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Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 17 (view source)
Revision as of 19:52, October 19, 2026
, 19:52Page recreation and porting from prior contaminated page name
|-
|-
! Major Works
! Major Works
| [[Ninety-Five Theses]], [[On the Bondage of the Will]], the German Bible translation, and ''Table Talk''
| [[Ninety-Five Theses]], [[On the Bondage of the Will]], the German Bible translation, and [[Table Talk (Luther)|''Table Talk'']]
|-
|-
! Publication Notes
! Publication Notes
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 02|02 - God's Works]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 02|02 - God's Works]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 03|03 - Nature of the World]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 03|03 - Nature of the World]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 04|04 - Idolatery]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 04|04 - Idolatry]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 05|05 - Jesus Christ]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 05|05 - Jesus Christ]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 06|06 - Holy Ghost]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 06|06 - Holy Ghost]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 27|27 - Sicknesses and the Cause Thereof]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 27|27 - Sicknesses and the Cause Thereof]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 28|28 - Death]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 28|28 - Death]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 29|29 - The Ressurection]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 29|29 - The Resurrection]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 30|30 - Allegories]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 30|30 - Allegories]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 31|31- Spiritual and Church Livings]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 31|31 - Spiritual and Church Livings]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 32|32 - Christian Military Action]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 32|32 - Christian Military Action]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 33|33 - Lawyers]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 33|33 - Lawyers]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 38|38 - Turks]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 38|38 - Turks]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 39|39 - Countries and Cities]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 39|39 - Countries and Cities]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 40|40 - Vocation and Calling]]<br>
[[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 40|40 - Vocation and Calling]]
|-
|-
! Related Pages
! Related Pages
| [[Table Talk (Luther)|''Table Talk'']]<br>
| [[Table Talk (Luther)]]<br>
[[Martin Luther]]
[[Martin Luther]]
|}
|}
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=OF PREACHERS AND PREACHING=
=OF EXCOMMUNICATION=
====388====
:Some there are that rail at the servants of [[God]], and say: What though the Word and sacraments be upright and the truth, as indeed they be, when [[God]] speaks of them; 'tis not therefore [[God]]'s Word when a man talks thereof.
====380====
====389====
:The ungodly have great power, riches, and respect; on the contrary, we, the true and upright [[Christian|Christians]], have but only one poor, silly, and condemned [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]. Temporal things, money, wealth, reputation, and power they have already; they care nothing for Christ. We say to them: Ye are great lords on earth, we, lords in heaven; ye have the power and riches on earth, we, heavenly treasure, namely, [[God]]'s Word and command; we have [[Baptism|baptism]], and the sacraments of the [[Lord's Supper]], which is an office celestial. If any man among us, with the name of a Christian, will exercise unjust power, insolence, and wickedness, willfully, then we excommunicate such a person, so that he shall not be present at the baptizing of children, nor shall be partaker of the holy communion, nor have conversation with other Christians. But if he abandon and forsake the name of a Christian, and give up his profession, then we are willing with patience to suffer his tyranny, insolence, and usurped power; we are content to let him go like the heathen, or [[Jews]], or [[Turks]], and so commit our cause to God.
:Divinity consists in use and practice, not in speculation and meditation. Every one that deals in speculations, either in household affairs or temporal government, without practice, is lost and nothing worth. When a tradesman makes his account, how much profit he shall reap in the year, but puts nothing in practice, he trades in vain speculations, and finds afterwards that his reckoning comes far too short. And thus it goes also with speculating divines, as is seen to this day, and as I know by experience.
====381====
====390====
:Our dealing and proceeding against the [[Pope|pope]] is altogether excommunication, which is simply the public declaration that a person is disobedient to [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]'s Word. Now we affirm in public, that the pope and his retinue believe not; therefore we conclude that he shall not be saved, but be damned. What is this, but to excommunicate him? Briefly, to put Christ's Word in execution, and to accomplish and execute his command, this is excommunication.
:No man should undertake anything, except he be called thereunto. Calling is two-fold; either divine, which is done by the highest power, which is of faith; or else it is calling of love, which is done by one's equal, as when one is desired by one's friend to preach a sermon. Both vocations are necessary to secure the conscience.
:Young people must be brought up to learn the [[Bible|Holy Scriptures]]; when such of them as know they are designed for the ministry present themselves and offer their service, upon a parish falling void, they do not intrude themselves, but are as a maid who, being arrived at woman's estate, when one makes suit to marry her, may do it, with a good and safe conscience towards [[God]] and the world. To thrust out another is to intrude; but when in the church a place is void, and thou sayest: I will willingly supply it, if ye please to make use of me; then thou art received, it is a true vocation and calling. Such was the manner of [[Isaiah]], who said: "Here I am; send me." He came of himself when he heard they stood in need of a preacher; and so it ought to be; we must look whether people have need of us or no, and then whether we be desired or called.
