Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

But nevertheless it now and then knocketh and saith: in the mean season notwithstanding good works must be done of thee, the commandments of God must be kept,¹ if thou wilt obtain salvation. Answer again: but thou hearest that it is not now time to speak of them: for now I have obtained my righteousness and the sum of all my salvation without my ⟨p. 100⟩works in Christ my Lord, and am already saved before thou camest, therefore I have no need of thy presence. For as I have said, where works prevail nothing, neither is the law there of any importance or weight, and where there is no law, neither is there any sin. The bride therefore alone, all the rest being excluded, must reign in the bridechamber with Christ, in whom she hath all things at once, neither needeth she any thing more, which is necessary to salvation. Wherefore the law must be excluded and utterly rejected, yea and cast of, as often as it will invade and set upon the conscience. For surely it ought not to meddle therewith, neither cometh it in time, when it will have much to do there, where it ought to have nothing to do, and whither it ought in no wise to come. For the conscience resteth in this article of our Christian faith, I believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, which suffered, died, & was buried for me, &c. unto whom both Moses law, & Caesars, & divine laws ought to give place. All that therefore is boldly to be chased from me, whatsoever will dispute with me of sins, righteousness, and such like things.

But neuertheles it now and then knocketh and sayth: in the meane season notwithstanding good workes must be done of thee, the commaundements of God must be kept,¹ if thou wilt obtaine saluation. Aunswere againe: but thou hearest that it is not nowe tyme to speake of them: for now I haue obtayned my righteousnes and the summe of all my saluation without my ⟨p. 100⟩workes in Christ my Lorde, and am already saued before thou camest, therefore I haue no neede of thy presence. For as I haue sayd, where workes preuayle nothing, neyther is the law there of any importance or weight, and where there is no law, neither is there any sinne. The bride therefore alone, all the rest beinge excluded, must reigne in the bridechamber with Christ, in whom shee hath all thinges at once, neyther needeth shee any thinge more, which is necessary to saluation. Wherefore the lawe must be excluded and vtterly reiected, yea and cast of, as often as it will inuade and set vpon the conscience. For surely it ought not to medle therewith, neither commeth it in tyme, when it will haue muche to doe there, where it ought to haue nothing to doe, and whither it ought in no wise to come. For the conscience resteth in this article of our Christian faith, I beleue in Iesus Christ my Lord, which suffered, died, & was buried for me, &c. vnto whom both Moses law, & Cesars, & diuine lawes ought to giue place. All that therfore is boldly to be chased from me, whatsoeuer will dispute with me of sinnes, righteousnes, and such like thinges.