Martin Luther on Psalms 129:6

Verſe 6. Let them be as the graſs on the tops of the houſes, which withereth afore it cometh forth. This is a goodly Pſalm, for the ſundry, excellent, and moſt apt ſimilitudes contained therein, whereby the Holy Ghoſt painteth out thoſe great Majeſties and Principalities of the World, which fight againſt the the Goſpel. A little before he compared them to plowers drawing out furrows of a marvellous length; to whom he ſo compareth them, not in this reſpect, as though it were granted unto them ſo long to abuſe their power, wealth; and riches; but in reſpect of the great Tediouſneſs, Grief, and anguiſh of thoſe which ſuffer the Plowers, the Furrows, the Wounds, and treading under foot; for unto them it ſeemeth a tedious, a long, and as it were an infinite Plowing. Wherefore they deſire to be delivered, and never ſo little tarrying (through this tediouſneſs and anguiſh of heart) ſeemeth to them intollerable. Againſt this Wearineſs and thi, Tediouſneſs therefore, he comforteth the faithful with this ſimilitude, of graſs in the top of the houſe. As if he ſaid, Why ſeemeth the time ſo long, and tedious unto thee? Why doſt thou not learn to underſtand what theſe Plowers thy Adverſaries be? Didſt thou never ſee graſs growing on the tops of houſes? Who did ever complain that the graſs flouriſhed ſo long? who ever went about to pluck it up? As though it were not wont of it ſelf to wither and vaniſh away. Learn therefore that the very ſame is the ſtate and condition of thine Adverſaries. Thus with one ſimilitude he ſighteth againſt another.He ſetteth the ſimilitude of the graſs in the houſe top, againſt the ſimilitude of the Plowers. But if a man could effectually believe that this ſimilitude was made and here ſet down by the Holy Ghoſt, and cloſe up the ſame fully in his heart; he ſhould fear neither the Turk dor the Pope, with all his cruel Prelates, nor the Tyranny of Princes, but ſhould contemn them all, and as little regard them as the graſs on the tops of the houſes. But behold the outward ſhew of this graſs. If any child ſhould ſee it, he would eſteem it to be better then any Barley, (for to Barley it is moſt like) ſince it groweth not as other things do upon the Earth, but in an higher and more notable place, and loadeth the tops of the houſes. But take a man that knoweth theſe things, and he will ſay it is nothing elſe but a goodly ſhew and reſemblance without any fruit. Thus hath the Holy Ghoſt choſen this ſimilitude to teach us, not to wiſh the Tyrants may be like graſs, but to know that they are indeed moſt like unto graſs on the houſe tops, which withereth away before the harveſt time come, or any man go about to cut it down. Senacherib who beſieged Jeruſalem, did flie over Kingdoms, oppreſſed and trod down all things under his feet: therefore he could not be counted of Ezechia & others like unto graſs; and yet before he atchieved what he went about, he was compelled, not without great fear, and alſo much ſlaughter of [illegible: 1 page] [illegible: 1 page] his ſouldiers, to raiſe his ſiege, and he himſelf moſt miſerably periſhed. So Pharoah ſeemed mightily to grow and increaſe, not upon the earth, but in the air and upon the houſe tops; but the miſerable Jews were oppreſſed and trodden under foot like mire in the ſtreets. This is a reſemblance of graſs, not withering but freſhly flouriſhing. But how quickly did it wither and vaniſh to nothing? For when Pharoah did verily think to oppreſs them, he was ſuddenly oppreſſed himſelf and periſhed in the waters. Such an image of Tyrants and Tyranny the Holy Ghoſt painteth out unto us in this place. Why then ſhouldeſt thou fear? Why ſhouldeſt thou tremble? Why ſhouldeſt thou deſpair, as though thou hadſt never ſeen moſt flouriſhing graſs within few days to wither away of its own accord, or didſt not know the nature of it to be ſuch as cannot long continue? Athanaſius (when Julianus the Emperour did many wayes afflict both him and the whole Church, and fought, not only with cruelty, but alſo with craft and ſubtilty againſt the faithful, inſomuch that others, as it were in a terrible tempeſt, were utterly diſcouraged and paſt all hope of deliverance) ſaid that this Perſecution of Julian was not a tempeſt but a little cloud. Indeed his heart was full of faith which could believe, that Julianus was like, not to a terrible and a violent tempeſt, not to a mighty black cloud wrapping all things in darkneſs, but unto a very little cloud, which the Sun doth quickly conſume. In