Chapter XXIX: Introduction

The _Treatise on the New Testament, that is, on the Holy Mass_, was published in the year 1520[1] In the beginning of August of that year, Luther's Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation had appeared, in which he had touched upon the subject of the mass,[2] but refused to express himself fully at that time, promising to take up this question later, a promise which he had already made in his _Treatise on Good Works_, of May, 1520.[3] He must have begun the preparation of this _Treatise on the New Testament_ while the _Address to the Christian Nobility_ was still in press, because on Aug. 3 it was already finished and ready for publication.[4] The treatise, therefore, takes its place between Luther's two famous writings, the _Address to the Christian Nobility_ and the _Babylonian Captivity of the Church_, which appeared in Oct, 1520. Its tone is remarkably quiet, and its aim predominantly constructive. It is one of those devotional tracts which Luther issued from time to time between his larger publications, and which appear like roses among the thorns of his polemical writings.

The doctrine of the Lord's Supper was one of the most corrupt doctrines of the Roman Church, and it was, therefore, but natural that Luther should have written extensively on this subject, even at the beginning of the work of reformation. From this period, when the opposition of the Sacramentarians[5] to the doctrine of the Real Presence had not yet arisen we have four writings of Luther in which he makes this sacrament a subject of special discussion. These are (1) his mild-toned _Sermon von dem hochwürdigen Sacrament_, etc., of 1519; (2) the present _Sermon von dem neuen Testament_, etc., of Aug., 1520; (3) the _Babylonian Captivity of the Church_, of Oct., 1520; (4) the strongly polemical tract _On the Abuse of the Mass_, 1522.[6] We shall have occasion to refer to some interesting points of comparison among these works.

This treatise is divided into sections, ending with number 40, but section 32 is omitted, so that there are only 39 in all.