Commandments in due time and place.

The ungodly, said Luther, out of the Gospel do suck only a carnal
freedom, and become worse thereby; therefore not the Gospel, but the
Law belongeth to them. Even as when my little son John offendeth:
if then I should not whip him, but call him to the table unto me,
and give him sugar and plums, thereby, indeed, I should make him
worse, yea, should quite spoil him.

The Gospel is like a fresh, mild, and cool air in the extreme heat
of summer, that is, a solace and comfort in the anguish of the
conscience. But as this heat proceedeth from the rays of the sun,
so likewise the terrifying of the conscience must proceed from the
preaching of the Law, to the end we may know that we have offended
against the Laws of God.

Now, said Luther, when the mind is refreshed and quickened again by
the cool air of the Gospel, then we must not be idle, lie down and
sleep; that is, when our consciences are settled in peace, quieted
and comforted through God's spirit, then we must show also and prove
our faith by such good works which God hath commanded. But so long
as we live in this vale of misery, we shall be plagued and vexed
with flies, with beetles, and with vermin, etc., that is, with the
devil, with the world, and with our own flesh; yet we must press
through, and not suffer ourselves to recoil.


Against the Opposers of the Law.

I do much condemn, said Luther, the Antinomians, who, void of all