In it he proclaims the papal Roman Jubilee or, as it has been called, Golden Year, and publicly announces that it is to be held in this 1525th year. *)
(With Luther's preface and glosses.)
Beginning of 1525.
Preface to the Christian Reader, on the Jubilee Bull.
If we did not know that the pope and his gang were impudent knaves, who do not even believe that there is a God, and who only care about money, giving God with honors or dishonors, like the whoremongers: one should notice it tangibly from these 1) new bulls of the Jubilee Year alone. They know well in Rome that through the light of the Gospel (which by God's grace has risen in German lands) all their tricks, Roman tricks and deceits, which they have used up to now to deceive the world about money, have come to light, and are also so publicly in the light that the Pabst's deceit and deception and antichristic seduction are not only attacked with sermons and letters, but also painted on the walls and on letters.
2. So they know well that the very obvious deception and robbery of indulgences is so obvious that even the enemies of the gospel must confess that it is vain avarice, deceit and fraud, nor may the Antichrist come back here in the bull of jubilation with the rotten, stinking, rejected goods that all men have long since eaten, stinking, embarrassed, rejected goods, which all people have already eaten, and offer a considerable amount of money, as if his stuff was still valid and the gospel had never been preached. That means, I think, to take off the little cap of shame, not to be able to turn red anymore, and to be able to fearlessly
1) Thus the Wittenberg edition; Jenaer: "this one".
2) there would like to become honor from. The Romanists are in so many books, writings, sermons, letters etc. They have defrauded Germany of money, goods, body and soul with vain lies, mischievousness and trickery, and then they have brought them through shamefully, and they are still coming back with the indulgence stuff, as if they brought delicious goods.
3 The pope says here in the bulla that he wants to open the golden gate. We have long since opened all the gates in Germany, but the boys do not bring back a penny of the money, which is why they cheated us with palliis, indulgentiis, dispensationibus (mille nocendi artibus) 3) that 4) they stole and robbed from Germany by their devilish bulls. Dear Pabst Clemens, you will not so sweetly preclemency us, 5) that we buy more indulgences. Dear golden gate, dear cops, go home again and again, let the whales 6) also give you money, who knows you, do not buy you. We know (praise God) that every hour those who hear and believe the holy gospel have a jubilee year, as Luc. 4, 19. says that the time when the gospel goes pure is the right rich pleasant jubilee year. We are entitled to your bulls,
2) i.e. not to hear, not to want to hear.
3) I.e. with pallia [bishop's cloaks], indulgences, dispensations (with a thousand harmful artifices).
4) Erlanger: "That".
5) A game called Olemsns - gentle, mild, sweet.
6) Walen - Welsche.
*This writing is found in the Wittenberg edition (1569), vol. IX, p. 204; in the Jena edition (1556), vol. Ill, p. 184d; in the Altenburg edition, vol. II, p. 855; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XVIII, p. 518 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 29, p. 298. The Wittenberg edition places it in the year 1524, while the Jena edition places it in the year 1525. We have followed the latter date, because both bulls did not go out in Rome until after the middle of December, namely on December 17 and 19, 1524, and therefore could not have come to Germany until 1525. We have reproduced the text according to the Jena edition.
dear Pabst, nothing at all, only the lead and parchment saved, it carries henceforth not money.
But it is no wonder that the Romanists are so insolent, because they must ever fulfill the prophecy of the apostles, said by them, 2 Petr. 2, 1. 3.1) 18.: "That they are cursed men, having a heart smitten with avarice, speaking proud words, when there is nothing behind" etc.
5. item, 2 Tim. 3, 2-4. since Paul says of them, "There will be people who think highly of themselves, stingy, proud, hopeful, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unspiritual, disruptive, unforgiving, abusers, unchaste, wild, unkind, traitors, sacrilegious, puffed up, who love more, pleasure than God" etc.
But we should thank God from the bottom of our hearts, who have recognized the truth and are rid of the water bubbles (want to say the bulls) and now know what a cunning arch-villain Satan is with his bunch. The tyranny of the pope will now be over, the devil feels it too, only that he acts as if he despises the gospel and still writes bulls. But of course his courage is gone and he has already surrendered that all his anger and work is lost, God tread him completely under our feet in a short time, amen.
