by God over them, that it may serve
us as a guide, as we shall hear in the Fourth Commandment.

It must be, indeed, that even in the spiritual estate the greater
part preach false doctrine and misuse spiritual power, so that
thus occasion may be given us to do the works of this
Commandment, and that we be tried, to see what we are willing to
do and to leave undone against such blasphemers for the sake of
God's honor.

Oh, if we were God-fearing in this matter, how often would the
knaves of _officiales_[19] have to decree their papal and
episcopal ban in vain! How weak the Roman thunderbolts would
become! How often would many a one have to hold his tongue, to
whom the world must now give ear! How few preachers would be
found in Christendom! But it has gotten the upper hand: whatever
they assert and in whatever way, that must be right. Here no one
fights for God's Name and honor, and I hold that no greater or
more frequent sin is done in external works than under this head.
It is a matter so high that few understand it, and, besides,
adorned with God's Name and power, dangerous to touch. But the
prophets of old were masters in this; also the apostles,
especially St. Paul, who did not allow it to trouble them whether
the highest or the lowest priest had said it, or had done it in
God's Name or in his own. They looked on the works and words, and
held them up to God's Commandment, no matter whether big John or
little Nick said it, or whether they had done it in God's Name or
in man's. And for this they had to die, and of such dying there
would be much more to say in our time, for things are much worse
now. But Christ and St. Peter and Paul must cover all this with
their holy names, so that no more infamous cover for infamy has
been found on earth than the most holy and most blessed Name of
Jesus Christ!

One might shudder to be alive, simply because of the misuse and
blasphemy of the holy Name of God; through which, if it shall
last much longer, we will, as I fear, openly worship the devil as
a god; so completely do the spiritual authorities and the learned
lack all understanding in these things. It is high time that we
pray God earnestly that He hallow His Name. But it will cost
blood, and they who enjoy the inheritance of the holy martyrs and
are won with their blood, must again make martyrs. Of this more
another time.[20]

[Sidenote: The Third Commandment]

I.[21] We have now seen how many good works there are i