====382====
====392====
:I will proceed with excommunication after this manner first, when, I myself have admonished an obstinate sinner then I will send unto him two persons, as two chaplains, or two of the aldermen of the town, two church wardens, or two honest men of the assembly; if then he will not be reformed, but still runs on in stubbornness, and persist in his sinful life, I will declare him openly to the church in this manner: Loving friends, I declare unto you, that N. N. has been admonished, first by myself in private; afterwards also by two chaplains; thirdly, by two aldermen, or two church wardens, as it may be, yet he will not desist from his sinful kind of life; wherefore, I earnestly desire you to assist, and advise you to kneel down with me, and let us pray against him, and deliver him over to the [[Devil|devil]], etc.
:To the poor is the [[Gospel]] declared, for the rich regard it not. If the [[Pope|pope]] maintained us not with that he has got, though much against his will, we might even starve for want of food. The [[Pope|pope]] has swallowed stolen goods, and must spew them all up again, as [[Job]] says: he must give them to those, to whom he wishes evil. Scarce the fiftieth part is applied to the profit of the church; the rest he throws away; we obtain but the fragments under the table. But we are assured of better wages after this life; and, truly, if our hope were not fixed there, we were of all people the most miserable.
:Hereby we should doubtless prevail so far, that people would not live in such public sin and shame; for this would be a strict excommunication, not like the pope's money-bulls, profitable to the church. When the person were reformed and converted, we might receive him into the church again.
====393====
:I would not have preachers torment their hearers, and detain them with long and tedious preaching, for the delight of hearing vanishes therewith, and the preachers hurt themselves.
====383====
====394====
:[[Jesus Christ|Christ]] will have that a sinner be first warned and admonished, not only once or twice by private and single persons not in office, but also by them that are in office of public preaching, before the severe sentence of excommunication be published and declared. But while the ministry of the Word calls to the [[Lord's Supper]] all such of the faithful as repent of their sins, and admits them to the bosom of Christ's [[Church|church]], it must justly reject the hardened impenitent, and abandon them to the judgments of [[God]], excluding them here from the society of the faithful, and, should they die in their sins, from Christian burial.
:One asked me: Which is greater and better - to strive against adversaries, or to admonish and lift up the weak? I answered: Both are very good and necessary; but the latter is somewhat preferable; the weak, by striving against the adversaries, are also edified and bettered - both are [[God]]'s gifts. He that teaches, attend his teaching; he that admonishes, attend his admonishing.
====384====
====395====
:Nothing would more hinder excommunication than for men to do what pertains to a Christian. Thou hast a neighbor whose life and conversation is well known unto thee, but unknown to thy preacher or minister: When thou seest this neighbor growing rich by unlawful dealing, living lasciviously, in adultery, etc.; that he governs his house and family negligently, etc.; then thou oughtest, Christian-like to warn and earnestly admonish him to desist from his sinful courses, to have a care of his salvation, and to abstain from giving offence. Oh, how holy a work wouldst then thou perform, didst thou in this way win thy neighbor! But I pray, who does this? for, first, truth is a hateful thing; he that, in these times, speaks the truth, procures hatred. Therefore, thou wilt rather keep thy neighbor's friendship and good will, especially when he is rich and powerful, by holding thy peace and keeping silence, and conniving, than incur his displeasure and make him thy adversary.
:[[Dr. Forsteim]] asked [[Martin Luther|Luther]] whence the art proceeded of speaking so powerfully, that both [[God]]-fearing and ungodly people were moved? He answered: it proceeds from the first commandment of [[God]]: "I am the Lord thy [[God]];" i.e. against the ungodly I am a strong and jealous [[God]], towards the good and godly a merciful [[God]]; I do well and show mercy to them, etc. For he will have us preach hell-fire to the proud and haughty, and paradise to the godly, reprove the wicked, and comfort the good, etc. The instruments and work-tools of [[God]] are different, even as one knife cuts better than another. The sermons of [[Conrad Cordatus|Dr. Cordatus]] and [[Caspar Cruciger|Dr. Cruciger]] are taken more to heart than the preaching of many others.
