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

For it causeth and maketh such to be offended at it, and learn by it, how unprepared and unwilling they are to that which is good, inasmuch as they are void of faith, whereby it moveth them to seek help some other where, and not to presume of their own strength to satisfy it. For it requireth a ready will, and hearts of sons, which alone can satisfy it: it utterly refuseth servants, and them that be unwilling.

For it causeth and maketh such to be offended at it, and learne by it, how vnprepared and vnwilling they are to that which is good, inasmuch as they are void of faith, whereby it moueth them to seeke helpe some other where, and not to presume of their owne strength to satisfie it. For it requireth a ready will, and hartes of sonnes, which alone can satisfie it: it vtterly refuseth seruaunts, and them that be vnwilling.

But these of Cains brood do not only of their own accord confess, that they want this faith, which maketh the sons of God, but also they persecute it: they feel and know also full well, how unwillingly they bear the law, and had rather to be free from it, nevertheless they think that they shall become righteous by these their unwilling and constrained works. They will continue servants, & will not be changed into sons, and yet they would enjoy the goods of a strange father. They do all things clean out of order: whereas by the law they ought to learn, that they are servants, and unwilling to do that which is good, and therefore should by faith aspire to the state of sons, notwithstanding they go so far that they seek to satisfy and fulfil it by their own works only. And thereby they do altogether hinder the end of the law, and strive against faith and grace, whereunto if they were not blind, the law would direct and drive them: And so they continue always, a blind, blockish, and miserable people. These things Paul teacheth Rom. 3. and 7. and doth freely pronounce that no man is justified before God by the works of the law,¹ adding no other cause hereof, then this, for that the knowledge of sin only cometh by the law. If thou wilt know how this cometh to pass, consider well some one of Cains brood, and thou shalt by and by see it verified. First he worketh his works according to the law, with great grief and labour, and yet he therewith confesseth, that he is uncertain whether he be the son of God, and holy. Yea he condemneth and curseth this faith, as the most pernicious arrogance and error of all other, and will continue in his doubting, until he be made certain by his works. Here thou seest plainly that such a man is not good or righteous, seeing that he wanteth this faith and belief, that he is counted acceptable before God, and his son, yea he is an enemy of this faith, and therefore of righteousness also: Wherefore neither can his works be counted good, although they pretend a fair show of fulfilling the law. And thus is it easy to understand that which Paul saith: that no man is justified before God by the works of the law.