[487] “Werke,” Weim. ed., 8, p. 561; Erl. ed., 28, p. 139 f. “Vom Missbrauch der Messen.” The passage commences: “When a child I frequently heard a prophecy current in the country, viz. that an Emperor Frederick would rescue the Holy Sepulchre.” This had been misunderstood and applied to the tomb at Jerusalem; but it is “of the nature of prophecies to be fulfilled before being understood.” The passage on Frederick also occurs in the Latin text of this work, published previously under the title “De abroganda missa.” In “Werke,” Weim. ed., 8, p. 475, we there read: “Videtur mihi ista (prophetia) in hoc Fridrico nostro impleta.” Luther then proceeds to recount in a pleasant vein certain doubtful interpretations.
[488] Bonaventura, “Expos. in cap. ix. Lucæ.”
[489] To the Elector Johann Frederick of Saxony, January 4, 1538, “Werke,” Erl. ed., 55, p. 195; “Briefe,” ed. De Wette, 5, p. 95 (“Briefwechsel,” 11, p. 323).
[490] Reprinted in “Briefwechsel Luthers,” 3, p. 38 seq. That the author was J. Findling has been proved by N. Paulus in his work “Kaspar Schatzgeyer,” 1898, p. 137 f. Cp. “Katholik,” 1900, ii., p. 90 ff. Enders, “Briefwechsel Luthers,” 3, p. 65, n. 1, should be corrected from this.
[491] See Enders, ibid.
[492] Ibid., p. 56.
[493] See Enders, p. 52 f.
[494] Ibid., p. 60.
[495] Ibid., p. 49.
[496] Cp. Döllinger, “Luther, eine Skizze,” p. 53 (“KL.,” 8², col. 340).