:Again, we have less excommunication now, forasmuch as in some sort we are all subject to blaspheming alike, and therewith are stained; so that we are afraid to pull out the mote we see in our neighbor's eye, lest we be hit in the teeth with the beam that appears in our own.
====396====
:The world can well endure all sorts of preachers except us, whom they will not hear; in former times they were forced, under popedom, to hear the ungodly tyrants, and to carry those on their shoulders that plagued them in body and soul, in wealth and honor. But us, who by [[God]]'s command reprove them, they will not hear; therefore the world must go to rack. We must vanish by reason of poverty, but the papists, by reason of punishment; their goods are not of proof, and are rejected of [[God]].
:But the chief cause why excommunication is fallen, is that the number of upright and true Christians in every place is very small; for, if from our hearts we loved and practiced true and upright godliness and [[God]]'s Word, as we all ought, then we should regard the command of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] our blessed Saviour for above all the wealth, welfare, or favor for this temporal life. For this command of Christ, touching the admonishing and warning a sinning brother, is even as necessary as this: "Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, not steal," etc., seeing that when, either out of fear or for some other worldly respect, thou omittest this admonition, there depends thereon, not thy neighbor's body and goods, but the salvation of his soul.
====397====
:A good preacher should have these properties and virtues: first, to teach systematically; secondly, he should have a ready wit; thirdly, he should be eloquent; fourthly, he should have a good voice; fifthly, a good memory; sixthly, he should know when to make an end; seventhly, he should be sure of his doctrine; eighthly, he should venture and engage body and blood, wealth and honor, in the Word; ninthly, he should suffer himself to be mocked and jeered of every one.
====385====
====398====
:Take heed, I say, that in any case thou condemn not the communication of the true church; a contempt certainly involving the displeasure of [[God]]; for [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] says: "Verily I say unto you, what ye bind on earth, shall be also bound in heaven," etc. The pope, however, in his tyranny, abuses the power of excommunication. If a poor man, at a certain appointed day, cannot make payment of the taxation the pope imposes upon him, he is excommunicated; and in the same way he thunders his bulls and his excommunications against us, because we avow the all-saving doctrine of the [[Gospel]]; yet our Saviour Christ comforts us, saying: "Happy are ye when men revile and persecute you for my sake, and speak all manner of evil against you," etc. And again; "They will excommunicate you or put you out of the synagogue."
:The defects in a preacher are soon spied; let a preacher be endued with ten virtues, and but one fault, yet this one will eclipse and darken all his virtues and gifts, so evil is the world in these times. [[Justus Jonas|Dr. Justus Jonas]] has all the good virtues and qualities a man may have; yet merely because he hums and spits, the people cannot bear that good and honest man.
:Most assuredly the pope's bull is not Christ's excommunication, by reason it is not done or taken in hand according to Christ's institution; it is of no value in heaven, but to him, who thus abuses it against Christ's command, it brings most sure and certain destruction, for it is a sin wherewith God's name is blasphemed.
====399====
:[[Martin Luther|Luther]]'s wife said to him: Sir, I heard your cousin, [[John Palmer]], preach this afternoon in the parish church, whom I understood better than [[Dr. Palmer]], though the Doctor is held to be a very excellent preacher. [[Martin Luther|Luther]] answered: [[John Palmer]] preaches as ye women use to talk; for what comes into your minds, ye speak. A preacher ought to remain by the text, and deliver that which he has before him, to the end people may well understand it. But a preacher that will speak every thing that comes in his mind, is like a maid that goes to market, and meeting another maid, makes a stand, and they hold together a goods-market.
====386====
====400====
:Like as this external and visible excommunication is used against those only that live in public sins, even so the hidden and invisible excommunication, which is not of men, or done by men visibly, but is of [[God]] himself, and done by him only, often excludes from the kingdom of Christ, invisibly, persons whom we take to be fair, upright, good, and honest Christians. For God judges not according to outward works or kind of life, as men do, but views the heart; he judges hypocrites whom the church can neither judge nor punish; the church judges not what is hidden and invisible.
:An upright shepherd and minister must improve his flock by edification, and also resist and defend it; otherwise, if resisting he absent, the wolf devours the sheep, and the rather, where they be fat and well fed. Therefore [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] presses it home upon [[Titus]] that a bishop by sound doctrine should be able both to exhort and to convince gainsayers; that is, to resist false doctrine. A preacher must be both soldier and shepherd. He must nourish, defend, and teach; he must have teeth in his mouth, and be able to bite and to fight.
:There are many talking preachers, but there is nothing in them save only words; they can talk much, but teach nothing uprightly. The world has always had such [[Thraso|Thrasos]], such boasting throat-criers.
