Page:Thirty-five years of Luther research.djvu/89

Rh ments of Melanchthon — was the certainty of salvation, whose clear expression Luther had wrought out during his study of Romans."

Herewith the main factors in Luther's development are correctly mentioned, even though Walter is right when he advises, not as yet to conclude this investigation. Braun's work has been the most instructive among those alluded to. Mueller's book one time aroused a great deal of excitement. He directs a very sharp attack against Denifle, and on the strength of a very wide knowledge concerning mediæval theology, attempts the proof that Luther's doctrine of concupiscentia, etc., did not have its origin in Luther's "soiled" mind, but that much rather it is an expression that dates back to a once celebrated old school that had the sanction of the Church, and which even at Luther's time had many adherents on the Catholic side, so that in reality Luther brought no "innovation," but only a "renovation," and that the papacy of that time is much rather to be called the "apostate" instead of Luther. However, Mueller did not prove very satisfactorily that Luther was acquainted with this theology. Nevertheless, it was pretty confounding evidence and challenged to closer investigation in this direction.

7. Luther and the Indulgence

Luther could hardly have begun with his lectures on Romans, in which he fought his way to the absolute certainty of salvation when Pope Leo gave his sanction to the Mainz Indulgence on the 31st of March, 1515. It had always been accepted heretofore that the Pope gave his sanction to this Mainz Indulgence, in order that half of the funds might place Albrecht in a position to defray the huge sums paid to the Roman See for his confirmation