 
 servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against 
 thee, and, because his works have been to thee-ward very 
 good." 
 
 26. When Saul hated David and determined to Itill him, who was it 
 
 that in David's absence took his part and spoke good of him? 
 It was his friend Jonathan. 
 
 27. Read what Jonathan said of his friend, 1 Sam. 19, 5. "For he 
 
 put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the 
 Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest 
 it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against 
 innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?" 
 
 28. Now turn to 1 Sam. 22. 13. 14, and tell me who also spoke for 
 
 David and took his part before the wicked king? Ablmelech 
 the priest spoke well of David. 
 
 29. Yes, and he did it at the cost of his life. Now repeat Prov. 31, 
 
 8. 9. "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such 
 as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge 
 righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." 
 
 30. What is the matter with the dumb? He can not speak. 
 
 31. But when one is absent while others speak evil of him, he can 
 
 not speak for himself either, why? Because he is not presenv. 
 
 32. Yes, an absent one is in the same position as one that is dumb, 
 
 because he can not lake his own part. What are we asked 
 to do for those who can not speak for themselves? We are 
 to open our mouth and speak for them. 
 
 33. Now repeat the passage Matt. 18, 15-17. "if thy brother shall 
 
 trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee 
 and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy 
 brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee 
 one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three wit- 
 nesses every word may be established.* And if he shall neg- 
 lect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect 
 to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man 
 and a publican." 
 
 34. If anyone has wronged you, to whom should you speak about it 
 
 first of all? To him who has wronged me. 
 
 35. And who should be present when you speak to him about his 
 
 fault? No one, I should tell him of his fault between me and 
 him alone. 
 
 36. The Savior says: "If he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy 
 
 brother." He means you should rejoice over the* fact that 
 your brother has been gained; you should forgive him and 
 say no more about it. But in case he will not hear you what 
 should you do next? We should take one or two with us as 
 witnesses. 
 
 37. Yes, we should not make the matter public yet, but speak to him 
 
 again in the presence of a few friends. If he hear you and 
 acknowledge his fault, what should you do? i should for- 
 give him. 
 
 38. Yes, and bury the matter. But if he neglect to hear them, what 
 
 should you do? Tell it to the church. 
 
L£gso>J ^5. S3 
 
 S9 . That is, make it public, in order that the whole church may 
 admonish the erring brother. If he repent, what should the 
 church do? He should be forgiven. 
 
 40. But if he neglect to hear even the church, how should we regard 
 such a wicked person? The Savior says: "Let him be unto 
 thee as a heathen man and a publican." 
 
 "The Catechism tells us we should "put the best construction 
 on every thing." That is, so long as it is possible we must 
 consider a man innocent, and even when he is guilty of a 
 fault, we must not consider his case hopeless until every 
 possible effort has been made to gain him. Question 96 tells 
 us we should think and speak well of out neighbor, and what 
 else should we do? We should in all things strive to be 
 truthful. 
 
 42. Under Question 93 we learned the passage Eph. 4, 25. Repeat it 
 
 again. "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man 
 truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of an- 
 other." 
 
 43. What should every man speak with his neighbor? Every man 
 
 should speak truth with his neighbor. 
 
 44. What does the apostle urge as a reason why every man should 
 
 speak truth with his neighbor? "For we are members one 
 of another." 
 
 45. When the hand comes in contact with a hot stove it does not 
 
 deceive the body, but what message does it give? it tells 
 the body that the stove is hot. 
 
 46. W(hen the eye sees a white wall what does it report? It says 
 
 the wall is white. 
 
 47. Yes, the members of the body are truthful and so should we be 
 
 truthful to each other for we are members one of another. 
 What does the Savior say, Matt. 5, 37? "Let your commu- 
 nication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more 
 than these cometh of evil." 
 
 48. The Savior means: when you say yes, it ought to be yes; and 
 
 when you say no, it ought to be no. A man should be as 
 good as his word. What kind of people are they upon whose 
 word you can depend? They are truthful people. 
 
 49 . Read what is written, Prov. 2. 7, in the latter half of the verse. 
 
 "He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly." 
 
 50. That is God will protect those that speak the truth. Now read 
 
 1 Peter 2. 21-23. "For even hereunto were ye called: be- 
 cause Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, 
 that we should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither 
 was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, 
 reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not; but 
 committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." 
 
 51. The apostle here tells us to follow the example of Christ. What 
 
 did Christ do when he was reviled, that is scoffed and slan- 
 dered? He reviled not again. 
 
 52. What is said of his mouth, that is, his language? "Neither was 
 
 guile found in his mouth." 
 
 53. That is he never spoke to deceive. He spoke the truth under all 
 
 circumstances. He would rather die than lie. And what 
 does the apostle say of this example of the Savior? He says 
 we should follow his steps. 
 
84 Lesson 26. 
 
 54. (97) "What is tlie penalty of this commandment?" "Lying lips 
 
 are abomination unto the Lord" (Prov, 12, 22). "Tliou shalt 
 destroy them that speak leasing (lies): the Lord will abhor 
 the bloody and deceitful man." Ps. 5, 6. 
 
 55. How does God regard lying lips? They are abomination to him. 
 
 56. That is, he can't bear Iheni, he hates them. And what will he 
 
 do with them that speak lies? He will destroy them. 
 
 57. What kind -of man does God abhor, that is, hate? He abhors 
 
 the bloody and deceitful man. 
 
 58. Who is the bloody man? The murderer. 
 
 59. And who is the deceitful man? The liar. 
 
 60. Then what two kinds of men does God put on the same level' 
 
 .The murderer and the liar. 
 
 LESSON 26. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE NINTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 98-101.) 
 
 1. (98) "Which is the ninth commandment?" "Thou shalt not 
 
 covet thy neighbor's house." 
 
 2. (99) "What does this mean?" "We should fear and love God, 
 
 that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inher- 
 itance or house, nor obtain it by a show of right; but help 
 and be of service to him in keeping it." 
 
 3. (100) "What is forbidden in this commandmeni ?" "We should 
 
 not covet our neighbor's house; or not craftily seek to get 
 our neighbor's inheritance or house, nor obtain it by a show 
 of right." 
 
 4. Repeat the tenth commandment. Question ]()4. "Thou shalt not 
 
 covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid- 
 servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, or anything that is thy neigh- 
 bor's." 
 
 5. These two commandments begin with the same words. How do 
 
 they both begin? "Thou shalt not covet." 
 
 6. To covet means to desire', to lon2;-for. Turn to and read 1 Cor. 
 
 12, 31. "But covet eirnestly the best gifts." 
 
 7. What are Christians to ccvet? They are to covet the best gifts. 
 
 8. What does this mean? They are to desire or long for the best 
 
 gifts. 
 
 9. Read what is written Ps. 119, 40. "Behold, I have longed after thy 
 
 precepts." 
 
 10. Such longing is not wrong. What does the Savior say, L<uke 10, 
 
 24? "For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have de- 
 sired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen 
 them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not 
 heard them." 
 
 11. The apostles heard the Savior's preaching and saw his miracles, 
 
 and what desire had the prophets and kings of old? They 
 desired to see and hear the Savior. 
 
 12. Yes, and there was nothing wrong about this desire. But not all 
 
 longing is right, not all desires are good. When God here 
 says: thou shalt not covet, what kind of desires are for- 
 bidden? Evil desires are forbidden. 
 
LKSSON 26. 85 
 
 13. Read what is written, 1 Sam. 16, 7, in the latter part of the verse. 
 
 "For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on 
 the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 
 
 14. What do men look upon? They look upon the outward appear- 
 
 ance. 
 
 15. When God says: Thou shalt not steal, men are apt to think that 
 
 if they do not outwardly take their neighbor's money or 
 goods, this is all that God requires. But what are we told in 
 the passage you have just read? "The Lord looketh upon 
 the heart." 
 
 16. What does God see in our hearts even before they are expressed 
 
 in words and actions? He sees our thoughts. 
 
 17. Yes, even our thoughts and desires should not be contrary to 
 
 God's holy will. And how should we regard such thoughts 
 and desires that are contrary to God's will and word? We 
 should regard them as sinful. 
 
 18. In order that he might impress this important truth God has not 
 
 only said in the seventh commandment: Thou shalt not 
 steal, but what has he said in the ninth commandment? 
 "Thou shalt not cover thy neighbor's house." 
 
 19. Yes, and he not only said in the sixth commandment: Thou shalt 
 
 not commit adultery, but what has he said in the first part 
 of the tenth commandment? "Thou shalt not covet thy 
 neighbor's wife." 
 
 20. What should we not covet according to the ninth commandment? 
 
 We should not covet our neighbor's house. 
 
 21. (101) "What does this mean?" "We are not to seek or even wish 
 
 to bring our neighbor's inheritance or house into our posses- 
 sion in an unrighteous manner." 
 
 22. To covet here means wrongfully to desire or seek to get. The 
 
 word "covet" is what part of speech? It is a verb. 
 
 23. Give me the noun that corresponds with the verb covet. Covet- 
 
 ousness. 
 
 24. This means the desire to get and to hold. What do we call a 
 
 covetous man? We call him a miser. 
 
 25. How does the prophet, Isa. 5, 8, describe such people? "Woe 
 
 unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, 
 till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the 
 midst of the earth." 
 
 26. What does the prophet say of such greedy people? He says: 
 
 "Woe unto them." 
 
 27 . Yes, the curse of God rests on those, who never can get enough 
 
 and are always striving after more. Such were the Scribes 
 and Pharisees of Christ's time. What does the Savior say 
 to them. Matt. 2.3, 14? "Woe unto you, Scribes and Phari- 
 sees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses: therefore 
 ye shall receive the greater damnation." 
 
 28. What does he mean by saying: "Ye devour widows' houses?" 
 
 They robbed widows of their houses. 
 
 29. Yes, they were like hungry wolves. They never could get 
 
 enough. By all kinds of hooks and crooks they cheated the 
 poor widows out of their property, and yet what did they 
 make for a pretext? For a pretext they made long prayers. 
 
 30. In spite of their avarice and fraud what appearance did they put 
 
 on? They put on the appearance of great piety. 
 
86 Lesson 26. 
 
 31. What are such people who outwardly keep the law and in their 
 
 hearts break it? Such people are hypocrites. 
 
 32. And what does the Savior say will be the end of these hypo- 
 
 cries? "Therefore ye shall receive the greater damna- 
 tion." 
 
 33. Now repeat the passage, 1 Tim. 6, 6-10. "But godliness with con- 
 
 tentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the 
 world,, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And hav- 
 ing food and raiment, let us therewith be content. But they 
 that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into 
 many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in de- 
 struction and perdition. For the love of money is the root 
 of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred 
 from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many 
 sorrows." 
 
 34. What is here said of those who would be rich? "They fall into 
 
 temptation and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, 
 which drown men in destruction and perdition." 
 
 35. And what is further said of the love of money? The love of 
 
 money is the root of all evil. 
 
 36. Judas is a good illustration of this. What position did he hold 
 
 in the little company of Christ and his apostles? He was 
 the treasurer. 
 
 37. He not only handled the money, but what was his disposition in 
 
 money matters? He was a miser and a thief. 
 
 38. Yes, he loved money. And what did his love of money lead him 
 
 to do? It lead him to betray his Master. 
 
 39. How much did he get for betraying the Lord? He got thirty 
 
 pieces of silver. 
 
 40. So men will lie and steal, and kill and do every evil for money. 
 
 But how do these evil lusts finally end? They drown men 
 in destruction and perdition. 
 
 41. Yes, such people err from the faith and are lost. Read also 
 
 what is written Prov. 28, 20. "A faithful man shall abound 
 with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall 
 not be innocent." 
 
 42. In 1 Kings,"~chapler 21, we have recorded the story of King Ahab 
 
 and Naboth's vineyard. Let us look at it a moment. When 
 King Ahab offered to buy the vineyard of Naboth, what did 
 the latter answer? Verse 3. "And Naboth said to Ahab, 
 The Lord forbid me, that I should give the inheritance of my 
 fathers unto thee." 
 
 43. Why did Naboth prize the vineyard so highly, and refuse to sell 
 
 it? Because he had inherited it from his fathers. 
 
 44. Ahab was disappointed and angry and talked the matter over 
 
 with his wicked wife Jezebel. She now arranged to get the 
 vineyard for the King by fraud. How she did it we are told 
 in verse 10. What did she command the elders to do? 
 "And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear wit- 
 ness against him, saying, thou didst blaspheme God and the 
 King. And then carry him out and stone him, that he may 
 die." 
 
 45. This wicked plot was carried out, and after the murder of Na- 
 
 both, his property fell to the King. When Ahab could not 
 honestly get what he wanted how did his wife go about to 
 get it? She got it dishonestly, by fraud. 
 
LESSON 27. 87 
 
 46. And what did Jezebel do in order that the whole detestible fraud 
 
 might have the appearance of right? She hired two false 
 
 witnesses to testify that Naboth had blasphemed God and 
 the King. 
 
 47. She sought craftily to get her neighbor's inheritance or house. 
 
 Craft is shrewdness or trickery. So Jacob and his mother 
 by a trick defrauded his brother Esau out of his birthright 
 and the blessing which his father intended for him as the 
 first-born. Which of his two sons did Isaac intend to bless 
 and establish as the chief heir? His first born son Esau. 
 
 48. Which, however, received the blessing? The younger son Jacob. 
 
 49. What deception was practised on Isaac wlio in his old age had 
 
 lost his eye sight? He was made to believe that Jacob was 
 Esau. 
 
 50. So how did Jacob get the inheritance? He got it craftily, by a 
 
 trick. 
 
 51. And what was the relation between the brothers on account of 
 
 this fraud? Esau hated his brother, and intended to kill 
 him. 
 
 52. And what did Jacob do to save himself? He fled for his life to 
 
 his uncle Laban. 
 
 53. This was a punishment for the fraud of which he had been 
 
 guilty, and when his uncle Laban afterwards cheated him 
 out of his just wages of what should this unjust treatment 
 have reminded him? It should have reminded him of his 
 own sin against his brother. 
 
 LESSON 27. WHAT IS COMMANDED IN THE NINTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 102-103.) 
 
 1. Repeat the ninth commandment. "Thou shalt not covet thy 
 
 neighbor's house." 
 
 2. W^hat does this mean? "We should fear and love God that we 
 
 may not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inheritance or 
 house, nor obtain it by a show of right; but help and be of 
 service to him in keeping it." 
 
 3. What is forbidden in this commandment? We should not covet 
 
 our neighbor's house, or not craftily seek to get our neigh- 
 bor's inheritance or house. 
 
 4. This commandment deals with our neighbor's inheritance or 
 
 house, that is with his earthly possessions. We have seen 
 in the last lesson that we should not covet what is our 
 neighbors. We should not be covetous, that is greedy of 
 gain. Now to-day we will deal with the opposite disposition. 
 What do you say of a man who is not greedy for more? He 
 is satisfied with what he has. 
 
 5. Can you give me another word for this being satisfied with what 
 
 one has? The word contentment. 
 
 6. This disposition is spoken of in the first sentence of the passage 
 
 1 Tim. 6, 6-10. Repeat it. "But godliness with contentment 
 is great gain." 
 
88 LESSON 27. 
 
 7. What are godliness with contentment here called? They are 
 
 called great gain. 
 
 8. Naturally men want to gain. What are most men anxious to 
 
 gain? They are anxious to gain wealth. - 
 
 9. Yes, because they imagine wealth makes men happy. But this 
 
 is a great mistake, as we see from Eccles. 5, 10. Read the 
 passage. "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with 
 silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this also 
 is vanity." 
 
 10. What is the great gain spoken of in 1 Tim. 6, 6? Godliness with 
 
 contentment. 
 
 11. If a man is godly, that is if he fears, loves and trusts in God, 
 
 and is content with what God gives him, he is happy. Hap- 
 piness does not depend on the amount of this world's goods 
 that we possess, but rather upon what does it depend? It 
 depends on our being content with what we have. 
 
 12. So the apostle also admonishes us, Heb. lo, 5. Read the pas- 
 
 sage. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and 
 be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I 
 will never leave thee nor forsake thee." 
 
 1.3. What does the apostle warn against in the first part of this pas- 
 sage? He warns against covetousness. 
 
 ,14. And what does he urge upon us in the second part? To be con- 
 tent with such things as we have. 
 
 15. Then, in the last clause, he gives the reason why we should be 
 
 content. What is it? Because God has said: I will never 
 leave thee nor forsake thee. 
 
 16. In the passage which you repeated a l)it ago. 1 Tim. 6, 6, there 
 
 is another reason given why we should be content. What is 
 it? "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is cer- 
 tain we can carry nothing out." 
 
 17. What did we bring Avith us when we came into the world? We 
 
 brought riothing with us. 
 
 18. And what shall we take with us wlien we .l^o out of tlie world? 
 
 We will take nothing with us. 
 
 19. How foolish then to worry and fret over the things which we 
 
 have only the few years that we live in this world. Wherein 
 did Lazarus and the rich man differ duiing their life in this 
 world? The one was poor and the other was rich. 
 
 20. But what happened to both of them? They both died. 
 
 21 . And how much of his possessions did the rich man take with him 
 
 when he died? He took nothing with him. 
 
 22. What difference was there, with reference to earthly possessions, 
 
 between him and Lazarus when they came to die? There 
 was no difference. 
 
 23. Twice in this world all men are alike as far as earthly posses- 
 
 sions are concerned. Can you tell me when? When they 
 are born and when they die. 
 
 24. We have seen that we should be content. Wherewith should we 
 
 be content? "Having food and raiment let us therewith be 
 content." 
 
LESSON 27. 
 
 89 
 
 25. Pood, clothing and shelter, though of the simplest kind, is all 
 
 that we need. And when God in his mercy provides these 
 we should be content and thankful. The Savior himself is 
 the very best example of such contentment. What can you 
 say of him, as far as worldly possessions are concerned? 
 He was poor. 
 
 26. Yes, read what is written Matt. 8, 20. "The foxes have holes 
 
 and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man 
 hath not where to lay his head." 
 
 27. Read what is written of the Savior, 1 Cor. 8, 9. "For ye know 
 
 the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, 
 yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his pov- 
 erty might be rich." 
 
 28. The Savior was poor, not from necessity, but from choice. 
 
 He never complained of his poverty. He was content to 
 live from hand to mouth. What should we learn from his 
 example? We should learn to be content, 
 
 29. When he fed the multitude, he provided a very plain meal. 
 
 What did he feed them with? He gave them barley bread 
 and fish. 
 
 30. And this plain food was what he ate himself and with which he 
 
 was satisfied, though he was the very Son of God. What 
 should we learn from his example? We should learn to be 
 satisfied with plain living. 
 
 31. And before he gave the bread and fish to the multitude what did 
 
 he do? John 6, 11. He gave thanks. 
 
 32. So we should not only be satisfied with what God gives us but 
 
 what other lesson may we learn from the example of the 
 Savior? We should be thankful to God for his blessings. 
 
 33. When Abraham was called by God to leave his native land and 
 
 go to a country that God would show him, who went with 
 him? Gen. 12, 4. Lot went with him. 
 
 34. When pasture became scarce and there began to be strife be- 
 
 tween their servants how did Abraham propose to put an 
 end to the strife? Read Gen. 13, 8. 9. "And Abraham said 
 unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and 
 thee and between my herdmen and thy herdmen: for we are 
 brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thy- 
 self, i pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand 
 then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right 
 hand, then I will go to the left." 
 3.5. Abraham was willing to give his nephew the choice. He was not 
 determined to look out simply for his own interest. He was 
 not anxious to get rich. How did he show this? He gave 
 Lot the choice of the land and was willing .to take what was 
 left. 
 
 36. Abraham also showed this disposition on another occasion. His 
 nephew Lot had been taken captive. Abraham in company 
 with several princes pursued the enemies and delivered Lot. 
 As was the custom in war, there was much booty taken. 
 The king of Sodom now proposed that Abraham should take 
 these goods. Read what Abraham answered. Gen. 14, 22. 23. 
 "Abraham said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine 
 hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of 
 heaven and earth, that I will not take anything that is thine, 
 lest thou shouldst say, I have made Abraham rich." 
 
90 LESSON 28. 
 
 37. Here was a chance for Abraham to get great wealth but what 
 
 did he do? He refused to take anything. 
 
 38. He had not undertaken the war to get rich but (or what purpose? 
 
 To deliver his nephew from captivity. 
 
 39. Yes, and he was content when he had accomplished this. What 
 
 was he not anxious for? He was not anxious for money 
 and goods. 
 
 40. (102) "What is enjoined, in this commandment?" "That we help 
 
 and be of service to our neighbor in keeping his inheritance 
 or house." 
 
 41. (103) "When is this done?" "When we are heartily pleased at 
 
 our neighbor's prosperity, and seek to ward off from him all 
 losses, just as we would from ourselves." 
 
 42. What should we heartily be pleased with? We should be heart- 
 
 ily pleased with our neighbor's prosperity. 
 
 43. When things go well with our neighbor how should we feel 
 
 about it? We should be pleased. 
 
 44. And what should we seek to ward off from our neighbor? We 
 
 should seek to ward off from him all losses. 
 
 45. When our own property or goods are in danger what are we 
 
 anxious to guard against? We are anxious to guard against 
 loss. 
 
 46. And just so should we feel about our neighbor's property. For 
 
 how should we love our neighbor? We should love our 
 neighbor as ourselves. 
 
 47. Repeat the passage, Phil. 2, 4. "Look not every man on his own 
 
 things, but every man also on the things of others." 
 
 48. That means, we should not simply be concerned about out own 
 
 welfare but what should we also take an interest in? In 
 the welfare of others. 
 
 49. How did Abraham show this disposition in his dealings with his 
 
 nephew Lot? He gave him the choice of the land. 
 
 50. Yes, he looked not simply to his own things, for if he had done 
 
 so how would he have shown it? He would have taken the 
 best land himself. 
 
 51. The fact that he gave Lot the choice of iVe land showed what 
 
 disposition toward him? It showed that he was interested 
 in Lot's welfare. 
 
 52. Repeat the passage Gal. 5, 13. "By love serve one another." 
 
 53. God wants us to love one another. And what should this love 
 
 prompt us to do? It should prompt us to serve one another. 
 
 54. How should we help and be of service to our neighbor? We 
 
 should help and be of service to him in keeping his inher- 
 itance or house. 
 
 LESSON 28. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE TENTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Questions 104-107.) 
 
 C104) "Which is the tenth commandment?" "Thou shalt not 
 covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid- 
 servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, or anything that is thy 
 neighbor's." 
 
LESSON 28. * 91 
 
 2. (105) ' vVhat clOt^s iliit, mean"" "We should fear and love God 
 
 mat we may not estrange, force or entice away from our 
 neighbor his wife, servants, or cattle; but urge them to stay 
 and do their duty." 
 
 3. (106) "What is forbidden in this commandment?" "We should 
 
 not covet our neighbor's wite, nor his man-servant, nor his 
 maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is our neigh- 
 bor's; or not estrange, force or entice away from our neigh 
 bor his wife, servants or cattle." 
 
 4. Which word occurs in both the ninth and tenth commandment? 
 
 The word covet. 
 
 5. Give me another word for this word "covet." The word "desire." 
 
 6. A desire may be good or bad. What kind of desires are forbid- 
 
 den in these two commandments? Evil desires are here for- 
 bidden. 
 
 7. In the ninth commandment we are forbidden to have evil de- 
 
 sires against onr neighbor's house. What kind of evil de- 
 sires are forbidden first of all in this tenth commandment? 
 Evil desires against our neighbor's wife. 
 
 8. When husband and wife agree to live together in matrimony, 
 
 what do they promise each other? They promise to love 
 each other. 
 
 9. Yes, and to keep to each other throughout life. When a man 
 
 covets or has evil desires against his neighbor's wife, he 
 wishes that she love, not her hus])and, but whom? He 
 wishes that she love him instead of her husband. 
 
 10. He desires to estrange her from her husband, that is, he tries to 
 
 get her to treat her husband like she would treat whom? 
 Like she would treat a stranger. 
 
 11. Read what is written, (xen. 2, 24. "Therefore shall a man leave 
 
 his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; 
 and they shall be one flesh." 
 
 12. Here we are told that a husband shall clenve, that is, cli!::^ to. 
 
 his wife. And what would you say of a wife? She shai! 
 cling to her husband. 
 
 13. How shall husband and wife be regarded according to the last 
 
 clause in this verse? They are one flesh. 
 
 14. They are one. They belong to each other for life. Now when a 
 
 man covets his neighbor's wife, or a woman covets her 
 i.^eighbor's husband, how do they desire to interfere with this 
 re.'ation? They wish to separate husband and wife. 
 
 15. Yes, th;y wish to put asunder what God has joined together. 
 
 What do the scriptures say of such separation? Mark 10, 9. 
 "What therefor God hath joined together, let no rnan put 
 asunder." 
 
 16. An example of such sinful desire to separate husband and wife 
 
 we have in King Herod. What did .John the Baptist rebuke 
 Herod for? Read Mark (\, 17. 18. "For Herod himself had 
 sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison 
 for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife; for he had 
 married her. For John had said unto Herod, it is not lawful 
 for thee to have thy brother's wife." 
 
 17. Yes, Herod had coveted his brother's wife and enticed her away 
 
 from him. Another case of siich wicked coveting is that of 
 David against the wife of T'riali. Against which command- 
 ment did David sin when he coveted and took I lie wife of 
 l^riah? Against this tenth commandment. 
 
92 LESSON 28. 
 
 18. Yes, and the Lord severely yiiuished King David for 1 his sin. 
 
 But what else does the tenth commandment forbiu us to 
 covet besides our neighbor's wife? We should not covet his 
 servants. 
 
 19. Who are a man's servants? People whom he hires to do his 
 
 work. 
 
 20. What kind of servants do men like? They like good, faithful 
 
 servants. 
 
 21. Yes, and a good faithful servant is very valuable. When a man 
 
 or woman hire themselves out what is expected of them? 
 That they do their work faithfully and well. 
 
 22. What does the prophet say of servants, Mai. 1, 6? "A son hon- 
 
 oreth his father and a servant his master." 
 
 23. Servants should love, honor and obey their masters. Now when 
 
 a man covets his neighbor's servants what does he entice 
 them to cease doing? He tries to get them not to love, hon- 
 or and obey their masters. 
 
 24. And when a man thus tries to estrange and entice away from 
 
 his neighbor his servants, why does he do th 3? Because 
 he wants them himself." 
 
 25. He does this by running down his neighbor, discouraging the 
 
 servants, offering them more wages and the like. How does 
 all this affect a man's neighbor? It injures him. 
 
 26. The tenth commandment forbids us to covet not only our neign 
 
 bor's wife and servants but what else? Also his cattle. 
 
 27. What kind of animals do we call horses, cows, mules, sheep anr* 
 
 the like? We call them domestic animals. 
 
 28. Of what use are these domestic animals to us? We use them 
 
 for food, clothing, and work. 
 
 29. They are very valuable on that account. If a man h;is a good 
 
 horse or cow he prizes it very highly, and to lose it would 
 be a misfortune. If we are in need of such animalr how 
 may we get them? We may buy them. 
 
 30. Yes, and pay what they are honestly worth. But when the tenth 
 
 commandment says: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's 
 cattle," it means, Thou shalt not desire to get them dishon 
 estly. What do we call such dishonest dealing? We call it 
 cheating. 
 
 31. And the very desire to do this is sin. For God judgeth not sim- 
 
 ply our words and actions, but what does He regard and judge" 
 He judges our thoughts and desires. 
 
 32. 7his we see from 1 Sam. 16, 7, the last clause. "For the Lord 
 
 seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward 
 appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 
 
 33. (107) "When do we transgress this commandment?" "When 
 
 we have even the least evil desire in our hearts for that 
 which is our neighbor's." 
 
 34. What does this answer speak of? Of evil desire. 
 
 35. Evil is that which is against God's will, then what are evil de 
 
 sires? Desires that are against God's will. 
 
 36. Where do we find such evil desires? We find them in our hearts. 
 
 37. Yes, for so the Savior describes the human heart in Matt. 15, IP 
 
 Repeat the passage, you learned it under the sixth com 
 mandment. "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, mur- 
 ders, adulteries, fornications, thefta, false witness, blas- 
 phemies." 
 
LESSON 29. 93 
 
 38. These evil thoughts are the root aiad source of evil words and 
 
 . actions. But the root of a thing is of the same character 
 as the thing itself. A salty stream flows from what kind of 
 a spring? It flows from a salty spring. 
 
 39. If then it is a sin to steal, what must we say of the thoughts 
 
 and desires which lead to stealing? These thoughts and de- 
 sires are also sinful. 
 
 40. What judgment does God pass on the heart of man in (Jen. 8, 21? 
 
 "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." 
 
 41. The imagination of man's heart here means his thoughts and 
 
 desires. And what does God say of these? He says they 
 are evil. 
 
 42. Yes, and they are evil not only when he grows older, but what 
 
 does God say? He says they are evil from his youth. 
 
 43. Did God create man evil? No, he created him good. 
 
 44. But how do we find man now? We find him evil. 
 
 45. Yes, in his thoughts, words and deeds he is bad. So God says 
 
 of the people at the time of the flood. Gen. 6, 5. Repeat the 
 passage. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was 
 great in the earth, and that every imagination of the 
 thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." 
 
 46. Read also what Job says, chap. 15, 1446. "What is man, that 
 
 he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that 
 he should be righteous? Behold he putteth no trust in his 
 saints. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which 
 drinketh iniquity like water?" 
 
 47. Now children, examine your hearts. Try to see them as God 
 
 sees them, and what will you find? We find them full of 
 sins. 
 
 48. They are full of what kind of desires? They are full of evil 
 
 desires. 
 
 49 . Our hearts are by nature like the ground. What does the ground 
 
 bring forth of itself? It brings forth weeds. 
 
 50. And so what do our hearts bring forth? They bring forth sin. 
 
 51. Yes, sin is natural to us, since the fall of our first parents, just 
 
 as natural as it is for the earth to bring forth weeds. When 
 God says: "Thou shall not covet anything that is thy neigh- 
 bor's," he forbids even the least evil desire. For what is 
 even the least evil desire. It is sin. 
 
 LESSON 29. WHAT IS COMMANDED IN THE TENTH 
 COMMANDMENT. 
 
 (Question 108-110.) 
 
 Repeat the tenth commandment. "Thou shalt not covet thy 
 neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, 
 nor his ox, nor his ass, or anything that is thy neighbor's." 
 
 What does this mean? "We should fear and love God, that we 
 may not estrange, force or entice away from our neighbor 
 his wife, servants or cattle; but urge them to stay and do 
 their duty." 
 
94 LESSON 29. 
 
 3. What is forbidden in this commandment? We should not covet 
 
 our neighbor's wife, servants or cattle, or not estrange, force 
 or entice them away from him. 
 
 4. (108) "What is enjoined on us here?" "We should urge our 
 
 neighbor's wife and servants to stay and do their duty." 
 
 5. You all remember the story of Joseph. In whose house was he 
 
 a servant? In the house of Potiphar. 
 
 6. What awful sin did Potiphar's wicked wife ask Joseph to commit 
 
 with her? The sin of adultery. 
 
 7. Now let us see what Joseph said to this wicked woman who was 
 
 so unfaithful to her husband. Read Gen. 39, 9. "There is 
 none greater in the house than !; neither hath he (Potiphar) 
 kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his 
 wife: how can I do this great wickedness and sin against 
 God?" 
 
 8. Joseph here reminded the woman of the confidence her husband 
 
 put in him and of what relation did he remind her with ref- 
 erence to her husband? He reminded her of the fact that 
 she was his wife. 
 
 9. And of what duty did he thereby also remind her? That she 
 
 should be faithful to her husband. 
 
 10. She was on the fair way of deserting her husband, in fact, in her 
 
 heart she was already unfaithful to him. When Joseph 
 spoke of her being Potiphar's wife against what sin did he 
 warn her? Against the sin of being unfaithful to hep hus- 
 band. 
 
 11. So Joseph acted in accordance with the tenth commandment. 
 
 He urged the woman "to stay and do her duty." Now let 
 us see a case in which the apostle Paul urges a man-servant 
 to return to his master and be obedient. Paul had a friend 
 by the name of Philemon, who had a servant or slave called 
 Onesimus. This servant had run away from his master. 
 Afterwards this runaway servant became a Christian 
 through Paul's preaching; now read what the apostle did 
 with him.- Philemon, Verse 12. "Whom I have sent again: 
 thou therefore receive him." 
 
 12. Paul sent the servant Onesimus back again to his master and 
 
 asked the latter to receive him kindly. Thus he urged One- 
 simus to stay with his master and do his duty. Now let us 
 also see a case in which a maid-servant was urged to return 
 to her mistress and be obedient to her. Who was Abraham's 
 wife? Sarah was Abraham's wife. 
 
 13. Sarah had a maid-servant by the name of Hagar. Hagar was 
 
 offended at her mistress and ran away. Now read what the 
 angel of the Lord said to Hagar when he found her in the 
 wilderness. Gen. Ifi, 9. "And the angel of the Lord said 
 unto her, return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under 
 her hands." 
 
 14. What did he urge her to do? He urged her to go back and do 
 
 her duty. 
 
 1.^). Now read what is written, Deut. 22. 1. "Thou shalt not see thy 
 brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from 
 them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy 
 brother." 
 
LESSON 29. 95 
 
 16. Not only should we urge our neighbor's wife and servants to 
 
 stay with him and do their duty, but what is here said of his 
 domestic animals? We should bring them back to him in 
 case they have strayed away. 
 
 17. Yes, we should do all we can to protect our neighbor against 
 
 loss. We should further his interests as we would whose? 
 As we would our own. 
 
 18. Tell me this with a scripture passage. "Thou shalt love thy 
 
 neighbor as thyself." 
 
 19. (109) "When do we fulfill this commandment?" "When we 
 
 are perfectly holy and just, as God originally created us." 
 
 20. How should we be according to this answer? We should be per- 
 
 fectly holy and just. 
 
 21. What does God say, Lev. 19, 2? "Ye shall be holy: for I the 
 
 Lord your God am holy." 
 
 22. What does the Lord our God here say of himself? He says that 
 
 he is holy. 
 
 23. And just because he himself is holy what must he ask of us? 
 
 He must ask of us to be holy. 
 
 24. If he were satisfied with anything less on our part, he would not 
 
 be holy, that is, pure, and perfect himself. A holy God can 
 be pleased only with what kind of people? He can be 
 pleased only with holy people. 
 
 25. Give me another word for the word "holy." The word "pure." 
 
 26. You have learned a passage in which the word "pure" occurs. 
 
 Repeat it. "Blessed are the pure In heart: for they shall see 
 God." 
 
 27. Who shall stand before God and see him? The pure in heart. 
 
 28. Children, note that the Savior here says not simply the pure in 
 
 words and acts, but what does he say? "Blessed are the 
 pure in heart." 
 
 29. Can you give me still another word for the word "holy?" The 
 
 word "perfect." 
 
 30. You have also learned a passage in which this word occurs. Re- 
 
 peat it. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which 
 is in heaven is perfect." 
 
 31. How does the Savior want us to be, according to this passage? 
 
 He wants us to be perfect. 
 
 32. Children, take notice of this. Many people think that if we do 
 
 as near right as we can. God will be satisfied. This is a 
 great mistake. For the Savior here says not: be ye there- 
 fore as near perfect as ye can, but what does he say? "Be 
 ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is 
 perfect." 
 
 33. How is our Father in heaven? He is perfect. 
 
 34. God is a perfect being, and when he made man how did he make 
 
 him? He made him perfect. 
 
 35. Read what is written. Gen. 1, 31. "And God saw everything that 
 
 he had made, and behold, it was very good." 
 
 36. God is good and perfect and could not but make good, that is, 
 
 perfect creatures. What was the last thing that God made? 
 The last thing that God made was man, that is human 
 beings. 
 
 37. Now read what is written. Gen. 1, 27. "So God created man in 
 
 his own image, in the image of God created he him." 
 
96 LESSON 30. 
 
 38 . The image of a person is a likeness or picture of tlie person. So 
 
 man was like whom when he was created? He was like 
 God. 
 
 39. In what respect was man like his holy Maker? He was holy. 
 
 40. In the answer to question 109 we are told how God created us. 
 
 Tell me. He created us perfectly holy and just. 
 
 41. So why has God a right to ask us to be perfectly holy and just? 
 
 Because he created us so. 
 
 42. Are we still in this condition? We are not. 
 
 43. But remember, it is not God's fault that we are no longer in the 
 
 condition in which he created us. He is the same holy and 
 unchangeable God, and therefor what does he still ask of us? 
 He still asks us to be holy and just. 
 
 44. (110) "What is threatened in this commandment?" "When 
 
 lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin when it is 
 finished, bringeth forth death." .James 1, 15. 
 
 45. Here the apostle describes the course of sin. What does he 
 
 first speak of? He first speaks of lust. 
 
 46. By this he means evil desire. When evil desires are kept and 
 
 nursed in the heart, what do they bring forth? They bring 
 forth sin. 
 
 47. If we would avoid sinful words and acts what must we do with 
 
 lust or evil desires? We must crowd them out of our 
 hearts. 
 
 48. If we take pleasure in such sinful desires this in itself is sin, 
 
 and how will such sinful desires find expression? They will 
 find expression in sinful words and acts. 
 
 49. And when sin is thus done, or as the apostle says, is finished, 
 
 what does it bring forth? It bringeth forth death. 
 
 50. What did God say to Adam in the garden of Eden, Gen. 2, 16. 17? 
 
 "And the Lord God commanded, saying, Of every tree in the 
 garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowl- 
 edge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the 
 day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 
 
 51. Now read what St. Paul says, Rom. 6, 23, the first clause. "For 
 
 the wages of sin is death." 
 
 52. Sin and death are related to each other like cause and effect. 
 
 When man sinned he became subject to death. Now read 
 Rom. 5, 12. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the 
 world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men for 
 that all have sinned." 
 
 53. So why are all men subject to death? Because they are all 
 
 sinners. 
 
 LESSON 30. THE CONCLUSION, THE EARNEST THREAT. 
 
 (Question 111-117.) 
 
 (Ill) "What does God say of all these commandments?" "He 
 says thus: 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 com- 
 mandments." 
 
LESSON 30. 97 
 
 2. (112) "What does this mean?" "God threatens to punish all that 
 
 transgress these commandments. Therefore we should fear 
 his wrath and not act contrary to these commandments. 
 But he also promises grace and every blessing to all that 
 keep these commandments. Therefore we should also love 
 and trust in him and willingly do according to his command- 
 ments." 
 
 3. Let us turn to the 20th chapter of Exodus and read the com- 
 
 mandments in the order in which God gave them. Now tell 
 me, after which commandment do we find the words: "I, the 
 Lord, thy God, am a jealous God etc?" We find them after 
 the first commandment. 
 
 4. But where did Luther put them in the Catechism? He put them 
 
 at the end of all the commandments. 
 
 5. (113) "Why did Luther place these words at the close of the 
 
 Ten Commandments?" "Because they pertain not only to 
 the first, but to all the Ten Commandments." 
 
 6. We may read these words in connection with the first command- 
 
 ment thus: I am the Lord, thy God. Thou shalt have no oth- 
 er gods before me, for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, 
 visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children etc. 
 Now you may in the same way repeat these word in con- 
 nectioji with the second commandment. "Thou shalt not 
 take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain, for I, the Lord 
 thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fath- 
 ers upon the children, etc." 
 
 7. Now repeat them in connection with the fifth commandment. 
 
 "Thou shalt not kill, for I the Lord, thy God, am a jealous 
 God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 
 etc." 
 
 8. So you see that these word refer not only to the first command- 
 
 ment but to each of the ten, and on that account where did 
 Luther place them in the Catechism? He placed them at the 
 end of the ten commandments. 
 
 9. What do we therefore call these words? Tell me from the head- 
 
 ing of today's lesson. We call them the conclusion of the 
 ten commandments. 
 
 10. (114) "What does this conclusion contain?" "An earnest threat 
 
 against all who transgress these commandments, and a gra- 
 cious promise for all who keep them." 
 
 11. How many things do these words contain? They contain two 
 
 things. 
 
 12. What is the first? The first is an earnest threat. 
 
 13. (115) "What is that earnest threat?" "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." 
 
 14. What does God here call himself? He calls himself the Lord, our 
 
 God. 
 
 15. In which commandment do we find these same words? We find 
 
 them in the first commandment. 
 
 16. If God is Lord what has he a right to do? He has a right to com- 
 
 mand. 
 
 17. If he is our Lord what are we? We are his servants. 
 
 18. If it is his to command what is our duty? It is our duty to obey. 
 
98 LESSON 30. 
 
 19. But he not only calls himself our Lord but what does he add? 
 
 He adds: "Thy God." 
 
 20. As God he is our highest good, our greatest benefactor, what do 
 
 we owe him for his great goodness and mercy? We should 
 love and obey him. 
 
 21. But what kind of a God does the Lord call himself in these words? 
 
 He calls himself a Jealous God. 
 
 22. God is jealous of his honor. He cannot consent to be treated as 
 
 one among many. Read what is written Isa. 42, 8. "I am 
 the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to 
 another, neither my praise to graven images." 
 
 23. He is in earnest when he gives us these commandments. God 
 
 always means what he says. What does he here say with 
 reference to iniquidy? He says that he will visit it. 
 
 24. What does he mean by visiting iniquity? He means that he will 
 
 punish it. 
 
 25. Read what is written Ps. 7, 11-13. "God judgeth the righteous and 
 
 God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, He 
 will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it 
 ready. He hath prepared for him the instruments of death; 
 he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors." 
 
 26. Whom does God threaten to punish? He threatens to punish all 
 
 those who transgress these commandments. 
 
 27. Men sometimes make threats which they never mean to and nev- 
 
 er do carry out. Not so with God. He threatens to punish 
 sin and he does punish it. He punishes it in time and eter- 
 nity. Let us see some examples of how God punishes sin. 
 How did God once punish the whole world on account of sin? 
 By sending the flood. 
 
 28. How did he once punish two specially wicked cities by an awe- 
 
 ful visitation from heaven? He rained fire and brimstone 
 from heaven and destroyed the cities of Sodom and Go- 
 morrah, 
 
 29. How were wicked King Pharaoh and his godless people punished 
 
 for refusing to obey God's command? God sent terrible 
 plagues upon them and they were at last drowned in the Red 
 Sea. 
 
 30. Read what is written Gen. 2. 17. "But of the tree of the knowl- 
 
 edge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day 
 that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 
 
 31. What did God threaten should be the result of sin? He threat- 
 
 ened that death should be the result of sin. 
 
 32. And from the fact that as a result of sin all men must die we see 
 
 how terribly in earnest God is •in this threat. God punishes 
 sin in this world, not only by all manner of calamities and 
 death, but also by the tortures of an evil conscience. When 
 Cain killed his brother Abel, what did God say to him? Gen. 
 4, 11. "And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath 
 opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy 
 hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth 
 yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt 
 thou be in the earth." 
 
 33. Cain had no rest anywhere. He was constantly afraid someone 
 
 would kill him as he had killed his brother. What do we 
 call that inward feeling of fear and dreid which gives an 
 evil doer no rest night or day? We call it conscience. 
 
LESSON 30. 99 
 
 34. So the curse of God rests upon the wicked. What was it that 
 
 finally led Judas to despair and take his own life when he 
 had betrayed his Lord and Master? It was his conscience. 
 
 35. Yes, children, an evil conscience is the very curse of God. For 
 
 a while its voice may be suppressed; it may be put to sleep, 
 but when it awakes it is like a consuming fire. David, af- 
 ter his sad fall into sin felt the hand of God resting heavy 
 upon him. Read what he says Ps. 32, 3. 4. "When I kept si- 
 lence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day 
 long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; my 
 moisture is turned into the drought of summer." 
 
 36. But God punishes sin not only in this world but also in the world 
 
 to come. Read what is written concerning the wicked in 
 Rev. 14, 11. "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up 
 forever and ever." 
 
 37. And again read what is said of the wicked Math. 25, 46. "And 
 
 these shall go away into everlasting punishment." 
 
 38. But God does not simply say in this conclusion that he will visit, 
 
 that is, punish iniquity, but what does he add? He adds: 
 "Of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth 
 generation of them that hate me." 
 
 39. When people hate God how do they show it? They show it by 
 
 transgressing his commandments. 
 
 40. As love of God is the source of all true obedience to God, so what 
 
 is the real source of all disobedience? The hatred of God. 
 
 41. And this hatred of God and the sinfulness which flows from it is 
 
 transplanted from one generation to another. Wicked fath- 
 ers and mothers usually have what kind of children? They 
 usually have wicked children. 
 
 42. So we find that not only sin but also its curse is handed down 
 
 from parents to children. When a drunkard wastes his mon- 
 ey and ruins his health not only he himself suffers, but who 
 suffers with him? His wife and children. 
 
 43. So we find that sickness, misery and death are often handed down 
 
 from parents to children as the result of sin. By what word 
 do we express this? We say children inherit these things 
 from their parents. 
 
 44. (116) "When does God punish also the children for the sins 
 
 of their parents?" When they follow in the footsteps of 
 their wicked parents." 
 
 45. Canaan was the wicked son of Ham, the second son of Noah. 
 
 Ham was a scoffer and made light of his father, and Noah in 
 the name of God cursed not only Ham but also his son Ca- 
 naan. Gen. 9, 25. Why was this? Because Canaan followed the 
 footsteps of his wicked father. 
 
 46. What did the wicked .Tews cry out with reference to themselves 
 
 and their children when Pilate wanted to release the Savior? 
 "His blood come upon us and our children." 
 
 47. This was an awful thing to say. The curse of God which they 
 
 called down upon themselves and upon their children still 
 
 rests upon them. They hated the Savior and rejected him 
 
 and what did also their children do? They also hated and 
 rejected the Savior. 
 
100 LESSON 31. 
 
 48. And therefore tJieii city was destroyed, tneir land devastated, 
 
 their nation dispersed, and they have been hated and per- 
 secuted, despised and rejected bv evei'y nation under neav- 
 en. Why do tlie Jews of today still suffer for the sins of their 
 fathers? Because they have followed in the footsteps of 
 their fathers. 
 
 49. But if children do not follow in the footsteps of their wicked par- 
 
 ents, but repent and become pious children of God, then 
 what will God surely not do? He will not punish them for 
 the sins of their fathers. 
 
 50. This we see from Ezek. 18, 20. Repeat the passage. "The soul 
 
 that sinneth it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity 
 of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the 
 son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, 
 and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." 
 
 51. Even pious children may have to bear the temporal consequences 
 
 of the sins of their wicked parents and ancestors, but when 
 this is the case it is not to be looked upon as a curse, 
 but as a fatherly chastisement for their own temporal and 
 eternal good. This we see from Rom. 8, 28. Read the pass- 
 age. "And we know that all things work together for good 
 to them that love God., to them who are the chosen accord- 
 ing to his purpose." 
 62. (117) "Why did God add this threat?" "That we may fear hit, 
 wrath and not act contrary to these commandrr.onts." 
 
 53. What should we fear? We should fear God's wrath. 
 
 54. What does God hate? God hates sin. 
 
 55. Yes, and the wrath of God is dreadful, something to fear indeed. 
 
 The Savior himself speaks of this in the second part of the 
 passage Math. 10, 37. Read it. "But rather fear Him which 
 is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 
 
 56. Read also what is written of God in Deut. 4, 24. "For the Lord, 
 
 thy God, is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." 
 
 57. We should fear the wrath of God and to what should this lead 
 
 us? Not to act contrary to his commandments. 
 
 58. Read in this connection also Prov. 16, 6. "By the fear of the Lord 
 
 men depart from evil." 
 
 LESSON 31. THE GRACIOUS PROMISE. 
 
 (Questions 118-119.) 
 
 What does God say of all the commandments? "He says thus: 
 I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of 
 the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth gen- 
 eration of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto 
 thousands of them that love me and keep my command- 
 ments." 
 
 What does this mean? "God threatens to punish all that trans- 
 gress these commandments. Therefore we should fear his 
 wrath, and not act contrary to these commandments. But 
 he promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these 
 commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in 
 Him and willingly do according to His Commandments." 
 
 How many parts does this conclusion of the ten commandments 
 contain? It contains two parts. 
 
LESSON 31 101 
 
 4. Repeat the first part. "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 m«," 
 
 5. What are these words? These words are an earnest threat. 
 
 6. What does God threaten in these words? He threatens to punish 
 
 all who transgress these commandments. 
 
 7. But what else does this conchision contain besides an earnest 
 
 threat? It also contains a gracious promise. 
 
 8. (118) "Which is the gracious iiromise?" "I will show mercy 
 
 unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my command- 
 ments." 
 
 9. What does God in these words promise? He promises grace and 
 
 every blessing. 
 
 10. To whom does He promise grace and every blessing? To all 
 
 who keep these commandments. 
 
 11. To which one of the commandments did God add a special prom- 
 
 ise? He added a special promise to the fourth command- 
 ment. 
 
 12. What is this special promise? "That it may be well with thea 
 
 and thou mayest live long in the earth." 
 
 13. Although God makes a special promise with reference to the 
 
 fourth commandment yet he promises to bless obedience to 
 all the commandments. This we see from Deut. 5, 29. What 
 does God here say of his people? "Oh that there were such 
 a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my 
 commandments always, that it might be well with them, and 
 with their children forever. 
 
 14. What does God here say of those who keep his commandments? 
 
 He says it shall be well with them and with their children 
 forever. 
 
 15. Read also what is written Psalm 119, 165. "Great peace have 
 
 they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." 
 
 16. What shall they have who love the law of God? They shall have 
 
 great peace. 
 
 17. That is, their conscience shall not trouble them. A quiet con- 
 
 science is one of the greatest of God's blessings. Now read 
 what is written Psalm 19, 11, concerning God's command- 
 ments. "Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in 
 keeping of them is great reward." 
 
 18. The keeping of God's commandments not only brings inward hap- 
 
 piness. But what does God say of the keeping of his com- 
 mandments? He says in keeping of them there is great re- 
 ward. 
 
 19. So we read in the 128th Psalm verses 1 and 2. "Blessed is every 
 
 one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For 
 thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, 
 and it shall be well with thee." 
 
 20. Peace and prosperity are promised as a reward to those who walk 
 
 in the way of God's commandments. What does the apostle 
 write 1 Tim. 4, 8? "But godliness is profitable unto ail 
 things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of 
 that which is to come." 
 
102 LESSON 31, 
 
 21. It is profitable to be godly. It pays to be good. The righteous 
 
 are a thousand times better off even in this world than the 
 wicked, for not only does God bestow upon them his choic- 
 est gifts, but even the afflictions which they endure God over- 
 rules for their good as we see from Rom. 8, 28. Read the 
 passage. "We know that all things work together for good 
 to them that love God." 
 
 22. Abraham was a God-fearing man and walked in the way of God's 
 
 commandments. How did the Lord bless him? He gave him 
 great wealth and made him a great nation. 
 
 23. When Solomon walked in the way of God's commandments and 
 
 asked the Lord for wisdom what did God give him in ad- 
 dition? He gave him both riches and honor. 
 
 24. We have seen above that in keeping of God's commandments 
 
 there is great reward. This reward is not confined to this 
 world. But even where will God reward those who serve 
 him faithfully? He will reward them in the world to come. 
 
 25. This we see from Math. 5, 12. Read the passage. "Rejoice and 
 
 be exceeding glad: for great Is your reward in heaven." 
 
 26. In this same chapter, verse 8, what is said of the pure in heart? 
 
 "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." 
 
 27. God promises to reward those that keep his commandments. Now 
 
 let us see what kind of a reward this is. When a man pays 
 another his debts, what does his creditor owe him for so do- 
 ing? He owes him nothing. 
 
 28. No, when the debtor pays his debts, he simply does his duty and 
 
 the creditor is under no obligation to him. Now what do we 
 owe God with reference to his commandments? We owe him 
 obedience. 
 
 29. And what does God owe us when we simply do our duty? He owes 
 
 us nothing. 
 
 30. None of us keep the commandments of God perfectly, but even 
 
 if we did what would God owe us for it? He would owe 
 us nothing. 
 
 31. So the Savior plainly teaches us Luke 17, 10. Read the passage. 
 
 "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things 
 which are commanded you, say: we are unprofitable ser- 
 vants; we have done that which was our duty to do." 
 
 32. And yet, although we deserve no reward, God has promised to 
 
 reward us. This is not a reward of merit. What is it that 
 induces God to promise such a reward? It is his love and 
 mercy. 
 
 33. Yes, or his grace. Then what kind of a reward is it? It is a gra- 
 
 cious reward. 
 
 34. What does God say he will show to those who keep his com- 
 
 mandments? He will show mercy. 
 
 35. And to whom will he show mercy? He will show mercy to those 
 
 who love him and keep his commandments. 
 
 36. He promises to bless not those who only outwardly keep the com- 
 
 mandments, but whom does he promise to bless? He prom- 
 ises to bless those who love him and keep his command- 
 ments. 
 
 37. In God's eyes the character of an act depends upon the motive 
 
 from which it is done. What is the true motive for keep- 
 ing God's commandments? Our love to him. 
 
LESSON 31. 103 
 
 38. How has Luther expressed this in his explanation of each one 
 
 of the commandments? He begins all these explanations 
 with the words: "We should fear and love God." 
 
 39. When we really love God how will we show it? We will show it 
 
 by keeping his commandments. 
 
 40. So the Savior himself says in John 14, 15. Read the passage. "If 
 
 ye love me keep my commandments." 
 
 41. God promises to liless those who keep his commandments. To 
 
 whom is he willing to show mercy? Unto thousands of 
 them who love him and keep his commandments. 
 
 42. When he threatens to punish he says: "Visiting the iniquity of 
 
 the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth gen- 
 eration of them that hate me." But when he speaks of bless- 
 ing he does not simply say: The third and fourth generation, 
 but how does he enlarge this promise? He says: Unto thous- 
 ands of them that love me and keep my commandments. 
 
 43. That is from one generation to another God will bless the right- 
 
 eous. The blessing of God will descend from parents to 
 children. Read what is written Psalm 37, 25. "I have been 
 young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous 
 forsaken nor his seed begging bread." 
 
 44. Abraham walked in the ways of God. God blessed him and not 
 
 only him but upon whom did this blessing descend after him? 
 Upon his son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob. 
 
 45. David was a man after God's own heart and God richly blessed 
 
 him. Upon- whom did this blessing descend after him? Upon 
 his son Solomon. 
 
 46. So God often blesses children for whose sake? For the sake of 
 
 their parents. 
 
 47. What did God say to Isaac? Gen. 25, 23. "I am the God of Abra- 
 
 ham thy father; fear not for I am with thee, and will bless 
 thee and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake." 
 
 48. For whose sake did God promise to bless Isaac? For the sake 
 
 of his father Abraham. 
 
 49. When God threatens to punish he speaks of the third and fourth 
 
 generation, but when he promises to bless he speaks of 
 thousands of generations. Which do you think he would 
 rather do, punish or bless? He would much rather bless. 
 
 50. (119) "Why did God add this promise?" (Namely the promise 
 
 to bless). "That we may also love and trust in him and wil- 
 lingly do according to his commandments." 
 
 51. When we hear that God, out of pure love and mercy, promises 
 
 to bless those who keep these commandments, how should 
 we feel towards him? We should love him, 
 
 52. And when he promises us anything how should we regard these 
 
 promises? We should put our trust in them. 
 
 53. And if we love and trust in him, how will we show it? We will 
 
 show it by doing according to his commandments. 
 
 54. And how should we do according to his commandments? We 
 
 should willingly do according to his commandments. 
 
 55. We should obey God's commandments because it is a pleasure for 
 
 us to do so. Not the fear of punishment, nor the hope of 
 reward should be the motive of our obedience. Tell me what 
 is the real motive of all true obedience to God's command- 
 ments. The real motive is love. 
 
 56. And how does this love prompt us to obey God's commandments? 
 
 It prompts us to obey God's commandments willingly. 
 
104 LESSON 32. 
 
 LESSON 32. THE USE OF THE LAW. 
 
 (Questions 120-122.) 
 
 1. (120) "Can we perfectly keep the commandments of God?" 
 
 "No, for we are by nature wicked and born sinners." 
 
 2. How flhould the commandments of God be kept? They should 
 
 be kept perfectly. 
 
 3. Tell me with a scripture passage that God would have us to be 
 
 perfect. Math. 5, 48. "Be ye therefore perfect even as your 
 Father which is in heaven is perfect." 
 
 4. God is perfect and what does He require of us? He requires that 
 
 we also should be perfect. 
 
 5. How did God make man in the beginning? He made him perfect. 
 
 6. But how is man now since the fall? He is imperfect, sinful. 
 
 7. Tell me from today's lesson with a scripture passage the condi- 
 
 tion of man's heart from his youth. Gen. 8, 21. "The imag- 
 ination of man's heart is evil from his youth." 
 
 8. And now tell me another passage from which we see that all men 
 
 are alike in this respect. Ps. 143, 2. "Enter not into judg- 
 ment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living 
 be justified." 
 
 9. We have another passage in today's lesson which says that even 
 
 our seeming righteousness can not stand before God. Re- 
 peat it. Isaiah 64, 6. "We are all as an unclean thing, and 
 all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." 
 
 10. Now read Ps. 14, 2. 3. "The Lord looked down from heaven upon 
 
 the children of men, to see if there were any that did under 
 stand, and seek God. They are ail gone aside, they are al- 
 together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, 
 not one." 
 
 11. Read also what is written Rom. 3, 9. 10. "What then? Are we 
 
 better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved 
 both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is 
 written, ihere is none righteous, no, not one." 
 
 12. Now turn to and read Job 15, 14-16. "What is man that he 
 
 should be clean? And he which is born of a woman, that he 
 should be righteous? Behold He putteth no trust in his 
 saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How 
 much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh 
 Iniquity like water." 
 
 13. It is true that men can to a certain extent keep the command- 
 
 ments of God, that is outwardly. So the Scribes and Phari- 
 sees kept the law. But what does the Savior say of the 
 righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees? Math. 5, 20. 
 "For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall 
 exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye 
 shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." 
 
 14. (121) "Can then even the regenerated or Christians not per- 
 
 fectly fulfill the law of God?" "No, for even a Christian still 
 has evil desires within him and therefore sins daily." 
 
 15. Who are spoken of in thfs question? The regenerated or Chris- 
 
 tians are spoken of. 
 
 16. After a man by faith in the Savior becomes a Christian and is 
 
 made a child of God, what kind of a life will he try to lead? 
 He will try to lead a godly life. 
 
LESSON 32. 105 
 
 17. Yes, he will try to keep the commandments of God. But can he 
 
 keep them perfectly? He can not. 
 
 18. And why can he not keep the commandments of God perfectly? 
 
 Because even a Christian has evil desires within him and 
 therefore sins daily. 
 
 19. This is very plainly taught in the Scriptures. Repeat the pas- 
 
 sage Eccl. 7, 20. "There is not a just man upon earth that 
 doeth good and sinneth not." 
 
 20. How does this represent all men without a single exception? It 
 
 represents them as sinners. 
 
 21. We have seen above that we are by nature wicked and born sin- 
 
 ners. We are born of sinful parents, and of course sinful 
 parents can have only what kind of children? Sinful par- 
 ents can have only sinful children. 
 22.. Tell me this with a scripture passage. Job 14, 4. "Who can bring 
 a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." 
 
 23. St. Paul was a true Christian and yet what does he say of him- 
 
 self? Rom. 7, 14. "We know that the law is spiritual: but 
 I am carnal, sold under sin." 
 
 24. He was a god-fearing man, a man that tried to do right and yet 
 
 what does he say? Phil. 3, 12. "Not as though I had al- 
 ready attained, either were already perfect: but I follow af- 
 ter, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am appre- 
 hended of Christ Jesus." 
 
 25. He did not claim to be perfect, although he tried to be. He 
 
 knew and felt himself to be a poor sinner, as we see from 
 Rom. 7, 19. Turn to and read the passage. "For the good 
 that I would. I do not: but the evil which I would not, that 
 I do." 
 
 26. The law of God is one complete whole. He that breaks one link 
 
 of a chain breaks the chain. He that sins against one com- 
 mandment, sins against the law. Tell me this with a scrip- 
 ture passage. James 2, 10. "Whosoever shall keep the 
 whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." 
 
 27. Not only is it sin to do what God has forbidden, but it Is just 
 
 as sinful not to do what He has commanded. It is just as 
 wrong not to do good as it is to do evil. Tell me this with 
 a scripture passage. James 4, 17. "To him that knoweth to 
 do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." 
 
 28. St. Paul was a sincere Christian. He tried to live a godly life. 
 
 He was not aware of doing any gross sin, and yet how did 
 he feel about his condition before God? Did he feel himself 
 to be just? Tell me with the passage 1 Cor. 4, 4. "For I 
 know nothing by myself, yet am I not thereby justified." 
 
 29. Even although he had a good conscience, yet he felt that this did 
 
 not justify him before God. As also the Psalmist says Ps. 
 19, 12. "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me 
 from secret faults." 
 
 30. And yet there are people who in their blindness imagine them- 
 
 selves to be perfect, to have no sin. What does the Word 
 of God say of such? 1 .John 1, 8. "If we say that we have no 
 sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 
 
 31. (122) "To what end, however, did God then give us the law?" 
 
 "First, that by it we may know our sins, and secondly, that 
 from it we may learn the works that are pleasing to God." 
 
 32. What does this question and its answer tell us? It tells us why 
 
 God gave us the law. 
 
106 LESSON 32. 
 
 33. Yes, it tells us the object which God had in view in giving us the 
 
 ten commandments. What was his first object in giving the 
 law? That by it we may know our sins. 
 
 34. This we see plainly from Rom. 3, 20. Repeat the passage. "By 
 
 the law is the knowledge of sin." 
 
 35. How then do we come to a knowledge of sin? We come to a 
 
 knowledge of sin by the law. 
 
 36. The law may be compared with a mirror. When we look into a 
 
 mirror what do we see? We see ourselves. 
 
 37. And if there be any spot, blemish or wrinkle on our faces what 
 
 does the mirror show? It shows these spots and wrinkles. 
 
 38. Now read Rom. 7, 7. "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? 
 
 God forbid. Nay I had not known sin, but by the law: for 
 I had not known lust, except the law had said, thou shalt 
 not covet." 
 
 39. He plainly says: "I had not known sin, but by the law." With- 
 
 out God's law we never could rightly know our sins. And 
 unless we know and feel that we are sinners we never would 
 feel that we need a Savior. The law shows us not only that 
 we are sinners but it also shows us the results and conse- 
 quences of sin. What has God threatened to do with sin? He 
 has threatened to punish it. 
 
 40. And when we learn this what will we be anxious about? We 
 
 will be anxious to escape this punishment. 
 
 41. So long as a man thinks he is not sick whom will he not send 
 
 for? He will not send for a physician. 
 
 42. The law is like a teacher or schoolmaster. It opens our eyes that 
 
 we may see and be alarmed at our sins and may seek for 
 help. And in whom alone can we find help against sin? In 
 Jesus Christ our Savior. 
 
 43. This is what the apostle means iu the passage. Gal. 3, 24. Repeat 
 
 it. "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, 
 that we might be justified by faith." 
 
 44. This then is the first and foremost use of the law. It prepares 
 
 the way for the Savior. But there is another use which it 
 serves. What is it? Tell me from the second part of the an- 
 swer to question 122. "Secondly, that from it we may learn 
 the works that are pleasing to God," 
 
 45. When we have come to a knowledge of our sins, and by true re- 
 
 pentance and faith in Jesus Christ have obtained forgive- 
 ness, what kind of lives should we be anxious to lead? We 
 should be anxious to lead godly lives. 
 
 46. What kind of works should we be anxious to do? We should 
 
 be anxious to do good works. 
 
 47. Yes, we should be anxious to please God who has forgiven our 
 
 sins. And where do we learn what works are pleasing to 
 God? We learn them from the law. 
 
 48. For instance what can a godfearing, pious child do to please God? 
 
 It can honor father and mother. 
 
 49. Where did God say that this pleases Him? He told us this in 
 
 the fourth commandment. 
 
 50. What did God tell us in the third commandment? He told us 
 
 to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 
 
 51. How do we know that when we gladly hear and learn the Word 
 
 of God this is pleasing to him? He told us so in the third 
 commandment. 
 
LESSON 33. 107 
 
 52. The law tells us how we should walk and please God. Repeat 
 
 the passage Ps. 119, 9. "Wherewithal shall a young man 
 cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy 
 word." 
 
 53. When we are walking in the dark what do we take with us to 
 
 light the way? We take a lantern with us. 
 
 54. Yes, and the psalmist calls God's Word such a light, in Psalm 
 
 119, 105. Repeat the passage. "Thy Word is a lamp unto 
 my feet, and a light unto my path." 
 
 55. If a young man should aslc what can I do to please God, what 
 
 answer is given him in Ps. 119, 9? "Wherewithal shall a 
 young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto accord- 
 ing to thy Word." 
 
 56. This is a very important use of the law. It is a rule by which 
 
 we may go. When we live up to this rule what may we be 
 sure of? We may be sure that we are right and that we 
 please God. 
 
 57. Then there is still another use of the law which we might men- 
 
 tion. It also serves a purpose with reference to the wicked. 
 Why do the wicked, at least outwardly, keep from such gross 
 sins as murder and theft? Because they are afraid of pun- 
 ishment. 
 
 58. Yes, and this fear holds them in check, at least to some extent. 
 
 The law is a bar to restrain the wiclved. Who are held in 
 check by the strong arm of the law? The wicked are held 
 in check. 
 
 59. Good people do what is right even without the law. But not all 
 
 people are good. Civil government was instituted to exer- 
 cise law and preserve order. What is the government sup- 
 posed to do with those who persist in doing evil? It is sup- 
 posed to punish them. 
 
 60. And the fear of this punishment serves to protect life and prop- 
 
 erty. Read what the apostle Paul writes Rom. 13, 3. "For 
 rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil. Wilt 
 thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, 
 and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the min- 
 ister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is 
 evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for 
 he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon 
 him that doeth evil." 
 
 LESSON 33. SIN. 
 
 (Questions 123-124.) 
 
 1. We have seen that the law v/as given us that by it we might come 
 
 to a knowledge of sin. What is the subject of our lesson 
 today? Sin is the subject of today's lesson. 
 
 2. (123) "What is sin?" "Sin is every transgression of the divine 
 
 law." 
 
 3. Who gave us the law? God gave us the law. 
 
 4. What do we call the law which God gave? We call it the divine 
 
 law. 
 
 5. God's law is a rule. When you want to draw a straight line what 
 
 do you use? I use a ruler. 
 
108 LESSON 33. 
 
 6. When a carpenter wants to make sure of sawing a board off 
 
 straight what does he use? He uses a square. 
 
 7. When a bricklayer wants to make sure the wall he is building 
 
 is true what does he use? He uses a plumb line. 
 
 8. When the line you are drawing does not agree with the ruler 
 
 what is the matter with the line? It is crooked. 
 
 9. When the wall does not agree with the plumbline, which is wrong? 
 
 The wall is wrong. 
 
 10. So God has given us his law as a plirmbline of life. When our 
 
 life, our thoughts, words and actions, do not agree with 
 God's law what's the matter with them? They are wrong. 
 
 11. Yes, and this we call sin. What does the apostle John in his 
 
 first epistle chapter 3 verse 4 say of sin? "Sin is the trans- 
 gression of the law." 
 
 12. To transgress means to overstep, to go beyond. When a man 
 
 sins what does he disregard. He disregards God's law. 
 
 13. Yes, he acts as though there were no law. So we might say: 
 
 sin is lawlessness. Read what God said to Joshua, Josh. 1, 7. 
 "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest 
 observe to do according to all the law, which Moses, my 
 servant, commanded thee; turn not from it to the right hand, 
 or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou 
 goest." 
 
 14. God has marked out the road in which we should walk. When a 
 
 man turns from this way either by doing what God has for- 
 bidden or by neglecting to do what God has commanded 
 what do we call such action? We call it sin. 
 
 15. And notice that every transgi'ession of God's law is sin. No mat- 
 
 ter how small it may appear, how should we regard every 
 thought, word and deed that is contrary to God's law. We 
 should regard it as sin. 
 
 16. Whether it be done from ignorance or wilfully, what is every 
 
 transgression of the divine law? Every transgression of the 
 divine law is sin. 
 
 17. God said in the fifth commandment: "Thou shalt not kill," how 
 
 did Cain disregard this commandment? He killed his 
 brother Abel. 
 
 18. God said in the sixth commandment: "Thou shalt not commit 
 
 adultery." How did David disregard this commandment? 
 He took the wife of Uriah and lived with her. 
 
 19. Yes, he acted as though there were no sixth commandment, or 
 
 as though he did not care a straw what God had said in the 
 sixth commandment. When Absalom stirred up a rebellion 
 against his father how did he act? He acted as though God 
 had not said: "Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother", 
 or as though he did not care what God had said. 
 
 20. When the Jews bare false witness against the Savior and ac- 
 
 cused him of blasphemy, how did they act with reference 
 to the eighth commandment? They disregarded the eighth 
 commandment. 
 
 21. Yes, they acted as though God had never said: "Thou shalt not 
 
 bear false witness against thy neighbor," or as though they 
 did not care what God had said. Sin disregards, tramples 
 under foot, breaks through and rebels against God's law. 
 Whose law is thus treated in sin? God's law, the divine law. 
 
LESSON 33. 109 
 
 22. The Roman Catholics think it sin to eat meat on Friday. Is this 
 
 really sin? No, it is not. 
 
 23. Why not? Because God never told us not to eat meat on Fri- 
 
 day. 
 
 24. The temperance fanatics thinlv it a sin to drinlt beer or wine even 
 
 moderately. Is this really sin? It is not. 
 
 25. Why not? Because God never forbade the moderate use of these 
 
 things. 
 
 26. Let us not be deceived. Nothing is sin except that which is 
 
 against God's law. God alone has a right to say what is 
 right or wrong. And where does he tell us this? He tells 
 us this in the law. 
 
 27. Only that is sin which is contrary to his will and word, and ev- 
 
 erything is sin that is contrary to his will and word. With 
 what words does the Catechism express this in the answer to 
 question 123? "Sin is every transgression of the divine law." 
 
 28. (124) "What is the cause of sin?" "Satan, who first of his own 
 
 free will turned away from God, and the will of man, who 
 freely permitted himself to be deceived by Satan." 
 
 29. What is the subject of this question? The cause of sin. 
 
 30. This question tells us where sin came from, where it had its 
 
 beginning. When God had finished the work of creation 
 what judgment did he pronounce on all his works? Gen. 
 1, 31. "And God saw everything that he had made, and, be- 
 hold it was very good." 
 
 31. This judgment God pronounced on man as well as on every- 
 
 thing else that he had made. How was everything? Every- 
 thing was very good. 
 
 32. That is, it was perfect, there was no fault to find with it. So 
 
 there was no sin in the world when God made it. But now 
 we find sin and its dreadful consequences everywhere. When 
 we see such awtul effects what do we naturally look for? 
 We look for the cause. 
 
 33. And this is given us in the answer to question 124. Who 
 
 according to this answer is the first and original cause of 
 sin? Satan is the first cause of sin. 
 
 34. This we plainly see from 1 .Tohn 3, 8. Repeat the passage. "He 
 
 that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth 
 from the beginning." 
 
 35. Who made the beginning in sin, who was the first to sin? The 
 
 first one to sin was Satan. 
 
 36. So the Savior himself also says John 8, 44. Read the passage. 
 
 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father 
 will ye do: he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode 
 not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When 
 he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, 
 and the father of it." 
 
 37. What does the Savior here say the devil was from the begin- 
 
 ning? He was a murderer and a liar from the beginning. 
 
 38. And what else does he say of him? He abode not in the truth. 
 
 39. If he abode not in the truth, what must he have l)een before he 
 
 made this change? He must have been in the truth, truth- 
 ful. 
 
110 LESSON 34. 
 
 40. Yes, God made him pure and holy as he made all creatures, but 
 
 what change took place in the devil? He abode not in the 
 truth, he departed from the truth. 
 
 41. Now tell me from question 124 in the lesson how did Satan come 
 
 thus to turn away from God? Of his own free will he turned 
 away from God. 
 
 42. After he himself had become a sinner what did he endeavor to 
 
 do with man? He tempted him to sin also. 
 
 43. Now read Gen. 3, 1-7. Who was the serpent that tempted the wo- 
 
 man to sin? It was Satan. 
 
 44. And what was the result of this temptation? The woman ate of 
 
 the forbidden fruit and gave her husband and he ate also. 
 
 45. Who was the first cause of this first sin? Satan was the cause. 
 
 46. But we find in the answer to question 124 there is another cause 
 
 for sin given. What is it? The will of man who freely per- 
 mitted himself to be deceived by Satan. 
 
 47. When Satan tempted our first parents to sin what might they 
 
 have done instead of yielding to the temptation? They 
 might have resisted it. 
 
 48. Adam was In a position to choose between good and evil. When 
 
 he chose the evil how was this choice made? It was made 
 freely, of his own free will. 
 
 49. Can a man be compelled to do wrong? He can not. 
 
 50. No, he can be tempted, urged or deceived and influenced but one 
 
 thing can not be done, what is that? You can not compel 
 a man to sin. 
 
 51. Whenever a man sins how does he act, if he does not act from 
 
 compulsion? He acts of his own free will. 
 
 52. When Cain slew his brother Al)el did he do this from compulsion 
 
 or from his own free will? He did it from his own free will, 
 because he wanted to do it. 
 
 53. Yes, and he did it in spite of the fact that God warned him not 
 
 to do it. So who was to blame for this awful sin? Cain him- 
 self was to blame. 
 
 54. Children whenever you do wrong, it is so easy to put the blame 
 
 on some~one else. Upon whom did Adam put the blame for 
 his sin? Gen. 3, 12. He put the blame on Eve. 
 
 55. And upon whom did Eve put the blame? Gen. 3, 13. She put the 
 
 blame on the serpent. 
 
 56. But who was really to blame for the fact that they had sinned? 
 
 They themselves were to blame. 
 
 57. And so we are always to blame, it is our own fault when we sin. 
 
 For if we had not consented we could not have been com- 
 pelled to sin. What then is the second cause of sin accord- 
 ing to question 124? The will of man. 
 
 58. When a man sins he does so not because he must, but why? Be- 
 
 cause he wants to. Because it is his own free will. 
 
 LESSON 34. ORIGINAL SIN. 
 
 (Questions 125-127.) 
 
 1. (125) "Of how many kinds is sin?" "Two: Original and actual." 
 
 2. (126) "What is original sin?" "It is the utter depravity of the 
 
 whole human nature, which, since the fall of Adam, is in- 
 born in all men." 
 
LESSON 34. Ill 
 
 3. What is the subject of our lesson? Original sin is the subject. 
 
 4. What does this question 126 tell us? It tells us what original 
 
 sin is. 
 
 5. Yes, it gives us a definition of original sin. What does this an- 
 
 swer say of the moral condition of human nature? It says 
 that human nature is depraved. 
 
 6. When a thing is depraved it is no longer good but how is it? It 
 
 is bad. 
 
 7. In what moral condition was man when God first made him? He 
 
 was good, perfect. 
 
 8. But what change took place with man? He fell away from God 
 
 and became sinful. 
 
 9. Through this fall into sin there was an awful change wrought 
 
 in the nature of man. He became depraved, that is his na- 
 ture was spoiled. Sin is not something which only clings 
 to man outwardly, but how does it affect him? It goes all 
 through him. 
 
 10. What does it affect according to question 126? It affects his 
 
 whole nature. 
 
 11. Yes, his body as well as his soul are no longer what they were 
 
 at first. When an apple has a rotten spot what can you do 
 with it? We can cut out the rotten spot and use the rest. 
 
 12. But human nature is not like this. There are not only a few 
 
 bad habits, which might be corrected and then man would 
 be all right. When an egg is spoiled the badness is not in 
 spots, but what would you say of a bad egg? It is bad all 
 through, there is nothing good about it. 
 
 13. Therefore the Catechism says not a part but the whole human 
 
 nature is depraved. What does St. Paul say of himself Rom. 
 7, 18? "For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth 
 no good thing." 
 
 14. And what kind of a depravity is this called in our answer 126? 
 
 It is called the "utter depravity." 
 
 15. That means that human nature is so bad that it can not well be 
 
 worse. No amount of patching or reformation will save it. 
 If man is to be saved he must be made new, as the Savior 
 himself says John 3, 5.6. Let us hear the passage. "Except 
 a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he can not 
 enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the 
 flesh is flesh." 
 
 16. This depravity is so bad that the scriptures compare it with death. 
 
 Read the passage Eph. 2, 1. "You were dead in trespasses 
 and sins." 
 
 17. Nothing but the power of God can help a dead man. Now tell 
 
 me from our question 126 since when is human nature so 
 depraved? Since the fall of Adam. 
 
 18. Tell me with a scripture passage that by the sin of one man all 
 
 men became sinful. Rom. 5, 12. "As by one man sin entered 
 into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon 
 all men, for that all have sinned." 
 
 19. Why has dea.tb passed upon all men? Because all have sinned. 
 
 20. Yes, just as certain as all men are mortal so sure are they all 
 
 sinful. For how did death come into the world? Death 
 came m*-r ^l-«» world through «'» 
 
112 
 
 LESSON 34. 
 
 21. The scripture passage Rom. 3, 22. 23 tells us that in this respect 
 
 there is no difference among men. Repeat it. "There is no 
 difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory 
 of God." 
 
 22. There are many differences among men as to their age, sex, 
 
 nationality, race, color, social standing, wealth and education, 
 but in one respect they are all alike. Can you tell me how? 
 They are all sinful. 
 
 23. Yes, human nature is the same the world over. It is steeped in 
 
 sin. Therefore we hear even such a pious man as David 
 make what kind of a confession of himself in Ps. 51, 5. "Be- 
 hold I wa.s shapen in Iniquity; and in sin did my mother 
 conceive me." 
 
 24. This wickedness is natural to all men since the fall of Adam. 
 
 Now tell me from our question 126, how does this depravity 
 get into all men? It is inborn in all men. 
 
 25. How does David say he became sinful? He says, "I was shapen 
 
 in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me." 
 
 26. It is a mistake to think that we only learn sin by imitating the 
 
 bad example of others. How do we get to be sinners? We 
 are born sinners. 
 
 27. There are certain diseases which are so dreadful that they pass 
 
 from parents to children. When a child suffers from such 
 a disease, what do we say as to how it got the disease? 
 We say, it inherited the disease. 
 
 28. Yes, and so what can we say of this spiritual disease of sin? We 
 
 can say that we inherited it. 
 
 29. From whom did we inherit sin? We inherited it from our par- 
 
 ents. 
 
 3*0. And from whom did they inherit it? They inherited it from their 
 parents. 
 
 31 Yes, and so on back from one generation to another. How far 
 back does this sinfulness of human nature go? It goes back 
 to the fall of Adam. 
 
 32. What is this sin called I)ecause it goes back to the very origin of 
 
 our race? It is called original sin. 
 
 33. Why might we also call it the sin of inheritance or inherited sin? 
 
 Because we have inherited it. 
 
 34. (127) "Wherein does this depravity chiefly consist?" "In this 
 
 that we have lost the image of God and, consequently, that 
 our reason is darkened and our will perverted." 
 
 35. In this answer we have a fuller description of the results and 
 
 consequences of original sin. What is here mentioned as the 
 first result of this sinfulness of our nature? We have lost 
 the image of God. 
 
 36. In what respect was man like God, when he was first created? 
 
 He was pure, holy, perfect. 
 
 37. What became of this image or likeness of God? It was lost. 
 
 38. In what respect is man no longer like God since the fall? He is 
 
 no longer holy, pure, perfect. 
 
 39. Now tell me from question 127 what effect had this fall upon 
 
 the reason of man? Our reason is darkened. 
 
LESSON 34. 113 
 
 40. By reason we here mean the understanding of man, his power 
 
 to think and l^now. What does the apostle say of the new 
 man, Col. 3, 10? "Put on the new man, which is renewed in 
 knowledge after the image of him that created him." 
 
 41. We must be renewed in knowledge because our knowledge of 
 
 divine things is darkened on account of original sin. We 
 can not understand what is necessary to salvation. The 
 things of this world we may understand well enough, but 
 what does the apostle say in 1 Cor. 2, 14 of the things of 
 the Spirit of God? "The natural man receiveth not the 
 things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto 
 him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually 
 discerned." 
 
 42. Man is naturally blind m spiritual matters. How do all these 
 
 things appear to him? They are foolishness to him. 
 
 43. What does the apostle say of the Gentiles, that is of the heathen, 
 
 Eph. 4, 18? "Having their understanding darkened, being 
 alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is 
 in them, because of the blindness of their heart." 
 
 44. The understanding of man is darkened, he is ignorant when it 
 
 comes to divine things, his heart is blind. He does not and 
 can not see what is for his own good. He can not know 
 God and the way of salvation. Man, if left to himself, would 
 never come to a true knowledge of God and divine things. 
 Even the most educated and refined among the heathen, 
 such as the Hindoos and Chinese, have very wrong and cor- 
 rupt ideas of God. How do they show this? They make and 
 worship idols. 
 
 45. Other heathen nations worship the sun as god or animals? What 
 
 does this show as to their knowledge of God and divine 
 things? It shows that their knowledge is corrupt. 
 
 46. When a poor heathen mother throws her babe into the jaws of 
 
 the crockodile, why does she do this? She does it to satisfy 
 her false god. 
 
 47. Yes, she wants to insure her own salvation and the salvation of 
 
 her child. What does this show that she is ignorant of? It 
 shows that she is ignorant of the way of salvation. 
 
 48. How did the priests of Baal try to secure the attention and favor 
 
 of their god, when Elijah challenged them to a trial of their 
 faith on Mt. Carmel? 1 Kings 18, 28. "They cried aloud and 
 cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, 
 till the blood gushed out upon them." 
 
 49. This shows how utterly ignorant the natural man is in divine 
 
 things. Let us not forget, however, that by nature none of 
 us are any better. If we had nothing but what nature 
 teaches u's, we would be just as ignorant as the heathen are. 
 But this sinfulness of our nature has not only darkened our 
 reason, but what effect has it upon our will? Question 127 
 tells us. Our will is perverted. 
 
 50. Before the fall, man not only knew God but delighted in doing 
 
 His will. In what kind of things did he take pleasure? He 
 took pleasure in doing what is right, 
 8 
 
114 LESSON 35. 
 
 51. Yes, he not only had a correct knowledge of God, but he loved 
 
 Him and took pleasure in doing His will. He was the inti- 
 mate friend of God. But how does the apostle describe the 
 condition of man since the fall in Rom. 8, 7? "The carnal 
 mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law 
 of God, neither indeed can be." 
 
 52. Men are now naturally not the friends of God but in what rela- 
 
 tion do they stand to Him? They are His enemies. 
 
 53. They do not love Him, but how do they regard Him? They hate 
 
 Him. 
 
 54. As soon as man had sinned he fled from God and hid himself. 
 
 He had no pleasure in meeting God but wanted to get away 
 from Him. Since the fall it is natural for man to sin, just 
 as natural as it is for a field to toing forth weeds. When a 
 field is left to lie uncultivated what will it bring forth? It 
 will bring forth weeds. 
 
 55. So the heart of man, if left to do what it delights in, what will 
 
 it bring forth? It will bring forth wickedness. 
 
 56. At creation man's will was good, now it is bad. How does the 
 
 Catechism, in question 127, describe this change? Man's will 
 is perverted. 
 
 57. That is, it is changed for the worse. It is turned in the wrong 
 
 direction. And how was this awful change brought about? 
 It was brought about by the fall. 
 
 58. Let us remember that this is the condition of every one of us by 
 
 nature. We are all naturally ignorant in spiritual and divine 
 things, we are all naturally at enmity with God and have no 
 pleasure in doing his holy will, as David says, Ps. 51, 6. Re- 
 peat the passage. "Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in 
 sin did my mother conceive me." 
 
 LESSON 35. ACTUAL SIN. 
 
 (Question 128.) 
 
 What was the subject of our last lesson? The subject of our last 
 lesson was original sin. 
 
 What is the subject of today's lesson? The subject of today's 
 lesson is actual sin. 
 
 (128) "What is actual sin?" "All that is done contrary to the 
 ten commandments in thought, word and deed." 
 
 Original sin and actual sin are related to each other like cause 
 and effect. If we compare original sin with a spring of wa- 
 ter, then what would actual sin be like? Like the stream 
 that flows out of the spring. 
 
 If we compare original sin with the root of a plant, then what 
 would actual sin be like? It would be like the plant that 
 grows out of the root. 
 
 If we compare original sin with a fruit tree, then what would 
 actual sin be like? Like the fruit that grows on the tree. 
 
 Original sin is the sinful state or condition of human nature since 
 the fall. It is not something which we do, but something 
 which is inborn in us. But what is actual sin? Tell me by 
 repeating the first four words of the answer to question 128. 
 "All that is done." 
 
LESSON 35. 115 
 
 8. Actual sin is not something which is inborn in ns, l)ut rather 
 
 what is it? Something which we do ourselves. 
 
 9. Yes, the very name "actual sin" indicates this. From what word 
 
 is the term "actual" taken? It is taken from the word "act." 
 
 10. The word "actual" here does not mean "real," for original sin is 
 
 just as really sin as actual sin. But what does the name 
 "actual" here mean? It means what we do. 
 
 11. Yes, it is sin in which we are the actors. And how does this 
 
 question 128 further describe actual sin? Actual sin is not 
 only all that we do but what is added? All that we (to con- 
 trary to the ten commandments. 
 
 12. What are the ten commandments? The ten commandments are 
 
 the sum of the divine law. 
 
 13. Yes, in these commandments God tells us what is right and 
 
 wrong. And how must we regard everything that is con- 
 trary to these commandments? We must regard it as sin. 
 
 14. Every time we think, say or do anything contrary to the ten com- 
 
 mandments we sin. Why was it a sin when Cain killed his 
 brother Abel? Because it was against the fifth command- 
 ment. 
 