:All are not stained so grossly with open offences, that we can tax them in public, as were fitting, with any one particular sin and transgression. For although many covetous persons, adulterers, etc., are among us, yet they proceed so craftily, and in such sort act their sins, that we can not detect them. Yet although such be with us in the church, among the Christian assembly, hear sermons and [[God]]'s Word, and, with upright and godly Christians, receive the holy sacrament, yet, ''de facto'', they are excommunicated by [[God]], by reason they live in sin against their own consciences, and amend not their lives. Such sinners may deceive men, but they cannot deceive God; he at the day of judgment will cause his [[Angel|angels]] to gather all offenders together, and will cast them into unquenchable fire.
====401====
:I know of no greater gift than that we have, namely, harmony in doctrine, so that throughout the principalities and imperial cities of [[Germany]], they teach in conformity with us. Though I had the gifts to raise the dead, what were it, if all other preachers taught against me? I would not exchange this concord for the [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish empire]].
====387====
====402====
:[[Jesus Christ|Christ]] says: "Receive ye the [[Holy Spirit|Holy Ghost]], whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained." And "If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee, and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more," etc.; and "If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church. But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a publican." And [[Saint Paul|St Paul]]: "If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolder, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one, eat not, etc.; put away from you that wicked person." Also: "If there come any to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not unto your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds."
:[[God]] often lays upon the necks of haughty divines all manner of crosses and plagues to humble them; and therein they are well and rightly served; for they will have honor, whereas this only belongs to our Lord [[God]]. When we are found true in our vocations and calling, then we have reaped honor sufficient, though not in this life, yet in that to come; there we shall be crowned with the unchangeable crown of honor, "which is laid up for us." Here on earth we must seek for no honor, for it is written: Woe unto you when men shall bless you. We belong not to this life, but to another far better. The world loves that which is its own; we must content ourselves with that which it bestows upon us, scoffing, flouting, and contempt. I am sometimes glad that my scholars and friends are pleased to give me such wages; I desire neither honor nor crown here on earth, but I will have compensation from [[God]], the just judge in heaven.
:From the year of our Lord 1518, to the present time, every [[Maundy Thursday]], at [[Rome]], I have been by the [[Pope|pope]] excommunicated and cast into hell; yet I still live. For every year, on [[Maundy Thursday]], all heretics are excommunicated at [[Rome]], among whom I am always put first and chief. This do they on that blessed, sanctified day, whereas they ought rather to render thanks to [[God]] for the great benefit of his holy supper, and for his bitter death and passion. This is the honor and crown we must expect and have in this world. [[God]] sometimes can endure honor in lawyers and physicians; but in divines he will no way suffer it; for a boasting and an ambitious preacher soon condemns [[Jesus Christ|Christ]], who with his blood has redeemed poor sinners.
:These, and such like sentences, are the unchangeable will, decrees, and ordinances of the high Majesty of [[God]]; we have no power to alter or omit them, much less to abolish them; but on the contrary, have earnest command, with true diligence to hold thereunto, disregarding the power or reputation of any person whatsoever. And although excommunication in popedom has been and is shamefully abused, and made a mere torment, yet we must not suffer it to fall, but make a right use of it, as [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] has commanded, to the raising of the church, not to exercise tyranny, as the pope has done.
====403====
:A preacher should needs know how to make a right difference between sinners, between the impenitent and confident, and the sorrowful and penitent; otherwise the whole Scripture is locked up. When [[Nicholas von Amsdorf|Amsdorf]] began to preach before the princes at [[Schmalkalden|Schmalcalden]], with great earnestness he said: The gospel belongs to the poor and sorrowful, and not to you princes, great persons and courtiers that live in continual joy and delight, in secureness, void of all tribulation.
====404====
:A continual hatred is between the clergy and laity, and not without cause; for the unbridled people, citizens, gentry, nobility, yea, and great princes also, refuse to be reproved. But the office of a preacher is to reprove such sinners as lie in open sin, and offend against both the first and second table of [[God]]'s commandments; yet reproof is grievous for them to hear, wherefore they look upon the preachers with sharp eyes
====405====
:To speak deliberately and slowly best becomes a preacher; for thereby he may the more effectually and impressively deliver his sermon. [[Seneca]] writes of [[Cicero]], that he spake deliberately from the heart.
====406====
:[[God]] in the [[Old Testament]] made the priests rich; [[Annas]] and [[Caiaphas]] had great revenues. But the ministers of the Word, in which is offered everlasting life and salvation by grace, are suffered to die of hunger and poverty, yea, are driven and hunted away.
