And again:
‘I really grudge the time spent in reading and answering this worthless publication, particularly as I was EMPLOYED IN TRANSLATING the Epistles and Gospels into our own language.’
We who sit at ease, and when we have leisure or inclination to read a chapter in the Bible, have nothing to do but take down our Bible and open it to where we please, are apt to forget the labour which it cost to furnish us with that Bible in our native language; and to forget the perils by which we were redeemed into the liberty of reading it with our own eyes, and handling it with our own hands. We especially, who have fallen upon times in which, through the manifest counsel and act of God, out of the supposed three hundred languages and dialects of the earth, versions of the Scriptures are now circulating throughout the whole of the known world in more than one hundred and forty of them — and to whom it is a rare thing to meet an individual who even has it in his heart, much less on his tongue, to put any limits to the circulation of the sacred volume — are ill-prepared by our own feelings and experience, to estimate the boon of a Bible that now, for the first time, is edited in the vernacular tongue.
But Luther had to fight not only for the right to read, but to labour, that they might have something on which to exercise that right.
‘Luther easily foresaw the important consequences which must flow from a fair translation of the Bible in the German language. Nothing would so effectually shake the pillars of ecclesiastical despotism; nothing was so likely to spread the knowledge of pure Christian doctrine. Accordingly, he rejoiced in the design of expediting the work, while his adversaries deprecated the execution of it, more than any heresy of which the greatest enemy of the church could be guilty.’
Accordingly, he had begun, and was preparing himself by the more accurate study of the original languages for the completion of his work, when drawn off by Latomus. This was an enterprise which required the silence and seclusion of his Patmos for its origination and commencement, but which could not be satisfactorily completed without larger resources than he possessed there.
‘I find,’ he says, ‘that I have undertaken a work which is above my strength. I shall not touch the Old Testament till I can have the assistance of yourself and my other friends at Wittemberg. If it were possible that I could be with you and remain undiscovered in a snug chamber, I would come. And there, with your help, I would translate the whole from the beginning, so that at length there might be a version of the Bible fit for Christians to read. This would be a great work of immense consequence to the public, and worthy of all our labours.’
This arduous task was at length accomplished: the New Testament, as I have already mentioned, was published in 1522; the Old Testament was done afterwards in parts, till completed in 1530.
‘In this work he was much assisted by the labour and advice of several of his friends, particularly Jonas and Melancthon. The whole performance itself was a monument of that astonishing industry which marked the character of this reformer.
The effects of this labour were soon felt in Germany. Immense numbers now read in their own language the precious word of God, and saw with their own eyes the just foundations of the Lutheran doctrine.’
What an Ithuriel’s spear 28 the Lord thus enabled him to put into the hands of the mass of the people! No wonder that the Papists should cry out and burn. What, in fact, has upheld the Popedom, but ignorance of THE BOOK? And what is ultimately to destroy it, according to Luther’s intelligent and enlightened anticipation of that event, but the knowledge of the Book?
‘The kingdom of Antichrist, according to the Prophet Daniel’s prediction, must be broken WITHOUT HAND; Dan 2.24 that is, the Scriptures will be understood by and by, and everyone will speak and preach against the papal tyranny from the word of God; until THIS MAN OF SIN is deserted by all his adherents, and dies of himself. This is the true Christian way of destroying him. And to promote this end, we ought to exert every nerve, encounter every danger, and undergo every loss and inconvenience.’
The wonder is that in our days, individuals — or should I rather say numbers — who are comprehended in that communion, are zealous for the dissemination of the Scriptures in the spoken language of their country. One of these, towering high above the rest, has been the favoured instrument of distributing more than 300,000 copies of a German version of his own, besides many thousands of this very version of Luther’s. 29
‘To decide on the merits of Luther’s translation would require not only an exact knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek, but also of the German language. Certainly it was elegant and perspicuous, and beyond comparison it was preferable to any scriptural publication which had before been known to the populace.
It is probable that this work had many defects; but that it was in the main faithful and sound, may be fairly presumed from the solid understanding, biblical learning, and multifarious knowledge of the author and his coadjutors. A more acceptable present could scarcely have been conferred on men who were emerging out of darkness. And the example being followed soon after by reformers in other nations, the real knowledge of Scripture, if we take into account the effects of the art of printing, was facilitated to a surprising degree.’
The papistical plagiarist Emser 30 endeavoured first to traduce, and afterwards to rival and supersede Luther. But his “correct” translation was in fact little more than a transcript of Luther’s (he was notoriously ignorant of the German language), with the exception of some alterations in favour of the Romish tenets. Thus, Luther was read under Emser’s name, and the Lord gave Luther grace to say with his heart, “Notwithstanding, whether in pretence or truth, Christ is preached, and I rejoice in this, yes, and I will rejoice.” Phi 1.18
It was not without manifesting, from time to time, a considerable degree of impatience, that Luther was detained for ten months in his solitude. Action was his element, and it was painful for him to sit still.
‘For the glory of the word of God, and for the mutual confirmation of myself and others, I would much rather burn on live coals, than live here alone, half-alive and useless. If I perish, it is God’s will; nor will the Gospel suffer in any degree. I hope you will succeed me, as Elisha did Elijah!’
I could wish he had not written this last sentence to his friend Melancthon. However, after ten months, the state of his beloved Wittemberg concurred with his own self-centered likes and dislikes, to render it manifestly desirable — for the church’s welfare, and by just inference, the clear will of God — that Luther should hazard his life and safety by leaving his retreat and returning to his public station in the then-capital of infant Protestantism.
Melancthon lacked spirits and vigour; the elector lacked boldness and decision; Carolstadt had become tumultuous; the flock was in the state of sheep without a shepherd; and the enemy was crying, “There, There.” Having already made one short visit by stealth, and finding that an occasional interposition would no longer meet the difficulty, he determined to risk all, and knowing the elector as he did, to act first and then apologize. Accordingly, he left Wartburg, and wrote his noble letter to the elector, on his way from Borna. It that letter he freely opened his motives and expectations — delivering Frederic from all responsibility for his safety, and testifying of his entire and sole confidence in divine protection. Having done so, he pursued his journey with no real or even pretended safeguard, except Him who is invisible.
‘I write these things that your highness may know that I consider myself, in returning to Wittemberg, to be under a far more powerful protection than any which the elector of Saxony can afford me. To be plain, I do not wish to be protected by your highness. It never entered my mind to request your defence of my person. Indeed, it is my decided judgment that, on the contrary, your highness should rather receive support and protection from the prayers of Luther and the good cause in which he is embarked.31 It is a cause which does not call for the help of the sword. God himself will take care of it without human aid. I positively declare that if I knew your highness intended to defend me by force, I would not now return to Wittemberg. This is a case where God alone should direct; and men should stand still, and wait the event without anxiety. And that man will be found to defend both himself and others most bravely, who has the firmest confidence in God. Your highness has but a very feeble reliance on God; and for that reason, I cannot think of resting my defence and hopes of deliverance on you.’
If I were to put my finger on the most splendid moment of Luther’s life, I would fix it at Borna.
All the magnanimity, courage, and perseverance which he displayed
