The Fourth Commandment (part 2)
141]
In this commandment belongs a further statement regarding all kinds of
obedience to persons in authority who have to command and to govern. For all
authority flows and is propagated from the authority of parents. For where a
father is unable alone to educate his [rebellious and irritable] child, he
employs a schoolmaster to instruct him; if he be too weak, he enlists the aid
of his friends and neighbors; if he departs this life, he delegates and confers
his authority and government upon others who are appointed for the purpose.
142] Likewise, he must have domestics, man-servants and maid-servants, under
himself for the management of the household, so that all whom we call masters
are in the place of parents and must derive their power and authority to govern
from them. Hence also they are all called fathers in the Scriptures, as those
who in their government perform the functions of a father, and should have a
paternal heart toward their subordinates. As also from antiquity the Romans and
other nations called the masters and mistresses of the household patres- et
matres- familiae, that is, housefathers and housemothers. So also they called
their national rulers and overlords patres patriae, that is, fathers of the
entire country, for a great shame to us who would be Christians that we do not
likewise call them so, or, at least, do not esteem and honor them as such.
143]
Now, what a child owes to father and mother, the same owe all who are embraced
in the household. Therefore man-servants and maid-servants should be careful
not only to be obedient to their masters and mistresses, but also to honor them
as their own fathers and mothers, and to do everything which they know is
expected of them, not from compulsion and with reluctance, but with pleasure
and joy for the cause just mentioned, namely, that it is God's command and is
pleasing to Him above all other works. 144] Therefore they ought rather to pay
wages in addition and be glad that they may obtain masters and mistresses to
have such joyful consciences and to know how they may do truly golden works; a
matter which has hitherto been neglected and despised, when, instead, everybody
ran, in the devil's name, into convents or to pilgrimages and indulgences, with
loss [of time and money] and with an evil conscience.
145]
If this truth, then, could be impressed upon the poor people, a servant-girl
would leap and praise and thank God; and with her tidy work for which she
receives support and wages she would acquire such a treasure as all that are
esteemed the greatest saints have not obtained. Is it not an excellent boast to
know and say that, if you perform your daily domestic task, this is better than
all the sanctity and ascetic life of monks? 146] And you have the promise, in
addition, that you shall prosper in all good and fare well. How can you lead a
more blessed or holier life as far as your works are concerned? 147] For in the
sight of God faith is what really renders a person holy, and alone serves Him,
but the works are for the service of man. 148] There you have everything good,
protection and defense in the Lord, a joyful conscience and a gracious God
besides, who will reward you a hundredfold, so that you are even a nobleman if
you be only pious and obedient. But if not, you have, in the first place,
nothing but the wrath and displeasure of God, no peace of heart, and afterwards
all manner of plagues and misfortunes.
149]
Whoever will not be influenced by this and inclined to godliness we hand over
to the hangman and to the skeleton-man. Therefore let every one who allows
himself to be advised remember that God is not making sport, and know that it
is God who speaks with you and demands obedience. If you obey Him, you are His
dear child; but if you despise to do it, then take shame, misery, and grief for
your reward.
150]
The same also is to be said of obedience to civil government, which (as we have
said) is all embraced in the estate of fatherhood and extends farthest of all
relations. For here the father is not one of a single family, but of as many
people as he has tenants, citizens, or subjects. For through them, as through
our parents, God gives to us food, house and home, protection and security.
Therefore, since they bear such name and title with all honor as their highest
dignity, it is our duty to honor them and to esteem them great as the dearest
treasure and the most precious jewel upon earth.
151]
He, now, who is obedient here, is willing and ready to serve, and cheerfully
does all that pertains to honor, knows that he is pleasing God and that he will
receive joy and happiness for his reward. If he will not do it in love, but
despises and resists [authority] or rebels, let him also know, on the other
hand, that he shall have no favor nor blessing, and where he thinks to gain a
florin thereby, he will elsewhere lose ten times as much, or become a victim to
the hangman, perish by war, pestilence, and famine, or experience no good in
his children, and be obliged to suffer injury, injustice, and violence at the
hands of his servants, neighbors, or strangers and tyrants; so that what we
seek and deserve is paid back and comes home to us.
152]
If we would ever suffer ourselves to be persuaded that such works are pleasing
to God and have so rich a reward, we would be established in altogether
abundant possessions and have what our heart desires. But because the word and
command of God are so lightly esteemed, as though some babbler had spoken it,
let us see whether you are the man to oppose Him. How difficult, do you think,
it will be for Him to recompense you! Therefore you would certainly live much
better with the divine favor, peace, and happiness than with His displeasure
and misfortune. 154] Why, think you, is the world now so full of
unfaithfulness, disgrace, calamity, and murder, but because every one desires
to be his own master and free from the emperor, to care nothing for any one,
and do what pleases him? Therefore God punishes one knave by another, so that,
when you defraud and despise your master, another comes and deals in like
manner with you, yea, in your household you must suffer ten times more from
wife, children, or servants.
155]
Indeed, we feel our misfortune, we murmur and complain of unfaithfulness,
violence, and injustice, but will not see that we ourselves are knaves who have
fully deserved this punishment, and yet are not thereby reformed. We will have
no favor and happiness, therefore it is but fair that we have nothing but
misfortune without mercy. 156] There must still be somewhere upon earth some godly
people because God continues to grant us so much good! On our own account we
should not have a farthing in the house nor a straw in the field. 157] All this
I have been obliged to urge with so many words, in hope that some one may take
it to heart, that we may be relieved of the blindness and misery in which we
are steeped so deeply, and may truly understand the Word and will of God, and
earnestly accept it. For thence we would learn how we could have joy,
happiness, and salvation enough, both temporal and eternal.
