Translation of the pieces from M. Anton Lauterbach's diary for the year 1538, which are not found in the Tischreden. At the same time as a table of contents for those who wish to read through this diary in its original order.
(We have added the sequential numbers to the pieces).
Let this be a good, happy, blessed beginning of the New Year for the glory of Christ and the salvation of His Church and the overthrow of Satan and his.
1st Georg Karg.
(January 1,)
Lauterbach pag.
Table Talks Cap. § 4, 77.
2nd Blasius Matthew.
(January 2.)
On January 2 he [Luther] was a guest in the house of Blasius Matthäus with D. Justus Jonas etc. He said much about the glory of the Word of God and about the Papists' rage and persecution. Now let them practice quickly, and let us pray; if they do well, we will enjoy it with them. Let us only stick to the dear word, let the body be where it wants to be. - After that, wormwood beer was brought. He answered: "Oh no, they send me wormwood beer from France, Prussia, Prussia to my own house. It will be bitter enough for me. Delicious food was served with the request that he should take the house food for good. He answered: "This is not house food, these are delicious morsels, which I do not enjoy. I must not be worshipped with them. I do not appreciate them and I begrudge them to others who like to eat delicious morsels. I praise a pure, good, common house food. After that, he said about a marriageable girl (my godfather): 2) It is not good fruit. It does not lie long, always verthan! I have three in my house, because I wanted to provide good journeymen with, all three marriageable.
The following:
1) This appendix precedes the diary of Cordatus, which is earlier in time, because it came into our hands only later.
2) Magdalene Kaufmann, Muhme Lene, Luther's sister daughter. So she was the godmother of a child of Lauterbach, probably in 1537. - The three are Lene and Ilsa Kaufmann and Anna Schützmeister. (Seidemann.)
3. roschick.
(January 2.)
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. §
On this day came to D. M., in order to get advice, Georg Roschick from Würzen, since he could no longer hold the papal service due to his conscience, whether he, according to his profession, could preach in Würzen with a good conscience, or, since he was still drawing his salary, live here in Wittenberg. L. answered: He was free to preach God's word according to his profession; but if he wanted to study here, he could perhaps obtain through the Elector that he would be granted the preposorship instead of the salary. Afterwards he said to me (Lauterbach): "Everyone wants to ask me for advice, but I don't know whether they do it in order to learn, or whether they do it in order to scout, as it has often happened to me. That is why the ancients advised very well: one should not go overland, give medicine and advice, because it is dangerous. - On this day he wrote a letter to D. Pommer with the inscription: To the bishop of the Wittenberg church and envoy of Christ in Denmark, to his brother in mind and in heart and to his Lord as the greater. After that he said: The pope praises his cardinals a latero. I praise pious preachers before eyes [a facie] and in heart
4th tournament.
(January 3.)
On January 3, he sat with Georg von Minkwitz, who said a lot about lance-breaking and tournaments, which would be fine knightly play and exercise etc. He answered: "For every profession, training is necessary, so that one gets used to fighting. For as the scholars practiced by disputations to fight against the enemies, who brought forward ungodly doctrines, and they, accustomed by the disputations, can resist, so also the young nobility must be allowed its practice. For the tournament is very pretty, almost similar to the battle itself and the battle. It is too much to scold, and too little to take seriously. The Spaniards, French and Italians should not know this exercise. Georg von Minkwitz then said that lance-breaking was more dangerous than useful and did not serve in battle.
5. from the Turk.
(January 5.)
6. against spiritual temptations.
(January 5.)
7. Hadrian's triumphal procession.
(January 8.)
8. the legal scholars' void being.
(January 8.)
On that day, he said many things about the jurists, whose studies were of no account. For almost all of their books were such that they did not deal with judicial matters and law. The whole first and third book of decrees is completely dead, as well as the decrees. My last will is that none of my sons shall graduate from the faculty. John shall become a theologian; Martin is a little peeler, I fear for him; Paul shall go against the Turk.
9. letter of Jak. Schenk against the preaching of the law.
(January 8.)
(The second paragraph, January 9.)
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. §
10. diseases from wine.
(January 9.)
After that, he [Melanchthon] said a lot about the theuration of wine, that there was no good wine anywhere. Luther answered: "Because when it is superfluous, we abuse it for our feasting. From it come diseases, leprosy, stone, podagra, chiragra. Those who always use wine usually suffer from podagra. Beer, however, causes dropsy. About the rules and the way of life, which the physicians demanded, the doctor also said a lot, that they forbade everything too strictly and carefully; that the life according to the prescription of the physicians would be a miserable one, since they imposed almost impossible things. That is why Birkheimer is said to have said: I would rather be a good fellow for two years than a rascal for ten.
11. a young man plagued by the devil.
(January 10.)
12 A Hungarian asked Luthern for advice. (January 10.)
(The final section of this piece, January 10.)
13th marriage case.
(January 10.)
(The second paragraph, January 10.)
14 Magister Sententiarum.
(January 10.)
15. rebaptismal script.
(January 13.)
16. rome jeht a corpse.
(January 13.)
17. kingdom of the pope.
(January 14.)
18. Germany becomes ripe for the slaughter.
(January 15.)
(The second paragraph, January 15.)
19. punishment of a murderer.
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches Cap. §
(January 16.)
s guardian of the word. Luther said: The guilty person is to be beheaded according to the verdict, no matter how pious he is, because a public example must be given to the others. But the ungodly man should die and suffer the punishment of his ungodliness.
20. poverty of the preachers.
(January 16.)
21. from the prophet Jonah.
(January 16.)
22. you are Peter.
(January 16.)
Luther asked about the meaning of this passage: "You are Peter" etc. [Matth. 16, 18] and said: Paul and the holy scriptures point it to Christ alone. No one can lay any other foundation. And yet they [the papists] dare to advance the weak opinions of Augustine and Chrysostom about Peter.
23 Hieron. Luther asks for advice.
(January 16.)
24. lightning of the pope.
(January 16.)
25. figure of the true church.
(January 16.)
26. punishments of the preachers.
(January 16.)
27. a comet.
(January 18.)
28. Spaniards the reformers of the Italians.
(January 21.)
The daughter of Clement marries the son of the King of France.
(January 21.)
Luther and Schneidewein spoke of the alliance of the Emperor, the Frenchman and the Pope, and because the elder Dauphin of the King of France was dead, the second son would now marry the daughter of Pope Clement. Luther said: I am amazed at the nonsense of such a big
King that he may give the illegitimate daughter of an illegitimate father conceived in incest to his son. It is done with treacherousness. Such a thing will not go unpunished by God, who punished David's adultery. He must pay for it. He will certainly disgrace the Pellichir 1) as well.
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches
Cap. §
(The following section of this piece, January 21.)
30 Mainz. Elector.
(January 21.)
This is the point of contention among them: That the Elector. 2) in Halle in the city in the bishop's castle above the table in his chamber has the neck court. The bishop has only the penalty in money. It is a great privilege without great benefit. The bishop lost this, who boasted that he could bring 800 witnesses, but the citizens of Halle come to court and eyewitnesses 3) appear. Now that he has lost hope, he irritates the emperor. He forbids the judges to speak, who have authority. They have something in mind, they want to give the comet its effect by a terrible war. The times are dangerous, the peace is rich. How dangerously they despise God! The Bishop of Mainz has the best thought, namely that there is no God. I would not have believed that the world would be so godless and wicked. Well, what is it to you? You follow me. Let the Epicureans eat and drink. The time of judgment will come.
31. duke George the reformer of the papal court.
(January 21.)
Duke George hates the pope, not because of his godless doctrine, which he worships, but he wants to be above the pope himself and reform the pontiff. He is the fool at the Roman court who wants to rule and reform everything, and he is ridiculed.
32. from the Concil and the Bishop of Mainz.
(Jan. 29, Tuesday.)
On January 29th, Luther, Schneidewein, the licentiate of Magdeburg, spoke a lot about Italy, how the pope had again scheduled a council in Vicenza, which is a city of the Venetians, and does this only for appearance. For if one does not come to Mantua, an imperial city, one will move much less under the rule of the Venetians. It is Italian deceit, so that they only mock us Germans, as the bishop of Mainz already does, since he has the Elector and all princes for his best and hopes for the Emperor as a cheap and favorable judge. In the meantime, he is devouring everything. He does the same as that horseman who [when he 1) saw two robbers hurrying after him, he got off his horse, took it by the reins and raised his hand [and] shouted to them: The first one has it. By this calm behavior he persuaded them to let him go out freely. Such a man is the bishop of Mainz.
1) Wittenb. Ausg., Vol. I, Fol. 102 k. "Bellitzschier," from Keils, eiern, konnni vnltnrn (cf. Lauterbach, p. 79. Tischreden, Cap. 7, § 43.), a good standing, being of good things. - In the just mentioned passage of the Tischreden, all German editions have: "Mache dir ein gut Geschirr" instead of "Bellitschir", a proof that all, thus also Stangwald, have reprinted the Aurifaber.
2) The term "Elector" is to be understood here as the Elector of Saxony, who had the high courts in Halle. Cf. Tischreden, Cap. 21, § 6, Lauterbach, p. 42, which is why we have added a period after Mainz in the heading.
3) In the original best oenlutns xroäennt. It must probably be read oenluti.
He rides it all off and then surrenders. He is a very wicked scoundrel, he
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches
Cap. §
pulls everything to himself. For I have seen a letter that he had written himself to Hans Schantz: Dear, take one, I can still well kick down a bridge and move the date a year. This letter will scream, since H. S. is hanged. 1) This is Italian deceit.
33. lombardy.
(January 29.)
After that, there was a lot of talk about Lombardy, a very good country, and Milan, which would be the key to Italy. Is the Hadermetz, because of which one fights, and it is consumed in the wars more, than their incomes pay, unless God wants to humiliate those Haderhaften and extremely proud cities. For each of them strives for dominion in the realm, as Florence mocked Maximilian by placing him [in the picture] on a crab. The Venetians have painted him with a holey and empty purse. But they are well paid, for in a short time Maximilian drove the Venetians like frogs into the sea and deprived them of all power on land. Carl has humiliated Florence. See how Rome has been destroyed so often, she has been saccused seven times, not counting the last devastation and others that cannot be counted. It has paid enough punishment and left the soldiers loaded with gold. But this body of a city is full of factions, Columnesians, Ursians, Catfishes, which constantly burn with hatred against each other.
(The following section, January 29.)
(The Conclusion, Jan. 29.)
These factions are the undoing of Italy. But the Germans hang together stronger and tighter under the protection of the emperor, although our opponents seek a division. For Duke George has offered his principality to the Landgrave on the condition that he would leave the gospel. I hope that he will be more sincere and leave it to the right descendants. For that comparison with Duke Heinrich is ungodly. God is a strange God, who leads things out against the wisdom of all men. He makes this one heirless, this one rich in inheritance. If he will want to hinder the blessing of the Lord, he will cause a war.
34. the Italians find superstitious.
(January 29.)
(The last section of this piece.)
After that Schneidewein said of the extremely terrible disloyalty of the Italians, who, when they cannot harm their enemies, wait for the opportunity in the churches. There, one is often said to split the other's head open in front of the altar. Even at the highest festivals, they do not come together in large numbers, but keep themselves sadly hidden at home; moreover, no relative accompanies the corpse at a funeral, nor are they allowed to do so for their own sake, because they often fight over the inheritance at the funeral itself and kill each other. The Bacchus festivals are celebrated for many weeks with wonderful impetuosity and audacity, and they cause all kinds of misfortune among the mummers.
1) Cf. Lauterbach, p. 31, Feb. 17, No. 64 of this appendix.
35 Philip's argument for human traditions.
(January 29.)
Lauterbach pag.
Why the pope could not stand a council.
(January 31.)
37th Court.
(January 31.)
Court courts are the best courts and judicial proceedings in our lands. There, noblemen, princes and lords can be brought to justice. That is why this type of court is hated by the nobles. Duke George would have liked to abolish this form of court.
38. scholastics.
(February 2.)
The mass is the highest service among Italians.
(February 2.)
40. rom.
41 The papacy.
(February 2.)
42 Of Concil of the Cardinals.
(February 2.)
On this day the announcement of a new council was brought, which was printed at Nuremberg, in which a certain cardinal exhorts the pope to a council and in a wonderful way scourges the previous popes and their abuses and asks for decisions of the council and the reformation of the Roman court and the abolition of the monastery people, the monks etc. D. M. read this with great admiration and said: "Behold, I pray, what things this Cardinal writes to the Pope's face, which before no one of all the ends of the world would have dared to think. They feel something. But under the pretense of a fictitious humility they want to lure the princes, their defenders, to the concilium, since in truth they do not want a concilium. For it is impossible to reform the Roman court, for it would go through cardinals and bishops, and the bishop of Mainz would be forced to lay down two bishoprics, but laying down and breaking teeth are intolerable things.
(The last section of this piece, February 2.)
43. from monks.
(February 2.)
44. unity of the church servants.
(February 2.)
45 Presumption in theology is very pernicious.
(February 3.)
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. S
46. the effort in wars is burdensome.
(February 3.)
After that, they talked about the cunning actions of tyrants, how Duke George thirsted for war, and although he was rich, he collected and borrowed treasures everywhere, and it was believed that he had ten tons of gold. With the treasure he has something evil in mind along with his bishops. Therefore let us pray. Money shall not do it. For war is not a matter for princes, but for autocrats. Even if Duke George had 80,000 men in the field, he must have 100,000 florins to harness. After that, two tons of gold every month. For he is forced to give each soldier five florins, which makes a hundred thousand and forty thousand, so he would have three months of money. 1) We waited here, let ourselves be warred against; if Wittenberg could hold out for these three months, then he would be forced to withdraw and in the meantime would have to fear that others would break into his country.
(The last section of this piece, Feb. 3.
The Jews' reason for circumcision.
(February 3.)
48th Bom Concil and the Mass of the Papists.
(February 3.)
49. live according to the doctors' instructions.
(February 5.)
On February 5, Luther said of the perilous times: Oh dear God, if I had died at Schmalkalden on the stone, I would already have been in heaven for a year, freed from all evil. At that time I was plagued enough by the physicians; they gave me water, [as] if I had been a large ox; they treated my body in such a way that they plagued all the limbs. I had to be obedient to them and did it out of necessity, so that I would not seem to neglect my body. Man is wretched who depends on the doctors' care. I do not deny that medicine is a gift of God and a science, but where are perfect doctors? A good way of life can do a lot. So I feel exhausted, but if I stay in my way of life, go to sleep at the ninth hour and have my nightly rest, then I am refreshed. If I get out of rest, I won't be able to do it for long, as it would be time with me.
50. faith.
(February 5.)
Faith is a quality and a work. Faith justifies. So the works justify. I answer: I deny the corollary, because there is more in the conclusion than in the antecedent propositions [praemissis], in which not
1) The above calculation is not correct. The Hall manuscript, Bindseil II, 197, has the more probable number "30,000 men", but even this does not make the calculation quite correct.
it is said that faith justifies as a quality. For justifying faith is to be understood respectively, not as a quality in itself. Justice is a virtue that restores to each one what is fine. This explanation the jurist received from Simonides. But it is a threefold justice: general, particular, acceptance. Because we cannot perform general righteousness and perfect obedience to the law, therefore the gospel, the word of grace, preaches acceptance.
51. the will.
(February 5.)
According to the Latin way of speaking, will does not mean the essence, but actions and the nature of the will, so when we pray: "Thy will be done", we pray for actions and nature, so that each one in his profession may fulfill God's gracious will.
Lauterbach MS-
> Table speeches Cap. §
52. monastery monkeys.
(Feb. 7.)
On February 7, the news was told that a part of Italy had accepted the gospel and that the Duke of Ferrara allowed Paul to be read publicly. But Luther did not believe this news: it was either a fiction or an Italian trick. But the judgment of the pope that the monks should be reformed and the monks departed was very good. When I experienced the tragedy, I wanted all the more to die. Since I had advised in the beginning that the mendicant orders should be abolished, Eck and others cried out against me. So the Fran.ciscans, the Dominicans etc. will cry out against the pope that it is a foundation. But the abbeys will abolish the monasteries; then the bishoprics will devour the abbeys, until again the matter will come to the pope, the dragon and crocodile. For a fine mystery is already rising with the names of the pope, who was formerly called the chief priest, then the most high priest, now they write him the prince of the countries principem provinciarum].
(The following in this piece, February 7.)
53. brothers of ignorance.
(Feb. 7.)
54. expenditure on buildings.
(Feb. 11, Monday.)
On February 11, the excellent master builder of the Elector, Master Kuntz, was present at the dinner. He talked about various buildings and structures, and the building in Torgau was magnificent. And he added that the time in which we live surpasses all other ages in buildings, delicacies, clothing and jewelry. Much is written of David's
buildings, but they were nothing compared to the building of my house. 1) Solomon built the temple of the Lord, but of wood. That is why it is called Mount Lebanon in the Scriptures, although the temple of Christ's time was more beautiful. In short, everything is over power in our times, it must break, or become different. In the past, the dishes of kings were soups, porridge, meat, with these three they were satisfied. The royal dress was just like that of a burgher, white smocks and a brace 2) on the forehead. Now there must be such prancing and eating, gold and velvet without measure. Thereby our countries are sucked dry. What could be spared daily in this in every house! Therefore Christ admonishes in Lucas (12, 29.): "Do not go up high." It will not bear the length.
