66 LIFE OF MELANCTHON. His matrimonial connection was not only a happy, but a very lasting one. Formed for each other, this favored pair were not destined to suffer the pangs of early separation; but lived in undisturbed har mony for thirty-seven years. They had four children, two sons and two daughters. In his youth he was remarkably troubled with honored as the mother of so illustrious an offspring. were most excellent sleeplessness, which the regularity of his general When letters or papers "His parents," says he, Catholics, irreproachable in their manners, ex- habits at length overcame. emplary in their conduct, careful to maintain in arrived in the evening he always referred them to their family the fear of God and a due observance the next morning for inspection, least the hours devotof his commandments, walking before God with a ed to sleep which he found indispensable to the due simplicity, a fidelity, and a zeal like that of primi-preservation of health, should be disturbed. tive Christians. I feel myself constrained to state these particulars, that you may remember to attribute to Melancthon's excellent education all that you read or hear said of his sweetness of temper, courtesy, temperance, modesty, and other virtues, for which the Protestants have so much extolled him: and that you may consider these qualities as produced or cherished in the bosom of the Catholic church." Varillas, one of the greatest enemies of the Reformation, has nevertheless spoken of him in the following manner: "He possessed a sweetness and mildness of temper, that rendered him incapable of returning injury for injury. In observing the exactest rules of morality, he only followed his inclination, and notwithstanding the meanness of his birth, he practised the utmost generosity his means would allow. No German wrote the Latin language with greater ease or in a more intelligible manner, yet he was never so attached to his own productions, or so prejudiced in their favor as to refuse making any corrections suggested by his friends." Neither Melancthon's attachment to literature, nor his multifarious engagements in public seduced him from the cultivation of domestic feelings, and the discharge of parental duties. His wife and children, ever dear to his heart, were not forgotten amidst the deepest abstractions of study, or the greatest perplexity of engagement. Anne, his eldest daughter, appears to have been the favorite child, for she was not only handsome and accomplished, but of a very literary turn. Luther in one of his letters, calls her "the elegant daughter of Philip." On the sixth of November, 1536, she was married to George Sabinus, a native of Brandenburg, who being sent to Melancthon with the powerful recommendation of Erasmus to be educated, became an inmate of his family. His thirst after knowledge was so unbounded, that no labor however great, which was deemed requisite to attain it, damped his inextinguishable zeal. By day and by night he devoted himself to study, and overlooked or despised every obstacle in the path of knowledge. But his taste even surpassed his zeal, particularly in poetic compositions. Camerarius relates that he had seen him weep abundantly when reading an exquisite piece of poetry, and that though he would deeply deplore his own infelicity in composition, no one in reality excelled him. His poem entitled "Res gesta Casarum Germanorum," procured him not only a very extensive reThe habits of studious men have sometimes been putation in Germany, but the notice and patronage represented as tending to disqualify them for the fa- of the most enlightened princes of the age, and he It is became successively professor of the Belles Lettres miliar intercourse of domestic or social life. often long before the clouds which profound study at Frankfort on the Oder, rector of the New Acagathers over the mind can be entirely chased away, demy of Konigsberg, and counsellor to the Elector even by the cheering influence of innocent conviviali- of Brandenburg. It will not appear surprising that ty. At the same time a great man never appears such a youth, and in such favorable circumstances, greater than in descending from the high station should have ingratiated himself into Melancthon's where public opinion or extraordinary genius has en-esteem, and attracted the affections of his accomthroned him to an approachable familiarity. It is plished daughter. then his friends will no longer censure his abstractions nor his affectionate family deprecate his fame. Melancthon may be appealed to as a pleasing illusA Frenchman one day, tration of this remark. found him holding a book in one hand and rocking his child's cradle with the other. Upon his manifesting considerable surprise, Melancthon took occasion from the incident to converse with his visitor on the duties of parents, and on the regard of heaven for little children in such a pious and affectionate manner, that his astonishment was quickly transformed into admiration. The