Show LU LUTHER aher ON PROBATION EVIDENTLY the inspiration of the almighty enlightened the mind of martin auther to a marked degree and gave him glimpses glimpse a of the meaning of certain passages of scripture which were impenetrable to his contemporaries and followers there la is reason to believe that some of his teachings or at least that some of the opinions expressed by him upon certain doctrinal points have been suppressed among the sect which he and amoum the fel followers lowers of that corps of reform ers era of which he was a central figure this is notably true of some of his sayings relative to the social system of the cui children cu ildren laren of israel and upon at least one other scriptural topic he gave express expression lin to opinions which nave not since his death been accepted by his followers ane agitation ot of the question of future probation which has disturbed the world so seriously during recent years especially in this country has lea to an investigation of Lut luthers tiers position in relation to the subject the result is quite interest interesting iny feature of it being the bringing forth of a letter writ ten by luther in the year 1522 to hans von rechenberg lu in which the f following passage which the christian union of now new york vouches for as oe feinga 1 g a correct translation the original idill occurs 11 II now god would save any one without faith he be would act against his bis own word and would convict himself of 0 lying indeed would deny himself this is impossible it would I 1 indeed be another question whether god could give faith to some in death or alter after death deaf and thus could save through faith who will doubt that he ean can do this but that dedoes it one cannot prove for we even read that he be first raised the dead again in order to give faith let him do in this respect what he be may let him give faita or not it in IB impossible that anybody should be saved without faith else all prea bang and gospel and faith are in vain false and decap tive five because the entire gospel makes faith necessary with the degree of light in his possession and the scriptures in the imperfect form in which he be studied them luther was not able to prove that god gave faith to men after death but that his fats mind contemplated and even accepted the possibility of such a thing tann a is fis made quite clear by the above quota tion from a sober thoughtful letter written by him |