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sin。〃 And in Psalm ii： 〃Blessed are all they that put their trust
in Him。〃 If this be true； then all that they do must be good； or
the evil that they do must be quickly forgiven。 Behold； then； why
I exalt faith so greatly； draw all works into it； and reject all
works which do not flow from it。
IV。 Now every one can note and tell for himself when he does what
is good or what is not good； for if he finds his heart confident
that it pleases God； the work is good； even if it were so small
a thing as picking up a straw。 If confidence is absent； or if he
doubts； the work is not good； although it should raise all the
dead and the man should give himself to be burned。 This is the
teaching of St。 Paul； Romans xiv： 〃Whatsoever is not done of or
in faith is sin。〃 Faith； as the chief work； and no other work；
has given us the name of 〃believers on Christ。〃 For all other
works a heathen； a Jew； a Turk； a sinner； may also do； but to
trust firmly that he pleases God； is possible only for a
Christian who is enlightened and strengthened by grace。
That these words seem strange； and that some call me a heretic
because of them； is due to the fact that men have followed blind
reason and heathen ways； have set faith not above； but beside
other virtues； and have given it a work of its own； apart from
all works of the other virtues； although faith alone makes all
other works good； acceptable and worthy； in that it trusts God
and does not doubt that for it all things that a man does are
well done。 Indeed； they have not let faith remain a work； but
have made a habitus of it； as they say； although Scripture gives
the name of a good； divine work to no work except to faith alone。
Therefore it is no wonder that they have become blind and leaders
of the blind。 And this faith brings with it at once love； peace；
joy and hope。 For God gives His Spirit at once to him who trusts
Him； as St。 Paul says to the Galatians： 〃You received the Spirit
not because of your good works； but when you believed the Word
of God。〃
V。 In this faith all works become equal； and one is like the
other； all distinctions between works fall away； whether they be
great； small； short； long； few or many。 For the works are
acceptable not for their own sake； but because of the faith which
alone is； works and lives in each and every work without
distinction； however numerous and various they are； just as all
the members of the body live； work and have their name from the
head； and without the head no member can live； work and have a
name。
From which it further follows that a Christian who lives in this
faith has no need of a teacher of good works； but whatever he
finds to do he does； and all is well done； as Samuel said to
Saul： 〃The Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee； and thou shalt
be turned into another man； then do thou as occasion serves thee；
for God is with thee。〃 So also we read of St。 Anna； Samuel's
mother： 〃When she believed the priest Eli who promised her God's
grace； she went home in joy and peace； and from that time no more
turned hither and thither；〃 that is； whatever occurred； it was
all one to her。 St。 Paul also says： 〃Where the Spirit of Christ
is； there all is free。〃 For faith does not permit itself to be
bound to any work； nor does it allow any work to be taken from
it； but； as the First Psalm says； 〃He bringeth forth his fruit
in his season；〃 that is； as a matter of course。
VI。 This we may see in a common human example。 When a man and a
woman love and are pleased with each other； and thoroughly
believe in their love； who teaches them how they are to behave；
what they are to do； leave undone； say； not say； think？
Confidence alone teaches them all this； and more。 They make no
difference in works： they do the great； the long； the much； as
gladly as the small； the short； the little； and vice versa； and
that too with joyful； peaceful； confident hearts； and each is a
free companion of the other。 But where there is a doubt； search
is made for what is best； then a distinction of works is imagined
whereby a man may win favor； and yet he goes about it with a
heavy heart； and great disrelish； he is； as it were； taken
captive； more than half in despair； and often makes a fool of
himself。
So a Christian who lives in this confidence toward God； a knows
all things； can do all things； undertakes all things that are to
be done； and does everything cheerfully and freely； not that he
may gather many merits and good works； but because it is a
pleasure for him to please God thereby； and he serves God purely
for nothing； content that his service pleases God。 On the other
hand； he who is not at one with God； or doubts； hunts and worries
in what way he may do enough and with many works move God。 He
runs to St。 James of Compostella； to Rome； to Jerusalem； hither
and yon； prays St。 Bridget's prayer and the rest； fasts on this
day and on that； makes confession here； and makes confession
there； questions this man and that； and yet finds no peace。 He
does all this with great effort； despair and disrelish of heart；
so that the Scriptures rightly call such works in Hebrew Avenama；
that is； labor and travail。 And even then they are not good
works； and are all lost。 Many have been crazed thereby； their
fear has brought them into all manner of misery。 Of these it is
written； Wisdom of Solomon v： 〃We have wearied ourselves in the
wrong way； and have gone through deserts； where there lay no way；
but as for the way of the Lord； we have not known it； and the sun
of righteousness rose not upon us。〃
VII。 In these works faith is still slight and weak； let us ask
further； whether they believe that they are well…pleasing to God
when they suffer in body； property； honor； friends； or whatever
they have； and believe that God of His mercy appoints their
sufferings and difficulties for them； whether they be small or
great。 This is real strength； to trust in God when to all our
senses and reason He appears to be angry； and to have greater
confidence in Him than we feel。 Here He is hidden； as the bride
says in the Song of Songs： 〃Behold he standeth behind our wall；
he looketh forth at the windows〃； that is； He stands hidden among
the sufferings； which would separate us from Him like a wall；
yea； like a wall of stone； and yet He looks upon me and does not
leave me； for He is standing and is ready graciously to help； and
through the window of dim faith He permits Himself to be seen。
And Jeremiah says in Lamentations； 〃He casts off men； but He does
it not willingly。〃
This faith they do not know at all； and give up； thinking that
God has forsaken them and is become their enemy； they even lay
the blame of their ills on men and devils； and have no confidence
at all in God。 For this reason； too； their suffering is always
an offence and harmful to them； and yet they go and do some good
works； as they think； and are not aware of their unbelief。 But
they who in