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

for they trust not in God, that he is able to feed them, but they study upon this only, that they may be delivered from all misery and infirmity, which is altogether to live in incredulity: they never trusted in God, that he is able to give them nourishment and things necessary, if any of them should marry a wife and remain without that state of Antichrist.

for they trust not in God, that he is able to feede them, but they studie vpon this onely, that they may be deliuered from all miserie and infirmitie, which is altogether to liue in incredulitie: they neuer trusted in God, that he is able to giue them nourishment and thinges necessarie, if any of them should mary a wife and remaine without that state of Antichrist.

Moreover, here is an example set forth unto us, which provoketh and allureth us to confidence, and first that we commit our belly to God: for he hath a care of us, even in temporal things. Which sufficiently appeareth in Peter, whereas he took such a great multitude of fishes, which ran by great companies into his nets. Whereby is plainly signified that God will forsake no man, but that every one shall have enough, if that we shall only trust in him, as the 37. Psal. affirmeth: I have bin young, and now am old, and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Things necessary shall not be wanting unto us, if faith be not wanting: for before we should want, the very Angels should come, & minister unto us food. Whereas therefore men are commonly oppressed with so great misery, only unbelief is the cause thereof.¹ And albeit God be with us, notwithstanding he requireth yet of us, work or labour, and hope, if he at any time differ somewhat to help us. He commandeth Peter here, that for the taking of fishes, he should cast ⟨p. 367⟩forth his nets: Launch out into the deep, saith he, and let down your nets to make a draught, as if the Lord said: Do thou that which belongeth to a fisher cast thy net into the deep, and commit the success unto me, leave the care unto me. God leaveth not the care unto thee, but the work and labour: howbeit we after a clean contrary order, study to commit the care to our selves and the labour to him. Whereby it cometh to pass, that every one for himself applieth his mind earnestly to gain, and to gather money unto himself, that he may not be enforced by any means to take pains and labour. But if thou wilt live a Christian life, leave unto thy God to care how the fishes shall come into the nets, and go thou, and take upon thee the state wherein thou mayst labour. Howbeit for the most part, we wish such states of life, as in which there is no need of labour, which is altogether a devilish thing. And therefore have we bin consecrated Monks and sacrificing Priests, that we might live only like gentlemen, without labour. And for the same cause parents have set their children to school, that at the last they might live merry days, and so serve God, as they thought. Whereby it came to that pass that they did not know, what a good life was: