To the honorable, respectable and wise Mr. Peter Heinzen, friend of the city council and distinguished merchant in Leipzig, my especially favorable brother-in-law and valued friend, God's grace in Christ Jesus, for all blessings of body and soul, together with a blissful and joyful New Year beforehand.
Honorable, respectable and wise, especially favorable brother-in-law and dear friend.
What the merciful and loving God has shown us in Germany through the faithful service of D. Martin Luther is now, praise and thanks to God, known and evident to the world, even about which a few weeks ago, by proclamation of the Sublime Elector of Saxony, a glorious jubilee was held. As it is praiseworthy to us before God and all the chosen angels that we heartily recognize, praise and glorify such a work of God's grace, so it is also our duty to plant the memory of God's miraculous deed on our descendants, "so that," as it is written, "the children who are yet to be born may learn, when they arise, to proclaim it to their children as well, that they place their hope in God and do not forget God's deeds," Ps. 78:6.
And this has been diligently and faithfully done in its place, both orally and in writing, both by the laudable university and then also by the venerable ministry in this city of Leipzig, thus presenting to us all a fine example of Christian discipleship.
And in such contemplation I have at this time subjected to pressure this witty pre
This is the sermon that our dear ancestors here heard some seventy years ago from the highly enlightened miracle man, D. Martin Luther, so that we, their descendants, can also hear and read it, because it is not otherwise found in open writings; hoping that such a memory will also serve Christian hearts for edification, which I then wish with all my heart.
However, after such a sermon, on the arrest of the typographer (book printer), someone inson
I, my favorable brother-in-law, have chosen the Lord to do this in the confidence that he will not be displeased. And has given me cause for this, that I not only knew your love and zeal for divine holy scripture; but that the Lord is also a special lover of the teachings and writings of the blessed Lord D. Luther. I hereby command the Lord and His house honor, my dear wife, in the protection of the Almighty, who may fatherly care for her and all of us this coming year and all future years, as long as we have to live in this misery, with health and all happy welfare, and finally make us eternally blessed, for the sake of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen. Date Leipzig on the New Year's Day, Anno 1618.
He who loves me will keep my word etc.
1. because I am not so sure of my main, because of weakness of body, to explain the doctrine completely, so I want to remain by God's grace with the text of the gospel, so one acts tomorrow in the church.
2 These words of the Lord Christ: "He who loves me will keep my word" etc., are caused by the fact that shortly before the Lord Christ had also spoken almost in this way, Joh. 14, 21: "He who keeps my word loves me, and I will love him also, and will reveal myself to him." Therefore the pious Jew, but not Iscarioth, asks, v. 22: "What? wilt thou alone reveal thyself unto us, and not unto the whole world?" To this question the Lord Christ answers here. And here we see the carnal and Jewish thought of the apostles, that they hoped for a worldly kingdom of the Lord Christ, and they want to be the rulers in it; as they quarrel about who should be the greatest in it; and there they have already divided themselves into the countries. The Jews are still of the same mind today and hope for a worldly Messiah.
3. because here the Lord Christ says: "Whoever keeps my word, I will love him, and reveal myself to him"; Jude says: "shall it be only us? shall it be such a thin revelation? shall it not be revealed to all the world, both to Jews and Gentiles? What shall it be? Shall we inherit you alone, and the Gentiles shall know nothing? This false Jewish delusion is in the apostles. For this reason this gospel of the Lord describes Christ's kingdom and presents it much differently to the disciples; as if he wanted to say: "No, the world has many other kingdoms, dear Judas, so I speak of it: "Whoever loves me will keep my words, and I will be with him with my Father and the Holy Spirit, and will make my dwelling with him. This dwelling place is called God's dwelling place; as Jerusalem was called God's dwelling place, which he had mentioned to himself: Here is my hearth, house and dwelling place. As still today the churches are called God's dwellings for the Word and Sacrament.
for the sake of it. I mean, Christ does a sharp saying here, prophesies here and forgets the dwelling place in Jerusalem, where all the prophets say: Here I will dwell forever and ever. This dwelling place the Lord Christ tears down, and makes and builds a new dwelling place and a new Jerusalem; not of stones and wood, but "whoever loves me and keeps my word", there shall be my castle, chamber and dwelling place.
