Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther
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Martin Luther >> Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther
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8 This etext was prepared by Les Bowler, St. Ives, Dorset.
SELECTIONS FROM THE TABLE TALK OF MARTIN LUTHER.
TRANSLATED BY CAPTAIN HENRY BELL.
CONTENTS.
Introduction by Professor Henry Morley.
The testimony of Jo. Aurifaber, Doctor in Divinity.
Captain Henry Bell's narrative.
A copy of the order from the House of Commons.
Selections from Table-Talk:-
Of God's Word.
Of God's Works.
Of the Nature of the World.
Of the Lord Christ.
Of Sin and of Free-will.
Of the Catechism.
Of the Law and the Gospel.
Of Prayer.
Of the Confession and Constancy of the Doctrine.
Of Imperial Diets.
INTRODUCTION.
Martin Luther died on the 18th of February, 1546, and the first
publication of his "Table Talk"-Tischreden-by his friend, Johann
Goldschmid (Aurifaber), was in 1566, in a substantial folio. The
talk of Luther was arranged, according to its topics, into eighty
chapters, each with a minute index of contents. The whole work in a
complete octavo edition, published at Stuttgart and Leipzig in 1836,
occupies 1,390 closely printed pages, equivalent to 2,780 pages, or
full fourteen volumes, of this Library.
The nearest approach to a complete and ungarbled translation into
English was that of Captain Henry Bell, made in the reign of Charles
the First, under the circumstances set forth by himself; but even
that was not complete. Other English versions have subjected
Luther's opinions to serious manipulation, nothing being added, but
anything being taken away that did not chance to agree with the
editor's digestion. Even the folio of Captain Bell's translation,
from which these Selections have been printed, has been prepared for
reprint by some preceding editor, whose pen has been busy in
revision of the passages he did mean to reprint. In these
Selections every paragraph stands unabridged, exactly as it was
translated by Captain Bell; and there has been no other purpose
governing the choice of matter than a resolve to make it as true a
presentment as possible of Luther's mind and character. At least
one other volume of Selections from the Table-Talk of Martin Luther
will be given in this Library.
Johann Goldschmid, the Aurifaber, and thereby true worker in gold,
who first gave Luther's Table-Talk to the world, was born in 1519.
He was a disciple of Luther, thirty-six years younger than his
master. Luther was born at Eisleben in 1483, and his father, a poor
miner, presently settled at Mansfeld, the town in which Goldschmid
afterwards was born. Johann Goldschmid was sent by Count Albrecht
of Mansfeld, in 1537, to the University of Wittenberg, where Luther
had been made, in 1508, Professor of Philosophy, and where, on the
31st of October, 1517, he had nailed his ninety-five propositions
against indulgences to the church door at the castle. Luther had
completed his translation of the Bible three years before Johann
Goldschmid went to Wittenberg. In 1540 Goldschmid was recalled from
the University to act as tutor to Count Albrecht's children. In
1544 Goldschmid was army chaplain with the troops from Mansfeld in
the French war; but in 1545 he was sent back to Wittenberg for
special study of theology. It was then that he attached himself to
Luther as his famulus and house-companion during the closing months
of Luther's life, began already to collect from surrounding friends
passages of his vigorous "Table Talk," and remained with Luther till
the last, having been present at his death in Eisleben in 1546. He
then proceeded steadily with the collection of Luther's sayings and
opinions expressed among his friends. He was army chaplain among
the soldiers of Johann Friedrich, of Saxony; he spent half a year
also in a Saxon prison. He became, in 1551, court preacher at
Weimar; but in 1562 was deprived of his office, and then devoted
himself to the forming of an Eisleben edition of those works of
Luther, which had not already been collected. In 1566 he was called
to a pastorate at Erfurt, where he had many more troubles before his
death. Aurifaber died on the 18th of November, 1575.
H. M.
THE TESTIMONY OF JO. AURIFABER, DOCTOR IN DIVINITY, CONCERNING
LUTHER'S DIVINE DISCOURSES.
And whereas hitherto I have caused certain tomes of the Books,
Sermons, Writings, and Missives of Luther to be printed at Eisleben,
so have I also now finished this tome of his Discourses, and have
ordered the same to be printed, which at the first were collected
together out of the Manuscripts of these Divine Discourses, which
that Reverend Father Anthony Lauterbach himself noted and wrote out
of the holy mouth of Luther, and afterwards the same by me were
collected into sure and certain Loci Communes, or Common-places, and
distributed.