fondness he cherished for his own family extended to children in general. He possessed, in a very eminent degree, the rare art of making himself a captivating and instructive companion to them. He descended with the most happy ease to their level, promoted by his jocularity their little pleasures, and engaged with He all his heart in their games and festivities. would often exercise their ingenuity, by devising fictions and puzzles, and took greas delight in relating useful scraps of history or memorable tales. He always estimated Time as a most precious possession. It is said of him, that when he made an appointment, he expected not only that the day or the hour, but that the minute should be fixed, in order that time might not be squandered away in the vacuity or idleness of suspense. The Papists were extremely fond of representing their adversaries as low and baseborn persons, in order, as they imagined, to render their cause contemptible. It is related of Sabinus, that on a certain occasion when he was dining in company with Stigelius and Melancthon, the latter engaged them in an extempore poetical contest. Sabinus being the elder of the two was required to begin, which he did in these words: to "Carmina conscribant alii dictante Lyæo, Multa sit in versu cura laborque meo;" Some silly scribblers soon their pages fill Let care and labor regulate my quill! "Carmina componant alii sudante cerebro, which Stigelius replied, Nulla sit in versu cura laborque meo." Some toil and sweat to elaborate a rhymeLet no such care nor labor waste my time. The two poetical gladiators had the satisfaction of being equally extolled by Melancthon, the one for his attack, and the other for his defence. Stigelius obtained a considerable poetical notoriety, and Melancthon has expressed a very high opinion of his merit. He wrote a variety of epilation of many of the Psalms of David, with other taphs, epigrams, and epithalamia, a metrical translittle compositions, of which the following monumental inscription for himself is not the least cu rious: Hic ego Stigelius jaceo; quis curat? ut omnis But this apparently happy and suitable connec- | rious darkness. The bishop of Breslaw, therefore, tion was destined to become a source of consider- ought to be mentioned for the pleasing singularity able affliction. Sabinus was very different in cha- of his character, as the decided friend of the infant racter from his father-in-law Melancthon. The Reformation. He died in peace in the month of elegant pleasures of literature did not satisfy him; August, meriting this noble eulogium. This was for he was naturally ambitious, and the fame he expressed in a letter addressed to the bishop, which acquired by his poetic publications, fed the secret he did not live long enough to receive. Luther flame till it could no longer be suppressed. Me- wrote to him at the same time, in language indicalancthon was attached to the more humble life of a tive of an equal esteem. man of letters and a man of piety, nor could he be induced by the most pressing entreaties to pursue any measures for the promotion of his children to posts of civil distinction and emolument. He employed all his skill to cure the raging fever of Sabinus, but in vain; for the poet worshipped fame and wealth. They became therefore discontented with each other, and found it best to separate. The lovely spirit of Melancthon however prevented any serious dissention, and they eventually parted with mutual good will and kindness. Sabinus took his wife into Prussia, where to her father's inexpressible grief, she died, after a residence of four years, at Konigsberg. "Who is there," says Melancthon, "that does not love the man, who, so far as I know, is the only man in Germany, that by his authority, learning, and piety, has furnished an example of what a bishop ought to be? If the Christian world could but produce ten persons of a similar stamp and cast of thinking (sumphradmones,) as Homer says, I should not doubt of seeing the kingdom of Christ in some measure restored." CHAPTER V. The Pope's Bull against Luther-His retaliation-Diet of WormsLuther's seizure and imprisonment at the castle of WartenbergFeelings of Melancthon-Condemnation of Luther by the Sarbonne Melancthon's satirical rejoinder-His publication under the feigned name of Thomas Placentinus-His declamation on the study of Paul-Extracts from his Loci Communes, or Theological Common Places-Transactions relative to the abolition of private masses. 