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a treatise on good works-第6部分

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the saints。 Further; when we are dressed up and bow; kneel; pray

the rosary and the Psalter; and all this not before an idol; but

before the holy cross of God or the pictures of His saints: this

we call honoring and worshiping God; and; according to the First

Commandment; 〃having no other gods〃; although these things

usurers; adulterers and all manner of sinners can do too; and do

them daily。 



Of course; if these things are done with such faith that we

believe that they please God; then they are praiseworthy; not

because of their virtue; but because of such faith; for which all

works are of equal value; as has been said。 But if we doubt or

do not believe that God is gracious to us and is pleased with us;

or if we presumptuously expect to please Him only through and

after our works; then it is all pure deception; outwardly

honoring God; but inwardly setting up self as a false god。 This

is the reason why I have so often spoken against the display;

magnificence and multitude of such works and have rejected them;

because it is as clear as day that they are not only done in

doubt or without faith; but there is not one in a thousand who

does not set his confidence upon the works; expecting by them to

win God's favor and anticipate His grace; and so they make a fair

of them; a thing which God cannot endure; since He has promised

His grace freely; and wills that we begin by trusting that grace;

and in it perform all works; whatever they may be。 



XII。 Note for yourself; then; how far apart these two are:

keeping the First Commandment with outward works only; and

keeping it with inward trust。 For this last makes true; living

children of God; the other only makes worse idolatry and the most

mischievous hypocrites on earth; who with their apparent

righteousness lead unnumbered people into their way; and yet

allow them to be without faith; so that they are miserably

misled; and are caught in the pitiable babbling and mummery。 Of

such Christ says; Matthew xxiv: 〃Beware; if any man shall say

unto you; Lo; here is Christ; or there〃; and John iv: 〃I say unto

thee; the hour cometh; when ye shall neither in this mountain nor

yet at Jerusalem worship God; for the Father seeketh spiritual

worshipers。〃 



These and similar passages have moved me and ought to move

everyone to reject the great display of bulls; seals; flags;

indulgences; by which the poor folk are led to build churches;

to give; to endow; to pray; and yet faith is not mentioned; and

is even suppressed。 For since faith knows no distinction among

works; such exaltation and urging of one work above another

cannot exist beside faith。 For faith desires to be the only

service of God; and will grant this name and honor to no other

work; except in so far as faith imparts it; as it does when the

work is done in faith and by faith。 This perversion is indicated

in the Old Testament; when the Jews left the Temple and

sacrificed at other places; in the green parks and on the

mountains。 This is what these men also do: they are zealous to

do all works; but this chief work of faith they regard not at

all。 



XIII。 Where now are they who ask; what works are good; what they

shall do; how they shall be religious? Yes; and where are they

who say that when we preach of faith; we shall neither teach nor

do works? Does not this First Commandment give us more work to

do than any man can do? If a man were a thousand men; or all men;

or all creatures; this Commandment would yet ask enough of him;

and more than enough; since he is commanded to live and walk at

all times in faith and confidence toward God; to place such faith

in no one else; and so to have only one; the true God; and none

other。 



Now; since the being and nature of man cannot for an instant be

without doing or not doing something; enduring or running away

from something (for; as we see; life never rests); let him who

will be pious and filled with good works; begin and in all his

life and works at all times exercise himself in this faith; let

him learn to do and to leave undone all things in such continual


faith; then will he find how much work he has to do; and how

completely all things are included in faith; how he dare never

grow idle; because his very idling must be the exercise and work

of faith。 In brief; nothing can be in or about us and nothing can

happen to us but that it must be good and meritorious; if we

believe (as we ought) that all things please God。 So says St。

Paul: 〃Dear brethren; all that ye do; whether ye eat or drink;

do all in the Name of Jesus Christ; our Lord。〃 Now it cannot be

done in this Name except it be done in this faith。 Likewise;