Bulla Clementis the Seventh,
In it he writes out to all believers in Christ, both men and women, that at the first Vespers on the evening of Christmas Day, he will join in St. Peter's Cathedral and open with his own hands the doors that are usually opened in the Jubilee year, and also open the doors of all the churches. It also indicates what the courtiers in Rome and foreigners are obliged to do to obtain the indulgence of the Jubilee, that those who die on the way to Rome after having begun their journey acquire the same indulgence, and that those who die after having completed the journey acquire the same indulgence.
1) In this writing, the Erlangen edition has again reprinted several of Walch's false citations, as here: "2 Petr. 2, 1. 2." and immediately following: 2 Tim. 3, 2-5. and still in some, other places of this writing. Cf. the note, Walch, St. Louis Edition, Vol. XVIII, 885.
Penitent Master Order to deposit alms in the boxes in touched Minster, for the souls who are in Purgatory, in-Help-Wise, to acquire for the same souls perfect forgiveness of all their sin.
Clement, bishop, a servant of all servants of God, for future remembrance of the Cause.
1. Among the diligences and cares that are incumbent upon us, we turn the desirea ) of our minds most to the things by which all believers in Christ in this holy future jubilee year may the more richly deserve the indulgence granted by the Roman bishops, to our ancestors and to us, for the cleansing of their sinsb ) and [how the believers in Christ] may be moved to the [indulgence], their souls to blessedness, and [how that] 2) which therefore went forth from our forefathers and us thoughtfully, may be made known to all men, so that the faithful in Christ may become the more capable of this indulgence, and may attain the reward of eternal blessedness by the Most High's bestowal.
a) Let's sweep the desire.
Yes, you, infernal (want to say most holy) father, think most of all how you only bring about a lot of money and goods with lies and deceit, confirm and maintain your tyranny, blaspheme and suppress Christ and his word, establish and accumulate idolatry, deceive the poor people with your indulgences and lead them to hell.
b) To purify their sin.
Through indulgences one is cleansed of sins, like the dog of fleas around St. John's Day. O of shame, lies and blasphemy! Hearts are cleansed by faith in the Son of God alone, and by His holy blood, says St. Peter Apost. 15, 9. 1 Joh. 1, 7.
2) Because the year of jubilee is approaching, a year of forgiveness of sins and joy and reconciliation of the human race, through our most holy Redeemerc ), which [in] first 3) ordinance through blessed remembrance
2) We considered these insertions necessary to make sense.
3) Bonifacius VIII first decreed a Jubilee Year for the year 1300, but already in 1350 Clement VI reduced the time from 50 years. In 1390, Boniface IX had the jubilee year, which had been reduced to 33 years by his predecessor Urban VI in 1389 and which had passed uncelebrated, celebrated again.
Bonifacium VIII. d) every hundred years, then by Clement VI every fifty years, with time by Gregory XI every three and thirty years, and finally by kind memory Paul II every five and twenty years. every five and twenty years, once (Roman bishops, our ancestors) 1) is exposed to hold because of the brevity of human life; and just such a jubilee year is, as the first jubilee year was, as it was held in a hundred years once 2) and in which all believers in Christ, even with the most grievous sins arrested, if they confess and atone properly,e ) and the minsters and churches of the glorious city of Rome and outside Rome, and visit their high altars, on account of the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ, his apostles, martyrs and other holy merits, shall obtain perfect forgiveness of all their sins and therefore shall not be unreasonably honored by all believers in Christ with several visits and devotions, and we desire with all our hearts to win souls for our Creator, and that the named Jubilee be attended by the faithful of Christ with all duty and special devotion, and that the faithful of Christ be moved to go in person from all places to Rome, in honor of the holy princes of the Apostles, Petro and Paulo, who sanctified that city with their martyrdomf ) and in which Minster their glorious bodies are enshrined in its high altars, and their heads in the high altar of the Lateran church, and to obtain the indulgence of the Jubilee:
c) Through our most holy Savior etc.
Because Christ has arranged it and acquired forgiveness of sins for us through his suffering and death, as the holy scripture testifies: why are you slobbering liars, so that the jubilee year and your erdichter indulgence market do it? God disgrace you, you wretched devil's head!
d) By Bonifacium the Eighth.
These were very pious, holy fathers and shepherds, who caused great dissension, war and bloodshed, and all the misfortunes among the high potentates, emperors and kings; as the histories testify. For of Pope Bonifacio it is written: Intravit ut Vulpes, regnavit ut Lupus,
1) The brackets are set by us.
2) once --- once. In the Erlangen edition with the wrong punctuation: "alle fünfundzwanzig Jahr, einst Römische Bischoffen."
mortuus est ut Canis [He crept in like a fox, ruled like a wolf, died like a dog].
e) If they confess and repent properly.
Righteous Christian repentance is to recognize sin rightly, to have heartfelt remorse and sorrow for it, and to believe that it is forgiven by Christ's merit, suffering, and death alone (which is all of the Holy Spirit, and not man's work); not by auricular confession and man's work, nor the saints' merit, as the blasphemer, Pope Clement, denies.
f) Which sanctified the city etc.
One becomes holy only through the Son of God, not through the martyrdom and body of the saints; as Christ Himself says of Him: "I sanctify Myself for them", John 17:19.
Therefore we, as St. Peter's descendants. Peter's descendants,g ) although unequal to his merits, have, through other our various writings, affirmed and denied the perfect pardon of this jubilee year, also touching on our ancestors' writings, and have undertaken, with our brothers' counsel, to begin the same Jubilee at the first Vespers on the evening of the holy Christian day, and to convert all perfect indulgences, according to the manner of the Jubilee, also vows, and to dispense over it, and over evil stolen, uncertain, and by usury or other ways wrung out goods,h ) [We hereby also defer to the papal see the right to grant and decree the same, or to remit the same to a certain extent and in a certain manner; we also reserve the right to appoint confessors by force, even in cases reserved to the papal see. We also hereby postpone 4) with the same counsel, until our and that See's pleasure, the granting and remitting by us or the Papal See of whatever 5) churches, monasteries, hospitals, benevolent cities, 6) communities and fraternities, for eternity or for a time, while alive or in mortal distress, in some manner or cause, that would be done, and already granted or granted for.
3) That "to" is to be added here follows from Luther's gloss.
4) "We defer" i.e. we temporarily suspend as long as it pleases us.
5) waser - any.
6) "benevolent cities," meaning mild foundations, places of pilgrimage, and other sites to which indulgences had been granted.
g) Therefore, we, as St. Peter's descendants.
Yes, the devil's descendants in hell, by whom also the papacy was founded and is preserved by God's wrath and doom for the sake of our sin.
h) To dispense with goods wrested by usury etc.
The infernal father, the pope, as the true Antichrist, has the power for the sake of money to allow and dispense with everything that Christ has forbidden and to forbid what he has left free, 1 Tim. 4, 3. ff. so that it may be seen and grasped that he is the Lord Christ's repulsive man of sin and child of destruction, of which Daniel and St. Paul prophesied, Dan. 7, 8. 19. 24. 11, 36. 2 Thess. 2, 3.
4 We have also undertaken to announce to all and every believer in Christ by virtue of this writing, as we also hereby announce, next Saturday, which will be Christmas Eve, we will join for the first Vespers in St. Peter's Cathedral. Peter's Cathedral, and to open with our own hands the doors of the same Cathedral, which are opened every Jubilee year,i ) for the devotion of the Christian faithful, the assisting assembly of our brothers, the Holy Roman Church Cardinals and an almost large number of prelates, clergy and the people, and to open the doors of the other churches, St. Paul Lateran and Our Lady of the Great, in Rome, according to the custom of the Jubilee year.
i) To add to the first vespers, and open the gates etc.
O of great humility, that the infernal father lets himself down so low and wants to open the golden gate, which brings much silver and gold, himself with his own wretched (wanted to say wretched) hands; who would be worthy otherwise? because he hopes that it will snow money and goods.
5 And to obtain such plenary indulgences, we reaffirm, grant, and deny, for the great satisfaction of the consciences of the faithful,k ) and for greater security by papal power,l ) and with good knowledge, that the Romans and others who live in Rome, St. Peter's and St. Paul's Cathedrals and the churches of St. John Lateran and Our Lady of the Larger, and their high altars, shall be indulged for thirty days, but the foreigners and foreigners for fifteen days, in succession or divided, of the
The Holy Father, who is the only one who will visit the minsters and churches touched in the Jubilee Year 1), will obtain all the plenary indulgences granted by our ancestors to all those who visit them in the Jubilee Year.
k) To great stilling of consciences etc.
Yes, should the pope's, the Counter-Christ's, fictitious lousy indulgences appease the conscience? Something else is needed, as Scripture says and pious hearts testify, namely faith in Jesus Christ, John 6:40 and Romans 5:1.
l) By Papal Power etc.
Yes, from hellish, devilish power. Who gave you, you lying spirit and blasphemer, this power to give plenary indulgence and forgiveness of all sin, for the sake of your self-invented, foolish and ungodly works, against God's commandment? since it has come to the Son of God all sour and expensive, and has cost his blood and death. This you revile and trample underfoot, you desperate, impotent devil's head, with your shameful indulgence.
(6) With this covenant, that those who, after having begun the journey, or after having prepared for such a journey, are honestly prevented from coming to Rome, or already in the place where they are, and on the way, or even they themselves, when they come to Rome, as well as the Romans and other inhabitants of Rome, 2) and foreigners, die before the fulfillment of the specified number of days in Rome, that they may then obtain the most perfect indulgence of all their sins in all ways.
7) And so that all believers in Christ may, by the grace of God, become the more capable of this plenary indulgence and have it at their disposal, with whom they may seek refuge in cases which are reserved to us and to the Papal See, where they would be entangled with such cases: accordingly, we have appointed in the aforementioned St. Peter's Cathedral Minor Penitents 3). Peter's Minster Minor Penitentiaries 3) to whom we have given perfect and free authority, for the greater benefit and blessedness of the Christian faithful, who would not so easily have recourse to us, as is more fully understood in another of our letters, and so that
1) once - once. In the old editions is correctly interpungirt. In the Erlanger wrong: "of the day, once visit" and so on.
2) This comma, which is in the old editions, is erroneously omitted in the Erlanger.
3) d. i. Unterbußmeister.
to promote the blessedness of souls 1) who are most in need of help from others at this time, and may help them least themselves.
8. Therefore, we, as those of paternal benevolence, and as much as we are able with God, desire to help those souls in Purgatory,m ) who have passed away united in love with Christ, and have deserved in their lives, 2) with this indulgence out of papal authority, out of the treasure of the Holy Mother, the Christian Church, out of divine mercy and perfection of our authority, we want and grant, so that, where some parents, friends or other believers in Christ, moved by kindness, for the same souls in purgatory, who, to reject the chastisement in which they are according to divine justice, because the jubilee year lasts, according to the name of our penitent masters or their decree, with devout visitation of said minster or churches, melded measures, an alms in the boxes, which are in St. Peter's Cathedral. Peter's Cathedral, that then the plenary indulgence, in measure of a help, 3) shall come to the aid of the same souls, who are in purgatory, for which they have offered said alms amicably, for perfect remission of chastisement.
m) Therefore we, as those of the Father's good opinion, desire those who are in purgatory.
Oh, you cursed villain and devil's head, how much you slobber about your shameful, diabolical, invented indulgences and purgatory, of which you yourself, together with your brothers, the carnival bishops, 4) and carnal bishops of the Mass, and the corrupted and conjured 5) heaps, nothing, only that you mock God and the people in the teeth and consider them vain geese, especially us poor Germans, as if they did not understand your lies and lies! We know of no other indulgence from the grace of God than that which the Son of God has so richly purchased for us unworthy ones with his suffering, death and resurrection, and he hands it out abundantly through the
1) So it must be added,' because of the sense. Compare Luther's last gloss on this first bull.
2) This word "them" is superfluous because it is already expressed by "the same" before.
3) d. i. helpfully per suffra^iurn.
4) Carnal - Cardinal, which was the name of the "jack" in the card game. Carnal, i.e. "carnal", is set mockingly instead of eardinal.
5) Thus the old editions. Erlanger: "und unbeschwornen", taken from the old Walch edition, which had "unbeschornen" here.
Gospel free of charge, by grace, to all who accept it with faith: these certainly have forgiveness of all sins, the right, rich and true indulgence, which cannot lack nor deceive, like the Antichrist's indulgence market in Rome, devised by the devil to deceive people, to bring money, goods, body and soul, and to obscure and destroy the merit of the Lord Christ.
Purgatory is a purely fictitious thing, a market of tricks and money stuff, of which there is not a word in the Holy Scriptures, on which the whole papacy with its sacrificial masses, vigils and other idolatry is founded and based; and you, impudent knave, epicurean and evil-doer, only care about money, to maintain your tyranny, not about the souls, but only to lead them into the abyss of hell. Such horrible, devilish, tangible lies and blasphemy would break one's heart. Increpet te Dominus, Satan! [Come, Lord Christ, soon and overthrow the adversary and arch enemy, the Antichrist of Rome, with all his scales, members and followers, by your glorious future into the lake of fire, amen.