 15. Why was it a sin when David took the wife of Uriah to be his 
 
 wife? Because it was against the sixth commandment. 
 
 16. Judas was the treasurer of the diciples, but was a thief and stole 
 
 some of the money entrusted to him. Why was this a sin? 
 Because it was contrary to the seventh commandment. 
 
 17. Why was it a sin for the Jews to accuse the Savior of being a 
 
 blasphemer and a rebel? Because it was against the eighth 
 commandment. 
 
 18. Why was it a sin for Absalom to stir up a rebellion against his 
 
 father David? Because it was contrary to the fourth com- 
 mandment. 
 
 19. Why was it a sin for the Israelites to make and worship the 
 
 golden calf in the wilderness? Because it was against the 
 first commandment. 
 
 20. In what different ways is actual sin committed, according to 
 
 Question 128? It is committed in thought, word and deed. 
 
 21. Then what kind of thoughts are sinful? Thoughts that are con- 
 
 trary to the ten commandments. 
 
 22. In Math. 15, 19 the Savior speaks of such thoughts. Repeat the 
 
 passage. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, mur- 
 ders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blas- 
 phemies." 
 
 23. Out of our evil hearts arise what kind of thoughts? Evil 
 
 thoughts. 
 
 24. Yes, and these evil thoughts are sinful, even before they lead to 
 
 sinful words and acts. These evil thoughts are also called 
 evil desires. Which two commandments treat especially of 
 such evil thoughts and desires? The ninth and tenth com- 
 mandments. 
 
 25. Do not imagine, children, that only words and actions are sinful. 
 
 God does not only take note of what we say and do, but 
 even of what does he take note? He also takes note of what 
 we think. 
 
 26. Read what the Savior says in the 20th verse of tlie chapter above 
 
 quoted. "These are the things which defile a man." 
 
116 LESSON 35. 
 
 27. Yes, these evil thoughts make a man unclean and sinful before 
 
 God. Read what is written in 1 Sam, 16, 7, the second half of 
 the verse. "For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man 
 looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on 
 the heart." 
 
 28. Next to sinful thoughts, what does the Catechism class among ac- 
 
 tual sins? Sinful words. 
 
 29. What kind of words are sinful according to question 128? Words 
 
 that are contrary to the ten commandments. 
 
 30. Such words are spoken of in Math. 12, 36. Read the passage. 
 
 "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall 
 speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judg- 
 ment." 
 
 31. Read also what is written .Tames 1, 26. "If any man among you 
 
 seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but de- 
 ceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." 
 
 32. Read also what the same apostle writes, .Tames 3, 5-6. "Even so 
 
 the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Be- 
 hold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the 
 tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among 
 our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on 
 fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." 
 
 33. Such sins with the tongue are committed when men curse, swear, 
 
 use witchcraft, lie or deceive by the name of God. Such words 
 are contrary to which commandment? They are contrary to 
 the second commandment. 
 
 34. Men also sin with the tongue when they deceitfully belie, be- 
 
 tray, slander or defame their neighbors. These sins are con- 
 trary to which commandment? They are contrary to the 
 eighth commandment. 
 
 35. Actual sins however are committed not only by sinful thoughts 
 
 and words, but in what other way? By sinful deeds also. 
 
 36. When the children of Israel worshipped the golden calf in the 
 
 wilderness, what kind of an act was this? It was a sinful act. 
 
 37. And why was it a sinful act? Because it was contrary to the 
 
 first commandment. 
 
 38. Why is it sinful for men to despise preaching and God's word 
 
 and make the Lord's day a day of carousal or profit? Be- 
 cause it is contrary to the third commandment. 
 
 39. We have seen in considering the different commandments that 
 
 God not only forbids certain things, but that he commands 
 the opposite. It is sinful to do what God has forbidden, but 
 what is just as sinful? It is just as sinful not to do what He 
 has commanded. 
 
 40. Read what is written James 4, 17. "Therefore to him that know- 
 
 eth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." 
 
 41. When a man does what is forbidden we call his sin one of com- 
 
 mission, he commits a sin. What then would we call his sin, 
 if he omits to do what is commanded? We would call it a 
 sin of omission. 
 
 42. Read the passage, Luke 12, 47. 48. "That servant which knew his 
 
 Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did accord- 
 ing to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he 
 that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, 
 shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much 
 is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men 
 have committed much, of him they will ask the more." 
 
LESSON 35. 117 
 
 43. What is the difference between the sins of the two servants here 
 
 spoken of? The one knew his masters will and the other 
 did not. 
 
 44. Because the one knew he was doing wrong, how did he sin? 
 
 He sinned knowingly. 
 
 45. And how did he sin who was ignorant of his master's will? He 
 
 sinned ignorantly. 
 
 46. Read in this connection Ps. 19, 12. "Who can understand his er- 
 
 rors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults." 
 
 47. Now read Rom. 6, 12. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mor- 
 
 tal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." 
 
 48. The apostle here speaks of sins that reign over men. There are 
 
 sins that make slaves of men. Such sins we call vices. They 
 hold men as with an iron grip. Can you mention any such 
 sin? The sin of drunkenness. 
 
 49. Yes, or the sin of avarice, or sexual uncleanness. These sins so 
 
 completely overpower men, that they are like slaves. This 
 is what the Savior means in John 8, 34. Read the passage. 
 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever commiteth sin is 
 the servant of sin." 
 
 50. Because men give themselves over to the uncontrolled indul- 
 
 gence of their sinful appetites and lusts what does the Sav- 
 ior call them? He calls them the servants of sin. 
 
 51. In Math. 12, 31, the Savior speaks of a specially terrible sin. Let 
 
 us hear the passage. "Wherefore I say unto you, all manner 
 of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the 
 blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto 
 men." 
 
 52. What specially awful sin does the Savior here speak of? He 
 
 speaks of the sin against the Holy Ghost. 
 
 53. And what does he say of ihis sin? This sin shall not be for- 
 
 given unto men. 
 
 54. The same terrible sin is spoken of in Heb. 6, 4-7. "For it is im- 
 
 possible for those who were once enlightened, and have 
 tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the 
 Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and 
 the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to 
 renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to 
 themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open 
 shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that com- 
 eth oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by 
 whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that 
 which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh un- 
 to cursing; whose end is to be burned." 
 
 55. The Savior often preached to the Jews. They knew the truth, 
 
 but refused to accept it. They wilfully resisted the Holy 
 Ghost. This wilful resistance to the known truth, if kept 
 up to the bitter end, is the sin against the Holy Ghost. And 
 what does the Savior say of this sin? He says, it can not 
 be forgiven. 
 
 56. Yes, when a man dies resisting the truth and blaspheming the 
 
 Spirit of God, instead of submitting to his blessed influ- 
 ence, there is no hope for that man. What does the Savior 
 say of him who believeth not, who dies in unbelief? He 
 that believeth not shall be damned. 
 
118 LESSON 36. 
 
 57. Many anxious souls are afraid they have committed the sin 
 
 against the Holy Ghost. But the very fact that they worry 
 over their salvation, and are troubled on account of their 
 sins, is proof that they have not committed this sin. They 
 are not hardened in sin, but how do Ihey feel about it? 
 They are troubled about it. 
 
 58. Yes, and this is the first step toward true repentance: sorrow for 
 
 sin. What has God promised those who repent of their sins? 
 He has promised to forgive them their sins. 
 
 59. But when a man, like wicked King Pharaoh, resists the truth 10 
 
 the bitter end, what hope is there for him? There is no 
 hope for him. 
 
 LESSON 36. THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN. 
 
 (Questions 129-131.) 
 
 1. (129) "What is the consequence of sin-" "God is thereby most 
 
 deeply offended and moved to temporal and eternal punish- 
 ment." 
 
 2. We have seen that sin is every transgression of the divine law. 
 
 Now, what are we to consider today? We are to consider 
 the consequence of sin. 
 
 3. What does our answer to question 129 say as to how God re- 
 
 gards sin? God is thereby most deeply offended. 
 
 4. This we see from Ps. 5, 4. Repeat the passage. "Thou art not 
 
 a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil 
 dwell with Thee." 
 
 5. In what has God no pleasure? He has no pleasure in wicked- 
 
 ness. 
 
 6. What must he be, who would have pleasure in wickedness? He 
 
 must be wicked himself. 
 
 7. God however is not wicked, that is sinful, but what is he? He 
 
 is holy. 
 
 8. Now turn to Ps. 7, 11, and read what is there written. "God 
 
 judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked 
 every day." 
 
 9. Because God is holy, how does sin affect him? It offends him. 
 
 10. Yes, it is contrary to his very being. God and sin have no more 
 
 in common than fire and water, than light and darkness. 
 Now repeat Eph. 2, 3. "We all were by nature the children 
 of wrath, even as others." 
 
 11. Why is God angry with us? On account of sin. 
 
 12. Read Eph. 5, 6. "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for 
 
 because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the 
 children of disobedience." 
 
 13. And again Rom. 1. IS. "For the wrath of God is revealed from 
 
 heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, 
 who hold the truth in unrighteousness." 
 
 14. On this account how should we regard sin? Give me the an- 
 
 swer by repeating Prov. 14, 34. "Sin is a reproach to any 
 people." 
 
LESSON 36. 119 
 
 15. God cannot birt hate sin. It is rebellion against his authority. It 
 
 is an insult to his dignity. It is ingratitude toward his good- 
 ness. But sin not only most deeply offends God but, ac- 
 cording to our answer 129, to what does it move him? It 
 moves him to temporal and eternal punishment. 
 
 16. God is not only holy, but he is just. And what does his justice 
 
 prompt him to do with sin? It prompts him to punish sin. 
 
 17. What does God say on this subject in the conclusion to the ten 
 
 commandments? "He says thus: 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." 
 
 18. What does God in these words threaten? He threatens to pun- 
 
 ish all those who transgress these commandments. 
 
 19. What kind of punishment is spoken of in this question 129? 
 
 Temporal and eternal punishment. 
 
 20. Temporal punishment means punishment here in this world. Let 
 
 us see how God punishes sin in this world. Drunkenness 
 and gluttony are sins. Now read what God says of these 
 sins in Prov. 23, 20. 21. "Be not among winebibbers; among 
 riotous eaters of flesh: for the drunkard and the glutton shall 
 come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with 
 rags." 
 
 21. Poverty, sickness, pain and death are the result of sin in this 
 
 world. But God often visits special sins with special pun- 
 ishments. How did he once punish the whole world on ac- 
 count of sin? By the flood He destroyed the whole world on 
 account of sin. 
 
 22. How did he once punish two specially wicked cities? He de- 
 
 stroyed Sodom and Gomorrah by fire from heaven. 
 
 23. But God's punishment of sin is not only temoral, but what else 
 
 is said of this punishment in question 129? It is eternal. 
 
 24. God not only punishes sin in this world, but in the world to come. 
 
 When the rich man, who lived a life of selfishness and sin 
 died, what became of him nfter death? Luke 16, 22-24. He 
 was in hell and in torment 
 
 25. What will the Savior, as the righteous judge, say to the wicked 
 
 on the last day? Math. 25, 41. "Then shall he say unto 
 them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into ever- 
 lasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." 
 
 26. And what is said of the wicked in the same chapter verse 46? 
 
 "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment." 
 
 27. These are the dreadful consequences of sin. We are all not only 
 
 by nature sinful, but we have by actual sins in thoughts, 
 words and deeds grieved and offended God. Then what 
 have we deserved with our sins? We have deserved God's 
 wrath, temporal and eternal punishment. 
 
 28. Yes, children, think of it what an awful thing sin is, what an aw- 
 
 ful thing it is to offend God, to provoke him to wrath and 
 deserve his punishment. When we are in great danger what 
 do we look for? We look for a way of escape. 
 
 29. If you were in a burning building, what would you look for? I 
 
 would look for the fire escape. 
 
 30. If you' were on a sinking ship, what would you look for? I would 
 
 would look for a life-preserver or a life-boat. 
 
120 LESSON 36. 
 
 31. (130) "How can we escape the wrath and punishment of God?" 
 
 "Only by this, that we obtain forgiveness' of sin from God." 
 
 32. From this we see that there is a way of escape from the conse- 
 
 quences of sin. What is this way? That we obtain forgive- 
 ness of sin from God. 
 
 33. Is there any other way of escape? No, there is not. 
 
 34. If sin is not to be punished, what must be done with it? It must 
 
 be forgiven. 
 
 35. And if it is not forgiven, what will be done with it? It will be 
 
 punished. 
 
 36. That only he can be happy, whose sins are forgiven, we see from 
 
 Ps. 32, 1. 2. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, 
 whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord 
 imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." 
 
 37. God is merciful as we see from Ex. 34, 6. "The Lord, the Lord 
 
 God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in 
 goodness and truth." 
 
 38. What do we read concerning God in the 130th Psalm, verse 4? 
 
 "But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be 
 feared." 
 
 39. So also the prophet Micah describes God, chapter 7. verse 18. 
 
 "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and 
 passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? 
 He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in 
 mercy." 
 
 40. From whom must this forgiveness of sin be obtained? It must 
 
 be obtained from God. 
 
 41. Against him we have sinned and he alone can forgive. So we 
 
 read Isa. 43, 2.5. "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy trans- 
 gressions, for mine own sake, and will not remember thy 
 sins." 
 
 42. (131) "How do we obtain forgiveness of sin?" "Through faith 
 
 in our Savior Jesus Christ." 
 
 43. Our only hope is in God's forgiveness. Now what does this ques- 
 
 tion 131 tell us? It tells us how we may obtain this for- 
 giveness. 
 
 44. It is evident then that this is a very important question. When 
 
 we hear that a thing which we need very badly, is to be had, 
 what are we naturally very much concerned about? About 
 how we can get it. 
 
 45. It was this which so much concerned the poor frightened jailor at 
 
 Philippi of whom we read in Acts 16, 30. 31. "Sir, what 
 must I do to be saved? And they said: Believe on the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." 
 
 46. What was this poor man anxious about? About his salvation. 
 
 47. And what answer did the apostles give him? "Believe on the 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house." 
 
 48. The same we are taught in John 3, 16. "God so loved the world, 
 
 that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth 
 in him should not perish but have everlasting life." 
 
 49. So also we read in Acts 10. 43. "To him give all the prophets 
 
 witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him 
 shall receive remission of sins." 
 
LESSON 37. 121 
 
 50. And again Eph. 1, 7. "In whom we have redemption through 
 
 his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of 
 his grace." 
 
 51. Who is Jesus Ctirist through whom we obtain forgiveness of sins? 
 
 He is our Savior. 
 
 52. From what did he save us? He saved us from our sins. 
 
 53. How did he save us from our sins? By his sufferings and death. 
 
 54. Who then shall have forgiveness of sin? He that believeth on 
 
 the Savior. 
 
 55. Then how do we obtain forgiveness of sins? Through faith in 
 
 our Savior Jesus Christ. 
 
 II. 
 
 THE SECOND CHIEF PART OF THE CATECHISM, OR 
 
 THE THREE ARTICLES OF THE HOLY 
 
 CHRISTIAN FAITH. 
 
 LESSON 37. THE CREED. 
 
 (Questions 132-135.) 
 
 1. How many chief parts of Christian doctrine are there? There 
 
 are five chief parts of Christian doctrine. 
 
 2. Which are the five chief parts of Christian doctrine? The holy 
 
 ten commandments, the Apostles creed, the Lord's prayer, 
 holy Baptism and the Lord's supper. 
 
 3. In what little book are these five chief parts of Christian doc- 
 
 trine explained? In the Catechism. 
 
 4. What chief part have we been thus far considering? We have 
 
 been considering the first chief part. 
 
 5. Of what does this first chief part treat? It treats of the holy ten 
 
 commandments. 
 
 6. By studying these commandments we come to a knowledge of 
 
 sin. We learn what sin is and what its consequences are 
 What did we learn in the last lesson concerning the conse- 
 quences of sin? We learned that God hates and punishes sin. 
 
 7. But what more did we learn about the consequences of sin? We 
 
 also learned how to escape the consequences of sin. 
 
 8. And how may we escape the consequences of sin? By obtaining 
 
 forgiveness of sin. 
 
 9. And how can we obtain such forgiveness? Through faith in our 
 
 Savior Jesus Christ. 
 
 10. What do we call those who believe in Jesus Christ? We call 
 
 them Christians. 
 
 11. And what do we call that which they believe? We call it the 
 
 Christian faith. 
 
 12. Yes, and this Christian faith is the subject of which chief part 
 
 of the Catechism? It is the subject of the second chief part 
 of the Catechism. 
 
 13. (132) "What is the second chief part of the Catechism?" "The 
 
 three articles of the holy Christian faith, or the Apostolic 
 Symbol." 
 
122 LESSON 37. 
 
 14. What is a man's faith? A man's faith is that which he believes. 
 
 15. We are here dealing with a man's religious faith, that is, with 
 
 what he believes in religious matters. The question is as 
 to what men hold regarding God, the creation and preserva- 
 tion of the world, salvation from sin and eternal life. There 
 are many faiths or religions in the world. Mention some of 
 the principal ones. The Christian, Jewish, Mohammedan, 
 and pagan religions. 
 
 16. What is our faith called? Our faith is called the Christian Faith. 
 
 17. How many true religions are there? There is only one true re- 
 
 ligion. 
 
 18. Which is the one true faith or religion? The Christian faith. 
 
 19. After whom is our faith called "Christian"? After Christ. 
 
 20. Why is our faith called after Him? Because He taught it, He is 
 
 the author of it. 
 
 21. Yes, and because He is also the heart and centre of it. How 
 
 many articles has the Christian faith? It has three articles. 
 
 22. The word "articles" here means members or parts. Just as the 
 
 members of our body belong together and make one com- 
 plete whole, so these three articles belong together and 
 make one complete whole. When taken together what do 
 these three articles constitute or make? They make our 
 Christian faith. 
 
 23. Children, this is the faith in which you were baptized. It is the 
 
 faith which we confess at public service every Sunday. It 
 is the faith which all Christians hold and which God's peo- 
 ple have confessed for 2000 years. How is this faith called 
 because it deals with such sacred things? It is called the 
 holy Christian faith. 
 
 24. We also call these three articles "the Apostles' Creed." In Latin 
 
 this faith begins with the word "Credo" wTiich means: I be- 
 lieve. What do we call this faith on that account? We call 
 it the creed. 
 
 25. A creed is an expression of faith. When a company of Chris- 
 
 tians unite in giving a brief expression of their faith, what 
 do we call such an expression? We call it a creed. 
 
 26. So we have a number of creeds, of which the Apostolic is the 
 
 oldest. What other name is given in question 132? It is 
 called the apostolic symbol. 
 
 27. (133) "What is the apostolic Symbol?" "It is a short summary 
 
 of the chief articles of the Christian faith." 
 
 28. What articles of our Christian faith does the creed contain? It 
 
 contains the chief articles. 
 
 29. Yes, the main things. Those things which every Christian should 
 
 know and believe. And what else is the creed called in this 
 question 133? It is called a short summary. 
 
 30. When I have a column of figures, draw a line under them and 
 
 place a row of figures under this line which represents as 
 much as the whole column added together, what is this row 
 called? It is called the sum. 
 
 31. Yes, in these few figures is expressed all that is contained in the 
 
 whole column. So what does this short creed stand for? It 
 stands for the whole Christian Faith. 
 
LESSON 37. 123 
 
 32. Yes, we might say: this is the whole Christian faith in a nut 
 
 shell, this is the kernel of all that we believe. In these few 
 words we give expression to our faith. And how important 
 it is that we confess, or give expression to our faith we see 
 from Rom. 10, 10. Read the passage. "For with the heart 
 man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth con- 
 fession is made unto salvation." 
 
 33. We should not only learn this faith, that is, commit it to memory, 
 
 and recite it, that is confess it with our lips, but what does 
 the apostle here say first of all? We should believe it with 
 our hearts. 
 
 34. (134) "Why is it called symbol or ensign?" "Because by it the 
 
 Christians are known and distinguished from the enemies of 
 the Christian church." 
 
 35. A symbol is a sign that represents sometliing. When an army 
 
 is on the marcli or goes to battle what symbol do they car- 
 ry, by which they can be recognized? They carry a fhg. 
 
 36. If you see a company of soldiers marching under the stars and 
 
 stripes what do you conclude as to their nationality? I con- 
 clude that they are Americans. 
 
 37. So this creed is like a flag. When people confess this faith, what 
 
 do you conclude as to their religion? That they are Chris- 
 tians. 
 
 38. From whom are Christians distinguished by this faith? They 
 
 are distinguished from their enemies. 
 
 39. When a man does not march under the flag of the United States, 
 
 but fights against, tears down and tramples upon it, in what 
 relation does that man stand to this country? He is an ene- 
 my of this country. 
 
 40. So when a man does not accept, but opposes and ridicules the 
 
 faith which we confess in these three articles, how must we 
 regard him? We must regard him as an enemy of the Chris- 
 tian church. 
 
 41. All Christians confess this faith. Tell me some people who do 
 
 not confess it. Jews, Mohammedans, Pagans, Infidels and 
 unbelievers. 
 
 42. This faith is our ensign, our flag. By this we stand. To it we 
 
 have vowed allegiance. When did you first confess this 
 faith? When we were baptized. 
 
 43. Who confessed this faith for you at your baptism? Our spon- 
 
 sors. 
 
 44. When did you solemnly ratify and renew this confession? When 
 
 we were confirmed. 
 
 45. Children, God grant that you may remain faithful to this con- 
 
 fession, that you may never deny the faith, never turn 
 
 traitors to the Christian church. Read what is written Rev. 
 
 2, 10, the second half of the verse. "Be thou faithful unto 
 death, and I will give thee a crown of life." 
 
 46. (135) "Why is this faith called apostolic?" "Because it con- 
 
 tains the sum of apostolic doctrine." 
 
 47. AVho taught the faith confessed in these three articles? The 
 
 apostles taught it. 
 
 48. And from whom did they get it? They got it from Christ. 
 
 49. So what two terms really mean the same thing? The terms apos- 
 
 tolic and christian. 
 
124 LESSON 38. 
 
 50. From the days of the apostles down to the present day all Chris- 
 
 tians have confessed this faith. We have received it from 
 our fathers and they from theirs and so on back to the days 
 of the apostles. Now read what the apostle St. Jude writes 
 concerning this faith in the third verse of his epistle. "Be- 
 loved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the com- 
 mon salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and 
 exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith 
 which was once delivered unto the saints." 
 
 51. What does the apostle here say we should do for the faith which 
 
 was delivered to us? We should earnestly contend for it. 
 
 52. Yes, we should not give it up when men want to rob us of it. 
 
 When a thief breaks into your house and wants to rob you 
 of your goods what would you do? I would defend my prop- 
 erty. 
 
 53. And so we should contend for and defend our faith. Why? .Be- 
 
 cause it is a very precious thing, a valuable possession. 
 
 LESSON 38. THE GOSPEL. 
 
 (Question 136-137.) 
 
 1. What was the suljject of our last lesson? The Creed. 
 
 2. By what other name do we call the creed? We call it the 
 
 Apostolic symbol, or the three articles of the Christian faith. 
 
 3. What doctrine does the Creed contain? It contains the doctrine 
 
 of Christ and the apostles. 
 
 4. What do we call it on this account? We call it Christian or 
 
 apostolic. 
 
 5. Why do we call it Christian or apostolic? Because Christ and the 
 
 apostles taught it. 
 
 6. Where have we a record of what Christ and the apostles taught? 
 
 In the Bible. 
 
 7. There are two principle doctrines in the Bible, the Law and the 
 
 Gospel. In which chief part of the Catechism did we consider 
 the Law? In the first chief part. 
 
 8. And now, in the Creed, we come to consider the other principal 
 
 doctrine of the Scriptures. What do we call this? We call 
 it the Gospel. 
 
 9. (136) "Whence is this doctrine (the apostolic doctrine) taken?" 
 
 "From the Gospel." 
 
 10. (137) "What is the Gospel?" "The Gospel is the glad tidings 
 
 that Jesus Christ has saved us from our sins, and through 
 faith makes us forever blessed." 
 
 11. In what words did the angel announce the birth of the Savior 
 
 to the shepherds on the field of Bethlehem? Luke 2, 10.11. 
 "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 
 which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day 
 in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." 
 
 12. The angel told them something new, something they did not 
 
 know until he told them. What does the word "tidings" 
 mean? It means news. 
 
LESSON 38. 125 
 
 13. Yes, the Gospel brings us news, something we do not and can not 
 
 know of ourselves and never could find out, if it were not 
 told us. The law tells us what we should do and not do. 
 This we may know, at least in part, though very imperfectly, 
 of ourselves. But the Gospel is something entirely new, 
 something which man of himself never would have dreamed 
 of. The Gospel is a message direct from God. Tell me from 
 this answer 1.37 what kind of tidings is the Gospel? The 
 Gospel is glad tidings. 
 
 14. What did the angel say of his message to the shepherds in the 
 
 passage you have just read? He said: "Behold I bring you 
 good tidings." 
 
 15. What kind of news then would you call the Gospel? The Gospel 
 
 is good news. 
 
 16. Yes, the Gospel is something to rejoice over. What did the angel 
 
 say of the tidings he brought to the shepherds? He said: 
 "I bring you good tidings of great joy." 
 
 17. Now tell me from question 137, concerning whom does the Gospel 
 
 tell us? It tells us of Jesus Christ. 
 
 18. Read what is written in Gen. 3, 15. "And I will put enmity be- 
 
 tween thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her 
 seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his 
 heel." 
 
 19. This God spoke to the serpent in the hearing of Adam and Eve. 
 
 He promised that in the course of time the seed of the 
 woman, that is one of the descendants of the woman, would 
 bruise the head of the serpent, this is, would deliver men 
 from their great enemy, the serpent, or the devil. What kind 
 of news was this to out first parents when they had fallen 
 into sin and were beginning to suffer its dreadful conse- 
 quences? It was good news. 
 
 20. And who was this seed of the woman who in due time should 
 
 save men from sin, death and the devil? It was Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 21. This was the first Gospel message and of whom did it treat? 
 
 It treated of Jesus Christ our Savior. 
 
 22. What great promise did God give Abraham? Gen. 22, 18. "And 
 
 in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; be- 
 cause thou hast obeyed my voice." 
 
 23. The descendeants, or the seed, of Abraham are the Jews. Who is 
 
 it, out of this nation, that is a blessing to the whole world? 
 It Is Jesus Christ. 
 
 24. What kind of news was it to Abraham that in his seed all nations 
 
 should be blessed? It was good news. 
 
 25. Yes, it was a real Gospel. And of whom did it treat? It treated 
 
 of Jesus Christ. 
 
 26. Now tell me from question 137 what does the Gospel tell us of 
 
 Jesus Christ? It tells us that he saved us from our sins. 
 
 27. What do we call him because he saved us? We call him 
 
 Savior. 
 
 28. Yes, that is the reason why he is called Jesus, as we read Matth. 
 
 ]. 21. "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call 
 his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their 
 sins." 
 
126 LESSON 38. 
 
 29. When the poor shipwrecked people in the life-boats of the Titanic, 
 
 after that dreadful night, were told that the ship Carpathia 
 was in sight, how do yon suppose they felt about the news? 
 They felt very glad. 
 
 30. Why did they feel glad? Because they knew, now they were 
 
 saved. 
 
 31. Yes, that certainly was good news. And when their friends in 
 
 New York and elsewhere heard that their loved ones were 
 safe on board the Carpathia what kind of news was that? 
 That was good news too. 
 
 32. Now the Gospel tells us that Jesus Christ has saved us from our 
 
 sins. What are the consequences of sin? The consequences 
 of sin are death and damnation. 
 
 33. Yes, so we read Rom. 6, 23. "For the wages of sin is death." 
 
 34. Now, if we are not to suffer the just punishment of our sins, 
 
 what must be done with sin? Sin must be forgiven. 
 
 35. And who secured forgiveness of sins for us? Our Lord Jesus 
 
 Christ. 
 
 36. How did Jesus Christ secure forgiveness of sins for us? He died 
 
 for us. 
 
 37. So Jesus saved us from our sins, and what is to be the blessed 
 
 result of this? Tell me from question 137. We are to be 
 blessed forever. 
 
 38. What is the only thing that can make us miserable forever? 
 
 Sin is the only thing that can make us unhappy forever. 
 
 39. If sin is forgiven what may we be sure of? We may be sure of 
 
 eternal life. 
 
 40. What kind of a life is eternal life? It is a blessed life. 
 
 41. How are we made partakers of this forgiveness of sins and 
 
 eternal life? Tell me from question 137. Through faith. 
 
 42. Through faith in whom? Through faith in Jesus Christ. 
 
 43. And all this is told us in the Gospel. Now what does the Savior 
 
 say of the Gospel in Mark 16, 15.16? "Go ye into all the 
 world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that 
 believeth~and is baptized shall be saved; but he that be- 
 lieveth not shall be damned." 
 
 44. What were the apostles to preach to all the world? They were 
 
 to preach the Gospel. 
 
 45. Yes, they were to tell the world the good news of the gracious 
 
 forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ. And what 
 did Jesus promise those who would believe this Gospel? 
 He promised that they should be saved. 
 
 46. And what did he say of those who did not believe? They shall 
 
 be damned. 
 
 47. Now read what the apostle says Rom. 1, 16. "I am not ashamed 
 
 of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto 
 salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and 
 also to the Greek." 
 
 48. Whose Gospel does the apostle here call the Gospel? He calls 
 
 it is the Gospel of Christ. 
 
 49. Yes, because it tells of Him and why does he say he is not 
 
 ashamed of this Gospel? Because it is the power of God unto 
 salvation. 
 
LESSON 39. 127 
 
 50. This is tlie means through which God saves us. Through it 
 
 he brings us to faith. To whom is the Gospel the power 
 of God unto salvation? To every one that believetb. 
 
 51. So what is necessary on our part in order that the Gospel may 
 
 save us? We must believe it. 
 
 52. Now read 1 Tim. 1, 15. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of 
 
 all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came iato the world to 
 save sinners; of whom I am chief." 
 
 53. Here we have another description of the Gospel, this faithful 
 
 saying, this trustworthy message. Of whom does it tell 
 us? It tells us of Christ Jesus. 
 
 54. And what does it tell us concerning Christ .Tesus? It tells us that 
 
 he came into the world to save sinners. 
 
 55. Yes, and that surely is good news. And the apostle says it is 
 
 worthy of all acceptation: that is, we can depend upon it, 
 it is reliable. And why is this glad message of the Gospel 
 perfectly true and trustworthy? Because it is God's word. 
 
 LESSON 39. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAW AND GOSPEL. 
 
 (Question 138.) 
 
 1. What was the subject of our last lesson? The subject of our 
 
 last lesson was the Gospel. 
 
 2. What other principal doctrine does the Word of God contain 
 
 besides the Gospel? It also contains the Law. 
 
 3. Which then are the two principle doctrines of the Word of God? 
 
 The Law and the Gospel. 
 
 4. Yes, and these two doctrines are found in all parts of the Bible. 
 
 How do we divide the Bible? We divide it int« the Old and 
 the New Testaments. 
 
 5. Both the Law and the Gospel are found in both parts of the Bible. 
 
 But these two doctrines are not alike. They differ in many 
 respects. What is to be the subject of today's lesson? The 
 difference between Law and Gospel. 
 
 6. (138) "What is the chief distinction between the Law and the 
 
 Gospel?" "The law demands that we perfectly fulfiill the 
 holy will of God, and condemns all who fail to do this. But 
 the Gospel gives us through faith the perfect righteousness 
 of Christ, by which we escape damnation and are forever 
 saved," 
 
 7. In this ai^swer you will find two words printed in italics. Which 
 
 are they? The word "demands" and the word "gives." 
 
 8. These two words point out the first difference between the Law 
 
 and the Gospel. Law and Gospel are entirely different in 
 their character. What does the Law do? The Law de- 
 mands. 
 
 9. And what does the Gospel do? The Gospel gi' es. 
 
 10. What is the difference between demand and give? The one is the 
 
 opposite of the other. 
 
 11. What does it mean to demand a thing? It means to ask for it, 
 
 to insist on having it. 
 
 12. How does the first commandment begin? Repeat the first two 
 
 words. "Thou shalt." 
 
128 LESSON 39. 
 
 13. When God begins a commandment with "Thou shalt" what does 
 
 He tells us? He tells us what he would have us do. 
 
 14. Yes, he tells us what he demands of us. Now repeat the first 
 
 three words of the fifth commandment. "Thou shalt not." 
 
 15. When God says "Thou shalt not" what does he tell us? He tells 
 
 us what not to do. 
 
 16. Yes, he tells us what he demands us not to do. In the Law God 
 
 demands certain things of us. He tells us what he ex- 
 pects us to do and not to do. This is the case not only in 
 the ten commandments but in other scripture passages. 
 For instance in Lev. 19, 2. "Speak unto all the congregation 
 of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be 
 holy: for I, the Lord your God am holy." 
 
 17. So also in Matth. 5, 48. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your 
 
 Father which is in heaven is perfect." 
 
 18. In such scripture passages God makes a demand, he asks some- 
 
 thing of us. What do we call all such passages in which 
 God tells us what to do and what not to do? We call them 
 the Law. 
 
 19. But now we also have other passages in which God does not 
 
 ask certain things of us, but in which he promises and 
 gives us certain things, in which he tells us what he has 
 done for us, and what he still 'ntends doing for us. What 
 do we call such passages? We call them the Gospel. 
 
 20. What does the word "Gospel" mean? It means good news. 
 
 21. Such good news we are told in John :i, IG. "For God so loved the 
 
 world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever 
 believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting 
 life." 
 
 22. Here we are told not what God would have us do, but rather 
 
 what are we told? We are told what God has done for us. 
 
 23. What did God do for the world? He loved the world and gave 
 
 his only Son for the world. 
 
 24. Now read Rev. 21, 4. "And God shall wipe away all tears from 
 
 their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sor- 
 row, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for 
 the former things are passed away." 
 
 25. These words look into the future and tell us not what God has 
 
 done, but rather what? What God intends doing for us. 
 
 26. When God tells us what good things he has in store for his chil- 
 
 dren in heaven what kind of a message is this? This is a 
 good message, good news. 
 
 27. And what do we call such glad tidings? We call them Gospel. 
 
 28. So you see the great difference between Law and Gospel. In 
 
 what two words does our answer to question 138 express this 
 difference? The Law demands and the Gospel gives. 
 
 29. Now tell me what does the Law demand? The Law demands that 
 
 we perfectly fulfill the holy will of God. 
 
 30. And what does the Gospel give? The Gospel gives us through 
 
 faith the perfect righteousness of Christ, 
 
 31. The law asks us to be holy and righteous. What does the Gos- 
 
 pel offer and give us? It gives us the perfect righteousness 
 of Christ. 
 
LESSON 39. 129 
 
 32. Christ did the very thing which the law demands, He was per- 
 
 fectly righteous and holy. And this He did for us. In his 
 righteous and holy life he was our substitute. And what 
 doctrine tells us of this and offers us this righteousness of 
 Christ? The Gospel offers us this righteousness of Christ, 
 
 33. But the Law not only demands that we perfectly fulfill the holy 
 
 will of God but what more does it do? It condemns all who 
 fail to do this. 
 
 34. What does the Law do with all those who fail to keep it? It 
 
 condemns them. 
 
 35. Of this we have an example in the passage Gal. 3, 10. "Cursed 
 
 is every one that continueth not in all things which are 
 written in the book of the Law to do them." 
 
 36. What does God threaten to do with all those who transgress his 
 
 commandments? He threatens to punish them. 
 
 37. What doctrine of the word of God is it in which God threatens 
 
 to punish those who do not keep his commandments? It is 
 the Law. 
 
 38. Now Christ came and took upon himself the punishment for our 
 
 sins as we read Gal. 3, 13. "Christ hath redeemed us from 
 the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is 
 written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." 
 
 39. Again we read 1 Peter 2, 24, concerning the Savior: "Who his 
 
 own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, 
 being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose 
 stripes ye were healed." 
 
 40. Now repeat the passage 2 Cor. 5, 19. "God was in Christ, recon- 
 
 ciling the word unto himself, not imputing their trespasses 
 unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of recon- 
 ciliation." 
 
 41. What are we here told that God did in Christ? That He recon- 
 
 ciled the world unto himself. 
 
 42. Yes, and now because in Christ the world is reconciled to God. 
 
 God does not impute their trespasses to them but what is 
 he ready to do with sin? He is ready to forgive it. 
 
 43. And what else does the apostle say in this passage? That God 
 
 hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 
 
 44. This word of reconciliation is the Gospel. What did the I^ord tell 
 
 the apostles to preach? He told them to preach the Gospel. 
 
 45. In this Gospel God offers us the righteousness of Christ. That 
 
 is, what does he offer us for Christ's sake? He offers us the 
 forgiveness of sins. 
 
 46. In the Law God threatens to punish sin but what does he offer 
 
 in the Gospel? He offers to forgive sin. 
 
 47. This coi-tainly is glad tidings, good news. And what do we call 
 
 such glad tidings? We call it the Gospel. 
 
 48. Yes, indeed it is good news that we are to escape the damnation 
 
 which we have deserved by our sins. But in the Gospel 
 God not only tells us what he has done for us, but also what 
 He intends doing for us. Tell me what is to be the blessed 
 result of this forgiveness which God offers in the Gospel, 
 the last clause in our answer to question 138 tells us. We 
 are to be forever saved. 
 
 49. So whikc the Law condemns us what does the Gospel do? The 
 
 Gospel saves us. 
 
130 LESSON 40, 
 
 50. Now read what the apostle says of the Gospel Rom. 1, 16. "For 
 
 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power 
 of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the 
 Jew first and also to the Greek." 
 
 51. What does the apostle here call the Gospel of- Christ? He caTIs rt 
 
 the power of God unto salvation. 
 
 52. Yes, through it God saves us. Read what the Savior himself 
 
 said when he sent out his deciples to preach the Gospel, 
 Mark 16, 15-16. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
 Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized 
 shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." 
 
 53. What is necessary on our part that the Gospel may save us? 
 
 We must believe it. 
 
 54. Yes, and though of ourselves we are not able to believe, the 
 
 Gospel itself gives us power to believe. This is the living 
 seed through which God puts new life into our spiritually 
 dead hearts as we read 1 Peter 1, 23. "Being born again, not 
 of corruptible seed, but of uncorruptible, by the word of 
 God, which liveth and abideth forever." 
 
 55. Read 1 Cor. 3,6 the latter half of the verse. "For the letter kill- 
 
 eth, but the spirit giveth life." 
 
 56. The apostle here calls the Law the letter, and what does he say 
 
 of it? He says it killeth. 
 
 57. That is, it condemns to eternal death. But what does he say of 
 
 the Spirit, that is the Gospel? He says the Spirit giveth 
 life. 
 
 58. Law and Gospel are entirely different in their effects. The law 
 
 gives us a knowledge of sin and its dreadful consequences, 
 but the Gospel brings us the remedy for sin. The Law 
 terrifies but the Gospel brings joy and gladness, life and 
 salvation. So Law and Gospel differ not only in their char- 
 acter but in what other respects? They also differ in their 
 effects and results. 
 
 LESSON 40. THE BEING OF GOD. 
 
 (Question 139-142.) 
 
 (139) "What are the words of the Apostolic Symbol?" I believe 
 in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 
 And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was con- 
 ceived 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 at the right 
 hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He shall 
 come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in th« 
 Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the communion of 
 saints; the foregiveness of sin; the resurrection of the body; 
 and the life everlasting. Amen." 
 
 (140) "Of what do the three articles of the Apostolic Symbol 
 treut?" "The first treats of Creation, the second of Re- 
 demption, the third of Sanctification." 
 
 How many articles or parts has the Apostolic Symbol or the 
 Creed? It has three articles. 
 
LESSON 40. 131 
 
 4. Of what does the first article treat? The first article treats of 
 
 Creation. 
 
 5. Of what does the second article treat? The second article treats 
 
 of Redemption. 
 
 6. And of what does the third article treat? The third article 
 
 treats of Sanctification. 
 
 7. (141) "What is the chief use of these articles of the Christian 
 
 faith?" "That we may learn from them to know God ac- 
 cording to His essence and His gracious will toward us." 
 
 8. What are we to learn first? We are to learn to know God ac- 
 
 cording to His essence. 
 
 9. And what else are we to learn? We are to learn to know His 
 
 gracious will toward us. 
 
 10. Whom are we to learn to know from these three articles? We 
 
 are to learn to know God. 
 
 11. What is the first thing we are to learn concerning God? We are 
 
 to learn concerning the essence of God. 
 
 12. When we describe the essence of a thing, we say what it is. So 
 
 what question are we to answer first concerning God? The 
 question: What is God? 
 
 13. (142) "What is God?" "God is a spirit, who is eternal, omnipo- 
 
 tent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, righteous, merciful and 
 truthful." 
 
 14. There are different ways of knowing what and who God is. 
 
 We can know God in part from nature. When I look at a 
 fine building, I conclude that some one must have planned 
 and put up that building. When I behold the wonderful 
 building of the world what may I conclude? That some 
 one planned and made it. 
 
 15. When I look at a fine watch, and admire the accuracy with 
 
 which its several parts fit into each other, and the cor- 
 rectness with which it keeps time, what do 1 conclude wiui 
 reference to the maker of the watch? That he must have 
 been a very skillful workman. 
 
 16. So when I behold how wonderfully the world is made, how day 
 
 and night. Summer and Winter, seed time and harvest fol- 
 low each other, what have I a right to conclude with ref- 
 erence to the Creator of this world? That He is a wise 
 being. 
 
 17. We can not see God. but what can we see? We can see His 
 
 works. 
 
 18. Read Psalm 104, 24. "O Lord, How manifold are thy works! In 
 
 wisdom hast thou made them all: and the earth is full of thy 
 riches." 
 
 111. In Rom. 1. 19-20, the apostle tells ns how the visil)le works of 
 God reveal to us the invisible (!od himself. Read the pas- 
 sage. "Because that which may be known of God is mani- 
 fest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the 
 invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are 
 clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, 
 even his eternal power and godhead-" 
 
132 LESSON 40. 
 
 20. But this natural knowledge of God is imperfect. We never 
 
 would rightly know what and who God is, much less his will, 
 if God had not revealed himself to us in a more complete 
 and perfect way, than he has done In nature. This more 
 perfect and complete revelation of God we have in the 
 written word of God. Where have we the written word of 
 God? We have it in the Bible. 
 
 21. Yes, and therefore if we want a correct and complete answer 
 
 to the question: What is God? where must we go for this 
 answer? We must go to the Bible. 
 
 22. What does our question 142 say, first of all, in answer to the 
 
 question: What is God? God is a spirit. 
 
 23. Yes, and this answer is taken from the holy scriptures. In .John 
 
 4, 24, the Savior himself tells us what God is. Read the 
 passage. "God is a spirit: and they that worship him 
 must worship him in spirit and in truth." 
 
 24. What does the Savior here say in answer to the question: What 
 
 is God? He says: God is a spirit. 
 
 25. It is very difficult for us to understand what a spirit is, because 
 
 we can not see, nor touch, nor weigh, nor measure it. It 
 does not occupy space like a tree, an animal or a human 
 being. It is not subject to our senses. When the Savior 
 appeared to the disciples after the resurrection they were 
 frightened and thought they saw a spirit. Now read Luke 
 24, 38. 39. "And he said unto them, why are ye troubled? 
 and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands 
 and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for 
 a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." 
 
 26. What does the Savior here say of a spirit? He says a spirit hath 
 
 not flesh and bones, such as he has. 
 
 27. A spirit has no body. God is a spirit and therefore has no body. 
 
 It is true God is sometimes spoken of as though he had eyes, 
 ears, hands and arms. Read 1 Peter 3, 12. "For the eyes 
 of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open 
 unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them 
 that do evil." 
 
 28. All such expressions are not to be taken literally. They are 
 
 simply descriptions of God in language that is suited to our 
 human way of thinking. What is the eye for? The eye is to 
 see. 
 2&. So the eye of God means his ability to see and know all things. 
 What is the ear for? The ear is to hear. 
 
 30. So the ear of God stands for his ability and willingness to hear 
 
 and answer our prayers. What is the arm for? The arm is 
 for work. 
 
 31. So where the arm or the hand of God is spoken of, as in Deut. 
 
 11, 2. it stands for the mighty power of God. Read the 
 passage. "And know ye this day: for I speak not with your 
 children which have not known, and which have not seen 
 the chastisement of the Lord, your God, his greatness, his 
 mighty hand, and his stretched out arm." 
 
 32. But God is not the only spirit. What other si)irits are there 
 
 besides God? The angels are also spirits. 
 
 33. Read what the apostles say concerning angels Heb. 1, 14. "Are 
 
 they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for 
 them who shall be heirs of salvation." 
 
LESSON 40. 133 
 
 34. Here he calls the angels spirits. But there is a vast difference 
 
 between God and the angels. The angels were created, but 
 what about God? He was not created. 
 
 35. God is an uncreated spirit and on that account stands in a class 
 
 all by himself. He is the only spirit of his kind. There is 
 none other like him. This we see when we consider God's 
 attributes. Let us first try to understand what an attribute 
 is. When I say; this is an English book, what part of speech 
 is the word "English?" It is an adjective. 
 3G. What is an adjective? An adjective is a word that describes a 
 person or thing. 
 
 37. When you describe a person or thing you say what kind of a 
 
 person or thing it is, you give its qualities. For instance 
 give an attribute of the wall. The wall is white. 
 
 38. Give me an attribute of a ball. A ball is round. 
 
 39. So of a person. When I say: George Washington was a great 
 
 man. what is greatness in relation to this man? It is a 
 quality or attribute. 
 
 40. When I say: Martin Luther was a pious man. what is piety in 
 
 relation to this man? It is an attribute or quality of the 
 man. 
 
 41. So when we want to describe God, what do we mention? We 
 
 mention his attributes. 
 
 42. Yes. we make mention of such qualities as distinguish Him from 
 
 other beings. Question 142 tells us not only that God is a 
 spirit, but what else does it tell us? It tells us what kind of 
 a spirit God is. 
 
 43. What is said of God in this answer in order to describe him? He 
 
 is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, right- 
 eous, merciful, and truthful. 
 
 44. What are these expressions: eternal, omnipotent and the like? 
 
 They are attributes of God. 
 4.5. Yes. they are those qualities in which He differs from other 
 
 spirits. Who, for instance, alone is eternal? God alone is 
 
 eternal. 
 40. Who alone is omnipotent? God alone is omnipotent. 
 
 47. Who alone is omnipresent? God alone is omnipresent. 
 
 48. And so with all the attributes of God. They either belong abso- 
 
 lutely to him alone or, at least in a peculiar sense, they be- 
 long to him alone. So, for example, there are other persons 
 who are holy but not in the degree and sense in which God 
 is holy. There are other persons who are merciful, but not 
 in the degree and sense in which God is merciful. So the 
 attributes mentioned under question 142 are what kind of 
 attributes? They are divine attributes. 
 
 49. And why do we call them divine attributes? Because they be- 
 
 long to God only. 
 
 50. Of what other being can we say that it is eternal, omnipresent, 
 
 omnipotent and the like? We can say this of no other being. 
 51 . So we read of God's holiness in 1 Sam. 2, 2. "There is none holy 
 
 as the Lord: for there is none besides thee: neither is there 
 
 any rock like our God." 
 52. And again Rev. 15, 4. "Who shall not fear thee. O Lord, and 
 
 glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations 
 
 shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are 
 
 made manifest." 
 
184 LESSON 41. 
 
 LESSON 41. THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. 
 
 (Question 142.) 
 
 1 . In our last lesson we saw what is meant by tire attributes of God. 
 
 Now let us consider these attributes. Which is mentioned 
 first in Question 142? God is eternal. 
 
 2. Children, it is very hard for us weak mortals to understand the 
 
 attributes of the infinite God. We have seen that God has 
 showed himself through his works. So the works of God, to 
 some extent also, show his attributes. Who made the 
 world? God made the world. 
 
 3. So we learn from the first sentence of the Bible. Read it. "In 
 
 the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." 
 
 4. When we see a building we know there must have been a builder. 
 
 Now which existed first, the building or the builder? The 
 builder was first. 
 
 5. So with the world. It did not always exist. It had a beginning,. 
 
 But before the world began who must have been? God, 
 who made the world. 
 
 6. If God was before the beginning then what can he never have 
 
 had? He never can have had a beginning. 
 
 7. But this is only part of what we mean when we say that God is 
 
 eternal. The world was not without beginning, neither will 
 it exist forever. What does the Savior say of heaven and 
 earth in Matth. 24, 35? "Heaven and earth shall pass away." 
 
 8. But God will never pass away. Looking back into the past we 
 
 say God never had a beginning, but what can we say of 
 Him when we look into the future? He never will have an 
 end. 
 
 9. Now tell in full what we mean when we say God is eternal? 
 
 We mean that he is without beginning and without end. 
 
 10. Now repeat the passage Ps. 90, 1-2. "Lord, thou hast been our 
 
 dwellingpiace in all generations. Before the mountains were 
 brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the 
 world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 
 
 11. How does this passage say that God never had a beginning and 
 
 never will have an end? He is from everlasting to ever- 
 lasting. 
 
 12. We poor mortals are born, live a few years, and then pass away. 
 
 How should we feel when we compare ourselves with this 
 eternal God? Give me the answer liy reading Ps. 102, 11.12. 
 "My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am with- 
 ered like grass. But thou, O Lord, shalt endure forever; 
 and thy remembrance unto all generations." 
 
 13. We count time by days, months, and years. But God's life is not 
 
 so counted. He is always the same. He never changes. 
 Read 2 Peter 3, 8. "Beloved, be not ignorant of this one 
 thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, 
 and a thousand years as one day." 
 
 14. Which is the next attribute of God mentioned in Question 142? 
 
 God is omnipotent. 
 
 15. The word "omnipotent" here means all po'werful. Tell me from 
 
 this, what power has God? God has all power. 
 
 16. Repeat the passage Ps. 115, 3. "Our God is in the heavens: He 
 
 hath done whatsoever he hath pleased." 
 
LESSON 41. 135 
 
 17. We would often like to do things which we do not do. Why? Be- 
 
 cause we can not always do what we please. 
 
 18. Our doing is limited because what is limited? Because our power 
 
 is limited. 
 
 19. But God's power is not limited. In the beginning he wanted to 
 
 make light. How did he go about it? He said "let there be 
 light," and there was light. 
 
 20. Yes, his mere word is sufficient to call things into being that 
 
 were not l)efore, as we read Ps. 3.3, 8. 9. "Let all the earth 
 fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in 
 awe of him. For he spake and it was done; he commanded 
 and it stood fast." 
 
 21. This Lord surely is to be feared. But he is also to be trusted. 
 
 When he promises a thing why can we depend upon its be- 
 ing done? Because God is able to do what he promises. 
 
 22. Now read Luke 1, 37. "With God nothing shall be impossible." 
 
 23. We cannot ask anything of God which he is not able to do. To 
 
 what should this move us? It should move us to trust in 
 God. 
 
 24. Now give the third attribute mentioned in question 142. God 
 
 is Omniscient. 
 
 25. This means that God is all-knowing. Just as there is no limit 
 
 to his power, so there is no limit to his knowledge. What 
 great gift did God bestow upon Solomon? 1 Kings 3, 12. 
 The gift of wisdom. 
 
 26. Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived. And yet there were 
 
 many things which he did not know. We are constantly 
 learning things we did not know. But why is it not neces- 
 sary for God to learn anything? Because he knows every- 
 thing. 
 
 27. We are constantly forgetting what we did know. But what 
 
 about God's memory? God .never forgets anything. 
 
 28. Our knowledge is limited because the future is hidden from us. 
 
 But what about God's knowledge of the future? He knows 
 the future as well as the past, and the present. 
 
 29. Repeat Ps. 139, 1-4. "Oh Lord, thou hast searched me, and known 
 
 me. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising; 
 Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest 
 my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my 
 ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O 
 Lord, thou knowest it altogether." 
 
 30. Why should we be so careful of our actions and words, yea, 
 
 even of our thoughts? Because God knows them. 
 
 31. Read also Heb. 4, 13. "Neither is there any creature that is not 
 
 manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened 
 in the eyes of him with whom we have to do." 
 
 32. But the fact that God knows all things is not only a solemn but 
 
 it is also a comforting fact. God knows what we need. He 
 sees when we are in trouble. His wisdom can provide for 
 our welfare. Of this the Savior reminds us in Matth. 6, 8 the 
 latter part of the verse. "Your Father knoweth what things 
 ye have need of, before ye ask him." 
 
 33. Now tell me the fourth attribute of God. God is omnipresent. 
 
 34. The word "omnipresent" means present everywhere. In how 
 
 many places can a man be present at one time? He can be 
 present only in one place at a time. 
 
136 LESSON 41. 
 
 35. If you are now present in this school room, you cannot, at the 
 
 same time, be present at home. But God is not so limited. 
 Where is God? God is everywhere. 
 
 36. You are present at this moment in this schoolroom, but in an 
 
 hour from now where will you be? I will be at home. 
 
 37. So you can also be at different places, but how? Only at differ- 
 
 ent times. 
 
 38. But how can God be present everywhere? He can be present 
 
 everywhere at the same time. 
 
 39. So God speaks of himself in the Bible. Read .Jer. 23. 23. 24. "Am 
 
 I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? 
 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see 
 him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith 
 the Lord. 
 
 40. Read also Ps. 139, 7-10. "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or 
 
 whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into 
 heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold 
 thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and 
 dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall 
 thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." 
 
 41. The fact that God is everywhere is a very solemn truth. We are 
 
 constantly under his eye. What did God say to Abraham 
 Gen. 17, 1? The latter half of the verse. "I am the almighty 
 God; walk before me and be thou perfect." 
 
 42. But it is also a very comforting truth. No matter where we are 
 
 and with what dangers we may be surrounded, what may we 
 be sure of? We may be sure that God is with us. 
 
 43. In this connection read Ps. 145, 18. "The Lord is nigh unto all 
 
 them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." 
 
 44. Read also Ps. 23, 4. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
 
 shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; 
 thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." 
 
 45. What is the fifth attribute mentioned in Question 142? God is 
 
 holy. 
 
 46. How is God descril)ed in Isa. 6, 3? "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord 
 
 of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." 
 
 47. The holiness of God is so great that the prophet repeats the 
 
 word three times to emphasize his holiness. But what is the 
 opposite of holiness? Unholiness or sin. 
 
 48. If God is so holy what must he be free from? He is free from 
 
 sin. 
 
 49. Can you think of another word that expresses this freedom from 
 
 sin in God? God is pure, he is perfect. 
 
 50. To what should this holiness of God move us? Give me the 
 
 answer by reading the latter part of Lev. 19, 2. "Ye shall be 
 holy: for I the Lord your God am holy." 
 
 51. What is the next attribute of God? God is righteous. 
 
 52. That means, not only that he does what is right, but that he 
 
 judges rightly. What kind of a judge would you call an 
 unrighteous judge? Prov. 17, 15 tells us. "He that justifieth 
 the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both 
 are abomination to the Lord." 
 
 53. Now if God is a righteous judge he does just the opposite. Can 
 
 you tell me what he does with the wicked and what he 
 does with the just. He punishes the wicked and rewards 
 the Just. 
 
LliSSON 41. I'M 
 
 54. What does God, as a righteous judge, love and reward? He loves 
 
 and rewards what is good. 
 
 55. And what does he hate and punish? He hates and punishes the 
 
 evil. 
 
 5G. Repeat Uan. 9, 7. ''O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee." 
 
 57. And again Dan. 9, 14. "The Lord, our God is righteous in all his 
 
 works which he doeth." 
 
 58. When we learn that God is just, to what should this move us? 
 
 It should move us to shun what is evil. 
 
 59. And what comfort do we find in the righteousness of God, over 
 
 against the wicked world which so often misjudges and con- 
 demns us innocently? Read for an answer Ps. 103, 6. "The 
 Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are 
 oppressed." 
 
 60. Which is the next attribute of God? God is merciful. 
 
 61. By this is meant that God pities those who are in trouble, as 
 
 the good Samaritan pitied the poor man who fell among 
 thieves. But, above all, God pities us poor sinners, and 
 what does his mercy move him to do? It moves him to for- 
 give us our sins. 
 
 62. Read Ex. 34. 6. 7. "The Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious, 
 
 long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keep- 
 ing mercy for thousands, and forgiving iniquity and trans- 
 gression and sin." 
 
 60. And to what should this mercy of God lead us? Give me the an- 
 swer by reading Luke 6, 36. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your 
 Father also is merciful.' 
 
 64. When is the mercy of God specially comforting to us poor sin- 
 
 ners? When we think of and are troubled about our sins. 
 
 65. Which is the last attribute of God here mentioned? God is 
 
 truthful. 
 
 66. When do you say of a man that he is truthful? When he speaks 
 
 the truth. 
 
 67. Yes, or when he keeps his promises. And this God does, as wp 
 
 see from Ps. 33, 4. "The word of the Lord is right and al) 
 his works are done in truth," 
 
 68. Also from Heb. 6, 18. "It is impossible for God to lie.' 
 
 69. Men often make promises which they do not keep. Why? Be- 
 
 cause they don't want to. 
 
 70. Yes, or there may be another reason. Because they can't. 
 
 71. God never makes a promise which he does not mean or is not 
 
 able to keep, and what do we call him on that account? 
 We call him truthful. 
 
 72. To what should this truthfulness of God move us? It should 
 
 move us to be truthful also. 
 
 73. And because God is truthful how should we regard his promises? 
 
 As perfectly reliable and trustworthy. 
 
138 LESSON 42. 
 
 LESSON 42. THE TRINITY. 
 
 (Question 143-148.) 
 
 1. (143) "Who is the true God?" "God the Father, God the Son, and 
 
 God the Holy Ghost, three persons in one essence." 
 
 2. In our last' lesson we considered the being and attributes of God. 
 
 Which question did we answer? We answered the question: 
 "What is God?" 
 
 3. And with what question does today's lesson begin? With the 
 
 question: "Who is the true God?" 
 
 4. In answer to the question: "What?" you describe a thing. But 
 
 what do you describe in answer to the question: "Who?" 
 We describe a person. 
 
 5. Who discovered America? Christopher Columbus discovered 
 
 America. 
 
 6. Who was the first president of the United States? George Wash- 
 
 ington was the first president of the United States. 
 
 7. So you see, the question "Who" requires a person or persons for 
 
 its answer. What does our answer to question 143 say as to 
 the divine persons? There are three persons, God the Father, 
 God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. 
 
 8. And what else does this answer say about God? it says there 
 
 are three persons in one essence. 
 
 9. There are three persons, and yet there is but one God and not 
 
 three gods. How many true gods are there? There is but 
 one true God. 
 
 10. (144) "What passages of holy Scripture prove that there is but 
 
 one God?" Read the first Deut. 6, 4. " Hear, O Israel: the 
 Lord our God is one Lord." 
 
 11. To what people was Moses here speaking? He was speal<ing to 
 
 Israel. 
 
 12. And what does he say of the God of Israel? He says the God 
 
 of Israel is one Lord. 
 
 13. How did Israel in this regard differ from the heathen nations 
 
 .around them? The heathen nations had many gods. 
 
 14. What does the apostle Paul say 1 Cor. 8, 4.? "There is none 
 
 other God but one." 
 
 15. There are other things which men fear, love, and trust in as gods. 
 
 But these things are not really gods. What are they? They 
 are idols. 
 
 16. And what does God say of all such idols in the first command- 
 
 ment? "Thou shait have no other gods before me." 
 
 17. What does St. Paul say Eph. 4, 6.? "One God and Father of all, 
 
 who is above all, and through all, and in you all." 
 
 18. So the Savior himself says in his high priestly prayer, John 17, 3. 
 
 "This is eternal life, that they miglit i<now thee, the only true 
 God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." 
 
 19. The same is taught in 1 Tim. 2, 5. "There is one God and one 
 
 mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." 
 
 20. As how many persons has God revealed Himself? As three. 
 
LESSON 42. 139 
 
 I'l. (lod is one, and yet He is three. He is one in essence or being, 
 and yet three persons. ].,et me give you a word which ex- 
 l)resses this thought. When we wish to say that God is one 
 and yet three, we say that he is triune. This word is com- 
 posed of which two syllables? It is composed of the syl- 
 lables "tri" and "une." 
 
 22. What does the syllable "une" express when used with reference 
 
 to God? It says that God is one. 
 
 23. And what does the syllable "tri" express? It says that God is 
 
 three. 
 
 24. Children, here we have a great mystei'y, something which we 
 
 can not understand. Yet we believe it because we find it 
 plainly taught in the Scriptures. Question 145 gives us the 
 Scripture proof for this doctrine. Where do we get this 
 proof? We get it from the Scriptures. 
 
 25. (145 "How do you prove that in one divine essence there are 
 
 three persons?" What is the first proof? "At the baptism of 
 Christ God reveals himself as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 
 
 26. You will find this baptism of Christ recorded in Math. 3, 16. 17. 
 
 "Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of 
 the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and 
 he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting 
 upon him: and, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my 
 beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 
 
 27. How did God the Father make himself known on this occasion? 
 
 He spoke from heaven saying: "This is my beloved Son, in 
 whom I am well pleased." 
 
 28. And where was God the Son? He stood in the water, being bap- 
 
 tized. 
 
 29. Was the person who called from heaven the same person who 
 
 stood in the water? No, he was a different person. 
 
 30. And what is said of the Holy Ghost? He descended like a dove 
 
 and lighted on him. 
 
 31. Was this person who came like a dove the same person who 
 
 stood in the water? No, he was a different person. 
 
 32. Was he the same person who spoke from heaven? No, he was 
 
 a different person. 
 
 33. How many distinct persons, therefore, are here mentioned? Three 
 
 distinct persons are mentioned. 
 
 34. Which IS the second proof furnished by question 145 from the 
 
 Bible that there are three persons in God? "Christ com- 
 mands to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the 
 Son, and the Holy Ghost." 
 
 35. You will find this command recorded in Matth. 28, 19. Read it. 
 
 "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
 the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 
 Ghost." 
 
 36. In whose name are men to be baptized? In the name of the 
 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 
 
 37. These three names do not apply to the same person, but they 
 
 stand for how many persons? They stand for three persons. 
 
 38. If there were not three but only one person in God, how do you 
 
 suppose this command would read? Baptize them in the 
 name of God. 
 
140 LESSON 42. 
 
 39. Even in the Old Testament we find this doctrine of the Trinity 
 
 indicated, although it is taught more plainly in the New Tes- 
 tament. In many passages we find that God speaks of him- 
 self in the plural number, thus indicating that there is more 
 than one. Let us hear some of these passages, for instance 
 Gen. 1, 26. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, 
 after our likeness." 
 
 40. So also in Gen. 3, 22. "And the Lord God said, Behold the man 
 
 is become as one of us." 
 
 4L That there are three persons is also indicated in the Old Testa- 
 ment benediction, as we find it recorded in Num. 6, 22-26. 
 "The Lord spake unto IVIoses, saying, speak unto Aaron and 
 unto his sons, saying, on this wise ye shall bless the children 
 of Israel, saying unto them: The Lord bless thee and keep 
 thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gra- 
 cious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, 
 and give thee peace." 
 
 42. The same is true of the so-called New Testament benediction, as 
 
 we find it in 2 Cor. 13, 14. Read the passage. "The grace 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the com- 
 munion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." 
 
 43. Each of these three persons is eternal, almighty, all-knowing, 
 
 everywhere present: that is, has all the divine attributes. 
 In this respect they are all alike, and yet in other respects 
 there is a difference between these three persons. These 
 differences let us now consider. What are we now to con- 
 sider? We are to consider the differences between the three 
 persons of the Trinity. 
 
 44. (146) "Who is God the Father?" "God the Father is the first 
 
 person of the Godhead, who from eternity begat the Son as 
 his image, and has created all things, preserves, and governs 
 them." 
 4.5. Which person of the holy Trinity is God the Father? God the 
 Father is the first person of the Godhead. 
 
 46. And what is said of his relation to the Son? He from eternity 
 
 begat the Son as his image. 
 
 47. Since when does this relation exist between the Father and the 
 
 Son? From eternity. 
 
 48. And what work is here mentioned as the special work of God the 
 
 Father? He has created all things, preserves, and governs 
 them. 
 
 49. Can we say of God the Holy Ghost that he begat the Son? No, 
 
 we cannot say this of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 50. Of whom alone can it be said that he begat the Son? It can be 
 
 said only of the Father. 
 
 51. (147) "Who is God the Son?" "God the Son is the second person 
 
 of the Godhead, who is begotten of the Father from eternity, 
 has assumed human nature and thus become our Redeemer 
 and Mediator." 
 
 52. Which person of the Godhead is the Son? He is the second per- 
 
 son of the Godhead. 
 
 53. In what relation does the Son stand to the Father? He was be- 
 
 gotten of the Father from eternity. 
 
 54. Can we say: the Son was begotten of the Holy Ghost? No, He 
 
 was begotten of the Father. 
 
LESSON 43. 141 
 
 55. Can we say: He proceeds from the Father or from the Holy 
 
 Ghost? No, he was begotten of the Father. 
 
 56. And what is said of the Son with reference to us? He assumed 
 
 human nature, and thus became our Redeemer and Mediator. 
 
 57. Who assumed human nature; that is, became our brother, a true 
 
 human being? God the Son became our brother. 
 
 58. Can we say of God the Holy Ghost that he became our brother; 
 
 that is, a true human being? No, only God the Son took 
 upon himself our human nature. 
 
 59. Can we say of God the Father that he became a human being? 
 
 No, this can be said only of the Son. He alone is our Re- 
 deemer and Mediator. 
 
 60. (14S) "Who is God the Holy Ghost?" "God the Holy Ghost is 
 
 the third person of the Godhead, who from eternity proceeds 
 from the Father and the Son, and through the word and 
 sacraments regenerates and sanctifies us." 
 6i. In what relation does the Holy Ghost stand to the Father and 
 the Son? He from eternity proceeds from the Father and 
 the Son. 
 
 62. Does the Father proceed from the Holy Ghost? No, the Holy 
 
 Ghost proceeds from the Father. 
 
 63. Does the Son proceed from the Holy Ghost? No, the Holy Ghost 
 
 proceeds from the Son. 
 
 64. And what is said of the Holy Ghost in reference to us? Through 
 
 the word and sacraments he regenerates and sanctifies us. 
 
 65. When I say the first person is named the Father, the second the 
 
 Son. and the third the Holy Ghost, what difference is thus 
 expressed? A difference of name. 
 
 66. When I say: the Father begat the Son, the Son was begotten of 
 
 the Father, and the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father 
 and the Son, thus giving attributes which belong to each 
 person separately, what kind of difference is this? This is 
 a difference of personal attributes. 
 
 67. And when 1 say: The Father created us, the Son redeemed us, and 
 
 the Holy Ghost sanctifies us, thus mentioning distinct works, 
 what distinction do I make? I distinguish between their 
 works. 
 
 68. Let us remember now that each of the three persons of the Holy 
 
 Trinity is instrumental in our salvation. We may say: The 
 Father planned our salvation, the Son carried it out, and the 
 Holy Ghost applies it to us and enables us to enjoy it. To 
 whom, therefore, are we indebted for our salvation? To God 
 the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. 
 
 LESSON 43. THE WILL OF GOD. 
 
 (Question 149-150.) 
 
 1. What (lid we learn about God in our last lesson? We learned 
 
 who God is. 
 
 2. What did we learn in the two lessons before? We learned what 
 
 God is and what his attributes are. 
 
 3. Tell me what God is. God is a spirit. 
 
142 LESSON 43. 
 
 4. What kind of spirit is God? God is a spirit who is eternal, al- 
 
 mighty, all-knowing, everywhere present, holy, righteous, 
 merciful and truthful. 
 
 5. Now tell me: who is the true God? He is the triune God, Father, 
 
 Son, and Holy Ghost. 
 
 6. In today's lesson we are to consider something else about God. 
 
 What is the subject of today's lesson? Tell me from ques- 
 tion 149. We are to consider the will of God. 
 
 7. (149) "What is the gracious will of God towards us?" "His 
 
 will is, through grace for Christ's sake, to forgive us our 
 sins and to be our merciful Father." 
 
 8. We have learned what a great and mighty being God is. There- 
 
 fore it is very impoi-tant that we also learn what He wants 
 of us and how he is disposed towards us. What does God 
 say to us in Lev. 19, 2? "Ye shall be holy: for I, the Lord, 
 your God am holy." 
 
 9. God is holy himself and wants us to be holy also. But when we 
 
 examine ourselves in the light of his commandments, what 
 do we find? We find that we are sinners. 
 
 10. And what has God threatened to do with sin? He has threat- 
 
 ened to punish it. 
 
 11. Which attribute of God moves him to punish sin? His righteous- 
 
 ness. 
 
 12. God has, however, not only made a threat concerning sin; he has 
 
 Also given a promise. What has he promised to do with sin? 
 To forgive it. 
 
 13. Which attribute in God moves him to forgive sin? His mercy. 
 
 14. Yes, or we might say: his grace. Now tell me from question (not 
 
 the answer) 149, what will of God it is that we are to con- 
 sider. It is a gracious will. 
 
 15. What is the gracious will of God with reference to our sins? 
 
 His will is to forgive them. 
 
 16. What would God have a perfect right to do with om- sin? He 
 
 would iiave a perfect right to punish it. 
 
 17. And this he also does with the impenitent. What does God say 
 
 in the conclusion of 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." 
 
 18. What is the punishment of sin? Death and damnation, 
 
 19. Read what is written Psalms 7, 11-1.3. "God is angry with the 
 
 wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; 
 he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also 
 prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his 
 arrows against the persecutors." 
 
 20. But God is not only angry with the wicked, he is also merciful 
 
 toward those who repent of their sins. This we see from 
 Ezek. 33, 11. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no 
 pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked 
 turn from his way and live." 
 
 21. God is so eager to have us understand that he does not delight 
 
 in the death and damnation of men, that he even assures us 
 of this with an oath. He says: "as I live." What is it 
 that he would so solemnly impress irpon us? That he has 
 no pleasure in the death of the wicked. 
 
LESSON 43. 143 
 
 22. But rather what does he desire? That the wicked turn from his 
 
 wickedness and live. 
 
 23. When a wicked man turns from his wickedness: that is, repents 
 
 of his sins, what is the result? He shall live. 
 
 24. That is, God will not visit upon him the just consequences of his 
 
 sins, but forgive them. But how is it possible for God to 
 forgive sins when he has threatened to punish them? This 
 we are told in the next Scripture passage of today's lesson, 
 namely, John 3, 16. Repeat it. "For God so loved the world, 
 that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 
 in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
 
 25. What is here said of God's disposition toward the world? God 
 
 loves the world. 
 
 26. What did God's love to the world prompt him to do? it prompted 
 
 him to give his only begotten Son. 
 
 27. Who is this only begotten Son of God? Our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 28. God gave this his only Son to be our brother, to suffer and die 
 
 for us. Jesus Christ bore the punishment of the sins of the 
 world. And now what is God willing and able to do with 
 sin because of Jesus' sufferings and death? To forgive us 
 our sins. 
 
 29. For whose sake is God willing to do this? For Christ's sake. 
 
 30. What is said in this passage of those who believe on Him? They 
 
 shall not perish but have everlasting life. 
 
 31. Who shall not perish but have everlasting life? Those who be- 
 
 lieve in Jesus Christ. 
 
 32. So also St. Peter testifies to Cornelius and his household. Acts 
 
 10, 43. "To him give all the prophets witness, that through 
 his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission 
 of sins." 
 
 33. God is ready and eager to forgive sins for Christ's sake if men 
 
 will only turn from their wickedness. There is no reason 
 why a single human being should be lost. This we see from 
 1 Tim. 2, 4. "Who will have all men to be saved, and to 
 come unto the knowledge of the truth." 
 
 34. According to this passage, what is the gracious will of God? His 
 
 will is that all men should be saved. 
 
 35. And he also tells us how men are to be saved. What must men 
 
 know to be saved? They must know the truth. 
 
 36. The great truth that men are to know is the blessed fact that 
 
 God is merciful, and for Christ's sake is ready to forgive 
 sin. This truth we call the Gospel. What great truth does 
 the Gospel set forth? The great truth that God forgives sins 
 for Christ's sake. 
 
 37. The same is told us by the apostle St. Peter in his second letter, 
 
 chapter 3, verse 9. "The Lord is not slack concerning his 
 promises as some men count slackness: but is longsuffering 
 to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all 
 should come to repentance." 
 
 38. All men are in danger of perishing everlastingly. Why? Be- 
 
 cause they are all sinners. 
 
 39. But God is not indifferent toward this sad and horrible danger. 
 
 What does the apostle here say of God in this regard? 
 He says that God is not willing that any should perish. 
 
144 
 
 LESSON 44. 
 
 40. And what must be clone that men may not perish? They must 
 
 come to repentance. 
 
 41. Yes, this is the only way in which men may be saved from ever- 
 
 lasting damnation. Read what St. Paul says Rom. 11, 32. 
 "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might 
 have mercy upon all." 
 
 42. Upon whom has God mercy? God has mercy on all. 
 
 43. And what does this mercy move him to do? It m'oves him to 
 
 forgive sins. 
 
 44. And after he has forgiven us our sins, in what relation does he 
 
 propose to stand toward us? He wants to be our merciful 
 father. 
 
 45. Read Psalm 103, 13. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the 
 
 the Lord pitieth them that fear him." 
 4G. How does a father feel toward his children when they are in 
 trouble? He pities them. 
 
 47. And what does this pity move him to do? It moves him to help 
 
 them. 
 
 48. So we read about the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15, 11-24.) 
 
 How did his father receive him when he came back con- 
 fessing his sins? He fell upon his neck and kissed him. 
 
 49. Yes, he received him with joy. He did not remember his former 
 
 wickedness against him. He received him as his dear son, 
 provided him with food and clothing and took him into his 
 house as though nothing had occurred. So God wants to be 
 our gracious father. What does a father provide for his 
 children? He provides food, clothing, and shelter, 
 
 50. Yes. all this and more God is willing to do for us. How impor- 
 
 tant it is that we poor sinners know this and believe it! Let 
 us not have wrong notions of God. Where may we get the 
 right knowledge of God's will towards us? We get it from 
 the Bible. 
 
 51. Yes, in the holy Scriptures God has revealed himself unto us as 
 
 a merciful father. Plow did the Savior teach us to address 
 God in the Lord's Prayer? He taught us to say: "Our Father." 
 
 52. (150) "But of what use is this knowledge of the divine essence 
 
 and will to us?" "That we may from it obtain the true 
 faith, and through faith be saved." 
 
 53. What are we to obtain? We are to obtain the true faith. 
 
 54. Yes, and the true faith is the confidence that for Christ's sake 
 
 God forgives sins and is our merciful father. And what is 
 the blessed result of this true faith? Through it we are 
 saved. 
 
 55. So the Savior says .John 17.3. "This is life eternal, that they might 
 
 know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou 
 hast sent." 
 
 THE FIRST ARTICLE 
 
 LESSON 44. FAITH. 
 (Question 151-156.) 
 
 (151)"Repeat the first article of creation." "I believe in God the 
 Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." 
 
LESSON 44. 145 
 
 2. "What does this mean?" "I believe that God lias made me and 
 
 all creatures; that he has given me my body and soul, eyes, 
 ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and 
 still preserves them; also clothing and shoes, meat and drink, 
 house and home, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my 
 goods; that He richly and daily provides me with all that 
 I need to support this body and life; that He defends me 
 against all danger, and guards and protects me from all evil; 
 and all this purely out of fatherly, divine goodness arid mercy, 
 without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which it is 
 my duty to thank and praise, to serve and obey Him. This 
 is most certainly true." 
 
 3. Repeat the first two words in the first article. "I believe." • - 
 
 4. When we say: I believe, is this singvilar or plural number? It is 
 
 singular number. 
 ii. How would we say in the plural number? We would say: We 
 
 believe. 
 6 (153) "Why do we say: I believe, and not, we believe?" "Because 
 
 each one must believe for himself if he would be saved." 
 
 7. What must we do to be saved? We must believe. 
 
 8. Read what the apostle says Heb. 11. 6. "But without faith it is 
 
 impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must 
 believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that 
 diligently seek him." 
 
 9. What, therefore, is it that God requires of us? He requires that 
 
 we believe. 
 
 10. So the Savior himself also says Mark 16, 16. "He that believeth 
 
 and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall 
 be damned." 
 
 11. Now, this faith must be a personal matter. Each must believe 
 
 for himself. So the prophet Habakkuk says chapter 2 verse 
 4. "The just shall live by his faith." 
 
 12. That is, not by the faith of another. What God offers us each 
 
 must take for himself. Can one man eat or drink or sleep 
 for another? No, he can not. 
 
 13. If I am hungry, who must eat if I am to be fed? You yourself 
 
 must eat. 
 
 14. If you are thirsty, who must drink in order that your thirst may 
 
 be quenched? I myself must drink. 
 
 15. If a man is tired and sleepy, who must rest and sleep in order 
 
 that he may be refreshed? The man himself. 
 
 16. One man, therefore, can not believe for another. If a man have 
 
 a believing wife, her faith will not save him; but, if he is 
 to be saved, who must believe? He himself must believe. 
 
 17. What must every man be able to say of faith if it is to save him? 
 
 He must be able to say: I believe. 
 
 18. This was the case with St. Paul, as we see from 2 Tim. 1, 12. 
 
 "Nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have be- 
 lieved, and am pursuaded that he is able to keep that which 
 I have committed unto him against that day." 
 
 19. Faith must express a personal conviction. How did St. Paul ex- 
 
 press this in the passage you have just read? He says: J 
 know whom I have believed." 
 
 20. (145) "What is meant here by: to believe?" "To believe means 
 
 not only to hold that to be true which we have heard, but 
 likewise to put our confidence in it." 
 10 
 
146 
 
 LESSON 44. 
 
 21. You believe that on the west coast of the United States there 
 
 is a city called San Francisco. Why do you believe this? 
 Because I learned it from Geography. 
 
 22. You never saw this city, and yet you believe it is there, because 
 
 you have been so told. You never would have known it 
 unless some one had told you. How may we know things 
 without seeing them ourselves? When others tell us. 
 
 23. Yes, and by far the greater part of our knowledge is of this kind. 
 
 Tell me from the answer to question 1.54 how we know the 
 things which we believe as Christians. We have heard them. 
 
 24. So the apostle says Rom. 10, 14. "How shall they believe in Him 
 
 of whom they have not heard?" 
 
 25. Therefore, before we can believe in the Savior, what is neces- 
 
 sary? We must hear of Him. 
 
 26. Why do not the heathen believe in the Savior? Because they 
 
 have not heard of Him. 
 
 27. Now, it depends a great deal upon our informant whether we be- 
 
 lieve his word or not. When a man is known to be a liar, 
 how would we regard anything he says? We would not 
 believe what he says. 
 
 28. But when an honest, trustworthy man tells us a thing, how do we 
 
 regard it? We believe it. 
 
 29. So the apostle says in the first epistle of St. .John, chapter 5, 
 
 verse 9,: "If we receive the witness of men, the wit- 
 ness of God is greater: For this is the witness of God which 
 he hath testified of his Son." 
 .30. If we believe what trustworthy men say, much more should we 
 receive whose word? Much more should we receive God's 
 word, his testimony. 
 
 31. And where does God tell us what we are to believe? He tells 
 
 us in the Bible. 
 
 32. What is the Bible? The Bible is God's word. 
 
 33. And how should we regard everything which the Bible teaches? 
 
 We should regard it as absolutely true. 
 
 34. What does the Savior say of God's word John 17, 17.? "Thy 
 
 word is truth." 
 
 35. Now repeat .John 3, 36. "He that believeth not the Son shall 
 
 not see life." 
 
 36. When the Savior speaks to us in His word, how should we re- 
 
 gard what he says? We should believe him. 
 
 37. But what does the Savior here say of him who does not believe 
 
 him? He shall not see life. 
 
 38. Thomas did not at first believe the report of the Savior's resur- 
 
 rection. He wanted to see before he would believe. But 
 what did the Savior himself say to him? John 20, 29. 
 "Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast believed^ 
 blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed." 
 
 39. The things which we believe as Christians we believe not be- 
 
 cause we see them. Tell me some of the things which we 
 do not see and yet believe. We do not see God and yet we 
 believe in Him, We do not see heaven and yet we believe 
 there is a heaven. 
 
 40. Repeat Heb. 11, 1. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, 
 
 and the evidence of things not seen." 
 
Lesson 44. l47 
 
 41. Our Christian faith has to do not with visible but with what kind 
 
 of things? With things not seen, invisible things. 
 
 42. It deals not only with things that are present, but also with what 
 
 kind of things? With things hoped for. 
 
 43. Yes, and these invisil)le things are just as real as the things 
 
 we see; and the future things are just as true as the things 
 which are present. How then should we regard that which 
 we hear from the word of God? We should regard it as re- 
 liable and true. 
 
 44. Not only must we hear and regard as true what God tells us, 
 
 but what is the last and chief part of faith according to ques- 
 tion 154? That we put our confidence in God and what he 
 tells us. 
 
 45. When you say of a certain doctor: I have no faith in him, what 
 
 do you men? I mean, I do not trust him. 
 
 46. Or if you say of another: I have great faith in him, what do you 
 
 mean? I mean, I consider him a good doctor, I have confi- 
 dence in him and am willing to entrust myself to his care. 
 
 47. Yes, and that is just what we mean when we say: I believe in 
 
 God, only that we trust him more than we trust any man. 
 Give me another word for the word believe. I trust, I de- 
 pend upon, I have confidence in. 
 
 48. When the scriptures say of Abraham, Gen. 15, 6, that he be- 
 
 lieved God. what do they mean? They mean, Abraham 
 trusted in God. he had confidence in Him, he depended upon 
 him. 
 
 49. (155) "What does it mean to believe in God the Father, Son, 
 
 and Holy Ghost?" "To hold him alone to be the true God, 
 and to put our confidence in Him and his promises." 
 
 50. Look at question (not answer) 155 and tell me what little word 
 
 is printed in italics? The little word "in". 
 
 51. We are not simply to believe that there is a god. There are 
 
 some people foolish enough not to believe even the existence 
 of God. What do the Scriptures say of such people? Ps. 
 14, 1. "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." 
 
 52. What do the Scriptures call such a man? They call him a fool. 
 
 53. But we are not simply to believe that there is a God. This even 
 
 the Devil believes, as we see from James 2, 19. "Thou be- 
 lievest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils 
 also believe, and tremble." 
 
 54. The devils believe that there is a God. But they have no con- 
 
 fidence in him, in fact, the apostle tells us the very oppo- 
 site is the case. How do they regard God? They tremble 
 they are afraid of him. 
 
 55. Yes, they tremble at the thought of His justice. They do not 
 
 believe in God. But we believe in God. And who is the God 
 in whom we believe? He is God the Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghost. 
 
 56. And what do we hold him to be? We hold him to be the only 
 
 true God. 
 
 57. And what else does this little word "la"" express? It expresses 
 
 that we put our confidence in him and his promises. 
 
 58. How does Luther express this in his explanation of the first 
 
 commandment? "We should fear, love, and trust in God 
 above all thmgs." 
 
148 LESSON 4^. 
 
 59. (156) "Why do yovt say in the first article: I believe in God the 
 
 Father?" "Because the first person in the Godhead is not 
 only the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, but through Him 
 also our Father." 
 
 60. As how many persons has God revealed himself? As three. 
 
 61. Whic 1 is the first person? God the Father is the first person. 
 
 62. Whose father' is the first person of ^he Godhead? He is the 
 
 father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 63. This we see plainly from Eph. 3, 14. 15. "For this cause I bow 
 
 my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom 
 the whole family in heaven and earth is named." 
 
 64. But God the Father is not only the father of our Lord Jesus 
 
 Christ, but through Him He is also whose father? He is 
 also our Father. 
 
 65. If Christ is our brother, and God is Christ's Father, then in what 
 
 relation does God stand to us? He is our Father. 
 
 66. So we read John 8, 12. "But as many as received Him, to them 
 
 gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that 
 believe on his name." 
 
 67. What is here said of those who receive Christ, that is, believe on 
 
 His name? To them God gave power to become the sons of 
 God. 
 
 68. Likewise in the 103rd Psalm, verse 13, God is called our Father. 
 
 "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth 
 them that fear him." 
 
 69. What a comforting truth this is that the great God is our dear 
 
 Father! And through whom does God enter into this rela- 
 tion with us? Through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 70. Only those who • acknowledge Christ to be their Lord, that is. 
 
 true Christians, can truly regard God as their Father. Read 
 what is written of Christ John 1, 14. "The Word was made 
 flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the 
 glory as of the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace 
 and truth." 
 
 71. Christ is the only begotten Son of God. He is, so to speak, by 
 
 nature the Son of God. And who are the sons of God by 
 adoption? Christians are the sons of God by adoption. 
 
 72. And this is a great honor, as we read in 1 John 3, 1. "Behold 
 
 what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that 
 we should be called the sons of God." 
 
 LESSON 45. CREATION. 
 (Question 157-159.) 
 
 What do we call God in the first article of the Creed. We call 
 him Father. 
 
 Which attribute of God do we mention in this article? We call 
 
 God almighty. 
 (157) "Why do we add: almighty? "Because in creation, which 
 
 is especially ascribed to the Father, the omnipotence of God 
 
 above all most gloriously manifested itself." 
 To which person of the Trinity is the work of creation especially 
 
 ascribed? To God the Father. 
 
LESSON 45. 149 
 
 5. What does it mean when I say God is almighty? That he can 
 
 do whatsoever he wills. 
 (i. In whicli woiiv especially did God show that he is almighty? In 
 
 the work of creation. 
 
 7. Read Rom. 1. 20. "For the invisible things of him from the 
 
 creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by 
 the things that are made, even his eternal power and God- 
 head." 
 
 8. God himself is invisible. We can not see him, but what can we 
 
 see? We can see his works. 
 
 9. And what do these works show? They show his eternal power 
 
 and Godhead. 
 
 10. Let me give you an example of something in nature which we 
 
 can not see, though we can see its effects. What is it that 
 drives our street cars? It is electricity. 
 