Lauterbach pag.
Table Talks.
Cap. S
55. absolution of a certain youth.
(February 13.)
(The second paragraph of this piece, February 13.)
56. of the impenitence of the papists.
(February 13.)
57. man from dung.
(February 13.)
58. procreation of the fish.
(February 13.)
59. from baptism.
(February 13.)
60. of the appearance of the spirits.
(February 13.)
(The second paragraph of this piece, February 13.)
On the same day (February 13) he said much of his stone at Schmalkalden, which almost suffocated him, that he would have drowned in his own water. For the stones of the kidneys had taken the exits of the bladder and finally broke out, under extreme danger, on the tenth day. One should keep the loins warm, for there is the realm of the stone....
61 Cellarius.
(February 13.)
On this day D. Johann Cellarius arrived and asked for a successor for the preaching post in Bautzen. Luther answered: Where to take? Bautzen requires a learned and powerful man. Must be a workpiece. So we have neither work pieces, nor filling stones. If only five pastors died this year, we would have no others. Lack of words is to be feared because of paucity, and newcomers are to be feared because they do not always succeed.
1) From these words it seems that the speaker was the master builder, who will have understood by the "house" the church in Torgau.
2) D. i. Braces.
62. the nature of the German and Greek languages is related.
On February 16, Luther dealt with the descent of the name Pabst; that had formerly been a common name of bishops, because Augustine, Jerome, Cyprianus called each other Papa, as their letters testify. But from where it has its origin I do not know, perhaps from children who call their parents papa, as the bishops are fathers of the churches. For there is a great similarity between the Greek and the German way of speaking, so that it would be much more appropriate for it to be the Greek language in Germany than the Latin. For the Greeks have x, v, x, which the Latins do not have, have to make do with begging, cannot write Käfe, Oel, Möthe. These are Greek diphthongs. Then the Greeks have different 8, a sharp and a simple, c is the simple and soft 8. Also the prepositions ìåôÜ ìåôÜ, <rbv , read like in German: über,
with, sammt. Then the augments also agree with the German way:
ãñÜöù, [I] write, Üãñáöá, [I]have written, and the infinitives of both.
Languages end on
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. §
63. Judas' pouch.
(February 17.)
64. malice and disgrace of the bishop of Mainz.
(February 17.)
That day he dined with Pocher, 1) with other distinguished strangers. Dreadful things were said about the bishop of Mainz, who was in extreme poverty and disgrace, that he could not pledge his seals and letters, but had to pledge fifteen florins per hundred annually. Jewels, pictures and land would be moved and gone. Luther answered: It is the highest curse, worthy of such a great, exceedingly faithless scoundrel, who killed his preacher, M. G^eorg Winkle?, miserably, Hans Schantzen against the prohibition of the emperor hanged, so nevertheless his own friendship with eighty thousand florins have offered, that he should be interrogated only rightly, not that he would be given free. I hope, however, that the bishop's letter and his own handwriting will still speak, although Schantzen's neck is tied. It is a wonderful disloyalty, which God, the righteous judge, will pay with the utmost disgrace. Therefore I have written in his own hands with my own hand. If thieves were to be hanged, the bishop of Mainz should first of all be hanged on a gallows seven times higher than the Giebichenstein. And I have accused him of many other things from his whore Elisabeth, whom he robbed of her jewels and chased away. He once had her carried into the monastery at Lisk in a coffin with torches, as if it were a sanctuary. He has struggled very much for misfortune. He fears neither God nor man.
Honor your father.
(February 17.)
Lucas Painter, the mayor, said it was a dangerous time, a great disobedience and ingratitude, so that the authorities would have a lot of burden
1) Wolf Pucher from Eisleben. (Seidemann.)
between parents and children. Luther answered: It is an old saying: A father can better feed ten children than ten children can feed a father. Therefore God does not urge in vain the fourth commandment: "Honor" etc., "that you may live long on earth."
Lauterbach
Table speeches
Cap. §
66. various weapons of the peoples.
(February 17.)
67. by Cazianus (also Catianus and Cacianus]. (February 17.)
68. by D. Savinus.
(Feb. 18.)
On February 18, Philip was very sad and grieved about the disobedience of his son-in-law, who would not have let his daughter travel to Wittenberg, since the mother and his (Melanchthon's) children had traveled to Hagenau and should have accompanied her to comfort the father. This insolent disobedience of Sabinus so distressed the father-in-law that he did not allow any consolation, but remained alone and avoided all contact. Therefore Luther pitied him and talked a lot with D. Cruciger, Zoch and Milich about his sorrow and sadness, and that he loved solitude in such affliction, since he should have sought contact with people, was a source of sorrow to his heart. I too, he said, often suffer great trials and sadness; then I seek the entertainment of men, because the least maid has often comforted me. A man is not powerful when he is sad and alone, even if he is well grounded in the Scriptures. Christ does not gather His Church through the Word and Sacraments for nothing, does not want to put them in corners. Away with the monks and hermits, the devil's invention, because they are outside all godly stands and orders of God! For every man after creation is either in the household, or in the world regiment, or in the church service; outside these ranks is no man, unless he is miraculously exempted. Therefore, we must flee the solitary life as much as we can.
69. bride put on.
(Feb. 18.)
70. bautzen.
(February 19.)
71. whether to take a nap?
(February 19.)
Nam diurna quies vitiis alimenta ministrat (for rest by day feeds the infirmities). Magister Philippus! Interpret this verse for me, whether daytime sleep is also harmful? He answered: A moderate midday nap does no harm. There is no bird so small [and] little that does not rest at noon. Luther answered, "When the eyes grow warm, it is time to break from sleep. I cannot observe the preventive means for the preservation of health. The remedies may do what they can. I eat what I like and then suffer what I can.
72. small number of preachers.
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches Cap. §
(February 19.)
After that he said about the small number of preachers that Duke George also had to hear preachers because of their rarity. Oh, if there were no lack of people, then it could be hoped that the gospel would continue even in weakness. If the emperor and other kings had as much of the gospel as the Elector, they would undoubtedly be favorable [to the gospel]. If Duke George had not come so high into denial, he would not be so obstinate, although he hates the papists no less than he hates us, because he wants to reform and exterminate both.
The good in three ways.
(February 19.)
The good is taken in the sacred Scriptures in three ways: The natural, the ÜäéÜöïñïí [as a middle thing, the moral. If someone said: it is good not to drink wine. Likewise: The celibate state is good. So it is evil to drink wine, and marriage is evil; the inference is to be denied, because the good and the evil are not directly opposed. For "good" is taken here as a ÜäéÜöïñïí, but "evil" in a moral way. For the rule of the antithesis applies only in that which is directly opposed. 1)
74. double evil.
(February 19.)
and create the evil." Likewise, "Is there any evil in the city that the Lord will not do? (Amos 3:6) These passages speak of the evil of punishment.
75. licentiousness of young people.
(Feb. 20.)
On February 20, Luther and Philip spoke of the very great licentiousness of young people, who could not be warned by any laws, nor by religion, nor by the reputation of parents and teachers, and from day to day let more and more of their will run wild. Luther answered: "It is indeed a great misery of human nature that it does not recognize how it is weakened by the fall of Adam, and does not resist those evils, but still lets this weakness shoot the reins. As Medea says: I see better, lesser I approve. (Ovid. Metam. VII, 20.) I hope, if God wills, that the last day will not be far away; it will put an end to all this.
76. tribulations of the saints.
(Feb. 20.)
1) Cf. November 25 below.
The devil is very powerful in the world.
Lauterbach psg.
Table speeches
Cap. z
(Feb. 20.)
Great is the power of the devil in the world. That is why he is called the god and prince of this world, because although he plagues all men with common misfortunes, he attacks Christians with special and very great temptations, and mainly because of their confession. For this finds less mercy than all shameful deeds.
78. suspicion against Ferdinand.
(Feb. 21.)
When news was given of Catian's liberation and escape, he said with a sigh: "God forgive me, I don't want to make a firm decision, nor should it be held against me. Nevertheless, I cannot refrain from thinking that Ferdinand is a misfortune and ruin for Germany. If he and the Bishop of Mainz, who are very much in debt, could arouse a civil and internal war, they would easily agree. For civil wars are for such people, as Julius Caesar did. But the Lord forbid a civil war. If it started, there would be a constant fire, and the Turks and the Spaniards would easily be admitted as auxiliary troops, as happened to Constantinople. If Duke George acted sincerely and fell in with his relatives, he would soon recognize the deception of Ferdinand, the bishop of Mainz and others, and then those evils could be averted.
79. prisoners of the Turk.
(Feb. 21.)
80. from Carthage and Rome.
(Feb. 21.)
81. utmost blindness under the papacy.
(Feb. 22.)
Against the boastful pride of the Jews.
(Feb. 22.)
83. question from GOtte.
(Feb. 22.)
When he was asked how the Almighty God would allow the devil and the wicked to have such great power, he replied: "Why is God wiser than man? That with him is right what we do not like. As Henning (Göde) reproached the Elector Frederick, why he fired with green wood at court, if it would be detrimental to his house. The Elector replied: "What is right in your house is wrong in mine.
84. bishop's hat.
(Feb. 22.)
The bishop's hat is a pagan garment. St. James, the bishop of Jerusalem, did not know anything about it, nor did he have a church, but some small gathering place, just as the Gospel at the time of Paul in Rome did not have its course publicly, but privately. The first popes were like the deacons in our country.
85. disobedience of the servants.
(Feb. 22.)
The Doctor complained about the disobedience of the servant. He answered: In such unruliness it should have the yoke of the Turk, who can rightly deal with such people, who gives to each one for each day his work and his measured food, as Pharaoh in the Exodus drove the Israelites along. Such disobedient people provoke the wrath of God and misfortune from the Turk.
86. enchantment.
(Feb. 22.)
Lauterbach Mx.
Table speeches Cap. §
87. the worst habits have arisen from good laws.
(February 24.)
On February 24, he marveled at the utter wickedness of the world, which could be governed neither by laws nor by grace. For from laws and habits bad customs have arisen; as in the time of Jeremiah and Ezechias the custom was kept that after the death of a man his friends came together sadly and consoled themselves with food and drink. This is what Solomon has in mind: "Prayer wine to the afflicted souls (Proverbs 31:6). From this very good habit the indulgences of the sacrificers have grown, who on the seventh, thirtieth and annual festivals have consumed everything, have made such feasting, a service of Baal Peor out of it. Thus, in the time of Augustine, people prayed once and once again for the dead. After that, the prayers and vigils for the dead were born. From good beginnings came an evil end. The best laws are corrupted. Who can order something good, since the world is so godless? On the other hand, when the tyranny of the law is lifted up and the severity of human traditions, the world goes completely unbridled and becomes presumptuous. The world already lies in incurable disease. If one would like to heal it with a plaster, it does not want to. We take 2 [parts] alum, 3 copper water, and want to bite it off. Finally, one must take axe and saws and cut it away, for an incurable wound must be cut out with the sword etc. (Ovid. Metam. I, 190 f.). Such hardened hearts need a beating hammer, no straw will do. But the godly may learn to walk the middle way, to hope in God and to fear Him according to the Psalm (128, 1.): "Blessed is he who fears the Lord" etc. Ah, that we could grasp and keep both, fearing and hoping!
88. john huss.
(February 24.)
89. size of the church.
(February 24.)
Someone asked if Christianity was not as widespread as before? Even though Syria, Scythia 1) and Egypt have been taken away, many countries in Europe have been won for Christ. Luther answered: The kingdom of Christ is with all peoples, even under the greatest tyranny it flourishes in Asia and Africa. And the conquest of Greece has brought the sciences to us.
1) In the original Seotia, for which Seidemann conjicirt paffend.
90. heretic, schismatic, bad Christian.
(February 24.)
Lauterbach pag.
Table Talks Cap. § 27, 122.
The celibate state is a tyrannical and diabolical burden. (February 24.)
92. regalia do not have to be sold for gold. (February 25.)
93 The bishop of Mainz becomes a disgrace.
(Feb. 26. Tuesday.)
On February 26, Luther held a sermon at the castle before the princes. Afterwards, in the evening, he said many things about the sincerity of the prince and about the extremely perverse wickedness of the bishop, who had already lost his name, reputation and dignity during his life, and was considered a liar by everyone. They would not lend him money. And he said: It is dear to me that he should be disgraced in his life by his unspeakable deceits. For he is full of deceit by nature, by art, by possibility. Therefore he also said to Margrave John that he should forgive with the gospel until he died. - On this day a letter came to Luther from Christian, the King of Denmark, in which he asked that D. Pomeranus be left to him for a time, for Norway, which has over 4,000 parishes, has also accepted the Gospel, and the departure of Pomeranus from its lands would not be timely, and he asked Luther to come personally to the meeting [conventum] in Brunswick, for there were several who wished him to be present and to see him face to face.
94. large churches.
(Feb. 26.)
After that there was mention of large churches, which would be unsuitable for preaching. For Cologne would have such a large church, with four rows of pillars, twenty pillars on each row. They are unusual buildings [beu], and are not suitable buildings to understand the sermons. Fine moderate churches with low vaults are the best for the preachers and for the listeners, because the final purpose of the churches is not the roaring and shouting of the choir singers, but the word of God and His preaching. St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, the churches in Cologne and Ulm are very large and inappropriate.
95 Exaggerated splendor.
(Feb. 26.)
After that, he mentioned the tremendous splendor in Kleiduüg, that nothing good could follow where people walked along in the same way in splendor without distinction of persons, and that had increased to the highest degree in a few years. Duke Frederick said: "If we resist the attack, then Duke G[eorg], our cousin, will hold over it, and Leipzig will sow the whole country with the dirt, as if he wanted to say: I cannot find a way to prevent it. It is an unusual splendor from the way. One reads [Plin. hist. nat. IX, of Lollia, a Roman woman, that she at one time wore ten tons of gold worth of jewelry. That must be vain precious stone.
96. from the Count of Mansfeld, Hoyer.
Lauterbach Tischreden pag. Cap. §
(Feb. 26.)
On the 26th the Elector left again, and on that day Count Hoyer had invited Luthern to lunch. He behaved very kindly toward our father, although until then he had been an opponent of the gospel. Luther answered: God grant him the knowledge that is higher than all fleshly wisdom, that he may know Christ. For the name of the church prevents many from esteeming the truth of the gospel highly. I know what it costs me, who am in daily battle. But it is God's work that makes the first from the last. It is very easy for GOtte to mention that count in front of his brother Albrecht, who is otherwise very evangelical with his mouth, but not without aversions. After that, he spoke of the splendid adornment under the papacy; when superstition ruled, it had to be woolen and hard shirts, now with evangelical freedom it must be pure silk and velvet. The world does too much on both sides. Medium tenuere beati [Blessed is He Who Keeps the Middle Road].
97th Bruntzschirbel.
(Feb. 28.)
On the last February, Luther said of the good-naturedness of the Count of Mansfeld Hoyer, who, as an outstanding pope, had laughed at the papal atrocities and told that in a certain place one had directed the 11,000 virgins to the sanctuary. And Luther is said to have said, when he dined with the count, that he would like to live until the future council to see how Duke George would reform the papists according to the law of the decrees. The papists would rather choose Luther's reformation than the strict one of Duke George.
98. letter from Luther to D. Jakob Schenk.
(Feb. 28.)
On this day he wrote a letter to D. Jakob Schenk, in which he called upon him with the last admonition to sincere repentance. Although various complaints had been spread about him by his neighbors, so far we had believed him alone more than all the others; now, however, this trust was almost beginning to waver because he was striving for dominion and had committed himself to U. G[eorg] Karg with his handwriting. If he wanted to be healthy in the teaching of the gospel, he should act sincerely, or simply be an enemy publicly. But if he should despise this last admonition of his and rely on someone, he [Luther] should trust in JEsum Christum, 1) who would have preserved him against the gates of hell and against many swarmers. Beware that you do not stumble and do not answer with writings, but with the deed itself, and fortify the wavering faith in me with the deed.
99th Semper Day.
(March 1 or 2?)
On St. Semper's Day young people [molitores] came, 2) dancing for sausages. Then he answered: Dear fellows, be pious, keep quiet; dance and be merry and keep above your custom.
1) Instead of 81 - 6onüä8v8 in the original, it will read 86 - 6OQÜä6r6.
2) Cf. Mathesius, St. Louis edition, p. 329. - molitor ---- xudss. (Seidemann.)
100. the doctor's kingdom.
The conclusion of this section:
Lauterbach
Table Talks Cap. § 51, 6.
The flesh understands nothing of spiritual things. (March 3.)
102. fraud against the King of England.
On March 4, Philip received a letter from England indicating that a letter had been sent to the King of England from Germany, written in a blasphemous manner by papists under the name of the Elector, so as to arouse the King against Luther, and they asked Philip to write to the King of England as soon as possible and excuse the Elector, and they marveled at the craftiness of men who would do such things at the instigation of Satan and sow the seeds of discord.
103. about regalia and the bishop of Mainz.
