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IX。 Now this is the work of the First Commandment； which
commands： 〃Thou shalt have no other gods；〃 which means： 〃Since
I alone am God； thou shalt place all thy confidence； trust and
faith on Me alone； and on no one else。〃 For that is not to have
a god； if you call him God only with your lips； or worship him
with the knees or bodily gestures； but if you trust Him with the
heart； and look to Him for all good； grace and favor； whether in
works or sufferings； in life or death； in joy or sorrow； as the
Lord Christ says to the heathen woman； John iv： 〃I say unto thee；
they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth。〃
And this faith； faithfulness； confidence deep in the heart； is
the true fulfilling of the First Commandment； without this there
is no other work that is able to satisfy this Commandment。 And
as this Commandment is the very first； highest and best； from
which all the others proceed； in which they exist； and by which
they are directed and measured； so also its work； that is； the
faith or confidence in God's favor at all times； is the very
first； highest and best； from which all others must proceed；
exist； remain； be directed and measured。 Compared with this；
other works are just as if the other Commandments were without
the First； and there were no God； Therefore St。 Augustine well
says that the works of the First Commandment are faith； hope and
love。 As I said above； such faith and confidence bring love and
hope with them。 Nay； if we see it aright； love is the first； or
comes at the same instant with faith。 For I could not trust God；
if I did not think that He wished to be favorable and to love me；
which leads me； in turn； to love Him and to trust Him heartily
and to look to Him for all good things。
X。 Now you see for yourself that all those who do not at at all
times trust God and do not in all their works or sufferings； life
and death； trust in His favor； grace and good…will； but seek His
favor in other things or in themselves； do not keep this
Commandment； and practise real idolatry； even if they were to do
the works of all the other Commandments； and in addition had all
the prayers； fasting； obedience； patience； chastity； and
innocence of all the saints combined。 For the chief work is not
present； without which all the others are nothing but mere sham；
show and pretence； with nothing back of them； against which
Christ warns us； Matthew vii： 〃Beware of false prophets； which
come to you in sheep's clothing。〃 Such are all who wish with
their many good works； as they say； to make God favorable to
themselves； and to buy God's grace from Him； as if He were a
huckster or a day…laborer； unwilling to give His grace and favor
for nothing。 These are the most perverse people on earth； who
will hardly or never be converted to the right way。 Such too are
all who in adversity run hither and thither； and look for counsel
and help everywhere except from God； from Whom they are most
urgently commanded to seek it； whom the Prophet Isaiah reproves
thus； Isaiah ix： 〃The mad people turneth not to Him that smiteth
them〃； that is； God smote them and sent them sufferings and all
kinds of adversity； that they should run to Him and trust Him。
But they run away from Him to men； now to Egypt； now to Assyria；
perchance also to the devil； and of such idolatry much is written
in the same Prophet and in the Books of the Kings。 This is also
the way of all holy hypocrites when they are in trouble： they do
not run to God； but flee from Him； and only think of how they may
get rid of their trouble through their own efforts or through
human help； and yet they consider themselves and let others
consider them pious people。
XI。 This is what St。 Paul means in many places； where he ascribes
so much to faith； that he says： Justus ex fide sua vivit； 〃the
righteous man draws his life out of his faith；〃 and faith is that
because of which he is counted righteous before God。 If
righteousness consists of faith； it is clear that faith fulfils
all commandments and makes all works righteous； since no one is
justified except he keep all the commands of God。 Again； the
works can justify no one before God without faith。 So utterly and
roundly does the Apostle reject works and praise faith； that some
have taken offence at his words and say： 〃Well； then； we will do
no more good works；〃 although he condemns such men as erring and
foolish。
So men still do。 When we reject the great； pretentious works of
our time； which are done entirely without faith； they say： Men
are only to believe and not to do anything good。 For nowadays
they say that the works of the First Commandment are singing；
reading； organ…playing； reading the mass； saying matins and
vespers and the other hours； the founding and decorating of
churches； altars； and monastic houses； the gathering of bells；
jewels； garments； trinkets and treasures； running to Rome and to
the saints。 Further； when we are dressed up and bow； kneel； pray
the rosary and the Psalter； and all this not before an idol； but
before the holy cross of God or the pictures of His saints： this
we call honoring and worshiping God； and； according to the First
Commandment； 〃having no other gods〃； although these things
usurers； adulterers and all manner of sinners can do too； and do
them daily。
Of course； if these things are done with such faith that we
believe that they please God； then they are praiseworthy； not
because of their virtue； but because of such faith； for which all
works are of equal value； as has been said。 But if we doubt or
do not believe that God is gracious to us and is pleased with us；
or if we presumptuously expect to please Him only through and
after our works； then it is all pure deception； outwardly
honoring God； but inwardly setting up self as a false god。 This
is the reason why I have so often spoken against the display；
magnificence and multitude of such works and have rejected them；
because it is as clear as day that they are not only done in
doubt or without faith； but there is not one in a thousand who
does not set his confidence upon the works； expecting by them to
win God's favor and anticipate His grace； and so they make a fair
of them； a thing which God cannot endure； since He has promised
His grace freely； and wills that we begin by trusting that grace；
and in it perform all works； whatever they may be。
XII。 Note for yourself； then； how far apart these two are：
keeping the First Commandment with outward works only； and
keeping it with inward trust。 For this last makes true； living
children of God； the other only makes worse idolatry and the most
mischievous hypocrites on earth； who with their apparent
righteousness lead unnumbered people into their way； and yet
allow them to be without faith； so that they are miserably
misled； and are caught in the pitiable babbling and mummery。 Of
such Christ says； Matthew xxiv： 〃Beware； if any man shall say
unto you； Lo； here is Christ； or there〃； and John iv： 〃I say unto
thee； the hour cometh； when ye shall neither in this mountain nor
yet at Jerusalem worship God； for the Father seeketh spiritual
worshipers。〃
These and similar passages have moved me and ought to move
everyone to reject the great display of bulls； seals； flags；
indulgences； by which the poor folk are led to build churches；
to give； to endow； to pray； and yet faith is not mentioned； and
is even suppressed。 For since faith knows no distinction among
works； such exaltation and urging of one work above another
cannot exist beside faith。 For faith desires to be the only
service of God； and will grant this name and honor to no other
work； except in so far as faith imparts it； as it does when the
work is done in faith and by faith。 This perversion is indicated
in the Old Testament； when the Jews left the Temple and
sacrificed at other places； in the green parks and on the
mountains。 This is what these men also do： they are zealous to
do all works； but this chief work of faith they regard not at
all。
XIII。 Where now are they who ask； what works are good； what they
shall do； how they shall be religious？ Yes； and where are they
who say that when we preach of faith； we shall neither teach nor
do works？ Does not this First Commandment give us more work to
do than any man can do？ If a man were a thousand men； or all men；
or all creatures； this Commandment would yet ask enough of him；
and more than enough； since he is commanded to live and walk at
all times in faith and confidence toward God； to place such faith
in no one else； and so to have only one； the true God； and none
other。
Now； since the being and nature of man cannot for an instant be
without doing or not doing something； enduring or running away
from something （for； as we see； life never rests）； let him who
will be pious and filled with good works； begin and in all his
life and works at all time