Luther: "The more and the longer we preach, the worse matters grow"

Here's a Martin Luther quote from the book, Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results: Taken Exclusively from the Earliest and Best Editions of Luther's German and Latin Works (1884), p. 55.

"The more and the longer we preach, the worse matters grow." Walch XII. 2120.

This quote pops up every once in a while. It's typically used by Rome's defenders as proof of the failure of the Reformation (or something like Luther's regret or concession of the failure of the Reformation).

The author, Henry O'Connor, includes this quote under the heading, "Lower State of General Morality."According to O'Connor, this quote proves Luther admitted his preaching made "matters worse." How odd. Luther preached an extraordinary number of sermons and continued to do so after he made this statement. O'Connor's interpretation of Luther is that of a person purposefully and knowingly making the world worse by his preaching! Something doesn't quite add up... so let's take a closer look at this quote.  

Documentation
Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results is an old small anthology of Luther quotes peppered with vilifying commentary from O’Connor. The author claims to have compiled the quotes from the original sources: “Nearly two-thirds of the matter contained in this pamphlet is taken from the original editions of Luther’s own Works, as published in Wittenberg, under the very eye of the Reformer of Germany himself”(p. 3) He says “I have taken special care not to quote anything, that would have a different meaning, if read with the full context”(p.5). We'll see though he interpolated this quote to make it say something beyond what Luther actually said.  

The reference "Walch. XII" refers to the twelfth volume in a set of Luther's works published between 1740-1753 by Johann Georg Walch. Page 2120 can be found here (see top of second column, note "XII, 2118-2121" on the top right, not to be confused with the 1645 page number). This is a 1530 sermon on Romans 13:11-14.  It can also be found in WA 32:219. The quote in German is: "Aber je mehr und länger es gepredigt wird, je ärger wirds." It can be found in this paragraph:

There does not appear to be an official English translation of the complete context of this sermon. However, there is an unauthorized English translation of the entire Walch set on the Internet Archive put together using DeepL Translate (utilized below). While a computer-generated translation is obviously inferior, it will at least provide access to the gist of what Luther was preaching.  If you work your way through the entire DeepL translation of the sermon, a clear picture emerges of what Luther's main points are in the sermon, and they're contrary to that sour image created by Rome's defenders.  

Context

(10) And this is the reason why great plagues always come upon the gospel, such as famine, war, pestilence, etc., as St. Paul says of those who abused the sacrament, 1 Cor. 11; then God came among them with pestilence, so that they blasphemed the name of God with their shameful lives. So we do the same, as if it were not a sin against our baptism and against the gospel. Even if we remain silent and despise it, God will not despise it in this way, but will come upon us with war, pestilence and evil time, or will send all three upon us at the same time. But the more and longer it is preached, the worse it becomes. Now that the ban has been lifted, each one does as he pleases; and now that his name is blasphemed, he will blaspheme and desecrate your name again. Therefore let us not so despise his name and word. One can see his sorrow in it. If I did not preach for the love of our Lord God, I would not preach a word; for those who want to be most evangelical despise him, and do with his word as they will. Go in the name of all devils, if you do not want to go in the name of God. Enough has been said for those who need to be told. Therefore give thanks to God that you have the light and know what you should and should not do, and do not be so lukewarm and indolent, but admonish yourselves and strive to adorn this teaching in all things.

Conclusion

A closer look at the context demonstrates Luther's Roman Catholic critics find only what they want in a text: they want to find Luther lamenting the failure of his preaching and the Reformation. What the context actually shows is an example of Christianity 101: exhorting believers to live consistently with the faith they claim to have and a rebuke of those who are double-minded and a call to repentance.

Luther uses this sermon on Romans 13:11-14 as an exhortation to believers to live a godly life; that those who claim to have faith in Christ demonstrate it by the way they live: "Paul wants to prevent trouble and admonishes them to live in a way that is in accordance with the faith, that is, to live outwardly in the way that faith teaches them inwardly" (6). If someone claims to be a Christian, but lives an immoral life, that person is guilty of blaspheming the name of God: "For to live otherwise is to profane the gospel, to blaspheme the word, and to dishonor the name of God" (6). If a person thinks they are getting away with living this sort of double minded life, Luther says, "If you are not punished here, you will certainly be punished there in the hellish fire" (9).

In the context in which the quote occurs (10), Luther explains that Christians living improperly (inconsistent with the Gospel) can bring severe consequences from God in this life. He cites 1 Corinthians 11 for proof, that for those partaking in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner "God came among them with pestilence." A Christian person living in an unholy way sins against the Gospel and their own baptism, leading to judgment in this life. 

The quote Rome's defenders cite out of context is simply saying: the more the Gospel is preached, the worse God's wrath will be against those that do not live a godly life. Luther concludes of this particular type of double-minded person: "Enough has been said for those who need to be told." Certainly, there have always been (and still are!) the type of double-minded people Luther describes and exhorts.

Notice also, O'Connor translates the German sentence, "The more and the longer we preach, the worse matters grow." However, the sentence literally reads, "the more and longer it is preached, the worse it becomes." O'Connor has made Luther (and his fellow preachers) the subject of the sentence!  Luther (and his fellow preachers) are not the subject of the sentence, the Gospel is. For the Gospel to continually be preached while people live sinful lives, they were bringing greater judgment upon themselves.  

Addendum: The Ban

In the context above, Luther singles out those people that were no longer under "the ban" and were living lives blatantly against Christian morality. I suspect Luther was referring to church discipline in the medieval church ("the ban"). Luther explains elsewhere, "A bishop or pope may exclude someone from this fellowship and forbid it to him because of his sins. This is called putting someone under the ban" (LW 39:8). Around this time in Wittenberg, the ban consisted in denying someone the Lord's Supper if they were found guilty of public sin (LW 50:61; 39:7). In the sermon in question, Luther appears to be chastising those people taking advantage of a lighter form of church discipline than what was occurring under the authority of the papal church: "Now that the ban has been lifted, each one does as he pleases." 

What began as a means of church discipline actually turned into a practice in which people were penalized for not paying their tithe to the church. These people could be denied access to the sacraments, attending marriages, baptisms, funerals, be excommunicated, etc. (see Boehmer's discussion in his Road to Reformation, 223-225). Being placed under the ban by the medieval church could severely complicate one's daily life and livelihood. Luther states, "But the ban goes even further and forbids burial, buying and selling, trading, a certain kind of life and fellowship among men, and finally even (as they say) water and fire" (LW 39:8). As the Reformation progressed, the early Reformers had to restructure the entire concept of church discipline. As Luther stated in 1520, 

Since we have already heard that the sacrament of the holy body of Christ is a sign of the community of all saints, we must now learn what the ban is which is exercised through the power of the spiritual estate in Christendom. For its principal, real function and power is to deprive a sinful Christian of the holy sacrament and to forbid it to him (LW 39:7).

Luther: "The more and the longer we preach, the worse matters grow."

Did Martin Luther think his preaching (and that of his collogues) made things worse for the people of Germany? Luther is quoted as saying, 

"The more and the longer we preach, the worse matters grow" (Walch XII, 2120).

