Martin Luther on Psalms 132:12

Verse. 12. If thy sonnes keepe my couenant and my testimonies that I shall teache them, their sonnes also shall sit vpon thy throne for euer.

This promise is not generall, Because the promise was conditionall, therefore the corporall kingdome had an ende. for it hath a condition annexed vnto it. There is a difference therefore betwene this promise and such as be without condition, as are these: The Lorde said vnto my Lord, &c. Againe Giue thy iudgements vnto the King, O Lord. There the kingdom is promised vnto Christ absolutely, but here it is not promised to the posteritie of Dauid but with this condition: If they shall keepe the couenant of the Lorde. So the kingdom was promised and giuen vnto Salomon, but afterwards his stock was almost cleane cut of in Ahazia, Reg. 2.11. 2. Chro. 22. when onely Ioas remained, & all the rest of the Kinges seede were slaine by Athalia. This was the practise of Satan, to the ende be might hinder the promise concerning Christ. Afterwardes the kingdom came vnto Ioas, who also was of the seede of Dauid, & was preserued by the meanes of his sister, so that he was not slaine of Athalia. Thus was the promise of the kingdome made vnto Dauid to endure for euer, but yet so that God threatneth destruction if they keepe not his couenant. So was the kingdom at the length also taken from the posteritie of Nathan and vsurped by Herode a straunger, vntil the time came that Christ vnder the reigne of wicked gouerners, was born of Mary the Bethlemite. Thus for sinne one posteritie was destroyed after an other by the malice of Satan, and yet the whole line and succession was preserued euen vnto Mary.

To consider these things it is very profitable, namely how the kingdom promised vnto Dauid, came vnto his sonne Salomon, but yet for sinne it was taken from him againe. The same hapned vnto Nathan, & yet notwithstanding God reserued a litle sparke, out of the which this kingdom should afterwards shine & mightely increase. And these things were done to bridle our presumption. Such is the promise also as touching ye church: I wil be with you vnto the ende of the world. But here is a condition ioyned withal, that is: If ye walk in my waies. For whoso neglect ye word, those doth God also neglect and reiect, and reiseth vp others which shal be his Church. So saith our Sauiour Christ: God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham. Matth. 3.9. Luke. 3.8. For whereas the promise was made vnto Abraham, the Phariseis, because they were the children of Abraham, thought they shoulde vndoubtedly be heires of the promise. This confidence made them bold to liue carelesly and without all feare of God. Therefore, saith he, it is certaine that the children of Abraham shall be heires of the promises made vnto Abraham: but if ye will be carelesse and wil not obey the commaundement of God, I say vnto you, it is an easie thing for God to reiect you, and of the very stones to reise vp a posteritie vnto Abraham. So this promise dependeth wholy vpon the condition, to bridle and beate downe our presumption.

The couenant is the promise of mercie through Christ. The Testimonies are the will of God reueiled vnto all ages by Moses and the Prophets. Wherefore he requireth faith, and then obedience vnto the law. And here is to be noted that he addeth: VVhich I will teach them. For he will be the teacher and he wil be heard. He will not that the Councells should be heard, The Church is ye Church vnder this condition, if it follow the word. or such as teach that he hath not taught. So we say also of the Church, that where so euer the promise of God is beleued and his word obeyed, there is the Church. But they that doe not beleue, bragge they of their glorious titles, their holy vocations, and such like, neuer so much, are reiected of God & no members of the Church. For who would beleue the Pope because he is the Pope? And yet for this onely cause he will be beleued: & no man may aske whether the thinges which he teacheth be true and sound: but he will haue men simply to beleue that that holy sea can not erre. Against this who so euer dare once open their mouthes or examine his decrees by the word of God, are drawne and haled to all kindes of torments. Like as therefore the Iewes taught and defended their errors and impieties by the authoritie of their Kinges vppon whome this promise seemed to be grounded: euen so in all ages is the false church wont to doe. But we answere that in deede the promise is true, and yet is it conditionall: namely, If ye keepe my couenant and my testimonies. For God did not so anoynt the Kings, that they should doe what so euer seemed good in their sight, or what so euer they ordained or taught, The kings of Israel. God would approue because they were kings and the anoynted of God: but he addeth: If ye keepe my couenant. So in the newe Testament it is a true saying: He that heareth you heareth me: but yet not generally to be vnderstand of all those which teach in the Church. For some teach not the word of Christ, but their owne word. This word God willeth not to be heard, but commaundeth that it be not heard, when he sayth: Take heede of false prophets.

