A Christian Preface

We have weighty reasons for urging the constant use of the Catechism and for desiring and beseeching others to do so. We see, with sorrow, that many pastors and preachers are very lax in this duty, thereby dishonoring both their office and the teachings of that little book. Some do so from motives of fancied superiority, others from sheer laziness and love of their bellies, who act as if they were pastors and preachers merely for their bellies' sake and had nothing to do while they live but enjoy the church treasures—as they were accustomed to do under the Papacy.

Although everything that ought to be taught and preached is now abundantly at their disposal by the clear and easy method of sound books and they now possess in reality what in former times only the titles of books suggested—"Sermons That Speak for Themselves," "Sleep Securely," "The Well Equipped and Their Treasures"—they lack the devotion and principle to purchase these books, or, if they possess them, to examine and read them. Shameful gluttons occupied with their own appetites! They would make better herders of swine and keepers of dogs than watchers for souls and pastors of Christian people.

Now that they are released from the unprofitable and burdensome babbling of the daily seven periods, I would that they might so much as read, morning, noon and night, a page or two in the Catechism, a prayer book, the New Testament or other sections of the Bible, and pray the Lord's Prayer for themselves and for the people under their pastoral care. In that case, they would show honor and gratitude to the Gospel, which has delivered them from manifold evils and burdens; in that case, they would blush with shame that they, animals that they were, saw in the Gospel no more than depraved, pernicious and shameful carnal liberty. The people, as it is, regard the Gospel altogether too lightly, and even our utmost exertions accomplish but little. What results then can we hope for if we are indolent and careless, as we were under the Papacy?

Besides this, a vicious and insidious plague has smitten us. A certain self-satisfaction and satiety lead many to think the Catechism embodies a doctrine of inferior character. They look upon it as a book to be read once and then thrown into a corner, undeserving of a second reading. Further, even among the nobility some runts and curmudgeons are found who advance the thought that henceforth pastors and preachers are needless. They say that all is taught in books, which each may easily learn for himself, and without any reproof of conscience they let the pastorates decline and go to ruin. So pastors and preachers are allowed to famish, as could fitly be expected from mad Germans. We Germans have such shameful people among us, and we must endure them.

As for myself, let me say that I am a doctor and a preacher. I am as learned and experienced as any of those who are so presumptuous and confident. Yet I do as a child that is learning the Catechism. I read and repeat in the morning and whenever I have time, the Ten Commandments, Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Psalms, etc. I daily read and study the Catechism, and still I am not able to master it as thoroughly as I wish. I must remain a child and a pupil of the Catechism, and this I do very willingly. Yet these dainty and fastidious fellows affect to be doctors of the first rank upon reading the Catechism once—to know all there is to be known. Here is evidence enough that they regard not their office and the souls of their people, nay, not even God and his Word. They cannot fall, since they are already abominably fallen. Truly do they need to become children and begin at the alphabet, which they imagine they have long ago outgrown.

For this reason I entreat these indolent bloats, these presumptuous saints, to allow themselves, for God's sake, to be convinced that they are not so learned and such great doctors as they think. I implore them not to imagine they have mastered the Catechism or have learned enough of it, even if they think they have learned it quite well. Though their knowledge of these writings were perfect, which is impossible in the present life, it would still be a highly profitable and useful exercise daily to read them and to make them the subject of meditation and conversation, provided the presence of the Holy Spirit is sought at such reading, meditation and conversation, for the purpose of shedding more light and of deepening devotion. Thus our taste for this doctrine and its power over us shall increase, according to the promise of Christ: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Mt 18, 20.

Nothing is so effectual against the world, the flesh and the devil and all evil thoughts as to be occupied with God's Word, in conversation and meditation. The first Psalm, in the second verse, calls those blessed who meditate upon the Law of the Lord day and night. No smoke of incense or other savor will be so offensive to Satan as your occupying yourself with God's commandments and words, speaking, singing and thinking concerning them. This is the truly consecrated water, the sign which Satan avoids and which puts him to flight.

