THILIP MELANCTHON.
PHILIP MELANCTHON:
THE WITTEMBERG PROFESSOR
AND
THEOLOGIAN OF THE REFORMATION.
DAVID J. DEANE,
AUTHOR OF " TWO NOBLE LIVES," " ROBERT MOFFAT, THE
MISSIONARY HERO OF KURUMAN," ETC., ETC.
S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO.,
8 & 9, PATERNOSTER HOW, E.G.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
TWO NOBLE LIVES: John Wicliffe,
the Morning Star of the Reformation ;
and Martin Luther, the Reformer.
Crown 8vo. 208 pages. Fully Illustrated.
Cloth extra. Is. Gd.
ROBERT MOFFAT, the Missionary
Hero of Kuruman. Portraits and other
Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1GO pages.
Cloth extra, Is. Gd.
WITTEMBE11G.
PREFACE.
compiling this brief biography of Philip Me-
lancthon the author has not designed a book
for the student, to whom the treasures of
history are open, but for the general reader.
The intimate friend and companion of Martin Luther
for a period of nearly twenty-eight years is, for that
fact alone, worthy of a place in the biographical
literature of the present day ; and when, in addition,
that friend is found to be a man of most eminent
learning, of great worth and exalted piety, and one
who exerted an influence upon the great Protestant
Reformation second only to Luther himself, no apology
is needed for placing a record of his life and times
before the Christian public of the present day.
A talented writer says : " Without Luther the
Reformation would never have taken hold of the
common people ; without Melancthon it would never
have succeeded among the scholars of Germany."
And no man ever valued the work of Melancthon
more than the great Reformer himself.
6 PREFACE.
To admire a bold man, who in the face of opposition
and peril stands firm as a rock in defence of right,
is natural to every true heart. But none the less
worthy of admiration is the man who, constitutionally
timid, with feeble health and frame, is so impelled
by overpowering love for truth that he stands forth
in its defence amid manifold fears, calumnies, and
much shrinking of the flesh ; going onward, never
thinking of retreat, conciliatory, peaceful, alarmed at
the clangour of arms, yet firm in his resistance of
evil, and counting his life but of little value if
only the cause of God can be advanced and the
way of truth made known. Such a man was Philip
Melancthon.
The need for a popular biography of this great
scholar seems the more pressing, as hardly any such
work exists for English readers. This need the
author endeavours to supply, sending forth his book
at a price within the reach of all, and in a form
which he trusts will be found interesting. In his
compilation he has mainly relied upon the information
afforded by Dr. Merle D Aubign& in his History of the
Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, supplemented
by frequent reference to Mosheim s Institutes of
Ecclesiastical History, Cox s Life of Melancthon,
founded upon Camerarius biography and now out
of print, various encyclopedias, and an excellent
sketch of the great scholar s character and place in
the struggle for Reform by Dr. Philip SchafF, of
New York. To these writers the author acknowledges
his indebtedness, and places the result of his labours
before the public in the volume now offered for their
perusal.
THE GREAT COURTYARD, WARTBURG.
CONTENTS.
I. EUROPE ON THE EVE OF THE SIXTEENTH CEN
TURY . .
ii. MELANCTHON S EARLY DAYS AND COLLEGE
LIFE , 16
III. PROFESSOR AT WITTEMBERCi . 20
IV. THE LEIPSIC DISCUSSION . 3
v. "IN PERILS OFT" . . 45
7
8 CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
VI. THE DIET OF WORMS 51
VII. TROUBLOUS TIMES AT WITTEMBERG . . 60
VIII. LITERARY LABOURS . . . . . 69
IX. PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES . . . 80
X. A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES . 94
XI. THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION . . .108
XII. ROYAL INVITATIONS . . . . . 134
XIII. CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH 144
j
PHILIP MELANCTHON.
CHAPTER I.
EUROPE ON THE EVE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
HE fifteenth century closed upon a Europe com
paratively at peace. The fierce wars which had
marked the greater part of its progress had for
a time been stayed. Constantinople had been wrested
from the Christians in 1453, and the furious assaults
of the Turks under Mohammed II. had ended with his
life in 1481. In Bohemia the fratricidal war between
the Hussites and the Papists had been brought to
a close, partly by conquest and partly by crafty diplo
macy. In the West, the conflicts between England
and France had been terminated by a treaty of peace
in 1492 ; and at the close of the century the monarchs
of both countries were engaged in consolidating the
royal power over their subjects.
But at this period four great powers contended for
supremacy in Europe, threatening its peace, and ever
ready to attack each other. These powers were the
Pope, the German Emperor, the King of France, and
the Ottoman Sultan, eacli on the watch to advance
his own interests at the expense of his neighbour.
And as there was a temporary cessation in military
strife, so was there also a period of quietness in
ecclesiastical affairs. Opposition had for a time been
9
10 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
crushed, and the fierce commotions caused by the
Waldenses, the Albigenses, the Beghards and others
had, so far as any apparent danger to the papal
hierarchy was concerned, ceased. True, complaints
were uttered against the haughty domination of the
Roman pontiffs ; the frauds, violence, avarice, and
injustice of the court of Rome ; the insolence, tyranny,
and extortion of the papal legates ; the crimes, ignor
ance, and extreme profligacy of the priests and
monks ; and the unrighteous severity and partiality
of the Roman laws. But the pontiffs set these com
plaints at defiance, feeling themselves secure, and
indulging their lusts and vicious propensities as freely
as their innate depravity demanded. Claiming to be
the successors of St. Peter and the vicars of Jesus
Christ, they arrogated to themselves supreme dominion
over the consciences of men, and universal jurisdiction
over the kings and princes of the earth.
The occupant of the papal chair during the closing
years of the fifteenth century was a Spaniard named
Roderic Borgia, who in 1492 became pope as Alexan
der VI. He was a monster who may not improperly
be called the Nero of the pontiffs a man of whom
so many and great villainies, crimes, and enormities
are recorded that it must be certain he was destitute
not only of all religion, but of all decency and shame.
He died in 1503 of poison, which he and his son Ceesar
had intended for others.
