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these things； yet it will not hurt me to do them； so long as they
are not done against God。
》From all this every man will be able to attain a sure judgment
and faithful discrimination between all works and laws； and to
know who are blind and foolish pastors； and who are true and good
ones。 For whatsoever work is not directed to the sole end either
of keeping under the body； or of doing service to our
neighbourprovided he require nothing contrary to the will of
Godis no good or Christian work。 Hence I greatly fear that at
this day few or no colleges； monasteries； altars； or
ecclesiastical functions are Christian ones； and the same may be
said of fasts and special prayers to certain saints。 I fear that
in all these nothing is being sought but what is already ours；
while we fancy that by these things our sins are purged away and
salvation is attained； and thus utterly do away with Christian
liberty。 This comes from ignorance of Christian faith and
liberty。
This ignorance and this crushing of liberty are diligently
promoted by the teaching of very many blind pastors； who stir up
and urge the people to a zeal for these things； praising them and
puffing them up with their indulgences； but never teaching faith。
Now I would advise you； if you have any wish to pray； to fast； or
to make foundations in churches； as they call it； to take care
not to do so with the object of gaining any advantage； either
temporal or eternal。 You will thus wrong your faith； which alone
bestows all things on you； and the increase of which； either by
working or by suffering； is alone to be cared for。 What you give；
give freely and without price； that others may prosper and have
increase from you and your goodness。 Thus you will be a truly
good man and a Christian。 For what to you are your goods and your
works； which are done over and above for the subjection of the
body； since you have abundance for yourself through your faith；
in which God has given you all things？
We give this rule： the good things which we have from God ought
to flow from one to another and become common to all； so that
every one of us may； as it were； put on his neighbour； and so
behave towards him as if he were himself in his place。 They
flowed and do flow from Christ to us； He put us on； and acted for
us as if He Himself were what we are。 From us they flow to those
who have need of them； so that my faith and righteousness ought
to be laid down before God as a covering and intercession for the
sins of my neighbour； which I am to take on myself； and so labour
and endure servitude in them； as if they were my own； for thus
has Christ done for us。 This is true love and the genuine truth
of Christian life。 But only there is it true and genuine where
there is true and genuine faith。 Hence the Apostle attributes to
charity this quality： that she seeketh not her own。
We conclude therefore that a Christian man does not live in
himself； but in Christ and in his neighbour； or else is no
Christian： in Christ by faith； in his neighbour by love。 By faith
he is carried upwards above himself to God； and by love he sinks
back below himself to his neighbour； still always…abiding in God
and His love； as Christ says； 〃Verily I say unto you； Hereafter
ye shall see heaven open； and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of man〃 （John i。 51）。
Thus much concerning liberty； which； as you see； is a true and
spiritual liberty； making our hearts free from all sins； laws；
and commandments； as Paul says； 〃The law is not made for a
righteous man〃 （1 Tim。 i。 9）； and one which surpasses all other
external liberties； as far as heaven is above earth。 May Christ
make us to understand and preserve this liberty。 Amen。
Finally； for the sake of those to whom nothing can be stated so
well but that they misunderstand and distort it； we must add a
word； in case they can understand even that。 There are very many
persons who； when they hear of this liberty of faith； straightway
turn it into an occasion of licence。 They think that everything
is now lawful for them； and do not choose to show themselves free
men and Christians in any other way than by their contempt and
reprehension of ceremonies； of traditions； of human laws； as if
they were Christians merely because they refuse to fast on stated
days； or eat flesh when others fast； or omit the customary
prayers； scoffing at the precepts of men； but utterly passing
over all the rest that belongs to the Christian religion。 On the
other hand； they are most pertinaciously resisted by those who
strive after salvation solely by their observance of and
reverence for ceremonies； as if they would be saved merely
because they fast on stated days； or abstain from flesh； or make
formal prayers； talking loudly of the precepts of the Church and
of the Fathers； and not caring a straw about those things which
belong to our genuine faith。 Both these parties are plainly
culpable； in that； while they neglect matters which are of weight
and necessary for salvation； they contend noisily about such as
are without weight and not necessary。
How much more rightly does the Apostle Paul teach us to walk in
the middle path； condemning either extreme and saying； 〃Let not
him that eateth despise him that eateth not； and let not him
which eateth not judge him that eateth〃 （Rom。 xiv。 3）！ You see
here how the Apostle blames those who； not from religious
feeling； but in mere contempt； neglect and rail at ceremonial
observances； and teaches them not to despise； since this
〃knowledge puffeth up。〃 Again； he teaches the pertinacious
upholders of these things not to judge their opponents。 For
neither party observes towards the other that charity which
edifieth。 In this matter we must listen to Scripture； which
teaches us to turn aside neither to the right hand nor to the
left； but to follow those right precepts of the Lord which
rejoice the heart。 For just as a man is not righteous merely
because he serves and is devoted to works and ceremonial rites；
so neither will he be accounted righteous merely because he
neglects and despises them。
It is not from works that we are set free by the faith of Christ；
but from the belief in works； that is from foolishly presuming to
seek justification through works。 Faith redeems our consciences；
makes them upright； and preserves them； since by it we recognise
the truth that justification does not depend on our works；
although good works neither can nor ought to be absent； just as
we cannot exist without food and drink and all the functions of
this mortal body。 Still it is not on them that our justification
is based； but on faith； and yet they ought not on that account to
be despised or neglected。 Thus in this world we are compelled by
the needs of this bodily life； but we are not hereby justified。
〃My kingdom is not hence； nor of this world；〃 says Christ； but He
does not say； 〃My kingdom is not here； nor in this world。〃 Paul；
too； says； 〃Though we walk in the flesh； we do not war after the
flesh〃 （2 Cor。 x。 3）； and 〃The life which I now live