Martin Luther Quotes
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I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people joyful; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.
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Let all the 'free-will' in the world do all it can with all its strength; it will never give rise to a single instance of ability to avoid being hardened if God does not give the Spirit, or of meriting mercy if it is left to its own strength.
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As long as a man is persuaded that he can make even the smallest contribution to his salvation, he remains self-confident and does not utterly despair of himself, and so is not humbled before God. Such a man plans out for himself a position, an occasion, a work, which shall bring him final salvation, but which will not.
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A theologian should be thoroughly in possession of the basis and source of faith--that is to say, the Holy Scriptures. Armed with this knowledge it was that I confounded and silenced all my adversaries; for they seek not to fathom and understand the Scriptures; they run them over negligently and drowsily; they speak, they write, they teach, according to the suggestion of their heedless imaginations.
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Everything is from God himself, both commandment and fulfillment. He alone commands; he alone fulfills.
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We must make a great difference between God's Word and the word of man. A man's word is a little sound, that flies into the air, and soon vanishes; but the Word of God is greater than heaven and earth, yea, greater than death and hell, for it forms part of the power of God, and endures everlastingly.
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If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.
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Nothing good ever comes of violence.
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Twas a special gift of God that speech was given to mankind; for through the Word, and not by force, wisdom governs.
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Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.
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On coming to the house, they (the Magi), saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. (Matthew 2:11) This adoration, too, was not the same as the worship of God. In my opinion they did not yet recognize him as God, but they acted in keeping with the custom mentioned in Scripture, according to which Kings and important people were worshiped; this did not mean more than falling down before them at their feet and honoring them.
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Anyone who is to find Christ must first find the church. How could anyone know where Christ is and what faith is in him unless he knew where his believers are?
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Adam and Eve derived the fullness of joy and bliss from their contemplation of all the animal creatures.
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When I am angry I can write, pray, and preach well, for then my whole temperament is quickened, my understanding sharpened, and all mundane vexations and temptations depart.
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Each day of the holidays comes bringing its own gifts. Open your heart, Untie the ribbons, and enjoy the contents! Were earth a thousand times as fair Beset with gold and jewels rare She yet were far too poor to be A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.
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We need not invite the Devil to our table; he is too ready to come without being asked. The air all about us is filled with demons.
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Some plague the people with too long sermons; for the faculty of listening is a tender thing, and soon becomes weary and satiated.
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There is no need for you to develop an armed insurrection. Christ himself has already begun an insurrection with his mouth.
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Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
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Our bodies are always exposed to Satan. The maladies I suffer are not natural, but Devil's spells.
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I would rather obey than work miracles.
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Whoever teaches differently from what I have taught, or whoever condemns me therein, he condemns God and must remain a child of hell.
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Show me where a man spends his time & money, and I'll show you his god.
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In a word, the Holy Scripture is the highest and best of books, abounding in comfort under all afflictions and trials. It teaches us to see, to feel, to grasp, and to comprehend faith, hope, and charity, far otherwise than mere human reason can; and while evil oppresses us, it teaches how these virtues throw light upon the darkness, and how, after this poor, miserable existence of ours on earth, there is another and an eternal life.