(Vespers) Luther's 95 Theses: Theses 53-76

53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who forbid altogether the preaching of the Word of God, in order that indulgences may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done the word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on indulgences than on this word.
55. It must be the intention of the pope that if indulgences, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope grants indulgences, are not sufficiently discussed or known among Christians.
57. That indulgences are not temporal treasures is certainly clear, for many of the indulgence sellers do not grant such treasures freely, but only collect them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he used the term in accordance with the custom of his own time.
60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church are that treasure, given by Christ's merit;
61. For it is clear that the power of the pope is of itself sufficient for the remission of penalties and cases reserved by himself.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly desired to fish for men of wealth.
66. Now, the treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they fish for the wealth of men.
67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are in fact truly such only when they promote financial gain.
68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates [assistants] are bound to receive the commissaries [deputies] of papal indulgences, with all reverence.
70. But they are under greater obligation to watch closely and listen carefully lest these men preach their own imaginings instead of the commission of the pope.
71. He who speaks against the truth concerning papal indulgences, let him be anathema and accursed!
72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the indulgence-preachers, let him be blessed!
73. Just as the pope justly thunders against those who, by any means, contrive harm to the sale of indulgences.
74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use indulgences as a pretext to contrive harm to holy love and truth.
75. It is folly to think that the papal indulgences are so powerful that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God.
76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.