 11. Can you see electricity? No, we can not see it. 
 
 12. But what can you see in connection with it? We can see what 
 
 it does, how it works. 
 
 13. Read Ps. 104, 24. "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In 
 
 wisdom hast thou made them all: and the earth is full of thy 
 riches." 
 
 14. What is here said of the works of God? They are manifold. 
 
 15. Children, look around you and see the endless variety of plants 
 
 and animals on the earth; the endless number of stars in 
 the heavens; the endless variety of fish in the sea. How is 
 God said to have made all these things? He made them all 
 in wisdom. 
 
 16. What a wise arrangement it is that day and night follow each 
 
 other, that the seasons come and go in their order, that 
 every plant has its own seed, that every animal produces its 
 own kind, that every plant and animal finds just those things 
 and conditions which are necessary for its existence. When 
 we see a fine clock or piece of machinery and observe how ac- 
 curately every part fits into the other and into the whole, and 
 how well it performs its work, what are we led to admire in 
 the workman who made it? We are led to admire his skill. 
 
 17. For the same reason, which of his attributes should God's works 
 
 prompt us to adore? We should adore his wisdom. 
 
 18. (158) "What benefactions are enumerated in the explanation 
 
 of this article?" "Two: first, the creation of all things; and 
 second, their preservation and government, or providence." 
 
 19. Which is the first subject which we are to consider in connection 
 
 with this article? The creation of all things. 
 
 20. Suppose you were looking at a beautiful building, and some one 
 
 would say: this building has always been. What would you 
 say of such a statement? I should say: it is not true. 
 
 21. And why? Because the building must have had a beginning, it 
 
 can not have existed always. 
 
 22. And suppose some one would say of this building: it was not 
 
 made, it just came of itself. What would you say of this 
 statement? I would say. It is not true. 
 
 23. And why? Because nothing comes of itself. Some one must 
 
 have made the building. 
 
 24. Now read Heb. 3, 4. "For every house is builded by some man; 
 
 but he that built all things is God." 
 
150 LESSON 45. 
 
 25. What do we call God the Father in this first article? We call 
 
 him the Maker of heaven and earth. 
 
 26. (159) "Why, then, do you call God the Father: Creator of heaven 
 
 and earth?" "Because He by his almighty Word called all 
 things into being." 
 
 27. What did God the Father do? He called all things into being. 
 
 28. So we read in the very first sentence of the Bible. Read it. "In 
 
 the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." 
 
 29. Here we have a plain statement of the fact that the world did 
 
 not always exist, but what is said of the world? The world 
 was created. 
 
 30. We also have a plain statement of the fact that the world did 
 
 not come of itself. What is said here of God very plainly? 
 That God created the heaven and the earth. 
 
 31. Now let us see what it means to create a thing. What does 
 
 this answer to question 159 say that God did with all things? 
 He called all things into being. 
 
 32. That is, he made things to be that had not existed before. To 
 
 create a thing means to call it into being. A carpenter may 
 make a house, but what must he have before he can make 
 it? He must have wood, stone, glass, iron, and all the ma- 
 terial out of which the house is made. 
 
 33. But when God made the world, what was there that he could 
 
 use? There was nothing. 
 
 34. By what word do we express this idea of making something out 
 
 of nothing? By the word "create." 
 
 35. For example, whilst a tailor can make a coat, what expression 
 
 would be misleading? He can create a coat. 
 
 36. Men can make things, that is, they can take material and fash- 
 
 ion it into buildings, garments, works of art, and the like; 
 but who alone can create, that is, make something out of 
 nothing? God alone can do this. 
 bV. Read Heb. 11, ~ 3. "Through faith we understand that the worlds 
 were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are 
 seen were not made of things which do appear." 
 
 38. How were the worlds framed, that is, made? The worlds were 
 
 framed by the Word of God. 
 
 39. When God wanted light what was the only thing necessary for 
 
 him to do? Read Gen. 1, 3. "God said: let there be light." 
 
 40. He simply said: let there be light, and what was the result? 
 
 There was light. 
 
 41. When God calls a thing, it is his word that makes it. Read Ps. 
 
 33, 9. "For He spake and it was done; he commanded and 
 it stood fast." 
 
 42. Wliat kind of a word must that be by the mere speaking of which 
 
 things are called into being? An almighty word. 
 
 43. And what things did God thus create, or call into being? He 
 
 called all things into being. 
 
 44. Read John 1, 3. "All things were made by him, and without him 
 
 nothing was made that was made." 
 
 45. When did God make heaven and earth? Tell me from the first 
 
 verse of the Bible. "In the beginning." 
 
LESSON 45. 161 
 
 46. And this was about 6000 years ago. Now read the second verse 
 
 in the Bible. "The earth was without form and void; and 
 darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God 
 moved upon the face of the waters." 
 
 47. God did not create the world in an instant, although he might 
 
 have done so. He created the world in a certain time and in 
 a certain order. First he made the material out of which 
 the earth was to be formed. This material at first was an 
 orderless and shapeless mass. How long this condition lasted 
 we are not told, but in due time God brought order out of 
 confusion. In how many days did God make heaven and 
 earth? In six days. 
 
 48. So we read Ex. 20, 11. "For in six days the Lord made heaven 
 
 and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the 
 seventh day." 
 
 49. Now turn to Gen. 1, and tell me from verses 1 to 5 what God 
 
 made on the first day? He made light on the first day. 
 
 50. Tell me from verses 6 to 8 what God made on the second day. 
 
 He made the firmament on the second day. 
 
 51. Yes, he divided the things above from the things below. He 
 
 separated the earth from the sky. Now tell me from verses 
 9 to 1.3: what did God make on the third day? He separated 
 the land from the water. 
 
 52. And after the dry land had appeared, what did God cause the 
 
 earth to bring forth? God caused the earth to bring forth 
 grass, herbs and fruit-trees. 
 
 53. Tell me from verses 14 to 19: what did God make on the fourth 
 
 day? He made the sun, moon, and stars. 
 
 54. Tell me from verses 20 to 23: what did God make on the fifth 
 
 day? He made fish and birds on the fifth day. 
 
 55. Now tell me from verses 24 to 28: what did God make on the 
 
 sixth dav? He made animals and human beings. 
 
 56. Which was the last thing that God made? The last thing that 
 
 God made was man. 
 
 57. After God had made the world, how did he regard the work of his 
 
 hands? Tell me from verse 10. "God saw that it was good." 
 
 58. The same we find with reference to his other works, as we see 
 
 from verses 12. 18. 21. 25. and 31. Therefore, what kind of 
 a creation must it have been since a perfect God was satis- 
 fied with and found it good? It must have been a perfect 
 creation. 
 
 59. Now read Gen. 2, 1. "Thus the heavens and the earth were 
 
 finished, and all the host of them." 
 
 60. What is here said of the heaven and the earth? It is said that 
 
 they were finished. 
 
 61. That is, it was all done, it was complete. And nothing new has 
 
 been made since. No new kinds of creatures have been 
 created since this beginning of things. Neither did one 
 kind of plant or animal grow, or develop, out of another. 
 What is said of plants Gen. 1, 12? "The earth brought forth 
 grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree 
 yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind." 
 
 d?- And what did God say of fish and fowls verse 22. "God blessed 
 them, saying, be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters 
 in the seas, and let the fowls multiply in the earth." 
 
152 LESSON 46 
 
 60. And what did God say of the beasts? Verse 25. "God made the 
 beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, 
 and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind." 
 
 64. God made everything after its kind, and these kinds are fixed. 
 
 There may be an endless variety of one kind. So there may 
 be many varieties of potatoes, but they are always potatoes. 
 There may be many varieties of cabbage, but it is all cab- 
 bage. There may be many varieties of dogs, but they are 
 all dogs. There may be many varieties of horses, but they 
 are all horses. There is not a particle of evidence that one 
 kind ever grew into, or developed, into an other kind. And 
 why can there never be such a development? Because God 
 at creation made and fixed the kinds. 
 
 65. Read Rev. 4. 11. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory 
 
 and honor and power, for thou hast created all things, and 
 for thy pleasure they are and were created." 
 
 66. Now let us see what object God had in making the world. 
 
 Read what is written Ps. 19, 1. "The heavens declare the 
 glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." 
 
 67. He made the world for his own glory. What glorious attributes 
 
 does the creation of the world show us with reference to 
 God? It shows us his power and wisdom. 
 
 68. Yes, and it shows also his goodness. Read what is written Ps. 
 
 115, 16. "The heavens, even the heavens, are the Lord's: 
 but the earth hath he given to the children of men." 
 
 69. To whom did the Lord give the earth? To the children of men. 
 
 70. So we read in the story of creation, Gen. 1, 29. "And God said, 
 
 behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is 
 upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is 
 the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." 
 
 71. For our sakes God made heaven and earth. For whose use and 
 
 service is everything in the world? For the use of man. 
 
 72. He prepared the world as our dwelling-place, and furnished it 
 
 with an endless variety of creatures for our use. Now tell 
 me from Luther's explanation of the first article what in- 
 duced God to do this? "All this purely out of fatherly, di- 
 vine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness 
 in me." 
 
 73. And now tell me from the same explanation what we owe him for 
 
 this goodness. "For all which it is my duty to thank and 
 praise, to serve and obey him." 
 
 LESSON 46. GOOD ANGELS. 
 
 (Question 160-163.) 
 
 1. Who created heaven and earth? God created heaven and earth. 
 
 2. What does it mean to create a thing? It means to make it out 
 
 of nothing, to call it into being. 
 
 3. What part of speech is the word "create "? It is a verb. 
 
 4. Form a noun out of this verb. Creator. 
 
 5. Creator is the one who creates. But what is that which he creates 
 
 called? It is called a creature. 
 
LESSON 46 153 
 
 6. (160) "What do we accordingly understand by creature?" "Every- 
 
 thing that God created, whether visible or invisible." 
 
 7. According to this, how many kinds of things did God malte? He 
 
 made two kinds of things, visible and invisible. 
 
 8. This we see from Col. 1, IG. Repeat the passage. "For by him 
 
 were all things created, that are in the heaven, and that 
 are in earth, visible and invisible." 
 
 9. What are visible creatures? They are creatures that we can see. 
 10. Mention some of these. Hills, rivers, grass, trees, flowers, ani- 
 mals, birds, clouds and stars. 
 
 n. But this is not all of God's creation. Besides these visible, what 
 other creatures did he make? He also made invisible crea- 
 tures. 
 
 12. What are invisible creatures? Creatures that we can not see. 
 
 13. Yes, and these are just as real as the things we see. The fact 
 
 that we can not see them is no proof that they do not exist. 
 God's word plainly says that he created not only the things 
 that are in the earth, but also what other things? The things 
 that are in the heaven. 
 
 14. Not only did he make visible things, but what other things? 
 
 He also made things invisible. 
 
 15. (161) "Which are the chief creatures?" "Angels and mankind." 
 
 16. Which of these are visible? Mankind. 
 
 17. And which are invisible? Angels. 
 
 18. (162) "How many kinds of angels are there?" "Two: good 
 
 and bad." 
 
 19. (163) "What are good angels?" "Good angels are holy and 
 
 blessed spirits, who ever praise God, fulfill his command, 
 and protect the just." 
 
 20. Tell me from this answer: what kind of beings are good angels? 
 
 They are spirits. 
 
 21. What does the Savior say of a spirit Luke 24, 39? "A spirit hath 
 
 not flesh and bones as ye see me have." 
 
 22. Angels, because they are spirits, have not flesh and bones; that 
 
 is, they have no bodies. Usually angels are pictured in 
 human form with wings. But this is only a pictorial rep- 
 resentation. Sometimes angels have assumed human form 
 in order that they might be seen of men. In this form the 
 angels appeared to Abraham on the occasion when God 
 wanted to tell him of the coming destruction of Sodom and 
 Gomorrah. Gen. 18, 1-22. Who were the men which ap- 
 peared to Abraham on this occasion? They were angels. 
 
 23. Here angels assumed human form for a short time. Angels, 
 
 however, are not bodily creatures, but what? Angels are 
 spirits. 
 
 24. In connection with which subject have we already considered the 
 
 word "spirit"? When we considered the question: What 
 is God? 
 
 2.5. What answer can you give to this question? God is a spirit. 
 
 26. Yes, and the angels are spirits. But there is a great difference 
 
 between God and the angels. Who made God? God was 
 not made. He is eternal. 
 
 27. Who made the angels? God made the angels. 
 
154 LESSON 46 
 
 28. Then what difference is there between God and the angels as 
 
 to their origin? God is an uncreated spirit, while the angels 
 are created spirits. 
 
 29. Now what l-cind of spirits does our answer say the good angles 
 
 are? They are holy and blessed spirits. 
 
 .30. What do we mean by saying the good angels are holy? They 
 are pure,, perfect, without sin. 
 
 31. Repeat what the Savior says of good angels Matth. 18, 10. 
 
 "Their angels do always behold the face of my Father which 
 is in heaven." 
 
 32. They stand before God, beholding his face. But only what kind 
 
 of beings can stand before the holy God and behold his 
 face? Only holy beings. 
 
 33. So the good angels were created, and so they have remained. 
 
 But our answer not only says they are holy, but what else 
 is said of good angels? They are blessed. 
 
 34. That means they are happy. Now let us see what their em- 
 
 ployment is. According to our answer 163, what is the first 
 thing they do? They ever praise God. 
 
 35. Repeat Ps. 103, 20. "Bless the Lord ye his angels, that excel in 
 
 strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the 
 voice of his word." 
 
 36. "Bless the Lord," here means: praise the Lord. Can you think of 
 
 a case in which the multitude of the heavenly host, that is, 
 the angels, praised God here on earth? At the birth of the 
 Savior. 
 
 37. What did they say or sing to the praise of God? Luke 2, 13. 
 
 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will 
 toward men." 
 
 38. This is one of the finest hymns of praise that was ever uttered. 
 
 And by whom was it spoken or sung? By the angels. 
 
 39. But the Old Testament also tells us about the angels praising 
 
 God. Read Isa. 6, 1-3, and tell me what hymn did the 
 Seraphim, ~ that is, a high order of angels, sing? "Holy, 
 Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth Is full of 
 his glory." 
 
 40. So we should learn from the angels to sing and praise God, 
 
 and when we once get to heaven we will join in their songs 
 of praise. Now let us see what else do good angels do . 
 They fulfill God's command. 
 
 41. The word "angel" means a messenger. For this reason angels 
 
 are pictured with wings, to indicate that they are quick to 
 do God's bidding; they fiy, as it were, on his errands. What 
 is said of the employment of good angels in Ps. 103, 20? 
 "They do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of 
 his word." 
 
 42. Let us now see some instances in which the angels acted as 
 
 God's messengers. Who was it that acted as God's mes- 
 senger when He wanted to tell Zacharias that his wife 
 Elizabeth should bear him a son? Luke 1, 11-19. The 
 angel Gabriel. 
 
 43. And to whom was this same angel sent six months later, to tell 
 
 her that she was to be the mother of the Savior? Luke 1, 
 26-33. To the virgin Mary. 
 
LESSON 46 155 
 
 44. So God uses the angels as his messengers. But our answer 163 
 
 also tells us that they have something special to do with 
 reference to the just. What is it? They protect the just. 
 
 45. So we read Heb. 1, 14. "Are they not ministering" spirits, sent 
 
 forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" 
 
 46. What are the good angels here called? They are called minis- 
 
 tering spirits. 
 
 47. That means spirits who serve. And whom do they serve? They 
 
 serve those who shall be heirs of salvation. 
 
 48. And who shall be heirs of salvation? The just, those who truly 
 
 believe in the Savior. 
 
 49. Now read Ps. 91, 11. 12. "For he shall give his angels charge 
 
 over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear 
 thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a 
 stone." 
 
 50. Read also Ps. 34, 7. "The angel of the Lord encampeth about 
 
 them that fear him, and delivereth them." 
 
 51. Now let us also see some examples of how the angels protect the 
 
 just. Read what Daniel says Dan. 6, 22. "My God hath 
 sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they 
 have not hurt me." 
 
 52. What was done with Daniel because he would not cease praying 
 
 to God? He was thrown into the lions' den. 
 
 53. And how did God protect him in this great danger? He sent 
 
 his angel to shut the lions' mouths. 
 
 54. When wicked king Herod undertook to kill the infant Savior, 
 
 how did the Lord warn Jeseph of the danger? Matth. 2, 13. 
 He sent his angel, and told him to flee into Egypt with the 
 child. 
 
 55. When Peter was in prison and in danger of losing his life, how 
 
 was he delivered? Acts 12, 5-11. God sent an angel to 
 lead him out. 
 
 56. In the life of the Savior the angels very frequently acted as his 
 
 servants. What is said of the angels in reference to Christ 
 immediateely after his temptation in the wilderness? Matth. 
 4, 11. The angels came and ministered unto him. 
 
 57. How was he served by an angel during his great agony in the 
 
 garden of Gethsemane? Luke 22, 43. "There appeared an 
 angel unto him from heaven and strengthened him." 
 
 58. So the angels are sent by God to protect his children. They 
 
 are our unseen guardians. Even in death they are near us 
 and ready to bear our souls to heaven, as we learn from the 
 story of poor Lazarus. What is said of him Luke 16, 22? 
 "It came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by 
 the angels into Abraham's bosom." 
 
 59. And when the Savior comes again at the end of days to judge 
 
 the world, who will be with him? Matth. 25, 31. All the 
 holy angels. 
 
 GO. Children, let us thank God that he made the angels to be our 
 unseen servants. Let us endeavor to be pure and holy as 
 they are. I.,et us cheerfully do the will of God as they d". 
 
156 LESSON 47. 
 
 LESSON 47. BAD ANGELS. 
 
 (Question 164.) 
 
 1. How many kinds of creatures did God malve according to ques- 
 tion 160? He made two kinds of creatures, visible and in- 
 visible, 
 
 2. Who are the invisible creatures? The invisible creatures are 
 the angeTs. 
 
 3. How many Idnds of angels are there? Question 162. There are 
 
 two kinds of angels, good and bad. 
 
 4. In our last lesson we considered what the Bible says about 
 
 good angels.. What is the subject of today's lesson? The 
 subject of today's lesson is bad angels. 
 
 5. (164) "What are bad angels?" "Bad angels are spirits who have 
 
 fallen from God, and, as His sworn enemies, strive to offend 
 Him and deceive man." 
 
 6. What kind of beings are bad angels? Bad angels are spirits. 
 
 7. Like good angels, they have no material bodies. They are some- 
 
 times represented in human form, having the wings of a bat, 
 with a tail and horns. All this is simply to represent the 
 hatefulness and wickedness of bad angels. According to 
 our answer, what great change did the bad angels undergo? 
 They fell from God. 
 
 8. Then where must they originally have been? They must have 
 
 been with God. 
 
 9. And as only that which is pure and holy and good can be with 
 
 God, what must the bad angels have been before they fell 
 from God? They must have been good and holy. 
 
 10. Who made all things in heaven and on earth? God made all 
 
 things. 
 
 11. And what are we told in Gen. 1, 31. concerning everything that 
 
 God had made? "God saw everything that he had made, 
 and behold., it was very good." 
 
 12. How, in consequence, must the bad angels have been when they 
 
 were creaj:ed? They must have been very good. 
 
 13. Yes, they were very good. God made only good angels. But 
 
 not all angels remained as God had made them. What is 
 said in our question 164 of bad angels? They fell from God. 
 
 14. So we read in the Epistle of Jude, verse 6. "The angels which 
 
 kept not their first estate, but left their habitation, he hath 
 reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judg- 
 ment of the great day." 
 
 15. What are we here told that some angels did not keep? They 
 
 kept not their first estate. 
 
 16. That is, they did not remain as God made them. And what is 
 
 said of their habitation? They left their habitation. 
 
 17. Their habitation, or home, was heaven. This they left. For 
 
 after they became bad, they could not remain in the pres- 
 ence of God. What does the Savior say of the Devil, John 
 8, 44? "Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of 
 your fsther ye will do: he was a murderer from the begin- 
 ning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth 
 in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: 
 for he is a liar, and the father of it," 
 
LESSON 47. 157 
 
 18. He was in the truth, that is, truthful at first, but he did not 
 
 remain as he was. When the devil I'ell from God, who is 
 pure and holy, what did he become? He became wicked. 
 
 19. Now read 1 John 3, 8. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; 
 
 for the devil sinneth from the beginning." 
 
 20. In these passages we are told that the devil sinned from the be- 
 
 ginning, that he was the first one to sin. Sin had its begin- 
 ning in him. And now, whom do all follow who sin? They 
 follow the devil. 
 
 21. We are not told what special sin the devil committed, but this 
 
 we know that the bad angels did not fall into sin because 
 they could not help it. Hov/. then, came they to sin? They 
 sinned and fell from God of their own free will. 
 
 22. Tell me from our question 164: in what relation do the bad an- 
 
 gels now stand to God? They are his sworn enemies. 
 
 23. What were they before they had sinned? They were his friends. 
 
 24. But now they are what? They are his enemies. 
 
 25. They no longer love God as they did at first, but what do they 
 
 do? They hate God. 
 
 26. Our answer says they are what kind of enemies of God? They 
 
 are sworn enemies. 
 
 27. That is, they never can or will be anything else but enemies. 
 
 All men are by nature sinners and, insofar, God's enemies. 
 But man can be changed from an enemy into a friend and 
 child of God. This is done by faith in .Jesus Christ our Savior. 
 But no such change can ever take place with the devil and 
 his angels. What will they always remain? They will al- 
 ways remain enemies of God. 
 
 .28. Yes, this we must conclude from the second half of the passage 
 just read, .Jude, verse 6. "He hath reserved in everlasting 
 chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." 
 
 29. There is no hope for the devil, but only a fearful waiting unto 
 
 judgment. Now tell me from our question 164: what is 
 the employment of the bad angels. They strive to offend 
 God and deceive man. 
 
 30. What is the first thing they do? They strive to offend God. 
 
 31. And why do they strive to offend God? Because they hate him. 
 
 32. How is God offended? God is offended by sin. 
 
 33. Yes, as we have already learned, God is most deeply offended by 
 
 sin, and what is satan's greatest pleasure? Satan's greatest 
 pleasure is sin. 
 
 34. Now tell me further from our question: what else do the bad 
 
 angels strive to do? They strive to deceive man. 
 
 35. What was the last and most perfect work of God, his master- 
 
 piece, so to speak? Man was the last and most perfect work 
 of God. 
 
 36. Yes, and man was God's chief delight. He enjoyed this his 
 
 most ijerfect work above all else that he had made. So 
 when Satan set about to offend God, he tried to destroy his 
 noblest work. How was man created? Man was created in 
 the image of God. 
 
 37. Did he remain in tliis coiidilion? He did not. 
 
 38. What horrible change took place in man? He fell into sin, 
 
158 LESSON 47. 
 
 39. Now let US see how this was brought about. Turn to the third 
 
 chapter of Genesis, and tell me from the first verse who came 
 to the woman and tempted her to sin? The serpent. 
 
 40. In Rev. 12, 9. we are told who this serpent is. Read the passage. 
 
 "The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the 
 Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." 
 
 41. Satan came to Adam and Eve in the form of a serpent, and for 
 
 what purpose? To tempt them, to deceive them, 
 
 42. Did he succed in his evil purpose? Yes, he did. 
 
 43. He succeeded only too well, and he has been at it ever since. 
 
 He still tries to deceive men. This we see from the life 
 of the Savior. Satan tried to deceive even him and to lead 
 him into sin. Read Matth. 4, 1. "Then was Jesus led up of 
 the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil." 
 
 44. By whom was the Savior tempted? He was tempted by the devil. 
 
 45. The devil tried to get the Savior to doubt God's word, yet, to fall 
 
 from God and to fall down and worship him Instead of God. 
 Now let us see what success satan had in tempting .lesus. 
 Read what is written in the 10th and 11th verses of this 
 chapter. "Then saith Jesus unto him, get thee hence Satan: 
 for it is written. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and 
 him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and 
 behold, angels came and ministered unto him." 
 
 46. How did Jesus meet every temptation of the devil? He met it 
 
 with scripture. He always said: It is written, and quoted 
 a passage of scripture. 
 
 47. Let us learn from this that the written word of God is the great 
 
 weapon with which we, too, are to oppose the temptations 
 of the devil. 
 
 48. Now read 1 Peter 5, 8. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your ad- 
 
 versary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking 
 whom he may devour." 
 
 49. What is the devil here called? He is called our adversary. 
 
 50. Yes, he is against us. He is our chief enemy. And what does 
 
 the apostle compare him to? He compares him to a roaring 
 . lion. 
 
 51. Were you ever at the zoological gardens just before the lions 
 
 were fed? Why do they roar so terribly? Because they are 
 hungry. 
 
 52. Just as a roaring lion looks for food to devour, so satan seeks 
 
 to devour men, that is, to destroy them through sin. Which 
 admonition, therefore, does the apostle address to us? He ad- 
 monishes us to be sober, to be vigilant, and to resist him 
 steadfast in the faith. 
 
 53. Yes, just as the Savior resisted him. How did he resist the 
 
 devil? He resisted him with the Word of God. 
 
 54. Children, you will all be tempted to sin. And when such temp- 
 
 tations come, remember from whom tliey come. Who is it 
 that tempts to sin? It is the devil. 
 
 Then also remember the real weapon of defense in such times of 
 temptation. Which is the only relial^le weapon of defense in 
 temptation? The Word of God, 
 
 . ► . 1 . 
 
LESSON 48. 159 
 
 56. Let us hold fast to God's word, and we can successfully i-esist all 
 
 temptations to sin. Let us ask God to give us strength to 
 resist satan when he tempts us to sin and offend God. 
 When Potiphar's wicked wife tempted Joseph to sin, whose 
 instrument was she in this temptation? She was the devil's 
 instrument. 
 
 57. What did .leseph answer when he was tempted? Gen. 39, 9. 
 
 "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" 
 
 58. The fear of God was in Jeseph's heart. The word of God was 
 
 before his eyes, and what did this enable him to do? It 
 enabled him to resist the temptation. 
 
 LESSON 48. THE CREATION OF MAN AND THE IMAGE OF GOD. 
 
 (Questions 165-166.) 
 
 1. Who created all things? God created all things. 
 
 2. How many kinds of things did God create? God created two 
 
 kinds of things, visible and invisible. 
 
 3. Which are the invisible creatures? The angels are invisible 
 
 creatures. 
 
 4. Which of the visible creatures did God create last? Human 
 
 beings. 
 
 5. And this was the crowning work of God's visible creation. Which 
 
 is chief among visible creatures? Man is chief among the 
 visible creatures. 
 
 6. (165) "Why is man chief among visible creatures?" "Because 
 
 God created him in his own image." 
 
 7. Let us read the story of man's creation, as it is written Gen. 
 
 1, 26-27. God said: "Let us make man in our image, after 
 our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of 
 the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, 
 and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that 
 creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own 
 image, in the image of God created he him; male and female 
 created he them." 
 
 8. How did God create light? Gen. 1, 3. He said: "Let there be 
 
 light, and there was light." 
 
 9. When he wanted to create plants, how did he go about it? Gen. 
 
 1, 11. God said: "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb 
 yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind." 
 
 10. When he wanted to make animals, what did he do? Gen. 1, 24. 
 
 God said: "Let the earth bring forth the living creatures 
 after his kind, cattle and creeping thing, and beast of the 
 earth after his kind: and it was so." 
 
 11. But when he wanted to create man he did not simply say: let 
 
 there be, but he said: let us make man. He held a council, 
 as it were, with himself. He had an image, a model for 
 the creation of man. How did he make man? He made 
 man in his own image, after his own likeness. 
 
 12. What is the image of a person? It is a picture of the person. 
 
 13. Whom does the image, or picture, of a person resemble? It re- 
 
 sembles the person. 
 
160 LESSON 48. 
 
 14. For this reason who was man Uke when he was created? He 
 
 was like God. 
 
 15. The image of a person is not like the person in every respect. 
 
 Therefore man was not like God in all things. But he did 
 resemble his Maker in some things. 
 
 16. (166) "Wherein did the image of God consist?" "In the perfec- 
 
 tion of the whole man, chiefly in righteousness and true 
 holiness." 
 
 17. What is the first thing here stated in which man was like God? 
 
 In the perfection of the whole man. 
 
 18. God is what kind of being? God is a perfect being. 
 
 19. There is nothing wrong with him. He is just as he should be. 
 
 He could not be better than he is. And if man was created 
 in the likeness of God, what kind of being must he have 
 been? He must have been a perfect being. 
 
 20. Can you tell me what this means? He was just as he should 
 
 be. There was nothing wrong with him. He could not 
 have been better than he was. 
 
 21. Repeat the explanation of the first article of the creed. (Question 
 
 152). "I believe that God has made me and all creatures." 
 
 22. That will do for the present. Here you confess that God not 
 
 only made all creatures, but what do you confess par- 
 ticularly? I confess that he made me. 
 
 23. Now go further in this explanation and tell me: what did God 
 
 give you? "He has given me my body and soul." 
 
 24. Stop a moment. What are the two parts of man? Body and soul. 
 
 25. Let us now hear what the Scriptures say concerning the crea- 
 
 tion of man's body and soul. Read Gen. 2, 7. "And the 
 Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and 
 breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became 
 a living soul." 
 
 26. How did God form the body of man? He formed it out of the 
 
 dust of the ground. 
 
 27. There is nothing more beautiful than the human body. And yet, 
 
 our bodies are no longer what the human body was at 
 creation... We are troubled with all kinds of aches and pains, 
 with imperfections and diseases. But how was man's l)ody 
 at creation? It was perfect. 
 
 28. There was perfect harmony in every part, and every member of 
 
 the body fulfilled perfectly the work for which it was made. 
 
 29. There are several members of the body mentioned in the ex- 
 
 planation of the first article. What are they? What did 
 God give you? He gave me my eyes, ears and all my 
 members. 
 
 30. W^hat did God give you eyes for? He gave me eyes to see. 
 
 31. And what a wonderful thing the eye is! We look at the green 
 
 fields and the blue sky, and the im^ge of what we see is 
 reflected upon our minds. 
 
 32. What did God give you ears for? He gave me ears to hear. 
 
 :!3. What a wonderful thing the ear is! It catches sound, and this 
 so^ind makes an impression on the mind. We hear ^ man 
 making sounds with his voice, and through these sounds the 
 thoughts of his soul are carried into our own souls, so that 
 we understand what he says. Can you mention any other 
 members of the body that God gave you? He also gave 
 me hands and feet. 
 
LESSON 48. 161 
 
 ■34. What did he give you hands for? He gave me hands to work. 
 
 35. What a wonderful thing the human hand is! There is no instru- 
 
 ment like it in all the wide world. Thinly of what a man 
 can do with his hands. He can till the ground, build houses, 
 write, do needlework, paint, play musical instruments, and 
 do an endless variety of other things. What did God give 
 you feet for? He gave me feet to stand and walk. 
 
 36. All other creatures creep, or walk on all fours. But how does 
 
 man walk? He walks upright. 
 
 37. Yes, in his walk as well as his work man is far above any other 
 
 creature. But what else did God give you besides your 
 body? He also gave me my soul. 
 
 38. And in the soul he gave you most wonderful gifts. Some of 
 
 them are mentioned in the explanation of the first article. 
 What gifts, or powers, of soul did God give you? He gave 
 me my reason and all my senses. 
 
 39. How many senses have you? I have five senses. 
 
 40. What are the five senses? Sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. 
 
 41. These senses are the windows of the soul, through which it 
 
 looks out upon the world. They are the hands through 
 which it lays hold of the outward world. When we see, 
 hear, touch, taste or smell things we begin to think about 
 them. This power we call reason. What you see or hear 
 today you know tomorrow. What do you call that power 
 by which you keep things which you see or hear? We call 
 it memory. 
 
 42. We are able to feel pleasure and pain, we are able to form con- 
 
 clusions and to decide on a course of action. Who gave us 
 all these powers of the soul? God gave them, 
 
 43. In view of all this, what does the psalmist say Ps. 139, 14? "I 
 
 will praise thee; for i am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
 marvelous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right 
 well." 
 
 44. But, according to question 166, wherein did the image of God 
 
 chiefly consist? It consisted chiefly in righteousness and 
 true holiness. 
 
 45. In Eph. 4, 24 we are told how man was created and in what re- 
 
 spect he resembled God. Read the passage. "Put on the 
 new man, which after God is created in righteousness and 
 true holiness." 
 
 46. The new man is created after the image of God and wherein does 
 
 this image consist? It consists in righteousness and true 
 holiness. 
 
 47. God is righteous. There is no sin in him. He is truly holy, 
 
 without fault or blemish. And so man was at creation. He 
 was morally a perfect being. So we read Eccles. 7, 29: "Lo 
 this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; 
 but they have sought many inventions." 
 
 48. Read Gen. 2, 25. "And they were both naked, the man and his 
 
 wife, and were not ashamed." 
 
 49. Usually, how do men feel about being naked? They are ashamed 
 
 to be naked. 
 
 50. But how do little children feel about being naked? They are not 
 
 ashamed. 
 
 51. That is because they are. in a way, innocent. When have we 
 
 reason to be ashamed? When we do wronq. 
 11 ^ 
 
162 LESSON 49. 
 
 52. Yes, shame is the result of sin. Now, why were Adam and Eve 
 
 not ashamed of being naked? Because they were innocent. 
 
 53. Repeat Col. 3, 10. "Put on the new man, which is renewed in 
 
 knowledge, after the image of him that created him." 
 
 54. Here, again, we are told that man was created- after whose image? 
 
 Man was created after the image of God. 
 
 55. Read what is written Gen. 2, 10-23, and tell me what did Adam 
 
 do with the creatures which God brought before him? He 
 named them. 
 
 56. This required a knowledge of how they were made and how they 
 
 lived. Therefore, being able to name these creatures, what 
 kind of being must he have been? He must have been an 
 intelligent being. 
 
 57. Yes, he must have had a knowledge, something like the knowl- 
 
 edge w^hich the Creator had. Now read Gen. 1, 26. "God 
 said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and 
 let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over 
 the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the 
 earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the 
 earth." 
 
 58. Man was to have dominion over all the earth. He was to rule 
 
 over everything. And whom did he resemble and represent 
 in this ruling? He resembled and represented God. 
 
 59. Now read Gen. 2, 8. "And the Lord God planted a garden east- 
 
 ward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had 
 formed." 
 
 60. Where did man live? He lived in Eden or Paradise. 
 
 61. What kind of place was paradise? Paradise was a beautiful place. 
 
 62. Yes, a place of perfect happiness. In what condition, therefore, 
 
 must Adam and Eve have lived in this place? They must 
 have lived in perfect happiness. 
 
 63. And in this respect they were like God who is perfectly happy. 
 
 Now read Gen. 2, 17. "But of the tree of the knowledge of 
 good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that 
 thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 
 
 64. What should follow if they ate of the forbidden fruit? They 
 
 should die. 
 
 65. So it is evident that up to that time they were not subject to 
 
 death, and had they not sinned, they never would have died. 
 What word expresses this condition? The word immortal. 
 
 66. Yes, they were immortal, and in this respect were like God. God 
 
 can not die. In what respect, then, were they like God? 
 They were immortal, they need not die. 
 
 LESSON 49. PROVIDENCE. 
 
 (Questions 167-172.) 
 
 Repeat the explanation of the first article of the Creed. (Ques- 
 tion 152). "I believe that God has made me and all crea- 
 tures; etc. 
 
 Here you confess that God has made you and all creatures. That 
 he has given you body and soul, eyes, ears and all your 
 members, your reason and all your senses. But what more 
 do you confess? I also confess that he preserves me and all 
 creatures. 
 
LESSON 49. 163 
 
 3. This preservation of all things we call providence. The word 
 
 "providence" is what part of speech? The word "provi- 
 dence" is a noun. 
 
 4. Can you give me a verb similar to this noun? The verb "provide." 
 
 5. When we say that a father provides for his children what do 
 
 we mean? We mean that he cares for them, he gives them 
 what they need. 
 
 6. (167) "With what words in the explanation are the blessings 
 
 of God's providence further described?" "I believe that 
 God still preserves me and all creatures; and gives me 
 clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife 
 and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that he daily 
 provides me with all that I need to support this body and 
 life, that he defends me against ail danger, and guards and 
 protects me from all evil." 
 
 7. God preserves you, and what does he give you for your preserva- 
 
 tion? He gives me all that I need to support this body 
 and life. 
 
 8. Mention some things which we need for our support in this life? 
 
 We need clothing, shoes, meat, drink, house, home, wife, 
 children, fields, cattle and the like. 
 
 9. From whom do we get these things? God gives them to us. 
 
 10. Yes, for food we need grain, fruit, vegetables and meat. Who 
 
 causes these things to grow? God makes these things grow. 
 
 11. The explanation also tells us how God provides us with these 
 
 things. What does it say? God provides us with these 
 things richly and daily. 
 
 12. In this world we are surrounded with all manner of danger. 
 
 What does the explanation say about these dangers? God 
 defends me from all danger. 
 
 13. And what does it say with reference to evil? God guards and 
 
 protects me from all evil. 
 
 14. (168) "Why is this added to the article of creation?" "Be- 
 
 cause God has not forsaken his work as an architect leaves 
 the house that he has built, but he preserves the things He 
 created, and governs them according to his fatherly wisdom." 
 
 15. When a house is built, what would become of it if left entirely 
 
 to itself? It would in time fall to pieces. 
 
 16. Yes, it would go to ruin. It would soon be no more. And 
 
 what would become of the world if God left it to it~elf? 
 It would pass away. 
 
 17. Yes, it would return to nothing, whence God had called it at 
 
 creation. This is true not only of the whole world but of 
 us human beings also. What do we read Acts 17. 27. 28? 
 "He is not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and 
 move and have our being." 
 
 18. God did not cease to exercise his divine i:ower when he had 
 
 finished the work of creation, but continues to exercise it. 
 as we learn from John .5, 17, "My Father worketh hitherto, 
 and I work." 
 
 1.1. (Kilt) "What do you accordingly understand Ijy the providence 
 of God?" "This, that God preserves and governs all creatures 
 to his glory and to the salvation of the saints." 
 
 2(' Heaven and earth do not i)reservo tluMiiselvcs. Bui wlio lu'c- 
 "^erves them? God preserves them. 
 
164 LESSON 49. 
 
 21. Can you give me a Scriptiu'e passage for this? Heb. 1, 3. "He 
 
 upholds all things by the word of his power." 
 
 22. Read also Rom. 11, 36. "For of him, and through him, and to 
 
 him are all things." 
 
 23. Repeat also in this connection Col. 1, 17. , "By him all things 
 
 consist." 
 
 24. God preserves the whole order of nature, day and night, summer 
 
 and winter, seed time and harvest. What did God say to 
 Noah Gen. 8, 22? "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and 
 harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and 
 day and night shall not cease." 
 
 25. Just imagine what would follow if this order of nature were done 
 
 away with. Suppose that for a whole year the sun would 
 not shine. What would follow with all vegetable life? All 
 plants and trees would die. 
 
 26. And if all plants and trees would die, if there were no grass, 
 
 vegetables, or fruit, what would become of all animals and 
 of man? They would die. 
 
 27. So it is to God that we owe the preservation of our lives. All 
 
 living creatures look to liim for food. Repeat Ps. 145, 15. 16. 
 "The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their 
 meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satis- 
 fiest the desire of every living thing." 
 
 28. Read also Ps. 104, 27-32. What do we leara from this passage? 
 
 We learn that God provides for all his creatures. 
 
 29. Now if we know that God provides for us how should we feel 
 
 about it? We should trust in him and not worry. 
 
 30. What does the apostle say 1 Peter 5, 7? "Casting all your cares 
 
 upon him, for he careth for you." 
 
 31. Read Matt. 6, 25-32 and tell me a.gainst what the Savior warns 
 
 us here? Against anxious cares, against worrying. 
 
 32. Upon whom should we cast all our cares? We should cast all 
 
 our cares upon God. 
 
 33. What does the apostle say Acts 14, 17? "Nevertheless he left 
 
 not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave 
 us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts 
 with Tood and gladness." 
 
 34. God provides rain and sunshine. He cares even for those things 
 
 which seem of little value in the world. Repeat Matt. 10, 
 29. 30. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one 
 of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 
 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." 
 
 35. But even the great things in the government of the world are 
 
 under his direction. Nothing is beyond his control as we 
 see from Acts 17, 26. "And hath made of one blood all 
 nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, 
 and hath determined the times before appointed, and the 
 bounds of their habitation." 
 
 36. God exercises a special providence over man. So we read Prov, 
 
 16. 9. "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord di- 
 recteth his steps." 
 
 37. What does the psalmist say of his life, Ps. 31, 15? "My times 
 
 are in thy hand." 
 
 38. The same we see from .Tol) 14, 5. "Seeing his days are de- 
 
 termined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast 
 appointed his bounds that he cannot pass." 
 
LESSON 40. 165 
 
 39. What a comforting thought that our lives are in God's hands, 
 
 and that He directs even the thoughts of our hearts, as we 
 see from Psalm 33, 13-15. "The Lord looketh from heaven; 
 He beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his 
 habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 
 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their 
 works." 
 
 40. The same we see from Prov. L'l, 1. "The kings heart is in the 
 
 hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it 
 whithersoever he will." 
 
 41. Even when things come over us that are evil, God overrules them 
 
 for good. Repeat Gen. 50, 20. "Ye thought evil against me; 
 but God meant it unto good." 
 
 42. These are the words of .Joseph, which he spake to his brethren. 
 
 What great evil did they do to their brother? They sold 
 him into slavery in Egypt. 
 
 43. And yet what became of him there? He became the next man 
 
 to the king. 
 
 44. And what great service was he able to render his father and 
 
 the whole family? He supplied them with food and kept 
 them during the famine. 
 
 45. So God permitted the evil and yet overruled it for good. So 
 
 the apostle tells us God does with his children. Repeat 
 Rom. 8, 28. "We know that all things work together for 
 good to them that love God." 
 
 46. For God exercises his providence not only for his own glory,. but 
 
 what other object has he in view according to question ]fi9? 
 I he salvation of the saints. 
 
 47. (170) "What moves God to show you such mercies?" "He does 
 
 all this purely out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, 
 without any merit or worthiness in me." 
 
 48. When Jacob came to his own country after a long absence in 
 
 distant lands, where God had so richly blessed him and made 
 him a man of wealth and the father of a large family, how 
 did he feel about it? What did he say to God? Gen. 32, 10. 
 "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the 
 truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant." 
 
 49. No, we have not deserved God's goodness. What have we rather 
 
 deserved by our sins? We have deserved God's anger and 
 punishment. 
 
 50. Then what is it that moves God to be so kind to us? His 
 
 fatherly goodness and mercy. 
 
 51. (171 ) "What then is your duty to this kind and merciful Father"? 
 
 "For all which it is my duty to thank and praise, to serve 
 and obey Him." 
 
 52. When any one does you a favor, what is the proper thing for 
 
 you to do? I should thank him. 
 
 53. So we are admonished, Ps. 107, 1, with reference to God. ."O 
 
 give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: and his mercy 
 endureth forever." 
 
 54. And again let us hear Ps. 103, 1. 2. "Bless the Lord, O my soul: 
 
 and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the 
 Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." 
 
166 LESSON 50. 
 
 55. But we should not only thank him in words but how else should 
 
 our thanks be expressed? Our thanks should also be ex- 
 pressed in acts. 
 
 56. How can we do this? When we serve and obey him. 
 
 57. To this Ps. 100, 2, admonishes us. "Serve the Lord with glad- 
 
 ness." 
 
 58. Repeat also Jer. 11, 4. "Obey my voice and do them (my com- 
 
 mandments) according to all which I command you: so shall 
 ye be my people, and I will be your God." 
 
 59. With what words do we conclude the explanation of this first 
 
 article, as well as the second and third articles? With the 
 words: "This is most certainly true." 
 
 60. (172) "Why do we conclude the explanation of each one of the 
 
 three articles with the words: This is most certainly true." 
 "To testify that we heartily believe what we here confess." 
 
 61. These things we do not simply confess with our lips, but why 
 
 do we confess them? Because we believe them with our 
 hearts. 
 
 THE SECOND ARTICLE 
 
 I. THE PERSON OF CHRIST 
 
 LESSON 50. THE NAMES OF THE SAVIOR. 
 
 (Question 173-179.) 
 
 1. Of what does the second part of the Catechism treat? It treats 
 
 of the three articles of the Christian faith, or the Creed. 
 
 2. Of what dbes the first article treat? It treats of creation. 
 
 3. Of which person of the Trinity does it treat? It treats of the 
 
 first person of the Trinity, of God the Father. 
 
 4. Of which person does the second article treat? It treats of the 
 
 second person, of God the Son. 
 
 5. Of what work does the second article treat? It treats of the 
 
 work of redemption. 
 
 6. (173) "Repeat the second article — of redemption." "And in 
 
 Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord," etc. 
 
 7. Repeat the first article. "I believe in God the Father Almighty, 
 
 Maker of heaven and earth." 
 
 8. Now, when you say in the second article: "And in Jesus Christ," 
 
 what two words must be put in after the word "And" to 
 make the sentence complete? The words "I believe." 
 
 9. Yes, here we confess our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is the 
 
 very heart of our Christian faith. This faith in Jesus 
 Christ is what really makes us Christians. So you see how 
 very important this second article is. Repeat it again. "And 
 in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord," etc. 
 
LESSON 50. 167 
 
 10. (174) "What does this mean?" "I believe that Jesus Christ, true 
 
 God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true 
 man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has re- 
 deemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and 
 won me from all sins, from death and from the power of 
 the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious 
 blood and his innocent sufferings and death, that I may be 
 his own, and live under him in his kingdom and serve him 
 in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, 
 even as he is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all 
 eternity. This is most certainly true." 
 
 11. (175) "How many parts does this article and its explanation 
 
 contain?" "Principally two: the first treats of the person of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ; the second of his office." 
 
 12. This first article tells lis who Jesus Christ is. What question 
 
 do you answer when you describe the person of Jesus 
 Christ? The question: Who is Jesus Christ? 
 
 13. And what question do you answer when you describe his office, 
 
 or work? The question: What does he do? 
 
 14. (176) "What words in this article treat particularly of Christ's 
 
 person?" "And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who 
 was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary." 
 
 15. When you say: "His only Son," whose son do you mean? We 
 
 mean God's only Son, the only Son of God the Father. 
 
 16. What do you say of the only Son of God in reference to us? 
 
 We say that he is our Lord. 
 
 17. By whom was he conceived? He was conceived by the Holy 
 
 Ghost. 
 
 18. Of whom was he born? He was born of the Virgin Mary. 
 
 19. (177) "Who accordingly is Jesus Christ?" "True God, begotten 
 
 of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the 
 Virgin Mary, my Lord." 
 
 20. How many facts do you here state in answer to the question: 
 
 Who is Jesus Christ? Two facts. 
 
 21. Which is the first? The first is that Jesus Christ is true God. 
 
 22. And which is the second? The second is that he is true man, 
 
 23. What is said of Him as true God? He was begotten of the 
 
 Father from eternity. 
 
 24. And what is said of Him as true man? He was born of the 
 
 virgin Mary. 
 
 25. Repeat the passage Rom. 9, 5. "Whose are the fathers, and of 
 
 whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, 
 God blessed forever. Amen." 
 
 26. As to his flesh, that is, his human nature, from whom did Christ 
 
 come? He came from the Fathers. 
 
 27. That is, from his human ancestors. He was a descendant of 
 
 Adam, Noah, Abraham, and David, who were human beings, 
 men; what must he also be accordingly? He also must be a 
 human being. 
 
 28. But what else does the apostle say of Christ in this passage? 
 
 He says that he is God over all, blessed forever. 
 
 29. So he is not a mere man, but what is he? He is also God. 
 
 30. By what two names do we usually call the Savior? We call him 
 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
168 LESSON 50. 
 
 31. (178) "Why is he called Jesus?" "Because he is in truth what 
 
 this name means, namely, our Savior." 
 
 32. What does this name Jesus mean? The name Jesus means Savior. 
 
 33. What is a savior? A savior is one who saves. 
 
 34. When do men need a savior? When they are in danger. 
 
 35. In the answer to question 178, what are we told of Jesus, aside 
 
 from the fact that he is called Savior? We are told that 
 he really is a Savior. 
 
 36. Some people have names that do not mean anything. People 
 
 often give a child a name simply because it sounds well. 
 Not so with God. Now let us hear how the Savior got his 
 name Jesus. Repeat Mat. 1, 21. "She shall bring forth a 
 son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save 
 his people from their sins." 
 
 37. Here the angel Gabriel, the hiessenger of God, was talking to 
 
 Joseph concerning his intended wife Mary and the child 
 she should give birth to. W^hat did he say as to the name 
 of this child? It was to be called Jesus. 
 
 38. How, accordingly, did the child get this name? God ordered it so. 
 
 39. Yes, and God did this for a purpose. The child was to be 
 
 exactly what this name said, namely what? A Savior. 
 
 40. Why did the angel say this child of Mary should be called 
 
 Jesus? Because he should save his people. 
 
 41. From what was he to save his people? He was to save his 
 
 people from their sins. 
 
 42. Joseph was a savior of his father's family during the famine in 
 
 Canaan. What did he save them from? He saved them 
 from starvation. 
 
 43. But Jesus saves us, his people, from worse than starvation. 
 
 From what does he save us? He saves us from sin. 
 
 44. Now repeat Acts 4, 12. "Neither is there salvation in any other: 
 
 for there is none other name under heaven given among 
 men, whereby they must be saved." 
 
 45. He is our only Savior, not a but the Savior. Besides Him there 
 
 is none other. How does the apostle express this in the 
 passage you have just repeated? "There is none other name 
 under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." 
 
 46. Now let us hear the story of the naming of Jesus, as we find it 
 
 in Luke 2, 21. "When eight days were accomplished for 
 the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, 
 which was so named of the angel before he was conceived 
 in the womb." 
 
 47. How precious this name Jesus should be to us. By what other 
 
 name do we designate the Savior? We also call him Christ. 
 
 48. (179) "Why is he called Christ?" "He is called Christ, or 
 
 Messiah, that is, anointed, because he was anointed without 
 measure with the Holy Ghost to be our Prophet, High Priest 
 and King." 
 
 49. What other name means the same as "Christ"? The name "Mes- 
 
 siah." 
 
 50. And what does this name "Christ" or "Messiah" mean? It means 
 
 the anointed one. 
 
 51. In the Old Testament three kinds of official persons were anointed. 
 
 the prophets, the high priests and the kings. Who was the 
 first king in Israel? Saul was the first king in Israel. 
 
LESSON 50. 169 
 
 52. Read 1 Sam. 10, 1. "Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured 
 
 it upon his head, and kissed him, and said: Is it not be- 
 cause the Lord hath anointed thee to be a captain over his 
 inheritance?" 
 
 53. How did Samuel here anoint Saul? He poured oil on him. 
 
 54. In whose name did Samuel do this? He did it in the name of 
 
 the Lord. 
 
 55. In a similar manner Aaron was anointed. What office did he 
 
 hold in Israel? He was the first high priest. 
 
 56. In Lev. 8, 12, we read how Moses anointed Aaron to be high 
 
 priest. Read the passage. "He poured of the anointing 
 oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him." 
 
 57. Likewise the prophets also were anointed with oil. Read 1 Kings 
 
 19, 15. 16. "The Lord said unto him. Go, return on thy 
 way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, 
 anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu, the son of 
 Nimshi, shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha, 
 the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be 
 prophet in thy room." 
 
 58. Accordingly Christ was anointed to what threefold office? He 
 
 was anointed to be Prophet, High Priest and King. 
 
 59. The prophets, high priests arid kings of the Old Testament were 
 
 anointed with holy oil, but with what was Christ anointed? 
 He was anointed with the Holy Ghost. 
 
 60. Read Ps. 45, 7. "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wicked- 
 
 ness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil 
 of gladness above thy fellows." 
 
 61. What is the oil of gladness here spoken of? It is the Holy Ghost. 
 
 62. All Christians receive the Holy Ghost in a certain measure, but 
 
 what is said of the Savior? He received the Holy Ghost 
 without measure, more than his fellows. 
 
 63. Repeat Acts 10, 38. "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the 
 
 Holy Ghost and with power." 
 
 64. Read Isa. 61, 1-3. "The spirit of the Lord God is upon rr.e; be- 
 
 cause the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings 
 unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken- 
 hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening 
 of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the ac- 
 ceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our 
 God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them 
 that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, 
 the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the 
 spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of 
 righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be 
 glorified." 
 
 65. This is a prophecy concerning the Savior. In liUke 4, 17-21, 
 
 the Savior refers to this prophecy as being fulfilled in him. 
 Now read Luke 3, 21-22, and let us see in what wonderful 
 manner the Holy Ghost was given to the Savior. "Now 
 when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that 
 Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was 
 opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape 
 like a dove upon him and a voice came from heaven, which 
 said. Thou art my beloved sen; in Thee I am well pleased." 
 
170 LESSON 51. 
 
 66. On what occasion, then, did Jesus receive the Holy Ghost in such 
 
 a wonderful manner? When he was baptized. 
 
 67. Thus he was anointed with the Holy Ghost to be our Prophet, 
 
 High Priest and King. And what name indicates this anoint- 
 ing? The name "Christ." 
 
 LESSON 51. THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST. 
 
 (Question 180.) 
 
 1. Repeat the second article of the creed. "I believe in Jesus 
 
 Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the 
 Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pon- 
 tius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended 
 into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He 
 ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God 
 the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge 
 the quick and the dead." 
 
 2. What does this mean? "I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, 
 
 begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, 
 born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, 
 a lost and condemned creature purchased and won me from 
 all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not 
 with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood, and 
 His innocent sufferings and death, that I may be His own, 
 and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in ever- 
 lasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as 
 He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. 
 This is most certainly true." 
 
 3. Who, according to the first sentence of this answer, is Jesus 
 
 Christ? He is true God, begotten of the Father from etern- 
 ity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, my Lord. 
 
 4. What is the first thing you here confess concerning the Savior? 
 
 I confess that He is true God. 
 
 5. (180) "Why do you believe that Jesus Christ is true God?" "Be- 
 
 cause in Holy Scripture the names, attributes, works, and 
 honor which pertain to God only, are expressly ascribed to 
 Him." 
 
 6. Where do we find that the names, attributes, works and honor 
 
 of God are expressly ascribed to Christ? We find this in 
 the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 7. Where do we get the proof that Jesus Christ is true God? We 
 
 get it from the Bible. 
 
 8. What is the source of all the doctrines, or teachings, of our 
 
 Christian religion? The Word of God. 
 
 9. Why, then, do we believe that Jesus Christ is true God? Be- 
 
 cause the Bible teaches so. 
 
 10. Now let us examine more carefully what the Bible teaches con- 
 
 cerning the divine person of Christ. What, according to 
 question 180, is the first thing which the Holy Scriptures 
 expressly ascribe to Him? The names which pertain to 
 God only. 
 
 11. Repeat John 20, 28. "Thomas answered and said unto Him, 
 
 My Lord, and my God." 
 
LESSON 51. 171 
 
 12. When Jesus, after the resurrection, appeared in the midst of his 
 
 disciples, what did Thomas call Him? He called him: 
 "My Lord and my God." 
 
 13. Did Jesus allow himself to be called Lord and God? Yes, he did. 
 
 14. Why, do you suppose, Jesus allowed Thomas to call him Lord 
 
 and God? Because it is true; he is Lord and God. 
 
 15. If he were not what these names say, what would Jesus surely 
 
 have said to Thomas? He would have said: "Thomas, you 
 must not call me Lord and God." 
 
 16. But Jesus did not forbid Thomas to call him Lord and God; 
 
 what does this plainly prove? It proves that He is Lord and 
 God. 
 
 17. Repeat also a passage which we considered already under ques- 
 
 tion 177, Rom. 9, 5. "Whose are the fathers, and of whom 
 as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God 
 blessed for ever." 
 
 18. What is Christ here called? He is called God over all. 
 
 19. Repeat 1 John 5, 20. "This is the true God, and eternal life." 
 
 20. Of whom is the apostle speaking when he says: this one is the 
 
 true God and eternal life? He is speaking of the Savior. 
 
 21. Now repeat Rom. 8, 32. "God spared not his own Son." 
 
 22. Who is the Son of God, here spoken of? He is our Savior. 
 
 23. Now the son is of the same nature as the father. He must be 
 
 the same kind of being as his father. If Jesus is God's 
 own son, what kind of person must he be? He must be a 
 divine person, he must be God. 
 
 24. Now turn to Jer. 23, 6, and read it. "In His days Judah shall 
 
 be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His 
 name whereby He shall be called, the Lord our righteous- 
 ness." 
 
 25. This is a prophecy concerning the Savior; what is he here 
 
 called? He is called the Lord our righteousness. 
 
 26. What did the angel say to the shepherds at the time of the 
 
 Savior's birth? Luke 2, 11. "Unto you is born this day 
 in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord." 
 
 27. Now read John 1, 18. "No man hath seen God at any time; the 
 
 only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he 
 hath declared him." 
 
 28. What is the Savior here called? He is called the only begotten 
 
 Son of the Father. 
 
 29. Read also Col. 2, 9. "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the god- 
 
 head bodily." 
 
 30. Also 1 Tim. 3, 16. "Without controversy great is the mystery 
 
 of godliness! God was manifested in the flesh, justified in 
 the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, be- 
 lieved on in the world, received up into glory." 
 
 31. From all these passages we see that Jesus is expressly called 
 
 God. The Scriptures ascribe to him the names which per- 
 tain to God only. But what else do they ascribe to Him, 
 besides the names which pertain to God only? They also 
 ascribe to Him the attributes which belong to God only. 
 
172 LESSON 51. 
 
 32. There are certain attributes, or qualities, wliicli no one has but 
 
 God alone. Can you mention the divine attributes? You 
 will find them under question 142. God is eternal, om- 
 nipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, holy, righteous, merciful 
 and truthful. 
 
 33. What does eternal mean? Eternal means without beginning and 
 
 without end. 
 
 34. Who alone is eternal? God alone Is eterngl. 
 
 35. Now, if the Scriptures say that Christ is eternal, what does that 
 
 prove with reference to his person? It proves that he Is a 
 divine person, that he Is true God. 
 
 36. Let us see what the Scriptures say of Christ, Micah 5, 2. "But 
 
 thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the 
 thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth 
 unto me that Is to be Ruler in Israel: whose goings forth 
 have been from of old, from everlasting." 
 
 37. This is a prophecy concerning the Savior. What is said of him 
 
 in the last clause? His goings forth have been from of old, 
 from everlasting. 
 
 38. Another wonderful prophecy we have in Is. 9, G. "Unto us a 
 
 child Is born, unto us a son is given: and the government 
 shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called 
 Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting 
 Father, the Prince of Peace." 
 
 39. Here the coming Savior is called the mighty God, the everlasting 
 
 Father. In the first chapter of .John's gospel the apostle 
 speaks of Christ as the Word! of God that was made flesh. 
 Read .lohn 1, 1-2. "In the beginning was the Word, and the 
 Word was with God, and the Word was God.. The same was 
 In the beginning with God."^ 
 
 40. Christ is here called the Word of God, which was in the be- 
 
 ginning, namely, that he already was when other things be- 
 gan. That is, he never had a beginning, he is etei'nal. Now 
 read Heb. 13, 8. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today 
 and forever." 
 
 41. Read also what the Savior says of himself in John 8, 58. "Jesus 
 
 said unto them. Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham 
 was I am." 
 
 42. From all these passages we learn that Jesus Christ is eternal; 
 
 what does this prove with reference to his person? It proves 
 that he Is a divine person, that he Is true God. 
 
 43. But according to the Scriptures Christ is not only eternal, but 
 
 also omnipresent. What Ivind of an attribute is omnipres- 
 ence? Omnipresence Is a divine attribute. 
 
 44. Who alone is everywhere present at the same time? God alone 
 
 is everywhere present at the same time. 
 
 45. What does the Savior say of himself in Mat. 18. 20? "Where 
 
 two or three are gathered together In my name, there am I 
 in the midst of them." 
 
 46. Read also Mat. 28, 20. "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the 
 
 end of the world." 
 
 47. From these passages we learn that Jesus is everywhere present 
 
 at the same time: and if so, who must he be? He must 
 be God. 
 
Lesson 51. 173 
 
 48. We learn from the Scriptures that Jesus is not only eternal and 
 omnipresent, but also that he is almighty. Repeat Mat. 
 28, 18. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." 
 
 4;). If he has all power, what kind of person must he be? He must 
 be a divine person. 
 
 50. Yes, he must be true God. But Jesus is not only eternal, omni- 
 
 present and almighty, but also omniscient. He knows all 
 things. Tills we learn from John 2, 2.5. "He knew what 
 was in man." 
 
 51. Who alone can know what is in man, that is in his heart? God 
 
 alone can know this. 
 
 52. Read what Peter confesses concerning the Savior, John 21, 17. 
 
 "Lord, thou knowest all things." 
 
 53. If the Savior knows all things who must he ])e? He must be God, 
 
 54. Yes, his divine attributes prove him to be true God. But from 
 
 Question 180 we learn, not only that Jesus has divine names 
 and attributes, but also that he does what kind of works? 
 That he does divine works. 
 
 55. The work of creation is such a divine work. Who created the 
 
 world? God created the world. 
 
 56. We have already seen that in the first chapter of John's gospel 
 
 the Savior is called the Word of God that was made flesh. 
 Now read what is said of this Word in John 1, H. "All things 
 were made by Him; and without Him was not anything 
 made that was made." 
 
 57. Now if all things Avere made by Christ, who must he be? He 
 
 must be God. 
 
 58. But God alone not only made all things, he alone also preserves 
 
 and keeps all things. T.et us see what the apostle says of 
 Jesus, Heb. 1, 3. "He upholds all things by the word of 
 his power." 
 
 59. Read also what the apostle says of Christ, Col. 1, 16-17. "For 
 
 by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that 
 are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, 
 or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were 
 created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, 
 and by him all things consist." 
 
 60. Who must Christ be, since all things were created l)y him, and 
 
 consist, or are preserved, by him? He must be God. 
 
 61. What do we call those wonderful works which Jesus performed 
 
 while he walked visibly on earth? We call them miracles. 
 
 62. Can you mention some of these miracles of Jesus? He healed 
 
 the man sick of the palsy; he opened the eyes of the blind; 
 he cleansed the ten lepers; he raised Lazarus from the dead'. 
 
 63. What power did it require to perform such works? Divine power. 
 
 64. What did Jesus say to the dead son of the poor widow of Nain? 
 
 Luke 7, 14. "Young man, I say unto thee, arise." 
 
 65. Yes, and he did arise from the dead. Which was the first miracle 
 
 that Jesus performerl? He turned water into wine at the 
 marriage at Cana. 
 
 66. Read what is said of this miracle, John 2. 11. "This beginning of 
 
 miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth 
 his glory;, and his disciples believed on him." 
 
174 LESSON 52. 
 
 67. What did Jesus manifest by this and other miracles? He mani- 
 
 fested his glory. 
 
 68. Yes, he showed that he was God and his disciples believed on 
 
 him. And so should we also believe on him. That is, what 
 should we believe as to his person? We -should believe that 
 he is true God. 
 
 69. Now read Mat. 9, 6. "The Son of Man hath power on earth to 
 
 forgive sins." 
 
 70. Who must Jesus be, since he has power to forgive sins? He 
 
 must be God. 
 
 71. Read also John 5, 27. "The Father hath given to the Son au- 
 
 thority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son 
 of Man." 
 
 72. This power to judge all men at the end of days is what kind of 
 
 a power? It is a divine power. 
 
 73. And if Jesus has this power who must he be? He must be God. 
 
 74. So we see that in the Scriptures divine names, attributes and 
 
 works are ascribed to the Savior. But, according to question 
 180, what else is also ascribed to him? Divine honor. 
 
 75. Repeat John 5, 23. "All men should honor the Son, even as they 
 
 honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth 
 not the Father which sent him." 
 
 76. Here we are told that all men should honor Jesus just as they 
 
 honor God the Father. Who must Jesus be since he is to 
 receive divine honor? He must be God. 
 
 77. Repeat also Phil. 2, 10. "That at the name of Jesus every knee 
 
 should bc*/v, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and 
 things under the earth." 
 
 78. Who must Jesus be since all men are to bow the knee, that is, 
 
 worship Him? He must be God. 
 
 79. In Heb. 1, 6, we are told that even the angels are to worship 
 
 Jesus. Read the passage. "When he bringeth in the first- 
 begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels 
 of God worship him." 
 
 80. From this we see that Jesus Christ must be true .God; for, ac- 
 
 cording to Question 180, what is ascribed to Him by Holy 
 Scripture? The names, attributes, works and honor which 
 pertain to God alone. 
 
 LESSON 52. THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST. 
 
 (Question 181.) 
 
 Repeat the Second Article of the Creed. "And in Jesus Christ, 
 
 His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy 
 
 Ghost." etc. 
 What does this mean? "I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, 
 
 begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, 
 
 born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord," etc. 
 According to the first sentence of this answer, who is Jesus 
 
 Christ? "He is true God, begotten of the Father from 
 
 eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, my 
 
 Lord." 
 
LESSON 52. 
 
 175 
 
 4. What is the first thing you say of Christ in this answer? That 
 
 He is true God, begotten of the Father from eternity. 
 
 5. In Question 180, we have seen the reasons why we believe that 
 
 Jesus Christ is true God. Repeat the aiiswer to that ques- 
 tion. "Because in Holy Scriptures the names, attributes, 
 works and honor, which pertain to God only, are expressly 
 ascribed to Him." 
 
 6. But Jesus Christ is not only true God; what else is He? He 
 
 is also true man. 
 
 7. (181) "Why do you l)elieve that Jesus Christ is true man?" "Be- 
 
 cause in Holy Scripture the names, essential parts, attributes 
 and acts of a man are expressly ascribed to Him." 
 
 8. Where do we find this plainly told that Jesus Christ is true man? 
 
 In the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 9. What is the first thing ascribed to Christ in the Scriptures, ac- 
 
 cording to Question 181? The names of a man. 
 
 10. That is, in Holy Scriptures Christ is expressly called man; so 
 
 we read in 1 Tim. 2, 5-6. Repeat this passage. "For there 
 is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the 
 man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to 
 be testified in due time." 
 
 11. What is the Savior here called? He is called "the man Christ 
 
 Jesus." 
 
 12. Turn to and read Luke 23, 47. "Now when the centurion saw 
 
 what was done, he glorified God, saying, 'Certainly this was 
 a righteous man.' " 
 
 13. What did the centurion say of the crucified Savior? He said, 
 
 "Certainly this was a righteous man." 
 
 14. Read the passage, Uen. 3. 15. "I will put enmity between thee 
 
 and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall 
 bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." 
 
 15. The coming Savior of the world is here called the seed of the 
 
 woman. What kind of being must He therefore be, if He 
 was to be born of a woman? He must be a human being. 
 
 16. Read also Gen. 22, IS. "In thy seed shall ail the nations of the 
 
 earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." 
 
 17. Here the coming Savior of the world is called the seed of Abra- 
 
 ham. What kind of being must He be, if He is a descendant 
 of Abraham? He must be a human being. 
 
 18. Read also 2 Samuel 7, 12. "When thy days be fulfilled, and thou 
 
 shalt sleep with thy fathers, 1 will set up thy seed after 
 thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will estab- 
 lish his kingdom." 
 
 19. Here the coming Savior is called the seed of David. If He is a 
 
 descendant of David, what kind of being must He be? He 
 must be a human being. 
 
 20. Now repeat Is. 7, 14. "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear 
 
 a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." 
 
 21. Here the coming Savior is said to be born of a virgin, that is, 
 
 of a woman. What kind of being must He accordingly be? 
 He must be a human being. 
 
 22. In the first chapter of Matthew we have a record of Christ's 
 
 ancestors. If Christ was born of human ancestors, what 
 kind of being must He be? He must be a human being. 
 
176 LESSON 52. 
 
 23. In Question 181, among the reasons why we believe that Jesus 
 
 Christ is true man, the fact also is stated that He has the 
 essential parts of a man. What are the essential parts of 
 a man? They are body and soul. 
 
 24. If Jesus has both a human body and human soul, what kind of 
 
 being must He be? He must be a human being. 
 
 25. Repeat what the Savior says in Matthew 26, 38. "My soul is 
 
 exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." 
 
 26. Here the Savior speaks of his soul. The same is true in Luke 
 
 23, 46. Read this passage. "When Jesus cried with a loud 
 voice, he said, 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,' 
 and having said thus. He gave up the ghost." 
 
 27. Jesus has not only a human soul, but He also has a human body. 
 
 Even after the resurrection, when the Savior appeared to the 
 disciples, what did He say? Luke 24, 39. "Behold my hands 
 and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me and see; for a 
 spirit hath not flesh and bone, as ye see me have." 
 
 28. So we read in Matthew 27, 58, that Joseph of Arimathea asked 
 
 Pilate for the body of Jesus. Read the passage. "He went 
 to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate com- 
 manded the body to be delivered." 
 
 29. Read also Heb. 2, 14. "Forasmuch then as the children are 
 
 partakers of flesh and blood. He also himself likewise took 
 part of the same; that through death He might destroy 
 him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." 
 
 30. From these passages we learn that Jesus has a true human body. 
 
 If He has a true human body and a true human soul, what 
 kind of being must He be? He must be a human being. 
 
 31. Again we find in the Holy Scriptures that Jesus has not only 
 
 the names and essential parts, but also the attributes of a 
 man. It is an attribute of a man to grow and increase in 
 size and knowledge. What is said of Jesus in Luke 2, 52? 
 "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with 
 God and man." 
 
 32. The same we read in the 40th verse of this chapter concerning 
 
 the child Jesus. "The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, 
 filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." 
 
 33. It is an attribute of humanity to be subject to sorrow. So we 
 
 read of Jesus in Matthew 26, 37. "He took with Him Peter 
 and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful 
 and very heavy." 
 
 34. So we find that Jesus shed tears, T>uke 19, 41. "When He was 
 
 come near. He beheld the city, and wept over it." 
 
 35. It is human to become tired; so we read concerning Jesus in 
 
 John 4, 6. "Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, 
 being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well; and it 
 was about the sixth hour." 
 
 36. So it is human to experience thirst. Read what is said of the 
 
 Savior, John 19, 28-30. "After this, Jesus knowing that all 
 things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be 
 fulfilled, saith M thirst.' Now there was set a vessel full 
 of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put 
 it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Jesus there- 
 fore had received the vinegar, He said, 'It is finished,' and 
 He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost." 
 
LESSON 53. 177 
 
 37. Here we find that the Savior not only thirsted, and received the 
 
 vinegar, but that He gave up the ghost, or died; and that 
 is human, also. It is human to eat. What do we read of 
 Jesus, Matthew 11, 19? "The Son of man came eating and 
 drinking, and they say, 'Behold a man gluttonous and a wine- 
 bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.'" 
 
 38. All this shows us that Jesus has the attributes and does the acts 
 
 common to human beings. What must He therefore be? 
 He must be a true human being. 
 o9. Jesus, when He was born of the Virgin Mary, became a true 
 human being, our brother. He was like unto us in all re- 
 spects save one. What are we all by nature? We are sinners. 
 
 40. But what can you say of the Savior in this respect? He is with- 
 
 out sin. 
 
 41. But is He a true human being if He is without sin? Yes, He is. 
 
 42. What kind of being was Adam before he had sinned? He was 
 
 a human being. 
 4o. Sin does not make us human beings. It does not belong" to the 
 essence of man. So what is Jesus, although He is sinless? 
 He is a human being. 
 
 44. Children, it is a great comfort to know that Jesus is in every 
 
 respect a true human being, really and truly our brother. 
 We say, in the Catechism, "Jesus Christ is true man, born of 
 the Virgin Mary." Who was Christ's human mother? The 
 Virgin Mary. 
 
 45. Where was Christ born as man? In Bethlehem. 
 
 46. Where is Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus? In Judea, or 
 
 Palestine. 
 
 47. On what day do we celebrate the birth of Jesus? On Christ- 
 
 mas day. 
 
 48. When does Christmas come? On the 25th of December. 
 
 49. How long ago is it since Jesus was born? 1915 years ago. 
 
 50. So we count our years from what great event? From the birth 
 
 of Christ. 
 
 51. How do we reckon all events that took place before His birth? 
 
 As so many years before Christ. 
 
 52. So what is the great central event, the most important thing that 
 
 ever occurred in the history of the world? The birth of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 53. Yes, children, let us ever remember that, from the beginning 
 
 of the world to the end of it, nothing ever happened that 
 was or will be more important than the birth of Jesus 
 Christ. Read Gal. 4, 4-5. ,"But when the fulness of the 
 time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, 
 made under the law, To redeem them that were under the 
 law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." 
 
 LESSON 53. THE TWO NATURES OF CHRIST. 
 
 (Question 182-186.) 
 
 1. Who is Jesus Christ? He is true God, begotten of the Father 
 from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, 
 my Lord. 
 
 12 
 
178 LESSON 53. 
 
 2. How many things do you' say of Christ in this manner? I say two 
 
 things of Him: first, tliat He is true God, and second, that 
 He is true man. 
 
 3. Give me a Scripture passage which says that Jesus Christ is 
 
 true God, 1 John 5, 20. "This is the true God and eternal 
 life." 
 
 4. Give me a passage which says that He is true man, 1 Tim. 2, 5-6. 
 
 "There is one God and one mediator between God and man, 
 the man Christ Jesus." 
 
 5. (182) "Since now Christ is true God and true man, how many 
 
 natures has He, and what are they?" "Two: the divine and 
 the human." 
 
 6. How many natures has Christ? Christ has two natures. 
 
 7. We are only human beings, and on that account have only how 
 
 many natures? We have only one nature. 
 
 8. What is this nature of ours? It is human. 
 
 9. But Christ is more. He is not only man, but also God. As God, 
 
 He has what kind of nature? He has a divine nature. 
 
 10. And as man, what kind of nature has He? He has a human 
 
 nature. 
 
 11. (18.3) "Are there not in consequence also two persons in Christ?" 
 
 "By no means, for there is one Lord, Jesus Christ; therefore, 
 He is also but one person. He has, however, two distinct 
 natures, which are personally united in Him." 
 
 12. There are not two, but how many Saviors? There is only one 
 
 Savior; one Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 13. There are not two, but how many persons called Jesus Christ? 
 
 There is only one person by this name. 
 
 14. How many persons are there in God? There are tl^ree persons 
 
 in God. 
 
 15. Which of these persons is Jesus Christ? He Is the second person 
 
 of the Trinity. 
 
 16. Yes, and this second person in the Godhead, in the fullness of 
 
 time, became a man. He assumed our human nature, and 
 became our brother. And when He did this. He did not cease 
 to be God. Therefore, since His birth by the Virgin Mary 
 He is not only God, but what is He? He is both God and man. 
 
 17. Read the passage 1 Cor. 8, 6. "But to us there is but one God, 
 
 the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one 
 Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him." 
 
 18. Here we have a plain statement that there are not two Lords 
 
 but how many? There is one Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 19. (184) "What follows from this personal union of the two natures 
 
 in Christ?" "Chiefly this, that the human nature of Christ 
 truly participates in the properties of His divine nature." 
 
 20. Christ, as God, has what kind of attributes? He has divine at- 
 
 tributes. 
 
 21. What are the divine attributes? God is eternal, almighty, omni- 
 
 present, omniscient, holy, righteous, merciful and truthful. 
 
LESSON 53. I'^ld 
 
 22. But because this person, Jesus Christ, is at the same time God 
 
 and man, not only the God Jesus Christ has these divine 
 attributes, but also the man Jesus Christ has them. As 
 God, this person had these attributes from eternity, but as 
 man, they were given to Him in the fulness of time. So we 
 read of His omnipotence. Mat. 28, 18. Repeat the passage. 
 "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." 
 
 23. All power was not given to Christ as God, because He had all 
 
 power from eternity. But as man He did not have all power 
 from eternity. So when the Savior says that all power is 
 given to Him, to which nature must this refer? It must 
 refer to His human nature. 
 
 24. And so it is with all the other divine attributes. Read John 5, 
 
 2(i-27. "For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He 
 given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given 
 Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the 
 Son of man." 
 
 25. This power of having life in Himself belongs originally to whom? 
 
 To God the Father. 
 
 26. And because God the Son is the equal of God the Father, it 
 
 also belongs to the Son. When it is here said that this 
 power is given to the Son, to which nature does this refer? 
 It refers to His human nature. 
 
 27. This is a great comfort to us. Our brother, Jesus Christ, is al- 
 
 mighty, everywhere present, allwise, in fact He has been 
 given all the divine attributes. Tell me in the words of the 
 Savior Himself (Mat. 18, 20) that He, our brother, flesh of 
 our flesh and bone of our bone, is everywhere present with 
 us. "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, 
 there am I in the midst of them." 
 
 28. The same thing He says in the latter half of Matt. 28, 20. "Lo, 
 
 I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." 
 
 29. Tell me a passage which says that our brother, Jesus Christ, 
 
 has all power. "All power is given unto me, in heaven and 
 on earth." 
 
 30. (185) "According to what nature then is Christ our Savior?" 
 
 "According to both natures." 
 
 31. Repeat 1 John 3, 8. "For this purpose the Son of God was mani- 
 
 fested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." 
 
 32. Who is here said to destroy the works of the devil? The Son 
 
 of God. 
 
 33. Read the 7th verse of 1 John, chapter 1. "But if we walk in the 
 
 light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with 
 another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth 
 us from all sin." 
 
 34. How are we here said to be cleansed from all sin? By the blood 
 
 of Jesus Christ, God's Son. 
 
 35. Yes, our Savior is true God, but at the same time He is also 
 
 true man. What is written of Him, Gen. 3, 15? "I will put 
 enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and 
 her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise 
 his heel." 
 
 36. Here the Savior is called the seed of the woman, that is, a human 
 
 being. He is our Savior, then, not only as God, but also as 
 what? Also as man. 
 
180 LESSON 53. 
 
 37. Repeat Luke 9. 56. "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's 
 
 lives, but to save them." 
 
 38. What is the Savior here called? He is called the Son of Man. 
 
 39. The same is stated in a passage which we learned in the last 
 
 lesson, 1st Tim. 2, 5-6. Repeat it. "For there is one God, 
 and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ 
 Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified 
 in due time." 
 
 40. That Christ is our Savior, not only according to His divine but 
 
 also according to His human nature, is plainly taught in 
 Heb. 2, 14. Read the passage. "Forasmuch then as the 
 children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself 
 likewise took part of the same; that through death He 
 might destroy Him that had the power of death, that is, the 
 devil." 
 
 41. And again, Heb. 4, 15. "For we have not a high priest which 
 
 cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but 
 was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." 
 
 42. Christ is our Savior, not only as God, but also as man, and not 
 
 only as man. but also as God. Hence according to which 
 nature is He our Savior? According to both natures. 
 
 43. (186) "Why was it necessary that Christ should be both, true 
 
 God and man?" "True man He must be, that He might put 
 Himself under the law, suffer and die for mankind; true God 
 He must be, that He by such obedience could merit for us 
 forgiveness of sin, life and salvation." 
 
 44. Why must the Savior be true man in order to save us? That 
 
 He might put himself under the law, suffer and die for 
 mankind. 
 
 45. To what kind of beings did God give the law? God gave the law 
 
 to human beings. 
 
 46. Then if Christ wanted to take our place and do what the law 
 
 required of us human beings, what kind of a being must He 
 be? He must be a human being. 
 
 47. What is the punishment and result of sin? The punishment 
 
 and resujt of sin is suffering and death. 
 
 48. If Christ wanted to take upon Himself the results and punish- 
 
 ment of sin, what was it necessary for Him to do? It was 
 necessary for Him to suffer and die. 
 
 49. Can God suffer and die? No, He cannot. 
 
 50.. Can human beings suffer and die? Yes, they can. 
 
 51. Therefore if Christ wanted to suffer and die for us, what must 
 
 He become? He must become a human being, a man. 
 
 52. Now tell me from our answer. No. 186, why was it necessary to 
 
 our salvation for Christ to be true God? True God He must 
 be, that He by such obedience could merit for us forgive- 
 ness of sin, life and salvation. 
 
 53. Repeat Ps. 49, 7-8. "None of them can by any means redeem 
 
 his brother, nor give to God a ransom for Him: (For the 
 redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for 
 ever:)" 
 
 54. No mere man could redeem Himself, much less whom? Much 
 
 less His brother. 
 
LESSON 54. 181 
 
 65. If Christ had been a mere man, He could only have fulfilled the 
 law for Himself. His sufferings and death would not have 
 been a sufficient ransom for all the sins of all mankind. But 
 Christ, our Savior, is not a mere man, He is God. How do 
 we know that He can fulfill the law for us? Because He is 
 God and can do all things. 
 
 50. Read Rom. 8, :!-4. "For what the law could not do, in that it was 
 weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the 
 likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the 
 flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled 
 in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." 
 
 57. How do we know that the sufferings and death of Christ are a 
 
 sufficient ransom for the sins of all mankind? Because He 
 is true God, 
 
 58. Children, let us hold fast this precious truth, that our Savior, 
 
 Jesus Christ, is both God and man. Being convinced of this 
 truth, which other truth follows? That both as God and man 
 He is our Savior. 
 
 II. OF THE OFFICE OF CHRIST 
 
 LESSON 54. CHRIST, OUR PROPHET. 
 
 (Question 187-189.) 
 
 1. Who is .lesus Christ? He is true God, begotten of the Father 
 
 from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, 
 my Lord. 
 
 2. By what two names is the Savior usually called? He is called 
 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 3. What does the name Jesus mean? Jesus means Savior. 
 
 4. What does the name Christ mean? Christ means The anointed 
 
 One. 
 
 5. For what purpose was Christ anointed with the Holy Ghost? He 
 was anointed with the Holy Ghost to be our Prophet, High Priest and 
 
 King. 
 
 6. So what do the names of the Savior tell us about Him? They 
 
 tell us what He is, or what He does. 
 
 7. (187) Yes. they tell us His work, or office. "What is the office 
 
 of Christ?" "Christ's office is that He, as the one Mediator be- 
 tween God and men, saves us from our sins." 
 
 8. What is Christ called in this answer? He is called a mediator. 
 
 9. A mediator is a peacemaker. When the Children of Israel wor- 
 
 shipped the golden calf at Mt. Sinai, God was angry with 
 them and threatened to destroy them. Who was it that 
 interceded and prayed for the people? Exodus 32, 7-14. 
 Moses prayed for the people. 
 
 10. Yes, Moses was the mediator between God and the people. 
 
 What kind of relation exists between two persons when 
 they need a mediator? There is enmity between them. 
 
 11. So there is enmity between God and men. What caused this 
 
 enmity? Sin caused this enmity. 
 
182 LESSON 54. 
 
 12. Yes, God hates sin, and because of his sinfulness, man hates 
 
 God. Now who steps in as mediatoi- to make peace between 
 God and men? Jesus Christ, our Savior. 
 
 13. How many such mediators between God and men are there? 
 
 There is only one such mediator. 
 
 14. Tell me this with a scripture passage that you learned under 
 
 question No. 181. 1 Tim. 2, 5-6. "There is one God, and 
 one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 
 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due 
 time." 
 
 15. Repeat also Acts 4, 12. "Neither is there salvation in any other; 
 
 for there is none other name under heaven given among 
 men, whereby we must be saved." 
 
 16. Tell me from our question No. 187, what does the Savior do as 
 
 the one mediator between God and men? He saves us from 
 our sin. 
 
 17. What do we call Him because He saves us? We call Him Savior. 
 
 18. Repeat Mat. 1, 21. "She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt 
 
 call His name JESUS, for He shall save His people from 
 their sins." 
 
 19. Read also what is written of Jesus, Heb. 12, 24. "And to Jesus, 
 
 the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of 
 sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel." 
 
 20. Also Heb. 8, 6. "Now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, 
 
 by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, 
 which was established upon better promises." 
 
 21. And also Heb. 9, 15. "For this cause He is the mediator of the 
 
 new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption 
 of the transgressions that were under the first testament, 
 they which are called might receive the promise of eternal 
 inheritance." 
 
 22. What is Christ called in all these passages? He is called a 
 
 mediator. 
 
 23. (188) "What three official names are applied to Him in Holy 
 
 Scripture to describe more fully this. His office and work?" 
 "He i§ called our Prophet, High Priest and King." 
 
 24. As Savior, Jesus stands in a threefold relation to us. What is 
 
 He first? He is our Prophet. 
 
 25. What is the second relation? He is our High Priest. 
 
 26. What is the third relation? He is our King. 
 
 27. Who was the greatest prophet of the Old Testament? iVIoses. 
 
 28. What does Moses say in Deut. 18, 15? "The Lord, thy God, 
 
 will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, or 
 thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken." 
 
 29. To whom does Moses here refer as the great Prophet who was 
 
 to come? He refers to Jesus Christ. 
 
 30. This is plainly told us in Acts 3, 22. "IVIoses truly said unto 
 
 the fathers, 'A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up 
 unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye 
 hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.'" 
 
 31. The same. Acts 7, 37. "This is that Moses, which said unto the 
 
 children of Israel, 'A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise 
 up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye 
 hear.' " 
 
LESSON 54. 183 
 
 32. Read also John 1, 45. "Philip findetii Nathanaei, and saith unto 
 
 Him, 'We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and 
 the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of 
 Joseph.' " 
 
 33. Also John 6. 14. "Then those men, when they had seen the 
 
 miracle, that Jesus did, said, 'This is of a truth, that Prophet, 
 that should come into the world.'" 
 
 34. Jesus, however, is not only our Prophet, but what else is He? 
 
 He is our High Priest. 
 
 35. Let us see some proofs from the Scriptures for this also. Re- 
 
 peat Heb. 4, 14. "Seeing then that we have a great high 
 priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of 
 God, let us hold fast our profession." 
 
 36. Read also the 15th verse of this chapter. "We have not a high 
 
 priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our 
 infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, 
 yet without sin." 
 
