being done only in conformity to the custom of, and for an example to, others.

Of the same nature are those admonitions which Paul gives Rom. xiii. and Titus iii., that Christians should be "subject to the higher powers," and, "prepared unto every good work: not in order to become righteous thereby, for they are already righteous by faith; but that, by these works they may, in the liberty of the spirit, serve their neighbours and the higher powers, and be conformed to their will in all the freedom of love.

And such ought to be the works of all colleges, monasteries, and priesthoods: that each one should perform the duties of his profession and station, not with a view of becoming righteous thereby, but solely of bringing his body into subjection, as an example unto others, who have need to mortify their bodies also. And then, moreover, that he might solely yield obedience unto others, by an humble conformity to their will, in the freedom of love having, nevertheless, this ever most carefully in mind, that no one, through a vain confidence, presume to become righteous, meritorious, and saved, by these things, which, as I have repeatedly shewn, are by faith alone.

Whoever therefore has this knowledge, may easily, and without danger, conduct himself through all those countless ordinances and precepts of the pope, of bishops, monasteries, churches, princes, and magistrates: which some ignorant pastors so urgently enforce, as though they were necessary unto righteousness and salvation, calling them the ordinances of the church, when indeed they are nothing less. But the free Christian will say thus-I will fast, I will pray, I will do this thing and the other, which is commanded of men, not because it is necessary unto my righteousness and salvation, but because I will therein conform myself to the pope, or the bishop, or that community, or that magistrate, or to my neighbour, for an example: yea, I will do and suffer all things, after the example of Christ, who did and suffered much more

for me, (though he himself needed none of those things ;) being made under the law for me, when he was not under the law. And even if tyrants should exact these things of me by force and unjust authority, yet, I will not rebel, provided that it be not against the glory of God.

From all these observations, then, any one will be enabled to form a right judgment of, and to make a faithful distinction between, all works and laws; and discern who are blind and ignorant, and who are true and faithful pastors. For whatever work is not taught to these ends only, either to the mortifying of the body, or to the profit of our neighbour, (provided that nothing be enforced against the glory of God,) is neither a good work, nor a Christian work. And hence, I very much fear, whether many, or indeed any, of the collegiate, monastic, sacramental, and ecclesiastical duties of the present day, have any thing at all of Christianity in them. And I may add to these, all the fastings, and particular prayers to certain saints; I very much fear, I say, whether in all these things, we are not seeking our own profit only, and thinking at the same time, that by these things our sins are washed away and salvation found: and thus, the Christian liberty is utterly destroyed, which ever comes to pass through an ignorance of the Christian faith and liberty.

This blind ignorance and suppression of liberty is, moreover, sedulously confirmed by those innumerable, totally blinded pastors, while they seduce and urge people on to these devoted services, by extolling them in the highest, and puffing them off with their forgivenesses, but never teaching faith. But let me give thee this counsel If thou wouldst at all pray, or fast, or found churches, (as it is called,) take heed that thou do it not with a view of obtaining thereby to thyself any advantage, either temporal, or eternal: for thou wilt thus do an injury to thy faith, which alone furnishes thee with all things: and therefore, thy care should be, how thy faith only may be increased, whether exercised in working or in suffering. Give, therefore, what thou givest, freely and willingly,

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to the end that others may be increased and benefitted by thy bounty: thus thou wilt be a truly good man and a Christian. For what are all those superabounding works to thee, which are wrought in the mortifying of thy body, when thy treasure already runneth over by thy faith, in which God hath given thee all things?

Behold! then, by this rule, whatever good things we have received of God, ought to flow from one to the other, and become common; and every one should put on his neighbour, and so conduct himself toward him, as if he were in his stead. For all things have flowed, and still continue to flow, unto us from Christ, who so put on us, and wrought for us, as if he himself had been what we are; and from us they flow unto all that have need of them. And hence, it becomes me, to present my faith and righteousness before God, in praying for the pardon and the covering of the sins of my neighbour; which I ought so to take upon myself, and so to labour and travail under, as though they were my own: for so Christ did for us. This is true love, and the true rule of the Christian life and this true and real life there will be, where there is true and real faith. Hence the apostle, 1 Cor. xiii., makes this a property of love, that she "seeketh not her own.'

