History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, Volume 1: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, Volume 1, credited to Jean-Henri Merle d'Aubigné, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, Volume 1 by Jean-Henri Merle d'Aubigné. (Translated by Henry Beveridge.) Read in English by Christopher Smith The History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, by Jean-Henri Merle d’Aubigné, is a classic work on the great events that re-opened the Christian gospel to a needy world. It tells of how the twenty-year-old Martin Luther, browsing through books in the library at the University of Erfurt, takes down from the shelf a particular volume that has caught his interest. He has never seen anything like it. It is a Bible! He is astonished to find in this volume so much more than the fragments of gospels and epistles that were selected for public reading in churches. He had believed that these constituted all there was of the word of God. But here he has discovered, in its entirety, the inspired book from which they came. And it was this discovery, in a dusty university library, that changed the course of history. D’Aubigné tells the story of outstanding people who had a love for God and his word, and who dared to present biblical truths which had been obscured for centuries. The book has helped and encouraged Christians through difficult times, and given them an understanding of the background from which our freedom in the faith has come. The author was a Swiss Protestant pastor. He was also a historian with a great understanding of the Bible, along with a broad and deep knowledge of the Reformation. This great work of his is made up of five volumes. Volume 1, the subject of this recording, comprises four books: Book 1 – State of Matters before the Reformation; Book 2 – Youth, Conversion, and First Labours of Luther (1483-1517); Book 3 – The Indulgences and Theses; Book 4 – Luther before the Legate (May-December 1518).

Recording facts

• Recording title: History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, Volume 1
• Author credits: Jean-Henri Merle d'Aubigné
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 43
• Listed recording duration: 15:38:25

Catalogue topics

• history
• religion
• bible
• church
• Catholic
• Protestant
• Luther
• Reformation

Opening tracks: first 24 of 43

1. 00 - Preface to the Last Edition — 36:28
2. 01 - Book 1: State of Matters before the Reformation: Chapter 1: Christianity—Formation of the Papacy—Unity of the Church—The Decretals—Hildebrand—Corruption of Doctrine — 41:01
3. 02 - Book 1: Chapter 2: Grace and Works—Pelagianism—Penances—Indulgences—Supererogation—Purgatory—Taxation—Jubilee — 20:03
4. 03 - Book 1: Chapter 3: Relics—Easter Merriment—Corruption of the Clergy—A Priest's Family—Education—Ignorance — 23:04
5. 04 - Book 1: Chapter 4: Christianity Imperishable—Opposition to Rome—Frederick the Wise—His Character—His Anticipation — 17:22
6. 05 - Book 1: Chapter 5: The Empire—National Character—Switzerland—Italy—Spain—Portugal—France—Netherlands—England—Scotland—The North—Russia—Poland—Bohemia—Hungary — 30:12
7. 06 - Book 1: Chapter 6: State of Theology—Witnesses for the Truth—The Vaudois—Wickliffe—-Huss—Savonarola—John Wessel—Prolés — 36:56
8. 07 - Book 1: Chapter 7: Literature—Dante—Printing—Reuchlin—His Struggle with the Dominicans — 33:59
9. 08 - Book 1: Chapter 8: Erasmus—His Genius—His 'Praise of Folly'—His Greek Testament—His Influence—His Failings — 31:59
10. 09 - Book 1: Chapter 9: The Nobles—Hütten—'Letters of some Obscure Men'—Seckingen—Cronberg—Hans Sachs—General Fermentation — 26:42
11. 10 - Book 2: Youth, Conversion and First Labours of Luther (1483-1517): Chapter 1: Luther—His Parentage—The Paternal Roof—Strict Discipline—School—The Shunammite—His Studies—University — 25:31
12. 11 - Book 2: Chapter 2: Scholasticism and the Classics—Luther's Piety—His Discovery of a Bible—His Sickness—The Thunderstorm—His Entrance into a Convent — 17:47
13. 12 - Book 2: Chapter 3: His Father's Anger—Servile Employments—His Studies—The Bible—Hebrew and Greek—His Agony during Mass—Faints — 22:25
14. 13 - Book 2: Chapter 4: Staupitz—His Piety—His Visitation—His Conversation—Presents Luther with a Bible—The Old Monk—Luther's Consecration—His Call to Wittemberg — 27:27
15. 14 - Book 2: Chapter 5: The University of Wittemberg—Luther's First Employment—Biblical Lectures—Preaching at Wittemberg—The Old Chapel — 11:40
16. 15 - Book 2: Chapter 6: Luther's Journey to Rome—A Convent on the Po—Luther's Behaviour at Rome—Corruption of the Romish Clergy—Prevailing Immorality—Pilate's Staircase — 24:55
17. 16 - Book 2: Chapter 7: Doctor's Degree—Carlstadt—Luther's Oath—First Views of Reformation—The Schoolmen—Spalatin — 19:26
18. 17 - Book 2: Chapter 8: 'Popular Declamations'—Moral Purity of Luther—Mysticism—Spenlein—Justification by Faith—Necessity of Works — 22:20
19. 18 - Book 2: Chapter 9: First Theses—Visit to the Convents—Dresden—Erfurt—Tornator Peace and the Cross—Labours—The Plague — 11:43
20. 19 - Book 2: Chapter 10: Luther and the Elector—Duke George—Luther at Court—Dinner at Court - Emser's Supper — 13:43
21. 20 - Book 2: Chapter 11: Theses—Human Nature—Rationalism—Eck—Urban Regius—Luther's Modesty — 19:16
22. 21 - Book 3: The Indulgences and Theses (1517, 1518): Chapter 1: Cortège—Tezel—His Discourse—Sale of Indulgences—Public Penance—Letter of Indulgence—Feasting and Debauchery — 24:18
23. 22 - Book 3: Chapter 2: The Soul in the Burying-Ground—Shoemaker of Hagenau—Myconius—Stratagem—Miner of Schneeberg — 17:23
24. 23 - Book 3: Chapter 3:Leo X—His Necessities—Albert—His Character—Franciscans and Dominicans — 10:17

Listen to this recording

Open the complete recording and player on Internet Archive. The player includes the full track list and available download formats.

Source and rights

This is a record from LibriVox's official Internet Archive collection, with a public-domain licence recorded in its metadata. LibriVox's policy includes its catalogue summaries as well as its recordings. Its public-domain assessment follows United States law; copyright status can differ elsewhere. The summary and track facts are reproduced and reformatted from that record. Dates attached to the archive upload are not treated as original book publication dates.