This sparse quote has been used as proof of the failure of the Reformation or something like Luther's regret or concession to the failure of the Reformation, etc. I've documented a number of these Martin Luther quotes here and here. 

From a cursory search, the quote is most often taken from the old book, Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results: Taken Exclusively from the Earliest and Best Editions of Luther's German and Latin Works (1884), p. 55.  The author, Henry O'Connor, used the quote to describe the "Results of Luther's Teaching," specifically the "Moral Results" that there was a "Lower State of General Morality." This Roman Catholic source (from roughly the same time period as O'Connor) uses it as part of a cumulative case proof that "Christianity without the confessional bore the following fruits, according to Luther's own statement: neglect of the poor and of the sick; sad state of the youth; increase of drunkenness; increase of the number of suicides; lower state of general morality." Fast forward to 2009, this seeming defender of Rome uses it to demonstrate Luther's "irrational state." This Roman Catholic blogger in 2017 regurgitated this quote (along with other statements from O'Connor's book) declaring the information from O'Connor is "favorable to the truth seeker." 

Was Luther admitting the failure of his preaching? Was he admitting that his preaching made people worse? Did he regret the Reformation? Let's take a look and find out! 

Documentation

Stating the obvious: Luther's original writings were in German and Latin.  As far as I can determine, Henry O'Connor appears to be responsible for this particular English rendering (he says, "In every single case the translation from the German or the Latin is my own"). There is another English version (from yet another hostile Roman Catholic source), J. Verras, Luther an Historical Portrait: "The more and the longer the Evangelium is preached, the worse things are getting." Verras also seems to be responsible for his particular English rendering: "The prospect of having to devote many months to going through [Luther's] voluminous and frequently disgusting books was anything but cheerful..."(p.I). One older meaningful polemical source using this quote is a German text:  Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger's Die reformation vol. 1, p. 301-302, "Je mehr und länger es [das Evangelium] geprebigt wird, je ärger wirb ed") (cf. French text).

Both O'Connor and Verras cite "Walch XII. 2120." This is a sermon on Romans 13:11-14 (Nov. 27, 1530). The sentence reads, "Aber je mehr und das Evangelium , daruin ſollen wir nicht länger es gepredigt wird , je ärger wird es." Notice the word, "Evangelium." Verras's English translation is more authentic to the meaning of the text: "The more and the longer the Evangelium is preached, the worse things are getting."  O'Connor has left out "Evangelium" (Gospel).  O'Connor does say, "Not a single second-hand quotation is to be found from beginning to end of my little work." Either O'Connor left a significant word out of his translation, or he took the quote from a secondary source.   It would not surprise me to discover O'Connor and Verras both mined the quote out of  Döllinger's Die reformation vol. 1 (or someone using that source).  Döllinger was unapologetically hostile to Luther and influential in Roman Catholic historical studies in the nineteenth century. Verras does reference Döllinger a number of times.  Many older German sources use parentheses on the word "Evangelium."  Did O'Connor use a secondary source and left the bracketed word "Evangelium" out, thinking it not important to the text? 

Besides Walch XII, the quote can be found in a slightly different form in WA 32:219 ("Aber je mehr und länger es gepredigt wird, je ärger wirds").  There is no "official" English translation of this sermon that I'm aware of. An inferior computer-generated English translation can be found here.  O'Connor says, “I have taken special care not to quote anything, that would have a different meaning, if read with the full context” (p.5). We'll see that the context does demonstrate a different meaning with the word "Evangelium" left out.

Context

It's helpful to see exactly what Biblical text Luther was preaching on. Romans 13:11-14 states, 

 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Paul is blatantly exhorting his readers to Godly living. It should not be surprising therefore that Luther's sermon on this passage does the same thing! Luther's entire sermon gives strong attention to exhorting Christians to reflect Christ in their lives: to live a life outwardly that reflects what has been done inwardly to the heart. There should be no slumbering in regard to the Christian life. One should think of Jesus Christ as the master of the Christian household. Christ says to his servants: rise up and do your appointed work! 

 "Salvation is nearer now" because Christ has come and the Gospel is being preached. The Jews of the Old Testament had only the promise of the coming Gospel, Christians have the fulfillment of the Gospel. Therefore, now is the time to put away sinful living. It is the time to live as people transformed by the Gospel. If someone claims to be a Christian, yet their life dishonors the gospel, that person dishonors God. Similarly, if a society in general claims to be Christian but lives immorally, it should not come as any surprise if God punishes that society, especially if the gospel is being clearly preached. The more the gospel is preached to people claiming to be Christians that continue in immorally, the worse God's punishment against that person or society will be. Hence the quote, "The more and the longer we preach, the worse matters grow."  As an example, Luther mentions those in 1 Corinthians 11 that were partaking in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner and were being stricken will illness. The "worse matters" are God's punishment! Luther chastises those specifically who use their freedom to practice Christianity without persecution ("Dieweil jeßt der Bann abgetban ift") but maintain blatantly sinful lifestyles. He ends his chastisement particularly at them: "Wem zu sagen ist, dem ist gnug gefagt."

Conclusion

Henry O'Connor did translate Luther in a sense other than what the primary source originally stated: he left out the key word, "Evangelium." In O'Connor's contextless version, Luther appears to be lamenting he and his colleagues collected preaching efforts: "The more and the longer we preach, the worse matters grow." One sees a societal picture of sinking ship, Germany going to moral ruins with Luther in utter despondency of his failed efforts. This is not what the text said. Rather, what Luther preached is that the proclamation of the Gospel makes things worse for people if they live blatantly sinful lifestyles. God will bring judgment on people that either besmirch the Gospel, abuse their Christian freedom, or claim to be Evangelicals while living in open grievous sin.  

The context does not warrant the conclusions of some of Rome's defenders, that this sermon was a lament of the moral failures of Luther's ministry or that there was a "Lower State of General Morality." Luther was in no way regretting... anything. He was not bemoaning that his failed preaching was having a devastating effect on society. Rather, he was exhorting his hearers to godly living (just like Paul), and even says that his point is directed at those who do not demonstrate godly living. 

In Luther's eschatology, it was the end of the world. Things were indeed going to get worse. The Gospel was going to be fought against by the Devil with all his might. The true church was a tiny flock in a battle against the world, the flesh, and the Devil. He hoped the people would improve with the preaching of the Gospel, he often admitted he knew things were going to get worse because of the Gospel. 

Luther: Evangelicals are now seven times worse than they were before..having learnt the Gospel, we steal, tell lies, deceive, eat and drink to excess

Here are two Luther quotes from the book, Henry O'Connor, Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results: Taken Exclusively from the Earliest and Best Editions of Luther's German and Latin Works (1884), p. 55.

"We deserve that our Evangelicals (the followers of the new Gospel) should now be seven times worse than they were before. Because after having learnt the Gospel, we steal, tell lies, deceive, eat and drink (to excess), and practice all manner of vices." [Walch. III. 2727]


"After one Devil (Popery) has been driven out of us, seven worse ones have come down upon us, as is the case with Princes, Lords, Nobles, Citizens and Peasants." [Walch. III. 2727]."

