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Psalm xci； 〃A thousand shall fall on the left hand and ten
thousand on the right hand。〃
So too we see in broad day； in all men's daily experience； that
more heinous sins and vice occur when there is peace； when all
things are cheap and there are good times； than when war；
pestilence； sicknesses and all manner of misfortune burden us；
so that Moses also fears for his people； lest they forsake God's
commandment for no other reason than because they are too full；
too well provided for and have too much peace； as he says；
Deuteronomy xxxii 〃My people is waxed rich； full and fat；
therefore has it forsaken its God。〃 Wherefore also God let many
of its enemies remain and would not drive them out； in order that
they should not have peace and must exercise themselves in the
keeping of God's commandments； as it is written； Judges iii。 So
He deals with us also； when He sends us all kinds of misfortune：
so exceedingly careful is He of us； that He may teach us and
drive us to honor and call upon His Name； to gain confidence and
faith toward Him； and so to fulfil the first two Commandments。
XXVI。 Here foolish men run into danger； and especially the
work…righteous saints； and those who want to be more than others；
they teach men to make the sign of the cross； one arms himself
with letters； another runs to the fortunetellers； one seeks this；
another that； if only they may thereby escape misfortune and be
secure。 It is beyond telling what a devilish allurement attaches
to this trifling with sorcery； conjuring and superstition； all
of which is done only that men may not need God's Name and put
no trust in it。 Here great dishonor is done the Name of God and
the first two Commandments； in that men look to the devil； men
or creatures for that which should be sought and found in God
alone； through naught but a pure faith and confidence； and a
cheerful meditation of and calling upon His holy Name。
Now examine this closely for yourself and see whether this is not
a gross； mad perversion： the devil； men and creatures they must
believe； and trust to them for the best； without such faith and
confidence nothing holds or helps。 How shall the good and
faithful God reward us for not believing and trusting Him as much
or more than man and the devil； although He not only promises
help and sure assistance； but also commands us confidently to
look for it； and gives and urges all manner of reasons why we
should place such faith and confidence in Him？ Is it not
lamentable and pitiable that the devil or man； who commands
nothing and does not urge； but only promises； is set above God；
Who promises； urges and commands； and that more is thought of
them than of God Himself？ We ought truly to be ashamed of
ourselves and learn from the example of those who trust the devil
or men。 For if the devil； who is a wicked； lying spirit； keeps
faith with all those who ally themselves with him； how much more
will not the most gracious； all…truthful God keep faith； if a man
trusts Him？ Nay； is it not rather He alone Who will keep faith？
A rich man trusts and relies upon his money and possessions； and
they help him； and we are not willing to trust and rely upon the
living God； that He is willing and able to help us？ We say： Gold
makes bold； and it is true； as Baruch iii。 says； 〃Gold is a thing
wherein men trust。〃 But far greater is the courage which the
highest eternal Good gives； wherein trust； not men； but only
God's children。
XXVII。 Even if none of these adversities constrain us to call
upon God's Name and to trust Him； yet were sin alone more than
sufficient to train and to urge us on in this work。 For sin has
hemmed us in with three strong； mighty armies。 The first is our
own flesh； the second the world； the third the evil spirit； by
which three we are without ceasing oppressed and troubled；
whereby God gives us occasion to do good works without ceasing；
namely； to fight with these enemies and sins。 The flesh seeks
pleasure and peace； the world seeks riches； favor； power and
honor； the evil spirit seeks pride； glory； that a man be well
thought of； and other men be despised。
And these three are all so powerful that each one of them is
alone sufficient to fight a man； and yet there is no way we can
overcome them； except only by calling upon the holy Name of God
in a firm faith； as Solomon says； Proverbs xviii： 〃The Name of
the Lord is a strong tower； the righteous runneth into it； and
is set aloft。〃 And David； Psalm cxvi： 〃I will drink the cup of
salvation； and call upon the Name of the Lord。〃 Again； Psalm
xviii： 〃I will call upon the Lord with praise： so shall I be
saved from all mine enemies。〃 These works and the power of God's
Name have become unknown to us； because we are not accustomed to
it； and have never seriously fought with sins； and have not
needed His Name； because we are trained only in our self devised
works； which we were able to do with our own powers。
XXVIII。 Further works of this Commandment are： that we shall not
swear； curse； lie； deceive and conjure with the holy Name of God；
and otherwise misuse it； which are very simple matters and well
known to every one； being the sins which have been almost
exclusively preached and proclaimed under this Commandment。 These
also include； that we shall prevent others from making sinful use
of God's Name by lying； swearing； deceiving； cursing； conjuring；
and otherwise。 Herein again much occasion is given for doing good
and warding off evil。
But the greatest and most difficult work of this Commandment is
to protect the holy Name of God against all who misuse it in a
spiritual manner； and to proclaim it to all men。 For it is not
enough that I； for myself and in myself； praise and call upon
God's Name in prosperity and adversity。 I must step forth and for
the sake of God's honor and Name bring upon myself the enmity of
all men； as Christ said to His disciples： 〃Ye shall be hated of
all men for My Name's sake。〃 Here we must provoke to anger
father； mother； and the best of friends。 Here we must strive
against spiritual and temporal powers； and be accused of
disobedience。 Here we must stir up against us the rich； learned；
holy； and all that is of repute in the world。 And although this
is especially the duty of those who are commanded to preach God's
Word； yet every Christian is also obligated to do so when time
and place demand。 For we must for the holy Name of God risk and
give up all that we have and can do； and show by our deeds that
we love God and His Name； His honor and His praise above all
things； and trust Him above all things； and expect good from Him；
thereby confessing that we regard Him as the highest good； for
the sake of which we let go and give up all other goods。
XXIX。 Here we must first of all resist all wrong； where truth or
righteousness suffers violence or need； and dare make no
distinction of persons； as some do； who fight most actively and
bus