n works so much, that they think heaven scarcely sufficient to
recompense their good deeds; namely, for putting themselves to pain with
saying of our lady's psalter, and gadding on pilgrimage, and such like
trifles. These are the murmurers; for they think themselves holier than
all the world, and therefore worthy to receive a greater reward than all
other men. But such men are much deceived and are in a false opinion, and
if they abide and continue therein, it shall bring them to the fire of
hell. For man's salvation cannot be gotten by any work: because the
Scripture saith, "Life everlasting is the gift of God." (Rom. vi.) True it
is, that God requires good works of us, and commands us to avoid all
wickedness. But for all that, we may not do our good works that we should
get heaven withal; but rather to show ourselves thankful for what Christ
hath done for us, who with his sufferings hath opened heaven to all
believers, that is, to all those that put their hope and trust, not in
their deeds, but in his death and suffering, and study to live well and
godly; and yet not to make merits of their own works, as though they
should have everlasting life for them; as our monks and friars, and all
our religious persons were wont to do, and therefore may rightly be called
murmurers; for they thought they had so great a store of merits, that they
sold some of them unto other men. And many men spend a great part of their
substance to buy their merits, and to be a brother of their houses, or to
obtain one of their coats or cowls to be buried in.

But there is a great difference between the judgment of God, and the
judgment of this world. In this world they were accounted most holy above
all men, and so most worthy to be first; but before God they shall be
last, when their hypocrisy and wickedness shall be opened. And thus much I
thought to say of murmurers.

Now I will not apply all the parts of this parable; for, as I said before,
it is enough for us if we know the chief point and scope of the parable,
which is, that there shall be an equality in all the things that appertain
to Christ: insomuch, that the ruler of this realm hath no better a God, no
better sacraments, and no better a gospel, than the poorest in the world;
yea, the poorest man hath as good right to Christ and his benefits, as the
greatest man in this world.

This is comfortable to every one, and especially to such as are in misery,
poverty, or other calamities; whi