(Lauterbach, Jan. 10, 1538, p. 6 f.)
A Hungarian asks Luthern for advice. On this day a student came to him to ask him for advice because of some doubts, and quoted from the Loci communes of Johann Eck, first: Of Purgatory, since he had proven it from the Fathers. Luther answered: Neither Ambrose, nor Augustine, nor Jerome give an opinion about Purgatory, but Gregory was deceived by visions and taught something about Purgatory, since God forbade to inquire about spirits, but one should ask Moses and the prophets; therefore, in this respect, nothing is to be believed in St. Gregory. Eck and others understand this passage of St. Paul in the First Epistle to the Corinthians [3, 13]: "The day will make it clear" 2c., of Purgatory, since this passage says nothing about Purgatory, but about the doctrine and the good and evil life of the pious and the heretics. For Arius has had his day. All heretics have had their day and their judgment. But the fire of faith has revealed it, just as the last day will reveal everything. In short: God has revealed to us in his word
He presents two ways: salvation through faith and damnation through unbelief. He says nothing of purgatory, and one must not admit purgatory because it obscures the benefits and grace of Christ. That there is a purgatory in this world could be admitted in a certain sense.
The second question was whether the departed saints intercede and pray for us. Luther answered: We may allow them to pray. But both their life and their prayer are unknown to us; nor can we know how their death is a life. It may be objected that St. Ambrose prayed for the Emperor Theodosius after his death, but this is attributed to him. Augustine may have asked for his mother Monica, but he does not claim anything about it, and he does not want his writings to be kept if they do not agree with the holy scripture, as he says: "I do not want my writings to be kept" 2c. In short, we must cling to God's bright word, not to human opinions. 1)
1) The third question, which immediately follows, has already been reported in Cap. X, ยง 8.