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mother； as it is due to natural parents； unless it be contrary
to the first Three Commandments。 But as matters stand now the
spiritual magistrates neglect their peculiar work； namely； the
fostering of godliness and discipline； like a mother who runs
away from her children and follows a lover； and instead they
undertake strange and evil works； like parents whose commands are
contrary to God。 In this case members of the Church must do as
godly children do whose parents have become mad and insane。
Kings； princes； the nobility； municipalities and communities must
begin of their own accord and put a check to these conditions；
so that the bishops and the clergy； who are now too timid； may
be induced to follow。 But even the civil magistrates must also
suffer reforms to be enacted in their particular spheres；
especially are they called on to do away with the rude 〃gluttony
and drunkenness；〃 luxury in clothing； the usurious sale of rents
and the common brothels。 This； by divine and human right； is a
part of their enjoined works according to the Fourth Commandment。
Luther； at last； briefly treats of the Second Table of the
Commandments； but in speaking of the works of these Commandments
he never forgets to point out their relation to faith； thus
holding fast this fundamental thought of the book to the end。
Faith which does not doubt that God is gracious； he says； will
find it an easy matter to be graciously and favorably minded
toward one's neighbor and to overcome all angry and wrathful
desires。 In this faith in God the Spirit will teach us to avoid
unchaste thoughts and thus to keep the Sixth Commandment。 When
the heart trusts in the divine favor； it cannot seek after the
temporal goods of others； nor cleave to money； but according to
the Seventh Commandment； will use it with cheerful liberality for
the benefit of the neighbor。 Where such confidence is present
there is also a courageous； strong and intrepid heart； which will
at all times defend the truth； as the Eighth Commandment demands；
whether neck or coat be at stake； whether it be against pope or
kings。 Where such faith is present there is also strife against
the evil lust； as forbidden in the Ninth and Tenth Commandments；
and that even unto death。
3。 The Importance of the Work。 Inquiring now into the
importance of the book； we note that Luther's impression
evidently was perfectly correct； when he wrote to Spalatin； long
before its completion as early as March 2 5。 that he
believed it to be better than anything he had heretofore written。
The book； indeed； surpasses all his previous German writings in
volume； as well as all his Latin and German ones in clearness；
richness and the fundamental importance of its content。 In
comparison with the prevalent urging of self…elected works of
monkish holiness； which had arisen from a complete
misunderstanding of the so…called evangelical counsels （comp。
esp。 Matthew 19：16…22） and which were at that time accepted as
self…evident and zealously urged by the whole church； Luther's
argument must have appeared to all thoughtful and earnest souls
as a revelation； when he so clearly amplified the proposition
that only those works are to be regarded as good works which God
has commanded； and that therefore； not the abandoning of one's
earthly calling； but the faithful keeping of the Ten Commandments
in the course of one's calling； is the work which God requires
of us。 Over against the wide…spread opinion； as though the will
of God as declared in the Ten Commandments referred only to the
outward work always especially mentioned； Luther's argument must
have called to mind the explanation of the Law； which the Lord
had given in the Sermon on the Mount； when he taught men to
recognize only the extreme point and manifestation of a whole
trend of thought in the work prohibited by the text； and when he
directed Christians not to rest in the keeping of the literal
requirement of each Commandment； but from this point of vantage
to inquire into the whole depth and breadth of God's will
positively and negatively and to do His will in its full
extent as the heart has perceived it。 Though this thought may
have been occasionally expressed in the expositions of the Ten
Commandments which appeared at the dawn of the Reformation； still
it had never before been so clearly recognized as the only
correct principle； much less had it been so energetically carried
out from beginning to end； as is done in this treatise。 Over
against the deep…rooted view that the works of love must bestow
upon faith its form； its content and its worth before God； it
must have appeared as the dawn of a new era （Galatians 3：22…25）
when Luther in this treatise declared； and with victorious
certainty carried out the thought； that it is true faith which
invests the works； even the best and greatest of works； with
their content and worth before God。
This proposition； which Luther here amplifies more clearly than
ever before； demanded nothing less than a breach with the whole
of prevalent religious views； and at that time must have been
perceived as the discovery of a new world； though it was no more
than a return to the clear teaching of the New Testament
Scriptures concerning the way of salvation。 This； too； accounts
for the fact that in this writing the accusation is more
impressively repelled than before； that the doctrine of
justification by faith alone resulted in moral laxity； and that；
on the other hand； 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 wil