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

Now, he that doth not care for these things, neither is moved with them, reverently to think and highly to esteem of the word of God, willingly and earnestly to hear and learn it, whensoever opportunity and means shall be offered, I will have nothing to do with him. For neither may I, neither will I draw any man hereunto violently. He that contemneth, let him contemn still, and remain a swine as he is, even until that day, when God will kill him, and throw him down headlong to hell. For such a one can not be a good man, neither is it a humane sin, but a certain devilish obstinacy,¹ so greatly to contemn that, whereunto God hath appointed a place, person, time, &c. Whereunto moreover he moveth us by his commandment, lovingly provoketh us by his promises, stirreth us up, and admonisheth us by words, and offereth all these of his own accord, and to be bought with no price or treasure, which is to be far fetched, or hardly come by, the excellency whereof can in deed be countervailed with no gold. Add hereunto moreover that it is a worship or service very easy to be done, which may be performed without all labour or grief, but that thou must attentively hear the Preacher, or apply thy mouth to speak and read, then which labour none surely is more easy. And albeit it is to be feared, that thou shalt therefore ⟨p. 187⟩bear the cross, and suffer persecution, yet the work it self is so joined with no difficulty, as no other labour is, no not even that that is most easy. If so be that it be not grievous unto thee, to sit the whole day in a tavern or an alehouse, or otherwise with thy companions to trifle and sport thy self with filthy and unseemly guests and pastimes, also to singe and prate, and yet art not weary, neither feelest any labour: thou mayst with as little pain sit in the temple, and hear the Preacher, whereby thou servest God, and dost that which is acceptable unto him. What wouldest thou do, if thou shouldest at his commandment carry stones in quarries, or go armed on pilgrimage to S. James? or if some other laborious and painful work should be enjoined thee? as hitherto it hath been the custom among us, when as we would do all things willingly, whatsoever was enjoined us, when we were deceived with mere trifles, and most impudent delusions.

Now, he that doth not care for these thinges, neither is moued with them, reuerently to thinke and highly to esteme of the word of God, willingly and earnestly to heare and learne it, whensoeuer opportunitie and meanes shall be offered, I wil haue nothing to do with him. For neither may I, neither will I draw any man hereunto violently. He that contemneth, let him contemne still, and remaine a swine as he is, euen vntill that day, when God wil kill him, and throw him downe hedlong to hel. For such a one can not be a good man, neither is it a humane sinne, but a certaine deuilish obstinacie,