====407====
:We ought to direct ourselves in preaching according to the condition of the hearers, but most preachers commonly fail herein; they preach that which little edifies the poor simple people. To preach plain and simply is a great art: [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] himself talks of tilling ground, of mustard-seed, etc.; he used altogether homely and simple similitudes.
====408====
:When a man first comes into the pulpit, he is much perplexed to see so many heads before him. When I stand there I look upon none, but imagine they are all blocks that are before me.
====409====
:I would not have preachers in their sermons use [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Greek language|Greek]], or foreign languages, for in the church we ought to speak as we use to do at home, the plain mother tongue, which every one is acquainted with. It may be allowed in courtiers, lawyers, advocates, etc., to use quaint, curious words. [[Johann von Staupitz|Doctor Staupitz]] is a very learned man, yet he is a very irksome preacher; and the people had rather hear a plain brother preach, that delivers his words simply to their understanding, than he. In churches no praising or extolling should be sought after. [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] never used such high and stately words, as [[Demosthenes]] and [[Cicero]] did, but he spake, properly and plainly, words which signified and showed high and stately matters, and he did well.
====410====
:If I should write of the heavy burthen of a godly preacher, which he must carry and endure, as I know by mine own experience, I should scare every man from the office of preaching. But I assure myself that [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] at the last day will speak friendly unto me, though he speaks very unkindly now. I bear upon me the malice of the whole world, the hatred of [[Holy Roman Emperor|the emperor]], of the [[Pope|pope]], and of all their retinue. Well, on in [[God]]'s name; seeing I am come into the lists, I will fight it out. I know my quarrel and cause are upright and just.
====411====
:It is a great thing to be an upright minister and preacher; if our Lord [[God]] himself drove it not forward, there would but little good ensue. Preachers must be endued with a great spirit, to serve people in body and soul, in wealth and honor, and yet, nevertheless, suffer and endure the greatest danger and unthankfulness. Hence [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] said to [[Saint Peter|Peter]] thrice: "Peter, lovest thou me?" Afterwards he said: "Feed my sheep;" as if to say: Peter, if thou wilt be an upright shepherd, and careful of souls, then thou must love me; otherwise, it is impossible for thee to be an upright and a careful shepherd; thy love to me must do the deed.
====412====
:Our manner of life is as evil as is that of the [[Papist|papists]]. [[John Wycliffe|Wickliffe]] and [[Jan Hus|Huss]] assailed the immoral conduct of papists; but I chiefly oppose and resist their doctrine; I affirm roundly and plainly, that they preach not the truth. To this am I called; I take the goose by the neck, and set the knife to its throat. When I can show that the papists doctrine is false, which I have shown, then I can easily prove that their manner of life is evil. For when the word remains pure, the manner of life, though something therein be amiss, will be pure also. The [[Pope|pope]] has taken away the pure word and doctrine, and brought in another word and doctrine, which he has hanged upon the church. I shook all popedom with this one point, that I teach uprightly, and mix up nothing else. We must press the doctrine onwards, for that breaks the neck of the pope. Therefore the prophet [[Daniel]] rightly pictured the pope, that he would be a king that would do according to his own will, that is, would regard neither spirituality nor temporality, but say roundly: Thus and thus will I have it. For the pope derives his institution neither from divine nor from human right; but is a self-chosen human creature and intruder. Therefore the pope must needs confess, that he governs neither by divine nor human command. [[Daniel]] calls him a god, ''Maosim''; he had almost spoken it plainly out, and said ''Mass'', which word is written, [[Deuteronomy|Deut.]] xxvi. [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] read [[Daniel]] thoroughly, and uses nearly his words, where he says: The son of perdition will exalt himself above all that is called [[God]], or that is worshipped, etc., [[Second Epistle to the Thessalonians|2 Thes.]] ii.
====413====
:The humility of hypocrites is, of all pride, the greatest and most haughty, as that of the [[Pharisees|Pharisee]] who humbled himself, and gave God thanks, but soon spoiled all again, when he said: "I am not like others, etc., nor as this publican." There are people who flatter themselves, and think they only are wise; they condemn and deride the opinions of all others; they will allow of nothing but only what pleases them.
====414====
:Ambition is the rankest poison to the church, when it possesses preachers. It is a consuming fire. The [[Bible|Holy Scripture]] is given to destroy the desires of the flesh; therefore we must not therein seek after temporal honor. I much marvel for what cause people are proud and haughty; we are born in sin, and every moment in danger of death. Are we proud of our scabs and scalds? we, who are altogether an unclean thing.
