Martin Luther was born to Hans and Margaretta Luther in 1483. According to Bainton Martin Luther was "highly esteemed at home. His parents looked to him as a lad of brilliant parts who should become a jurist, make a prosperous marriage, and support them in their old age." (p.24,25). Which explains why Hans Luther was upset at his son for taking the cowl. Bainton explains Luther's reasons for this. In the first chapter of the book, The Vow, as Luther gets struck by lightening he screams out "St. Anne help me! I will become a monk." Luther was determined to keep his vow and he felt that this would earn his salvation. Bainton explains why earning ones salvation was very important in these times .
The Church taught that no sensible person would wait until his deathbed to make an act of contrition and plead for grace. From the beginning to end the only secure course was to lay hold of every help the church had to offer: sacraments, pilgrimages, indulgences, the intercession of the saints And what better could he (Luther) do than take the cowl?" p. 30-32.
This is the part of Luther I respect the most, his sincere plight to salvation. I admit it seems to be driven by fear, which was imbedded into him from a very young age and through school and throughout his life, but never the less I find the drive and motivation of his plight very admirable. If not for Luther's depth of brutal honesty in his own struggle to know God many of the people in America today would still be living in times when what the priest said is what God said. Which I have to admit, I feel many people are content being spoon-fed. But for those of use will not settle for the word of the priest Luther is a pioneer. Luther ineffectually fought his way toward God through "works". His father brought to his attention that circumstances surrounding his vow could be the work of God, but it could also be the work of the devil.