9. Therefore, all believers in Christ should prepare their hearts to the Lord and strive to amend their lives, to abstain from iniquity, to do enough for the Lord through the pain of repentance,n ) through the spirit of humility, through the sacrifice of the broken heart, with the cooperation of almsgiving and pilgrimage, so that they may, through devout visitation of the aforementioned minsters and churches, in which a thousand and almost innumerable saints rest together with the most glorious apostles Petro and Paulo, who have suffered death for the sake of Christ's name, and stand before Him at all times as righteous penitents, to have these most illustrious apostles as holy intercessors against the Lord upon confession, and to merit this most plenary indulgence and reconciliation with our most gracious Savior through divine mercy and the same apostles and the saints' petition and merit, also through their good works, amen.
n) To do enough for the Lord through the sinner; to repent etc.
The Pabstesel can't do more than whistle a little song on his bagpipe and teach about sufficiency, self-chosen, earthy-
The people of the world are not only talking about the works of man, putting money into boxes, about pilgrimages, and about how the frenzied and darkened run around, visit the cathedrals and altars, call upon the deceased saints, without, yes, against God's word and command: all of which the Jews, pagans and Turks, yes, dogs and swine can also do to some extent. Desecrate and desecrate Christ's suffering and death, and trample underfoot His blood, merit and mercy. Desecrate yourself again, you desperate villain, as he has already begun, and throw yourself and all your courtiers and regiments into the hellish fire where you belong!
(10) Therefore it shall not behoove any man to breako ) this letter of our confirmation, bestowal, renewal, proclamation, increase and opinion, or to strive against it out of unrighteous meagerness. But if anyone should fail to do so, let him know that he will come to the disgrace of Almighty God and of His blessed Twelve Messengers 1) Peter and Paul. Given in Rome at St. Peter's, in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord one thousand five hundred four and twentieth, on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of Januarii [i.e. December 17, 1524], of our Papacy in the other year.
o) Therefore, no one shall be befitting.
No one; only everyone who loves Christ and his word from the heart is guilty and obligated to resist the Roman Antichrist and his hypocrites and frogs, old and new, fools, 2) lies and false teachings, with words and works and whatever he can, as he vowed and swore in baptism: In this he does to please the right, true, almighty God and to annoy the devil, the almighty idol, regardless of what his governor, the pope, blows, salivates, roars and thunders out of his devilish mouth and butt; for where he curses, God blesses, and again. Therefore, no one should turn to such pompous words and water blasts; they can no longer harm anyone, and they pass away like smoke.
With grace and freedom of our most holy Lord.
1) Twelve messenger - apostle. Erlanger: "twelve messengers".
2) Geckzen, the cries of jackdaws, crows and ravens.
3) The water bubble (Bulla should say) in which our most holy Lord Pope Clement, by divine providence of VII, willing to promote the blessedness of the Christian faithful who, in the Jubilee year, go to Rome to obtain plenary indulgences, gives power to the sub-penitents to release the people from the reserved cases, included in the "evening meal of the Most Holy Lord, the Pope" 4), excluding only four 5), and bequeaths to all other confessors, by virtue of some power vested in them, not to be subject to release anyone, during this jubilee year, from the said reserved cases, with an attached order to proceed with severe penalties against the transgressors and disobedient.
Second bulla.
Clement, bishop, a servant of all servants of God, for future remembrance of the Cause.
1. Since we have taken the place on earth of the eternal shepherd,a ) who did not refuse to be sacrificed in retribution for the blessedness of the Lord's host, even though undeservedly, and look upon the host, commanded to us by divine providence, with fatherly concern, and carefully consider the blessedness of every believer in Christ's soul, 6) and encounter its dangers: Therefore we gladly have regard, as we should, to these things, by which the salvation of the believing Christian souls may be promoted/) and the believers in Christ, in this holy jubilee year, who come to the glorious city of Rome for the rejection of their sins, and the others who dwell and sit in the touched city, may become the more easily and freely capable of the same indulgence, with God's grace.
a) After we have heard of the eternal shepherd etc.
Yea, verily, thou art a fine governor, hast cast off the right Lord from the throne, and art now the devil's governor, who also hath instituted thee and set thee in place, ruleth and goeth: slaying, scraping, tearing, eating, choking, and murdering the poor little sheep in body and soul.
3) The following refers to the second bull.
4) i.e. the bull Ooenuo Domini, Walch, old edition, vol. XV, 2127.
5) These are the four cases named in § 4 of the following second bull.
6) be mindful of - be mindful of.