As was the head, so were the members. The
subordinate rulers and teachers of the Church eagerly
followed the example of their leader. Most of the
bishops, with the canons their associates, led luxurious
and jovial lives in the daily commission of sins, and
squandered in the gratification of their lusts those
funds which the preceding generation had consecrated
to God and the relief of the poor. Many of them
likewise treated the peasants and others subject
to their control, much more rigorously and harshly
than the civil magistrates and princes treated their
EUROPE ON THE EVE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 11
dependents. The greater part of the priests, on account
of their indolence, nnchastity, avarice, love of pleasure,
ignorance, and levity, were regarded with utter con
tempt, not only by the wise and good, but also by
the common people.
The immense numbers of monks produced every
where great grievances and complaints. The Bene
dictines, and the other great orders which were allowed
to possess lands and fixed revenues, abused their
wealth, and rushed headlong into every species of
vice, regardless altogether of the rules they professed.
The Mendicant Orders, on the contrary, and especially
those who professed to follow the rules of St. Dominic
and St. Francis, by their rustic impudence, their
ridiculous superstition, their ignorance and cruelty,
their rude and brutish conduct, alienated from them
the minds of the people. They all had a strong
aversion to learning, and were very unfriendly to the
proceedings of those who laboured to improve the
system of education, and who assailed the barbarism
of the times, both orally and in their writings.
No order of monks was more powerful and influ
ential than that of the Dominicans. They filled the
highest offices in the Church, they presided every
where over the Inquisition, and held the office of con
fessors in the courts of all the kings and princes
of Europe. Many of the Mendicant monks held
the principal chairs in the universities and schools,
where they loaded the memories of their pupils with
a multitude of barbarous terms and worthless dis
tinctions ; and when the pupil could repeat these
with volubility he was regarded as eloquent and
erudite.
Theology was taught in an unwise and absurd
manner, being overwhelmed witli useless quotations
from the Fathers, or analysed according to the laws
of dialectics. Of the Biblical doctors or expounders
of the precepts of the Bible, only here and there an
individual remained ; and those that did remain
12 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
neglected the literal sense of the Scriptures, which
they were unable to investigate on account of their
ignorance of the sacred languages and of the laws
of interpretation ; and foolishly they wandered after
concealed and hidden meanings.
The public worship of God consisted almost wholly
in a round of ceremonies, and those for the most part
vain and useless ; being calculated not to affect the
heart, but to dazzle the eye. Those who delivered
sermons filled, or rather beguiled, the ears of the
people with pretended miracles, ridiculous fables and
wretched quibbles, thrown together without judgment.
If among these declaimers th ;e were some inclined
to be more grave, for them c~i ain commonplace ar
guments were prepared and arranged, on which they
vociferated by the hour on almost all occasions ; such,
for instance, as the authority of the holy mother Church
and the obedience due to it, the influence of the saints
with God and their virtues and merits, the dignity,
glory, and kindness of the Virgin Mary, the efficacy
of relics, the enriching of churches arid monasteries,
the necessity for what they called good works in order
to secure salvation, the intolerable flames of purgatory,
and the utility of indulgences.
Among all classes and ranks in every country there
was an amazing ignorance of religious subjects, and
much superstition, united with gross corruption of
morals. Those who presided over the common sins
of the Church willingly tolerated these evils, and
indeed encouraged them in various ways, rather than
strove to stifle them, well knowing that their own
interests were dependent thereon. Nor did the majority
think it advisable to oppose strenuously the corruption
of morals, for they well knew that if the crimes and
sins of the people were diminished, the sale of indul
gences would also decrease, and they would derive
much less revenue from absolutions and other similar
sources.
The doctrine and the sale of indulgences were
EUROPE ON THE EVE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 13
powerful incentives to evil among an ignorant people.
What had man to fear when a small contribution
towards building a church secured him from the fear
of punishment in the world to come ? What hope
could there be of revival when all communication
between God and man was cut off, and man moved
only in a round of petty ceremonies and sensual
observances, in an atmosphere of death ?
A contemporary writer Myconius, quoted by
D Aubigne states :
" The sufferings and merits of Christ were looked
upon as an idle tale, or as the fictions of Homer.
There was no thought of the faith by which we
become partakers of the Saviour s righteousness and
of the heritage of eternal life. Christ was regarded
as a severe judge, prepared to condemn all who should
not have recourse to the intercession of saints or to
papal indulgences. Other intercessors appeared in
His place : first the Virgin Mary, like the Diana of
Paganism, and then the saints, whose numbers were
continually augmented by the popes. These mediators
granted their intercession only to such applicants as
had deserved well of the orders founded by them.
For this it was necessary to do, not what God had
commanded in His Word, but to perform a number
of works invented by monks and priests, and which
brought money to the treasury. These works were
Ave-Marias, the prayers of St. Ursula and of St.
Bridget ; they must chant and cry night and day.
" There were as many resorts for pilgrims as there
were mountains, forests, and valleys. But these
penances might be compounded for with money. The
people, therefore, brought to the convents and to the
priests money and everything that had any value
fowls, ducks, geese, eggs, wax, straw, butter, and
cheese. Then the hymns resounded, the bells rang,
incense filled the sanctuary, sacrifices were offered up,
the larders overflowed, the glasses went round, and
masses terminated and concealed these pious orgies.
14 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
The bishops no longer preached, but they consecrated
priests, bells, monks, churches, chapels, images, books,
and cemeteries ; and all this brought in a large
revenue. Bones, arms, and feet were preserved in
gold and silver boxes ; they were given out during
mass for the faithful to kiss, and this too was a
source of great profit."
Truly of this age it may be said, " darkness covered
the land, and gross darkness the people."