====415====
:Honor might be sought for in [[Homer]], [[Virgil]], and in [[Terence]], and not in the [[Bible|Holy Scripture]]; for [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] says: "Hallowed by thy name - not ours, but thine be the glory." [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] charges us to preach [[God]]'s Word. We preachers should of the world be held and esteemed as ''injusti stulti,'' to the end [[God]] be ''justus, sapiens, et misericors;'' that is his title, which he will leave to none other. When we leave to [[God]] his name, his kingdom, and will, then will he also give unto us our daily bread, remit our sins, and deliver us from the [[Devil|devil]] and all evil. Only his honor he will have to himself.
====416====
:It were but reasonable I should in my old age have some rest and peace, but now those that should be with and for me, fall upon me. I have plague enough with my adversaries, therefore my brethren should not vex me. But who is able to resist? They are fresh, lusty, young people, and have lived in idleness; I am now aged, and have had much labor and pains. Nothing causes [[Andreas Osiander|Osiander]]'s pride more than his idle life; for he preaches but twice a week, yet has a yearly stipend of four hundred gilders.
====417====
:[[God]] in wonderful wise led us out of the darkness of the sophists, and cast me into the game, now more than twenty years since. It went weakly forward at the first, when I began to write against the gross errors of [[Indulgence|indulgences]]. At that time [[Jerome|Doctor Jerome]] withstood me, and said: What will you do, they will not endure it? but, said I, what if they must endure it?
:Soon after him came [[Silvestro Mazzolini da Prierio|Sylvester Prierio]] into the list; he thundered and lightened against me with his syllogisms, saying: Whosoever makes doubt of any one sentence or act of the Romish church, is a heretic: [[Martin Luther]] doubts thereof; ergo, he is a heretic. Then it went on, for the pope makes a three-fold distinction of the church. First a substantial, i.e. the body of the church. Secondly, a significant church, i.e., the cardinals. Thirdly, an operative and powerful church; i.e., the pope himself. No mention is made of a council, for the pope will be the powerful church above the [[Bible|Holy Scripture]] and councils.
====418====
:Our auditors, for the most part, are epicurean; they measure our preaching as they think good, and will have easy days.
:The [[Pharisees]] and [[Sadducees]] were [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]'s enemies, yet they heard him willingly; the Pharisees, to the end they might lay hold on him; the Sadducees, that they might flout and deride him. The Pharisees are our friars; the Sadducees, our gentry, citizens, and country folk; our gentlemen give us the hearing, and believe us, yet will do what seems good to them; that is, they remain epicureans.
====419====
:A preacher should be a logician and a rhetorician, that is, he must be able to teach, and to admonish; when he preaches touching an article, he must, first, distinguish it. Secondly, he must define, describe, and show what it is. Thirdly, he must produce sentences out of the [[Bible|Scriptures]], therewith to prove and strengthen it. Fourthly, he must, with examples, explain and declare it. Fifthly, he must adorn it with similitudes; and, lastly, he must admonish and rouse up the lazy, earnestly reprove all the disobedient, all false doctrine, and the authors thereof; yet, not out of malice and envy, but only to [[God]]'s honor, and the profit and saving health of the people.
====420====
:"Their priests do teach for hire." Some there be who abuse this sentence, wresting it against good and godly teachers and preachers, as if it were not right for them to take the wages ordained for the ministers of the church, on which they must live. They produce the sentence where [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] says: "Freely ye have received, freely give." They allege also the example of [[Saint Paul|St Paul]], who maintained himself by work of his hands, to the end that he might not be burthensome to the church.
:These accusations proceed out of hatred to the function of preaching, to which [[Satan]] is a deadly enemy. These ungodly people, by filling the ears of the simple with such speeches, not only occasion the preachers to be condemned, but also the function of preaching to be suspected; whereas they ought, with all diligence, to endeavor that the ministers, for the Word's sake, might again be restored to their honest dignity.
:It is true, as [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] says: "Freely ye have received, freely give;" for he will have the chief end of preaching to be directed to [[God]]'s honor only, and the people's salvation; but it follows not that it is against [[God]] for the church to maintain her ministers, who truly serve her in the Word, though it were against [[God]] and all [[Christianity]], if the ministers of the church should omit the final cause, for which the office of preaching is instituted, and should look and have regard only to their wages, or aim at lucre and gain, and not uprightly, purely, and truly proceed in the office of teaching.
