a treatise on good works-µÚ24ÕÂ
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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
these¡¡are£»¡¡the¡¡land¡¡is¡¡destroyed£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡in¡¡body¡¡and¡¡property£»
as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡in¡¡honor£»¡¡discipline£»¡¡virtue¡¡and¡¡the
soul's¡¡salvation¡£¡¡For¡¡pestilence¡¡and¡¡famine¡¡make¡¡people¡¡good¡¡and
rich£»¡¡but¡¡war¡¡and¡¡wicked¡¡rulers¡¡bring¡¡to¡¡naught¡¡everything¡¡that
has¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡temporal¡¡and¡¡eternal¡¡possessions¡£¡¡
XV¡£¡¡A¡¡prince¡¡must¡¡also¡¡be¡¡very¡¡wise¡¡and¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times
undertake¡¡to¡¡enforce¡¡his¡¡own¡¡will£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡may¡¡have¡¡the
authority¡¡and¡¡the¡¡very¡¡best¡¡cause¡£¡¡For¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡far¡¡nobler¡¡virtue
to¡¡endure¡¡wrong¡¡to¡¡one's¡¡authority¡¡than¡¡to¡¡risk¡¡property¡¡and
person£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡is¡¡advantageous¡¡to¡¡the¡¡subjects£»¡¡since¡¡worldly
rights¡¡attach¡¡only¡¡to¡¡temporal¡¡goods¡£¡¡
Hence£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡very¡¡foolish¡¡saying£º¡¡I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡right¡¡to¡¡it£»
therefore¡¡I¡¡will¡¡take¡¡it¡¡by¡¡storm¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡it£»¡¡although¡¡all¡¡sorts
of¡¡misfortune¡¡may¡¡come¡¡to¡¡others¡¡thereby¡£¡¡So¡¡we¡¡read¡¡of¡¡the
Emperor¡¡Octavianus£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡make¡¡war£»¡¡however
just¡¡his¡¡cause¡¡might¡¡be£»¡¡unless¡¡there¡¡were¡¡sure¡¡indications¡¡of
greater¡¡benefit¡¡than¡¡harm£»¡¡or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡that¡¡the¡¡harm¡¡would¡¡not
be¡¡intolerable£»¡¡and¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨¡¡War¡¡is¡¡like¡¡fishing¡¡with¡¡a¡¡golden
net£»¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡risked¡¡is¡¡always¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡the¡¡catch¡¡can¡¡be¡£¡¨
For¡¡he¡¡who¡¡guides¡¡a¡¡wagon¡¡must¡¡walk¡¡far¡¡otherwise¡¡than¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were
walking¡¡alone£»¡¡when¡¡alone¡¡he¡¡may¡¡walk£»¡¡jump£»¡¡and¡¡do¡¡as¡¡he¡¡will£»
but¡¡when¡¡he¡¡drives£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡so¡¡guide¡¡and¡¡adapt¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡the
wagon¡¡and¡¡horses¡¡can¡¡follow¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡regard¡¡that¡¡more¡¡than¡¡his
own¡¡will¡£¡¡So¡¡also¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡leads¡¡a¡¡multitude¡¡with¡¡him¡¡and¡¡must
not¡¡walk¡¡and¡¡act¡¡as¡¡he¡¡wills£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡the¡¡multitude¡¡can£»
considering¡¡their¡¡need¡¡and¡¡advantage¡¡more¡¡than¡¡his¡¡will¡¡and
pleasure¡£¡¡For¡¡when¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡rules¡¡after¡¡his¡¡own¡¡mad¡¡will¡¡and
follows¡¡his¡¡own¡¡opinion£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡like¡¡a¡¡mad¡¡driver£»¡¡who¡¡rushes
straight¡¡ahead¡¡with¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡wagon£»¡¡through¡¡bushes£»¡¡thorns£»
ditches£»¡¡water£»¡¡up¡¡hill¡¡and¡¡down¡¡dale£»¡¡regardless¡¡of¡¡roads¡¡and
bridges£»¡¡he¡¡will¡¡not¡¡drive¡¡long£»¡¡all¡¡will¡¡go¡¡to¡¡smash¡£¡¡