But faintly illumining the darkness were a few rays
of light which heralded the coming dawn. First of
these was the revival of letters consequent upon the
fall of the Greek Empire, and the dispersion, after the
capture of Constantinople, of its most learned men to
Italy and other parts of Europe. Everywhere they
carried with them the Greek language, which they
taught for their own support, thus affording the key
to unlock the treasures of classic lore, and diffusing
a taste for literature and science over nearly the
whole Latin world. Nor were other languages and
sciences neglected. Hebrew was carefully studied,
and acquaintance made with the works of Oriental
writers. And as the mind expanded with the increase
of knowledge, the human intellect revolted against
the ecclesiastical traditions and intellectual tyranny
of the Church of Rome. Learned men began to
question the claims of the Papacy ; and as the ability
to study the Scriptures in their original languages
increased, the hollowness of these claims became
more and more apparent, and the willingness to admit
them declined.
Another ray of light which helped to disperse the
darkness at this time was the invention of the printing-
press. This made easy the multiplication and dis
semination of books, thus forming the channel through
which the stream of truth, when once set flowing,
should find its way to all parts of the civilised world.
Yet other beams radiated from the homes of those
EUROPE ON THE EVE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 15
who, even in this dark age, honestly strove to serve
God according to the light vouchsafed to them, and
were thus prepared to welcome a fuller and more
glorious revelation when it appeared.
And as the last stroke fell announcing the departure
of the fifteenth and the incoming of the sixteenth
century, and all men were looking forward in expecta
tion for the blow to descend that was to shatter the
building of papal superstition and tyranny, two power
ful instruments for accomplishing this purpose were
being prepared in obscurity one, a miner s son, then
a student at Eisenach, named MARTIN LUTHER ; the
other, a little lad, then not quite four years of age,
the son of a master-armourer, whose name was Philip
Schwartzerd, a name which was afterwards altered to
that of PHILIP MELANCTHON.
CHAPTER II.
[HILIP MELANCTHON was born on February
16th, 1497, at Bretten, in the Palatinate of
the Rhine, Germany.
The family name was Schwartzerd, meaning " black
earth," and his father, George Schwartzerd, was a
native of Heidelberg, who had settled at Bretten, a
small town now included in the Grand-Duchy of Baden.
He was a skilful master-armourer, and held the office
of Engineer or Commissary of Artillery, under the
Palatine princes Philip and Rupert. He is described
as having been a man of strict integrity and of
remarkable ingenuity. Frequently, when purchasers
were too poor to afford the price they offered for his
wares, he would refuse to accept it, and compel them
to take back their money. His habit was to leave
his bed at midnight to offer fervent prayer, and if
the morning came without this duty having been
performed, he was dissatisfied with himself through
out the rest of the day.
His wife, Barbara, was the daughter of a respectable
bailiff or magistrate, named John Reuter. She was
possessed of a gentle disposition, was somewhat in
clined to superstition, but in other respects was a
truly estimable woman.
The house in which Philip was born was situated
in the market-place of Bretten. It belonged to his
16
MELANCTHON S EAKLY DAYS AND COLLEGE LIFE. 17
parents, and for many years contained the following
inscription :
DEI PlETATE NATUS EST IN
HAG DOMO DOCTISSIMUS DN.
PHILIPPUS MELANCTHON, D.
xvi. FEBK. A. M. cccc. xcvu.
By the Grace of God, the most learned Master Philip
Melancthon was born in this house, the 16th day of
February, 1497.
The same year that saw the birth of Melancthon
at Bretten witnessed the removal of Martin Luther,
then a lad of fourteen, from the school at Mansfield
to the more important seminary at Magdeburg.
Of the infancy and childhood of the young
Schwartzerd we know but little. He was not
quite eleven when his father died. Two days before
he expired George called his son to his bedside and
exhorted him to keep the fear of God constantly
before his eyes. " I foresee," said the dying armourer,
"that terrible tempests are about to shake the world.
I have witnessed great things, but greater still are
preparing. May God direct and guide thee ! "
After receiving his father s blessing, Philip was
sent to Spires, so that he might not be present at his
parent s death. He departed weeping bitterly.
Philip and his younger brother George were after
that sad event received into the house of their maternal
grandfather, John Renter, who himself had a son.
This worthy man acted as a father to the two boys.
He engaged John Hungarus, an excellent man, as
tutor to the three lads, who overlooked nothing. He
punished for every fault, but always with discretion.
Speaking of him more than forty years afterwards,
Melancthon said : " It is thus that he made a scholar
of me. He loved me as a son, I loved him as a father ;
and we shall meet, I hope, in heaven."
At this early age the excellence of Philip s under-
18 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
standing* was remarkable ; as was also his facility in
learning and explaining what he had learnt. His
tutor was charmed with his rapid progress. He could
not remain idle, and was always looking for some one
to discuss with him the things he had heard. It
frequently happened that well-educated foreigners
passed through Bretfcen and visited Renter. Imme
diately the bailiff s grandson would go up to them,
enter into conversation, and press them so hard in
the discussion that the hearers were filled with
admiration. To strength of genius Philip united
great gentleness, and thus won the favour of all. At
that time he stammered, but he so diligently set about
correcting this defect, that in after life no trace of it
was discernible.
The school at Pforzheim under the immediate
superintendence of George Simmler, a man dis
tinguished for his classical learning, was at this time
highly celebrated. Thither, on the death of his grand
father, were sent Philip, his brother, and their young
uncle John. The three lads resided with one of their
relations, a sister of the renowned Hebrew scholar,
Reuchlin. Eager in the pursuit of knowledge, Philip
made rapid progress in learning, especially in Greek,
of which he was passionately fond. Reuchlin fre
quently came to Pforzheim, and at his sister s house
became acquainted with her young boarders. He was
soon struck with Philip s replies, and presented him
with a Greek Grammar and a Bible. These two
books were to be the study of his life.
At the age of twelve, the young scholar wrote a
Latin comedy, which he dedicated to Reuchlin, and
with the aid of some of his schoolfellows performed
before him. Reuchlin, charmed with the young man s
talents, affectionately embraced him, called him his
dear son, and sportively placed upon his head the
red hat he himself had received when made doctor.
Up to this time the lad had been known as Philip
Schwartzerd, but Reuchlin, in accordance with the
MELANCTHON S EARLY DAYS AND COLLEGE LIFE. 19
custom prevalent among men of letters in that age,
changed the German Schwartzerd into its more
sonorous Greek equivalent Melanctkon. Both names
signify "black earth."