 37. Also Heb. 5, 5-6. "So also Christ glorified not Himself to be 
 
 made a high priest; but he that said unto Him, 'Thou art 
 my Son, to day have I begotten thee.' As He saith also in 
 another place, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order 
 of Melchisedec' " 
 
 38. Also Heb. 6. 20. "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even 
 
 Jesus, made a high priest for ever after the order of 
 Melchisedec." 
 
 39. Also Heb. 7, 17. "For He testifieth, 'Thou art a priest for ever 
 
 after the order of Melchisedec' " 
 
 40. In Ps. 110, 4, we have a very plain prophecy concerning the 
 
 Savior. Read it. "The Lord hath sworn, and will not re- 
 pent, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Mel- 
 chizedek.' " 
 
 41. What other office has Jesus besides being our Prophet and High 
 
 priest? He is also our King. 
 
 42. Let us see the proofs for this also. Repeat Jer. 23, 5. " 'Behold 
 
 the day come,' saith the Lord, 'that I will raise unto David 
 a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, 
 and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.'" 
 
 43. The whole second Psalm is a prophecy concerning the kingly 
 
 office. Read especially the 6th verse. "Yet have I set my 
 King upon my holy hill of Zion." 
 
 44. Read also Ps. 24, 7-10, and tell me what is the Savior here called? 
 
 He is called the King of Glory. 
 
 45. In John 18, 36-37, when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, what 
 
 did he confess Himself to be? He confessed Himself to be 
 a king. 
 
 46. What is written of the Savior, Luke 1, 33? "He shall reign over 
 
 the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall 
 be no end." 
 
 47. (189) "Why is He called our Prophet?" "Because He reveals to 
 
 us the will of His heavenly Father and teaches us the way 
 unto salvation." 
 
 48. What j§ a prophet? One who foretells things to come. 
 
184 LESSON 54. 
 
 49. The prophets in the Old Testament were men sent by God to 
 
 reveal to the people His will and to foretell His judgments. 
 They were really teachers. So when we say that Christ is 
 our Prophet, what do we mean by this name? We mean 
 that Christ is our teacher. 
 
 50. What does He reveal to us? He reveals to us the will of His 
 
 heavenly Father. 
 
 51. So we read of the Savior in Deut. 18, 18-19. "I will raise them 
 
 up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, 
 and will put my words in His mouth; and He shall speak 
 unto them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come 
 to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words 
 which He shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." 
 
 52. Repeat John 1. 18. "No man hath seen God at any time; the 
 
 only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, 
 He hath declared Him." 
 
 53. God is invisible, but God sent us some one who is with God, who 
 
 sees and knows Him to reveal to us all that we should know 
 concerning Him. Who is this? It is Jesus Christ. 
 
 54. Read Luke 10, 22. "All things are delivered to me of my Father; 
 
 and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and 
 who the Father is, but the Son, and He to whom the Son 
 will reveal Him." 
 
 55. Read also .John 6. 46. "Not that any man hath seen the Father, 
 
 save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father." 
 
 56. God the Father Himself declares that all men should hear Jesus 
 
 Christ. Read what God says Mat. 17, 5. "While He yet 
 spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them; and be- 
 hold a voice out of the cloud, which said, 'This is my be- 
 loved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.'" 
 
 57. Yes. Jesus is the great teacher. What does He teach us? He 
 
 teaches us the way of salvation. 
 
 58. What occupation did Jesus follow when He walked visibly upon 
 
 earth? He was a teacher, or preacher. 
 
 59. So we read Mat. 4, 23. "Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in 
 
 their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, 
 and healing ail manner of sickness and all manner of disease 
 among the people." 
 
 60. Read also Mark 1, 14-15. "Now after that John was put in prison, 
 
 Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the king- 
 dom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the king- 
 dom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.'" 
 
 61. How old was Jesus when He began His public ministry? He 
 
 was thirty years old. 
 
 62. How old was He when He died? He was thirty-three years old. 
 
 63. How long then did He teach personally on earth? Only three 
 
 years. 
 
 64. Yes, but the influence of this teaching will be felt to the end 
 
 of the world. Where have we a record of His teaching? 
 In the Bible. 
 
LESSOiNf 55. 
 
 185 
 
 G5 So the Savior is still our teacher. What provision did Jesus 
 make that this teaching might go on in His name, even 
 after He is no more visible on earth? He appointed men to 
 preacii in His name. 
 
 66. Who are these men? The ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 67. Read the command of the Lord Jesus, Mark 16, 15-16. "And He 
 
 said unto them, 'Go ye into ail the world, and preach the 
 gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized 
 shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.'" 
 
 68. Now let us see from the 20th verse of this chapter, how the 
 
 apostles carried out this command of the Savior. "They 
 went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with 
 them, and confirming the word with signs following." 
 
 69. Read also Luke 10, 16. "He that heareth you heareth me; and 
 
 he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth 
 me despiseth Him that sent me." 
 
 70. Let us thank God that Jesus is still our teacher; that from Him 
 
 we may learn the way of salvation. How should we regard 
 the teaching and preaching of faithful ministers of the Gos- 
 pel? As binding as that of the Savior Himself. 
 
 LESSON 55. CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST. 
 
 (Question 190.) 
 
 1. In our last lesson we learned about the office of Christ. 
 
 What is the office of Christ? He is the one mediator be- 
 tween God and men. 
 
 2. What does He do as our mediator? He saves us from our sins. 
 ?.. How manifold is the office of Christ? Christ's office is threefold. 
 
 4. Mention the three relations in which Christ is our mediator. 
 
 He is our Prophet, High Priest and King. 
 
 5. W^hat do we mean by saying that Christ is our Prophet? He is 
 
 our teacher. 
 
 6. What does He teach us? He teaches us the way of salvation. 
 
 7. But Christ is not only our Prophet; what other office does He 
 
 fill as mediator? He is also our High Priest. 
 
 8. (190) "Why is He called our high priest?" "Because He fulfilled 
 
 the law for us, and gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, 
 and now intercedes for us before His Father." 
 
 9. The high priest of the Old Testament was a representative per- 
 
 son. He stood before God in the name of all the people of 
 Israel. Who was the first high priest in Israel? Aaron was 
 the first high priest. 
 10. Aaron and all his successors were types and figures of Christ. 
 He is the true High Priest of all mankind. He is just the 
 kind of high priest we poor sinners need to represent us 
 before God, as we read Heb. 7. 26-27. "Such a high priest 
 became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from 
 sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Who needeth 
 not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first 
 for His own sins, and then for the people's, for this He did 
 once, when He offered up Himself." 
 
186 LESSON 55. 
 
 11. Tell me from question No. 190 in what respect Christ took ouf 
 
 places before God first of all. He fulfilled the law for us, 
 
 12. What kind of life did the Savior live? A sinless, perfect life. 
 
 13. Read Heb. 4, 15. "We have not a high priest which cannot be 
 
 touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all 
 points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." 
 
 14. Repeat Gal., 4, 4-5. "When the fulness of the time was come, God 
 
 sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 
 to redeem them that were under the law, that we might 
 receive the adoption of sons." 
 
 15. The apostle here says Christ was made, or put, under the law; 
 
 that is, He took our place under the law. He fulfilled every- 
 thing that the law required of us. So He Himself says. 
 Mat. 5, 17. "Think not that I come to destroy the law, or 
 the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." 
 
 16. So the Apostle Paul writes to the Romans, chapter 5, verse 19. 
 
 "As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so 
 by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." 
 
 17. Christ, as God, was not under, but above, the law. For Himself 
 
 He had no need to come into the world and render obedience 
 to commandments made for us. For whom, however, did 
 He do this? He did it for us, 
 
 18. Whose representative was He in His perfect obedience of God's 
 
 law? He was our representative, 
 
 19. Read Rom. 10, 4. "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness 
 
 to every one that believeth," 
 
 20. But what else does Christ do as our High Priest besides fulfilling 
 
 the law? He gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, 
 
 21. What was the principal work of the priests in the Old Testament? 
 
 They offered sacrifice, 
 
 22. What did they offer as sacrifice? They offered animals, such as 
 
 lambs, floves, kids and cattle, 
 
 23. When an Israelite had sinned, he brought an animal to the 
 
 priest to be killed and burned as a sacrifice. He offered, 
 as it were, another life for his own, which he had forfeited 
 by his sin. Read Heb. 9. 22. "Almost all things are by 
 the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood 
 is no remission," 
 
 24. But the sacrifice of animals was only a figure of the great sac- 
 
 rifice which Christ brought for the sins of the world. What 
 was this sacrifice? Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice for 
 our sins, 
 
 25. How did He do this? By suffering and dying for us, 
 
 26. In what words does Luther's explanation of the Second Article 
 
 of the Creed say this? Christ "has redeemed me, a lost and 
 condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, 
 for death and from the power of the devil, not with gold or 
 silver, but with His holy precious blood, and with His inno- 
 cent sufferings and death," 
 
LESSON 55. 187 
 
 27. Now let us see how plainly the Scriptures teach this precious 
 
 doctrine that Christ suffered and died for our sins. Repeat 
 Is. 53, 4-5. "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried 
 our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him, stricken, smitten of 
 God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgres- 
 sions. He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement 
 of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are 
 healed." 
 
 28. This is a prophecy concerning the Savior and foretells that the 
 
 Messiah should suffer. Whose griefs and sorrows should 
 He carry? He should bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. 
 
 29. Why should He be wounded? He should be wounded for our 
 
 transgressions; He should be bruised for our iniquities. 
 
 30. Read also Phil. 2, 8. "Being found In fashion as a man. He 
 
 humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the 
 death of the cross." 
 
 31. Christ came to redeem us from the curse of the law. What 
 
 was the curse of the law, which we had transgressed by 
 sin? The curse of the law is death. 
 
 32. Read Gal. 3, 13. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of 
 
 the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, 'Cursed 
 is every one that hangeth on a tree.' " 
 
 33. Now repeat 1 Pet. 2, 24. "Who His own self bare our sins in 
 
 His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, 
 should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were 
 healed." 
 
 34. Christ was hanged on a tree — on the cross. He died the painful, 
 
 shameful death of the cross; but did He die for His own 
 sins? No, He had no sins. 
 
 35. Then whose sins did He bear on the tree; for whose sins did 
 
 He die? He bore our sins; He died for us. 
 
 36. What did John the Baptist say of the Savior, when he pointed 
 
 Him out to his disciples? John 1, 29. "The next day John 
 seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, 'Behold the Lamb 
 of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.' " 
 
 37. What was the principal animal that was offered as sacrifice in 
 
 the Old Testament? It was a lamb. 
 
 38. What was the sacrifice that was offered at the passover feast? 
 
 The paschal lamb. 
 
 39. Whom did all these lambs represent? They represented Christ, 
 
 the true Lamb of God. 
 
 40. So the Savior was not only the true High Priest, but at the 
 
 same time the true sacrifice. And whose sins does He, as 
 the Lamb of God, take away? He takes away the sins of 
 the world. 
 
 41. We have now seen two things that Christ did as our High Priest. 
 
 What is the first? He fulfilled the law for us. 
 
 42. What is the second? He gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 
 
 43. This is what Christ, our High Priest, has done for us. But there 
 
 is something which He does for us now. What is it? He 
 now intercedes for us before His Father. 
 
 44. The priests of the Old Testament not only offered sacrifice for 
 
 the people, but what else did Ihey do? They prayed for 
 the people, 
 
188 LESSON 56. 
 
 45. The high priest of the Old Testament wore a shield on his breast 
 
 in which were set twelve precious stones, and on each 
 stone was engraven the name of one of the twelve tribes of 
 Israel. So our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, bears on His 
 heart the whole people of God and makes intercession for 
 them. Repeat 1 John .2, 1-2. "If any rnan sin, we have an 
 advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and 
 He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, 
 but also for the sins of the whole world." 
 
 46. What is Christ here called? He is called our advocate with the 
 
 Father. 
 
 47. An advocate is an attorney, one who represents another in court. 
 
 Who is our advocate; who pleads for us in the court of 
 heaven? Christ is our advocate. 
 
 48. Read Rom. 8. 34. "Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ 
 
 that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at 
 the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." 
 
 49. Read Heb. 7, 23-2.5. "They truly were many priests, because 
 
 they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But 
 this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable 
 priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the 
 uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth 
 to make intercession for them." 
 
 50. Christ is our only advocate, for all time. He Himself promised 
 
 this, as we read John 14, 16. "I will pray the Father, and 
 He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide 
 with you for ever." 
 
 51. In the 17th chapter of the Gospel of St. John, we have an ex- 
 
 ample of how Christ prays for His disciples. Read the 9th 
 verse of this precious high priestly prayer. "I pray for 
 them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou 
 hast given me; for they are thine." 
 
 52. It is comforting to know that the Savior then already thought of 
 
 us also, and prayed for us, as we see from the 20th verse. 
 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which 
 shall believe on me through their word." 
 
 53. Now Ave come before God in our prayers with all confidence, for 
 
 we have an advocate with whom God is well pleased, and 
 for wfiose sake God will hear our prayers, as the Savior 
 says, John 16, 23. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatso- 
 ever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give 
 it you." 
 
 LESSON 56. CHRIST, OUR KING. 
 (Queston 191.) 
 
 1. Christ has a threefold office as our mediator. Can you name this 
 
 threefold office of Christ? He is our prophet, high priest and 
 king. 
 
 2. What does Christ do as our prophet? He teaches us the way of 
 
 salvation. 
 ? What did He do as our high priest? He fulfilled the law for us, 
 
 and offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 
 ^. What does He still do as our hJgh priest? He prays to God, or 
 
 makes intercession, for us. 
 
LESSON 56. 189 
 
 5. What else is Christ, besides our prophet and high priest? He is 
 
 also our king. 
 
 6. (191) "Why is He called our king?" "Because He rules over all 
 
 creatures, protects and governs His Church, and forever 
 lives and triumphs with His saints in heaven." 
 
 7. Look at this answer carefully and tell me how many parts has it? 
 
 It has three parts. 
 
 8. What is the first thing that Christ does as our king? He rules 
 
 over all creatures. 
 
 9. What is the business of a king? A king's business is to rule. 
 
 10. Repeat .John 18, 37. "Pilate therefore said unto Him, 'Art thou a 
 
 king then?'. Jesus answered, 'Thou sayest that I am a kmg 
 To this end was I born, and for this cause came 1 into the 
 world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one 
 that is of the truth heareth my voice' ". 
 
 11. What does the Savior here confess Himself to be? He confesses 
 
 Himself to be a king. 
 
 12. Over what does Christ rule as king? Over all creatures. 
 
 13. Repeat 1 Cor. 15, 27. "He hath put all things under His feet." 
 
 14. The Savior Himself says that He has all power. Repeat Mat. 
 
 28, 18. "Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 'All power 
 is given unto me in heaven and in earth'". 
 
 15 How did Jesus on one occasion show His power even over the 
 winds and waves of the seas? Mat. 8, 23, 27. When He 
 was on the sea with His disciples, and by a mere word 
 quieted the storm. 
 
 16. What did the people say of Him on this occasion? Mat. 8, 27. 
 
 "The men marvelled, saying, 'What manner of man is this, 
 that even the winds and the sea obey Him!'" 
 
 17. Read also Mat. 14, 25. "In the fourth watch of the night Jesus 
 
 went unto them walking on the sea." 
 
 18 So Jesus ruled the stormy water that it carried Him instead of 
 
 swallowing Him up. Jesus rules not only over all visible 
 creatures, but even the devils are subject to Him. Read 
 Mark 1, 23-25. "There was in their synagogue a man with an 
 unclean spirit; and He cried out, saying, 'Let us alone, what 
 have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou 
 come to destroy me? I know thee, who thou art, the Holy 
 One of God.' And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Hold thy 
 peace, and come out of him.' " 
 
 19 Read also Ps. 110, 1-2. "The Lord said unto my Lord, 'Sit thou 
 
 at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 
 The Lord shall send the rod thy strength out of Zion: rule 
 thou in the midst of thine enemies.'" 
 
 20. Over whom is the Messiah here told to rule? He is told to rule 
 
 even in the midst of His enemies. 
 
 21. Read also what is written of Him Ps. 8, 6-8. "Thou madest Him 
 
 to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast 
 put all things under His feet: .All sheep and oxen, yea, and 
 the beasts of the fie'd." 
 
190 LESSON 56. 
 
 22. Now read Dan. 7, 13-14. "I saw in the night visions, and behold, 
 
 one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, 
 and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him 
 near before him, and there was given him dominion, and 
 glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, 
 should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, 
 which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which 
 shall not be destroyed. 
 
 23. What a comfort this is to know that Jesus, our brother and 
 
 Savior, rules heaven and earth. What would we say of a 
 king, who exercises such power? We would say He is a 
 powerful king. 
 
 24. And because in this kingdom Jesus rules with such power, we 
 
 call it the kingdom of power. Over what does Jesus rule in 
 His kingdom of power? He rules over all creatures. 
 
 25. Read what the apostle says of the Savior, Phil. 2, 9-10. "Where- 
 
 fore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a 
 name which is above every name: That at the name of 
 Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and 
 things in earth, and things under the earth." 
 
 26. So we see that the lirst part of our answer to question 191 refers 
 
 to what kingdom of Christ? It refers to the kingdom of 
 power. 
 
 27. Now tell me from our answer: what is the second thing that 
 
 Christ does as our king? "He protects and governs His 
 Church." 
 
 28. In His kingdom of power Christ rules with His almighty power. 
 
 All things must obey Him. God rules and governs the world 
 through Christ. He, however, not only rules and governs 
 the whole world in general, but over what does He exercise 
 a special rule? Over the Church. 
 
 29. And in this spiritual kingdom He does not mie by His almighty 
 
 power. No one is compelled to obey Him. Before Pilate, 
 Jesus confessed what was the object of His coming into the 
 world. Tell me from the passage you repeated a moment 
 ago, why did Jesus come into the world? (John 18, 37). 
 That He should bear witness unto the truth. 
 
 30. And what does Jesus say of those who are of the truth? "Every- 
 
 one that is of the truth heareth my voice." 
 
 31. Not all men obey His voice when they hear it in the preaching 
 
 of the Gospel. But what do we call those who do? We call 
 them Christians. 
 
 32. And what do we call the whole company of believers? We call it 
 
 the Church. 
 
 33. Now the Church is called the daughter of Zion. Read Mat. 21, 5. 
 
 "Tell ye the daughter of Zion. 'Behold, thy King cometh unto 
 thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an 
 ass.' " 
 
 34. Jesus came as the fulfillment of the prophecy, which we find in 
 
 Jer. 23, 5-6. Read it. "Behold, the days come", saith the 
 Lord, "that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a 
 King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment 
 and justice in the earth. .In His days Judah shall be saved, 
 and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby 
 He shall be called, 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.'" 
 
LESSON 56. 191 
 
 35. Jesus, as our spiritual king, has not an outward, visible kingdom, 
 but what does the Savior say, John 18, 36. "My kingdom is 
 not of this world; if my l<ingdom were of tPiis world, then 
 would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to 
 the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." 
 
 56. In this liingdom, Jesus rules not by power, but by grace. Men 
 obey Him, not because they must, but why? Because they 
 take pleasure in it. 
 
 37. Read 2 Cor. 10, 4-5. "For the weapons of our warfare are not 
 
 carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong 
 holds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that 
 exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing 
 into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 
 
 38. We have seen that the Savior suffered and died for us. Through 
 
 Him we have the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal 
 life. How should we show our thankfulness to Him for His 
 grace? We should serve and obey Him. 
 
 39. In Luther's explanation of the second article of the creed, what 
 
 does He say as to the Savior's purpose in redeeming, 
 purchasing and winning us with his holy precious blood and 
 His innocent sufferings and death? "In order that I may be 
 His own and live under Him and His kingdom and serve 
 Him." 
 
 40. What is the kingdom of Christ here refered to? The Church. 
 
 41. Because Jesus rules over all creatures by His power, this first 
 
 kingdom is called the kingdom of power. Now because in 
 this second kingdom He rules by His grace, what is it called? 
 It is called the kingdom of grace. 
 
 42. Yes, the Church of Christ is His kingdom of grace. What does 
 
 Christ do with the Church according to our answer. (No. 
 191). He protects and governs it. 
 
 43. Against whom does Christ protect His Church? Against the 
 
 devil and wicked men. 
 
 44. The devil and wicked men have from the very beginning tried to 
 
 destroy the Church. But why did they not succeed? Be- 
 cause Christ protects it. 
 
 45. What glorious promise did Christ give His Church, Mat. 16, 18. 
 
 "I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter and upon this 
 rock 1 will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not 
 prevail against it." 
 
 46. Christ, however, not only protects the Church, but what else does 
 
 He do? He also governs it. 
 
 47. Who is the head and ruler of the Church? Jesus Christ. 
 
 48. His word is our highest law. What does the Savior say, Mat. 
 
 23, 8? "One is your master, even Christ; and all ye are 
 brethren." 
 
 49. Now we have spoken of a twofold kingdom of Christ; His king- 
 
 dom of power and His kingdom of grace. There is still an- 
 other sense in which Christ is our king. According to our 
 answer No. 191, what is the last thing Christ does as our 
 king? "He forever lives and triumphs with the saints in 
 heaven." 
 
 50. Read Luke 1, 33, and see what is there said of the Savior. "He 
 
 shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His 
 kingdom there shall be no end." 
 
192 LESSON 57. 
 
 51. All other kings rule only for a time. Saul ruled for a time and 
 
 was succeeded by David. David ruled for a time and was 
 succeeded by Solomon. But what is said of the Savior's 
 kingdom? Of His kingdom there shall be no end. 
 
 52. So His kingdom cannot be limited to this life. He is king not 
 
 only in this world, but where? Also in the world to come, in 
 eternity. 
 
 53. Who shall be in this kingdom of Christ in the world to come? 
 
 The saints in heaven. 
 
 54. Yes, and by the saints we mean those who have lived and died 
 
 in the faith of Jesus. This is the kingdom which St. Paul 
 had in mind when he wrote what we read 2 Tim. 4, 18. 
 "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will 
 preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom." 
 
 55. From what does the apostle hope to be delivered? From every 
 
 evil work. 
 5G. From sin and all its dreadful consequences. This will be a glor- 
 ious kingdom, where we shall see the Savior in all His glory 
 and enjoy the blessedness which He has in store for us. As 
 we read Mat. 25, 34: "Then shall the king say unto them 
 on His right hand, 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit 
 the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the 
 world.' " 
 
 57. Because of the glory which shall be revealed in this heavenly 
 
 kingdom, what is it called? It is called the kingdom of 
 glory. 
 
 58. Christ shall triumph with His saints over all His enemies. All 
 
 strife and contention shall be at an end. There will be ever- 
 lasting peace and unspeakable joy. This kingdom of Christ 
 is also sometimes called the Church Triumphant. Can any- 
 one tell me from question No. 191, why it is so called? Be- 
 cause in it Christ shall triumph with His saints. 
 
 59. Over what shall He triumph and we with Him? Over the devil 
 
 and all evil. 
 
 60. Yes, we shall with the Savior in heaven celebrate an eternal 
 
 victory over sin, death and the devil. Now name the three- 
 fold kingdom of the Savior. The kingdom of power, the 
 kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory. 
 
 THE TWO STATES OF CHRIST 
 
 THE STATE OF HUMILIATION 
 LESSON 57. WHEREIN IT CONSISTS. 
 
 (Question 192-194.) 
 
 1. Name the threefold office of Christ. Christ is our Prophet, High 
 
 Priest and King. 
 
 2. What does Christ do as our Prophet? He teaches us the way 
 
 of salvation. 
 
 3. What did He do for us as our High Priest? He fulfilled the 
 
 law for us, and gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 
 
 4. What does He still do for us as our High Priest? He intercede! 
 
 for us before God. 
 
LESSON 57. 193 
 
 5. How many kingdoms has Christ? Christ has three kingdoms. 
 
 6. What are these three kingdoms of Christ? The kingdom of 
 
 power, the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory. 
 
 7. Over what does Christ rule in tlie kingdom of power? He rules 
 
 over all creatures. 
 
 8. What is Christ's kingdom of grace? The Church on earth. 
 
 9. What is the kingdom of glory? The Church in heaven, 
 
 10. (192) "Did Christ always exercise His office in the same way?" 
 
 "No, for He did this in two different states, namely, in the 
 state of humiliation and in the state of exaltation." 
 
 11. The word state here means condition. Christ was not always 
 
 in the same condition as mediator. In how many states, or 
 conditions, do the scriptures speak of the Savior? They 
 speak of two states. 
 
 12. What is the first called? It is called the state of humiliation. 
 
 13. And what is the second called? It is called the state of exaltation. 
 
 14. What did Christ do in the first state? The name indicates it. 
 
 Christ humbled Himself. 
 
 15. (193) "What is the state of humiliation?" "This, that Christ ac- 
 
 cording to His human nature ordinarily did not use His 
 divine glory in the days of His flesh, but in the form of a 
 servant became obedient to His Father unto death." 
 
 16. Of which nature of Christ can it be said that it submitted to 
 
 humiliation? Of his human nature. 
 
 17. Yes, because Christ as God cannot be humbled. Why not? Be- 
 
 cause God is unchangeable. 
 
 18. But Christ is not only God, but what else is He? He is also man. 
 
 19. And because the same divine person is God and man, not only 
 
 the divine, but also the human nature of Christ, possesses 
 divine attributes. The man Christ .Tesus is almighty, om- 
 nipresent, omniscient, etc. Our brother, Jesus Christ, pos- 
 sesses divine glory. But what does our answer 193 say of 
 this His divine glory? "Christ, according to His human 
 nature, ordinarily did not use His divine glory." 
 
 20. When was this? In the days of His flesh. 
 
 21. Yes, while He walked visibly among men. During this time 
 
 Christ did not always use His omnipotence, omniscience and 
 other divine attributes. He did use these attributes some- 
 times. For instance, when did He use His omnipotence? 
 When He healed the sick and raised the dead and performed 
 other miracles. 
 
 22. Read .John 1, 14. "The word was made flesh, and dwelt among 
 
 us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only be- 
 gotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." 
 
 23. Also John 2. 11. "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana 
 
 of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples 
 believed on Him." 
 
 24. On one occasion even the outward appearance of Jesus reflected 
 
 this divine glory. Read Mat. 17, 1-2. "After six days Jesus 
 taketh Peter, James, and John, his brother, and bringeth 
 them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured 
 before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His 
 raiment was white as the light." 
 13 
 
l94 LEsso^r ^7. 
 
 25. But these were exceptions. Ordinarily Jesus did not stiow HiS 
 
 divine majesty and glory, but, according to our answer 
 No. 193, he went about in what form? In the form of a ser- 
 vant. 
 
 26. And what did He do? He became obedient to His Father unto 
 
 death. 
 
 27. Repeat Phil. 2, 5-8. "Let this mind be in you, which was also 
 
 in Christ Jesus: who. being in the form of God, thought it 
 not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no 
 reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and 
 was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion 
 as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto 
 death, even the death of the cross." 
 
 28. Christ was equal with God, but ordinarily He made no display 
 
 of His divine majesty and glory. In what form did He 
 choose to appear on, earth? In the form of a servant. 
 
 29. When He came to earth, he became like what beings? He was 
 
 made in the likeness of men. 
 
 30. Yes, He was just like an ordinary man, but with what important 
 
 exception? He was not a sinner. 
 
 31. This humility of Christ was not something that was forced 
 
 upon Him, but what does the apostle say of Him in this 
 regard? He humbled Himself. 
 
 32. What did He voluntarily do, according to the last clause of this 
 
 passage? He became obedient unto death, even the death 
 of the cross. 
 
 33. Read also Heb. 12, 2. "Looking unto Jesus the author and 
 
 finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before 
 Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set 
 down at the right hand of the throne of God." 
 
 34. Read John 10, 17-18. "Therefore doth my Father love me, be- 
 
 cause I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No 
 man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have 
 power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. 
 This commandment have I received of my Father." 
 
 35. Also Luke 2, 51-52. "He went down with them, and came to 
 
 Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept 
 all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wis- 
 dom and stature, and in favor with God and man." 
 
 36. Jesus voluntarily became not only obedient for our sakes, but 
 
 poor, as we see from Mat. 8, 20. "Jesus said unto him, 
 'The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; 
 but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.'" 
 
 37. Read also 2 Cor. 8, 9. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus 
 
 Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He 
 became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" 
 
 38. What words of the second article treat of the state of humilia- 
 
 tion? "Conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin 
 Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead 
 and buried." 
 
 39. With what two events then did the humiliation of Christ begin? 
 
 With His conception and birth. 
 
 40. With what did it end? With His death and burial. 
 
 41. By whom was Christ conceived? He was conceived by the Holy 
 
 Ghost. 
 
LESSON 58. 195 
 
 42. Joseph was not His real father, but because he cared for Him 
 
 during the helplessness of infancy and childhood, what do 
 we call Joseph? We call Joseph the foster-father of Christ. 
 
 43. That the Holy Ghost is the father of the human nature of Jesus 
 
 Christ is plain from Luke 1, 35. "The angel answered and 
 said unto her, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and 
 the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore 
 also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be 
 called the Son of God." 
 
 44. Of whom was Jesus born? He was born of the Virgin Mary. 
 
 45. Where was He born? He was born in Bethlehem. 
 
 46. How long ago is it since Christ was born? 1915 years ago. 
 
 47. What day do we celebrate in memory of the birth of Christ? 
 
 We celebrate Christmas day. 
 
 48. On what day does Christmas come? Christmas comes on the 
 
 25th day of December. 
 
 49. From what event do we reckon our years, when we say: this is 
 
 the year 1915? We reckon our years from the birth of 
 Christ. 
 
 50. Yes, this is the greatest event in all history, and therefore from 
 
 it we count back to the beginning of the world and for- 
 ward to the endi of the world. What does the creed say 
 further of Jesus? He suffered under Pontius Pilate. 
 
 51. Who was Pontius Pilate? He was the Roman governor at Jeru- 
 
 salem. 
 
 52. What did Christ suffer even before He suffered under Pontius 
 
 Pilate? He suffered poverty, hunger, thirst and insult from 
 His enemies. 
 
 53. What did He suffer under Pontius Pilate? They took Him pris- 
 
 oner, bound Him, scourged Him, struck Him, crowned Him 
 with thorns and spit upon Him — all by authority or per- 
 mission of Pontius Pilate. 
 
 54. How did His sufferings end? His sufferings ended in death. 
 
 55. How was He put to death? He was crucified. 
 
 56. What kind of death was crucifixion? It was a painful and 
 
 shameful death. 
 
 57. What day do we celebrate in memory of the death of Jesus? 
 
 We celebrate Good Friday. 
 
 58. What was done with the body of Jesus after His death? It 
 
 was buried. 
 
 59. Where was it buried? Mat. 27, 57-60. In a cave in the garden 
 
 of Joseph of Arimathea. 
 
 LESSON 58. THE OBJECT OF CHRIST'S HUMILIATION. 
 
 (Question 195-198.) 
 
 1. In lio\v many states, or conditions, did Christ exercise His offlce 
 
 as mediator? In two states, the state of humiliation and 
 the state of exaltation. 
 
 2. What is the first state of Christ? The state of humiliation. 
 
 3. What did Christ do in order to redeem us? He humbled Himself. 
 
196 LESSON 58. 
 
 4. Which words of the second article describe this state of hu- 
 
 miliation? "Conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the 
 Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, dead 
 and buried." 
 
 5. Was the Savior forced into this humiliation? No, He submitted 
 
 to it willingly. 
 
 6. (195) "To what end did Christ humble Himself?" "That He 
 
 might redeem us from all sins, from death, and from the 
 power of the devil." 
 
 7. Christ did not humble Himself for His own sake, but for whose 
 
 sake? For our sake. 
 
 8. Why did He do it for us? That He might redeem us. 
 
 9. To redeem means to set free. From what did Christ redeem 
 
 us? He redeemed us from all sins, from death and from 
 the power of the devil. 
 
 10. Repeat 2 Cor. 8, 9. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus 
 
 Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He be- 
 came poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 
 
 11. What was His object in becoming poor? He became poor for 
 
 our sakes, that through His poverty we might be rich. 
 
 12. Read Is. 53, 12. "Therefore will I divide Him a portion with 
 
 the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; 
 because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He 
 was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the 
 sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." 
 
 13. Repeat 2 Cor. 5, 21. "He hath made Him to be sin for us, who 
 
 knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of 
 God in Him." 
 
 14. Jesus was without sin, and yet He suffered as though He were 
 
 the greatest sinner. Why was this? That we might be 
 made the righteousness of God in Him. 
 
 15. He suffered and died to pay the penalty for our sins, as we read 
 
 Is. 53, 6, in the last clause. "The Lord hath laid on Him the 
 iniquity of us all." 
 
 16. The sanie is said of the Messiah in the 4th and 5th verses of 
 
 this chapter. "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried 
 our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of 
 God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our trans- 
 gressions. He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastise- 
 ment of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes 
 we are healed." 
 
 17. Christ redeemed us not only from sin, but from what else? 
 
 He also redeemed us from death. 
 
 18. What is the wages, or result, of sin? Rom. 6, 23. "The wages 
 
 of sin is death." 
 
 19. What did God say to our first parents in Paradise with reference 
 
 to the forbidden fruit? Gen. 2, 17. "Of the tree of the 
 knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for 
 in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 
 
 20. Christ died for us. He bore the penalty of our sin, wliich is 
 
 the curse of temporal and eternal death. Repeat Gal. 3, 13. 
 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being 
 made a curse for us: for it is written, 'Cursed is every one 
 that hangeth on a tree.' " 
 
LESSON 58. 197 
 
 21. Also 2 Cor. '>, 14. "We thus judge, that if one died for all then 
 
 were all dead." 
 
 22. Christ not only redeemed us from sin and deatli, but from what 
 
 else? From the power of the devil. 
 
 2'o. How did man come under the power of the devil? Through sin. 
 
 24. Yes, when man sinned He became the slave of Satan, and from 
 
 this slavery Christ has redeemed us. So we read Heb. 2. 
 14-1.5. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of 
 flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the 
 same; that through death He might destroy him that had 
 the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, 
 who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to 
 bondage." 
 
 25. Read also what is prophesied Hosea l:!, 14. "I will ransom them 
 
 from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from 
 death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be 
 thy destruction." 
 
 26. (196) "Whom did Christ redeem?" "All lost and condemned 
 
 men, hence also me." 
 
 27. What are men called in this answer? They are called lost and 
 
 condemned. 
 
 28. When men sinned, from whom did they stray away? They 
 
 strayed from God. 
 
 29. When a sheep strays from its shepherd, what becomes of it? 
 
 It is lost and perishes. 
 
 ;'.(). Men are here not only called lost, but what else is said of them? 
 They are condemned. 
 
 :!1. When is a criminal condemned? When he is found guilty. 
 
 :!2. And what condemnation does the guilt of sin bring? It brings 
 
 death. 
 3:;. So what is the sad condition of all men? They are lost and 
 
 condemned. 
 :')4. And whom also do you class among such lost and condemned 
 
 men? I class myself also among them. 
 
 ;!.5. Now what did Christ do with these lost and condemned men? 
 
 He redeemed them. 
 ;;6. How many of them did He redeem? He redeemed all; every 
 
 one of them. 
 ;17. So we read Mat. 18. 11. Repeat it. "The son of man is come 
 
 to save that which is lost." 
 
 38. Again John 1, 29. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away 
 the sins of the world." 
 
 ;59. Christ died for and redeemed not a chosen few, but all men. 
 Read 1 .John 2, 1-2. "My little children, these things write 
 I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have 
 an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 
 And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours 
 only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 
 
 4(1. From 1 Tim. 2, 5-6, we learn that Christ died for all. Read the 
 passage. "There is one God, and one mediator between 
 God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a 
 ransom for all. to be testified in due time." 
 
198 LESSON 58. 
 
 41. And from 2 Peter, 2, 1 we learn that He died even for those 
 
 who will be lost on account of their persistent unbelief. 
 Repeat this passage. "They deny the Lord that bought 
 them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 
 
 42. (197) "Wherewith did He redeem, purchase^ and win you?" "Not 
 
 with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and 
 with His innocent suffering and death." 
 
 43. Gold and silver are what kind of metals? They are precious 
 
 metals. 
 
 44. What are they used for in trade? They are used for money. 
 
 45. When in the olden time a slave was to be set free, or redeemed, 
 
 how was this done? They paid money for him. 
 
 46. Now the purchase money which Christ paid for us was not gold 
 
 or silver, but what was it? His holy precious blood, and His 
 innocent sufferings and death. 
 
 47. How did Christ purchase, or redeem, us with His blood? He 
 
 shed His blood for us. 
 
 48. Why is His blood here called holy? Because He was without sin. 
 
 49. Repeat 1 Peter 1, 18-19. "Ye know that ye were not redeemed 
 
 with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain 
 conversation, received by tradition from your fathers; but 
 with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without 
 blemish and without spot." 
 
 50. The blood of Jesus is precious because He is not only a sinless 
 
 man, but He is God Himself. Read Acts 20, 28. "Take heed 
 therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the 
 which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed 
 the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own 
 blood." 
 151. Here it is said God hath purchased us with His own blood. 
 The same we read in 1 John 1, 7, in the second half of the 
 verse. "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleznseth us 
 from all sin." 
 
 52. Read also Rev. 5, 9. "They sung a new song, saying, 'Thou art 
 
 worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for 
 thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood 
 out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.'" 
 
 53. (198) "To what end did He redeem, purchase and win you?" 
 
 "That I may be His own, and live under Him in His king- 
 dom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence 
 and blessedness." 
 
 54. Since now Christ has redeemed, purchased and won you, to 
 
 whom do you belong? I belong to Him. 
 
 55. By what right may Christ claim you as His own? Because He 
 
 bought me at the price of His own blood. 
 
 56. But what does our answer 198 say besides saying that you are 
 
 Christ's own? I should live under Him in His kingdom and 
 serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and 
 blessedness. 
 
 57. Under whom should you live? I should live under Christ. 
 
 58. Yes, He is our Master and only Lord. We should live under 
 
 Him in His kingdom. What is the kingdom of Christ? 
 The Church is the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 59. And who is the head and master of Ihe Church? Jesus Christ, 
 
LKssuN 59. 199 
 
 60. We should not only live under Him, but what else does the 
 question referred to say? We should serve Him. 
 
 Gl. What does it mean to serve Him? it means to obey His word, 
 to do His will. 
 
 G2. And how shall we serve Him? In everlasting righteousness, in- 
 nocence and blessedness. 
 
 63. Repeat 2 Cor. 5, 15. "Christ therefore died for all, that they 
 
 which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but 
 unto Him which died for them, and rose again." 
 
 64. Read also Luke 1, 74-75. "That He would grant us that we, be- 
 
 ing delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve 
 Him without fear. In holiness and righteousness before 
 Him, all the days of our life." 
 
 65. We are to serve the Lord in everlasting innocence and blessed- 
 
 ness; that is, not only here in this world, but where? In 
 the world to come; in Heaven. 
 
 66. We are to serve Him in blessedness. How only can we be 
 
 truly blessed, or happy? In His service. 
 
 THE STATE OF EXALTATION 
 
 LESSON 59. THE DESCENT INTO HELL. 
 
 (Question 199-201.) 
 
 We have seen that Christ exercises His office as our mediator 
 in two different states. What are they called? The state 
 of humiliation and the state of exaltation. 
 
 Which state were we considering in our last lesson? The state 
 of humiliation. 
 
 (193) "According to which nature did Christ humble Himself?" 
 "Christ humbled himself according to His human nature." 
 
 According to His human nature Christ had been given divine 
 power, majesty and glory; but generally He did not make 
 use of these; on the contrary, how did He generally appear 
 among men? He appeared meek and lowly. 
 
 But on what occasion did He show His divine power and glory? 
 When He performed miracles, and at His transfiguration. 
 
 These were, so to speak, exceptions to the rule. As a rule He 
 went about, not as a mighty Lord, but how? As a servant, 
 poor and despised. 
 
 Of the things mentioned in the second article, which belong to 
 the state of humiliation? "Conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
 born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
 crucified, dead and buried." 
 
 And all the other items belong to which state? They belong to 
 the state of exaltation. 
 
 (199) "What is the state of exaltation?" "This, that Christ also 
 according to His human nature unceasingly exercises His 
 
 divine majesty." 
 
200 LRSSON 59. 
 
 10. We have seen that Christ humbled Himself according to His 
 
 human nature. Now tell me from this answer to question 
 No. 199, according to which nature was He exalted? He was 
 also exalted according to His human nature. 
 
 11. So that both His humiliation and His exaltation must be said 
 
 of which nature? They must both be said of His human 
 nature. 
 
 12. Yes, because Christ, as God, is unchangeable. The divine nature 
 
 of Christ can be neither made lower nor higher than it was 
 from all eternity. But even the human nature of the Savior 
 was in possession of what kind of majesty? It was in posses- 
 sion of divine majesty. 
 
 13. During the state of humiliation Christ did not fully and con- 
 
 stantly make use of this divine majesty, but now since 
 Christ is exalted, what does He do? He unceasingly exer- 
 cises His divine majesty. 
 
 14. Repeat Phil. 2, 9-11. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted 
 
 Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: 
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things 
 in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 
 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is 
 Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 
 
 15. Christ was not humbled, but humbled Himself; what, however, 
 
 does the apostle here say of His exaltation. God hath 
 highly exalted Him. 
 
 16. What kind of name did God give Him? A name that is above 
 
 every name. 
 
 17. What shall be done at this name? At the name of Jesus every 
 
 knee shall bow of things in heaven, and things in earth 
 and things under the earth. 
 
 18. And what shall every tongue confess? Every tongue shall con- 
 
 fess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the 
 Father. 
 
 19. Read also Luke 24, 26. "Ought not Christ to have suffered 
 
 these things, and to enter into His glory?" 
 
 20. Read alsaHeb. 2, 9. "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower 
 
 than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with 
 glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should 
 taste death for every man." 
 
 21. (200) "What words of the article treat of the state of exalta- 
 
 tion?" "He descended into hell; the third day rose again 
 from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the 
 right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He 
 shall come to judge the quick and the dead." 
 
 22. What then was the first step in His exaltation? He descended 
 
 into hell. 
 
 23. To which state of Christ does His descent into hell l)elong? 
 
 To the state of exaltation. 
 
 24. (201) "Why did He descend into Hell?" "That He might show 
 
 Himself to the spirits in hell as their conqueror and mightily 
 triumph over them." 
 
 25. Who are the inhabitants of hell? The devil, his angels and 
 
 wicked men. 
 
 26. To whom did Christ show Himself in hell? He showed Him- 
 
 self to the spirits in hell. 
 
MvSSON 59. 
 
 201 
 
 27. What object had Christ in showing Himself to the spirits in hell? 
 
 He showed Himself as their conqueror, and mightily tri- 
 umphed over them. 
 
 28. How did the devil hold power over men? Through sin. 
 
 29. And this power was so great that men could never have de- 
 
 livered themselves from it. Who was it that delivered us 
 from the power of the devil? The Savior delivered us 
 from Satan's power. 
 
 :^0. How did He do this? How did He redeem us from sin, from 
 death and from the power of the devil? "Not with gold 
 or silver, but with His holy precious blood, and His innocent 
 sufferings and death." 
 
 :U. Read 1 John '.), 8, the second sentence. "For this purpose the 
 Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the 
 works of the devil." 
 
 32. It was a mighty struggle between Christ and Satan. But what 
 
 did Jesus say on the cross just before He died? John 19, 30. 
 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar. He said, 
 'It is finished:' and He bowed His head, and gave up the 
 Ghost." 
 
 33. What was finished when Jesus died? His work was finished. 
 
 34. What was the work that He had come into the world to do? 
 
 He had come into the world to redeem us; to save us. 
 
 35. Yes, and this work He finished. Over whom did He win the 
 
 victory when He finished this work of redemption? He 
 won the victory over Satan. 
 
 36. When the Germans had been victorious over the French in the 
 
 Franco-German war, they marched into Paris. What is the 
 city of Paris? It is the capital of France. 
 
 37. How did the Germans celebrate their victory over the French? 
 
 By marching into their capital. 
 
 38. Yes, this was a triumphant march. So Jesus held a triumphant 
 
 entry into the devil's capital, hell. What did He prove and 
 celebrate by His descent into hell? He proved and cele- 
 brated His victory over the devil. 
 
 39. Now repeat 1 Peter 3, 18-19. "Christ also hath once suffered for 
 
 sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to 
 God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the 
 Spirit: by which also He went and preached unto the spirits 
 in prison." 
 
 40. Who are the spirits in prison here referred to? The devil, his 
 
 angels and wicked men. 
 
 41. What did Christ do unto the spirits in prison? He preached 
 
 to them. 
 
 42. He did not preach the Gospel to them. Hell knows no glad 
 
 tidings. But as their conqueror, what did He preach, or 
 declare to them? He declared His victory over them. 
 
 43. Satan is a conquered enemy; and how does Satan know that he 
 
 is conquered? Christ showed Himself in hell as his con- 
 queror. 
 
 44. What is said of the Savior Col. 2, 15? "Having spoiled princi- 
 
 palities and powers. He made a show of them openly, tri- 
 umphing over them in it." 
 
202 LESSON 60. 
 
 45. Christ's descent into hell does not refer to His burial, for that 
 
 is mentioned before in the creed. Neither does it mean 
 the place of departed human spirits, as though Christ had 
 gone to preach the Gospel to those who hcid died, thus giv- 
 ing them another opportunity for repentance. After death 
 there is no opportunity given for repelitance, as we read 
 Heb. 9, 27. "It is appointed unto men once to die and 
 after this the judgment." 
 
 46. Neither did Christ descend into hell to suffer the torments of 
 
 the damned. For all His sufferings were ended when, on 
 the cross, He said, "It is finished." But His descent into 
 hell had a different object. Tell me again: why did He de- 
 scend into hell (201). "That He might show Himself to the 
 spirits in hell as their conqueror and mightily triumph 
 over them." 
 
 47. Because Christ, by His descent into hell, began to show and 
 
 exercise His divine majesty, to which state of Christ does 
 it belong? It belongs to the state of exaltation. 
 
 48. Yes, it is the first step in this state of exaltation. He made 
 
 known and celebrated His victory in hell. The devil suc- 
 ceeded in having Jesus put to death and thought He had 
 conquered and forever overthrown the Savior. He now 
 thought that He would forever hold undisputed sway over 
 men. But how was all this changed? When Jesus showed 
 Himself in hell as his conqueror. 
 
 49. Yes, the very death of Jesus, which Satan gloried in, proved his 
 
 undoing; for by the death of Jesus all men were redeemed, 
 sin was atoned for and the devil's power was overthrown. 
 The death of Jesus was his victory, as was prophesied Hos. 
 13, 14. "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I 
 will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plague; 
 O grave, I will be thy destruction." 
 
 50. And how did Jesus celebrate His victory over Satan? By His 
 
 descent into hell. 
 
 LESSON NO. 60. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. 
 
 (Question No. 202). 
 
 1. In what two states did Christ exercise His office of mediator? 
 
 In the state of humiliation and in the state of exaltation. 
 
 2. What things mentioned in the second article belong to the state 
 
 of humiliation? "Conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the 
 Virgin Mary, was crucified, dead and buried." 
 
 3. What things belong to His state of exaltation? "He descended 
 
 into hell, the third day rose again from the dead, ascended 
 into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father 
 Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the quick and 
 the dead." 
 
 4. What was the last step in His humiliation? His death and burial. 
 
 6, Which ,was the first step in His exaltation? He descended into 
 hell. 
 
 6, To whom did Christ show Himself in bell? To Satan and the 
 spirits in pri§on, 
 
LESSON 60. 203 
 
 7. As what did He show Himself to the devil and his angels? He 
 
 showed Himself as their conqueror. 
 
 8. What was the next step in His exaltation? The third day He 
 
 rose again from the dead. 
 
 9. Christ really died on the cross, as we see from Mat. 27, 50. 
 
 "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded 
 up the ghost." 
 
 10. Also Luke 2:), 4G. "When Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He 
 
 said, 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:' and hav- 
 ing said thus. He gave up the ghost." 
 
 11. When a man's spirit, or soul, leaves the body, what follows? The 
 
 man is dead. 
 
 12. And so Jesus really died and was buried because He was dead. 
 
 On what day of the week did Jesus die? On Friday. 
 
 13. What hour of the day was it when Jesus died? About three 
 
 o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 14. Where was He buried? In the new grave, which was in the gar- 
 
 den of Joseph of Arimathea. 
 
 15. What did the enemies of Jesus place at the grave of the Savior 
 
 to make it secure? (Mat. 27, 62-66). They placed soldiers 
 as guards. 
 
 16. But what took place on the third day after? Christ arose from the 
 
 dead. 
 
 17. On what day of the week did Christ arise? On the first day of 
 
 the week. 
 
 18. What do we call the first day of the week? We call it Sunday. 
 
 19. But what do we call it because on it the Lord arose? We call it 
 
 the Lord's day. 
 
 20. What festival do we keep in the church in memory of Jesus' 
 
 Resurrection? The festival of Easter. 
 
 21. At what time of the day did Christ arise? Very early in the 
 
 morning. 
 
 22. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the grave very 
 
 early on Easter morning and found the stone rolled away 
 from the door of the sepulchre. And whom did they see 
 sitting on this stone? (Mat. 28, 1-6). They saw an angel. 
 
 23. What did the angel tell them? He told them that the Lord had 
 
 arisen. 
 
 24. And as the women returned, whom did they meet? (Mat. 28, 9- 
 
 10). They met the Savior Himself. 
 
 25. To whom did the Savior appear in the afternoon of this day? 
 
 (Luke 24, l:^^!o). To two disciples on their way to the vil- 
 lage of Emmaus. 
 2C). To whom did the Savior appear on the evening of this same day? 
 (Luke 24, 36-43). He appeared to all the apostles. 
 
 27. And when did He appear to them a second time? (John 20, 26). 
 
 He appeared to them a second time a week later. 
 
 28. Read also what St. Paul says, 1 Cor. 15, 3-8. "I delivered unto 
 
 you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ 
 died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He 
 was buried, and that He rose again the third day according 
 to the Scriptures: And that He was seen of Cephas, then of 
 the twelve: After that, He was seen of above five hundred 
 brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this 
 present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen 
 of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was 
 seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." 
 
204 LESSON 00. 
 
 29. We have a whole host of witnesses, who testify to having seen 
 
 the risen Savior, and these witnesses are reliable; so what 
 may we be sure of? That Jesus arose from the dead. 
 
 30. (202) "Why did He arise on the third day from the dead?" "To 
 
 show Himself with power as the Son of God, who rendered 
 satisfaction for our sins and won for us the righteousness 
 that avails before God." 
 
 31. What does the resurrection of .lesMs prove with reference to His 
 
 person? It proves that He is the Son of God. 
 
 32. Yes, because He rose by His own power, as we see from John 
 
 10, 17-18. "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay 
 down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it 
 from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay 
 it down, and I have power to take it again. This command- 
 ment have I received of my Father." 
 
 33. Read Rom. 1, 4. "Declared to be the Son of God with power, ac- 
 
 cording to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the 
 dead." 
 
 34. What does our answer No. 202 say further concerning Jesus, the 
 
 Son of God? It says that He rendered satisfaction for our 
 sins, and won for us the righteousness that avails before 
 God. 
 
 35. This was the work of Christ. For this purpose He came into the 
 
 world. Now the resurrection of Jesus proves that He really 
 accomplished this work. If Jesus had remained in death, we 
 would have no certainty that the ransom which He offered 
 was sufficient for our redemption. But what does the apostle 
 say in Rom. 4, 25? "Christ was delivered for our offences, 
 and was raised again for our justification." 
 
 3G. Why was Christ raised asain? He was raised again for our jus- 
 tification. 
 
 37. His resurrection is a declaration on the part of God that the debt 
 
 is paid, that the justice of God is satisfied. Let us hear what 
 the apostle says, 1 Cor. 15, 17.18, as to the condition of affairs 
 if Christ had not risen. "If Christ be not raised, your faith 
 is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are 
 fallen asleep in Christ are perished." 
 
 38. What does'" he say of us with reference to our sins if Christ be 
 
 not risen? We would yet be in our sins. 
 
 39. What does he say of those who are fallen asleep in Jesus, that is, 
 
 those who have died in the faith of Jesus? He says they are 
 perished, if Christ be not risen. 
 
 40. If Christ had not risen from the dead; if death could hold Him, 
 
 what power would it also have over us? It would also hold 
 us. 
 
 41. But now since He arose, what blessed hope have we in death? 
 
 The hope that we, too, shall arise from the dead. 
 
 42. Repeat John 11, 25-26. "I am the resurrection, and the life: he 
 
 that believeth in me, though He were dead, yet shall He live: 
 and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." 
 
 43. What does Jesus say here of him that believeth on Him? "Though 
 
 he were dead, yet shall he live." 
 
 44. Repeat also John 14, 19. "Because I live, ye shall live also." 
 
 45. He is our Head; we are His members. If the Head lives, what 
 
 follows with reference to the members? They will live also. 
 
LESSON 6i. 205 
 
 4(;. Read Rom. 8, 11. "But if the Spirit of Him, that raised up Jesus 
 from the dead, dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from 
 the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit 
 that dwelleth in you." 
 
 47. What does the apostle here say shall l^e done with the mortal 
 
 bodies of those in whom the Spirit of the risen Savior dwells? 
 God shall quicken them. 
 
 48. That is, God shall make them alive. Read also 1 Peter 1, 3.4. 
 
 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us 
 again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 
 from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, 
 and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." 
 
 49. The apostle here says we have a lively hope based on the resur- 
 
 rection of Jesus Christ from the dead. What does He call 
 this hope in the 4th verse? He calls it an inheritance. 
 
 50 What kind of an inheritance? An inheritance incorruptible and 
 undefiled, and that fadeth not away. 
 
 51. And where do we look for this inheritance? It is reserved for us 
 
 in heaven. 
 
 52. Even in the Old Testament the children of God had this blessed 
 
 hope, as we see from .lob 19, 25-27. "I know that my Re- 
 deemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon 
 the earth; and though, after my skin worms destroy this 
 body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for 
 myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another." 
 
 5:1. What does .Job here say that he knows concerning the coming 
 Redeemer? He knows that He lives. 
 
 54. And though he knows that His own body shall decay, yet what 
 
 blessed hope does He express? He says, "In my flesh I shall 
 see God." 
 
 55. Here we have the same blessed hope expressed. Because his 
 
 Redeemer lives what does he hope for? That he shall live 
 also. 
 
 56. How does he hope to see God even after worms have destroyed 
 
 his body? In his flesh he hopes to see God. 
 
 57. Then what must be done with his flesh or his body? It must be 
 
 raised from the dead. 
 
 LESSON No. 61. CHRIST'S ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN. 
 
 (Questions 20.3-205). 
 
 W^hat things belong to Christ's state of exaltation? "He de- 
 scended into Hell, the third day He arose again from the 
 dead. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand 
 of God, the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to 
 judge the quick and the dead. 
 
 Which of these did we consider in our last lesson? We consid- 
 ered His resurrection from the dead." 
 
 On what day did Christ arise from the dead? On the third day 
 after His crucifixion. 
 
206 LESSON 6l. 
 
 4. By whom was He seen after His resurrection? By His apostles, 
 
 and by the women who had come to anoint His body. 
 
 5. What is the next step in His exaltation after His resurrection? 
 
 His ascension into heaven. 
 
 6. How many days did Christ show Himself to His disciples after 
 
 His resurrection? He showed Himself forty days. 
 
 7. Yes, and during this time He talked to them concerning His 
 
 Kingdom, and explained many things which they had not 
 understood concerning it. After this time, what became of 
 Christ? He ascended into heaven. 
 
 8. Thus we read in the first chapter of Acts. I^et us look especially 
 
 at the 9th verse. "When He had spol<en of these things, 
 while they beheld. He was taken up; and a cloud received 
 Him out of their sight." 
 
 9. How was .lesus taken up? He was taken up and a cloud re- 
 
 ceived Him out of their sight. 
 
 10. Who were the eye witnesses of His ascension? His disciples. 
 
 11. (203) Yes, before their very eyes, while He was talking to them, 
 
 He was taken up into heaven. "Why did He ascend into 
 heaven?" "To seat Himself at the right hand of His Father, 
 and before Him exercise the office of Mediator and Advocate 
 for us." 
 
 12. Repeat Mark 16, 19. "So the Lord, after He had spoken unto 
 
 them, was received up into heaven, and sat on the right 
 hand of God." 
 1.3. What great promise had the Savior given? Mat. 28, 20. "Lo, 
 I am with you aiway, even unto the end of the world." 
 
 14. The Savior is with us, though we cannot see Him. What do we 
 
 call the manner of His presence? We say He is invisibly 
 present with us. 
 
 15. Where is the Savior visibly present since His ascension? He is 
 
 visibly present in heaven. 
 
 16. Read Acts 7, 55. 56, and let us hear what Stephen saw. "He, being 
 
 full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, 
 and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right 
 hand of God. And said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, 
 and tKe Son of man standing on the right hand of God.'" 
 
 17. Even in the Old Testament this ascension of the Messiah had 
 
 been foretold, as we see from Ps. 68, 18. "Thou hast as- 
 cended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast 
 received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that 
 the Lord God might dwell among them." 
 
 18. What blessed promise did the Savior give us in John 12, 26? 
 
 "Where I am, there shall also my servant be." 
 
 19. And again John 14, 2. "I go to prepare a place for you." 
 
 20. Since Christ ascended into heaven, what blessed hope have we 
 
 also? The hope that we will also go to heaven and be with 
 Him. 
 
 21. What office does Christ exercise in heaven for us? The office of 
 
 Mediator and Advocate. 
 
 22. He is our Representative with God, our Advocate in the court of 
 
 heaven. Tell me this with a scripture passage. 1 John 
 2, 1.2. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the 
 Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propiti- 
 ation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the 
 sins of the whole world." 
 
LESSON 6l. 207 
 
 23. Jesus intercedes for us before God. He pleads our cause. This 
 
 intercession is part of what office of Christ? It is part of 
 Christ's highpriestly office. 
 
 24. What a comfort it is for us to know that the Savior is our Me- 
 
 diator and Advocate. Now what may we hope for when we 
 pray to God? We may hope to be heard. 
 
 25. For whose sake may we hope this? For the sake of Jesus Christ. 
 
 26. We confess in the creed that Christ ascended into heaven. What 
 
 do we add to this confession? That He sitteth at the right 
 hand of God the Father Almighty. 
 
 27. (204) "What is understood by the right hand of God, at which 
 
 Christ seated Himself?" "The infinite power and majesty of 
 God, whereby He works, governs and fills all things." 
 
 28. Where is God? God is everywhere. 
 
 29. When we speak of God's right hand, we must not think of Him 
 
 as we would of a human being with hands, feet, eyes, ears 
 and other members. God is not a bodily being, but what is 
 He? God is a spirit. 
 
 30. Tell me this with a Scripture passage, John 4, 24. "God is a 
 
 spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in 
 spirit and in truth." 
 
 31. Such expressions then, as the hand or eye of God are figurative 
 
 expressions. They stand for the attributes of God. For in- 
 stance, what are the eyes used for? Our eyes are used to 
 see. 
 
 32. What does the eye of God stand for? It stands for His omnis- 
 
 cience. 
 3-3. What do we use our hands for? We use them for work. 
 34. Which of our hands and arms is usually the stronger? Our right 
 
 hand. 
 3.5. So what does the right hand of God stand for? it stands for His 
 
 almighty power. 
 
 36. Read Ps. 77, 10. "I said, 'This is my infirmity; but I will remem- 
 
 ber the years of the right hand of the Most High.'" 
 
 37. Also Ps. 118, 16. "The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right 
 
 hand of the Lord doeth valiantly." 
 
 38. Also Exodus 15, 6. "Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious 
 
 in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the 
 enemy." 
 
 39. Also Is. 48, 13. "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the 
 
 earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens." 
 
 40. But the right hand is also to express majesty and honor. So 
 
 we read concerning Christ, Heb. 1, 3. "Who being the 
 brightness of His glory, and the express image of His per- 
 son, and upholding all things by the word of His power, 
 when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the 
 right hand of the Majesty on high." 
 
 41. Read also Mat. 26, 64. "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man 
 
 sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds 
 of heaven." 
 
 42. This expression is used to tell us that after His deep humiliation, 
 
 suffering and death, God hath highly exalted the Savior, as 
 we read Phil. 2, 9-11. "Wherefore God also hath highly ex- 
 alted Him, and given Him a name which is above every 
 name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of 
 things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the 
 earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus 
 Christ Is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 
 
208 LESSON 6l. 
 
 43. Christ as God always had divine power and majesty and exer- 
 
 cised it. As man this divine power and majesty were 
 given to Him, but He did not fully nor constantly make use 
 of them during His state of humiliation; but now since He 
 is exalted, He has entered into the full use and exercise of 
 His divine power and majesty, even according to His human 
 nature. Over what has Christ, our brother, dominion? He 
 has dominion over all things. 
 
 44. Through whom does God the Father now rule and govern the 
 
 whole world? Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
 
 45. So we read that Christ is Lord even over His enemies, Ps. 110, 1. 
 
 "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy 
 footstool." 
 
 46. Also Eph. 1, 2U-22. "And set Him at His own right hand in th€ 
 
 heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and 
 might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not 
 only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and 
 hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the 
 head over all things to the church." 
 
 47. Read Eph. 4, 10. "He that descended is the same also that as- 
 
 cended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things." 
 
 48. The right hand of God is not any particular locality, or place, but 
 
 is used to express the majesty and power of the Savior. 
 Since His exaltation He is everywhere as He promised Mat. 
 18, 20. "Where two, or three, are gathered together in my 
 name, there am I in the midst of them." 
 
 49. Read Matt. 28, 20. "Lo, I am with you alway even unto the end 
 
 of the world." 
 
 50. It is a great comfort to know that Christ, our brother, rules and 
 
 governs all things. That He is King of kings and Lord of 
 lords, as we read in Rev. 19, 16. "He is the Lord of lords and 
 King of kings." 
 
 51. Again Rev. 19, 16. "He hath His vesture and on His thigh a name 
 
 writte""n, King of kings and Lord of Lords." 
 
 52. He not only rules and governs all things, but guards and pro- 
 
 tects His church and shall triumph with the saints in heaven 
 forever. How manifold is the kingdom of Christ? Christ's 
 kingdom is threefold. 
 
 53. What is the threefold kingdom of Christ? His kingdom of power, 
 
 His kingdom of grace and His kingdom of glory. 
 
 54. How long shall this kingdom of Christ last? It shall last forever. 
 
 55. So we read Luke 1, 33. "He shall reign over the house of Jacob 
 
 forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end." 
 
 56. Also Heb. 1, 8. "But unto the Son He saith, 'Thy throne, O God, 
 
 is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre 
 of thy kingdom.' " 
 
LESSON 62. 209 
 
 LESSON NO. 62. CHRIST'S COMING TO JUDGMENT. 
 
 (Question No. 206). 
 
 1. What was the subject of our last lesson? Christ's ascension into 
 
 heaven and His sitting at the right hand of God. 
 
 2. To which state of Christ does this belong? To His state of ex- 
 
 altation. 
 
 3. The Savior ascended up into heaven visibly. The disciples stood 
 
 looking up at Him as Pie disappeai'ed from their view; and 
 as they stood looking up to heaven two angels appeared to 
 them. Let us hear what these angels said. Acts 1, 10. 11. 
 "While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went 
 up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which 
 also said, 'Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into 
 heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into 
 heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him 
 go into heaven.' " 
 
 4. What did the angels say to them concerning the ascended Savior 
 
 on this occasion? That He shall come again. 
 
 5. And how shall He come again? He shall come in like manner 
 
 as they saw Him go into heaven. 
 
 6. That is, °He shall come again visibly. In what words do we con- 
 
 fess this in the third article of the creed? "From thence He 
 shall come to judge the quick and the dead." 
 
 7. Yes, Jesus shall come again. Let us see what the Savior says 
 
 as to the manner of His coming. We have already seen that 
 He shall come visibly. Now turn to Mat. 25, 31. "When the 
 Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels 
 with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." 
 
 8. When Jesus appeared the first time upon earth, He appeared in 
 
 meekness and humility, in poverty and suffering, but how 
 will He appear when He comes again? He will appear in 
 His glory. 
 
 9. When He appeared the first time, He was accompanied by poor 
 
 publicans and fishermen. His disciples were all men in the 
 common walks of life. But when He comes again, who will 
 be with Him? All the holy angels will be with Him. 
 
 10. When He came the first time He stood before the judgment seat 
 
 of such an unjust judge as the heathen Pontius Pilate, but 
 when He comes again, how will He appear? He shall sit 
 upon the throne of His glory. 
 
 11. Let us again hear how this coming of the Savior is described. 
 
 Mat. 16, 27. "The Son of man shall come in the glory of 
 His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every 
 man according to his works." 
 
 12. Read also Mat. 24, 30. "Then shall appear the sign of the Son 
 
 of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth 
 mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the 
 clouds of heaven with power and great .glory." 
 
 13. (206) "For what purpose will Christ come again?" "To judge 
 
 the quick and the dead." 
 
 14. What will He come for? He will come to judge. 
 
 14 
 
210 LESSON 62. 
 
 15. Who then is the judge of all the world? Our Savior, Jesus Christ. 
 
 16. So He Himself says, John 5, 22. "The Father judgeth no man, 
 
 but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." 
 
 17. So St. Paul also told his hearers at Athens, Acts 17, 31. "Be- 
 
 cause He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge 
 the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath or- 
 dained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in 
 that He hath ra' led Him from the dead." 
 
 18. Who is the man app( nted of God to judge the world to whom the 
 
 apostle here rei rs? He refers to Jesus Christ. 
 
 19. St. Peter says the same to Cornelius and his household, Acts 10, 
 
 42. "He commai ded us to preach unto the people and to tes- 
 tify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the judge 
 of the quick and the dead." 
 
 20. What does the Savior say of the exact time of His coming to 
 
 judgment? Mark 13, 32. "Of that day and that hour knov/- 
 eth no man, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the 
 Son, but the Father." 
 
 21. There have been men who thought they knew the exact time of 
 
 the Savior's coming. But what does the Savior Himself say? 
 He says no man, not even the angels themselves, know when 
 He is coming. 
 
 22. We should be prepared for His coming at any time, as the Savior 
 
 admonishes. I^uKe 21, 34-36. "Take heed to yourselves, lest 
 at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and 
 drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come 
 upon you unawares. For as a snare it shall come on all them 
 that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye there- 
 fore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to 
 escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand 
 before the Son of man." 
 
 23. So also St. Paul writes, 1 Thes. 5, 1-3. "Of the times and the 
 
 seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 
 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so 
 Cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, 
 'Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction cometh upon 
 them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall 
 not escape." 
 
 24. In Mat. 24, 42-51 the Savior admonishes us to be prepared for 
 
 His coming. Read the 42nd verse. "Watch therefore; for 
 ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." 
 
 25. In Mat. 25, 1-13, what parable does the Savior use to admonish 
 
 His disciples to be ready for His coming? The parable of 
 the ten virgins. 
 
 26. What does the Savior say of those who were ready for His com- 
 
 ing? Verse 10. "While they went to buy, the bridegroom 
 came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the 
 marriage: and the door was shut." 
 
 27. Who went in to the marriage feast? They that were ready. 
 
 28. Yes, they that live in the faith of Jesus ai'e always ready for His 
 
 coming. We should be more concerned about our readiness 
 to meet Him than about the exact time of His coming. And 
 yet we should not regard His coming as far off but rather 
 as near at hand, ag we read, 1 Pet. 4, 7. "The end rf »<« 
 things is at hand." 
 
LESSON 62. 211 
 
 29. What does St. John write in his first epistle, chap. 2, 18? "Little 
 
 children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that anti- 
 christ shall come, even now are there many antichrists; 
 whereby we know that it is the last time." 
 
 30. What does St. Paul, 1 Thes. 2, 3. 4, say as to the time of the 
 
 Savior's coming? "Let no man deceive you by any means: 
 for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away 
 first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
 who opposeth and exaiteth himself above all that is called 
 God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the 
 temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." 
 
 31. This has already been fulfilled. How many have fallen from the 
 
 faith, and in popery we have revealed more and more the 
 man of sin who shows himself to be God. But the Savior 
 in Mat. 24, 1-35 tells us of other signs by which we shall 
 recognize the fact that the day of the Lord is fast approach- 
 ing. What does He speak of in the 6th verse? Of wars and 
 rumors of war. 
 
 32. And in the 9th verse? Of persecutions. 
 
 33. And in the 11th verse? Of the coming of false prophets. 
 
 34. And in the 13th verse? That the Gospel shall be preached in all 
 
 the world. 
 
 35. Now read the verses 29 and 30. "Immediately after the tribula- 
 
 tion of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon 
 shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, 
 and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then 
 shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then 
 shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the 
 Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and 
 great glory." 
 
 36. All these signs are either already fulfilled or will be fulfilled at 
 
 the coming of Christ, and from them we should recognize 
 the fact that the coming of the Lord to judgment is not far 
 off. Repeat 2 Pet. 3, 10. "The day of the Lord will come as 
 a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass 
 away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with 
 fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein 
 shall be burned up." 
 
 37. Tell me from Rev. 20. 11, what shall become of the visible heaven 
 
 and earth on that day? They shall pass away. 
 
 38. And what is written in Rev. 21, 1. "I saw a new heaven and a 
 
 new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were 
 passed away; and there was no more sea." 
 
 39. We have seen that the Savior shall be the great judge of all the 
 
 earth. Who shall be His servants or ministers according to 
 Mat. 24, 31? "He shall send His angels with the great sound 
 of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from 
 the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." 
 
 40. Read also Mat. 13, 41. "The Son of man shall send forth His 
 
 angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things 
 that offend, and them which do iniquity." 
 
 41. Also 1 Thes. 4, 16. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from 
 
 heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with 
 the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 
 
212 LESSON 62. 
 
 42. Now let us see who shall he judged. Repeat 2 Cor. 5, 10. "We 
 
 must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that 
 every one may receive the things done in his body, according 
 to that he hath done, whither it be good or bad." 
 
 43. Who must appear before the judgment seat of Christ? All men. 
 
 44. And how shall we all be judged? We shall be Judged according 
 
 to what we have done while we lived, whether it be good or 
 bad. 
 
 45. Read Rev. 20, 12. "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before 
 
 God; and the books were opened: and another book was 
 opened which is the book of life: and the dead were Judged 
 out of these things which were written in the books, accord- 
 ing to their works." 
 
 46. Also .Jude 14, 15. "Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, proph- 
 
 esied of these, saying, 'Behold, the Lord cometh with ten 
 thousand of His saints, to execute Judgment upon all, and to 
 convince all that are ungodly among them of all their un- 
 godly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all 
 their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken 
 against Him." 
 
 47. Also Eccles. 11. 9. "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let 
 
 thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in 
 the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but 
 know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into 
 judgment." 
 
 48. We shall have to give an account of all our thoughts, words and 
 
 actions. So we read. Eccles. 12, 14. "God shall bring every 
 work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be 
 good or whether it be evil." 
 
 49. What does the Savior say of our words, Mat. 12, 36? "I say unto 
 
 you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall 
 give account thereof in the day of Judgment." 
 
 50. And what does the Apostle say even of our thoughts, 1 Cor. 4, 5. 
 
 "Therefore Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord 
 come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of dark- 
 ness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and 
 then shall every man have praise of God." 
 
 51. How careful we should be as to our actions and words: yea even 
 
 our thoughts when we consider that for all we are account- 
 able to the Savior on the great day. Now let us see accord- 
 ing to what rule or law men will be judged. Repeat John 
 12. 48. "The word that I have spoken, the same shall Judge 
 him in the last day." 
 
 52. Read Rom. 2, 16. "In the day when God shall Judge the secrets 
 
 of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." 
 
 53. The Gospel shall be the rule of judgment. It will all depend upon 
 
 how men have conducted themselves toward the Gospel. 
 What do the Scriptures say of those who believe the Gospel? 
 Mark 16, 16. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be 
 saved." 
 
 54. And what about those who do not believe? "He that believeth 
 
 not shall be damned." 
 
LESSON 63. 213 
 
 55. Jtead also Rev. 20, 12. "I saw the dead, small and great, stand 
 
 before God; and the books were opened and another book 
 was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were 
 judged out of those things which were written in the books ac- 
 cording to their works." 
 
 56. The Savior Himself is tlie book of life. All who believe on Him 
 
 are written in the book of life. Their works testify that they 
 believe on Him. So when the Scriptures say that men shall 
 be judged by their works we must remember that good works 
 are the fruits of faith. Where good works are wanting there 
 is no faith in the Savior. In Mat. 25, 31-46 we have a de- 
 scription of the final judgment. What does the King say to 
 the righteous on His right hand? Verse 34. "Come, ye 
 blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you 
 from the foundation of the world." 
 
 57. And what shall He say to the wicked on His left hand? Verse 
 
 41. "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, pre- 
 pared for the devil and his angels." 
 
 58. This judgment is the last judgment. From it there is no appeal. 
 
 Its decision shall stand forever as we see from the 46th verse 
 of this chapter. "These shall go away into everlasting pun- 
 ishment: but the righteous into life eternal." 
 
 THE THIRD ARTICLE OF THE CREED. 
 
 LESSON 63 — THE PERSON OF THE HOLY GHOST. 
 
 (Question 207-212.) 
 
 1. How many chief parts has the catechism? The catechism has 
 
 six chief parts. 
 
 2. What are they? The holy Ten Commandments, the Apostles 
 
 Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism and the Lord's 
 Supper. 
 
 3. Which is the second chief part of the catechism? The Apostles' 
 
 Creed. 
 
 4. How many articles are in the creed? There are three articles in 
 
 the creed. 
 
 5. Of what does the first article treat? The first article treats of 
 
 creation. 
 
 6. Of what does the second article treat? The second article treats 
 
 of redemption. 
 
 7. Of what does the third article treat? The third article treats of 
 
 sanctification. 
 
 8. Of whom does the first article treat? The first article treats of 
 
 God the Father. 
 
 9. Of whom does the second article treat? The second article treats 
 
 of God the Son. 
 
 10. And of whom does the third article treat? The third article 
 treats of God the Holy Ghost. 
 
214 Lesson 63. 
 
 11. (207) "Repeat the third article — of sanetification." "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." 
 
 12. (208) "What does this mean?" "I believe that I cannot by my 
 
 own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or 
 come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gos- 
 enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the 
 true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sancti- 
 fies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with 
 Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church 
 He daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers, 
 and will at the last day raise up me and all the dead, and 
 give unto me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This 
 is most certainly true." 
 
 13. (209) "How many parts does this article contain?" "Principally 
 
 five: it treats, 1. Of the Holy Ghost; 2. Of the Christian 
 Church; 3. Of Forgiveness of Sin; 4. Of the Resurrection of 
 the Body; 5. Of Eternal Life." 
 
 14. What then is the first thing which we confess in this third 
 
 article? We confess to believe in the Holy Ghost. 
 
 15. (210) "What words of the third article treat of the Holy Ghost?" 
 
 "I believe in the Holy Ghost." 
 
 16. (211) "Why do you say: 'I believe in the Holy Ghost?'" "Be- 
 
 cause I acknowledge Him as the third Person of the Godhead 
 and thereby as true God." 
 
 17. To believe in God means to fear, love and trust in him. Under 
 
 which commandment did we consider this fear, love and 
 trust? Under the first commandment. 
 
 18. What does the explanation of the first commandment tell us about 
 
 such fear, love and trust? It tells us that we should fear, 
 love and trust in God above all things. 
 
 19. What kind of honor do we give God when we fear, love and trust 
 
 in Him above all things? We give Him divine honor. 
 
 20. Now tell me from question 211: how do you regard the Holy 
 
 Ghost? I regard Him as true God. 
 
 21. Yes; how many persons are there in God? There are three per- 
 
 sons in God. 
 
 22. Which of these is the Holy Ghost? The third person is the Holy 
 
 Ghost. 
 
 23. (212) "Why do you believe that the Holy Ghost Is true God?" 
 
 "Because in the Holy Scriptures the names, attributes, works 
 and honor, which pertain to God only, are expressly ascribed 
 to Him." 
 
 24. Where do we find this plainly taught that the Holy Ghost is true 
 
 God? We find it taught in the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 25. According to question 212, what is the first thing ascribed to the 
 
 Holy Ghost in the Scriptures? The names which pertain to 
 God only. 
 
LESSON 63. 215 
 
 26. Yes; we find in the Bible tliat tlie Holy Ghost is expressly called 
 
 God. For instance, what did Peter say to Ananias after he 
 had lied to the apostle? Acts 5, 3. 4. "Peter said, 'Ananias, 
 why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, 
 and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it re- 
 mained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not 
 in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in 
 thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." 
 
 27. Ananias had lied not only to the Apostle Peter, but what ques- 
 
 tion does the apostle put to him? "Ananias, why hath Satan 
 filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" 
 
 28. In lying to the Apostle, Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost, who 
 
 dwelt in Peter. But wh'it does the apostle say about this 
 lie in the last sentence of the verse? . noj .last not lied 
 unto men, but unto God." 
 
 29. What then must the Holy Ghost be if lying to Him is lying to 
 
 God? He must be God. 
 
 30. Repeat 1 Cor. 3, 16. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, 
 
 and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" 
 
 31. Who dwells in Christians? The Spirit of God dwells in them. 
 
 32. What does the apostle call Christians because of the presence 
 
 of God's Spirit in them? He calls them the temple of God. 
 
 33. Because the Spirit of God dwells in them. Christians are God's 
 
 temple. Who then must the Holy Ghost be if His indwelling 
 makes people God's temple? He must be God. 
 
 34. But, according to question 212, we find that not only divine names, 
 
 but what else is ascribed to the Holy Ghost? Also divine 
 attributes. 
 
 35. Yes; and divine attributes belong to whom alone? Divine at- 
 
 tributes belong to God alone. 
 
 36. If anyone has divine attributes, who must he be? He must be 
 
 God. 
 
 37.Which are the divine attributes? (Question 142) God is eternal, 
 omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, holy, righteous, merci- 
 ful and truthful. 
 
 38. Who alone has these attributes? God alone has them. 
 
 39. Who must a person be who has these attributes? He must be God. 
 
 40. Repeat Ps. 139, 7-10. "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or 
 
 whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into 
 heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou 
 art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in 
 the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand 
 lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." 
 
 41. Where, according to this passage is the Spirit of God? He is 
 
 everywhere. 
 
 4% Who must He be if He is everywhere at the same time? He 
 must be God. 
 
 43, Now repeat 1 Cor. 2, 10. "God hath revealed them unto us by 
 His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep 
 things of God." 
 
216 LESSON 63. 
 
 44. What is the Spirit of God here said to search? He searcheth all 
 things. 
 
 4.5. And even what is He said to know? He searches and knows 
 even the deep things of God. 
 
 46. And who must He l)e if He knows all things?" He must be God. 
 
 47. Read 2 Pet. 1, 21. "The holy men of God spake as they were 
 
 moved by the Holy Ghost." 
 
 48. The holy men of God, the prophets and apostles, were inspired 
 
 by God. They spoke and wrote as the Spirit of God moved 
 them. They said things which they could never have known 
 of themselves. They are called men of God because they 
 were moved by the Holy Ghost. What does this prove with 
 reference to the Holy Ghost? It proves that the Holy Ghost 
 is God . 
 
 49. Repeat 1 Cor. 12, 11. "All these things worketh that one and the 
 
 selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 
 
 50. If the Spirit worketh all things, that is, if he is almighty, who 
 
 must He be? He must be God. 
 
 51. Read also Mat. 12, 28. "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of 
 
 God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." 
 
 52. Through whom did the Savior cast out devils? He cast them out 
 
 through the Spirit of God. 
 
 53. Who must this Si)irit be if even the devils are subject to Him? 
 
 He must be God. 
 
 54. Repeat John 15, 2t;. "When the Comforter is come, whom I will 
 
 send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which 
 proceedeth from the ather, he shall testify of me." 
 
 55. What is here said of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth? He pro- 
 
 ceedeth from the Father, 
 
 56. What kind of being must He be if He proceeds from the Father? 
 
 He must be a divine being. 
 
 57. Read 1 John 5, 7. "There are three that bear record in heaven, 
 
 the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three 
 are one." 
 
 58. Here the Holy Ghost is placed on a level with the Father and the 
 
 Son. Who must He accordingly be? He must be God, just 
 as they are God. 
 
 59. But according to our question 212, the Holy Spirit not ohly has 
 
 divine names and attributes, but what kind of works does He 
 do? He does divine works. 
 
 60. Yes; and this also is a proof that He is true God. Repeat Gen. 
 
 1, 2. "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." 
 
 61. This is said in connection with what divine work? It is said in 
 
 connection with the work of creation. 
 
 62. What kind of person must the Holy Spirit be if He was present at 
 
 and took part in the work of creation? He must be a divine 
 person. 
 
 63. Repeat Job 33, 4. "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the 
 
 breath of the Almighty hath given me life." 
 
LESSON 64. 217 
 
 64. What does Job here say of the Spirit of God? He says the Spirit 
 
 of God created Him. 
 
 65. Who must this Spirit be if the divine work of creation is ascribed 
 
 to Him? He must be God. 
 
 66. Repeat .John 3, 5. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man 
 
 be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the 
 kingdom of God." 
 
 67. Here the worlv of regeneration is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. It 
 
 is by Him that men are born again through baptism. This 
 is a divine work; a worli that God alone can do. If now the 
 Holy Ghost does this work, who must He be? He must be 
 God. 
 
 68. Repeat Titus '.i, 5. "According to His mercy He saved us, by tne 
 
 washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 69. Baptism is here called a washing of regeneration and a renewing 
 
 of the Holy Ghost. Who is it then that renews us? It is the 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 70. But who alone can make new creatures of us? God alone can do 
 
 this. 
 
 71. If then the Holy Ghost renews us who must He be? He must 
 
 be God. 
 
 72. According to our question 212 the Holy Ghost has not only divine 
 
 names and attributes, and not only performs divine works, 
 but what kind of honor is given to Him? Divine honor rs 
 given Him. 
 
 73. Read Mat. 28, 19. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptiz- 
 
 ing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
 the Holy Ghost." 
 
 74. Here the Holy Ghost is mentioned with and put on the same level 
 
 with the Father and the Son. Who must He be to deserve 
 such honor? He must be God. 
 
 75. From all this we see that the Holy Ghost is a divine person, that 
 
 He is true God, with the Father and the Son. 
 
 LESSON 64. CONVERSION. 
 
 (Question 213-218.) 
 
 Of whom does the tliird article of the creed treat? It treats of 
 God the Holy Ghost. 
 
 Who is the Holy Ghost? He is the third person in the Trinity. 
 
 (213) "Why is the third person of the Godhead called the Holy 
 Ghost?" "Because in Holy Scriptures the work of sanctifica- 
 tion is especially ascribed to Him." 
 
 What work is the special work of the Holy Ghost? The work of 
 sanctification. 
 
 Repeat 1 for. 6. 11. "But ye are washed, hut ye are sanctified, 
 but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the 
 Spirit of our God." 
 
218 LESSON 64. 
 
 S. What is the Holy Ghost here said to do to Christians? He washes, 
 and sanctifies them. 
 
 I To sanctify means to make clean and holy. From what does the 
 Holy Spirit cleanse us? He cleanses us from sin. 
 
 8. (214) "What do you understand by this sanctification?" "The 
 
 work of the Holy Spirit when He calls me by the Gospel, en- 
 lightens me with His gifts, and sanctifies and keeps me in the 
 true faith." 
 
 9. What then, is the first thing which the Holy Ghost does in this 
 
 work of sanctification? He calls us by the Gospel. 
 
 10. What is the Gospel? (Question 137). The Gospel is the glad 
 
 tidings that Jesus Christ has saved us from our sins, and 
 through faith makes us forever blessed. 
 
 11. When we hear these glad tidings concerning Jesus Christ and 
 
 His blessed work of salvation, who is it that is calling us? 
 it is the Holy Ghost that is calling us. 
 
 12. From what does he call us away when we hear the Gospel? He 
 
 calls us away from sin. 
 
 13. We have all strayed away from Him, and are lost. What com- 
 
 mand did the Savior give His diciples? Mark 16, 15. "He 
 said unto them, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
 gospel to every creature.' " 
 
 14. Unto whom does the Holy Ghost call us by the Gospel? He calls 
 
 us to the Savior. 
 
 15. What else does He do besides calling us? He enlightens us with 
 
 His gifts. 
 
 16. We are so ignorant that, of ourselves, we could not even imder- 
 
 stand the Gospel when we hear it. So what does He do in 
 order that in spite of our blindness we may understand and 
 accept the Gospel? He enlightens us with His gifts. 
 
 17. And when we have accepted the Gospel by faith, what else does 
 
 He do? He sanctifies us. 
 
 18. That is, He gives up willingness and power to lead what kind 
 
 of a life-? To lead a holy life. 
 
 19. And because, if left to ourselves, we should fall away again from 
 
 the faith, what does the Holy Ghost do? He keeps us in the 
 true faith. 
 
 20. Who is it that does all this? It is the Holy Ghost. 
 
 21. (215) "Why must the Holy Ghost do all this?" "Because I can 
 
 not by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, 
 my Lord, or come to Him." 
 
 22. Repeat the first sentence in Luther's explanation of the third 
 
 article of the creed. "I believe that I cannot by my own 
 reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come 
 to Him." 
 
 23. What is necessary in order that we may come to our Lord Jesus 
 
 Christ, that is, to be saved? We must believe on Him. 
 
 24. (216) Yes, and this we cannot do of ourselves. "Why is this?" 
 
 "On account of original sin." 
 
LESSON 64. 219 
 
 25. What is original sin? (Question 126) It is the utter depravity 
 
 of tlie whole human nature, which, since the fall of Adam, ie 
 inborn in all men. 
 
 26. And wherein does this depravity consist? (Question 127). In 
 
 this, that we have lost the image of God and, consequently, 
 that our reason is darkened and our will perverted. 
 
