Martin Luther and Lutheranism

"I am a logician; and Justus Jonas is an orator; but Luther is good at everything: the wonder of mankind; for whatever he says, or writes, it penetrates the heart, and makes a lasting impression." - Melancthon from Excerpts from "The Life of Luther," in Luther's Commentary on... Galatians, p. lxx.

"Sturmius says, that he saw a letter written by Luther to Wolfgang Capito, in which he affirmed, that scarce any of his writings pleased himself, except his (Small-ed.) Catechism, and his book De servo arbitrio (The Bondage of the Will-ed.), or 'Free-will a Slave'" - From "The Life of Martin Luther" in Luther's Commentary on... Galatians, p. lxxvi.

"It (the doctrine of Predestination-ed.) was taught not only by Calvin, but by Luther, Zwingli, Melancthon (although Melancthon later retreated toward the Semi-Pelagian position), by Bullinger, Bucer, and all of the outstanding leaders in the Reformation. While differing on some other points they agreed on this doctrine of Predestination and taught it with emphasis. Luther's chief work, 'The Bondage of the Will,' shows that he went into the doctrine as heartily as did Calvin himself." - Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, p. 1, as cited in Steele, Thomas and Quinn, "A Brief Survey of the Origin and Contents of the Five Points of Calvinism," in The Five Points Of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, Documented.

"... and I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his, where he says, 'If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright.' It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man does of his own free will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither will nor power, but that He gives both; that He is 'Alpha and Omega' in the salvation of men." - Charles Spurgeon, Free Will A Slave (1855 Sermmon) — referring to Martin Luther's book The Bondage of the Will, as cited in "Arminianism: The Road to Rome!" free at http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/RHNarmin.htm.

"I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth." - Martin Luther.

"Nothing is more devilishly mischievous he says than an unreformed university." - Martin Luther.

"No… we are all priests. Your vocation and your contentment in your vocation should not be dependent upon your being in vocational ministry or in being a figure of public acclaim. If God wills that fine… if He does not do that, you ought to still do what he has granted you to do to the glory of God." - Martin Luther.

"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, then I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefront besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point." - Martin Luther.

"The invention of the printing press played a key role in mobilising the Reformation. Without printing, it is questionable whether there would have even been a Protestant Reformation. A century earlier, Wycliffe and Huss had inspired dedicated movements for Bible study and Reform. But the absence of adequate printing technology severely limited the distribution of their writings. As a result, their ideas did not spread as rapidly or as far as they could have done. Martin Luther recognised the power of printing to mobilise grass roots support for Reformation. Luther wrote prolifically – more than 400 titles, including commentaries, sermons and pamphlets that attacked Catholic superstitions and abuses and which promoted Biblical doctrines. In the first three critical years after Luther posted his 95 Theses in Wittenberg, from 1517 to 1520, Luther published 30 pamphlets and flooded Germany with 400,000 copies. By 1523, half of all the printed works in Germany were Luther’s works. Luther understood that books and pamphlets speak long after the preacher has left the pulpit. Luther described printing as: "God’s highest and extremist act of grace, whereby the business of the Gospel is driven forward... Luther showed the way and other Reformers continued his work of using print technology to mass-produce Scriptures and Reformation publications. By God’s grace, the Printing Press provided the spiritual weaponry needed to make the Reformation succeed." - Dr. Peter Hammond, The Power Of Printing.

Dr. Joel R. Beeke Reviews and Recommends
the Puritan Hard Drive

DR. JOEL R. BEEKE

Dr. Joel R. Beeke, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

The Puritan Hard Drive is a massive collection of primary Puritan resources, dozens of which are very hard to find anywhere else in the world.

Any lover of Puritan literature, which, more than any other body of literature ever written, powerfully expands our minds, convicts our consciences, allures our hearts, and moves our hands, will find a treasure trove here.

- Dr. Joel R. Beeke, President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary https://puritanseminary.org/, Author of many important Reformed books (including the must read, Meet the Puritans: With A Guide to Modern Reprints, https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/Meet-the-Puritans.html), Editorial Director at Reformation Heritage Books, Editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth magazine and Pastor of Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.