When twelve years of age Philip Melancthon went
to the University of Heidelberg, where he matriculated
on October 13th, 1509. This university had been
founded in 1385, with an express view to breadth
HEIDELBERG.
and comprehensiveness of training, and was highly
celebrated for its various professors in the different
branches of knowledge. The new pupil soon attracted
attention, not only by his extraordinary progress and
amiable disposition, but by his zealous efforts to excite
his fellow-students to the more diligent cultivation
of polite literature. Conscious of his own mental
superiority, he felt no envious apprehension of their
outstripping him in their studies, or, if they had, his
20 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
character was so free from guile that he would have
rejoiced at their success.
Such eminent talents, combined with so much
application, were certain to produce good results, and
soon Melancthon was looked upon as a first-rate
youth ; and though but a boy was employed to
compose most of the public harangues and eloquent
discourses that were delivered in the university. He
even wrote some things for the professors themselves.
The education of the two sons of Count Leonstein was
entrusted to his care, and his proficiency in Greek
was so remarkable that even at this early age he
composed a Rudiments of the Greek Language which
was afterwards published. At fourteen he took his
Bachelor s degree.
In 1512 Keuchlin invited Melancthon to Tubingen,
a town on the Neckar in the duchy of Wurtemberg.
This university, which had been founded in 1477,
was daily increasing in reputation, and was the resort
of many learned men. Melancthon entered it in
September, and attended by turns the lectures of
the theologians, doctors, and lawyers ; in fact, there
was no branch of knowledge which he deemed un
worthy of his study. In medicine he mastered Galen
so thoroughly that he could repeat the greater part
of his treatises ; and although theology, as then
taught, consisted of little else than scholastic subtleties,
knotty questions, unintelligible jargon, and absurd
superstition, yet he became much devoted to its more
sober and rational part.
His genius and attractive disposition made him
many friends ; among them at this time was
(Ecolampadius, who was his senior by several years ;
they used to read Hesiod together. Among the
professors Henry Bibelius distinguished for his skill
in botany John Brassicanus and John Stofflerus in
the mathematical department, and Francis Stadianus
the public lecturer on Aristotle won his highest
esteem. The two latter he mentions with particular
MELANCTHON S EARLY DAYS AND COLLEGE LIFE. 21
affection in his writings. Of StofHerus, who for
many years had the sole care of arranging the
calendar, he says :
" Had it not been for his indefatigable application
we should have known nothing of the distribution
of times and the changes of the months, nor of the
seasons for ploughing, sowing, planting, and other
agricultural pursuits, nor of a variety of other useful
and ingenious arts."
Francis Stadianus he describes as a man of learning,
who lived in such a manner as to deserve the affection
of all the learned and good.
On January 25th, 1514, just before he attained
the age of seventeen, Melancthon was made Doctor
of Philosophy or Master of Arts. He immediately
began a course of private tuition, and not long after
wards became a public lecturer at Tubingen. The
grace and charm that he imparted to his lessons
formed a most striking contrast to the insipid method
pursued by the doctors and monks. He directed the
attention of his scholars to the classical composi
tions of Virgil, Terence, Cicero, Livy, and the Greek
writers ; but his lectures were not exclusively devoted
to the learned languages, they embraced a great
variety of subjects, as rhetoric, logic, ethics, mathe
matics, and theology.
Such a bright star in the literary firmament,
shining all the brighter because of the surrounding
darkness, could not fail to attract the attention of
the great men of the age. In 1515, Erasmus of
Rotterdam, the greatest scholar of his time, exclaimed
in admiration : " What hopes may we not conceive
of Philip Melancthon, though as yet very young, and
almost a boy, but equally to be admired for his
proficiency in both languages ! What quickness of
invention ! What purity of diction ! What vastness
of memory ! What variety of reading ! What a
modesty and gracefulness of behaviour ! and what
a princely mind ! " Such an eulogium, by such a
22 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
man, on a stripling of eighteen, is evidence of his
great merit.
On another occasion he wrote : " Of Melancthon I
have already the highest opinion, and cherish the
most magnificent hopes ; so much so that. I am
persuaded Christ designs this youth to excel us all :
he will totally eclipse Erasmus." And in a letter
written to Melancthon, he concludes : " Farewell,
most learned Melancthon, use all thine energies that
the splendid hopes which Germany conceives of thy
genius and thy piety may not only be equalled but
exceeded." Yet again in a letter to Julius Pflug, the
counsellor of George Duke of Saxony, the learned
Dutchman gives Melancthon this character : " He
not only excels in learning and eloquence, but by a
certain fatality is a general favourite. Honest and
candid men are very fond of him, and even his adver
saries cannot hate him 1 "
Seckendorf, in his history of Lutheranism, states
that were the various eulogies which literary men,
and even religious opponents, have pronounced upon
Melancthon to be collected together, they would fill a
very considerable volume.
The Holy Scriptures especially engaged his atten
tion. Those who frequented the church at Tubingen
had remarked that he frequently held a book in his
hands, which he was occupied in reading between
the services. This unknown volume appeared to be
larger than the prayer book, and a report was cir
culated that Melancthon used to read profane authors
during these intervals. But the suspected book
proved to be a copy of the Bible printed shortly
before at Basle by John Frobenius. All his life
he continued this study with the most unceasing
application. He always carried the volume with
him, even to the public assemblies to which he was
invited.
Yet at this time he shared in the common errors
of his age. " I shudder," he observed many years
MELANCTHON S EARLY DAYS AND COLLEGE LIFE. 28
later, " when I think of the honour I paid to images
while I was yet a Papist."
During his residence at Tubingen there occurred
an opportunity of rendering essential service to his
early friend and patron John Reuchlin, who had
become involved in a disagreeable contention with
certain ecclesiastics, the cause of which was as follows.
There dwelt at Cologne a baptised rabbi, named
Pfefferkorn, who was intimately connected with the
inquisitor Hochstraten. This rabbi and the Domi
nicans solicited and obtained an order from the
Emperor Maximilian by which all the Jews were
to bring their Hebrew books, the Bible only excepted,
to the town hall of the place in which each resided,
for the books there to be burnt. The Jews instantly
implored the emperor to suspend his order till these
books had been examined by a competent committee
of learned men. Maximilian consented, and invited
Reuchlin to give his opinion on the Hebrew books ;
which was, that no books should be destroyed save
such as were written expressly against Christianity.
