The History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century , by Jean-Henri Merle d’Aubigné, is a classic work on the great events that re-opened the Christian gospel to a needy world. It tells of how the twenty-year-old Martin Luther, browsing through books in the library at the University of Erfurt, takes down from the shelf a particular volume that has caught his interest. He has never seen anything like it. It is a Bible! He is astonished to find in this volume so much more than the fragments of gospels and epistles that were selected for public reading in churches. He had believed that these constituted all there was of the word of God. But here he has discovered, in its entirety, the inspired book from which they came. And it was this discovery, in a dusty university library, that changed the course of history.
Chapters
1 Preface to the Last Edition 36 min 2 Book 1: State of Matters before the Reformation: Chapter 1: Christianity, Formation of the Papacy, Unity of the Church, The Decretals, Hildebrand, Corruption of Doctrine 41 min 3 Book 1: Chapter 2: Grace and Works, Pelagianism, Penances, Indulgences, Supererogation, Purgatory, Taxation, Jubilee 20 min 4 Book 1: Chapter 3: Relics, Easter Merriment, Corruption of the Clergy, A Priest's Family, Education, Ignorance 23 min 5 Book 1: Chapter 4: Christianity Imperishable, Opposition to Rome, Frederick the Wise, His Character, His Anticipation 17 min 6 Book 1: Chapter 5: The Empire, National Character, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Netherlands, England, Scotland, The North, Russia, Poland, Bohemia, Hungary 30 min 7 Book 1: Chapter 6: State of Theology, Witnesses for the Truth, The Vaudois, Wickliffe, -Huss, Savonarola, John Wessel, Prolés 37 min 8 Book 1: Chapter 7: Literature, Dante, Printing, Reuchlin, His Struggle with the Dominicans 34 min 9 Book 1: Chapter 8: Erasmus, His Genius, His 'Praise of Folly', His Greek Testament, His Influence, His Failings 32 min 10 Book 1: Chapter 9: The Nobles, Hütten, 'Letters of some Obscure Men', Seckingen, Cronberg, Hans Sachs, General Fermentation 27 min 11 Book 2: Youth, Conversion and First Labours of Luther (1483-1517): Chapter 1: Luther, His Parentage, The Paternal Roof, Strict Discipline, School, The Shunammite, His Studies, University 26 min 12 Book 2: Chapter 2: Scholasticism and the Classics, Luther's Piety, His Discovery of a Bible, His Sickness, The Thunderstorm, His Entrance into a Convent 18 min 13 Book 2: Chapter 3: His Father's Anger, Servile Employments, His Studies, The Bible, Hebrew and Greek, His Agony during Mass, Faints 22 min 14 Book 2: Chapter 4: Staupitz, His Piety, His Visitation, His Conversation, Presents Luther with a Bible, The Old Monk, Luther's Consecration, His Call to Wittemberg 27 min 15 Book 2: Chapter 5: The University of Wittemberg, Luther's First Employment, Biblical Lectures, Preaching at Wittemberg, The Old Chapel 12 min 16 Book 2: Chapter 6: Luther's Journey to Rome, A Convent on the Po, Luther's Behaviour at Rome, Corruption of the Romish Clergy, Prevailing Immorality, Pilate's Staircase 25 min 17 Book 2: Chapter 7: Doctor's Degree, Carlstadt, Luther's Oath, First Views of Reformation, The Schoolmen, Spalatin 19 min 18 Book 2: Chapter 8: 'Popular Declamations', Moral Purity of Luther, Mysticism, Spenlein, Justification by Faith, Necessity of Works 22 min 19 Book 2: Chapter 9: First Theses, Visit to the Convents, Dresden, Erfurt, Tornator