We conclude, therefore, that the Christian man lieth not in himself, but in Christ, and in his neighbour, or, he is not a Christian at all: in Christ by faith, in his neighbour by love. By faith, he is raised above himself into God; and again, by love, he is humbled below himself into his neighbour; yet, ever standing in God and his love as Christ saith, John i., "Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the heavens open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Thus have I sufficiently shewn what Christian liberty is which, as you see, is spiritual, and real: making our hearts free from all sins, commands, and laws whatever: as Paul testifies, 1 Tim. i., "The law was not made for a righteous man." This is as far above all other external

liberties, as the heavens are higher than the earth; and may Christ enable us to understand it, and hold it fast. Amen!

CONCLUSION.

In conclusion.-On account of those, who, although things be never so well spoken, are sure to pervert every thing by a wilful misunderstanding, we will add the following; if peradventure they will understand that→→ There are very many, who, hearing this liberty of faith, immediately abuse it to an occasion of the flesh, taking it for granted at once, that all things are lawful unto them, and having no desire to be free and Christians, in any other way, than in contemning, and speaking evil of, all human ceremonies, traditions, and laws. As though they were therefore Christians, because they refuse to fast on certain days, or chuse to eat meats while others fast; or, because they omit all forms of prayer, and contemptuously deride all ordinances of men, while they are at the same time themselves passing by all the weighty essentials of the Christian religion. These, again, are most obstinately resisted, by those in the other extreme, who are laboriously striving for salvation, by a devoted observance and reverence of human ceremonies only. As though they would therefore be saved, because they fast on stated days, or abstain from meats, or say certain prayers, extolling in the highest the ordinances of the church, and of the fathers, and at the same time, setting entirely at nought those things which are the essentials of our faith. Both of these therefore are evidently reprehensible: because while they are each contending with so much noise for trifles and nonessentials, they are both passing by the weightier matters that are essential unto salvation.

How much more rightly does the apostle Paul teach us to walk in the middle way, and condemn both erroneous extremes; saying, "Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not,

judge him that eateth," Rom. xiv. Here you see, those who omit and speak evil of ceremonies, not from holy principle, but from mere contempt, are rebuked by the apostle, where he admonishes them, not to "despise;" seeing it is knowledge that puffs them up. On the other hand, he admonishes those others who zealously resist these, not to "judge; " for neither of them are, in the meantime, observing that charity which edifieth. Wherefore, upon these points, we must be guided by the scripture which directs us, neither to turn to the right hand nor to the left, but to follow the righteous judgments of the Lord, which alone rejoice the heart. For as no one is righteous because he obeys, and cleaves to works, rites, and ceremonies; so neither will any one therefore be accounted righteous, because he omits and despises them altogether.

For we are not, by faith in Christ, freed from works, but from the false opinion of works: that is, from the ignorant presumption of seeking to become righteous by works. For it is faith that delivers, rules, and keeps our consciences under the experience of which, we know that righteousness lies not in works, although works ought not to be, and cannot be, utterly excluded. For as, without meat and drink, and the universal exercise of this mortal body, we cannot exist, although our righteousness lies not in these things, but in faith, and yet these things cannot, on that account, be utterly excluded and despised; so are we compelled, from the nature and necessity of this mortal life, to remain in the world, although we become not righteous thereby. My kingdom (said Christ) is not from hence:" that is, of this world. But he did not say, my kingdom is not here: that is, in this world. And so Paul saith: "For though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh," 2 Cor. x. Again, Gal. i., "The life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God." Therefore, as to our acting, living, and being in the midst of works and ceremonies, the nature of this life, and the due care and government of our bodies, of necessity re