This decision the emperor approved, and restored
the imperilled books to their owners.
The monks and inquisitors of Cologne were violently
enraged, and accused Reuchlin of heresy and of
inclining to Judaism, threatening him with the
dungeons of the Inquisition. Hochstraten had a
tribunal formed at Mentz against him, and his works
were committed to the flames. At this critical
juncture Melancthon aided his friend. Frequent con
ferences took place between them both at Tubingen
and at Stuttgart, where Reuchlin resided, the result
being, conjointly with his high reputation, the
honourable acquittal of the great Hebrew scholar.
One of the earliest productions of Melancthon now
extant is an oration on the liberal arts, delivered in
1517, when he was twenty years of age. In this
he relates the classical story of the Seven-stringed
Lyre and the Origen of the liberal arts, and as he
24 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
approaches the close he exhorts his hearers in the
following animated words : " Let the example of
those illustrious persons who surround me inspire
you. Be animated by the great and glorious expecta
tions of your country, and apply the utmost vigour
of your minds to what you know to be of pre-eminent
importance the attainment of sound learning and
real virtue. Do not be seduced from this noble course
by flattering pleasures or by evil examples. Let no
dishonourable principle influence your minds ; and
that I call dishonourable which diverts you from the
literary pursuits and from the sacred studies to which
you are devoted."
Shortly after this event the Elector Frederick
formed the design of inviting some distinguished
scholar to the University of Wittemberg as professor
of the ancient languages. He applied to Reuchlin,
who recommended Melancthon. Frederick foresaw
the celebrity that the rising scholar would confer on
the institution, and Reuchlin, charmed with the
brilliant opening for his young friend, wrote to him
in the words applied to Abraham : " Get thee out of
thy country , and from thy kindred, and from thy
fathers house: and I will make thy name great; and
thou shalt be a blessing" And the old man added,
" Yea, I hope it will be so with thee, my dear Philip,
my handiwork and my consolation."
Melancthon acknowledged this invitation as a call
from God. But his departure caused deep sorrow
to the University of Tubingen. He had been there
about six years, and was now twenty-one years of
age. He left his native place for his new sphere of
labour, saying, " The will of the Lord be done."
George Simmler, an eminent lawyer and contem
porary, referring to Tubingen, states, " The whole city
lamented his departure. No one can conceive or
estimate how much the academy lost of distinction
and of emolument when he departed."
The journey to Wittemberg was performed on horse-
MELANCTHON S EARLY DAYS AND COLLEGE LIFE. 25
back, in company with several Saxon merchants,
whose guidance and protection he valued as he was
unacquainted both with the roads and the country.
He paid his respects to the elector, whom he found
at Augsburg. At Leipsic the university gave a
banquet in his honour, and at this city he formed an
acquaintance with the learned Hellenist Mosellanus.
CHAPTER III.
PKOFESSOE AT WITTEMBEEG.
ELANCTHON arrived at Wittemberg on August
25th, 1518, two days after Leo X. had signed
the brief, charging Cardinal Cajetan to summon
Luther before him, " to prosecute and constrain with
out any delay." And two days later the pope signed
a letter to Frederick, in which he sought to detach
him from Luther s cause. It was just at the time when
the Reformer most needed a friend into whose bosom
he could pour out his sorrows and whose faithful
affection should comfort him in his hours of dejection,
that God gave him such a friend in Philip Melancthon.
The reception accorded to Melancthon by the
Wittemberg professors was less favourable than by
those of Leipsic. The first impression he created was
somewhat disappointing to their expectations. They
saw a young man, looking even younger than his age,
small of stature, with feeble and timid air. Could
this be the illustrious doctor who had been so warmly
recommended to them by Reuchlin and Erasmus ?
Neither Luther nor his colleagues entertained any
great hopes of his success, when they saw his youth,
his shyness, and his diffident manner.
But, four days later, when his inaugural address
was delivered, he spoke in such elegant Latin, and
showed so much learning, an understanding so culti
vated, and a judgment so sound, that all who heard
him were struck with admiration. Fears departed,
26
PROFESSOR AT W1TTEMBERG. 27
and those who had been inclined to condemn were
now lond in praise.
When the speech was finished, all crowded round
the yonng professor with congratulations, but no one
felt more joy than Luther, and he hastened to assure
the diffident youth of his admiration and affection.
Writing to Spalatin, chaplain to the Elector Frederick,
on August 31st, he says : " Melancthon delivered
four days after his arrival so learned and so beautiful
a discourse that every one listened with astonishment
and admiration. We soon recovered from the pre
judices excited by his stature and appearance ; we
now praise and admire his eloquence. We return our
thanks to you and to the prince for the service you
have done us. I ask for no other Greek master.
But I fear that his delicate frame will be unable to
support our mode of living, and that we shall be
unable to keep him long on account of the smallness
of his salary. I hear that the Leipsic people are
already boasting of their power to take him from us.
my dear Spalatin, beware of despising his age and
his personal appearance. He is a man worthy of
every honour."
Enthusiastic in the work he had undertaken,
Melancthon began immediately to lecture on Homer
and St. Paul s Epistle to Titus. " I will make every
eifort," wrote he to Spalatin, " to conciliate the favour
of all those in Wittemberg who love learning and
virtue." On September 2nd Luther again wrote to
the elector s chaplain, saying : " I most particularly
recommend to you the very learned and very amiable
Grecian, Philip. His lecture-room is always full.
All the theologians in particular go to hear him. He
is making every class, upper, lower, and middle, begin
to read Greek."
Melancthon fully responded to Luther s affection,
and found in him a kindness of disposition, strength
of mind, courage, and discretion, that he had never
before found in any man. " If there is any one," said
28
PHILIP MELANCTHON.
he, " whom I dearly love, and whom I embrace with
my whole heart, it is Martin Luther."
