The style of Luther was naturally strong, simple, and clear; and, despite its depth and keenness, it wan as free from excess of feeling of fantasy as from dialectic subtlety. But, as he himself said, he must always storm and fight. His basal concept of salvation ever occupied the foreground and center of his writings, even in the exegesis of taste where, strictly speaking, it scarcely applied. On the other hand, historical and linguistic accuracy were frequently imperfectly considered. The force of allegorical interpretation he denied, yet employed it as suggestive and enlightening. In his sermons, neat to the requirement that Christ should be their theme, he sought intelligibility for the masses. They lack technical form, but combine exegesis and application, strictly following the thought and exhortation to be developed, though lacking an explicit theme.
In conformity with his recognition of the free activity of man in secular affairs, Luther possessed a lively interest in such matters. He highly valued all noble arts and sciences, and he had a keen appreciation of proverbs, fables, and the like. His married life was marked by nothing noteworthy, yet it wan true, happy, and patient, as is clearly shown by his letters and table talk. He was generous with his modest wealth, and among his friends his conversation was brisk and natural, though frequently far too coarse for a refined ear. In food he was extremely temper ate, despite his corpulency, and he often fasted for several days in succession. His inner life was one of humble struggle, amid the strongest temptations (due, in great part, to the bodily infirmities from which he frequently suffered), for his own salvation, a phenomenon the more remarkable in view of his unswerving conviction of the truth of his be lief and his resolute attitude in the face of external dangers. He never formed far-reaching plane for the future, feeling that speedy death awaited him. Throughout his life he seemed to feel the impulse of a higher power constraining him to toil and fight; and in his obedience to the call he knew neither fear nor anxiety, but calmly awaited the results from on high.
For his contributions to hymnody Martin Luther deserves and receives the thanks of the Christian world. His activity in this direction included not only the writing of hymns but the compilation of hymnals, of which nine are on record, issued between 1524 and 1545, five of these being revisions of his Geistliche Lieder. These hymnals always contained a large proportion of his own compositions; thus the Etlich christlich Lider Lobgeaang uf6 Psalm (Wittenberg, 1524) contained eight hymns of which four were his own, the Geistliche Lieder of Wittenberg, 1543, contained sixty-one hymns, of which lie composed thirty-five. His own hymns were not all new, some of them being translations from the Latin, some revisions of pre-Reformation German hymns, while others were versions of Psalms or paraphrases of other portions of Scripture. In all Luther left thirty-eight hymns, the most celebrated of which is his "battle hymn," Ein' feats Burg ist unaer Gott, known best to those who worship in English in the version of Rev. F. H. Hedge, " A mighty fortress is our God," though the translation by Thomas Carlyle, "A safe stronghold our God is still," is justly celebrated on account of its strength and fidelity to the original. Other hymns which have passed into common use in English are Nun freut each dieben Christengerrtein, many times translated, but known beat in the version of Mrs. Charles, " Dear Christian people, all rejoice "; and Gelobet aeist du JeBU Christ, anonymously translated into "All praise to thee, eternal Lord." More than all other work of Luther, excepting only his translation of the Bible, his hymns have become the household possession of the German people, while his great battle hymn was sung by Gustavus Adolphus before the battles of Leipsic and Lützen, and by others in times almost as critical.
Bibliography: The Works of Luther have appeared in seven major editions: (1) the Wittenberg edition, 19 vols., 1b39-58; (2) the Jens edition 13 vols., lbbb-58, with two supplementary vols., Eisleben, 1b84-8b; (3) the Altenburg edition, 10 vols., 1881-84, with additional volume, Halle, 1702; (4) the Leipsic edition, 23 vols., 1729 10; (b) the Walah edition, 24 vols.. Halle, 174017b3; (6) the Erlangen-Frankfort edition, 103 vols., 1828-1898; and the Weimar edition, begun in 1883. of which 35 vols. are issued (1908). Notes upon these editions will be found in Hsuok-Heraog, RE, u. 720-721. A standard edition of the Works in English is in course of publication by the Lutherans is All Lands Co., Minneapolis, 1904 sqq. The principal collection of the " Letters is still that of W. M. L. de Wette sad J. K. Seidemsnn, 8 vols., Berlin, 1826-50, though other collections are by C. A. H. Burkhardt, Leipsic, 1888; and D. C. A. Raw, Leipsic, 1878 (cf. G. Veesenmeyer, Litterargeschichte der Briefsammlunpsn . . . von Dr. Martin Lathe''. Berlin, 1821). Note should be made also of The Letters qt Martin Luther. Seceded and tranaiatsd by Margaret .1. Currie, London and New York, 1908. The beet edition of the Tieehreden, "Table Talk," is by C. E. FSrstemann and H. E. Bmdseil, 4 vols., Berlin, 1844 F8. Of the Table Talk there are many English tranelatione, e.g., by Capt. Henrie Bell, London, 1862, republished, Lewes, 1818; by W. Hsalitt, London, 1848; and the Centenary edition, ib. 1883. The Latin form, Colloquia. ed. H. E. Bindaeil, 3 vols., Detmar.1883-88. Luther's Dichtungen were collected by K. GSdeke, Leipsic, 1883; and by G. Schleuener, Wittenberg, 1892. Among selections from his works mention may be made of E. Leasing's Martin Luther ale deutscher %laaaiker, Hamburg. 1908 (from Luther's poetical and popular prose writings); and R. Neubauer's Martin Luther: sine AuewahZ aus seinen Schriften in alter 3chriJt)'orm. Here. 1908.
