Collected Sermons, calming the storm
A SERMON OF D. MARTIN LVTHER, CONCERNING FAITH AND DIFFIDENCE IN daunger and trouble.
Matth. 8.
Verſe 23. WHen Ieſus was entered into the ſhip, his Diſciples followed him.
24. And behold, there aroſe a great tempeſt in the ſea, ſo that the ſhip was couered with waues, but he was aſleepe.
25. Then his Diſciples came, and awoke him, ſaying, Maiſter, ſaue vsus, we periſh.
26. And he ſayd vntounto them: Why are ye feareful, O ye of litle faith? Then he aroſe, and rebuked the windes and the ſea: & ſo there was a great calme.
27. And the men merueiled, ſaying: What man is this, that both the windes & the ſea obey him?
ACcording to the hiſtorie this text ſetteth before vsus an example of faith and diffidence: wherof we may learne both what a ſtronge and inuincible thinge faith is, and that it muſt be exerciſed & tryed euen in great matters, and full of perill: and alſo howe deſperate a thing on the other ſide diffidence is, and howe full of feare and trembling, which can neuer doe any thinge rightly or wel. This doth experience moſt liuely ſet forth in the Diſciples.How deſperate & fearefull a thinge diffidence is, it appeareth by the example of Chriſtes Diſciples. They, when they entered into the ſhip with Chriſt, and whileſt there was calmnes in the lake, were nothing diſquieted in mind, neither felt any feare. Then if one ſhould hauehave aſked them whether they beleeued, they would hauehave aunſwered without dout that they did beleeue. For they did not know that their hart did truſt in that quietnes, for that all troubles were abſent, and therefore did reſt vponupon a thinge viſible, and not vponupon the inuiſible grace of God. Which then was made manifeſt, as ſoone as the tempeſt was riſen, and the waues did couer the ſhip: for by and by all their truſt and confidence ceaſſed, for that the quietnes and calmnes whereunto they truſted was taken away, and diffidence, which before when al things were proſperous did lurke in their minds, did then appeare. For this is the nature of diffidence, that it beleeueth or knoweth no more then it feeleth. Foraſmuch therefore as it had poſſeſſed the breſtes of the Apoſtles, they felt nothing now but the fearefull tempeſt, and the waues couering the ſhip, they ſaw the ſea ſwelling and greatly raging to threaten nothing but death. Theſe thinges onelyonly did they thinke vponupon, theſe onelyonly did they conſider, and therefore could there be no meaſure or ende of feare and trembling in their mindes: the more they weyed in their mind the perill, ſo much more were they terrified, and ſeemed euen now to ſticke in the very iawes of death, hoping for no life or deliuerance. And as they could not ſo much as thinke any thing els becauſe of their vnbeliefe, ſo all comfort alſo was farre from them. For diffidence or vnbeliefe hath nothing whereunto it may truſt or flee, wherfore when outward aduerſitie commeth, it admitteth nothing into the mind but it, and therefore it can neuer feele any peace or quietnes while this remaineth. So in hell, where diffidence exerciſeth full tyrannie, there can neuer be any intermiſſion of deſperation, trembling and terrour.
What faith doth in trouble & daunger.But if the Diſciples had bene then endued with a ſound faith, and if it had ruled in this daunger, it would hauehave remoued from the mind the wind and all this tempeſt, & in ſteede of theſe would wholy hauehave thought vponupon the power of God and his grace promiſed, whereunto it would no otherwiſe hauehave truſted, then if it had ſate vponupon a moſt ſtronge rocke farre from the ſea and from al tempeſt. For this is the chiefe vertue and cunning of faith, that it ſeeth thoſe thinges which are not ſeene or felt, and ſeeth not thoſe thinges which are felt, yea which are now ſore vponupon vsus, and doe preſſe & vrge vsus. As on the contrary ſide diffidence ſeeth nothing but that which it feeleth, neither can it reſt vponupon any other thing but that which it feeleth. For this cauſe thoſe thinges are of God layd vponupon faith, which the whole world is not able to beare, as ſinnes, death, the world, and the deuil: neither ſuffereth he it to be occupied with ſmall matters. For who flieth not death? who is not terrified & ouercome of it?The force of faith, whereby death, the world, Satan and ſinne are ouercome. Againſt this inuincible faith ſtandeth, yea it couragiouſly ſetteth