Therefore¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡most¡¡profitable¡¡for¡¡rulers£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡read£»
or¡¡have¡¡read¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡from¡¡youth¡¡on£»¡¡the¡¡histories£»¡¡both¡¡in
sacred¡¡and¡¡in¡¡profane¡¡books£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡would¡¡find¡¡more
examples¡¡and¡¡skill¡¡in¡¡ruling¡¡than¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡books¡¡of¡¡law£»¡¡as¡¡we
read¡¡that¡¡the¡¡kings¡¡of¡¡Persia¡¡did£»¡¡Esther¡¡vi¡£¡¡For¡¡examples¡¡and
histories¡¡benefit¡¡and¡¡teach¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡and¡¡statutes£º
there¡¡actual¡¡experience¡¡teaches£»¡¡here¡¡untried¡¡and¡¡uncertain
words¡£¡¡
XVI¡£¡¡Three¡¡special£»¡¡distinct¡¡works¡¡all¡¡rulers¡¡might¡¡do¡¡in¡¡our
times£»¡¡particularly¡¡in¡¡our¡¡lands¡£¡¡First£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡an¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the
horrible¡¡gluttony¡¡and¡¡drunkenness£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the
excess£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡because¡¡of¡¡its¡¡expense¡£¡¡For¡¡through¡¡seasonings
and¡¡spices¡¡and¡¡the¡¡like£»¡¡without¡¡which¡¡men¡¡could¡¡well¡¡live£»¡¡no
little¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡temporal¡¡wealth¡¡has¡¡come¡¡and¡¡daily¡¡is¡¡coming¡¡upon
our¡¡lands¡£¡¡To¡¡prevent¡¡these¡¡two¡¡great¡¡evils¡¡would¡¡truly¡¡give¡¡the
temporal¡¡power¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡inroads¡¡they¡¡have¡¡made¡¡are
wide¡¡and¡¡deep¡£¡¡And¡¡how¡¡could¡¡those¡¡in¡¡power¡¡serve¡¡God¡¡better¡¡and
thereby¡¡also¡¡improve¡¡their¡¡own¡¡land£¿¡¡
Secondly£»¡¡to¡¡forbid¡¡the¡¡excessive¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡clothing£»¡¡whereby¡¡so
much¡¡wealth¡¡is¡¡wasted£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡only¡¡the¡¡world¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flesh¡¡are
served£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡fearful¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡such¡¡abuse¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡found
among¡¡the¡¡people¡¡who¡¡have¡¡been¡¡pledged£»¡¡baptised¡¡and¡¡consecrated
to¡¡Christ£»¡¡the¡¡Crucified£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡should¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡Cross¡¡after¡¡Him
and¡¡prepare¡¡for¡¡the¡¡life¡¡to¡¡come¡¡by¡¡dying¡¡daily¡£¡¡If¡¡some¡¡men
erred¡¡through¡¡ignorance£»¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡borne£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is
practised¡¡so¡¡freely£»¡¡without¡¡punishment£»¡¡without¡¡shame£»¡¡without
hindrance£»¡¡nay£»¡¡that¡¡praise¡¡and¡¡fame¡¡are¡¡sought¡¡thereby£»¡¡this¡¡is
indeed¡¡an¡¡unchristian¡¡thing¡£¡¡Thirdly£»¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡out¡¡the¡¡usurious
buying¡¡of¡¡rent¡charges£»¡¡which¡¡in¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡world¡¡ruins£»¡¡consumes
and¡¡troubles¡¡all¡¡lands£»¡¡peoples¡¡and¡¡cities¡¡through¡¡its¡¡cunning
form£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡it¡¡appears¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡usury£»¡¡while¡¡in¡¡truth¡¡it¡¡is
worse¡¡than¡¡usury£»¡¡because¡¡men¡¡are¡¡not¡¡on¡¡their¡¡guard¡¡against¡¡it
