OF THE CONFESSION AND CONSTANCY OF THE DOCTRINE.

The word and article of justification (how we are justified and saved before God) expelleth and overcometh all sorrow, all perplexities, misfortunes, and adversities; and without this article there is neither help nor advice.

We read in the histories of the Church, said Luther, that Julian the Emperor forced his servants and soldiers to deny Christ; but when many of them refused to do the same, he caused them to be executed with the sword, and they went joyfully to their deaths.  Among them was a proper youth, for whom earnest intercession was made, that he might be the first to die.  But Julian commanded to release him, in order to try whether he would remain constant or no.  Now, when he kneeled down and offered his neck to the block, the executioner was charged not to strike, but to let him rise again.  Then the youth stood up, and said, “Ah, sweet Jesu! am I not worthy to suffer for thy sake?”  These were words of a great faith, which overcometh the fear of death.

When governors and rulers are enemies to God’s Word, then our duty is to depart, to sell and forsake all we have, to fly from one place to another, as Christ commandeth.  We must make and prepare no uproars nor tumults by reason of the Gospel, but we must suffer all things.