vponupon it, which otherwiſe tameth all thinges, and ouercommeth and ſwalloweth vp that vnſatiable deuourer of life. So euen the whole world is not able to bring vnderunder and ſubdue the fleſh, but it rather bringeth vnderunder and maketh the world ſubiect vntounto it, & beareth rule ouer it, ſo that he liueth carnally whoſoeuer is of the world. But faith ſubdueth this ſubduer of all other, holdeth it in ſubiection, and teacheth it not onelyonly to be ruled, but alſo to obey. Likewiſe who is able to beare the hatred and furie, ignominie and perſecution of the worlde? who doth not yeelde vntounto it and is oppreſſed with it? But faith euen laugheth at all the iniquitie, rage, and furie thereof, and maketh that vntounto it ſelfe matter of ſpirituall ioy, wherewith other are euen killed. It doth no otherwiſe behaue it ſelfe againſt Satan alſo. Who is able to ouercome him, which practizeth ſo many craftes and wiles, wherby he ſtayeth and hindereth the truth, the worde of God, faith, and hope, and ſoweth againſt them innumerable errours, ſects, deluſions, hereſies, deſperations, ſuperſtitions, and ſuch kind of abominations without number? All the worlde is to him as a ſparke of fire to a fountaine of water, it is wholy ſubdued vntounto him in theſe euills, as (alas) we both ſee and trie. But it is faith which troubleth him, for it is not onelyonly not made ſubiect to his deluſions, but it alſo diſcouereth and confoundeth them, that they be no more of any importance, that they are able to doe nothing but doe vaniſh away, as we hauehave experience at this day by the decaying and vaniſhing of the Papacie and indulgences. Finally, ſinne hath that force, that that which is euen the leaſt, can not be appeaſed or extinguiſhed of any creature, that it doth not gnawe and teare the conſcience, yea if all men ſhould goe about togither to comfort the conſcience wherein ſinne hath begun to liue, they ſhould goe about it in vaine. But faith is that noble Champion, which ouercommeth and extinguiſheth eueryevery ſinne, yea if all the ſinnes which the whole world hath committed from the beginning were layde vponupon one heape, it would extinguiſh and aboliſh them all togither. Is not faith therefore moſt mightie and of incomparable ſtrength, which dareth encounter with ſo many and ſo mightie enemies, and beareth away the certaine victorie? Wherefore Iohn ſayth in his firſt Epiſtle chap. 5: This is that victorie that hath ouercome this world, euen our faith.
Howbeit this victorie commeth not with reſt and quietnes,Faith obtayneth not the victorie ouer the enemies of our ſoules without ſore fight & conflicts. we muſt trie the fight, not without blood and woundes, that is, we muſt needes feele ſinne, death, the fleſh, the deuill, and the world, yea and that aſſayling vsus ſo grieuouſly and with ſo great force, that the hart of man doe thinke that he is paſt all hope, that ſinne hath ouercome, and the deuill gotten the vpper hande, and on the contrary ſide very litle feele the force of faith. We ſee an example of this fight here in the Diſciples, for the waues did not onelyonly ſtrike the ſhip, but did euen couer it, that nothing could be now loked for, but that it ſhould be drowned, eſpecially Chriſt being aſleepe, and knowing not of this perill: all hope was then paſt, life ſeemed to be ouercome, and death appeared to hauehave the victorie. But as it fel out with the Diſciples in this tentation, ſo alſo doth it fall out, and muſt fall out with all the godly in all kind of tentations, which are of ſinne, the deuill, and the world. In the tentation of ſinne we muſt needes feele the conſcience thrall vntounto ſinnes, the wrath of God and helliſh paynes to hange ouer vsus, and all thinges to be in that caſe, as though we were paſt all recouerie. Likewiſe when we hauehave conflict with the deuill, it muſt appeare, as though truth ſhoulde giuegive place to errour, and Satan ſhoulde driue the worde of God out of the whole worlde, and he him ſelfe reigne for a God with his deluſions & deceits. Neither ſtandeth the caſe any otherwiſe, when it commeth to paſſe that we are tryed of the world, it muſt needes be, that it ſhould greatly rage and cruelly perſecute vsus, ſo that it ſhall ſeeme that no man at all is able to ſtand, that no man is able to obtayne ſafetie, or profes his faith: that Cain onelyonly ſhall beare rule, and ſuffer his brother in no place.
