who looks forward
only to God's judgment, that man will never be joyful in God, and
can neither love nor praise Him. But if we hear and firmly
believe that He receives us sinners in the covenant of baptism,
spares us, and makes us pure from day to day, then our heart must
be joyful, and love and praise God. So He says in the Prophet, "I
will spare them, as a man spareth his own son." [Mal. 3:17]
Wherefore it is needful that we give thanks to the Blessed
Majesty, Who shows Himself so gracious and merciful toward us
poor condemned worms, and magnify and acknowledge His work.

[Sidenote: The Danger of False Confidence]

XX. At the same time, however, we must have a care that no false
security creeps in and says to itself: "Baptism is so gracious
and so great a thing that God will not count our sins against us,
and as soon as we turn again from sin, everything is right, by
virtue of baptism; meanwhile, therefore, I will live and do my
own will, and afterwards, or when about to die, will remember my
baptism and remind God of His covenant, and then fulfil the work
and purpose of my baptism."

Baptism is, indeed, so great a thing that if you turn again from
sins and appeal to the covenant of baptism, your sins are
forgiven. Only see to it, if you thus wickedly and wantonly sin,
presuming on God's grace, that the judgment does not lay hold
upon you and anticipate your turning back; and beware lest, even
if you then desired to believe or to trust in your baptism, your
trial be, by God's decree, so great that your faith is not able
to stand. If they scarcely remain who do do sin or who fall
because of sheer weakness, where shall your wickedness remain,
which has tempted and mocked God's grace? [1 Pet. 4:18]

Let us, therefore, walk with carefulness and fear, that with a
firm faith we may hold fast the riches of God's grace, and
joyfully give thanks to His mercy forever and ever. Amen. [Eph.
5:15]

FOOTNOTES

[1] Literally, "lifted or raised out of baptism"; in common usage
simply "baptised." Cf. "_aus der Taufe beben_," "to stand sponsor."

[2] See above, p.56, note 1.

[3] Luther habitually quoted the Vulgate and quoted from memory;
hence the many variations from the familiar test of Scripture.

[4] See above, p. 58.

[5] See above, p. 57.

[6] See above, p. 57.

[7] Good works prescribed as "penances" upon confession to the
priest.

[8] Literally, "lifted up out of it." See above, p. 57, note 1.

[9] See