a mostly german debate on conversion and salvation he stated that the joy in heaven for the one that repent presupposes the production of spiritual fruit, which, according to him, consists of deep sorrow and virtue.772 According to Jaspis, Kaltofen had said that he did not consider it necessary to be accompanied by priests to the execution. Jaspis elaborated on this, noting that neither the company nor the preparation of the condemned were commanded in the Bible. He also could not find any support for priests meeting criminals in the first centuries of the history of the church.773 He also questioned if the priest could really function in a proper and fruitful way at such a tumultuous scene.774 Referring to a female delinquent, perhaps Auguste Wilhelmine Strohm, who, longing for a beautiful death, was executed with ceremonious priestly accompaniment, Jaspis thought it would be just for her wish to be denied.775 Theserious and not joyful condemned would be best for those present and not allowing the presence of priests would make such a sight more certain.776 Jaspis restarted the old debate. In a review of his book the main argument of the reviewer against the proposals by Jaspis is the love of God for the individual and the duty to stand by the condemned in her last moments.777 When a few years later Johann Heinrich Knauth, also a priest, published a similar book he somewhat ironical addressed his colleagues listing activities priests could ignore because they were not commanded by the Bible.778 He continued by discussing the need of the delinquents of priestly support until their death, described as unreasonable the understanding that the actions of the clergy decides the question of salvation and rejected the thought that the opinions of those lacking reason 772 Jaspis 1821 p 401. 773 Jaspis 1822 p 54 sq. In Jaspis 1821 p 382 he had developed the idea that the preparation of delinquents had no biblical support. Mt 25:36 he understood as referring to the duty of all Christians to show love and in Lk 15:4 the lost sheep did not refer to the condemned. 774 Jaspis 1822 p 65. 775 Jaspis 1822 p 76. 776 Jaspis 1822 p 77 sqq. 777 Röhr 1823 p 274 sq. The reviewer is said to be the priest Johann Friedrich Heinrich Schwabe, Knauth 1825b p 18, Neues Journal für Prediger 1826 p 377. 778 Knauth 1825a p 35 sq. 211
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