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because of which he is counted righteous before God。 If
righteousness consists of faith； it is clear that faith fulfils
all commandments and makes all works righteous； since no one is
justified except he keep all the commands of God。 Again； the
works can justify no one before God without faith。 So utterly and
roundly does the Apostle reject works and praise faith； that some
have taken offence at his words and say： 〃Well； then； we will do
no more good works；〃 although he condemns such men as erring and
foolish。
So men still do。 When we reject the great； pretentious works of
our time； which are done entirely without faith； they say： Men
are only to believe and not to do anything good。 For nowadays
they say that the works of the First Commandment are singing；
reading； organ…playing； reading the mass； saying matins and
vespers and the other hours； the founding and decorating of
churches； altars； and monastic houses； the gathering of bells；
jewels； garments； trinkets and treasures； running to Rome and to
the saints。 Further； when we are dressed up and bow； kneel； pray
the rosary and the Psalter； and all this not before an idol； but
before the holy cross of God or the pictures of His saints： this
we call honoring and worshiping God； and； according to the First
Commandment； 〃having no other gods〃； although these things
usurers； adulterers and all manner of sinners can do too； and do
them daily。
Of course； if these things are done with such faith that we
believe that they please God； then they are praiseworthy； not
because of their virtue； but because of such faith； for which all
works are of equal value； as has been said。 But if we doubt or
do not believe that God is gracious to us and is pleased with us；
or if we presumptuously expect to please Him only through and
after our works； then it is all pure deception； outwardly
honoring God； but inwardly setting up self as a false god。 This
is the reason why I have so often spoken against the display；
magnificence and multitude of such works and have rejected them；
because it is as clear as day that they are not only done in
doubt or without faith； but there is not one in a thousand who
does not set his confidence upon the works； expecting by them to
win God's favor and anticipate His grace； and so they make a fair
of them； a thing which God cannot endure； since He has promised
His grace freely； and wills that we begin by trusting that grace；
and in it perform all works； whatever they may be。
XII。 Note for yourself； then； how far apart these two are：
keeping the First Commandment with outward works only； and
keeping it with inward trust。 For this last makes true； living
children of God； the other only makes worse idolatry and the most
mischievous hypocrites on earth； who with their apparent
righteousness lead unnumbered people into their way； and yet
allow them to be without faith； so that they are miserably
misled； and are caught in the pitiable babbling and mummery。 Of
such Christ says； Matthew xxiv： 〃Beware； if any man shall say
unto you； Lo； here is Christ； or there〃； and John iv： 〃I say unto
thee； the hour cometh； when ye shall neither in this mountain nor
yet at Jerusalem worship God； for the Father seeketh spiritual
worshipers。〃
These and similar passages have moved me and ought to move
everyone to reject the great display of bulls； seals； flags；
indulgences； by which the poor folk are led to build churches；
to give； to endow； to pray； and yet faith is not mentioned； and
is even suppressed。 For since faith knows no distinction among
works； such exaltation and urging of one work above another
cannot exist beside faith。 For faith desires to be the only
service of God； and will grant this name and honor to no other
work； except in so far as faith imparts it； as it does when the
work is done in faith and by faith。 This perversion is indicated
in the Old Testament； when the Jews left the Temple and
sacrificed at other places； in the green parks and on the
mountains。 This is what these men also do： they are zealous to
do all works； but this chief work of faith they regard not at
all。
XIII。 Where now are they who ask； what works are good； what they
shall do； how they shall be religious？ Yes； and where are they
who say that when we preach of faith； we shall neither teach nor
do works？ Does not this First Commandment give us more work to
do than any man can do？ If a man were a thousand men； or all men；
or all creatures； this Commandment would yet ask enough of him；
and more than enough； since he is commanded to live and walk at
all times in faith and confidence toward God； to place such faith
in no one else； and so to have only one； the true God； and none
other。
Now； since the being and nature of man cannot for an instant be
without doing or not doing something； enduring or running away
from something （for； as we see； life never rests）； let him who
will be pious and filled with good works； begin and in all his
life and works at all times exercise himself in this faith； let
him learn to do and to leave undone all things in such continual
faith； then will he find how much work he has to do； and how
completely all things are included in faith； how he dare never
grow idle； because his very idling must be the exercise and work
of faith。 In brief； nothing can be in or about us and nothing can
happen to us but that it must be good and meritorious； if we
believe （as we ought） that all things please God。 So says St。
Paul： 〃Dear brethren； all that ye do； whether ye eat or drink；
do all in the Name of Jesus Christ； our Lord。〃 Now it cannot be
done in this Name except it be done in this faith。 Likewise；
Romans vii： 〃We know that all things work together for good to
the saints of God。〃
Therefore； when some say that good works are forbidden when we
preach faith alone； it is as if I said to a sick man： 〃If you had
health； you would have the use of all your limbs； but without
health； the works of all your limbs are nothing〃； and he wanted
to infer that I had forbidden the works of all his limbs；
whereas； on the contrary； I meant that he must first have health；
which will work all the works of all the members。 So faith also
must be in all works the master…workman and captain； or they are
nothing at all。
XIV。 You might say： 〃Why then do we have so many laws of the
Church and of the State； and many ceremonies of churches；
monastic houses； holy places； which urge and tempt men to good
works； if faith does all things through the First Commandment？〃
I answer： Simply because we do not all have faith or do not heed
it。 If every man had faith； we would need no more laws； but every
one would of himself at all times do good works； as his
confidence in God teaches him。
But now there are four kinds of men： the first； just mentioned；
who need no law； of whom St。 Paul says； I。 Timothy i； 〃The law
is not made for a righteous man；〃 that is；