Referring to the meeting of these two eminent men,
and its influence upon the Reformation, Dr. Merle
D Aubigne states : " Thus did Luther and Melancthon
meet ; they were friends until death. We cannot too
much admire the goodness and wisdom of God in
bringing together two men so different, and yet so
necessary to one another. Luther possessed warmth,
Melancthon. Luther.
MARKET PLACE, WITTEMBERG.
vigour, and strength ; Melancthon clearness, discre
tion, and mildness. Luther gave energy .to Melancthon,
Melancthon moderated Luther. They were like sub
stances in a state of positive and negative electricity
which mutually act upon each other. If Luther had
been without Melancthon, perhaps the torrent would
have overflowed its banks ; Melancthon, when Luther
was taken away from him by death, hesitated and
gave way, even where he should not have yielded.
Luther did much by power ; Melancthon perhaps did
PROFESSOR AT WITTEMBERG. 29
no less by following a gentler and more tranquil
method. Both were upright, open-hearted, generous ;
both ardently loved the Word of eternal life, and
obeyed it with a fidelity and devotion that governed
their whole lives."
The arrival of Melancthon at Wittemberg effected
a complete change in the methods of study, not only
at that university, but throughout Germany and the
learned world. No longer was there the barrenness
which scholasticism had cast over education, but a
professor who knew how to clothe the driest subjects
with grace and beauty, and the mildness of whose
spirit and clearness and precision of ideas captivated
all hearers. " Thanks to him," said the German
historian Plank, " Wittemberg became the school of
the nation."
It was of the greatest importance at this time that
a man who knew Greek thoroughly should teach in
the university at Wittemberg. The new developments
of theology impelled both masters arid pupils to study
the sacred writings in their original languages.
Luther immediately applied himself to the task, and
in doing so found that the meaning of a Greek word
could often make clear important theological ideas.
As, for instance, the word which according to the
Roman Church meant penance, or human expiation or
satisfaction required by the Church, really meant in
Greek true conversion of heart and newness of life.
With this discovery, a thick mist rolled away from
his eyes.
And as Luther benefited by the study of Greek
under Melancthon, so he, on his part, derived much
good through his acquaintance with the new theology.
The doctrine of Justification by Faith filled him with
wonder and joy. Yet he independently examined the
system expounded by Luther, and moulded it accord
ing to the peculiar form of his own mind ; for
although he was but twenty-one years of age, he was
one of those geniuses whose mind seemed fully
30 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
developed, and who think for themselves from their
earliest years.
The zeal of the teachers was speedily communicated
to the disciples, and the method of instruction was,
with the elector s consent, reformed. Those courses
that possessed merely scholastic importance were
suppressed, but the study of the classics received a
fresh impulse. The University of Wittemberg was
transformed, and the contrast between it and other
universities became daily more striking. Yet all was
done within the limits of the Church, and none
suspected that they were on the eve of a great contest
with the pope.
The end of the year 1518 saw the memorable
conference between Cardinal Cajetan and Luther at
Augsburg, at which, without his errors having been
refuted, the Reformer was required to retract. It
also witnessed his heroic stand on behalf of the truth,
and the hour when, feeling that the elector could no
longer afford to protect him, he realised the necessity
of quitting Germany to seek a refuge in France.
Amid these trying and perilous circumstances his
heart turned to his friend. Thus we find him writing
to Melancthon from Augsburg on the eve of his first
appearance before the cardinal as follows : " Show
yourself a man as you do at all times. Teach our
beloved youths what is upright and acceptable to God.
As for me, I am going to be sacrificed for you and for
them, if such is the Lord s will. I would rather die,
and even, which would be my greatest misfortune, be
deprived of your sweet society, than retract what I
felt it my duty to teach, and thus ruin perhaps by my
own fault the excellent studies to which we are now
devoting ourselves., Italy, like Egypt in times of old,
is plunged in darkness so thick that it may be felt.
No one in that country knows anything of Christ, or
of what belongs to Him ; and yet they are our lords
and masters in faith and morals. Thus the wrath of
God is fulfilled among us, as the prophet saith, i I will
PROFESSOR AT WITTEMBERG. 31
give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule
over them. Do your duty to God, my dear Philip,
and avert His anger by pure and fervent prayer."
While these important events were happening at
Augsburg, Melancthon continued his teaching at
Wittemberg. His efforts at this time were directed
to the revival and purification of the Aristotelian or
Peripatetic philosophy, as opposed to the scholastic
systems that had been founded upon it, and which
had made of theology a mass of confused subtleties
utterly obscuring all true conceptions of religion.
Luther, perceiving the support which the scholastic
philosophy afforded to the errors of the Romish
Church, utterly rejected it, and at first Melancthon
was inclined to agree with him ; but perceiving that it
was not so much the philosophy of Aristotle that was
responsible for these results as the perverted inter
pretation of it by the schoolmen, he gave it a qualified
support. Thus, while thoroughly condemning scholas
ticism, as generating dissension rather than promoting
truth, he took Aristotle for his guide in philosophical
inquiries, and accepted his principles so far as they
were connected with utility. But he brought his
penetrating mind to bear upon this subject, and always
paid a superior deference to the Word of God.
In the German schools Melancthon was looked upon
as a common or general preceptor. Uniting the
study of the Aristotelian philosophy with ancient
learning in general, he extracted from Aristotle all
that was essentially good, and illustrated it by the
aids of literature and general criticism, adapting all
to the principles of true religion. At the same time
whatever was valuable in the writings or doctrines of
the Stoics and Platonists he adopted for his use, and
whatever his genius suggested, he incorporated into
his system.
This system, which from its founder was called the
Philippic method, was pursued in most of the German
academies, under the sanction of both the civil and
32 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
ecclesiastical authorities. In all the Lutheran schools
abridgments of the various branches of philosophy
by Melancthon, composed in a familiar style, were
constantly and for a long period taught ; of this nature
were his Logic, Ethics, Phj/sics, and his Treatise on
the Soul. Nor did he confine his attention to a few
subjects only, but reduced almost every art and science,
then known, into a form and arrangement which
greatly abbreviated the labour of the student. Several
learned men from Italy and Great Britain, who became
tutors in the German schools, materially assisted him
in these efforts.