4 With this, Christ answers the question of the true church. For you still hear today how our papists boast and speak: The church, the church. And it is true that Christ wants to have his dwelling place, where the Father and the Holy Spirit want to be and dwell. The whole Trinity dwells in the true Church: what the true Church does and orders, God does and orders. Now the new church is another dwelling place than Jerusalem, tears down all prophecies of Jerusalem, as if Jerusalem were nothing before his eyes; and he makes another dwelling place, the Christian church. Thus we are at one with the Papists, that there be a Christian church; but Christ will otherwise be in the land. These are excellent and heartfelt words, that God wants to come down to us; he wants to come to us, and we must not climb up; he wants to be with us until the end of the world: there the Holy Spirit dwells, works and creates everything in the Christian church.
But what is the discord between the papists and us? Answer: Over the true Christian church. Should one not be obedient to the Christian church? Yes, all believers owe it. For so St. Peter commands in his first epistle, chapter 4, v. 11: "If any man speak, let him speak as the word of God. If someone wants to preach, he should keep silent about his words and let them be valid in worldly and household government; here in the church he should speak nothing but the word of this rich landlord: otherwise it is not the true church. Therefore it should be called: God speaks. It must be so in this world. If a prince wants to rule, his voice must resound in his country and his house. If this happens in this miserable life, we should listen to God's word much more.
sound in the church and in eternal life. All subjects and regiments must be obedient to their Lord's word. It is called administratio. Therefore, a preacher manages God's household by virtue of his command and office, and may not say anything other than what God says and commands. And even if one makes a lot of chatter outside of God's word: the church is not yet in the chatter, and they shall become mad; they only cry "church, church", one shall hear the pope and the bishops. But when they are asked: What is the Christian church? What does it say and do? they answer: The church stands on the pope, cardinals and bishops. This is not true.
For this reason we must look to Christ and listen to him, as he describes the true Christian church against the false cries of the same. For one should and must believe Christ and the apostles more, that one speaks God's word, and does as St. Peter and here the Lord Christ speaks: "Whoever keeps my word, there is my dwelling place. There is the builder: My word must remain in it, or it shall not be my house. Our papists want to do better, they may be in danger because of it. Christ says: "We will make our dwelling with him"; and the Holy Spirit works there. It must be a people who love me and keep my commandments. That, in short, is what he wants. Christ does not say here how the building of the church is to be done, as he said above about the dwelling place. But when it is built up, the word is sure, and a Christian shall hear nothing but the word of God. Otherwise, in the worldly government, he hears another, how to punish the wicked and protect the pious, and about stewardship. But here in the Christian church it should be a house where only God's word resounds. Let them cry out "church, church", without God's word it is nothing; my dear Christians are constant confessors in the word, in life and in death, they do not want to leave this dwelling, they are so fond of this prince; neither mercy nor disgrace helps here, let country and people, life and limb pass over it. Thus one ran from a Roman captain, a martyr, since everything was taken away from him - he said: That
I know that they shall not take away my Lord Christ from me. Therefore a Christian says: "I want Christ, and I should let everything go about it; what I cannot take with me, that remains: Christ alone is sufficient for me. Therefore, all Christians should stand firm and steadfast on the word alone, says St. Peter, 1 Ep. 4:11, "out of the ability that God gives.
7 Behold how weak it is. Behold baptism, that it is water, whence is sanctification and power? From the priest? No, but from God, who says Marc. 16, 16: "He who believes and is baptized". For the priest puts his trust in the consecrated water. From where, Pabst, who gave you the power? Ecclesia,: The Church! Yes, truly, where is it written? In the smoke hole! Therefore the consecrated water is the cobel bath *) of Satan, who paralyzes, blinds and consecrates the people apart from the Word; but in the church nothing shall be taught and preached apart from and without God's Word. For, says the priest who baptizes, I do not baptize you, but I am only the instrument of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; this is not my work.
(8) So also the reverend Sacrament is not administered by men, but according to God's command; we only lend our hands to it. Do you think that this is a small food, that one feeds a poor condemned sinner for the forgiveness of sins not only the soul but also the mortal body, that the body should also live? This is God's ability, this steward, not men.