Soul, in goods and honor, which Christa became sour of blood, who sacrificed himself on the cross for them for reconciliation and retribution, or payment, Hebr. 9, 14. 1 Joh. 2, 2.You must confess lies against yourself here, so that you turn the nose of the foolish and ape them, but you are not serious, as your writings and deeds testify, that you are the true Antichrist, from whom you must beware, from whom you must separate and flee, 1) And curse him, and have no fellowship with him at all, nor make any comparison, even in the least, with all who would be righteous and not muzzlers and hypocrites, as [the people of God separate themselves] from Korah, Dothan and Abiram, Num. 16, 24. ff. 2 Cor. 6, 17. Revelation 18, 4.
b) Accordingly, we gladly pay attention to those by which the blessedness of the believers in Christ is promoted etc.
Yes, promoted to eternal destruction and damnation! For whoever knowingly holds with you, and follows you and pretends to you, is certainly eternally deceived, condemned and lost, unless he repents righteously, and holds to the right arch-shepherd, the Lord Christ, through faith, and obeys His word, Jn 10:12, 27 ff.
2. Now we have thoughtfully considered,c ) the future jubilee year of the forgiveness of sins, of the joy and reconciliation of the human race to our most gracious Redeemer, to be the same as the hundredth year, which was suspended [in] its first order, and in which all men, even with the gravest sins, if they repented and confessed rightly, and visited the minsters of the apostles and of the Lateran and of our Lady of the Larger at Rome, and visited their high altars, in which minsters of the same apostles highly glorious corpses, and in the church at Lateran their heads are bequeathed, on account of the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the same apostles and other martyrs and saints merit, obtain the most perfect indulgence of all their sins, and for this reason should be held not unreasonably by all believers in Christ with great devotion and attendance.
1) feinden --- Haffen. Here the Erlangen edition, because the word "feinden" was not understood, has wrong punctuation: "which, feinden" and so on.
o) Now we have thoughtfully considered etc.
You cursed liar and blasphemer! Why are you allowed to call the year of jubilee a year of forgiveness of sins, joy and reconciliation of the human race? since this honor belongs and is due to the Son of God alone, who has established and established an eternal year of jubilee, Rom. 3, 24. 25. and 4, 24. 25. Gal. 2, 16. and 3, 16. By Him alone do all who believe in Him obtain forgiveness of sins, eternal life and blessedness, peace and joy, without all their merit and worthiness, out of pure grace and mercy, in vain, as St. Peter says, Acts 10, 43. 10:43: "Of this all the prophets testify, that through his name all who believe in him shall receive forgiveness of sins. "etc. "And in no other salvation, neither is there any other name given unto men, whereby they shall be saved," Apost. 4, 12.
This is the right and certain way to salvation, and there are no others, neither in heaven nor on earth. O blessed and blessed are those who have experienced this dear pleasant time, see and hear the joyful message, recognize it rightly, accept it, believe it from the heart, and also thank God for such great grace.
But there are very few of them, even among us, who still keep God's word: the greatest number go along and pay no attention and are ungrateful. A part of them hang their coats to the wind, either let it go, keep quiet, draw in the pipe, and do not want to bite the fox; or pretend, so that one may have peace and a good chamber and live without a cross, comparing oneself with the Roman bear-wolf and his mass bishops, who persecute it most violently and most horribly.
O Germany, Germany, who does not recognize the time of your visitation, how will you fare in the end? much worse than Jerusalem, although the punishment has already begun. Well, whoever wants to be warned is warned enough, but whoever does not want to, let him always go to the Roman whore in the butt, if he does not have enough of kissing feet; he will well realize it.
3) Because it is also our will that the believers in Christ who are coming to Rome from various regions 2) should be given the opportunity to be saved.
2) In the old editions: Counterparts.
The more the world comes to obtain this plenary indulgence, the easier may the others who live and sit in Rome earn the same indulgence, and so that their souls do not remain entangled for lack of power to release those who are arrested with some cases reserved to us and the papal see (d ); to be fairly before this, and to counsel and help their benefit and souls' salvation with fatherly love, because in such reserved cases refuge may not always be had in us:
d) Some cases reserved for us and the Papal See.
Dear chair, do not crack! Who has commanded and reserved such to you, blasphemous mouth, but your founder and creator, the wretched devil in hell? to confirm and maintain his kingdom and tyranny in you by this, so that you, as his supreme bishop, would have something special and a prerogative before the other his members.
