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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 such suffering trust God and retain a good； firm
confidence in Him； and believe that He is pleased with them；
these see in their sufferings and afflictions nothing but
precious merits and the rarest possessions； the value of which
no one can estimate。 For faith and confidence make precious
before God all that which others think most shameful； so that it
is written even of death in Psalm cxvi； 〃Precious in the sight
of the Lord is the death of His saints。〃 And just as the
confidence and faith are better； higher and stronger at this
stage than in the first stage； so and to the same degree do the
sufferings which are borne in this faith excel all works of
faith。 Therefore between such works and sufferings there is an
immeasurable difference and the sufferings are infinitely better。
VIII。 Beyond all this is the highest stage of faith； when； God
punishes the conscience not only with temporal sufferings； but
with death； hell； and sin； and refuses grace and mercy； as though
it were His will to condemn and to be angry eternally。 This few
men experience； but David cries out in Psalm vi； 〃O Lord； rebuke
me not in Thine anger。〃 To believe at such times that God； in His
mercy； is pleased with us； is the highest work that can be done
by and in the creature； but of this the work…righteous and doers
of good works know nothing at all。 For how could they here look
for good things and grace from God； as long as they are not
certain in their works； and doubt even on the lowest step of
faith。
In this way I have； as I said； always praised faith； and rejected
all works which are done without such faith； in order thereby to
lead men from the false； pretentious； pharisaic； unbelieving good
works； with which all monastic houses； churches； homes； low and
higher classes are overfilled； and lead them to the true；
genuine； thoroughly good； believing works。 In this no one opposes
me except the unclean beasts； which do not divide the hoof； as
the Law of Moses decrees； who will suffer no distinction among
good works； but go lumbering along： if only they pray； fast；
establish endowments； go to confession； and do enough； everything
shall be good； although in all this they have had no faith in
God's grace and approval。 Indeed； they consider the works best
of all； when they have done many； great and long works without
any such confidence； and they look for good only after the works
are done； and so they build their confidence not on divine favor；
but on the works they have done； that is； on sand and water； from
which they must at last take a cruel fall； as Christ says；
Matthew vii。 This good…will and favor； on which our confidence
rests； was proclaimed by the angels from heaven； when they sang
on Christmas night： 〃Gloria in excelsis Deo； Glory to God in the
highest； peace to earth； gracious favor to man。〃
IX。 Now this is the work of the First Commandment； which
commands： 〃Thou shalt have no other gods；〃 which means： 〃Since
I alone am God； thou shalt place all thy confidence； trust and
faith on Me alone； and on no one else。〃 For that is not to have
a god； if you call him God only with your lips； or worship him
with the knees or bodily gestures； but if you trust Him with the
heart； and look to Him for all good； grace and favor； whether in
works or sufferings； in life or death； in joy or sorrow； as the
Lord Christ says to the heathen woman； John iv： 〃I say unto thee；
they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth。〃
And this faith； faithfulness； confidence deep in the heart； is
the true fulfilling of the First Commandment； without this there
is no other work that is able to satisfy this Commandment。 And
as this Commandment is the very first； highest and best； from
which all the others proceed； in which they exist； and by which
they are directed and measured； so also its work； that is； the
faith or confidence in God's favor at all times； is the very
first； highest and best； from which all others must proceed；
exist； remain； be directed and measured。 Compared with this；
other works are just as if the other Commandments were without
the First； and there were no God； Therefore St。 Augustine well
says that the works of the First Commandment are faith； hope and
love。 As I said above； such faith and confidence bring love and
hope with them。 Nay； if we see it aright； love is the first； or
comes at the same instant with faith。 For I could not trust God；
if I did not think that He wished to be favorable and to love me；
which leads me； in turn； to love Him and to trust Him heartily
and to look to Him for all good things。
X。 Now you see for yourself that all those who do not at at all
times trust God and do not in all their works or sufferings； life
and death； trust in His favor； grace and good…will； but seek His
favor in other things or in themselves； do not keep this
Commandment； and practise real idolatry； even if they were to do
the works of all the other Commandments； and in addition had all
the prayers； fasting； obedience； patience； chastity； and
innocence of all the saints combined。 For the chief work is not
present； without which all the others are nothing but mere sham；
show and pretence； with nothing back of them； against which
Christ warns us； Matthew vii： 〃Beware of false prophets； which
come to you in sheep's clothing。〃 Such are all who wish with
their many good works； as they say； to make God favorable to
themselves； and to buy God's grace from Him； as if He were a
huckster or a day…laborer； unwilling to give His grace and favor
for nothing。 These are the most perverse people on earth； who
will hardly or never be converted to the right way。 Such too are
all who in adversity run hither and thither； and look for counsel
and help everywhere except from God； from Whom they are most
urgently commanded to seek it； whom the Prophet Isaiah reproves
thus； Isaiah ix： 〃The mad people turneth not to Him that smiteth
them〃； that is； God smote them and sent them sufferings and all
kinds of adversity； that they should run to Him and trust Him。
But they run away from Him to men； now to Egypt； now to Assyria；
perchance also to the devil； and of such idolatry much is written
in the same Prophet and in the Books of the Kings。 This is also
the way of all holy hypocrites when they are in trouble： they do
not run to God； but flee from Him； and only think of how they may
get rid of their trouble through their own efforts or through
human help； and yet they consider themselves and let others
consider them pious people。
XI。 This is what St。 Paul means in many places； where he ascribes
so much to faith； that he says： Justus ex fide sua vivit； 〃the
righteous man draws his life out of his faith；〃 and faith is that
because of which he is counted righteous before God。 If
righteousness consists o