However, by reducing the amount of text in the search expression I was able to find a valuable match using Google Book Search. The quoted passage by Luther appears in a public domain text titled “The Table Talk of Martin Luther” by Martin Luther, William Hazlitt, and Alexander Chalmers published in 1857. The full text of the book is downloadable. The quote differs slightly from the one given by David Rothman because it has been created by a different translator.

It is intriguing how much progress has been made in creating a powerful digital library. The Luther book was originally from Oxford University and was digitized January 9, 2007. Here is some more of the text adjacent to the quote:

The multitude of books is a great evil. There is no measure or limit to this fever for writing; every one must be an author; some out of vanity, to acquire celebrity and raise up a name; others for the sake of lucre and gain. The Bible is now buried under so many commentaries, that the text is nothing regarded. I could wish all my books were buried nine ells deep in the ground, by reason of the ill example they will give, every one seeking to imitate me in writing many books, with the hope of procuring fame. But Christ died not to favour our ambition and vain glory, but that his name might be glorified.

Of course, it would be advantageous if the original context of the quote was easier to find as suggested by David Rothman. Also, annotations discussing the reliability of the 1857 translation would be nice.