A Sermon on Preparing to Die
Ein Sermon von der Bereitung zum Sterben · Martin Luther, 1519
Catalogue onlyWritten for a layman, Mark Schart, who had asked for help with distressing thoughts about death. Luther's advice is to look at death, sin and hell only through Christ, and never on their own, because considered by themselves they will destroy you. Still the best thing he wrote for a bedside.
Why we do not host this
The standard English translation is Martin H. Bertram's, published in Luther's Works vol. 42 and in copyright to Fortress Press. Copies circulating freely online reproduce it without permission. We have found no public-domain English translation; it is not in the Holman edition. Catalogue only until a licensed or public-domain text is secured.
How to get it
We cannot host this one. That is not a reason to pretend it does not exist. Below is every honest route we know of, publisher first, because they are the ones who paid the translators. None of these links earn us anything. If buying is not realistic, start with the library route. Interlibrary loan reaches further than most people expect, and costs nothing.
- Buy from the publisher Luther's Works vol. 42, Fortress Press
The scholarly English edition. Hardback, and priced for libraries rather than readers.
- Find it in a library Find Luther's Works vol. 42 in a library
Most seminary and many university libraries hold the full set. Interlibrary loan usually reaches it.
- Borrow online Borrow online at the Internet Archive
Controlled digital lending: one reader at a time, free, with a free account. Not public domain. Borrowed, not downloaded.
- Secondhand Secondhand copies
Individual volumes turn up used for a fraction of new price, often from clergy estates.
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