1520, 1521. The youngest daughter of Melancthon was married in the year 1550, to Casper Peucer, whose name is one of the most celebrated in German literature, as well as in the annals of the Reformation. He was a physician, and through the favor of the Elector of Saxony, made professor of Medicine in RETURNING from the disputations at Leipsic, Ecthe University of Wittemberg. He was always kius resolved if possible to ruin Luther, and pursent for to court when any important deliberations sued his purpose with inveterate malignity and unof a medical kind were held, and enjoyed free ac-remitting zeal. He flew to Rome, implored Leo X. cess to the Elector. His writings are numerous in to excommunicate this heretic, and obtained the medicine, mathematics, and theology. Above all, vigorous co-operation of the Dominicans, then in he is to be ranked amongst the illustrious sufferers high favor at court, who were willing to revenge the quarrel of their brother Tetzel. for the cause of truth. After the death of Melancthon, Peucer, in conAt length on the fifteenth of June, 1520, the Pope junction with the divines of Wittemberg and Leip-issued a Bull against Luther, in which after calling sic, and of several ecclesiastics and persons of dis- upon Christ, St. Peter, St. Paul, and all the saints tinction in the court of Saxony, aimed to introduce to interpose in behalf of the church, forty-one prothe Calvinistic sentiments respecting the Eucharist, positions are extracted from his writings, and condenying most strenuously the Lutheran doctrine of demned as pestilential, scandalous and offensive to the corporeal presence of Christ. Great commo- pious minds; all persons are interdicted from readtions being excited, the Elector Augustus, in the ing them upon pain of excommunication, and unyear 1571, called a solemn assembly of the Saxon less the heretic should present himself at Rome, divines, and of all persons concerned in the admi- within sixty days, in order to take his trial before nistration of ecclesiastical affairs, at Dresden. Au- the supreme Pontiff, he is fully EXCOMMUNICATED. gustus commanded them to adopt his opinion res- But these menaces were ineffectual; in many places pecting the Eucharist, which at that time agreed the decree was delayed or evaded-even at Leipsic with that of Peucer and the moderate Lutherans; it was violently opposed, and at Erfurt it was forcibut he was soon seduced by the insinuations of their bly wrested from Eckius, torn in pieces and thrown adversaries, who represented the church as in dan- into the river by a body of academicians. Many ger, to change sides, and in consequence of finding of the Roman Catholic writers condemn the imthat the Saxon divines, who were the disciples of prudence of Leo in this and other hasty proceedMelancthon, propagated their sentiments with the ings against the Saxon Reformer, but it is more utmost assiduity, he called a new convention at than probable that had the effect been different, they Torgaw in the year 1574, where he assumed the would have spared the Tiara. dictator's chair and wielded the persecutor's sword. Of those who denied the corporeal presence, some were imprisoned, others banished, and others compelled to renounce their sentiments. Peucer had the honor of suffering amongst the former. He endured the severities of a cruel imprisonment for ten years, and was released at last only through the intercession of the Prince of Anhalt.' Among the rare instances of eminent persons attached to the reformed cause in the early period of its progress which is now under review, comprising the year 1520, the name of John Thurzo, Bishop of Breslaw, in Silesia, claims a distinguished notice. It is true little, too little is known of him; but as the early traveller watches the commencement and the gradual progress of the dawning day, by the first beams that strike successively upon surrounding objects, so the observant reader will unite with the vigilant biographer, in hailing each indication of increasing light in a world enveloped in myste Immediately previous to the publication of this celebrated anathema, Luther had been offered an asylum from his persecutors, by Sylvester Schaumberg, a Franconian knight, whose son was under the tuition of Melancthon. "I offer you," said he, "my own protection, and that of one hundred noblemen in Franconia, with whom you can live in safety until your doctrine has undergone a deliberate investigation." The state of his mind at this critical juncture may be ascertained from his own language to his friend Spalatine, the Elector's secretary, upon transnutting to him the generous letter of Schaumberg. "As for me, the die is cast. I equally despise the favor and fury of Rome, I have no longer any wish to be connected with or reconciled to them. Let them condemn me and burn my books, and if I do not in return publicly condemn and burn the whole pontifical code, it will only be from want of fire." In fact, on the tenth of December, 1520, in the presence of an immense con course of people of all ranks, he committed the Bull of Leo, the decretals of the Pontiffs, and other similar documents to the flames, in testimony of his everlasting separation from the Romish communion. Nor did he neglect to use the pen as well as the torch, by which he appealed from the Pope to a general council, and exposed the pretensions and corruption of the church of Rome in several tracts. A second Bull was issued against him in the month of January, 1521, in which the Pope styles himself "the divinely appointed dispenser of spiritual and temporal punishments:" it consisted of a recapitulation of the preceding Bull, and a formal excommunication of Luther. 