Therefore we, by papal authority, with good knowledge, according to the present Scripture, give perfect free and entire authoritye ) to our beloved sons, hereinafter written, ministers of penance, ordained in the said See of the Princes of the Apostles, for whose prudence, probity, piety, and prudence, in this and other things, we have special confidence in the Lord, [to absolve] 1) all and every believer in Christ, both men and women, who come to Rome to obtain such plenary indulgences, and others who reside and sit in Rome, who are afflicted with some cases reserved to us and to the said See, in cases touched, 2) however grievous or gross they may be, from whatever causes in particular, or in general, which are reserved to us and to the said See, also comprehended in the epistle which it is customary to proclaim annually on the day of the Lord's Supperf ), also in such cases as shall be specially commemorated in this writing.
e) Therefore, we give them free power to act with honesty etc.
As the Lord is honest and pious, so are his belly servants, the penitents, yes, cane masters, donkey drivers and soul murderers.
1) This addition is necessary to give meaning.
2) The preceding words: f,die uns - Fällen" are omitted in the Wittenberg edition apparently by a printing error, which is caused by the repetition of the word "Fällen"; nevertheless, the Erlangen edition does not include this addition (which is in the Jena edition), but notes it as a variant of Walch.
f) Of the Lord's Supper.
Yes, evening food! For what is the Pabst's doing, if it is at its best, but a pure mammal-eating and epicurean being and life, a pure puppet, child and fool play, although it is now highly praised by some hypocrites, as if it served for good discipline and breeding. Yes, beautiful discipline that comes from the devil!
4. Except for these casesg ) of alliance against the person or state of the Roman bishop, or touched chair, forgery of papal letters, supplications and orders, that one [not] 3) defend the infidels, and what else is forbidden, 3) and what is otherwise forbidden, to bring them into their countries, to lay mighty hands on the bishops or other prelates, otherwise to obtain the intended plenary indulgence everywhere, and, because the Jubilee lasts, to absolve them before the court of conscience, 4) and to impose on them a salutary penance.
g) My except the cases.
These sins are of course so great that no one can forgive them, because only the infernal father, the pope himself, out of the special perfect power of his lord, Satan, even God in heaven cannot forgive them. For before him, it is only virtues and good works that he wants to richly reward here, for all righteous, pious Christians who love Christ and his word should (as said) be heartily hostile to the pope, as the devil in the flesh and the adversary of the Lord Christ, persecute him and do him all harm, as is due to enemies who have renounced him, and help Christ to maintain his kingdom and glory, each in his profession, according to his highest ability, in the most faithful and diligent way, not to mention that they should let themselves be absolved from it, and his powerless banishment and cursing, which he spews from his devilish mouth, frighten them.
(5) We also forbid all other persons, ecclesiastical and secular confessors, residing in and out of the city of Rome, and elsewhere, whatsoever they do.
3) It seems to us that "not" must be inserted, because the third reserved case is: that one either does not defend the unbelievers or even encourages them by forbidden supply.
4) Thus the Wittenberg and Jena editions. The Erlangen one offers: "to release them in the court of conscience," etc.
Getvalt them in said reserved cases to release, so they of us and touched chair with words or in writings perhaps have, if's equally with expressed words in it would be understood that one the same in no way, or ever not other ways, measures and manner, the comprehension 1) and expression of the words some abort may, that they should in no way subdue, to release such a one, because this jubilee year is standing, in the appearance of said power, in said reserved cases, some ways, under penalty of the pronounced ban and curse, into which the transgressors shall fall with the deed, and from which they may be released by no one, except by us and our descendants, the Roman bishops, who come rightfully to the papacy, never except in mortal peril.
6. To whom we also, if they would be disobedient, as touched, forbid to hear the offices of preaching, reading, administering, sacraments and confession, and with serious prohibition say beforehand, and publicly declare more reported transgressors and despisers, that we want to proceed against them especially and temporally, 2) as we shall see best, and nevertheless all that they shall do, by way of release or otherwise, shall be null and void and of no force, without hindrance to what is herein foregoing, and to the papal suspension 3) and order and all other things contrary thereto.
7. Therefore, all believers in Christ, as they are obliged, should make every effort in this holy Jubilee year to prepare their hearts for the Most High, to improve their lives and morals, to abstain from unrighteous things, to do enough for the Lord through the pain of repentance, through the spirit of humility, through the sacrifice of the bruised heart, with bodily alms and pilgrimages, so that those who devoutly visit the minster and churches touched, righteously repent and confess, may obtain the most perfect indulgenceh ) of the Jubilee year, and earn reconciliation with our most gracious Savior through their merits and good works.
h) That they may have the most plenary indulgence etc.
