LET as bear this well in mind in our private temptations, when the devil accuseth and terrifieth our conscience, to drive it to desperation. For he is the father of lying, and the enemy of Christian liberty; therefore he tormenteth us every moment with false fears, that when our conscience hath lost this Christian liberty it should feel the remorse of sin and condemnation, and always remain in anguish and terror. When that great dragon (I say), that old serpent, the devil (who deceiveth the whole world, and accuseth our brethren in the presence of God day and night (Rev. xiii.) cometh and layeth unto thy charge, that thou hast not only done no good, but hast also transgressed the law of God, say unto him, thou troublest me with the remembrance of my sins past; thou puttest me in mind that I have done no good. But this is nothing to me; for if either I trusted in my own good deeds, or distrusted because I have done none, Christ should both ways profit me nothing at all. Therefore, whether thou lay my sins before me, or my good works, I pass not; but, removing both far out of my sight, I only rest in that liberty wherein Christ hath made me free. I know Him to be profitable unto me, therefore I will not make Him unprofitable; which I should do, if either I should presume to purchase myself favour and everlasting life by my good deeds, or should despair of my salvation because of my sins.
Wherefore let us learn with all diligence to separate Christ far from all works, as well good as evil: from all laws, both of God and man, and from all troubled consciences, for with all these Christ hath nothing to do. He hath to do, I grant, with afflicted consciences: howbeit, not to afflict them more, but to raise them up, and in their affliction to comfort them. Therefore, if Christ appear in the likeness of an angry judge, or of a law giver that requireth a strait account of our life past, then let us assure ourselves that it is not Christ, but a raging fiend. For the Scripture pointeth out Christ to be our reconciliation, our advocate, and our comforter. Such a one He is and ever shall be; He cannot be unlike Himself.—Martin Luther.