ortion of the
powerful, rich and friends do injustice and oppress the poor, the
lowly, and their own opponents; and the greater the men, the worse the
deeds; and where we cannot by force prevent it and help the truth, we
should at least confess it, and do what we can with words, not take the
part of the unrighteous, not approve them, but speak the truth boldly.

What would it help a man if he did all manner of good, made pilgrimages
to Rome and to all holy places, acquired all indulgences, built all
churches and endowed houses, if he were found guilty of sin against the
Name and honor of God, not speaking of them and neglecting them, and
regarding his possessions, honor, favor and friends more than the truth
(which is God's Name and honor)? Or who is he, before whose door and
into whose house such good works do not daily come, so that he would
have no need to travel far or to ask after good works? And if we
consider the life of men, how in every place men act so very rashly and
lightly in this respect, we must cry out with the prophet, Omnis homo
mendax, "All men are liars, lie and deceive"; for the real good works
they neglect, and adorn and paint themselves with the most
insignificant, and want to be pious, to mount to heaven in peaceful
security.

But if you should say: "Why does not God do it alone and Himself, since
He can and knows how to help each one?" Yes, He can do it; but He does
not want to do it alone; He wants us to work with Him, and does us the
honor to want to work His work with us and through us. And if we are
not willing to accept such honor, He will, after all, perform the work
alone, and help the poor; and those who were unwilling to help Him and
have despised the great honor of doing His work, He will condemn with
the unrighteous, because they have made common cause with the
unrighteous. Just as He alone is blessed, but He wants to do us the
honor and not be alone in His blessedness, but have us to be blessed
with Him. And if He were to do it alone, His Commandments would be
given us in vain, because no one would have occasion to exercise
himself in the great works of these Commandments, and no one would test
himself to see whether he regards God and His Name as the highest good,
and for His sake risks everything.

XXXI. It also belongs to this work to resist all false, seductive,
erroneous, heretical doctrines, every misuse of spiritual power. Now
this is much higher, for these use the holy Na