The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-13
TALKSOF MARTINLUTHER
INTERESTING SERMON AT ROBERTS
PARK CHURCH BY DIR. BACON.
The Near Approach of His Anniver-
sary Calls 1t Forth-University yes-
pers-Dr. Dewhurst's Sermon.

Dy VIC nave
peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ" Rom. vi, l. Mr.. Bacon said in part:
Near this birthday of Luther we may
notice this great scriptural truth which he
liberated over four hundred years ago from
the shackles of rites and ceremonies,
pensnces and formal prayers. This text is a
truth of apostolic days completely clouded
for centuries by the humanity added institu-
lions OF the church resulting from mans
uncrucified carnal nature while in church.
Those who desired peace Of the soul were
directed to fasting and prayers, to taking
orders and to gifts TO the church.
Let US trace Luther's life enough to in
dicate his struggles up TO this truth. Mar
tin Luther was born Nov. 10. 14S3, at Eisele-
ben, a village in lower Saxony. He was
raised under the rigorous discipline OF pious
parents. He received a good education. He
graduated at Erfurt in 1893 with the degree
of bachelor of arts, and afterward in 1906
he took the degree of master Of arts.
Luther was intended for the practice OF
law. but his religious inclinations, height
ened by the sudden and violent death of
friend and later by stroke of lightning
which fell near his feet, decided him 10 be-
como a monk. He was consecrated TO the
priesthood May 2. 1901.
He was earnestly seeking peace to his
soul. He pursued the methods advised by
the church, but it availed him nothing.
The further went on the way the more II
terrified me- said he, so that should have
given over in despair had not Christ
graciously regained me and enlightened me
with the light OF the gospel Luther says
that Stanpitz, one OF the heads OF the order
Of Augustinian monks. once comforted him
in this wise: You would be a painted sim
ner and have Christ painted Savior; you
must make up your mind that you are a
very sinner and have very Savior. Too
true of many in the church to-day who do
not realize that they are very sinners and
that Christ II vel, SAVIOR II Is chly a
surface matter with them. We thus see
Luther's struggles in the bosom of the
church. but blessed be TO God he went on
and up out OF this garnet OF dead works
into the tempe OF CnrstS righteousness;
He climbed out not on the Scanta Scala
but by the staircase OF faith. tie says: i
sought to make out the meaning OF raul IN
the term The Righteousness OIL Goo, ana
at last I came TO apprehend IL mus
eousness that availeth with God, right,
eousness by which God in His mercy and
compassion jqstined us as 1t rs, Is written written
sion THE righteousness OF Goo, which !
SO hated before, became now dear and
precious, my most comforting WORD, and
that passage of Paul was to me the true
door of paradise.
LUTHERs TRIP TO ROME.
Luther made a journey to Rome. believ-
ing that the Pope would rectify all errors
He was sorely disappointed. He found lux
ury and corruption everywhere. He climbed
the Sancta Scala on his knees. but his heart
was protesting, Not thus do the just live
by faith After this eventfui and awaken
ing journey of Luther's there came into
Germany Tetzel, the indulgence seller, that
bold, unprincipled tool of Rome, to gather
money TO more fully adorn ST. Peters and
the Vatican. His indulgences were priv
ieges to SIN; eaen sh h mao tbs po1e witb
power OF absolvence of crimes already COM
mitIed or which were 70 be committed. ms
was the sin of Saul-buying OH the priViiese
TO sin by a sacrifice. LutherS soul Rad
been awakened to the truth OF JustlHcatlon
from sin from higher source tnan the
Pope and he began opposing Tetzel In the
pulpit at the confessional ana 10 warn
the people of this impiety. He wrote let
tiers 10 the bishops at Branoenpers ana May
ence. He received unfavorable comments or
his expressed opinion and determined &c
make his opposition more open and decided
Opposition only str sI nlS chIF
was fitted by Providence for this greal
struggle. Now we come TO the declaration
OF war-to Luther's ultimatum. On the 3lsl
of October. I5l7, Luther. then only thirty
four wears of age. tackled to the doors of the
castle church at Wittenburg: .Nlnety,hVe
the university, where he was lecturer, in
which he completely denied the position
upon which Tetzel rested the indulgences
In them he states that papal indulgences
could not produce reconciliation with God
nor in fact take away the guilt or the small
est sin. He distinctly held that the obtain
ing of grace was a matter of immediate re-
lation between the soul and God. In these
theses Luther thought he was defending the
church against those who were pervertins
her faith-that he was expressing the mino
of the Pope. He little thought that ne was
attacking the secret of the Pope's power
and antagonzing all the selhshness ano
undeceived. The theses produced a wide
spread and deep effect in the German peo-
pie. Method after method was used 70 con,
vince or suppress Luther. The Pope thought
Ii was a little matter at first. But Luther
was aggressive. A convention OF Augustln'
| ian monks was held at Heidleburg, in which
Luther reiterated, REINFORCED and strength
| ened hts views in himself and in others
Luther pressed his controversy up 10 the
very gates of Rome and appealed iron
| our most holy master, Leo Y, lily informed
| to Leo Y, 70 be better informed This ap'
peal with it's naivete, its holiness and It's
rebuke, awakened the Pope ana the Coiiege
bates sanctioned and urged by Rome. the
| counsel and disputation al Liepsic between
papal bull $50 much dreaded TO the mid,
| die ages against Luther. This bull did mo-
| Suppress but ONLY infiamed the bold re-
| former, so at Wittenburg he publicly
| burned the bill before q vast concourSe OF
| people. The Pope determined TO use the
| civil power which il has never hesitated tC
| use in carrying out its ends. to suppress:
| Luther. Luther's truth and boldness haC
| awakened friendship among civil rulers, anC
| his own Duke Frederick stood by him. So
| the grand council at Worms was called
| by the Emperor, and Luther stood before
| the Emperor, the Archduke Ferdinand anC
six electors and twenty-fou: dukes anf
| eight margraves and thirty bishops and
| other princes and prelates OF the realm Y
| defend the truth of justification by faith
and not by churchly authority. This scene
| is called the most splendid scene In his
| tory He finally completely and irrevoca
| bly, severed his relationship with Rome by
his marriage.
THE truth that man unaided cannot fine
peace with God was substituted in Luther:
| day by human effort 10 find peace. How
| God looks on man as a sinner was put IN
| the background. for now the church look:
| upon him was put in the foreground Tina
| man cannot do good 10 win favor in God
sight without love to God was lost sight or
| and that man can do great things by love
! and fidelity to the Pope and priestly ordel
/ was substituted for IL. Peace with Coo
was not the immediate question with every
! true Catholic but to be at peace with tn,
| church. This was the condition Luther met
! where the church was actually substituted
| for God, since IL was the intermediary be
tween man and God. How overlooked wa!
/ the heart of his text peace with God Mar
! i'm his carnal nature is in rebellion will
| God He has raised his weak arm agains
! Jehovah. He IS not at peace with God
/ StanpitZ. spiritually enlightened man
! says: Thou must see thyself very sin
! ner. and Christ a very Savior You ma,
/ be willing TO call yourself as a painted
| sinner-that is, a formal sinner-and &
through the forms of penance and prayer
| hut YOU have not realized that YOU ar,
tn hea n m