Romans vii: 〃We know that all things work together for good to

the saints of God。〃



Therefore; when some say that good works are forbidden when we

preach faith alone; it is as if I said to a sick man: 〃If you had

health; you would have the use of all your limbs; but without

health; the works of all your limbs are nothing〃; and he wanted

to infer that I had forbidden the works of all his limbs;

whereas; on the contrary; I meant that he must first have health;

which will work all the works of all the members。 So faith also

must be in all works the master…workman and captain; or they are

nothing at all。 



XIV。 You might say: 〃Why then do we have so many laws of the

Church and of the State; and many ceremonies of churches;

monastic houses; holy places; which urge and tempt men to good

works; if faith does all things through the First Commandment?〃

I answer: Simply because we do not all have faith or do not heed

it。 If every man had faith; we would need no more laws; but every

one would of himself at all times do good works; as his

confidence in God teaches him。 



But now there are four kinds of men: the first; just mentioned;

who need no law; of whom St。 Paul says; I。 Timothy i; 〃The law

is not made for a righteous man;〃 that is; for the believer; but

believers of themselves do what they know and can do; only

because they firmly trust that God's favor and grace rests upon

them in all things。 The second class want to abuse this freedom;

put a false confidence in it; and grow lazy; of whom St。 Peter

says; I。 Peter ii; 〃Ye shall live as free men; but not using your

liberty for a cloak of maliciousness;〃 as if he said: The freedom

of faith does not permit sins; nor will it cover them; but it

sets us free to do all manner of good works and to endure all

things as they happen to us; so that a man is not bound only to

one work or to a few。 So also St。 Paul; Galatians v: 〃Use not

your liberty for an occasion to the flesh。〃 Such men must be

urged by laws and hemmed in by teaching and exhortation。 The

third class are wicked men; always ready for sins; these must be

constrained by spiritual and temporal laws; like wild horses and

dogs; and where this does not help; they must be put to death by

the worldly sword; as St。 Paul says; Romans xiii: 〃The worldly

ruler bears the sword; and serves God with it; not as a terror

to the good; but to the evil。〃 The fourth class; who are still

lusty; and childish in their understanding of faith and of the

spiritual life; must be coaxed like young children and tempted

with external; definite and prescribed decorations; with reading;

praying; fasting; singing; adorning of churches; organ playing;

and such other things as are commanded and observed in monastic

houses and churches; until they also learn to know the faith。

Although there is great danger here; when the rulers; as is now;

alas! the case; busy themselves with and insist upon such

ceremonies and external works as if they were the true works; and

neglect faith; which they ought always to teach along with these

works; just as a mother gives her child other food along with the

milk; until the child can eat the strong food by itself。



XV。 Since; then; we are not all alike; we must tolerate such

people; share their observances and burdens; and not despise

them; but teach them the true way of faith。 So St。 Paul teaches;

Romans xiv: 〃Him that is weak in the faith receive ye; to teach

him。〃 And so he did himself; I。 Corinthians ix: 〃To them that are

under the law; I became as under the law; although I was not

under the law。〃 And Christ; Matthew xvii; when He was asked to

pay tribute; which He was not obligated to pay; argues with St。

Peter; whether the children of kings must give tribute; or only

other people。 St。 Peter answers: 〃Only other people。〃 Christ

said: 〃Then are the children of kings free; notwithstanding; lest

we should offend them; go thou to the sea; and cast an hook; and

take up the fish that first cometh up; and in his mouth thou

shalt find a piece of money; take that and give it for me and

thee。〃 



Here we see that all works and things are free to a Christian

through his faith; and yet; because the others do not yet

believe; he observes and bears with them what he is not obligated

to do。 But this he does freely; for he is certain that this is

pleasing to God; and he does it willingly; accepts it as any

other free work which comes to his hand without his choice;

because he desires and seeks no more than that he may in his

faith do works to please God。 



But since in this discourse we have undertaken to teach what

righteous and good works are; and are now speaking of the highest

work; it is clear that we do not speak of the second; third and

fourth classes of men; but of the first; into whose likeness all

the others are to grow; and until they do so the first class must

endure and instruct them。 Therefore we must not despise; as if

they were hopeless; these men of weak faith; who would gladly do

right and learn; and yet cannot understand because of the

ceremonies to which they cling; we must rather blame their

ignorant; blind teachers; who have never taught them the faith;

and have led them so deeply into w
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