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

Whereof we have to learn, that if we will honour Christ with these wise men,¹ we must shut our eyes, and turn them from all that which seemeth fair, goodly and noble before the world: Neither must thou be offended or abhor it, if any thing seem vile, contemptible and ridiculous unto the world: let this suffice thee, that thou knowest that it pleaseth God, which is in heaven. Take heed unto thy self concerning those things, which shine before the world, exercise thy self in those works, which seem unto reason foolish and light, as are, to help the needy, to comfort the afflicted, & to count the calamity of thy neighbour, thine own. If thou shalt be diligently exercised in these, and faith being thy guide, shalt endeavour rightly to apply thy self unto them, then other works which have a fair show, as to institute masses, to be occupied in vigils and years minds, to build temples, and such like follies, shall by them selves be plucked out of thy hart & vanish away, unto which works, surely now almost the whole world is addicted: they are in deed fair in the very outward show, and seem to be very precious, when as notwithstanding they are an abomination unto God. But whatsoever God hath commanded, as to do good to our neighbour, and to be touched with his adversities no less then with our own, to bear a friendly and well willing mind toward him, these are neglected, and in the eyes of the world appear trifling and foolish: whereupon we do greatly abhor them. How cometh this to pass? Even therefore, because they have no goodly show outwardly. And the common people of Germany are wont to say: That which shineth not, or hath not a fair show, is nothing set by.

Whereof we haue to learne, that if we will honour Christ with these wise men,¹ we must shut our eies, and turne them from all that which seemeth fayre, goodly and noble before the world: Neither must thou be offended or abhorre it, if any thing seeme vile, contemptible and ridiculous vnto the world: let this suffize thee, that thou knowest that it pleaseth God, which is in heauen. Take heede vnto thy selfe concerning those thinges, which shine before the world, exercise thy selfe in those workes, which seeme vnto reason foolish and light, as are, to helpe the needie, to comfort the afflicted, & to count the calamitie of thy neighbour, thine owne. If thou shalt be diligently exercised in these, and faith being thy guide, shalt endeuour rightly to apply thy self vnto them, then other workes which haue a fayre shewe, as to institute masses, to be occupied in vigils and yeares mindes, to build temples, and such like follies, shal by them selues be pluckt out of thy hart & vanish away, vnto which workes, surely now almost the whole world is addicted: they are in deede fayre in the very outwarde shew, and seeme to be very precious, when as notwithstanding they are an abhomination vnto God. But whatsoeuer God hath commaunded, as to doe good to our neighbour, and to be touched with his aduersities no lesse then with our own, to beare a friendly and well willing minde toward him, these are neglected, and in the eyes of the world appeare trifling and foolish: whereupon we doe greatly abhorre them. How commeth this to passe? Euen therefore, because they haue no goodly shew outwardly. And the common people of Germanie are wont to say: That which shineth not, or hath not a fayre shew, is nothing set by.