demand. For we
must for the holy Name of God risk and give up all that we have and can
do, and show by our deeds that we love God and His Name, His honor and
His praise above all things, and trust Him above all things, and expect
good from Him; thereby confessing that we regard Him as the highest
good, for the sake of which we let go and give up all other goods.

XXIX. Here we must first of all resist all wrong, where truth or
righteousness suffers violence or need, and dare make no distinction of
persons, as some do, who fight most actively and busily against the
wrong which is done to the rich, the powerful, and their own friends;
but when it is done to the poor, or the despised or their own enemy,
they are quiet and patient. These see the Name and the honor of God not
as it is, but through a painted glass, and measure truth or
righteousness according to the persons, and do not consider their
deceiving eye, which looks more on the person than on the thing. These
are hypocrites within and have only the appearance of defending the
truth. For they well know that there is no danger when one helps the
rich, the powerful, the learned and one's own friends, and can in turn
enjoy their protection and be honored by them.

Thus it is very easy to fight against the wrong which is done to popes,
kings, princes, bishops and other big-wigs. Here each wants to be the
most pious, where there is no great need. O how sly is here the
deceitful Adam with his demand; how finely does he cover his greed of
profit with the name of truth and righteousness and God's honor! But
when something happens to a poor and insignificant man, there the
deceitful eye does not find much profit, but cannot help seeing the
disfavor of the powerful; therefore he lets the poor man remain
unhelped. And who could tell the extent of this vice in Christendom?
God says in the lxxxii. Psalm, "How long will ye judge unjustly, and
accept the persons of the wicked? Judge the matter of the poor and
fatherless, demand justice for the poor and needy; deliver the poor and
rid the forsaken out of the hand of the wicked." But it is not done,
and therefore the text continues: "They know not, neither will they
understand; they walk on in darkness"; that is, the truth they do not
see, but they stop at the reputation of the great, however unrighteous
they are; and do not consider the poor, however righteous they are.

XXX. See, here would be many good works. For the greater p