Lives written by contemporaries were: by Melsnchthon, in his preface to vol. ii. of the Latin Works in the Wittenberg edition; by M. Rataeberger, first published by C. G. Neudeoker, Jena, 1860; and by J. Matheeius, ed. G. Ltleehe in the Works of Matheeius, vol. iii., Prague, 1898. The beat life, made from the sources, is J. Köstlin, Martin Luther, rein Leban und seine &rhriften, 8th ed, by G. Kawerau, 2 vols., Berlin, 1903: and the moot accessible for English readers is H. E. Jacobs, Martin Luther, the Hero of the Reformation, New York, 1898. Among the immense literature upon Luther the following lives may be mentioned: M. Mic6elet, 2 vols., Paris, 1835, Eng. transl., London, 1848; M. Meurer, 3 vols., Dresden, 1843-1846: K. JOrgene, 3 vols.. Leipsic. 1846-47: H. Lang. Berlin, 1870; G. A. Hoff, Paris. 1873; K. J. Ledderhose.
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On various phases of Luther's activity consult: W. Baste, Dr. Martin Luthers Glauberealelare, Halle, 1845; E. Jones, Die Kanzelberedeamkeit Luthers, Berlin, 1852; C. H. Weisee, Die Christologie Luthers, Leipsic, 1852; T. Ssrnaek, Luthers Theologie, 2 vols., Erlangen, 1882-1888; C. E. Luthardt, Die Ethik Luthers, Leipsic, 1875; H, C. MBnekeberg, Luthers Lehre van der Kirche, Hamburg, 1878; H. Haring, Din Myatik Luthers. Leipsic, 1879; 8. Lommatzeeh, Luthers Lehre, Berlin, 1879; Danneil, Luthers GeiaUiche Lieder, Frankfort, 1883; F. W. F. Kattenbuaeh, Luthers Stallung zu don 6kumeniacheu Splrabolen, Giessen, 1883; T. Kolde, Luther auf dam Reichstag ru Worms, Halle, 1883; A. W. Dieckhoff, Luthers Lehre in ihrar ereteu Gestalt. Rostock, 1887; G. Schleuener, Luther ale Dictter, Wittenberg, 1892; E. Wagner, Luther ale Pddopep, Langensalza, 1892; E. Schkfer, Luther ale Kirchenhistorsker, GOtetsloh, 1897; P. Frotacher, Luther und die Bauern, Leipsic, 1899; J. Köstlin, Luthers Theologde, 2 vols., Stuttgart, 1901. For his share in Philip of Hesse's bigamous marriage, see W. W. Rockwell, Die Doppelehc den landprafen Philipp von Hessen, Marburg, 1903, end literature under Philip of Hesse. In English the best book on Luther's hymns is The Hymns of Martin Luther set to their Original Melodies, with an English Version, ed. L. W. Bacon and N. H. Allen, New York, 1883 (contains Luther's four prefaces to his hymn-books and versions of all the hymns; of. Julian, Hymnology, pp. 703-704 and references there to other pages where the hymns are annotated). On Luther as s translator of the Bible see Bible Versions, B, VII., § 3. For further discussions consult the works on the church history of the period, especially Schaff, Christian Church, vol. vi (where a good list of sources is given), end, in general, the literature under Reformation. A valuable review of recent Luther-literature is in Theologische Rundechau, Oct. and Dec., 1908.
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