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

Some man may now say: How shall we do then?¹ One man must have dealing with an other, otherwise how can the life of man continue? We must buy, we must sell, we must utter and change our wares with men: Now if one should not trust an other, the whole trade of mans affairs should be in peril, yea and perish. I say that no man can deny,² but that there must be mutual dealings among men, and that one doth need the help and travel of an other. But this I will have, that whatsoever dealing thou hast with men, either in buying or selling, thou count it for a thing uncertain, which thou must neither trust, nor build upon it. For this is certain, as soon as thou shalt trust to man he will seek to deceive thee, forasmuch as the nature of man, as it is of it self, can do nothing but lye and deceive. Yea all things in man are uncertain, both his works and words, there is nothing in him, but lightness and unconstancie,³ which thou mayst boldly believe to be true. Wherefore all our hope and confidence must be reposed in God alone, and after this sort we must say: Lord, give thou me grace that I may direct & order my life, my soul, my body, my substance and goods, and whatsoever is mine, according to thy divine will, for I believe in thee, I trust in thee, do not thou forsake me in so perilous dealing with this or that man: I put no trust in man. If thou knowest that it is good for me, make him to deal faithfully with me: if thou knowest that it will be to my hinderance and hurt, help me to avoid it, for thy will only pleaseth me, which I wish always to be done.

Some man may now say: How shall we doe then?¹ One man must haue dealing with an other, otherwise howe can the life of man continue? We must buy, we must sell, we must vtter and chaunge our wares with men: Now if one should not trust an other, the whole trade of mans affaires should be in perill, yea and perish. I say that no man can deny,² but that there must be mutual dealings among men, and that one doth neede the helpe and trauell of an other. But this I will haue, that whatsoeuer dealing thou hast with men, either in buying or selling, thou count it for a thinge vncertaine, which thou must neither trust, nor build vpon it. For this is certaine, as soone as thou shalt trust to man he will seeke to deceiue thee, forasmuch as the nature of man, as it is of it selfe, can doe nothing but lye and deceiue. Yea all thinges in man are vncertaine, both his works and words, there is nothing in him, but lightnes and vnconstancie,