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righteousness suffers violence or need； and dare make no
distinction of persons； as some do； who fight most actively and
busily against the wrong which is done to the rich； the powerful；
and their own friends； but when it is done to the poor； or the
despised or their own enemy； they are quiet and patient。 These
see the Name and the honor of God not as it is； but through a
painted glass； and measure truth or righteousness according to
the persons； and do not consider their deceiving eye； which looks
more on the person than on the thing。 These are hypocrites within
and have only the appearance of defending the truth。 For they
well know that there is no danger when one helps the rich； the
powerful； the learned and one's own friends； and can in turn
enjoy their protection and be honored by them。
Thus it is very easy to fight against the wrong which is done to
popes； kings； princes； bishops and other big…wigs。 Here each
wants to be the most pious； where there is no great need。 O how
sly is here the deceitful Adam with his demand； how finely does
he cover his greed of profit with the name of truth and
righteousness and God's honor！ But when something happens to a
poor and insignificant man； there the deceitful eye does not find
much profit； but cannot help seeing the disfavor of the powerful；
therefore he lets the poor man remain unhelped。 And who could
tell the extent of this vice in Christendom？ God says in the
lxxxii。 Psalm； 〃How long will ye judge unjustly； and accept the
persons of the wicked？ Judge the matter of the poor and
fatherless； demand justice for the poor and needy； deliver the
poor and rid the forsaken out of the hand of the wicked。〃 But it
is not done； and therefore the text continues： 〃They know not；
neither will they understand； they walk on in darkness〃； that is；
the truth they do not see； but they stop at the reputation of the
great； however unrighteous they are； and do not consider the
poor； however righteous they are。
XXX。 See； here would be many good works。 For the greater portion
of the powerful； rich and friends do injustice and oppress the
poor； the lowly； and their own opponents； and the greater the
men； the worse the deeds； and where we cannot by force prevent
it and help the truth； we should at least confess it； and do what
we can with words； not take the part of the unrighteous； not
approve them； but speak the truth boldly。
What would it help a man if he did all manner of good； made
pilgrimages to Rome and to all holy places； acquired all
indulgences； built all churches and endowed houses； if he were
found guilty of sin against the Name and honor of God； not
speaking of them and neglecting them； and regarding his
possessions； honor； favor and friends more than the truth （which
is God's Name and honor）？ Or who is he； before whose door and
into whose house such good works do not daily come； so that he
would have no need to travel far or to ask after good works？ And
if we consider the life of men； how in every place men act so
very rashly and lightly in this respect； we must cry out with the
prophet； Omnis homo mendax； 〃All men are liars； lie and deceive〃；
for the real good works they neglect； and adorn and paint
themselves with the most insignificant； and want to be pious； to
mount to heaven in peaceful security。
But if you should say： 〃Why does not God do it alone and Himself；
since He can and knows how to help each one？〃 Yes； He can do it；
but He does not want to do it alone； He wants us to work with
Him； and does us the honor to want to work His work with us and
through us。 And if we are not willing to accept such honor； He
will； after all； perform the work alone； and help the poor； and
those who were unwilling to help Him and have despised the great
honor of doing His work； He will condemn with the unrighteous；
because they have made common cause with the unrighteous。 Just
as He alone is blessed； but He wants to do us the honor and not
be alone in His blessedness； but have us to be blessed with Him。
And if He were to do it alone； His Commandments would be given
us in vain； because no one would have occasion to exercise
himself in the great works of these Commandments； and no one
would test himself to see whether he regards God and His Name as
the highest good； and for His sake risks everything。
XXXI。 It also belongs to this work to resist all false；
seductive； erroneous； heretical doctrines； every misuse of
spiritual power。 Now this is much higher； for these use the holy
Name of God itself to fight against the Name of God。 For this
reason it seems a great thing and a dangerous to resist them；
because they assert that he who resists them resists God and all
His saints； in whose place they sit and whose power they use；
saying that Christ said of them； 〃He that heareth you； heareth
Me； and he that despiseth you； despiseth Me。〃 On which words they
lean heavily； become insolent and bold to say； to do； and to
leave undone what they please； put to the ban； accurse； rob；
murder； and practise all their wickedness； in whatever way they
please and can invent； without any hindrance。
Now Christ did not mean that we should listen to them in
everything they might say and do； but only then when they present
to us His Word； the Gospel； not their word； His work； and not
their work。 How else could we know whether their lies and sins
were to be avoided？ There must be some rule； to what extent we
are to hear and to follow them； and this rule cannot be given by
them； but must be established by God over them； that it may serve
us as a guide； as we shall hear in the Fourth Commandment。
It must be； indeed； that even in the spiritual estate the greater
part preach false doctrine and misuse spiritual power； so that
thus occasion may be given us to do the works of this
Commandment； and that we be tried； to see what we are willing to
do and to leave undone against such blasphemers for the sake of
God's honor。
Oh； if we were God…fearing in this matter； how often would the
knaves of officiales have to decree their papal and episcopal ban
in vain！ How weak the Roman thunderbolts would become！ How often
would many a one have to hold his tongue； to whom the world must
now give ear！ How few preachers would be found in Christendom！
But it has gotten the upper hand： whatever they assert and in
whatever way； that must be right。 Here no one fights for God's
Name and honor； and I hold that no greater or more frequent sin
is done in external works than under this head。 It is a matter
so high that few understand it； and； besides； adorned with God's
Name and power； dangerous to touch。 But the prophets of old were
masters in this； also the apostles； especially St。 Paul； who did
not allow it to trouble them whether the highest or the lowest
priest had said it； or had done it in God's Name or in his own。
They looked on the works and words； and held them up to God's
Commandment； no