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mercy。〃 So we pray with perfect confidence： 〃Our Father；〃 and yet
petition： 〃Forgive us our trespasses〃； we are children and yet
sinners； are acceptable and yet do not do enough； and all this
is the work of faith； firmly grounded in God's grace。
XVII。 But if you ask； where the faith and the confidence can be
found and whence they come； this it is certainly most necessary
to know。 First： Without doubt faith does not come from your works
or merit； but alone from Jesus Christ； and is freely promised and
given； as St。 Paul writes； Romans v： 〃God commendeth His love to
us as exceeding sweet and kindly； in that； while we were yet
sinners； Christ died for us〃； as if he said： 〃Ought not this give
us a strong unconquerable confidence； that before we prayed or
cared for it； yes； while we still continually walked in sins；
Christ dies for our sin？〃 St。 Paul concludes： 〃If while we were
yet sinners Christ died for us； how much more then； being
justified by His blood； shall we be saved from wrath through Him；
and if； when we were enemies； we were reconciled to God by the
death of His Son； much more； being reconciled； shall we be saved
by His life。〃
Lo！ thus must thou form Christ within thyself and see how in Him
God holds before thee and offers thee His mercy without any
previous merits of thine own； and from such a view of His grace
must thou draw faith and confidence of the forgiveness of all thy
sins。 Faith； therefore； does not begin with works； neither do
they create it； but it must spring up and flow from the blood；
wounds and death of Christ。 If thou see in these that God is so
kindly affectioned toward thee that He gives even His Son for
thee； then thy heart also must in its turn grow sweet and kindly
affectioned toward God； and so thy confidence must grow out of
pure good…will and love God's love toward thee and thine
toward God。 We never read that the Holy Spirit was given to any
one when he did works； but always when men have heard the Gospel
of Christ and the mercy of God。 From this same Word and from no
other source must faith still come； even in our day and always。
For Christ is the rock out of which men suck oil and honey； as
Moses says； Deuteronomy xxxii。
XVIII。 So far we have treated of the first work and of the First
Commandment； but very briefly； plainly and hastily； for very much
might be said of it。 We will now trace the works farther through
the following Commandments。
The second work； next to faith； is the work of the Second
Commandment； that we shall honor God's Name and not take it in
vain。 This； like all the other works； cannot be done without
faith； and if it is done without faith； it is all sham and show。
After faith we can do no greater work than to praise； preach；
sing and in every way exalt and magnify God's glory； honor and
Name。
And although I have said above； and it is true； that there is no
difference in works where faith is and does the work； yet this
is true only when they are compared with faith and its works。
Measured by one another there is a difference； and one is higher
than the other。 Just as in the body the members do not differ
when compared with health； and health works in the one as much
as in the other； yet the works of the members are different； and
one is higher； nobler； more useful than the other； so； here also；
to praise God's glory and Name is better than the works of the
other Commandments which follow； and yet it must be done in the
same faith as all the others。
But I know well that this work is lightly esteemed； and has
indeed become unknown。 Therefore we must examine it further； and
will say no more about the necessity of doing it in the faith and
confidence that it pleases God。 Indeed there is no work in which
confidence and faith are so much experienced and felt as in
honoring God's Name； and it greatly helps to strengthen and
increase faith； although all works also help to do this； as St。
Peter says； II。 Peter i： 〃Wherefore the rather； brethren； give
diligence through good works to make your calling and election
sure。〃
XIX。 The First Commandment forbids us to have other gods； and
thereby commands that we have a God； the true God； by a firm
faith； trust； confidence； hope and love； which are the only works
whereby a man can have； honor and keep a God； for by no other
work can one find or lose God except by faith or unbelief； by
trusting or doubting； of the other works none reaches quite to
God。 So also in the Second Commandment we are forbidden to use
His Name in vain。 Yet this is not to be enough； but we are
thereby also commanded to honor； call upon； glorify； preach and
praise His Name。 And indeed it is impossible that God's Name
should not be dishonored where it is not rightly honored。 For
although it be honored with the lips； bending of the knees；
kissing and other postures； if this is not done in the heart by
faith； in confident trust in God's grace； it is nothing else than
an evidence and badge of hypocrisy。
See now； how many kinds of good works a man can do under this
Commandment at all times and never be without the good works of
this Commandment； if he will； so that he truly need not make a
long pilgrimage or seek holy places。 For； tell me； what moment
can pass in which we do not without ceasing receive God's
blessings； or； on the other hand； suffer adversity？ But what else
are God's blessings and adversities than a constant urging and
stirring up to praise； honor； and bless God； and to call upon His
Name？ Now if you had nothing else at all to do； would you not
have enough to do with this Commandment alone； that you without
ceasing bless； sing； praise and honor God's Name？ And for what
other purpose have tongue； voice； language and mouth been
created？ As Psalm li。 says： 〃Lord； open Thou my lips； and my
mouth shall show forth Thy praise。〃 Again： 〃My tongue shall sing
aloud of Thy mercy。〃
What work is there in heaven except that of this Second
Commandment？ As it is written in Psalm Ixxxiv： 〃Blessed are they
that dwell in Thy house： they will be for ever praising Thee。〃
So also David says in Psalm xxxiv： 〃God's praise shall be
continually in my mouth。〃 And St。 Paul； I。 Corinthians x：
〃Whether therefore ye eat or drink； or whatsoever ye do； do all
to the glory of God。〃 Also Colossians iii： 〃Whatsoever ye do in
word or deed； do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus； giving thanks
to God and the Father。〃 If we were to observe this work； we would
have a heaven here on earth and always have enough to do； as have
the saints in heaven。
XX。 On this is based the wonderful and righteous judgment of God；
that at times a poor man； in whom no one can see many great
works； in the privacy of his home joyfully praises God when he
fares well； or with entire confidence calls upon Him when he
fares ill； and thereby does a greater and more acceptable work
than another； who fasts much； prays much； endows churches； makes