On this day, Köckritz dined with Luther, and one wondered about the Elector's nobility, that he would have wanted to sell very extensive regalia for little money, but by God's grace this advice was changed, also by Luther's admonition that he should not despise these regalia so much, even if they were of very little use. For if the Elector will retain the exercise and jurisdiction, the bishop will also govern much differently and not dare to rage so. For he used to say these words to the people of Halle: Be obedient to me and take the sacrament under one form, and I will deal with you not only as a lord, not only as a father, but I will be your brother and friend and adorn you with great privileges of the emperor; but if you will not obey, then I will destroy this city as your enemy, so that it shall come to utter ruin. This is a papist word, even of the devil himself, who oppresses the godly minds and consciences on both sides, 2) Therefore, let us pray against the devil who now reigns, for he is displeasing to us. Oh, such regalia should not be handed over like this. Behold, how much evil befell the dukes of Lüneburg; because they were not with each other in assembled fiefs, and one of them had two sons slain by the tower of Schweinitz, the family came from the Chur. For that family of the Churfürsten has stood only 112 years. This duke is the fifth in the line.
104. oaths of the bishops.
On March 24, Luther read the oaths of the bishops, how they swore to the pope and trust in this oath; they dissolve all contracts made with men and invoke the reputation of the pope. Our Churfürst said that if he had also concluded something with the bishop of Mainz,
he would have been deceived. It is the most ungodly deception, under the superstition of vows and oaths, to trample on the will of God, since one is supposed to renounce ungodly vows, as David did, who swore against Nabal that he would kill him, but was dissuaded from this oath by Abigail. 1 Sam. 25. And those wicked ones hold so stubbornly to their false oaths.
Lauterbach Tischreden xax. cap. §
105. of law and courts.
(March 25.)
106. münster's hebrew way.
(March 27.)
On March 27, mention was made of Münster and other Hebrews who castigated Luther in the translation of the Bible because they arranged everything according to grammatical rules. Grammar is indeed necessary for declining, conjugating and constructing, but in speech the meaning and the thing must be considered, not the grammar. For grammar should not rule over the sense, as they scourge me in the 16th Psalm: "Preserve me, God!" This whole Psalm is [spoken] in the person of Christ, and this is His mind: O Lord God, behold, I die not for myself, but for the sins of the people. "Preserve," let me rise again, because I hope in you. "I have said"; my confession is of thee, that thou art my Lord, (Quoniam bonorum meorum non eges [Vulgate]. This we have translated: I suffer for thy sake, as if to say: Because I die for sins, I can have no good. Thus the Hebrew words are: XXXXXX XXXXX tobati bal alecha, i.e., for the sake of
For your sake, I have no good. We have truly looked at the matter and the meaning with the greatest effort before coming to the conclusion. And yet we are scourged.
The first of these is a book on the subject. (March 27.)
108. poetries of the antichrist. (March 27.)
109. request of the Strasbourg people to D. Luther.
(March 29.)
On March 29, the people of Strasbourg asked for permission and for a reliable list of Luther's books in order to arrange them and collect them in volumes. Luther replied: I wanted all my books to be destroyed so that only the holy scriptures in the Bible would be read carefully. For from the books one falls to others, as it happened in the first church, since one had gone from reading the Bible to reading Eusebius, then Jerome, then Gregory and finally the scholastics and philosophers. So it will be the same for us. As for the histories, I would rather that they were preserved so that people would see the course of events and the struggle with the pope, which was once terrible but is now mild.
1) For this section, see Tischr., Cap. 1, § 76.
Luther consoles the Weller.
Lauterbach pas.
Table speeches Cap. K
111. law. Gospel.
(March 29.)
112 The Concil at Vicenza. (March 29.)
113. lifestyle as prescribed by the physicians.
(April 1.)
On April 1, he sat at home and mentioned the strict way of life according to the doctors' prescription, which would exhaust many people. It is true: a good way of life is the best medicine, whoever can find it. But to live according to the doctors' rules is to live miserably. And he gave some examples of dead people who starved themselves to death [caused] by the doctors' advice. I eat what I like and die when God wills. Tempora labuntur, tacitis senescimus annis (Ovid. Fast. VI, 771). [Time passes, by the silent years we grow old]. Now, as I think of my contemporaries who are fifty years old, oh how thin they are! Almost every thirty years a new generation comes up. We all belong in the earth, there nothing becomes different from.
114. the course of the Gospel is prevented by Rotten.
(April 2.)
On the second of April, he said many things about the very desirable course of the gospel, since the papacy would have been greatly disgraced. For it was ripe. But the devil, through mobs and the peasants' revolt, very much hindered this course. And he told about this very annoying peasant uprising, how blind they would have been, especially in Lorraine, where they would have been killed faithlessly after peace had been concluded with them. Ah, the three sects of Münzer, Sacramentirer and Wiedertäufer have done great damage to the Gospel, but nevertheless they have become disgraced again and the Gospel, even if weak, goes forward against the most powerful tyrants, hope also, it will keep its course, because daily the number increases. In the past, only two cities, Nuremberg and Reutlingen, were allied with the three dukes. Now there are more sovereignties and cities. If only we prayed and gave up the devilish ingratitude, Christ would reign in us.
Then he spoke of Landgrave Philip, who was at first an enemy and a very great opponent of the Gospel, and yet he joined the Gospel; won by the clear translation of the New Testament, he gradually joined it."
115. praise of the germans.
(April 3, Wednesday.)
All heroes are fit to rule. (April 3.)
117 Superstition prevails. (April 3.)
118. italian weddings.
(April 3.)
Afterwards, in the carriage, he spoke of the Italian weddings, which far surpassed all the unchastity and adultery of the Germans, because these were human sins, the impurities of those were devilish. God protect us from this devil. For by God's grace, no native language in Germany knows anything of that disgraceful being. When they entered Torgau, they admired the buildings and said that Meissen had small but graceful cities, while Thuringia and Saxony had larger but less decorated ones.
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches Cap. K
119. idle life of civil servants.
(April 3, evening.)
At dinner, Philip argued with Luther that he was the highest administrator on earth, that he administered the most difficult office in the whole world, and that everyone looked at it more than at the most difficult Turkish trouble. Luther denied that he was an administrator, he was also too wavy for that. For if the world were to see our cause aright, it would be astonished at its greatness. But now all go along safely and blindly, the princes, because they are convinced that they must lead an idle life, since they are supposed to work before others and keep watch while others sleep, because they are in fact servants and defenders of all. Therefore, because they themselves do not want to work, it will be necessary that scribes be there and rule.
120: Whether to resist the emperor. (April 3, evening.)
121. Luther as a hunter.
(April 3, evening.)
In the evening, the Prince of Anhalt, as deputy of the Elector, asked Luther to go hunting with him in the morning and to have dinner with him. Luther answered: "For the sake of this [hunting] I am sent here: but I am not such a hunter of wild game, I hunt the pope, cardinals, bishops, canons and monks.
122. curse of greed [πλεονεξίας]. (April 3, evening.)
123 The Bishop of Meissen to the Rochlitzer.
After that, the bishop of Meissen was mentioned, who had written to the widowed duchess of Rochlitz 1) that she should not change anything in religion, because this would be in the bishop's condition, and the woman should be silent in the congregation. She answered against it: That is certain, that is the bishops' duty, but because they did not want to watch in their office and were completely silent, she was forced by the salvation of her subjects. I, however, will give her the Psalm: Eructavit (Ps. 45.) to it, with the summa: If they do not want to hear men, they must let women hear and children speak. Even if religion is despised in the world regiment, it will still be
1) About Elisabeth of Rochlitz see Seidemann's Reformation. I. p. 164. Cf. Tischr. cap. 13, § 85.
remain in the communities and in the churches. Philip answered: So in a short time we will be in the battle line. Against this Luther: We fight daily against the devil. If we resist this and have threshed the peas out of the husk [arbiß aus der schut] with the word, with faith, with prayer, then let us deal well with the husk and straw.
Lauterbach Tischreden pag. Cap. §
124. poltergeist to Subtitz.
(April 5.)
After that, he told a story about a woman in Magdeburg who finally chased away the devil who was troubling her with a fart. But such examples do not take place everywhere and are dangerous. For the devil, the spirit and author of presumption, cannot be chased away and mocked. A believer can give such an example, which is not at all in the place of another. As it happened to a godly man who boasted of his baptism and took away the horn of a horned specimen of the devil; but when another wanted to imitate this example out of presumption, he was killed by the devil.
125. the music.
(April 5.)
126. where challenges come from.
(April 5.)
127 The Convention of Brunswick. (April 5.)
128. parable of the eagle and the raven.
(April 5.)
The conclusion of this section:
The spring of the year 38 brought many fish of all kinds. Luther said: It is an evil sign; when the waters are rich, the lands are poor. Our Lord God give his blessing and our daily bread.
129: An excellent story about ingratitude. (April 5.)
130. the power of god under weakness. (April 5.)
131. meat from the wild is galllicht.
(April 5.)
Game was served at the table and meat from wild fowl. He answered: I do not eat wood, will eat immediately so dear from plates, because it has no juice. The poor little animals are exposed to all dangers and have many enemies and are forced to live on the run. Therefore, they have a gallichtes meat, which does not nourish, 2) I will speak, like that Saxon
1) Cf. Tischreden Cap. 24, 8 44 and Cordatus No. 521 and No. 1124.
2) Instead of olsntE, Äleuteui will probably be read. Bindseil II, 108. mor - pig. Zarnke: Lrants Aurrensoliiü'S. 413. (Seidemann.)
spoke: Wat Herte, wat Hende [What heart, what phones: Ick loue [praise] Fro Morff [pig] with her child. For a pig has sausage, bacon, meat, which nourish. All dukes of Saxony, Churfürsten, say that pork goes above all delicacies.
Lauterback
> Table speeches
Cap. §
132. danger concerning the sacrament.
(April 5.)
N. told Luther and Philippus that an accident had occurred at Freiberg during the administration of the sacrament. Luther replied: "The administration must be done very carefully. If something happens, one must command God the matter. One must look more at the essence of the appointment than at the danger. Otherwise, Christ should have considered it as well. And after that he told some cases of spilling of the Blood even among the priests, how a priest spilled the chalice in his first Mass. There are many canons in the missals about these accidents.
God is to be invoked, not soothsayers.
(April 5.)
The monks' robbery and greed.
(April 8, Monday.)
The conclusion of this section:
And after that he told the story of a monk who had shouted at a dying nobleman: "Squire, will you give this and that to the convent? But since the dying man could not speak and only gave a sign by a wave, the monk said to the son: "See, you hear that your father agrees to give that. The son said to the dying father: Father, is it not your will that I throw this monk down the stairs? When the father had given the same sign, he gave the monk his reward down the stairs. Those robberies of the monks were monstrous.
135. time of Easter.
(April 8.)
Afterwards he said about the course of the year, which needs an intercalation, because the Easter feast is so extensive, because it is celebrated in every year on the next [Sunday] day after the full moon, after the equinox in Aries. This year we have it almost 5 weeks longer [i.e. later]. 1)
136. hope in all things.
(April 8.)
137. derivation of the word bishop. (April 10.)
With God one must make a covenant. (April 10.)
The prophecy of Daniel is a very good chronicle.
(April 11.)
1) Easter fell on April 21 in 1538. Since the calendar was 10 days back then, this day coincides with our first of May.
140 The Last Supper of Christ.
Table Talks Cap. § 7, 37.
All people seek an idle life. - (April 11.)
142. the entry of Christ into Jerusalem.
143. neglect of the word.
(April 14.)
144 The Superintendent of Switzerland.
(April 15.)
On April 15, someone [Simon Sulzer] came from Switzerland, whom the Bernese called a superintendent. He came here first to see our churches and said of the great zeal of the Swiss to be in religious harmony with ours. Luther answered with a sigh: "Strengthen, O God, what you have worked in us. Then the latter told of the bloodthirsty thoughts of the papists, who either out of presumption or under the pretense of arming themselves against the Turks hoped to do something against the Lutherans. Both Carl and the Frenchman tried to make a treaty with the Swiss, but they were more inclined to the Frenchman than to the Spaniards, for the Bernese had completely defeated the Duke of Sabaudia, or Savoy, and had conquered many castles and cities. Luther answered: "Germany owes a debt of folly to God's word because of the contempt [of the word] and because of innocent blood. It will one day fall into one another and unfortunately become a great misery, because they want to exterminate the Lutherans; they consider them, as it were, to be the guilt for which the Turk is coming. But God grant them repentance and us a right confession, that we seek peace and covenant before God in true faith, not in trusting in ungodly covenants. He then read 2 Chron. 28, how Ahaz, the idolatrous king, made a covenant with foreign gods and godless men against God, his Lord. But it will happen to them according to the proverb Ps. 7, [17.]: "His misfortune will come upon his head." Nothing bad will happen to the godly, everything goes out to them for the good.
145 Saxony is a desolate land. (April 15.)
146. duke george slandered luthern.
(April 16.)
On April 16, it was said of the impetuous nature of Duke George and his courtly conduct, since in his temerity he would have wanted to accuse Luther. Luther replied: I have yielded to him enough and put up with his unmannerly nature, I have offered to do right by him, but he has not wanted to. I still had some letters and proofs from his New Testament. I wanted to have washed his gray colb. My person he pulls through whimsically, a changeling, a bathmaid's son. He calls this university a boys' school. Such a thing does not belong to a prince. I confess that I am the son of a farmer from Moer [Möhra] near Eisenach, yet I am a doctor of the Holy Scriptures, the adversary of the pope. That the pope is angry with me is not to be blamed on him. He has reason, but not just.
147. by Junker Pabst.
The second paragraph of this section: 64.
Table Talks Cap. § 27, 66. 24, 67.
148. dwellings of evil spirits. (April 19.)
149 Sophistic fallacies.
(April 19.) -
150. old age is brought about by working and worrying.
(April 19.)
Then they talked about M. Bucer, who would become an old man through great worries and endless work, since he was not yet fifty. Luther answered: Thoughts can make one old; then also work. I have also worked at times. I have often preached four sermons in one day. Throughout Lent] I preached two sermons and read once a day. First, I preached the Ten Commandments to a large audience. For the Catechism was a new and unusual sermon.
Weapons and supplies are not to be relied upon.
(April 19.)
After that he said about the return of the Elector of Brunswick that he would come here quickly the next day, the day before Easter. Luther wondered about the speed, if only it did not mean anything bad. Well, dear God, you do it and govern, we also have princes, cities, people and provisions, money. But we do not want to insist on that, but trust in you. Thine is the matter. Our opponents have more to lose than we do, and they have as much to lose as we do. The Swiss answered: Our country is very ready for peace and for war. The papists strut very insolently against us. Luther answered: "That is why I like to see that our churches are small and in small places, like Schmalkalden, so that the papists have an opportunity to be proud against us and may be the more swiftly disgraced.
152 Tetzel's impudence with his indulgences.
(April 19.)
Finally, he concluded this meal with the prayer: Ah, dear God, let us do as we will, that we may not ever fight against thee, but that we may say, Thy will be done." Thus David said, "If the Lord says, 'You do not please me,' I will be there" (2 Sam. 24:12). John, the prince of the peasants, said: "If I am not a prince, let me be a nobleman. Only that we do not become hopeful, like Saul, who lost his spirit because he would not obey, but drove out David with war and killed him. That is why he became a disgrace.
1) On April 21, Easter Day, Frederick Mecum was there and raised the divine calling of Luther, who, obtained by the sighs of many from God, would have come and lived so long without human counsel against so many tyrannies.
66 f.
1) For this paragraph, compare Tischreden Cap. 45, § 70 and § 71 (conclusion).
Luther replied: "This happened without my will, since many people advised me not to do anything against the pope. Luther answered: This happened without my will, since many people advised me that I should not do anything against the pope, in whose waving and waving away my life would stand. But I, challenged, approached like a blinded horse. For Tetzel was too rough with the indulgence, since he insolently exclaimed: "Look at your mother, how she is tormented in the flames of the purgatory; for your sake she suffers this, since you can help her with a penny. Ah, woe to you for your ingratitude, who so despise the blood-drenched grace of God for so little cost. Also at Mansfeld, when he had collected enough money, and had now laid down the cross and wanted to go away, but was not satisfied, he proclaimed the grace again, gave it for half a penny. But the people recognized the deception and gave nothing more. Therefore he went away complaining that they thus despised the grace of God, since St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome would be built with that money. The world would not stand for eight years because of such godlessness. He raged with such insolence that no one dared to speak out against him; and since he had provoked me to my theses, the short epitome of which is: It is better to give to the poor than for indulgences, he soon fumed and preached to Berlin: The heretic shall be thrown into the fire in three weeks, and in a bathing cap he shall go to heaven. Johannes Huß had the same opportunity to write against the indulgence of the pope and his avarice, but it was not yet time to put the beast to shame. I attacked not only the abuses, but also the doctrine and bit off his heart. I do not believe that Pabstism will increase again. His tyranny rages against bodies and consciences and will befall him, as Revelation (18, 6.) says: "Make it double." For he has most proudly oppressed consciences with the greatest tyranny. And the article of justification has to some extent uprooted the lightning of Pabstism. The Sacramentarians have already fought like this. But I still see two sects before me, may God defend them. Let us pray and watch.
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. §
153 The pope rejoices in wars that prevent the concil.
(April 21.)
