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

He particularly reproveth a covetous person,¹ and pronounceth him an Idolater or worshipper of images, whereby surely he declareth, how greatly he is displeased with them that are infected with this vice, and in the third chapter of his Epistle to the Colossians he saith also the same thing of him. The cause hereof I think to be this: other sinners use only that thing, wherein they offend, and make it serve their lust and desire: so the fornicator and unclean person use their body to pleasure: the proud person useth riches, learning, the favour of men, and such like, unto glory: only this miserable Idolater is a slave to his money and riches, and his sin is, that he spareth his money and goods, keepeth and hoardeth them up, dareth not apply them neither to his own use, nor to the use of other, but doth plainly serve and worship them as his god, and so much esteemeth them, that he would sooner lose and suffer to perish the kingdom of God, then he would spend his money, or give the value of a rush toward the maintaining either of a preacher, or an instructor of youth, whereby the word of God and his kingdom might be furthered. Forasmuch therefore as all the trust and hope of such a man is reposed in money, and not in God alone, who giveth him abundantly whereby to live, money is worthily called his god, and he him self said to be an Idolater, and hath no inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. What can be invented more filthy and pestilent then this disease? Woe unto thee, incredulity, how an abominable and hurtful evil art thou?²

He particularly reproueth a couetous person,¹ and pronounceth him an Idolater or worshipper of images, whereby surely he declareth, how greatly he is displeased with them that are infected with this vice, and in the third chapter of his Epistle to the Colossians he sayth also the same thing of him. The cause hereof I thinke to be this: other sinners vse onely that thinge, wherein they offend, and make it serue their lust and desire: so the fornicator and vncleane person vse their body to pleasure: the proud person vseth riches, learning, the fauour of men, and such like, vnto glory: onely this miserable Idolater is a slaue to his money and riches, and his sinne is, that he spareth his money and goods, keepeth and hourdeth them vp, dareth not apply them neither to his owne vse, nor to the vse of other, but doth plainly serue and worship them as his god, and so much esteemeth them, that he would sooner lose and suffer to perish the kingdome of God, then he would spende his money, or giue the value of a rush toward the maintaining either of a preacher, or an instructer of youth, wherby the word of God and his kingdom might be furthered. Forasmuch therefore as all the trust and hope of such a man is reposed in money, and not in God alone, who giueth him aboundantly whereby to liue, money is worthely called his god, and he him selfe said to be an Idolater, and hath no inheritance in the kingdom of heauen. What can be inuented more filthy and pestilent then this disease? Wo vnto thee, incredulitie, howe an abominable and hurtfull euill art thou?