THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 15
the greatest interest ; but what he heard there of the history of the Popes, and what he saw of the scepticism and levity of the priests and the immorality of the people, left an impression on his mind the opposite of what he expected. In 1512 Luther .became Doctor of Divinity, and swore to " defend the evan gelical truth with all his might," a work he set himself vigo rously to do. Year by year he continued his various labours at Wittenberg, writing many letters, and fulfilling his duties as preacher and lecturer, and in other capacities. He also stirred the mind of the time by putting forth theological theses anta gonistic to prevalent errors, and declarative of great Bible truths.
In order to supply Pope Leo X. with resources sufficient for the splendid life he then led, recourse was had to the sale of Indulgences. Pardon for sins, past or future, and speedy deli verance from purgatory, were offered in return for money. John Tetzel, prior of the Dominicans, Avas sent through Germany as the appointed dealer in these indulgences. This most unscru pulous imposture awakened indignation in the minds of t"he thoughtful. In 1516 Luther encountered it in the confessional. Some of his own hearers refused to forsake the sins they could so easily obtain indulgence for. Then Luther felt it to be his duty to warn his friends in private, and to preach and publish a sermon, in order to expose the pernicious error. And on the 3rd of October, 1517, as a further and still more decisive step, Luther posted upon the door oft the Elector s Church, at Wit tenberg, ninety-five theses against the doctrine of indulgences. This was done without previous intimation, and on a festival day, when crowds came to see the relics and to obtain such indulgences. Thus Luther openly broke with Rome. He soon found himself fully occupied in meeting the opponents his theses had raised against him. To aid the good work of Reformation, he also published his " Sermons on the Ten Commandments," and his "Explanation of the Lord s Prayer for simple and ignorant laymen."
In 1518 Luther thought it right to send a letter to the Pope,
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