On April 21, there was talk of the Concilium, which the pope was fleeing, - it would be best that the emperor, the Frenchman and all of Germany cite the pope himself before the Concilium by a general vote in order to defend his teachings. Luther answered: "The pope does not allow this and knows a way to prevent the council from being promoted. That is why he does not allow the Emperor and the French to be reconciled. Even if a conciliation were to take place, no reign would go there. It would be a sin if one of the Christians were not angry with the pope, the prankster.
154. unity of the swiss.
(April 22.)
The second part of this section:
155 Luther's vehemence against the King of England.
(April 23.)
On April 23, the booklet was mentioned, the title of which is: "Luther's answer to the king's blasphemy in England, in which he attacked him quite vehemently for the second time". Luther replied: I am by the
Necessity forced me to do this. For since I, persuaded by the King of Denmark, humbly asked him to forgive me, and did so in order to win him for the gospel, as I also wrote to Duke George, persuaded by Doctor Bock, the King immediately wrote back: "To the worst defamer M. Luther. Then I had to defend myself, as it says in the same booklet, and refute my retraction against the nits and lice.
Lauterbach
pag.
Table speeches Cap. §
The Ichneumon is a model of Christ.
(April 23.)
The victory of the godly through the Holy Spirit. (April 25.)
158. the passage Rom. 8, [34.]
(April 25.)
Christ, the highest priest, ascended to the right hand of the Father and represents us, Rom. 8, (34.). In this passage Paul depicts Christ with the most glorious words, in death the sacrifice, in the resurrection the victory, in the ascension the dominion, in the representation the priesthood. For under the law of Moses, the priest alone entered the Holy of Holies and prayed for the people. Thus our Lord Christ is finely portrayed by that figure.
159. two church bodies.
(April 27.)
169. by M. Johannes Agricola.
(April 27.)
In these days he was quite sad and somewhat angry, had a bitterness that he did not want to reveal, and acted as if he were angry with his wife. But it was another cause, as I suspect, namely the impenitence and dissimulation of M. J. Agricola, which he mentioned in a few words: I have done enough with the man, I have so far promoted him to the Elector with apologies and entreaties, but I do not want his made-up doctrine. I have done enough for him privately and publicly with exhortations. After my death, I will boldly and freely repeat this.
Where a bull gets its name from.
(April 27.)
is the execution of a will and council decision. But I do not believe that Rome has this knowledge of its own expressions. For Rome has learned people, but in the holy scripture there is a great falsehood, as he interpreted the passage of Marci at the last: Signa eos, qui crediderunt, haec sequuntur, i.e.: Sign to me those who believe; where they have taken a noun for a verb. Jonas answered: The best times are to be hoped for the offspring, because in a few years the best lecturers would come out of it. Luther replied: I am worried that the best has now happened, but now the sects will follow.
162 Negotiations at Augsburg before the Cardinal. (April 27.)
163. robbed the old Sara.
(April 27.)
Luther asked Jonah from the 17th chapter of the first book of Moses: How would it be possible to believe that Sarah, already ninety years old, who was no longer in the way of women, would still have been stolen by King Abimelech. Jonah answered that ninety years at that time would have been like twenty years for us. Not at all, he said, because Abraham was nearer to David than to Adam, since in David's time seventy or eighty years are called the life of a man. The springtime of the world was before the flood, after which its flowering ceased. Summa: The holy scripture is an inscrutable book, it will never be fathomed. I read the first Psalm today and in the other verse: "But have pleasure in the law of the Lord", I found a doctrine [locus], which I did not know before. That is why the Spirit of the Lord, Isa. 11, is described with so many different names.
Lauterbach Tischreden xuA. Cap. §
164 The Lightning at Prague.
(April 29.)
On the penultimate of April, news was brought from Prague that lightning had struck the church tower twice with very strong thunder, and for the third time the church itself had been struck and set on fire, and this had happened while a child of King Ferdinand was being baptized, whose godparents were said to have been the Pope's legate and orator and the wife of the prefect of Upper Lusatia. This thunder and lightning were praised by the courtiers as a sign of the great glory of the child. Luther answered: It is a great presumption of the godless who despised the terrible signs of God and dared to interpret them in the opposite sense. For also the holy scripture and the stories of the pagans indicated that a striking lightning meant great misfortune. So also the 104th Psalm [v. 7.): "From your thunder they go away."
165 He comforts Wellern.
(April 29.)
166 The Rhinoceros.
(April 30.)
Last April Luther mentioned the rhinoceros. This animal would have an armored body and fought against the elephant and slit its belly with its horn. It is a wonderful creation of the things, since God brings opposite together, the Rhinoceros with the elephant, the water with the fire, the spirit with the flesh. I with the pope. They are opposite elements, and yet they are preserved, although one devours the other. For when water and fire collide, either the fire is extinguished or the water is exhausted. But on the last day there will be a great destruction, when all the elements will melt into ashes and the whole world will be restored to its original chaos. And then there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and we will be transformed. Satan will remain like that because he has nothing elemental. Paul had very great revelations, who made this known.
167. everything becomes small through frequency.
(April 30.)
The conclusion of this section:
D. Jonas answered: "Our peasants accuse the pastors of teaching the holy ten commandments too strictly. For they teach their children and servants to do evil and wrong against all the commandments. But St. Paul is a man who does everything in remembrance of Christ. Oh that he were known to all men. But in his whole decree the pope does not treat even one passage of Jesus Christ for the consolation of a sorrowful conscience. Nor has the Roman church had a single pope who has interpreted only one book of Scripture, except Gregory, who wrote moral teachings [Moralia.) about Job. Ah, HErrgott, the Holy Scriptures demand a careful researcher. The papists, however, do not care about it, even despise it.
Lauterbach pag.
Table Talks Cap. §K 20, 6.
The passage 1 Petr. 5, (v. 2.). (April 30.)
169. hatred of the papists.
(May 2, Thursday.)
On May 2, he said of the irreconcilable haff of the papists against the gospel, which had burned indelibly from the beginning of the world. For the Babylonians in the 137th Psalm [v. 7.) do not cease, but cry out: Pure off. The Jews did not cease against Christ and the apostles until they were destroyed. So the papists today bring forward much more to exterminate the Lutherans than against the Turk. Therefore, let us pray and watch.
The presumption seeks immortality.
(May 6.)
On May 6, he said of human presumption, since all men realize that they are mortal and frail. But everyone thirsts for immortality here on earth. In the past, kings sought immortality by building pyramids, as they do now with great basilicas and buildings. Soldiers chase after victory, and scribes seek an eternal name by publishing their volumes, as we now also see before our eyes. But in the meantime, the glory and eternity of God is not looked upon. Ah, we are miserable people.
171 Question about taking the sacrament.
(May 8.)
On May 8, a foreign nobleman asked Luther for advice on how he should conduct himself when taking the sacrament, whether he could also take it here in both forms and then, if his journey and business were elsewhere, communicate in one form. Luther answered: "Each one should ask in his own conscience what is to be done. If he does not dare to receive it, then it would be better to let [it] be done beforehand. Each one, therefore, should consult his conscience and his anointing. "For no man liveth to himself, neither dieth to himself" (Rom. 14:7), but against violence there is no counsel.
The five legs of Christ's donkey. (May 9.)
173 "Bo" Bullinger.
Table speeches Cap. §
The Gentiles surpass the Jews in wickedness; the Italians surpass them in presumption.
(May 12.)
The gifts of God become small through frequency. (May 12.)
Behold, here are two swords.
(May 12.)
After that he told about the insolence of the pope, who would have dared to confirm his prestige by the swords of the apostles. For he concludes thus: Where there are two swords, there is the church; but here with Peter there are two swords, therefore Peter is the church. Or like this: Peter has two swords; Peter is pope; therefore the pope has two swords. This is not valid, and the assumption [assumtum] must be denied, because the final speech has four exits [terminos]. Rather, it must be concluded thus: Where the totality of the apostles is and the church, there are two swords; here are two swords; therefore, here is the church. Nevertheless, it was a strange arrangement among the apostles that Christ allowed them to have two swords (Luc. 22, 38.). But Christ resolves this with the strongest solution: "It is enough", as if he wanted to say: You do not understand what I am saying; I said that each one should have and buy a sword, but a spiritual one; but you understand from these two iron swords; it is enough, they would not make it. After that he solves it much stronger (Joh. 18, 11.): "Peter, put your sword into the sheath." He did not intend that he should wield it with his fist, but discarded it [the sword]. It is as if I said to my dear sons Martimchen and Paulichen: Now defend yourselves with the wooden swords, draw them against the Turk.
177.. Exhortation to theology. (May 12.)
178. success of the gospel in England. (May 12.) ,
179. one does not have to answer rashly.
(May 12.)
M. Philippus examined in the house of Ant. Lauterbach, who was a schoolmaster in Stargard. But since he answered carelessly, he said: "Don't answer so rashly, because we don't know more things than we know. Luther answered: Jonas once said that he knew everything in the Holy Scriptures, and was somewhat angry with me because I did not agree with him. But I know that there is much I do not know. I have been preaching for twenty-five years and still do not understand the passage, "The righteous shall live by his faith." (Rom. 1, 17. Gal. 3, 11. Hebr. 10, 38. Habak. 2, 4.)
180. catechism examinations are useful and necessary for children. (May 12.)
(May 21, Tuesday.)
Lauterbach pag. 82.
Table speeches
Cap. §
On May 21, Anton Hanold, an excellent man in warfare, said various things about the wars of Emperor Carl and about Ferdinand's very great misfortune, which would be the plague and the eating sore of Germany. Luther answered: Germany owes God a debt of thoroughness. All nations hear of the armor of the Turk, but no one thinks to resist him. The adversaries are trying to figure out how to kill the Lutherans before they resist the Turk.
182. intention of the pope at the meeting of a council. (May 21.)
183. curse of the land at Erfurt. (May 21.)
184 Arius ruled for a long time.
(May 21.)
185. difference between an apostle and a bishop. (May 21.)
186. franc curse.
(May 26.)
On May 26, they discussed the question of whether cursing was a sin among Franks. For they have the habit of taking on the best and those who are very friendly to them with cursing: See that you are glandular and bruised, my lord, since their heart is without hatred; whether this is a sin. He answered, "Our speech shall be yea, nay, and the name of the Lord shall not be uselessly taken." Otherwise, their cursing may be purer than our good mornings.
8S.
187. lying. Deceive.
(May 26.)
Lying and deceiving are different; for lying is a falsehood with the desire to harm. But deception is simply as Elijah did, who said he is not Elijah, come, I will lead you to him (2 Kings 6:19). What is to be thought of the words of Paul Apost. 23, (v. 5.): "I knew not that it was the high priest: for it is written: Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people." There Paul is being mischievous, as if to say: Art thou the high priest? I know nnr One, the priest Jesus Christ, God will smite thee etc. There he did not sin, but contradicted him out of apostolic spirit: Dear Annas, it will be over with you, and so he curses the whole priesthood, as if to say: You are nothing but hypocrisy itself. Otherwise, Paul knew very well that he was an authoritative person.
188 The best advice.
(May 26.)
189. Peter the Vicar of Christ. (May 26.)
190. throwing out the sellers.
(May 26.)
The second paragraph of this section:
Lauterbach
Table Talks Cap. § 74, 7.
191: The King of England's marriage case. (May 29.)
(May 29.)
193 Lecture on Genesis.
(May 29.)
Someone thought of the lecture on Genesis that it was necessary and useful that it be published. Luther answered: "It is a condensed and imperfect lecture, through which I give others cause for reflection; therefore, it would not be advisable to publish it. It is too weak. For a work requires the whole man. But I am busy, occupied with several things, and cannot accomplish anything satisfactory. For doing much and doing well are not suitable together. For it is not of one cast when one is busy with various things, and Cicero complains that he cannot easily reestablish a disturbed thought. It is a pity in this life. Those who live in leisure and wealth do not want to do so; others are hindered by poverty and various businesses.
194: Religion, the World Regiment, the Household. (May 29.)
195. comedies.
(May 29.)
196. fictitious rumor of the Turk.
(June 3, Monday.)
On June 3, frightening news came of the armament of the Turk, who was to attack the King of Persia, the Venetians and the Austrians with a threefold, very numerous army from all sides. Meanwhile, Ferdinand was walking in Dresden and begging through Lusatia. Truly a fatal evil for Germany, a dog in the run. But afterwards it was said that it was a fabrication of the papists, who wanted to gather armies under this pretext, in order to be able to exterminate the Lutherans afterwards; but the soldiers had left their flags after they had found out about this; the Nurembergers reported this.
197 The Pabst's defender his eaters.
(June 14, Friday after Pentecost.)
On June 14 came the news that Duke George had taken Petersberg and had installed his colonel there, and he was also aiming at Zell Monastery. Luther said: If I said that the defenders were the pope's devourers, nobody believed it. Now the papists learn it by experience; they have freely offered keys and treasures to those, now they keep them as by right. So it will work. I believe that the deception of Duke George and others will plague the papacy more than our attack.
198. the arrival of Christ. (June 14.)
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. §
199. by D. Jakob.
(June 20.)
200. lemnius.
(June 20.)
Since Luther did not want to suffer the malice of Simon Lemnius and his praise of the bishop of Mainz, he said: I will come with the bishop zuhaufi). I have so far guarded myself against him, although he is the highest and most powerful prince or primate, who can easily defeat me Wittenberg beggar by contempt. He thinks like that parish priest; when a caplan wanted to improve him, he answered: It is called calix or calicem, coclaeus or coclearem, nor am I parish priest and you caplan.
201. a contested.
(June 20.)
He gave this counsel to one who was afflicted, that he should not be alone or stand alone, but should use the counsel and comforts of others through the Word of God, because no one who was afflicted would be able to do it.
202. principles.
(June 20.)
Strong proofs, which are called principles, axioms, maxims, penetrate all things, because they comprehend in themselves all particulars [locos]: The honorable, the good, the useful, the necessary. Such is the doctrine [locus] and the proof of marriage against the celibate state, where all sane men are forced to say: This is true.
203. from the Swiss.
(June 25.)
On June 25, Luther received letters from seven cities of the Swiss, who responded because of the union [concordia]; but since they were still limping, he said, after reading through the letters: Ah, they are pious people who are persuaded. Therefore, they must be followed for a time, until they can be won over. The following day the messenger pressed for an answer. He said that he would gladly write and hoped well of them, that they would discard the opinions according to reason of Christ's descent and ascension from the right hand [of God] into bread, of which we have never taught, but we have simply believed Christ's Body and Blood without ascension and descent; otherwise we could not believe any article of faith of the Trinity and Incarnation of the Son, the Second Person, if we wanted to consult the wisdom of reason. Ah, dear God, those aversions hold many back. How do you think, I beg of you, that the Jews, who were well established in the kingdom and the priesthood, were annoyed when they saw that the righteousness of the Son of God was not the same as that of the Son of God?
1) In the original "zu kauff". Instead, "zu Hauff" will be read, as in Cap. 35, 13. towards the end, where Kummer brings "zu Kampf" and the table speeches "zu Kauf". Also elsewhere the reading of H for K is found, e.g. Cap. 35, 11. "Kauz" for "Haufe".
was offered to all in vain, without merit, and the Gentiles were considered equal to them? What thinkest thou that the Roman empire, the mightiest and wisest, which clung to its divine services, thought that they should be governed by the foolish people of the Jews with miraculous and superstitious fables (for so they blasphemed the faith of Christ)? Such astonishments always caused the persecution of the gospel, as we also see at this time how great blasphemies are spread against the doctrine of the faith and the church, as if we were heretics and rebels. It is still going on.
204. there will be sects.
(June 27.)
Lauterbach pux.
Table speeches
Cap. §
205. eternal life.
(June 27.)
206: The Papists' Deceptions. (June 28.)
207. A King Who Loves Lies. (June 28.)
208. Gospel of Lazarus and the rich man.
(June 30.)