After the failure of Cardinal Cajetan to procure
Luther s recantation, the Reformer appealed on
November 28th, 1518, from the pope to a general
council of the Church. This he did anticipating that
the papal thunder of excommunication would be
launched against him. It was a bold stroke, and
brought him under the ban of the Church s greater
excommunication, and necessitated more than ever
his departure from Germany.
But when all was in readiness for leaving Wittem-
berg, and the courtiers of Leo X. were urging that
pontiff to measures of severity, he entered upon a
course of conciliation and apparent mildness. A fresh
legate was despatched from Italy, bearing as a present
to the elector the Golden Rose emblem of the sove-
reign pontiff s special regard. This legate was the
pope s chamberlain, a Saxon noble named Charles
Miltitz, and he was commissioned to proceed to Ger
many, there to examine the state of affairs, and to
seek to gain over the elector s councillors, so that
Home might secure possession of her powerful
antagonist.
On January 12th, 1519, Maximilian, Emperor of
Germany, died, and the Elector Frederick became
administrator of the empire.
The meetings between Luther and Miltitz took
place in the house of Spalatin at Altenburg. The
PROFESSOR AT WITTEMBERG. 33
result was a kind of trace, stated in Luther s report
to the elector as follows :
" Both parties are forbidden to preach, write, or
do anything further in the discussion that has been
raised.
" Miltitz will immediately inform the holy Father
of the state of affairs. His holiness will empower
an enlightened bishop to investigate the matter, and
to point out the erroneous articles I should retract.
If they prove me to be in error I shall willingly
recant, and will do nothing derogatory to the honour
and authority of the holy Roman Church."
Luther was as desirous of peace as the papal legate,
but a more powerful hand than Luther s was at work,
" God does not guide me," he said, " He pushes me
forward. I am not master of myself. I desire to
live in repose ; but I am thrown into the midst of
tumults and convulsions."
The Reformation could not be stayed. At the
very moment when the Roman pontiff thought to
stifle the work in Germany, Luther s writings and
opinions were being scattered far beyond the frontiers
of the empire, and the Reformation began in France,
the Low Countries, Italy, Spain, England, and
Switzerland.
CHAPTER IV.
THE LEIPSIC DISCUSSION.
HE truce arranged through the efforts of Miltitz
was broken by the pride of Rome s partisans,
the immediate cause of the renewal of the
combat being the famous Leipsic discussion, which,
beginning on June 27th, 15U), continued until the
fifteenth of the following month.
The immediate cause of this discussion was a dis
agreement between Dr. Eck, the celebrated papal
theologian and syllogiser, and Andrew Carlstadt, a
doctor of divinity and friend and colleague of Luther,
over the subject of free will. Dr. Eck, who was a
man proud of his talents and power in debate,
challenged Carlstadt to a personal discussion to be
held at Leipsic, and invited Luther, against whom
he had already written, to be present. Carlstadt
accepted the challenge, and on the day appointed
appeared in the arena attended by Luther.
But while Eck attacked Carlstadt, his real aim was
Luther, and with the view of compelling him to enter
the lists, Eck published thirteen theses in which he
expressly attacked the chief doctrines set forth by
the Reformer. The thirteenth was thus worded :
" We deny that the Roman Church was not raised
above the other Churches before the time of Pope
Sylvester; and we acknowledge in every age as the
successor of St. Peter and the vicar of Jesus Christ
him who has filled the chair and held the faith of
34
THE LEIPSIC DISCUSSION. 35
St. Peter/ If Luther controverted this, he at once
attacked the papal supremacy.
Luther was not a man to hold back at such a crisis.
He boldly replied to the challenge of his antagonist,
and published some new theses in opposition to those
of Dr. Eck. The last directly assailed the supremacy
of the pope in these words : " It is by contemptible
decretals of Roman pontiffs, composed within the last
four centuries, that they would prove the primacy of
the Church of Rome ; but this primacy is opposed
by all the creditable history of eleven centuries, by
the declarations of Holy Scripture, and by the
resolutions of the Council of Nice, the holiest of all
councils."
The discussion was held in the castle of Pleissen-
burg, in presence of Duke George and other princes,
counts, abbots, knights, doctors of divinity, and many
persons of distinction.
Carlstadt and Eck disputed warmly for several days
on the subject of free will ; then Luther engaged
Dr. Eck, first, for five days, on the papal supremacy,
and afterwards on the doctrines of purgatory, indul
gences, repentance, absolution of the priest, and satis
faction. On July 16th the business was concluded
by a speech from Hoffman, the rector of the university
at Leipsic, and the singing of the Te Dettm*
Melancthon was an interested spectator at this
disputation. He sat among the other spectators
modest and silent, listening to the discussion, but
taking little active part during its progress. But
between the sittings he conversed with Carlstadt and
Luther, and aided them in their preparations, sug
gesting the arguments with which his extensive
learning furnished him.
These violent discussions on sacred themes, when
the passions of the disputants became far too apparent,
had little charm for the young professor. Referring
to that between Eck and Carlstadt, he wrote : " We
cannot help feeling surprised when we think of the
36 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
violence with, which these subjects were treated.
How could any one expect to derive any profit from
it ? The Spirit of God loves retirement and silence ; it
is then that He penetrates deep into our hearts. The
bride of Christ does not dwell in the streets and
market-places, bat leads her Spouse into the house
of her mother."
Though Melancthon s peaceful nature turned away
from these heated disputes, yet the Leipsic discussion
marks an important epoch in the development of his
opinions. Till that time literature had been his sole
delight. This conference gave him a new impulse,
and turned his thoughts to theology. Henceforward
his extensive learning was to bow before the Word
of God. He received the evangelical truths with
childlike simplicity, and explained them with a grace
and clearness that charmed all hearers, treading
boldly in the path so new to him ; for, said he, " Christ
will never abandon His followers."
