In the same spirit as in his Treatise on Baptism, he protests against the numerous vows, the binding force of which was a constant subject of treatment in pastoral dealing with souls. The multiplication of vows had caused a depreciation of the one all-embracing vow of baptism. Nevertheless the pope's right to give a dispensation he regards as limited entirely to such matters as those concerning which God's Word has given no command. With matters which concern only the relation of the individual to God, the Pope's authority is of no avail.
Literature.—Chemnitz, Martin, Examen Concilii Tridentini, 1578 (Preuss edition), 441-456. Steitz, G. E., Die Privatbeichte und Privatabsolution d. luth. Kitche aus d. Quellen des XVI. Jahrh., 1854. Pfisterer, G. F., Luthers Lehre von der Beichte, 1857. Kliefoth, Th., Lit. Abhandlungen, 2: Die Beichte und Absolution, 1856. Fischer, E., Zur Geschichte der evangelischen Beichte, 2 vols., 1902-1903. Rietschel, G., Lehrbuch der Liturgik, vol. 2, particularly secs. 44, 45, Luthers Auffassung der Beichte and Luthers Auffassung von der Absolution. Koestlin, Julius, Luther's Theology (English Translation), 1: 357, 360, 400. See also Smalcald Articles, Book of Concord (English Translation), 326, 899.
HENRY E. JACOBS.
Mount Airy, Philadelphia.
