[274] The Augustinian order, to which Luther belonged, was organized in the thirteenth century, a little later than the Dominican and the Franciscan.
[275] He writes exultingly to a friend: "Our kind of theology reigns supreme in the university; only one who lectures on the Bible, Augustine, or some real Church father, can reckon on any listeners; and Aristotle sinks lower and lower every day." In this way he sought to discredit Peter Lombard, Aquinas, and all the writers who were then most popular in the theological schools. Walker, The Reformation, pp. 77–91.
[276] See above, p. [211–212].
[277] It is a common mistake of Protestants to suppose that the indulgence was forgiveness granted beforehand for sins to be committed in the future. There is absolutely no foundation for this idea. A person proposing to sin could not possibly be contrite in the eyes of the Church, and even if he secured an indulgence it would, according to the theologians, have been quite worthless.
[279] The complete text of the theses may be found in Translations and Reprints, Vol. II, No. 6.
[280] See above, p. [209], for the Church's doctrine of the "indelible character" which the priest received at ordination.
[281] See above, [§§ 81][–82]. The two great works of Luther, here mentioned, as well as his Freedom of the Christian, in which he explains his own doctrine very simply, may be found translated in Wace and Buchheim, Luther's Primary Works.
[282] It must be remembered that it was the emperor's business to execute the law, not to discuss its propriety with the accused. In the same way nowadays, should a man convicted, for example, of bigamy urge that he believed it Scriptural to have two wives, the court would refuse to listen to his arguments and would sentence him to the penalty imposed by law, in spite of the fact that the prisoner believed that he had committed no wrong.