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pamphletst and German sermons for the unlearned laity； this shall
not disturb me。 Would to God I had in all my life； with all the
ability I have； helped one layman to be better！ I would be
satisfied； thank God； and be quite willing then to let all my
little books perish。
Whether the making of many great books is an art and a benefit
to the Church； I leave others to judge。 But I believe that if I
were minded to make great books according to their art； I could；
with God's help； do it more readily perhaps than they could
prepare a little discourse after my fashion。 If accomplishment
were as easy as persecution； Christ would long since have been
cast out of heaven again； and God's throne itself overturned。
Although we cannot all be writers； we all want to be critics。
I will most gladly leave to any one else the honor of greater
things； and not be at all ashamed to preach and to write in
German for the unlearned laymen。 Although I too have little skill
in it； I believe that if we had hitherto done； and should
henceforth do more of it； Christendom would have reaped no small
advantage； and have been more bene fited by this than by the
great； deep books and quaestiones； which are used only in the
schools； among the learned。
Then； too； I have never forced or begged any one to hear me； or
to read my sermons。 I have freely ministered in the Church of
that which God has given me and which I owe the Church。 Whoever
likes it not； may hear and read what others have to say。 And if
they are not willing to be my debtors； it matters little。 For me
it is enough； and even more than too much； that some laymen
condescend to read what I say。 Even though there were nothing
else to urge me； it should be more than sufficient that I have
learned that your princely Grace is pleased with such German
books and is eager to receive instruction in Good Works and the
Faith； with which instruction it was my duty； humbly and with all
diligence to serve you。
Therefore； in dutiful humility I pray that your princely Grace
may accept this offering of mine with a gracious mind； until； if
God grant me time； I prepare a German exposition of the Faith in
its entirety。 For at this time I have wished to show how in all
good works we should practice and make use of faith； and let
faith be the chief work。 If God permit； I will treat at another
time of the Faith itself how we are daily to pray or recite
it。
I humbly commend myself herewith to your princely Grace； Your
Princely Grace's Humble Chaplain；
DR。 MARTIN LUTHER。
From Wittenberg； March 29th； A。 D。 1520。
THE TREATISE
I。 We ought first to know that there are no good works except
those which God has commanded； even as there is no sin except
that which God has forbidden。 Therefore whoever wishes to know
and to do good works needs nothing else than to know God's
commandments。 Thus Christ says； Matthew xix； 〃If thou wilt enter
into life； keep the commandments。〃 And when the young man asks
Him； Matthew xix； what he shall do that he may inherit eternal
life； Christ sets before him naught else but the Ten
Commandments。 Accordingly； we must learn how to distinguish among
good works from the Commandments of God； and not from the
appearance； the magnitude； or the number of the works themselves；
nor from the judgment of men or of human law or custom； as we see
has been done and still is done； because we are blind and despise
the divine Commandments。
II。 The first and highest； the most precious of all good works
is faith in Christ； as He says； John vi。 When the Jews asked Him：
〃What shall we do that we may work the works of God？〃 He
answered： 〃This is the work of God； that ye believe on Him Whom
He hath sent。〃 When we hear or preach this word； we hasten over
it and deem it a very little thing and easy to do； whereas we
ought here to pause a long time and to ponder it well。 For in
this work all good works must be done and receive from it the
inflow of their goodness； like a loan。 This we must put bluntly；
that men may understand it。
We find many who pray； fast； establish endowments； do this or
that； lead a good life before men； and yet if you should ask them
whether they are sure that what they do pleases God； they say；
〃No〃； they do not know； or they doubt。 And there are some very
learned men； who mislead them； and say that it is not necessary
to be sure of this； and yet； on the other hand； these same men
do nothing else but teach good works。 Now all these works are
done outside of faith； therefore they are nothing and altogether
dead。 For as their conscience stands toward God and as it
believes； so also are the works which grow out of it。 Now they
have no faith； no good conscience toward God； therefore the works
lack their head； and all their life and goodness is nothing。
Hence it comes that when I exalt faith and reject such works done
without faith； they accuse me of forbidding good works； when in
truth I am trying hard to teach real good works of faith。
III。 If you ask further； whether they count it also a good work
when they work at their trade； walk； stand； eat； drink； sleep；
and do all kinds of works for the nourishment of the body or for
the common welfare； and whether they believe that God takes
pleasure in them because of such works； you will find that they
say； 〃No〃； and they define good works so narrowly that they are
made to consist only of praying in church； fasting； and
almsgiving。 Other works they consider to be in vain； and think
that God cares nothing for them。 So through their damnable
unbelief they curtail and lessen the service of God； Who is
served by all things whatsoever that are done； spoken or thought
in faith。
So teaches Ecclesiastes ix： 〃Go thy way with joy； eat and drink；
and know that God accepteth thy works。 Let thy garments be always
white； and let thy head lack no ointment。 Live joyfully with the
wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity。〃
〃Let thy garments be always white；〃 that is； let all our works
be good； whatever they may be； without any distinction。 And they
are white when I am certain and believe that they please God。
Then shall the head of my soul never lack the ointment of a
joyful conscience。
So Christ says； John viii： 〃I do always those things that please
Him。〃 And St。 John says； I。 John iii： 〃Hereby we know that we are
of the truth； if we can comfort our hearts before Him and have
a good confidence。 And if our heart condemns or frets us； God is
greater than our heart； and we have confidence； that whatsoever
we ask； we shall receive of Him； because we keep His
Commandments； and do those things that are pleasing in His
sight。〃 Again： 〃Whosoever is born of God； that is； whoever
believes and trusts God； doth not commit sin； and cannot sin。〃
Again； Psalm xxxiv： 〃None of them that trust in Him shall do
sin。〃 And in Psalm ii： 〃Blessed are all they that put their trust
in Hi