These quotes pops up every once in a while. They are typically used by Rome's defenders as proof of the failure of the Reformation (or something like Luther's regrets or concession to the failure of the Reformation, etc.(example #1, example #2).  O'Connor uses these quotes to describe the "Results of Luther's Teaching," specifically, the "Moral Results" that there was a "Lower State of General Morality."

Another English version of the first quote can be found in Heinrich Denifle, Luther and Lutherdom:

But did not the father of the new movement himself acknowledge that "our (people) are now seven times worse than they ever were before. We steal, lie, cheat, cram, and swill and commit all manner of vices" (Erl. 36, 411). [p. 21-22].

Another English version of the first quote based on Denifle can be found here:

Our (people) are now seven times worse than they ever were before. We steal, lie, cheat, . . . and commit all manner of vices. (in Heinrich Denifle, Luther and Lutherdom, vol.1, part 1, tr. from 2nd rev. ed. of German by Raymund Volz, Somerset, England: Torch Press, 1917, 22. Luther quote from Werke, Erlangen edition, 36, 411)

Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results is an old small anthology of Luther quotes peppered with vilifying commentary from O’Connor. In an early edition of this work, the author was so sure of his effort he originally titled the book, "The Only Reliable Evidence Concerning Martin Luther." The author claims to have compiled the quotes from the original sources: “Nearly two-thirds of the matter contained in this pamphlet is taken from the original editions of Luther’s own Works, as published in Wittenberg, under the very eye of the Reformer of Germany himself”(p. 3) He says “I have taken special care not to quote anything, that would have a different meaning, if read with the full context”(p.5).

Documentation
The footnotes "Walch. III" refers to the third volume in a set of Luther's works published between 1740-1753 by Johann Georg Walch (Predigten über das erste Buch Mose und Auslegung über die folgenden biblischen Bücher bis zu den Psalmen). Page 2727 can be found here. The text O'Connor appears to be citing for both quotes appears to be from the following paragraph:

The text being cited is from Luther's comments on Deuteronomy 9:25.  The text can also be found in WA 28:763. To my knowledge, the complete context this paragraph comes from has yet to be translated into an official English version of Luther's Works. LW does include an entire volume containing Luther's Lectures on Deuteronomy (Deut. 9 begins at LW 9:99). LW includes only a translation of pages Walch / St. Louis pp. 1370-1639 (see LW 9, introductory comments). Their translation is based on WA 14:489-744 (Lecture on Deut. 9 can be found here). LW 9 explains Luther began lecturing on Deuteronomy in February 1523 "to a small gathering of close associates in his own house at Wittenberg" (LW 9, preface).There are several transcriptions of these lectures done by Luther's associates, none though going past Deut. 7. Luther's own transcription of his Deuteronomy notes began in 1524. The official work was completed and published in 1525. Walch (St. Louis) III includes this work in III 1370-1639.

Context

Back in 2009 I came across an English translation of paragraph 49 from Walch III, 2727. 

Moses is thus a fine teacher; he has well expounded the first commandment, and led the people to a knowledge of themselves, and humbled the proud and arrogant spirits, besides which he upbraided them with all kinds of vices, so that they had merited anything but the promised land. If we do not abide by our beloved Gospel, we deserve to see those who profess it, our Gospellers, become seven times worse than they were before. For, after having become acquainted with the Gospel, we steal, lie, cheat, we eat, drink, and are drunken, and practise all sorts of iniquity. As one devil has been driven out of us, seven others, more wicked, have entered in; as may be seen at the present time with princes, noblemen, lords, citizens, and peasants, how they act, without shame and in spite of God and His threatenings.

Conclusion (see Addendum #3 below)
 The above translation of this obscure quote is from an old book, Luther Vindicated by Charles Hastings Collette (Published by Bernard Quaritch, 1884). Collette's book is quite fascinating. He similarly examines obscure out-of-context Luther quotes and offers corrections and contexts. It wasn't Roman Catholics he defended Luther against, rather, the culprit was the Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, who, according to Collette was "a professed Minister of the (Reformed) Established Church of England." Interestingly, Baring-Gould appears to have gathered some of his Luther material from Roman Catholic sources, and was part of a group sympathetic to Rome. Of this group, Collette states, "These gentlemen sigh for pre-Reformation days when the priest ruled and the sacramental system flourished, to the glorification of the priest, and ignorance, superstition, thraldom, and degradation of the people" (p.6). If this link is about the Sabine Baring-Gould in question (which I think it is), he's the writer of the famous hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers." Of this quote in question, Collette quotes Baring-Gould stating:

"...let us take Luther's own account of the results of his doctrine :—' There is not,' says he,—' one of our Evangelicals who is not seven times worse than he was before he belonged, to us,—stealing, lying, deceiving, eating, and getting drunk, and giving himself up to all kinds of vices. If we have driven out one devil, seven others worse than the first have come in his place."

Collette begins analyzing the quote stating,

"The reference is 'Ed. Walch, iii. 2727.' Here it is self-evident that the rev. gentleman, by 'our Evangelicals,' intends to point to the new converts to Luther's teaching."

"By the reference we are guided to Luther's Commentaries on the 'fifth Book of Moses, ix. 25.' On turning to the column indicated, we find the passage purported to be quoted, but in it there is not the most distant intimation that Luther was pointing to his own people, or to the new converts; but to the state of utter depravity to which priests and people, nobles and commoners,—nominal Christians of all ranks,—had fallen."

After documenting this moral climate, Collette states,

But what I have to expose is the barefaced mistranslation put before us in the above extract by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould, thereby making Luther allude to "our Evangelicals" as "belonging to Luther's disciples," who had become seven times worse by the change from Popery. I will let the reader judge for himself by placing before him a literal translation of the original; the text I add as a footnote :—

Collette then cites the context of Luther's statements:

"Moses is thus a fine teacher; he has well expounded the first commandment, and led the people to a knowledge of themselves, and humbled the proud and arrogant spirits, besides which he upbraided them with all kinds of vices, so that they had merited anything but the promised land. If we do not abide by our beloved Gospel, we deserve to see those who profess it, our Gospellers, become seven times worse than they were before. For, after having become acquainted with the Gospel, we steal, lie, cheat, we eat, drink, and are drunken, and practise all sorts of iniquity. As one devil has been driven out of us, seven others, more wicked, have entered in; as may be seen at the present time with princes, noblemen, lords, citizens, and peasants, how they act, without shame and in spite of God and His threatenings."

The key to the quote is the phrase, "Our Gospellers." Collette explains,

" 'Our Gospellers' I have thus translated 'unsereEvangelischen.' Luther did not mean the true believers in and followers of the Evangelists, which some readers might suppose to be a name applicable to all members of the Reformed Churches, from their known attachment to the Gospel, but he applied the expression to outward professors of the Gospel.

Addendum #1
Another popular version of this quote is found in the article, Luther Thought He Was Divine! by
Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira:

As for his evangelical followers, Luther added that “they are seven times worse than they were before. After preaching our doctrine, men have given themselves over to stealing, lying, trickery, debauchery, drunkenness, and every kind of vice. We have expelled one devil (the papacy) and seven worse have entered.” (Werke, 28, p. 763, in ibid., p. 440).

