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

And being asked how we must do good works, now they teach this particular work to be done, an other time an other work, as, offer so much sacrifice at this altar, get thee into this or that Monastery, run unto this Saint, here erect a chapel to the honour of such a Saint, in an other place found a Mass, light tapers, eat fish, buy indulgences, &c. Which being done, they by and by bring an other work, and forthwith after that an other. ⟨p. 189⟩So they know not how to instruct any after a constant & certain manner of teaching, much less can they say, this is, or in this doth the sum of Christian life consist, &c. And yet in the mean season those things must be counted very excellent that they teach, so much do they boast, and promise almost golden mountains, as though they alone were Doctors that might not be gainsaid, and controllers and Masters of all other.

And being asked how we must doe good workes, nowe they teach this particular worke to be done, an other time an other worke, as, offer so much sacrifice at this altar, get thee into this or that Monasterie, runne vnto this Sainct, here erect a chappell to the honour of such a Sainct, in an other place founde a Masse, light tapers, eate fishe, buy indulgences, &c. Which being done, they by and by bringe an other worke, and forthwith after that an other. ⟨p. 189⟩So they know not how to instruct any after a constant & certayn maner of teaching, much lesse can they say, this is, or in this doth the summe of Christian life consist, &c. And yet in the meane season those thinges must be counted very excellent that they teach, so much doe they boast, and promise almost golden mountaynes, as though they alone were Doctors that might not be gainsayd, and controulers and Maisters of all other.

But he is to be counted an excellent Master, and highly to be esteemed, which teacheth the chief point and whole sum of doctrine, to wit, how the hart and conscience, yea and the whole man must live. They know nothing of that thing, although they be very full of words, but do altogether err from the sum & principal point of the law. In the mean season they entangle the minds of the hearers with such a confused company of words, that they know neither how to make a beginning nor end of speaking, and it is uncertain whereunto that disordered company of words doth serve, whereby no man can be made better, much less can he confirm his conscience thereby, as we hitherto have enough and too much seen and tried in the Papacy among our Preachers of dreams. What therefore is the sum of that doctrine, which is to be taught to the people? Saint Paul answereth: The end of the commandment is love out of a pure hart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.