9 So also in absolution, a sorrowful sinner is absolved. By what power and command? Not from man, but from God's command: behold, by God's power I snatch you out of the devil's kingdom and place you in God's kingdom.
10 Thus our prayer, which obtains everything from God, not by its own power, or that it is able to do so, but because it trusts in God's promise. In the world we see how difficult it is to come before the Roman emperor and obtain help: On the other hand, a pious Christian can always, with a humble and faithful prayer before God
*Kobel - devil, evil spirit. D. Red.
and receive an answer. In sum, in God's power stands the Word and the Holy Spirit, who prepares us for prayer; the Word that we believe must go, so that after it our hearts may be so measured that we call ourselves children of the Father. Where does this come from? Answer: From God, who teaches us to pray in the Lord's Prayer and gives us the book of Psalms. For if we pray without faith, it is twofold cursing; as we have experienced in our nasty papist sanctuary. On the other hand, where a believing heart is and has God's promise before it, it prays its Lord's Prayer poorly and simply and is heard. Outside of this church of God, you may make your prayers and supplications to great lords and potentates according to your best ability; but here you have no ability to pray, except in Christ Jesus; lest we boast of such saints as in the papacy, who say: "That would be presumptuous, who would call himself holy and able? since they teach that man has praeparationem quandam of himself for prayer (can prepare himself to some extent for prayer).
011 Afterward they also teach to pray in their choirs, saying, I have prayed as a poor sinner, with doubting. Suffer thou to cease from such praying; it were better for thee to leave such praying in the way, if thou doubtest. For doubt corrupts everything, and with baptizing, praying, and going to the sacrament, apart from faith, in doubt, thou mockest like God. But soon you shall say: I am sure that my dear God has commanded thus and promised me forgiveness of sins: therefore I will baptize, absolve and pray. And soon you will have this treasure in your heart. It is not in our worthiness or unworthiness. For both make us doubtful. Therefore, do not be driven to doubt in any way. For this is called mocking God, if we do not believe the word: Go and be baptized, that is, he who has remorse and sorrow for his sin. Here you hear that it is not man's work, but God the Father's; he is the steward, who will dwell here. But if we doubt, we should abstain from the sacrament and from prayer, and learn to say beforehand, "Well, let it be so,
that I am unworthy; yet God is true, who certainly promised and promised: there I die and live again. And we in the papacy did not know that. Yes, I, Martin Luther, could not find my way out of this papist dream for a long time, because they were always chattering to me about my worthiness and unworthiness. Therefore, you young people, learn to recognize the church correctly.
(12) We teach that penance consists in the recognition of sin and true trust in God, who forgives us all for the sake of Christ. The pope, on the other hand, only rumbles and makes unmistakable charges; in addition, he knows nothing about grace and faith, much less teaches what the Christian church is. But do not forget the main point, that God wants to have his dwelling here. Therefore, when forgiveness of sins is announced to you with a hand laid on your head, so: I absolve you from all your sins in the name of Christ; then you shall take hold of the word with firm faith and strengthen yourself from the preacher's mouth. And this is when Christ and St. Peter say that he, the Lord, will dwell in this church, the word alone shall resound in it. In sum, the Church is a dwelling place to love and hear God; not wood or stones, not unreasonable cattle: it is to be people who recognize, love and praise God. After that you can certainly trust God in all things, cross and suffering, so you should know that it is the true church, even if there are hardly two believing people. Therefore Christ says: "He who loves me keeps my word"; there I will dwell, there you have my church.
Now beware of the pope's smeared church adorned with gold and pearls. For Christ teaches the contradiction here. Loving God and keeping his word is not the pope's long skirt, crown, or decree. But there is a great difference between what God commands and what men command. See how the pope therefore insists that one should call upon the saints and keep his ordinances. Does the word of God also mean to you? I do not see that yet. But I do know that God's word says: I, Christ, am going to the
Father, and he who believes in me shall be saved. For I, I have suffered for him; I also give him the Holy Spirit from on high.