"Werke, 28, p. 763" is correct. de Oliveira says he took the quote from "Fr. Leonel Franca SJ titled The Church, the Reform and Civilization (Rio de Janeiro: Editora Civilizacão Brasileira, 3rd ed., 1934." this is what "in ibid., p. 440" is supposed to refer to. The quote (in Portuguese) can be found at the bottom of page 390 of the 1958 edition. I am not certain who translated the quote from Portuguese to English.

Addendum #2
This blog entry is a revision of an entry I posted back in 2009. The original can be found here. Because so many sources are now available online, I'm revising older entries by adding additional materials and commentary, and also fixing or deleting dead hyperlinks. Nothing of any significant substance has changed in this entry from that presented in the former.

Addendum #3

Using an AI English translation of Luther's comments on Deuteronomy 9:25 from Walch 3:2727, it is possible to get a glimpse of the entire context this quote from. Begin reading the immediate context here.  Collette's conclusion is ultimately possible ("Luther did not mean the true believers in and followers of the Evangelists"). Rather, it seems to me from the context the quote is also that of comparison. The quote is ultimately based on a comparison between the sinful actions of the Jews in the wilderness and the German people now free from the theological slavery of the papacy. 

Luther: Who would have begun to preach, if we had known beforehand that so much unhappiness, tumult, scandal, blasphemy, ingratitude, and wickedness would have been the result ?

Here's a Luther quote from the book, Henry O'Connor, Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results: Taken Exclusively from the Earliest and Best Editions of Luther's German and Latin Works (1884), p. 56.

Writing on the same subject, he says: "If God had not closed, my eyes, and if I had foreseen these scandals, I would never have begun to teach the Gospel." In 1538, more than twenty years after the beginning of the Reformation, Luther dwells on the same thought: "Who would have begun to preach, if we had known beforehand that so much unhappiness, tumult, scandal, blasphemy, ingratitude, and wickedness would have been the result?" [Walch. VIII. 564].


There are two Luther quotes above. The first quote ("If God had not closed, my eyes...") has been covered previously. This entry will examine the second quote from 1538. This later quote pops up every once in a while. It's typically used by Rome's defenders as proof of the failure of the Reformation (or something like Luther's regrets or concession to the failure of the Reformation, etc.(example #1, example #2, example #3, example #4, example #5, here's a version of it from of all places, vatican.com). I've seen it used as speculation that Luther "lamented often about the actual course of his 'Reformation' in Germany, thus perhaps revealing a sense of failure and guilt." O'Connor uses it to describe the "Results of Luther's Teaching," specifically, the "Moral Results" that there was a "Lower State of General Morality." In 2010 I explored this 1538 quote but was unable to locate the context. This time I was successful.

Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results is an old small anthology of Luther quotes peppered with vilifying commentary from O’Connor. In an early edition of this work, the author was so sure of his effort he originally titled the book, "The Only Reliable Evidence Concerning Martin Luther." The author claims to have compiled the quotes from the original sources: “Nearly two-thirds of the matter contained in this pamphlet is taken from the original editions of Luther’s own Works, as published in Wittenberg, under the very eye of the Reformer of Germany himself”(p. 3) He says “I have taken special care not to quote anything, that would have a different meaning, if read with the full context”(p.5).


Documentation
The footnote "Walch. VIII" refers to the eighth volume in a set of Luther's works published between 1740-1753 by Johann Georg Walch (Auslegung Johannes 7-20, ApG 15 und 16 und 1 Kor 7 und 15, kürzere Auslegung der Epistel an die Galater), Page 564 can be found here.  The text O'Connor appears to be citing appears is from the following paragraph:

This paragraph contains some of  Luther's comments on John 16:13. O'Connor says the quote is from 1538, LW says Luther lectured on John 14-16 in 1537 and the material on John 16 was published in 1539 (LW 24:preface). Technically, Luther did not write this text. These printed words are from the notes of Caspar Cruciger "who acted as the amanuensis for Luther's sermons" (LW 24, preface). Because of Cruciger's editing, getting a specific date as to the exact date of Luther's sermons for this material is not possible. Cruciger turned the sermons into a commentary. Luther was fine with this. He spoke of it as the best book he had written, adding, "of course I did not write it" (LW 24:preface).

This text has been translated into English in LW 24. The quote in question can be found on pages 357-358.

Context

13. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.

Christ calls the Holy Spirit a Spirit of truth in contrast with the spirit of lies. He also spoke about this in the fourteenth chapter (v. 17). The Holy Spirit will teach the disciples and show them that everything Christ told them is the truth; for He is a Spirit who confirms the truth in one’s heart and makes one sure of it. In 1 John 2:27 we read: “As His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie.” Therefore the purport of what He says here is: “Even though you have already heard much about this, you will never understand or believe by your own strength that it will and must be as I have just told you and that what is to be proclaimed about Me through you is true and right. And you would never have the courage to begin such preaching and to persist in it if the Holy Spirit Himself did not come to guide and preserve you in this truth. For at present this is far beyond your power to bear. And when you see this suffering beginning with Me, you will all be offended because of it and will fall away from Me.”

Who would ever have thought or believed that the precious message of the Gospel would fare as the apostles experienced and saw, and as our own experience shows us today? Yes, who of us would have begun to preach if we had known in advance that so much misery, sectarianism, offense, blasphemy, ingratitude, and malice would ensue? But now that we are preaching, we must take the consequences and remember that this is not a human venture and that it does not depend on human power, but that the Holy Spirit Himself must do and preserve it. Otherwise we could not bear this and carry it out.

In 1 Cor. 4:9–13 St. Paul himself points out that after preaching a great deal and for a long time he, too, has had to learn and experience that the apostles must not only be a mockery and a spectacle to the whole world but must be a curse and an offscouring, and be regarded as the most pernicious pestilence and plague on earth. An additional suffering he must bear is the dispersion and, at the same time, the extermination and destruction of the little flock of Christians it has taken him a long time to plant and care for. If one were to consult reason about this and to speak of it on the basis of human wisdom, who would call such happenings truth or the work of the Christian Church and the Holy Spirit? But this is what Christ says to Paul: “Dear Paul, in this way you have to become acquainted with My power” (2 Cor. 12:9). And to Ananias—whom He sends to Paul—Christ says of Paul: “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name” (Acts 9:16).

Thus all Christendom is a small group that must submit to, suffer, and bear more than all other people whatever grief the devil and the world can inflict on it. Now who, in view of what they appear to be and are subjected to, will recognize and learn that they are genuine Christians? Reason will surely not show this. The Holy Spirit must do so. He is called “the Spirit of truth” because in spite of what they appear to be and are subjected to—according to which this message seems to amount to nothing and to be a pack of lies—He strengthens and preserves hearts in the faith. Otherwise no one would have believed for any length of time, or would still believe, that this Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father forever, He who was so shamefully crucified as a malefactor by His own people, is true God? Or how could we conclude with certainty of our own accord that we, who believe in this crucified Christ and are condemned, cursed, and executed by the whole world as God’s enemies and the devil’s own, are actually God’s dear children and saints? After all, we ourselves do not feel this. In fact, our heart tells us something far different, because we are still sinners full of weakness. But this is the work of the Holy Spirit; it is His power; He confirms this in our heart. Therefore we can accept it as true in accord with His Word. He enables us to live and to die by this truth.