301 cer, who had been sent to entreat him to take At this crisis Melancthon thus expresses himself During these transactions the Elector Frederic acted with a prudence and discretion which proved eminently serviceable to the Reformation. Had he been less the friend of Luther and of truth, he would have delivered him up to his enraged adversaries; had he been more zealous it would have been equally fatal, by exposing himself to the papal anathemas, and the infant cause, which he secretly and therefore effectually patronized, to almost inevitable destruction. His conduct and character cannot be more accurately depicted than in the words of Melancthon. "This most excellent prince was much concerned to foresee the contests and disorders which would ensue, though the first attacks made by Luther were upon very plausible grounds. By his own judgment and sagacity, and by long experience in the art of government, he well knew the danger of revolutions. But being a truly religious man and one who feared God, he consulted not the dictates of mere worldly and political wisdom, which might have inclined him to stifle at once all symptoms of innovation. He determined to prefer the glory of God to all other considerations, and to listen to the divine command which enjoins obePrivate conferences and public examinations, dience to the gospel. He knew that it was a horrible profaneness to resist the truth when plainly seen violent threats and gentle entreaties, were alterand known. He had studiously examined Luther's nately employed to cajole or to force him into a reworks, and accurately weighed his proofs and tes- cantation of his heretical opinions and a submission timonies; and he would not suffer doctrines to be to the Roman Pontiff. It was all in vain. He was oppressed and smothered which he judged to be the neither to be compelled nor seduced into compliword of God. The Holy Spirit confirmed and sup- ance. He COULD Suffer death, but he COULD NOT ported him in these excellent resolutions, so that violate the dictates of conscience! The wonder is, though the Emperors Maximilian and Charles, and that when his enemies were so inveterate and himthe Roman Pontiffs urged this prince, and not with- self so intrepid and resolute, he should have been out menaces, to hinder Luther from writing and allowed to depart from Worms in peace; but the preaching in his dominions, he was not in the least members of the Diet refused to expose themselves degree shaken or intimidated. Yet he presumed to the reproach of a violation of faith, and the Emnot to rely entirely on his own judgment in a mat-peror was unwilling to contend with them from poter of such great importance, but took the advice of other persons who were venerable for their rank, learning, and experience." After the death of Maximilian I. the unanimous vote of the electoral college placed Charles V. upon the imperial throne, who was publicly crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle, on the twenty-third of October, 1520, the year after his election. Leo immediately applied to him to inflict an exemplary punishment on Luther for disobedience to papal authority, while Frederic exerted his influence, an influence derived from the personal obligations of Charles, who had been created Emperor chiefly through his exertions, to obtain a public and fair investigation of his cause in Germany previous to the promulgation of any condemnatory edict. The result was that the Emperor appointed a diet at Worms in January, 1521, to which, under the protection of a safe conduct, Luther repaired in April. litical motives. Luther was allowed twenty-one days to return home, and required not to preach to the people in the course of his journey. A few days after he had withdrawn, an edict was issued by the authority of the Diet in the Emperor's name, declaring him a member cut off from the church, a schismatic, a notorious and obstinate heretic: forbidding all persons, under penalty of high treason, loss of goods, and being put under the BAN of the Empire, to receive, defend, maintain or protect him, either in word or writing; and all his adherents, followers, and favorers to suffer the confiscation of their property, unless they had left his party, and The formidable edict of Worms however was in had received absolution by apostolic authority! * Martin Bucer was born at Shelestadt in Alsace. He spent several days with Luther, at Worms, and embraced his opinions. He afterwards preached the His friends recollecting the fate of John Huss, doctrines of the Reformation at Strasberg and was exwere extremely apprehensive, and would have dis-tremely active in endeavoring to reconcile the Luthesuaded him from venturing amongst his enemies.rans and Zuinglians. In the year 1549, Archbishop