:Like as the ministers of the church, by [[God]]'s command, are in duty bound to seek and promote [[God]]'s honor, and the saving health and salvation of the people, with true and upright doctrine, even so the church and congregation have command from [[God]] to maintain their ministers, and honorable nourish and cherish them; for [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] says: "Every laborer is worthy of his hire." Now if he be worthy, then no man ought to cast it in his teeth that he takes wages. [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] more clearly expresses himself: "The Lord hath also commanded, that they which preach the [[Gospel]], should live of the [[Gospel]]." He puts on the office of the law, and says: "Do ye not know, that they which do minister about holy things, live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar." Moreover he makes use of a very fine similitude, saying: "Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof?" But especially mark the comparison which he gives in his epistle to the Corinthians: "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?" Indeed, every Christian, but especially the officers of the church, ministers, and preachers, should so carry themselves that they fall not into suspicion of being greedy and covetous: yet they must not so conceive it, as if it were wrong to receive of the church and assembly, that which is needful for the maintenance of the body.
:Therefore no man should take umbrage that godly rulers provide for the churches, by honestly maintaining her true ministers; nay, we should bewail that the majority of princes and rulers neglect the true and pure religion, and provide not for our children and posterity, so that, through such meanness, there will be either none, or most unlearned ministers.
====421====
:[[Bible|Scripture]] requires humble hearts, that hold [[God]]'s Word in honor, love, and worth, and that pray continually: "Lord, teach me thy ways and statutes." But the [[Holy Spirit|Holy Ghost]] resists the proud, and will not dwell with them. And although some for a time diligently study in [[Bible|Holy Scripture]], and teach and preach [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] uprightly, yet, as soon as they become proud, [[God]] excludes them out of the church. Therefore, every proud spirit is a heretic, not in act and deed, yet before [[God]].
:But it is a hard matter for one who has some particular gift and quality above another, not to be haughty, proud, and presumptuous, and not to condemn others; therefore [[God]] suffers them that have great gifts to fall many times into heavy tribulations, to the end that they may learn, when [[God]] draws away his hand, that then they are of no value. [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] was constrained to bear on his body the sting or thorn of the flesh, to prevent him from haughtiness. And if [[Philipp Melanchthon|Philip Melancthon]] were not now and then plagued in such sort as he is, he would have strange conceits.
====422====
:I learn by preaching to know what the world, the flesh, the malice and wickedness of the [[Devil|devil]] is, all which could not be known before the [[Gospel]] was revealed and preached, for up to that time I thought there were no sins but incontinence and lechery.
====422====
:At court these rules ought to be observed: we must cry aloud, and accuse; for neither the [[Gospel]] nor modesty belong to the court; we must be harsh, and set our faces as flints; we must, instead of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]], who is mild and friendly, place [[Moses]] with his horns in the court. Therefore I advise my chaplains and ministers to complain at court of their wants, miseries, poverty, and necessities; for I myself preached concerning the same before the [[Elector of Saxony|prince elector]], who is both good and godly, but his courtiers do what they please. [[Philipp Melanchthon|Philip Melancthon]] and [[Justus Jonas]] were lately called in question at court, for the world's sake; but they made this answer: [[Martin Luther|Luther]] is old enough, and knows how and what to preach.
====424====
:Cursed are all preachers that in the church aim at high and hard things, and, neglecting the saving health of the poor unlearned people, seek their own honor and praise, and therewith to please one or two ambitious persons.
:When I preach, I sink myself deep down. I regard neither doctors nor magistrates, of whom are here in this church above forty; but I have an eye to the multitude of young people, children, and servants, of whom are more than two thousand. I preach to those, directing myself to them that have need thereof. Will not the rest hear me? The door stands open unto them; they may begone. I see that the ambition of preachers grows and increases; this will do the utmost mischief in the church, and produce great disquietness and discord; for they will needs teach high things touching matters of state, thereby aiming at praise and honor; they will please the worldly wise, and meantime neglect the simple and common multitude.
:An upright, godly, and true preacher should direct his preaching to the poor, simple sort of people, like a mother that stills her child, dawdles and plays with it, presenting it with milk from her own breast, and needing neither malmsey nor muscadine for it. In such sort should also preachers carry themselves, teaching and preaching plainly, that the simple and unlearned may conceive and comprehend, and retain what they say. When they come to me, to [[Philipp Melanchthon|Melancthon]], to [[Dr. Palmer]], etc., let them show their cunning, how learned they be; they shall well put to their trumps. But to sprinkle out [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Greek language|Greek]], and [[Latin]], in their public sermons, savors merely of show, according with neither time nor place.
