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the cross and death are compelled to serve me and to work
together for my salvation。 This is a lofty and eminent dignity； a
true and almighty dominion； a spiritual empire； in which there is
nothing so good； nothing so bad； as not to work together for my
good； if only I believe。 And yet there is nothing of which I have
needfor faith alone suffices for my salvationunless that in
it faith may exercise the power and empire of its liberty。 This
is the inestimable power and liberty of Christians。
Nor are we only kings and the freest of all men； but also priests
for ever； a dignity far higher than kingship； because by that
priesthood we are worthy to appear before God； to pray for
others； and to teach one another mutually the things which are of
God。 For these are the duties of priests； and they cannot
possibly be permitted to any unbeliever。 Christ has obtained for
us this favour； if we believe in Him： that just as we are His
brethren and co…heirs and fellow…kings with Him； so we should be
also fellow…priests with Him； and venture with confidence；
through the spirit of faith； to come into the presence of God；
and cry； 〃Abba； Father！〃 and to pray for one another； and to do
all things which we see done and figured in the visible and
corporeal office of priesthood。 But to an unbelieving person
nothing renders service or work for good。 He himself is in
servitude to all things； and all things turn out for evil to him；
because he uses all things in an impious way for his own
advantage； and not for the glory of God。 And thus he is not a
priest； but a profane person； whose prayers are turned into sin；
nor does he ever appear in the presence of God； because God does
not hear sinners。
Who then can comprehend the loftiness of that Christian dignity
which； by its royal power； rules over all things； even over
death； life； and sin； and； by its priestly glory； is all…powerful
with God； since God does what He Himself seeks and wishes； as it
is written； 〃He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him； He
also will hear their cry； and will save them〃？ （Psalm cxlv。 19）。
This glory certainly cannot be attained by any works； but by
faith only。
》From these considerations any one may clearly see how a Christian
man is free from all things； so that he needs no works in order
to be justified and saved； but receives these gifts in abundance
from faith alone。 Nay； were he so foolish as to pretend to be
justified； set free； saved； and made a Christian； by means of any
good work； he would immediately lose faith； with all its
benefits。 Such folly is prettily represented in the fable where a
dog； running along in the water and carrying in his mouth a real
piece of meat； is deceived by the reflection of the meat in the
water； and； in trying with open mouth to seize it； loses the meat
and its image at the same time。
Here you will ask； 〃If all who are in the Church are priests； by
what character are those whom we now call priests to be
distinguished from the laity？〃 I reply； By the use of these
words； 〃priest；〃 〃clergy；〃 〃 spiritual person；〃 〃ecclesiastic；〃
an injustice has been done； since they have been transferred from
the remaining body of Christians to those few who are now； by
hurtful custom； called ecclesiastics。 For Holy Scripture makes no
distinction between them； except that those who are now
boastfully called popes； bishops； and lords； it calls ministers；
servants； and stewards； who are to serve the rest in the ministry
of the word； for teaching the faith of Christ and the liberty of
believers。 For though it is true that we are all equally priests；
yet we cannot； nor； if we could； ought we all to； minister and
teach publicly。 Thus Paul says； 〃Let a man so account of us as of
the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God〃 （1
Cor。 iv。 1）。
This bad system has now issued in such a pompous display of power
and such a terrible tyranny that no earthly government can be
compared to it； as if the laity were something else than
Christians。 Through this perversion of things it has happened
that the knowledge of Christian grace； of faith； of liberty； and
altogether of Christ； has utterly perished； and has been
succeeded by an intolerable bondage to human works and laws； and；
according to the Lamentations of Jeremiah； we have become the
slaves of the vilest men on earth； who abuse our misery to all
the disgraceful and ignominious purposes of their own will。
Returning to the subject which we had begun； I think it is made
clear by these considerations that it is not sufficient； nor a
Christian course； to preach the works； life； and words of Christ
in a historic manner； as facts which it suffices to know as an
example how to frame our life； as do those who are now held the
best preachers； and much less so to keep silence altogether on
these things and to teach in their stead the laws of men and the
decrees of the Fathers。 There are now not a few persons who
preach and read about Christ with the object of moving the human
affections to sympathise with Christ； to indignation against the
Jews； and other childish and womanish absurdities of that kind。
Now preaching ought to have the object of promoting faith in Him；
so that He may not only be Christ； but a Christ for you and for
me； and that what is said of Him； and what He is called； may work
in us。 And this faith is produced and is maintained by preaching
why Christ came； what He has brought us and given to us； and to
what profit and advantage He is to be received。 This is done when
the Christian liberty which we have from Christ Himself is
rightly taught； and we are shown in what manner all we Christians
are kings and priests； and how we are lords of all things； and
may be confident that whatever we do in the presence of God is
pleasing and acceptable to Him。
Whose heart would not rejoice in its inmost core at hearing these
things？ Whose heart； on receiving so great a consolation； would
not become sweet with the love of Christ； a love to which it can
never attain by any laws or works？ Who can injure such a heart；
or make it afraid？ If the consciousness of sin or the horror of
death rush in upon it； it is prepared to hope in the Lord； and is
fearless of such evils； and undisturbed； until it shall look down
upon its enemies。 For it believes that the righteousness of
Christ is its own； and that its sin is no longer its own； but
that of Christ； but； on account of its faith in Christ； all its
sin must needs be swallowed up from before the face of the
righteousness of Christ； as I have said above。 It learns； too；
with the Apostle； to scoff at death and sin； and to say； 〃O
death； where is thy sting？ O grave； where is thy victory？ The
sting of death is sin； and the strength of sin is the law。 But
thanks be to God； which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ〃 （1 Cor。 xv。 55…57）。 For death is swallowed up in
victory； not only the victory of Christ； but ours also； since by
faith it becomes ours； and in it we too conquer。
Let it suffice to say this concerning the inner man and its
liberty； and concerning that righteousness of faith which needs
neither laws nor good works； nay； they are even hurtful to it； if
any one pretends to be justified by them。
And now let us turn to the other part： to the outward man。 Here
we shall give an answer to all those who； taking offence at the
word of faith and at what I have asserted； say； 〃If faith does
everything； and by itself suffices for justification； why then
are good works commanded？ Are we then to take our ease and do no
works； content with faith？〃 Not so； impious men； I reply； not so。
That would indeed really be the case； if we were thoroughly and
completely inner and spiritual persons； but that will not happen
until the last day； when the dead shall be raised。 As long as we
live in the flesh； we are but beginning and making advances in
that which shall be completed in a future life。 On this account
the Apostle calls that which we have in this life the firstfruits
of the Spirit （Rom。 viii。 23）。 In future