Martin Luther on Psalms 129:7

Verse. 7. VVhereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither the glainer his lap.

Here the holy Ghoste maketh a comparison betweene grasse which yeeldeth no fruite, and true corne which is fruitefull, that thereby he may the better commend vnto vs the former similitude and withdraw our mindes from the false dreade and terror which that vaine and counterfet shewe bringeth. Fruitefull corne (sayth he) is such, that he which moweth it shall fill his hand, and he that gathereth the sheaues shall haue plenty to carry into his barne. Here ye see, is a truth, and not a vaine shewe. But grasse on the house toppes maketh a shew of that which is not true, because it is fruiteles. So the Pope and his Prelates, with other tyrannes and persecutors haue a resemblance and a counterfet shewe that they are the Church. They hold and enioy dignities, Prebendes benefices, as grasse hath his stalke and [illegible: 1 letter]are, but in deede they are none of the Church, like as grasse is no corne: for it withereth away before it can bring forth fruite.

For this is the chiefest argument wherwith they fight against vs, that for this glorious shew whereof I spake, they vsurpe and chalenge to them selues the title of the Church. But we are commaunded to take heed that we be not deceiued by outward shewes. Yea and we are admonished also that such shewes are often times occasions of great calamities. Beware (saith our Sauiour Christ) of false prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing. Also: by their fruites ye shall know them. Wheras then they chalenge vnto them selues the name of the church, & for a goodly shew (which the grasse also that groweth on the house toppes hath as well as they), will be counted good corne: this will not we graunt them. For if they be good corne, let them fill the hand of the mower, but this doe they not. They are vnprofitable grasse, yea worse then grasse. For in that filthines of their wicked lustes & fleshly pleasures wherewith they are horribly polluted, & that crueltie which they exercise against the true Church, they reteine not so much as the outward shew which they pretend. Wherefore, since there is nothing to be founde in our aduersaries but a naked and an hypocritical shew, and the same also miserably and many wayes deformed and defaced, since (I say) there is nothing else in them but meere hypocrisie, we iudge & denounce them not to be the Church of Christ, but of Satan. Wherefore they are prepared as chaffe and stubble to the fire, although vnder a shewe and colour of the Church, they afflict and persecute vs neuer so much.