as¡¡against¡¡open¡¡usury¡£¡¡See£»¡¡these¡¡are¡¡the¡¡three¡¡Jews£»¡¡as¡¡men¡¡say£»
who¡¡suck¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡world¡¡dry¡£¡¡Here¡¡princes¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡to¡¡sleep£»
nor¡¡be¡¡lazy£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡would¡¡give¡¡a¡¡good¡¡account¡¡of¡¡their¡¡office
to¡¡God¡£¡¡
XVII¡£¡¡Here¡¡too¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡mentioned¡¡the¡¡knavery¡¡which¡¡is
practised¡¡by¡¡officiales¡¡and¡¡other¡¡episcopal¡¡and¡¡spiritual
officers£»¡¡who¡¡ban£»¡¡load£»¡¡hunt¡¡and¡¡drive¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡people¡¡with
great¡¡burdens£»¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡a¡¡penny¡¡remains¡£¡¡This¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be
prevented¡¡by¡¡the¡¡temporal¡¡sword£»¡¡since¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡other¡¡help¡¡or
remedy¡£¡¡
O£»¡¡would¡¡God¡¡in¡¡heaven£»¡¡that¡¡some¡¡time¡¡a¡¡government¡¡might¡¡be
established¡¡that¡¡would¡¡do¡¡away¡¡with¡¡the¡¡public¡¡bawdy¡houses£»¡¡as
was¡¡done¡¡among¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Israel£¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡indeed¡¡an¡¡unchristian
sight£»¡¡that¡¡public¡¡houses¡¡of¡¡sin¡¡are¡¡maintained¡¡among¡¡Christians£»
a¡¡thing¡¡formerly¡¡altogether¡¡unheard¡¡of¡£¡¡It¡¡should¡¡be¡¡a¡¡rule¡¡that
boys¡¡and¡¡girls¡¡should¡¡be¡¡married¡¡early¡¡and¡¡such¡¡vice¡¡be
prevented¡£¡¡Such¡¡a¡¡rule¡¡and¡¡custom¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sought¡¡for¡¡by¡¡both
the¡¡spiritual¡¡and¡¡the¡¡temporal¡¡power¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡was¡¡possible¡¡among
the¡¡Jews£»¡¡why¡¡should¡¡it¡¡not¡¡also¡¡be¡¡possible¡¡among¡¡Christians£¿
Nay£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡is¡¡possible¡¡in¡¡villages£»¡¡towns¡¡and¡¡some¡¡cities£»¡¡as¡¡we
all¡¡see£»¡¡why¡¡should¡¡it¡¡not¡¡be¡¡possible¡¡everywhere£¿¡¡
But¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡is£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡real¡¡government¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡No
one¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡work£»¡¡therefore¡¡the¡¡mechanics¡¡must¡¡give¡¡their
workmen¡¡holiday£º¡¡then¡¡they¡¡are¡¡free¡¡and¡¡no¡¡one¡¡can¡¡tame¡¡them¡£¡¡But
if¡¡there¡¡were¡¡a¡¡rule¡¡that¡¡they¡¡must¡¡do¡¡as¡¡they¡¡are¡¡bid£»¡¡and¡¡no
one¡¡would¡¡give¡¡them¡¡work¡¡in¡¡other¡¡places£»¡¡this¡¡evil¡¡would¡¡to¡¡a
large¡¡extent¡¡be¡¡mended¡£¡¡God¡¡help¡¡us£¡¡¡I¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡here¡¡the¡¡wish
is¡¡far¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡the¡¡hope£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡does¡¡not¡¡excuse¡¡us¡£
Now¡¡see£»¡¡here¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡works¡¡of¡¡magistrates¡¡are¡¡indicated£»¡¡but
they¡¡are¡¡so¡¡good¡¡and¡¡so¡¡many£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡have¡¡superabundant¡¡good
works¡¡to¡¡do¡¡every¡¡hour¡¡and¡¡could¡¡constantly¡¡serve¡¡God¡£¡¡But¡¡these
works£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡should¡¡also¡¡be¡¡done¡¡in¡¡faith£»¡¡yea£»¡¡be¡¡an
exercise¡¡of¡¡faith£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡expect¡¡to¡¡please¡¡God¡¡by¡¡the
works£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡confident¡¡trust¡¡in¡¡His¡¡favor¡¡do¡¡such¡¡works¡¡only¡¡to
