Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)Luther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 16th century -- Early works to 1800
So we observe to-day, that through the Spiritual Law[2] but
little justice and piety have arisen in Christendom; the world
has been filled with dissemblers and hypocrites and with so many
sects, orders, and divisions of the one people of Christ, that
almost every city is divided into ten parties or more. And they
daily devise new ways and manners (as they think) of serving God,
until it has come to this, that priests, monks, and laity have
become more hostile toward each other than Turks and Christians.
Yea, the priests and the monks are deadly enemies, wrangling
about their self-conceived ways and methods like fools and
madmen, not only to the hindrance, but to the very destruction of
Christian love and unity. Each one clings to his sect and
despises the others; and they regard the laymen as though they
were no Christians. This lamentable condition is only a result of
the laws.
[Sidenote: The Mass Christ's Law]
3. Christ, in order that He might prepare for Himself an
acceptable and beloved people, which should be bound together in
unity through love, abolished the whole law of Moses. And that He
might not give further occasion for divisions, He did not again
appoint more than one law or order for His entire people, and
that the holy mass. For, although baptism is also an external
ordinance, yet it takes place but once, and is not a practice of
the entire life, like the mass. Therefore, after baptism there is
to be no other external order for the service of God except the
mass. And where the mass is used, there is a true service, even
though there be no other form, with singing, playing,
bell-ringing, vestments, ornaments and postures; for everything
of this sort is an addition invented by men. When Christ Himself
first instituted this sacrament and held the first mass, there
were do patens, no chasuble, no singing, no pageantry, but only
thanksgiving to God, and the use of the sacrament. After this
same simplicity the Apostles and all Christians long time held
mass, until the divers forms and additions arose, by which the
Romans held mass one way, the Greeks another; and now it has
finally come to this, that the chief thing in the mass has become
unknown, and nothing is remembered except the additions of men.
[Sidenote: Christ's Institution and Man's Ordinances]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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