Albeit we be in daunger & great diſtres, yet muſt we not be diſcouraged, but beleeue that we ſhall be deliueredBut we muſt not iudge according to ſuch feeling and outward appearance of things, but according to faith. The preſent example ought to ſtirre vsus vp hereunto, & to be receiued of vsus in ſteede of ſpeciall comfort. For we learne hereof, that albeit ſinnes doe vrge vsus, death diſquiet vsus, the world rage againſt vsus, and the deuill lay ſnares for vsus, that is, although the waues doe couer the ſhip, yet we muſt not be diſcouraged. For although thy conſcience being wounded doth feele ſinne, and the wrath and indignation of God, yet ſhalt thou not therefore be plunged in hell. Neither ſhalt thou therefore die, although euen the whole world hate and perſecute thee, and gape ſo wide to deuoure thee, as the morning ſpreadeth forth it ſelfe: They are onelyonly waues, which falling vponupon thy ſhip doe terrifie thee, and compell thee to crie out, we periſh, Lord ſaue vsus. Thou haſt therefore in the former part of this text, the nature of faith ſet forth, how it is wont and ought to behaue it ſelfe in tentation, alſo howe deſperate a thinge diffidence is, and nothing to be counted of. The other part commendeth vntounto vsus louelove in Chriſt, whereby he was brought ſo farre, that he brake of his ſleepe, aroſe, and counted the daunger that his Diſciples were in for his owne, and helped them freely, aſking or looking for nothing of them therefore. Euen as it is the nature of Chriſtian louelove to doe all things freely and of good will to the glorie of God, and profit of our neighbours,The nature of Chriſtian louelove. ſeeking to it ſelfe nothing thereby. For the exerciſing of which louelove man adopted of God, is left in the earth, euen as Chriſt being made man liued in the earth that he might do for vsus, as he witneſſeth of him ſelfe: I came not to be ſerued, but to ſerue, Matth. 20.28and to giuegive my life for the ranſome of many.
The Allegories of this deede.
In this deede Chriſt hath ſet forth the life of Chriſtians, and the ſtate of ſuch as preach and teache the worde of God. The ſhip ſignifieth the Church, the ſea the world, the winde the deuill, the Diſciples of Chriſt are the Preachers and godly Chriſtians: Chriſt the truth, the Goſpell and faith. Now, before that Chriſt and his Diſciples enter into the ſhip, the ſea is calme, & the wind quiet, but when Chriſt with his Diſciples are entred in, by and by ariſeth a tempeſt. This is that which he ſayd:Matth. 10.34 The world can not abide the ſound and ſincere preaching of the Goſpell. I came not to ſend peace but the ſword. For if Chriſt would ſuffer the world to liue after his owne maner, and would not reproue the workes thereof, it would be quiet enough. But now ſeeing that he preacheth that they which are counted wiſe men, are fooles: they that are counted righteous, are ſinners: they that are counted rich, are not bleſſed, but miſerable, it rageth & is in great furie. So thou maiſt at this daye finde wiſe men of this worlde, which in deede would ſuffer the Goſpell to be preached, if the wordes of the Scripture ſhoulde be ſimply declared, and in the meane ſeaſon the ſtate of Eccleſiaſticall perſons not reproued: but as ſoone as thou ſhalt begin to condemne by the Scriptures all thoſe thinges which hauehave bene hitherto brought in vnderunder a falſe name of religion, and to teach that they are to be reiected as being of no importance, thou preacheſt ſeditiouſly, and troubleſt the world with vnchriſtian doctrine.
But how doth the preſent text pertaine vntounto vsus? A great tempeſt did ariſe, where that ſhip went, wherein Chriſt and his Diſciples were. Other ſhips did paſſe the ſea quietly, nothing toſſed of the windes, this ſhip onelyonly muſt be toſſed and couered with waues, becauſe Chriſt was caried in it. For the world can ſuffer any kind of preaching beſide the preaching of Chriſt: the cauſe is, for that he condemneth all thinges of the world,Why the world can not abide ye preaching of Chriſt. Matth. 12.30. Ioh. 16.8. and chalengeth all righteouſnes to him ſelfe, according to that which he ſaith: He that is not with me, is againſt me: and againe: The Spirit will reproue the worlde of ſinne, of righteouſnes, and of iudgement. He ſayth not: will preach, but, will reproue, and not this or that man, but, the world, and whatſoeuer is in the world. Againſt this ſhip of Chriſt all this tempeſt is rayſed, and it is brought into daunger. For the world doth not ſuffer his owne thinges to be condemned, but Chriſt can not allowe them, & if he ſhould allow them, he had come in vaine. For if the world were wiſe by it ſelfe, and did knowe and followe the truth, what neede had there bene that Chriſt & his Diſciples ſhould preach? Wherfore it is not a ſmall comfort to Chriſtians,A comfort to true Preachers that they knowe before that they ſhal ſuffer perſecution. eſpecially to Preachers, that they are certaine before, that as ſoone as they ſhal begin to preach Chriſt to the world, they muſt ſuffer perſecution, & that it can not be otherwiſe. So that it is a ſure ſigne, and therefore to be wiſhed, that it is true Chriſtian preaching, if it be tried with perſecution, eſpecially of the holy, learned and wiſe men of the worlde. As it is an vndouted ſigne alſo, that it is vnchriſtian preaching, if it be prayſed commonly and honoured of the world, according to that ſaying Luke 6: Bleſſed are ye when men hate you, and put out your name as euill, for the Sonne of mans ſake: for ſo did their fathers to the Prophets. Now marke how our ſpirituall men do behaue them ſelues, and of what ſort their doctrine is: They hauehave got into their ſubiection the riches, glorie, and power of the world, and they that prayſe them, enioy the honour and pleaſures thereof, their caſe in all thinges agreeth with the caſe of the falſe Prophets, and yet they dare boaſt them ſelues to be Preachers and Teachers of Chriſt, and worſhippers of God.
