Produced by Kurt A. Bodling, Ganser Library, Millersville
University, Millersville, PA, USA
Luther Examined and Reexamined
A Review of Catholic Criticism and a Plea
for Revaluation
By W.H.T. Dau,
Professor, Concordia Theological Seminary
St. Louis, Mo.
Concordia Publishing House
1917
PREFACE.
One may deplore the pathetic courage which periodically heartens
Catholic writers for the task of writing against Luther, but one can
understand the necessity for such efforts, and, accordingly, feel a real
pity for those who make them. Attacks on Luther are demanded for
Catholics by the law of self-preservation. A recent Catholic writer
correctly says: "There is no doubt that the religious problem to-day is
still the Luther problem." "Almost every statement of those religious
doctrines which are opposed to Catholic moral teaching find their
authorization in the theology of Martin Luther."
Rome has never acknowledged her errors nor admitted her moral defeat.
The lessons of past history are wasted upon her. Rome is determined to
assert to the end that she was not, and cannot be, vanquished. In the
age of the Reformation, she admits, she suffered some losses, but she
claims that she is fast retrieving these, while Protestantism is
decadent and decaying. No opposition to her can hope to succeed.
This is done to bolster up Catholic courage. The intelligent Catholic
layman of the present day makes his own observations, and draws his own
conclusions as to the status and the future prospect of Protestantism.
Therefore, he must be invited to "acquaint himself with the lifestory of
the man, whose followers can never explain away the anarchy of that
immoral dogma: 'Be a sinner, and sin boldly; but believe more boldly
still!' He must be shown the many hideous scenes of coarseness,
vulgarity, obscenity, and degrading immorality in Martin Luther's life."
When the Catholic rises from the contemplation of these scenes, it is
hoped that his mind has become ironclad against Protestant argument.
These attacks upon Luther are a plea _pro domo_, the effort of a strong
man armed to keep his palace and his goods in peace.
Occurring, as they do, in this year of the Four-hundredth Anniversary of
the Reformation, these attacks, moreover, represent a Catholic
counter-demonstration to the Protestant celebration of the
Quadricentenary of Luther's Theses. They are the customary cries of
dissent and vigorous expressions of disgust which at a public meeting
come from parties in the audience that are not pleased with the speaker
on the stage. If the counter-demonstration includes in its program the
obliging application of eggs in an advanced state of maturity to the
speaker, and chooses to emphasize its presence to the very nostrils of
the audience, that, too, is part of the prevailing custom. It is
aesthetically incorrect, to be sure, but it is in line historically with
former demonstrations. No Protestant celebration would seem normal
without them. They help Protestants in their preparations for the
jubilee to appreciate the remarks of David in Psalm 2, 11: "Rejoice with
trembling." And if Shakespeare was correct in the statement: "Sweet are
the uses of adversity," they need not be altogether deplored.
An attempt is made in these pages to review the principal charges and
arguments of Catholic critics of Luther. The references to Luther's
works are to the St. Louis Edition; those to the Book of Concord, to the
People's Edition.
Authors must be modest, and as a rule they are. In the domain of
historical research there is rarely anything that is final. This
observation was forced upon the present writer with unusual power as the
rich contents of his subjects opened up to him during his study. He has
sought to be comprehensive, at least, as regards essential facts, in
every chapter; he does not claim that his presentation is final. He
hopes that it may stimulate further research.
This book is frankly polemical. It had to be, or there would have been
no need of writing it. It seeks to meet both the assertions and the
spirit of Luther's Catholic critics. A review ought to be a mirror, and
mirrors must reflect. But there is no malice in the author's effort.
W. H. T. Dau.
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.
May 10, 1917.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
l. Luther Worship
2. Luther Hatred
3. Luther Blemishes
4. Luther's Task
5. The Popes in Luther's Time
6. Luther's Birth and Parentage
7. Luther's Great Mistake
8. Luther's Failure as a Monk
9. Professor Luther, D. D.
10. Luther's "Discovery" of the Bible
11. Rome and the Bible
12. Luther's Visit at Rome
13. Pastor Luther
14. The Case of Luther's Friend Myconius
15. Luther's Faith without Works
16. The Fatalist Luther
17. Luther a Teacher of Lawlessness
18. Luther Repudiates the Ten Commandments
19. Luther's Invisible Church
20. Luther on the God-given Supremacy of the Pope
21. Luther the Translator of the Bible
22. Luther a Preacher of Violence against the Hierarchy
23. Luther, Anarchist and Despot All in One
24. Luther the Destroyer of Liberty of Conscience
25. "The Adam and Eve of the New Gospel of Concubinage"
26. Luther an Advocate of Polygamy
27. Luther Announces His Death
28. Luther's View of His Slanderers