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

When thou shalt begin to preach unto these of faith, they laugh and hiss at thee: Doest thou count us, say they, for Turks and Heathen, whom it behoveth now first to learn faith? Is there such a company of Priests, Monks and Nuns, & is not faith known? Who knoweth not what he ought to believe? even manifest ⟨p. 280⟩sinners know that. And being after this sort animated and stirred up, they think that they be abundantly endued with faith, and that the rest is now to be finished & made perfect by works. Whereupon they make too small & slender account of faith, as I have said, because they are ignorant both what faith is, & that it alone doth justify. They call it faith, when they believe those things which they have heard of Christ, which kind of faith the Devils also have, & yet are nothing therefore justified: but this deserveth to be called rather an opinion of men then faith. For as we do oftentimes admonish, it is not sufficient, that thou mayest worthily be called a Christian, to believe those things to be true, which are preached of Christ, which kind of faith they of Cains brood also have:¹ but thou must also nothing doubt, that thou art of the number of them, unto whom all those benefits of Christ are given & exhibited. Which he that believeth, must plainly confess, that he is holy, godly, righteous, the son of God, and certain of salvation, & that by no merit of his own, but by the only mercy of God poured forth upon him for Christs sake. Which he believeth to be so rich and plentiful, as it is in deed, that although he be as it were drowned in since, he is notwithstanding thereby made holy & the son of God. Whereof if he should any thing doubt, he should procure exceeding ignominy & reproach to baptism which he hath received, & to the Lords supper, & also reprove the word & grace of God of falsehood. Wherefore take heed that thou nothing doubt, that thou art the son of God, & therefore righteous, by his grace, let all fear & care be here away. Howbeit thou must fear & tremble that thou mayest persevere such a one unto the end: Thou must not being in this case, be careful that thou mayest become righteous & saved, but that thou mayest persevere and continue. Neither must thou do this, as though it consisted in thine own strength, for all thy righteousness & salvation is of only grace, whereunto only thou must trust:

Whē thou shalt begin to preach vnto these of faith, they laugh and hisse at thee: Doest thou count vs, say they, for Turkes and Heathen, whom it behoueth now first to learne faith? Is there such a companie of Priests, Monkes and Nunnes, & is not faith knowne? Who knoweth not what he ought to beleeue? euen manifest