Chapter XXVI: Luther’s Mode of Controversy a Counterpart

OF HIS SOUL _pages_ 284-350

1. LUTHER’S ANGER. HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE JEWS, THE LAWYERS AND THE
PRINCES.

Sir Thomas More on Luther’s language. Three writings
launched against the Jews; the place of the pig and
donkey in Luther’s stable of metaphor. Luther’s animus
against the Lawyers due to their attachment to the
matrimonial legislation as then established. His attack
on the Princes in his “Von welltlicher Uberkeytt”; his
ire against Albert, Elector of Mayence; his list of the
archbishop’s relics; how the Duke of Brunswick fared _pages_ 284-295

2. LUTHER’S EXCUSE: “WE MUST CURSE THE POPE AND HIS KINGDOM.”

The Pope is the “Beast” and the “Dragon”; Luther’s
language in the Table-Talk, and in the Disputation
in 1539; on the Papal Bearwolf (Werewolf); the Papal
Antichrist; Luther’s wrath against all who dared to
stand up for the Pope; how the Pope deserves to be
addressed _pages_ 295-305

3. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LUTHER’S ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.

His ungovernable temper; reality of certain misuses
against which he thundered; his vexation with those
who, like Carlstadt and Zwingli, seemed to be robbing
him of the credit which was his due; his tendency to be
carried away by the power of his own tongue; his need
for the stimulus and outlet provided by vituperation;
his ill-humour at the smallness of the moral results
obtained; abuse serves to repress his own troubles of
conscience. Connection of Luther’s abusiveness with his
mystic persuasion of his special call; all his anger
really directed against the devil; it is no insult “to
call a turnip a turnip.” The unpleasant seasoning of
Luther’s abuse; some samples; was language of so coarse
a character at all usual at that time? Indignation of
the Swiss _pages_ 306-326

4. LUTHER ON HIS OWN GREATNESS AND SUPERIORITY TO CRITICISM. THE ART OF
“RHETORIC.”

His occasional professions of humility; a number of
typical sayings of Luther referring to his peculiar
standing and his achievements: The predictions
fulfilled in him; the poverty of the exegesis of the
Fathers; his reforms more far-reaching than those
of any Councils; his being alone no better argument
against him than against the Old-Testament Prophets,
who also stood up against the whole world. Harnack’s
dilemma: Was Luther a megalomaniac, or were his
achievements commensurate with his claims? His habit
of giving free rein to his “rhetoric”; its tendency to
extravagance, unseemliness, and, occasionally, to rank
blasphemy; “papist and donkey is one and the same, _sic
volo, sic iubeo_”; his rhetoric a true mirror of his
inward state; his changeableness; his high opinion of
himself to some extent fostered by the adulation of his
friends _pages_ 327-350