Dr. Martin Luther's
Complete Writings,
Tenth volume.
Containing Luther's Catechetical Writings.
The new volume also contains a detailed alphabetically arranged subject index and, in addition to this, an index of the writings contained in it, arranged according to the time of their composition. This addition is of great value, since it is often extremely important to know whether a writing was written in the early period, in which Luther still wrote many things that were later revoked by him. Therefore Luther himself urges to read his earliest writings "thoughtfully and with great compassion". (XIV, 428 [StL 14, 439 EN])
Among the volumes already published, the new tenth volume is the second most voluminous. It comprises no less than 2659 columns, or 1329 quarto pages, and yet the price of this volume, in the same outfit as the earlier ones, is set at no more than $5.00.
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It will not be necessary to encourage those readers who have already purchased the earlier volumes of Luther's writings to also purchase the new volume. Once you have read Luther properly, almost no other writings will be to your liking. This is the case, as the pious Elector Johann Friedrich of Saxony once testified:
“Others may hold other theologians in high esteem, as they wish; I must confess that no one awakens me more than Luther. His writings are heartfelt, go through marrow and bone, and have a rich spirit in them.”
To those readers, however, who, although not poor, have so far shied away from the expense and have therefore not yet been able to decide to make the small monetary sacrifice to put themselves in possession of a volume of Luther's writings, we would like to point out how foolishly they are acting. A single such volume is a treasure that cannot be balanced with all the gold and silver in the whole world. I ask you, dear readers: what would you do if you were offered to buy for a few dollars a whole storehouse of all things most useful and precious for this life? Would you think long and hard about what to do? Certainly not! But the new tenth volume of Luther's writings is a whole storehouse of all things most useful and precious for eternal life. There you will find not only one or two, but probably more than a hundred larger and smaller Luther writings from all years of his work on all matters concerning the Christian faith and life. Just try it, dear ones, and buy, since the market is at the door; you will not regret it.
%20crop.jpg "Johann Georg Hamann (1730 – 1788), German Lutheran philosopher (Wikipedia)")
When the famous Christian scholar Georg Hamann [PIC], after having read all kinds of books for a long time, except Luther's writings, finally came across these writings, he hurriedly reported this to one of his friends, recommended him to study them and added:
“What a shame for our time that the spirit of this man lies so under the ashes! What a power of eloquence, what a spirit of interpretation, what a prophet! How good the old wine will taste to you! I read this Doctor of the Church with uncommon familiarity, and have resolved to go through all his works.” —
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