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

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.

But these of Cains broode doe not onely of their owne accord confesse, that they want this faith, which maketh the sonnes of God, but also they persecute it: they feele and know also ful wel, how vnwillingly they beare the lawe, and had rather to be free from it, neuertheles they thinke that they shal become righteous by these their vnwilling and constrained workes. They will continue seruaunts, & will not be chaunged into sonnes, and yet they would enioy the goods of a straunge father. They do all thinges cleane out of order: wheras by the law they ought to learne, that they are seruaunts, and vnwilling to doe that which is good, and therefore should by faith aspire to the state of sonnes, notwithstanding they goe so farre that they seeke to satisfie and fulfill it by their owne works onely. And thereby they doe altogither hinder the ende of the law, and striue against faith and grace, whereunto if they were not blind, the law would direct and driue them: And so they continue alwayes, a blinde, blockish, and miserable people. These thinges Paule teacheth