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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 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