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This high； noble； sweet work can easily be learned； if we perform
it in faith； and as an exercise of faith。 For if faith does not
doubt the favor of God nor question that God is gracious； it will
become quite easy for a man to be gracious and favorable to his
neighbor； however much he may have sinned； for we have sinned
much more against God。 Behold； a short Commandment this； but it
presents a long； mighty exercise of good works and of faith。
Thou shalt not commit adultery。
In this Commandment too a good work is commanded； which includes
much and drives away much vice； it is called purity； or chastity；
of which much is written and preached； and it is well known to
every one； only that it is not as carefully observed and
practised as other works which are not commanded。 So ready are
we to do what is not commanded and to leave undone what is
commanded。 We see that the world is full of shameful works of
unchastity； indecent words； tales and ditties； temptation to
which is daily increased through gluttony and drunkenness；
idleness and frippery。 Yet we go our way as if we were
Christians； when we have been to church； have said our little
prayer； have observed the fasts and feasts； then we think our
whole duty is done。
Now； if no other work were commanded but chastity alone； we would
all have enough to do with this one； so perilous and raging a
vice is unchastity。 It rages in all our members： in the thoughts
of our hearts； in the seeing of our eyes； in the hearing of our
ears； in the words of our mouth； in the works of our hands and
feet and all our body。 To control all these requires labor and
effort； and thus the Commandments of God teach us how great truly
good works are； nay； that it is impossible for us of our own
strength to conceive a good work； to say nothing of attempting
or doing it。 St。 Augustine says； that among all the conflicts of
the Christian the conflict of chastity is the hardest； for the
one reason alone； that it continues daily without ceasing； and
chastity seldom prevails。 This all the saints have wept over and
lamented； as St。 Paul does； Romans vii： 〃I find in me； that is
in my flesh； no good thing。〃
II。 If this work of chastity is to be permanent； it will drive
to many other good works； to fasting and temperance over against
gluttony and drunkenness； to watching and early rising over
against laziness and excessive sleep； to work and labor over
against idleness。 For gluttony； drunkenness； lying late abed；
loafing and being without work are weapons of unchastity； with
which chastity is quickly overcome。 On the other hand； the holy
Apostle Paul calls fasting； watching and labor godly weapons；
with which unchastity is mastered； but； as has been said above；
these exercises must do no more than overcome unchastity； and not
pervert nature。
Above all this； the strongest defence is prayer and the Word of
God； namely； that when evil lust stirs； a man flee to prayer；
call upon God's mercy and help； read and meditate on the Gospel；
and in it consider Christ's sufferings。 Thus says Psalm cxxxvii：
〃Happy shall he be； that taketh and dasheth the little ones of
Babylon against the rock；〃 that is； if the heart runs to the Lord
Christ with its evil thoughts while they are yet young and just
beginning； for Christ is a Rock； on which they are ground to
powder and come to naught。
See； here each one will find enough to do with himself； and more
than enough； and will be given many good works to do within
himself。 But now no one uses prayer； fasting； watching； labor for
this purpose； but men stop in these works as if they were in
themselves the whole purpose； although they should be arranged
so as to fulfil the work of this Commandment and purify us daily
more and more。
Some have also indicated more things which should be avoided；
such as soft beds and clothes； that we should avoid excessive
adornment； and neither associate nor talk with members of the
opposite sex； nor even look upon them； and whatsoever else may
be conducive to chastity。 In all these things no one can fix a
definite rule and measure。 Each one must watch himself and see
what things are needful to him for chastity； in what quantity and
how long they help him to be chaste； that he may thus choose and
observe them for himself； if he cannot do this； let him for a
time give himself up to be controlled by another； who may hold
him to such observance until he can learn to rule himself。 This
was the purpose for which the monastic houses were established
of old； to teach young people discipline and purity。
III。 In this work a good strong faith is a great help； more
noticeably so than in almost any other； so that for this reason
also Isaiah xi。 says that 〃faith is a girdle of the reins；〃 that
is； a guard of chastity。 For he who so lives that he looks to God
for all grace； takes pleasure in spiritual purity； therefore he
can so much more easily resist fleshly impurity： and in such
faith the Spirit tells him of a certainty how he shall avoid evil
thoughts and everything that is repugnant to chastity。 For as the
faith in divine favor lives without ceasing and works in all
works； so it also does not cease its admonitions in all things
that are pleasing to God or displease Him； as St。 John says in
his Epistle： 〃Ye need not that any man teach you： for the divine
anointing； that is； the Spirit of God； teacheth you of all
things。〃
Yet we must not despair if we are not soon rid of the temptation；
nor by any means imagine that we are free from it as long as we
live； and we must regard it only as an incentive and admonition
to prayer； fasting； watching； laboring； and to other exercises
for the quenching of the flesh； especially to the practice and
exercise of faith in God。 For that chastity is not precious which
is at ease； but that which is at war with unchastity； and fights；
and without ceasing drives out all the poison with which the
flesh and the evil spirit attack it。 Thus St。 Peter says； 〃I
beseech you； abstain from fleshly desires and lusts； which war
always against the soul。〃 And St。 Paul； Romans vi； 〃Ye shall not
obey the body in its lusts。〃 In these and like passages it is
shown that no one is without evil lust； but that everyone shall
and must daily fight against it。 But although this brings
uneasiness and pain； it is none the less a work that gives
pleasure； in which we shall have our comfort and satisfaction。
For they who think they make an end of temptation by yielding to
it； only set themselves on fire the more； and although for a time
it is quiet； it comes again with more strength another time； and
finds the nature weaker than before。
Thou shalt not steal。
This Commandment also has a work； which embraces very many good
works； and is opposed to many vices； and is called in German
Mildigkeit； 〃benevolence；〃 which is a work ready to help and
serve every one with one's goods。 And it f