Here the blasphemer and devil-head decides, and in order that he may not be accused of being a very public liar, he puts together the merit of the Lord Christ and even invented works of men, only for the appearance and cover of shame of his deception.
1) Probably as much as "version".
2) i.e. in time, balo.
3) d. i. Regulation.
For he who wants to be believed must mix truth with it and use God's name for it, if he wants to sell his lies as truth, as some do now in our time, also in an insolent way, and it is the way of all heretics, enthusiasts, and sectarians, who can talk a lot about Christ, and lead the words in the mouth etc.
But truly, God's kingdom does not stand in words, as St. Paul says, Rom. 14, 17, it cannot be shrouded, compared and carried on both shoulders, wanting to have the teachings of the pope and the gospel of Christ at the same time and with each other, and keeping both as friends, Christ and Belial can never get along in one bed for the bride, 2 Cor. 6, 15. As soon as the bride allows another and courts with him, she becomes a whore and adulteress, nothing else will change. For this saying of Christ, Matth. 6, 24, must remain true forever: "No one can serve two masters," especially those who are eternal enemies and cannot be reconciled, as Christ and the Roman Antichrist, Satan's governor. Everybody may judge himself by this and let go of his smarting, because it cannot and may not be otherwise, that is for sure.
Therefore, whoever does not want to be eternally lost and go to the devil, should beware of the papacy and its teachings with all diligence and seriousness, and should not accept even the smallest and least of them again, no matter what, flee from it and its followers, as from the devil himself in the flesh, And by no means let yourself be seduced by the hypocrites through sweet greased words, nor be persuaded as if there were not much in it, even if you give way and give in a little for the sake of peace, and for the sake of a small thing (as they pretend and cleverly say that this is) you should not break the bond of love.
Well then, it is truly no joke here, but applies either eternal salvation or eternal damnation. For this reason, let everyone who wants to be a true Christian and be saved, quickly separate himself completely from the pope and his followers, old and new, with doctrine and life, body and soul, so that he does not become a partaker of their sins and does not receive something of their plague. For
Those who worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark on their foreheads or hands, shall have no rest day or night, but shall be tormented with fire and brimstone forever [Revelation 19:20]. "Here is patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments, and faith in JEsum," says John in his Revelation [14:12.]. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" [Matth. 11, 15.] and [Matth. 7, 15.] watch diligently against the false prophets, watch and pray always [Marc. 13, 33.]. For it happened very soon, the devil truly does not celebrate, as we see and experience every day, that he snatches and devours one here, the other there, secretly and publicly, and commonly under the great appearance of holiness, so that few are aware of it, are safe, and think that there is no need, be well with them, and sit with God in the midst of the bosom, as the dearest children.
The names of the imaginary penitentiaries are these:
Magister Peter of Calagur. John, a Pole.
Henry, a Britonite. 1)
1) Lrito an inhabitant of Brittany. In the Wittenberg edition by a misprint "Bitoniter", which is
Thomas, an angel reader.
Magister Silvester. 2)
Marx, Abbot of Bonevent. Bernardin Villa Nova. Paul, a Hungarian.
Cocles, a German.
Magister Johannes Fuchs.
8 Therefore, no one is to break this letter, our mandate, commandment, decree, admonition, and warning, or to act contrary to it with unwarranted indigence. But if anyone should refuse to do so, let him know that he will come under the disgrace of Almighty God and of His holy apostles Peter and Paul.
Given at Rome at St. Peter's, in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord one thousand five hundred and in the fourth and twentieth, on the fourteenth day before the Calends of Januarii [that is, Dec. 19, 1524], of our Papacy in the other year.
With grace and freedom of our most holy Lord.
The author of this book is the author of the first edition of the book, which he has faithfully reprinted from the Erlangen edition, although the correction could be drawn from the Jena edition, and even from Walch.
2) Could Prierias still be meant by this "Magister Silvester"? Then the usual assumption that he died of the plague in Rome in 1523 would fall away.
Luther exchanged the most important writings on the matter of indulgences with Tetzel; these have already been included in the 18th volume of the St. Louis edition, Col. 70 ff. 100 ff. and 296 ff. Here also belongs what Luther wrote against papal indulgences in his admonition to the clergy, assembled at the Diet of Augsburg. Walch, old edition, vol. XVI, 1120.