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

Moreover that we may admonish here concerning the civill Magistrate, when he commandeth or requireth any thing,¹ yea if he compel thereunto, we must obey, for there cometh no loss of Christian liberty or of faith hereby, forasmuch as they do not contend that those things are necessary to salvation which they do ordain or require, but only to maintain outward rule, public tranquillity and government, & so the conscience remaineth free. Wherefore, forasmuch as it doth nothing hinder faith to do those things which the civill Magistrate commandeth, but doth also profit the common weal, it shall be without doubt a point of Christian obedience to endeavour to do them with a willing mind, that we may be such as are pliant & agreeable to all men, willing to do all things, ready to deserve well of every one, & to gratify all. Howbeit if any should contend that those commandments of the civill Magistrate be necessary to salvation, then, as it is said of the traditions of the Papists, the contrary rather were to be done, or at the lest it were to be witnessed, that thou dost them only for the common weals sake, because so it is profitable to others, and not, that thou mayst obtain salvation by them, which we have gotten by Christ Jesus alone, as many of us as ⟨p. 262⟩believe in him. According to this doctrine & the examples before mentioned every one ought to behave him self in every thing & toward all men, as Paul here teacheth, that he stick not to his own judgement or right, but that he show him self pliant unto others, and have regard of those things, which he shall know will be acceptable and profitable to his neighbours.

Moreouer that we may admonish here concerning the ciuill Magistrate, when he commaundeth or requireth any thing,¹ yea if he compel thereunto, we must obey, for there commeth no losse of Christian libertie or of faith hereby, forasmuch as they doe not contend that those thinges are necessary to saluation which they do ordaine or require, but onely to maintaine outward rule, publike tranquillitie and gouernment, & so the conscience remaineth free. Wherefore, forasmuch as it doth nothing hinder faith to do those things which the ciuill Magistrate commaundeth, but doth also profit the common weale, it shall be without dout a point of Christian obedience to endeuour to do them with a willing mind, that we may be such as are pliant & agreeable to all men, willing to doe all things, ready to deserue well of euery one, & to gratifie all. Howbeit if any should contend that those commaundements of the ciuill Magistrate be necessary to saluation, then, as it is sayd of the traditions of the Papistes, the contrary rather were to be done, or at the lest it were to be witnessed, that thou doost them onely for the common weales sake, because so it is profitable to others, and not, that thou mayst obtaine saluation by them, which we haue gotten by Christ Iesus alone, as many of vs as