 27. According to this answer, what effect has original sin on our 
 
 reason or understanding? Our reason is darkened. 
 
 28. That is, we cannot understand the truth that is necessary to sal- 
 
 vation. What does the apostle say in 1 Cor, 2, 14? The 
 natural man receiveth not the things" of the Spirit of God; 
 for they are foolishness unto Him; neither can he know 
 them, because they are spiritually discerned. 
 
 29. As we are by nature, the Gospel appears a foolish thing. We can- 
 
 not understand it. But according to question 127 original 
 sin has not only darkened our understanding, but what effect 
 has it on our will? It has perverted our will. 
 
 30. What does the apostle say, Rom. 8. 7? "The carnal mind is 
 
 enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, 
 neither can be." 
 
 31. By nature we are at enmity with God. We lack not only the 
 
 power but also the willingness to believe in Christ. In Phil. 
 2, 13, the apostle tells us how we come to believe in Jesus 
 Christ. Read the passage. "It is God which worketh in you 
 both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 
 
 32. God's good pleasure is that we believe on His son, Jesus Christ, 
 
 and be saved. But where does this faith come from? God 
 works it in us. 
 
 33. (217) "Whose then is the work of conversion?" "It is solely 
 
 the gracious work of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 34. Why do we say it is "solely" the work of the Holy Ghost? Be- 
 
 cause He does it alone. 
 
 35. And why do we call it a gracious work? Because His grace 
 
 moves Him to do it. 
 
 36. Yes, God owes us nothing. He would have a perfect right to 
 
 let us perish forever in our sins. But why does He try to 
 save us? Because He pities us. 
 
 37. Repeat Jer. 31, 18. "Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for 
 
 thou art the Lord, my God." 
 
 38. Who alone can turn us from sin to righteousness; from death to 
 
 life? God the Holy Ghost. 
 
 39. When we believe on Jesus, we call Him Lord, we acknowledge 
 
 Him to be our Master, but what does the apostle say 1 Cor. 
 12,3? "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the 
 Holy Ghost." 
 
 40. Repeat Col 2, 12. "Ye are risen with Him through the faith of 
 
 the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." 
 
 41. What does the apostle here say as to the origin of faith? He 
 
 says it is of the operation of God. 
 
220 LESSON 64. 
 
 42. That is, it is the worlt of God. What does David aslc of God, 
 
 Ps. 51,10? "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew 
 a right spirit within me." 
 
 43. Where must clean hearts come from? God must create them. 
 
 44. Read also John 6, 44. "No man can come to me except the Father 
 
 which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at 
 the last day." 
 
 45. Also the G5fh verse of the same chapter. "Therefore said I unto 
 
 you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given 
 unto him of my Father." 
 
 46. Read also Ezech. 3G, 25-27. "Then I will sprinkle clean water 
 
 upon you, and ye shall be clean: from ail your filthiness, and 
 from all your idols, will 1 cleanse you. A new heart also 
 will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and 
 I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I 
 will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit 
 within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye 
 shall keep my judgments and do them." 
 
 47. From all these passages it is clear that when we believe in 
 
 Christ and are saved, we have God to thank for it. He be- 
 gins, carries on, and finishes the work of conversion in us. 
 To convert means to turn about, to change. Who alone can 
 bring about this change in us? God alone can do it. 
 
 48. (218) "What does it mean to be converted, or to repent?" "It 
 
 means to be contrite for one's sins and to believe in Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 49. How many things ])elong to true conversion, or repentance? Two 
 
 things. 
 
 50. What is the first? To be contrite for one's sins, 
 
 51. And what is the second? To believe in Jesus Christ. 
 
 52. Repeat Mark 1, 15. "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of 
 
 God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." 
 
 53. When the Savior here says, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel," 
 
 He means, "Be sorry for your sins and believe in me." 
 
 54. Repeat also Luke 18, 13. "The publican standing afar off, would 
 
 not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon 
 his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner.'" 
 
 55. Here we have an example of true repentance. How did the poor 
 
 publican feel about his sins? He felt sorry. 
 
 5G. And yet what did he ask and hope for? He asked and hoped for 
 mercy. 
 
 57. In Luke 15, 11-32 we are told the parable of the prodigal son. 
 
 How did this poor boy feel about his sins? He felt sorr^y 
 for them. 
 
 58. And what did he ask for when he came home? He asked for for- 
 
 giveness. 
 
 59. What must he have believed with reference to his father? That 
 
 he would forgive him. 
 
 iiO. No man is truly converted who loves sin. But how does the truly 
 converted man regard sin? He is sorry for it and hates it. 
 
LESSON 65. 221 
 
 61. Tell me how did the apostle Peter show that he was sorry for 
 
 the great sin of denying the Savior? (Mat. 26, 75.) "He 
 went out and wept bitterly." 
 
 62. And yet Peter did not despair. He hoped for and received for- 
 
 giveness. In this respect he differed from Judas. He, too, 
 was sorry that he had betrayed the Lord. But still he was 
 not a converted man. What did he lack? He lacked faith. 
 
 63. Yes, he did not believe that his sin could be forgiven. His sor- 
 
 row drove him to despair. So what are the two things which 
 belong to true conversion, or repentance? Sorrow for sin 
 and faith in Christ. 
 
 LESSON 65. CONTRITION AND FAITH. 
 (Question 219-220.) 
 
 1. Repeat the Third Article of the Creed. "I believe in the Holy 
 
 Gho§t," etc. 
 
 2. What does this mean? "I believe that I cannot by my own 
 
 reason and strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or 
 come to Him," etc. 
 
 .3. What is necessary in order that we poor sinners may be saved? 
 We must believe in Jesus Christ. 
 
 4. Who works this faith in our hearts? The Holy Ghost. 
 
 5. This work of the Holy Ghost we call conversion or repentance. 
 
 In our last lesson we learned how many parts belong to re- 
 pentance. Can you tell me? Repentance has two parts. 
 
 6. What are they? Sorrow for sin and faith in Christ. 
 
 7. By what word do we express this sorrow for sin? (218) By the 
 
 word contrition. 
 
 8. (219) "What is contrition?" "Contrition is the sorrow of the 
 
 heart for sin." 
 
 9. What does it mean to be contrite? To be contrite means to be 
 
 sorry. 
 
 10. This we learn from Psalm 51,17: "The sacrifices of God are a 
 
 broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou 
 wilt not despise." 
 
 11. What kind of heart then is pleasing to God? A contrite heart. 
 
 12. The heart that is pleasing to God is here described not only as 
 
 a contrite heart but what else is said of it? It is called a 
 broken heart. 
 
 13. What is it on account of which our hearts should be so broken 
 
 up and sorrowful? On account of sin. 
 
 II. How does God regard sin? It offends Him. He hates it. 
 
 15. God has been kind and good to us, and when we learn that by our 
 sins we have grieved and offended Him, how should we feel 
 al)Out it? We should fee! sorry. 
 
222 LESSON 65. 
 
 16. Yes, it is an awful thing that instead of pleasing we have offended 
 
 God. And what have we deserved by our sins? We have de- 
 . served punishment. 
 
 17. What has God threatened to do with sin? He has threatened to 
 
 punish it. 
 
 18. Repeat what God says in the conclusion of tlie Ten Command- 
 
 ments. "I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the 
 iniquities 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." 
 
 19. What does this mean? "God threatens to punish all those who 
 
 transgress his commandments, therefore we should fear His 
 wrath." 
 
 20. That will do. Stop here, and tell me: what does God threaten to 
 
 do with those who transgress His commandments? He has 
 threatened to punish them. 
 
 21. Tell me when did God once punish the whole world on account of 
 
 sin? At the time of the flood. 
 
 22. What two specially godless cities did God once punish on account 
 
 of sin? The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. 
 
 23. So God punishes sin in this world, but he also punishes it in the 
 
 world to come. What is said of the wicked in Mat. 25, 46? 
 "These shall go away into everlasting punishment." 
 
 24. God punishes sin both in this world and in the world to come. 
 
 Sin brings misery and death. When we learn and exper- 
 ience this, how should we feel about our sins? We should 
 feel sorry on account of them. 
 
 25. Not all people are sorry for sin. Some take pleasure in sin, ami 
 
 even boast of it. But what does God say Is. 66, 2.? The 
 second part of the verse. "To this man will I look, even to 
 him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at 
 my word." 
 
 26. Read also Joel 2, 12. 13. "Therefore also now, saith the Lord, 
 
 turn ye^even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and 
 with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and 
 not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for 
 He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great 
 kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil." 
 
 27. David had sinned against God. How he felt about his sins we 
 
 see from Psalm 38. Let us read it. "O Lord rebuke me 
 not," etc. 
 
 28. Let us also read Psalm 130. "Out of the depths," etc. 
 
 29. Can you give me another example of one who was sorry for his 
 
 sins? The publican in the temple. 
 
 30. What did the prodigal son say to his father when he returned 
 
 from a life of sin and shame? Luke 15, 21. "Father, I have 
 sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more 
 worthy to be called thy son. 
 
 "11. How did Peter sin against the Savior during His trial before the 
 High Priest? He denied the Savior. 
 
LESSON 65. 223 
 
 32. How did he feel about this sin afterward when the Savior looked 
 
 upon him? He went out and wept bitterly. 
 
 33. But true repentance means more than sorrow for sin. Which 
 
 other disciple had also shamefully sinned against the Lord? 
 Judas, who betrayed Him. 
 
 34. He also afterwards felt sorry for what he had done, as we see 
 
 from Mat. 27, 3-5. "Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, 
 when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself and 
 brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests 
 and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the 
 innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us? .See 
 thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the 
 temple and departed, and went and hanged himself." 
 
 35. Mere sorrow is not repentance. What else does true repentance 
 
 imply besides sorrow for sin? It also implies faith in Christ. 
 
 36. (220) "What is faith?" "Faith is the confidence of the heart that 
 
 we through Christ have forgiveness of sin and a gracious God." 
 
 37. This is what Judas lacked. He had no confidence in God, no hope 
 
 of forgiveness. Contrition is sorrow, but what is faith? 
 Faith is confidence. 
 
 38. Contrition is sorrow of the heart, but what is faith? Faith is the 
 
 confidence of the heart. 
 
 39. Both parts of repentance then are found where? They are found 
 
 in the heart. 
 
 40. Yes, our hearts must be right with God. And what two things are 
 
 necessary in order that our hearts may be right with God? 
 Sorrow and confidence. 
 
 41. Repeat Heb. 11, 1. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped 
 
 for, and the evidence of things not seen." 
 
 42. What kind of things does faith deal with? It deals with things 
 
 not seen. 
 
 43. Yes, and it means confidence in these things. It lays hold of 
 
 God's promises and trusts in them. What has God promised 
 with reference to our sins? He has promised to forgive 
 them. 
 
 44. Through whom may we hope for this forgiveness? Through 
 
 Christ. 
 
 45. "Through Christ" means for His sake, and by faith in Him. What 
 
 did Christ do that God should forgive our sins through Him? 
 He suffered and died for us. 
 
 46. Yes, and now what is God willing to do for the sake of the suf- 
 
 ferings and death of Christ? To forgive our sins. 
 
 47. God is a holy and righteous God, who has threatened to punish 
 
 sin, but according to our question 220 He is also what? He 
 is also gracious. 
 
 48. And because He is a gracious God and because Christ has borne 
 
 the punishment for our sins what may we hope for? We 
 may hope that God will forgive our sins. 
 
224 LESSON 66. 
 
 49. And this confidence is tlie cliief tiling in repentance. Only then 
 
 are our hearts right with God when we have this confidence. 
 This we see from Mark 16, 15. 16. "He said unto them, go 
 ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every crea- 
 ture, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he 
 that believeth not shall be damned." 
 
 50. What is this Gospel which the apostles were to preach to ail 
 
 the world? It is the glad tidings that Jesus Christ has saved 
 us from our sins and through faith makes us forever blessed. 
 
 51. What is the' blessed result when we believe this Gospel? We are 
 
 saved. 
 
 52. The same is taught .John 3, 16. "God so loved the world that He 
 
 gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him 
 shall not perish but have everlasting life." 
 
 53. Who accordingly shall be saved? He that believes on Jesus. 
 
 54. He that believes on Jesus and is baptized in His name is truly 
 
 converted. Read also Rom. 8. 3. 4. "What the law could not 
 do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his 
 own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, con- 
 demned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law 
 might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but 
 after the Spirit. 
 
 55. Now also read Rom. 10, 4. "Christ is the end of the law for 
 
 righteousness to every one that believeth." 
 
 56. When we believe on Christ we are righteous before God, that is, 
 
 our hearts stand right with Him. Repeat 2 Tim. 1, 12. Latter 
 half of the verse. "I know whom I have believed and am 
 persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have com- 
 mitted unto Him against that day." 
 
 57. Thus faith in the person and work of the Savior saves us. In 
 
 this faith we can cheerfully await the judgment day. Read 
 also Rom, 8, 38. 39. "I am persuaded, that neither death, 
 nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things 
 present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any 
 jther creature, shall be able to separate us from the love 
 of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
 
 58. This faith in Christ is what converts a man, turns him about, and 
 
 changes his whole life. It makes a new man out of him. It 
 sets him right with God, changes his whole spirit and dispo- 
 sition not only toward God but also toward men. But this 
 faith can not exist in a heart that loves and delights in sin, 
 but rather only in what kind of heart? In a heart that is 
 sorry for sin. 
 
 59. Therefore, what two things l)elong to true repentance or conver- 
 
 sion? Sorrow for sin and faith in Christ. 
 
 LESSON 66. THE ORDER OF SALVATION. 
 
 Question 221-224. 
 
 1. Of whom does the third article of the Creed treat? It treats of 
 
 the Holy Ghost. 
 
 2. What is the special work of God the Holy Ghost? The work ot 
 
 sanctification. 
 
LESSON 66. 225 
 
 3. Yes, or the work of conversion. What two things belong to con- 
 
 conversion or repentance? Sorrow for sin and faith in Christ. 
 
 4. Why should we be sorry for sin? Because it offends God and de- 
 
 serves punishment. 
 
 5. The second part of conversion is faith in Christ. What are we 
 
 to believe concerning Christ? We are to believe that He is 
 the Son of God and the Savior of the world. 
 
 6. Who is it that works in our hearts this sorrow for sin and faith 
 
 in Christ? It is God the Holy Ghost. 
 
 7. (221) "Through what means does the Holy Ghost work all this 
 
 in us?" "Through the Word of God and the Holy Sacraments." 
 
 8. God works through means. Who gave us life? God gave us life. 
 
 9. This He did through our parents. Who preserves our life? God 
 
 preserves our life. 
 
 10. And this also He does through means. What does God supply 
 
 us with in order to preserve life? He supplies us with food, 
 clothing and shelter. 
 
 11. Now just as God works through means in the natural world, so 
 
 He also works through means in the spiritual world. From 
 Rom. 10, 17, we learn how God works faith in our hearts. 
 Repeat the passage. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and 
 hearing by the word of God." 
 
 12. Here we are told that by hearing the Word of God men are 
 
 brought to faith. So what must we do if we would come to 
 faith and be saved? We must hear the Word of God. 
 
 13. But we must not only hear it with our bodily ears. We must take 
 
 this Word to heart, as we see from lAike 11:28. "Blessed are 
 they that hear the Word of God and keep it." 
 
 14. This is how the Galatians came to be Christians, as we learn 
 
 from Gal. 3, 2. "This only would 1 learn of you, received ye 
 the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" 
 
 15. On the great day of Pentecost 3000 became believers and were 
 
 added to the church. What had this multitude listened to 
 on that day? Acts 2:14. They had listened to the preaching 
 of the Gospel. 
 
 16. And how did they receive this preaching? Acts 2:41? They 
 
 received it gladly. 
 
 17. In 1 Peter 1:23 the Word of God is called a living and life-giving 
 
 seed. Read the passage. "Being born again, not of corrupt- 
 ible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which 
 liveth and abideth forever." 
 
 18. The Savior himself in the parable of the sower calls the Word of 
 
 God a seed as we see from Luke 8:11. "Now the parable is 
 this, the seed is the Word of God." 
 
 19. But God has other means of working faith in the hearts of men. 
 
 He does it not only through the Word of God but according to 
 question 221 through what other means? Through the holy 
 sacraments. 
 
 20. Especially through Holy Baptism, as we see from Titus 3:5, fi. 
 
 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but 
 according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of re- 
 generation, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 15 
 
226 LESSON 66. 
 
 21. What is this washing of regeneration through whicli God works 
 
 faith in us and saves us? It is holy Baptism. 
 
 22. This is especially the case with little children. They can not be 
 
 reached by the preaching of the Word of God, for they can 
 not understand it. So what means does God use to work 
 faith in them? He uses Holy Baptism. 
 
 23. Read also 1 Cor. 12:13. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized 
 
 into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we 
 be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one 
 Spirit." 
 
 24. (222) "How manifold is the work of the Holy Ghost described in 
 
 the third article?" "Fourfold: He calls and gathers, en- 
 lightens, sanctifies and keeps us." 
 
 25. The calling and gathering are here taken together. What then 
 
 is the first thing which the Holy Ghost does in order to work 
 faith in our hearts? He calls and gathers us. 
 
 26. That is, He calls us together. Repeat the explanation of the 
 
 third article of the creed. "I believe that I can not by my 
 own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or 
 come to Him. .But the Holy Ghost has called me by the 
 Gospel" etc. 
 
 27. What is the first work of the Holy Ghost here mentioned? He 
 
 calls me by the Gospel. 
 
 28. And a little further on, what is said of this calling? "Even as He 
 
 calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian 
 Church on earth." 
 
 29. How does the Holy Ghost call you? He calls me by the Gospel. 
 
 30. When we hear the Gospel preached, whose voice is this calling us? 
 
 It is the voice of God the Holy Ghost. 
 
 31. When a child is running away from its mother into danger what 
 
 will the mother do? She will call the child. 
 
 32. When a hen sees her chicks in danger, what will she do? She 
 
 will call them together. 
 
 33. (223) "How does the Holy Ghost call and gather us?" "He offers 
 
 us the grace of God and gives us power to accept it in faith, 
 by which we become members of the Christian Church." 
 
 34. What does the Holy Ghost offer us when we hear the Gospel 
 
 preached? He offers us the grace of God. 
 
 35. We are all poor sinners before God and what have we deserved by 
 
 our sins? We have deserved God's punishment. 
 
 36. Now instead of punishing us as we deserve, what does God offer 
 
 us? He offers us his grace. 
 
 37. That is, what does he offer to do with our sins instead of punish- 
 
 ing them? He offers to forgive them. 
 
 38. For whose sake does God offer to forgive our sins? For Christ's 
 
 sake. 
 
 39. What did Christ do that God should offer us forgiveness for His 
 
 sake? He suffered and died for us. 
 
 40. But the Holy Ghost not only offers us the grace of God but what 
 
 else does He do? He gives us power to accept it in faith. 
 
LESSON 66. 227 
 
 41. How are we to accept this grace oi' God? We are to accept it in 
 
 faith, 
 
 42. But of ourselves we could not believe that God is willing to for- 
 
 give sin. Either we think we need no forgiveness or that 
 there is no forgiveness. Now what does the Holy Ghost do 
 in order that we may believe that God is gracious and for- 
 gives sin? He gives us the power to believe it. 
 
 43. With the call comes the power. When Jesus called Lazarus from 
 
 the dead what power did He give him with that call? The 
 power to come forth. 
 
 44. Now repeat 2 Tim. 1:9. "Who hath saved us and called us with 
 
 an holy calling, not according to our works, but according 
 to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ 
 Jesus before the world began." 
 
 45. Repeat also 1 Peter 2:9. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal 
 
 priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should 
 shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of 
 darkness into his marvelous light." 
 
 46. What has God called us out of? He has called us out of darkness. 
 
 47. Yes, out of the darkness of ignorance and sin. Into what has He 
 
 called us? Into His marvelous light. 
 
 48. Light here means the knowledge of the truth of the Gospel. But 
 
 not all men obey this call. Some close their eyes and hearts 
 against the call. As we see from Mat. 23:37. "O Jerusalem, 
 Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them 
 which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered 
 thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens 
 under her wings, and ye would not." 
 
 49. The wicked people of Jerusalem were called by the Savior, but 
 
 what was the result? They would not come. 
 
 T,0. O, let us beware lest we close our ears and hearts when Gorl 
 calls. In Mat. 22, 1-14 we have the parable of the marriage 
 of the king's son. The guests were called, that is, invited to 
 the marriage but what was the result? Verse .5. "But they 
 made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, an- 
 other to his merchandise." 
 
 'A. So we see the great majority of men today closing their hearts 
 to the call of God. They will not come and be saved. Even 
 in the Old Testament God had to complain of this. Read 
 Isaiah 65, 2. "I have spread out my hands all the day unto a 
 rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, 
 after their own thoughts." 
 
 '■2. Let us see how the Savior represents himself in Rev. 3, 20. "Be- 
 hold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, 
 and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with 
 him, and he with me." 
 
 .':'. Evei-y time you hear the Gospel preached it is the voice of God 
 calling you away from sin unto righteousness. And though 
 by nature we are inclined to look upon this as foolishness, 
 yet C!ud gives us the power to believe it. Let us use this 
 power and thus accept Ihe grace of God by faith. And what 
 do we become by such faith? We become members of the 
 Christian Church. 
 
228 LESSON 67. 
 
 54. How then do we become members of the Christian Church? By 
 
 believing the Gospel. 
 
 55. So the Holy Ghost calls and gathers us: that is, brings us together 
 
 as a company of believers. But what else does the Holy 
 Ghost do besides calling and gathering" us? He enlightens 
 us with his gifts. 
 
 56. (224) "How does the Holy Ghost enlighten us?" "He kindles 
 
 faith in our hearts, so that we know Jesus Christ as our 
 Savior." 
 
 57. When a room is dark what must be done if you would see? We 
 
 must light a candle. 
 
 58. So by nature our hearts are dark in spiritual things. We do not 
 
 know the way of life. Now what is the light that must be 
 kindled in our hearts? Faith is this light. 
 
 59. And who kindles this light of faith in our hearts? God the Holy 
 
 Ghost. 
 
 60. And whom do we learn to know by faith? We learn to know 
 
 Christ. 
 
 61. As what do we learn to know Him? We learn to know Him as 
 
 our Savior. 
 
 62. Repeat 2 Cor. 4:6. "For God who commanded the light to shine 
 
 out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light 
 of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 63. Read also 2 Cor. 4, 3-4. "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them 
 
 that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded 
 the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the 
 Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine 
 unto them." 
 
 64. Also Acts 26, 18. "To open their eyes, and to turn them from 
 
 darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, 
 that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance 
 among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." 
 
 65. So the tToly Ghost opens our eyes to see and know the truth. 
 
 But in spite of all this some men remain willfully blind. In 
 them is fulfilled the old adage: "There are none so blind as 
 those who will not see." And the other: "Convince a man 
 against his will and he is of the same opinion still." 
 
 LESSON 67. SANCTIFICATION. 
 
 Question 225. 
 
 We have seen that it is God the Holy Ghost who works faith in 
 our hearts. He does this through the Word of God and the 
 holy sacraments. Can you tell me from the explanation of 
 the Third Article what different things the Holy Ghost does 
 in order to bring us to faith and save us? He calls us by 
 the Gospel, enlightens us by his gifts, sanctifies and keeps us 
 in the true faith. 
 
 What do we call this whole work of the Holy Ghost? We call it 
 the work of Sanctification, 
 
LESSON 67. 229 
 
 3. Here the word "sanctification" is used to express the whole work 
 
 of the Holy Ghost, and yet we find that in the explanation 
 of the Third Article this word "sanctification" is used to 
 express one particular part of the work of the Holy Ghost. 
 The same word is used in a twofold sense, the wider and the 
 narrower. In the wider sense it includes everything that the 
 Holy Ghost does to bring and keep us in the faith, as these 
 things are set forth in the explanation of the Third Article. 
 For of what does the Third Article treat? The third article 
 treats of Sanctification. 
 
 4. But in the narrower sense it means only one particular part of 
 
 this work. After we say in the explanation in the catechism 
 that the Holy Ghost calls, gathers and enlightens us, what 
 else do we say He does? He sanctifies us. 
 
 5. That is He makes us holy. What does it mean to sanctify? It 
 
 means to make holy. 
 
 6. Read what is written Acts 15. 8-9. "And God which knoweth the 
 
 hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even 
 as He did unto us; and put no difference between us and 
 them, purifying their hearts by faith." 
 
 7. Accordingly what does the Holy Ghost do by faith? He purifies 
 
 our hearts by faith. 
 
 8. What other word then could you use instead of the word sanctify? 
 
 The word purify. 
 
 9. We have seen that the Holy Ghost works faith in our hearts, 
 
 now we will see the results of this faith in our lives. If 
 you light a candle in a dark room what will be the result? 
 It will be light. 
 
 10. If you kindle a fire in a cold room what will be the result? It 
 
 will get warm. 
 
 11. Faith is such a light and such a fire. What does it do with our 
 
 hearts and lives? It lights and warms them. 
 
 12. Faith may also be compared to a tree. So the Savior says 
 
 Mat. 7:17-18. "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good 
 fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. .A good 
 tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree 
 bring forth good fruit." 
 
 13. By faith in Christ we are made good trees, and what must a good 
 
 tree bring forth? A good tree must bring forth good fruit. 
 
 14. Faith is something that can not be hidden. It shows itself. We 
 
 cannot see faith, but we can see its results. We cannot see 
 the life of a tree but we can see the results of this life. And 
 what are these? Its fruits, 
 
 15. Repeat Gal. 5:6. "In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth 
 
 anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by 
 love." 
 
 IG. What is here said of faith? It worketh by love. 
 
 17. The faith which saves us is not a dead thing but a new life in us. 
 
 It changes our whole lives, it sanctifies, that is, it purifies and 
 makes us holy. How can you tell whether a man is alive or 
 dead? A live man will breathe. 
 
 18. Yes. And what else will he do? He will move and act. 
 
230 LESSON 67. 
 
 19. So faith shows itself in works. So the apostle St. James says, 
 
 chapter 2, verses 17 and 18. "Even so faith, if it hath not 
 works, is dead, being alone. .Yea, man may say, thou hast 
 faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy 
 works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." 
 
 20. How does faith shew itself according to this passage? Faith 
 
 shows itself by works. 
 
 21. (225) "How does the Holy Ghost sanctify us?" "Through faith 
 
 he gives us delight in holy or good works, and power to do 
 them." 
 
 22. Sanctification is a result of faith. A man cannot believe in Christ 
 
 and still take pleasure in sin. How does a man feel over sin 
 when he is a believer in Christ? He feels sorry for it. 
 
 23. If he feels sorry for sin he can not love it, but how does he feel 
 
 toward it? He hates it. 
 
 24. He hates sin, and what does he love? He loves what is right. 
 
 25. That is, he loves righteousness. According to our answer 225 
 
 what does the Holy Ghost give us through faith? He gives 
 us delight in holy and good works. 
 
 26. When a man has faith what does he delight or take pleasure in? 
 
 He takes pleasure in holy or good works. 
 
 27. By nature what do we delight in? We delight in sin — evil works. 
 
 28. Through faith the Holy Ghost brings about a wonderful change in 
 
 us. We love what we hated before, and we hate what we 
 loved before we were Christians. Faith is not a mere 
 matter of the intellect, but a matter of the heart. Take St. 
 Paul as an example. Before he was a Christian, how did he 
 regard the Savior? He hated and despised Him. 
 
 29. And how did he behave toward Christians? He persecuted them. 
 
 80. But after he became a believer how did he regard the Savior? 
 He loved Him and served Him. 
 
 31. And how did he behave towards Christians? He loved and 
 
 served them. 
 
 32. How did he spend the rest of his life after he was converted to 
 
 Christ? He spent it preaching the Gospel and serving the 
 Lord. 
 
 33. Think of Zaccheus, the publican. Before his conversion he was 
 
 dishonest, but after he was converted to Christ what did he 
 say? Luke 19, 8. "And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the 
 Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; 
 and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusa- 
 tion, I return him fourfold." 
 
 34. Before a man believes on Christ he may have been a drunkard. 
 
 but after he becomes a Christian how does he regard this 
 vice? He hates it and fights against It. 
 
 35. Before a man believes on the Savior he may have delighted in 
 
 lying and deceiving but after he becomes a Christian how 
 does he regard such things? He hates them. 
 
 30. And on the contrary what does he love? He loves what is honest, 
 
 truthful and upright. 
 
LKSSON 67. 281 
 
 37. What is written in the first Phalm, in the first and second verses, 
 
 concerning the righteous man; that is, the true believer? 
 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the council of the 
 ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in 
 the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the 
 Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night." 
 
 38. But the Holy Ghost, through faith, not only gives us pleasure in 
 
 holy and good worlvs, but according to our answer what else 
 does he give us? He also gives us power to do them. 
 
 39. By nature we have neither the desire nor the power to do any- 
 
 thing good. We have not the desire and even if we had, we 
 have not the power. But the Holy Ghost makes new crea- 
 tures of us and makes it posible for us to do what pleases 
 God. Repeat Ept. 2:10. "We are His workmanship, created 
 in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before 
 ordained that we should walk in them." 
 
 40. We are created unto good works. That is why God made us that 
 
 we should serve Him. He gave us hands, feet, eyes, ears and 
 all our members that we should serve Him. But the apostle 
 here says God created us in Christ .lesus. That is, he re- 
 deemed us through the sufferings and death of Christ that 
 we should serve Him. For what purpose does this passage 
 say, God created us in Christ Jesus? He created us unto good 
 works. 
 
 41. And what hath God before ordained? He hath ordained that we 
 
 should walk in good works. 
 
 42. What" does the explanation of the Second Article of the Creed say 
 
 as to the reason why Christ redeemed, purchased and won 
 you? "That I might be His own, live under Him in His king- 
 dom and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence 
 and blessedness." 
 
 43. This is also plainly taught in Titus 2:14. What is here said of 
 
 Christ? "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem 
 us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 
 zealous of good works." 
 
 44. What then was the reason why Christ gave himself for us? 
 
 "That he might purify unto himself a peculiar people." 
 
 45. And what is said of this people? They should be "zealous of 
 
 good works." 
 
 46. That God alone can give the power to do good works is evident 
 
 from Phil. 2:13. "For it is God which worketh in you both 
 to will and to do of his good pleasure." 
 
 47. Now repeat Heb. 12:14. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, 
 
 without which no man shall see God." 
 
 48. We should follow or strive for holiness. What reason does the 
 
 apostle here give for this? Without holiness no man can see 
 God. 
 
 49. God himself is pure and holy and they that would see him and be 
 
 with Him must be as He is. What are we accordingly to 
 follow after and cultivate? We are to follow after holiness. 
 
 50. And what does the apostle here say of those who are not willing 
 
 to do this? He says they shall not see God. 
 
232 LESSON 68. 
 
 51. Now repeat 1 Thess. 4:3. "For this is the will of God, even your 
 
 sanctification." 
 
 52. This is what God wants, namely, that we be holy. Sanctification 
 
 is his work. It is a growth. The new life in us must grow. 
 How does all life show itself? It shows itself by growth. 
 
 53. And this growth continues as long as we live in the world. It is 
 
 never perfect on earth. While we are in this sinful world 
 we can not be perfectly holy. There are people who are so 
 blind as to imagine they can be perfectly sanctified in this 
 world. But what does the apostle say of such in 1 John 1:8.? 
 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the 
 truth is not in us." 
 
 54. Perfect sanctification, that is, perfect holiness or sinlessness, will 
 
 be reached only in heaven. But so long as we live in this 
 world we are to grow and increase in holiness of heart and 
 life. We should be better today than we were yesterday, 
 and better tomorrow than we are today. What becomes of 
 a plant when it stops growing? It dies. 
 
 55. So our spiritual life must soon die if we do not grow. There is 
 
 no such thing as standing still. If we are not going forward 
 we are going backward in Christian life. 
 
 LESSON 68. GOOD WORKS. 
 
 Question 226-228. 
 
 1. We have seen that the faith which saves us shows itself in good 
 
 works. It can not be hidden. It is a fiew life in the soul, 
 and life shows itself by action. Where do both the willingness 
 and the power to do good works come from? The Holy 
 Ghost gives them to us. 
 
 2. (226) "What are good works?" "All that a Christian thinks, 
 
 speaks and does from faith according to God's command and 
 to His honor and glory." ' 
 
 3. Tell me from this answer who alone can do good works? Only 
 
 a Christian can do good works. 
 
 4. What must a man become before anything which he does can 
 
 please God? He must become a Christian. 
 
 5. So we read Heb. 11:6. "Without faith it is impossible to please 
 
 God." 
 
 6. The Savior Himself says the same thing, Mat. 7:17-18. "Every 
 
 good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree 
 bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil 
 fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." 
 
 7. What fruit does an apple tree bear? It bears apples. 
 
 8. What fruit does a grape vine bear? It bears grapes. 
 
 9. Can you expect figs to grow on a thistle stock? No. you cannot. 
 10. Why not? Because it is not the nature of a thistle to bear figs. 
 
LESSON 68. 233 
 
 11. Now by nature we are all corrupt trees. We are conceived and 
 
 born in sin, and all that we think or say or do is sinful. 
 What change must take place before we can do anything 
 that is really good in the sight of God? We must become 
 Christians. 
 
 12. Yes, we must be born again. Even in natural life a man must be 
 
 born before he can act. What must be done with a candle 
 before it gives light? It must be ligiited. 
 
 13. What must be done with a fire before it gives warmth? It must 
 
 be kindled. 
 
 14. But what will a fire do as soon as it is kindled? It will burn and 
 
 give forth warmth. 
 
 15. What does the Savior say of every good tree? Every good tree 
 
 bringeth forth good fruit. 
 
 16. It is the nature of the good tree to bring forth good fruit. Why 
 
 need the sun not be urged and told to shine? Because it does 
 so without being told, it is its nature to shine. 
 
 17. So it is the regenerated nature of the Christian that does good 
 
 works. What does the Savior say of all true believers. 
 John 15:5? "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that 
 abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much 
 fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." 
 
 18. What comes of a branch when it is cut off from the vine? It 
 
 withers and dies. 
 
 19. So we can live and bear the fruit of good woi'ks only so long as 
 
 we remain in living connection with the Savior by faith. Now 
 tell me what it is in a Christian that prompts him to do 
 good works? It is faith. 
 
 20. Faith is the new life which shows itself through works. As St. 
 
 James says, James 2:17-18: "Faith if it hath not works, is 
 dead, being alone." 
 
 21. Repeat Rom. 14:23. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." 
 
 22. Faith in Christ is the source of all good works. There may be 
 
 works which outwardly appear to be good without faith. A 
 man may avoid sin for fear of punishment, he may give to 
 the poor to make himself a name. He may give because he 
 expects to receive again. But are such works really good in 
 the sight of God? No, they are not. 
 
 23. They lack the proper motive. Read what is written 1 Sam. 16:7. 
 
 The last half of the verse. "For the Lord seeth not as man 
 seeth; for man looketh upon the outward appearance but the 
 Lord looketh upon the heart." 
 
 24. God judges our works by our motives. How must He regard 
 
 them if they are done from selfishness or vanity? He can 
 not be pleased with them, 
 
 25. Not everything that a Christian does is good; but according to our 
 
 answer what is good? Everything that a Christian does 
 through faith. 
 
 26. No Christian is perfect and therefore only when he acts thrcigh 
 
 faith are his works good. Now tell me from question 226. 
 according to what rule must works be done in order to be 
 good? According to God's command. 
 
234 LESSON 68. 
 
 27. Only that is good which God has commanded. What good thing, 
 
 for instance, has He commanded children? He has com- 
 manded them to obey their parents. 
 
 28. How do we know that it is a good work for children to honor 
 
 and obey their parents? Because God Himself has com- 
 manded it. 
 
 29. What does. the Savior say Mat. 15:9? In vain do they worship 
 
 me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." 
 
 30. Now tell me from our question in what three forms do good 
 
 works show themselves? In thoughts, words and deeds. 
 
 31. How does the Savior describe the evil heart of man? Mat. 15:19. 
 
 "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, 
 fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." 
 
 32. The Savior here tells us that out of the evil heart of the natural 
 
 man proceed evil thoughts. Then what kind of thoughts 
 proceed out of the heart of a good man, that is, — a Christian? 
 Good thoughts. 
 
 33. How do the thoughts of our hearts find expression? By words. 
 
 34. A man who thinks right will also talk right. If his thoughts are 
 
 pure, how will his words be? His words will also be pure. 
 
 35. Repeat Col. 3:17. "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in 
 
 the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thinks to God and the 
 Father by Him." 
 
 36. But when a man thinks right, not only his words, but what else 
 
 will be right? His actions will also be right. 
 
 37. A Christian thinks, speaks and acts according to God's command, 
 
 but what is the great object of all that he thinks, speaks 
 and acts? He does it all to the honor and glory of God. 
 
 38. Not his own, but whose honor and glory is he seeking? He is 
 
 seeking the honor and glory of God. 
 
 39. So the apostle admonishes 1 Cor. 10:31. "Whether therefore ye 
 
 eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of 
 God." . 
 
 40. (227) "But why do the good works of Christians, seeing they are 
 
 not all perfect, please God?" "Because Christians, through 
 faith, are God's dear children, and the perfect righteousness 
 of Christ covers all their imperfections." 
 
 41. Can a Christian do perfectly good works? No, he cannot. 
 
 42. Why not? Because even Christians are poor sinners. 
 
 43. And yet how does God regard these imperfect works of Christians? 
 
 He is pleased with them. 
 
 44. But how can God be pleased with works that are not perfect? To 
 
 answer this tell me from question 227 what are Christians? 
 Christians are God's dear children. 
 
 45. How do they become His dear Children? Through faith in Christ. 
 
 46. When a father loves his child how will he regard even the im- 
 
 perfect works of the child? He will be pleased with them. 
 
 47. All our works are imperfect, but how are all these imperfections 
 
 covered? They are covered by the perfect righteousness of 
 Christ. 
 
50. 
 
 LESSON 69. 28o 
 
 What kind of rii;liteuiisness is the righteousness of Christ? It 
 is a perfect righteousness. 
 
 And this pleases God. And for Christ's sake God is pleased with 
 us. Repeat Rom. 8:1. "There is therefore no condemnation 
 to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the 
 flesh, but after the spirit." 
 
 And again Rom. 8::J:!-34. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of 
 God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that con- 
 demneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that rose again, 
 who is ever at the right hand of God, who also maketh in- 
 tercession for us." 
 51. (228) "Why should we do good works?" "Not in order to be- 
 come just and be saved, but to thank God and prove our faith 
 by them." 
 
 52 So often, when men are asked why they should do good works 
 
 what do they answer? In order to become just and be saved. 
 
 53 Men do what they consider good works because they want to go 
 
 to heaven. But this is a wrong motive. We are saved, not 
 by our works, but by faith, as we see from Rom. 3:28. 
 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith with- 
 out the deeds of the law." 
 
 54 And again Eph. 2:8-9. "By grace are ye saved through faith; and 
 
 that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, 
 
 lest any man should boast." 
 55. What is the first reason given in question 228 why we should do 
 
 good works? To thank God. 
 What do we owe God for all his bodily and spiritual blessings? 
 
 We owe him thanks. 
 And how can we best show our thankfulness? By doing good 
 
 works, by obeying his commandments. 
 And what other reason is here given why we should do good 
 
 works? We prove our faith by them. 
 So the Savior says. Mat. 5:16. "Let you light so shine before 
 
 men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your 
 
 Father which is in heaven." 
 And St. .lames says. James 2: 17-18. "Faith, if it hath not works, 
 
 is dead, being alone. Yes, a man may say, thou hast faith and 
 
 1 have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I 
 
 will shew thee my faith by my works." 
 Repeat also .John 13:35. "By this shall all men know that ye are 
 
 my disciples, if ye have love one to another." 
 
 56. 
 
 57. 
 58. 
 59. 
 
 60. 
 61. 
 
 LESSON 69. PRESERVATION IN THE FAITH. 
 
 Question 229. 
 
 1. How are we saved? We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. 
 
 2. Who works this faith in us? The Holy Ghost. 
 
 3. How is this set forth in the explanation of the Third Article? "I 
 
 believe that I cannot, by my own reason or strength, believe 
 in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him. .But the Holy 
 Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His 
 gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith." 
 
286 LESSON 69. 
 
 4. We here confess that the Holy Ghost calls us by the Gospel, en- 
 
 lightens us with His gifts and sanctifies us in the true faith. 
 What little word did I just now omit? The word "keeps". 
 
 5. Yes, the Holy Ghost also "keeps us in the one true faith." This 
 
 little word "keeps" is of very great importance. For unless 
 we are kept in the true faith we cannot be saved. Read 
 what is written. Rev. 2:10. "Be thou faithful unto death, and 
 I will give thee a crown of life." 
 
 6. As God alone can work faith in us, He alone can keep us in the 
 
 faith. What would become of our natural, bodily life if God 
 did not preserve it? It would perish. .We would die. 
 
 7. God is not only the Creator but also the Preserver of our bodily 
 
 life. So in our spiritual life. He not only brings us to faith, 
 but what else does He do? He preserves us in this faith. 
 
 8. If we were left to ourselves, after God has brought us to faith, 
 
 what would become of our faith? We would lose it. 
 
 9. (229) "How does the Holy Ghost keep us?" "He preserves us in 
 
 the true faith unto eternal life." 
 
 10. Repeat 1 Peter 1:5. "Ye are kept by the power of God through 
 
 faith unto salvation." 
 
 11. By what power are we kept unto salvation? We are kept by the 
 
 power of God unto salvation. 
 
 12. Now read Phil. 1:6. "Being confident of this very thing, that He 
 
 which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until 
 the day of Jesus Christ." 
 
 13. Read also Heb. 12:2, the first part of the verse. "Looking unto 
 
 Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." 
 
 14. What is Jesus here called? He is called the "author and finisher 
 
 of our faith." 
 
 15. How does God preserve our natural, bodily lives? He provides 
 
 us with food, drink, clothing and shelter. 
 
 16. These are the means through which God preserves our natural, 
 
 bodily lives. Now let us see through what means he pre- 
 serves our spiritual lives. What is the commonest article 
 of bodily food? Bread is the commonest article of bodily 
 food. 
 
 17. Read what Jesus says of himself, John 6:48. "I am the bread of 
 
 life." 
 
 18. We feed upon Him when we hear His Word. Read Luke 14:15, 
 
 the second half of the verse. "Blessed is he that shall eat 
 bread in the kingdom of God." 
 
 19. God's word is the bread of life. This is the spiritual food through 
 
 which we are kept alive spiritually. But what must we do 
 with bread if we would have it keep us alive? We must 
 eat it. 
 
 20. And what must we do with God's word if it is to keep us alive 
 
 spiritually? We must hear it. 
 
 21. How must we hear it according to Luther's explanation of the 
 
 third Commandment? We must gladly hear and learn it. 
 
 22. Read Luke 11:28. "Blessed are they that hear the word of God 
 
 and keep It." 
 
LESSON 69. 237 
 
 23. What else do we need besides food to preserve life? We also 
 
 need drink. 
 
 24. Read .John 7:'M, the second half of the verse. "In the last day, 
 
 that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, 
 if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." 
 
 25. .lesns is the true water of life as the prophet Isaiah says, chapter 
 
 12:?,. "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the 
 wells of salvation." 
 
 2G. God's word, the l^lessed Gospel of Christ, is the true water of 
 life. But if water is to do us good what must we do with it? 
 We must drink it. 
 
 27. Yes, and plenty of it. How do we drink this spiritual water of 
 
 life? When we gladly hear and learn the word of God. 
 
 28. So the word of God is the great means through which Grod pre- 
 
 serves us in the true faith unto eternal life. But this word 
 comes to us not only by means of our ears but also by means 
 of our eyes, namely in the Holy Sacraments. They are called 
 the visible Word. Especially the holy sacrament of the altar, 
 the Lord's Supper, is a means through which God strengthens 
 and preserves faith. Here we come into most intimate fel- 
 lowship with the Savior, as we shall learn under the last 
 chief part of the Catechism. If the Lord's Supper is a means 
 to strengthen our faith what should this fact induce us to 
 to do with this Sacrament? It should induce us to receive the 
 Sacrament frequently. 
 
 2D. God preserves faith in us through the Word and the Sacraments. 
 But not all who hear this Word and receive the Sacrament 
 are strengthened and preserved in faith. Whose fault is this? 
 It is their own fault. 
 
 no. Yes, they harden their hear,is against the Holy Ghost when they 
 hear the W^ord and go to the Sacrament. And when a man 
 wilfully resists the Holy Ghost, what becomes of his faith? 
 He loses it. 
 
 .11. Read Heb. .1:7-8. "Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye 
 hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the day of pro- 
 vocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness." 
 
 32. Against what are we here solemnly warned? Against hardening 
 
 our hearts. 
 
 33. That means wilfully resisting the Holy Ghost when He brings 
 
 us the truth. Who did this according to the passage just 
 read? The children of Israel in the wilderness. 
 
 34. Another example of such hardening of the heart and resisting the 
 
 Holy Ghost is King Saul. What did God give him when he 
 came to be king of Israel? 1 Sam. 10:9. "And it was so, that 
 when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave 
 him another heart." 
 
 35. Saul made a fair beginning, but he did not keep it up. He soon 
 
 turned his heart away from God and became a reprobate, so 
 that God rejected him. Read 1 Sam. 15:26. "And Samuel 
 said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast 
 rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected 
 thee from being king of Israel." 
 
238 LESSON 69. 
 
 36. Because Saul resisted the known truth he was not kept in the 
 
 faith but fell away. And what became of him? He took his 
 own life and was lost. 
 
 37. Which one of the disciples betrayed the Savior? Judas Iscariot. 
 
 38. He too, no doubt, was a true believer. What office did he hold 
 
 among the twelve? He carried the bag, that is, he was 
 treasurer. 
 
 39. But how did he deal with the money entrusted to him? John 12:6. 
 
 "This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because 
 he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put 
 therein." 
 
 40. The sin of avarice so took possession of his heart that he fell 
 
 away from the faith. He was a hypocrite when he professed 
 to be a follower and a friend of the Savior. How did he 
 show this in the garden of Gethsemane? He betrayed the 
 Savior with a kiss. 
 
 41. What is a kiss the sign of? A kiss is the sign of friendship. 
 
 42. By this sign of friendship he betrayed the Lord into the hands 
 
 of his enemies. When he did this he had lost the faith. He 
 had heard the Savior's preaching and seen his miracles, and 
 yet he was lost. Can you tell me why he was not kept or 
 preserved in the faith? Because he hardened his heart 
 against the truth. 
 
 43. Children, it is an awful thing to resist the known truth, to harden 
 
 one's heart against the word of God. Beware of this, if you 
 would be kept in the faith and be saved. Now let us also see 
 some cases just the opposite of Saul and Judas. Who was 
 the man whom Samuel anointed as king of Israel in Saul's 
 stead? He anointed David. 
 
 44. David also sinned, and fell away from God. But when God sent 
 
 the prophet Nathan to admonish him to repent, what 
 did David say? 2 Sam. 12:13. "And David said unto Nathan, 
 'I have sinned against the Lord', And Nathan said unto David 
 'The Lord hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die'." 
 
 45. He did not resist the word of God but yielded to It. And what 
 
 did the prophet say to him on that account? "The Lord hath 
 put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." 
 
 46. Thus David was restored to faith and preserved in it. Which one 
 
 of the disciples besides Judas shamefully sinned against Jesus, 
 during his trial before the High Priest? The Apostle Peter. 
 
 47. Jesus had warned him in advance against this sin, but he was too 
 
 sure that he was strong enough to stand any temptation. 
 What did he do when he was accused of being one of the 
 Lord's disciples? He denied with an oath that he even 
 knew the Savior. 
 
 48. This was an awful sin. Peter fell away from the faith when he 
 
 did this. But afterwards, when according to the Savior's 
 prediction, the cock crew and the Savior turned and looked 
 at him, what did Peter do? He went out and wept bitterly. 
 
 49. He repented of his sin and was restored and preserved in faith. 
 
 Read what the Savior says. Mark 14:38. "Watch ye and pray, 
 lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is willing but 
 the flesh is weak." 
 
LESSON 70. 239 
 
 50. When we are tempted to fall away from the faith, what should we 
 
 do? We should watch and pray. 
 
 51. Prayer is very important with reference to our preservation in 
 
 the faith. We have seen that God alone can preserve us in 
 the faith. When a man is in danger and cannot help himself, 
 what does he do? He calls for help from someone else. 
 
 52. And so we should do when we feel ourselves growing weak in 
 
 faith. Upon whom should we call when we are in danger? 
 We should call upon God. 
 
 53. And what does God say he will do when we call upon him in 
 
 trouble? Psalm 50:15. "Call upon me in the day of trouble: 
 I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." 
 
 LESSON 70. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Question 230-232. 
 
 1. How does the explanation of the third article describe the work 
 
 of the Holy Ghost in us? "I believe that the Holy Ghost has 
 called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanc- 
 tified and kept me in the true faith." 
 
 2. This he does to you, but not only to you. What else does the ex- 
 
 planation say? "Even as he calls, gathers, enlightens and 
 sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth." 
 
 3. Whom does the Holy Ghost call, gather, enlighten, sanctify and 
 
 keep? The whole Christian Church on earth. 
 
 4. (230) "Which words of the Third Article treat of the Church?" 
 
 "I believe the holy Christian Church, the communion of 
 saints." 
 
 5. (231) "What do we here understand by the church?" "The com- 
 
 munion of saints, or all those who truly believe in Christ." 
 
 6. The Church is here called a communion. If you omit the first 
 
 syllable of this word, what word remains. The word "union." 
 
 7. By this we mean two or more things that are brought together 
 
 and looked upon as one. For instance, what do we mean 
 when we speak of our country as the "Union"? We mean the 
 whole land in which we live. 
 
 8. Why is it called "the Union"? Because it is composed of the 
 
 several states, which make up our country. 
 
 9. So the church is a union, a combination of individual believers. 
 
 Can you give me another word which means about the same 
 thing as the word union? A gathering, or a company. 
 
 10. What kind of gathering or communion is the Chm-ch? The church 
 
 is the communion of saints. 
 
 11. Who are these saints, according to question 231? All those who 
 
 truly believe in Christ. 
 
240 LESSON 70. 
 
 12. Repeat Eph. 2:19-22. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers 
 
 and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the 
 household of God; built upon the foundation of the apostles 
 and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner 
 stone; in whom the whole building fitly framed together 
 groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also 
 are builded together for an habitation of God through the 
 Spirit.;' 
 
 13. Under what figure is the Church here represented? Under the 
 
 figure of a building, a temple. 
 
 14. A building is composed of stones and other material. What is 
 
 that called upon which the building rests? It is called the 
 foundation. 
 
 15. What is the foundation of the Church? The foundation of the 
 
 apostles and prophets. 
 
 16. And who is the chief cornerstone in this foundation? Jesus Christ 
 
 Himself. 
 
 17. In whom do we believe as Christians? We believe in Christ. 
 
 18. And what do we become by such faith? We become Christians. 
 
 19. Repeat Eph. 5:25-27. "Christ also loved the church, and gave 
 
 Himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with 
 the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it 
 to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, 
 or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without 
 blemish." 
 
 20. What is here said of Christ's relation to the Church? "He loved 
 
 the church and gave Himself for it." 
 
 21. And what else did He do? He sanctified and cleansed the Church. 
 
 22. How did He do this? By the washing of water by the Word. 
 
 This is a reference to baptism. Since when are we members 
 of the Christian church? Since we were baptized. 
 
 23. How were we made members of the Church? Through baptism. 
 
 24. Repeat Rom. 8:9. "If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is 
 
 none of His." 
 
 25. What is here said of those who are Christ's? They have His 
 
 spirit. 
 
 2G. And only those who have His spirit are His, that is members of 
 the church. As God sees the church, whom does He count 
 as its members? Only true believers. 
 
 27. Repeat Mat. 13:38. "The field is the world; the good seed are 
 
 the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children 
 of the wicked one." 
 
 28. When you look at a wheat field in the springtime, how does it 
 
 look? It looks green. 
 
 29. What is there on this field besides wheat? There are also tares 
 
 or weeds on it. 
 
 30. Yes, and you cannot distinguish one from the other; and yet 
 
 tares are not wheat. Whom does the Savior here compare 
 to wheat? The children of the kingdom, true believers. 
 
LESSON 70. 241 
 
 31. And whom does He compare to the tares? The children of the 
 
 wicked one, or hypocrites. 
 
 32. These hypocrites do not really belong to the church, but are only 
 
 outwardly connected with it. When a wagon is drawn 
 through the mud, what clings to the wheels? Dirt clings to 
 the wheels. 
 
 33. Is the dirt really a part of the wagon? No, it only clings to it. 
 
 34. The wagon would be a great deal better off without the dirt. 
 
 But so long as you are pulling the wagon through the mud 
 the dirt will stick to the wheels. So the wicked will cling 
 outwardly to the Church, although the Church would be a 
 great deal better off without them, and yet who alone are 
 members of the church? Only true believers. 
 
 35. (232) "Why do we say I believe the Church?" "Because the 
 
 Word of God testifies, that at all times there is a communion 
 of saints, and yet we cannot see their faith with our eyes." 
 
 36. We say in the Third Article I believe in the holy Christian church. 
 
 We do not say I see it. The Church as a matter of faith 
 and not of sight. We can see the building called a Church. 
 We can see the people who are connected with, and worship 
 in this church. But what can we not see according to ques- 
 tion 232? We cannot see their faith. 
 
 37. That is, we cannot tell with infallible certainty who are true be- 
 
 lievers. And that is because we cannot see into men's 
 hearts. Who alone can do this? God alone can see into the 
 heart. 
 
 38. Repeat Luke 17:20-21. "The kingdom of God cometh not with 
 
 observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or lo, there! 
 for behold, the kingdom of God is within you." 
 
 39. Where accordingly is God's kingdom? It is within us, in our 
 
 hearts. 
 
 40. What does God's Word testify concerning the communion of 
 
 saints? The Word of God testifies that at all times there is 
 a communion of saints. 
 
 41. In 1 Kings 19:14-18 we have part of the story of the prophet 
 
 Elijah. He was discouraged because he thought he was the 
 only true believer left in Israel. But what did the Lord say? 
 Verse 18. "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all 
 the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth 
 which hath not kissed him." 
 
 42. So the Church is in the world even when it appears to have been 
 
 completely wiped out. Read 2 Sam. 15:11. "And with Ab- 
 salom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were 
 called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not 
 anything." 
 
 43. Absalom was in rebellion against king David his father. But 
 
 many of his followers did not know his evil design. How did 
 they follow their wicked leader? They followed him in their 
 simplicity. They did it ignorantly. 
 
 44. So we may often not only count men into the Church who are 
 
 out of it, but what other mistake may we make? We may 
 count men out who are really in. 
 16 
 
242 LESSON /I. 
 
 45. But God makes no such mistake, And why? Because He sees 
 
 the heart. 
 
 46. Repeat Mat. 16: is. "And I say also unto three, that thou art 
 
 Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the 
 gates of hell shall not prevail against it." 
 
 47. What noble confession had Peter made concerning the Savior? 
 
 Verse, 16. "And Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art 
 the Christ, the Son of the living God." 
 
 48. On account of the confession which he had made the Savior called 
 
 him a rock. The truth which he confessed is the rock upon 
 which the Church is founded. And what does the Savior say 
 with reference to this His Church? He says the gates of hell 
 shall not prevail against it. 
 
 49. That is, the devil shall not succeed in destroying the Church. It 
 
 shall remain forever. Repeat Luke 1:33. "And He shall 
 reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom 
 there shall be no end." 
 
 50. This is a prophecy concerning the coming Savior of the world. 
 
 What is here said of His kingdom? It shall continue forever. 
 
 51. Read also what is prophesied, Dan. 7:14, concerning the Messiah. 
 
 "And there shall be given Him dominion, and glory, and a 
 kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should 
 serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which 
 shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not 
 be destroyed." 
 
 52. What is here said of the kingdom of the Messiah? It shall be 
 
 an everlasting dominion, it shall not pass away. 
 
 53. But this is a matter of faith and not of sight. We believe there 
 
 will always be a Church, although it often seemed as though 
 the Church could not exist much longer. Yes, infidels have 
 boasted that the days of the Church are numbered. There 
 will always be some true believers in the world, even though 
 they may be few. God knows who they are, as we learn 
 from 2 Tim. 2:19. "Nevertheless the foundation of God 
 stand^th sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that 
 are His. And let every one that nameth the name of Christ 
 depart from iniquity." 
 
 54. What is here said of the Lord? The lord knoweth them that are 
 
 His. 
 
 55. When we say in the Creed: I believed in the Church, we make it 
 
 a matter of faith, and faith deals with things that cannot be 
 seen, as we learn from Heb. 11:1. "Faith is the substance 
 of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." 
 
 LESSON 7L THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH— (Continued). 
 Question 233-236. 
 
 1. What was the subject of our last lesson? The Christian Church. 
 
 2. Who belongs to the Church? All true believers. 
 
 3. What do you confess in the Third Article with reference to the 
 
 Church? I believe in the Holy Christian Church. 
 
LESSON yt. 243 
 
 4. What two attributes are here given to the Church? The attrib- 
 
 utes HOLY and CHRISTIAN. 
 
 5. What does the word holy mean? The word holy means pure, 
 
 without sin. 
 
 6. (22;]) "Why is the Church called holy?" "Because Christians by 
 
 faith are perfectly holy in Christ, and begin to lead a holy 
 life." 
 
 7. The Church is composed of poor sinners, and yet it is said to be 
 
 holy. What do you call the Church in this third article? 
 The "communion of saints." 
 
 8. Saints are holy people. According to question 233, how are we 
 
 Christians to be regarded holy? We are perfectly holy in 
 Christ. 
 
 9. What does God do with the sins of those who believe in Christ? 
 
 He forgives them. 
 
 10. Christians are regarded by God as holy, not because they have no 
 
 sins, but why? Because their sins are forgiven. 
 
 11. By faith we are one with Christ. Christ is holy, then how must 
 
 God regard us? He must regard us as holy. 
 
 12. Read Eph. 5:25-27. "Christ also loved the church, and gave Him- 
 
 self for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the 
 washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to 
 Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or 
 any such thing; but it should be holy and without blemish." 
 
 13. But there is another reason why the Church is called holy. What 
 
 is it? Because Christians begin to lead a holy life. 
 
 14. Read Luke 1:74-75. "That He would grant us, that we being de- 
 
 livered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him 
 without fear in holiness and righteousness, all the days of 
 our life." 
 
 15. A Christian is a man who hates sin and loves righteousness. 
 
 What kind of man would you call such a man? I would call 
 him a holy man. 
 
 16. Read 1 Cor. 1:2. "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, 
 
 to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, 
 with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus 
 Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." 
 
 17. What were these Christians at Corinth called to be? They were 
 
 called to be saints. 
 
 18. That is, they were called to be holy people. And they began to 
 
 obey this call. They made a beginning in holiness of life. 
 Now note this word "beginning". Christians begin to lead a 
 holy life, but they do not finish it in this world. They begin 
 and grow, but they are not perfect in holiness so long 
 as they live in this world. Where do Christians expect to 
 be perfect in holiness? In heaven. 
 
 19. What other attribute has the church besides being holy? It is 
 
 called Christian. 
 
 20. After whom is the Church called Christian? It is called Christian 
 
 after Christ. 
 
 21. (234) "Why is the church called Christian?" "Because Christ 
 
 alone is its foundation and head." 
 
244 LESSON 71. 
 
 22. In what relation does Christ stand to the Church, first of all? He 
 
 is its foundation. 
 
 23. Repeat Bph. 2:19-22. "Now tiierefore ye are no more strangers 
 
 and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the 
 household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the 
 Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief 
 corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together 
 groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also 
 are bullded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit." 
 
 24. Upon whom is the Church built? The Church is built upon 
 
 Chrisf. 
 
 25. Christ is the founder of the Church and what is it called on that 
 
 account? It is called Christian. 
 
 26. If it were not for Christ there would be no Church. ■ His suffer- 
 
 ings and death made the Church possible. Repeat Eph. 
 5:25-27. "Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for 
 it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of 
 water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a 
 glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such 
 thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." 
 
 27. In what other relation does Christ stand to the Church besides 
 
 being its foundation? He is also its Head. 
 
 28. Repeat Mat. 2:!: 8. "One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye 
 
 are brethren." 
 
 29. What does the name "Master" here mean? It means Lord. 
 
 30. As Christians we are under His authority. Whom do we obey? 
 
 We obey Christ. 
 
 31. In the Church His Word is law. His life is our pattern. If He 
 
 goes before, what should we do? We should follow Him. 
 
 32. Read 1 Peter 2:21-22. "For even hereunto were ye called: because 
 
 Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we 
 should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile 
 found in His mouth." 
 
 33. Read also John 13:13. "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say 
 
 well; for so I am." 
 
 34. (235) "Where is this Church' found on earth?" "Where the 
 
 Word of God is preached and the Sacraments are administered 
 according to Christ's institution." 
 
 35. We have seen that the Church is invisible, that is that God alone 
 
 knows who are members of the Church. But there are cer- 
 tain signs or marlvs by which we can tell where the Church is. 
 What is the first thing to notice when we are looking for the 
 Church? Where the Word of God is preached. 
 
 36. When we see people coming together to preach and hear the Word 
 
 of God, as what do we regard such people? We regard them 
 as Christians. 
 
 37. They may not all be Christians, but we may be sure there are 
 
 some Christians among them, because God has promised 
 that His Word shall not be preached in vain, as we see from 
 Is. 55:10-11. "For as the rain cometh down and the snow 
 from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the 
 earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give 
 seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word 
 be that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me 
 void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall 
 prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." 
 
LESSON 71. 246 
 
 oS. Ill the parable of the sower (l^uke 8:11-15) the Lord tells us that 
 some of the seed fell by the wayside, some fell on stony 
 ground, and some fell among thorns, but not all the seed 
 was wasted. Where did some also fall? Some fell on good 
 ground. 
 
 39. So there will always be some who believe God's Word when it is 
 
 preached. It is therefore of great importance that the Word 
 of God be preached. J'or what does St. Paul say? Rom. 10:17. 
 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word 
 of God." 
 
 40. And it is important that God's Word be preached pure, without 
 
 any mixture of error. This is not always the case, however. 
 There are churches who preach God's Word, but along with 
 it also preach human error. What does the Savior say? 
 John 8:31-32. "If ye continue in my Word then are ye my 
 disciples Indeed; and ye shall know the truth and the truth 
 shall make you free." 
 
 41. Faithfulness to the Word of Christ is a mark of true discipleship. 
 
 The Church is outwardly divided into many denominations. 
 Can you mention some of them? The Roman Catholics, the 
 Lutherans, the Methodists, the Presbyterians and the Bap- 
 tists. 
 
 42. This should not be. There is only one Word of God, one truth 
 
 unto salvation. The Church really is one. All Christians 
 have one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one Holy Spirit and 
 one home in heaven as the apostle says. Bph. 4:4-5. "There 
 is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one 
 hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one 
 God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, 
 and in you all." 
 
 43. Inwardly all Christians are one, and it is wrong that they are 
 
 outwardly so divided. These divisions are caused by the 
 fact that some have departed from the ])ure teaching of the 
 Word of God in some respects. Read 1 Cor. 1:10. "Now I 
 beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no di- 
 visions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together 
 in the same mind and in the same judgment." 
 
 44. Now read Mat. 28:19-20. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, 
 
 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 
 and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things 
 whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you 
 always, even unto the end of the world." 
 
 45. When Christ sent out His disciples to establish the Church what 
 
 did He tell them to preach? He told them to preach th^ 
 Gospel. 
 
 46. And in preaching the Gospel what should they teach? They 
 
 should teach all things whatsoever He commanded. 
 
 47. So, among all denominations, which is the true Church? That 
 
 denomination which teaches ail things whatsoever Christ 
 has commanded. 
 
 48. Where God's word is preached pure and willingly received, there 
 
 is the true Church, as the Savior says. John 10:27-28. "My 
 sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 
 and I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never 
 perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." 
 
246 LESSON yi. ■ 
 
 49. And this is the church or denomination to which we belong. By 
 
 what name is it known? It is called the Evangelical 
 Lutheran Church. 
 
 50. The term "Evangelical" means Gospel. Why is our church called 
 
 the Gospel Church. Because It preaches the Gospel. 
 
 51. But other churches also claim to preach the Gospel. Why should 
 
 our Church deserve this name more than others? Because 
 it preaches the pure Gospel. 
 
 52. By what other name is our Church known? It is also called 
 
 Lutheran. 
 
 53. After whom is it called Lutheran? After Dr. Martin Luther. 
 
 Luther was a great reformer who, under the guidance of God, 
 cleansed the church from the errors of Popery and again re- 
 stored the pure Gospel. We call ourselves Lutheran, not 
 because we believe in Luther, but in the truth which Luther 
 taught. Now tell me from question 235 what is the other 
 mark by which we can tell where the Church is, besides the 
 preaching of the Word of God? Where the sacraments are 
 administered according to the institution of Christ. 
 
 54. Where people come together to baptize and be baptized, to give 
 
 and receive the Lord's Supper, what do we call these people? 
 We call them Christians. 
 
 55. By what sacrament are little children received into the Church? 
 
 by the sacrament of Baptism. 
 
 56. So where Baptism is administered there we know must be a 
 
 Church, there must be Christians. And where the Lord's 
 Supper is administered there Christians are strengthened in 
 the faith and we may be sure there is the Church. How 
 should the sacraments be administered? According to the 
 institution of Christ. 
 
 57. That means, just as the Savior gave them. In which church is 
 
 this done? In our Evangelical Lutheran Church. 
 
 58. And therefore what do we believe concerning our Church? We 
 
 believe that she is the true Church. 
 
 59. Yes, the true visible Church of Christ on earth. She teaches the 
 
 truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and she 
 administers the sacraments according to the institution of 
 Christ. But besides our Evangelical Lutheran Church there 
 are other churches. These churches also teach parts of the 
 Word of God, but they do not teach it pure. And insofar 
 as they depart from the truth and teach error, what kind of 
 churches are they? They are false churches. 
 
 60. (286) "Is it then a matter of indifference to which visible church 
 
 we belong?" "By no means; for churches teaching false doc 
 trine are to be avoided." 
 
 6L We often hear people say: O, it makes no difference to what 
 church we belong. We are all aiming for the same place. 
 Does it make any difference whether we eat pure or adulter- 
 ated food, whether we drink pure or impure water, whether 
 we breathe fresh or foul air? It certainly does. 
 
 62. And on that account what should we do with churches teaching 
 false doctrine? We should avoid them. 
 
LESSON "^2. 247 
 
 63. What does the Savior say Matth. 7:15? "Beware of false prophets, 
 
 which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are 
 ravening wolves." 
 
 64. And what does the apostle Paul say Rom. 16:17? "I beseech you, 
 
 brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences con- 
 trary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." 
 
 65. Repeat also Matth. 10:32.::;:J. "Whosoever therefore shall confess 
 
 me before men, him will I confess also before my Father 
 which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before xx\^x\, 
 him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." 
 
 66. Now read Tit. 3:10. "A man that is an heretic after the first and 
 
 second admonition reject." 
 
 67. Also 1 .John 4:1. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the 
 
 spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets 
 are gone out into the world." 
 
 68. Again 2 John 10-11. "if there come any unto you, and bring not this 
 
 doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him 
 God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker 
 of his evil deeds." 
 
 69. From all these passages we see that we should have no religious 
 
 fellowship with churches teaching false doctrines. By this 
 we do not mean to say that our Church is the only saving 
 Church and that there are no Christians except the Lutherans. 
 But when we worship and commune with a Church we thereby 
 confess that we accept its doctrine, and why can we not 
 make such a confession with reference to other churches? 
 Because in some things they teach contrary to the Word of 
 God. 
 
 LESSON 72. THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN, OR JUSTIFICATION. 
 
 (Question 237-239.) 
 
 1. What is the next truth which we confess in the third article of 
 
 the creed? "I believe the forgiveness of sins." 
 
 2. (237) "Why do you say in this article: 'I believe the forgive- 
 
 ' ness of sins'?" "Because I, according to God's Word, most as- 
 suredly hold, that God in His Christian Church daily and 
 richly forgives all sins to me and all believers." 
 
 3. According to what do we hold or believe this doctrine of the for- 
 
 giveness of sins? \ccording to the Word of God. 
 
 4. This teaching is not something which men have invented, but 
 
 it is plainly taught in the Bible. And it is a most precious 
 doctrine. Who is it that forgives sins? It is God who for- 
 gives sins. 
 
 5. Where does God forgive sins? In his Christian Church. 
 
 6. Outside of the Christian Church there is no forgiveness of sins. 
 
 To whom does God forgive sins? To me and all believers. 
 
 7. How does God forgive sins? He forgives sins richly and daily. 
 
 8. What sins does God forgive? He forgives all sins. 
 
248 LESSON 72. 
 
 9. God is so bountiful in iiis dealings with us that He forgives not 
 only the small but the great sins. And how often does He 
 do this? He does it daily. 
 
 10. We sin every day, and on that account what do we need every 
 
 day? We need forgiveness every day. 
 
 11. (238) "Why is this necessary?" "Because I then only become 
 
 just before God, when God forgives to me my sins." 
 
 12. What has God threatened to do with sin? God has threatened to 
 
 punish sin. 
 
 13. If sin is not to be punished, what must be done with it? It must 
 
 be forgiven. 
 
 14. And if it is not forgiven, what will be done with it? It will be 
 
 punished. 
 
 15. How does God regard those whose sins He has forgiven? He 
 
 regards them as just. 
 
 16. When only can God regard us as just? When He forgives us our 
 
 sins. 
 
 17. Repeat Psalm 130, 3.4. "If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, 
 
 O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, 
 that thou mayest be feared." 
 
 18. If God should regard iniquities, that is, if He should hold sins 
 
 against us and punish us on account of them, what would 
 become of us? We would be lost. 
 
 19. But what is our hope when we think of our sins? Our hope is 
 
 that there is forgiveness with God. 
 
 20. Read Psalm 143,2. "Enter not into judgment with thy servant: 
 
 for in thy sight shall no man living be justified." 
 
 21. Also Is. 68,6. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our 
 
 righteousnesses are as filthy rags." 
 
 22. Also Job 25,4.-6. "How can a man be justified with God? Or how 
 
 can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to 
 the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure 
 in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the 
 son of man, which is a worm? 
 
 23. From all these passages we see how very important this doctrine 
 
 of the forgiveness of sins is. The doctrine of justification 
 if the very heart of the Gospel. Without the forgiveness of 
 sins we cannot be saved. The only hope for us poor sinners 
 is that God forgives sins. Only then can we b'e just in the 
 sight of God. For what is it that makes us unjust before Him? 
 It is our sins. 
 
 24. The forgiveness of sin is the condition of our justification before 
 
 God. When sin is forgiven how does God regard us? He 
 regards us as just. 
 
 25. (239) "What then is justification?" "Justification is that act of 
 
 God by which He, of pure grace, for the sake of the merits of 
 Christ, pronounces a poor sinner, who truly believes in Christ, 
 free from guilt, and declares him just." 
 
 26. Whose act is justification? Justification is the act of God. 
 
LESSON 72. 249 
 
 27. God is our judge. He alone can condemn or pardon. What is 
 
 it that induces Him to pardon or forgive us poor sinners? 
 He does it out of pure grace. 
 
 28. Repeat Rom. o, 21-24. "Now the righteousness of God without the 
 
 law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the 
 prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith 
 of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for 
 there is no difference: for all have sinned and come short 
 of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace 
 through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." 
 
 29. God pities us poor sinners and this pity induces him to forgive. 
 
 But He has threatened to punish sin. How can He forgive 
 when He has threatened to punish? In our answer just after 
 the words "of pure grace" we are told how He can forgive 
 in spite of the fact that His justice compels Him to punish. 
 What does our answer say? "For the sake of the merits of 
 Christ." 
 
 30. What did Christ do that God should forgive sins for His sake? 
 
 He suffered and died for us. 
 
 31. He suffered and died to redeem us from our sins. In the passage 
 
 just repeated we are told how we are justified. Through or 
 on account of what are we justified freely? Through the 
 redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 
 
 32. Whom does God justify according to our question 239? He justi- 
 
 fies a poor sinner who truly believes in Christ. 
 
 33. What kind of sinner is a poor sinner? When is a man poor? 
 
 When he has nothing. 
 
 34. Read 2 Tim. 1,9. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy 
 
 calling, not according to our works, but according to his own 
 purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus be- 
 fore the world began." 
 
 35. A poor sinner is one who has nothing to depend on and who 
 
 knows that. there is nothing in him that could please God or 
 make satisfaction for sin. And how should a man feel who 
 knows this? He should feel sorry. 
 
 36. Such a sinner was the poor publican in the temple. Read what 
 
 is written of him Luke 18, 13.14. "The publican, standing afar 
 off, would not lift so much as his eyes unto heaven, but 
 smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a 
 sinner." 
 
 37. How did he feel on account of his sins? He felt ashamed, he 
 
 felt sorry. 
 
 38. So a poor sinner is what kind of sinner? He is one who feels 
 
 sorry for h's sins. 
 
 39. But what is said in our answer of the poor sinner to whom God 
 
 forgives sins? He truly believes in Christ. 
 
 40. What does such a poor sinner believe concerning Christ, as to 
 
 his person? He believes that he is true God. 
 
 41. And what does he believe concerning Christ's work? That He 
 
 died for us and saved up from our sins. 
 
 42. Read Rom. 3, 28. "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified 
 
 by faith without the deeds of the law." 
 
250 LESSON 72. 
 
 43. How are we justified according to this passage? We are justified 
 
 by faith. 
 
 44. Now read Rom. 4,5. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth 
 
 on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for 
 righteousness." 
 
 45. What is here said of faith? It is counted for righteousness. 
 
 46. Read also Rom. 10,4. "For Christ is the end of the law for 
 
 righteousness to every one that believeth." 
 
 47. We are accounted righteous before God, not for anything we have 
 
 done, but for what Christ has done. And who is thus ac- 
 counted righteous? Every one that believeth. 
 
 48. What does God do to such a poor sinner who truly believes in 
 
 Christ according to question 239? He pronounces him free 
 from guilt and declares him just. 
 
 49. What is the first thing He does? He pronounces him free from 
 
 guilt. 
 
 50. Read Psalm 32, 1.2. "Blessed is he whose transgression is for- 
 
 given, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom 
 the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is 
 no guile." 
 
 51. Compare with this Rom. 4, 6-8. "Even as David also describeth 
 
 the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righte- 
 ousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose in- 
 iquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed 
 is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." 
 
 52. Read also Gen. 15, 6 and see what is here written concerning 
 
 Abraham. "He believed in the Lord; and he counted it unto 
 him for righteousness." 
 
 53. Compare with this Rom. 4,3. "For what saith the scripture? 
 
 Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for 
 righteousness." 
 
 54. Read also Hab. 2,4. "The just shall live by his faith." 
 
 55. When we believe in Christ what does God do with sin for Christ's 
 
 sake? He forgives it. 
 
 56. And after jGod has pronounced us free from guilt what does He 
 
 declare us to be? He declares us to be just. 
 
 57. What is it that makes us unjust before God? Our sins. 
 
 58. And what must be done with sin if we are to be just in the sight 
 
 of God? it must be forgiven. 
 
 59. And how does God regard us when sin is forgiven? He regards 
 
 us as just. 
 
 60. Why is this forgiveness of sins so necessary? It is necessary in 
 
 order that we may be saved. 
 
 61. By whom was this forgiveness secured for us? It was secured 
 
 for us by Christ. 
 
 62. How is this forgiveness offered to us? It is offered to us in the 
 
 Gospel. 
 
 63. And how do we accept it? We accept it by faith. 
 
LESSON 'J^i- ' 251 
 
 LESSON 73. THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY. 
 V (Question 240-241.) 
 
 1. What is the first thing which we confess in the third article of 
 
 the Creed? I believe in the Holy Ghost. 
 
 2. What is the second? I believe in the holy Christian Church, the 
 
 Communion of Saints. 
 
 3. What is the third? I believe in the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 4. Why is the forgiveness of sins necessary? It is necessary in 
 
 order that we may be saved. 
 
 5. How was the forgiveness of sins secured for us? By the suffer- 
 
 ings and death of Christ. 
 
 6; How is this forgiveness brought to us and told us? By the Gospel. 
 
 7. How do we take this forgiveness and make it our own? Through 
 
 faith. 
 
 8. This was the suljject of our last lesson. Today we consider the 
 
 fourth thing which we confess in the third article. What 
 is it? I believe in the resurrection of the body. 
 
 9. (240) "Why do you say: I believe in the resurrection of the 
 
 body?" "Because I according to God's Word most assuredly 
 hold, that God will at the last day raise up me and all the 
 dead." 
 
 10. Man was made in the image of God, and that means, among other 
 
 things also that he was immortal, that is, not subject to 
 death. But what awful thing took place shortly after his 
 creation? He fell from God into sin. 
 
 11. What had God threatened with reference to sin? Gen. 2, 17. 
 
 "Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt 
 not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou 
 Shalt surely die." 
 
 12. Now when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit what was 
 
 the result? They became subject to death. 
 
 13. Yes, and as they were now mortal, what effect had this upon all 
 
 their offspring? They too became subject to death. 
 
 14. So St. Paul tells us Rom. 5, 12. "Wherefore as by one man sin 
 
 entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed 
 upon all men, for that all have sinned." 
 
 15. Of what two parts is every human being composed: Of body and 
 
 soul. 
 
 16. The soul lives in the body ana is most intimately connected with 
 
 it. But when the soul is separated from the body, what be- 
 comes of man? He dies. 
 
 17. And how do we dispose of the l)ody after death? We bury it in 
 
 the earth. 
 
 18. And what becomes of the body in the earth? it decays. 
 
 l!t. So we read Eccles. 12,7. "Then shall the dust return to the 
 earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who 
 gave it." 
 
252 LESSON 'J}^. 
 
 20. And this is the end of the body as far as our reason and experi- 
 
 ence go. But Avhat does the Woi'd of God say of this decayed 
 body? It says that it shall rise again. 
 
 21. Then wliy do you believe in the resurrection of the body? Be- 
 
 cause God's Word plainly teaches it. 
 
 22. Let us hear what the Savior himself says John 5, 28.29. "Marvel 
 
 not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are 
 in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; 
 they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and 
 they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation," 
 
 23. What power does it require to raise the dead? It requires divine 
 
 power. 
 
 24. Who then will raise the dead? God will raise the dead. 
 
 25. What became of Jesus on the third day after His death and 
 
 burial? He arose from the dead. 
 
 26. And because He, our Lord and Head, arose, what do we, His 
 
 members, expect? That we too shall arise. 
 
 27. Repeat 1 Cor. 15, 12. "Now if Christ be preached that He rose 
 
 from the dead, how say some among you that there is no 
 resurrection of the dead?" 
 
 28. Now also read 1 Cor. 15,20. "But now is Christ risen from the 
 
 dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." 
 
 29. Even in the Old Testament this precious doctrine was taught. 
 
 What does Job confess? Job 19,25.26? "For I know that 
 my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day 
 upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy 
 this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God! 
 
 30. What does Jesus say? John 11, 25. "Jesus said unto her, I am 
 
 the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, 
 though he were dead, yet shall he live." 
 
 31. Read also John 6,40. "This is the will of Him that sent me, that 
 
 every one who seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have 
 everlasting life: and I will raise him us at the last day." 
 
 32. And the 54th verse of the same chapter. "Whoso eateth my 
 
 flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will 
 raise him up at the last day. 
 
 33. Read also Luke 20, 37.38. "Now that the dead are raised, even 
 
 Moses shewed at the bush, when he called the Lord the God 
 of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 
 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all 
 live unto him." 
 
 34. Which dead shall be raised? All the dead. 
 
 35. This the Savior plainly says John 5, 28. "The hour is coming in 
 
 the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice 
 and shall come forth." 
 
 36. When shall this resurrection take place? At the last day. 
 
 37. Let us see a few examples of dead who were raised. Whom did 
 
 the prophet Elijah raise from the dead? 1 Kings 17,17-24. 
 He raised the son of the widow with whom he stayed. 
 
LESSON 73. 253 
 
 :;8. Read 2 Kings 13,21. "It came to pass as they were burying a 
 man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast 
 the man into the sepulcher of Elisha; and when the man was 
 let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and 
 stood up on his feet." 
 
 39. Now let us see a few cases of dead whom Jesus raised. Accoi'd- 
 
 ing to Luke 7, 14.15, whom did Jesus raise from the dead? 
 The widow's son at Nain. 
 
 40. And according to Marlv 5, 42 whom did He raise? The daughter 
 
 of Jairus. 
 
 41. And according to John 11,43 whom did he raise? His friend 
 
 Lazarus. 
 
 42. Even the apostles raised the dead. According to Acts 9, 36 and 
 
 following, whom did Peter raise from the dead? A disciple 
 called Tabitha, or Dorcas. 
 
 43. And according to Acts 20, 9, 10, whom did Paul bring back to life? 
 
 A young man named Eutychus. 
 
 44. So we see the resurrection of the dead is possible. In numerous 
 
 cases the dead were raised, as for instance at the death of 
 Jesus, as we read Mat. 27, 52.53. "The graves were opened; 
 and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came 
 out of the graves after the resurrection, and went into the 
 holy city, and appeared unto many." 
 
 45. We believe in the resurrection of the body, and we believe this 
 
 on the evidence of the Word of God. No matter what the 
 unbelieving may say, the general resurrection of all the dead 
 at the last day is plainly taught in holy Scripture, and it is 
 a most precious doctrine. It is so important that since 
 the age of the apostles the Church has confessed it. And 
 where does the church make this confession? In the third 
 article of the creed. 
 
 46. (241) "With what difference will they rise?" "They that have 
 
 done good, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life, and 
 they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." 
 
 47. This the Savior plainly teaches in the passage repeated a while 
 
 ago, John 5, 28.29. What difference does the Savior say there 
 shall be between those who rise? Some shall arise to ever- 
 lasting life, others to everlasting damnation. 
 
 48. Who shall rise to everlasting life? They that have done good. 
 
 49. And who shall rise to everlasting damnation? They that have 
 
 done evil. 
 
 50. They that have done good are those who, by faith in Christ, are 
 
 accounted good and just before God and here on earth 
 already begin to lead a good or holy life. How shall they 
 rise? They shall rise unto everlasting life. 
 
 51. Daniel tells us the same thing. Chapter 12,2. "Many of them 
 
 that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to 
 everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting con- 
 tempt." 
 
254 LESSON 74. 
 
 52. Now let us see what the Scriptures say with refei'ence to the 
 
 bodies of the just at the resurrection. Repeat Phil. 3, 20.21. 
 "Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look 
 for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our 
 vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious 
 body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue 
 all things unto himself." 
 
 53. How will. our bodies be fashioned? They will be fashioned like 
 
 His, the Savior's, glorious body. 
 
 54. They will be perfect, pure, beautiful, strong and healthy. In fact, 
 
 the image of God will then be restored in us not only as to 
 our souls but in what other way? As to our bodies. 
 
 55. The bodies of the just will not be weakly, sick, blind, deaf, maimed, 
 
 as they often are in this world, but how will they be? They 
 will be perfect. 
 
 56. Read 1 Cor. 15, 41-44. "There is one glory of the sun, and another 
 
 glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one 
 star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the 
 resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is 
 raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor; it is raised 
 in glory: it is sown in weakness; It is raised in power: It 
 is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." 
 
 57. What is said of the just in Luke 20, 36. "Neither can they die any 
 
 more; for they are equal unto the angels; and are the chil- 
 dren of the resurrection." 
 
 58. What does the Savior here say of the just after the resurrection? 
 
 They cannot die. 
 
 59. Their bodies are immortal. But what does He say, John 5. 29, 
 
 of the wicked? They shall arise to shame and everlasting 
 contempt. 
 
 60. They, too, shall arise, but not in glorified bodies, but rather in 
 
 horrid bodies, in whom are seen the results of sin and vice, 
 as is often the case even in this world. What effect does 
 the sin of drunkenness have on the body, for instance, on 
 the face? It makes the face red and bloated. 
 
 61. On the eyes? It makes them bloodshot and watery. 
 
 62. On the limbs? It makes them weak and tottering. 
 
 63. And so with other sins. These awful results will appear in much 
 
 greater measure at the resurrection, so that the wicked will 
 be objects of horror to look upon. Read Is. 66, 24, the last 
 clause of the verse. What is said here of the wicked? 
 "They shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." 
 
 LESSON 74. ETERNAL LIFE. 
 (Question 242-24.'!.) 
 
 In our last lesson we spoke of the resurrection of the body. What 
 is the last thing which you confess under the third article? 
 I believe in the life everlasting. 
 
 (242) "Why do you say: I Ijelieve the life everlasting?" "Be- 
 c~use I according to God's Word most assuredly hold, that He 
 will give unto me and all believers in Christ eternal life." 
 
LESSON 74. 255 
 
 :i. In Luke 10, 19-:J1 we are told the story of the rich man and poor 
 Lazarus. When the rich man died, what became of his soul? 
 It went to hell. 
 
 4. And when Lazarus died what became of his soul? It was carried 
 
 by the angels into Abraham's bosom. 
 
 5. That is, it was taken to heaven. So what do we see with reference 
 
 to the lives of both after death? They both existed after 
 death. 
 
 6. All men naturally have a desire to live after death, and all people, 
 
 no matter how^ degraded, have some idea of a life beyond 
 the grave. But our faith in eternal life is not a mere vague 
 notion of this kind, but upon what do we base our faith in 
 eternal life? We base it on God's Word. 
 
 7. Let us now hear some passages of Scripture on this subject. Re- 
 
 peat Mat. 25, 46. "These shall go away into everlasting pun- 
 ishment: but the righteous into life eternal." 
 
 8. What then becomes of the wicked after the judgment? They shall 
 
 go away into everlasting punishment. 
 
