Page:Works of Martin Luther, with introductions and notes, Volume 1.djvu/50

. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.

. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.

. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.

. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!

. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!

. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.

. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury, of holy love and truth.

. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God — this is madness.

. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.

. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.

. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.

. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.

. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such