Of whom the Preachers of Gods word muſt looke for & deſire helpe in the time of trouble and perſecution.The next thinge, whereby this deede doth comfort and encourage the Preachers of Chriſt, is, that it ſheweth where helpe is to be aſked, when a tempeſt is riſen: to wit, not of the world, for not mans wiſedom or power, but Chriſt him ſelfe, and he alone is able to helpe them. Him they muſt call vponupon in eueryevery diſtres with full confidence, in him they muſt truſt, as his Diſciples here did. For vnles they had beleeued that Chriſt was able to take away the daunger wherein they were, they would not hauehave awaked him, and prayed him to ſaue them: although their faith then was very weake, and very much diffidence was in them, for that they did not confidently commit them ſelues with him vntounto daunger, douting nothing but he was able to deliuer them out of the middeſt of the ſea, and from death it ſelfe. Hereof therefore let it be acknowledged as certaine, that as no Iudge or Moderator can be giuen to the word of God, but God onelyonly, ſo there can be had no other maintainer or defender thereof: who as he ſendeth it out whether he will without any merit or counſell of men, ſo he alone alſo will defende & preſerue it without the ayde or ſtrength of men: and therefore he that ſeeketh ayde vntounto this word of men, ſhall without dout fall, being forſaken as well of men as of God.
Whereas Chriſt did ſleepe, it giueth vsus to vnderſtand, that in the time of perſecution he doth ſometimes withdraw him ſelfe,Chriſt ſometimes in the time of perſecution and trouble with draweth him ſelf & differreth his help for a while. & ſeemeth as though he ſlept, whiles that he giueth not ſtrength & power valiantly to reſiſt, the peace and tranquillitie of minde being now diſturbed, but ſuffereth vsus to wraſtle and labour with our infirmitie for a while, that we may acknowledge how we are altogither nothing, and that all thinges doe depend on his grace and power. As Paule confeſſeth of him ſelfe 2. Cor. 1. that it behoued that he ſhoulde be ſo preſſed and troubled out of meaſure, that we ſhould not truſt in our ſelues but in God, which rayſeth the dead. Such ſleepe of God Dauid oftentimes felt, and maketh mention thereof in many places: Ariſe, awake, O Lorde: why ſleepeſt thou? why dooſt thou forget vsus? &c.
In a ſumme, the preſent text offereth vntounto vsus two principall thinges full of confidence and godly boldnes. The firſt, that when perſecution is riſen for the word of God, we may ſay: We knew that it would ſo come to paſſe. Chriſt is in the ſhip, therefore the ſea ſo rageth, the windes trouble vsus, the waues fall vponupon vsus as though they would drowne vsus. But let them rage and be furious as much as they may: it is certaine, the ſea and the windes doe obey Chriſt which is the other principall thinge which this text offereth. Perſecution ſhall extend no farther, nor rage any lenger then he will, and albeit the waues doe euen ouerwhelme vsus, yet muſt they be obedient at his becke. He is Lorde ouer all, wherefore nothing ſhall hurt vsus: he onelyonly endue vsus with his grace, that we be not ouercome by vnbeliefe and ſo deſpeire, Amen.
Whereas the men merueiled and prayſed the Lorde, as vntounto whom the ſea and windes doe obey,The Goſpel is more ſpread abroad and faith increaſed by perſecution. it ſignifieth that the Goſpell and word of God is ſo farre from being extinguiſhed by perſecution, that thereby it is ſpread farther abroad, and faith alſo is increaſed and becommeth ſtronger. Wherein it appeareth howe diuers the nature of this diuine good thinge is from the good thinges of the world, which decay by calamitie and misfortune, and are increaſed by proſperitie and fortunate affayres: But the kingdom of Chriſt is increaſed and ſtrengthened by tribulation and aduerſitie: but is diminiſhed and weakned by peace and tranquillitie. Whereupon Paule ſayth 2. Cor. 12: The Lordes power is made perfect through weakenes: which God performe in vsus alſo, Amen.