 9. And what is said of the righteous? They shall go into life 
 
 eternal. 
 
 10. So we see for both there is an eternal existence. Man does not 
 
 cease to exist at death. Now let us consider the existence 
 of the righteous after death. What does the Savior say of 
 of the righteous? John 10,27.28: "My sheep hear my voice, 
 and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them 
 eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any 
 man pluck them out of my hand." 
 
 11. What does the Savior here promise to give his sheep? He 
 
 promises to give them eternal life. 
 
 12. Life is the most precious gift we have. All else that a man has 
 
 he would give to save his life. Many a rich man would give 
 thousands, even millions, to add a single year to his life. 
 But what kind of life does the Savior here promise his peo- 
 ple? He promises them eternal life. 
 
 13. That is, a life that never ends. Repeat John 3, 16. "God so 
 
 loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that 
 whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have ever- 
 lasting life." 
 
 14. What is here said of those who believe in' Christ? They shall 
 
 not perish but have everlasting life. 
 
 15. That is, a life that never ends. Repeat also Heb. 13,14. "Here 
 
 have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." 
 
 16. We can not live in this world always. If we have no continuing 
 
 place in this world, what should we do? We should seek one 
 to come. 
 
 17. And that is in Heaven. Now let us see how this life that never 
 
 ends is further described in the Scriptures. Repeat 1 Cor. 
 2,9. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered 
 into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared 
 for them that love Him." 
 
256 LESSON 74. 
 
 18. It is impossible to give an accurate description of Heaven be- 
 
 cause it is far beyond anything that any man has ever seen 
 or heard. And yet there are some things which God has 
 clearly revealed to us concerning Heaven. Among other 
 things we know that in Heaven there will be no evil. This 
 world is a vale of tears, a place of sorrow. But what is said 
 of the world to come in Rev. 21,4? "God shall wipe away 
 all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no death, neither 
 sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: 
 for the former things are passed away." 
 
 19. What things shall not be in Heaven? No death, no sorrow, no 
 
 tears, no pain. 
 
 20. What kind of place then must Heaven be? It must be a happy 
 
 place. 
 
 21. Read also 2 Tim. 4, 18. "The Lord shall deliver me from every 
 
 evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom." 
 
 22. O what a happy prospect, to be delivered from all evil! But we 
 
 know more about Heaven. Man was made in the image of 
 God. In what did this image of God consist? You will find 
 the answer imder question 16*:. "In the perfection of the 
 whole man, chiefly in righteousness and true holiness." 
 
 23. Now repeat 1 John 3, 2. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, 
 
 and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know 
 that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we 
 shall see Him as He is." 
 
 24. The passage says we shall, in heaven, be like Him, like whom? 
 
 Like the Savior. 
 
 25. And the Savior is true God, so that means we shall be like whom? 
 
 We shall be like God. The image of God in which we were 
 created and which we lost by the fall, shall be restored 
 in us. 
 
 26. We have believed in the Savior and served Him in this world even 
 
 without seeing Him. He is our best friend. What else does 
 the apostle say of the Savior besides that we shall be like 
 Him? We shall see Him as He is. 
 
 27. And that will be our greatest happiness to see Him and be with 
 
 Him whom we love and serve. As we have seen, the lost 
 image of God consisted in the perfection of the whole man. 
 So in Heaven, how will the whole man be? He will be 
 perfect. 
 
 28. Yes, perfect in body and soul. But the image of God consists 
 
 principally in righteousness and true holiness. Now let us 
 see how this righteousness will be restored in us in the life 
 to come. Read Psalms 17, 1.5. "As for me, I will behold thy 
 face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, 
 with thy likeness." 
 
 29. Heaven is a place of righteousness, as we learn from 2 Peter 3. To. 
 
 "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new 
 heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 
 
 oO. How are those who see God described in Mat. 5.8? "Blessed are 
 the pure in heart: for they shall see God." 
 
Lesson 74. 257 
 
 31. Another part of the image oT God is knowledge of God and divine 
 
 things. Read what is written 1 Cor. lo, 12. "Now we see 
 through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know 
 in part; but then shall I know even as I am known." 
 
 32. Heaven is a place where there is no sin, and where the image 
 
 of God is restored in us. what kind of place must it be? It 
 must be a place of happiness. 
 
 33. Yes, it is a place of perfect happiness and pure pleasure, as we 
 
 see from Ps. 16,11. "In thy presence is fullness of joy; at 
 thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." 
 
 34. Instead of sorrow there shall be joy, as we see from Luks 6, 21. 
 
 "Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. 
 Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh." 
 
 35. Read also Ps. 128,5.6. "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 
 
 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, 
 shall doubtless some again with rejoicing, bringing his 
 sheaves with him." 
 
 36. In Heaven there shall be perfect rest, as we see from Rev. 14, 13. 
 
 "I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, write, blessed 
 are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, 
 saith the Spirit, that they rest from their labors; and their 
 works do follow them." 
 
 37. For all the sufferings of this world there shall be joy and peace. 
 
 So St. Paul comforted himself Rom. 8, 18. I reckon that the 
 sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared 
 with the glory which shall be revealed in us." 
 
 38. God will even reward his children for their faithful service in this 
 
 world, although of course it is a reward not of merit but of 
 grace. Read what is written Mat. 25,21. "His Lord said 
 unto him. Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou 
 hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler 
 over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord." 
 
 39. Also the 34th verse of the same chapter: "Then shall the king 
 
 say unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my 
 father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foun- 
 dation of the world." 
 
 40. Read also Rev. 2, 10, the last clause. "Be thou faithful unto death, 
 
 and I will give thee a crown of life." 
 
 41. Eternal life is a glorious life, as we learn from 2 Tim. 4, 8. 
 
 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, 
 which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that 
 day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love 
 His appearing." 
 
 42. Read also Mat. 13, 43. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as 
 
 the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 
 
 43. What did the Savior say to the malefactor beside Him on the 
 
 cross? Luke 23,43. "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou 
 be with me in paradise." 
 
 44. What kind of place is paradise? A place of beauty and of hap- 
 
 piness. 
 
 45. In Rev. 21 we have a description of the new world, the holy city. 
 
 the new Jerusalem. What do all these expressions refer to? 
 They refer to heaven. 
 
 17 
 
258 Lesson 74. 
 
 46. Here some of the glories of heaven are described. Heaven is a 
 
 place of perfect happiness, of everlasting joy, and yet there 
 will be degrees of happiness, as we see from 2 Cor. 9, 6. "But 
 this I say, he that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; 
 and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." 
 
 47. Read also 1 Cor. 15, 41.42. "There is one glory of the sun, and 
 
 another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; 
 for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is 
 the resurrection of the dead." 
 
 48. Let us see what Daniel says on this subject. Dan. 12, 3. "And 
 
 they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firma- 
 ment; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars 
 for ever and ever." 
 
 49. Also Mat. 19, 28. "And Jesus said unto them, verily 1 say unto 
 
 you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration 
 when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, 
 ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve 
 tribes of Israel." 
 
 50. (243) "Who will certainly attain to this life everlasting?" "All 
 
 they who continue in true faith unto the end." 
 
 51. When we learn that heaven is a place of freedom from sin and 
 
 suffering, a place of purity and happiness, we can not but 
 have a desire to get there. And therefore this question 243 
 is a very important one. Of what does it treat? It treats 
 of how to get to heaven. 
 
 52. Yes, and of how to be certain about it, for in a matter of such 
 
 importance we must not be in doubt. What must we do to 
 be saved in heaven forever? We must believe in the Lord 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 53. So we read Acts 16,31. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and 
 
 thou Shalt be saved and thy house." 
 
 54. But not only for a time must we believe, but what does the Savior 
 
 himself say? Mat. 24,13. "He that shall endure unto the 
 end the same shall be saved." 
 
 55. And to whom is the crown of life promised according to Rev. 
 
 2,10? The latter half. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I 
 will give thee a crown of life." 
 
 56. They who only for a time believe and then fall away will lose 
 
 the crown. What should we therefore be anxious about? 
 We should be anxious to keep the faith to the end. 
 
 57. Repeat Mat. 25,34. "Then shall the king say unto them on his 
 
 right hand. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the king- 
 dom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." 
 
 58. Heaven with its happiness and glory is not a reward of merit 
 
 but a free gift of grace. What will the King say to those on 
 His right hand as to how they are to get the kingdom? They 
 are to inherit it. 
 
 59. An inheritance is a free gift. Eternal life is a thing not to be 
 
 earned but how are we to get it? As a free gift. 
 
LESSON 75. 259 
 
 LESSON 75. ELECTION. 
 (Question 244-24G.) 
 
 1. (244) "What now is the divine election of grace?" "Divine elec- 
 
 tion is that act of God, by which He, from eternity, according 
 to the purpose of His will, of pure grace and mercy, decreed, 
 to save everlastingly all those who would perservingly believe 
 in Christ." 
 
 2. We have already seen that our salvation is entirely the work of 
 
 God. He saves us, and does it out of pure mercy. But God 
 is eternal, the same yesterday, today, and forever. What 
 He does in time he decreed, or determined to do, from 
 eternity. Whom does God save in time? All those who be- 
 believe in Christ to the end. 
 0. Then whom did God from all eternity decree to save? All those 
 who believe in Christ to the end. 
 
 4. It is a great comfort that God thought of us from all eternity, 
 
 that foreseeing our fall into sin, he determined in the fulness 
 of time to send his Son as our redeemer, to offer us free 
 salvation through the Gospel and to save all those of whom 
 He foresaw that by His grace they would accept the pardon 
 offered. Then whom did God from all eternity decree to 
 save? All those of whom he foreknew that they would be- 
 lieve in Christ to the end. 
 
 5. What induced God to pass this decree? He did it from pure grace 
 
 and mercy. 
 
 6. When did God form this decree? He decreed this from all 
 
 eternity. 
 
 7. What object had God in forming this decree? He did it to the 
 
 praise of His glorious grace. 
 
 8. Now let us see how St. Paul presents this doctrine Bph. 1, 3-6. 
 
 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly 
 places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Hfm 
 before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy 
 and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated 
 us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, 
 according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of 
 the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted 
 in the Beloved." 
 
 9. Here we see that God has chosen us before the foundation of the 
 
 world, and predestinated us to the adoption of children. Now 
 repeat 2 Thes. 2, 13. "We are bound to give thanks always 
 to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God 
 hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through 
 sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." 
 
 10. This eternal decree of God was based upon His foreknowledge. 
 God from eternity foreknows the future as well as the past. 
 In fact, 'with Him there is no future and no past, but all 
 things are forever present. His eternal decree to save certain 
 1 ersons is based upon his foreknowledge that they would by 
 His grace come to faith and continue in faitli to Mic end. 
 This we see fi'om Rom. 8, 29. "Whom He did foreknow, he 
 also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His 
 Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren." 
 
260 LESSON 75. 
 
 11. What was it that in the foreknowledge of God made the differ- 
 
 ence between those who were to be saved and those who 
 were not to be saved? Persevering faith made this dif- 
 ference. 
 
 12. God's good and gracious will is to save all who perseveringly be- 
 
 lieve in Christ, as we see fi'om John 6, 40. "This is the will 
 of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth tiie Son, 
 and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will 
 raise him up at the last day." 
 
 13. Not all meji will be saved, as we see from Mat. 22, 14. "Many are 
 
 called but few are chosen." 
 
 14. God chose only few because He foresaw that only few would 
 
 accept the grace offered to all in the Gospel. The reason 
 for this choice was not that these were naturally better than 
 those who were not chosen, for naturally all men are alike 
 in tresspasses and sin. Faith is not a good work, that on 
 its account God chose those in whom He foresaw it. Noth- 
 ing in us caused God to choose us, as we see from 2 Tim. 1, 9. 
 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not 
 according to .our works, but according to His own purpose 
 and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the 
 world began." 
 
 15. From Mat. 25, 34 we see that eternal life is given as an inheri- 
 
 tance, not as a reward. "Then shall the King say unto them 
 on his right hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father; inherit 
 the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the 
 world." 
 
 16. God has chosen us "in Christ," as we have already seen, Eph. 1, 
 
 3-6, and there is no way of being in Christ but by faith in 
 Him. He is the true book of life and all true believers are 
 written in Him as we see from Phil. 4, 3. "I intreat thee 
 also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with 
 me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my 
 fellowlaborers, whose names are in the book of life." 
 
 17. Read also Rev. 20, 15. "Whosoever was not found written in the 
 
 book of life was cast into the lake of fire." 
 
 18. Likewise Luke 10,20. "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that 
 
 the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because 
 your names are written in heaven." 
 
 19. (245) "Is it not God's earnest will that all should be saved?" 
 
 "Most assuredly; for the mercy of God, the merits of Christ, 
 and the call of the Holy Ghost pertain to all men without ex- 
 ception." 
 
 20. It is the good and gracious will of God to save all men. In this 
 
 answer to question 245, what is said of the grace of God? 
 It pertains to all men. 
 
 21. That is, it extends over all men. Read Ezech. 33, 11. "Say unto 
 
 them, as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the 
 death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way 
 and live; turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, 
 O house of Israel?" 
 
 22. The mercy, or love, of God extends over all men, as we see from 
 
 John 3. H!. "God so loved the world that He gave his only 
 begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life." 
 
LESSON 75. 261 
 
 23. Whom would God save according to 1 Tim. 2, 4? "Who will have 
 
 all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the 
 truth." 
 
 24. Read also 2 Peter .'!, H. "The Lord is not slack concerning His 
 
 promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering 
 to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all 
 should come to repentance." 
 
 25. Over whom docs God's mercy extend according to Horn. 11, 152? 
 
 "God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have 
 mercy upon all." 
 
 2G. God is ready to receive all who come to Him in true repentance, 
 as we see from John 6, .".7. "All that the Father giveth me 
 shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no 
 wise cast out." 
 
 27. Read also Rom. 10, 11. 12. 1.3. "The scripture saith, whosoever be- 
 
 lieveth on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no dif- 
 ference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord 
 over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever 
 shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." 
 
 28. Also Rom. 5, 20, the second half of the verse. "But where sin 
 
 abounded, grace did much more abound." 
 
 29. None are so deeply fallen that God would not and could not save 
 
 them. Read Is. 1, 18. "Come now let us reason together, 
 saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be 
 as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall 
 be as wool." 
 
 :J0. But not only does the grace of God extend over all, but what else, 
 according to our question 245, extends over all men? The 
 merits of Christ. 
 
 ol. That is, for whom did Christ die? Christ died for all men. 
 
 ?,2. This we see from the following passages. Read 1 John 2, 1.2. 
 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye 
 sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the 
 Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation 
 for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of 
 the whole world." 
 
 33. Read also 1 Tim. 4, 10. "Therefore we both labor and suffer 
 
 reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the 
 Savior of all men, especially of those that believe." 
 
 34. Also 1 Tim. 2, 5.6. "There is one God, and one mediator between 
 
 God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a 
 ransom for all to be testified in due time." 
 
 35. Christ died even for those who on account of their persistent 
 
 unbelief will not be saved, as we see from 2 Peter 2, 1. 
 "There were false prophets among the people, even as there 
 shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring 
 in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought 
 them, and bring unto themselves swift destruction." 
 
 3f). Christ is the lamlj of God and, according to John 1,29, whose 
 sins does he take away? "The next day John seeth Jesus 
 coming unto him, and saith, behold the Lamb of God, which 
 taketh away the sin of the world." 
 
262 LESSON 75. 
 
 37. Read also 2 Cor. 5, 14. "The love of Christ constraineth us, be- 
 
 cause we thus judge, that if one died for all then were all 
 dead." 
 
 38. Christ is the Savior of the world, as we see from John 4, 42. What 
 
 did the people of Samaria say to the woman who told them 
 about Jesus being the Messiah? "Now we believe, not be- 
 cause of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and 
 know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." 
 
 39. According to our answer 245 not only the grace of God and the 
 
 merits of Christ, but what else extends over all men? The 
 call of the Holy Ghost also extends over ail men. 
 
 40. That is, not only is God anxious to save all and not only did 
 
 Christ die for all, but in the Gospel the Holy Ghost offers 
 salvation to all. This we see from Mat. 11, 28. "Come unto 
 me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give 
 you rest." 
 
 41. The Savior sent out the disciples to preach the Gospel to all 
 
 men, as we see from Mark, 16, 15.16. "Go ye into all the 
 world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that 
 believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth 
 not shall be damned." 
 
 42. God offers free salvation to all men as we see from Acts 17, 30. 
 
 "The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now com- 
 mandeth all men everywhere to repent." 
 
 43. God at various times offered salvation to the whole human race. 
 
 When God called Adam after the fall He called the whole 
 race, for the whole race was in Adam. Read Gen. 3, 9. 
 "The Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him: 
 Where art thou?" 
 
 44. When God made a covenant with Noah after the flood He again 
 
 spoke to the whole human race which was represented in 
 Noah. Read Gen. 9, 8.9. "God spake unto Noah, and to his 
 sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant 
 with you, and with your seed after you." 
 
 45. In the parable of the marriage of the king's son. Mat. 22, 2-9, 
 
 whom were the servants sent out to invite? They were sent 
 out to invite all. 
 
 46. And this call is honestly and earnestly meant, as we see from 
 
 the tears which Jesus wept over impenitent Jerusalem, Luke 
 19,41. "When He was come near, He beheld the city, and 
 wept over it, saying, if thou hadst known, even thou, at 
 least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy 
 peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes." 
 
 47. (246) "Why is it that nevertheless not all men are elected and 
 
 finally saved?" "Because many wantonly resist the Holy 
 Ghost, who, through the means of grace, wills to work and 
 preserve faith in all." 
 
 48. The Holy Ghost is willing to work and preserve faith in all men 
 
 through the Word and sacraments, but why is this not done 
 in all men? Because many wantonly resist the Holy Ghost. 
 
LESSON 76. 263 
 
 49. That is, they knowingly, stubbornly and persistently oppose the 
 
 Holy Ghost. This was the case with the wicked city of 
 .Jerusalem, Mat. 2'.], '.17. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that 
 killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto 
 thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, 
 even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and 
 ye would not." 
 
 50. The Jews, as a nation, rejected the Gospel, and would not accept 
 
 Christ as their Savior, therefore the Gospel was taken from 
 them and preached to the Gentiles. Acts 13, 46. "Then 
 Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, it was necessary 
 that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: 
 but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy 
 of everlasting life, lo we turn to the Gentiles." 
 
 51. They were a stiffnecked people, as we read Acts 7, 51. "Ye stiff- 
 
 necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always 
 resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did, so do ye." 
 
 52. In the parable of the great supper, Luke 14, 16-24, we see that all 
 
 were invited, but how did most of those invited treat the 
 invitation? They made light of it, they rejected it. 
 
 53. When a man is lost, whose fault is it? It is his own fault. 
 
 54. So we see from Hos. 13, 9. "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thy- 
 
 self; but in me is help." 
 
 55. It is never God's fault when men are lost, as we see from 1 
 
 Thess. 5, 9. "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to 
 obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 56. They who through unbelief reject the salvation which God so 
 
 freely offers must suffer the consequences of their own folly, 
 as we see from John 3,36. "He that believeth on the Son 
 hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall 
 not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." 
 
 LESSON 76. HELL. 
 
 (Questions 247-248.) 
 
 1. What is the last thing which we confess under the third article? 
 
 "I believe in the life everlasting." 
 
 2. What is the opposite of everlasting life? Everlasting death. 
 
 3. Where shall we enjoy everlasting life? In Heaven. 
 
 4. And where will there be everlasting death? In hell. 
 
 5. What kind of a place is Heaven? A good place. 
 
 C. Yes, a place of purity, and happiness. And what kind of a place 
 is hell? A bad place. 
 
264 LESSON yd. 
 
 7. Yes, it is the opposite of heaven. If heaven is a place of purity 
 
 and holiness, what kind of a place is hell? A place of wick- 
 edness. 
 
 8. And if heacen is a place of happiness, what kind of a place is hell? 
 
 A place of misery. 
 
 9. In Luke 16, 23. 24, we have an account of the death of the rich 
 
 man ^nd poor Lazarus. This gives us some idea of hell. Re- 
 peat the passage. "In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in 
 torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his 
 bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy 
 on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dio the tip of his 
 finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in 
 this flame." 
 
 10. What does the rich man here say of his own condition? He says: 
 
 I am tormented. 
 
 11. And what does the very first sentence of the passage say of the 
 
 rich man? It says that he was in torments. 
 
 12. What does our answer to question 247 accordingly say of the con- 
 
 dition of those who are in hell? They shall in body and soul 
 have to suffer pain eternally. 
 
 13. The souls of the wicked shall suffer at once after death, and their 
 
 bodies shall join in the suffering after the resurrection. Read 
 the 25th verse of the 16th chapter of Luke. "Abraham said, 
 son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good 
 things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is com- 
 forted, and thou art tormented." 
 
 14. In this world the rich man sought only after the foolish and sinful 
 
 pleasures of the flesh, but what was his condition in the world 
 to come? He was tormented. 
 
 15. The wicked shall suffer the pangs of an accusing conscience in 
 
 their souls and the tortures of an abused body which they 
 have ruined by a godless life. What did the rich man es- 
 pecially complain of according to verse 24? He suffered 
 thirst. 
 
 16. The pangs of thirst are much greater even than those of hunger. 
 
 Let us remember that both body and soul shall suffer in hell. 
 Read Mat. 10, 28. "Fear not them which kill the body, but are 
 not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to 
 destroy both soul and body in hell." 
 
 17. What does the Savior here say God, whom we should fear, is able 
 
 to do? He is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. 
 
 18. Now read Mat. 22, 13. "Then said the king to the servants, bind 
 
 him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into 
 outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of 
 teeth." 
 
 19. What shall be done with the unprofitable servant, that is, with the 
 
 man who has rejected the wedding garment of the righteous- 
 ness of Christ? He shall be bound and cast into outer dark- 
 ness. 
 
LESSON 76. 265 
 
 20. After the order is given to bind the wicked servant what is said? 
 
 "Take him away." 
 
 21. That is, talve him away from my company and from the company 
 
 of the just and holy. To be cast out from the presence of 
 God is in itself a terrible thing, for God is the source of all 
 life and happiness. The wicked servant is to be cast into 
 outer darkness, that is, into a place without joy or hope, and 
 how is the misery of those in this place described in the last 
 part of this verse 13? "There shall be weeping and gnashing 
 of teeth." 
 
 22. Read also Heb. 10, 26. 27. "If we sin wilfully after that we have 
 
 received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more 
 sacrifice for sins, but a certain looking for of judgment and 
 fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." 
 
 23. Read also what is written of the wicked Rev. 14, 9-11. "The 
 
 third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any 
 man worship the beast, and his image, and receive his mark 
 in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the 
 wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mix- 
 ture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tor- 
 mented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy 
 angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." 
 
 24. A man's happiness or misery depends a great deal upon the com- 
 
 pany that he is in. In whose company shall the righteous be 
 in heaven? In the company of the Savior and the saints. 
 
 25. But in whose company shall the wicked be in hell? In the com- 
 
 pany of the devil and the wicked. 
 
 26. Read Mat. 25, 41. "Then shall he say unto them on the left 
 
 hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, pre- 
 pared for the devil and his angels." 
 
 27. This shows what company the wicked shall have in hell. And 
 
 what kind of life must a man lead in the company of the 
 devil and his angles? He must lead a miserable life. 
 
 28. There will be degrees of punishment in hell. Repeat Luke 
 
 12, 47. 48. "That servant which knew his Lord's will, and 
 prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall 
 be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and 
 did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with 
 few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him 
 shall much be required; and to whom men have committed 
 much, of him they will seek the more." 
 
 29. What difference is there in the two servants here spoken of as 
 
 to their knowledge? The one knew his Master's will and 
 the other did not. 
 
 30. Which had the greater guilt in doing against the Master's will? 
 
 The one who did it though he knew better. 
 
 31. Accordingly, which was to suffer most? The one who sinned 
 
 against better knowledge. 
 
266 LESSON 76. 
 
 32. As there are degrees of sin so there will be degrees of punish- 
 
 ment. Read Matt. 20, 11, 20-24. "Then began He to upbraid 
 the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, be- 
 cause they repented not: Woe unto thee Chorazin! Woe 
 unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were 
 done in you, had been done in Tyre and SIdon, they would 
 have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say 
 unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at 
 the day of judgment, than for you. And thou Capernaum, 
 which, art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to 
 hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, 
 had been done in Sidon, it would have remained until this 
 day. But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for 
 the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." 
 
 33. What does the Savior say of the scribes and Pharisees, Matt. 23, 
 
 14? "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for 
 ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long 
 prayers: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." 
 
 34. But no matter what the degree, what does our question 247 say 
 
 about the duration of this punishment in hell? It shall be 
 eternal. 
 
 35. This we see from Isa. 66, 24. Repeat the passage. "Their worm 
 
 shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they 
 shall be an abhorring to all flesh." 
 
 36. What is here said of their worm, that is, of the accusations of the 
 
 consciences of the wicked? It shall not die. 
 
 37. And what of the fire, that is, the bodily suffering? It shall not 
 
 be quenched. 
 
 38. When the rich man in hell asked for relief from his suffering, 
 
 what answer was given him? Luke 16, 26. "Beside all 
 this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that 
 they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither 
 can they pass to us, that would come from thence." 
 
 39. Read Mark 9, 43-48. "If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is 
 
 better for thee to enter Into life maimed, than having two 
 hands -to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be 
 quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not 
 quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better 
 for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be 
 cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 
 Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. 
 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee 
 to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having 
 two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dieth 
 not, and the fire is not quenched." 
 
 40. Also Matt. 25, 46. "These shall go away into everlasting punish- 
 
 ment: but the righteous into life eternal." 
 
 41. What is here said of the duration of the condition of both the 
 
 righteous and the wicked? it shall be eternal. 
 
 42. Read also Dan 12, 2. "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the 
 
 earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and softie to 
 shame and everlasting contempt." 
 
Lksson 76. 267 
 
 43. Repeat Proveiijs 11, 7. "When a wicked man dieth, his expecta- 
 
 tion shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth." 
 
 44. Also Rev. 14, 11. "The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for- 
 
 ever and ever: and they have no rest day or night, who wor- 
 ship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the 
 mark of his name." 
 
 45. What is said of the wicked in 2 Thes. 1, !)? "Who shall be pun- 
 
 ished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the 
 Lord, and from the glory of His power," 
 
 46. Now look at question (not answer) 247 and tell me: upon whom 
 
 shall this punishment be visited? Upon the unbelieving and 
 damned. 
 
 47. Who shall be damned according to Mark 16, 16? "He that be- 
 
 lieveth not shall be damned." 
 
 48. And according to 2 Thes. 1, 8, upon whom shall the I^rd Jesus 
 
 take vengeance? "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them 
 that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 49. God offers full and free salvation to all. Whom will the damned 
 
 have to blame for their everlasting misery? They will have 
 themselves to blame. 
 
 50. (248) "What do you hold as to so-called purgatory? "It is 
 
 nothing but a human invention; for Holy Scripture speaks of 
 but two places, to which men will go after death." 
 
 51. Who holds and teaches this doctrine? The Roman Catholic 
 
 church. 
 
 52. Yes, this they imagine to be a place between heaven and hell, 
 
 where those go, who are not quite fit for heaven, and yet 
 too good for hell, to suffer for a long time the temporal con- 
 sequences of sin, and from which their friends can relieve 
 them by having masses read for their souls. This reading 
 of masses must be paid for. What does our answer say of 
 their doctrine? It is nothing but a human invention. 
 
 53. Yes, the Roman Catholic church has invented this doctrine, and 
 
 it has proven a very money-making invention. But it is false 
 and contrary to the Word of God; for of how many places do 
 the Scriptures speak to which men may go after death? 
 They speak of only two places. 
 
 54. Repeat Matt. 7, 13.14. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide 
 
 is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, 
 and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the 
 gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few 
 there be that find it." 
 
 55. How many gates and ways are here mentioned? There are but 
 
 two gates and two ways. 
 
 56. Where does the wide gate and the broad way lead to? It leads 
 
 to destruction. 
 
 57. And where does the narrow way through the straight, that is, 
 
 small gate, lead to? It leads to life. 
 
268 LESSON ']']. 
 
 58. And between these two there is no other. After death there is 
 
 no opportunity for a man to repent and change his condition, 
 as we see from Heb. 9, 27. "It is appointed unto men once 
 to die and after tliis the judgment." 
 
 59. Read also Heb. :], 12. 13. "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in 
 
 any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the 
 living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called 
 today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitful- 
 ness of sin." 
 
 60. Repeat also Eccles. 11, 3, second half. "If the tree fall toward 
 
 the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree 
 falleth, there shall it be." 
 
 61. Read also Prov. 11, 7. "When a wicked man dieth, his expecta- 
 
 tion shall perish; and the hope of an unjust man perisheth." 
 
 62. The malefactor on the cross was not first sent to purgatory, 
 
 although he had been a great sinner, but what did Jesus say 
 to him? Luke 23, 43. "Today shalt thou be with me in 
 paradise." 
 
 LESSON 77. PRAYER. 
 
 (Questions 249-260.) 
 
 1. Of what does the second chief part of the Catechism, which we 
 
 finished in our last lesson, treat? It treats of the three 
 articles of the Christian creed. 
 
 2. (249) "What is the third chief part of the Catechism?" "The 
 
 Lord's Prayer." 
 
 3. In the first chief part we learn of our sins and their dreadful 
 
 consequences. In the second we learn how, by faith in 
 Christ, we become God's dear children. Now the third tells 
 us how as God's dear children we should talk to our Father. 
 A dear child must certainly be on speaking terms with its 
 father. What do we call such talking of God's children to 
 their heavenly Father? We call it prayer. 
 
 4. What prayer are we especially to consider under this third chief 
 
 part of the Catechism? The Lord's Prayer. 
 
 5. (250) "What is the Lord's Prayer?" ."It is a brief form of prayer 
 
 which contains all we need for body and soul." 
 
 6. What does this prayer contain? It contains all that we need for 
 
 body and soul. 
 
 7. And what is this Lord's Prayer? It is a brief form of prayer. 
 
 8. (251) "Why is it called the Lord's Prayer?" "Because Christ 
 
 himself taught it to us." (Matt. 6, 9-13. Luke 11, 2-4.) 
 
 9. Read Luke 11, 1. "It came to pass, that, as He was praying in 
 
 a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said 
 unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his 
 disciples." 
 
LESSON TJ. 269 
 
 10. In answer to this re(iuest Jesus taught his disciples this prayer 
 
 as we find it recorded in verses 2 to 4 of this chapter, and 
 also in a somewhat longer form in Matt. 6, 9-13. This prayer 
 was to be a m odel or pattern. What purpose does a model 
 or pattern sei ve? It shows how a thing is to be made 
 or done. 
 
 11. Because Christ hira lelf gave us this model, or pattern, what kind 
 
 of model may t\'e expect it to be? A perfect model. 
 
 12. This the Lord's prayer certainly is; it is the model prayer. But 
 
 now, before we consider the separate parts of this model 
 prayer, our Catechism answers a few general questions con- 
 cerning prayer. Which is the first of these? What Is 
 prayer? 
 
 13. (252) "What is prayer? " "It is that divine service in which we 
 
 call upon the name of God in every trouble, pray, praise 
 and give thanks." 
 
 14. What kind of service is prayer? Prayer is a divine service. 
 
 15. Upon whom do we call in prayer? We call upon the name 
 
 of God. 
 
 16. Under which commandment did we consider this calling upon 
 
 the name of God? Under the second commandment. 
 
 17. Repeat the second commandment and its meaning. Thou shalt 
 
 not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. We should 
 fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witch- 
 craft, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every 
 trouble, pray, praise and give thanks. 
 
 18. It is God's express will that we call upon Him when we are in 
 
 trouble. What three forms of calling upon God are here 
 mentioned? We should pray, praise and give thanks. 
 
 19. To pray means to ask God for something; to praise, to speak 
 
 well of Him; and to give thanks, to acknowledge His bless- 
 ings. But by what word do we generally express all three 
 of these ideas? By the word prayer. 
 
 20. (253) "What should move us to prayer?" "Not only our need, 
 
 but also the command and promise of God." 
 
 21. What is the first thing that should move us to pray? Our need. 
 
 22. When we are in need or trouble, what does God want us to do 
 
 according to Ps. 50, 15? "Call upon me in the day of 
 trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me." 
 
 23. And very frequently the reason why we are not delivered from 
 
 our troubles is because we do not ask help of God, as we 
 see from James 4, 2. "Ye have not, because ye ask not." 
 
 24. But what else should move us to prayer besides our own need? 
 
 The command and promise of God. 
 
 25. We have just seen that God has commanded us to call upon 
 
 Him when we are in trouble. We are told the same thing 
 in Ps. 27, 8. "When thou saidst, seek ye my face; my heart 
 said unto thee, thy face, Lord, will I seek." 
 
 26. Now when God commands a thing what should we do? We 
 
 should obey. 
 
270 LESSON ^•J. 
 
 27. Why then should we consider prayer a sacred duty? Because 
 
 God has commanded it. 
 
 28. But, according to question 253, what else should move us to 
 
 prayer, besides God's command? His promise. 
 
 29. What has God promised with reference to prayer? He has 
 
 promised to hear it. 
 
 30. One such jpromise we have already heard from Ps. 50, 15. Will 
 
 you repeat it again. "Call upon me in the day of trouble 
 and I will deliver thee." 
 
 31. When we hear that God promises to deliver us, what should 
 
 that move us to do? It should move us to ask His help. 
 
 32. (254) "To whom should we pray?" "Only to the true God, 
 
 Father, Son and Holy Ghost." 
 
 33. Read the second half of Matt. 4, 10. "Thou shalt worship the 
 
 Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve." 
 
 34. Who is the only true God upon whom we should call in prayer? 
 
 God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. He alone can and 
 will hear prayer, as we see from Ps. 65, 2. "O thou that 
 hearest prayer, unto thee shall ail flesh come." 
 
 35. Everything that we need must come from Him, as we learn 
 
 from James 1, 17. "Every good gift and every perfect gift 
 is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, 
 with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." 
 
 36. God alone knows our hearts, he sees and knows what we really 
 
 need, as we see from Jer. 17, 9. 10. "The heart is deceitful 
 above ail things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 
 I, the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to every 
 man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his 
 doings." 
 
 37. Let us now see some examples of pious men who prayed, that is, 
 
 spoke with God. For instance, Abraham, Gen. 18, 27. "Abra- 
 ham answered and said. Behold now, I have taken upon me 
 to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes." 
 
 38. Moses bescfiight the Lord, Ex. 32, 11. "Moses besought the Lord 
 
 his God, and said. Lord why doth thy wrath wax hot against 
 thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land 
 of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand?" 
 
 39. Manoah entreated God, Judges 13, 8, "Then Manoah entreated 
 
 the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which 
 thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we 
 shall do unto the child that shall be born." 
 
 40. David spake unto the Lord, 2 Sam. 22, 1. "David spake unto 
 
 the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord 
 delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out 
 of the hand of Saul." 
 
 41. The whole Book of Psalms is a prayer book, showing how God's 
 
 children in the Old Testament called upon their Father. We 
 should call only upon the true God, and not upon the saints 
 as the Roman Catholics do, for the saints can not hear nor 
 answer us. This we see from Isa. 63, 16. "Doubtless thou 
 art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and 
 Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our Father, 
 our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting." 
 
LESSON yy. 'i,l\ 
 
 42. Not even to the angels should we pray, as we see I'rom Rev. 19, 10. 
 
 "I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, 
 see thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy 
 brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: 
 for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 
 
 43. Neither should we address our petitions to an indefinite great 
 
 spirit, or higher being, as is done in the secret societies 
 of our day. To whom alone should we pray? To the true 
 God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 
 
 44. (255) "What things should we ask of God?" "Everything that 
 
 tends to the glory of God and our salvation, be it spiritual 
 or temporal blessings." 
 
 45. Repeat Phil. 4. fi. "Be careful for nothing; but in everything 
 
 by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your re- 
 quests be made known unto God." 
 
 46. How many kinds of things may we ask for in prayer? Two, 
 
 spiritual and temporal. 
 
 47. But whatever we ask, should serve what purpose? It should 
 
 tend to the glory of God and our salvation. 
 
 48. (256) "Should we pray for these things without distinction at 
 
 all?'" "No: ail that is really necessary unto salvation we 
 should ask for unconditionally; but all else under the con- 
 dition: if it please God." 
 
 49. So, for instance, we need the Holy Ghost in order that we may 
 
 believe and be saved. Luke 11. i:;, the Savior teaches us 
 to ask for this gift without any condition. "If ye ther., 
 being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, 
 how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy 
 Spirit to them that ask him?" 
 
 50. But under what condition should we ask for all else? Under the 
 
 condition: if it please God. 
 
 51. So the poor leper, Matt. 8, 2. asked the Savior. "Lord, if thou 
 
 wilt, thou canst make me clean." 
 
 52. So the Savior himself prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, 
 
 Luke 22, 42. "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup 
 from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." 
 
 53. In Matt. 20, 20-22, we have an example of a prayer that was 
 
 denied because it was not in accordance with God's will. 
 The mother of Zebedee's children wanted her sons to occupy 
 special places of honor in the kingdom of the Savior. Read 
 1 John, 5, 14. "This is the confidence that we have in Him, 
 that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us." 
 
 54. (257) "For whom should we pray?" "Not only for ourselves, but 
 
 also for all our fellow-men on earth." 
 
 55. It is but natural that each should pray for himself, but for whom 
 
 else should we pray? For all our fellow-men on earth. 
 
 56. Yes, we should also pray for others, but only for those who are 
 
 on earth. It would avail nothing to pray for those who are 
 in hell, and those who are in heaven have no need of our 
 prayers. Now let us see some examples of how we should 
 pray for our fellow-men. Matt. 5, 44, tells us to pray for 
 our enemies. "But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless 
 them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and 
 pray for them which despitefully use you. an«i «ersecute you." 
 
272 LESSON "^J. 
 
 57. Read Luke 23, 34, and see how the Savior himself did this. 
 
 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not 
 what they do." 
 
 58. From Acts 7, 59 and 60, we see how St. Stephen followed the 
 
 example of the Savior. "They stoned Stephen, calling upon 
 God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he 
 kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not 
 this sin to their charge." 
 
 59. Read Eph. 6, 18, and see how we should pray for our brethren. 
 
 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the 
 spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and 
 supplication for all saints." 
 
 60. From Ex. 32, 31-32, we see how Moses prayed for Israel. "Moses 
 
 returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned 
 a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if 
 thou wilt forgive their sin — ; and if not, blot me, I pray 
 thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." 
 
 61. Read the latter part of Isa. 53. 12, and see how the Messiah is 
 
 said to pray for the wicked. "He bare the sins of many, and 
 made intercession for the transgressors." 
 
 62. From James 5, 14, we see that we are to pray for the sick. "Is 
 
 any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the 
 church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with 
 oil in the name of the Lord." 
 
 63. Parents should pray for their children as we see from Matt. 
 
 19, 13. "Then were there brought unto him little children, 
 that he should put his hands on them and pray: and the 
 disciples rebuked them." 
 
 64. We should pray for the church, that God may give faithful 
 
 ministers. Read Matt. 9, 37. 38. "Then said he unto his 
 disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers 
 are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that 
 he will send forth laborers into his harvest." 
 
 65. Jer. 29, 7, tells us that we should pray for the public welfare. 
 
 "Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to 
 be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: 
 for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace." 
 
 66. (258) "How must we pray?" "In the name of Jesus, or in true 
 
 faith." 
 
 67. In the name of Jesus means in obedience to his command and 
 
 depending upon his merits. We ourselves are not worthy of 
 anything for which we pray, but we are to pray that God 
 give us what we ask for Jesus sake. Repeat John 16, 23. 
 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the 
 Father In my name, he will give it you." 
 
 68. That we should pray in true faith we see from Matt. 21, 22. "All 
 
 things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye 
 shall receive." 
 
 69. Now read James 1, 5-7, and tell me how we should pray. We 
 
 should pray in faith. 
 
 70. To pray in faith means to depend on the mercy of God. Re- 
 
 peat Dan. 9, 18. "We do not present our supplications be- 
 fore Thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies." 
 
LESSON 'J'J. 273 
 
 71. How did the poor publican in tlie temple pray? Luke 18, 13. 
 
 "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so 
 much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, 
 saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." 
 
 72. In true faith also means in the spirit of piety, in sincerity and 
 
 uprightness. Repeat Ps. 66, 18. "If I regard iniquity in 
 my heart, the Lord will not hear me." 
 
 73. Read also .John 4, 24. "God is a spirit: and they that worship 
 
 him must worship him in spirit and in truth." 
 
 74. True prayer is not the mere repetition of words, but it is a 
 
 matter of the heart. Repeat Matt. 6, 7. "When ye pray, 
 use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think 
 that they shall be heard for their much speaking." 
 
 75. Read also Matt. 15, 8. "This people draweth nigh unto me with 
 
 their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their 
 heart is far from me." 
 
 76. (259) "When should we pray?" "Without ceasing, particularly 
 
 also at stated times." 
 
 77. The Christian should pray at all times. His life should be a 
 
 life of prayer. Read 1 Thes. 5, 17. "Pray without ceasing." 
 
 78. Also Eph. 6, 18. "Praying always with all prayer and supplica- 
 
 tion in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perse- 
 verance and supplication for all saints." 
 
 79. In the parable Luke 18. 1-7, what is it that the Savior impresses 
 
 upon us, according to verse 1? That we ought always to 
 pray. 
 
 80. And yet there are times which particularly call for prayer. So 
 
 we learn from Isa. 26, 16. "Lord, in trouble they have 
 visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening 
 was upon them." 
 
 81. It is well to have stated, or fixed, times for prayer, lest it be 
 overlooked or crowded out. What are such times of the 
 day? Morning, at meals and evening. 
 
 82. Read Ps. 92. 1. 2. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the 
 
 Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To 
 shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy 
 faithfulness every night." 
 
 83. Also Ps. 55, IG. 17. "As for me, I will call upon God; and the 
 
 Lord shall save me. Evening and morning, and at noon, 
 will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." 
 
 84. Our Catechism gives us such morning and evening prayers, and 
 
 prayers before and after meals. We should not only learn 
 but faithfully use them. Which day of the week should 
 be a special day of prayer? The Lord's day, or Sunday. 
 
 85. (260) "Where should we pray?" "Everywhere, but particularly 
 
 also in our closet and at church." 
 
 86. God is everywhere, and therefore we may call upon Him at any 
 
 place. Repeat 1 Tim. 2, 8. "I will therefore that men pray 
 everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and 
 doubting." 
 
 18 
 
274 LESSON 78. 
 
 87. But prayer need not always be in public. In the secret of our 
 
 own hearts, when we are alone with God, we should pray 
 to Him, as we see from Matth. 6, 6. "But thou, when thou 
 prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy 
 door pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father 
 which seeth in secret will reward thee openly." 
 
 88. But there is one place particularly which should be a place of 
 
 prayer. Read the latter part of Isa. 56, 7. "For mine house 
 shall be called an house of prayer for all people." 
 
 89. Repeat also Ps. 26, 12. "In the congregations will I bless the 
 
 Lord." 
 
 90. Read also Ps. 22, 22. "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: 
 
 in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee." 
 
 91. Also Ps. 27, 6, latter half. "Therefore will I offer in his taber- 
 
 nacle sacrifices of joy." 
 
 LESSON 78. THE INTRODUCTION TO THE LORD'S PRAYER. 
 
 (Questions 261-272.) 
 
 1. Which is the third chief part of the Catechism? The Lord's 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 2. (261) "Repeat the Lord's Prayer." "Our Father who art in 
 
 Heaven, etc." 
 
 3. (262) "How many parts does the Lord's Prayer contain?" 
 
 "Three: the introduction, the seven petitions, and the con- 
 clusion." 
 
 4. (263) "What is the introduction?" "Our Father who art in 
 
 heaven." 
 
 5. (264) "What does this mean?" "God would by these words 
 
 tenderly invite us to believe that He is our true Father and 
 that we are His true children, so that we may with all bold- 
 ness and confidence entreat Him, as dear children entreat 
 their jdear father." 
 
 6. Who taught us the Lord's Prayer? Our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 7. What does Jesus in this prayer teach us to call God? He teaches 
 
 us to call God father. 
 
 8. He might have told us to address God as Lord, .Jehovah, the 
 
 Almighty, but He preferred that we should address God by 
 what dear name? By the name Father. 
 
 9. This He did to give us confidence in God. How does Luther 
 
 express this in tb*^ catechism? "He would tenderly in- 
 vite us." 
 
 10. (265) "Why does the Lord's Prayer leach us to address God as 
 
 Father?" "God would thereby tenderly invite us to believe." 
 
 11. (266) "Of what would He invitingly assure us?" "To believe 
 
 that He is our true Father and that we are His true children." 
 
 12. He wants us to believe, that is, to have confidence in God. What 
 
 would He have us to believe? That He is our true Father 
 and that we are his true children. 
 
LESSON 78. 275 
 
 l:!. What kind of a father should we believe God to be? We should 
 believe Him to be a true father. 
 
 14. Yes, He is a father not only in name but in fact. He deserves 
 
 the name. Can you tell me why? Because He made us, 
 
 15. Yes, we owe Him our life. As we read in Psalm 100, 3. "Know 
 
 ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us and 
 not we ourselves." 
 
 16. A child owes not only its life to its father, but what else? Lov- 
 
 ing care. 
 
 17. Yes, and why then may we truly call God our Father? Because 
 
 He cares for us. 
 
 18. In what part of the Catechism have we already seen and learned 
 
 this? In the first article of the creed. 
 
 19. Repeat Luther's explanation of the first article. "I believe that 
 
 God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me 
 my body and soul, eyes, ears and all my members, my 
 reason and ail my senses, and still preserves them; also 
 clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife 
 and children, fields, cattle and all my goods; that He richly 
 and daily provides me with all that 1 need to support this 
 body and life; that He defends me against all danger, and 
 guards and protects me from all evil; and all this purely 
 out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit 
 or worthiness in me; for all which it is my duty to thank 
 and praise, to serve and obey Him. This is most certainly 
 true." 
 
 20. But there is another reason why Jesus would have us call God 
 
 Father. Jesus is our brother, and God is his Father. Then 
 in what relation does God stand to us? He is our Father. 
 
 21. Yes, and it is only through Christ that we can truly call God 
 
 Father. But if He is truly our father then in what re- 
 lation do we stand to Him? We are His children. 
 
 22. There are children who do not deserve the name. What was 
 
 the name of that son of king David who was a disgrace to 
 his father? Absalom. 
 
 2.3. What did the prodigal son confess? Luke 15, 21. "The son 
 said unto him. Father, I have sinned against heaven and in 
 thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." 
 
 24. So long as he was living in sin and shame, this was true. So 
 
 there are children of God who are not worthy of the name. 
 But what kind of children should we be? We should be 
 dear children. 
 
 25. That is, children who love their heavenly Father. Our proper 
 
 relation to our heavenly Father is expressed in the explana- 
 tion of the first commandment. Repeat it. "We should 
 fear, love and trust in God above all things." 
 
 26. What would the Savior have us believe concerning God? He 
 
 would have us believe that He is our true Father. 
 
 27. (267) "Why should we believe this?" "That we may with all 
 
 boldness and confidence entreat Him, as dear children en- 
 treat their dear father." 
 
276 LESSON 78. 
 
 28. What are we to do if we believe that God is our trire Father? 
 
 We are to entreat, to call on, Him. 
 
 29. Tell me a Scripture passage in which God expressly asks us to 
 
 call on Him in trouble. Psalm 50, 15. "Call upon me in 
 the day of trouble and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt 
 glorify me." 
 
 30. How should we call on God? We should call on Him with all 
 
 boldness and confidence. Or as dear children call on their 
 dear father. 
 
 31. When a child needs something, to whom does it go? It goes 
 
 to its father. 
 
 32. Repeat Psalm 103, 13. "Like as a father pitieth his children, 
 
 so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." 
 
 33. Turn to Luke 11, 13, and read what is there written of God. 
 
 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto 
 your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father 
 give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" 
 
 34. That all good gifts come from our heavenly Father we learn also 
 
 from James 1, 17. "Every good gift and every perfect gift 
 is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, 
 with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." 
 
 35. When we say "Our Father," are we speaking in the singirlar or 
 
 plural number? We are speaking in the plural number. 
 
 36. How would it read in the singular number? My Father who art 
 
 in heaven. 
 
 37. (268) "Why do we say Our Father?" "Because all Christians are 
 
 brethren and should therefore also pray for one another." 
 
 38. When we say "Our Father," whose father do we confess God 
 
 to be? The Father of all Christians. 
 
 39. Who are Christians? All who believe in Christ. 
 
 40. What do we in answer 268 say of all Christians? We say that 
 
 all Christians are brethren. 
 
 41. And -what should Christian brethren do for one another? They 
 
 should pray for one another. 
 
 42. This is plainly taught us when in the Lord's Prayer we are told 
 
 to use the plural number. Repeat the fourth petition. "Give 
 us this day our daily bread." 
 
 43. Repeat the fifth petition. "Forgive us our trespasses as we for- 
 
 give those who trespass against us." 
 
 44. And so in all the other petitions. What does the Savior teach 
 
 us when He asks us to use the plural number throughout 
 the Lord's Prayer? That we should pray for one another. 
 
 45. Read Matt. 23, 8. "One is your Master, even Christ and all ye 
 
 are brethren." 
 
 46. Repeat James 5, 16. "Confess your faults one to another, and 
 
 pray one for another, that ye may be healed." 
 
 47. (269) "Why do we in the German say: 'Vater Unser' and not 
 
 'Unser Vater'?" "That we may, in keeping with the constant 
 usage of the ancient church, begin the prayer with the 
 precious word Father. (The construction of the language 
 does not admit of it in the English.") 
 
LESSON 79. 277 
 
 48. (27(1) "Why do we add: Who art in heaven?" "To indicate 
 
 that this our dear Father is the omniscient and omnipotent 
 God." 
 
 49. If from any part of the earth's surface we look upward, what 
 
 do we see? We see the heavens. 
 
 50. As the heavens are over us everywhere, so God is everywhere 
 
 present. Why may we call upon Him at all places? Be- 
 cause He is everywhere present. 
 
 51. Read Jer. 23, 23. 24. "Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and 
 
 not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places 
 that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill 
 heaven and earth? saith the Lord." 
 
 52. But when we say to God: "Who art in heaven," we are not 
 
 only reminded of the fact that He is omniscient and omni- 
 present, but of what other attribute do we think according 
 to answer 270? We are also reminded of the omnipotence 
 of God. 
 
 53. As the heavens are far above the earth, so is God far above 
 
 us in glory, majesty and power. Read Isa. 66, 8, the first 
 part of the verse. "Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my 
 throne, and the earth is my footstool." 
 
 54. God is here represented as sitting on a throne, what must He 
 
 accordingly be? He must be a king. 
 
 55. What kind of king He is we see from Rev. 19. 16. "He hath on 
 
 his vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings, 
 and Lord of Lords." 
 
 56. How should we appear before such a great and glorious king? 
 
 We should appear before Him in due reverence. 
 
 57. But not only in reverence and fear should we appear before 
 
 Him. Suppose a great and powerful king would give you 
 the privilege to ask of Him anything you needed, how would 
 you feel about it? I would feel good about it. I would not 
 be afraid to ask. 
 
 58. So we should come before God in our prayers, not timidly, as 
 
 though we were afraid of asking too much, but, according 
 to Luther's explanation, how should we ask God? With all 
 boldness and confidence. 
 
 59. Repeat Psalm 115, 3. "Our God is in the heaven: He hath done 
 
 whatsoever He hath pleased." 
 
 60. (271) "How many petitions does the Lord's Prayer contain?" 
 
 "Seven." 
 
 61. (272) "What is the order and division of these petitions?" "In 
 
 the first four we pray God to bestow good, in the last three 
 to ward off evil." 
 
 LESSON 79. THE FIRST PETITION. 
 
 (Questions 273-280.) 
 
 1. (273) "Which is the first petition?" "Hallowed be Thy name." 
 
 2. (274) "What does this mean?" "God's name is indeed holy in 
 
 itself; but we pray in this petition that it may be holy 
 among us also." 
 
278 LESSON 79. 
 
 3. (275) "How is this done?' "When the Word of God is taught in 
 
 its truth and purity, and we as the children of God also 
 lead a godly life according to it. This grant us, dear Father 
 in heaven. But he that teaches and lives otherwise than 
 Uod's Word teaches, profanes the name of God among us. 
 From this preserve us, heavenly Father." 
 
 4. What does this first petition treat of? It treats of the name 
 
 of God. 
 
 5. Where in the Catechism have we already treated of the name 
 
 of God? Under the second commandment. 
 
 6. Repeat the second commandment. Thou shalt not take the 
 
 name of the Lord thy God in vain. 
 
 7. (276) "What do we understand by the name of God?" See Ques- 
 
 tion 25. "All that God has revealed of himself in Holy Scrip- 
 ture, such as his essence, attributes, will or command." 
 
 8. For whom does the name of a person stand? It stands for the 
 
 person himself. 
 
 9. When we hear the name of a person, of whom do we think? 
 
 We thing of the person. 
 
 10. Yes, and we think of other things connected with the person, 
 
 such as his attributes. For instance, when we hear the 
 name of "Solomon," of what attribute do we think? We 
 think of wisdom. 
 
 11. When we hear the name "Samson," of what quality do we think? 
 
 We think of strength. 
 
 12. So when we hear the name of God, we think not only of his 
 
 person, but of what else? We think also of his attributes. 
 
 13. Mention some of the attributes of God. God is eternal, almighty, 
 
 allwise, everywhere present, holy, righteous, merciful and 
 truthful. 
 
 14. Which is the fifth attribute you have jirst mentioned? God is 
 
 holy.- 
 
 15. If God himself is holy, then how must his name be? His name 
 
 must also be holy. 
 
 16. When we in this petition pray: "Hallowed be thy name." we dc 
 
 not mean that God's name is not holy until we make it holy 
 For what is the name of God in itself? God's name is holy 
 in itself. 
 
 17. What does "holy" mean? Holy means pure, perfect, without sin, 
 
 18. But if God's name is holy in itself, what do we ask for in this 
 
 petition? We ask that it may be holy among us also. 
 
 19. (277) "When does the name of God become holy among us also?" 
 
 "When among us the Word of God is taught in its truth and 
 purity, and we as the children of God lead a holy life ac- 
 cording to it." 
 
 20. Where has God revealed himself to us, that is, told us all we 
 
 should know about Himself and His name? in the Bible. 
 
 21. When a child is to learn, what must be done for it? It must 
 
 be tauaht. 
 
LESSON 79. 279 
 
 22. And when we are lo learn from the Word of God what we should 
 
 know about Him, what must be done with this Word? This 
 Word must be taught us. 
 
 23. And how must it be taught? It must be taught in its truth and 
 
 purity. 
 
 24. Repeat the passage John 17, 17. "Sanctify them through thy 
 
 truth: thy Word is truth." 
 
 25. According to this passage, how are we sanctified, or made holy? 
 
 Through God's truth. 
 
 26. And what truth is here meant? God's Word, the holy Scriptures. 
 
 27. But if God's name is to be hallowed among us, what else is 
 
 necessary besides that his Word be taught in its truth and 
 purity? We, as the children of God, must also lead a holy 
 life according to it. 
 
 28. What are we who believe God's Word and trust in his grace? 
 
 We are His children. 
 
 29. To whom is the good behavior of a child an honor? It is an 
 
 honor to its parents. 
 
 30. When a boy learns well and is well behaved at school, who may 
 
 be proud of him? His parents may be proud of him. 
 
 31. Yes, the father of such a boy would be glad to say: this is my 
 
 boy. When a girl by her modesty and skill, her neatness 
 and diligence, deserves credit, and some one would ask: 
 whose child is she? who is glad to own her as daughter? 
 Her parents are glad to do so. 
 
 32. So when we as the children of God lead holy lives, upon whom 
 
 does this reflect honor? It reflects honor on our heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 33. Repeat the passage. Matt. 5, 16. "Let your light so shine before 
 
 men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your 
 Father which is in heaven." 
 
 34. When men see our good works, whom will they glorify? They 
 
 will glorify our Father in heaven. 
 
 35. What two things, then, are necessary in order that the name of 
 
 God may be holy among us? God's Word must be preached 
 in its truth and purity and we as His children must lead 
 a holy life according to it. 
 
 36. (278) "Does this lie in our power?" "It does not; therefore we 
 
 pray: 'This grant us dear Father in heaven.'" 
 
 37. By nature we are rather inclined not to preach God's Word in 
 
 its truth and purity nor to accept it when it is thus preached. 
 Nor are we inclined to lead a holy life according to this 
 Word. When we see that we alone are not able to do a 
 thing, what do we ask for? We ask for help. 
 
 38. Who alone can help us hallow God's name? Our dear Father 
 
 in heaven. 
 
 39. So we read Phil. 2, 13. "It is God which worketh in you both 
 
 to will and to do of his good pleasure." 
 
 40. Read also 2 Cor. 3, 5. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to 
 
 think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of 
 God," 
 
280 LESSON 80. 
 
 41. (279) "Who profanes the name of God?" "He that teaches and 
 
 lives otherwise than God's Word teaches." 
 
 42. By what kind of teaching do men get a false idea of God and His 
 
 name? By false teaching. 
 
 43. When a church teaches that God would hot have all men, but 
 
 only a select few, saved, and men hear and believe this 
 false doctrine, how does this reflect on the name of God? 
 It dishonors the name of God. 
 
 44. So all false teaching profanes the name of God, that is, reflects 
 
 dishonor on it. We read, for instance, Ezek. 22, 26. "Her 
 priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy 
 things." 
 
 45. Read also Ps. 50, 16. 17. "Unto the wicked God saith, What 
 
 hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst 
 take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest in- 
 struction, and castest my words behind thee." 
 
 46. But God's name is profaned among us not only when we teach 
 
 otherwise than God's Word teaches, but in what other way? 
 When we live otherwise than God's Word teaches. 
 
 47. When children live a wicked life, upon whom does this reflect 
 
 dishonor? Upon their parents. 
 
 48. Good children are an honor to their parents, but what are bad 
 
 children? They are a disgrace to their parents. 
 
 49. Repeat Rom. 2, 23. 24. "Thou that makest thy boast of the law, 
 
 through breaking the law dishonorest thou God? For the 
 name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles through you, 
 as it is written." 
 
 50. In what two ways, then, is the name of God profaned among us? 
 
 By false teaching and a wicked life. 
 
 51. (280) "Can we prevent this by our own power?" "We cannot, 
 
 hence we pray: 'From this preserve us, heavenly Father.'" 
 
 52. By nature we are inclined to error and sin. Who alone can 
 
 keep us from both false doctrine and a wicked life? God 
 alone can do this. 
 
 53. On this account, liow does lliis question in the Catechism end? 
 
 "From this preserve us, heavenly Father." 
 
 54. From what do we here ask God to preserve us? From false 
 
 doctrine and a godless life. 
 
 LESSON 80. THE SECOND PETITION. 
 
 (Questions 281-286.) 
 
 1. (281) "Which is the second petition?" "Thy kingdom come." 
 
 2. (282) "What does this mean?" "The kingdom of God comes in- 
 
 deed without our prayer, of itself, but we pray in this petition 
 that it may come unto us also." 
 
Lesson 8o. 281 
 
 3. (283) "How is this done?" "When our heavenly Father gives us 
 . His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy 
 
 Word and lead a godly life, here in time and hereafter in 
 eternity." 
 
 4. What does this second petition treat of? It treats of the king- 
 
 dom of God. 
 
 5. Where already did we speak of the kingdom of God, or of Christ? 
 
 Under the second article of the Creed. 
 
 6. How manifold is the kingdom of Christ? The kingdom of Christ 
 
 is threefold. 
 
 7. What are the three kingdoms of Christ? The kingdom of power, 
 
 the kingdom of grace, and the kingdom of glory. 
 
 8. Read the passage Ps. 103, 19. "The Lord hath prepared His 
 
 throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all." 
 
 9. What kingdom of God is here referred to? The kingdom of power. 
 
 10. Over what does this kingdom extend? It extends over all 
 
 creatures. 
 
 11. This kingdom of power can not be meant when we pray: "Thy 
 
 kingdom come." For this kingdom is already here, and we 
 are all in it. What two other kingdoms of God are there 
 besides this kingdom of power? The kingdom of grace and 
 the kingdom of glory. 
 
 12. (284) "What is meant in this petition by the kingdom of God?" 
 
 "His kingdom of grace and of glory. (See Question 191 to- 
 gether with its passages)." 
 
 13. Turn to question 191 and tell me what does Christ do in His 
 
 kingdom of grace? He protects and governs the church. 
 
 14. And what does He do in His kingdom of glory? He forever 
 
 lives and triumphs with His saints in heaven. 
 
 15. Repeat Col. 1, 12-14. "Give thanks unto the Father, which hath 
 
 made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints 
 in light: who hath delivered us from the power of dark- 
 ness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear 
 Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even 
 the forgiveness of sin." 
 
 16. The kingdom of grace is the church on earth and the kingdom 
 
 of glory is the church in heaven. By nature we are under 
 what power, according to this passage? We are under the 
 power of darkness. 
 
 17. But when we became Christians in Baptism we were delivered 
 
 from what power, or kingdom? From the kingdom of dark- 
 ness. 
 
 18. And we were translated, or put over into, what kingdom? Into 
 
 the kingdom of His dear Sen, into Christ's kingdom. 
 
 19. Yes, through faith we were made members of the Christian 
 
 Church. This is the king^lom referred to in Luke 12, 32. 
 "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure 
 to give you the kingdom." 
 
 20. What does the Catechism say about the coming of God's kingdom? 
 
 "The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer." 
 
282 LESSON 80. 
 
 21. That is, the Church with its blessings is here on earth, and will 
 
 be in heaven, whether we pray for its coming or not. There 
 will be Christians on earth and saints in heaven even if we 
 are not among them; but what, according to the Catechism, 
 do we pray for in this petition? That the kingdom of God 
 "may come to us also." 
 
 22. Yes, or that we may come into this kingdom of God. And when 
 
 are we in the kingdom? When we believe on the Savior. 
 
 23. (285) "When does God's kingdom come to us also?" "When our 
 
 heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit." 
 
 24. Who are members of the kingdom of God, or of the Church? 
 
 All true believers. 
 
 25. Since when are we members of the Church? Since we were 
 
 baptized. 
 
 26. Repeat the passage, Mark 16, 16. "He that believeth and is bap- 
 
 tized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be 
 damned." 
 
 27. What, then, is necessary in order that we may become members 
 
 of the kingdom of God and be saved? Faith is necessary. 
 
 28. Who alone can work this faith in us? The Holy Ghost. 
 
 29. This He does in Baptism as we see from John .3, 5. "Verily, 
 
 verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of 
 the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 
 
 30. What does the explanation of the third article of the creed say 
 
 about the work of the Holy Ghost in us? "I believe that I 
 cannot by my own reason and strength believe in Jesus 
 Christ my Lord or come to Him, but the Holy Ghost has 
 called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, 
 sanctified and kept me in the true faith." 
 
 31. Whose work, then, is it when we are brought into the kingdom of 
 
 God by faith? It is the work of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 32. (286) "How does the Holy Ghost bring God's kingdom to us?" 
 
 "He enables us, by His grace, to believe His holy Word and 
 lead" a godly life, here in time and hereafter in eternity." 
 
 33. The kingdom of God comes to us when we are made members of 
 
 the Church. And what is necessary on our part in order that 
 we may become and remain members of the church? We 
 must believe His holy Word. 
 
 34. And how are we brought to believe His holy Word? By His 
 
 grace. 
 
 35. And what kind of life must follow such faith? A godly life. 
 
 36. Repeat Ps. 119. 38. "Stablish Thy Word unto Thy servant, who 
 
 is devoted to Thy fear." 
 
 37. By being rooted and grounded in the Word of God we are brought 
 
 and kept in the kingdom of God. Read also Rom. 14, 17.18. 
 "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but right- 
 eousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that 
 in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and ap- 
 proved of men " 
 
LESSON 80. . 283 
 
 38. The kingdom of God does not consist in outward things, but in 
 
 the spirit and disposition of the heart. It comes to us, or we 
 are brought into it, when the Holy Ghost works in us faith, 
 righteousness, peace and joy. As the Savior also says Luke 
 17, 20, 21. "When He was demanded of the Pharisees, when 
 the kingdom of God should come He answered them and said: 
 the kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither 
 shall they say. Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the king- 
 dom of God is within you." 
 
 39. But we pray for the coming, not only of the kingdom of grace, 
 
 but of what other kingdom? Of the kingdom of glory. 
 
 40. In the explanation of the second article of the creed we say that 
 
 Christ redeemed us that we might live under Him in his 
 kingdom and serve Him, how? In everlasting righteousness, 
 innocence and blessedness. 
 
 41. Yes, we are to believe His holy Word and lead a godly life not 
 
 only here in time but where? Hereafter in eternity. 
 
 42. We look forward to the coming of that blessed time when the 
 
 kingdom of grace shall be changed into the kingdom of 
 glory, as St. Paul did when he wrote 2 Tim. 4, 18. "The 
 Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve 
 me unto His heavenly kingdom." 
 
 43. This is the blessed hope of God's children, and for this they pray. 
 
 Those who refuse to believe God's Work and to lead a godly 
 life cannot enter the kingdom of God nor remain in it, nor 
 can they hope to enter into the kingdom of glory, as we 
 learn from Rom. 2, 23.24. "Thou that makest thy boast of 
 the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God. 
 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles 
 through you." 
 
 44. In praying this petition we think not only of ourselves but of 
 
 others. We would have God's kingdom come not only to us 
 but toi all men. What did Jesus say to Peter, Luke 22, 32. 
 "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." 
 
 45. When Peter would himself have arisen from his sad fall through 
 
 repentance he should help and be of service to his brethren 
 that they might be strengthened and kept in the faith. 
 What does St. James say, chapter 5, 19-20? "Brethren, if 
 any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let 
 him know that he which converteth a sinner from the error 
 of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a mul- 
 titude of sins." 
 
 46. We should all be interested in the saving of souls. There is no 
 
 greater work on earth than the work of saving immortal 
 souls. And oh, how many unsaved souls there are in the 
 world! Not only among the heathen who know not God and 
 the way of salvation, but even here in our own country there 
 are thousands who have drifted away from the Church and 
 are deprived of its blessings. What does St. James in this 
 passage say of anyone who shall convert a sinner from the 
 error of his way? He shall save a soul from death, 
 
284 LESSON 8i. 
 
 47. We cannot honestly pray that the kingdom of God may come to 
 
 our fellowmen if we are not willing to work for its coming. 
 Repeat what the Savior says, Matt. 9, 37, 38. "Then saith He 
 unto Ills disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the 
 laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, 
 that He will send forth laborers into his harvest." 
 
 48. What do we call the great work of preaching the Gospel to those 
 
 who are without its blessings? We call it the work of 
 missions. 
 
 49. When Jesus looked at the world it appeared like a great harvest 
 
 field. When a field is ready to be harvested, what is needed? 
 Hands, reapers, are needed. 
 
 50. And according to .Jesus' words, where are these to come from? 
 
 The Lord must send them. 
 
 51. And what are we to do? We are to pray the Lord to send them. 
 
 52. Yes, and we can do more. Suppose He wants to send us what 
 
 should we do? We should go. 
 
 53. And suppose He wants to send one of our friends who has not 
 
 the money to educate himself for the Gospel ministry so as 
 to become a laborer in the Lord's vineyard, what should we 
 do? We should help furnish him with the means. 
 
 54. So this petition: "Thy kingdom come" directs us to take an 
 
 interest in what great work? In the great work of missions. 
 
 LESSON 81. THE THIRD PETITION. 
 
 (Questions 287-295.) 
 
 1. (287) "Which is the third petition?" "Thy will be done on 
 
 earth as it is in heaven." 
 
 2. (288) "What does this mean?" "The good and gracious will of 
 
 God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this 
 petition that it may be done among us also." 
 
 :]. (289) "How is this done? ' "When God breaks and hinders every 
 evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow God's 
 name nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, 
 the world and our flesh; but strengthens and preserves us 
 steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end. This is His 
 gracious and good will." 
 
 4. What does this petition treat of? It treats of the will of God. 
 
 5. What kind of will is the will of God, according to Luther's answer 
 
 in question 288? It is a gracious and good will. 
 
 6. God is good and what He wills cannot but be good and right. 
 
 He governs the world according to His own will, and in this 
 no one can resist Him. His will is done in nature whether 
 we pray or not, and His will is good whether we see it or not. 
 But the Catechism speaks not only of the good will of God 
 but of what other will? Of the gracious will. 
 
 7. Where has God revealed His will to us, that is, what He wants 
 
 US to do and what not to do? In the Scriptures, 
 
LESSON 8i. 285 
 
 S. In what part, of the Catechism did we treat of this? In the first 
 chief part, the ten commandments. 
 
 9. What has God threatened to do with those who transgress His 
 holy will? He has threatened to punish them. 
 
 10. What has God, however, promised to do with the sins of those 
 
 who repent? He has promised to forgive them. 
 
 11. Yes, He is willing to forgive, and on that account his will is 
 
 what kind of will? It is a gracious will. 
 
 12. When a king pardons his enemies, and bestows all manner of 
 
 good upon them, what kind of king is he? He is a gracious 
 king. 
 
 13. Read John 6, 40, and let us see from it what is the gracious will 
 
 of God. "This is the will of Him that sent me, that every 
 one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have 
 everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." 
 
 14. In John :!■ 16, we have another very fine description of the 
 
 gracious will of God. Who can repeat this beautiful passage? 
 "God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, 
 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 
 everlasting life." 
 
 15. Even in the Old Testament this gracious will of God was clearly 
 
 revealed, as we see from Ezek. S'i, 11. "As I live, saith the 
 Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that 
 the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from 
 your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" 
 
 16. How does the Apostle Paul describe tlie will of God in 1 Tim. 2, 4? 
 
 "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the 
 knowledge of the truth." 
 
 17. How does St. Peter describe the will of God, 2 Peter 3, 9? "The 
 
 Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men 
 count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing 
 that any should perish, but that all should come to repen- 
 tance." 
 
 18. (290) "What do we understand in this petition by the will of 
 
 God?" "That his name be hallowed and his kingdom come; 
 or, that we remain steadfast in His Word and faith unto our 
 end." 
 
 19. How, according to question 277, is the name of God hallowed? 
 
 "When among us the Word of God is taught in its truth and 
 purity, and we as the children of God also lead a holy life 
 according to it." 
 
 20. And how, according to question 283. does His kingdom come? 
 
 "When our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that 
 by his grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life 
 here in time and hereafter in eternity." 
 
 21. God's will is not only that we believe His holy Word, but what 
 
 else is His will? His will is also that we lead a godly life. 
 
 22. This we see from 1 Thes. 4. 3. "This is the will of God. even 
 
 your sanctification." 
 
 23. (291) "What do we accordin,i;ly here pray for?" "That God's 
 
 good and gracious will be done among us also." 
 
286 LESSON 8i. 
 
 24. How, according to question 288, is God's will done? "The good 
 
 and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer." 
 
 25. That is, God will do as he pleases in governing the world, 
 
 whether we pray or not, and there will be some people who 
 believe His holy Word and lead a godly life, whether we do 
 or not, then what do we ask for in this petition? That the 
 will of God may be done among us also. 
 
 26. (292) "When is this done?" "When God breaks and hinders 
 
 every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow 
 God's name nor let His kingdom come." 
 
 27. It is God's will that we believe on the T^ord Jesus Christ and be 
 
 saved, but who alone can work such faith in us? The Holy 
 Ghost. 
 
 28. This we see from Phil. 2, 13. "For it is God which worketh in 
 
 you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 
 
 29. Read also Jer. 31, 18, the latter half. "Turn thou me and I shall 
 
 be turned; for thou art the Lord my God." 
 
 30. Also Ps. 51, 10. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a 
 
 right spirit within me." 
 
 31. Also Ps. 143, 10. "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: 
 
 thy spirit Is good; lead me into the land of uprightness." 
 
 32. This is God's good and gracious will, but what other will is there 
 
 that is not a gracious and good will? There is also an evil 
 counsel and will. 
 
 33. (293) "Who has such an evil counsel and will? " "The devil, the 
 
 world, and our flesh." 
 
 34. We have seen that it is the will of God that we believe His holy 
 
 Word and be saved. But what is the devil's will? .lust the 
 opposite of God's will. That we do not believe and are lost. 
 
 35. Read 1 Peter 5, 8. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary 
 
 the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he 
 may devour." 
 
 36. He tempts us to do contraiy to God's will and. word. Can you 
 
 give me an example of such temptation? Our first parents 
 in paradise. He also tempted the Savior in the wilderness. 
 
 37. Now let us see from James 4, 7. what we should do when the 
 
 devil thus tempts us. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. 
 Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." 
 
 38. Now who is in league with the devil in this evil council and will? 
 
 The world. 
 
 39. By this is meant the wicked people in the world. Read 1 John 
 
 2, 15-17. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in 
 the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father 
 is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the 
 flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not 
 of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth 
 away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God 
 abldeth forever." 
 
 ■I(t. What else is opposed to our doing God's will l)esides the devil 
 find the world? Our own flesh. 
 
LESSON 8i. 287 
 
 41. ileud Gen. 4, 7. "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted/ 
 
 And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door: and unto 
 thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." 
 
 42. Here God warned Cain against sin, that is, against tbe wicked- 
 
 ness and hatred in his own heart. This was Cain's flesh, the 
 sinfulness of his own nature. This flesh was opposed to 
 doing the will of God, and in favor of doing the devil's will. 
 Read also Rom. 8, 7. "Because the carnal mind is enmity 
 against God: for it Is not subject to the law of God, neither 
 indeed can be." 
 
 43. Now what must be done with this evil counsel and will of the 
 
 devil, the world and our flesh if God's will is to be done? 
 This evil will must be broken and hindered. 
 
 44. And who alone can break and hinder this evil counsel and willY 
 
 God alone can do it. 
 
 45. (294) "In what manner does God break and hinder this evil 
 
 counsel and will?" "He strengthens and preserves us stead- 
 fast in His Word and faith unto our end." 
 
 46. Let us see how this was done in the case of Simon Peter. Read 
 
 Luke 22, 31. 32. "The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, 
 Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as 
 wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: 
 and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." 
 
 47. Repeat 1 John 5, 4. "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the 
 
 world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, 
 even our faith." 
 
 48. By prayer and faith we may overcome the world, the flesh and 
 
 the devil. Our faith is the victory that overcometh the 
 world, and who is it that kindles and preserves this faith'' 
 It is God. 
 
 49. Now let us see how the will of the flesh must be broken and 
 
 hindered. Read Rom. 8, 13, 14. "For if ye live after the 
 flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the spirit do mortify 
 the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are 
 led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God." 
 
 50. That God alone must work and preserve faith we see from 
 
 Phil. 1, 6. "Being confident of this very thing, that He 
 which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until 
 the day of Jesus Christ." 
 
 51. Read also 1 Thes. 5, 23. "And the very God of peace sanctify you 
 
 wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body 
 be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 52. But the faith by which we are kept unto salvation is not a dead 
 
 but a living faith, a faith that shows itself by works, as we 
 see from Gal. 5, 6. "In Jesus Christ neither circumcision 
 availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which 
 worketh by love." 
 
 53. As Christians, God's dear children, we should cheerfully submit 
 
 to His will in all things. He rules and orders our life ac- 
 cording to His wisdom, for our good. God knows best what 
 IS good for us. How do we express our submission to His 
 will in this petition? By saying: Thy will be done. 
 
288 LESSON 82. 
 
 54. Of this submission the Savior himself gave us the best example. 
 
 Read Mat. 26, 39. "O my Father, if it be possible, let this 
 cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou 
 wilt." 
 
 55. What does the Savior say, Luke 9, 23? "He said to them all, if 
 
 any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take 
 up his cross daily, and follow me." 
 
 56. Following the Savior is not an easy matter. The world perse- 
 
 cuted Him and what must we expect if we faithfully follow 
 Him? That the world will also persecute us. 
 
 57. (295) -"Why do we add: On earth as It is in heaven?" "That we 
 
 may take example of the holy angels and do the will of God 
 gladly and cheerfully." 
 
 58. Who does the will of God in heaven? The angels and saints. 
 
 59. Repeat Ps. 103, 21. "Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye 
 
 ministers of his that do his pleasure." 
 
 60. The angels and saints do the will of God not by conpulsion, but 
 
 how? Cheerfully and willingly. 
 
 61. And they do it not imperfectly, but how? They do it perfectly. 
 
 62. And so we ask God to help us how to do the will of God? To do 
 
 it willingly and perfectly. 
 
 LESSON 82. THE FOURTH PETITION. 
 
 (Questions 296-304.) 
 
 1. (296) "Which is the fourth petition?" "Give us this day our 
 
 daily bread." 
 
 2. (297) "What does this mean?" "God gives daily bread indeed 
 
 without our prayer, also to the wicked; but we pray in this 
 petition that He would lead us to know and to receive our 
 daily bread with thanksgiving." 
 
 3. (298) "What is meant l)y daily bread?" "Everything that belongs 
 
 to the support and wants of the body; such as food, drink, 
 clothing, shoes, house, home, fields, cattle, money, goods, a 
 pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faith- 
 ful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, 
 discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the 
 like." 
 
 4. What is the subject of this petition? Daily bread. 
 
 5. In the first three petitions we asked for spiritual blessings, 
 
 what do we ask for in this fourth petition? For bodily 
 blessings. 
 
 6. Why, according to the first part of answer 298, do we need bodily 
 
 blessings? We need them for the support and wants of the 
 body. 
 
 7. Why does the Savior place the petitions for spiritual blessings 
 
 first? Because they are the most necessary. 
 
LESSON 82. 289 
 
 H. The Savior himself tells us tliis in Mat. G, 33. "Seek ye first the 
 kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things 
 shall be added unto you." 
 
 9. And yet we have not only souls, but also bodies that must be 
 eared for. In this fourth petition we ask God to remember 
 our bodily wants. In question 298 some of the things neces- 
 sary for our bodily welfare are mentioned. What do we 
 need when we are hungry and thirsty? We need food and 
 drink. 
 
 10. What do we need to protect us from cold? We need clothing 
 
 and shoes. 
 
 11. What do we need for shelter? We need house and home. 
 
 12. What do we need to grow food and clothing? We need fields and 
 
 cattle. 
 
 13. What do we need to buy or give in exchange for what we want? 
 
 We need money and goods. 
 
 14. Because it is not good for man to be alone, what do we need in 
 
 order to be happy in the family? We need a pious spouse, 
 pious children, and pious servants. 
 
 15. And what do we need for our public welfare in the state? We 
 
 need pious and faithful rulers and good government. 
 IG. And what other things are here mentioned as necessary lor our 
 bodily welfare? Good weather, peace, health, discipline, 
 honor, good friends, faithful neighbors and the like. 
 
 17. In what single word does the Savior in the Lord's Prayer include 
 
 all this? In the word "bread". 
 
 18. What is the commonest article of food on our tables? It is bread. 
 
 19. (299) "Why do we here ask God only for daily bread?" "Because 
 
 we are to be content with our daily bread, or with what 
 belongs to the support and wants of the body." 
 
 20. Bread is very ordinary food. It is not a luxury but a necessity. 
 
 We could miss anything else from our tables rather than 
 bread. And how should we feel about it when God supplies 
 us with plain, common food? We should be content. 
 
 21. Repeat Prov. CO, 7-9. "Two things have I required of thee; deny 
 
 me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and 
 lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with 
 food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and 
 say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take 
 the name of my God in vain," 
 
 22. What does Solomon here ask God not to give him? He asks 
 
 God to give him neither poverty nor riches. 
 
 23. But what does he ask of God? "Feed me with food convenient 
 
 for me." 
 
 24. That is, give me what I really need, neither more nor less. 
 
 Repeat 1 Tim. 6, 6-10. "Godliness with contentment is great 
 gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is 
 certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and rai- 
 ment let us be therewith content. But they that will be 
 rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish 
 and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and per- 
 dition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which 
 while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and 
 pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 
 10 
 
290 LESSON 82. 
 
 25. What, should we be content with? We should be content with 
 
 food and raiment. 
 
 26. In John 6, 1-13, we have the story of how Jesus fed the hungry 
 
 multitude. What did he give them to eat? He gave them 
 barley bread and fish. 
 
 27. This was plain food, but there was plenty of it. Read the 12th 
 
 verse. "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, 
 Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." 
 
 28. (300) 'Why do we say this day?" "Because we are not to be anx- 
 
 iously concerned for the morrow." 
 
 29. The Savior teaches us to say, not: give us this week, nor this 
 
 month, nor this year, our daily bread, but what does he teach 
 us to say? He teaches us to say: Give us this day our 
 daily bread. 
 
 30. What are we not to be anxiously concerned about? About to- 
 
 morrow. 
 
 31. No, for if God gives us what we need today, we should trust Him 
 
 to do the same tomorrow. Repeat Matt. 6, 34. "Take there- 
 fore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take 
 thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day 
 is the evil thereof." 
 
 32. Read also the 24th and 33rd verses of the same chapter. "No 
 
 man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, 
 and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and 
 despise the other. . . But seek ye first the kingdom of 
 God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be 
 added unto you." 
 
 33. Why should we borrow trouble, and worry over what the future 
 
 may bring? To whom should we leave the future? We 
 should leave it to God. 
 
 34. All our worrying will accomplish nothing. It is not only foolish 
 
 but sinful to worry over the future, as we see from Ps. 127, 
 1. 2. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain 
 that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman 
 wa^tcheth but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to 
 sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his 
 beloved sleep." 
 
 35. (302) "Why do we pray that God should give us our daily 
 
 bread?" "Because we must receive all that we need from 
 our kind Father in heaven." 
 
 36. Repeat what is written James 1, 17. "Every good gift and every 
 
 perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father 
 of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of 
 turning." 
 
 37. Repeat Ps. 145, 15. 16. "The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou 
 
 givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine 
 hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing." 
 
 38. And what induces God to give us all that we need? He does it 
 
 out of love and mercy. 
 
 39. How does Luther express this in the concluding words of his 
 
 explanation of the first article of the creed? "All this purely 
 out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy without any 
 - merit or worthiness in me." 
 
LESSON 82. 291 
 
 40. Read 1 Cor. 4, 7. "Who maketh thee to differ from another? 
 
 And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if 
 thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst 
 not received it?" 
 
 41. (303) "To whom even does God give their daily bread?" "God 
 
 gives daily bread indeed without our prayer, also to ail the 
 wicked." 
 
 42. Repeat Matt. 5, 45. "That ye may be children of your Father 
 
 which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the 
 evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on 
 the unjust." 
 
 43. Read also Ps. 17. 13. 14. "Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast 
 
 him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy 
 sword: From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men 
 of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose 
 belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of 
 children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes." 
 
 44. Also Ps. 73, 12. "Behold these are the ungodly, who prosper in 
 
 the world: they increase in riches." 
 
 45. Yes, God is so gracious that He even blesses the v^^icked with 
 
 the good things of this life, although they despise the 
 spiritual blessings of the world to come. They are satisfied 
 to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh in this world and care 
 nothing for heaven and its treasures. This was the case 
 with the rich man. Read what Abraham said to him, Luke 
 16, 25. "Abraham said: son remember that thou in thy life- 
 time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil 
 things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." 
 
 46. 
 
 Read also Jer. 5, 23. 24. "This people hath a revolting and a 
 rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say 
 they in their heart, let us now fear the Lord our God, that 
 giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: 
 he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest." 
 
 -17. (304) "Why then do we pray to God for it?" "That He would 
 lead us to know, and to receive our daily bread with 
 thanksgiving." 
 
 48. Who must lead us to know that our daily bread comes from Him? 
 
 God must do it. 
 
 49. Read 2 Cor. 3, 5. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to 
 
 think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." 
 
 50. God himself must open our eyes to see His goodness. And how 
 
 should we receive our daily bread? We should receive it 
 with thanksgiving. 
 
 51. Repeat Ps. 50, 23. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and 
 
 to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the 
 salvation of God." 
 
 52. When the Lord cleansed the ten lepers, how many relnrned (o 
 
 give thanks? Read Luke 17. 17. 18. "Jesus answering said, 
 were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 
 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, 
 save this stranger." 
 
292 LESSON 83. 
 
 53. We pray: Give us this day our daily bread. We ask for our 
 
 own bread, the bread which God gives us through the labor 
 of our own hands. Repeat Ps. 128, 1. 2. "Blessed is every 
 one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For 
 thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, 
 and it shall be well with thee." 
 
 54. What God gives we should thankfully receive and not despise 
 
 as we see from 1 Tim. 4, 3-5. "Forbidding to marry, and 
 commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created 
 to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe 
 and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and 
 nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving." 
 
 55. When we ask for our daily bread we think not only of ourselves 
 
 but of others. We ask that God may especially remember 
 the poor. Read Ps. 132, 15. "I will abundantly bless her 
 provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread." 
 
 56. Also Ps. 37, 25. "I have been young and now am old; yet have 
 
 I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging 
 bread." 
 
 57. Also Ps. 33, IS. 19. "Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them 
 
 that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to de- 
 liver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in 
 famine." 
 
 LESSON 83. THE FIFTH PETITION. 
 
 (Questions 305-311.) 
 
 (305) "Which is the fifth petition?" "Forgive us our trespasses 
 as we forgive those who trespass against us." 
 
 (306) "What does this mean?" "We pray in this petition that 
 our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor on 
 their account deny these our petitions; for we are worthy 
 of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we 
 deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by 
 grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing 
 but punishment. We will also heartily forgive and readily 
 do good to those who sin against us." 
 
 What does this petition treat of? It treats of trespasses. 
 
 (307) "What do we understand here by our trespasses?" "All 
 our sins. (Compare Questions 125-128.)" 
 
 Turn to question 123. and tell me what is sin? Sin is every 
 transgression of the divine law. 
 