And whereas I, Joannes Aurifaber, in the years 1545 and 1546, before
the death of that most famous Divine, Luther, was much with and
about him, and with all diligence writ and noted down many most
excellent Histories and Acts, and other most necessary and useful
things which he related: I have therefore set in order and brought
the same also into this tome.
Now, forasmuch as very excellent declaration is made in this tome of
all the Articles and chief points of Christian Religion, Doctrine,
and Faith; and also therein are found necessary Rules, Questions and
Answers, many fair Histories, all sorts of Learnings, Comforts,
Advices, Prophecies, Warnings, and Admonitions: I have therefore
thought it a thing fitting to dedicate the same to your Highnesses,
Graces, Honours and Worships, etc., as special favourers,
protectors, and defenders of the Doctrines which God, through
Luther, hath cleared again, to the end that by diligent reading
therein, you may be president, and give good examples to others, to
your subjects, citizens, etc., diligently to love, to read, to
affect the same, and to make good use thereof, as being fragments
that fell from Luther's Table, and therewith may help to still, to
slake, and to satisfy the spiritual hunger and thirst of the soul.
For these most profitable Discourses of Luther, containing such high
spiritual things, we should in nowise suffer to be lost, but
worthily esteem thereof, whereout all manner of learning, joy, and
comfort may be had and received.
DR. AURIFABER, in his Preface to the Book.
Given at Eisleben, July 7th, 1569.
CAPTAIN HENRY BELL'S NARRATIVE:
OR,
RELATION OF THE MIRACULOUS PRESERVING OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER'S BOOK,
ENTITLED "COLLOQUIA MENSALIA," OR, "HIS DIVINE DISCOURSES AT HIS
TABLE," HELD WITH DIVERS LEARNED MEN AND PIOUS DIVINES; SUCH AS WERE
PHILIP MELANCTHON, CASPARUS CRUCIGER, JUSTUS JONAS, PAULUS EBERUS,
VITUS DIETERICUS, JOANNES BUGENHAGEN, JOANNES FORSTERUS, AND OTHERS:
CONTAINING
Divers Discourses touching Religion, and other Main Points of
Doctrine; as also many notable Histories, and all sorts of Learning,
Comforts, Advices, Prophecies, Admonitions, Directions, and
Instructions; and how the same Book was, by God's Providence,
discovered lying under the Ground, where it had lain hid Fifty-two
Years; and was a few years since sent over to the said Captain Henry
Bell, and by him translated out of the High German into the English
Tongue.
"I, CAPTAIN HENRY BELL, do hereby declare, both to the present age,
and also to posterity, that being employed beyond the seas in state
affairs divers years together, both by King James, and also by the
late King Charles, in Germany, I did hear and understand, in all
places, great bewailing and lamentation made, by reason of the
destroying and burning of above fourscore thousand of Martin
Luther's books, entitled His Last Divine Discourses.
"For after such time as God stirred up the spirit of Martin Luther
to detect the corruptions and abuses of Popery, and to preach
Christ, and clearly to set forth the simplicity of the Gospel, many
Kings, Princes, and States, Imperial Cities, and Hans-Towns fell
from the Popish Religion, and became Protestants, as their
posterities still are, and remain to this very day.
"And for the further advancement of the great work of Reformation
then begun, the aforesaid Princes and the rest did then order that
the said Divine Discourses of Luther should forthwith be printed;
and that every parish should have and receive one of the aforesaid
printed books into every Church throughout all their principalities
and dominions, to be chained up, for the common people to read
therein.
"Upon which divine work, or Discourses, the Reformation, begun
before in Germany, was wonderfully promoted and increased, and
spread both here in England and other countries besides.
"But afterwards it so fell out that the Pope then living, viz.
Gregory XIII., understanding what great hurt and prejudice he and
his Popish religion had already received, by reason of the said
Luther's Divine Discourses, and also fearing that the same might
bring further contempt and mischief upon himself and upon the Popish
Church, he therefore, to prevent the same, did fiercely stir up and
instigate the Emperor then in being, viz. Rudolphus II., to make an
Edict throughout the whole Empire, that all the aforesaid printed
books should be burned; and also that it should be death for any
person to have or keep a copy thereof, but also to burn the same:
which Edict was speedily put in execution accordingly, insomuch that
not one of all the said printed books, nor so much as any one copy
of the same, could be found out nor heard of in any place.
