which also all ecclesiastical orders are founded, and which concerns
the conscience alone that seeks in its own works help, consolation, and
salvation, presumes to wrest heaven from God, and reckons how many
bequests it has made, how often it has fasted, celebrated Mass, etc.
Upon such things it depends, and of them boasts, as though unwilling to
receive anything from God as a gift, but desires itself to earn or
merit it superabundantly, just as though He must serve us and were our
debtor, and we His liege lords. What is this but reducing God to an
idol, yea, [a fig image or] an apple-god, and elevating and regarding
ourselves as God ? But this is slightly too subtle, and is not for
young pupils.

But let this be said to the simple, that they may well note and
remember the meaning of this commandment, namely, that we are to trust
in God alone, and look to Him and expect from Him naught but good, as
from one who gives us body, life, food, drink, nourishment, health,
protection, peace, and all necessaries of both temporal and eternal
things. He also preserves us from misfortune, and if any evil befall
us, delivers and rescues us, so that it is God alone (as has been
sufficiently said) from whom we receive all good, and by whom we are
delivered from all evil. Hence also, I think, we Germans from ancient
times call God (more elegantly and appropriately than any other
language) by that name from the word good as being an eternal fountain
which gushes forth abundantly nothing but what is good, and from which
flows forth all that is and is called good.

For even though otherwise we experience much good from men, still
whatever we receive by His command or arrangement is all received from
God. For our parents, and all rulers, and every one besides with
respect to his neighbor, have received from God the command that they