====425====
:In the [[Psalms|Psalm]] it is said: Their voice went out into the whole world. But [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] to the Romans gives it thus: "Their sound went out into all the earth," which is all one. Many sentences are in the [[Bible]], wherein [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] observed the translation of the [[Septuagint|Seventy Interpreters]], for he condemned them not; and whereas he was preacher to the Greeks, therefore he was constrained to preach as they understood.
:In such sort did he use that sentence, [[First Epistle to the Corinthians|1 Cor.]] xv.: "Death is swallowed up in victory," whereas in the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], it is "in the end;" yet 'tis all one. [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] was very rich and flowing in words; one of his words contains three of [[Cicero]]'s orations, or the whole of [[Isaiah]] and [[Jeremiah]]. O! he was an excellent preacher; he is not in vain named ''vas electum.'' Our Lord [[God]] said: I will give a preacher to the world that shall be precious. There was never any that understood the [[Old Testament]] so well as [[Saint Paul|St Paul]], except [[John the Baptist]], and [[John the Apostle|John the Divine]]. [[Saint Peter|St Peter]] excels also. [[Saint Matthew|St Matthew]] and the rest well describe the histories, which are very necessary; but as to the things and words of the [[Old Testament]], they never mention what is couched therein.
:[[Saint Paul|St Paul]] translated much out of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] into [[Greek language|Greek]], which none besides were able to do; in handling one chapter, he often expounds four, five, or six. Oh, he dearly loved [[Moses]] and [[Isaiah]], for they, together with [[David|king David]], were the chief prophets. The words and things of [[Saint Paul|St Paul]] are taken out of [[Moses]] and the Prophets.
:Young divines ought to study [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], to the end that they may be able to compare [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] words together, and discern their properties, nature and strength.
=See Also=
=See Also=
* [[Internal Links]]
* [[Internal Links]]
* [[SEO Trust Signals]]
* [[SEO Trust Signals]]
* [[Excommunication]]
* [[Preacher]]
* [[Preaching]]
* [[Table Talk (Luther)]]
* [[Table Talk (Luther)]]
* [[Martin Luther]]
* [[Martin Luther]]
* [[Protestant Reformation]]
* [[Protestant Reformation]]
* [[Lord's Supper]]
* [[Bible]]
* [[Saint Paul]]
* [[Saint Paul]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 14|14 - Sacrament of the Lord's Supper]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 14|14 - Sacrament of the Lord's Supper]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 15|15 - The Church]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 15|15 - The Church]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 16|16 - Title to be confirmed]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 16|16 - Excommunication]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 17|17 - Excommunication]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 17|17 - Preachers and Preaching]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 18|18 - The Patriarchs and Prophets]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 19|19 - The Patriarchs and Prophets]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 19|19 - The Apostles and Disciples of Christ]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 20|20 - The Apostles and Disciples of Christ]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 20|20 - Angels]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 21|21 - Angels]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 21|21 - The Devil and his Works]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 22|22 - The Devil and his Works]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 22|22 - Temptation and Tribulation]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 23|23 - Temptation and Tribulation]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 23|23 - Luther's Adversaries]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 24|24 - Luther's Adversaries]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 24|24 - Regarding Offences]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 25|25 - Regarding Offences]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 25|25 - The Christian Life]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 26|26 - The Christian Life]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 26|26 - Regarding Discord]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 27|27 - Regarding Discord]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 27|27 - Sicknesses and the Cause Thereof]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 28|28 - Sicknesses and the Cause Thereof]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 28|28 - Death]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 29|29 - Death]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 29|29 - The Resurrection]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 30|30 - The Resurrection]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 30|30 - Allegories]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 31|31 - Allegories]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 31|31 - Spiritual and Church Livings]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 32|32 - Spiritual and Church Livings]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 32|32 - Christian Military Action]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 33|33 - Christian Military Action]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 33|33 - Lawyers]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 34|34 - Lawyers]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 34|34 - Universities, Arts, etc.]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 35|35 - Universities, Arts, etc.]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 35|35 - Astronomy and Astrology]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 36|36 - Astronomy and Astrology]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 36|36 - Learned Men]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 37|37 - Learned Men]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 37|37 - Jews]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 38|38 - Jews]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 38|38 - Turks]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 39|39 - Turks]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 39|39 - Countries and Cities]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 40|40 - Countries and Cities]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 40|40 - Vocation and Calling]]
* [[Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 41|41 - Vocation and Calling]]
[[Category:Conservapedia's Original Source Project]]
[[Category:Conservapedia's Original Source Project]]