Or who could believe that we unfortunate people, who are executed and die like the most miserable human beings on earth, who are buried in the ground, consumed by maggots and worms or are burned alive and reduced to ashes and dust, will all emerge from this stench, from ashes and dust, in the twinkling of an eye, with whole, clean, and shining bodies more radiant than all heaven, than the sun and the moon, more beautiful and precious than all gold and jewels, purer and more fragrant than all balsam, gardens, and Paradise? Of course, no one would ever get to the bottom of this on the basis of reason; for it is altogether too farfetched and entirely too unreasonable to suppose that a being as poor and miserable as is now evident should be destined for the greatness concerning which Scripture says that we shall be eternal heirs of God in heaven and shall live and be saved solely through faith and Baptism, even though we now still have sin and death in us (LW 24:357-359).

Conclusion
The context clearly shows that this quote is not an example of  Luther lamenting "often about the actual course of his 'Reformation' in Germany, thus perhaps revealing a sense of failure and guilt." Nor is O'Connor correct that the quote was intended to demonstrate the "Results of Luther's Teaching," specifically, the "Moral Results" that there was a "Lower State of General Morality." No, the quote is about the offense of the Gospel. Luther expected the Gospel to incite the activity of the Devil, particularly among those who did not embrace it. He expected the Gospel to cause division and trouble, and to infuriate the world against the true church. What should one do when facing such trouble? Regret preaching the Gospel? Countless statements from Luther could be provided proving Luther never regretted the Gospel or proclaiming the Gospel.

The context explains the proper course of action a preacher of the Gospel takes when he finds himself in midst of trouble: "we must take the consequences and remember that this is not a human venture and that it does not depend on human power, but that the Holy Spirit Himself must do and preserve it. Otherwise we could not bear this and carry it out." Who would want to preach the Gospel if they knew beforehand of all the trouble it was bring into one's life? No one, for that is the conclusion of human reason. But as the context states, The Holy Spirit is able to see one through, as he did with the early apostles, who likewise faced dire circumstances brought on by the Gospel. The Holy Spirit makes one fit for such work.

Luther: If God had not closed my eyes and if I had foreseen these scandals, I would never have begun to teach the Gospel

Here's a Luther quote from the book, Henry O'Connor, Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results: Taken Exclusively from the Earliest and Best Editions of Luther's German and Latin Works (1884), p. 56.

We find Luther owning that he would never have begun to preach, if he had foreseen these unhappy results, and that he scarcely knows whether he ought to continue preaching..."If God had not closed, my eyes, and if I had foreseen these scandals, I would never have begun to teach the Gospel."[Walch. VI. 920]

This quote pops up every once in a while. It's typically used by Rome's defenders as proof of the failure of the Reformation (or something like Luther's regrets or concession to the failure of the Reformation, etc. example #1, example #2, example #3). O'Connor uses it to describe the "Results of Luther's Teaching," specifically, the "Moral Results" that there was a "Lower State of General Morality." The quote was also used in Patrick O'Hare's, The Facts About Luther. O'Hare states,

The new Gospel did not even make Luther himself better. He said: "I confess . . . that I am more negligent than I was under the Pope and there is now nowhere such an amount of earnestness under the Gospel, as was formerly seen among monks and priests." (Walch, IX. 1311.) "If God," he says, "had not closed my eyes and if I had foreseen these scandals, I would never have begun to teach the Gospel" (Walch, VI, 920.) [p. 131].

Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results is an old small anthology of Luther quotes peppered with vilifying commentary from O’Connor. In an early edition of this work, the author was so sure of his effort he originally titled the book, "The Only Reliable Evidence Concerning Martin Luther." The author claims to have compiled the quotes from the original sources: “Nearly two-thirds of the matter contained in this pamphlet is taken from the original editions of Luther’s own Works, as published in Wittenberg, under the very eye of the Reformer of Germany himself”(p. 3) He says “I have taken special care not to quote anything, that would have a different meaning, if read with the full context”(p.5).

Documentation
The footnote "Walch. VI" refers to the sixth volume in a set of Luther's works published between 1740-1753 by Johann Georg Walch (Auslegung über die großen u. etliche der kleinen Propheten, nämlich Hosea, Joel und Amos), page 920. This volume from Walch contains Luther's comments on Isaiah and some of the minor prophets.  O'Connor is specifically citing a comment Luther made in regard to Isaiah 49:4b ("Yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God").  The text in question O'Connor is citing appears to be:

There is also a similar Latin version of this text found in WA 31,2: 396-397:

The reason why there are two versions is because the former version was based on a transcript taken down by those who heard Luther speak. The later appears to be based on Luther's actual notes (LW 16:ix; LW 17:viii), first published in 1914. O'Connor did not have access to these notes and relied only on the transcript. The dates for Luther's lectures on Isaiah are bit sketchy. He  began in 1527 and finished in 1530.

There is an English rendering of the Latin text found in LW 17. The specific quote in question can be found on page 174.


Context

4. But I said. There you have it. This is a powerful text. I have labored in vain, for nothing, etc. This is the lament of every preacher, that even though the Word is sure, he has so few disciples. “I preach, but there seems to be no fruit. All are leaving.” We had this experience. At first many applauded the Gospel. Later, when we attacked the Mass and other things, the nobles and monks became our enemies again. Here Christ in His own person complains about the small number of disciples. So we, too, experienced that we lost many. David had this offense in mind in Ps. 88:1: “O Lord, my God, I call for help.” Jeremiah, too, had this offense in mind (Lam. 2:20): “Should priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?” “I am the only one left.” So Paul says after his labor in Asia that “all who are in Asia turned away from me” (2 Tim. 1:15). This is a fine pleasure! Therefore you must not give up if for your labor you get the reward of ingratitude. We must not lose hope, as though the Word were about to be destroyed. Let fall what may, let come what will. Jeremiah has his 7,000, Paul has his Corinthians, Ephesians, and Timothy. So the seed falls on the rock, on the road, among the thorns, and yet some also falls on good soil. This is the consolation for all preachers so that they do not lose hope, though the traitor Judas should come among the Twelve.

