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

The Physicians are the preachers of the Law: now if any desired to be delivered from since, what did they unto him? they gave him, whereby he became only weaker and feebler, which surely we have seen and felt to our great evil, namely, how they would have men to be justified by works, & by them to be delivered from since. But it profited nothing, for we were always made more weak against sin and death, so that there is never found in the earth a more desperate sort of people, then Sacrificing Priests, Monks and Vestal virgins, and they whatsoever they by that trust in works: if there did but a little bile arise upon them, byandby they must run to the Poticarie, then is such trying of medicine, such running and hast, as though they had now breathed their last. Neither is any so afraid of the last judgement as this people. Which then they very well show, when they so deal with works, that they rest only upon them, neither do persevere constant in any work, and the more works they do, so much worse is their case, so much more are they cast down in mind and become more desperate, so that it falleth out with them as with this woman.

The Phisitians are the preachers of the Lawe: nowe if any desired to be deliuered from synnes, what did they vnto him? they gaue him, whereby he became onely weaker and feebler, which surely we haue seene and felt to our great euell, namely, how they would haue men to be iustified by workes, & by them to be deliuered from synnes. But it profited nothinge, for we were alwayes made more weake against synne and death, so that there is neuer found in the earth a more desperate sorte of people, then Sacrifycing Priestes, Monkes and Vestall virgines, and they whatsoeuer they by that trust in workes: if there did but a litle byle arise vpon them, byandby they must runne to the Poticarie, then is suche tryinge of medecine, suche running and hast, as though they had nowe breathed their last. Neither is any so afrayd of the last iudgement as this people. Which then they verie well shew, when they so deale with workes, that they rest onely vpon them, neither doe perseruer constant in any worke, and the more workes they doe, so much worse is their case, so much more are they cast downe in mynde and become more desperate, so that it falleth out with them as with this woman.