scoundrels of the Papacy, who will talk enough about merits, but it is while
CHAPTER 5: Persecution Reproach and the Worlds Praise
scoundrels of the Papacy, who will talk enough about merits, but it is while mocking God: because by disgorging their merits, it seems that they are ready to do wonders: and to hear them, one would say that there is only fire and zeal in them, yet there is no one who would lift a finger to suffer anything. As for patience, there is none, but on the contrary the greatest preachers of the merits of these beasts, and of these hypocrites who make the air resound, they will be vile rascals, some dissolute and profane, others drunken and indulge in all debauchery: in short, there will only be all villainy and enormity. Thus therefore the beautiful preachers of the merits of the Papacy, and yet in all their life there will be only contempt for God. But on the contrary, let us know that when we have done more than a hundred times that we are commanded (if possible) that we must not therefore consider that we have done anything more: but recognize that we owe everything to God. And since we are indebted to him in everything, in what way can he be obliged to us? Can he owe us anything from his side? Furthermore, let us know that when we still strive for good, it will always be stumbling, instead of running: there will be many imperfections and weaknesses: and there is no one who does not know this in themselves, provided that they judge themselves without hypocrisy. Above all, we know that all our works would be nothing but a curse before God, unless he accepted them by his infinite goodness, even more so that we are disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that we have all our rest in him.
This then is how we must make the most of this doctrine. For when we are here drawn to heaven, it is so that it does not cost us much to walk among the thorns, to jump over the pits, and even to climb over the rocks and mountains when necessary: and so that nothing distracts us, that we do not tend and aspire to our goal. Now we could here ask, if it is not lawful for the children of God, to be rich, and to use the goods which God has entrusted to them, and to rely on them. For it is said, Woe to you who laugh: Woe to you who are rich: and even, Woe to you when people speak well of you. And how? It will therefore not be lawful to live well and virtuously, so that people speak well of us: and in fact, we must procure good before men (as Paul says) and we must ensure that even the wicked have their mouths closed (as it is said in the other passage) and that they are forced to glorify God, when they see that we walk in fear of him. This then could be found harsh and strange, that the rich of this world are cursed, and those who have some rest, and who are idle: but Jesus Christ here looked at the affection of those who forget the heavenly kingdom, when they are well in this world, and who are entirely dazed and stupid there. To better understand this,