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

We have moreover to learn here that they which are wise & mightier then other,¹ which are endued with the chief gifts of understanding and nature more then other, which excel in greater industry, learning and readier capacity then other, which are fit to oversee other, and can govern all things best, that they I say, do many times most of all other resist God and faith, & trust more to their own strength and reason then to God. For they are carried so far by their venomous nature, that they neither can nor will use those things to the commodity and profit of their neighbour: but trusting to their own gifts and ability, they hope that now they shall obtain this, now that, neither do they think that they shall have need of Gods help also thereunto: As it appeareth here in the Pharisees and Scribes, who were certain, as they supposed, that if they so set upon the Lord, it could not be, but that they should then entangle him. For it is unpossible, thought they, that he should here escape us, we shall here hold him as it were fallen into a net, whether he affirm or deny ⟨p. 220⟩that tribute must be given. Mark moreover how subtle and perverse yt wit of mans nature is,² which is here very lively set forth. There is nothing else in man but wickedness, delusion, guile, deceits, lying, fraud, and all kind of evil, yea of nature man is but lies and vanity as the 116 Psalm saith. We must not trust any man in any thing, do not persuade thy self, that any man speaketh the truth unto thee, for whatsoever man speaketh it is a lye. Why so? The fountain or spring head, that is, the hart is not sincere, wherefore neither can the rivers be pure. And for this cause the Lord doth commonly call men the generation of vipers and brood of serpents. Is not this a goodly title of man?

We haue moreouer to learne here that they which are wise & mightier then other,¹ which are endued with the chiefe giftes of vnderstanding and nature more then other, which excell in greater industrie, learning and readier ca••citie then other, which are fit to ouersee other, and can gouerne all thinges best, that they I say, doe many times most of all other resist God and faith, & trust more to their owne strength and reason then to God. For they are caried so farre by their venimous nature, that they neither can nor will vse those things to the commoditie and profit of their neighbour: but trusting to their owne giftes and abilitie, they hope that now they shall obtaine this, now that, neither doe they thinke that they shall haue neede of Gods helpe also thereunto: As it appeareth here in the Pharisees and Scribes, who were certaine, as they supposed, that if they so set vpon the Lorde, it could not be, but that they should then entangle him. For it is vnpossible, thought they, that he should here escape vs, we shal here hold him as it were falne into a net, whether he affirme or deny