by no other
work can one find or lose God except by faith or unbelief, by
trusting or doubting; of the other works none reaches quite to
God. So also in the Second Commandment we are forbidden to use
His Name in vain. Yet this is not to be enough, but we are
thereby also commanded to honor, call upon, glorify, preach and
praise His Name. And indeed it is impossible that God's Name
should not be dishonored where it is not rightly honored. For
although it be honored with the lips, bending of the knees,
kissing and other postures, if this is not done in the heart by
faith, in confident trust in God's grace, it is nothing else than
an evidence and badge of hypocrisy.

See now, how many kinds of good works a man can do under this
Commandment at all times and never be without the good works of
this Commandment, if he will; so that he truly need not make a
long pilgrimage or seek holy places. For, tell me, what moment
can pass in which we do not without ceasing receive God's
blessings, or, on the other hand, suffer adversity? But what else
are God's blessings and adversities than a constant urging and
stirring up to praise, honor, and bless God, and to call upon His
Name? Now if you had nothing else at all to do, would you not
have enough to do with this Commandment alone, that you without
ceasing bless, sing, praise and honor God's Name? And for what
other purpose have tongue, voice, language and mouth been
created? As Psalm li. says: "Lord, open Thou my lips, and my
mouth shall show forth Thy praise." [Ps. 51:15] Again: "My tongue
shall sing aloud of Thy mercy." [Ps. 51:14]

What work is there in heaven except that of this Second
Commandment? As it is written in Psalm lxxxiv: "Blessed are they
that dwell in Thy house: they will be for ever praising Thee."
[Ps. 84:4] So also David says in Psalm xxxiv: "God's praise shall
be continually in my mouth." [Ps. 34:1] And St. Paul, I.
Corinthians x: "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever
ye do, do all to the glory of God." [1 Cor. 10:31] Also
Colossians iii: "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the
Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father."
[Col. 3:17] If we were to observe this work, we would have a
heaven here on earth and always have enough to do, as have the
saints in heaven.

[Sidenote: The Praise of God]

XX. On this is based the wonderful and righteous judgment of God,
that at times a poor man, in whom no one can see many great
w