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

¹So, to come to other matters, when the Pope commandeth to make confession, to fast, to abstain from, or use this or that kind of meat, &c: and exacteth these things as necessary to salvation, they are to be utterly contemned, and those things that are contrary to these, are most freely to be done: but if he should not command them as necessary, if any man might be holpen or edified in any thing by the observation of them, surely they were to be observed, but freely, and of love only, as also they are to be omitted, if the omitting of them may be profitable to any. The reason of this liberty is this: The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath: if of the Sabbath, how much more of the traditions of men? Whatsoever thou shalt observe upon this liberty, it can not hurt any, but to observe them of necessity, it extinguisheth faith and the Gospel. Likewise, if one live as yet in a Monastery, if he observe the vows and ordinances of that life upon Christian liberty, and of love to his brethren that he may edify them, and of no necessity, neither with the hinderance of his own or other mens salvation, he shall do godly, for he is free: but if those things be straitly required as necessary to salvation, then before thou suffer thy self to be brought into this error, Monasteries, shavings, hoods, vows, rules, ordinances, and all such like must be left, and the contrary must be done, to witness, that only faith and love are necessary for a Christian, and that all other things are free, so that he may either omit or do them for the edifying and cause of them with whom he liveth. Whatsoever thou shalt observe upon liberty and of love, is godly: but if thou observe any thing of necessity it is ungodly. The same is to be said of all other ordinances and decrees of men, which are wont to be observed in Monasteries, that whatsoever doth not disagree with the word of God, thou mayst being free either observe or omit it, according as thou shalt know it to be profitable and acceptable to them, with whom thou art conversant: but if they be required as necessary, reject them all utterly, and tread them under thy feet.

¹So, to come to other matters, when the Pope commaundeth to make confession, to fast, to abstaine from, or vse this or that kind of meate, &c: and exacteth these thinges as necessary to saluation, they are to be vtterly contemned, and those thinges that are contrary to these, are most freely to be done: but if he should not commaund them as necessary, if any man might be holpen or edified in any thinge by the obseruation of them, surely they were to be obserued, but freely, and of loue onely, as also they are to be omitted, if the omitting of them may be profitable to any. The reason of this libertie is this: The Sonne of man is Lord of the Sabbath: if of the Sabbath, howe much more of the traditions of men? Whatsoeuer thou shalt obserue vpon this libertie, it can not hurt any, but to obserue them of necessitie, it extinguisheth faith and the Gospell. Likewise, if one liue as yet in a Monasterie, if he obserue the vowes and ordinaunces of that life vpon Christian libertie, and of loue to his brethren that he may edifie them, and of no necessitie, neither with the hinderance of his owne or other mens saluation, he shall doe godly, for he is free: but if those thinges be straitly required as necessary to saluation, then before thou suffer thy selfe to be brought into this errour, Monasteries, shauings, hoods, vowes, rules, ordinaunces, and all such like must be left, and the contrary must be done, to witnes, that onely faith and loue are necessary for a Christian, and that all other thinges are free, so that he may eyther omit or doe them for the edifying and cause of them with whom he liueth. Whatsoeuer thou shalt obserue vpon libertie and of loue, is godly: but if thou obserue any thing of necessitie it is vngodly. The same is to be sayd of all other ordinaunces and decrees of men, which are wont to be obserued in Monasteries, that whatsoeuer doth not disagree with the worde of God, thou mayst being free eyther obserue or omit it, according as thou shalt knowe it to be profitable and acceptable to them, with whom thou art conuersant: but if they be required as necessary, reiect them all vtterly, and tread them vnder thy feete.