The prüfung was on Sunday, and, as we have not had a Confirmation for app.4 years, it went quite well. For the text (the Catechism is basically the sermon) the pastor quoted Deuteronomy 6, verses 1-9.
The 1st Commandment:
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
What does this mean?
We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
The 2nd Commandment:
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD, thy God, in vain.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
The 3rd Commandment:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
The 4th Commandment:
Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother, that it my be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not despise our parents and masters nor provoke them to anger, but give them honour, werve and obey them, and hold them in love and esteem.
The 5th Commandment:
Thou shalt not kill.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbour in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.
The 6th Commandment:
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed and each love and honour his his spouse.
The 7th Commandment:
Thou shalt not steal.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not take our neighbour's money or goods, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business.
The 8th Commandment:
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, nor defame our neighbour, but defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.
The 9th Commandment:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbour's inheritance or house, nor obtain it by a show of right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.
The 10th Commandment:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, not his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away from our neighbour his wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and do their duty.
What does God say of all these Commandments?
He says thus: 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?
God threatens to punish all that transgress these Commandments. Therefore we should fear His wrath and not act contrary to them. But He promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these Commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him and willingly do according to His Commandments.
Just by reading these, I know that I have failed to be perfect. I don't think that I have kept one single one of these.
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