Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > a treatise on good works >

µÚ25½Ú

a treatise on good works-µÚ25½Ú

С˵£º a treatise on good works ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




of¡¡its¡¡own¡¡choice¡¡easily¡¡and¡¡gladly¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡take¡¡your¡¡enemies£»

the¡¡ungrateful£»¡¡and¡¡do¡¡good¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡then¡¡you¡¡will¡¡find¡¡how¡¡near

you¡¡are¡¡to¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡or¡¡how¡¡far¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡all¡¡your

life¡¡you¡¡will¡¡always¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡practice¡¡of¡¡this¡¡work¡£

For¡¡if¡¡your¡¡enemy¡¡needs¡¡you¡¡and¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡help¡¡him¡¡when¡¡you¡¡can£»

it¡¡is¡¡just¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡if¡¡you¡¡had¡¡stolen¡¡what¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡him£»

for¡¡you¡¡owed¡¡it¡¡to¡¡him¡¡to¡¡help¡¡him¡£¡¡So¡¡says¡¡St¡£¡¡Ambrose£»¡¡¡¨Feed

the¡¡hungry£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡feed¡¡him£»¡¡you¡¡have£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡you¡¡are

concerned£»¡¡slain¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡in¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡are¡¡included¡¡the

works¡¡of¡¡mercy£»¡¡which¡¡Christ¡¡will¡¡require¡¡at¡¡men's¡¡hands¡¡at¡¡the

last¡¡day¡£¡¡



But¡¡the¡¡magistrates¡¡and¡¡cities¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡see¡¡to¡¡it¡¡that¡¡the

vagabonds£»¡¡pilgrims¡¡and¡¡mendicants¡¡from¡¡foreign¡¡lands¡¡be

debarred£»¡¡or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡allowed¡¡only¡¡under¡¡restrictions¡¡and¡¡rules£»

so¡¡that¡¡knaves¡¡be¡¡not¡¡permitted¡¡to¡¡run¡¡at¡¡large¡¡under¡¡the¡¡guise

of¡¡mendicants£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡knavery£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡there¡¡now¡¡is¡¡much£»¡¡be

prohibited¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡spoken¡¡at¡¡greater¡¡length¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Commandment

in¡¡the¡¡Treatise¡¡on¡¡Usury¡£



Thou¡¡shalt¡¡not¡¡bear¡¡false¡¡witness¡¡against¡¡thy¡¡neighbor¡£¡¡



This¡¡Commandment¡¡seems¡¡small£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡is¡¡so¡¡great£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡who

would¡¡rightly¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡must¡¡risk¡¡and¡¡imperil¡¡life¡¡and¡¡limb£»¡¡goods

and¡¡honor£»¡¡friends¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡includes¡¡no

more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡that¡¡small¡¡member£»¡¡the¡¡tongue£»¡¡and¡¡is

called¡¡in¡¡German¡¡Wahrheit¡¡sagen£»¡¡¡¨telling¡¡the¡¡truth¡¨¡¡and£»¡¡where

there¡¡is¡¡need£»¡¡gainsaying¡¡lies£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡it¡¡forbids¡¡many¡¡evil

works¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tongue¡£¡¡First£º¡¡those¡¡which¡¡are¡¡committed¡¡by

speaking£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡which¡¡are¡¡committed¡¡by¡¡keeping¡¡silent¡£¡¡By

speaking£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡man¡¡has¡¡an¡¡unjust¡¡law¡­suit£»¡¡and¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡prove

and¡¡maintain¡¡his¡¡case¡¡by¡¡a¡¡false¡¡argument£»¡¡catch¡¡his¡¡neighbor

with¡¡subtilty£»¡¡produce¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡strengthens¡¡and¡¡furthers

his¡¡own¡¡cause£»¡¡and¡¡withhold¡¡and¡¡discount¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡furthers

his¡¡neighbor's¡¡good¡¡cause£»¡¡in¡¡doing¡¡which¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡do¡¡to¡¡his

neighbor¡¡as¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡his¡¡neighbor¡¡do¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡This¡¡some¡¡men

do¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡gain£»¡¡some¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡loss¡¡or¡¡shame£»¡¡thereby

seeking¡¡their¡¡own¡¡advantage¡¡more¡¡than¡¡God's¡¡Commandment£»¡¡and

excuse¡¡themselves¡¡by¡¡saying£º¡¡Vigilanti¡¡jura¡¡subveniunt£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡law

helps¡¡him¡¡who¡¡watches¡¨£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡not¡¡as¡¡much¡¡their¡¡duty

to¡¡watch¡¡for¡¡their¡¡neighbor's¡¡cause¡¡as¡¡for¡¡their¡¡own¡£¡¡Thus¡¡they

intentionally¡¡allow¡¡their¡¡neighbor's¡¡cause¡¡to¡¡be¡¡lost£»¡¡although

they¡¡know¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡just¡£¡¡This¡¡evil¡¡is¡¡at¡¡present¡¡so¡¡common¡¡that