the¡¡honor¡¡and¡¡praise¡¡of¡¡his¡¡gracious¡¡God£»¡¡thereby¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡and
benefit¡¡his¡¡neighbor¡£¡¡
XVIII¡£¡¡The¡¡fourth¡¡work¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡is¡¡obedience¡¡of
servants¡¡and¡¡workmen¡¡toward¡¡their¡¡lords¡¡and¡¡ladies£»¡¡masters¡¡and
mistresses¡£¡¡Of¡¡this¡¡St¡£¡¡Paul¡¡says£»¡¡Titus¡¡ii£º¡¡¡¨Thou¡¡shalt¡¡exhort
servants¡¡that¡¡they¡¡highly¡¡honor¡¡their¡¡masters£»¡¡be¡¡obedient£»¡¡do
what¡¡pleases¡¡them£»¡¡not¡¡cheating¡¡them¡¡nor¡¡opposing¡¡them¡¨£»¡¡for¡¡this
reason¡¡also£º¡¡because¡¡they¡¡thereby¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡doctrine¡¡of¡¡Christ
and¡¡our¡¡faith¡¡into¡¡good¡¡repute£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡heathen¡¡cannot¡¡complain
of¡¡us¡¡and¡¡be¡¡offended¡£¡¡St¡£¡¡Peter¡¡also¡¡says£º¡¡¡¨Servants£»¡¡be¡¡subject
to¡¡your¡¡masters£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡the¡¡good¡¡and
gentle£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡to¡¡the¡¡froward¡¡and¡¡harsh¡£¡¡For¡¡this¡¡is¡¡acceptable
with¡¡God£»¡¡if¡¡a¡¡man¡¡suffers¡¡harshness£»¡¡being¡¡innocent¡£¡¨¡¡
Now¡¡there¡¡is¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡complaint¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡about¡¡servants
and¡¡working¡¡men£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡are¡¡disobedient£»¡¡unfaithful£»
unmannerly£»¡¡and¡¡over¡reaching£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡a¡¡plague¡¡sent¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡And
truly£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡the¡¡one¡¡work¡¡of¡¡servants¡¡whereby¡¡they¡¡may¡¡be
saved£»¡¡truly¡¡they¡¡need¡¡not¡¡make¡¡pilgrimages¡¡or¡¡do¡¡this¡¡thing¡¡or
the¡¡other£»¡¡they¡¡have¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡do¡¡if¡¡their¡¡heart¡¡is¡¡only¡¡set¡¡on
this£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡gladly¡¡do¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡undone¡¡what¡¡they¡¡know¡¡pleases
their¡¡masters¡¡and¡¡mistresses£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡this¡¡in¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡faith£»¡¡not
that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡by¡¡their¡¡works¡¡gain¡¡much¡¡merit£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡they¡¡do
it¡¡all¡¡in¡¡the¡¡confidence¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡favor¡¡£¨in¡¡which¡¡all¡¡merits¡¡are
to¡¡be¡¡found£©£»¡¡purely¡¡for¡¡nothing£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡love¡¡and¡¡good¡will
toward¡¡God¡¡which¡¡grows¡¡out¡¡of¡¡such¡¡confidence¡£¡¡And¡¡all¡¡such¡¡works
they¡¡should¡¡think¡¡of¡¡as¡¡an¡¡exercise¡¡and¡¡exhortation¡¡ever¡¡to
strengthen¡¡their¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡confidence¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡£¡¡For£»¡¡as¡¡has
now¡¡been¡¡frequently¡¡said£»¡¡this¡¡faith¡¡makes¡¡all¡¡works¡¡good£»¡¡yea£»
it¡¡must¡¡do¡¡them¡¡and¡¡be¡¡the¡¡master¡workman¡£¡¡
XIX¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡the¡¡masters¡¡and¡¡mistresses¡¡should¡¡not
rule¡¡their¡¡servants£»¡¡maids¡¡and¡¡workingmen¡¡roughly£»¡¡not¡¡look¡¡to
all¡¡things¡¡too¡¡closely£»¡¡occasionally¡¡overlook¡¡something£»¡¡and¡¡for
peace'¡¡sake¡¡make¡¡allowances¡£¡¡For¡¡it¡¡is¡¡