Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... ON TRADE AND USURY.1 AN ADDRESS BY DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER. TRANSLATED BY W. H. CARRUTH. THE HOLY GOSPEL condemns and points out all sorts of works of darkness, as Saint Paul calls them, Romans, 13, 12; for it is a bright light that shines for all the world, and teaches how evil are the works of the world, and shows the right works which one should do towards God and his neighbor. Wherefore certain among the merchants have aroused themselves and become aware that in their occupation many evil tricks and harmful practices are in use, and that there is fear, it is true here, as Solomon the preacher says, that merchants can scarcely live without sin. Yea, I believe the saying of St. Paul strikes here, I. Timothy, 6, 10: 1 Martin Luther's address on " Trade and Usury " exhibits on the one hand his implicit faith in the Gospel, and on the other hand an unusual perspicacity and common sense. The way in which he reconciles the one with the other, where apparently they come into conflict, does honor to both his religious earnestness and his insight into the conditions and practical demands of life. Luther accepts Christ's ethics of non-resistance to evil, of lending where there is no hope of recovery, and of giving freely to those in need. These maxims, however, are practicable only in a society where all people are good Christians. If they were indiscriminately applied in this actual world of ours, which must be governed by a strong hand, the bad would soon take advantage of the pious and presume upon their patience. Luther therefore comes to the conclusion that business should be conducted strictly on cash terms with a view to reasonable profits. How little Luther would have people yield to goodnaturedness or sentimentality appears from his...