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These are all content and gentle when men do what they want； or
let them alone； and yet there are not a few who； deceived by such
worthless meekness； cover over their anger and excuse it； saying：
〃I would indeed not be angry； if I were left alone。〃 Certainly；
my good man； so the evil spirit also would be meek if he had his
own way。 Dissatisfaction and resentment overwhelm you in order
that they may show you how full of anger and wickedness you are；
that you may be admonished to strive after meekness and to drive
out anger。
The second form of meekness is good through and through； that
which is shown toward opponents and enemies； does them no harm；
does not revenge itself； does not curse nor revile； does not
speak evil of them； does not meditate evil against them； although
they had taken away goods； honor； life； friends and everything。
Nay； where it is possible； it returns good for evil； speaks well
of them； thinks well of them； prays for them。 Of this Christ
says； Matthew v： 〃Do good to them that despitefully use you。 Pray
for them that persecute you and revile you。〃 And Paul； Romans
xii： 〃Bless them which curse you； and by no means curse them； but
do good to them。〃
II。 Behold how this precious； excellent work has been lost among
Christians； so that nothing now everywhere prevails except
strife； war； quarreling； anger； hatred； envy； back…biting；
cursing； slandering； injuring； vengeance； and all manner of angry
works and words； and yet； with all this； we have our many
holidays； hear masses； say our prayers； establish churches； and
more such spiritual finery； which God has not commanded。 We shine
resplendently and excessively； as if we were the most holy
Christians there ever were。 And so because of these mirrors and
masks we allow God's Commandment to go to complete ruin； and no
one considers or examines himself； how near or how far he be from
meekness and the fulfilment of this Commandment； although God has
said； that not he who does such works； but he who keeps His
Commandments； shall enter into eternal life。
Now； since no one lives on earth upon whom God does not bestow
an enemy and opponent as a proof of his own anger and wickedness；
that is； one who afflicts him in goods； honor； body or friends；
and thereby tries whether anger is still present； whether he can
be well…disposed toward his enemy； speak well of him； do good to
him； and not intend any evil against him； let him come forward
who asks what he shall do that he may do good works； please God
and be saved。 Let him set his enemy before him； keep him
constantly before the eyes of his heart； as an exercise whereby
he may curb his spirit and train his heart to think kindly of his
enemy； wish him well； care for him and pray for him； and then；
when opportunity offers； speak well of him and do good to him。
Let him who will； try this and if he find not enough to do all
his life long； he may convict me of lying； and say that my
contention was wrong。 But if this is what God desires； and if He
will be paid in no other coin； of what avail is it； that we busy
ourselves with other great works which are not commanded； and
neglect this？ Therefore God says； Matthew v； 〃I say unto you；
that whosoever is angry with his neighbor； is in danger of the
judgment； but whosoever shall say to his brother； Thou fool （that
is； all manner of invective； cursing； reviling； slandering）； he
shall be in danger of everlasting fire。〃 What remains then for
the outward act； striking； wounding； killing； injuring； etc。； if
the thoughts and words of anger are so severely condemned？
III。 But where there is true meekness； there the heart is pained
at every evil which happens to one's enemy。 And these are the
true children and heirs of God and brethren of Christ； Whose
heart was so pained for us all when He died on the holy Cross。
Even so we see a pious judge passing sentence upon the criminal
with sorrow； and regretting the death which the law imposes。 Here
the act seems to be one of anger and harshness。 So thoroughly
good is meekness that even in such works of anger it remains；
nay； it torments the heart most sorely when it must be angry and
severe。
But here we must watch； that we be not meek contrary to God's
honor and Commandment。 For it is written of Moses that he was the
very meekest man on earth； and yet； when the Jews had worshiped
the golden calf and provoked God to anger； he put many of them
to death； and thereby made atonement before God。 Likewise it is
not fitting that the magistrates should be idle and allow sin to
have sway； and that we say nothing。 My own possessions； my honor；
my injury； I must not regard； nor grow angry because of them； but
God's honor and Commandment we must protect； and injury or
injustice to our neighbor we must prevent； the magistrates with
the sword； the rest of us with reproof and rebuke； yet always
with pity for those who have merited the punishment。
This high； noble； sweet work can easily be learned； if we perform
it in faith； and as an exercise of faith。 For if faith does not
doubt the favor of God nor question that God is gracious； it will
become quite easy for a man to be gracious and favorable to his
neighbor； however much he may have sinned； for we have sinned
much more against God。 Behold； a short Commandment this； but it
presents a long； mighty exercise of good works and of faith。
Thou shalt not commit adultery。
In this Commandment too a good work is commanded； which includes
much and drives away much vice； it is called purity； or chastity；
of which much is written and preached； and it is well known to
every one； only that it is not as carefully observed and
practised as other works which are not commanded。 So ready are
we to do what is not commanded and to leave undone what is
commanded。 We see that the world is full of shameful works of
unchastity； indecent words； tales and ditties； temptation to
which is daily increased through gluttony and drunkenness；
idleness and frippery。 Yet we go our way as if we were
Christians； when we have been to church； have said our little
prayer； have observed the fasts and feasts； then we think our
whole duty is done。
Now； if no other work were commanded but chastity alone； we would
all have enough to do with this one； so perilous and raging a
vice is unchastity。 It rages in all our members： in the thoughts
of our hearts； in the seeing of our eyes； in the hearing of our
ears； in the words of our mouth； in the works of our hands and
feet and all our body。 To control all these requires labor and
effort； and thus the Commandments of God teach us how great truly
good works are； nay； that it is impossible for us of our own
strength to conceive a good work； to say nothing of attempting
or doing it。 St。 Augustine says； that among all the conflicts of
the Christian the conflict of chastity is the hardest； for the
one reason alone； that it continues daily without ceasing； and
chastity seldom prevails。 This all the saints have wept over and
lamented； as St。 Paul does； Romans vii： 〃I find in me； that is
in my flesh； no good thing。〃
II。 If this work of chastity is to be permanent； it will drive
to many other good works； to fasting and temperance over against
gluttony and drunkenness； to watching and early rising over
against laziness and excessive sleep； to work and labor over
against idleness。 For gluttony； drunkenness； lying late abed；
loafing and being without work are weapons of unchastity； with
which chastity is quickly overcome。 On the other hand； the holy
Apostle Paul calls fasting； watching and labor godly weapons；
with which unchastity is mastered； but； as has been said above；
these exercises must do no more than overcome unchastity； and not
pervert nature。
Above all this； the strongest defence is prayer and the Word of
God； namely； that when evil lust stirs； a man flee to prayer；
call upon God's mercy and help； read and meditate on the Gospel；
and in it consider Christ's sufferings。 Thus says Psalm cxxxvii：
〃Happy shall he be； that taketh and dasheth the little ones of
Babylon against the rock；〃 that is； if the heart runs to the Lord
Christ with its evil thoughts while they are yet young and just
beginning； for Christ is a Rock； on which they are ground to
powder and come to naught。
See； here each one will find enough to do with himself； and more
than enough； and will be given many good works to do within
himself。 But now no one uses prayer； fasting； watching； labor for
this purpose； but men stop in these works as if they were in
themselves the whole purpose； although they should be arranged
so as to fulfil the work of this Commandment and purify us daily
more and more。
Some have also indicated more things which should be avoided；
such as soft beds and clothes； that we should avoid excessive
adornment； and neither associate nor talk with members of the