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my books to perish thereafter。。。。 Most willingly I will leave the
honor of greater things to others； and not at all will I be
ashamed of preaching and writing German to the untaught laity。〃
Since Luther had dedicated the afore…mentioned Tessaradecas
consolatoria to the reigning Prince； he now； probably on
Spalatin's recommendation； dedicated the Treatise on Good Works
to his brother John； who afterward； in 1525； succeeded Frederick
in the Electorate。 There was probably good reason for dedicating
the book to a member of the reigning house。 Princes have reason
to take a special interest in the fact that preaching on good
works should occur within their realm； for the safety and sane
development of their kingdom depend largely upon the cultivation
of morality on the part of their subjects。 Time and again the
papal church had commended herself to princes and statesmen by
her emphatic teaching of good works。 Luther； on the other hand；
had been accused like the Apostle Paul before him （Rom。 3 31）
that the zealous performance of good works had abated； that
the bonds of discipline had slackened and that； as a necessary
consequence； lawlessness and shameless immorality were being
promoted by his doctrine of justification by faith alone。 Before
1517 the rumor had already spread that Luther intended to do away
with good works。 Duke George of Saxony had received no good
impression from a sermon Luther had delivered at Dresden； because
he feared the consequences which Luther's doctrine of
justification by faith alone might have upon the morals of the
masses。 Under these circumstances it would not have been
surprising if a member of the Electoral house should harbor like
scruples； especially since the full comprehension of Luther's
preaching on good works depended on an evangelical understanding
of faith； as deep as was Luther's own。 The Middle Ages had
differentiated between fides informis； a formless faith； and
fides formata or informata； a formed or ornate faith。 The former
was held to be a knowledge without any life or effect； the latter
to be identical with love for； as they said； love which proves
itself and is effective in good works must be added to the
formless faith； as its complement and its content； well pleasing
to God。 In Luther's time every one who was seriously interested
in religious questions was reared under the influence of these
ideas。
Now； since Luther had opposed the doctrine of justification by
love and its good works； he was in danger of being misunderstood
by strangers； as though he held the bare knowledge and assent to
be sufficient for justification； and such preaching would indeed
have led to frivolity and disorderly conduct。 But even apart from
the question whether or not the brother of the Elector was
disturbed by such scruples； Luther must have welcomed the
opportunity； when the summons came to him； to dedicate his book
Of Good Works to a member of the Electoral house。 At any rate the
book could serve to acquaint him with the thoughts of his
much…abused pastor and professor at Wittenberg； for never before
had Luther expressed himself on the important question of good
works in such a fundamental； thorough and profound way。
2。 The Contents of the Work。 A perusal of the contents shows
that the book； in the course of its production； attained a
greater length than was originally intended。 To this fact it must
be attributed that a new numeration of sections begins with the
argument on the Third Commandment； and is repeated at every
Commandment thereafter； while before this the sections were
consecutively numbered。 But in spite of this； the plan of the
whole is clear and lucid。 Evidently the whole treatise is divided
into two parts： the first comprising sections 1…17； while the
second comprises all the following sections。 The first； being
fundamental； is the more important part。 Luther well knew of the
charges made against him that 〃faith is so highly elevated〃 and
〃works are rejected〃 by him； but he knew； too； that 〃neither
silver； gold and precious stone； nor any other precious thing had
experienced so much augmentation and diminution〃 as had good
works 〃which should all have but one simple goodness； or they are
nothing but color； glitter and deception。〃 But especially was he
aware of the fact that the Church was urging nothing but the
so…called self…elected works； such as 〃running to the convent；
singing； reading； playing the organ； saying the mass； praying
matins； vespers； and other hours； founding and ornamenting
churches； altars； convents； gathering chimes； jewels； vestments；
gems and treasures； going to Rome and to the saints； curtsying
and bowing the knees； praying the rosary and the psalter；〃 etc。；
and that she designated these alone as truly good works； while
she represented the faithful performance of the duties of one's
calling as a morality of a lower order。 For these reasons it is
Luther's highest object in this treatise to make it perfectly
clear what is the essence of good works。 Whenever the essence
of good works has been understood； then the accusations against
him will quickly collapse。
In the fundamental part he therefore argues： Truly good works are
not self…elected works of monastic or any other holiness； but
such only as God has commanded； and as are comprehended within
the bounds of one's particular calling； and all works； let their
name be what it may； become good only when they flow from faith；
the first； greatest； and noblest of good works。〃 （John 6：29。） In
this connection the essence of faith； that only source of all
truly good works； must of course be rightly understood。 It is the
sure confidence in God； that all my doing is wellpleasing to Him；
it is trust in His mercy； even though He appears angry and puts
sufferings and adversities upon us； it is the assurance of the
divine good will even though 〃God should reprove the conscience
with sin； death and hell； and deny it all grace and mercy； as
though He would condemn and show His wrath eternally。〃 Where such
faith lives in the heart； there the works are good 〃even though
they were as insignificant as the picking up of a straw〃； but
where it is wanting； there are only such works as 〃heathen； Jew
and Turk〃 may have and do。 Where such faith possesses the man；
he needs no teacher in good works； as little as does the husband
or the wife； who only look for love and favor from one another；
nor need any instruction therein 〃how they are to stand toward
each other； what they are to do； to leave undone； to say； to
leave unsaid； to think。〃
This faith； Luther continues； is 〃the true fulfilment of the
First Commandment； apart from which there is no work that could
do justice to this Commandment。〃 With this sentence he combines；
on the one hand； the whole argument on faith； as the best and
noblest of good works； with his opening proposition （there are
no good works besides those commanded of God）； an