Their fears increased as he approached the city. Cranmer invited him to England, and he became a Every argument was used to prevent his perseve- lecturer in Divinity, in the University of Cambridge, rance, and when at Oppenheim he was met by Bu- where he died in 1551, at the age of sixty-one. * In a great measure superseded by two circumstances, Patmos, reflecting all the day on the wretched namely, the multiplicity of the Emperor's engage- condition of the church. I bemoan the hardness ments arising out of commotions in Spain, and the of my heart, that I am not dissolved in tears on wars of Italy and the Low Countries; and a cu- this account. May God have mercy upon us!" It rious, but well concerted and well timed contri- would however be flagrantly unjust to impute the vance of his wary friend the Elector of Saxony. strong sensation of either of these exalted characForeseeing the meditated attack upon Luther, Fre-ters to pusillanimity. Though much distressed, deric employed several trusty persons in masks to they fully coincided in the principles recognized in seize upon him as he was passing a forest in Thu- another of Luther's epistles-"The peace and ringia, near Altenstein, and convey him to the cas- approbation of God is ever to be preferred to the tle of Wartenberg, which was situated on a high peace and approbation of the world. mountain in the vicinity of Eisenach. In his retreat all circumstances we ought to adhere strictly to he passed for a country gentleman, under the as- the simple word of God, and, not merely when that sumed name of Yonker George. The consequence word happens to thrive and be respected among of this sudden disappearance was unfavorable to men. Let those who please take against us. But his adversaries who were suspected of having plot- why are we to be always looking on the dark side ted his destruction, the Imperial edict missed its of things? why not indulge hopes of better times?" aim, and his opinions-or rather, "The word of At length these bosom friends contrived a mode the Lord grew, and was multiplied." Acts xi. 24. of alleviating the anxiety that was so intolerable, Luther's confinement in the castle of Warten- and of obtaining each other's assistance in the preberg, placed Melancthon at the head of the reform-sent crisis. This was a secret visit of Luther to ed cause, who was well aware of the responsibility Wittemberg, which was hastened by the prevalence of his situation. After a considerable lapse of of various evils, especially the conduct of Cariotime he writes to his friend Hess: "I feel the need stadt, which will be noticed in a subsequent page. I have of good advice. Our Elijah is still confined He states the circumstance to Spalatine: "I came at a distance from us, though we are expecting and to Wittemberg and amongst the delightful interanticipating his return. What shall I say more? course enjoyed with my friends, I found this bitter, His absence absolutely torments me." Though that my little pamphlets and letters had neither there was indeed an alloy of constitutional timidity, been heard of nor seen, for which you shall judge, which cannot but be considered as some deprecia- whether I was not justly displeased. However, on tion of his sterling value in the peculiar situation the whole, what I have seen and heard has afforded of ecclesiastical affairs, no one was so well quali-me the greatest satisfaction. May the Lord comfied to maintain the respectability and promote the fort those who are interested in the cause: but on success of the Lutheran cause. The great Reform- my way I was vexed with the various rumors I er well knew his extraordinary merit, and requested heard of the imprudences of some of our friends, him to assist in the discharge of some of those and I propose to publish some suitable exhortations clerical duties for which he was incapacitated by as soon as I return to my asylum. Commend me absence. In one of his letters he addresses him to our illustrious prince, from whom I wish to conthus: "For the glory of the word of God and the ceal my journey to Wittemberg, for a reason of mutual consolation of myself and others, I would which you are aware. Farewell. I am in Amsrather be consumed in a blazing fire, than remain dorff's house with my beloved friend Philip Mehere half alive and utterly useless. If I perish, the lancthon."