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

¹True & sound righteousness consisteth not in our own works, but in the works of an other. Take an example hereof: One buildeth temples, an other for religions sake goeth to S. James, to Aquisgrane, to Rome, to the holy sepulchre, the third pineth him self with fastings, prayeth, weareth a cowl, goeth bare foot, or worketh some other such work whatsoever it be, these are our own works. God hath not commanded them, but men and hypocrites, justifiers of them selves have invented them, and have thought that they are precious good works, and greatly esteemed of God, sweetly persuading them selves, that they are by them delivered from sins, and that God is pacified towards them. But these works chosen of their own proper will, are nothing worth at all, neither can stand, forasmuch as they proceed not of faith, yea they are sins, as Saint Paul saith Rom. 14: Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. These our works therefore are defiled and unclean in the sight of God, yea he doth abhor and loathe them. Wherefore if we will have to do with God, we must not ascend trusting to our own works, but to the works of an other. But which are those works of an other, that are allowed of God? Truly the works of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom God the father sent down from heaven, that by his death ⟨p. 449⟩and passion he might satisfy for our sins. This satisfaction fell out upon this occasion: We were subject to great danger,² grievous tyrants had power over us, which day and night without ceasing did vex us. The law which God gave unto man, did urge us, and required many things of us, which we were not able to perform, and therefore it condemned us. Sin also did lye upon us as a heavy burden which the law did oft times make greater & greater. Death went about to devour us, inasmuch as it is the wages of sin, Satan also endeavoured to throw us down headlong to hell, inasmuch as he would punish us for our sins committed: all things were full of trembling and anguish.

¹True & sound righteousnes consisteth not in our owne works, but in the works of an other. Take an example hereof: One buildeth temples, an other for religions sake goeth to S. Iames, to Aquisgrane, to Rome, to the holy sepulcher, the third pineth him selfe with fastings, prayeth, weareth a cowle, goeth bare foote, or worketh some other such worke whatsoeuer it be, these are our owne workes. God hath not commaunded them, but men and hypocrites, iustifiers of them selues haue inuented them, and haue thought that they are precious good workes, and greatly esteemed of God, sweetely persuading them selues, that they are by them deliuered from sinnes, and that God is pacified towards them. But these workes chosen of their owne proper will, are nothing worth at all, neither can stand, forasmuch as they proceede not of faith, yea they are sinnes, as Sainct Paule saith