though this was not very easy for him. The struggle with the idea of merit continued. Thus he advised Spenlein to get to know the crucified Christ and, despairing of one’s self to say, “You are my righteousness, just as I am your sin.…” Christ has exchanged places with the sinner. This sounds in fact as if Luther had already broken through to the joyful certainty of justification. But then the letter again drives it home, “Beware of aspiring to such purity that you will not wish to be looked upon