158]
Thus we have two kinds of fathers presented in this commandment, fathers in
blood and fathers in office, or those to whom belongs the care of the family,
and those to whom belongs the care of the country. Besides these there are yet
spiritual fathers; not like those in the Papacy, who have indeed had themselves
called thus, but have performed no function of the paternal office. For those
only are called spiritual fathers who govern and guide us by the Word of God;
159] as St. Paul boasts his fatherhood 1 Cor. 4:15, where he says: In Christ
Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel. Now, 160] since they are fathers
they are entitled to their honor, even above all others. But here it is
bestowed least; for the way which the world knows for honoring them is to drive
them out of the country and to grudge them a piece of bread, and, in short,
they must be (as says St. Paul, 1 Cor. 4:13) as the filth of the world and
everybody's refuse and footrag.
161]
Yet there is need that this also be urged upon the populace, that those who
would be Christians are under obligation in the sight Of God to esteem them
worthy of double honor who minister to their souls, that they deal well with
them and provide for them. For that, God is willing to add to you sufficient
blessing and will not let you come to want. 162] But in this matter every one
refuses and resists, and all are afraid that they will perish from bodily want,
and cannot now support one respectable preacher, where formerly they filled ten
fat paunches. 163] In this we also deserve that God deprive us of His Word and
blessing, and again allow preachers of lies to arise to lead us to the devil,
and, in addition, to drain our sweat and blood.
164]
But those who keep in sight God's will and commandment have the promise that
everything which they bestow upon temporal and spiritual fathers, and whatever
they do to honor them, shall be richly recompensed to them, so that they shall
have, not bread, clothing, and money for a year or two, but long life, support,
and peace, and shall be eternally rich and blessed. 165] Therefore only do what
is your duty, and let God take care how He is to support you and provide for
you sufficiently. Since He has promised it, and has never yet lied, He will not
be found lying to you.
166]
This ought indeed to encourage us, and give us hearts that would melt in
pleasure and love toward those to whom we owe honor, so that we would raise our
hands and joyfully thank God who has given us such promises, for which we ought
to run to the ends of the world [to the remotest parts of India]. For although
the whole world should combine, it could not add an hour to our life or give us
a single grain from the earth. But God wishes to give you all exceeding
abundantly according to your heart's desire. He who despises and casts this to
the winds is not worthy ever to hear a word of God. This has now been stated
more than enough for all who belong under this commandment.
167]
In addition, it would be well to preach to the parents also, and such as bear
their office, as to how they should deport themselves toward those who are
committed to them for their government. For although this is not expressed in
the Ten Commandments, it is nevertheless abundantly enjoined in many places in
the Scripture. And God desires to have it embraced in this commandment when He
speaks of father and mother. 168] For He does not wish to have in this office
and government knaves and tyrants; nor does He assign to them this honor, that
is, power and authority to govern, that they should have themselves worshiped;
but they should consider that they are under obligations of obedience to God;
and that, first of all, they should earnestly and faithfully discharge their
office, not only to support and provide for the bodily necessities of their
children, servants, subjects, etc., but, most of all, to train them to the
honor and praise of God. 169] Therefore do not think that this is left to your
pleasure and arbitrary will, but that it is a strict command and injunction of
God, to whom also you must give account for it.
170]
But here again the sad plight arises that no one perceives or heeds this, and
all live on as though God gave us children for our pleasure or amusement, and
servants that we should employ them like a cow or ass, only for work, or as
though we were only to gratify our wantonness with our subjects, ignoring them,
as though it were no concern of ours what they learn or how they live; 171] and
no one is willing to see that this is the command of the Supreme Majesty, who
will most strictly call us to account and punish us for it; nor that there is
so great need to be so seriously concerned about the young. 172] For if we wish
to have excellent and apt persons both for civil and ecclesiastical government,
we must spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and educating our
children, that they may serve God and the world, 173] and we must not think
only how we may amass money and possessions for them. For God can indeed
without us support and make them rich, as He daily does. But for this purpose
He has given us children, and issued this command that we should train and
govern them according to His will, else He would have no need of father and
mother. Let every one know, therefore, that it is his duty, on peril of losing
the divine favor, to bring up his children above all things in the fear and
knowledge of God, and if they are talented, have them learn and study
something, 174] that they may be employed for whatever need there is [to have
them instructed and trained in a liberal education, that men may be able to
have their aid in government and in whatever is necessary].
175]
If that were done, God would also richly bless us and give us grace to train
men by whom land and people might be improved, and likewise well-educated
citizens, chaste and domestic wives, who afterwards would rear godly children
and servants. 176] Here consider now what deadly injury you are doing if you be
negligent and fail on your part to bring up your child to usefulness and piety,
and how you bring upon yourself all sin and wrath, thus earning hell by your
own children, even though you be otherwise pious and holy. 177] And because
this is disregarded, God so fearfully punishes the world that there is no
discipline, government, or peace, of which we all complain, but do not see that
it is our fault; for as we train them, we have spoiled and disobedient children
and subjects. Let this be sufficient exhortation; for to draw this out at
length belongs to another time.
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