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spiritual and many times worse Turks； these are themselves the
very princes and leaders of such Turks and of the devil host；
just as Judas was the leader of the Jews when they took Christ。
It had to be an apostle； a bishop； a priest； one of the number
of the best； who began the work of slaying Christ。 So also must
Christendom be laid waste by no others than those who ought to
protect it； and yet are so insane that they are ready to eat up
the Turks and at home themselves set house and sheep…cote on fire
and let them burn up with the sheep and all other contents； and
none the less worry about the wolf in the woods。 Such are our
times； and this is the reward we have earned by our ingratitude
toward the endless grace which Christ has won for us freely with
His precious blood； grievous labor and bitter death。
XVI。 Lo！ where are the idle ones； who do not know how to do good
works？ Where are they who run to Rome； to St。 James； hither and
thither？ Take up this one single work of the mass； look on your
neighbor's sin and ruin； and have pity on him； let it grieve you；
tell it to God； and pray over it。 Do the same for every other
need of Christendom； especially of the rulers； whom God； for the
intolerable punishment and torment of us all； allows to fall and
be misled so terribly。 If you do this diligently； be assured you
are one of the best fighters and captains； not only against the
Turks； but also against the devils and the powers of hell。 But
if you do it not； what would it help you though you performed all
the miracles of the saints； and murdered all the Turks； and yet
were found guilty of having disregarded your neighbor's need and
of having thereby sinned against love？ For Christ at the last day
will not ask how much you have prayed； fasted； pilgrimaged； done
this or that for yourself； but how much good you have done to
others； even the very least。
Now without doubt among the 〃least〃 are also those who are in sin
and spiritual poverty； captivity and need； of whom there are at
present far more than of those who suffer bodily need。 Therefore
take heed： our own self…assumed good works lead us to and into
ourselves； that we seek only our own benefit and salvation； but
God's commandments drive us to our neighbor； that we may thereby
benefit others to their salvation。 Just as Christ on the Cross
prayed not for Himself alone； but rather for us； when He said；
〃Father； forgive them； fort they know not what they do；〃 so we
also must pray for one another。 From which every man may know
that the slanderers； frivolous judges and despisers of other
people are a perverted； evil race； who do nothing else than heap
abuse on those for whom they ought to pray； in which vice no one
is sunk so deep as those very men who do many good works of their
own； and seem to men to be something extraordinary； and are
honored because of their beautiful； splendid life in manifold
good works。
XVII。 Spiritually understood； this Commandment has a yet far
higher work； which embraces the whole nature of man。 Here it must
be known that in Hebrew 〃 Sabbath 〃 means 〃 rest；〃 because on the
seventh day God rested and ceased from all His works； which He
had made。 Genesis ii。 Therefore He commanded also that the
seventh day should be kept holy and that we cease from our works
which we do the other six days。 This Sabbath has now for us been
changed into the Sunday； and the other days are called work…days；
the Sunday is called rest…day or holiday or holy day。 And would
to God that in Christendom there were no holiday except the
Sunday； that the festivals of Our Lady and of the Saints were all
transferred to Sunday； then would many evil vices be done away
with through the labor of the work…days； and lands would not be
so drained and impoverished。 But now we are plagued with many
holidays； to the destruction of souls； bodies and goods； of which
matter much might be said。
This rest or ceasing from labors is of two kinds； bodily and
spiritual。 For this reason this Commandment is also to be
understood in two ways。
The bodily rest is that of which we have spoken above； namely；
that we omit our business and work； in order that we may gather
in the church； see mass； hear God's Word and make common prayer。
This rest is indeed bodily and in Christendom no longer commanded
by God； as the Apostle says； Colossians ii； 〃Let no man obligate
you to any holiday whatever〃 for they were of old a figure；
but now the truth has been fulfilled； so that all days are holy
days； as Isaiah says； chapter lxvi； 〃One holy day shall follow
the other〃； on the other hand； all days are workdays。 Yet it is
a necessity and ordained by the Church for the sake of the
imperfect laity and working people； that they also may be able
to come to hear God's Word。 For； as we see； the priests and
clergy celebrate mass every day； pray at all hours and train
themselves in God's Word by study； reading and hearing。 For this
reason also they are freed from work before others； supported by
tithes and have holy…day every day； and every day do the works
of the holy…day； and have no work…day； but for them one day is
as the other。 And if we were all perfect； and knew the Gospel；
we might work every day if we wished； or rest if we could。 For
a day of rest is at present not necessary nor commanded except
only for the teaching of God's Word and prayer。
The spiritual rest； which God particularly intends in this
Commandment； is this： that we not only cease from our labor and
trade； but much more； that we let God alone work in us and that
we do nothing of our own with all our powers。 But how is this
done？ In this way： Man； corrupted by sin； has much wicked love
and inclination toward all sins； as the Scriptures say； Genesis
viii； 〃Man's heart and senses incline always to the evil；〃 that
is； to pride； disobedience； anger； hatred； covetousness；
unchastity； etc。； and summa summarum； in all that he does and
leaves undone； he seeks his own profit； will and honor rather
than God's and his neighbor's。 Therefore all his works； all his
words； all his thoughts； all his life are evil and not godly。
Now if God is to work and to live in him； all this vice and
wickedness must be choked and up…rooted； so that there may be
rest and a cessation of all our works； thoughts and life； and
that henceforth （as St。 Paul says； Galatians ii。） it may be no
longer we who live； but Christ Who lives； works and speaks in us。
This is not accomplished with comfortable； pleasant days； but
here we must hurt our nature and let it be hurt。 Here begins the
strife between the spirit and the flesh； here the spirit resists
anger； lust； pride； while the flesh wants to be in pleasure；
honor and comfort。 Of this St。 Paul says； Galatians v； 〃They that
are our Lord Christ's have crucified the flesh with its
affections and lusts。〃 Then follow the good works； fasting；
watching； labor； of which some say and write so much； altho