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310 General History of Europe that there were many evils to be remedied. So it seemed to Erasmus that the prospects were excellent for a peaceful reform ; but, instead of its coming, his latter years were embittered by Luther's revolt and all the ill-feelings and dissensions that it created. II. MARTIN LUTHER AND HIS TEACHINGS 523. Early Years of Luther. Martin Luther was born in 1483. He was the son of a poor miner. His father, however, was deter- mined that his son should be a lawyer, and so Martin was sent to the University of Erfurt. After he finished his college course and was about to take up the study of the law he suddenly decided to become a monk. He was much worried about his soul and feared that nothing he could do would save him from hell. He finally found comfort in the thought that in order to be saved he had only to believe sincerely that God would save him, and that he could not pos- sibly save himself by trying to be good. He gained the respect of the head of the monastery, and when Frederick the Wise of Saxony was looking about for teachers for his new university at Wittenberg, Luther was recommended as a good person to teach Aristotle; so he became a professor. As time went on Luther began to be suspicious of some of the things that were taught in the university. He finally decided that Aristotle was, after all, only an ancient heathen who knew nothing about Christianity, and that the students had no business to study his works. He urged them to rely instead upon the Bible. 524. Justification by Faith. Luther's main point was that man was so corrupt that he could do nothing pleasing to God. He could only repent his sins and have faith in God's promises. It was this faith that justified the repentant sinner in God's sight. So Luther came to regard the " good works " recommended by the Church such as the frequent attendance at Mass, the repetition of prayers, pilgrimages, and the veneration of relics as unneces- sary for salvation and sometimes misleading.