First Preface

p. 383 OF

A Christian, profitable and necessary preface, and faithful, earnest exhortation of Dr. Martin Luther to all Christians, but especially to all pastors and preachers, in order that they may daily exercise themselves in the Catechism, which is a short summary of the entire Holy Scriptures, and that they may always practise the same.

We have no slight reason for urging so constantly the Catechism, and for both desiring and beseeching others to do the same, since we see to our sorrow that many pastors and preachers are in this so very negligent, and slight not only their office, but even the doctrine itself; some from great and ambitious art, but others from pure indolence and care for their palates, being not otherwise disposed than if it were for the sake of their appetites that they are pastors and preachers, and as though they had nothing to do but to spend and consume as long as they live; as they have been accustomed to do under the Papacy.

And although they have everything that they are to preach and teach set forth now so fully, clearly, and intelligibly in so many excellent books, and Sermones per se loquentes, Dormi secure, Paratos et Thesauros,¹ as in former times they were called; yet they are not so godly and honest as to buy these books, or even if they have them, they do not look at them or read them. Alas! they are shameful gluttons and ministers of their appetites, who would much more properly be swineherds and dog-fanciers than pastors and Gospel ministers.

¹ Titles of collections of Postils.

And now that they are delivered from the unprofitable and some babbling concerning the Seven Canonical Hours, oh that, instead thereof, they would only, morning, noon and p. 384 night, read a page or two in the Catechism, the Prayer Book, the New Testament, or elsewhere in the Bible, and pray the Lord’s Prayer once for themselves and their parishioners, so that they might render honor and return thanks to the Gospel, by which they have been delivered from burdens and troubles so manifold, and might have some little shame because like brutes they retain no more of the Gospel than such corrupt, pernicious, shameful, carnal liberty! For, alas! the common people regard the Gospel altogether too lightly; so that even though we use all diligence, we accomplish no great results. What will be the consequence if we be careless and indolent, as we were under the Papacy?

To this there is added this shameful vice and secret infection of security and satiety, viz. that many regard the Catechism as a plain, unimportant statement of doctrine which they can read over once, and then throw the book into a corner, and be ashamed to read in it again.

Yea, even among the nobility there are some rude and niggardly fellows, who declare that, from now on, there is need neither of pastors nor preachers; that we have everything in books, and every one can learn it for himself; and in this confidence they allow the parishes to fall into decay and desolation, and cause pastors and preachers to suffer hunger and extreme distress. Such conduct is to be expected from crazy Germans. For we Germans have such disgraceful people, and must endure them.

But this I say for myself. I am also a doctor and a preacher, yea, as learned and experienced as all who have such presumption and security. Yet I do as a child who is being taught the Catechism. Every morning and whenever I have time I read and say, word for word, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Psalms, etc. And I must still read and study daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain, and that too gladly, a child and pupil of the Catechism. And yet these delicate, fastidious fellows pretend with one reading to be doctors above all doctors, and to know everything and be in need of nothing. And this is indeed a sure sign that they despise both their office and the souls of the people, yea even God and his Word. They need not be afraid of a fall, since they are already fallen all too horribly; but they need become children, and begin to learn their alphabet, which they imagine that they have long since outgrown.

Therefore I beg such indolent epicures or presumptuous saints, for God’s sake, to believe and be persuaded that they are by no means so learned or such great doctors as they imagine; and never to presume that they have thoroughly learned this [all the parts of the Catechism], or know enough of everything, p. 385 even though they think that they know it ever so well. For though they should know and understand it perfectly (which, however, is impossible in this life), yet if it be daily read and practised in thought and speech, it yields much profit and fruit; for in such reading and repetition and meditation the Holy Ghost is present, and ever bestows new and more light and devoutness, so that we daily relish and appreciate it better, according as Christ promises (Matt. 18:20): “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Besides, nothing is more effectual against the devil, the world and the flesh and all evil thoughts than to be occupied with the Word of God, and to speak thereof, and meditate upon it; so that the first Psalm declares those blessed who meditate upon the law of God day and night. Undoubtedly, you will never offer any incense or other savor against Satan more efficacious than employment upon God’s commandments and words, and speaking, singing, or thinking thereof. For this is indeed the truly holy water and holy sign from which he flees, and by which he is driven away.

