bishop and Elector of Mayence, the promulgation of a brief, granting many indulgences to those who contributed alms for this purpose. The archbishop committed the publication of these indulgences to a Dominican Doctor, John Tetzel, who had already discharged a similar commission in aid of the Teutonic Knights, when they were attacked by the Duke of Muscovy, and who was reputed an eloquent preacher. This was highly displeasing to John Staupitz, Vicar-General of the Augustinians, and a great favourite of the Duke of Saxony; he, therefore, with the Duke's permission, charged Luther with the duty of preaching against the abuse of these indulgences. He immediately began to attack these abuses, and truth compels us to admit that abuses had crept into the mode of collecting these alms, which scandalized the people. He, however, not only preached against the abuses which existed, but against the validity of indulgences altogether, and immediately wrote a long letter to the Archbishop of Mayence, in which he gave an exaggerated account of the errors preached in their distribution, such as, that whoever took an indulgence was certain of salvation, and was absolved from all punishment and penalties of sin, and to this letter he tacked ninety-five propositions, in which he asserted that the doctrine of indulgences altogether was a very doubtful matter. He did not rest satisfied with sending them to the archbishop; he posted them on the doors of the Church of All Saints in Wittemberg, sent printed copies of them through all Germany, and had them publicly sustained by his scholars in the University. He was answered by Father Tetzel in Frankfort, who proved the doctrine of the Church, and as he was armed with inquisitorial powers, condemned these propositions as heretical. When this came to Luther's ears, he retorted in the most insolent manner, and from these few sparks, that fire was kindled which not only ran through Germany, but through Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the most remote countries of the North[1].
7. In the year 1518, Luther sent his conclusions to the Pope in a pamphlet, entitled "Resolutiones Disputationum de Indulgentiarum virtute;" and in the preface he thus addresses him: "Holy Father, prostrate at your Holiness' feet I offer myself with all I possess; vivify or destroy, call, revoke, reject as you will, I recognize your voice as the voice of Christ, presiding and speaking in you; if I deserve death, I refuse not to die"[2]. With such protestations of submission did he endeavour to deceive the Pope, but as Cardinal Gotti[3] remarks, in this very letter he protests that he adopts no other sentiments than those of the Scriptures, and intends merely to oppose the schoolmen. Leo X. having now received both Luther's and Tetzel's writings, clearly saw the poison
