Selections from the Table Talk of Martin LutherLuther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther
Luther, Martin
Table-talk
They will take an apple rather than a crown; what they hear concerning
Christ, of the life to come, etc., the same do they believe simply and
plainly, and prattle joyfully thereof. From whence Christ speaketh unto
us old ones earnestly to follow their examples, where he saith,
“Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall
in no wise enter therein.” For the children believe aright, and Christ
loveth them with their childish sports. On the contrary, he is an enemy
to the wisdom of the world (Matt. xi.).
_Of an Example of Faith in the Time of Dearth_.
At Eisleben, said Luther, I was well acquainted with a godly matron, who,
in the time of the last dearth, with two children, had suffered extreme
want and need. Now, when she had spent all her provision, and had
nothing more to live upon, she trimmed herself with her children, and
went towards a well or fountain to drink. In her going she prayed that
God would be pleased to preserve and keep her in that fierce time of
dearth. Upon the way a man met her, questioned and disputed with her
whether she thought to get something to eat at the fountain. She said,
“Yea, why not? for all things are possible to God and easy to be done; he
that fed the great multitude of the people of Israel forty years with
manna in the wilderness, he can also preserve me and mine with drinking
of water.” Now, as she remained steadfast in that mind, the man said
unto her, “Behold! seeing thou art so confident in faith, go home, and
thou shalt find three bushels of meal,” etc. And according to the man’s
word, so she found it.
_That Faith is the only Rule in Divinity_.
There is but one only rule and article in divinity. He that knoweth not
well the same is no divine: namely, upright faith and confidence in
Christ. Out of this article all the others do flow and issue forth, and
without this article the others are nothing. The devil, said Luther,
hath opposed this article from the beginning of the world, and would long
since willingly have rooted it out, and instead thereof have laughed in
his fist. Sorrowful, broken, tormented, and vexed hearts, said Luther,
do well relish this article, and they only understand the same.
_Of the Consequences of Faith_.
Believest thou? then thou wilt speak boldly. Speakest thou boldly? then
thou must suffer. Sufferest thou? then thou shalt be comforted. For,
said Luther, faith, the confession thereof, and the cross do follow one
after another.
_That the Enemies of the Gospel must bear Witness to the Doctrine of
Faith_, _that thereby we only are justified before God_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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