-Luther, Ep. 253. gospel of Christ will not perish, and you, I hope, like another Elisha, will succeed Elijah." Again he writes, "The accounts which I receive of your abundant success in religion and learning during my absence, rejoice my heart exceedingly, and very much diminish the miseries of separation. The circumstance of your going on so prosperously while I am absent, is peculiarly delightful to me, because it may serve to convince the wicked one, that however he may rage and foam, their desires shall perish and Christ will finish the work which he has begun." Melancthon was constitutionally hypochondriacal; and as even trifling circumstances frequently disturb the peace of such persons, it was to be expected that the state of things at this momentous crisis would produce a powerful effect upon his mind. His heart was interested in the cause of pure Christianity, his happiness was deeply involved in it, his sensibilities were perpetually wrought upon by surrounding occurrences, and his spirits ebbed and flowed according to the success or decline of that cause which was to him the dearest upon earth. In fact the situation of Melancthon and the friends of the Reformation was peculiarly afflictive. The transactions at Worms and the subsequent concealment of Luther, had inspired Frederic with an unusual degree of caution amounting to timidity, in his proceedings. The writings of Luther were not allowed to be published, and the academicians were interdicted the discussion of questions likely to offend persons of distinction, who were attached to Popery. That Luther deeply sympathized with his friend and participated in his sentiments, is obvious from his own words. "I sit here in my In England Henry VIII. published a book against Luther and in defence of the seven sacraments of the Romish Church, for which he received the title never yet relinquished by his successors, of Defender of the Faith. In France, the divines of the_Sorbonne,* published a formal condemnation of Luther's writings, dated the 15th of April, 1521, in which they show the danger to which Christians are exposed from his poisonous errors, and charge him with rashness in preferring his own judgment to that of the Universities and Holy Fathers of the Church, as though God had given him the knowledge of many truths necessary for salvation, which the church had been ignorant of during the past ages, being left by Jesus Christ her spouse in the darkness of error. Melancthon immediately gave them a very suitable flagellation in a small piece, entitled “Adversus furiosum Parisiensium Teologastrorum decretum pro Luthero apologia;-An apology for Luther, in opposi tion to the furious decree of the Parisian Theologas ters." This was gratifying to his friend Yonker George, in confinement at Wartenberg. "I have seen," says he, "the Decree of the Parisian Sophists, together with the Apology of Philip, and from my very heart I rejoice: for Christ would not have given them up to such blindness had not he determined to *The_term applied to the faculty of Theology at Paris. The college of the University in which they assembled was called the house of the Sorbonne, which was first erected and endowed in the year 1250, by a wealthy favorite of Louis, whose name was Robert de Sorbonne. That theological society was, at that period, in the highest repute. LIFE OF MELANCTHON. promote his own cause, and to put a stop to the des- | for doctrines the commandments of men?—and to reason In this satirical pamphlet Melancthon begins by remarking, that, "during the past year, the Sophists of Cologne and Louvain condemned the gospel in a set of naked propositions, unsupported by either or Scripture, and that now the Parisian divines had acted in the same irrational manner. By the spirit which pervades the Decree it may be determined whether it is from God, who is not the author of malice, or from another quarter!" It appeared almost incredible that such a work should have proceeded from such a university, distinguished as it had been by remarkable men, and especially by the great and pious Gerson. A letter was prefixed to the Decree which he supposed must have been written by some hired declaimer, because it displayed such womanish violence, that it was too silly for a divine! "What does it contain? 'Oh! Luther is a Manichæan! a Montanist! he despises Us forsooth!-he is mad!-he must be brought to his What feminine, what senses by fire and flames!' monkish weakness! "Nay more, whatever criminality may be supposed to attach to any persons for opposing the Fathers, is to be charged upon these very Parisian disputants themselves, who diametrically contradict them. The very best of the Fathers denounce whatever is not from the spirit of Christ, as sinful; but these not only do not allow of their guilt, but absolutely affirm many of them to be meritorious. The Fathers deny that mere human strength is adequate to fulfil the divine law, these Parisians state the very reverse. "It is written, if an offender refuse to hear the church let him be as a heathen man and a publican. But how I pray now what do you call the church? No doubt, the French, or Sorbonne Church. can that be the church of Christ which has not the word of Christ, who testifies that his sheep hear his voice? We denominate that his true church which is built upon THE WORD OF GOD, and which is nourished, fed, and governed by it; in a word, which derives every thing, and judges of every thing, by THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, for 'he that is of God hear "Luther is accused of heresy, not because he differs from SCRIPTURE, but from the Holy Fathers, Councils, and Universities, whose opinions are re-eth the words of God.' ceived as the first principles of religion!! But are Holy Fathers, and Councils, and Universities to decree the articles of Christian faith? And how can this be the case, when they are so liable to err, Occam himself being judge, if you will not credit me? Is our faith to depend upon the opinions of men? So did not Paul determine when he affirmed, that'other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.'