(14) So then the Lord Christ and the pope each has his church, but with a mighty difference; as Christ himself, as the best dialectic, describes to us here what it is and where it is, namely, where his word is preached pure and clear. Where you hear this, know that there is the true church. For where the word of God is not, there are no true believers and martyrs. And where this is lacking, we would be deceived by Christ, who would have deceived us. Oh, if only we could dare to put our faith in Christ, and against this mock and laugh at the pope! Because the Lord Christ here clearly says: Not he who has my word, but he who keeps it, he loves me and is also my disciple. On the other hand, there are many who have the word, but do not keep it, and in time of trouble and temptation may even fall away and deny Christ.
(15) It would be desirable to keep both the word and the temporal party at all times, but peace is a strange thing in the kingdom of heaven. For this reason, it is a great gift of God to recognize peace and good understanding among worldly rulers. But if there is not, then let your goods, honor, wife and child go, so that only this treasure remains for us.
(16) But I fear that, alas, there will be among us many weathercocks, false brethren, and such like tares; but I will be a prophet no more, because I have only vain evil to prophesy. And who will exhaust it all? It will be found yet. We have it, let us see to it that we keep it. But let us be valiant against Satan, who intends to sift us as wheat. For it may be that thou hast thy morsel of bread under pious authority, and soon the devil will pursue thee with certainty and presumption, lest thou believe the word of God too much, or give it room.
17 Therefore Christ says, "My sheep not only hear me, but they also obey and follow me, increasing daily in faith through the hearing of God.
Word and right perfect use of the reverend sacraments. There is strength and comfort in this church. And this is also the right church, not caps, plates and long skirts, of which God's word knows nothing; but where two or three are gathered, whether on the sea or in the depths of the earth, if they only have God's word before them, believe it and trust it, there is certainly the right, ancient and true apostolic church. But we are so blinded in the papacy that although St. Peter 2 Ep. 1, 19 tells us: "We have a firm prophetic word, and you do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place" etc.; yet we cannot see what a bright light we have in the Gospel. Therefore, the description of the Christian church that Christ gives us, namely, a multitude that not only has his word, but also loves and keeps it, and forsakes all things for love's sake, is to be remembered here once more.
(18) From this you can now answer the criers and spitters who have nothing but "church, church" in their mouths. So tell me now, dear pope, what is the church? Answer: The pope and his cardinals. Listen, you idiot, where is it written in God's Word that Father Pope and Brother Cardinal are the true Church of Christ? Maybe because the beautiful bird parrot and the black jackdaw were chatting about it? But Christ says to you and me much another thing, namely, this is my church, where my word is preached and kept pure and unadulterated. Therefore St. Paul warns that we should flee and avoid those who want to lead us away from God's word. For whoever desecrates the temple of God, which we are, God shall desecrate him again. 1 Cor. 3, 17. And so also says St. Peter 1 Ep. 4, 11: Beware! If you want to preach, you must preach nothing but God's word, or you will desecrate God's church.
19 Therefore, it should be carefully noted once again how Christ has described his church to us. For such a description is a strong thunderclap (contra Papam, qui fecit ex Ecclesia cloacam) against the wretched pope and his decrees, so that he may be expelled from the Church of God.
makes a decree, the Unflath. Whoever else wants to teach human statutes, let him do so in secular and domestic regimes, and let the Church of God be satisfied with his human statutes. In truth, the papists are useless spouters and washers. Because Christ himself says: "Whoever hears my word and keeps it, I and the Father will come to him and make my abode with him. Here is Jerusalem and Moses over; here shall be a little company of Christ, who hear the word of God, keep it, and rely on it in all adversity. This is called my church. We want to believe in the Lord, even if the pope bursts over it.
20 But Christ also wants to answer the apostle Jude with these words, who also dreamed that Christ would become a great temporal emperor, and that they, the apostles, would become great rulers in countries, when he would
would reveal. But far from it; here Christ tells them freely that his kingdom is not of this world, but that they and all believers shall be the same kingdom of heaven, in which God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit himself dwells. He does not want to put angels, emperors, kings, princes and lords in it; he wants to be a steward himself, speaking and doing alone; there I will dwell, he says, and all believers with me, from eternity to eternity. But Judas, the good man, cannot yet understand this; therefore the Holy Spirit must come and teach them. Of what future and ministry, then, dear Christians, you will hear tomorrow, beloved of God. If I cannot do it, others will do it who can do it better than I, even though they do not want to have the honor. This is the preface or early sermon today. And God the Lord help further; I can go no further now etc.