Although we must always expect the best from men, especially from the believers, we remember that they may err and go astray. I need to be warned against such a practice. I must say: I shall gladly believe that men such as Gregory, Ambrose and Augustine were holy men; but I do not trust myself to them. For their holiness does not make them infallible, and it does not imply that one must rely and depend on all the dicta of the fathers or approve and believe all their teachings.
Rather take the touchstone of God's Word into your hands. Let this be your criterion for testing, trying and judging all that the fathers have preached, written and said, as well as the precepts and human ordinances that have been promulgated. Otherwise one will be easily misled and deceived.
Therefore I say: I want to see whether any doctrine concurs with Christ. I dare not forget the clear rule which St. Paul gives us Christians: to pay attention to what conforms to the doctrine of Christ, and to the faith. In Romans 12:7 he says, "Let it be in conformity with the faith;" that is, it must be in harmony and conformity with Christ. And St. Peter declares: "Whoever speaks, let him speak as the word of God." You must not go only to St. Bernard and St. Ambrose, but it is imperative that you take them with you to Christ and see whether they agree with His Teaching.
If they do not, but have added something to that which Christ has taught, or have evolved something from their own piety and taught this, I shall let them answer for that. But I must not convert it into an article of faith; nor am I to believe it since thy do not entirely agree with Christ. For I am to adhere to Christ alone. He has taught neither too much nor too little. He has taught me to know God the Father, has revealed Himself to me, and has also acquainted me with the Holy Spirit. He has also instructed me how to live and how to die, and has told me what to hope for. What more do I want? And if anyone wishes to teach me anything new, I must say to him: "I will not believe it, dear pastor, dear preacher, dear St. Ambrose, dear St. Augustine." For anything that goes beyond and above the Man who is called Christ, is not genuine. It is still flesh and blood, and Christ warned us against relying on that. That one Man, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, must have greater weight with me than all the holiest people on earth put together.
Martin Luther
This Page Title – The Saints and their Saviour – from the pen of Martin Luther The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 78 – placed on line May 2009 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |