Martin Luther on Psalms 129:8

Verſe 8. Neither they which go by ſay, We bleſs you in the name of the Lord. This alſo commendeth and ſetteth forth unto us the ſimilitude of the graſs. For true Corn hath this commendation, that it is the bleſſing of God. They therefore vvhich ſee it grovv, vviſh that God vvould bleſs and proſper it. This (ſaith David) ſhall not be ſaid of that graſs; that is to ſay, of the Tyrants and the adverſaries of the Church, but rather they ſhall be curſed of all men, yea the malediction both of God and man ſhall be heaped upon them: Like as it hath alſo hapned to the Church of Rome, which before our doctrine and preaching moſt gloriouſly flouriſhed. But now that the Goſpel hath plucked away her viſour, and ſheweth that ſhe is not without fruit, all her curſed hypocriſy is bewrayed, and her memory is periſh'd from among the godly. Thus the Prophet comforteth the faithful, and ſheweth that the wicked (what glorious brag and pretence ſoever they make) are indeed nothing, and becauſe God bleſſeth them not, they ſhall inherit nothing but malediction, and ſhall be confounded, like as Judas; the Phariſees, Corinthus, A[illegible: 1 letter]ius, and Pelagius, though they ſeemed to ſlouriſh, moſt miſerably periſhed with all their glory. Wherefore let us, whoſe doctrine by the grace of God is ſound and agreeable with the holy Scripture, remember this ſimilitude, that when we muſt ſuffer hatred, ſlander, reproaches and all manner of injuries for the Goſpels ſake, we are not afraid but may learn hereby to judge the Pope, the Biſhops, the wicked Princes, with the tormentors and executioners of their cruelty, to be nothing elſe but graſs on the houſe tops, which ſeemeth to be ſomewhat, when indeed it is nothing, and therefore it is without all bleſſing. To ſuch it ſhall be ſaid with the rich glutton in hell,Luke 16. Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy pleaſures. For if we conſider the whole hiſtory of the Church even from the beginning of the world, we ſhall ſee that God hath always ſo wrought by his ſecret counſel, that as graſs on the houſe tops withereth away before the harveſt come: ſo Tyrants are ſuddenly cut off and never come to their full time. Wherefore let us conſtantly abide and endure with patience in all afflictions, until the end do ſhew that it was nothing but graſs, and ſuddenly withered when it was moſt like to increaſe and flouriſh. The wicked do enjoy all good things for the Churches ſake, like as the graſs on the houſe tops hath the benefit of the rain and of the Sun as well as the Corn in the fields. But as they ſhall not live half their days, and as they ſhall ſee their own counſels and devices to be but vain and without ſucceſs, ſo ſhall they be as a perpetual ſhame among men: inſomuch that no man ſhall wiſh any good unto them: As at this day the memory of Judas, Pilate, the wicked Jews Diocleſianus, Maximinus and other Tyrants, is without honour, yea moſt execrable and odious unto all men. This conſolation is ſet forth by the holy Ghoſt by theſe groſs ſimilitudes and examples, that we may conceive in our minds ſome ſhadow or reſemblance of Gods Works, ſince we cannot rightly judge and eſteem the things themſelves according to the truth, but we judge the enemies and Perſecutors of the Church by their goodly ſhew and outvvard appearance, to be good Wheat, becauſe they proſper and flouriſh ſo long upon the earth. Wherefore vve muſt reſt vvholly in the Word, which with ſuch ſimilitudes painteth out theſe things; and we muſt with draw our ſenſes from all outward ſights and ſhews, and judge no otherwiſe of the adverſaries of the word, then of moſt vile graſs that groweth on the houſe tops, and is contemned of all men. For ſo ſaith the Spirit of faith: tho' our ſenſes ſay otherwiſe. In like manner muſt we do alſo in ſpiritual tentations; when our conſcience accuſeth us and giveth teſtimony againſt us, as well in the agony and danger of death, as in other conflicts. Here if we follow that which appeareth to reaſon and our own ſenſes to be true, it ſhall ſeem unto us that our enemies are invincible and almighty, and that there is no remedy, but we muſt needs be overcome and utterly periſh. The ſight and feeling of this greatneſs pertaineth to the eyes and to the ſenſes onely, and riſeth of the judgment of reaſon, and not of the truth. But when we look to the true greatneſs which the word ſetteth forth unto us, we are conſtrained to ſay, that Death, Sin, Satan, and the very gates of hell are indeed nothing elſe but graſs on the houſe tops, but ſtubble, but a very bubble ſwimming upon the water, vvhich vvith the leaſt occaſion breaketh and vaniſheth avvay. So muſt theſe things be amplified and ſet againſt all kinds of tentations, vvhether they be Perſecutors of the Word, as the vvorld and vvicked Princes, or elſe Sin, Death and Satan. All vvhich vve muſt learn to extenuate and leſſen as much as vve can, becauſe Chriſt liveth and vve have his vvord. This conſolation is able to ſvvallovv up all terrors, and maketh us able to ſay, that all theſe things are in very deed but one thing. But vvhen vve conſider theſe things vvithout the Word and Chriſt, in reſpect of our ſelves, and of our ovvn ſtrength, then are they indeed, not graſs, but ſuch high and mighty mountains as cannot be paſſed over. Where fore vvhen vve fight againſt our enemies, vve muſt fight, not as men conſiſting of Body and Soul, but as Chriſtians baptized in the name of Chriſt, having the gift of the Spirit and the Word. Novv therefore, vvhen the Devil, Death, Hell it ſelf, the World and Cruel Princes, are compared to a Chriſtian, they are but graſs upon the houſe tops, or if any thing can be ſaid to be more vile and contemptible. For he hath the Word, vvhich is almighty, and moreover he hath Chriſt himſelf. Chriſtians therefore are invincible,2 Cor. 12.9. yea even then when they are overcome and troden under foot. For the Power of Chriſt is made perfect through weakneſs. Thus did the holy Prophets and Martyrs comfort themſelves againſt the World and the Kingdom of Satan, and therefore they did ſo valiantly ſuffer all kinds of afflictions, being perſvvaded, not that the graſs, vvhich vvithereth avvay of it ſclf, vvithout mans endeavour, but the Word of God ſhould have the victory. For true it is that Baſilius vvriteth vvhen he comforteth the people of Alexandria againſt the fury of Arius, that through the Perſecutions of the Enemies, the Church doth more and more increaſe and multiply. Which thing vve alſo have proved, and God grant that yve and our Poſterity may ſtill ſo do.