The Tenth Commandment.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.
What does this mean?—Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle, hut urge them to stay and [diligently] do their duty.
What Does God Say of All These Commandments?
Answer.
He says thus [Exod. 20, 5 f.]: 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 commandments.
What does this mean?—Answer.
God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments. Therefore we should dread 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 gladly do [zealously and diligently order our whole life] according to His commandments.
II. THE CREED,
as the Head of the Family Should Teach It in the Simplest Way to His Household.
The First Article.
Of Creation.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
What does this mean?—Answer.
I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them; in addition thereto, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and homestead, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that He provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true.
