Life of Luther

Life of Luther

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Life of Luther, by Julius Koestlin
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Title: Life of Luther
Author: Julius Koestlin
Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7970] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 8, 2003]
Edition: 10

Language: English
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LUTHER ***

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[Illustration: LUTHER. (From a Portrait by Cranach in the Town
Church at Weimar.)]

LIFE OF LUTHER
BY
JULIUS KOSTLIN
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS from AUTHENTIC SOURCES
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

_AUTHOR'S DEDICATION_
TO
MY DEAR WIFE PAULINE
WITH THE WORDS OF LUTHER
'God's highest gift on earth is to have a pious, cheerful, God-fearing,
home-keeping wife.'

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
No German has ever influenced so powerfully as Luther the religious
life, and, through it, the whole history, of his people; none has ever
reflected so faithfully, in his whole personal character and conduct, the
peculiar features of that life and history, and been enabled by that very
means to render us a service so effectual and so popular. If we recall to
fresh life and remembrance the great men of past ages, we Germans
shall always put Luther in the van: for us Protestants, the object of our
love and veneration, who will not prevent, however, or prejudice the

most candid historical inquiry; for others, a rock of offence, whom even
slander and falsehood will never overcome.
I have already in my larger work, 'Martin Luther: his Life and
Writings,' 2 vols., 1875, put together all the materials available for that
subject, together with the necessary references, historical and critical,
and have endeavoured to explain and illustrate at length the subject
matter of his various writings. I now offer this sketch of his life to the
wide circle of what are called educated German readers. For further
explanations and proofs of statements herein contained I would refer
them to my larger work. Further investigation has prompted me to
make some alterations, but only a few, in matters of detail.
For the illustrations and illustrative documents I beg to express my
warm thanks, and those of the publisher, to the friends who have kindly
assisted us in the work.
J. KOSTLIN, Professor at the University of Halle-Wittenberg.
Oct. 31, 1881, the anniversary of Luther's 95 Theses.

CONTENTS.


PART I.
_LUTHER'S CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH, UP TO HIS ENTERING
THE CONVENT.--1483-1505._
I. Birth and Parentage
II. Childhood and School-days
III. Student-days at Erfurt and Entry into the Convent.--1501-1505


PART II.

_LUTHER AS MONK AND PROFESSOR, UNTIL HIS ENTRY ON
THE WAR OF REFORMATION.--1505-1517._
I. At the Convent at Erfurt, till 1508
II. Call to Wittenberg. Journey to Rome
III. Luther as Theological Teacher, to 1517


PART III.
_THE BREACH WITH ROME, UP TO THE DIET OF
WORMS.--1517-1521._
I. The Ninety-five Theses
II. The Controversy concerning Indulgences
III. Luther at Angsburg before Caietan. Appeal to a Council
IV. Miltitz and the Disputation at Leipzig, with its Results
V. Luther's further Work, Writings, and Inward Progress until 1520
VI. Alliance with the Humanists and Nobility
VII. Crisis of Secession: Luther's Works--to the Christian Nobility of
the German Nation, and on the Babylonian Captivity.
VIII. The Bull of Excommunication, and Luther's Reply
IX. The Diet of Worms

PART IV.
_FROM THE DIET OF WORMS TO THE PEASANTS' WAR AND
LUTHER'S MARRIAGE._
I. Luther at the Wartburg, to his Visit to Wittenberg in 1521.
II. Luther's further Sojourn at the Wartburg, and his Return to
Wittenberg, 1522
III. Luther's Reappearance and fresh Labours at Wittenberg, 1522
IV. Luther and his anti-Catholic work of Reformation, up to 1525
V. The Reformer against the Fanatics and Peasants, up to 1525
VI. Luther's Marriage


PART V.
_LUTHER AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CHURCH, TO
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS PEACE.--1525-1532._