Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

¹Neither foolish talking. Fables and other trifling speeches & jests are called foolish talking, which the Grecians also were wont to use more then other nations, being very witty to invent such vain speeches. Of this sort are those tales, which our women & maidens are wont to tell, spinning at the distaff, also the terms and verses of jugglers and such like fellows, and many common songs, which are partly even filthy, & partly contain other trifling and vain things. But especially it is unseemly and unconuenient for Christians to use such foolish and trifling talk, when they come together to hear the word of God, or to read and search the Scriptures, and yet notwithstanding almost even such folly happeneth among them, when many come together. For albeit they begin with serious matters, nevertheless they are marvellous easily brought unto trifles: from earnest and holy matters, to ridiculous and vain speeches, wherewith both the time is spent in vain, and better things are neglected. So have they been wont certain years hitherto, at every feast of Easter in the time of preaching to tell some ridiculous tale to stir up the people from sleep. They did not unlike at the feast of the nativity of Christ, using songs or carols, wherein they said, they made discourses of the birth and infancy of Jesus, howbeit ridiculous metre and words, moving rather laughter then devotion, as they called it: Also they sung many feigned fables of the wise men, whom they made 3. Kings, of the passion of the Lord, of the punishment of Dorothea, & many other, all which were nothing but foolish talking & vain inventions, altogether unworthy of Christians. To the number of these I might well add those histories of Saints, which they call the legends, and that flood of lies, of miracles and pilgrimages to images, and monuments of Saints, Masses, and worshippings of Saints, indulgences and innumerable other, not so much foolish as ungodly inventions, which in the assemblies of the Church, were wont to be chiefly extolled in the pulpit, which were so contrary to godliness, that they deserve much rather to be called the wicked inventions of Satan, then foolish imaginations of men.

¹Neither foolish talking. Fables and other trifling speeches & iests are called foolish talking, which ye Grecians also were wont to vse more then other nations, being very witty to inuent such vaine speeches. Of this sort are those tales, which our women & maidens are wont to tell, spinning at the distaffe, also the termes and verses of iuglers and such like fellowes, and many common songes, which are partly euen filthy, & partly containe other trifling and vaine things. But especially it is vnseemely and vnconuenient for Christians to vse such foolish and trifling talke, when they come togither to heare the word of God, or to read and serch the Scriptures, and yet notwithstanding almost euen such folly hapneth among them, whē many come togither. For albeit they begin with serious matters, neuertheles they are meruelous easily brought vnto trifles: from earnest and holy matters, to ridiculous and vaine speeches, wherewith both the time is spent in vaine, and better things are neglected. So haue they bene wont certaine yeares hitherto, at euery feast of Easter in the tyme of preaching to tel some ridiculous tale to stirre vp the people from sleepe. They did not vnlike at the feast of the natiuitie of Christ, vsing songes or carrolls, wherein they sayd, they made discourses of the birth and infancie of Iesus, howbeit ridiculous meeter and wordes, mouing rather laughter then deuotion, as they called it: Also they soong many fained fables of the wise men, whom they made 3. Kings, of ye passion of ye Lord, of the punishmēt of Dorothea, & many other, all which were nothing but foolish talking & vain inuētions, altogither vnworthy of Christians. To the nūber of these I might well adde those histories of Saincts, which they call the legends, and that flood of lies, of miracles and pilgrimages to images, and moniments of Saincts, Masses, and worshippings of Saincts, indulgences and innumerable other, not so much foolish as vngodly inuentions, which in the assemblies of the Church, were wont to be chiefly extolled in the pulpit, which were so contrary to godlines, that they deserue much rather to be called the wicked inuētions of Satan, then foolish imaginations of mē.