-1 Corinthians, iii. 11. "You, the Sorbonne Church, without appealing to reason or Scripture, condemn Luther and exclude him from the communion of the pious. But it did not become you to condemn, but to accuse. You do not accuse or convince by argument, but contrary both to divine and human laws, at once condemn, and for no other reason than because you are the Sorbonne divines, and lords of our faith, to be sure! For shame! for shame!!! But stay, I must not treat the Sorbonne so irreverently! for these lords over our faith say they imitate the example of the apostles, when they issue decisions without scriptural authority. I wish, however, they would verify this statement by some reference. Christ himself quotes the authority of Scripture. Paul does the same; and what are all the apostolic discourses but the testimonies derived from the records of the Old Testament concerning Christ? The Sorbonne only is to be believed without SCRIPTURE! "Luther then does not dissent from SCRIPTURE, but from YOUR judgment, and from the sense which the Fathers, Councils and Schools have adopted; and this I see is the great cause of the controversy, and the great sin he has committed! But what after all is decreed by the Councils, when some things are false and some true, some conformable to Scripture, and some contrary to it; so that Scripture must be the final appeal, and if any passages be obscure, they are to be compared with others, and "He imagines this fraternity must be of Egyptian thus Scripture will explain itself. If an angel from heaven,' says the apostle, 'preach any other origin, and the descendants of Jannes and Jambres, gospel than what I preach let him be accursed.'-who resisted Moses. The truth of the Lutheran Galatians, i. 10. Surely then Luther may oppose doctrines, however, he is satisfied will remain imthe obvious sentiment of Scripture to Councils, moveable and unshaken, not only by their opposiFathers, and Universities! What can these So- tion, but in spite of the rulers of darkness." phists reply? What sort of logic and what kind of glosses can they use to avoid the inference from these statements? Either deny that there is any certain sense in Scripture, or acknowledge that Luther is justifiable in placing its dictates in opposition to human opinion. Soon after the publication of this performance a mock answer appeared in the name of the Parisian divines, written in a ludicrous style and intended to make them appear ridiculous. Dupin imputes it to Luther, and Seckendorf expresses a doubt whether it were written by him or some other friend. Another controversial piece of the present year, "After all he is not inclined to concede that Luther and the ancient Fathers and Councils disagree. under the feigned name of Didymus Faventinus, On various points he is completely supported by the against Thomas Placentinus, and on behalf of Lusentiments of Augustine, Cyprian, Hilary, and ther, is to be attributed to Melancthon. It consists Chrysostom; though it is true many things are to be of forty-four folío pages. In this performance he found in the writings of Luther on the sacraments, details the history of the Lutheran controversy, and vows, and other subjects, which cannot be discover- refutes the various calumnies of the enemies of ed in them. No wonder, for that age knew nothing truth and the reformation. "Luther," says he, "is of the tyrannical laws of Roman Pontiffs, nothing most iniquitously condemned for having delivered of our Parisian Masters and their articles of faith. his country from the papal impositions, for daring That period may, perhaps, be considered as the to eradicate the errors of so many centuries, and noon-day of evangelical truth; ours as the declin-restoring to the light pure Christianity, which ing evening in which darkness covers the minds of sinners as a punishment for their guilt; and that is darkness indeed in which the Sorbonne divinity prevails, a divinity which extols human opinion as paramount to scriptural truth! Does not the spirit of God, by his prophets, threaten such a punishment, and does not Paul speak of those who should teach had been nearly extinguished by the impicus decrees of the Popes, and the vain sophistries of the schoolmen. I am not alone in ascribing this merit to Luther; the learned universally do the same: and I state this lest you should imagine that he is the sole author of the present commotions, which ought rather to be imputed to those who have done |