 Tell me from question 125 of how many kinds is sin? Two. 
 original and actual. 
 
 What is original sin? Qiu'stioii 126. It is the utter depravity of 
 the whole human nature which since the fall of Adam is 
 inborn in all men. 
 
 And what is actual sin? Question 128. All that is done con- 
 trary to the ten commandments in thought, word and deed, 
 
LESSON 83. 293 
 
 9. Tell me from question 129: What are the consequences of sin? 
 God is thereby most deeply offended and moved to temporal 
 and eternal punishment. 
 
 10. (:J08) "What do we pray for in this petition?" "That our Father 
 
 in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor on their ac- 
 count deny these our petitions." 
 
 11. If God loolved upon our sins, that is, remembered them against 
 
 us, what would He have to do? He would have to punish us. 
 
 12. And if He lool-ced upon our sins, what would He have to do with 
 
 all our petitions? He would have to deny them. 
 
 13. (oU9) "Why is this necessary?" "Because we are worthy of none 
 
 of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved 
 them." 
 
 14. We are worthy of none of God's gifts, as we see from Gen. 32, 10. 
 
 "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of 
 all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; 
 for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am 
 become two bands." 
 
 15. We have deserved no good thing, but on account of our many 
 
 sins what have we deserved? We have deserved nothing 
 but punishment. 
 
 l(i. (310) "Why must we acknowledge this?" "Because we daily sin 
 much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment." 
 
 17. What do we here acknowledge wilh regard to our sins? That 
 
 we daily sin much. 
 
 18. How do we come to a knowledge of our many sins? By studying 
 
 the ten commandments. 
 
 19. Give me a Scripture passage from which we see that we get 
 
 this knowledge by the law? Rom. 3, 20. "By the law is 
 the knowledge of sin." 
 
 20. In what three different ways is actual sin committed? In 
 
 thoughts, words and deeds. 
 
 21. We have not only done what God has forbidden, but in what 
 
 other way have we sinned? We have failed to do what God 
 has commanded. 
 
 22. When we confess our sins before God, we should not only think 
 
 of those sins which we know, but even of those we do not 
 know, as we see from Ps. 19, 12. "Who can understand his 
 errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." 
 
 23. Yes, and we should not only confess our actual sins. Ijut w^hat 
 
 other sin? We should also confess original sin. We are 
 born sinners. 
 
 24. But what do we hope for when we confess our sins before God? 
 
 We hope for forgiveness. 
 
 25. And we have reason to Iiope for forgiveness, as we see from 
 
 Ps. 130, 3. 4. "If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O 
 Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, 
 that thou mayest be feared." 
 
294 LESSON 83. 
 
 26. And again Ps. 32, 5. "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and 
 
 mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my trans- 
 gression unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of 
 my sin." 
 
 27. Read also the passage, Micah 7, 18. 19. "Who is a God like 
 
 unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the trans- 
 gression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not 
 hjs anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will 
 turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue 
 our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the 
 depths of the sea." 
 
 28. But how can God forgive sin when he has threatened to punish 
 
 it? For whose sake is he willing to forgive sin? For 
 Christ's sake. 
 
 29. What did Christ do that God should be willing to forgive sin 
 
 for his sake? He suffered and died for us. 
 
 30. Yes, the punishment of our sins was laid upon Him. What did 
 
 John the Baptist call .Jesus? .John 1, 29. "The next day 
 John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith, Behold the 
 Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." 
 
 31. Read also 1 John 2, 1. 2. "My little children, these things I write 
 
 unto you, that ye sin not. And If any man sin, we have an 
 advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and 
 He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, 
 but also for the sins of the whole world." 
 
 32. In whom do we put our confidence when we here ask God to 
 
 forgive us our trespasses or sins? We put our confidence in 
 Jesus Christ our Savior. 
 
 33. Now let us see how God answers this petition. Which are the 
 
 two chief doctrines or the Word of God? The Law and the 
 Gospel. 
 
 34. In the law God threatens to punish sin, but what does He offer 
 
 us in the Gospel? He offers us the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 35. When we hear the Gospel preached, o! wh^t are we assured? 
 
 We are assured of the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 36. This Gospel, or this declaration of forgiveness, comes to us not 
 
 only in the public preaching, but in the word of absolution, 
 in Baptism and in the Lord's Supper. This is God's way 
 of answering our prayer for the forgiveness of sins. And 
 how should we regard God's declaiation of forgiveness when 
 we hear it in the Gospel? We should believe it. 
 
 37. This fifth petition we might call the most important of all the 
 
 seven. And why is the forgiveness of sins £0 necessary? 
 Because we can not be saved without It. 
 
 38. Which attribute in God is it that makes Him willing to forgive 
 
 sins? His mercy. 
 
 39. For whose sake is it possible that God shonld forgive sins? 
 
 For Christ's sake. 
 
 40. How is this forgiveness declared to us? Through the Gospel. 
 
 41. How should we regard this declaration of forgiveness when we 
 
 hear it? We should believe it. 
 
 42. (311) "Why do we add: As we forgive those who trespass against 
 
 us?" "Because we can have no faith, and therefore also no for- 
 giveness of our sins, if we do not also heartily forgive and 
 willingly do good to those who sin against us." 
 
LESSON 83. 296 
 
 43. What do we here promise toward those who sin against us? 
 
 We promise to forgive them. 
 
 44. And how should we forgive them? We should forgive them 
 
 heartily. 
 
 45. Yes, not only with the lips but Irom the heart, lor so God has 
 
 forgiven us. And if we so lorgive, what will we do to those 
 who sin against us? We will do good to them. 
 
 46. And how will we do them good? We will willingly do them good. 
 
 47. Yes, it will be a pleasure to do them good. But suppose a man 
 
 is not ready to forgive, nor to do good to those who sin 
 against him, what does that show with reference to his 
 faith? It shows that he has no faith. 
 
 48. Or at least that his faith is not of the right kind, that it is dead. 
 
 This kind of faith is described in James 2, 17. "Even so 
 faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." 
 
 49. Read also what the Savior says of the poor penitent woman, 
 
 Luke 7, 47. "Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins which are 
 many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little 
 is forgiven, the same loveth little." 
 
 50. Repeat also Ps. 119, 32. "I will run the way of thy command- 
 
 ments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." 
 
 51. Read also 1 John 4, 11 and 19. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we 
 
 ought also to love one another." "We love him because he 
 first loved us." 
 
 52. Also 1 John 3, 14. "We know that we have passed from death 
 
 unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not 
 his brother abideth in death." 
 
 53. Where a man is not willing to forgive, there is no love toward 
 
 his fellow man, but where there is no love toward men there 
 is no love toward God, and where there is no love to God 
 there is no faith and what does our question 311 say where 
 there is no faith? There is no forgiveness of sins. 
 
 54. If we do not forgive one another, God will not forgive us, as 
 
 we see from Matt. 5, 23-26. "if thou bring thy gift to the 
 altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught 
 against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go 
 thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come 
 and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, while 
 thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary 
 deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the 
 officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, 
 thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid 
 the uttermost farthing." 
 
 55. In Matt. 18, 28-35, we have the parable of the unmerciful servant. 
 
 When he would not forgive his fellow-servant what did his 
 Lord do to him, verse 34? "His Lord was wroth, and de- 
 livered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was 
 due unto him." 
 
 56. Read also Luke 6, 36-38. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your 
 
 Father also is merciful. Judge not and ye shall not be 
 judged: condemn not and ye shall not be condemned: for- 
 give and ye shall be forgiven: Give and it shall be given 
 unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, 
 and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with 
 the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured 
 to you again." 
 
296 LESSON 84. 
 
 LESSON 84. THE SIXTH PETITION. 
 
 (Questions 312-319.) 
 
 1. (312) "Which is the sixth petition?" "And lead us not into 
 
 temptation." 
 
 2. (313) "What does this mean?" "God tempts no one; but we pray 
 
 in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that 
 the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor 
 entice us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and 
 vice: and though we be assailed by them, that still we may 
 finally prevail, and obtain the victory," 
 
 3. Of what does this petition treat? It treats of temptation. 
 
 4. To tempt a man means to try him; to put him to the test. 
 
 Temptation calls for decision on the part of him who is 
 tested. When our first parents were tempted in the garden 
 of Eden they had the choice between good and evil. So 
 what does temptation ask of us? It asks us to make a 
 choice between good and evil. 
 
 5. (314) "How many kinds of temptation are there?" "Two: 
 
 Temptation unto good and temptation to evil." 
 
 6. When we are tempted to good, what choice have we? We have 
 
 the choice between doing good and not doing it. 
 
 7. And when we are tempted to evil, what choice have we? We 
 
 have the choice between doing evil and not doing it. 
 
 8. In every case temptation implies a choice, and a choice is a 
 
 matter of the will. So when we are tempted, what power 
 of the soul is appealed to? The will. 
 
 9. You can not compel a man to do either good or bad. When he 
 
 does either good or bad, how does he do it? He does it of 
 his own will. 
 
 10. (315) "Who tempts us unto good?" "God; for He often tries our 
 
 faith in order to strengthen it." 
 
 11. That God tries, or tempts us to do good, we see from Ps. 139, 23.24 
 
 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know 
 my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, 
 and lead me in the way everlasting." 
 
 12. Here the psalmist asks God to search and try him, to see if there 
 
 be any wicked way in him. Read Isa. 26, 16. "Lord, in 
 trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer 
 when thy chastening was upon them." 
 
 13. So we see that trouble drives us to God. According to this 
 
 passage, when do men pour out a prayer? When God's 
 chastening is upon them. 
 
 14. In Gen. 22, 1, it is expressly stated that God tempted Abraham. 
 
 Read the passage. "It came to pass after these things, that 
 God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and 
 he said. Behold, here I am." 
 
 15. What strange command did God give Abraham with reference to 
 
 his only son Isaac? V. 2. "He said, Take now thy son, 
 thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into 
 the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering 
 upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." 
 
LESSON 84. 297 
 
 16. This was to be a trial of Abraham's faith, and he stood the trial. 
 
 He was willing to offer up his son as a sacrifice. This we 
 see from the 12th verse of the same chapter: "He said, 
 Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything 
 unto him; for now, I Icnow that thou fearest God, seeing thou 
 hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me." 
 
 17. Now let us see from the New Testament a case where the Savior 
 
 put one of his disciples to the test as to his faith. Read 
 John 6, 5.6. "When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw 
 a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philips 
 Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And 
 this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he 
 would do." 
 
 18. According to question 315, what is God's intention when he 
 
 tempts or tries our faith? He does It in order to strengthen it. 
 
 19. Why is our right arm, as a rule, stronger than the left? Be- 
 
 cause we use it more. 
 
 20. Exercise keeps our limbs healthy and strong, and so our faith 
 
 needs exei-cise to keep sound and well. Every time we de- 
 cide in favor of that which is good, we become stronger 
 in faith and love; in patience and humility. But there is 
 not only a temptation to good, but what other temptation? 
 Temptation to evil. 
 
 21. (316) "Who tempts us to evil?" "The devil, the world, and our 
 
 flesh; for they entice us to sin." 
 
 22. God tempts us to good. He never tempts us to evil as we see 
 
 from James 1, 13. "Let no man say when he is tempted, I 
 am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, 
 neither tempteth he any man." 
 
 23. God is perfect and holy, and He would have us to be as He is, 
 
 as He says Lev. IS), 2. "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your 
 God am holy." 
 
 24. God is holy, but who was the first to sin? Satan. 
 
 25. And now that he became a sinner, what does he try to get us 
 
 to do? He tries to get us to sin. 
 
 26. How did Adam and Eve come to sin? They were tempted by 
 
 the devil. 
 
 27. And the devil still tries to deceive men into sin, as we see from 
 
 1 Peter 5, 8. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary 
 the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom 
 he may devour." 
 
 28. Judas Iscariot, one of the Lord's disciples, betrayed his master. 
 
 How did he come to do this? Read John 13, 2. "Supper 
 being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas 
 Iscariot Simon's son, to betray him" , . . 
 
 29. How did Judas get this wicked thought? Satan put it into his 
 
 heart. 
 
 30. And after he had betrayed his Master, Satan again tempted him 
 
 to believe that there was no forgiveness, no help for him. 
 and what did he do in his despair? He went and hanged 
 himself. 
 3L This we see from Matt. 27, 3-5. "Then Judas, which had be- 
 trayed him, when he saw th^t he was condemned, repented 
 himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the 
 chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I 
 have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said. What is 
 that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces 
 of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged 
 himself." 
 
298 LESSON 84. 
 
 32. Now read 1 Chron. 21, 1. "Satan stood up against Israel, and 
 
 provoked David to number Israel." 
 
 33. David, out of pride, set about to number the people and thus to 
 
 glory in his military strength. Who provoked, or tempted 
 him to do this? Satan did it. 
 
 34. According to Luther's explanation in the Catechism, to what does 
 
 the devil entice us? To misbelief, despair, and other great 
 shame and vice. 
 
 35. But according to question 316, who helps the devil in this? The 
 
 world and our flesh. 
 
 36. By the world, we here mean the wicked people in the world. 
 
 When Satan tempted Joseph to commit adultery, through 
 whom did he do it? Through Potiphar's wicked wife. 
 
 37. By the world is also meant the things that are in the world, 
 
 such as money, pleasure, honor, etc. Why did Judas betray 
 his Master? He did it for money. 
 
 38. So what did Satan use as a means to tempt Judas to betray the 
 
 Lord? He used money. 
 
 39. So he may use even poverty, sickness, and misfortune as a 
 
 means to tempt men to fall from the faith into despair. 
 But especially does he use wicked people to accomplish his 
 evil designs, as we see from Matt. 18, 7. "Woe unto the 
 world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences 
 come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh." 
 
 40. Peter denied his Master in the palace of the high priest. Let 
 
 us see from Matt. 26, 69.70, how he came to do it. "Now 
 Peter sat without in the palace; and a damsel came unto 
 him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he 
 denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest." 
 
 41. Whom did the devil use as an instrument to frighten Peter into 
 
 this great sin? He used a damsel, a woman. 
 
 42. Read James 4, 4. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not 
 
 that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whoso- 
 ever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy 
 of God." 
 
 43. But not only the world is in league with Satan in tempting us 
 
 to sin, but what else does he use? He uses our flesh. 
 
 44. By the flesh is meant our own evil hearts, for we are conceived 
 
 and born in sin, and have a natural inclination to wicked- 
 ness. Read in this connection James 1, 14. "Every man 
 is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and en- 
 ticed." 
 
 45. (317) "How is it therefore to be understood, when we say: 
 
 Lead us not into temptation?" "We pray in this petition that 
 God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, 
 and our flesh may not deceive us, nor entice us into misbelief, 
 despair, and other great shame and vice." 
 
 46. We ask here first that God would guard and keep us from 
 
 temptation; that is. that He would not allow us to be 
 tempted above what we are able to bear, for if He did, what 
 would be the result? We would fall into misbelief, despair 
 and other great shame and vice. 
 
 47. (318) "Can we here on earth ever become entirely free from 
 
 temptation?" "We cannot, and hence also pray: 'Though we 
 be assailed by them, that we may finally prevail and obtafn 
 the victory.' " 
 
f.KSSON 84. 299 
 
 ■Is. \Ve have seen how iiievitabk' it is lor us to be tempted. But 
 none of us coukl ever stand in temptation by our own power; 
 hence, what should we ask God to do? We should ask God 
 to guard and keep us when we are tempted. 
 
 49. Repeat 1 Peter 5, 8.9. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your ad- 
 
 versary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking 
 whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, 
 knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your 
 brethren that are in the world." 
 
 50. When we are tempted, we should flee to God for help, but we 
 
 should also faithfully use the means which God gives us to 
 resist the devil, and this is especially the Word of God. 
 Satan tempted our Lord in the wilderness. How did our 
 Savior meet him? Matt. 4, 4. "But he answered and said, 
 It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every 
 word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." 
 
 51. And again the 7th verse of this chapter. "Jesus said unto him, 
 
 It is written again. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." 
 
 52. And the 10th verse. "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, 
 
 Satan: for it is written. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy 
 God, and him only shalt thou serve." 
 
 53. Jesus met every temptation by a quotation from Scripture. 
 
 God's word is the best weapon to use against temptation. 
 Let us be watchful and never imagine we are out of danger. 
 So the Savior admonishes us Matt. 26, 41. "Watch and pray, 
 that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing 
 but the flesh is weak." 
 
 54. (319) "How does God therefore answer this our prayer?" "By 
 
 keeping us through His power and grace from temptation, 
 or by sustaining us when tempted." 
 
 55. So He answers this petition in how many ways? He answers it 
 
 in two ways. 
 
 56. What is the first? He keeps us from temptation. 
 
 57. What is the second? He sustains us in temptation. 
 
 58. Read 1 Peter 1, 5. "Who are kept by the power of God through 
 
 faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 
 
 59. Also 1 Cor. 10, 13. "There hath no temptation taken you but 
 
 such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will 
 not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but 
 will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye 
 may be able to bear it." 
 
 60. Repeat James 4, 7. "Resist the devil and h« will flee from you." 
 
 61. Now let us see how the apostle describes the true Christian in 
 
 this spiritual warfare of temptation. Eph. 6, 10-17. "Finally, 
 my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his 
 might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be 
 able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle 
 not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the 
 darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high 
 places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, 
 that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having 
 done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt 
 about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteous- 
 ness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel 
 of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith 
 we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the 
 Spirit, which is the word of God." 
 
300 LESSON 85. 
 
 LESSON 85. THE SEVENTH PETITION. 
 
 (Questions 320-324.) 
 
 1. (320) "Which is the seventh petition?"- "But deliver us from 
 
 evil." 
 
 2. (321) "What does this mean?" "We pray in this petition, as in 
 
 a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from 
 every evil of body and soul, property and honor; and finally 
 when our last hour has come, grant us a blessed end, and 
 graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself in 
 heaven." 
 
 3. What is the subject of this petition? It treats of evil. 
 
 4. (322) "What do we here understand by evil?" "Everything that 
 
 is harmful to us." 
 
 5. (323) "What do we therefore pray in this petition?" "We pray in 
 
 this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven 
 would deliver us from every evil of body and soul, property 
 and honor." 
 
 6. Which petition is this in the Lord's Prayer? It is the last pe- 
 
 tition. 
 
 7. What does Luther in the Catechism call this petition? He calls 
 
 it a summary. 
 
 8. That is, in this petition we sum up everything that we have 
 
 asked for in all the others, whatever may be troubling us, 
 whatever we need for body or soul, for time and eternity. 
 If we are delivered from evil, then all our wants are met, 
 then we are perfectly happy. Now there are various kinds 
 of evil which are spoken of in Luther's explanation. Which 
 is the first? Evil of body. 
 
 9. When the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness 
 
 which bodily evils were they troubled with? They suffered 
 
 hunger and thirst. 
 |0. When the multitude had remained with Jesus three days to 
 
 hear his preaching and see his miracles, what were they in 
 
 want of? They were in want of food. 
 n. What were the poor people who flocked to the Savior for help 
 
 suffering from? They were suffering from all manner of 
 
 diseases. 
 
 12. Can you mention some of these diseases? Some were sick with 
 
 the palsy, some had leprosy, some were blind, lame, dumb 
 and some were possessed with evil spirits. 
 
 13. Now mention some of the things which we include among bodily 
 
 evils. Hunger, thirst and sickness. 
 
 14. But what other evils are there besides those which affect the 
 
 body? Evils of the soul. 
 
 15. When Jacob was told that an evil beast had devoured his son 
 
 .loseph, how did he feel about it? It troubled him. He 
 grieved over it. 
 
 16. Yes; his soul was sorrowful, so much so that he thought it would 
 
 kill him. Can you mention an instance from the life of the 
 Savior where He speaks of the sorrow of His soul? In the 
 Garden of Gethsemane. He said, "My soul is exceeding sor- 
 rowful, even unto death." 
 
 17. When David heard of the death of Absalom, how did he feel about 
 
 it? He was very much troubled and lamented over it. 
 
 18. So what do we mean by evil that affects the soul? All kinds of 
 
 worry and trouble. 
 
LESSON 85. 301 
 
 19. What is the third Ivind of evil Irom which we aslv to be delivered? 
 
 Evil to property. 
 
 20. When a man has a house as his property, how mij^ht he lose it? 
 
 It might burn down. 
 
 21. How did many people in llic ?ilianii Valley lose their property 
 
 last year? It was destroyed by the flood. 
 
 22. How do many people lose their money, jewelry, or other valuable 
 
 property? It is stolen. 
 
 23. How do people often lose their hogs and cattle? They die of dis- 
 
 ease. 
 
 24. So what evil things may befall us as regards our property? Fire, 
 
 water, theft, disease among cattle, and the like. 
 
 25. What is the fourth kind of evil that we ask to be delivered from? 
 
 Evil to our honor. 
 
 26. By honor wo here mean good name and reputation. When the 
 
 wicked wife of Potiphar accused Joseph before her husband, 
 what injury did she do to him? She slandered him. 
 
 27. When .lesus stood before Pilate, what false accusation did the 
 
 .Tews bring against Him? They said He stirred up the people 
 and urged them not to pay tribute. 
 
 28. What injury did they do to the Savior by this false accusation? 
 
 They slandered Him. 
 
 ■29. And slander is the worst kind of injury; for a good name is more 
 precious than money or goods. Now from all this evil of 
 body and soul, property and honor, we pray God to deliver 
 us. Repeat .Job 5, 19. 
 
 "He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven shall no 
 evil touch thee." 
 
 ?0. Job, himself, is a good example of how men are troubled with 
 evil. What evil did he suffer in his property? His cattle 
 were stolen. 
 
 ?>1. And what trou])le did he suffer in his body? He was visited with 
 disease. 
 
 :^2. And what other sad affliction came over him? His children 
 were killed. 
 
 ■Jo. And how did God deliver him from such evils? He was restored 
 to health. God gave him more wealth than he had before, 
 and He even blessed him with other children. 
 
 ;s4. Read Ps. 91, 14-lG. "Because he hath set his love upon me, there- 
 fore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he 
 hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will an- 
 swer him; 1 will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, 
 and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew 
 him my salvation." 
 
 .~,5. So what do we ask to be delivered from in this seventh petition, 
 according to Luther's explanation in the Catechism? From 
 every evil of body and soul, property and honor. 
 
 S6. (324) "What belongs to this as last and chief part?" "That God 
 'finally, when our last hour has come, grant us a blessed end, 
 and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself in 
 heaven.' " 
 
 37. What hour is here meant by "our last hour?" The hour of death. 
 
 •38. So long as we are in the world we can not expect to be entirely 
 free from evil, for what does the Catechism here call this 
 world? A vale of tears. 
 
 39. Why is the world here called a vale of tears? Because there is 
 
 so much weeping in it. 
 
 40. And what causes this weeping? All kinds of suffering, trouble, 
 
 pain and death. 
 
302 LESSON 86. 
 
 41. What has made the world such a vale of tears? Sin. 
 
 42. What blessed hope have we in reference to this vale of tears? 
 
 That God will take us from this vale of tears. 
 
 43. Where do we expect Him to take us? To Himself in heaven. 
 
 44. What kind ol a place is heaven? A place of happiness. 
 
 45. What did the Savior say to the malefactor on the cross, who 
 
 asked Him: "I^ord, remember me when Thou comest into 
 Thy kingdom"? "This day thou shalt be with me in para- 
 dise." 
 4G. What became of poor Lazarus when he died? He was carried by 
 the angels into Abraham's bosom. 
 
 47. What kind of end then do we ask for in this petition? We ask 
 
 for a blessed end. 
 
 48. Who alone can have a blessed end, that is, die a happy death? 
 
 Only he who dies in the faith of Jesus. 
 40. Repeat Acts 14, 22. "We must through much tribulation enter 
 into the kingdom of God." 
 
 50. Also Rom. 7, 24.25. "O wretched man that I am! who shall de- 
 
 liver me from the body of this death? I thank God through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 51. Also 2 Tim. 4, 18. "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil 
 
 work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to 
 whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." 
 
 52. Read also what aged Simeon said. Luke 2, 29-32. "Lord, now let- 
 
 test thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 
 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast pre- 
 pared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the 
 Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." 
 
 53. Simeon was ready to die when he had seen the Savior. So we, 
 
 when we believe on Him, are happy at the thought that we 
 shall at last see Him and be with Him in whom we believe 
 and whom we love. And when will this be? When we die. 
 
 LESSON 86. THE CONCLUSION. 
 
 (Questions 325-332.) 
 
 1. How do we divide the Lord's Prayer? Into three parts: the intro- 
 
 duction, the seven petitions, and the conclusion. 
 
 2. (325) "What is the conclusion?" "For thine is the kingdom, and 
 
 the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen." 
 
 3. (326) "What is the meaning of this conclusion?" "We therein 
 
 express our confident assurance that our Father in heaven can 
 and will hear our prayer." 
 
 4. If God is to hear and answer our prayers, He must have both 
 
 the power and the willingness to do so. What do we say 
 in this conclusion about God's power? We say, "Thine is 
 the power." 
 
 5. What power has God? God has all power. 
 
 6. What do we call God because He has all power? We call Him 
 
 almighty. 
 
 7. And because He is almighty, what is He able to do in reference 
 
 to our prayers? He is able to answer them. 
 
 8. Let us remember this, children, we can never ask anything which 
 
 is more than God can give. But in order to hear and answer 
 our prayers, what else must there be on the part of God be- 
 sides power? There must also be willingness. 
 
LESSON 86. 303 
 
 9. What is the very first thing which we say of Gkxl in this con- 
 clnsion? We say, "Thine is the kingdom." 
 
 10. What is the kingdom of God here on earth? The church is the 
 
 kingdom of God. 
 
 11. And who is King in this Idngdom of God, the Christian church? 
 
 Jesus Christ is King. 
 
 12. How are we made members of this spiritual kingdom? By faith. 
 
 13. What may subjects expect from their King? They may expect 
 
 protection and help. 
 
 14. Because we are His dear children, and He is our dear Father. 
 
 how is God disposed toward us? He is kindly disposed to- 
 ward us. 
 
 15. Yes, and that means that He has the willingness to hear and 
 
 answer our prayers. 
 Ifi. (327) "In what word is all this briefly comprehended?" "In the 
 single word, Amen.' " 
 
 17. (328) "What does Amen mean?" "That I should be certain, these 
 
 our petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and 
 heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray 
 and has promised to hear us. Amen, Amen, that is, yea, yea, 
 it shall be so." 
 
 18. What accordingly should I be certain of? That these, our peti- 
 
 tions, are acceptable to our Father in heaven and heard by 
 Him. 
 
 19. In question 328, there are two reasons given for this. Which is 
 
 the first? He Himself has commanded us so to pray. 
 
 20. Who taught us the Lord's Prayer? The Lord Jesus Himself. 
 
 21. These are the very things which God our heavenly Father through 
 
 Christ told us to ask for. If we had simply ourselves thought 
 of these things, we might be' in doubt as to whether God is 
 willing to give them, but why is there no room now for any 
 such doubt? Because He Himself taught us to ask for these 
 things. 
 
 22. Yes. He certainly would not tell us to aslv for things which He 
 
 does not intend to give us. But in question 328 there is an- 
 other reason given why these our petitions are acceptable 
 to our Father in heaven and heard by Him; what is it? Be- 
 cause He has promised to hear us. 
 
 23. When God promises a thing, why can we depend on it? Because 
 
 He is truthful. He never tells a lie. 
 
 24. Can you repeat a Scripture passage in which this is clearly 
 
 stated? Heb. 6, 18. "it is impossible for God to lie." 
 
 25. (329) "Why do you accordingly conclude the Lord's Prayer with 
 
 the word Amen?" "That I should be certain these our peti- 
 tions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and heard by 
 Him." 
 20. Tin-n to 2 Cor. 1, 20, and read it. "All the promises of God in him 
 are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." 
 
 27. What are we to be certain of? That these our petitions are ac- 
 
 ceptable to God our Father in heaven and heard by Him. 
 
 28. (330) "How can we have this assurance?" "God Himself has 
 
 commanded us so to pray, and has promised to hear us." 
 
 29. Turn to Matt. 0, 9, and let us see how God, through Cnrist, com- 
 
 mands us tlius to j)ray. "After this manner therefore pray 
 ye, Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name." 
 
 30. Also Luke 11, 2. "He said unto them. When ye pray, say. Our 
 
 Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy 
 kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." 
 
304 LESSON 86. 
 
 31. Now let us also hear some of the promises with reference to 
 
 prayer. Read .John 10, 23, the second sentence. "Verily, 
 verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in 
 my name: He will give it you." 
 
 32. Also Ps. 50, 15. "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver 
 
 thee, and thou shalt glorify me." 
 
 33. Also John 14, 13. "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will 
 
 I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." 
 
 34. (331) ''Does God always hear believing prayer?" "Yes, but ac- 
 
 cording to His wisdom and in His own good time." 
 
 35. What kind of prayer does God hear? He hears believing prayer. 
 
 36. That is, He hears pi'ayer that is offered in true faith. This we 
 
 see from Mark 11, 24. "What things soever ye desire, when 
 ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have 
 them." 
 
 37. According to the answer to question 331, how does God answer 
 
 our prayer? According to His wisdom and in His own good 
 time. 
 
 38. God knows better than we do what is for our good. Children 
 
 often ask their parents for things that are not good for them. 
 In this case, what would a father or mother do? They would 
 not give their children what is not good for them. 
 
 39. And so God does with us. If we ask for something that God 
 
 knows is not for our good, v He does not give us this, but 
 something else that is for our good. So in all our petitions 
 we should submit to God's will, as we see from 1 John 5, 14. 
 "This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask 
 anything according to his will, he heareth us." 
 
 40. Now let us hear some of the ])recious promises that God has 
 
 given concerning prayer. Read Isa. 65, 24. "It shall come 
 to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they 
 are yet speaking, I will hear." 
 
 41. Again Matt. 18, 19. "If two of you shall agree on earth as touch- 
 
 ing anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of 
 my Father which is in heaven." 
 
 42. Again Ps. 145, 18. 19. "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call 
 
 upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil 
 the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, 
 and^will save them." 
 
 43. Read also James 5, 16-18. "Confess your faults one to another, 
 
 and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The ef- 
 fectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 
 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he 
 prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on 
 the earth by the space of three years and six months. And 
 he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth 
 brought forth her fruit." 
 
 44. In the case of the Apostle Paul we see how God sometimes does 
 
 not give exactly that which His children ask for. Read 2 
 Cor. 12, 7.8. "Lest I should be exalted above measure through 
 the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a 
 thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest 
 I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought 
 the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." 
 
 45. God sent upon the apostle some special affliction which troubled 
 
 him a great deal. He asked God to take away this affliction, 
 hut instead of taking it away from him, what answer did 
 God give the apostle? Verse 9, the first sentence. "He said 
 unto me, 'My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is 
 made perfect in weakness.' " 
 
LESSON 87. 305 
 
 46. God hears our prayers not only according to His own wisdom, 
 
 but what other condition does question 331 mention? In his 
 own good time. 
 
 47. At the marriage of Cana the mother of Jesus called His atten- 
 
 tion to the fact that they lacked wine, expecting, of course, 
 that He would help at once. But what answer did Jesus 
 give? John 2, 4. "Jesus said unto lier, 'Woman what have I 
 to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.'" 
 
 48. When the Syrophoenician woman came to Jesus, asking that He 
 
 should heal her poor daughter who was vexed with a devil, 
 did the Savior answer her at once? (Matt. 15, 21-28). No. 
 He made her wait. 
 
 49. (332) "Why does God often long delay His help?" "In order to 
 
 exercise and strengthen us in the Word and faith, in patience 
 and in hope." 
 
 50. So God has a purpose in making us wait for the answer to our 
 
 pi-ayer. What is this purpose? He wants to exercise and 
 strengthen us in His Word and faith, in patience and hope. 
 
 51. And when we are made to wait, we should do just as the poor 
 
 woman mentioned above did, what was that? She kept right 
 on praying. 
 
 52. This we see from Rom. 12, 12. "Rejoicing in hope; patient In 
 
 tribulation; continuing instant in prayer." 
 
 53. Now read Lament. 3, 26, 31-33. "It is good that a man should both 
 
 hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. For the 
 Lord will not cast off forever. But though he cause grief, 
 yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of 
 his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the 
 children of men." 
 
 54. Read also Isa. 54, 7. 8. "For a small moment have I forsaken 
 
 thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little 
 wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with ever- 
 lasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord 
 thy Redeemer." 
 
 55. Also John 5, 17-19. "Behold, happy is the man whom God correct- 
 
 eth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Al- 
 mighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, 
 and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six 
 troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee." 
 
 LESSON 87. THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL. 
 
 (Questions 333-339.) 
 
 1. (333) "What is the fourth chief part of the Catechism?" "The 
 
 sacrament of Holy Baptism." 
 
 2. According to this answer, what is Baptism? Baptism is a sacra- 
 
 ment. 
 
 3. (334) "What is a sacrament"? "A sacrament is a holy rite insti- 
 
 tuted by Christ Himself, whereby with visible means the 
 treasures of the Gospel are offered, given and sealed to us." 
 
 4. A rite is an act. What kind of act is a sacrament? A sacrament 
 
 is a holy act. 
 
 5. The word sacrament already indicates this. What adjective does 
 
 this word remind you of? The adjective sacred. 
 
 6. What kind of thing is a sacred thing? It is a holy thing. 
 20 
 
3(D6 LESSON 87. 
 
 7. Yes, not something common and ordinary, but something extra- 
 
 ordinary and special. By whom were these holy rites, or 
 acts, instituted? They were instituted by Christ Himself. 
 
 8. They are, then, not human, but of what origin? They are of 
 
 divine origin. 
 
 9. How should we regard anything that Christ has given us? We 
 
 should regard it as holy, as important. 
 
 10. What is offered, given and sealed to us by the sacraments? The 
 
 treasures of the Gospel. 
 
 11. What is a treasure? A treasure is something valuable. 
 
 12. Mention some valuable things which you would regard as treas- 
 
 ures. Money, diamonds, jewelry. 
 
 13. Yes; how are these things regarded among men? They are re- 
 
 garded as valuable, precious. 
 
 14. And yet there are things more valuable than money or jewels. 
 
 What kind of treasures are offered, given and sealed to us in 
 the sacraments? The treasures of the Gospel. 
 
 15. What is the Gospel? (Question 137.) The Gospel is the glad tid- 
 
 ings that Jesus Christ has saved us from our sins, and 
 through faith makes us forever blessed. 
 
 16. Concerning whom does the Gospel tell us? It tells us con- 
 
 cerning Christ. 
 
 17. What does it tell us concerning Christ? It tells us that He 
 
 saved us from our sins. 
 
 18. Now, what Is God willing to do with our sins, since Christ died 
 
 for us? He is willing to forgive them. 
 
 19. Children, this forgiveness of sins is one of the treasures of the 
 
 Gospel. Why should we regard the forgiveness of sins as a 
 treasure? Because it is something very valuable, very 
 precious. 
 
 20. Now tell me. again from question 137: What else does the Gospel 
 
 do? Through faith it makes us forever blessed. 
 
 21. Yes, eternal happiness, everlasting life, is one of the treasures 
 
 of the Gospel. And why should we regard everlasting life 
 as a treasure? Because it is something very precious. 
 
 22. Forgiveness of sins and everlasting life are the treasures offered, 
 
 given and sealed to us in the sacraments. But when God 
 deals with us He uses certain means or instruments. How 
 does He preserve our bodily life? Through food, drink and 
 clothing. 
 
 23. How does He restore our bodily health when we are sick? 
 
 Through medicine. 
 
 24. So God uses means when He wants to give us spiritual blessings. 
 
 What kind of means does He make use of in the 'sacra- 
 ments? He makes use of visible means. 
 
 25. What is a visible thing? Something that we can see. 
 
 26. You have seen me baptize a child in church. What is the out- 
 
 ward, or visible, thing in Baptism? Water. 
 
 27. What are the outward, or visible, things in the other sacrament 
 
 of the New Testament, the Lord's Supper? Bread and wine. 
 
 28. What does God offer, give and seal to us by these visible means 
 
 in the sacraments? The treasures of the Gospel. 
 
 29. Repeat Tit. 3, 5. "Not by works of righteousness which we have 
 
 done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the 
 washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 30. How has God saved us according to this passage? By the wash- 
 
 ing of regeneration, 
 
LESSON 87. 307 
 
 il. That is. by Baptism; for in Baptism God offers and gives us 
 the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. But He not only 
 offers and gives us these things in the sacraments, but what 
 else does He do? He seals them. 
 
 .'^2. A seal is an outward sign, by which a thing is marked as 
 genuine. Repeat Rom. 4, 11. "He received the sign of cir- 
 cumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which 
 he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the 
 father of all them that believe, though they be not circum- 
 cised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them." 
 
 33. God made a covenant with Abraham, and what did he give him 
 
 as a sign of this covenant? He gave him the sign of cir- 
 cumcision. 
 
 34. So God gives us the sacraments as outward marks, or seals, 
 
 of the fact that He has forgiven our sins, that He is our 
 dear Father, and that He will at last take us to Himself 
 in heaven. iNTo deed nor any valuable document is considered 
 genuine or valid until the one who gives it fixes his seal 
 upon it. What are the visible signs, or seals, which God 
 adds to his promise of grace and eternal life? The sacra- 
 ments. 
 
 35. Repeat 1 Job. .5, S. "For there are three who bear witness, the 
 
 Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree 
 in one." 
 
 36. God has three ways of dealing with us here on earth. Through 
 
 the Word of God, which was given by his spirit, through 
 water in Baptism, and through blood in Communion. Where 
 does He deal with us through water? In Baptism. 
 
 37. And again He deals with us through blood, that is, in the Holy 
 
 Communion. What are Baptism and the Lord's Supper? 
 They are sacraments. 
 
 38. (335) "What makes it a sacrament?" "That it be administered 
 
 in accordance with the institution of Christ." 
 
 39. How must the sacraments be administered or used? According 
 
 to the institution of Christ. 
 
 40. We must add nothing to, and take nothing from, these sacred 
 
 acts; but leave them just as Christ gave them to us. And 
 when we use them just as Christ gave them to us, what are 
 they? Then they are sacraments. 
 
 41. (336) "Does faith also belong to this?" "Faith belongs not to 
 
 the essence, but to the salutary use, of a sacrament." 
 42.~ Our faitli does not make or unmake the sacrament. When 1 
 offer to a l;eggar a dollar, and he refuses to take it because 
 he thinks it counterfeit, does his thinking so make the dol- 
 lar counterfeit? No, it does not. 
 
 43. Our faith or unbelief does not add anything to, nor take anything 
 
 from, the sacraments. But in what sense does faith belong 
 to the sacraments? It belongs to their salutary use. 
 
 44. When the tramp refuses to take my dollar, because he thinks 
 
 it counterfeit, what effect has his unbelief? It deprives him 
 of the gift. 
 
 45. What is necessary on our part if we would have the blessings 
 
 of the sacraments? We must have faith. 
 
 46. Repeat Rom. 3, 3. "What if some were without faith? shall 
 
 their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" 
 
 47. Read also Mark 16, 18. "He that believeth and is baptized shall 
 
 be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." 
 
 48. (337) "How many kinds of sacrament are there?" "Two: sacra- 
 
 ments of the Old and sacraments of the New Testament." 
 
308 LESSON 88. 
 
 49. (338) "Which were the sacraments of the Old Testament?" "Cir- 
 
 cumcision and the Paschal Lamb, or Passover." 
 
 50. Read Gen. 17, 10. "This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, 
 
 between me and you and thy seed after thee; every man 
 child among you shall be circumcised." 
 
 51. In Exodus 12, we have a description of the institution of the 
 
 passover. What great event in the history of Israel did this 
 sacrament celebrate? The deliverance from the bondage 
 of .Egypt. 
 
 52. Read Heb. 10, 1. "For the law having a shadow of good things 
 
 to come, and not the very image of the things, can never 
 with those sacrifices which they offered year by year con- 
 tinually make the comers thereunto perfect." 
 
 53. In the Old Testament, these sacraments prefigured the bless- 
 
 ings which are so richly bestowed on us in the New. Read 
 Col. 2, 11. 12. "In whom also ye are circumcised with the 
 circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of 
 the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried 
 with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him 
 through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised 
 him from the dead." 
 
 54. Read also 1 Cor. 5, 7. "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that 
 
 ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even 
 Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." 
 
 55. (339) "Which are the sacraments of the new Testament?" 
 
 "Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper." 
 
 56. How many sacraments were there in the Old Testament? Two. 
 
 57. And how many are there in the New? Also two. 
 
 58. The Roman Catholic church teaches that there are seven sacra- 
 
 ments: baptism, confirmation, penance, marriage, ordination 
 to the priesthood, holy communion and extreme unction. 
 Which of these are really sacraments? Baptism and Holy 
 Communion. 
 
 LESSON 88. WHAT IS BAPTISM? 
 (Questions 340-347.) 
 
 1. Of what does the fourth chief i)art of the Catechism treat? It 
 
 treats of Holy Baptism. 
 
 2. (340) "What is Baptism?" "Baptism is not simply water, but it 
 
 is the water comprehended in God's Command and con- 
 nected with God's Word." 
 
 3. With what do we baptize? We baptize with water. 
 
 4. What then is the outward visible element in Baptism? It is 
 
 water. 
 
 5. But is Baptism simply water? No, it is not simply water. 
 
 G. (341) "Why is Baptism not simply water?" "Because it is the 
 water comprehended in God's Command and connected with 
 God's Word." 
 
 7. So what is found in connection with the water of Baptism? The 
 
 command and Word of God. 
 
 8. (342) "How manifold is the Word of God connected with Bap- 
 
 tism?" "Twofold: the word of command, and the word of 
 promise." 
 
 9. So what word are we to consider first? The word of command. 
 
LESSON 
 
 309 
 
 10 
 
 C.'Ai) "Which is the word ol" command?" "That which Christ, 
 our Lord, speaks in the last chapter of Matthew: Go ye and 
 teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 11. (:!4n "Who, according to this, is the author of Holy Baptism. 
 "Our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 12 Who gave this command: "Go ye and teach all nations, baptiz- 
 ing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and oi 
 the Holy Ghost?" Jesus Christ, our Savior. 
 
 13. Where is this command recorded? In the last chapter of Mat- 
 
 thew. 
 
 14. What great man was the forerunner of Christ? John the Baptist. 
 
 15. Why was he called "the Baptist?" Because he baptized. 
 
 Ifi. Read Luke 3, 2. :'.. "The Word of God came unto John the son 
 of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the 
 country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance 
 for the remission of sins." 
 
 17 .John preached and baptized, telling people to prepare for the 
 coming of Christ by true repentance. When the Savior 
 came, He commanded all nations to be baptized m the 
 name of the triune God. To whom did He give this com- 
 mand? To his apostles. . 
 
 18. (345) "Who is to administer Baptism?" "As a rule the rightly 
 
 called ministers of the Church." 
 
 19. The Savior gave this command to his apostles, but of course it 
 
 was not to be confined to them personally. Who was to 
 preach and baptize after them? The ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 20. Our answer 34.5 says, "As a rule the rightly called ministers of 
 
 the church." What does this expression "as a rule" imply? 
 It implies that there are exceptions to this rule. 
 
 21. Yes, there are circumstances in which other Christians besides 
 
 ' ministers of the Gospel might baptize. When might this 
 be allowed? In case of necessity, when a child is in danger 
 of death, and no minister can be obtained. 
 
 But the rule is that only ministers should baptize, for they are 
 called for this purpose. Repeat what the apostle says 1 Cor. 
 4, 1. "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of 
 Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." 
 
 Read 1 Peter 2, 9. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal 
 priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should 
 shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of 
 darkness into his marvellous light." 
 
 All Christians are kings and priests unto God. and have a right 
 to the means of grace; but, as a matter of order, only those 
 should publicly administer these means who are rightly 
 called to do so. In Exodus 4, 25, we read that Zipporah, the 
 wife of Moses, circumcised her son. So, in case of ne- 
 cessity, who may administer Baptism? Any Christian. 
 
 Yes, the father, or the grandfather of the child, or any Christian 
 present. There is a form for such an emergency baptism 
 given in the appendix to our hymn book. But to whom 
 should such an emergency baptism be reported? it should 
 be reported to the minister. 
 
 Yes, in order that he may examine and see whether the child 
 ' has been properly baptized, and. if so, may record such 
 baptism in the church records. Should he baptize such a 
 child over again? No, he should not. . , , ^ 
 
 (346) "What constitutes Baptism?" "That a person be sprinkled 
 with, or immersed in, water in the name of the Father, 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 
 25. 
 
 26. 
 
 27. 
 
310 LESSON 88. 
 
 28. What are we to use in Baptism? We are to use water, 
 
 29. What kind of water must be used? Any kind of water. 
 
 30. In what outward manner is the water to be applied? The per- 
 
 son may be sprinkled with water or immersed in it. 
 
 31. The Baptist sects insist that immersion is the only proper mode 
 
 of Baptism. But they are mistaken ' in this. The word 
 "Baptize" means any application of water, whether it be 
 washing, pouring, sprinkling, or immersion, as we see from 
 Mark 7, 4. "And when they come from the market, except 
 they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, 
 which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, 
 and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables." 
 
 32. Here the word "baptize" is used for washing. Read Acts 22, 16. 
 
 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and 
 wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." 
 
 33. Here Baptism is spoken of as a washing. Read also Heb. 10, 22. 
 
 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of 
 faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, 
 and our bodies washed with pure water." 
 
 34. Here the word "Baptize" is used for sprinkling. Read also 
 
 Tit. 3, 5. G. "Not by works of righteousness which we have 
 done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the wash- 
 ing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which 
 he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior." 
 3.5. Here also Baptism is called a washing. Read also Ezek. 36, 25. 
 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall 
 be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, 
 will I cleanse you." 
 
 36. Here the word "baptize" is used for sprinkling. Baptize means 
 
 any application of water. In whose name is the water to 
 be applied in Baptism? In the name of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 37. (347) "What does it mean to baptize in the name of the Father, 
 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?" "It means, by Bap- 
 tism to bring a person into blessed communion with the 
 Triune God." 
 
 38. In whose name are we to be baptized? In the name of the tri- 
 
 une God. 
 
 39. When we are baptized in the name of the triune God, we are 
 
 brought into communion with Him. Let us look at this word 
 "communion." By omitting the first syllable, what word is 
 formed? The word "union." 
 
 40. With whom are we united by baptism? We are united with God. 
 
 41. Yes, we are brought to Him. and made His. By our natural 
 
 birth we are not in communion with God, lor how are we 
 conceived and born? We are conceived and born in sin. 
 
 42. And how are we brought into communion with God? Through 
 
 baptism. 
 
 43. What kind of communion is this called? Question 347. It is 
 
 called a blessed communion. 
 
 44. Yes, because when we are brought to God and made His own. 
 
 He blesses us, and we are happy. In the third article of 
 the creed, what do we confess concerning this communion? 
 I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the communion of 
 saints. 
 
 45. The Church is the communion of saints. To be a member of the 
 
 Church is to be in communion with God and all believers. 
 And how are we brought into this communion? Through 
 Baptism. 
 
LESSON 89. 311 
 
 46. Since when, then, are you children members of the Church? 
 
 Since we were baptized. 
 
 47. Repeat Gal. 3, 26. 27. "For ye are all the children of God by 
 
 faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been 
 baptized into Christ have put on Christ." 
 
 48. What is here said of our baptism? We are baptized into Christ. 
 
 49. And what is said is the result of baptism? Those of us who 
 
 have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 
 
 50. And having put on Christ by faith in Baptism, whose children 
 
 are we? We are all the children of God. 
 
 LESSON 89. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED? 
 
 (Questions 348-349.) 
 
 1. (348) "Who should be baptized?" "All men that are not already 
 
 baptized: adults unto the sealing of their faith, after they 
 have learned to know their Savior; children, that faith be 
 kindled in them." 
 
 2. What is the subject of this question? Who should be baptized? 
 
 3. This answer tells us to whom the sacrament of baptism is to be 
 
 administered. When the Savior gave his disciples com- 
 mand to baptize, whom did He say they should baptize? 
 All nations. 
 
 4. How is this expressed in the first two words of our answer 348? 
 
 All men. 
 
 5. What is added to these two words by way of explanation? All 
 
 men that are not already baptized. 
 
 6. Accordingly, how often is baptism to be administered to a per- 
 
 son? Only once. 
 
 7. What two kinds of persons are mentioned in our question? 
 
 Adults and children. 
 
 8. Whom do you mean by adults? Grown people. 
 
 9. For what purpose are adults to be baptized? Unto the sealing 
 
 of their faith. 
 
 10. When grown people that have not been baptized in their infancy 
 
 are to be baptized, they should first have faith and confess 
 it. When they hear the word of God and believe it, what 
 object is there in baptizing them; what effect is their bap- 
 tism to have? It seals their faith. 
 
 11. To seal a thing is to confirm it; to strengthen and establish it. 
 
 What does our answer further say of adults besides that 
 they are to be baptized unto the sealing of their faith? 
 This is to be done after they learn to know their Savior. 
 
 12. How may they learn to know their Savior? Where has the Savior 
 
 revealed Himself unto us? In His Word, the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 13. And whom may men learn to know by hearing this Word, or 
 
 reading it? They may learn to know their Savior. 
 
 14. Yes, and to believe on Him. And when such people are after- 
 
 ward baptized, what effect has Baptism on their faith? It 
 strengthens and confirms it. 
 
 15. But what other people are mentioned in question 348, besides 
 
 adults, or grown people? Children. 
 16.- What is here said about children? They should be baptized, 
 that faith may be kindled in them. 
 
312 LESSON 89. 
 
 17. In his ba,ptismal command the Savior says: "Go ye and make 
 disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the name of 
 the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Ac- 
 cordingly, how are men to be made disciples of the Savior? 
 By baptizing them. 
 
 IS. What effect is Baptism to have on children, according to our 
 question 348? Through it faith is to be kindled in children. 
 
 19. Repeat Matt. 28, 19. "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them 
 
 in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost." 
 
 20. Read also Isa. 54. 10. "The mountains shall depart, and the hills 
 
 be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, 
 neither shall the covenant of my peace be rejnoved, saith 
 the Lord that hath mercy on thee." 
 
 21. The covenant of God's peace is to be firmer even than the hills 
 
 and mountains. Where does God make this covenant with 
 us? In Baptism. 
 
 22. Read 2 Tim. 2, 13. "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: 
 
 he cannot deny himself." 
 
 23. God never breaks his part of the baptismal covenant, even if we 
 
 do. So there is no need of a new covenant. We only need 
 to return in true repentance to the covenant which we have 
 broken by sin. And if we return, what does this passage 
 say we shall find with reference to God? That He is faith- 
 ful; that He cannot deny Himself. 
 
 24. So there is no need of a new covenant, another Baptism; but if 
 
 we have departed from the covenant and broken it, what is 
 necessary on our part? That we return to it. That we re- 
 pent and come back to God. 
 
 25. (349) "How do we prove that children are also to be baptized? 
 
 What is the first proof offered?" "Christ commanded to 
 baptize all nations, and to these also belong the children." 
 
 26. It is true, Christ nowhere commanded to baptize children, but 
 
 did He anywhere command to baptize women? No, He 
 did not. 
 
 27. Did He anywhere command to baptize men? No, he did not. 
 
 28. But what did He command? He commanded to baptize all 
 
 nations. 
 
 29. And of what is a nation composed? It is composed of men, 
 
 women and children. 
 
 30. What is the second proof offered lor the Baptism of children? 
 
 "Children also must be regenerated, if they are to be saved." 
 
 31. What does the Savior say .John 3. 5. 6. "Verily, verily, I say 
 
 unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 
 he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is 
 born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the 
 Spirit is spirit." 
 
 32. What does the Savior here say must be done if a man is to 
 
 enter into the Kingdom of God, that is, if he is to be saved? 
 He must be born again. 
 
 33. By his natural birth he is not fit for the kingdom of God. And 
 
 this applies to our children. What is their natural condition 
 from a moral and spiritual point of view? They are sinners. 
 
 34. What sin do little children bring with them when they are born? 
 
 Original sin. 
 
 35. On this account they have need of being born again. And how 
 
 is this brought about? What does St. Paul call Baptism? 
 Tit. 3, 5. He calls it the washing of regeneration. 
 
36 
 
 37 
 
 LESSON 89. 313 
 
 So children need Baptism in order thut they may be born again. 
 Repeat Heb. 11, 6. "Without faith it is impossible to please 
 him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and 
 that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." 
 
 Without faith our children cannot be pleasing to God. But how 
 is faith kindled in children? Through Baptism. 
 
 38. What is the third reason here given why children should be 
 
 baptized? "Christ explicitly commanded that we should 
 suffer the little children to come unto Him." 
 
 39. Let us hear what the Lord .Jesus says, Mark 10, 14. "Suffer the 
 
 little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of 
 such is the kingdom of God." 
 
 40. How can we bring little children to the Savior? When we have 
 
 them baptized. 
 41 But some people ask: What good will it do to baptize little chil- 
 dren; they can not believe. But what does the Savior say 
 Matt. 18, 6? "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones 
 which believe in me, it were better for him that a mill- 
 stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned 
 in the depth of the sea." 
 
 42. Here the Savior speaks of little ones that believe on Him. So 
 
 little children can have faith, and can enjoy the benefits 
 of Baptism. What is the fourth reason here given why 
 children should be baptized? "In the New Testament, Bap- 
 tism has taken the place of Old Testament circumcision." 
 
 43. Read Col. 2, 11. 12. "In whom also ye are circumcised with the 
 
 circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body 
 of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried 
 with him in Baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him 
 through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised 
 him from the dead." 
 
 44. So Baptism takes the place of which Old Testatment sacrament? 
 
 it taketh the place of circumcision. 
 
 45. Read Gen. 17, 12. "He that is eight days old shall be circumcised 
 
 among you, every man child in your generations he that is 
 born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger 
 which is not of thy seed." 
 
 4G. How old were children when they were circumcised in the Old 
 Testament? They were eight days old. 
 
 47 If then in the Old Testament children were taken into the church 
 at the age of eight days, what may we conclude with refer- 
 ence to children in the New Testament? They also should 
 be received into the church. 
 And how may Ihey l)e recoived into the church? Through Bap- 
 tism. 
 What is the filth reason given for the Baptism of Children? 
 "The Apostles baptized entire families, assuredly then also 
 children." 
 
 50. Let us see some examples of this. Read Acts 16. If). "When 
 
 she was baptized and her household, she besought us, saying, 
 If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into 
 my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." 
 
 51. This was the family of Lydia, who lived in the city of Philippi. 
 
 Now let us see another example which took place in this 
 same city. It is recorded in the :53rd verse of the same 
 chapter. "He took them the same hour of the night, and 
 washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, 
 straightway." 
 
 48. 
 49. 
 
3l4 LESSON 90. 
 
 52. This was the jailor at Philippi. Now read 1 Cor. 1, 16. "I bap- 
 
 tized also the household of Stephanas: besides I know not 
 whether I baptized any other." 
 
 53. From these examples we see that it was the custom of the 
 
 Apostles to baptize whole families, and whom did this in- 
 clude? It included the children. 
 
 54. What should we therefore also do? We should baptize children. 
 
 LESSON 90. SPONSORS AND CONFIRMATION. 
 
 (Question 350.) 
 
 1. We have seen that children should be baptized. But they can- 
 
 not come to Baptism themselves. What do we call those 
 persons who bring a child to Baptism? We call them 
 sponsors. 
 
 2. What else are they sometimes called in view of the fact that 
 
 they stand in the place of parents before God? They are 
 called God-parents. 
 
 3. (350) "What then have sponsors to do in connection with Bap- 
 
 tism?" "They are to be witnesses of the Baptism, confess the 
 faith in the name of the infant, and help to care for its 
 Christian training." 
 
 4. What is the first thing that sponsors have to do? They are 
 
 to be witnesses of the Baptism. 
 
 5. Who can testily that you were baptized? My sponsors. 
 
 6. Why are they able to testily to your Baptism? Because they 
 
 were present when I was baptized. 
 
 7. Baptism is a very important act. And all important acts should 
 
 be pertormed in the presence of witnesses. So the Savior 
 Himself says, Matt. 18, 16. "That in the mouth of two or 
 three witnesses every word may be established." 
 
 8. How many witnesses does the Savior here mention? Two or 
 
 three. 
 
 9. Repeat 1 Cor. 14, 40. "Let all things be done decently and in 
 
 orderV 
 
 10. So important a thing as Baptism should be done with due 
 
 solemnity, and there should be witnesses. There should be 
 decency, and order among us in all things, and especially 
 in so sacred a thing as Baptism. What else have sponsors 
 to do besides witness the Baptism? They are to confess 
 the faith in the name of the infant. 
 
 11. Why does a child at its Baptism need some one to answer for it? 
 
 Because it cannot answer for itself. 
 
 12. And who answers for the child at its Baptism? The sponsors. 
 
 13. When a person is to be baptized he is asked to renounce, or 
 
 give up, the service of the devil and all his works and all 
 his ways. An infant cannot make such a renunciation for 
 itself; so who answers in its name? Its sponsors. 
 
 14. But when a person is baptized he is to make confession of his 
 
 faith in the triune God. An infant cannot make such con- 
 fession, so who is to make the confession for it? Its 
 sponsors. 
 
 15. When a person is baptized he is to promise to serve God by a 
 
 truly godly and Christian life. An infant cannot make such 
 a promise, so who is to speak in its name? its sponsors. 
 
LESSON 90. 315 
 
 16. There is a similar arrangement in our civil courts. When 
 
 orphan children are dealt with, who represents them in 
 court? Their guardians. 
 
 17. The guardians represent a minor child before the law, and how 
 
 are the answers and promises of the guardian regarded? 
 They are regarded as valid and binding. 
 
 18. So how should the answers and promises of the sponsors in Bap- 
 
 tism be regarded? They should be regarded as valid and 
 binding. 
 
 19. What is the third thing which sponsors are required to do in 
 
 connection with the Baptism of a child? They are to care 
 for its Christian training. 
 
 20. Who is first of all responsible for the Christian training of a 
 
 child? Its parents. 
 
 21. But should the parents die, or neglect their duty in regard to 
 
 the Christian training of a child, upon whom does this duty 
 then fall? Upon the sponsors. 
 
 22. So you see that sponsors assume a solemn duty. What kind of 
 
 persons then should be chosen as sponsors? Honest, re- 
 liable, Christian persons. 
 
 23. Yes, people who themselves have the faith that they confess 
 
 for the child, and who can be relied on to fulfill the solemn 
 promise which they make at the Baptism of the child. What 
 did your sponsors solemnly renounce in your name at your 
 Baptism? They renounced the devil and all his works and 
 ways. 
 
 24. What faith did they in your name confess? They confessed the 
 
 Christian faith. 
 
 25. What kind of life did they promise that you should lead? They 
 
 promised that I should lead a Christian life. 
 
 26. Are you satisfied with this confession and promise which your 
 
 sponsors made in your name? Yes, I am satisfied with it. 
 
 27. Your parents have taught you the five chief parts of Christian 
 
 doctrine. Or if they did not do this themselves, where did 
 they send you that you might learn God's Word? They 
 sent me to Sunday-school. 
 
 28. And to whom else did they send you in order that you might 
 
 get a more thorough training in the chief parts of Christian 
 doctrine? They sent me to the pastor for instruction. 
 
 29. After you have for months or years received this instruction, 
 
 the time comes for you in your own person to assume the 
 solemn obligations which your sponsors in your name took 
 at your Baptism. When is this? At my confirmation. 
 
 30. The word "confirm" is composed of what two syllables? The 
 
 syllables "con" and "firm." 
 
 31. What does the word "firm" mean? It means fast, fixed, or sure. 
 
 32. What then does the word "confirm" mean? It means to fix; to 
 
 make sure, or firm. 
 
 33. Confirmation is the solemn renewal of the baptismal covenant 
 
 on our part, after you have been taught the Word of God 
 and have learned to know the Savior in whose name you 
 were baptized. After you have been instructed in the faith 
 in which you were baptized, after you have been made ac- 
 quainted with the solemn obligations your baptism places 
 upon you, you are now to answer for yourselves the qu(^s- 
 tions which your sponsors answered for you. In view of all 
 this, confirmation is what kind of a rite, or ceremony? It i§ 
 a very solemn and important one. 
 
316 LESSON 90. 
 
 34. Yes, although confirmation is not a sacrament, as the papists 
 
 teach, it has been retained in our Lutheran church for 
 very good reasons. It is not commanded of God like Bap- 
 tism and the Lord's Supper, and yet it is a very good and 
 useful custom. What does it forcibly remind you children 
 of? It reminds us of our Baptism. 
 
 35. It also gives you an occasion to 'do what imblicly? It gives us 
 
 an occasion to confess our faith publicly. 
 
 36. What does the Savior say about such public confession before 
 
 men? Matt. 10, 32. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me 
 before men, him will I confess also before my Father which 
 is in heaven." 
 
 37. Yes, and gladly should you make use of such opportunity. You 
 
 are to make the same promises that were made for you 
 at your Baptism. What is the first promise? If you have 
 listened attentively at the Baptism of any child, you will 
 know. We promise to renounce the devil and all his works 
 and ways. 
 
 38. By nature you were in the kingdom and under the power of the 
 
 devil. How do you now stand to your former master? 
 I renounce his service. 
 
 39. Yes, you say, I will no longer serve him. You also renounce the 
 
 works and ways of the devil. What are the works and ways 
 of the devil? Sin and wickedness. 
 
 40. You renounce, that is, give up sin. You say, I will not sin. But 
 
 in whom do you confess to believe? I confess to believe in 
 the triune God. 
 
 41. Who is the triune God in whom you believe? God the Father, 
 
 Son and Holy Ghost. 
 
 42. Yes, God the Father who created you and preserves you, God 
 
 the Son who died for you and redeemed you from sin, and 
 God the Holy Ghost who regenerated you and made you a 
 child of God. In this God you profess to believe. Tell me 
 in what relation you will stand toward this God, using the 
 words in which the Catechism explains the first command- 
 ment. I will fear, love and trust in God above all things. 
 
 43. And to do this you must be a Christian, a member of the Chris- 
 
 tian Church. You cannot be faithful to God without being 
 faitlTful to His Church. Among all visible churches which 
 do we believe is the true church? The Evangelical Lu- 
 theran Church. 
 
 44. And because you believe this and are convinced of it. what do 
 
 you promise with reference to the Lutheran Church? I 
 promise to be and remain a member of the Evangelical Lu- 
 theran Church. 
 
 45. How long do you promise to remain faithful to the Lord and 
 
 His true visible Church? Until death. 
 
 46. Is it right for you to make such a promise? Yes, it is. 
 
 47. It is right, because you are not doing it blindly. The Lutheran 
 
 , Church does not ask people to take this obligation ignorantly. 
 What has been done with you before you are asked to make 
 this solemn promise? We have been instructed. 
 4S. Our Lutheran Church would have its members to act intelligently. 
 It first gives instruction, and then wants people to act from 
 conviction when they come into her fold. And this I hope 
 j^ou all do or did at your confirmation. Your confirmation 
 vow should be free and from conviction. Then and only 
 then will God look upon it with favor. 
 
LESSON 91. 317 
 
 LESSON 91. WHAT DOES BAPTISM GIVE OR PROFIT? 
 
 (Questions 351-357.) 
 
 1. The first question of tlie Catecliism concerning Baptism was: 
 
 "What is Baptism?" We now come to the consideration of 
 the second important question concerning tliis holy sacra- 
 ment. What is this second important question? What does 
 Baptism give or profit? 
 
 2. It is important for us to know what Baptism is, but what is of 
 
 equal importance? For us to know what the benefits of 
 Baptism are. 
 
 3. (351) "What does Baptism give or profit?" "It works forgiveness 
 
 of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives ever- 
 lasting salvation to all who believe it, as the words and 
 promises of God declare." 
 
 4. (352) "Which are such words and promises of God?" "Those 
 
 which Christ, our Lord, speaks In the last chapter of Mark: 
 'He that belleveth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that 
 believeth not, shall be damned.'" 
 
 5. Now tell me from question 351. what is the first benefit or l^less- 
 
 ing of Baptism? It works forgiveness of sins. 
 
 6. (353) "What is therefore the benefit of Holy Baptism?" "It 
 
 works forgiveness of sins by conferring upon us the right- 
 eousness of God." 
 
 7. Why is the forgiveness of sins necessary? Because we can not 
 
 be saved without it. 
 
 8. If sin is not forgiven, what will be done with it? It will be 
 
 punished. 
 
 9. What is the punishment of sin? Death and damnation. 
 
 10. What does the Savior say about Baptism in the passage which 
 
 you repeated in connection with question 352? He says, 
 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." 
 
 11. If Baptism saves us, what effect must it have on sin? It must 
 
 work the forgiveness of sin. 
 
 12. Who was it that secured the forgiveness of sins for us? Our 
 
 Savior Jesus Christ, 
 
 13. How did .Jesus secure the forgiveness of sins for us? By his 
 
 sufferings and death. 
 
 14. This is told us in ([uestion 354. How does Baptism work the 
 
 forgiveness of sins? By conferring upon us the righteous- 
 ness of Christ. 
 
 15. The righteousness of Christ here means everything that Christ 
 
 did for us. He fulfilled the law for us and gave Himself 
 a sacrifice for our sins. He is righteous before God, but all 
 this not for Himself, but for whom? For us. 
 
 111. Through Baptism we put on Christ. That is. His merit covers 
 our sins, as a man covers his nakedness by putting on a 
 garment. This we see from Gal. 3, 2<1. 27. "Ye are all the 
 children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of 
 you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." 
 
 17. On the great day of Pentecost, when Peter had preached Ihat 
 powerful sermon to the ihultilude, and the men asked him. 
 "Men and bretliren, what shall we do?" They meant, "What 
 shall we do to b(> saved?" And what did Peter answer? 
 Acts 2, 38. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you for 
 the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the 
 Holy Ghost." 
 
318 LESSON 91. 
 
 18. Why were they to be baptized? For the remission of sins. 
 
 19. Here we have just what the Catechism says: "Baptism works 
 
 the forgiveness of sins." In Acts 22 St. Paul tells the story 
 of his own conversion. After he had been overcome by the 
 heavenly vision on the way to Damascus, God sent him to 
 a -disciple by the name of Ananias. -And now repeat what 
 Ananias said to Paul. Verse 16. "Now why tarriest thou? 
 arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on 
 the name of the Lord." 
 
 20. "Why was Paul to be baptized? That his sins might be washed 
 
 away. 
 
 21. What does that mean? That his sins might be forgiven. 
 
 22. Read also the prophecy written in Zechariah i;^ 1. "In that day 
 
 there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and 
 to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." 
 
 23. This fountain for the washing away of sin is Baptism, for in it 
 
 what is done with sin? It is washed away or forgiven. 
 
 24. (354) "What is the blessed consequence of this?" "That death 
 
 and the devil no more can harm us, and that eternal life by 
 faith is certain to us." 
 
 25. According to question 351, what is the second effect of Baptism? 
 
 It delivers from death and the devil. 
 
 26. How did men come to die, since they were created free from 
 
 death? They sinned. 
 
 27. So what is the cause of both temporal and eternal death? Sin. 
 
 28. And if you want to remove an effect you must remove the cause. 
 
 So if we would be delivered from death, what must be done 
 with sin? It must be removed. 
 
 29. And how is it removed? When it is forgiven. 
 
 30. And how is this forgiveness brought to and given us? Through 
 
 Baptism. 
 
 31. What is the only thing that makes us fear death? Sin. 
 
 32. But if sin is forgiven, we need not fear death. To a baptized 
 
 Christian, death is not terrible, for its sting, sin, has been 
 removed. Through death his soul enters heaven, and what 
 will become of his dead body at the end of time? It will 
 rise~again to new life. 
 
 33. How can the Christian who is baptized into Christ therefore 
 
 say with St. Paul, 1 Cor. 15, 54-57? "Death is swallowed up 
 in victory. 
 
 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 
 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 
 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 34. But Baptism delivers us not only from death, but from what 
 
 else does it deliver us? It delivers us from the devil. 
 
 35. How did man come under the power of the devil? Through sin. 
 
 36. Whom do we serve when we willingly commit sin? We serve 
 
 the devil. 
 
 37. Sin is the chain with which the devil binds us. Now if we 
 
 would be free from the devil, what must be done with this 
 chain? It must be broken. 
 
 38. And this chain is l)roken when sin is forgiven. But liow is sin 
 
 forgiven? Through baptism. 
 
LESSON 91. 
 
 3l9 
 
 ;!!». A l)ai)tized Christian is no longer under the power of Satan. 
 He has renounced the devil and all his works and ways. He 
 is a free child of God. This deliverance is beautifully de- 
 scribed in Col. 1, 12-14. "Giving thanks unto the Father, 
 which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance 
 of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the 
 power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom 
 of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his 
 blood, even the forgiveness of sins." 
 
 40. Now read also 1 .Tohn 4, 4. "Ye are of God, little children, and 
 
 have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, 
 than he that is in the world." 
 
 41. And again, 1 .John 5, 4. "For whatsoever is born of God over- 
 
 cometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh 
 the world, even our faith." 
 
 42. According to question 351, what is the third great thing which 
 
 Baptism does? It gives everlasting life. 
 
 43. Or, as we have it in the second half of question 3.54. "Eternal 
 
 life by faith is certain to us." 
 
 44. What is the only thing that can keep us out of heaven? Sin. 
 
 45. What must be done with sin if we would enter heaven? It must 
 
 be forgiven. 
 4C. And how is this forgiveness brought to and given us? Through 
 Baptism. 
 
 47. By being baptized into Christ we are made the children of God 
 
 and heirs of eternal life, as we see from Gal. 3, 26. 27. "For 
 ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For 
 as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put 
 on Christ." 
 
 48. The same we see from Rom. 8, 16. 17. "We are the children of 
 
 God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- 
 heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we 
 may be also glorified together." 
 
 49. And again. Tit. 3, 5. "Not by works of righteousness which we 
 
 have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the 
 washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 50. Noah was saved in the ark. The waters carried him safely until 
 
 the tiood was over. This is used as a figure of the saving 
 power of Baptism in 1 Peter 3, 20. 21. "Which sometime 
 were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited 
 in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein 
 few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like 
 figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us (not 
 the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of 
 a gpod conscience toward God) by the resurrection of 
 Jesus Christ." 
 
 51. In Baptism God makes a covenant with his children that he will 
 
 be their God and Father in time and eternity. Repeat Isa. 
 54, 10. "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be 
 removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, 
 neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the 
 Lord that hath mercy on thee." 
 
 52. (355) "Who has this benefit of Holy Baptism?" "All who be- 
 
 lieve in it." 
 
 53. So what is necessary on our part in order that we may have 
 
 and enjoy these great benefits of Baptism? Faith is neces- 
 sary. 
 
 54. (356) "With what words does our Lord Jesus Christ Himsell 
 
 say this?" "With these: He that believeth and is baptized 
 shall be saved; but he that believeth not. shall be damned." 
 
320 LESSON 92. 
 
 55. (357) "Why is it not said: 'lie tliat believeth not, and is not 
 baptized shall be damned?'" "Because a person can also 
 obtain faith, and be saved by the Word alone if only Baptisnn 
 be not despised." 
 
 LESSON 92. HOW CAN WATER DO SUCH GREAT THINGS? 
 
 (Questions 358-364.) 
 
 1. Which question concerning Baptism did we consider in our last 
 
 lesson? The question: "What does baptism give or profit?" 
 
 2. And which question have we before us today? The question: 
 
 "How can water do such great things?" 
 
 3. (358) "How can water do such great things?" "It is not water 
 
 indeed that does them, but the Word of God which is in and 
 with the water, and faith which trusts such Word of God in 
 the water. For without the Word of God the water is simply 
 water and no Baptism. But with the Word of God it is a 
 Baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of 
 regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus, third 
 chapter: "According to His mercy He saved us, by the 
 washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, 
 which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our 
 Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be 
 made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is 
 a faithful saying." 
 
 4. What great things are here meant? The great things which 
 
 Baptism gives. 
 
 5. And what are these great things? Forgiveness of sins, deliver- 
 
 ance from death and the devil, and everlasting salvation. 
 
 6. What kind of things are these here called? They are called 
 
 great things. 
 
 7. Yes, and they are indeed great things; the greatest things which 
 
 we can imagine. And when we look at Baptism outwardly, 
 what is it? What is the outward, earthly, or visible, thing 
 in Baptism? It is water. 
 
 8. Now som-e people make the mistake and imagine that water is 
 
 all there is in Baptism, that it is simply water. What do 
 we say of such people? They are mistaken. 
 
 9. Baptism is not simply water, but what is in and with the water 
 
 in Baptism? The Word of God. 
 
 10. We saw under question 342 what Word of God is here meant. 
 
 Let us hear it again. The word of command, and the word 
 of promise. 
 
 11. Which is the word of command? (343). "Go ye and teach all 
 
 nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 12. And which is the word of promise? (352). "He that believeth 
 
 and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not, 
 shall be damned." 
 
 13. (359) "What then is it in Baiitism thnt does such great things?" 
 
 "The Word of God that is in and with the water, and faith 
 that trusts such Word of God in the water." 
 
 14. We understand full well that a little water cannot take af-^ay 
 
 sin, deliver from death and the devil, and give everlas<''"7 
 life. Water can wash away bodily filth, but what filth can 
 mere water not take away? The filth of sin. 
 
LESSON 92. 321 
 
 15. If Baptism were mere water, it could not deliver us from death 
 
 and the devil, nor give everlasting life. But what is Bap- 
 tism? Baptism is not simply water, but the water compre- 
 hended in God's command and connected with God's word. 
 
 16. (359) "What then is it in liaptisni tliat does such great things?" 
 
 "The Word of God that is in and with the water and faith 
 that trusts such Word of God in the water." 
 
 17. How many things are set forth in this answer as giving Baptism 
 
 its power? Two things. 
 
 18. Which is the first? The Word of God that is in and with the 
 
 water. 
 
 19. And which is the second? Faith which trusts such Word of 
 
 God in the water. 
 
 20. What is it then that gives Baptism its power, and makes it such 
 
 a source of blessing? It is the Word of God. 
 
 21. While we are agreed that water cannot worl^ forgiveness of 
 
 sins, deliver from death and the devil, and give everlasting 
 life, what is it that can do these great things? The Word 
 of God that is in and with the water. 
 
 22. And what is necessary on our part in order that the Word of 
 
 God in Baptism may effect these great things? Faith is 
 necessary. 
 
 23. What is faith to do according to question 359? Faith must 
 
 trust such Word of God in Baptism. 
 
 24. (360) "Is Baptism then a mere sign?" "It Is not, but a gracious 
 
 water of life and a washing of regeneration by the Holy 
 Ghost." 
 
 25. We are agreed that Baptism is a sign. What does it signify? 
 
 (365). "It signifies that the old Adam in us, by daily contri- 
 tion and repentance, should be drowned and die, with all 
 sins and evil lusts; and that a new man daily come forth 
 and rise, who shall live in righteousness and purity before 
 God forever." 
 
 26. But while we are agreed that Baptism is a sign, are we also 
 
 know that it is more than a mere sign. There is a great 
 difference between the picture of a thing and the thing itself. 
 If a person were real hungry and you showed him a picture 
 of fruit, would that satisfy him? It would not. 
 
 27. If he were cold and you showed him a picture of a red hot 
 
 stove, would that warm him? It would not. 
 
 28. So a mere picture, or sign of the forgiveness of sins cannot 
 
 satisfy a poor soul. We must have this forgiveness itself. 
 And how is this brought to us? Through Baptism. 
 
 29. On that account, what is Baptism called in the answer to ques- 
 
 tion 360? It is called a gracious water of life. 
 
 30. A gracious water, that is, a water In and through which the 
 
 grace of God, that is, the forgiveness of sins, is l)estowed 
 upon us. But what kind of water is it called in this same 
 answer? A water of life and a washing of regeneration by 
 the Holy Ghost. 
 
 31. What is necessary for the production and preservation of life 
 
 on dry land in nature? Water is necessary. 
 
 32. Baptism is called a water of life, for when God through Baptism 
 
 forgives us our sins He also gives us new, spiritual life. 
 What does the Savior say to Nicodemus, John 3, 5-7. 
 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of 
 water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of 
 God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that 
 which is born of the spirit Is spirit." 
 21 
 
322 LESSON 92. 
 
 o3. We must be born again or regenerated. Who alone can bring 
 about this change in us? The Holy Ghost. 
 
 34. And through what means does the Holy Ghost accomplish this? 
 
 Through Baptism. 
 
 35. (361) "With what words does St. Paul tell us this?" "According 
 
 to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration 
 and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us 
 abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior." 
 
 36. Who is it then that saves us? It is God who saves us. 
 
 37. What induces Him to save us? He saves us according to his 
 
 mercy. 
 
 38. And how does He do this? He does It by the washing of re- 
 
 generation and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 39. What is this washing of regeneration? It Is Baptism. 
 
 40. (362) "What then is Baptism according to the Word of God?" 
 
 "It is that washing through which the Holy Ghost regenerates 
 and renews us." 
 
 41. (363) "How does the Holy Ghost do this in Baptism?" "He 
 
 works and strengthens faith in us, through which we become 
 God's children and grow In holiness of life." 
 
 42. We have seen that both children and adults are to be baptized. 
 
 in whom, being without faith by nature, is faith to be worked 
 through Baptism? In children. 
 
 43. And in whom is faith to be strengthened by Baptism after they 
 
 have learned to know and to believe on the Savior through 
 the preaching of the Word? In adults. 
 
 44. Read Gal. 3, 26. 27. "For you are all the children of God by 
 
 faith In Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been 
 baptized into Christ have put on Christ." 
 
 45. When we are baptized into Christ, whose children do we be- 
 
 come? We become God's children. 
 
 46. We are born again, regenerated and made the children of God. 
 
 Repeat Eph. 5. 25. 26. "Christ also loved the church and 
 gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it 
 with the washing of water by the word." 
 
 47. How does God sanctify and cleanse us? With the washing of 
 
 water by the Word. 
 
 48. What is this washing of water liy the Word? It is Baptism. 
 
 49. Repeats Rom. 8, 14. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, 
 
 they are the sons of God." 
 
 50. What is here said of the sons of God? They are led by the 
 
 Spirit of God. 
 
 51. This Spirit we received in Baptism, and this spirit gives us 
 
 both the power and the will to walk in the way of God's 
 commandments. Repeat 2 Cor. 5. 17. "Therefore If any man 
 be In Christ, he Is a new creature: old things are passed 
 away; behold, all things are become new." 
 
 52. We are baptized into Christ, and what is here said of the man 
 
 who is in C^hrist? He Is a new creature. 
 
 53. What has become of the old things, that is, of the love of sin? 
 
 Old things have passed away. 
 
 54. (364) "What are we baptized believers through this grace of the 
 
 Holy Spirit?" "We are 'justified by His grace' and 'heirs ac- 
 cording to the hope of eternal life.'" 
 
 55. Having received the forgiveness of sins through Baptism, how 
 
 do we appear before God? We are justified by His grace. 
 
 56. And being God's dear Children, what follows from this? We 
 
 are heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 
 
LESSON 93. 323 
 
 LESSON 93. WHAT DOES BAPTISM SIGNIFY? 
 
 (Questions 365-369.) 
 
 1. (351) We have seen, children, that Baptism is not a mere sign, 
 
 an empty ceremony, but that it is a powerful means through 
 which the Holy Ghost works in us. "What does Baptism give 
 or profit?" "It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death 
 and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who 
 believe it, as the words and promises of God declare." 
 
 2. But Baptism not only works something, it also signifies some- 
 
 thing. That is, it is the sign, or the picture, of something. 
 We do not object to calling baptism a sign, but what do we 
 object to? You can tell me from question 360, not from 
 the answer, but from the question. We object to calling 
 baptism a mere sign. 
 
 3. It is a sign, or a representation, of something, but it is much 
 
 more than this. After we have seen what Baptism actually 
 gives and does, it is important that we also consider what 
 it represents, or signifies. Under what head do we consider 
 this in the Catechism? Under No. IV. 
 
 4. (365) "What does such baptizing with water signify?" "It sig- 
 
 nifies that the old Adam in us, by daily contrition and re- 
 pentance should be drowned and die, with all sins and evil 
 lusts; and that a new man daily come forth and arise, who 
 shall live in righteousness and purity before God forever." 
 
 5. (366) "Where is this written?" "St. Paul, Romans, sixth chapter, 
 
 says: 'We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death; 
 that like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory 
 of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness 
 of life.'" 
 
 6. Here we are told with what we baptize. What is the earthly 
 
 element in Baptism, what do we baptize with? We baptize 
 with water. 
 
 7. What is water ordinarily used for? It is used for drinking. 
 
 8. And for what else is it used? It is used for washing. 
 
 9. When your hands, your face or your clothes, become soiled, 
 
 what do you use to cleanse them? We use water. 
 
 10. Water is the great cleanser from bodily filth. But there is a 
 
 filth that is worse than bodily filth, what is it? The filth 
 of sin. 
 
 11. Now the water in Baptism signifies this cleansing from spiritual 
 
 filth. As in Baptism our bodies are washed with water, so 
 our souls are to be cleansed from sin. What is it in Bap- 
 tism that signifies this spiritual cleansing? It is the water. 
 
 12. \^niat mode of Baptism was often used in warm climates where 
 
 Christ and His disciples labored? They baptized by im- 
 mersion. 
 
 13. What becomes of a man when he is ])ut under the water and 
 
 held there? He is drowned. 
 
 14. According to the answer to question 36.", wliat is to be drowned 
 
 in us? The old Adam. 
 
 15. (367) "What do you understand l)y 'the old Adam?"" "Our de- 
 
 praved nature, which we inherited from Adam and which 
 shows itself in all sin and evil lusts." 
 
 16. Our depraved nature here means the sinfulness of our nature. 
 
 From whom did we inherit this sinfulness? We inherited 
 it from Ad£ 
 
324 LESSON 93. 
 
 17. In whose image was Adam created? In the image of God. 
 
 18. Wherein did this image consist? In righteousness and holiness. 
 
 19. What became of this image of God? It was lost by sin. 
 
 20. Since Adam became sinful, what effect had his sinfulness on all 
 
 his descendants? They are all sinful. 
 
 21. And how does this sinfulness of our nature show itself? Ques- 
 
 tion 367. It shows itself in all sins and evil lusts. 
 
 22. Repeat Eph. 4, 22. "Put off concerning the former conversation 
 
 the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful 
 lusts." 
 
 23. Our hearts are always inclined to evil. Even after we are bap- 
 
 tized we still have sinful hearts, and are inclined to all sins 
 and evil lusts. How, for instance, does this sinfulness 
 show itself in the conduct of a child toward its parents? 
 Through disobedience. 
 
 24. How does it show itself in children in their conduct among them- 
 
 selves? They get angry and quarrel. They are selfish. 
 
 25. How does it show itself in sins against the eighth command- 
 
 ment? They lie, and spread bad reports about each other. 
 
 26. (368) "What should be done with this old Adam?" "He should 
 
 in us by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and 
 die, with all sins and evil lusts." 
 
 27. What becomes of a man when he is put under the water and 
 
 held there? He is drowned. He dies. 
 
 28. So we should drown and kill all sin in us. What would a man 
 
 do if you tried to put him under the water and drown him? 
 He would struggle and try to get loose. 
 
 29. So our sinful nature resists when we try to get rid of it. It 
 
 dies hard. It requires a fight to put away sin. How is the 
 old Adam in us to be drowned? By daily contrition and 
 repentance. 
 
 30. Contrition here means sorrow. What should we be sorry for? 
 
 We should be sorry for our sins. 
 
 31. How does God regard sin? It offends Him. He hates it. 
 
 32. And on what account, how should we feel when we find that we 
 
 have sinned? We should feel sorry. 
 
 33. And what has God threatened to do with sin? He has threatened 
 
 to punish it. 
 
 34. And when we hear and learn this, what effect should it have on 
 
 us.? We should become alarmed. We should be afraid. 
 
 35. But the Catechism speaks not only of contrition, that is, of sor- 
 
 row, but of what else? Of repentance. 
 
 36. That is, when we become alarmed on account of sin, we should 
 
 not despair, but turn to God for help. What has God prom- 
 ised to do with the sins of those who repent? He has 
 promised to forgive them. 
 
 37. And this we should believe with all our hearts. For whose sake 
 
 has God promised to forgive our sins? For Christ's sake. 
 
 38. What did Christ do that God should forgive sins for His sake? 
 
 He suffered and died for us. 
 
 39. If we turn to God in true repentance and ask forgiveness for 
 
 Christ's sake, what may we expect? We may expect that 
 God will forgive us our sins. 
 
 -JO. But why does the Catechism sreak of daily contrition and re- 
 pentance? Because we sin every day. 
 
 41. This fight against sin never ends as long as we live. It is a 
 bitter fight, and will end only when we die and God takes 
 us to heaven. How often do we need to wash our hands and 
 faces? Every day, or as often as they get dirty. 
 
LESSON 94. 325 
 
 42. So this spiritual cleansing is to go on continually. What sins 
 
 and evil lusts are to be drowned and die in us? All sins 
 and evil lusts. 
 
 43. We dare not be indifferent, or careless, in regard to a single 
 
 sin. How should we feel about every sin? We should feel 
 sorry, and ask God's forgiveness. 
 
 44. (:)69) "What shall take his iilace?" "There shall 'a new man 
 
 daily come forth and arise, who shall live in righteousness 
 and purity before God forever.' " 
 
 45. When they baptized by immersion and put a person under the 
 
 water, did they leave him there? No, they drew him out 
 again. 
 4G. As putting under the water meant death, what did drawing out 
 again mean? It meant life. 
 
 47. The one is a symbol of death and the other of resurrection. 
 
 What is to come forth and arise? A new man. 
 
 48. Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration. In and through it 
 
 God creates new spiritual life in us, and what is here said 
 about this new life, this new man? He is daily to come 
 forth and arise. 
 
