StL8*: Pieper reviews v. 16: "the Lies of the Pope" (Lehre und Wehre, 1901)

      This continues from Part 8c (Table of Contents in Part 1) in a series on the St. Louis Edition (StL) of Luther's complete writings in English. — This 1-part blog is inserted after Part 8c to publish Seminary President Franz Pieper's short review of volume 16, the second of 3 volumes covering the writings of and against the Papists.  Pieper begins this with one of the more biting comments I have read from him. His words speak for themselves.  From Lehre und Wehre, vol. 47 (1901), p. 20-21 [EN]:

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Dr. Martin Luther's Complete Writings. Sixteenth volume. Containing documents pertaining to the History of the Reformation. Against the Papists, from the years 1525 to 1537.

That so many “Protestants” allow themselves to be baffled by the lies of the Pope serves them right, because they do not hear the man whom God has appointed to expose the abominations of the Pope to the whole human race through the light of the Gospel. Therefore, what we wish for the Church in the Twentieth Century is this: besides the Holy Scriptures, read Luther's writings first and foremost. The sixteenth volume of our Luther edition contains historical documents from the years 1525 to 1537, which refer to the disputes with the papists. Among these documents, however, are a number of important writings by Luther, e.g., his warning to his dear Germans, his Commentary on the Alleged Imperial Edict, his preface to the papist advice on the betterment of the church, his writing "On the Councils and the Church," plus Luther's incomparably splendid letters written from Coburg during the Imperial Diet at Augsburg. The reading of Luther's writings is not only a work, but also a delight and refreshment. F. P.

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Pieper's review was written at the beginning of the Twentieth Century.  May his "wish for the Church" be granted in the 21st Century, that other writings be set aside to read Luther "first and foremost", now with the availability of an English translation of the St. Louis Edition. — Our general series continues with Part 9a.