I¡¡fear¡¡no¡¡court¡¡is¡¡held¡¡and¡¡no¡¡suit¡¡tried¡¡but¡¡that¡¡one¡¡side¡¡sins

against¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡£¡¡And¡¡even¡¡when¡¡they¡¡cannot¡¡accomplish

it£»¡¡they¡¡yet¡¡have¡¡the¡¡unrighteous¡¡spirit¡¡and¡¡will£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡they

would¡¡wish¡¡the¡¡neighbor's¡¡just¡¡cause¡¡to¡¡be¡¡lost¡¡and¡¡their¡¡unjust

cause¡¡to¡¡prosper¡£¡¡This¡¡sin¡¡is¡¡most¡¡frequent¡¡when¡¡the¡¡opponent¡¡is

a¡¡prominent¡¡man¡¡or¡¡an¡¡enemy¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡man¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡revenge¡¡himself

on¡¡his¡¡enemy£º¡¡but¡¡the¡¡ill¡¡will¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡prominence¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not

wish¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡upon¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡begins¡¡the¡¡flattering¡¡and

fawning£»¡¡or£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡the¡¡withholding¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth¡£

Here¡¡no¡¡one¡¡is¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡run¡¡the¡¡risk¡¡of¡¡disfavor¡¡and

displeasure£»¡¡loss¡¡and¡¡danger¡¡for¡¡the¡¡truth's¡¡sake£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡God's

Commandment¡¡must¡¡perish¡£¡¡And¡¡this¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡universally¡¡the¡¡way

of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡He¡¡who¡¡would¡¡keep¡¡this¡¡Commandment£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡both

hands¡¡full¡¡doing¡¡only¡¡those¡¡good¡¡works¡¡which¡¡concern¡¡the¡¡tongue¡£

And¡¡then£»¡¡how¡¡many¡¡are¡¡there¡¡who¡¡allow¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡be¡¡silenced

and¡¡swerved¡¡aside¡¡from¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡by¡¡presents¡¡and¡¡gifts£¡¡¡so¡¡that

in¡¡all¡¡places¡¡it¡¡is¡¡truly¡¡a¡¡high£»¡¡great£»¡¡rare¡¡work£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a

false¡¡witness¡¡against¡¡one's¡¡neighbor¡£



II¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡second¡¡bearing¡¡of¡¡witness¡¡to¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡which¡¡is

still¡¡greater£»¡¡with¡¡which¡¡we¡¡must¡¡fight¡¡against¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡spirits£»

and¡¡this¡¡concerns¡¡not¡¡temporal¡¡matters£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Gospel¡¡and¡¡the

truth¡¡of¡¡faith£»¡¡which¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡spirit¡¡has¡¡at¡¡no¡¡time¡¡been¡¡able

to¡¡endure£»¡¡and¡¡always¡¡so¡¡manages¡¡that¡¡the¡¡great¡¡among¡¡men£»¡¡whom

it¡¡is¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡resist£»¡¡must¡¡oppose¡¡and¡¡persecute¡¡it¡£¡¡Of¡¡which¡¡it

is¡¡written¡¡in¡¡Psalm¡¡lxxxii£»¡¡¡¨Rid¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡the

wicked£»¡¡and¡¡help¡¡the¡¡forsaken¡¡to¡¡maintain¡¡his¡¡just¡¡cause¡£¡¨¡¡



Such¡¡persecution£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡true£»¡¡has¡¡now¡¡become¡¡infrequent£»¡¡but¡¡that

is¡¡the¡¡fault¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spiritual¡¡prelates£»¡¡who¡¡do¡¡not¡¡stir¡¡up¡¡the

Gospel£»¡¡but¡¡let¡¡it¡¡perish£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡have¡¡abandoned¡¡the¡¡very¡¡thing

because¡¡of¡¡which¡¡such¡¡witnessing¡¡and¡¡persecution¡¡should¡¡arise£»

and¡¡in¡¡its¡¡place¡¡they¡¡teach¡¡us¡¡their¡¡own¡¡law¡¡and¡¡what¡¡pleases

them¡£¡¡For¡¡this¡¡reason¡¡the¡¡devil¡¡also¡¡does¡¡not¡¡stir£»¡¡since¡¡by

vanquishing¡¡the¡¡Gospel¡¡he¡¡has¡¡also¡¡vanquished¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡Christ£»

and¡¡everything¡¡goes¡¡as¡¡he¡¡wishes¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Gospel¡¡should¡¡be