Peace and the Cross, Labours, The Plague 12 min 20 Book 2: Chapter 10: Luther and the Elector, Duke George, Luther at Court, Dinner at Court - Emser's Supper 14 min 21 Book 2: Chapter 11: Theses, Human Nature, Rationalism, Eck, Urban Regius, Luther's Modesty 19 min 22 Book 3: The Indulgences and Theses (1517, 1518): Chapter 1: Cortège, Tezel, His Discourse, Sale of Indulgences, Public Penance, Letter of Indulgence, Feasting and Debauchery 24 min 23 Book 3: Chapter 2: The Soul in the Burying-Ground, Shoemaker of Hagenau, Myconius, Stratagem, Miner of Schneeberg 17 min 24 Book 3: Chapter 3:Leo X, His Necessities, Albert, His Character, Franciscans and Dominicans 10 min 25 Book 3: Chapter 4: Tezel Approaches, Luther in the Confessional, Tezel's Rage, Luther's Discourse, The Elector's Dream 18 min 26 Book 3: Chapter 5: Luther's Theses, Letter to Albert, Dissemination of the Theses 30 min 27 Book 3: Chapter 6: Reuchlin, Erasmus, Flek, Bibra, The Emperor, The Pope, Myconius, The Monks, Adelman, An Old Priest, Bishop of Brandenburg, Luther's Moving Principle 23 min 28 Book 3: Chapter 7: Tezel's Attack, Luther's Reply, Luther and Spalatin, Study of Scripture, Scheurl and Luther, Luther pleads for the People, A new Suit 19 min 29 Book 3: Chapter 8: Disputation at Frankfort, Tezel's Theses, Knipstrow, Luther's Theses burnt, Tezel's Theses burnt 21 min 30 Book 3: Chapter 9: Prierio, His Dialogue, Luther's Reply, Hochstraten, Eck, 'The Obelisks', 'The Asterisks' 27 min 31 Book 3: Chapter 10: Popular Writings, Lord's Prayer, Sermon on Repentance 14 min 32 Book 3: Chapter 11: Apprehensions of Luther's Friends, Journey to Heidelberg, Bibra, The Palatinate Castle, The Paradoxes, Bucer, Brentz, Snepf, The Old Professor 24 min 33 Book 4: Luther before the Legate (May-December 1518): Chapter 1: 'Solutions', Leo X, Luther to the Bishop, To the Pope, To the Vicar-General, Rovere to the Elector, Discourse on Excommunication 25 min 34 Book 4: Chapter 2: Diet of Augsburg, The Emperor to the Pope, Luther cited to Rome, Luther's Peace, Intercession of the University, Papal Brief, The Pope to the Elector 20 min 35 Book 4: Chapter 3: Schwarzerd, His Wife, Philip Melancthon, His Genius, His Studies, Call to Wittemberg, Leipsic, Parallel between Luther and Melancthon, Education 19 min 36 Book 4: Chapter 4: Luther and Staupitz, Order to Appear, Luther's Departure for Augsburg, Weimar, Nuremberg 14 min 37 Book 4: Chapter 5: Arrival at Augsburg, De Vio, Serra-Longa, Safe-Conduct, Luther to Melancthon 22 min 38 Book 4: Chapter 6: First Appearance, Conditions of Rome, Propositions to Retract, Luther's Reply, Impressions on both Sides, Arrival of Staupitz 18 min 39 Book 4: Chapter 7: Communication to the Legate, Second Appearance, Luther's Declaration, The Legate's Reply, The Legate's Volubility, Luther's Request 10 min 40 Book 4: Chapter 8: Third Appearance, Treasury of Indulgences, Humble Request, Legate's Rage, Luther Retires 13 min 41 Book 4: Chapter 9: De Vio and Staupitz, Staupitz and Luther, Luther and Spalatin Communion, Departure of Staupitz and Link, Luther to Cajetan, Luther's Departure, Appeal to the Pope 25 min 42 Book 4: Chapter 10: Luther's Flight, Luther's Wish, The Legate to the Elector, The Elector to the Legate, Prosperity of the University 16 min 43 Book 4: Chapter 11: Thoughts of Departure, Adieus to the Church, Critical Moment, Luther's Courage, Discontentment at Rome, Papal Bull, Appeal to a Council 16 min
