Chapter III: THE STARTING-POINT pages 104-129

1. FORMER INACCURATE VIEWS.

The starting-point not simply the desire to
reform the Church; nor mere antipathy to the
Dominicans. Hus’s influence merely secondary.
Luther’s own account of his search for a
“merciful God” not to be trusted any more than
his later descriptions of his life as a monk _pages_ 104-110

2. WHETHER EVIL CONCUPISCENCE IS IRRESISTIBLE?

Luther’s belief in its irresistibility not to
be alleged as a proof of his moral perversity.
Traces of the belief early noticeable in him;
he demands that people should nevertheless
strive against concupiscence with the weapons
of the spirit; concupiscence ineradicable,
identical with original sin, and actually
sinful. Luther not a determinist from the
beginning. His pseudo-mysticism scarcely
reconcilable with his supposed moral perversity _pages_ 110-117

3. THE REAL STARTING-POINT AND THE CO-OPERATING
FACTORS.

Luther’s new opinions grounded on his
antipathy to good works; hence his belief
in the incapacity of man for good. Other
factors; his character, his self-confidence and
combativeness; his anger with the formalism
prevalent in his day; his fear of eternal
reprobation; his inadequate knowledge of the
real doctrine of the Church; his hasty promotion _pages_ 117-129