§ 82. THE NINETY-FIVE THESES. ΟΟΥ. 31, 1517. 165
72. But he, on the other hand, who exerts himself against the wantonness and license of speech of the preachers of pardons, let him be blessed.
73. As the Pope justly thunders [Lat., fulminat ; G. trs., mit Ungnade und dem Bann schlégt] against those who use any kind of contrivance to the injury of the traffic in pardons;
74. Much more is it his intention to thunder against those who, under the pretext of pardons, use contrivances to the injury of holy charity and of truth.
75. [XXV.] To think that papal pardons have such power that they could
absolve a man even if — by an impossibility — he had violated the Mother of |
God, is madness.
76. [1.] We affirm, on the contrary, that papal pardons [venie papales] can not take away even the least venial sins, as regards the guilt [guoad eulpam].
77. The saying that, even if St. Peter were now Pope, he could grant no greater graces, is blasphemy against St. Peter and the Pope.
78. We affirm, on the contrary, that both he and any other Pope has greater graces to grant; namely, the gospel, powers, any of healing, etc. (1 Cor. xii. 9).
69. To say that the cross set up among the insignia of the papal arms is of equal power with the cross of Christ, is blasphemy.
80. Those bishops, curates, and theologians who allow such discourses to have currency among the people, will have to render an account.
81. This license in the preaching of pardons makes it no easy thing, even for learned men, to protect the reverence due to the Pope against the calumnies, or, at all events, the keen questionings, of the laity;
82. As, for instance: Why does not the Pope empty purgatory for the \ sake of most holy charity and of the supreme necessity of souls, — this being |
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the most just of all reasons, — if he redeems an infinite number of souls for | the sake of that most fatal thing, money, to be spent on building a basilica "ἡ
— this being a slight reason?
83. Again: Why do funeral masses and anniversary masses for deceased continue, and why does not the Pope return, or permit the withdrawal of, the funds bequeathed for this purpose, since it is a wrong to pray for those who are already redeemed ?
84. Again: What is this new kindness of God and the Pope, in that, for money’s sake, they permit an impious man and an enemy of God to redeem a pious soul which loves God, and yet do not redeem that same pious and beloved soul, out of free charity, on account of its own need ?
85. Again: Why is it that the penitential canons, long since abrogated and dead in themselves in very fact, and not only by usage, are yet still redeemed with money, through the granting of indulgences, as if they were full of life ?
86. Again: Why does not the Pope, whose riches are at this day more
106 THE GERMAN REFORMATION. A.D. 1517 To 1530.
ample than those of the wealthiest of the wealthy, build the one Basilica of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with that of poor believers ?
87. Again: Why does the Pope remit or impart to those who, through perfect contrition, have a right to plenary remission and participation ?
88. Again: What greater good would the Church receive if the Pope, instead of once as he does now, were to bestow these remissions and participations a hundred times a day on any one of the faithful ?
89. Since it is the salvation of souls, rather than money, that the Pope seeks by his pardons,.why does he annul the letters and pardons granted long ago, since they are equally efficacious ?
90. To repress these scruples and arguments of the laity by force alone, and not to solve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the Pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christian men unhappy.
91. If, then, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the Pope, all these questions would be resolved with ease; nay, would not exist.
92. Away then with all those prophets who say to the ΠῈΣ of Christ, ** Peace, peace,’’ and there is no peace.
93. Blessed be all those prophets, who say to the people of Christ, ‘‘ The cross, the cross,’’ and there is no cross.
94. Christians should be exhorted to strive to follow Christ their head through pains, deaths, and hells;
95. [Lat. Text, XX.] And thus trust to enter heaven through many tribulations, rather than in the security of peace |per securitatem pacis].