faith. Although there is
great danger here, when 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.

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." 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." 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
a piece of money; take that and give it for me and thee."

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.

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. They must be gently
and gradually led back again