Original Source: Dr. Martin Luther - Table Talk, Chapter 41

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 Vocation Terence St. Bonaventure Julius Caesar Pompey Hannibal Charles V of Spain Tacitus Germany Ottoman Empire

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Of Vocation and Calling

847

When they who have the office of teaching, joy not therein, that is, have not regard to him that called and sent them; it is, for them, an irksome work. Truly, I would not take the wealth of the whole world, now to begin the work gainst the Pope, which thus far I have wrought, by reason of the exceeding heavy care and anguish wherewith I have been burthened. Yet, when I look upon him that called me thereunto, I would not for the world's wealth, but that I had begun it. It is much to be lamented, that no man is content and satisfied with that which God gives him in his vocation and calling. Other men's conditions please us more than our own; as the heathen said: "Fertilior seges est alienis semper in agris, Vicinumque pecus grandius uber habet." (Editor: "The crop is always more fertile in another man's fields, and the neighbour's cattle have larger udders.")

And another heathen: "Optat ephippia bos piger, optat arare caballus." (Editor: "The lazy ox wishes for a saddle; the horse wishes to plough.") The more we have the more we want. To serve God is for every one to remain in his vocation and calling, be it ever so mean and simple.

848

It is said, occasion has a forelock, but is bald behind. Our Lord has taught this by the course of nature. A farmer must sow his barley and oats about Easter; if he defer it to Michaelmas, it were too late. When apples are ripe they must be plucked from the tree, or they are spoiled. Procrastination is as bad as overhastiness. There is my servant Wolf: when four or five birds fall upon the bird net, he will not draw it, but says: O, I will stay until more come, then they all fly away, and he gets none. Occasion is a great matter. Terence says well: I came intime, which is the chief thing of all. Julius Caesar understood occasion; Pompey and Hannibal did not. Boys at school understand it not, therefore they must have fathers and masters, with the rod to hold them thereto, that they neglect not time, and lose it. Many a young fellow has a school stipend for six or seven years, during which he ought diligently to study; he has his tutors, and other means, but he thinks: O, I have time enough yet. But I say: No, fellow. What little Jack learns not, great John learns not. Occasion salutes thee, and reaches out her forelock to thee, saying: "Here I am, take hold of me;" thou thinkest she will come again. Then says she: Well, seeing thou wilt not take hold of my top, take hold of my tail; and therewith flings away.

Bonaventura was but a poor sophist, yet he could say: He that neglects occasion is of it neglected, and 'tis a saying with us: Take hold of time, while 'tis time, and now, while 'tis now. Our emperor Charles understood not occasion, when he took the French king prisoner before Pavia, in 1525; nor afterwards, when he got into his hands pope Clement, and had taken Rome in 1527; nor in 1529, when he almost got hold of the great Turk before Vienna. 'Twas monstrous negligence for a monarch to have in his hands his three great enemies, and yet let them go.

849

Germany would be much richer than she is, if such store of velvets and silks were not worn, nor so much spice used, or so much beer drunk. But young fellows without their liquor have no mirth at all; gaming makes not merry, nor lasciviousness, so they apply themselves to drinking. At the princely jollification lately held at Torgau, each man drank, at one draught, a whole bottle of wine; this they called a good drink. Tacitus wrote, that by the ancient Germans it was held no shame at all to drink and swill four and twenty hours together. A gentleman of the court asked: How long ago it was since Tacitus wrote this? He was answered, about fifteen hundred years. Whereupon the gentleman said: Forasmuch as drunkenness has been so ancient a custom, and of such a long descent, let us not abolish it.

THE END.

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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