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first justified by faith； we ought to do all our works freely and
cheerfully for the sake of others。
St。 Paul circumcised his disciple Timothy； not because he needed
circumcision for his justification； but that he might not offend
or contemn those Jews； weak in the faith； who had not yet been
able to comprehend the liberty of faith。 On the other hand； when
they contemned liberty and urged that circumcision was necessary
for justification； he resisted them； and would not allow Titus to
be circumcised。 For； as he would not offend or contemn any one's
weakness in faith； but yielded for the time to their will； so；
again； he would not have the liberty of faith offended or
contemned by hardened self…justifiers； but walked in a middle
path； sparing the weak for the time； and always resisting the
hardened； that he might convert all to the liberty of faith。 On
the same principle we ought to act； receiving those that are weak
in the faith； but boldly resisting these hardened teachers of
works； of whom we shall hereafter speak at more length。
Christ also； when His disciples were asked for the tribute money；
asked of Peter whether the children of a king were not free from
taxes。 Peter agreed to this； yet Jesus commanded him to go to the
sea； saying； 〃Lest we should offend them； go thou to the sea； and
cast a hook； and take up the fish that first cometh up； and when
thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt find a piece of money； that
take； and give unto them for Me and thee〃 （Matt。 xvii。 27）。
This example is very much to our purpose； for here Christ calls
Himself and His disciples free men and children of a King； in
want of nothing； and yet He voluntarily submits and pays the tax。
Just as far； then； as this work was necessary or useful to Christ
for justification or salvation； so far do all His other works or
those of His disciples avail for justification。 They are really
free and subsequent to justification； and only done to serve
others and set them an example。
Such are the works which Paul inculcated； that Christians should
be subject to principalities and powers and ready to every good
work （Titus iii。 1）； not that they may be justified by these
thingsfor they are already justified by faithbut that in
liberty of spirit they may thus be the servants of others and
subject to powers； obeying their will out of gratuitous love。
Such； too； ought to have been the works of all colleges；
monasteries； and priests； every one doing the works of his own
profession and state of life； not in order to be justified by
them； but in order to bring his own body into subjection； as an
example to others； who themselves also need to keep under their
bodies； and also in order to accommodate himself to the will of
others； out of free love。 But we must always guard most carefully
against any vain confidence or presumption of being justified；
gaining merit； or being saved by these works； this being the part
of faith alone； as I have so often said。
Any man possessing this knowledge may easily keep clear of danger
among those innumerable commands and precepts of the Pope； of
bishops； of monasteries； of churches； of princes； and of
magistrates； which some foolish pastors urge on us as being
necessary for justification and salvation； calling them precepts
of the Church； when they are not so at all。 For the Christian
freeman will speak thus： I will fast； I will pray； I will do this
or that which is commanded me by men； not as having any need of
these things for justification or salvation； but that I may thus
comply with the will of the Pope； of the bishop； of such a
community or such a magistrate； or of my neighbour as an example
to him； for this cause I will do and suffer all things； just as
Christ did and suffered much more for me； though He needed not at
all to do so on His own account； and made Himself for my sake
under the law； when He was not under the law。 And although
tyrants may do me violence or wrong in requiring obedience to
these things； yet it will not hurt me to do them； so long as they
are not done against God。
》From all this every man will be able to attain a sure judgment
and faithful discrimination between all works and laws； and to
know who are blind and foolish pastors； and who are true and good
ones。 For whatsoever work is not directed to the sole end either
of keeping under the body； or of doing service to our
neighbourprovided he require nothing contrary to the will of
Godis no good or Christian work。 Hence I greatly fear that at
this day few or no colleges； monasteries； altars； or
ecclesiastical functions are Christian ones； and the same may be
said of fasts and special prayers to certain saints。 I fear that
in all these nothing is being sought but what is already ours；
while we fancy that by these things our sins are purged away and
salvation is attained； and thus utterly do away with Christian
liberty。 This comes from ignorance of Christian faith and
liberty。
This ignorance and this crushing of liberty are diligently
promoted by the teaching of very many blind pastors； who stir up
and urge the people to a zeal for these things； praising them and
puffing them up with their indulgences； but never teaching faith。
Now I would advise you； if you have any wish to pray； to fast； or
to make foundations in churches； as they call it； to take care
not to do so with the object of gaining any advantage； either
temporal or eternal。 You will thus wrong your faith； which alone
bestows all things on you； and the increase of which； either by
working or by suffering； is alone to be cared for。 What you give；
give freely and without price； that others may prosper and have
increase from you and your goodness。 Thus you will be a truly
good man and a Christian。 For what to you are your goods and your
works； which are done over and above for the subjection of the
body； since you have abundance for yourself through your faith；
in which God has given you all things？
We give this rule： the good things which we have from God ought
to flow from one to another and become common to all； so that
every one of us may； as it were； put on his neighbour； and so
behave towards him as if he were himself in his place。 They
flowed and do flow from Christ to us； He put us on； and acted for
us as if He Himself were what we are。 From us they flow to those
who have need of them； so that my faith and righteousness ought
to be laid down before God as a covering and intercession for the
sins of my neighbour； which I am to take on myself； and so labour
and endure servitude in them； as if they were my own； for thus
has Christ done for us。 This is true love and the genuine truth
of Christian life。 But only there is it true and genuine where
there is true and genuine faith。 Hence the Apostle attributes to
charity this quality： that she seeketh not her own。
We conclude therefore that a Christian man does not live in
himself； but in Christ and in his neighbour； or else is no
Christian： in Christ by faith； in his neighbour by love。 By faith
he is carried upwards above himself to God； and by love he sinks
back below himself to his neighbour； still always…abiding in God
and His love； as Christ says； 〃Verily I say unto you； Hereafter
ye shall see heaven open； and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of man〃 （John i。 51）。
Thus much concerning liberty； which； as you see； is a true and
spiritual liberty； making our hearts free from all sins； laws；
and commandments； as Paul says； 〃The law is not made for a
righteous man〃 （1 Tim。 i。 9）； and one which surpasses all other
external liberties； as far as heaven is above earth。 May Christ
make us to understand and preserve this liberty。 Amen。
Finally； for the sake of those to whom nothing can be stated so
well but that they misunderstand and distort it； we must add a
word； in case they can understand even that。 There are very many
persons who； when they hear of this liberty of faith； straightway
turn it into an occasion of licence。 They think that everything
is now lawful for them； an