Theses 41-47.
[9] See Theses 52-55.
[10] See Thesis 80.
[11] See above, Introduction, p. 22 f.
[12] See Theses 21, 33.
[13] See Thesis 55, and Introduction, p.22.
[15] viz., The Instruction to the Commissaries.
II
DISPUTATION OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER ON THE POWER AND EFFICACY OF
INDULGENCES
OCTOBER 31, 1517
Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light,
the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under
the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of
Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same
at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to
be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.
In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said _Poenitentiam
agite_,[1] willed that the whole life of believers should be
repentance. [Matt. 4:17]
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance,
i. e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the
priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no
inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers
mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty[2] [of sin], therefore, continues so long as
hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance,
and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any
penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own
authority or by that of the Canons.[3]
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it
has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission;
though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to
his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were
despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time,
humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the
priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and,
according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because
in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death
and of necessity.[4]
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in
the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
11. This changing of the canonical pena
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