"Yet it pleased God that, anno 1626, a German gentleman, named
Casparus Van Sparr, with whom, in the time of my staying in Germany
about King James's business, I became very familiarly known and
acquainted, having occasion to build upon the old foundation of a
house, wherein his grandfather dwelt at that time when the said
Edict was published in Germany for the burning of the aforesaid
books; and digging deep into the ground, under the said old
foundation, one of the said original books was there happily found,
lying in a deep obscure hole, being wrapped in a strong linen cloth,
which was waxed all over with beeswax, within and without; whereby
the book was preserved fair, without any blemish.
"And at the same time Ferdinandus II. being Emperor in Germany, who
was a severe enemy and persecutor of the Protestant religion, the
aforesaid gentleman and grandchild to him that had hidden the said
books in that obscure hole, fearing that if the said Emperor should
get knowledge that one of the said books was yet forthcoming, and in
his custody, whereby not only himself might be brought into trouble,
but also the book in danger to be destroyed, as all the rest were so
long before; and also calling me to mind, and knowing that I had the
High Dutch Tongue very perfect, did send the said original book over
hither into England unto me; and therewith did write unto me a
letter, wherein he related the passages of the preserving and
finding out the said book.
"And also he earnestly moved me in his letter, that for the
advancement of God's glory, and of Christ's Church, I would take the
pains to translate the said book, to the end that that most
excellent divine work of Luther might be brought again to light.
"Whereupon I took the said book before me, and many times began to
translate the same, but always I was hindered therein, being called
upon about other business, insomuch that by no possible means I
could remain by that work. Then, about six weeks after I had
received the said book, it fell out that I being in bed with my wife
one night, between twelve and one of the clock, she being asleep,
but myself yet awake, there appeared unto me an ancient man,
standing at my bedside, arrayed all in white, having a long and
broad white beard hanging down to his girdle-stead, who, taking me
by my right ear, spake these words following unto me:-'Sirrah! will
not you take time to translate that book which is sent unto you out
of Germany? I will shortly provide for you both place and time to
do it;' and then he vanished away out of my sight.
"Whereupon, being much thereby affrighted, I fell into an extreme
sweat, insomuch that my wife awaking, and finding me all over wet,
she asked me what I ailed. I told her what I had seen and heard;
but I never did heed nor regard visions nor dreams; and so the same
fell soon out of my mind.
"Then about a fortnight after I had seen that vision, on a Sunday, I
went to Whitehall to hear the sermon, after which ended I returned
to my lodging, which was then in King Street, at Westminster, and
sitting down to dinner with my wife, two Messengers were sent from
the whole Council-board, with a warrant to carry me to the keeper of
the Gatehouse, Westminster, there to be safely kept until further
order from the Lords of the Council, which was done without showing
me any cause {1} at all wherefore I was committed. Upon which said
warrant I was kept there ten whole years close prisoner, where I
spent five years thereof about the translating of the said book;
insomuch as I found the words very true which the old man, in the
aforesaid vision, did say unto me: 'I will shortly provide for you
both place and time to translate it.'
"Then, after I had finished the said translation in the prison, the
late Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Laud, understanding that I had
translated such a book, called Martin Luther's Divine Discourses,
sent unto me his chaplain, Dr. Bray, into the prison, with this
Message following:-
"'Captain BELL,
"'My Lord Grace of Canterbury hath sent me unto you, to tell you
that his Grace hath understood that you have translated a book of
Luther's, touching which book his Grace, many years before, did hear
of the burning of so many thousands in Germany by the then Emperor.
His Grace therefore doth desire you, that you would send unto him
the said original book in Dutch, and also your translation; which,
after his Grace hath perused, shall be returned safely unto you.'
"Whereupon I told Dr. Bray that I had taken a great deal of pains in
translating the said book, and was very loth to part with it out of
my hands, and therefore I desired him to excuse me to his Grace,
that I could not part from it; with which answer he at that time
returned again to his master.
"But the next day after he sent him unto me again, and bade him tell
me that, upon his honour, the book should be as safe in his custody,
if not safer than in mine own; for he would lock it up in his own
cabinet, to the end no man might come unto it, but only himself.
