Held 1516.
Luc. 18:9-14.
Now he said to some who presumed themselves to be pious, and despised others, the like: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself thus: I thank thee, O God, that I am not like other men, robbers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this publican; I fast twice a week, and give tithes of all that I have. And the publican stood afar off, neither would he lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you: This man went down justified into his house before him. For he that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that abaseth himself shall be exalted.
These are truly perverted and dangerous times, when what the apostle says in 2 Tim. 3:5 will be fulfilled: "There will be men who have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power. For Satan has so prevailed everywhere, as we have heard before and will hear below, that he has not only laid snares to catch men in evil works, but also in good works. So confused and perverse is everything: and yet we most foolish people live so securely on the good works.
*) The Latin original has: On the tenth Sunday after Trinity, but the text is that of the eleventh. - Cf. Löscher I, 279; Erl. A. oxx. var ar^ 1, 101. d. Red.
Works, that we immediately regard everything as wholesome, if it is only good, and do not worry that there is a terrible danger hidden underneath. I am telling you this now because I am coming to the subtle people and invisible transgressors of God's commandment, who sin in secret and shoot with their arrows at those who are righteous of heart. But first we want to explain what is left of the saints. Another monster has taken over, especially in our times, that some worship the saints and consider them patrons of pride and avarice, who sin more grievously than those of whom it was foretold.