Yet surely My right is with the Lord, and My recompense with My God. Thus He again consoles Himself against this extremely evil offense, as if to say, “it is not My fault.” For that reason He says Yet My right is with the Lord, that is, it is His cause and office. Ps. 7:6 reads: “Awake, O My God; Thou hast appointed a judgment,” that is, an office apart from a profane judgment. With the Lord, that is, “it pleases the Lord, because I have not found it and set it up, but the Lord has chosen Me.” And My work, that is, office, as Christ says, “the work which the Father commanded Me.” This consolation is necessary in the church when we see the scarcity of disciples in the church. As for me, Martin Luther, unless God had closed for me the eyes of reason, I would long ago have stopped preaching and have despaired. Now a boldness, or certainty, comes to my aid. Yet surely My right is with the Lord, although it seems empty and vain. It is nevertheless God’s work, even though I am deserted by brethren and attacked by tyrants. Yet this consolation and the witness of our conscience heartens us, as Paul says (2 Cor. 1:12). Yesterday I said that the words My right is with the Lord are the consolation of all those who preach in vain, although they do not preach in vain. But the paucity of the godly compared with the abundance of hearers seems so great that a remarkable emotion arises in the preacher, saying, “What if I should go astray, what if I should quit? Yet I have performed my office carefully and to the best of my ability.” Nevertheless, stand fast. Let fall and stand, who can (LW 17:173-174). 

Conclusion
Contrast this context with O'Connor's paradigm:  "We find Luther owning that he would never have begun to preach, if he had foreseen these unhappy results, and that he scarcely knows whether he ought to continue preaching" (O'Connor, p.56). Really?

Luther's Latin lecture notes provide a helpful context. Luther first lays out the plight of those who minister the Gospel, "I preach, but there seems to be no fruit." Those minsters who feel this way should first find comfort in that the same circumstances were found in the pages of sacred scripture. The second comfort is to be found in that the Lord calls His ministers to preach the Gospel. Reason says that a "scarcity of disciples in the church" points towards failure. But those who preach the Gospel are not to evaluate their ministry by reason, but rather stay faithful to the truth. They are empowered by the Holy Spirit who closes "the eyes of reason" and provokes  "a boldness, or certainty." When Luther says "I would long ago have stopped preaching and have despaired," he's making the statement as a comfort to fellow preachers. 

Luther: See how foolishly the people everywhere behave towards the Gospel, so that I scarcely know whether I ought to continue preaching or not

Here's a Luther quote from the book, Henry O'Connor, Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results: Taken Exclusively from the Earliest and Best Editions of Luther's German and Latin Works (1884), p. 56.

"We find Luther owning that he would never have begun to preach, if he had foreseen these unhappy results, and that he scarcely knows whether he ought to continue preaching. His words are "See how foolishly the people everywhere behave towards the Gospel, so that I scarcely know whether I ought to continue preaching or not" [Walch. XI. 3052].


This quote pops up every once in a while. It's typically used by Rome's defenders as proof of the failure of the Reformation (or something like Luther's regrets or concession to the failure of the Reformation, etc. example #1, example #2). O'Connor uses it to describe the "Results of Luther's Teaching," specifically, the "Moral Results" that there was a "Lower State of General Morality."

Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results is an old small anthology of Luther quotes peppered with vilifying commentary from O’Connor. In an early edition of this work, the author was so sure of his effort he originally titled the book, "The Only Reliable Evidence Concerning Martin Luther." The author claims to have compiled the quotes from the original sources: “Nearly two-thirds of the matter contained in this pamphlet is taken from the original editions of Luther’s own Works, as published in Wittenberg, under the very eye of the Reformer of Germany himself”(p. 3) He says “I have taken special care not to quote anything, that would have a different meaning, if read with the full context”(p.5).


Documentation
The footnote "Walch. XI" refers to the eleventh volume in a set of Luther's works published between 1740-1753 by Johann Georg Walch (Kirchen-Postille Evangelien-Predigten), page 3052. This volume from Walch contains Luther's Church Postil. These Postil sermons have a tedious and complicated legacy (see the introduction to LW 75). The text in question O'Connor is citing appears to be:

The text is from Luther's sermons on The Feast of Saint John the Baptizer, specifically The Benedictus, or Prophecy of Zechariah (Luke 1:57-80). Even though a four volume set from LW contains the Church Postil, the English translation of this particular sermon is found in Joel Basely's translation of Luther's Kirchenpostille:  The Festival Sermons of Martin Luther (Michigan: Mark V Publications, 2005). The context for the quote can be found in the second part of the book, page 81.


Context

Conclusion
This sermon does not date from late in Luther's career, but rather the early 1520's. Here's a copy from 1525.  I mention this because Rome's polemicists think Luther gradually became disheartened by the ineffectiveness of his Gospel preaching. This sermon should demonstrate to them that their paradigm is flawed based on the very quote they extracted from this writing. If they want to use the quote from this sermon, they have to at least admit that early in Luther's career, he felt the same way he did later in his career.

I don't think Luther was being despondent or bemoaning the impact of his preaching. Luther says he was tempted to stop preaching the Gospel because it comes across to the world as foolish and people think because of the pure imputation of Christ's righteousness, no one need live a moral life. But as he continues, the masses also misinterpreted Christ's preaching, so he was in good company. He goes on to say: "The Gospel remains a preaching to the congregation  and who it grasps it grasps." Where Rome's defenders see a despondent Luther, the context actually breathes of preaching the perfect righteousness of Christ and how that righteousness will both confound the world and will be a comfort to those plagued by their sins. Such a person is to live an outwardly honorable life, always though with the realization that the only honorable life accepted by God is the perfectly honorable life of Christ. 

Luther: We are living in Sodom and Babylon, everything is daily getting worse

Here's a Luther quote from the book, Henry O'Connor, Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results: Taken Exclusively from the Earliest and Best Editions of Luther's German and Latin Works (1884), p. 56.

"About a year before his death, Luther confesses: "We are living in Sodom and Babylon everything is daily getting worse" [De Wette V. 722].


This quote is typically used by older generations of Rome's defenders as proof of the failure of the Reformation (or something like Luther's regrets or concession to the failure of the Reformation, etc.).  O'Connor uses it to describe the "Results of Luther's Teaching," specifically the "Moral Results" that there was a "Lower State of General Morality."

Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results is an old small anthology of Luther quotes peppered with vilifying commentary from O’Connor. In an early edition of this work, the author was so sure of his effort he originally titled the book, "The Only Reliable Evidence Concerning Martin Luther." The author claims to have compiled the quotes from the original sources: “Nearly two-thirds of the matter contained in this pamphlet is taken from the original editions of Luther’s own Works, as published in Wittenberg, under the very eye of the Reformer of Germany himself”(p. 3) He says “I have taken special care not to quote anything, that would have a different meaning, if read with the full context”(p.5).

Other forms of this quote can also be found:

Above all the disintegration of moral and social life, the epidemic ravages of vice and immorality, and that in the very cradle of the Reformation, even in his very household, nearly drove him frantic. "We live in Sodom and Babylon, affairs are growing daily worse", is his lament (De Wette, op. cit., V, 722) [Catholic Encyclopedia. Link].

The "great work of the Reformation," i.e. of real reform, to which Luther appeals unless he was prepared to regard it as consisting solely in the damage done to the Roman Church surely demanded that, at least at Wittenberg and in Luther s immediate sphere, some definite fruits in the shape of real moral amelioration should be apparent. Yet it was precisely of Wittenberg and his own surroundings that Luther complained so loudly. The increase of every kind of disorder caused him to write to George of Anhalt: "We live in Sodom and Babylon, or rather must die there; the good men, our Lots and Daniels, whom we so urgently need now that things are daily becoming worse, are snatched from us by death" (March 9, 1545, " Briefe," ed. De Wette, 5, p. 722, letter called forth by the death of -George Held Forchheim, to whom the Prince was much attached) [Hartmann Grisar, Luther 4:215].