So Moses in Deutronomie commaundeth that the king should neuer lay the booke of the lawe out of his handes, The commaundemēt giuen to the kings in the olde Testament. but should exercise the same continually in reading, in learning and in practising the same. If this commaundement was giuen to the Kings vnder the law, what shall we then thinke of the word of the newe Testament? In vayne shall the Pope and his Prelates here glorie and bragge of the Councells, the fathers, the Church, the dignitie which they haue so many yeares vsurped. All these are so farre to be approued and beleeued, as they teach according to the rule of the holy Scripture. For the Church, which hath authoritie from God, is that onely and alone which followeth the voyce and the word of the Lord.

Moreouer, Few vse their authoritie rightly. we learne by experience, that nothing is more common emongest men, then to abuse the authoritie and power committed vnto them, & very few there be which doe rightly vse their authoritie either in the Church or in the common wealth. The cause is, for that the greater part serue their owne affections, their owne lustes and pleasures, and whiles they shoulde rule others, they suffer them selues to be ruled and gouerned of Satan. Hereof commeth it, that we see the Pope, the Bishops, yea the whole Papacie to haue no care of the word, nor loue to the word at all: but are wholy giuen ouer to seeke theor owne glorie, dignitie, wealth and pleasure. Wherefore their authoritie bindeth not vs, although it were the authoritie of an Angell from heauen: but with good conscience we depart from them, lest we should be disobedient to the high authoritie and Maiestie, which is God him selfe. But if the Pope with his Prelates would not resist and persecute the doctrine of Christ, if with vs they would beleue & teach that we are iustified by the onely price of the blood of Christ, and would not teach men to make marchandise of their owne merites and workes, we would gladly acknowledge their authoritie. But since they manifestly impugne the worde, since they defende their impieties and abominations with extreme crueltie and tyranny, we doe not onely reiect and contemne their authoritie, but we say as Paule sayth, that they are accursed.

It is a common principle emongest the popish Doctors, that the Pope is aboue the worde and the Scripture, and that in the lawe of God he may dispense as pleaseth him. But God giueth no authoritie vnto man aboue the word. So should he set man, that is to say, dust and dunge aboue him selfe: for what is the word, but God him selfe? This word they that honor, obey and keepe, are the true Church in deede, be they neuer so contemptible in the world: but they which doe not, are the church of Satan and accursed of God. All states of men are subiect to the word. And this is the cause why it is expresly set downe in the text: The testimonies which I will teach them. For so will God vse the ministerie of teachers and Pastors in the Church, that he notwithstanding will be the chiefe Pastor, and all other ministers and Pastors what so euer, yea the Church it selfe shall be ruled and gouerned by the word. Emongest the people of Israel the Kings and Priestes glorying and vaunting of their vocation, thought they might doe what they list. So the Pope and his Prelates at this day will not be subiect to the authoritie and rule of the word & the Scripture. For the euill conscience which the Pope hath, doth alway cry out and witnesse vnto him that the holy Scripture is the word of God, and therefore will be against him, & vtterly condemne him. Wherefore there is no prison which he more hateth and abhorreth then the word of God.

The condition is added because of the wicked & presumptuous. This conditionall sentence is here set down because of the wicked, that they should not take vppon them an absolute power contrary to ye word. For there is no absolute promise, but that which perteineth vnto Christ, which saith not with a certeine condition, but generally and absolutely, that Christ should come of the seede of Abraham. Nowe, whereas the corporall kingdom did endure vntill this promise as touching Christ was accomplished, it was so stablished by the word, that notwithstanding it had a certeyne condition annexed vnto it. Therefore many wicked Kinges, with all their families neglecting this condition, were vtterly destroyed, and others succeeded them: so that the temporall kingdom endured after a sort, vntill ye most holy one, the King of Kings came, who hath continued this kingdom vntill this day, and shall doe for euer. This condition therefore is added to beate downe proud and presumptuous spirites. And if he sayd: This promise as touching Christ will I accomplish, and will vndoutedly establish the throne vnto my seruant Dauid: but doe not ye, whiche in the meane time sit in this throne and gouerne this kingdome, presume of the promise, and thinke that ye can not erre, or that God will winke at your errors, and not rather condemne and seuerely punish them. Therefore either gouerne your kingdome according to my word, or else I wil roote you out and destroy you for euer. This promise he now amplifieth and setteth forth more at large.