sermon contains allusions to the theses of Tetzel-Wimpina, defended at Frankfort on the Oder on January 20th, which Clemen thinks ar- rived in Wittenberg not earlier than March 17th, the sermon and con- sequently the letter must be some time after that date. I think it possible, however, that the Tetzel-Wimpina theses may have come to Luther's hands before they were offered for sale at Wittenberg and seized by the students, on which see next letter.
P. Kalkoff, on the other hand, puts the letter early in March be- cause he believes that the visit of the Abbot of Lehnin, which Luther says took place "yesterday," came soon after March 5. Zeitschrift fur Kirchengeschichte, xxxii. 411, note. As Kalkoff, however, ad- mits that the Sermon on Indulgence and Grace was published during the last week in March, he must interpret the passage referring to that sermon differently from my understanding of it The matter is further complicated by a letter to Spalatin, March 25th {infra, no. 53), assuming that the visit here recorded has already been made. Per- haps middle of March," making the sermon as early and the visit of the abbot as late as possible, best satisfies all requirements.
Greeting. Having received power of remission and absolu- tion in all cases save a few, you should be thankful to him who gave you this power.* I am glad about the power of judging cases, but as to the remission of penalties, that is indulgences, you know what I think of them, though even here I say nothing positively. My opinion is the same about the weekly fasts* in the city of Rome, since they are nothing but indulgences. For I think the prayers said or works done to acquire indulgences worth more than the pardons themselves. . . .
Yesterday the Lord Abbot of Lehnin* was with me on behalf of the reverend Bishop of Brandenburg,* from whom he brought me a letter. He also expressed to me the hope and request of the said bishop that I should defer for a little while the publication of my Resolutions^ and of all other lucubra-
ilt is well known that certain sins were reserved for absolution by the Pope, who occasionally delegated this power to others.
y'Stationes." Cf. ReclencyclopSdit,* ▼. 77 i-
- The Abbot Valentine, whose family name is unknown, of Lehnin, about fifteen
miles northeast of Wittenberg, was made abbot 1509, and died 1542. He took considerable part against the Reformation, in the employ of Elector Joachim I of Brandenburg. Zeitschrift fUr Kirehengesehichte, xxxii. 410, note.
^Jerome Scisltetus, son of a Tillage judge (Schultheis, hence his name) of Gfamschits an the duchy of Glogau, was made Bishop of Brandenburg in 1507, and of HaTelberg also in isao. He died 1522.
^ResoluHones disputaticnum, a defence of the Theses, Weimar, i. 525. As Wittenberg was in the diocese of Brandenberg, Luther submitted this work to his spiritual superior before publishing it
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