Thereupon I, knowing it would be a thing bootless for me to refuse
the sending of them, by reason he was then of such great power that
he would have them, nolens volens, I sent them both unto him. Then,
after he had kept them in his custody two months, and had daily read
therein, he sent the said Doctor unto me, to tell me that I had
performed a work worthy of eternal memory, and that he had never
read a more excellent divine work; yet saying that some things
therein were fitting to be left out; and desired me not to think
long that he did not return them unto me so soon again. The reason
was because that the more he did read therein, the more desire he
had to go on therewith; and so, presenting me with ten livres in
gold, he returned back again.
"After which, when he had them in his custody one whole year, and
that I understood he had perused it all over, then I sent unto his
Grace, and humbly desired that his Grace would be pleased to return
me my books again. Whereupon he sent me word by the said Dr. Bray,
that he had not as yet perused them so thoroughly over as he desired
to do; then I stayed yet a year longer before I sent to him again.
"In which time I heard for certain that it was concluded by the King
and Council that a Parliament should forthwith be called; at which
news I did much rejoice. And then I sent unto his Grace an humble
petition, and therein desired the returning of my book again;
otherwise I told him I should be enforced to make it known, and to
complain of him to the Parliament, which was then coming on.
Whereupon he sent unto me again safely both the said original book
and my translation, and caused his Chaplain, the said Doctor, to
tell me that he would make it known unto his Majesty what an
excellent piece of work I had translated, and that he would procure
an order from his Majesty to have the said translation printed, and
to be dispersed throughout the whole kingdom, as it was in Germany,
and as he had heard thereof; and thereupon he presented me again
with forty livres in gold.
"And presently after I was set at liberty by warrant from the whole
House of Lords, according to his Majesty's direction in that behalf;
but shortly afterwards the Archbishop fell into his troubles, and
was by the Parliament sent unto the Tower, and afterwards beheaded;
insomuch that I could never since hear anything touching the
printing of my book.
"The House of Commons having then notice that I had translated the
aforesaid book, they sent for me, and did appoint a Committee to see
it and the translation, and diligently to make inquiry whether the
translation did agree with the original or no; whereupon they
desired me to bring the same before them, sitting then in the
Treasury Chamber. And Sir Edward Dering, being Chairman, said unto
me that he was acquainted with a learned minister beneficed in
Essex, who had lived long in England, but was born in High Germany,
in the Palatinate, named Mr. Paul Amiraut, whom the Committee
sending for, desired him to take both the original and my
translation into his custody, and diligently to compare them
together, and to make report unto the said Committee whether he
found that I had rightly and truly translated it according to the
original: which report he made accordingly, and they, being
satisfied therein, referred it to two of the Assembly, Mr. Charles
Herle and Mr. Edward Corbet, desiring them diligently to peruse the
same, and to make report unto them if they thought it fitting to be
printed and published.
"Whereupon they made report, dated the 10th of November, 1646, that
they found it to be an excellent Divine Work, worthy the light and
publishing, especially in regard that Luther, in the said
Discourses, did revoke his opinion, which he formerly held, touching
Consubstantiation in the Sacrament. Whereupon the House of Commons,
the 24th of February, 1646, did give order for the printing thereof.
"Thus, having been lately desired to set down in writing the
relation of the passages above-said concerning the said book, as
well for the satisfaction of judicious and godly Christians, as for
the conservation of the perpetual memory of God's extraordinary
providence in the miraculous preservation of the aforesaid Divine
Discourses, and now bringing them again to light: I have done the
same according to the plain truth thereof, not doubting but they
will prove a notable advantage of God's glory, and the good and
edification of the whole Church, and an unspeakable consolation of
every particular member of the same.
"Given under my hand the 3rd day of July, 1650.
"HENRY BELL."
A COPY OF THE ORDER FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
24th February, 1646.
WHEREAS Captain Henry Bell hath strangely discovered and found a
Book of Martin Luther's, called his Divine Discourses, which was for
a long time very marvellously preserved in Germany: the which book
the said Henry Bell, at his great costs and pains, hath translated
into the English out of the German Tongue, which Translation and
substance thereof is approved by Reverend Divines of the Assembly,
as appears by a Certificate under their hands:
It is Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in
Parliament, that the said Henry Bell shall have the sole disposal
and benefit of Printing the said Book translated into English by him
as aforesaid, for the space of fourteen years, to commence from the
date hereof. And that none do Print or Re-print the same but such
as shall be licensed by the said Captain by Authority under his
hand.
HENRY ELSYNG.
(Vera Copia.)
LUTHER'S TABLE-TALK.
