Luther on the Eve of His Revolt - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

The view that Luther’s challenge had great significance was held by Bossuet. That incomparable controversialist did not see in Luther’s action more than a rather irresolute first step, a denunciation of an isolated abuse: “From abuses he passed to the thing itself.” The Lutheran system would have grown only insensibly and according to the requirements of controversy: “However, one matter led him to another. As the doctrine of justification and of the efficacy of the Sacraments was closely connected with that of indulgences, Luther turned upon these two articles; and this controversy soon became the more important.” Working on this assumption, Bossuet undertakes the difficult task of following Luther in his first movements, which he represents as sometimes bold, sometimes timid. His admirable book, so full of facts, so vigorous and serene in its reasoning, is, at the beginning, occupied with the discussion of petty quarrels. It is like the first flappings of the wings of the eagle which is starting upon its flight.

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