Chapter VII: Some Particulars with Regard to

THE OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES AND INWARD LIFE OF
LUTHER AT THE TIME OF THE CRISIS _pages_ 262-302

1. LUTHER AS SUPERIOR OF ELEVEN AUGUSTINIAN
HOUSES.

His election as Rural Vicar, 1516; his
discourse on the Little Saints delivered at
the Chapter; influence of his administration;
extracts from his correspondence; his quick
despatch of business _pages_ 262-268

2. THE MONK OF LIBERAL VIEWS AND INDEPENDENT
ACTION.

His ideal of humility. On vows. Prejudice
against observances. Blames formalism prevalent
in the Church generally and in the monasteries.
Paltz and Tauler on this subject. Overwork
leads Luther to neglect his spiritual duties;
Mass and Divine Office; his final abandonment
of the Breviary. His outward appearance; his
quarrelsomeness _pages_ 268-280

3. LUTHER’S ULTRA-SPIRITUALISM AND CALLS FOR
REFORM. IS SELF-IMPROVEMENT POSSIBLE? PENANCE.

His pessimism; the whole world sunk in
corruption. Opinion of theologians. Justifiable
criticism. On the clergy; proposes placing
the administration of all temporalities in
the hands of the Princes. On Indulgences. His
familiarity with the Elector of Saxony. On
the dreadful state of Rome. The prevalence
of Pelagianism; three deadly vices; on his
own temptations; how people fall and rise
again; on diabolical terrors; on making the
best of things and reconciling ourselves to
remaining in sin; his inability to understand
the nature of contrition; denial that perfect
contrition exists; his mysticism averse to
the motive of fear or of heavenly recompense;
misrepresentation of the Church’s doctrine
concerning attrition. Ascribes his view of
penance to Staupitz; the part of Staupitz in
the downfall of the Congregation. Möhler and
Neander on Luther’s resemblance to Marcion the
Gnostic. Paradoxical character of the monk _pages_ 280-302