Noah, Abraham, and Isaac, who went out to see their grounds, to the
end they might remember God's gifts in his creatures. (Gen. xxiv.)

The world will have night owls, said Luther, that is, sectaries,
seducers, and unbelievers, about whom the birds do fly; that is, the
world wonders at them, entertains them with great honour, and gives
them money and wealth enough.


The Gospel discovereth the Wickedness of Mankind.

As the cold, said Luther, is always greater and more piercing in
winter when the days begin to lengthen, and when the sun draws near
unto us, for that maketh the cold thicker, and presseth it together:
just so the wickedness of mankind is greater, that is, more visible,
and breaks out when the Gospel is preached; for the Holy Ghost
reproveth the world of sin, which the world neither can nor will
endure.


The World's Unthankfulness towards the Servants of God.

He must be of a high and great spirit that undertaketh to serve the
people both in body and soul, and nevertheless must suffer the
utmost danger and highest unthankfulness. Therefore Christ said to
Peter, Simon, etc., "Lovest thou me?" and repeated it three times
together. Afterwards he said, "Feed my sheep," as if he would say,
"Wilt thou be an upright Minister and a Shepherd? then love must
only do it; thy love to me must do the deed, otherwise it is
impossible." For who can endure unthankfulness? to study away his