Last June, on the second Sunday after Trinity, on which the Gospel of the rich glutton was, Luther was asked whether this Gospel (Luc. 16, 19. ff.) was a story or a parable? He answered: In the beginning it would be a story, because he named the persons, the circumstances and the five brothers; afterwards the conversations and the judgment passed by Abraham would be an allegory, which shows how it will be on the last day. It is an adventurous gospel, and yet it has many glorious passages of comfort that are worthy of careful consideration. First, it indicates that there are unknown places where souls are kept, and these secret and hidden things we are not to know. Secondly, the passage that Lazarus is not described as buried, but is told that he is carried into Abraham's bosom. He even forgets Lazarus' body. But he describes the angels' hats that carry him into the bosom of Abraham. This is a comforting saying, that it is more in the soul than in the body. - The bosom of Abraham is the promise and the certain salvation, the container and the expectation of Christ; it is not heaven, but the expectation of heaven. It is a wonderful thing that heaven is not revealed before the coming of Christ. The bosom of Abraham was until Christ; after that, paradise; as the robber came not into the bosom of Abraham, but into paradise; after that, by the resurrection of Christ, paradise ceases, and heaven is revealed, where the dead ascend out of open graves into heaven. But what paradise is, I do not know. It can be a rest in the body itself, as it happens with people who, seized by a rapture, feel nothing. There the soul is not gone, although it is not felt in the body; but when they come to themselves again, they wonder and say: Where have I been? I have felt nothing. So that conversation and counter-talk could very well have happened between the Schlemmer and Abraham in the spirit and in the death struggle. But nevertheless one should
Do not preach in public, because people would be made doubtful. Therefore, these allegorical things should be left aside and the emphasis should be put on the story. Christ often uses such allegories. Matth. 8 (v. 11.): "Many of the morning will sit at table with Abraham in the kingdom of heaven." Likewise John 14 (v. 2): "In my Father's house are many mansions." These are vain allegorical expressions. Ah, dear GOtt, your words are not as cold and bad as human words, but they are above all human thoughts and the wisdom of reason. How Duke Frederick admired the word of God, which in simplicity would have the greatest majesty. Therefore we must pay attention to the revealed word. Hidden things we should not know, but believe. Does not the fruit live in the womb, and after that, when it is born, it lives, and for two years the child eats, drinks, sucks, feels, cries, and yet it does not know that it lives, for it cannot think of anything as it lives? Therefore, what do we want to think much about the souls after death? Aristotle and Plato have discussed the soul a lot. Plato says that the soul is the idea, that is, the perfect form of the body. Aristotle, however, claims that soul and body are one being [substantia], and that the soul arises in the body from a germ [traduce] in the way that a root naturally arises from a seed and grain, then a milky rice that is neither wood nor bast, then a soft plantlet, then it grows together more and more and becomes a harder cartilage and finally a tree and hard wood. Thus the soul becomes and grows out of the body and the fruit, when it is still a milky mass. Therefore Augustine, who followed Aristotle to some extent, holds that the soul arises from the flesh and is propagated, but caused by God. For if God brings forth a flower from the tree, why not the soul from the body? Origen, however, says that the soul is not propagated, nor caused, but infused. But Augustine's opinion seems to be better. For by experience we see that souls follow bodies. For, where there is a crippled body, there is also a crippled soul. Ah, dear God, what are we poor people strutting about, since we do not know what our soul is, nor our body? The Holy Scripture argues against Aristotle, who denies that the soul is immortal, but says that soul and body are one being [substantiam] - Christ clearly says: Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul (Luc. 12, 4.). For the soul is a different substance from the body, and yet it is a great bond, clinging to one another, because the soul loves the body supremely. It does not like to separate from each other. Cicero was a very good philosopher, who believed that the soul is immortal, and he also described the natural, moral and rational philosophy in the best way. He was a noble man, who read and read a lot, and then he was able to say it. He wrote his thing with seriousness, he did not play and follow the Greeks like Aristotle and Plato. I hope God will also help Cicero and similar people through the forgiveness of sins, and should he be without mercy, he will still be several levels higher than our Cardinals and the Bishop of Mainz.
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. §
209. from Bishop Albrecht.
(June 30.)
After this, mention was made of the Bishop of Mainz, a very cunning and devious epicure, who, trusting in his wickedness, deceived all, and
but he was a very insolent, a bold, wicked man. That I have called him a lying man is easy to prove. I also want to stand still to him rightly where he wants. I will soon write against him, even if all mine are against it, not with human passion, but with the prestige of holy scripture, and will offer defiance to the jurists. I have written to his hand before. Now I will denounce him to the church, so that I will not be made a party to his wickedness. For he has acted tyrannically enough with Schantz, whom he has let hang for the sake of money. For on the very day he was hanged, the bishop was in Halberstadt and smilingly said: "I think that not everyone will laugh in Halle today. After that he is said to have said again: It is in my mind as if 1) Schantz were hanging on the gallows etc. Are these not the words and behavior of a tyrant? Therefore, his legend must be given to the day.
Lauterbach table speeches psx. Cap. K
210. the falling sickness.
(June 30.)
This disease in the children is mostly the fault of the parents, who do not consider time and health in coming together. Because both father and mother should be fresh and healthy.
211. the Gospel preached in Italy.
(July 1, Monday.)
On July 1, news was written from Italy that in Bologna, in the last forty days, two monks had very freely and sincerely preached the gospel in public, and with such conviction
than it could have happened only in Wittenberg, and that they had numerous listeners with great applause, and finally the bishops and the pope intervened with force against them. They were warned and saved themselves by fleeing. Another, however, was seized and imprisoned, who had Luther's books and translations under the title of Erasmus of Rotterdam; these had been burned. M. Philip answered: "The word of God does not run in vain, but is spread here and there in all countries; if it comes to Italy, they will seriously stop it, because the Italians are stubborn people, not frivolous or unstable.
212. from the Bishop of Mainz.
(July 1.)
Miracles and examples against the blasphemers of the gospel.
(July 7.)
On July 7, Luther was stricken with the disease of dysentery, since diarrhea had preceded it, and since he could not preach publicly, he preached at home the gospel of that Sunday, Luc. 15. On that day, many very godly men, including strangers, came to visit him and told various news. The Rector Philip told of a miracle that had recently happened in his hometown of Breiten, that a girl had fallen from a very high tower and remained unharmed, and that she had looked up immediately after the fall, fearing that her father would have seen it. Luther said: Allhie was no devil, but an angel Gabriel.
1) In the original: same as.
The following can be found: Then follows:
auterbach
Philip also told an incident about a certain court organist who had received a gift from his bishop and decorated his house for him and invited the bishop: he wanted to make a miraculous spectacle for him on that day and hour. When the bishop arrived and the house was decorated, the organist felt pain and began to struggle with death, recommended his wife and children to the bishop and died.
The conclusion of this section:
214. the gospel of luke 15 (July 7)
215. what kind of things the doctors deal with.
(July 10.)
When the illness became more severe on July 10, he took a clyster on the advice of the doctors. Afterwards, he said: "This is the end of shame. Because the doctors play with the patients like mothers with their children, although they deceive each other. How D. Stortz at Erfurt did not want to give anything to a farmer who was a drunkard, should eat coriander. The latter, however, was very ignorant and bought four calendars with parchment lids, gnawed and devoured them down to the fourth and asked that he might also drink. When the doctor heard this story, he told him to drink as much as he wanted. This is what happened to a doctor in Heidelberg. A young man had impregnated a girl, and since she felt unwell as a result of the pregnancy, he brought the urine to his doctor. When the doctor looked at it and examined it many times, he looked at it and said: "Fellow, fellow, see what you are dealing with. The latter, stricken in his conscience, answered: "Ah, dear doctor, if the girl is pregnant, tell me and I will take her in marriage. Doctors deal with such things.
216: The Anabaptist Hans Sturm.
(July 12.)
217. news from England.
(July 14.)
On July 14, a letter arrived from the court about the English legation, that they had been received very honorably by the king, and there was great hope for the course of the gospel in England. There were many bishops there ready for the pure teaching of the gospel, but there was only a lack of learned people, otherwise the people longed for and loved the teaching of the truth.
218: Twofold necessity.
(July 14.)
An unconditional necessity is one that exists by its nature. A necessity of the consequence or of the occurring case is, which could also be otherwise, as that Caesar defeated Pompey, that Judas betrayed Christ. This victory and betrayal does not come naturally to Caesar and Judas, because it is not so ordained by God, but is in the will of Judas. What has happened cannot be undone. One must let it be as it is. For everything that is, when it is, must be necessary, but by necessity of consequence.
219. words of a dying man.
(July 17.)
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. §
220 Spanish Courage.
(July 20.)
On July 20, a letter arrived from the court of Ferdinand, denouncing the very filthy and brute lechery of the Spaniards, since they were doing the cohabitation of men and women against the natural way in various ways, and were already almost surpassing the Italian and Florentine weddings in impurity. Luther exclaimed: O Lord Jesus Christ, come with your last judgment, as if he wanted to say: Destroy the world and free your saints. Oh who would have died, I do not desire to live. On this day Johann, Duke of Anhalt, visited him; he stood in his bedroom in front of the bed and talked something secret with the doctor. Luther answered: I desire no more than a blessed hour, for I have now experienced the best of the Gospel.
221. human sacrifice in our time.
(July 21.)
222. roman wickedness.
(July 21.)
223. the external image of the church.
(July 21.)
On this day he wondered about the outward appearance of the church of Christ, which was hidden in so much weakness, trouble, sins, poverty and could be seen as if God did not care about it, while the false church rejoiced in power, prestige and holiness. Therefore Paul exclaims Rom. 11, (33.) not in vain: "O what depth" etc., after he had seen the rejection of the Jews and the acceptance of the Gentiles. Therefore in the article of holy Christian faith it is clearly stated, "I believe a holy church." Because it is not seen, therefore it is believed.
224th marriage case.
(July 21.)
225th Meeting at Leipzig. (July 27.)
The godly are subject to Satan according to the flesh.
(July 27.)
227. prophecy of Staupitzen. (July 27.)
228. by Cicero.
(July 27.)
229. a lute for mass. (July 27.)
230. water the noblest liquid.
(August 1.)
On August 1, he again lay down with sciatica [hip pain], a very serious disease of the hips, and became so frightened that he rolled in the straw spread on the ground, and at last, since he had been freed early and his prayer had been answered, he thanked God for his miraculous deliverance. Now, when he was exhausted and liked to drink water, he said: "Dear God, how noble a juice you have given in the dear water, which surpasses all wines, and yet, when we are healthy, we regard the water as nothing, which nevertheless cools and refreshes so sweetly!
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches Cap. §
231. praise of the middle road.
(August 1, Thursday.)
232. delay of death. (August 1.)
233rd Italian Hospitals.
(August 1.)
234. audacious doctors.
(August 1.)
Audacious doctors are very pernicious because they arrange everything according to the will of their patients. Such fellows must have many churchyards. Therefore, a learned and cautious physician is a great gift from God, who is not easily moved here and there.
235: The margrave invalidated by fornication. (August 1.)
236. pain of spiritual temptations. (August 2.)
237. Murmuring of the People against God. (August 2.)
Do not seek things that are too high for you. (August 2.)
Executioners were once in a very honored state.
(August 3.)
On August 3, one spoke of the savagery and audacity of the executioners, who, accustomed to human blood, become reckless boys and make almost no distinction between the blood of a human being and that of an animal. Therefore one reads in the holy scripture that the next councilors of high rank have to do such work. This is what happened with the Romans, where the guilty were executed with the axe, and they saw that it was a great thing to take a man's life.
240. the year 38 a damaging one. (August 3.)
241. deception of friends.
(August 3.)
How is it that he whom you trust most deceives you the most? Philip answered: Xenophon writes very well: You do what is very easy, a friend [you do] wrong. For a friend does not think of it, therefore he is soon deceived. This also happened in Magdeburg, where two very friendly noblemen, who were fond of each other, jokingly attacked each other, and finally one wounded the other in anger. The one who defended himself cut off the other's neck with his sword.
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches Cap. §
The Gospel of Marci 8.
(Aug. 4. Dow. VII. x. Irin.)
On August 4, he contemplated the very great miracle of the Gospel, where Christ fed 4000 men with 7 loaves of bread; he does such miracles daily. But no one takes care of it. If he had made all grass to bread, all trees of bread, they would have despised it, as they slandered him because of Lazarus (Joh. 11, 21. 32.): "If he had loved him, he would not have died." And since He had healed many, they demanded signs from heaven (Marc. 8, 11. Matth. 12, 38. 16, 1.). Summa: If God, our Lord, does it, it is no good. But if we choose it ourselves, it is something. Such is the wisdom of the flesh. If it is even overwhelmed, it cannot recognize it.
243rd Karger felt.
(August 4.)
244. the alphabet of Julius Caesar. (August 4.)
245. duke George the patron, the bishops etc. the clients. (August 5.)
246. no misfortune alone.
(August 5.)
As one sickness pressed upon another, and the tearing of the limbs and the stone raged, Luther said, "Give patience, O Lord, and that we may only remember Thy Son's suffering and death. After all, there may be various diseases in us. This is according to the saying of Adam: No misfortune alone. As it is said of the Duke of Savoy, who in one day heard of the enmity of the King of France against him, and the alliance of the Swiss against him, and he learned of the death of his son; has been enough at once. Such is life in the world, exposed to all dangers.
247. the first run of the gospel.
(August 5.)
. On that day the Leipzigers said much about the course of the Gospel, that it had first had miraculous progress. Luther answered: I freely confess that I did not begin this difficult matter with intent. For I was such a papist that I wrote against Erasmus, who was hypocritical about the papacy. But God miraculously called me into this matter through time and opportunity. I would have first carried wood about such a heretic,
who would have attacked the Mass and the celibate state. This also helped the course of the Gospel a lot, that in the year 19 Maximilian died and the papists in that interregnum [time when there was no emperor] wrote against me in a strange way. There I had to defend myself. It all happened out of divine counsel.
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. §
248. the devil strikes with disease. (August 5.)
249: Against the Wise Men in the Holy Scriptures.
(August 5.)
250. hungarians ask for special communion.
(August 5.)
The blessing of God is common. (August 5.)
252: The Gospel Preached in Italy.
(August 6.)
253. guenons.
(August 6.)
There was mention of monkeys and guenons, which were angry and deadly animals that preyed on people. Luther answered: "They are strange animals in which the devil is hidden, and one must not play with them. But with birds, siskins, goldfinches, lambs, and dogs we can all the more safely joke for a while.
254: What eternal life is. (August 7.)
255. devil whores.
(August 8.)
On August 8, there was much talk about epicurs and despisers of God who pledged themselves to the devil, as weather makers, milk thieves, devil whores with whom the devil would have dealings.
The following:
The conclusion:
On the same evening, an old man, ferryman, over 90 years old, a very godly hearer of the Word, died and fell asleep with wonderful constancy and groaning for eternal life; after not having eaten for 22 days and not having been able to drink for 16 days, he fell asleep in the Lord with very great faith and patience.
256. old wines.
(August 8.)
257. the music.
(August 8.)
258. negligence of craftsmen. (August 8.)
259 The Plague of Pretentious Enthusiasts.
(August 14. Wednesday.)
Lauterbach pag.
Tiichreden Cap. § 37, 101.
260 The emperor missed the best opportunity.
(August 14.)
261. the crocodile.
(August 14.)
Beware of the ways of the world.
(August 14.)
Superstition always has a place and a pretext for superstition, as the fame of the monks was from the contempt of the world. For Paul Rom. 12 (v. 2) says: "And do not be conformed to this world," as if it were ungodly to be subject to worldly orders and institutions, since Paul and all Scripture forbid only the passions and ungodly movements of the heart after the manner of the world, ambition, greed, benevolence, revenge, etc., to which inclinations the whole world gives the reins. Two years ago in Antwerp, for example, there was a splendid celebration in the world's manner, and plays were performed. Antwerp was painted on a carriage with the inscription above it: Antwerp, the Queen of the World. On one side was Neptune, who offered great treasures to the queen. On the other side Mercury offered many things. But this is the way of the world, namely contempt of God, pride and elevation in the gifts, abuse of the creatures.
263. deprivation of the churches.
(August 14.)
The great diversity of the challenges.
(August 16.)
265. by Erasmus of Rotterdam.
(August 16.)
266. children's lives.
(August 17.)
267. nature of bees.
(August 17.)
Luther killed drones flying around. In the meantime, however, he considered the nature and order of bees, that no man, not even the wisest, could fully recognize the nature of bees. For when a bee has stung with its stinger, it is worthless, and is forced to be a keeper, to fetch water; thus it is degraded. And these animals perform their work with the most accurate and faithful work, and are begotten without mating.
268. no end to the sects.
269. questions of the Magister Förster.
"uterbach
MANS.
Table talk" Cap. A
Second question. The text in Moses, Deut. 4, 35, Deut. 5, 19, seems to allow the private revenge to the one who seizes the killer of his relative before he has gone to a free city. These passages seem to be against the Scriptures, which forbid the private revenge. He replied, "That provision in Moses is judicial and abolished, just as the usury of the Jews was permitted among the Gentiles and only ceased with the other judicial things.
Third question. Why Ruth did not act according to the right of kinship, since Boaz was not the brother of her deceased husband, and the law Deut. 25 clearly expresses the brother of the deceased husband. He answered: That passage is an interpretation of the law 5 Mos. 25., namely, that if the brother of the deceased does not want, then the next blood relative after him should marry her. Furthermore, Naomi did not accept Ruth to marry this Boaz, but because she was to join him in the most intimate way, so that she might be well acquainted with him; this text we have dealt with in the English disputation.
Fourth question. Against the Judaizers, who demand testimonies of the Old Testament, namely, that Mary was from the tribe of Judah and from the house of David, but the tribes and families were completely confused after the Babylonian captivity. He answered: "Our evangelist expressly says that Mary was of the tribe of Judah. Those who do not want to believe this may remain unbelievers. And such Judaisers cannot defend themselves with the passage, Judges at the last, where the tribe of Benjamin was broken off [v. 6.]; this tribe was no longer a people of God because of fornication, but it was a tribe cut off and banished from the people. Therefore, the six hundred were forced to marry heathen women and the stolen.
