ursing, slandering,
injuring, vengeance, and all manner of angry works and words; and yet,
with all this, we have our many holidays, hear masses, say our prayers,
establish churches, and more such spiritual finery, which God has not
commanded. We shine resplendently and excessively, as if we were the
most holy Christians there ever were. And so because of these mirrors
and masks we allow God's Commandment to go to complete ruin, and no one
considers or examines himself, how near or how far he be from meekness
and the fulfilment of this Commandment; although God has said, that not
he who does such works, but he who keeps His Commandments, shall enter
into eternal life.

Now, since no one lives on earth upon whom God does not bestow an enemy
and opponent as a proof of his own anger and wickedness, that is, one
who afflicts him in goods, honor, body or friends, and thereby tries
whether anger is still present, whether he can be well-disposed toward
his enemy, speak well of him, do good to him, and not intend any evil
against him; let him come forward who asks what he shall do that he may
do good works, please God and be saved. Let him set his enemy before
him, keep him constantly before the eyes of his heart, as an exercise
whereby he may curb his spirit and train his heart to think kindly of
his enemy, wish him well, care for him and pray for him; and then, when
opportunity offers, speak well of him and do good to him. Let him who
will, try this and if he find not enough to do all his life long, he
may convict me of lying, and say that my contention was wrong. But if
this is what God desires, and if He will be paid in no other coin, of
what avail is it, that we busy ourselves with other great works which
are not commanded, and neglect this? Therefore God says, Matthew v, "I
say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his neighbor, is in danger
of the judgment; but whosoever shall say to his brother, Thou fool
(that is, all manner of invective, cursing, reviling, slandering), he
shall be in danger of everlasting fire." What remains then for the
outward act, striking, wounding, killing, injuring, etc., if the
thoughts and words of anger are so severely condemned?

III. But where there is true meekness, there the heart is pained at
every evil which happens to one's enemy. And these are the true
children and heirs of God and brethren of Christ, Whose heart was so
pained for us all when He died on the holy Cross. Even so we