If you had no other profit and fruit therefrom, for this reason alone you ought gladly to read, speak, think of and practise these things, viz. thereby to drive away the devil and evil thoughts. For he cannot hear or endure God’s Word; and God’s Word is not like any careless talk, as that of Dietrich of Berne,¹ etc., but as St. Paul says (Rom. 1:16): “The power of God.” Yea, indeed, the power of God which gives the devil extreme pain, and strengthens, comforts and helps us beyond measure.

¹ The reference is to verses commemorating the exploits of Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths.

And what need is there of many words? If I were to recount all the profit and fruit which God’s Word produces, whence would I have enough paper and time? The devil is called the master of a thousand arts. But what shall we say of God’s Word, which drives away and brings to naught this master of a thousand arts with all his arts and power? It must of course be the master of more than a hundred thousand arts. And shall we frivolously despise such power, profit, strength and fruit—we, especially, who wish to be pastors and preachers? If so, we should not only have nothing given us to eat, but be driven out with the dogs, and be cast away with refuse, because we not only daily need this all, as we do our daily bread, but must also daily use it against the daily and incessant attacks and stratagems of the devil with his thousand arts.

p. 386 And if this were not sufficient to admonish us to read the Catechism daily, yet God’s command even alone ought to constrain us, which in Deut. 6:6 sqq. he solemnly enjoins, that we should always meditate upon his precepts, when we sit down, and when we walk forth, and when we lie down, and when we rise up, and should have them before our eyes and in our hands as a constant mark and sign. Doubtless he did not so solemnly require and enjoin this without a purpose; but because he knew our danger and need, as well as the constant and furious assaults and temptations of devils, he wishes to warn, equip and preserve us against them, as with a good armor against their fiery darts and with good medicine against their poisonous draughts.

Oh, what mad, senseless fools are we, that while we must ever live and dwell among such mighty enemies as devils, we nevertheless despise our armor and defence, and are too indolent to look for, or think of them!

And what else are such supercilious, presumptuous saints, who are unwilling to read and study the Catechism daily, doing, but esteeming themselves much more learned than God himself with all his saints, angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and all Christians? For inasmuch as God himself is not ashamed to teach the same daily, since he knows nothing better to teach, and always keeps teaching the same thing, and does not take up anything new or different, and all the saints know nothing better to learn, or different, and cannot learn this perfectly, are we not wonderful men to imagine, if we have once read or heard it, that we know it all, and have no farther need to read and learn, but can learn perfectly in one hour what God himself cannot finish teaching, since he continues teaching it from the beginning to the end of the world, and all prophets, together with all saints, have been occupied with learning it but in part, and are still pupils, and must remain such?

For it is certain that whoever knows the Ten Commandments perfectly must know all the Scriptures, so that, in all circumstances and events, he can advise, help, comfort, judge and decide both spiritual and temporal matters, and is qualified to sit in judgment upon all doctrines, estates, spirits, laws, and whatever else is in the world. And what indeed is the entire:8 Psalter but thoughts and exercises upon the First Commandment? But now I know of a truth that such indolent epicures and presumptuous spirits do not understand a single psalm, much less the entire Scriptures; and yet they pretend that they know and despise the Catechism, which is a compend and brief summary of all the Holy Scriptures.

Therefore I again implore all Christians, especially pastors and preachers, not to be doctors too soon, and imagine that they know everything (for imagination and stretched cloth fall far p. 387 short of the measure), but that they daily exercise themselves in these studies and constantly apply them to practice. Let them guard with all care and diligence against the poisonous infection of such security and presumption, and persevere in reading, teaching, learning, thinking, meditating, not ceasing until they have learned by experience and are sure that, by this teaching, they have killed Satan, and have become more learned than God himself and all his saints.

If they manifest such diligence, then I will agree with them, and they will perceive what fruit they will have, and what excellent men God will make of them; so that in due time they themselves will acknowledge that the longer and the more they have studied the Catechism, the less they know of it, and the more they find yet to learn; and then only, as hungry and thirsty ones, will they truly appreciate that which now, because of great abundance and satiety, they cannot endure. To this end may God grant his grace! Amen.