n the rulers, as is now, alas! the case,
busy themselves with and insist upon such ceremonies and external
works as if they were the true works, and neglect faith, which
they ought always to teach along with these works, just as a
mother gives her child other food along with the milk, until the
child can eat the strong food by itself.

[Sidenote: Charity Endures Unnecessary Works]

XV. Since, then, we are not all alike, we must tolerate such
people, share their observances and burdens, and not despise
them, but teach them the true way of faith. So St. Paul teaches,
Romans xiv: "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, to teach
him." [Rom. 14:1] And so he did himself, I. Corinthians ix: "To
them that are under the law, I became as under the law, although
I was not under the law." [1 Cor. 9:20] And Christ, Matthew xvii,
when He was asked to pay tribute, which He was not obligated to
pay, argues with St. Peter, whether the children of kings must
give tribute, or only other people. St. Peter answers; "Only
other people." Christ said: "Then are the children of kings free;
notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea,
and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first Cometh up; and
in his mouth thou shalt find apiece of money; take that and give
it for me and thee." [Matt. 17:25]

Here we see that all works and things are free to a Christian
through his faith; and yet, because the others do not yet
believe, he observes and bears with them what he is not obligated
to do. But this he does freely, for he is certain that this is
pleasing to God, and he does it willingly, accepts it as any
other free work which comes to his hand without his choice,
because he desires and seeks no more than that he may in his
faith do works to please God.[15]

But since in this discourse we have undertaken to teach what
righteous and good works are, and are now speaking of the highest
work, it is clear that we do not speak of the second, third and
fourth classes of men, but of the first, into whose likeness all
the others are to grow, and until they do so the first class must
endure and instruct them. Therefore we must not despise, as if
they were hopeless, these men of weak faith, who would gladly do
right and learn, and yet cannot understand because of the
ceremonies to which they cling; we must rather blame their
ignorant, blind teachers, who have never taught them the faith,
and have led them so deeply into works. The