 49. That is. the new man is to show himself, to make himself felt. 
 
 And how is this to be done? In righteousness and purity. 
 
 50. Yes, and this is to be before God, who sees and knows all things. 
 
 Under whose eye, therefore, are we to live in the world? 
 Under the eye of God. 
 
 51. So God said to Abraham, as we read. Gen. 17. 1. "When Abram 
 
 was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, 
 and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, 
 and be thou perfect." 
 
 52. We are daily to grow in holiness of heart and life. We are to 
 
 be better today than we were yesterday, better tomorrow 
 than we are today. And how long are we thus to live in 
 righteousness and purity before God? Forever. 
 
 53. The new life which W3s begun in us by Baptism is never to 
 
 end. We are to live a righteous and a pure life all our days 
 on earth. Of course, it will always be in great weakness 
 so long as we live on earth. But where do we expect to 
 live a perfectly righteous and pure life forever? in heaven. 
 
 51. St. Pnul, in T?omans the sixth chapter, verse 4, speaks of Bap- 
 tism. What does he say in the first part of the sentence? 
 We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death. 
 
 55. Christ died and was buried, and Baptism buries us, as it were, 
 with Him. We are to be dead to sin. But what does the 
 apostle say about Christ's resurrection and our walk? Like 
 as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, 
 even so we also should walk in newness of life." 
 
 CONFESSION 
 
 LESSON 94. OF CONFESSION. 
 
 (Question 370.) 
 
 What chief part of the Catechism did we finish in our last les- 
 son? The fourth chief part. 
 
 Of what does the fourth chief part of the Catechism treat? It 
 treats of holy Baptism. 
 
 What was the fourth iniiiortant question of the Catechism con- 
 rerning Baptism? "What does such Baptism with water 
 signify?" 
 
326 LESSON 94. 
 
 4. And what answer does the Catechism give to this question? 
 
 "It signifies that the old Adam in us, by daily contrition and 
 repentance should be drowned and die, with all sins and evil 
 lusts; and that a new man daily come forth and arise, who 
 shall live in righteousness and purity before God forever." 
 
 5. What do we understand by the old Adam? The sinfulness of 
 
 our. nature. 
 
 6. Against this we are to fight; this we are to put down. Our whole 
 
 life on earth is to be a continual fight against sin. When 
 we become aware of the fact that we have sinned, how 
 should we feel about it? We should feel sorry. 
 
 7. In the parable of the prodigal son we see what should be done 
 
 when we have sinned. What did he say when he came to 
 himself, that is, when he realized that he had sinned? 
 Luke 15, 18. "I will rise and go to my father and say to 
 him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before 
 thee.' " 
 
 8. What did he make up his mind to do? To go to his father and 
 
 confess his sins. 
 
 9. This confession is necessary if we would receive forgiveness. 
 
 Our Lutheran Church has arranged a special service for 
 those who would go to the Lord's Supper. What do we 
 call this service? We call it the confessional service, or 
 confession. 
 
 10. (370) "What is confession?" "Confession embraces two parts: 
 
 one is, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive 
 the absolution or forgiveness from the confessor, as from 
 God himself, and in no wise doubt but firmly believe, that 
 thereby our sins are forgiven before God in heaven." 
 
 11. How many parts does confession embrace? Two parts. 
 
 12. Which is the first? That we confess our sins. 
 
 13. To do this we must first know what sin is. What is sin? (L!3) 
 
 "Sin is every transgression of the divine law." 
 
 14. Every time we transgress God's law, what are we guilty of? 
 
 We are guilty of sin. 
 
 15. How many kinds of sin are there? (125) Two: origmal and 
 
 actual. 
 
 16. What is original sin? (126) "It is the utter depravity of the 
 
 whole human nature, which, since the fail of Adam, is in- 
 born in all men." 
 
 17. What is actual sin? (128) "All that is done contrary to the 
 
 Ten Commandments in thought, word and deed." 
 
 18. When the prodigal son became aware that he had sinned against 
 
 his father, what did he nnke up his mind to do? Luke 
 15, 18. To go home and confess his sins. 
 
 19. What did David do when Nathan told him of his sins? 2 Sam. 
 
 12, 13. He said: "I have sinned against the Lord." 
 
 20. What did David do with his sins? He confessed them. 
 
 21. Read what is written, Prov. 28, 13. "He that covereth his sins 
 
 shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth rnd forsaketh them 
 shall have mercy." 
 
 22. Accordingly who shall have mercy? He that confesseth and 
 
 forsaketh his sins. 
 
 23. To confess sins means not only to acknowledge that we have 
 
 sinned, but how should we feel about our sins? We should 
 feel sorry for our sins. 
 
 24. And why should we feel sorry for sin, when we think of how it 
 
 affects God? Because it grieves and offends Him. 
 
 25. And what does sin bring upon us? It brings punishment upon us. 
 
LESSON 94. 327 
 
 26. All this we should confess, l)ut confession embraces two parts. 
 
 What is the second? The other is that we receive absolu- 
 tion, etc. 
 
 27. When we think of onr sins, what should we l)e anxious to I'e- 
 
 ceive? We should be anxious to receive forgiveness. 
 2S. Why is this forgiveness so necessary? Because we cannot be 
 saved without it. 
 
 29. If sin is not forgiven what will be done with it? It will be 
 
 punished. 
 
 30. And what is the punishment of sin? Death and damnation. 
 
 31. What are we to receive in confession? We are to receive ab- 
 
 solution. 
 
 32. What does absolution mean? It means forgiveness. 
 
 33. From whom are we to receive this forgiveness? From the 
 
 confessor. 
 
 34. The confessor here means the pastor. But how should we re- 
 
 ceive the absolution from the confessor? As from God 
 himself. 
 
 35. Whom have we offended by our sins? We have offended God. 
 
 36. So David confessed with reference to his great sin, as we read 
 
 Ps. 51, 4. "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done 
 this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be Justified when 
 thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." 
 
 37. Then who alone can forgive sin? God alone can forgive sin. 
 
 38. But God does it through his servant, the pastor. In whose name 
 
 does the pastor forgive sin? In God's name. 
 
 39. Our Catechism in question 370 says we should in no wise doubt. 
 
 What should we not doubt? We should not doubt that our 
 sins are forgiven. 
 
 40. How can God forgive sin when He has threatened to punish 
 
 it? Who has made It possible for God to forgive sins? 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 41. How did He do this? Through his innocent sufferings and death. 
 
 42. For whom did Christ secure forgiveness of sins? For all men. 
 
 43. What, then, should we firmly believe? That our sins are forgiven. 
 
 44. Through whom does God declai'e to us the forgiveness of sins? 
 
 Through the ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 45. And how should we regard this declaration of the minister? 
 
 As though God Himself had made it. 
 
 46. How should we look upon what a person does through his ser- 
 
 vant, or agent? As though the person had done it himself. 
 
 47. What does the Savior say, Luke 10, IG, in the first part of the 
 
 verse? "He that heareth you, heareth me." 
 
 48. We have already referred to David's confession of his great sin, 
 
 2 Sam. 12, 13. What did Nathan say to David after his 
 confession? "And Nathan said unto David, 'The Lord also 
 hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.'" 
 
 49. So how did God assure David of the forgiveness of his sin? 
 
 Through Nathan. 
 
 50. And how might David regard this declaration? As though God 
 
 Himself had spoken to him. 
 
328 LESSON 95. 
 
 LESSON 95. WHAT SINS SHOULD WE CONFESS? 
 
 (Questions 371-372.) 
 
 1. (370) "What is confession?" "Confession embraces two parts: 
 
 One is, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive 
 the absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, as from 
 God Himself, and in no wise doubt but firmly believe, that 
 thereby our sins are forgiven before God in heaven." 
 
 2. What is the first part of confession? The first part of confes- 
 
 sion is that we confess our sins. 
 
 3. (371) "What sins should we confess?" "Before God we should 
 
 plead guilty of all sins, even of those which we do not know, 
 as we do in the Lord's prayer; but before the confessor we 
 should confess those sins only which we know and feel in 
 our hearts." 
 
 4. Before whom should we first of all confess our sins? Before 
 
 God. 
 
 5. What sins should we confess before God? Before God we should 
 
 plead guilty of all sins. 
 
 6. Against whom is all sin an offense? Against God. 
 
 7. When Cain slew his brother Abel, he sinned not only against 
 
 his brother and against his parents, but against whom? He 
 sinned against God. 
 
 8. And this is always the worst thing about sin that it is an offense 
 
 against God. It is rebellion against Him. So David con- 
 fessed Ps. 51, 4. "Against thee, thee only have I sinned, 
 and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justi- 
 fied when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." 
 
 9. Before God we should confess ourselves guilty even of what 
 
 sins? Even of those which we do not know. 
 
 10. What does David say, Ps. 19, 12? "Who can understand his 
 
 errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." 
 
 11. We often sin without knowing it, and there is nothing we so 
 
 easily forget as our sins. Which one of God's command- 
 ments have we kept perfectly? We have kept none of God's 
 commandments perfectly. 
 
 12. When the poor publican stood before God, what did he acknowl- 
 
 edge himself to be? Luke 18, 13. He acknowledged himself 
 to be a sinner. 
 
 13. He did not confess any particular sin, because he felt his sins 
 
 were too many to mention them one by one. Where do 
 we all make a general confession of sin every day? In the 
 Lord's Prayer. 
 
 14. In which petition of the Lord's Prayer do we confess our sin? 
 
 In the fifth petition. 
 
 15. Repeat the fifth petition. "And forgive us our trespasses as we 
 
 forgive those who trespass against us." 
 
 16. Here we confess not only that we have sinned, but that we 
 
 are sinners, just as the poor publican did. For we have not 
 only sinned by actual sins in thoughts, words and deeds, 
 but what other sin have we besides actual sin, that which 
 is the root of actual sin? Original sin. 
 
LESSON 95. 329 
 
 17. All this we should acknowledge and confess before God, as we 
 
 see from Ps. ?>2, 3-5. "When I kept silence, my bones waxed 
 old through my roaring all the day long. For day and 
 night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned 
 into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin 
 unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. i said, I will 
 confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest 
 the iniquity of my sin. Selah." 
 
 18. Also Prov. 28, 13. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; 
 
 but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." 
 
 19. But confession before God, the searcher of hearts, is not all 
 
 which the Catechism speaks of. What other confession is 
 mentioned in question 371? Confession before the confessor. 
 
 20. The confessor is the pastor. What sins should we confess be- 
 
 fore him? Those sins only which we know and feel in our 
 hearts. 
 
 21. It is neither necessary nor possible to confess every particular 
 
 sin before the pastor. But when we know and feel certain 
 sins that trouble us and give us no peace and rest, to whom 
 should we go for advice and comfort? We should go to 
 the pastor. 
 
 22. When you are troubled with bodily sickness or pain, to whom 
 
 do you go for medicine and advice? To the physician. 
 
 23. And whom should you consider as your spiritual physician? 
 
 The pastor. 
 
 24. Yes, and the pastor should regard what is thus told and con- 
 
 fessed to him as a sacred trust which he is to keep to him- 
 self. You should have confidence in your pastor and be 
 open and honest toward him: for only then can he properly 
 advise and deal with you, just as a physician does with his 
 patient. If we have sinned against, and offended, any- 
 body, what are we told to do. Matt. 5, 23-25? "Therefore 
 if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remetnberest 
 that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy 
 gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to 
 thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." 
 
 25. All our worship of God amounts to nothing, so long as we rlo 
 
 not live in peace with one another. If we have sinned 
 against and offended a brother, what should we do as soon 
 as we become aware of it? We should go to him and con- 
 fess our faults. 
 
 26. It is no disgrace to confess a sin or a fault. The disgrace lies 
 
 in the sin and not in the confession. So we are admonished. 
 James 5, 6. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray 
 one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual, fer- 
 vent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." 
 
 27. To whom did the prodigal son confess his sins? To his father. 
 
 28. So we should confess sins before men. We should not be too 
 
 proud to say to an offended brother: "Brother, I am sorry 
 that I did you wrong, and I ask you to forgive me." The 
 fact is, that if we are not willing to make such confession 
 to men, we cannot honestly make confession to God. Which 
 sins should we thus confess before men? Those which we 
 know and feel in our hearts. 
 
 29. (372) "Which are these?" "Here consider your station according 
 
 to the Ten Commandments, whether you are a father, 
 mother, son, daughter, master, mistress, servant; whether 
 you have been disobedient, unfaithful, slothful: whether 
 you have grieved any person, by word or deed: whether yon 
 have stolen, neglected, wasted anything, or done other harm." 
 
330 LESSON 95. 
 
 30. What is the rule according to which we should examine our- 
 
 selves? The ten commandments. 
 
 31. When a brick-layer wants to know whether the wall he is build- 
 
 ing is plumb, how does he find this out? He applies the 
 plumbline. 
 
 32. So God's law, the ten commandments, are a plumbline for our 
 
 lives. How must we regard everything that does not agree 
 with this rule? We must regard it as wrong and sinful. 
 
 33. But what are we to consider according to question 372? We 
 
 are to consider our station. 
 
 34. That is, your station, or standing, in life. Some of these sta- 
 
 tions are here mentioned. What are they? Whether you 
 are father, mother, son, daughter, master, mistress, servant. 
 
 35. To each of these stations in life, God has given particular duties. 
 
 What, for instance, does he require of parents? Eph. 6, 4. 
 "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring 
 them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." 
 
 36. Parents then should ask themselves: "Have I done this?" What 
 
 does God require of children according to the fourth com- 
 mandment? "Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother." 
 
 37. What does God require of masters? Col. 4, 1. "Masters, give 
 
 unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing 
 that ye also have a Master in heaven." 
 
 38. And what does God require of servants? Col. 3, 22. "Servants, 
 
 obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not 
 with eyeservice as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, 
 fearing God." 
 
 39. What should a servant, or workman, confess according to ques- 
 
 tion 372? Whether he has been disobedient, unfaithful or 
 slothful. 
 
 40. What else should we acknowledge and confess? Whether we 
 
 have grieved any person by word or deed. 
 
 41. What sins against the seventh commandment should we con- 
 
 fess? Whether we have stolen, neglected, wasted anything. 
 
 42. What sins against the third commandment should we confess? 
 
 That we have neglected preaching and God's word. 
 
 43. What sins against the fifth commandment should we confess? 
 
 That we have been angry and hated our neighbor. 
 
 44. What should we confess as a sin against the sixth command- 
 
 ment? That we have not led a chaste and decent life in 
 thought, word and deed. 
 
 45. And against the eighth commandment? That we have not al- 
 
 ways been truthful. 
 
 46. In general, what should we examine according to the sentence 
 
 in parenthesis in question 372? We should examine not 
 merely our outward conduct, but also our inner life of the 
 heart as to the sinful motions it indulged. 
 
 47. Let us remember that this self-examination is to be before God, 
 
 who is the searcher of hearts, as we read, Jer. 17, 10. "I, 
 the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every 
 man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his 
 doings." 
 
 48. This self-examination we should hold daily. When the day is 
 
 past and we are about to retire we should ask ourselves, 
 "How have I spent the day? What have I said and done? 
 Will my thoughts and desires meet with God's approval?" 
 But especially careful and searching should this examination 
 be before what sacred and solemn service? Before we go 
 to the Holy Communion. 
 
LESSON 96. ^31 
 
 49 Yes children, this is the time to make up, if we have grieved 
 'and offended one another. This is the time not only to 
 confess, but to forgive as we hope to be forgiven. God help 
 us to do it with all uprightness of heart! 
 
 LESSON 96. THE CONFESSIONAL PRAYER. 
 
 (Question o75.) 
 
 1 We have seen that a Christian should make confession of sins 
 both to God and his pastor. What sins should we confess 
 before God? Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, 
 even of those which we do not know. 
 
 2. And what sins should we confess before the confessor, or pastor? 
 Those only which we know and feel in our hearts. 
 
 3 We have also seen that, in order to make proper confession, we 
 should examine ourselves. According to what rule should 
 we examine our selves? According to the ten command- 
 
 4. And if we thus examine ourselves, what will we find? We will 
 
 find that we are poor sinners. 
 
 5. And when we And that we are poor sinners, what should we do 
 
 with our sins before God? We should confess them. 
 
 6 (373) "With about what words can you make confession before 
 
 God and your pastor?" "Almighty God, O most merciful 
 Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto Thee all my 
 sins and iniquities, whereby I have ever offended Thee and 
 justly deserved Thy temporal and eternal punishment; but I 
 am heartily sorry for them all and repent of them truly, and I 
 beseech Thee through Thine infinite mercy and for the sake 
 of the holy, innocent, and bitter sufferings and death of Thy 
 dear Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a 
 poor sinner. Amen." 
 
 7 Let us look at this prayer a little more closely. To whom is 
 
 this prayer addressed? To Almighty God. 
 
 8. Omnipotence is one of the attributes of God. Can you mention 
 others? God is eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, holy, right- 
 eous, merciful and truthful. 
 
 y The God to whom we are to make confession is omnipresent. 
 What does that mean? It means that He is everywhere pres- 
 ent at the same time. 
 
 10 Yes no matter where we are, God is present to hear our con- 
 fession. But He is also omniscient. What does that mean? It 
 
 means that He knows all things. 
 Yes it means that He sees and knows whether we are truthful 
 in our confession or not. It is foolish to try to deceive God, 
 Who sees and knows all things. But what other attribute of 
 God can you mention? God is holy. 
 
 12. And what does this mean? It means that He is without sin. 
 
 13 Before this sinless, pure, perfect God we are to make confession. 
 God is not only holy; what other attribute of God can you 
 mention that is closely related to holiness? God is righteous. 
 
 14. And what does that mean? It means that He loves and rewards 
 what is good and hates and punishes what is evil. 
 
 15 But in the prayer under consideration we call God not only Al- 
 mighty God. but what other name do we give Him? We call 
 Him most merciful Father. 
 
332 LESSON 96. 
 
 16. And what does it mean when we call God a merciful Father? It 
 
 means that He pities us and is ready to forgive. 
 
 17. Yes, let 'us remember this; the God before Whom we are to make 
 
 confession is not a haid-hearted tyrant who takes pleasure 
 in punishing and destroying, but a merciful Father who is 
 ready to forgive those who repent. What do you call your- 
 self in this prayer? I call myself a poor, miserable sinner. 
 
 18. What is a sinner? A sinner is one who has sinned. 
 
 19. What is sin? Sin is every transgression of the divine law. 
 
 20. Why do ^\e confess ourselves sinners? Because we have trans- 
 
 gressed God's law. 
 
 21. What kind of a sinner do you confess yourself to be? A poor, 
 
 miserable sinner. 
 
 22. When is a man poor? When he has nothing. 
 
 23. And before God we have nothing but sin. We have no righteous- 
 
 ness. There is nothing good about us. Can you think of 
 such a poor sinner who thought only of his sins when he 
 stood in the temple before God? The poor publican. 
 
 24. What confession did he make before God? "God be merciful to 
 
 me a sinner." 
 
 25. But you also confess yourself to be a miserable sinner. When is 
 
 a man in misery? When he is in pain, in trouble. 
 
 26. And so it pains us to think that by our sins we have grieved and 
 
 offended God. And what might we justly expect from God 
 for our sins? We might expect His wrath and punishment. 
 
 27. To whom do we make confession according to this prayer? We 
 
 say, "I confess unto Thee!" 
 
 28. When we repeat this prayer, we are assembled in the house of 
 
 God. We stand or kneel, not before the pastor, but before 
 whom? Before God. 
 
 29. Yes, before God, the searcher of hearts, who knows us better 
 
 than we know ourselves. And what do you confess to God? 
 I confess all my sins and iniquities. 
 ?,Q. How many kinds of sin are there? Two, original and actual. 
 
 31. We confess both that we are l^y nature sinners and that we have 
 
 in thought, words and deeds sinned. And what have you 
 (lone by your sins? I have offended God. 
 
 32. Sin offends God. He hates it. And what have you deserved by 
 
 your sins? I have thereby deserved God's punishment. 
 
 33. How many kinds of i)unishment aie here mentioned? Two: tem- 
 
 poral "and eternal. 
 
 34. What is meant l)y temporal punishment? Punishment here in 
 
 this world. 
 
 35. Give me some examples of punishment by God in the present 
 
 world. Thei flood, Sodom and Gomorrah. 
 
 36. What did the rich man in hell say concerning himself. Luke 16, 
 
 the last clause of the 24th verse? "I am tormented in this 
 flame." 
 
 37. In vain did he try to have his misery relieved, for what do the 
 
 Scriptures teach as to the duration of punishment in the 
 world to come? It is eternal. 
 
 38. Let us now continue the consideration of this prayer. Our con- 
 
 dition is sad, but not hopeless. How do you confess to feel 
 about your sins? I am heartily sorry for them all and repent 
 of them truly. 
 
 39. Yes, if there is one thing that should make us feel sad it is. sin 
 
 with its dreadful consequences. We cannot be indifferent to 
 sin. Why should we feel sorry for sin when we think of 
 God, our dear Father in heaven? Because it grieves and of- 
 fends Hirr 
 
LESSON 97. 333 
 
 40. And why should we feel sorry for sin when we think of its effect 
 
 upon us? It makes us miserable, and brings ruin and de- 
 struction. 
 
 41. And what do you ask of God in this prayer? I beseech Him to 
 
 be merciful and gracious to me a poor sinner. 
 
 42. That is, what do you ask of God to do with your sins? I ask Him 
 
 to forgive them. 
 4o. But how can you expect Him to forgive? What attribute in God 
 is it that makes Him willing to forgive? His infinite mercy. 
 
 44. Why is God's mercy called infinite? Because it never ends. 
 
 45. But God is not only mei'ciful. He is also just. Who was it that 
 
 satisfied the justice of God and made it possible for Him to 
 forgive? It was Jesus Christ. 
 4C. Who is .Jesus Christ? He is God's dear Son. 
 
 47. And what did Christ do that God should forgive our sins for His 
 
 sake? He suffered and died for us. 
 
 48. What is here said of th» sufferings and death of Christ? They 
 
 are called holy, innocent and bitter. 
 
 49. Why are they called holy? What does holy mean? Holy means 
 
 pure, without sin. 
 
 50. Christ's life was without sin; therefore, what are His sufferings 
 
 and death called? They are called innocent. 
 
 51. That is, undeserved. He did not suffer and die for His own sins, 
 
 for He had none. But for whose sins did He suffer and die? 
 For our sins. 
 
 52. And what may we now confidently expect since Christ by His 
 
 sufferings and death made atonement for our sins? We may 
 expect that God will forgive them. 
 
 53. With what word do you conclude this prayer? With the word 
 
 Amen. 
 
 54. What does the word Amen mean? It means yes. 
 
 55. What do we confidently express by this word Amen? That God 
 
 will surely do as we have asked him, namely forgive our sins. 
 
 THE OFFICE OF THE KEYS. 
 
 LESSON 97. WHAT IS THE OFFICE OF THE KEYS? 
 
 (Questions 374-378.) 
 
 1. What is the subject of our lesson today? The office of the keys. 
 
 2. (374) "What is the office of the keys?" "It is the peculiar church 
 
 power which Christ has given to His church on earth to for- 
 give the sins of penitent sinners, and to retain the sins of 
 the impenitent, so long as they do not repent." 
 
 3. The oflSce of the keys is the power to do what? It is the power 
 
 to forgive or retain sins. 
 
 4. What is the only thing that can keep a man out of heaven? Stn 
 
 is the only thing that can keep a man out of heaven. 
 
 5. What must be done with sin if we would enter heaven? It must 
 
 be forgiven. 
 
 6. The forgiveness of sins opens the door to heaven. We are speak- 
 
 ing of the oflfice of the keys. What is a key used for? a 
 key is used to lock or unlock doors. 
 
 7. Read what the Savior says to the apostle Peter, Matth. 16, 19. 
 
 "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: 
 and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in 
 heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be 
 loosed in heaven." 
 
334 LESSON 97, 
 
 8. What keys are here spoke of? The keys of the kingdom of 
 
 heaven. 
 
 9. The kingdom of heaven is here spoken of as a house. How do we 
 
 get into a house? Through the door. 
 
 10. But what must l)e done with the door before we can enter? It 
 
 must be unlocked and opened. 
 
 11. Who, usually, has possession of the keys to the house? The 
 
 owner of the house. 
 
 12. So C'hrist, as' the owner and head of the kingdom of heaven, is 
 
 the only one who can forgive sins and thus open the door 
 to heaven. But the owner may hand the keys over to some 
 one else, and then, who has charge of the house? The one 
 to whom the keys are given. 
 
 13. The word office here means service. An officer is one who has 
 
 charge, who is appointed or elected to do certain things. 
 What kind of peculiar power is the office of the keys? It is 
 the peculiar church power. 
 
 14. It is not a political power but a church power, a spiritual power. 
 
 From whom does this power come? It comes from Christ. 
 
 15. What does Christ say of Himself Matth. 28, 18? "All power is 
 
 given unto me in heaven and earth." 
 
 16. To whom has Christ given this power? He has given it to His 
 
 church on earth. 
 
 17. The office of the keys is the power to forgive or retain sins. 
 
 Christ's church is not only here on earth but also in heaven. 
 Here it is called what kingdom? The kingdom of grace. 
 
 18. And what is it called in heaven? The kingdom of glory. 
 
 19. Why is this power to forgive or retain sins given only to the 
 
 church on earth? Because in heaven there is no sin. 
 
 20. But where do we need the forgiveness of sins? We need it here 
 
 on earth. 
 
 21. (375) "What do we therefore understand by the office of the 
 
 keys?" "The peculiar church power which Christ has given 
 to His church on earth." 
 
 22. (470) "What is this peculiar power of the church?" "To forgive 
 
 the sins of penitent sinners (Loosing key, absolution), to 
 retain the sins of the impenitent, so long as they do not re- 
 pent (Binding key, or ban)." 
 
 23. How many keys are here spoken of? Two, the loosing and the 
 
 binding keys. 
 
 24. What is the loosing key also called? It is called absolution. 
 
 25. TTiat means forgiveness. What is the binding key also called? 
 
 It is called the ban. 
 
 26. To ban a person means to tell him that his sins are not forgiven 
 
 and to put him out of the church. What is to be done with 
 the sins of penitent sinners? Their sins are to be forgiven. 
 
 27. And what is to be done with the sins of the impenitent sinners? 
 
 They are to be retained. 
 
 28. What is a penitent sinner? One who is sorry for his sins, who 
 
 believes in Christ and is willing to lead a better life, 
 
 29. What is the church to tell such a penitent sinner? She is to tell 
 
 him that his sins are forgiven. 
 
 30. And what is she to tell the impenitent sinner? She is to tell 
 
 him that his sins are not forgiven. 
 
 31. And how long shall such sinners be without forgiveness? So 
 
 long as they do not repent. 
 
LESSON 97. 336 
 
 32. Read Matth. 18, 17-2(i. "If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it 
 
 unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let 
 him be to thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I 
 say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be 
 bound in heaven. And again I say unto you that if two of 
 you agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, 
 it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 
 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, 
 there am I in the midst of them." 
 
 33. What does Christ here say to the whole church about binding 
 
 and loosing? "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be 
 bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth 
 shall be loosed in heaven." 
 
 34. This power He gave not simply to the apostle Peter but to the 
 
 whole company of believers, even though but two or three 
 are gathered together in His name. Tell me from the last 
 sentence of this passage: when but two or three are gath- 
 ered together in Christ's name, who is in the midst of them? 
 Christ Himself is in the midst of them. 
 
 35. And how should that be regarded which the church does in His 
 
 name? As though the Savior had done it himself. 
 
 36. To whom has Christ given the office of the keys, that is, the 
 
 power to forgive and retain sins? He has given it to His 
 church on earth. 
 
 37. (377) "How does the church administer this office of the keys?" 
 
 "By administering the Word and Sacraments." 
 
 38. When the church preaches the Gospel to a penitent sinner, what 
 
 does she say to him concerning his sins? That his sins are 
 forgiven. 
 
 39. And when the church baptizes, what great blessing is conferred? 
 
 The forgiveness of sins. 
 
 40. And when the holy communion is celel)rated, what great blessing 
 
 is bestowed? The forgiveness of sins. 
 
 41. Read Rom. 1, lO. "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: 
 
 for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that 
 believeth." 
 
 42. What is the Gospel which the church preaches here called? It 
 
 is called the power of God unto salvation. 
 
 43. Yes, because it brings the forgiveness of sins and eternal salva- 
 
 tion. Read also Luke 24. 46. 47. "Thus it is written, and thus 
 it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the 
 third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should 
 be preached in His name, among all nations." 
 
 44. Christ has given His Word to the church. What should the 
 
 church do with this Word? It should preach the Word, to all 
 nations. 
 
 45. But he also gave the sacraments to the church. What should 
 
 the church do with the sacraments? She should administer 
 the sacraments. 
 
 46. (378) "Through whom should the church do this publicly?" 
 
 "Through the ministers of the Word, who are called by the 
 church to do this, according to the command of Christ." 
 
 47. Who are the ministei's of the Word? The ministers of the Gos- 
 
 pel, or pastors. 
 
 48. What are the ministei's of the Gospel called to do? They are 
 
 called to preach the Word of God and to administer the Sac- 
 raments. 
 
 49. By whom are they called to <lo this? They are called by the 
 
 church. 
 
336 LESSON 98. 
 
 50. And at whose command does the church call them? At the com- 
 
 mand of Christ. 
 
 51. Repeat Rom. 10, 15. "How shall they preach except they be 
 
 sent?" 
 
 52. Read also Jer. 23, 21. and see what the Lord says of false proph- 
 
 ets. "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have 
 not spoken to them, yet they prophesied." 
 
 53. But true prophets are called and sent of God by the church. Re- 
 
 peat ,1 Cor. 12, 29. "Are all apostles? are all teachers? are 
 all workers of miracles? 
 
 54. Also James 3. 1. "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing 
 
 that ye shall receive the greater condemnation. 
 
 55. Masters here means teachers, or pastors. Not every one should 
 
 take it upon himself to teach publicly: for there is a very 
 great responsibility connected with public preaching. Read 
 also Hebrew 5, 4. "No man taketh this honor to himself, but 
 he that is called of God, as was Aaron." 
 
 56. A minister should be called of God through the church, as we see 
 
 from 1 Cor. 4. ]. "Let a man so account of us as the minis- 
 ters of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of Christ," 
 
 57. Also Acts 20, 28. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to 
 
 all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you 
 overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath pur- 
 chased with his own blood." 
 
 58. The men whom the apostle here addresses were called by the 
 
 church as preachers and pastors, and yet the apostle says 
 that another made them overseers of the flock of God, 
 namely, who? The Holy Ghost. 
 
 LESSON 98. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN ACCORDANCE 
 WITH THESE WORDS? 
 
 (Questions 379-384). 
 
 1. (379) "What are the words of our T^ord .Jesus Christ concerning 
 
 the Office of the Keys?" "Thus writes the holy Evangelist 
 John in the twentieth chapter: "The Lord Jesus breathed 
 on His disciples, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy 
 Ghost." Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto 
 them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." 
 
 2. Who spoke these words? Our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 3. Where do we find them recorded? In the Gospel of St. John, in 
 
 the twentieth chapter. 
 
 4. Turn to this chapter and tell me in which vei'ses do we find 
 
 these words. In verses 22 and 23. 
 
 5. To whom did the Savior address these. words? To His disciples. 
 
 6. What did He give them under the visible sign of breathing on 
 
 them? He gave them the Holy Ghost. 
 
 7. Having given them the Holy Ghost, what did He say to them? 
 
 Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; 
 and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. 
 
 8. (380) "What do you believe in accordance with these words?" 
 
 "I believe that when the called ministers of Christ by His 
 divine command deal with us, particularly when they ex- 
 clude the manifest and impenitent sinners from the Chris- 
 tian congregation, and, again, absolve those who repent of 
 their sins and are willing to amend, that this is as valid and 
 certain, also in heaven, as if Christ, our dear Lord, had 
 dealt with us Himself." 
 
LESSON 98. 337 
 
 9. Who deals with us in this office of the keys? The called minis- 
 ters of Christ. 
 
 10. And how do they deal with us? By His divine command. 
 
 11. By whom are the ministers of Christ called thus to deal with 
 
 us? They are called by Christ. 
 
 12. Through whom does Christ call the ministers? He calls them 
 
 through the church. 
 
 13. What are the ministers of Christ to do in accordance with the 
 
 words of Christ? They are to retain and forgive sins. 
 
 14. (08I) "Can ministers then forgive and retain sins?" "Yes, God 
 
 does it through them." 
 
 15. Against whom is all sin an offense? All sin is an offense against 
 
 God. 
 
 16. Then who alone can forgive sin? God alone can forgive sin. 
 
 17. Read what the scribes said when the Savior forgave the sins 
 
 of the poor man who was sick of the palsy. Mark 2, 7. 
 "Who can forgive sins but God only?" 
 
 18. They were right in this, but they overlooked the fact that Christ 
 
 is God. He alone can accordingly forgive sins and thus 
 
 unlock the door to the kingdom of heaven. But what may 
 
 the owner of the house do with the keys? He may give 
 them to another. 
 
 19. And this, we read in Matt. 16, 19, is what Jesus did. Repeat the 
 
 passage. "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of 
 heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be 
 bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth 
 shall be loosed in heaven." 
 
 20. What He here says to St. Peter He says to all the apostles, 
 
 John 20, 23. Let us hear the passage again. "Whosesoever 
 sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose- 
 soever sins ye retain, they are retained." 
 
 21. Read also what St. Paul says, 2 Cor. 2, 10. "For if I forgave 
 
 anything to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it 
 in the person of Christ." 
 
 22. When the apostle forgave sins, as the representative of what 
 
 person, or in whose name, did he act? He acted in the name 
 of Christ. 
 
 23. When the Savior sent forth His disciples to preach the Gospel, 
 
 He sent them to declare or preach the forgiveness of sins, 
 as we see from Luke 24, 46. 47. "Thus it is written, and 
 thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead 
 the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins 
 should be preached in his name among all nations, be- 
 ginning at Jerusalem." 
 
 24. That ministers of the Gospel are ambassadors for Christ, act- 
 
 ing in His stead, we see from 2 Cor. 5, 18-20. "All things 
 are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus 
 Christ, and hath given to ua the ministry of reconciliation; 
 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the word unto 
 himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and 
 hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now 
 then we are, ambassadors for Christ, as though God did 
 beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye 
 reconciled to God." 
 
 22 
 
338 LESSON 98. 
 
 25. Read also 2 Cor. 3, 6-8. "Who also hath made us able ministers 
 
 of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit; 
 for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the 
 ministration of death written and engraven in stones, was 
 glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly 
 behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; 
 which glory was to be done away; How shall not the minis- 
 tration of the spirit be rather glorious?" 
 
 26. Who is if accordingly that act in Christ's stead when they for- 
 
 give or retain sins? The ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 27. (382) "With what must they accordingly comply in the exer- 
 
 cise of this power?" "With the word and command of God." 
 
 28. When a man does a thing through an agent, what does he ex- 
 
 pect his agent to carry out? He expects him to carry out 
 his instructions, his command. 
 
 29. (383) "When do they comply with it?" "When they exclude the 
 
 manifest and impenitent sinners from the Christian con- 
 gregation, and, again, absolve those who repent of their 
 sins and are willing to amend." 
 
 30. What kind of sinners are to be excluded from the Christian con- 
 
 gregation? The manifest and impenitent sinners. 
 
 31. Manifest sinners are those whose sins are open and public, who 
 
 live in open sin and shame, such as drunkenness, theft, 
 adultery and murder. What are impenitent sinners? Those 
 who are not sorry for their sins, and have no intention of 
 leaving off and doing better. 
 
 32. What should be done with such people? They should be put 
 
 out of the church. 
 
 33. But what should we do with them before we put them out of 
 
 the church? We should admonish them to repent. 
 
 34. Yes, this we see from Matt. 18, 15-17. "Moreover if thy brother 
 
 shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault be- 
 tween him and thee alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast 
 gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take 
 with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or 
 three witnesses every word may be established, and if he 
 shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church. But if 
 he neglect to hear the church let him be unto thee as an 
 heathen man and a publican." 
 
 35. What should we do first with a brother who sins? We should go 
 
 to him and tell him of his fault between him and us alone. 
 
 36. And if he repent, what should we do? We should forgive him. 
 
 37. But if he will not hear us — if he does not repent, what should 
 
 we do next? We should take one or two with us and talk 
 to him. 
 
 38. If he now repents, what should we do? We should forgive him. 
 
 39. But if he still will not repent, what should we then do? We 
 
 should tell it to the Church. 
 
 40. Yes; we should then make the matter public and let the whole 
 
 congregation admonish him. If he hears the church, what 
 should be done? We should forgive him. 
 
 41. But if he refuses even to hear the church, how should such a 
 
 person be regarded? As a heathen man and a publican. 
 
 42. Yes, and a heathen has no place in a Christian congregation; he 
 
 should be put out. And how long should such a person 
 be kept out of the fellowship of the congregation, that is, 
 kept from communion, and all the rights and privileges of 
 the church? So long as he does not repent. 
 
LESSON 99. 339 
 
 43. So we read in 1 Cor. 5, ll-lo. "If any man that is called a 
 
 brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a 
 railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one 
 no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also 
 that are without? do not ye judge that are within? But 
 them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away 
 from among yourselves that wicked person." 
 
 44. But suppose such a person alter a while repents and aslvs the 
 
 forgiveness of the church, what should he done? He should 
 be forgiven and received again. 
 
 45. This we see from 2 Cor. ('>. <S. "Sufficient to such a man is the 
 
 punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that con- 
 trariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, 
 lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed up with 
 overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would 
 confirm your love toward him." 
 
 46. We have seen what is to be done with the impenitent sinners. 
 
 But what is to be done with those who repent of their sins 
 and are willing to amend? They are to be absolved. 
 
 47. What does this mean? Their sins are to be forgiven. 
 
 48. What then are the called ministers of Christ to do by his di- 
 
 vine command? They are to forgive the sins of the peni- 
 tent sinners and to retain the sins of the impenitent. 
 
 49. (384) "What should we firmly believe with respect to this?" 
 
 "That this is as valid and certain, also in heaven, as if Christ, 
 our dear Lord, had dealt with us Himself." 
 
 50. So we read. Matt. 18, 18. "Verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever 
 
 ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what- 
 soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 
 
 THE FIFTH CHIEF PART OF THE CATECHISM, OR 
 LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 LESSON 99. WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR? 
 
 (Questions 385-389). 
 
 1. Into how many chief parts is the Catechism divided? The Cate- 
 
 chism is divided into five chief parts. 
 
 2. Mention these five chief parts. The Holy Ten Commandments, 
 
 the Christian Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism and 
 the Lord's Supper. 
 J. (385) "What is the fifth chief part of the Catechism?" "The 
 Sacrament of the Altar, or the Lord's Supper." 
 
 4. Here we have two names given; which is the first? The Sacra- 
 
 ment of the Altar. 
 
 5. How many sacraments have we in the New Testament? Two: 
 
 Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 
 
 3. (386) "Why do we call the other Sacrament of the New Testa- 
 
 ment the Lord's Supper?" "Because our Lord and Savior 
 Jesus Christ instituted it in the evening, before His suffer- 
 ings and death." 
 
 7. What time of day was it when Jesus instituted this sacrament? 
 
 It was in the .evening. 
 
 8. Which evening was it? The evening before His sufferings and 
 
 death. 
 
340 LESSON 99. 
 
 9. Read from the 26th chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 19th 
 and ending with the 20th verse. "The disciples did as Jesus 
 had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. 
 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve." 
 
 10. It was Easter time, the Jewish Passover. What feast did the 
 
 Savior keep with his disciples? The feast of the passover. 
 
 11. In honor of what event was this feast kept? In honor of the 
 
 deliverance of the children of Israel from the bondage of 
 Egypt. 
 
 12. This was the great festival of the Old Testament. What were 
 
 the two sacraments of the Old Testament? (338) Circum- 
 cision and the passover. 
 
 13. Christ established the New Testament, and what sacrament did 
 
 he institute in place of the passover? The Lord's Supper. 
 
 14. (387) "Why do we also call it the Sacrament of the Altar?" "Be- 
 
 cause, according to an ancient custom of the Christian 
 Church, it Is usually celebrated at an altar." 
 
 15. Where do we have altars? In our churches. 
 
 16. We have three means of grace in the church, the Word of God, 
 
 Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. And so we have 
 three especially sacred places in our churches. What place 
 is especially set apart for the preaching of the Word of 
 God? The pulpit. 
 
 17. What place is especially set apart for Baptism? The baptismal 
 
 font. 
 
 18. And what place is especially set apart for the celebration of 
 
 the Lord's Supper? The altar. 
 
 19. But we do not always celebrate the Lord's Supper in church 
 
 and at the altar. In case of sickness and old age, where 
 do we celebrate it? We celebrate it in our houses. 
 
 20. (388) "What is the Sacrament of the Altar?" "It is the true body 
 
 and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and 
 wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by 
 Christ Himself." 
 
 21. The Sacrament of the Altar is a very sacred tiling. Something 
 
 that is most intimately connected with our I.,ord Jesus Christ. 
 How is it connected witli Him? It is His true body and 
 blood. 
 
 22. Whose bod-y and blood is it? It is the body and blood of our 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ. 
 - 23. Under what outward things are the body and blood of Christ 
 given us in the sacrament? Under the bread and wine. 
 
 24. For what purpose are they given to us? For us to eat and drink. 
 
 25. To what kind of people is this sacrament given? To us Chris- 
 
 tians. 
 
 26. By whom was this sacrament instituted? It was instituted by 
 
 Christ Himself. 
 
 27. (389) "Where is this written?" "The holy Evangelists, Matthew, 
 
 Mark, Luke and St. Paul write thus: "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. Take, 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." 
 
LESSON 99. 341 
 
 28. How many times is the institution of tlie Lord's Supper recorded 
 
 in the New Testament? It is recorded four times. 
 
 29. In what three Gospels have we a record of the institution of 
 
 the Lord's Supper? In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and 
 Luke. 
 
 30. The fourth record we have in the first epistle of St. Paul to the 
 
 Corinthians, chapter 11, verses 23 to 25. Who, according 
 to the words of the institution gave us this sacrament? 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 31. When did He do this? The same night in which He was betrayed. 
 
 32. What did He tal\e as one of the earthly elements in the holy 
 
 Supper? He took bread. 
 
 33. They had just finished the passover meal. And at this meal 
 
 they ate unleavened bread. What did the Savior do with 
 the bread? When He had given thanks He broke it. 
 
 34. He gave thanks, that is, He offered prayer and thus blessed the 
 
 bread. The bread was in large, round cakes, and so He 
 broke it in pieces for distribution. And then what did He 
 do with it? He gave it to His disciples. 
 
 35. And what did He say as He gave them the bread? He said: 
 
 Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. 
 
 36. What did He call that which He gave them? He called it His 
 
 body. 
 
 37. What did He say of His body? He said "which is given for you." 
 
 38. How was His body given for them and for us? It was given into 
 
 death. 
 
 39. For what purpose were they to do this? They were to 'do it in 
 
 remembrance of Him. 
 
 40. What are we to remember as to his person? That he is the 
 
 son of God, and our Savior. 
 
 41. And what are we to remember about his work? That he suffered 
 
 and died for us. 
 
 42. In the same way, what did he take? He took the cup. 
 
 43. At the passover meal they drank grape wine. What did the 
 
 Savior do with this cup or the wine in the cup? He gave 
 thanks and gave it to them. 
 
 44. What did He say as he gave it to them? Take, drink ye all of it. 
 
 45. And what did He call this cup? He called it the New Testament 
 
 of His blood. 
 
 46. The blood of the Old Testament was the blood of the animals 
 
 that were sacrificed. But what is the blood of the New 
 Testament? The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 47. What did the Savior say of His blood? It is shed for us. 
 
 48. How was Christ's blood shed for us? When He was crowned 
 
 with thorns, scourged and crucified. 
 
 49. What was the purpose of the shedding of His blood? It was 
 
 shed for the remission of sins. 
 
 50. What did the Savior finally say? "This do, as oft as ye drink 
 
 it, in remembrance of me." 
 
 51. This holy sacrament is not, like Baptism, to be administered once 
 
 only, but what does the Savior say of its use? We should 
 do this often. 
 
342 LESSON lOO. 
 
 LESSON 100. THE EARTHLY ELEMENTS. 
 
 (Questions 390-394). 
 
 1. (390) "Who has accordingly instituted the Holy Supper? ' "Our 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful, almighty and omnipresent 
 God-Man." 
 
 2. This we gee from the words of institution. How do these words 
 
 begin? "Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which 
 He was betrayed." 
 
 3. Who is Jesus Christ? He is true God, begotten of the Father 
 
 from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, 
 my Lord. 
 
 4. Read in this connection Rom. 9, 5. "Whose are the fathers, and 
 
 of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over 
 all, God blessed for ever, Amen." 
 
 5. As true God, Jesus has what attributes? He is eternal, almighty, 
 
 omnipresent, omniscient, holy, righteous, merciful and 
 truthful. 
 
 6. Which of these attributes are especially mentioned in question 
 
 390? Faithful, almighty and omnipresent. 
 
 7. What does it mean when we say Jesus is faithful? He keeps 
 
 His word. 
 
 8. Yes, He does what He says. When He says a thing, we can 
 
 depend on it. When He says He gives us His body and 
 blood in the holy sacrament, we can depend on it that He 
 will do what He says. What does He say of Himself, Joh. 
 14, 6? "Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the way, the truth, and 
 the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me.'" 
 
 9. He is the truth. But He is also almighty, and what does that 
 
 mean? It means that He can do anything that He wants 
 to do. 
 
 10. He is true God, and what is said of God in Luke 1, 37? "With 
 
 God nothing shall be impossible." 
 
 11. Some people ask how Christ can give us his body to eat and 
 
 his blood to drink in the Holy Supper. What do we answer 
 to this question? Christ is almighty; He can do anything. 
 
 12. Read also Eph. 3, 20. "Now unto him that is able to do exceed- 
 
 ing abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to 
 the power that worketh in us." 
 
 13. What other divine attribute of Christ is mentioned in question 
 
 390? He is omnipresent. 
 
 14. And what does this mean? It means that He is everywhere pres- 
 
 ent at the same time. 
 
 15. The Lord's Supper is celebrated in many places at the same 
 
 time and some people ask: "How can Christ's body be given 
 and received at all these different places?" What do we 
 answer to this? We answer, Christ is omnipresent. He is 
 everywhere at the same time. 
 
 16. Read Eph. 4, 19. "He that descended is the same that ascended 
 
 up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things." 
 
 17. (391) "What, according to His word, do we receive in the Holy 
 
 Supper?" "Something earthly, namely bread and wine; and 
 something heavenly, namely His holy body and blood." 
 
 18. How many kinds of elements, or objects, are we to consider in 
 
 the Holy Supper? Two, the earthly and the heavenly. 
 
 19. What are the earthly elements? Bread and wine. 
 
 20. And what are the heavenly elements? His body and blood. 
 
LESSON lOO. 343 
 
 21. (392) "What kind of bread must be used in the Holy Supper?" 
 
 "Real bread, baked of flour and water, be It otherwise con- 
 stituted as It may." 
 
 22. Of what is bread made? Out of flour and water. 
 
 23. What kind of bread did the Savior use at the first sacrament? 
 
 He used unleavened bread. 
 
 24. How do you know this? It was the time of the Jewish passover. 
 
 And during this season the Jews used only unleavened bread. 
 
 25. We also use unleavened bread in the holy communion, in the 
 
 form of little round wafers. We might use common bread, 
 but the wafers are much more convenient for distribution, 
 and they are real bread; for of what are they baked? Of 
 flour and water. 
 
 26. We might use ordinary bread in the holy communion, but why 
 
 do we prefer to use wafers? Because they are unleavened 
 bread, and because they are more convenient for distribution. 
 
 27. (393) "What kind of wine must be used?" "Real wine: a fruit 
 
 of the grape vine." 
 
 28. The Savior used real wine, that is, the fruit of the vine, as we 
 
 see from Matt. 26, 29. "But I say unto you, I will not drink 
 henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I 
 drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." 
 
 29. It may be white, yellow or red, but it must be grape wine. Read 
 
 also Luke 22, 18. "For I say unto you, i will not drink of 
 the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come." 
 
 30. We must not depart from the order of Christ. It would be wrong 
 
 to use any other liquid, such as raisin water, milk, or the 
 juice of any other fruit, except grapes. For what did Jesus 
 use? He used grape wine. 
 
 31. (394) "What should be done with this bread and wine?" "Both 
 
 should be consecrated, and given to all communicants to 
 eat and to drink." 
 
 32. To consecrate a thing means to bless it, to set it apart for a 
 
 holy purpose. What is to be done with bread and wine 
 before they are given to the communicants, that is, to the 
 people who come to communion? They are to be blessed 
 or consecrated. 
 
 33. This is done by repeating the words of the institution and the 
 
 Lord's Prayer. After they are thus blessed, what is to be 
 done with the bread and wine? They are to be given to the 
 communicants to eat and drink. 
 
 34. The Roman Catholics, when they celebrate the holy communion, 
 
 give the people only half of the sacrament. The people 
 receive only the bread, and the priest alone receives both. 
 From Matthew 26, 27 we see this is contrary to the institu- 
 tion of Christ. "He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave 
 it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it." 
 
 35. Read also Mark 14, 23. "He took the cup, and when He had 
 
 given thanks, He gave it to them and they all drank of it." 
 
 36. Also 1 Cor. 11, 23-26. "I have received of the Lord that which 
 
 also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night 
 in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had 
 given thanks he brake it and said, take, eat, this is my body, 
 which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. 
 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had 
 supped, saying, This cup is the new testament of my blood; 
 this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 
 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do 
 show the Lord's death till he come." 
 
344 LESSON lOI. 
 
 o7. As though in protest against the abuse of the Roman Catholic 
 church, what did the Savior say when he gave the disciples 
 the cup? Matthew 26, 27. "He took the cup and gave 
 thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it." 
 
 38. When the Roman Catholics celebrate what they call the mass, 
 
 they do not give anything to the people. The priest cele- 
 brates the sacrament all alone and the people merely look 
 on. They contend this is an offering for sin. But there is 
 only one offering for sin, and what is that? The death of 
 our Savior, Jesus Christ. 
 
 39. Repeat Heb. 10, 18. "Now where remission of these is, there 
 
 is no more offering of sin." 
 
 40. Christ offered his life for the sins of the world, and there is no 
 
 need of a repetition of this offering, as we see from Heb. 
 10, 11, 12 and 14. "Every priest standeth daily ministering 
 and offering oftentimes the same sacrifice which can never 
 take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one 
 sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of 
 God. For by one offering He hath perfected forever them 
 that are sanctified." 
 
 41. The Romanists claim that their mass is an unbloody sacrifice 
 
 for sin. But what does the apostle say, Heb. 9, 22. "With- 
 out shedding of blood is no remission." 
 
 42. Read also Heb. 9. 2.5-28. "Nor yet that he should offer himself 
 
 often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every 
 year with blood of others; for then must he often have 
 suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once 
 in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin 
 by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto 
 men once to die, but after this the judgment. So Christ was 
 once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that 
 look for him shall he appear the second time without sin 
 unto salvation." 
 
 43. The Romish doctrine of the mass is a perfect abomination, for it 
 
 not only perverts the holy sacrament, but it belittles the 
 perfect sacrifice of Christ offering up Himself once for all 
 for the sins of the world. The Romanists worship the conse- 
 crated ..wafer when it is placed on the altar, and the con- 
 secrated wine when the priest holds it up to the view of 
 the congregation. The Savior did not say: Take and wor- 
 ship, but what did He say? Take and eat, and take and 
 drink. 
 
 LESSON 101. THE HEAVENLY ELEMENTS. 
 
 (Questions 395-401). 
 
 What are the earthly and visible objects, or elements, in the 
 Lord's Supper? Bread and wine. 
 
 And what are the heavenly elements? The body and blood of 
 •Christ. 
 
 (395) "What body and blood of Christ do we receive in the 
 Holy Supper." "His true body, which on the cross was given 
 into death for us; and His true blood, which He shed for 
 the forgiveness of our sins." 
 
LESSON lOI. 
 
 345 
 
 4 Read what the Savior Himself says. Luke 22, 19. 20. "He took 
 bread and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, 
 saying. This is my body which is given for you: this do 
 in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after sup- 
 per, saying: This cup is the new testament in my blood, 
 which is shed for you." 
 
 5. Which body of Christ was given on the cross for us into death? 
 
 His real, true body. 
 
 6. And which blood of Christ did he shed for the forgiveness of 
 
 our sins? His real, true blood. 
 
 7 (396) "Whence do we know this?" "Christ Himself, in the words 
 
 of institution, explicitly tells us that with the bread He 
 gives us His body to eat, and with the wine. His blood to 
 drink." 
 
 8 If we would know the truth about the Holy Supper, we must 
 
 pay due heed to the words which Christ spoke when he 
 instituted it. When he gave the disciples the bread, what 
 did he say? He said: Take, eat, this is my body. 
 9. And when he gave them the cup, what did he say? He said: 
 Drink ye all of it; this cup is the new testament in my 
 blood. 
 
 10. Or as St. Matthew records the words, Matthew 26, 27. 28. He 
 
 took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying. 
 Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, 
 which is shed for many for the remission of sins." 
 
 11. So what did he give them in, with and under the bread? He 
 
 gave them his body to eat. 
 
 12. And what did he give them in, with and under the cup or 
 
 wine? He gave them his blood to drink. 
 
 13. So what is united with the bread in the holy communion? His 
 
 body. 
 
 14. And what is united with the wine? His blood. 
 
 15. (397) "How are the earthly and the heavenly elements in the 
 
 Holy Supper united?" "They are sacramentally united." 
 
 16. That means they are united during the celebration. Before the 
 
 celebration of the holy sacrament, the bread is mere bread 
 and the wine is mere wine. And so after the celebration, 
 what is left of the earthly elements, are mere bread and 
 wine. But when is the Lord's body and blood in, with and 
 under the bread and wine? During the celebration of the 
 holy sacrament. 
 
 17. (398) "What follows from this sacramental union?" "That each 
 
 communicant in, with and under the bread and wine, truly 
 receives the body and blood of Christ." 
 
 18. All who go to communion receive the same objects, although 
 
 not all receive the same blessings. It is the same with the 
 preaching of the Word of God. If a true believer and a 
 rank unbeliever are in church when the Word of God is 
 preached, what do they both hear? They both hear the 
 same Word of God. 
 
 19. Yes, but they do not both receive the same blessing. So with 
 
 the holy communion. Our faith does not make the sacra- 
 ment, but what does faith enable us to do? Faith enables 
 us to enjoy the blessings of the sacrament. 
 
 20. (399) "In what manner do we eat and drink the body and blood 
 
 of Christ in. with and imder the liread and wine?" "Not in 
 a figurative and natural, but in a real and heavenly manner." 
 
346 Lesson loi. 
 
 21. Many denominations, such as the Methodists, Pi-esbyterians, Bap- 
 
 tists and, in fact, all the Reformed churches, teach that we 
 receive the Lord's body and blood, not in a real, but in a 
 figurative manner. They say the bread in the Holy Sup- 
 per merely represents, or is a symbol, or picture, of Christ's 
 body, and the wine is a mere representation of Christ's 
 blood. But if this were the case, Christ would surely have 
 said: "this represents my body; this is a symbol of my 
 blood." But what did he say? He said: "This is my body." 
 
 22. No, we do not receive Christ's body and blood in a figurative, 
 
 but in what manner? In a real manner. 
 
 23. On this account, what does our Catechism say in answer to the 
 
 question: What is the sacrament of the altar? (388). 
 "It Is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and 
 to drink, Instituted by Christ Himself." 
 
 24. "True" here means real. But our question 399 wards off another 
 
 wrong notion concerning the holy supper. It is not only 
 wrong to say that we receive Christ's body and blood in a 
 figurative manner, but what other notion is equally wrong? 
 That we receive the Lord's body and blood In a natural 
 manner. 
 
 25. Christ's body and blood are not natural food for the nourishing 
 
 of our bodies, such as bread and wine are, and so we can 
 not receive, eat or drink them as we would other food. 
 We receive them, not in a natural, but in what kind of 
 manner? A heavenly manner. 
 
 26. That is, in a manner that is above nature, mysterious and in- 
 
 comprehensible. Can we understand just how we receive 
 the Lord's body and blood in the holy communion? No, 
 we cannot. 
 
 27. This is one of the mysteries of our Christian religion. Just 
 
 as we cannot understand how there can be one God, and 
 yet three persons in the Trinity, and how Christ is both 
 God and man in one person, so we cannot understand just 
 how Christ gives us his body to eat and his blood to drink 
 in the holy communion. Is it necessary for us to under- 
 stand this mystery? No, it is not. 
 
 28. But what is necessary when Christ so plainly says: this is my 
 
 body, this is my blood? That we believe it. 
 
 29. So what do we believe concerning the holy sacrament? That it 
 
 is the true body and blood of the Lord. 
 
 30. (400) "How do we prove this?" Give the first proof. "1. The 
 
 words of institution are clear and plain, and must therefore 
 be understood in their proper, or literal, sense." 
 
 31. These words are as plain as words can be, and we must take 
 
 the Lord at his word. He certainly was able to speak so 
 that he could be understood, and he certainly was willing 
 to do so. How, then, should we understand these words? 
 We should understand them just as they read. 
 
 32. Now give the second proof. "2. What Christ promises, that He 
 
 also can and will give." 
 
 33. Why do we believe he is able to give what he promises? Be- 
 
 cause he is almighty. 
 
 34. And why do we believe he is willing to do so? Because he is 
 
 truthful. 
 
 35. Read Rom. 3, 3. "For what If some did not believe? shall their 
 
 unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" 
 
LESSON lOI. 347 
 
 36. Repeat also Ezek. 12, 25. "The word that I shall speak shall 
 come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your 
 days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will per- 
 form it, saith the Lord God." 
 
 .37. Give the third proof. "3. Paul calls the bread the communion of 
 the body, and the cup the communion of the blood of Christ; 
 hence a union between both must exist." 
 
 38. Repeat 1 Cor. 10, 16. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it 
 
 not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which 
 we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ." 
 
 39. Give the fourth proof. "4. The holy supper as a sacrament of the 
 
 New Testament cannot merely typify something, but must 
 actually give something." 
 
 40. The Old Testament was a time of signs and symbols. So the 
 
 paschal lamb was a type and figure of Christ. So also was 
 the brazen serpent, and so were the various sacrifices. 
 But we are no longer in the Old Testament, in the time of 
 types and figures and symbols, but in the New Testament, 
 the time of fulfillment, as Christ plainly says, Mark 14, 24. 
 "He said unto them, this is my blood of the New Testament 
 which is shed for many." 
 
 41. Also Luke 22, 20. "This cup is the New Testament in my blood 
 
 which is shed for you." 
 
 42. Read also Col. 2, 17. 'Which are a shadow of things to come, 
 
 but the body is in Christ." 
 
 43. All the sacrifices and ceremonies of the Old Testament were 
 
 like the shadow that goes before the body. But when 
 Christ came there was no longer need of shadows to repre- 
 sent Him. Read also Heb. 10, 1. "The law having a shadow 
 of good things to come, and not the very image of the 
 things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered 
 year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." 
 
 44. Now give the fifth proof. "5. Unbelieving communicants become 
 
 guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, because they do 
 not discern these from other food; hence all communicants 
 must actually receive Christ's body and blood." 
 
 45. Repeat 1 Cor. 11, 27-29. "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this 
 
 bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be 
 guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man 
 examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink 
 of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, 
 eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning 
 the Lord's body." 
 
 46. What does the apostle here say the unworthy communicant is 
 
 guilty of? He is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 
 
 47. That is, he sins not against mere bread and wine, but against 
 
 what does he sin? He sins against the body and blood of 
 the Lord. 
 
 48. But how could he sin against the body and blood of the Lord 
 
 if they were not present? The apostle even says: "He that 
 eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damna- 
 tion to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." That is 
 when a man receives the holy communion without making a 
 distinction between it and ordinary food, when he eats the 
 bread as though it were mere bread and drinks the wine 
 as if it were mere wine, what is the result of such eating and 
 drinking? Such a man eats and drinks damnation to himself. 
 
348 LESSON 1 02. 
 
 49. (401) "Must we not then with the Papists accept tliat through 
 
 the consecration the bread and wine are changed into the 
 body and blood of Christ?" "By no means; for Christ says 
 nothing of the kind: and Paul, even after the consecration, 
 speaks of bread and wine." 
 
 50. By Papists we here mean the Roman Catholics. They teach that 
 
 by the blessing of the priest the bread is changed into tht 
 body and the wine is changed into the blood of Christ. Why 
 do we hold this to be false? Because Christ does not say: 
 this is changed into my body and blood. 
 
 51. If he meant this he would have said so. And what does St. 
 
 Paul speak of after the bread and wine are blessed? He 
 calls it bread and wine. 
 
 52. Let us hear his Avords, 1 Cor. 10, 16. 17. "The cup of blessing 
 
 which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of 
 Christ? The bread which we bless, is it not the communion 
 of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, 
 and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." 
 
 53. Also 1 Cor. 11. 2::!. 26-28. "I have received of the Lord that 
 
 which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the 
 same night in which he was betrayed took bread. . . For 
 as often as ye eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, ye 
 do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whoso- 
 ever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord 
 unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the 
 Lord." 
 
 LESSON 102. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF SUCH EATING 
 AND DRINKING? 
 
 (Questions 402-406). 
 
 The first important question concerning the Lord's Supper is: 
 What is the sacrament of the Altar? What answer does the 
 Catechism give to this question? (:]88). "It is the true body 
 and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and 
 wine for us Christians to eat and drink, instituted by Christ 
 himself." 
 
 The second important question is the one with which our lesson 
 today begins. Repeat the question. "What is the benefit 
 of such eating and drinking?" 
 
 The answer to the first question tells us what the I^ord's Supper 
 is. and what does the answer to the second question tell us? 
 It tells us the blessings of the Holy Supper. 
 
 (402) 'What is the benefit of such eating and drinking?" "That 
 is shown us by these words: "Given and shed for you for 
 the remission of sins:" namely, that in the sacrament for- 
 giveness of sins, life and salvation are given us through 
 these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins there 
 is also life and salvation." 
 
 By what words are the blessings of the sacrament shown us? 
 By the words: "Given and shed for you for the remission 
 of sins." 
 
 Where do these words occur? Christ himself uses them in the 
 words of the institution. 
 
 When Christ gave the disciples the bread what did he say? 
 He said: "Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you." 
 
LESSON 1 02. 349 
 
 8. How was Christ's body given for us? It was given for us into 
 
 death. 
 
 9. Why did he die for us? That he might make atonement for our 
 
 sins. 
 
 10. Yes, he gave His body, that is. Himself, as a sacrifice for our 
 
 sins. What did he say when he gave the disciples the cup? 
 He said: "Drink ye all of it; this cup is the new testament 
 in my blood, which is shed for the remission of sins." 
 
 11. How did Christ shed his Ijlood? He shed his blood when he was 
 
 crowned with thorns, scourged and nailed to the cross, and 
 when his side was pierced. 
 
 12. For whom did he shed his blood and thus offer himself as a 
 
 sacrifice? He shed his blood for us. 
 
 13. What object had he in shedding his blood? He shed His blood 
 
 for us for the remission of sins. 
 
 14. In what words does .Jesus say this? In the words: "Given and 
 
 shed for you for the remission of sins." 
 
 15. Then, according to the Catechism, what is given us through these 
 
 words? Forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. 
 
 16. But these words only speak of the forgiveness of sins. How 
 
 does the Catechism come to mention also life and salvation? 
 Where there is forgiveness of sins there is also life and 
 salvation. 
 
 17. Yes, these things are intimately connected with each other. 
 
 Where the one is there the others are also. For when our 
 sins are forgiven, then we are God's dear children, we 
 arise from spiritual death to life. We begin to live as 
 God's children. And what kind of life do God's children 
 begin to live? They begin to live a holy life. 
 
 18. And for such holy living the Lord's Supper gives both willing- 
 
 ness and power. Who must give us both willingness and 
 power for a holy life? God himself. 
 
 19. So we read in Phil. 2, 1.'^. "For it is God which worketh in you 
 
 both to will and to do of his good pleasure." 
 
 20. What is the only thing that can keep us out of heaven? The 
 
 only thing that can keep us out of heaven is sin. 
 
 21. When sin is forgiven, as it is in the Holy Communion, what is 
 
 the blessed result? The result is eternal salvation. 
 
 22. (403) "How do these words: 'For you' show this benefit?" 
 
 "They teach me that Christ by his sufferings and death won 
 forgiveness of sins also for me as certainly as I also in the 
 Holy Supper receive His body and His blood." 
 
 23. Christ says: "This do in remembrance of me." Of whom does 
 
 the Lord's Supper most forcibly remind us? It reminds us 
 of the Savior. 
 
 24. Of what particular act of Christ does it remind us? That he 
 
 suffered and died for us. 
 
 25. For what purpose did he suffer and die? For the remission of 
 
 sins. 
 
 26. What did Christ win or secure by his sufferings and death? He 
 
 won the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 27. For whom did Christ win forgiveness of sins? For all men. 
 
 28. But it is very important that you include yourself when you say 
 
 Christ secured forgiveness of sins for all men. Now when 
 you receive the very body which was given for you into 
 death and the very Ijlood whicli was shed for you. of what 
 may you be sure? I may be sure that my sins are forgiven, 
 because Christ died for me also. 
 
350 LESSON 1 02. 
 
 29. Here is the very purchase money that was paid for the remission 
 
 of my sins. Of what may each communicant then personally 
 be assured? That his sins are forgiven because Christ also 
 died for him. 
 
 30. (404) "What does Christ therefore through these words give 
 
 us in the Holy Supper with His body and- blood?" "Forgive- 
 ness of sins, life and salvation. 'For where there is forgive- 
 ness of sins there is also life and salvation.'" 
 
 31. What does' Christ speak of in the words of the institution, es- 
 
 pecially in connection with the shedding of His blood? That 
 it was shed for the remission of sin. 
 
 32. This is the precious treasure which we poor sinners so much 
 
 stand in need of continually. Can you tell me why? Because 
 we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment. 
 
 33. But what do we still believe in reference to our sins? We be- 
 
 lieve that God will forgive them. 
 
 34. Upon what do we base this faith? Upon the fact that Christ 
 
 suffered and died for us. 
 
 35. And now as most precious pledges of this fact Christ gives us 
 
 in the Holy Supper His body to eat and his blood to drink. 
 And if our sins are forgiven, in what relation do we stand 
 to God? We are His dear children. 
 
 36. And how will we show this? By living according to his com- 
 
 mandments. 
 
 37. Read the passage, John 15, 4. 5. "Abide in me, and I in you. 
 
 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in 
 the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am 
 the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me; and 
 I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without 
 me ye can do nothing." 
 
 38. Christ, it is true, has withdrawn his visible presence from us: 
 
 but he i-s still with us, and how does the Lord's Supper 
 most forcibly remind us of his presence? He gives us in 
 the Holy Supper his body to eat and his blood to drink. 
 
 39. Yes, the Savior is continually with His people, and this is a 
 
 most blessed comfort in all their trials. Read what he 
 says. Matt. 28, 20. "Lo, I am with you alway even unto 
 the end of the world." 
 
 40. Yes, we have joy and peace in his continued presence with us. 
 
 We take pleasure in doing his will and what do we hope 
 for in the end? We hope for eternal life. 
 
 41. In giving the benefits of the Sacrament the Catechism mentions 
 
 forgiveness of sins, life and salvation, and why are these 
 things mentioned together? Where there is forgiveness of 
 sins there is also life and salvation. 
 
 42. (405) "Why do we believe this so firmly?" "Because Christ him- 
 
 self says: 'Given and shed for you for the remission of sin.' " 
 
 43. This is Christ's own word and, therefore, perfectly reliable. His 
 
 word is absolute truth. When did he utter these words? 
 Shortly before his death. 
 
 44. They are, so to speak. His parting words. He speaks of His 
 
 blood as the blood of the new testament. And how should 
 we regard the words of a testament? As sacred and holy. 
 
 45. Yes, and this testament is sealed with the blood of the Son of 
 
 God. What precious treasure does the Savior leave us in 
 his testament? He leaves us the forgiveness of sins. 
 AC). (406) "What follows when we have forgiveness of sins?" "Life 
 and salvation." 
 
LESSON 103. 351 
 
 i1. Repeat Isa. 00. 24. "The inhabitant, shall not say, I am sick: 
 the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their in- 
 iquity." 
 
 48. When our sins are forgiven we are delivered from spiritual sick- 
 
 ness. Our spiritual life is assured and strengthened. Re- 
 peat also Rom. 4, 7. 8. "Blessed are those whose iniquities 
 are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to 
 whom the Lord imputeth not sin." 
 
 49. St. Paul takes this from the 32nd Psalm, verses one and two. 
 
 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin 
 is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord im- 
 puteth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." 
 
 50. Upon what do our happiness in this world and our salvation in 
 
 the world to come depend? It all depends on the forgive- 
 ness of sins. 
 
 51. And where are we most positively, assured of this forgiveness? 
 
 In the Lord's Supper. 
 
 LESSON 103. HOW CAN BODILY EATING AND DRINKING DO 
 SUCH GREAT THINGS? 
 
 (Questions 407-411). 
 
 1. What are the earthly elements in the Lord's Supper? They 
 
 are bread and wine. 
 
 2. What are the heavenly elements? They are the body and blood 
 
 of Christ. 
 
 3. In what words are the benefits of such eating and drinking 
 
 pointed out? In the words: "Given and shed for you for 
 the remission of sins." 
 
 4. And what are these benefits? They are the forgiveness of sins, 
 
 life and salvation. 
 
 5. (407) "Why do you go to the Holy Supper?" "That I may refresh 
 
 my hungry and thirsty soul through the enjoyment of the 
 blessings of Christ, remember his death, and strengthen my 
 faith, as also confess Him before men." 
 
 6. What do you say of the condition of your soul in these words? 
 
 I say it is hungry and thirsty. 
 
 7. Hunger and thirst are powerful desires of our bodily nature. 
 
 What do our bodies hunger for? They hunger for food. 
 
 8. And what do they thirst for? They thirst for drink. 
 
 9. And so for what has the soul of a penitent sinner an earnest 
 
 desire, according to question 407? It has an earnest desire 
 for the enjoyment of the blessings of Christ. 
 
 10. And what are the blessings which Christ secured for us? The 
 
 forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. 
 
 11. How did Christ secure these blessings for us? Through His 
 
 sufferings and death. 
 
 12. And where are these blessings offered to us? They are offered 
 
 to us in the Holy Supper. 
 
 13. And how are they accepted by us? They are accepted by us 
 
 through faith. 
 
 14. Here .Jesus invites us to eat his body and drink his blood. Of 
 
 what are these heavenly gifts to be precious pledges? They 
 are to be pledges of the forgiveness of sins, life and sal- 
 vation. 
 
362 LESSON 103. 
 
 15. Read Matt. 11, 28, and see how the blessed Savior invites the 
 
 poor troubled souls to come to Him for comfort. "Come 
 unto me all ye that labor and are heavily laden, and I will 
 give you rest." 
 
 16. We eat the Lord's body and drink His blood really and truly, 
 
 but we are to feed upon Him not only with our mouths, but 
 with this bodily eating and drinking we are also to feed on 
 Him by faith. This is the spiritual eating of His body, and 
 drink,ing of His blood which is spoken of in John 6. 55. 
 "My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." 
 
 17. What are we to remember or think of when we go to the holy 
 
 supper? We are to remember His death. 
 
 18. That is, that He died for our sins. And what effect is this to 
 
 have on our faith? It is to strengthen our faith. 
 
 19. Just as food and drink strengthen the body, so this heavenly 
 
 food is to strengthen our spiritual life, that is, our faith. 
 Repeat 1 Cor. 11, 26. "For as often as ye eat this bread, and 
 drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." 
 
 20. Because it reminds us of the Lord's death, what is the sacrament 
 
 often called? It is called the sacrament of his death. 
 
 21. Read Ps. Ill, 4. "He hath made his wonderful works to be re- 
 
 membered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion." 
 
 22. Tlie most wonderful work of God is the work of redemption, and 
 
 where does He powerfully remind us of this work? In the 
 holy communion. 
 2.3. And what is mentioned in question 407 as the last object why 
 you go to the Lord's Supper? That I may confess Him be- 
 fore men. 
 
 24. The necessity and importance of such confession is pointed out 
 
 to us by the Savior Himself in Matt. 10, .32-33. "Whosoever 
 therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess 
 also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever 
 shall deny me before men, him shall I also deny before my 
 Father which is in heaven." 
 
 25. The very fact that we go to communion is a public confession. 
 
 What do all those profess to be who go to the Lord's table? 
 They profess to be Christians. 
 
 26. What faith do they profess? They profess the Christian faith. 
 
 27. When I go to communion with a congregation 1 thereby confess 
 
 I hold the same faith that they do. I cannot therefore go to 
 communion with people who do not believe at all or do not 
 believe as I do. If I went to communion with those who 
 hold a false faith, what impression would I make? That I 
 believed as they do. 
 
 28. Read 2 Cor. 6, 14-18. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with 
 
 unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with 
 unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with dark- 
 ness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what 
 part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what 
 agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are 
 the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell 
 in them, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out 
 from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and 
 and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 
 And will be a Father unto you. and ye shall be my sons and 
 daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 
 
 29. Now let us hear again what are the benefits of the Lord's Sup- 
 
 per? Forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. 
 
LESSON 103. 353 
 
 30. (408) "How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?" 
 
 "It is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does them, but 
 the words here written, "Given and shed for you for the 
 remission of sins," which words, beside the bodily eating 
 and drinking, are the chief thing in the Sacrament; and he 
 that believes these words, has what they say and express 
 even forgiveness of sins." 
 
 31. What do we eat and drink in the Lord's Supper? We eat and 
 
 drink bread and wine. 
 
 32. And what do we eat and drink in and with the bread and wine? 
 
 We eat and drink the body and blood of the Lord. 
 
 33. Who eats and drinks these things in the Lord's Supper? All who 
 
 go to communion. 
 
 34. What are the great things spoken of when the question is 
 
 asked: how can bodily eating and drinking do such great 
 things? The forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. 
 
 35. What does the Catechism say of bodily eating and drinking in 
 
 reference to these great things? It is not the eating and 
 drinking, indeed, that does them. 
 
 36. Mere bodily eating and drinking cannot secure the forgiveness 
 
 of sins, life and salvation. It is not the eating and drink- 
 ing which gives the holy communion its wonderful power; 
 but what is it? It is the words here written: "Given and 
 shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." 
 
 37. So we saw also with reference to Holy Baptism. Give the an- 
 
 swer to the question: How can water do such great things? 
 (358). "It is not the water indeed that does them, etc." 
 
 38. What is it, then, that gives Baptism its great power? It is the 
 
 Word of God that is in and with the water. 
 
 39. So also in the Holy Communion; what is it that makes the Lord's 
 
 Supper such a blessed thing? The words here written: 
 "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins." 
 
 40. And on that account, what is here said of these words? They 
 
 are beside the bodily eating and drinking the chief thing 
 in the sacrament. 
 
 41. What do these words say and express? They say and express 
 
 the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 42. And who has the forgiveness of sins in the Holy Supper? He 
 
 that believes these words. 
 
 43. What is necessary, then, on our part, in order that we may 
 
 really enjoy the blessings of the sacrament? Faith is 
 necessary. 
 
 44. (409) "What gives the Holy Supper this wonderful power?" 
 
 "Eating and drinking, indeed, does not do it, but the words 
 here written. Given and shed for you for the remission of 
 sins." 
 
 45. (410) "How are these words to be considered?" "Beside the 
 
 bodily eating and drinking they are the chief thing in the 
 Sacrament." 
 
 46. (411) "What followed from it?" "He that believes these words 
 
 has what they say and express, even forgiveness of sins." 
 
354 LESSON 104. 
 
 LESSON 104. WHO RECEIVES THE SACRAMENT WORTHILY? 
 
 (Questions 412-420). 
 
 1. We have seen what the Sacrament of the Altar is, what its 
 
 benefits are, and what gives it this wonderful power. There 
 still remains one very important question with reference to 
 the Lord's Supper, and what has that reference to? It has 
 reference to the worthy reception of the Holy Supper. 
 
 2. This is a very important question; for, as we have already seen, 
 
 the blessings of the Sacrament cannot be secured by mere 
 bodily eating and drinking. It depends altogether upon 
 how we eat and drink. We are to be guests at the Lord's 
 table. As what should we be eager to appear at His table? 
 We should be anxious to appear as worthy guests. 
 
 3. (412) "Who then receives such Sacrament worthily?" "Fasting 
 
 and bodily preparation is indeed a fine outward training: 
 but he is truly worthy and well prepared, who has faith in 
 these words, "Given and shed for you for the remission of 
 sins." But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, 
 is unworthy and unprepared. For the words, "For you" 
 requires truly believing hearts." 
 
 4. We are here told of an outward training, or preparation. In 
 
 what does this consist? It consists in fasting and bodily 
 preparation. 
 
 5. (413) "What, then, is not sufficient unto a worthy reception of 
 
 the Holy Supper?" "Fasting and bodily preparation; or, to 
 keep one's self sober and temperate beforehand and then 
 in a becoming manner to appear at the altar." 
 
 6. What, according to this answer, is meant by fasting? To keep 
 
 oneself sober and temperate beforehand. 
 
 7. To fast means to keep from eating. Some people keep from 
 
 eating anything on the day of communion until after they 
 have been to the Lord's Supper. In the Roman Catholic 
 church this is made a law. But we do not make it a law. 
 We do not say people must fast before going to communion, 
 because the Lord nowhere requires this. What does the 
 Catechism, in question 412, say of fasting? It is a fine out- 
 ward training. 
 
 8. Yes, but not a necessity. People may fast if they feel that this 
 
 adds to their devotion, but we do not insist on fasting, as 
 though this were necessary. What else does question 413 
 say as to how we should appear at the altar? We should 
 appear in a becoming manner. 
 
 9. If you were invited to be my guest for dinner, or supper, would 
 
 you appear just as you come from the field or the work- 
 shop in your everyday clothes? No, I would wash and dress 
 first. 
 
 10. Much more should we be careful even outwardly to appear in a 
 
 becoming manner at the Lord's table. How should we ap- 
 pear outwardly? Clean and tidy. 
 
 11. But, children, this outward preparation is not the main thing. 
 
 Most of you will appear at the Lord's table in new clothes. 
 Be careful not to look upon your outward appearance as 
 the main thing. Tell me from question 413 (not from the 
 answer) why this is not the main thing? Because it is not 
 sufficient for the worthy reception of the Holy Supper. 
 
LESSON 104. 355 
 
 12. (414) "Why does this not suffice?" "Because it is merely ' a fine 
 
 outward training,' notwitiistanding which a person may still 
 not be a Christian.' " 
 
 13. What may be a person's spiritual condition in spite of such out- 
 
 ward training? He may not be a Christian. 
 
 14. Yes, children, you know that fasting and new clothes do not 
 
 make a Christian. The true preparation for a worthy re- 
 ception of the holy supper is not outward, but what is it? 
 It is inward. 
 
 15. Yes, it is the preparation of the heart. For whilst men see that 
 
 only which is before the eyes, what does God look upon? 
 He looks upon the heart. 
 
 16. (415) "Who then is worthy?" "He is truly worthy and well pre- 
 
 pared who has faith in these words: 'Given and shed for 
 you for the remission of sins.' " 
 
 17. What then is required for a worthy reception of the Holy Com- 
 
 munion? Faith is required. 
 
 18. Read Heb. 11, 6, the first half. "But without faith it is impos- 
 
 sible to please Him." 
 
 19. What must we have faith in? We must have faith in these 
 
 words: "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins." 
 
 20. What was given for us? Christ's body was given for us. 
 
 21. How was his body given for us? It was given for us into death. 
 
 22. And what was shed for us? Christ's blood was shed for us. 
 
 23. For what purpose was his body given and his blood shed? For 
 
 the remission of sins. 
 
 24. When we hear these words in the holy sTipper, as they are 
 
 spoken by the pastor when he distributes the holy com- 
 munion, how should we regard them? We should regard 
 them as true; we should believe them. 
 
 25. And how does the Lord regard all those who believe these words? 
 
 He regards them as worthy guests at his table. 
 
 26. (416) "And who is unworthy?" "Whoever does not believe these 
 
 words, or doubts." 
 
 27. (417) "Why so?" "Because these words, 'For you,' require truly 
 
 believing hearts." 
 
 28. When the Lord says: "For you," He is speaking to each in- 
 
 dividual. And how should each regard them? Each indi- 
 vidual should regard them as spoken to him or her. 
 
 29. What kind of hearts are required to so regard them? Truly 
 
 believing hearts. 
 
 30. If a man does not believe that Christ died for him, and that he 
 
 now belongs to Christ, and should live to His glory and 
 according to His commandments, what would you say of 
 such a guest at the Lord's table. He is unworthy. 
 
 31. And what does the apostle say of the unworthy communicant? 
 
 1 Cor. 11, 27 and 29. "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this 
 bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be 
 guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. For he that eateth 
 and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to 
 himself, not discerning the Lord's body." 
 
 32. (418) "Do those of weak faith and who strive against doubt, 
 
 also belong to the unworthy?" "By no means; for Christ 
 has instituted His Holy Supper for the. very purpose of 
 strengthening our weak faith." 
 
356 LESSON 104. 
 
 33. When a man is troubled with doubts this is no sign that he is 
 
 no Christian. A man may be a true human being, and 
 still be troubled with disease and pain. So when a person 
 feels his weakness of faith, and strives to overcome his 
 doubts, he is the very one for whom the Holy Supper was 
 intended. For, for what purpose did Christ institute His 
 Holy Supper? For the purpose of strengthening our weak 
 faith. 
 
 34. Repeat Isa. 42, 3. "A bruised reed shall He not break, and the 
 
 smoking flax shall He not quench." 
 
 35. Read also Ps. 22, 26. "The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they 
 
 shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live 
 forever." 
 
 36. Also Matt. 11, 28. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are 
 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 
 
 37. Also Job. 6, 37. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to 
 
 me; and him that cometh to Vne I will in no wise cast put." 
 
 38. Also Rom. 8, 32-34. "He that spared not his own Son, but de- 
 
 livered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also 
 freely give us all things." Who shall lay anything to the 
 charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he 
 that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is 
 risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also 
 maketh intercession for us." 
 
 39. (419) "To whom should the Holy Supper be administered?" "To 
 
 such Christians only, who can examine themselves, as to 
 their sins, and as to their faith in Christ." 
 
 40. What kind of people should we admit to holy communion? Chris- 
 
 tian people. 
 
 41. But what is required of all who would go to communion? That 
 
 they examine themselves as to their sins and as to their 
 faith in Christ. 
 
 42. Repeat 1 Cor. 11, 28. "Let a man examine himself, and so let 
 
 him eat of that bread and drink of that cup." 
 
 43. Also 2 Cor. 13. 5. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the 
 
 faith; prove your ownselves. Know ye not your ownselves, 
 how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates." 
 
 44. What do we do with children before we allow them to go to 
 
 communion? We instruct them in the Catechism. 
 
 45. Yes, we teach them the fundamental principles of the Christian 
 
 religion, so that they may be able to do what, according to 
 the apostle's word? That they may be able to examine 
 themselves. 
 
 46. We cannot admit everybody and anybody to communion. As 
 
 pastors we are stewards of the mysteries of God. We must 
 have a reasonable assurance that those to whom we give the 
 Holy Sacrament are worthy. Of course, we cannot judge 
 their hearts, but we can judge their confession, and their 
 lives. Therefore we require that all who wish to go to 
 communion inform the pastor of their intention beforehand. 
 What does the Lord say, Matt. 7, 6? "Give not that which 
 is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before 
 swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn 
 again and rend you," 
 
LESSON 104. 
 
 357 
 
 47. Read also Matt. 5, 23-26. "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to 
 
 the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath 
 aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, 
 and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and 
 then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary 
 quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him; lest at any 
 time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge 
 deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 
 Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out 
 thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing." 
 
 48. Before going to communion we should be reconciled to our 
 
 enemies. Where we have wronged anyone we should ask 
 their pardon, and be ready to forgive all who have wronged 
 us. Ouly he who has on the wedding garment of true faith 
 is a worthy guest at the Lord's table. Read Matt. 22, 11-13. 
 "When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a 
 man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith 
 unto him, Friend, how earnest thou in hither, not having a 
 wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the 
 king to the servants. Bind him hand and foot, and take him 
 away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be 
 weeping and gnashing of teeth." 
 
 49. (420) "How often should we commune?" "Frequently: as often 
 
 as our distressed conscience and our weak faith require it." 
 
 50. How often is the Sacrament of Baptism to be administered to a 
 
 person? Only once. 
 
 51. But what about the Sacrament of the Altar? It is to be used 
 
 often. 
 
 52. What does the Savior himself say about this in 1 Cor., chapter 
 
 11. the latter half of the 25th verse? "This do as oft as ye 
 drink it in remembrance of me." 
 
 53. Read what the apostle Paul says in the 26th verse of the same 
 
 chapter. "As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup 
 ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." 
 
 54. From these passages we see that we should go to the Lord's 
 
 Supper frequently. But can we prescribe just how often 
 one sjiould commune? No, we cannot. 
 
 55. Each one must determine this for himself. "What does the Cate- 
 
 chism say about this in question 420? We should go as 
 often as our distressed conscience and our weak faith re- 
 quire it. 
 
 56. In the early church the Lord's Supper was celebrated every time 
 
 the congregation met for service. In some congregations 
 Holy Communion is celebrated once a month and on all 
 special holidays. In most congregations it is celebrated at 
 least twice a year. Luther said four times a year would not 
 be too often. Most people do not commune often enough. 
 We are all weak in the faith and need the blessings of the 
 sacrament. Repeat what the Apostle says. 1 Cor. 10. 12. 
 "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 
 
Princeton Theological Semi nary -Speer Library 
 
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