stirred¡¡up¡¡and¡¡be¡¡heard¡¡again£»¡¡without¡¡doubt¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡world

would¡¡be¡¡aroused¡¡and¡¡moved£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kings£»

princes£»¡¡bishops£»¡¡doctors¡¡and¡¡clergy£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡¡is¡¡great£»

would¡¡oppose¡¡it¡¡and¡¡rage¡¡against¡¡it£»¡¡as¡¡has¡¡always¡¡happened¡¡when

the¡¡Word¡¡of¡¡God¡¡has¡¡come¡¡to¡¡light£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡world¡¡cannot¡¡endure

what¡¡comes¡¡from¡¡God¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡proved¡¡in¡¡Christ£»¡¡Who¡¡was¡¡and¡¡is¡¡the

very¡¡greatest¡¡and¡¡most¡¡precious¡¡and¡¡best¡¡of¡¡all¡¡that¡¡God¡¡has£»¡¡yet

the¡¡world¡¡not¡¡only¡¡did¡¡not¡¡receive¡¡Him£»¡¡but¡¡persecuted¡¡Him¡¡more

cruelly¡¡than¡¡all¡¡others¡¡who¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡come¡¡forth¡¡from¡¡God¡£¡¡



Therefore£»¡¡as¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡so¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times¡¡there¡¡are¡¡few¡¡who

stand¡¡by¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡truth£»¡¡and¡¡imperil¡¡and¡¡risk¡¡life¡¡and¡¡limb£»

goods¡¡and¡¡honor£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡¡they¡¡have£»¡¡as¡¡Christ¡¡has¡¡foretold£º

¡¨Ye¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡hated¡¡of¡¡all¡¡men¡¡for¡¡My¡¡Name's¡¡sake¡£¡¨¡¡And£º¡¡¡¨Many¡¡of

them¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡offended¡¡in¡¡Me¡£¡¨¡¡Yea£»¡¡if¡¡this¡¡truth¡¡were¡¡attacked

by¡¡peasants£»¡¡herdsmen£»¡¡stable¡­boys¡¡and¡¡men¡¡of¡¡no¡¡standing£»¡¡who

would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡willing¡¡and¡¡able¡¡to¡¡confess¡¡it¡¡and¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡witness

to¡¡it£¿¡¡But¡¡when¡¡the¡¡pope£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bishops£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡princes

and¡¡kings¡¡attack¡¡it£»¡¡all¡¡men¡¡flee£»¡¡keep¡¡silent£»¡¡dissemble£»¡¡in

order¡¡that¡¡they¡¡may¡¡not¡¡lose¡¡goods£»¡¡honor£»¡¡favor¡¡and¡¡life¡£¡¡



III¡£¡¡Why¡¡do¡¡they¡¡do¡¡this£¿¡¡Because¡¡they¡¡have¡¡no¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡God£»¡¡and

expect¡¡nothing¡¡good¡¡from¡¡Him¡£¡¡For¡¡where¡¡such¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡confidence

are£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡also¡¡a¡¡bold£»¡¡defiant£»¡¡fearless¡¡heart£»¡¡that¡¡ventures

and¡¡stands¡¡by¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡cost¡¡life¡¡or¡¡cloak£»¡¡though¡¡it

be¡¡against¡¡pope¡¡or¡¡kings£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡see¡¡that¡¡the¡¡martyrs¡¡did¡£¡¡For

such¡¡a¡¡heart¡¡is¡¡satisfied¡¡and¡¡rests¡¡easy¡¡because¡¡it¡¡has¡¡a

gracious£»¡¡loving¡¡God¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡it¡¡despises¡¡all¡¡the¡¡favor£»¡¡grace£»

goods¡¡and¡¡honor¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡lets¡¡them¡¡come¡¡and¡¡go¡¡as¡¡they¡¡please£»¡¡as

is¡¡written¡¡in¡¡Psalm¡¡xv£º¡¡¡¨He¡¡contemneth¡¡them¡¡that¡¡contemn¡¡God£»¡¡and

honoreth¡¡them¡¡that¡¡fear¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¨£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡the¡¡tyrants£»¡¡the

mighty£»¡¡who¡¡persecute¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡and¡¡despise¡¡God£»¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not

fear£»¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡regard¡¡them£»¡¡he¡¡despiseth¡¡them£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other

hand£»¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡persecuted¡¡for¡¡the¡¡truth's¡¡sake£»¡¡and¡¡fear¡¡God

more¡¡than¡¡men£»¡¡to¡¡these¡¡he¡¡clings£»¡¡these¡¡he¡¡defends£»¡¡these¡¡he

honors£»¡¡let¡¡it¡¡vex¡¡whom¡¡it¡¡may£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is¡¡written¡¡of¡¡Moses£»

