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Mildigkeit； 〃benevolence；〃 which is a work ready to help and
serve every one with one's goods。 And it fights not only against
theft and robbery； but against all stinting in temporal goods
which men may practise toward one another： such as greed； usury；
overcharging and plating wares that sell as solid； counterfeit
wares； short measures and weights； and who could tell all the
ready； novel； clever tricks； which multiply daily in every trade；
by which every one seeks his own gain through the other's loss；
and forgets the rule which says： 〃What ye wish that others do to
you； that do ye also to them。〃 If every one kept this rule before
his eyes in his trade； business； and dealings with his neighbor；
he would readily find how he ought to buy and sell； take and
give； lend and give for nothing； promise and keep his promise；
and the like。 And when we consider the world in its doings； how
greed controls all business； we would not only find enough to do；
if we would make an honorable living before God； but also be
overcome with dread and fear for this perilous； miserable life；
which is so exceedingly overburdened； entangled and taken captive
with cares of this temporal life and dishonest seeking of gain。
II。 Therefore the Wise Man says not in vain： 〃Happy is the rich
man； who is found without blemish； who does not run after gold；
and has not set his confidence in the treasures of money。 Who is
he？ We will praise him； that he has done wondrous things in his
life。〃 As if he would say： 〃None such is found； or very few
indeed。〃 Yea； they are very few who notice and recognise such
lust for gold in themselves。 For greed has here a very beautiful；
fine cover for its shame； which is called provision for the body
and natural need； under cover of which it accumulates wealth
beyond all limits and is never satisfied； so that he who would
in this matter keep himself clean； must truly； as he says； do
miracles or wondrous things in his life。
Now see； if a man wish not only to do good works； but even
miracles； which God may praise and be pleased with； what need has
he to look elsewhere？ Let him take heed to himself； and see to
it that he run not after gold； nor set his trust on money； but
let the gold run after him； and money wait on his favor； and let
him love none of these things nor set his heart on them； then he
is the true； generous； wonderworking； happy man； as Job xxxi
says： 〃I have never yet： relied upon gold； and never yet made
gold my hope and confidence。〃 And Psalm lxii： 〃If riches
increase； set not your heart upon them。〃 So Christ also teaches；
Matthew vi； that we shall take no thought； what we shall eat and
drink and wherewithal we shall be clothed； since God cares for
this； and knows that we have need of all these things。
But some say： 〃Yes； rely upon that； take no thought； and see
whether a roasted chicken will fly into your mouth！〃 I do not say
that a man shall not labor and seek a living； but he shall not
worry； not be greedy； not despair； thinking that he will not have
enough； for in Adam we are all condemned to labor； when God says
to him； Genesis iii； 〃In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread。〃 And Job v； 〃As the birds to flying； so is man born unto
labor。〃 Now the birds fly without worry and greed； and so we also
should labor without worry and greed； but if you do worry and are
greedy； wishing that the roasted chicken fly into your mouth：
worry and be greedy； and see whether you will thereby fulfil
God's Commandment and be saved！
III。 This work faith teaches of itself。 For if the heart looks
for divine favor and relies upon it； how is it possible that a
man should be greedy and worry？ He must be sure beyond a doubt
that God cares for him； therefore he does not cling to money； he
uses it also with cheerful liberality for the benefit of his
neighbor； and knows well that he will have enough； however much
he may give away。 For his God； Whom he trusts； will not lie to
him nor forsake him； as it is written； Psalm xxxvii： 〃I have been
young； and now am old； never have I seen a believing man； who
trusts God； that is a righteous man； forsaken； or his child
begging bread。〃 Therefore the Apostle calls no other sin idolatry
except covetousness； because this sin shows most plainly that it
does not trust God for anything； expects more good from its money
than from God； and； as has been said； it is by such confidence
that God is truly honored or dishonored。
And； indeed； in this Commandment it can be clearly seen how all
good works must be done in faith； for here every one most surely
feels that the cause of covetousness is distrust and the cause
of liberality is faith。 For because a man trusts God； he is
generous and does not doubt that he will always have enough； on
the other hand； a man is covetous and worries because he does not
trust God。 Now； as in this Commandment faith is the
master…workman and the doer of the good work of liberality； so
it is also in all the other Commandments； and without such faith
liberality is of no worth； but rather a careless squandering of
money。
IV。 By this we are also to know that this liberality shall extend
even to enemies and opponents。 For what manner of good deed is
that； if we are liberal only to our friends？ As Christ teaches；
Luke vi； even a wicked man does that to another who is his
friend。 Besides； the brute beasts also do good and are generous
to their kind。 Therefore a Christian must rise higher； let his
liberality serve also the undeserving； evil…doers； enemies； and
the ungrateful； even as his heavenly Father makes His sun to rise
on good and evil； and the rain to fall on the grateful and
ungrateful。
But here it will be found how hard it is to do good works
according to God's Commandment； how nature squirms； twists and
writhes in its opposition to it； although it does the good works
of its own choice easily and gladly。 Therefore take your enemies；
the ungrateful； and do good to them； then you will find how near
you are to this Commandment or how far from it； and how all your
life you will always have to do with the practice of this work。
For if your enemy needs you and you do not help him when you can；
it is just the same as if you had stolen what belonged to him；
for you owed it to him to help him。 So says St。 Ambrose； 〃Feed
the hungry； if you do not feed him； you have； as far as you are
concerned； slain him。〃 And in this Commandment are included the
works of mercy； which Christ will require at men's hands at the
last day。
But the magistrates and cities ought to see to it that the
vagabonds； pilgrims and mendicants from foreign lands be
debarred； or at least allowed only under restrictions and rules；
so that knaves be not permitted to run at large under the guise
of mendicants； and their knavery； of which there now is much； be
prohibited。 I have spoken at greater length of this Commandment
in the Treatise on Usury。
Thou sh