Eagerly, then, should we read, speak, think, and practice the Catechism, even if we had no other blessing and benefit from it than the fact of thereby driving away the devil and evil thoughts. Satan cannot hear nor endure God's Word. God's Word is not idle talk like that of Dietrich of Berne and others; but as Paul says in Romans 1, 16, it is "the power of God." Truly such it is when it inflicts upon Satan burning pain, and ministers to us infinite strength, comfort and help.

But why multiply words? Time and paper would fail me were I to attempt to mention all the blessings that flow from God's Word. Satan is called the master of a thousand arts, but what shall we call God's Word, which easily conquers and discomfits that master with all his wile and power? God must surely be more than a master of a thousand arts, and should we carelessly despise the power, blessing, strength and fruit of his Word, particularly we who would be pastors and preachers? If we do, we are worthy to suffer starvation, to be cast out like refuse and to be set upon by dogs. We need God's Word for daily strength, as we do our daily bread. We are in constant need of it to resist the restless onslaughts and ambuscades of this Satan, skilled in his thousand arts.

If this is not sufficient motive for the daily reading of these doctrines, there is God's command. That alone should be incentive enough. Deuteronomy 6, 7-9, solemnly enjoins us ever to meditate upon God's Word, whether we be sitting, walking, standing, lying or rising, and to have it as a constant memento and sign before our eyes and upon our hands. Certainly God did not, without reason, so solemnly and imperatively enjoin this duty. He knows our danger and need. He knows the devil's persistent and furious efforts to attack and to tempt us. So he would warn us and provide us protection and armor against "the fiery darts of the evil one." Eph 6, 16. He would give us an antidote to the poison of the devil's befouling suggestions. What mad mortals, what fools, we are! In the midst of such mighty enemies—the devils—among whom we must ever live and dwell, we yet despise our armor of defense, too lazy to give it thought.

Think of the presumption and satiety of those who will not daily study the Catechism! They evidently esteem themselves wiser than God himself; wiser than all the saints and angels, the patriarchs and prophets; than the apostles and all Christians. Since God himself is not ashamed to teach such things daily, knowing nothing better to teach, and he always teaches this one thing and never adds anything new or different; since all the saints know nothing better nor different to study, and are unable to exhaust even this: we are most wonderful persons to think, after reading and hearing it once, that we know it all and need no longer to read or study it. Most wonderful persons to think we can exhaust in learning in a day what God cannot exhaust in teaching, although he teaches it from the beginning of the world to the end, and all the prophets and saints had something to learn from it, and yet they always remained, and ever had to remain, pupils.

It is a fact that anyone familiar with the Ten Commandments is, in consequence, familiar with the Scriptures as a whole. He is able in all affairs and emergencies to counsel, to help, to comfort and to come to an understanding and decision, whether the subject is temporal or spiritual. He is qualified to sit in judgment upon all doctrines, estates, spirits and laws, and everything else in the world. What is the whole Psalter but thoughts and spiritual exercises based on the First Commandment? Now I am sure that these lazy gluttons, or presumptuous spirits, do not understand a single Psalm, not to mention the whole Scriptures, and they pretend to know and despise the Catechism, which is a short summary and epitome of all the Holy Scriptures.

Therefore, I once more entreat all Christians, especially pastors and preachers, not to become doctors too soon and to fancy they know all. It is with our vain fancies as with false measurements, there is a shrinkage. But let them carefully study their Catechism daily, and constantly practice its lessons, guarding with the greatest care and diligence against the poisonous contagion of such security or presumption. Let them continue to read and to teach, to learn and to meditate and to ponder. Let them never desist until they have evidence to warrant the conviction that the devil is dead as a result of their teaching, and they themselves have become wiser than God and his saints.

If they know such diligence, I pledge them—and their experience shall bear me out—that there shall be much fruit, and that God shall make fine men out of them. In time they will make the noble confession that the longer and the more they study the Catechism, the less they know of it and the more they can learn from it. The Catechism, which now, because of their satiety and great abundance, they cannot endure to smell, will then, in their hunger and thirst, be a truly sweet savor to them. To this end may God give his grace! Amen.