A Treatise on Good Works | Page 8

the fundamental and radical importance of righteousness by
faith for the whole moral life is revealed in such a heart-refreshing
manner. Luther's appeal in this treatise to kings, princes, the nobility,
municipalities and communities, to declare against the misuse of
spiritual powers and to abolish various abuses in civil life, marks this
treatise as a forerunner of the great Reformation writings, which
appeared in the same year (1520), while, on the other hand, his
espousal of the rights of the "poor man" -- to be met with here for the
first time -- shows that the Monk of Witttenberg, coming from the
narrow limits of the convent, had an intimate and sympathetic
knowledge of the social needs of his time. Thus he proved by his own
example that to take s stand in the center of the Gospel does not narrow
the vision nor harden the heart, but rather produces courage in the truth
and sympathy for all manner of misery.
Luther's contemporaries at once recognized the great importance of the
Treatise, for within the period of seven months it passed through eight
editions; these were followed by six more editions between the years of
1521 and 1525; in 1521 it was translated into Latin, and in this form
passed through three editions up to the year 1525; and all this in spite
of the fact that in those years the so-called three great Reformation
writings of 1520 were casting all else into the shadow. Melanchthon, in
a contemporaneous letter to John Hess, called it Luther's best book.
John Mathesius, the well-known pastor at Joachimsthal and Luther's
biographer, acknowledged that he had learned the "rudiments of
Christianity" from it.
Even to-day this book has its peculiar mission to the Church. The
seeking after self-elected works, the indolence regarding the works
commanded of God, the foolish opinion, that the path of works leads to
God's grace and good-will, are even to-day widely prevalent within the
kingdom of God. To all this Luther's treatise answers: Be diligent in the
works of your earthly calling as commanded of God, but only after
having first strengthened, by the consideration of God's mercy, the faith

within you, which is the only source of all truly good works and
well-pleasing to God.
M. REU.
WARTBURG SEMINARY, DUBUQUE, IOWA. TREATISE ON
GOOD WORKS
1520
DEDICATION
JESUS
To the Illustrious, High-born Prince and Lord, John Duke of Saxony,
Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen, my gracious Lord and
Patron.
Illustrious, High-born Prince, gracious Lord! My humble duty and my
feeble prayer for your Grace always remembered!
For a long time, gracious Prince and Lord, I have wished to show my
humble respect and duty toward your princely Grace, by the exhibition
of some such spirtual wares as are at my disposal; but I have always
considered my powers too feeble to undertake anything worthy of
being offered to your princely Grace.
Since, however, my most gracious Lord Frederick, Duke of Saxony,
Elector and Vicar of the Holy Roman Empire, your Grace's brother, has
not despised, but graciously accepted my slight book, dedicated to his
electoral Grace, and now published -- though such was not my
intention, I have taken courage from his gracious example and ventured
to think that the princely spirit, like the princely blood, may be the
same in both of you, especially in gracious kindness and good will. I
have hoped that yout princely Grace likewise would not despise this
my humble offering which I have felt more need of publishing than an
other of my sermons or tracts. For the greatest of all questions has been
raised, the question of Good Works; in which is practised

immeasurably more trickery and deception than in anything else, and in
which the simpleminded man is so easily misled that our Lord Christ
has commanded us to watch carefully for the sheep's clothings under
which the wolves hide themselves.
Neither silver, gold, precious stones, nor any rare thing has such
manifold alloys and flaws as have good works, which ought to have a
single simple goodness, and without it are mere color, show and deceit.
And although I know and daily hear many people, who think
slightingly of my poverty, and say that I write only little pamphletst
and German sermons for the unlearned laity, this shall not disturb me.
Would to God I had in all my life, with all the ability I have, helped one
layman to be better! I would be satisfied, thank God, and be quite
willing then to let all my little books perish.
Whether the making of many great books is an art and a benefit to the
Church, I leave others to judge. But I believe that if I were minded to
make great books according to their art, I could, with God's