Fifth question. About the passage of the Scripture Joshua 24, (v. 19.): "Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is a holy God, a zealous God, who will not spare your transgression and sin." By these words he seems to reject the godless people altogether. And yet these words soon follow, "If ye forsake the Lord, and serve a strange god," which mean that they were still pious and had not fallen away. Luther answered: "This is the last farewell of Joshua, who warns them with a special movement, as if he wanted to say: I am afraid that you will anger God once again, and God will punish you, for He does not like it. If you then anger Him and fall from Him, then God will be angry, and so on. Another solution is that the first words are spoken by the wicked, and the following by the pious. Just as we have psalms here and there in which the people are exalted to heaven and praised; soon after, they are humbled to hell, and by means of a synecdoche, the pious among the people are spoken of there, and the wicked here. This is also what we do in our sermons in our church, namely, we praise a part, the good ones, and soon, on the other hand, we scold the wicked and bad ones. Thus the church is called holy, since the least part is holy.
Sixth question:
Seventh question. Since Balaam repeatedly asked the evil spirit for advice and received different answers: whether he asked the true God for advice.
and received an answer from the true God. He answered: Balaam first asked the true God for advice, from whom he received an answer. He was supposed to have stuck to this word, but later, when his avarice was stimulated by the promises of Balak, he soon went to the magicians, who said otherwise. Thirdly, again the true God resisted him through the angel. But afterwards he turned again to the magicians and although the text said [4 Mos. 23, 4.] XXXXX XXX, as if the Lord had answered, they are words of fact, not of matter. As the papists praise the true God and Christ and yet praise and do the works of the devil under his name. And there the text is clear.
Eighth question. How to understand the passage Joshua 5, (v. 9.) where it is read: "Today God has taken away the shame of Egypt from us"? He answered: The solution is simple. For after Moses had circumcised the people according to the law, he said: Now you are no longer Egyptian, for you have been circumcised and are now no longer Gentiles.
Ninth question. Whether David sinned when he himself charged Achish (1 Sam. 29, 8.) to fight against the people of God? [He answered, He did not sin]. 1) For Saul was then rejected and no longer king of the people of God, and he was in the position in which the Papists are now. Secondly: David did not offer his service of his own free will, but because he was among the Philistines, he is required by the king, like a servant; just as our subjects can fight against the Papist church.
Tenth question. The passage 1 Sam. 2 (v. 25), how is it to be understood? "If anyone sins against a man, the judge can settle it. But if anyone sins against the Lord, who can plead for him?" Luther answered: "It is more tolerable to sin against the second tablet than against the first. He should only take the holy ten commandments rightly, then he will see that it is a greater sin to sin against the first table than against the second.
Eleventh question. Whether Saul could prophesy from the evil spirit, and what kind of prophesy was it? He answered, "At the time Saul prophesied, he was not driven by the evil spirit, but his prophesying was the interpretation of the law in his house.
Lauterbach MS.
Table speeches Cap. §
270 The Bishop of Mainz a plunderer.
(August 20.)
On August 20, the news was told about the Bishop of Mainz that he had departed to Italy and left Germany, perhaps hoping for the papacy. Luther answered: "If this is true, it is an excellent disgrace, worthy of a cardinal, who, after he has completely flayed his cities and cathedral churches and pledged his nobles with a large amount of gold and transferred a nobleman, Kurt von Amberg, with 63,000 florins, leaves them afterwards.
Luther's verdict on witches.
(August 20.)
272. wit.
(August 22.)
1) Thus supplemented by Seidemann.
How Balaam was killed among the Midianites. (August 23.)
Lauterbach MS118.
Table speeches Cap. K
274 Letters from the Cardinals to Nausea. (August 23.)
275. from monks.
(August 23.)
276 Purity of the Nicene Council. (August 24.)
The eloquence of Chrysostom without dialectics, words without content.
(August 24.)
278 Concubinate.
(August 24.)
279. danger from false brothers. (August 24.)
280 From rebaptizers.
(August 24.)
On this day a letter arrived from the Elector of Saxony because of the incessant raging of the Anabaptists, who were trying to infect all countries with their opinions. For the Landgrave had some prisoners at Wolkersdorf, with whom he had found a letter from the brother Peter Tasch, exhorting them to run, for England, Thuringia, Jülich etc. had brothers of their doctrine who were sent there. Therefore, this letter, translated into Latin, should be printed as soon as possible to warn all countries. For these serpents seduce the people by miraculous boasting.
281. milk thieves.
(August 25.)
282 A little lie is very damaging to the church.
(August 25.)
After that a lie was told about D. Pommer, that he had already separated a rich woman in Denmark by divorce and had joined her to D. Peter Palladius. Luther answered: I do not want to believe it; they invent such lies against us in order to suppress the gospel, because a small occasion gives the Christians great annoyance, as in church history the Christians are accused when they come together for the Lord's Supper, then they eat the body of a killed person. This lie caused much bloodshed in Lyon, France. This is how they are imposing it on us today. I would like us to get rid of the marriage cases that will never give us peace to study; because people marry every day, cases spring up every day. These things belong before the authorities.
283 Kingdom of Solomon.
(August 26.)
284. plagues for contempt of the word.
(August 27.)
auterbach
Table speeches
Cap. §
285: Seeming value of the celibate life over marriage. (August 27.)
286. sayings of the fathers about faith. (August 27.)
287 Schlas.
(August 27.)
Sleep is a useful and necessary work of nature. I believe it is the highest complaint when a sleep-drunk person is disturbed from his rest. That is why Hippolytus wrote from Italy that the highest torture is when robbers are interrogated, that they are not allowed to sleep; this disturbance is the most extreme of all tortures.
288. disobedience of the Augsburgs.
(August 28.)
289. disposition of the 51st psalm of Philip.
(August 28.)
(Not by Luther, therefore omitted.)
290. destruction of Jerusalem.
(August 29, Thursday.)
291. "If one weighed my misery." Job 6.
(August 29.)
The children sang the responsory: "If one weighed my sorrow and put my suffering together in a scale" etc. [Job 6, 2.], likewise (13, 22.): "Call to me, I will answer you." Yes, truly, this is how one must speak with God, this is how one would like to lead it out, if one were to expostulate with Him in such a way that He would have to hand over His right. Ah, what a pity is human life! This Job was a pagan and yet most happily converted. Another responsory was also sung: "Jesus lay down" etc. He said: This is a beautiful note, also a beautiful text, only that they have twisted it to the One figure, as also the text of the banquet of Ahasuerus (Esther 1, 3.) is twisted. For St. Thomas is said to have made the responsories, who mostly put them from the New Testament and the verses from the Old Testament.
292. Of the Jews. (August 29.)
293 Two Frenchmen came to Wittenberg.
(August 30.)
On August 30, two Frenchmen from Italy, very respectable people, came here to see Luther and Wittenberg, and stayed for several days, attending the lectures and having lunch with Luther and other teachers. They said that they had lived in Italy for the sake of their studies, but since they wanted to go back to France, they had decided to see Germany and Luther first, to pay their respects to him. Luther answered: Here
you see our very poor kingdom, me, a monk in the monastery, but wonderful brothers, namely my wife and children. You can say this. But beware that you do not say that you have seen us, but only heard us, and God keep you in this steadfastness of your spirit.
Lauterbaci
Table speeches
Cap. ß
294. exhortation to patience.
(August 31.)
26, 4S.
The Church of God must be in the company of people.
(August 31.)
296 Human lore.
(August 31.)
297th News from England.
(September 1, 11 Sonnt, n. Trin.)
On September 1, a letter arrived from England from the vice-chancellor about the happy course of the Gospel, that many of the bishops agreed with the king, and that the king had destroyed an excellent shrine to St. Mary Portelasse [Παραθαλάσσια, i.e. by the sea] and broken the image,
the treasure away. The pope has confirmed this idolatry with very great privileges.
298. the calendar must be improved.
(September 1. Cf. No. 135.)
He said many things about the course of the sun and that it would be very necessary that the calendar would be improved by intercalation, which would be the office of the princes, because the calendar governs the whole world. It is from the times of Julius Caesar the 1500 years ten days back. It is still by two days, the world does not stand so long. We should have kept this 38th year Easter, Reminiscere 1) [as] the [Easter] day, before, as the Jews strictly observe. So we keep it five weeks later, although the mathematicians, if they came together in unity, could easily restore the year.
299 The Turk.
(September 8.)
300. auxiliary income of the church.
(September 8.)
301. trip to Lochau.
(Sept. 10, Tuesday.)
Luther was called to Lochau on September 10 by the Elector, with whom he negotiated many mysteries. During the journey he read the 103rd Psalm: "Praise the Lord, my soul. Then he asked Jonas what kind of psalm it was. It is very beautiful, thanking God for the immense grace and gifts of God. Therefore, he exhorts in a threefold manner, "Praise the Lord, who forgives all your sin. "etc. [V. 3.] This I understand theo-
1) Reminiscere in 1538 fell on March 17 of the old style. According to the new style, it would have been March 27. Cf. no. 135 of this appendix.
logical, but grammatically I can not. However, it describes the most perfect grace and forgiveness of sins. All of life is given to us in this verse, "all." Second, he adds, "He that healeth all thine infirmities." This I do not understand, what he means by infirmities, for manifold indeed is the infirmity of inclinations, of sloth, of passions. "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction" [v. 4.]. This is the strongest [absolutissima] preaching of the forgiveness of sins, this is the erasure of the manuscript, in which God presents Himself to us completely, as Satan does the opposite, who only frightens, wounds and captivates the consciences. The sum of this psalm is: God most mercifully forgives all sins by grace and heals nature in what sins are left that still cling to us. He helps and heals. How follows how they are strengthened, namely by grace and pardon, as if to say: 'So God helps His own. ' He not only washes, but also adorns us royally. But what these gifts are, I do not know so highly, because there is no desire of the unknown (Ovid. ars amat. ÐÉ, 397); for what we do not know, we cannot speak. Therefore it follows: "Who maketh thy mouth merry" (v. 5.). Here the pen is not cut, that one should write with it what the mouth is, what the goods are, that he may fill us. Therefore he saith, "Thy desire shall be renewed." This is a remark: you will give birth to it anew, as an eagle becomes young again, although it can be understood of all birds that moult and bow. "As high as the heavens are above the earth": the mercy of God is built as high as the heavens are from the earth. But the weakness of our flesh always thinks and is in doubt that heaven will fall on its neck, since mercy and grace are far more glorious than our understanding. That is why Paul exclaims, Phil. 3 (v. 12.), that he is "not perfect, but he pursues it", and Rom. 7 (v. 6.) Paul complains about "the law that holds captive". I also console myself when I see that Paul cannot grasp such things. Away with the presumptuous who ascribe everything to themselves. "As a father hath mercy on children" [v. 13.] "And as far as the morning is from the evening" [v. 12]. This is a great affirmation, but we do not believe. But notice in this psalm how he always puts, "To them that fear him" [vv. 11, 13, 17]. They must do it. And the interpretation of those who fear him follows. "We are dust and like hay" [v. 15]. This is the description of man. But we do not believe the merciful God. The "Lord in heaven" [p. 19.]. This is the conclusion, i.e. God is powerful and active, who will not leave us unpunished, and he can repay everything.
Lauterbach M8-
Table speeches Cap. K
302. observation of the animals of the field. (September 10.)
The passage 1 Pet 5.
(September 10.)
Feed Christ's sheep, ßðéó÷ïðïõíôåò, i.e. watch well, not unwillingly,
but gladly. Not selfishly, but from a righteous heart, not tyrannically over the heap you are commanded. This is a very high text, which accuses almost all ministers of sam word, because no one is so sincere that he should do it so voluntarily and preach to the glory of God.
304. contempt of the word by the antinomians. (September 10.)
305 Luther's conversation with J[akob] S[chenk]. (September 11.) -
Lauterbach MA129.
Table Talks Cap. § 37, 47.
The devil is a murderer.
(September 12.)
307 A sodomitic canonicus.
(September 12.)
Justice of God in Paul.
(September 12.)
Do not seek high things.
(September 12.)
310. the simple of Christ.
(September 12.)
311. disobedience to superiors.
(September 14.)
On September 14, Luther, together with Philip, scolded the schoolteacher at Niemeck very harshly, because he was puffed up against his pastor, because such church servants caused their older masters to be stalked and out of ambition increased the faults of these older ones and belittled them, and all would become people like Ham [Chamonists] in the case of Noah (Gen. 9, 22.). And at last he admonished him with very sharp exhortation to reverence his teachers, that he would desist from this disobedience, [or] be idle of the land.
312. Germany's certain plague.
(September 15, 13 Sonnt, n. Trin.)
313. objectionable seals.
(September 15.)
314: The Gospel's content and teachings on the 13th Sunday [after Trinity Sunday].
(September 15.)
Today's Gospel Luc. 10. about the Samaritan is very beautiful. One should preach four weeks of it, because it is popular and pleasant, [so] that the Magister Sententiarum in the fourth book will do it. For the Gospel has many beautiful passages about grace and the teaching of the Law described in the most beautiful and briefest way; then the malicious, hypocritical nature of the scribe, whom he also examines well, pays him well, for how could he make it more hostile than by painting the priest and the Levite, the holiest of God's people, so that they pass by, leave him lying there, and do not help him? If only he had said, They have not seen him. But he says that they are so hard that they have forgiven the half-dead man.
negligent. Turks should not do that. Therefore he brings in the Samaritan, to their shame. Then there is also rich material in the parable, also of the two pennies etc.; in short, it is a rich gospel.
The hope of the preachers is the ruin of the church.
Table Talks Cap. § 37, 48.
316. deer rut.
Marriage must begin with prayer. (September 18.)
318. certainty of the principles.
(September 18.)
The principles are certain in two respects, because they are the light implanted in the mind by God. Secondly, because if the opposite is assumed, corruption of nature follows. Therefore, every certainty in doctrines arises either from principles, or from experience, or from the word of God. Experience, however, is certain because it is so ordered by God. Away with the darkness [perplexitas] of the academics, which is false and annuls and overturns all certainty in all things.
319. miscellaneous peoples. (September 19.)
320. content of the gospel of the ten lepers.
(September 22, 14th Sunday n. Trin.)
On the 14th Sunday after Trinity, he spoke of the Gospel of the ten lepers, which contained a wonderful theological teaching about faith and its effectiveness, which is to be impressed on the most afflicted consciences; then a moral teaching about ingratitude, which is necessary against the authorities and the despisers of the Word at all times. It also appears in this gospel, and eight days ago in Luke 10, and in many others, that Christ was very angry with the Jewish people, so that he wanted to take the kingdom and the priesthood from them. That is why he makes the ingratitude of the Jews so great here, in that he also praises them immensely the Samaritan, who returns as a stranger, without law, and praises Christ most highly. Jews and priests were peelers, so that the Gentile surpassed them in sincerity of faith. This means that the law is honestly preached against this most holy people: the Samaritans, who are not bound by the law, observe the law more, while the Jews insist on the law to the highest degree against the Gentiles, which they keep less than [neither] they. Summa: The law of Moses is given only to the Jews, and this passage solves many objections; that faith justifies, and the law does not concern the church as far as justification is concerned. Summa: The Jews are a very proud and superstitious people, very inclined to sophistry. Just look, I beg you, how they have twisted the passage and the glorious promise of Christ (Haggai 2, 7.) [in the German Bible 2, 8.]: "There shall be
then come the consolation of all nations." This is what they interpret from the abundance of gold, silver, power and honor. This shall come abundantly to them and they invent a new paradise, so to speak, and thus they twist the most spiritual prophecy and promise to carnal things and their belly, since they see by daily experience that their imaginations are false.
Lauterbach
? Table speeches Cap.
321 Hungarian students.
(September 22.)
322. contempt for the servants of the word. (September 25.)
323 The Lanf of the Gospel in Denmark and England. (September 26.)
324. Zwingli.
(September 26.)
325. blindness of the papists.
(September 26.)
326 The church is overwhelmed by the quantity of books.
(September 26.)
The Augsburgers and Wittenbergers persuaded Luther to admit that his books would be collected in volumes. He replied: I will never agree to your plan; I would rather that all my books perish and only the Holy Scriptures be read. In this way we will get into writing and let the Bible go. For Brenz, too, has made such a great interpretation of twelve chapters of Lucas that the reader is disgusted to look at it. The interpretation of Galatians is also of this kind. I wonder who made these such great orators. Who would want to buy such large volumes? Or if he also bought them, who wants to read them? If they should also be read, who will be edified from them? 1)
327. content and teachings of the sermon about the angels on Michaelmas.
(September 29.)
The righteousness of God, who accepts the children. (September 30.)
329. epieurism of Erasmus of Rotterdam. (September 30.)
330. john Agricola.
(September 30.)
331 Letter from nuns to Luther. (September 30.)
332. dysentery of Luther against the Dreckpoelen Lemchen. 2) (September 30.)
(This epigram [of ten lines] is not suitable for sharing).
1) Cf. Tischreden Cap. 1, § 76.
2) Lemchen rst the shame poet Simon Lemnius at Wittenberg. Cf. Tischr. Cap. 28, § 13 and Walch, old edition, vol. XIV, 1334.
Lauterbach
Table Talks Cap. § 67, 4.
334: The dishonorable state and the veil of virgins. (October 1.)
335. habitual handling.
(October 1.)
What one is accustomed to and educated in, he cannot hide from. A scribe, when he comes across books, he lets himself remember. Therefore, I have seen a public host who had all kinds of tools, military, for fencers, musical and handicraft tools ready and lying in front of his eyes, by which he recognized every newly arriving guest, what state he was.
