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

When therefore it doth nothing hinder thy faith, and profiteth thy neighbour to yield somewhat of thine own right, if thou do it not, thou art without charity, & neglectest that Christian softness & patient mind that Paul here speaketh of: Yea if thou hast regard hereof, as he that truly believeth in Christ ought to have, thou must take it patiently even when any man doth injury unto thee, or endamage thee, and so interpret it in the better part, and always think on that,¹ which that Martyr when all his substance was taken from him, said: But they shall not take away Christ from me. So whatsoever chanceth unto thee, say thou: I have as yet suffered no loss of my faith, why should I not take it in good part, which my neighbour hath done? why should I not yield unto him, and apply my self to his will? Thou canst scarce find a more manifest example hereof,² then between two unfeigned friends: for as they behave them selves one toward an other, so ought a Christian to behave him self toward every one. Either of them endeavoureth to gratify other, either of them giveth place to other, suffereth, doth, and omitteth whatsoever he seeth to be for the profit and commodity of the other, & that freely without all constraint. Either of them doth diligently apply him self to the will of the other, neither of them compelleth other to follow his mind, & if one should use the goods of an other, that other would not be offended, but would take it in good part, and would not grudge rather to give more, and that I may speak briefly, between such there is no exaction of law, no grudging, no constraint, no necessity, but liberty, favour and good will.

When therefore it doth nothing hinder thy faith, and profiteth thy neighbour to yeeld somewhat of thine owne right, if thou doe it not, thou art without charitie, & neglectest that Christian softnes & patient mind that Paule here speaketh of: Yea if thou hast regard hereof, as he that truly beleeueth in Christ ought to haue, thou must take it patiently euen when any man doth iniurie vnto thee, or endamage thee, and so interprete it in the better part, and alwaies think on that,¹ which that Martyr when all his substance was taken from him, sayd: But they shall not take away Christ from me. So whatsoeuer chaunceth vnto thee, say thou: I haue as yet suffered no losse of my faith, why shoulde I not take it in good parte, which my neighbour hath done? why should I not yeeld vnto him, and apply my selfe to his will? Thou canst scarce find a more manifest example hereof,