OF GOD'S WORD.
Of the Word of God; or the Holy Scriptures contained in the Bible.
The Bible, or Holy Scripture, said Luther, is like a fair and
spacious orchard, wherein all sorts of trees do grow, from which we
may pluck divers kinds of fruits; for in the Bible we have rich and
precious comforts, learnings, admonitions, warnings, promises, and
threatenings, etc. There is not a tree in this orchard on which I
have not knocked, and have shaken at least a couple of apples or
pears from the same.
Proofs that the Bible is the Word of God.
That the Bible is the Word of God, said Luther, the same I prove as
followeth. All things that have been and now are in the world, also
how it now goeth and standeth in the world, the same was written
altogether particularly at the beginning, in the First Book of Moses
concerning the Creation. And even as God made and created it, even
so it was, even so it is, and even so doth it stand to this present
day. And although King Alexander the Great, the kingdom of Egypt,
the empire of Babel, the Persian, Grecian, and Roman Monarchs, the
Emperors Julius and Augustus, most fiercely did rage and swell
against this Book, utterly to suppress and destroy the same, yet
notwithstanding, they could prevail nothing; they are all gone and
vanished; but this Book, from time to time, hath remained, and will
remain unremoved, in full and ample manner, as it was written at the
first. But who kept and preserved it from such great and raging
power; or, Who defendeth it still? Truly, said Luther, no human
creature, but only and alone God himself, who is the right Master
thereof; and it is a great wonder that it hath been so long kept and
preserved, for the devil and the world are great enemies unto it.
The devil doubtless hath destroyed many good books in the Church, as
he hath rooted out and slain many saints, concerning whom we have
now no knowledge. But, no thanks unto him, the Bible he was fain to
leave unmeddled with. In like manner Baptism, the Sacrament, and
the Office of Preaching have remained among us against the power of
many tyrants and heretics that have opposed the same. These our
Lord God hath kept and maintained by his special strength. Homer,
Virgil, and suchlike are profitable and ancient books; but, in
comparison of the Bible, they are nothing to be regarded.
By whom and at what Times the Bible was translated.
Two hundred and forty-one years before the humanity of Christ, the
Five Books of Moses, and the Prophets, were translated out of the
Hebrew into the Greek tongue by the Septuagint Interpreters, the
seventy doctors or learned men then at Jerusalem, in the time of
Eleazar the High-priest, at the request of Ptolemeus Philadelphus,
King of Egypt, which King allowed great charges and expenses for the
translating of the same.
Then, one hundred and twenty-four years after the birth of Christ,
his death and passion, the Old Testament was translated out of
Hebrew into Greek by a Jew, named Aquila (being converted to the
Christian faith), in the time of Hadrian the Emperor.
Fifty and three years after this Aquila, the Bible was also
translated by Theodosius.
In the three-and-thirtieth year after Theodosius, it was translated
by Symmachus, under the Emperor Severus.
Eight years after Symmachus, the Bible was also translated by one
whose name is unknown, and the same is called the Fifth Translation.
Afterwards the Bible was translated by Hieronymus (who first amended
and corrected the Seventy Interpreters) out of Hebrew into the Latin
tongue, which translation we use to this day in the Church. And
truly, said Luther, he did enough for one man. Nulla enim privata
persona tantum efficere potuisset. But he had not done amiss if he
had taken one or two learned men to his translation besides himself,
for then the Holy Ghost would more powerfully have been discerned,
according to Christ's saying, "Where two or three be gathered
together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them." And,
indeed, said Luther, translators or interpreters ought not to be
alone, for good and apt words do not always fall to one single man.
And so long as the Bible was in the Church of the Gentiles, it was
never yet in such perfection, that it could have been read so
exactly and significantly without stop, as we have prepared the same
here at Wittemberg, and, God be praised, have translated it out of
Hebrew into the High German tongue.
Of the Differences between the Bible and other Books.
The Holy Scripture, or the Bible, said Luther, is full of divine
gifts and virtues. The books of the Heathen taught nothing of
Faith, Hope, and Love; nay, they knew nothing at all of the same;
their books aimed only at that which was present, at that which,
with natural wit and understanding, a human creature was able to
comprehend and take hold of; but to trust in God and hope in the
Lord, nothing was written thereof in their books. In the Psalms and
in Job we may see and find how those two books do treat and handle
of Faith, of Hope, of Patience, and Prayer.
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