As I was at Rome, said Luther, I saw this church; it had no windows,
but only a round hole on the top, which gave some light. It was
vaulted high, and had pillars of marble stone so thick that two of
us could scarcely fathom one about. Above, on the vault, were
portrayed all the gods of the heathen, Jupiter, Neptune, Mars,
Venus, and how else they are called. These gods were at a union, to
the end they might fool and deceive the whole world; but Christ they
cannot endure, for he hath whipped them out. Now are the Popes
come, and have driven Christ away again; but who knoweth how long it
will continue?


That the World knoweth not Christ, nor those that are his.

Even as Christ is now invisible and unknown to the world, so are we
Christians also invisible and unknown therein. "Your life," saith
St. Paul (Coloss. iii.), "is hid with Christ in God." Therefore,
said Luther, the world knoweth us not, much less do they see Christ
in us. And John the Apostle saith, "Behold, what love the Father
hath showed unto us, that we shall be called God's children" (1 John
iii). Therefore we and the world are easily parted; they care
nothing for us, so we care less for them; yea, through Christ the
world is crucified unto us, and we to the world. Let them go with
their wealth, and leave us to our minds and manners.

When we have our sweet and loving Saviour Christ, then we are rich
and happy more than enough, we care nothing for their state, honour,
and wealth. But we often lose our Saviour Christ, and little think
that he is in us, and we in him; that he is ours, and we are his.
And although he hideth himself from us, as we think, in the time of