336: Avarice tramples religion underfoot. (October 2 and 7.)
337: Against pusillanimity.
(October 7.)
Job dwelt at Uz as a heathen.
(October 7.)
After that he asked about Job, which in German is actually called Of, as today Of [i.e. Offo] of Schrieben. For in Hebrew it is written that he was an Idumean Gentile, of the seed of Abraham, but not circumcised, long after the times of Abraham, perhaps in the fifth generation thereafter, and dwelt at Uz, at Jtzsch near Bratte, for Uz is as much as our Jtzsch. The word of God is sent to him. It is very comforting that God does not despise the wretched heathen, Job, Naaman the Syrian, the Moor, the Queen of Sheba, Nineveh. He also wants them to be part of His kingdom, as if He said: "Even though salvation is for the Jews, it is not for the Jews alone. Behold, I beseech you, the Holy Spirit in the Gentile Job, with how exceedingly clear words he describes God, and that is, the One who took flesh upon Himself, eternal life and the resurrection of the dead, so that neither in the Old nor in the New Testament is the resurrection of the dead described in such bright words as in Job, Cap. 19 (v. 25.): "I know that my Redeemer liveth" etc. "And at the last day" etc. Hence we now call it with us, the last day. "And mine eyes shall see him." Isn't that gloriously spoken by an uncircumcised Gentile, I don't know how to speak it more clearly. Yes, God also gave the Gentiles their prophets, as Babylon and the Persians had their prophets, but to Alexander and the Romans He gave no prophets.
339: One should not invite the devil as a guest. (October 7.)
340 The Lichtenberg Monk.
(October 7.)
The devil is an enemy to me, not without reason, because I have torn his empire apart; what none of the kings or princes could accomplish, God has accomplished through me, a poor beggar, a monk, an egg man. Even though many believe that I was painted in the Lichtenberg prophecy, because I
It must be, according to their judgment: it is the devil's prophecy, who has well seen that his kingdom is collapsing and cannot exist through lies. Therefore he has seen a monk, uncertain of what kind he is. He cannot give him any color on his cap, but paints a devil on his neck to scare people away.
Lauterbach Tischreden xag. Cap. §
341 The poet Prudentius.
(October 7.)
342. J. (Schenk's) Thorheit.
(October 7.)
343.'Ορ^ονομεϊυ [right Theilers of Paul.
(October 7.)
The word of God must be well and carefully divided, because there are two kinds of people: the contrite, for whom comfort belongs; the unbending, for whom the law, threats, examples of wrath, the fire of Elijah, the waters of the flood and the destruction of Jerusalem belong. They are to be attacked and terrified.
344. by the Elector of Saxony. (October 7.)
345. the mice anno 1539.
(1539, October 10, Friday.)
346. a timely death.
(1538, October 10, Thursday.)
347. suspected as enemies.
(October 10.)
348. the italian wives.
(October 11.)
On October 11, he said about the wickedness of the Italians, who did not allow their wives to attend the banquets of their guests, nor did they let them go out freely, but kept them, locked them, bound them. That is why historians marvel at the straight nature of the Germans, who trust body and wife and children to each other. The French are horny, but the Spaniards are quite unruly and surpass the Italians and French in all wickedness. No nation can dislike them. That is why the King of Hungary did not want any Spaniard in Hungary against the Turks this year. They have beaten them all away. They are much more cruel than the Turk.
349 A hypocrite.
(October 11.)
350. wit.
(October 11.)
S8,
351. Christ preached from the book. (October 11.)
(October 11.)
Lauterbach pax.
Table speeches Cap. §
353. wit.
(October 11.)
354. benefit of the disputations. (October 11.)
355. antinomer.
(13. October. 17. Sunday n. Trin.)
356. zeal of the Elector in reformation of the university.
(October 13.)
357. J. S(chenk) a false brother. (October 13.)
358 Talking down from heaven.
(October 13.)
At the dinner table, the 73rd Psalm was read against the anger of the happiness of the wicked, where David complains (v. 9): "What they say must have been spoken from heaven," i.e., in the freest and most certain way, they spoke what they wanted, as the teaching of the Pope was about his power, "you are Peter" (Jn. 1, 42. Matth. 16, 18.), about indulgences. By this impertinence they challenged John Huss and me to the battlefield, insisting and concluding: because the pope says it, therefore one must believe it, although John Huss did not yet recognize the pontificate, because he only saw some abuses and concluded from the customs to the person of the pope; but we begin with the person of the pope and proceed against his customs. If the pope were like St. Peter, he would still be godless.
359 The Angular Mass. [Sicca Missa.]
(October 13.)
360 The Origin of the Reign of the Papacy.
361 Of the Antichrist.
(October 13.)
362 Marriage is hated.
(October 14.)
363. summa: The ultimate purpose of the human statutes. (October 14.)
364. Rule of the Papist Fast. (October 14.)
365. marriage case.
(October 15.)
The papists do not have equal power with the apostles. (October 15.)
(This number is omitted because contained in No. 184. May 21.)
auterbach Tischreden xsK. Cap. K
(October 16.)
On October 16, the day of Galli, he said much about the trials of lawyers and trades and wars, which always fished with a golden fish. That is why it is best to reconcile immediately. If it has come to quarrels and wars, then misfortune follows. That is why the ancients spoke well and wrote it on the city gates [portis publicis]: In peace the hoe and the plow run, [Pace bidens vomerque currit. Tibuli. I. el. 10, 49.] Likewise: The right may well judge, but not reconcile. Because peace must finally follow a protracted war, concord is most useful, which prevents many ills and prevents future misfortunes, as Claus Narr has advised.
368 Mag. Nicolaus Hausmann's letter to the Bishop of Meissen.
(October 16 and 17.)
(Although this letter is not from Luther himself, it has the content and manner of speech entered by Luther, as Kummer p. 399 (according to Seidemann's information) notes. Since this letter cannot find a place among "Luther's letters", we share it herewith).
Venerable Father in Christ. Having been called to govern the church in Freiberg, and especially in these very dangerous times, I feel how little I am up to this difficult task. Furthermore, since the Pope may never want to allow a council for the reformation of the church and doctrine, I am urged by my conscience to look around, where I might find advice and help, by which I can be sustained. Since Your Honor has the highest calling in this country and, according to the saying of Paul, should be a steward who gives food to the servants of Christ in due time, I have decided to humbly approach Your Honor with this letter and to ask to the best of my ability whether the Lord might give me grace to show comfort and hope through Your Honor, so that I may be able to govern this church all the more blissfully in confidence in such a great bishop. For although we reject most of the teachings of the pope with the greatest justification and strive to faithfully and sincerely present the Word of God to the servants of Christ, we have never (not even Luther himself) wanted to diminish and abolish the prestige of the bishops; rather, we wish that it not only remain intact and unharmed, but also that it be helpful and comforting, especially in this time, when people are unbridled in all classes, from the highest to the lowest. Therefore, for the sake of Christ, I ask Your Honor to indicate to me what help and consolation I may receive from Your Honor in this matter, so that I may be able to govern with all the more confidence the district entrusted to me. I wish to teach the word purely, to maintain the discipline of the church, to honor the superiors and, as much as God grants, to live for the edification of all, not to give offense to anyone, if only it can be left to me, and at the same time I can obtain help and good will from Your Reverence. I expect a gracious and godly answer 1) in Christ. Your Honor is well. Simonis and Jude (28 October) 1538.
1) After the signature: "humble Nicolaus Hausmann", Kummer remarks that he had not received an answer to this letter, and that his second successor, the superintendent Caspar Zeiner [Zeuner], had also written to this bishop on advice and with the words of Luther.
On October 17, the honorable man, Mag. Nicolaus Hausmann, a venerable old man and faithful servant of Christ, went to his profession in Freiberg and Luther gave him his farewell blessing that he should take up this profession in the name of the Lord: Go, my dear Mr. Hausmann, God will be with you and comfort you. Do not be broken down, for it is not your cause that is being pursued, but Christ's, the Son of God. When he said this, both of them began to weep, and the tears also flowed from those standing by.
369 Hans Metzsch.
(October 17.)
Lauterbach
Table speeches
Cap. §
370. when and how Freiberg started.
(October 17.)
In the year of the Lord 1172 Freiberg in Meissen was built by Saxons from Goslar. That is why a part of it is still called the Saxon city, which at that time was still completely a desert, uninhabitable because of the [dense] forests, except that on the bank, which is now called the Münzbach, there was a very large spot called Christiansdorf, which is located all along the creek. On the height, where St. Peter's church now stands, stood a gallows. Which area all Margrave Otto should have given to the abbot in the Celle. But since at that time wagoners were driving towards Goslar and saw ore on the road, which looked like Goslar ore, they threw it on the wagon safely, which held a lot of silver in the sample. Immediately, some Saxons from Goslar went with the wagoner to the place, mined and struck, found excellent ore, so it became a large supply. Margrave Otto, however, gave Ruspen [Rosswein] to the abbot for this place, and such a large mine was quickly established, which none in the German lands has ever equaled. Those at Jglau in Moravia have given them mining rights, as Wittenberg has taken its university from Tübingen. Thus this city Freiberg had very large liberties, until in the times of the duke George some were taken from it. Has stood 400 years less 34. This told Hausmann to Wittenberg.
I advise Hieronymus Schurff, Doctor of Laws at Wittenberg.
(October.)
(This advice to the council of a city (Halle?) under the jurisdiction of the archbishop of Mamz indicates that, according to Scripture, the fathers and the spiritual rights, a congregation has the right to seek out and choose its own preachers and pastors, and to partake of the Lord's Supper in both forms is also commanded in the same to the laity. Omitted because not by Luther).
Then follows, immediately following the preceding, but not belonging to it, the second paragraph of:
The emperor is unhappy against the Germans.
(October 23.)
The conclusion of this section:
373: The mice attack a farmer's grain. (October 23.)
374 On the Violence of the Devil.
(November 4, Monday.)
The eloquence of women is dangerous.
Lauterbach
Table speeches
Cap. §
(November 4.)
The following:
376. prayers and chants of the papists.
(November 4.)
377. canon law.
(November 4.)
378. mag. hausmann's death.
(November 6.)
379 Talk well.
(November 6.)
380 There is no need to write against Witzel.
(November 6.)
A heroic man is not a man.
(November 6.)
382. cabbage hare. Also from the landgrave.
(November 6.)
On November 5, the enemy Kohlhase devastated the village of Maretza, 1½ miles from Wittenberg, at night with robbers, and he hanged the escort in the bathroom and pierced him, and the shepherd he led away with great booty from the village. When Luther heard this incident, he was very excited about it and suspected that it must be with herbs 1) that the noblemen and the Saxon captains turned a blind eye. If such a thing happened to the landgrave in Hesse, it would not be given to him. He is a noble prince, keeps his land and street pure, [I] will accept his escort for the escort of all princes and emperors. For this is the proper office of princes; because the cabbage hare begins to shed [begunnet] blood, he shall not do it long. The blood shall drown him. 2)
The monastic discipline is good.
(November 9.)
384. cuirass [fur skirt] female ornament.
(November 9.)
The most beautiful and honest and necessary adornment for women is cuirasses and caps, just as men's most necessary clothing is pants and dusters. For the lower leg clothing of men is nothing other than the extended thigh clothing, that one has stretched the Bruche [pants] from the hip to the feet.
385. five-year silence of the students.
(November 9.)
386 The Turk boasts that he is Saracene.
(November 10.)
1) D. i. With wizard.
2) About Kohlhase, compare Luther's letters, Walch, old edition, Vol. XXI, 373, No. 405; Vol. XXI, 1304, No. 856, § 3.
387. the turkish language.
Table speeches Cap. §
(November 10.)
388: Of Jokes! and the Emperor Sigismund.
(November 10.)
389. privilege of young spouses in Moses.
(November 10.)
390. the death of a sme man a sign of wrath
God.
(November 10.)
The conclusion of this section:
391. various effects of the sun.
(November 10.)
The sun works different things by one drive in different objects; because it dissolves everything warm, but it restricts the cold. Thus the one is cold by its property, but warm by its power. For there is a double cause, the true and necessary one, which Aristotle calls αϊτών άληΜν, or ôü δν τι; the other is sine qua non, which is not necessary to the accomplishment, [Arist. Analyt. post. II, 11. (Seidemann.))
392. marriage case. (November 10.)
393. the essence of marriage.
(November 10.)
394. principles / practical;/ cognizable by reason.
(November 10.)
Luther then asked what the cause was that people understood less the practical principles than those recognizable by reason? For 2 times 4 makes § etc. This principle, which can be recognized by reason, is always certain and firm. But the practical one: Honor your parents etc., is less taken into account. I answer: It is the cause and fault of our corrupt nature, so that our judgment is so darkened that we can see those natural things less.
395. simplicity of Luther.
(November 10.)
After that, the teachers said of Luther's perspicacity and spiritual gifts, who could completely recognize the most difficult things before they had even occurred. He answered: Not at all, but he was a very simple man who could easily be deceived; as the nightingale, the simplest of all birds, is easily caught, so also M. Luther is easily deceived.
396 Community of goods.
(November 10.)
The community of goods is not according to natural law. It is not something commanded, but left behind. If it were a commandment, it could not be maintained because of the corruption of nature, because there would be more who would consume the goods than would bring them, and so confusion would arise.
397. the Italian air is pernicious at Rächt. (November 14.)
Lauterbach
Table Talks Cap.§ 76, 26.
398. the best breasts and power of breast milk.
(November 14.)
Then the following:
After that, they spoke of how harmful it was when a child was breastfed by a pregnant woman; for the fruit in the womb always draws the best substances to itself, takes the cream and leaves the whey for the poor guest outside. That is why all women agree that it would be best for the child if it were soon weaned.
399. stepchildren.
(November 14.)
490 Mag. Franz [Burkard] of Weimar. (November 15.)
Luther's prayer for his enemies.
(November 15.)
Afterwards, he pondered much on his way whether he should invite H(ans) M(etzsch), who had been excommunicated, to the wedding; he could not be admitted to the holy act, because he stood hardened on his wickedness; he did not promote much good, but hindered it according to his devilish character, and still boasted in his wickedness. Yet I pray daily for him, for Duke George, and also for the Bishop of Mainz, that God, if He pleased human ways, would convert even these enemies.
402. almo ivy for free.
(November 15.)
403. consideration of the creatures.
(November 15.)
404 The pope concedes the church properties to the emperor to sell them.
(November 16.)
On November 16, news about the pope was reported that he had promised the emperor and the duke of Ferrara that they could divide the church properties, even whole abbeys, to pay for the war costs against the Lutherans. They are dealing with misfortune. Let us pray and be pious that we may be concerned with our zeal also for the foreigners, for the duchy of Duke George. It is good that our princes have gone before.
405 Question about the 32nd Psalm.
(November 16.)
On the way back, Luther asked Jonas how the passage rhymes, Psalm 32, [v. 2]: "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no falsity"; how the two passages fit together: He is blessed because he is not imputed, and: He is without falsity? D. Jonas answered: This sentence belongs to it [esse propositionem categoricam], namely, such people are sincere and godly, and it is said against them.
who drew a carnal freedom from the gospel. Luther answered that this was a godly answer, but it was not in the passage, because this sentence was spoken conditionally [esse propositionem hypotheticam]. The first sentence is: Blessed is the one whom God accepts according to His grace and mercy. The second: and in his spirit there is no falsehood. He must also believe, so it will be comforting for him. Even if he does not believe, God is true; but it is not to his advantage [sed non illi].
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches Cap. z
406. way of the ban.
(November 16.)
The distinction between two kinds of sinners is necessary. (November 16.)
408. question about Job.
(November 16.)
409. The Gospel of the Old Testament is interpreted.
(November 16.)
The worship of the New Testament and the religion that has to do with faith is the most certain, which is based on the oral word. For the oral preaching of the Gospel is the most certain and is the explanation of the whole Old Testament, which is still dark, as Revelation 5 indicates the book that is sealed and opened and revealed by the Lamb. The papacy has the most apparent worship, in which it boasts of the Word of God, faith, Christ, sacraments, love, hope, but it denies the power of all these and teaches things that do not belong to it, which contradicts it. That is why Paul says (2 Tim. 3, 5.): "They deny the power of godliness"; he does not say: they have no godliness as far as their life is concerned; he also does not say: they deny godliness, but: they deny the power of godliness, namely by their false and superstitious teaching.
410. thomas, scotus, occam.
On November 17, he said much of the Thomists, Scotists, and Novelists [Occam], three sects that struggled with wonderful subtlety over the words that were taken to be essential or significant, as in the example: No one and no one bites the sack, whether no one and no one is taken essentially? as they would have teeth? Likewise: The lewd woman will be a virgin; there the lewd woman is taken from the future and in another sense, namely, the child that is not yet born, which will be a virgin, will be a lewd woman afterwards. Likewise: No man runs; this sentence is true if the men rest, if also all women run, because "None" is of male gender. That is what they are called restriction. Likewise Haeccitas, Oppositio, Suppositio, Alienatio.... All this has come from ignorance in grammar and grammatical figures. Now are very favorable times for all arts and knowledge [facultatum], which are most clearly presented and learned in a short time, for which we cannot thank God enough. Woe to the young people who abuse this golden time. In the past, the sciences were more splendid in Greece, and nothing in Germany and Italy. For Paris was
the originator of many errors, as it still is today, because nothing but Thomas, Scotus and Porphyrius was read there. Thus the sciences wander from one place to another. Today they flourish in Germany and France, God grant! for a long time.
