the well-known pastor at Joachimsthal and
Luther's biographer, acknowledged that he had learned the
"rudiments of Christianity" from it.

Even to-day this book has its peculiar mission to the Church. The
seeking after self-elected works, the indifference regarding the
works commanded of God, the foolish opinion, that the path of
works leads to God's grace end good-will, are even to-day widely
prevalent within the kingdom of God. To all this Luther's
treatise answers: Be diligent in the works of your earthly
calling as commanded of God, but only after having first
strengthened, by the consideration of God's mercy, the faith
within you, which is the only source of all truly good works and
well-pleasing to God.

M. Reu.

Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.

FOOTNOTES

[1] (Enders, _Luther's Briefwechsel_, I, p. 29.) Luther here
writers: Learn Christ, dear Brother, learn Christ crucified;
learn to sing unto him and, despairing of self, to say: "Thou,
Lord Jesus art my righteousness, I, however, am Thy sin. Thou has
taken unto Thyself what was mine, and has given me what is
Thine." In this faith, receive the erring brethren, make their
sins your own, and if you have anything good, let it be theirs.

[2] Above, pp. 103-171.

[3] On Feb. 24, Luther answered Spalatin: _Die sermone bonorum
operum nibil memini; sed et tot jam edidi, ut periculum sit, ne
emtores tandem fatigam;_ but on Feb. 26, he wrote again: _Memoria
mihi rediit de operibus bonis sermone tractandis, in concione
scilicet id promisi; dabo operam, ut fiat._ (De Weite, _Luther's
Briefe_, I, p. 419, 421, 430 ff.)

[4] See Dedicatory Letter, above, p. 107.

[5] We mention but one of many testimonies. John Dietenberger in
his book, _Der leye. Obe der gelaub allein selig mache_, printed
in Strassburg 1523, says on leaf B26: "Faith is a gift of God,
which may appear bare or ornate; still it remains but one faith,
which, however, has another effect when ornate than when bare.
Ornate faith makes man a child of grace, an heir of the kingdom
of heaven and justified. Bare faith, however, does not separate
man from devils, helps not to the kingdom of heaven, and leads to
no justification."

A TREATISE ON GOOD WORKS

1520

DEDICATION

JESUS[1]

To the Illustrious, High-born Prince and Lord, John, Duke of
Saxony, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen, my gracious
Lord and Patron.

Illustrious, High-born Prince, gracious Lord!