Documentation
The footnote "De Wette V. 722" refers to page 722 in the fifth volume in a set of Luther's letters edited by Dr. Wilhelm Martin Leberecht de Wette (5 vols., Berlin, 1825-8), Dr. Martin Luthers Briefe, Sendschreiben und Bedenken. Page 722 can be found here.

As Grisar mentioned above, this is a letter to Prince George of Anhalt, March, 9, 1545 in regard to the death of George Held, pastor of the church in Forchheim. Prince George was one of three brothers whose territories were favorable to the Reformation (See LW 38:142).

To my knowledge, this letter has no official English rendering in any of the collections of Luther's writings.  However, a lengthy section of it is included in John Scott, The History of the Church, pages 517-519.

Context

Grace and peace to you in Christ! So then, most illustrious prince, our friend Heldus is gone, leaving us to lament him! O my God, at a time when we have need of many holy men to comfort and strengthen us by their prayers, their counsels, and their assistance, thou takest away even the few that are left us! We know, O God, that the prayers and the labours of the departed, who most ardently loved and zealously served thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and was most useful to thy church, were well-pleasing in thy sight.—Certainly I myself placed great confidence in his prayers, and derived great consolation from them. How severe a wound then must you have suffered, most excellent prince, by the removal of one with whom you lived on terms of such faithful and endeared friendship. But it is well with him. Gathered to his fathers and to his people, he finds more and better companions there than he has left behind. But our lot is trying, who live, or drag on a sort of dying existence, here in Sodom and Babylon, and find the number of good men diminish in proportion as the state of things, daily declining towards what is worse, requires an increase of them. But the wisdom of God is to be adored, who, when he is about to accomplish something great, and surpassing our hopes, first seems to annihilate all expectation, and to reduce us to despair: as it is written, He bringeth down to the grave, (ad inferos,) and bringeth up again. He does this, to teach us the exercise of faith, hope, and love towards him; and that we may learn to esteem things not seen above those which do appear, and against hope to believe in hope, and to depend on him who calleth things which are not as though they were. Then, while he takes away from us all his most pleasant gifts, and exhibits himself to us as if his kindness and his loveliness had come utterly to an end, at that very time he is thinking most especially, and I might almost say anxiously, the thoughts of love towards us. By means like these it is that the old man is slain—the body of sin destroyed. —Wherefore comfort yourself, most excellent prince, according to the rich measure in which it has been given you to know God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and to meditate on all the operations of his hands. It shall be my prayer, that the God of all consolation would confirm and strengthen you by his Holy Spirit, until the appointed end of these trials be accomplished. For, as it is said in Jeremiah, He doth not willingly grieve the childen of men. And Augustine says, God would not permit evil to exist, if he had not some greater good to bring out of it.—We are yet in the flesh, and know not what to ask or how to ask it; that is, to ask what is good for us: but He, who is able to do above all we ask or think, careth for us: he can do for us beyond what the narrowness of our hearts allows us to desire, or even to imagine. But it is necessary, in order to his doing this, that he should first take from us those things which we think we cannot do without; or at least think that their absence would occasion us great injury or great danger. Scripture abounds with examples to this effect. Adam and Eve were almost intoxicated with high expectations from Cain: God deprived them of both their sons, and almost reduced them to despair: but then He that quickeneth the dead, and createth all things out of nothing, gave them another seed, and an unfailing posterity. Abraham promised himself great things from Ishmael, Isaac from Esau, Jacob from Reuben, his first born; but all these hopes must receive a death-blow, that new and immortal hopes might take their place. God is mighty and faithful: he promises and he performs.— Let us bewail our departed friend then, because his light is lost, as the son of Sirach says, yet not to himself but to us. To him his light burns more brightly, and shall burn for ever. Soon too our light shall fail here, but be rekindled and perfected in that better state, through him who is at once our Light and our Life. Amen! In Him may your highness ever fare well !"

Conclusion
At the beginning of this entry I cited three Roman Catholic historians referring to this letter. O'Connor used it to describe Luther's confession to the negative moral results of his teaching. The Catholic Encyclopedia used it to demonstrate "the disintegration of moral and social life," and "the epidemic ravages of vice and immorality... in the very cradle of the Reformation, even in his very household, [which] nearly drove him frantic." Hartmann Grisar (the tamest of the three) used it to demonstrate that Luther's was not a "great work of the Reformation" or of "real reform" because at Wittenberg (Luther's place of residence), he "complained" about the behavior of the general population. One wonders if any of these three men actually read this letter- which was overtly pastoral in nature devoted to the needs of someone else. It was not a letter of Luther complaining or bemoaning his own personal situation in Wittenberg. It isn't even certain if Luther was referring to Wittenberg in this letter or if he was referring to the general state of the world (it appears to me he may have simply meant the later).

Henry O'Connor immediately goes on to state:

The town of Wittenberg was the principal scene of father's activity. It was there that he resided. It was there, if anywhere, that the results of his teaching ought to have made themselves felt. Now, about seven months before his death, Luther wrote to his wife, "Away from this Sodom (Wittenberg)... I will wander about, and sooner beg my bread than allow my poor old last days to be martyred and upset with the disorder of Wittenberg" (Luther's Letter to his Wife, July, 1545, de Wette 753-) (p.56).

For O'Connor, this is documentary proof for the following: 

Every reasonable person will agree with me, that Luther can only have been a Reformer chosen by Almighty God, if his teaching caused an increase of virtue and a decrease of vice. If, however, it can be plainly shown, that in consequence of his teaching there was, on the contrary, an increase of vice and a decrease of virtue, we must come to the conclusion, that Luther had not the sanction of God for the work which he undertook (p.50). 

I've covered this notion from O'Connor previously. This sentiment captures the gist of  the earlier generations of Rome's polemicists. They are correct that towards the end of his life Luther lamented over Wittenberg to the point of briefly leaving (see LW 50:273-281). Set aside the notion of Luther's despondency over Wittenberg for a moment and consider the following:. Is O'Connor's argument biblically true? Were those chosen by God in the role of prophets, teachers, or preachers guaranteed the results of "an increase of virtue and a decrease of vice"? Think of the Old Testament prophets. They typically came with messages that the people did not heed, nor want to hear- and this provoked God's judgment. If one were to evaluate their calling and ministry based on O'Connor's paradigm, we could throw out more than a few prophets. Consider some of the early churches in the New Testament as well. Corinth was given a rather pure dose of apostolic teaching, was it not? When one reads 1 and 2 Corinthians, the moral state of the church described by Paul is less than stellar. Latter on in an an early post-biblical document, 1 Clement, we find the Corinthian church still in disarray. Or, take the argument and apply it to Rome's infallible magisterium and pick a century or a recent decade.

