StL8b: History—rich content; so many gruesome papist writings

      This continues from Part 8a (Table of Contents in Part 1) in a series on the St. Louis Edition (StL) of Luther's complete writings in English. — We pickup the final listing of the content, then Fuerbringer addresses a point that may strike some readers – the inclusion of so many papist writings. His defense of this is helpful. 

(From Der Lutheraner, vol. 55 p. 218-219 (No. 15, Nov. 28,  1899)[EN] (all underlining follows Fuerbringer's emphasis)::

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[Review by L. Fuerbringer; continued from Part 8a]

Documents belonging to the

history of the Reformation. A. Against the Papists.

From the years 1517 to 1524.

The important letters of Luther included in these chapters, 130 in number, are printed together in an appendix and, if possible, provided with the exact dates. In general, the venerable editor of the volume has taken great pains to determine the time of the documents contained therein, which is of great value for the entire history of the early years of the Reformation. Thus, it is a manifold and rich content that is presented to the reader in this large volume, a content whose knowledge is indispensable to those who want to get to know the history of the Reformation of the years 1517-1524 in detail. For this purpose, the present volume is hereby warmly and urgently recommended.

Some readers, however, who acquire this volume and look at and study it more closely, might be disconcerted by the fact that it also contains so many gruesome papist writings. What is the purpose of these, if they are otherwise necessary for a complete historical account, in an edition of Luther's works? Here we should note what Prof. Hoppe states in his preface, namely, that Luther himself repeatedly had the most wretched works of his papist adversaries printed right in the early years. The truth is quite clearly recognized in contrast to error. “Through the opposition of the papist darkness, the light of the Gospel, which Luther has put back on the lampstand for us, the great grace of God granted to us in the same, only comes forth in full splendor and encourages us to praise and glory for God's bestowal of grace upon us.” So it is rightly said on page V. And when Luther in 1538 once again published a Papist pamphlet, he introduced this with the following words: “Our people would, in my opinion and advice, truly do very well if they took care that this and similar books were preserved for the descendants, in order to perceive and hand down to memory the incredible and innumerable cunning of Satan, which reigns in the Roman court, the den of sin and ruin.” “Therefore, if this and similar books (as I have said) are preserved and brought down to posterity, it will be useful and salutary, not only for Germany, but also for the whole world, against this exceedingly shameful mountain of Roman Babel, which corrupts all the world.” (St. Louis Edition XIV, 422 f., 426) 

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      It is sad for me how the LC-MS shows is glaring weakness by its acceptance of individual Popes, even praising some of them by some of its pastors.  They have been deceived.  Listen to Luther (i.e. Back To Luther), not today's LC-MS. — In Part 8c the conclusion to Fuerbringer's review…