第 9 节
作者:津夏      更新:2021-02-21 13:30      字数:9321
  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。 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。
  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? 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? 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。 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。
  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。
  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。
  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。
  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。 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。
  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。 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。 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。
  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; as St。 Paul boasts
  his fatherhood 1 Cor。 4; 15; where he says: In Christ Jesus I hove
  begotten you through the Gospel。 Now; 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。
  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。
  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。 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。
  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。 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。
  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。
  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 Scriptures。 And God desires to have it
  embraced in this commandment when He speaks of father and mother。 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