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches Cap. 8
411. latomus.
(November 17.)
412 Of the Threefold Church of the Pope. (November 17.)
The two main errors in the papacy.
The following piece of this section:
fists (2 Cor. 12, 7.)? I think it was Lucifer's legate a latere, or his highest cardinal. If we did not have St. Paul with his writings, we would be very poor. That is why St. Paul is not unjustly blasphemed by the papists, as if he were the father of the heretics, and as Dietrich von Speth, that exceedingly godless scoundrel, says quite impudently, there are 1) not greater three boys, because St. Paul, the bishop of Salzburg and Salamanca, these three have caused all misfortune. He would like to erase Paulum and put himself in his place, so that the devil's trinity remains, or let Sadoletum and Petrum Bembum be there.
414 The gospel must be bequeathed to the descendants.
(November 17.)
415] Carl as a human being. (November 17.)
416 Cause of the leakage of the rivers.
(November 17.)
After that, Bucer and Luther spoke of the outpouring of the rivers, which had erupted two years ago in general because of the previous earthquakes in Campania and the Alps, where the earth, opened by spirits, had driven forth [new] sources of the rivers. The Nile always leaks, but it makes fertile the fruit-bearing clods. The Elbe carries only sand with
1) In the original: he has.
2) In the original: let.
and washes away houses and trees. The Elbe is called Eilf in German, from the eilf springs from which it rises. It is an unstable river because of the sand and has a short course, but the Rhine, the Po and the Danube are main rivers that flow far.
Lauterbach
Table speeches Cap. 8
417th article of our faith.
(November 17.)
418. campanus.
(November 17.)
Religion serves as a handmaiden to superstition. (November 17.)
420. church properties.
(November 17.)
The follow-up cde:
The conclusion:
The world promises great things and delivers little; it does like the innkeepers who give little to their guests and put them off with words, according to the Greek proverb: Ýðßóáãìá est majus öÜé÷ø,1 ) the addition is greater than the purchase.
421 Bueer's departure. Glory of the Scribes.
(November 20, Wednesday.)
On November 20, after the doctors, the chancellor and the vice-chancellor had dined together, M. Bucer went away in the afternoon at the second hour in peace to the landgrave. May God the Lord faithfully guide his message. Amen. Just that day letters arrived from Amberg and the Palatines asking for preachers of the Gospel. After that Luther said: "Behold how God raises the lowly from the lowest. He calls the wretched to deliver messages for the direction of the greatest affairs, because the nobles are not able to do it. The prince uses the scribes, party stallions. Caspar Müller 2) sat on a splendid chariot and said: "We want to be driven splendidly on covered chariots. For they must have us, even if they are of such high nobility. After all, our H. Metzsch may hypocritically humble himself, as he wrote on his chair: I am not one of the ninety-nine sheep (Matth. 18, 12.), if he knows it much differently than he says; he does not want to be the hundredth lost one. In spite of him.
422. bread. Wine.
(November 20.)
423. the reformers of God. (November 20.)
424. classes of lawyers.
(November 20.)
1) Instead of the original, which, however, is not found in the dictionaries, may want to read.
2) Caspar Müller, Mansfeld Chancellor. Cf. Walch, St. Louis Edition, vol. X, 1806 f.
425: The world is governed in an irregular way. (November 20.)
Lauterbach PK8176.
Table speeches
Cap. §
426 The Roman Empire.
(November 20.)
427. praise of marriage.
(Nov. 22, Friday.)
428 Saxony Law.
(November 22.)
429 There will be a war of the papists because of the church goods.
(November 23.)
430th rule of the Franeisean.
(November 23.)
431. Catharina von Brandenstein. (23, November.)
432. hatred of the laity against the clerics. (November 25.)
433. great jewelry of this world.
(November 25.)
Then he looked at the bride's ornaments of gold braid. He said, "Solomon and Julius Caesar, who were far richer than we, did not wear this. Now everything must be gold. That which would have been given for church ornaments is now hung on the neck, although gold and silver would still be a more suitable ornament than silk etc. Dear Lord God, how many ornaments you have given us for the vanity of this miserable life! What a fine ornament that will be in eternal life! If Adam had lived and died to this day, his life would have been nothingness and vanity.
434. Bride and Groom, a Germanism. (November 25.)
The soil does not support it.
(November 25.)
After that he said of the despised Wittenberg, which thirty years ago would have had no name, would have been completely dirty and lowly. If one had sown pious, honest people in it, coarse Saxons would have sprung up. Like the Eulenspiegel, who sows pebbles in a market and says: I sow bad boys. If I had sown pious people, peelers would have sprung up, for the land would not bear it.
436. why few history writers find? (November 25.)
437: The pope permits the plundering of church property. (November 25.)
Turbatus est furore oculus.
(November 25.)
After that he asked the Hebrew (Aurogallus), what does XXX actually mean? It does not mean anger [furorem], but sadness, as the Psalm says (Ps. 6, 8. 31, 10.): Turbatus est furore oculus meus, i.e. with sadness, as if he wanted to say: Someone might become gray before such hardship. For the word furor obscures the whole verse. Ah, I have often been glad when I have found a word that has illuminated the whole sentence for me. For here the word furor leads our mind to anger, of which the text does not say here. Also in Paul (Eph. 4, 30.) is the same word: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches Cap. §
439. you have dug through my hands.
(November 25.)
They have dug through my hands and feet. (Ps. 22, 17.) This text of Christ being crucified is completely mocked by the Jews, even they say that Christ was not crucified at all, because neither Moses nor the prophets indicate that this kind of torture was used by the Jews, but stoning or burning. To them I reply that the Romans did not kill according to the law of the Jews, but according to the customs of the Gentiles. For to this day men are hanged in Syria, as they are impaled on a stake in Hungary. Therefore, the conclusion of the Jews that Christ was not crucified is not valid, because in Moses we do not read anything about this kind of torture, except the hanging on a wood, but not about the piercing of the hands and feet.
440. The wolf cannot say: Father.
(November 25.)
After that he spoke to the Englishman about the character of the wolf, which should have learned the name father. When he had spelled it together, he spoke lamb. He could not forget his German [germanismum]. But you Englishmen do not have wolves, but are wolves yourselves.
441. greed.
(November 25.)
Great is the covetousness of men, even in the time of the gospel, and they hasten to help no one in his need. Luther answered: "Even if our hearts are not so inclined to give, a Christian must still be mindful of his duty of love, so that he may be glad [to give] because of his duty, just as the spendthrifts waste everything too much, as Seneca says to a prodigal: "You have a disease that you give too gladly. For the prodigal is not to be praised who neglects thrift altogether.
442 The Papists' Flawed Arguments.
(November 25.)
443. praise of eloquence.
(November 25.)
444: The good is twofold, moral and indifferent. 1)
(November 25.)
It is good not to eat flesh and not to touch a woman; therefore, it is evil to eat flesh. I answer: The conclusion is false, because there is a deception in the composition and in the division. For it is good not to eat meat, namely, if the brother is vexed thereby. For the good is twofold, a moral and an indifferent. If the good is taken in a moral way, then its opposite is evil. But if it is an indifferent good, then it is not directly opposed to evil. For the rule of the opposite does not apply except to that which is directly opposed.
Lauterbach table speeches pnx. Cap. § 182.
445. Johannes Agricola.
(Nov. 29, Friday.)
The plague is a punishment.
(November 29.)
447. paul lindenau.
(November 29.)
On this day a letter came to Luther from the council in Freiberg, in which they asked for the confirmation of Paul Lindenau as superintendent and for Antonius Lauterbach as his successor. But D. Luther was agitated and did not want to agree to the appointment of the latter, he was not up to such a great office, and he wrote them his opinion".
448 The Landgrave.
(November 30.)
Last November, there was much talk about the armaments of the landgrave, [his] armament order. Luther answered: Our Lord God grant us peace and prevent those warlike armaments, although our princes are not to be greatly blamed; for they are sought so carefully that no treaty nor imperial diet is held, see only if they could get a cause.
449. which riches find the best. (November 30.)
450. various punishment of theft.
(November 30.)
It was said of theft that it is not punished so severely among any people as among the Germans and the English. France whips a great thief, if he is caught, with rods, if he is caught the second time, he is made recognizable by cutting off the ears, if caught the third time, he is punished with death. Luther answered: The law of the Lacedemonians is admirable, imitates most the Greeks, because the same permitted the secret theft: That one would like to steal, only that he kept it secretly, that one did not seize him, so that one teaches the people to have respect for their own.
1) Cf. no. 73 of this appendix.
451: How to do good.
(November 30.)
Lauterbach M8.
Table speeches Cap. z
Someone apologized that he would have liked to help people with charitable deeds if the ingratitude of the people did not frighten him so much. He replied: "Charity must be hidden and not boastful, it should be done quietly and without self-interest.
452. the cheese. 1)
(November 30.)
Non Argus, largus, non Methusalem, Magdalena, Non Habakuk, Lazarus ; caseus iste bonus.
Panis habens oculos, non servans caseus ullos.
Not Argus shundertäugig], rich; not Methusalem [überalt], Magdalena [voll Thränen],
Not Habakuk, Lazarus; this cheese is good.
The bread has eyes, the cheese has none.
453. the horse.
(November 30.)
Lucius, anguilla et leo, serpens, femina, catus;
Auris acuta, brevis, caput exiguum, caro dura.
Lucius, an eel and a lion, a snake, a woman, smart; A sharp, short ear, small head, hard flesh.
454. epitaph of an apostate epicure.
(November 30.)
Crux quater hunc habuit. Mansit, ut ante fuit.
He was a swan, twice he was a magpie, three times he was tied with a rope.
Four times the cross had him. He remained as he was before.
The behavior of a woman is a miracle.
(December 1, Sonnt, First Advent.)
456. the tool of the tongue. (December 1.)
69, 3.^
457 Ceremonies of Advent.
(December 1.)
458. the italian queen of poland. [Bona.]
(December 1.)
The Queen of Poland married from Italy [in 1518], of whom the Poles boast three gifts: 1) a false sense; 2) a painted face; 3) an unchaste body.
459 Thuringia's fertility.
(December 1.)
1) Because the interpretation of the three following epigrams presents significant difficulties, we put the Latin first.
460. Question of the death of Aaron. (December 3.)
Lauterbach pag.
Table speeches
Cap. §
On the 3rd of December I (Lauterbach) asked D. M. Luther, how the two passages in Moses about the death of Aaron could be brought into agreement with each other, because 5 Mos. 10. (V. 6.) it says, Aaron died in Moserah, at the twenty-seventh place of residence, but 4 Mos. 33. (V. 38.), he died on the mountain Hor, the thirty-fourth place of residence. He answered, Aaron died in Moserah, but his body was brought to Hor and buried there.
The papists under Duke George wanted to reform themselves.
(December 4.)
462. one's own justice a bite of the hound of hell. (December 5.)
463. first measuring caught.
(December 5.)
Whether the sacrament is in the private mass?
(December 5.)
I also doubt very much whether the Sacrament is in the private Mass, because here the commandment of God about the Sacrament is neglected and they change it into a sacrifice. There they do not celebrate synaxin, i.e. communion, and have a private silence. One alone holds it, which is quite against the word Communion. But I do not want to condemn their long and prolonged abuse, I want to let them defend and answer for it, the papists. We do not want to be in their danger.
465. communion for the sick.
(December 5.)
When the sacrament is administered, the minister of the church must always communicate at the same time. If someone has a hatred, let him be sorry and be reconciled. If he is not qualified to administer it, he is even less qualified to baptize, to preach, to pray. In the past, the church consisted of a few people and people went to the sacrament very devoutly. Now everyone runs around confused. I always think about how I want to abolish the private communion with the sick in the house, but [we] have to keep it like I did when I was sick, that there would be a communion with several others.
466. boasting of the church to all hypocrites. (December 5.)
467. Åðéåßêåéá. (Equity.] (December 5.)
468 Fnrcht vor der Pest. (December 6.)
469. contemplation of eternal life. (December 6.)
Table Talks Cap. K 45, 7.
(December 12.)
472 The Queen of Navarre very immoral.
(December 12.)
Mention was made of the Queen of Navarre, who once ruled in France. She had her seat in a very high castle, under whose dungeon a river flowed. There she had sent many splendid young men and drowned them after they had been disgraced, so that their fornication would not be revealed. Finally one of them was called by the name of Buridanus. He knew the sad outcome, ordered his comrades to wait for him in barges and pull him out, and so he fell down and was saved. He caught many birds and hung a note on the neck of each of them with this double-meaning sentence: Reginam Navarrae licet occidere [i.e. the queen of Navarre may kill, or: One may kill the queen of Navarre]. 1) Such a murderer is the devil, who makes the people so nonsensical.
It is uncertain who translated the Psalter.
(December 12.)
When Luther was asked who the translator of the Psalter was, he said that it was uncertain who had translated it, and that the translation was obscure. When he was then asked to translate it into Latin, he said: "Not at all; I would give everyone an example and a reason to translate it, as M. B[ucer] published the Psalter under the assumed name Aretius Felinus. Thereby he has clearly indicated his bad and hopeful character.
474. You sell your people for nothing.
(December 12.)
The 44th Psalm was read at dinner. There Luther asked about the verse (13.): Vendidisti populum tuum sine pretio et non erat multitudo in commutationibus eorum, what the meaning of this verse would be, how it could be a sale without a purchase price; if it should be a purchase, then there must necessarily be a value, because sale and price are two related things [correlativa]. He said: It is a very obscure translation. Hebrew it means: For ungodliness there is an escape for them, or: for nothing you have saved them. Just as Christ says John 16 (v. 2): Whoever kills you will think he is doing God a service. So in German: You sell your people for nothing and take nothing for it.
475 Carlstadt, Petrus Lupinus, Eck.
(December 12.)
The following:
1)Bayle s. v. Buridan. In the tour ds Xssls in Paris. The queen is Margaretha, daughter of Count Ro
berts II of Burgundy, wife of Louis X. Hülln of Navarre and France, repudiated 1313, killed 1315. (Seidemann.)
476. Luther tears at the writing of the books.
(December 12.)
On those days Luther was troubled and anxious as long as he was planning to write the booklet against the bishop of Mainz, but as soon as he started writing, the pen flew. When he was asked about the speed of his pen, he answered: "I scream while drafting. For I carefully consider all the reasons and individual words on all sides, that such books of the Concept confess me much; of the kind was the book of the Abthun of the Mass. But the papists and our opponents go out and babble, write whatever comes to their mind.
Lauterbach PUA.
Table speeches Cap. Z
477. how the reformation of the papists is constituted. (December 12.)
478. series of soles of the holy fathers. (December 12.)
479. admiration of music.
(December 17, Tuesday.)
No one becomes the highest from once. (December 17.)
481 Human traditions are the ruin of the church. (December 18.)
482. ignorance of the italian victim monkeys.
(December 18.)
483 The Italians are suspicious.
(December 18.)
The bishop of Mainz is cruel and fearful. (December 18.)
485: The adjournment of the council. (December 18.)
486 Guest banquet of Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra.
(December 18.)
Marcus Antonius, a very powerful Roman citizen, mighty over all the kings of Europe, although he was not emperor, was nevertheless a very proud leader of the soldiers, who had a thousand wild pigs served at one meal. When Cleopatra, his second wife, wanted to surpass him in preciousness, she served him, since he was invited, only one dish and swallowed even at the table a pearl, which exceeded in value a prince's treasure. For with great harshness he repudiated his former wife, the daughter of Augustus, and married Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, who was equal to Antony in courtliness. Afterwards he told of the pride of Antony, who had made the queen the queen of Egypt.
The queen invited him to go fishing and pulled out the tied fish so that there would be a large number of them. The cunning queen had it for the best, and set up a fishery against it, invited it and let it also pull out tied fish. Finally, when they pulled out fried fish, she said: The Romans must catch kingdoms, the Egyptians fish. Finally Antonius stabbed himself to death in Athens.
Lauterbach Table speeches MK. Cap. §
487: One must pray against the papists. (December 25, Wednesday.)
488: Luther's Joy at the Incarnation of Christ. (December 25.)
This concludes the diary of Mag. Anton Lauterbach about the year 1538. Then Seidemann leaves an appendix of 11 pages, partly written by the same hand as in the book, partly by another hand. The last 7 pages are individual pieces from Kummer's second part. From this appendix, which we do not want to reproduce in its entirety, because what it contains does not fit our purpose, e.g. a fragment of a letter from Luther to Melanchthon from April 8, 1540; a letter from Melanchthon to the Nuremberg bookseller Petrejus, etc., we have included the following pieces in the table speeches:
Kummer, sheet t, 6b,
Lauterbach
Table speeches
,, pag
258b f.,
//
299b
366b f.,
375b f..
405d et seq,
//
//
In addition, Seidemann added a number of pieces from Kummer in the form of annotations to Lauterbach's notes, sixteen of which we have used for the table speeches. We do not consider it necessary to give a list of them, because they are scattered back and forth in Seidemann's edition, there is no internal connection between them, and they are accounted for in every passage in the Tischreden.