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constructive and inoffensive teaching that would be； to be taught
that one can be saved by works as well as by faith。 That would be
like saying that it is not Christ's death alone that takes away
our sin but that our works have something to do with it。 Now that
would be a fine way of honoring Christ's death； saying that it is
helped by our works； and that whatever it does our works can also
do … that we are his equal in goodness and power。 This is the
devil itself for he cannot ever stop abusing the blood of Christ。
Therefore the matter itself； at its very core； necessitates that one
say： 〃Faith alone makes one righteous。〃 The nature of the German
tongue teaches us to say it in the same way。 In addition； I have
the examples of the holy fathers。 The dangers confronting the
people also compel it so they do not continue to hang onto works
and wander away from faith； losing Christ； especially at this time
when they have been so accustomed to works they have to be pulled
away from them by force。 It is for these reasons that it is not
only right but also necessary to say it as plainly and forcefully
as possible： 〃Faith alone saves without works！〃 I am only sorry I
did not add 〃alle〃 and 〃aller〃； and said 〃without any （alle） works
or any （aller） laws。〃 That would have stated it most effectively。
Therefore； it will remain in the New Testament； and though all the
papal asses rant and rave at me； they shall not take it away from
me。 Let this be enough for now。 I will have to speak more about
this in the treatise 〃On Justification〃 （if God grants me grace）。
On the other question as to whether the departed saints intercede
for us。 For the present I am only going to give a brief answer as
I am considering publishing a sermon on the beloved angels in
which I will respond more fully on this matter （God willing）。
First； you know that under the papacy it is not only taught that
the saints in heaven intercede for us … even though we cannot know
this as the Scripture does not tell us such … but the saints have
been made into gods； and that they are to be our patrons to whom
we should call。 Some of them have never existed！ To each of these
saints a particular power and might has been given … one over
fire； another over water； another over pestilence； fever and all
sorts of plagues。 Indeed； God must have been altogether idle to
have let the saints work in his place。 Of this atrocity the
papists themselves are aware； as they quietly take up their pipes
and preen and primp themselves over this doctrine of the
intercession of the saints。 I will leave this subject for now …
but you can count on my not forgetting it and allowing this
primping and preening to continue without cost。
And again； you know that there is not a single passage from God
demanding us to call upon either saints or angels to intercede for
us； and that there is no example of such in the Scriptures。 One
finds that the beloved angels spoke with the fathers and the
prophets； but that none of them had ever been asked to intercede
for them。 Why even Jacob the patriarch did not ask the angel with
whom he wrestled for any intercession。 Instead； he only took from
him a blessing。 In fact； one finds the very opposite in revelation
as the angel will not allow itself to be worshipped by John。 ＇Rev。
22＇ So the worship of saints shows itself as nothing but human
nonsense； our own invention separated from the word of God and the
Scriptures。
As it is not proper in the matter of divine worship for us to do
anything that is not commanded by God （and that whoever does is
putting God to the test）； it is therefore also not advisable or
tolerable for one to call upon the saints for intercession or to
teach others to do so。 In fact； it is to be condemned and people
taught to avoid it。 Therefore； I also will not advise it and
burden my conscience with the iniquities of others。 It was
difficult for me to stop from worshipping the saints as I was so
steeped in it to have nearly drowned。 But the light of the gospel
is now shining so brightly that from now on no one has an excuse
for remaining in the darkness。 We all very well know what we are
to do。
This is itself a very risky and blasphemous way to worship for
people are easily accustomed to turning away from Christ。 They
learn quickly to trust more in the saints than in Christ himself。
When our nature is already all too prone to run from God and
Christ； and trust in humanity； it is indeed difficult to learn to
trust in God and Christ； even though we have vowed to do so and
are therefore obligated to do so。 Therefore； this offense is not
to be tolerated whereby those who are weak and of the flesh
participate in idolatry； against the first commandment and our
baptism。 Even if one tries nothing other than to switch their
trust from the saints to Christ； through teaching and practice； it
will be difficult to accomplish； that one should come to him and
rightly take hold of him。 One need not paint the Devil on the
door … he will already be present。
We can finally be certain that God is not angry with us； and that
even if we do not call on the saints for intercession； we are
secure for God has never commanded it。 God says that God is a
jealous God granting their iniquities on those who do not keep his
commandments ＇Ex。20＇； but there is no commandment here and；
therefore； no anger to be feared。 Since； then； there is on this
side security and on the other side great risk and offense against
the Word of God； why should we go from security into danger where
we do not have the Word of God to sustain； comfort and save us in
the times of trial？ For it is written； 〃Whoever loves danger will
perish by it〃 ＇Ecclus。 3＇； and God's commandment says； 〃You shall
not put the Lord your God to the test〃 ＇Matt。 4＇。
〃But；〃 they say； 〃this way you condemn all of Christendom which
has always maintained this … until now。〃 I answer： I know very
well that the priests and monks seek this cloak for their
blasphemies。 They want to give to Christendom the damage caused
by their own negligence。 Then； when we say； 〃Christendom does not
err；〃 we shall also be saying that they do not err； since
Christendom believes it to be so。 So no pilgrimage can be wrong；
no matter how obviously the Devil is a participant in it。 No
indulgence can be wrong； regardless of how horrible the lies
involved。 In other words； there is nothing there but holiness！
Therefore to this you reply； 〃It is not a question of who is and
who is not condemned。〃 They inject this irrelevant idea in order
to divert us from the topic at hand。 We are now discussing the
Word of God。 What Christendom is or does belongs somewhere
else。 The question here is： 〃What is or is n