Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/80

 Writ, the preacher showed that the true Christian penitent should perform satisfactory penance by doing as David says in the Psalms.

The Austin friars have recently made a fresh innovation with regard to their prior/ who gives the rules and orders to be observed by them. They replied that they are solely bound to observe the commandments of God; that their salvation is impossible so long as they obey their superiors, because the superior commands them at stated times to sleep, rise, read, eat, drink, speak, and be silent ; that by doing so they are un- able to obey the commandment of God in the matter of faith, and to serve others for love and charity, by assisting, coun- selling and teaching; and that the neglect of these precepts is immaterial, whereas to disobey the orders and regulations of the prior subjects them to the loss of everjrthing.

This they proved most ably by Holy Writ, and priests and friars preach publicly from the pulpit, praying and command- ing one-half of the friars, for the love of God, if such be their fantasy, to throw oflF their copes and depart thence, relying on their merit with God.

In consequence of this proceeding another great popular commotion took place, and thej[riar fell ill, but on the follow- '/u' ^^ ing Sunday he again preached and read the Gospel, though from weakness he could hardly stand; and he besought the people by Christ's Passion, as before, [telling them] that who- soever took a friar or nun out of a monastery would rescue a soul from the devil's claws, as there was no hope of improv- ing the monasteries; that the friars should be freed from the rules of their orders, including such as relate to apparel; that those who tell them otherwise could not substantiate their doctrine ; and that should they live to the extremity of human life they would never be good for anybody but the devil, as by external acts and works and by their apparel they make a [false] profession, and cause the loss of so many souls The preacher's doctrine relative to false faith, obedience, pov- erty and chastity were so edifying (bella) that many persons shed tears from devotion. He declared that if there were no other sin in the world but the hypocritical professions of the

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