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prohibited。 I have spoken at greater length of this Commandment
in the Treatise on Usury。
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor。
This Commandment seems small； and yet is so great； that he who
would rightly keep it must risk and imperil life and limb； goods
and honor； friends and all that he has； and yet it includes no
more than the work of that small member； the tongue； and is
called in German Wahrheit sagen； 〃telling the truth〃 and； where
there is need； gainsaying lies； so that it forbids many evil
works of the tongue。 First： those which are committed by
speaking； and those which are committed by keeping silent。 By
speaking； when a man has an unjust law…suit； and wants to prove
and maintain his case by a false argument； catch his neighbor
with subtilty； produce everything that strengthens and furthers
his own cause； and withhold and discount everything that furthers
his neighbor's good cause； in doing which he does not do to his
neighbor as he would have his neighbor do to him。 This some men
do for the sake of gain； some to avoid loss or shame； thereby
seeking their own advantage more than God's Commandment； and
excuse themselves by saying： Vigilanti jura subveniunt； 〃the law
helps him who watches〃； just as if it were not as much their duty
to watch for their neighbor's cause as for their own。 Thus they
intentionally allow their neighbor's cause to be lost； although
they know that it is just。 This evil is at present so common that
I fear no court is held and no suit tried but that one side sins
against this Commandment。 And even when they cannot accomplish
it； they yet have the unrighteous spirit and will； so that they
would wish the neighbor's just cause to be lost and their unjust
cause to prosper。 This sin is most frequent when the opponent is
a prominent man or an enemy。 For a man wants to revenge himself
on his enemy： but the ill will of a man of prominence he does not
wish to bring upon himself； and then begins the flattering and
fawning； or； on the other hand； the withholding of the truth。
Here no one is willing to run the risk of disfavor and
displeasure； loss and danger for the truth's sake； and so God's
Commandment must perish。 And this is almost universally the way
of the world。 He who would keep this Commandment； would have both
hands full doing only those good works which concern the tongue。
And then； how many are there who allow themselves to be silenced
and swerved aside from the truth by presents and gifts！ so that
in all places it is truly a high； great； rare work； not to be a
false witness against one's neighbor。
II。 There is a second bearing of witness to the truth； which is
still greater； with which we must fight against the evil spirits；
and this concerns not temporal matters； but the Gospel and the
truth of faith； which the evil spirit has at no time been able
to endure； and always so manages that the great among men； whom
it is hard to resist； must oppose and persecute it。 Of which it
is written in Psalm lxxxii； 〃Rid the poor out of the hand of the
wicked； and help the forsaken to maintain his just cause。〃
Such persecution； it is true； has now become infrequent； but that
is the fault of the spiritual prelates； who do not stir up the
Gospel； but let it perish； and so have abandoned the very thing
because of which such witnessing and persecution should arise；
and in its place they teach us their own law and what pleases
them。 For this reason the devil also does not stir； since by
vanquishing the Gospel he has also vanquished faith in Christ；
and everything goes as he wishes。 But if the Gospel should be
stirred up and be heard again； without doubt the whole world
would be aroused and moved； and the greater portion of the kings；
princes； bishops； doctors and clergy； and all that is great；
would oppose it and rage against it； as has always happened when
the Word of God has come to light； for the world cannot endure
what comes from God。 This is proved in Christ； Who was and is the
very greatest and most precious and best of all that God has； yet
the world not only did not receive Him； but persecuted Him more
cruelly than all others who had ever come forth from God。
Therefore； as at that time； so at all times there are few who
stand by the divine truth； and imperil and risk life and limb；
goods and honor； and all that they have； as Christ has foretold：
〃Ye shall be hated of all men for My Name's sake。〃 And： 〃Many of
them shall be offended in Me。〃 Yea； if this truth were attacked
by peasants； herdsmen； stable…boys and men of no standing； who
would not be willing and able to confess it and to bear witness
to it？ But when the pope； and the bishops； together with princes
and kings attack it； all men flee； keep silent； dissemble； in
order that they may not lose goods； honor； favor and life。
III。 Why do they do this？ Because they have no faith in God； and
expect nothing good from Him。 For where such faith and confidence
are； there is also a bold； defiant； fearless heart； that ventures
and stands by the truth； though it cost life or cloak； though it
be against pope or kings； as we see that the martyrs did。 For
such a heart is satisfied and rests easy because it has a
gracious； loving God。 Therefore it despises all the favor； grace；
goods and honor of men； lets them come and go as they please； as
is written in Psalm xv： 〃He contemneth them that contemn God； and
honoreth them that fear the Lord〃； that is； the tyrants； the
mighty； who persecute the truth and despise God； he does not
fear； he does not regard them； he despiseth them； on the other
hand； those who are persecuted for the truth's sake； and fear God
more than men； to these he clings； these he defends； these he
honors； let it vex whom it may； as it is written of Moses；
Hebrews xi； that he stood by his brethren； regardless of the
mighty king of Egypt。
Lo； in this Commandment again you see briefly that faith must be
the master…workman in this work also； so that without it no one
has courage to do this work： so entirely are all works comprised
in faith； as has now been often said。 Therefore； apart from faith
all works are dead； however good the form and name they bear。 For
as no one does the work of this Commandment except he be firm and
fearless in the confidence of divine favor； so also he does no
work of any other Commandment without the same faith： thus every
one may easily by this Commandment test and weigh himself whether
he be a Christian and truly believe in Christ； and thus whether
he is doing good works or no。 Now we see how the Almighty God has
not only set our Lord Jesus Christ before us that we should
believe in Him with such confidence； but also holds before us in
Him an example of this same confidence and of such good works；
to the end that we should believe in Him； follow Him and abide
in Him forever； as He says； John xiv： 〃I am the Way； the Truth
and the Life；〃 the Way； in wh