Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the CreationLuther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the Creation
Luther, Martin
Bible. Genesis -- Commentaries
"Thirdly, books treating of all the arts and sciences.
"Lastly, books on jurisprudence and medicine, though here
discrimination is necessary.
"A prominent place should be given to chronicles and histories, in
whatever language they may be obtained; for they are wonderfully
useful in understanding and regulating the course of the world, and in
disclosing the marvelous works of God. O, how many noble deeds and
wise maxims produced on German soil have been forgotten and lost,
because no one at the time wrote them down; or if they were written,
no one preserved the books; hence we Germans are unknown in other
lands, and are called brutes that know only how to fight, eat and
drink. But the Greeks and Romans, and even the Hebrews have recorded
their history with such particularity, that even if a woman or child
did anything noteworthy, all the world was obliged to read and know
it; but we Germans are always Germans and will remain Germans.
"Since God has so graciously and abundantly provided us with art,
scholars and books, it is time for us to reap the harvest and gather
for future use the treasures of these golden years. For it is to be
feared (and even now it is beginning to take place) that new and
different books will be produced, until at last, through the agency of
the devil, the good books which are being printed will be crowded out
by the multitude of ill-considered, senseless and noxious works. For
Satan certainly designs that we should torture ourselves again with
Catholicons, Florists, Modernists and other trash of the accursed
monks and sophists, always learning, yet never acquiring knowledge.
"Therefore, my dear sirs, I beg you to let my labor bear fruit with
you. And though there be some who think me too insignificant to follow
my advice, or who look down upon me as one condemned by tyrants; still
let them consider that I am not seeking my own interest, but that of
all Germany. And even if I were a fool, and yet should hit upon
something good, no wise man should think it a disgrace to follow me.
And if I were a Turk and heathen, and it should yet appear that my
advice was advantageous, not for myself, but for Christianity, no
reasonable person would despise my counsel. Sometimes a fool has given
better advice than a whole company of wise men. Moses received
instruction from Jethro.
"Herewith I commend you all to the grace of God. May he soften your
hearts, and kindle therein a deep interest in behalf of the poor,
wretched and neglected youth; and through the blessing of God may you
so counsel and aid them as to attain to a happy Christian social order
in respect to both body and soul, with all fullness and abounding
plenty, to the praise and honor of God the Father, through Jesus
Christ our Saviour. Amen."
Wittenberg, 1524.
In his "Table Talk" Luther continues thus:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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