Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 40

Dr. Martin Luther
Born	19 November 1483 (Gregorian) 10 November 1483 (Julian), Eisleben, Holy Roman Empire
Died	28 February 1546 (Gregorian) 18 February 1546 (Julian), Eisleben, Holy Roman Empire
Occupation	Theologian, Augustinian monk, Priest, professor, Bible translator and author
Known For	The Protestant Reformation, theological writings, and the German translation of the Bible
Major Works	Ninety-Five Theses, On the Bondage of the Will, the German Bible translation, and Table Talk
Publication Notes	Translated into English by William Hazlitt. Published in Philadelphia by the Lutheran Publication Society. Electronic transcription by Kathy Sewell, June 1, 1997.
Contents	00 - Introduction 01 - God's Word 02 - God's Works 03 - Nature of the World 04 - Idolatry 05 - Jesus Christ 06 - Holy Ghost 07 - Sin 08 - Free-Will 09 - The Catechism 10 - Law and the Gospel 11 - Justification 12 - Prayer 13 - Baptism 14 - Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 15 - The Church 16 - Excommunication 17 - Preachers and Preaching 18 - The Patriarchs and Prophets 19 - The Apostles and Disciples of Christ 20 - Angels 21 - The Devil and his Works 22 - Temptation and Tribulation 23 - Luther's Adversaries 24 - Regarding Offences 25 - The Christian Life 26 - Princes & Potentates 27 - Discord (Economic Feedom) 28 - Sicknesses and the Cause Thereof 29 - Death 30 - The Ressurection 31 - Allegories 32 - Spiritual and Church Livings 33 - Constrained Defence (Christian Military Action) 34 - Lawyers 35 - Universities, Arts, etc. 36 - Astronomy and Astrology 37 - Learned Men 38 - Jews 39 - Turks 40 - Countries and Cities 41 - Vocation and Calling
Related Pages	Martin Luther Table Talk Tacitus Germany Venice Cyprus Rome Judas Iscariot Holy Roman Empire

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Of Countries and Cities

838

Our Lord God deals with countries and cities, as I do with an old hedge-stick, when it displeases me; I pluck it up and burn it, and stick another in its stead.

839

Tacitus describes German very well. He highly extols the Germans, by reason of their adherence to promises, especially in the state of matrimony, in which particular they excelled all other nations. In former times it stood well with Germany but now the people are fallen from virtue, and become rude, proud, and insolent.

840

The best days were before the deluge, when the people lived long, were moderate in eating and drinking, beheld God's creature with diligence, celestial and terrestrial, without wasting, warring, or debate; then a fresh, cool spring of water was more sweet, acceptable, and better relished, than costly wines.

841

Germany is like a brave and gallant horse, highly fed, but without a good rider; as the horse runs here and there, astray, unless he have a rider to rule him, so Germany is also a powerful, rich, and brave country, but needs a good head and governor.

842

This constant change in the fashion of dress will produce also an alteration of government and manners; we attend too much to these things. Emperor Charles frequently says: the Germans learn of the Spaniards to steal, and the Spaniards learn of the Germans to swill.

843

Venice is the richest of cities. She has two kingdoms, Cyprus and Candia. Candia once was full of robbers, for six hundred ruined merchants had fled thither. As the island is very hilly, they were not able, by force, to get rid of these robbers, so the Veneitans made proclamation that they would receive all the robbers again to favor, upon condition that each should bring to them the head of a fellow robber. By which means, one wretch being snapped by another, the island was cleared of these vipers. 'Twas a good and wise council. Venice respects neither decency nor honor; she seeks only her own profit, is always neutral, hanging the cloak according to the wind. Now they hold with the Turk, ere long they will be for the emperor; what party has victory, has them.

844

Bembo, an exceeding learned man, who had thoroughly investigated Rome, said: Rome is a filthly, stinking puddle, full of the wickedest wretches in the world; and he wrote thus: "Vivere qui sancte vultus, discedite Roma, Omnia hic ecce licent, non licet esse probum." (Editor: in idiomatic English: "You who wish to live a holy (upright) life, leave Rome; Here everything is permitted, except being honest (virtuous)").

845

In the time of Leo X., there were in an Augustine convent at Rome, two monks, who revolted at the horrible wickedness of the papists, and, in their sermons, found fault with the pope. In the night, two assassins were introduced into their cells, and next morning they were found dead, their tongues cut out, and stuck on their backs. Whoso in Rome is heard to speak against the pope, either gets a sound strappado or has his throat cut; for the pope's name is Noti me tangere (John 20:17 "Touch me not...").

846

When I was at Rome, they showed me, for a precious holy relic, the halter wherewith Judas hanged himself. Let us bear this in mind, and consider in what ignorance our forefathers were.

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Document Source and Legal Status

Title: THE TABLE-TALK OF MARTIN LUTHER

Author: Dr. Martin Luther

Translator: William Hazlitt

Publisher: Lutheran Publication Society, Philadelphia

Electronic Transcription: Kathy Sewell, June 1, 1997

Public Domain Declaration: This text is in the public domain. Martin Luther's Table Talk may be freely reproduced.

Index

• Table Talk, Chapter 00
• Table Talk, Chapter 01
• Table Talk, Chapter 02
• Table Talk, Chapter 03
• Table Talk, Chapter 04
• Table Talk, Chapter 05
• Table Talk, Chapter 06
• Table Talk, Chapter 07
• Table Talk, Chapter 08
• Table Talk, Chapter 09
• Table Talk, Chapter 10
• Table Talk, Chapter 11
• Table Talk, Chapter 12
• Table Talk, Chapter 13
• Table Talk, Chapter 14
• Table Talk, Chapter 15
• Table Talk, Chapter 16
• Table Talk, Chapter 17
• Table Talk, Chapter 18
• Table Talk, Chapter 19
• Table Talk, Chapter 20
• Table Talk, Chapter 21
• Table Talk, Chapter 22
• Table Talk, Chapter 23
• Table Talk, Chapter 24
• Table Talk, Chapter 25
• Table Talk, Chapter 26
• Table Talk, Chapter 27
• Table Talk, Chapter 28
• Table Talk, Chapter 29
• Table Talk, Chapter 30
• Table Talk, Chapter 31
• Table Talk, Chapter 32
• Table Talk, Chapter 33
• Table Talk, Chapter 34
• Table Talk, Chapter 35
• Table Talk, Chapter 36
• Table Talk, Chapter 37
• Table Talk, Chapter 38
• Table Talk, Chapter 39
• Table Talk, Chapter 40
• Table Talk, Chapter 41