CHAPTER XXXI

. LUTHER IN HIS DISMAL MOODS, HIS

SUPERSTITION AND DELUSIONS _pages_ 225-318

1. HIS PERSISTENT DEPRESSION IN LATER YEARS. PERSECUTION MANIA AND MORBID FANCIES.

Weariness and pessimism. Grounds of his low spirits; suspects the Papists; and his friends. His single-handed struggle with the powers of evil _pages_ 225-241

2. LUTHER’S FANATICAL EXPECTATION OF THE END OF THE WORLD. HIS HOPELESS PESSIMISM.

Why he was convinced that the end was nigh. Allusions to the end of the world in the Table-Talk _pages_ 241-252

3. MELANCHTHON UNDER THE DOUBLE BURDEN, OF LUTHER’S PERSONALITY AND HIS OWN LIFE’S WORK.

Some of Melanchthon’s deliverances. His state of servitude. His last years. His real character. Unfounded tales about him _pages_ 252-275

4. DEMONOLOGY AND DEMONOMANIA.

Luther’s devil-lore. On all the evil the devil works in the world. On the devil’s dwelling-place, his shapes and kinds. Witchcraft. Connection of Luther’s devil-mania with his character and doctrine. The best weapons to use against the devil _pages_ 275-305

5. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LUTHER’S JESTS AND SATIRE.

His humour in the home and in his writings. He finds relief in it amidst his troubles. Some instances of his jests _pages_ 306-318

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