mes deformed: but this does not change, but abides forever,
fresh and green. On earth there is no pleasure that will not at
length become irksome, as we see that men grow weary of all things;
but with this blessing such is not the case. This do we possess only
in Christ, through the mercy of God, if we believe, and it is freely
bestowed upon us. For how is it possible that we poor wretches should
be able to deserve such good through our own works as no human reason
or sense can conceive?

_That is reserved in heaven._ Certain it is that our inheritance is
imperishable, undefiled and unfading. It is only for a little while
concealed from us, until we close our eyes and are buried, when, if
we believe, we shall surely find and behold it.

V. 5. _Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation._ We wait for this priceless inheritance, he says, in the
hope to which we have attained through faith; for this is their order
of succession: From the word follows faith, from faith is the new
birth, from the new birth we pass to hope, so that we certainly
expect and are assured of the blessing. So that Peter has here
asserted, in a truly christian manner, that it must take place by
faith, not by our own works.

But St. Peter says here, more particularly, _ye are kept by the power
of God--to salvation_. But there are many people who, if they hear
the Gospel,--namely, that faith alone, irrespective of works,
justifies,--break in at once and say, "Yes! I believe too!" To think
their thoughts which they themselves conceive, is faith. Yet we have
also been taught from Scripture that we cannot do the least work
without God's Spirit; how then by our own power should we be able to
do the highest work,--namely, believe? Wherefore such thoughts are
nothing else but a dream and a fiction. God's power must be present
and work within us, in order that we may believe; as Paul also says,
Eph. i., "God grant you the spirit of wisdom that ye may know what is
the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who have believed,
according to the working of His mighty power," &c. Not only is it
God's will, but a power of God that is far from unimportant. For if
God produces faith in men, it is certainly as great a work as though
He recreated heaven and earth.

Therefore those fools know not what they say, who ask, How can faith
alone answer, while many an one believes who yet performs no good
work? For they imagine their own vain dr