like manner muſt we alſo extenuate and diminiſh the power of our adverſaries, and ſet at nought all their proud brags, and all their cruelty; not in reſpect of our own ſtrength, but becauſe they are of themſelves nothing elſe but a bubble in the water, graſs on the houſe tops, and a very ſhadow rather then men; beſides this, that they provoke God alſo againſt themſelves; whoſe fury & cruelty compared unto his power, is a thing more vain than graſs on the houſe tops, or a bubble in the water; for it is nothing but a bare and a naked ſhew, which ſeemeth to be ſomething, when indeed it is nothing. So are all the attempts of the adverſaries; full of threatnings, but in the end they come to nothing. This is the wiſdom of Chriſtians, to diminiſh the power of the adverſaries, and contrariwiſe to amplifie the Word and the mighty protection of the Lord. The Devil, Sin, Death, and other ſpiritual tentations are great; but a Chriſtian can make a diſtinction of greatneſs. For greatneſs is underſtood two manner of ways: The one is according to the eye, which the eye judgeth after the outward ſhew; the other is according to the truth, which the truth judgeth after the Word. The greatneſs therefore of Sin, Death, wicked Kings, Princes, and Biſhops, is that which is according to the eye only: For God which ſaith, Be of good comfort, I have overcome the World: Alſo, Fear not thoſe which can kill the Body, but are not able to kill the Soul, the ſame God alone (I ſay) is the very true greatneſs, to which if you compare Satan, and all the fury of the whole World, what are they elſe but a bubble? what are they elſe but graſs? but light ſtraw and ſtubble? But when they are conſidered without God, then do they terrify with a falſe fearful ſhew, and ſeem to be great indeed. Wherefore Chriſtians muſt judge, not according to their opinion, but according to the truth. For an opinion is that which Reaſon bringeth forth beſides the Word; but Truth is grounded upon the Word, which judgeth the fury and the cruelty of the World raging againſt the faithful, to be like unto graſs on the houſe tops. This promiſe being ſetled and ſurely fixed in the mind,This Judgment, that the enemies are like graſs, and therefore ſhall periſh, he calleth a promiſe. confirmeth the godly againſt the great power (as to reaſon it ſeemeth) of the World and Satan. Like as on the other ſide, where the word is not, the mind deceived thro' a terrible ſhew of Truth, and the judgment of Reaſon, is oppreſſed with terror. Theſe things muſt not ſo be taken, as tho' we did utterly condemn the power of Princes, and of the World, which we count to be the creature of God; but their preſumption, and the abuſe of their power is it that we condemn, becauſe they fight therewith againſt God and his Church. Let them be Princes on the earth; Let them uſe their Power and Authority in the World, but when they will needs make War in Heaven, and with their Power go about to invade and oppreſs the word, this is horrible, this is execrable and damnable. And who ſo compareth them to bubbles, to graſs, to ſtubble, yea and to nothing, he ſaith truly, he judgeth rightly. For why do they fight againſt God? Think they that we know not what God is? and what man is? what the Creature is, and what the Creator is? Wherefore they are rightly compared to graſs on the houſe tops; for more contemptuouſly the Holy Ghoſt could not ſpeak of them. For this graſs is ſuch, that it ſoon withereth away before the ſickle be put unto it. Yea, no man thinketh it worthy to be cut down, no man regardeth it, every man ſuffereth it to brag for a while, and to ſhew it ſelf unto men from the houſe tops as though it were ſomewhat when it is nothing. So the wicked Perſecutors in the World, which are taken to be mighty and terrible according to the outward ſhew, are of all men moſt contemptible. For Chriſtians do not once think of plucking them up, or cutting them down; they perſecute them not, they revenge not their own injuries, but ſuffer them to increaſe, to brag and glory as much as they liſt; For they know that they cannot abide the violence of a vehement Wind. Yea though all things be in quietneſs, yet as graſs on the houſe tops, by little and little withereth away through the heat of the Sun, ſo Tyrants upon ſmall occaſions do periſh and ſoon vaniſh away. The faithful therefore in ſuffering do prevail and overcome; but the wicked in doing, are overthrown and miſerably periſh, as all the Hiſtories of all times and ages do plainly witneſs.