按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
noblest of good works； with his opening proposition （there are
no good works besides those commanded of God）； and； on the other
hand； he prepares the way for the following argument； wherein he
proposes to exhibit the good works according to the Ten
Commandments。 For the First Commandment does not forbid this and
that； nor does it require this and that； it forbids but one
thing； unbelief； it requires but one thing； faith； 〃that
confidence in God's good will at all times。〃 Without this faith
the best works are as nothing； and if man should think that by
them he could be well…pleasing to God； he would be lowering God
to the level of a 〃broker or a laborer who will not dispense his
grace and kindness gratis。〃
This understanding of faith and good works； so Luther now
addresses his opponents； should in fairness be kept in view by
those who accuse him of declaiming against good works； and they
should learn from it； that though he has preached against 〃good
works；〃 it was against such as are falsely so called and as
contribute toward the confusion of consciences； because they are
self…elected； do not flow from faith； and are done with the
pretension of doing works well…pleasing to God。
This brings us to the end of the fundamental part of the
treatise。 It was not Luther's intention； however； to speak only
on the essence of good works and their fundamental relation to
faith； he would show； too； how the 〃best work；〃 faith； must prove
itself in every way a living faith； according to the other
commandments。 Luther does not proceed to this part； however；
until in the fundamental part he has said with emphasis； that the
believer； the spiritual man； needs no such instruction （1。
Timothy 1：9）； but that he of his own accord and at all times does
good works 〃as his faith； his confidence； teaches him。〃 Only
〃because we do not all have such faith； or are unmindful of it；〃
does such instruction become necessary。
Nor does he proceed until he has applied his oft repeated words
concerning the relation of faith to good works to the relation
of the First to the other Commandments。 From the fact； that
according to the First Commandment； we acquire a pure heart and
confidence toward God； he derives the good work of the Second
Commandment； namely； 〃to praise God； to acknowledge His grace；
to render all honor to Him alone。〃 From the same source he
derives the good work of the Third Commandment； namely； 〃to
observe divine services with prayer and the hearing of preaching；
to incline the imagination of our hearts toward God's benefits；
and； to that end； to mortify and overcome the flesh。〃 From the
same source he derives the works of the Second Table。
The argument on the Third and Fourth Commandments claims nearly
one…half of the entire treatise。 Among the good works which；
according to the Third Commandment； should be an exercise and
proof of faith； Luther especially mentions the proper hearing of
mass and of preaching； common prayer； bodily discipline and the
mortification of the flesh； and he joins the former and the
latter by an important fundamental discussion of the New
Testament conception of Sabbath rest。
Luther discusses the Fourth Commandment as fully as the Third。
The exercise of faith； according to this Commandment； consists
in the faithful performance of the duties of children toward
their parents； of parents toward their children； and of
subordinates toward their superiors in the ecclesiastical as well
as in the common civil sphere。 The various duties issue from the
various callings； for faithful performance of the duties of one's
calling； with the help of God and for God's sake； is the true
〃good work。〃
As he now proceeds to speak of the spiritual powers； the
government of the Church； he frankly reveals their faults and
demands a reform of the present rulers。 Honor and obedience in
all things should be rendered unto the Church； the spiritual
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 b