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

Believe me, that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me: at the least believe me for the very works sake. Here he doth as it were appeal to works, that they may give testimony of the word. As if he should say: Seeing that ye can not be content to believe the word, at the least believe the signs which bear witness of the word, and whereby the Father hath given testimony of me. For the works and signs are testimonies of the word. By these words Christ meaneth nothing else but to confirm the consciences of his Disciples, and of all us against the offence of the cross. For consciences will know and not believe the bare words of God, but do always doubt and say: What if God careth not for thee? and have such like cogitations. Holy & godly men seem for the most part to be neglected, as abjects and most contemptible men, inasmuch as the world according to the will & lust thereof, rageth and practiseth tyranny against them, and doth almost what it list. Hereupon they are in anguish & in danger of faith, & desire to know the will of God toward them. These Christ comforteth, that they may seek no other comfort but in him and in his death, and believe that he is life, that he beareth rule, and maketh alive them that be dead. And that they should nothing doubt hereof, he maketh them yet more certain, and saith:

Beleeue me, that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me: at the least beleeue me for the very works sake. Here he doth as it were appeale to workes, that they may giue testimonie of the word. As if he should say: Seeing that ye can not be content to beleeue the word, at the least beleeue the signes which beare witnes of the word, and whereby the Father hath giuen testimonie of me. For the works and signes are testimonies of the word. By these words Christ meaneth nothing els but to confirme the consciences of his Disciples, and of all vs against the offence of the crosse. For consciences wil know and not beleeue the bare words of God, but doe alwayes dout and say: What if God careth not for thee? and haue such like cogitations. Holy & godly men seeme for the most part to be neglected, as abiects and most contemptible men, inasmuch as the world according to the will & lust thereof, rageth and practizeth tyrannie against them, and doth almost what it list. Hereupon they are in anguish & in daunger of faith, & desire to know the will of God toward them. These Christ comforteth, that they may seeke no other comfort but in him and in his death, and beleue that he is life, that he beareth rule, and maketh aliue them that be dead. And that they should nothing dout hereof, he maketh them yet more certaine, and sayth: