e were all perfect, and knew the
Gospel, we might work every day if we wished, or rest if we
could. For a day of rest is at present not necessary nor
commanded except only for the teaching of God's Word and prayer.

[Sidenote: The Rest of the Soul]

The spiritual rest, which God particularly intends in this
Commandment, is this: that we not only cease from our labor and
trade, but much more, that we let God alone work in us and that
we do nothing of our own with all our powers. But how is this
done? In this way: Man, corrupted by sin, has much wicked love
and inclination toward all sins, as the Scriptures say, Genesis
viii, "Man's heart and senses incline always to the evil," [Gen.
8:21] that is, to pride, disobedience, anger, hatred,
covetousness, unchastity, etc., and _summa summarum_, in all that
he does and leaves undone, he seeks his own profit, will and
honor rather than God's and his neighbor's. Therefore all his
works, all his words, all his thoughts, all his life are evil and
not godly.

Now if God is to work and to live in him, all this vice and
wickedness must be choked and up-rooted, so that there may be
rest and a cessation of all our works, thoughts and life, and
that henceforth (as St. Paul says, Galatians ii. [Gal. 2:20]) it
may be no longer we who live, but Christ Who lives, works and
speaks in us. This is not accomplished with comfortable, pleasant
days, but here, we must hurt our nature and let it be hurt. [Gal.
5:17] Here begins the strife between the spirit and the flesh;
here the spirit resists anger, lust, pride, while the flesh wants
to be in pleasure, honor and comfort. Of this St. Paul says,
Galatians v, "They that are our Lord Christ's have crucified the
flesh with its affections and lusts." [Gal. 5:24] Then follow the
good works,--fasting, watching, labor, of which some say and
write so much, although they know neither the source nor the
purpose of these good works. Therefore we will now also speak of
them.

[Sidenote: The Two Means to the Rest of the Soul]

XVIII. This rest, namely, that our work cease and God alone work
in us, is accomplished in two ways. First, through our own
effort, secondly, through the effort or urging of others.

Our own effort is to be so made and ordered that, in the first
place, when we see our flesh, senses, will and thoughts tempting
us, we resist them and do not heed them, as the Wise Man says:
"Follow not thine own desires." [Sir. 18:30] And Moses,