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amid pleasures； so is justification by faith imperilled among
ceremonies。 Solomon says； 〃Can a man take fire in his bosom； and
his clothes not be burned？〃 （Prov。 vi。 27）。 And yet as we must
live among riches； business； honours； pleasures； feastings； so
must we among ceremonies； that is among perils。 Just as infant
boys have the greatest need of being cherished in the bosoms and
by the care of girls； that they may not die； and yet； when they
are grown； there is peril to their salvation in living among
girls； so inexperienced and fervid young men require to be kept
in and restrained by the barriers of ceremonies； even were they
of iron； lest their weak minds should rush headlong into vice。
And yet it would be death to them to persevere in believing that
they can be justified by these things。 They must rather be taught
that they have been thus imprisoned； not with the purpose of
their being justified or gaining merit in this way； but in order
that they might avoid wrong…doing； and be more easily instructed
in that righteousness which is by faith； a thing which the
headlong character of youth would not bear unless it were put
under restraint。
Hence in the Christian life ceremonies are to be no otherwise
looked upon than as builders and workmen look upon those
preparations for building or working which are not made with any
view of being permanent or anything in themselves； but only
because without them there could be no building and no work。 When
the structure is completed； they are laid aside。 Here you see
that we do not contemn these preparations； but set the highest
value on them； a belief in them we do contemn； because no one
thinks that they constitute a real and permanent structure。 If
any one were so manifestly out of his senses as to have no other
object in life but that of setting up these preparations with all
possible expense； diligence； and perseverance； while he never
thought of the structure itself； but pleased himself and made his
boast of these useless preparations and props； should we not all
pity his madness and think that； at the cost thus thrown away；
some great building might have been raised？
Thus； too； we do not contemn works and ceremoniesnay； we set
the highest value on them； but we contemn the belief in works；
which no one should consider to constitute true righteousness； as
do those hypocrites who employ and throw away their whole life in
the pursuit of works； and yet never attain to that for the sake
of which the works are done。 As the Apostle says； they are 〃ever
learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth〃 （2
Tim。 iii。 7）。 They appear to wish to build； they make
preparations； and yet they never do build； and thus they continue
in a show of godliness； but never attain to its power。
Meanwhile they please themselves with this zealous pursuit； and
even dare to judge all others； whom they do not see adorned with
such a glittering display of works； while； if they had been
imbued with faith； they might have done great things for their
own and others' salvation； at the same cost which they now waste
in abuse of the gifts of God。 But since human nature and natural
reason； as they call it； are naturally superstitious； and quick
to believe that justification can be attained by any laws or
works proposed to them； and since nature is also exercised and
confirmed in the same view by the practice of all earthly
lawgivers； she can never of her own power free herself from this
bondage to works； and come to a recognition of the liberty of
faith。
We have therefore need to pray that God will lead us and make us
taught of God； that is； ready to learn from God； and will
Himself； as He has promised； write His law in our hearts；
otherwise there is no hope for us。 For unless He himself teach us
inwardly this wisdom hidden in a mystery； nature cannot but
condemn it and judge it to be heretical。 She takes offence at it；
and it seems folly to her； just as we see that it happened of old
in the case of the prophets and Apostles； and just as blind and
impious pontiffs； with their flatterers； do now in my case and
that of those who are like me； upon whom； together with
ourselves； may God at length have mercy； and lift up the light of
His countenance upon them； that we may know His way upon earth
and His saving health among all nations； who is blessed for
evermore。 Amen。 In the year of the Lord MDXX。
End