CHAPTER VII. SOME PARTICULARS WITH REGARD TO

THE OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES AND INWARD LIFE OF LUTHER AT THE TIME OF THE CRISIS _pages_ 262-302

1. LUTHER AS SUPERIOR OF ELEVEN AUGUSTINIAN HOUSES.

His election as Rural Vicar, 1516; his discourse on the Little Saints delivered at the Chapter; influence of his administration; extracts from his correspondence; his quick despatch of business _pages_ 262-268

2. THE MONK OF LIBERAL VIEWS AND INDEPENDENT ACTION.

His ideal of humility. On vows. Prejudice against observances. Blames formalism prevalent in the Church generally and in the monasteries. Paltz and Tauler on this subject. Overwork leads Luther to neglect his spiritual duties; Mass and Divine Office; his final abandonment of the Breviary. His outward appearance; his quarrelsomeness _pages_ 268-280

3. LUTHER’S ULTRA-SPIRITUALISM AND CALLS FOR REFORM. IS SELF-IMPROVEMENT POSSIBLE? PENANCE.

His pessimism; the whole world sunk in corruption. Opinion of theologians. Justifiable criticism. On the clergy; proposes placing the administration of all temporalities in the hands of the Princes. On Indulgences. His familiarity with the Elector of Saxony. On the dreadful state of Rome. The prevalence of Pelagianism; three deadly vices; on his own temptations; how people fall and rise again; on diabolical terrors; on making the best of things and reconciling ourselves to remaining in sin; his inability to understand the nature of contrition; denial that perfect contrition exists; his mysticism averse to the motive of fear or of heavenly recompense; misrepresentation of the Church’s doctrine concerning attrition. Ascribes his view of penance to Staupitz; the part of Staupitz in the downfall of the Congregation. Möhler and Neander on Luther’s resemblance to Marcion the Gnostic. Paradoxical character of the monk _pages_ 280-302