As has been expressed in a number of other Beggars All entries, Luther had no expectations that the Gospel would transform the masses of society. For Luther, it was the end of the world. Things were going to get worse. The Gospel was going to be fought against by the Devil with all his might. The true church was a tiny flock in a battle against the world, the flesh, and the Devil. He hoped the people would improve with the preaching of the Gospel, he often admitted he knew things were going to get worse because of the Gospel. 

Luther: After the dominion and power of the Pope has ceased the people despising the true doctrine are now changed into irrational animals and beasts

Here's a Luther quote from the book, Henry O'Connor, Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results: Taken Exclusively from the Earliest and Best Editions of Luther's German and Latin Works (1884), p. 55-56.

"After the dominion and power of the Pope has ceased . . . the people, while despising the true doctrine, are now changed into mere irrational animals and beasts; … the number of holy and pious teachers becomes constantly less" [Walch. I. 615].

This quote pops up every once in a while. It's typically used by Rome's defenders as proof of the failure of the Reformation (or something like Luther's regrets or concession to the failure of the Reformation, etc. example #1, example #2). O'Connor uses it to describe the "Results of Luther's Teaching," specifically the "Moral Results" that there was a "Lower State of General Morality."

Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results is an old small anthology of Luther quotes peppered with vilifying commentary from O’Connor. In an early edition of this work, the author was so sure of his effort he originally titled the book, "The Only Reliable Evidence Concerning Martin Luther." The author claims to have compiled the quotes from the original sources: “Nearly two-thirds of the matter contained in this pamphlet is taken from the original editions of Luther’s own Works, as published in Wittenberg, under the very eye of the Reformer of Germany himself”(p. 3) He says “I have taken special care not to quote anything, that would have a different meaning, if read with the full context”(p.5).

Documentation
The footnote "Walch. I" refers to the first volume in a set of Luther's works published between 1740-1753 by Johann Georg Walch (Auslegung des ersten Buches Mose, Erster Teil, 912 Seiten). Page 615 can be found here (see top of second column on the top right for page numbering). The text reads:

This paragraph is from Luther's lectures on Genesis 5:2 (1535-1536). Technically, Luther did not write this text. The editors of LW state,

[T]he work is not a product of Luther’s pen or even a transcript of his lectures; it is a transcript that has been reworked and edited. From the instance of other commentaries, where we have both the lecture notes and the printed version, it is evident that the editors of Luther’s Biblical commentaries allowed themselves greater liberties in preparing his lectures for publication than the modern conventions of editing and publishing would justify. Where we have only the printed version, therefore, we have reason to be on the lookout for marks of redactorial additions and changes (LW 5:x]

The text has been translated into English  in LW 1:336.


Context

The Glory of the Cananites

But the Cainites, too, had their glory: the wisest men in every field of human endeavor and the finest hypocrites, who were the instigators of very much trouble for the true church and in various ways maltreated the holiest patriarchs, so that we deservedly count these among the holiest martyrs and confessors. As Moses stated above, the Cainites immediately began to be superior in number and in activity. Although they were compelled to show respect to their father Adam, they tried in various ways to oppress the church of the godly, especially after Adam, the first patriarch, had died. Therefore the Cainites accelerated the punishment of the Flood with their wickedness.

But this power and malice of the Cainites was the reason why the holy patriarchs taught their church so much more zealously and carefully. How many important sermons do we suppose were delivered by them in that entire course of years, when Adam and Eve told about their first state and the glory of Paradise, and gave admonitions to be on guard against the serpent, who through sin became the cause of so many evils! How careful shall we suppose them to have been in explaining the promise concerning the Seed; how sensible in cheering the hearts of their people that the latter might not become discouraged by the grandeur of the Cainites or by their own afflictions!

All these details Moses passes over, both because they could not be written down on account of their profusion and because their disclosure is reserved for that day of glory and deliverance.

Thus although the Flood was a most horrible event, nevertheless Moses’ description of it is very brief; for he wanted to leave it to men to ponder over events of such magnitude.

So in this passage Moses wanted to present briefly some picture of the first and original world. It was very good. Nevertheless, it had a large number of very wicked men, so that only eight souls were preserved in the Flood. What do we suppose will happen before the Last Day? For now, when the Gospel has been brought to light, so many despise it that it is to be feared that they will shortly predominate and fill the world with their errors, and the Word will be altogether suppressed.

Awe-inspiring indeed are the words of Christ when He says (Luke 18:8): “Do you think that the Son of Man will find faith when He comes?” And in Matt. 24:37 He compares the last times with the times of Noah. These are terrifying statements. But the smug and ungrateful world, the despiser of all the promises and threats of God, abounds with every kind of iniquity and daily becomes more and more corrupt. Now that the rule of the popes, who have ruled the world solely through the fear of punishment, is over, men, through their contempt of the sound doctrine, all but degenerate into brutes and beasts. The number of holy and godly preachers is on the decline. All men yield to their desires. But what will happen is that the Last Day will come upon the world like a thief (1 Thess. 5:2) and will overtake men who in their smugness give free reign to their ambitious desire, tyranny, lusts, greed, and all sorts of vices.

Furthermore, Christ Himself has foretold these developments, and so it is impossible for us to believe that He has lied. But if the first world, which had so large a number of most excellent patriarchs, became so pitiably depraved, how much more should we fear when the feebleness of our nature is so great? Therefore may the Lord grant that in faith and in the confession of His Son Jesus Christ we may as quickly as possible be gathered to those fathers and die within twenty years, so that we may not see those terrible woes and afflictions, both spiritual and physical, of the last time. Amen (LW 1:335-336).

Conclusion
Notice first how O'Connor set up the quote: "After the dominion and power of the Pope has ceased . . . the people, while despising the true doctrine, are now changed into mere irrational animals and beasts…" In context, O'Connor left out the middle part of the sentence continues, "who have ruled the world solely through the fear of punishment, is over...." It's interesting that he left out that part of the sentence which speaks negatively about the dominion and power of the Pope that ruled the world "solely through the fear of punishment."

Notice also that Luther's comment isolated by O'Connor finds its true theological meaning within the entire context. He begins by describing the state of the world before the Noahic flood.Only eight were saved by the ark. He concludes this section by biblically describing the world before the "Last Day." Destruction will come upon the world like a thief. "Terrible woes and afflictions, both spiritual and physical" will once again afflict the world in an all-consuming way similarly to the great flood.

O'Connor is correct that Luther saw the world as becoming worse because of the preaching of the Gospel. With this context though, we see again the reoccurring theme that Luther viewed his time period on the cusp of the return of Christ. In my explorations into Luther's theology I've never come across him stating the opposite- that because of the preaching of the Gospel, the world would become more holy and pious. For Luther, mankind has and will always oppose God's truth en masse and rebel against it, for that's what Satan and sin have always done in battle against God's word. Luther consistently held that the Gospel would find great opposition, and would be attacked from all sides. The Gospel would be used by the world as a licence to sin and all sorts of evil because of Satan. The Gospel would indeed make those of the world worse. But on the flip-side, the Gospel would also transform those whom God intended to redeem, and they are those who comprise the church, however few in number they may be.