Hebrews¡¡xi£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡by¡¡his¡¡brethren£»¡¡regardless¡¡of¡¡the

mighty¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Egypt¡£¡¡



Lo£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡again¡¡you¡¡see¡¡briefly¡¡that¡¡faith¡¡must¡¡be

the¡¡master¡­workman¡¡in¡¡this¡¡work¡¡also£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡without¡¡it¡¡no¡¡one

has¡¡courage¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this¡¡work£º¡¡so¡¡entirely¡¡are¡¡all¡¡works¡¡comprised

in¡¡faith£»¡¡as¡¡has¡¡now¡¡been¡¡often¡¡said¡£¡¡Therefore£»¡¡apart¡¡from¡¡faith

all¡¡works¡¡are¡¡dead£»¡¡however¡¡good¡¡the¡¡form¡¡and¡¡name¡¡they¡¡bear¡£¡¡For

as¡¡no¡¡one¡¡does¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡except¡¡he¡¡be¡¡firm¡¡and

fearless¡¡in¡¡the¡¡confidence¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡favor£»¡¡so¡¡also¡¡he¡¡does¡¡no

work¡¡of¡¡any¡¡other¡¡Commandment¡¡without¡¡the¡¡same¡¡faith£º¡¡thus¡¡every

one¡¡may¡¡easily¡¡by¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡test¡¡and¡¡weigh¡¡himself¡¡whether

he¡¡be¡¡a¡¡Christian¡¡and¡¡truly¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡Christ£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡whether

he¡¡is¡¡doing¡¡good¡¡works¡¡or¡¡no¡£¡¡Now¡¡we¡¡see¡¡how¡¡the¡¡Almighty¡¡God¡¡has

not¡¡only¡¡set¡¡our¡¡Lord¡¡Jesus¡¡Christ¡¡before¡¡us¡¡that¡¡we¡¡should

believe¡¡in¡¡Him¡¡with¡¡such¡¡confidence£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡holds¡¡before¡¡us¡¡in

Him¡¡an¡¡example¡¡of¡¡this¡¡same¡¡confidence¡¡and¡¡of¡¡such¡¡good¡¡works£»

to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡that¡¡we¡¡should¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡Him£»¡¡follow¡¡Him¡¡and¡¡abide

in¡¡Him¡¡forever£»¡¡as¡¡He¡¡says£»¡¡John¡¡xiv£º¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡the¡¡Way£»¡¡the¡¡Truth

and¡¡the¡¡Life£»¡¨¡¡¡¡the¡¡Way£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡we¡¡follow¡¡Him£»¡¡the¡¡Truth£»

that¡¡we¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡Him£»¡¡the¡¡Life£»¡¡that¡¡we¡¡live¡¡in¡¡Him¡¡forever¡£¡¡



From¡¡all¡¡this¡¡it¡¡is¡¡now¡¡manifest¡¡that¡¡all¡¡other¡¡works£»¡¡which¡¡are

not¡¡commanded£»¡¡are¡¡perilous¡¡and¡¡easily¡¡known£º¡¡such¡¡as¡¡building

churches£»¡¡beautifying¡¡them£»¡¡making¡¡pilgrimages£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡¡is

written¡¡at¡¡so¡¡great¡¡length¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Canon¡¡Law¡¡and¡¡has¡¡misled¡¡and

burdened¡¡the¡¡world¡¡and¡¡ruined¡¡it£»¡¡made¡¡uneasy¡¡consciences£»

silenced¡¡and¡¡weakened¡¡faith£»¡¡and¡¡has¡¡not¡¡said¡¡how¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡although

he¡¡neglect¡¡all¡¡else£»¡¡has¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡all¡¡his¡¡powers¡¡to¡¡keep

the¡¡Commandments¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡can¡¡never¡¡do¡¡all¡¡the¡¡good¡¡works

which¡¡he¡¡is¡¡commanded¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡why¡¡then¡¡does¡¡he¡¡seek¡¡others£»¡¡which

are¡¡neither¡¡necessary¡¡nor¡¡commanded£»¡¡and¡¡neglect¡¡those¡¡that¡¡are

necessary¡¡and¡¡commanded£¿¡¡



The¡¡last¡¡two¡¡Commandments£»¡¡which¡¡forbid¡¡evil¡¡desires¡¡of¡¡the¡¡body

for¡¡pleasure¡¡and¡¡for¡¡temporal¡¡goods£»¡¡are¡¡clear¡¡in¡¡themselves£»

these¡¡evil¡¡desires¡¡do¡¡no¡¡harm¡¡to¡¡our¡¡neighbor£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡they

continue¡¡unto¡¡the¡¡grave£»¡¡and¡¡the

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