From this time the two friends, Luther and Melanc-
thon, walked together, contending for liberty and truth
one with the energy of St. Paul, the other with
the meekness of St. John. Referring to the difference
of their callings, Luther wrote a few years afterwards,
in 1529 : "I am rough, boisterous, stormy, and alto
gether warlike, fighting against innumerable monsters
and devils. I was born for the work of removing
stumps and stones, cutting away thistles and thorns,
and clearing the wild forests ; but Master Philippus
comes along softly and gently, sowing and watering
with joy, according to the gifts which God has abun
dantly bestowed upon him."
Luther, having separated from the Papacy, felt
towards it a decided aversion and indignation. All
the witnesses that in every age had testified against
Rome passed in review before him, each revealing
some abuse or error. He pointed to this moment as
that of his emancipation from the papal yoke.
Although Hoffman whose duty it was, in con-
THE LEIPSTC DISCUSSION. 37
junction with the masters of the university, to adjudge
the victory would not take upon him to say which
party was victorious, but referred the matter to the
universities of Paris and Erfurth, Eck gave way to
all the intoxication of what he wished to represent
as a victory. He inveighed against Luther, and
heaped charges upon him. He wrote to the Elector
Frederick begging him to summon a council and
" exterminate these vermin before they multiply
beyond all bounds."
Melancthon had written a letter to (Ecolampadins
giving an account of the disputation, in which he had
spoken of Eck in terms of commendation. But the
pride of the doctor was wounded, and immediately
he wrote against " that grammarian of Wittemberg,
who was not ignorant indeed of Latin and Greek, but
who had dared to publish a letter in whicli he had
insulted him Dr. Eck."
This brought Melancthon into the field, and his
reply to the Ingoldstadt doctor was his first theological
writing. Its urbanity is in marked contrast to the
style of his adversary. He first laid down the funda
mental principles of Scripture interpretation, showing
that Scripture ought not to be interpreted by the
Fathers, but the Fathers by Scripture. " How often
has Jerome been mistaken ! " said he, " how frequently
Augustine ! how frequently Ambrose ! how often the
opinions are different ! and how often they retract
their errors ! There is but one Scripture, inspired
by the Holy Ghost, and pure and true in all things.
" Luther does not follow certain ambiguous expla
nations of the ancients, say they ; arid why should
he ? When he explains the passage of St. Matthew,
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My
Church, he says the same thing as Origen, who alone
is a host ; as Augustine in his homily ; and as
Ambrose in his sixtli book upon St. Luke ; I will
mention no others. What then, will you say the
Fathers contradict one another ? And is there any-
38 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
thing astonishing in that ? I believe in the Fathers
because I believe in Scripture. The meaning of
Scripture is one and simple, the heavenly truth itself.
It is obtained by comparing Scripture with Scripture ;
it is deduced from the thread and connection of the
discourse. There is a philosophy that is enjoined us
as regards Holy Scripture ; and that is, to bring all
human opinions and maxims to it, as to a touchstone
by which to try them."
It was long since Christendom had listened to such
powerful truths set forth with so much elegance. To
Eck s railing Melancthon opposed argument ; and his
tract, which consisted of five folio pages, proved ex
tremely serviceable to the Lutheran cause. The Word
of God was restored to its place and the Fathers to
theirs. Henceforth a simple method of ascertaining
the meaning of Scripture would be available, and a
means afforded of replying to all those who, like
Dr. Eck, sought to obscure the subject by their
subtlety.
Miltitz tried again to calm the agitation, but his
efforts were unavailing. The Golden Rose which he
had brought into Germany was presented to the
elector, but that prince did not condescend to receive
it in person. He knew the artifices of Rome, and
judged the gift at its true value.
Eck, burning with rage after the debate at Leipsic,
hurried away to Rome in order to secure Luther s
destruction. Taking with him some of the most
powerful Dominicans of the pontifical court, especially
Cajetan and Prierio, he pressed Leo X. to excom
municate the Reformer forthwith. Overcome by their
importunities, Leo issued his first bull of excom
munication against Luther on June 15th, 1520, in
which forty-one of his tenets were condemned, his
writings adjudged to the flames, and he himself
commanded to confess his faults within sixty days
and implore the clemency of the pope, otherwise he
was to be cast out of the Church. Orders were also
THE LEIPSTC DISCUSSION. 39
given to seize the persons of Luther and his partisans,
and send them to Rome.
While Rome was thus thundering against the bold
monk of Wittemberg, he on his part prepared to meet
her attack. This he did by first publishing his tract
on " The Babylonian Captivity of the Church/ which
was followed a little later by his treatise " Against
the Bull of Antichrist," and by a solemn appeal, on
November 17th, 1520, in the presence of a notary
and five witnesses, from the pope to a general council
of the Church hereafter to be held.
Foreseeing, also, that this appeal would be treated
with contempt at Rome, and that as soon as the sixty
days were expired another bull of excommunication
would be launched against him, Luther determined
to withdraw from the Roman Church before the new
rescript of the pope was issued. In order to pro
claim this secession by a public act, he caused a fire
to be kindled outside the walls of Wittemberg on
December 10th, and in presence of a vast multitude of
spectators, burnt the bull issued by the pope against
him, together with a copy of the pontifical canon
laws. In thus acting he signified his withdrawal
from the Romish Church, which looks upon the pope
as its infallible head, but not from the Universal
Church as represented by a legitimate and free council,
whose sentence he was prepared to obey.
The second bull of excommunication against Luther
was issued on January 4th, 1521. By this he was
expelled from the bosom of the Romish Church for
having contemned the authority of the pontiff,
But while these events had been agitating the
inhabitants of Rome and causing excitement through
out Germany, more tranquil scenes had been passing
at Wittemberg. There Melancthon was diffusing a
mild but brilliant light. From fifteen hundred to
two thousand auditors, assembled from Germany,
England, the Low Countries, France, Italy, Hungary,
and Greece, were often gathered around him. He wa.s
40 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
twenty-four } 7 ears of age, and had not entered the
ecclesiastical state. His visits were welcomed by all
the inhabitants of the town, but it was known that
foreign universities, Ingoldstadt in particular, were
seeking to attract him within their walls. His
Wittemberg friends were most anxious to retain him
among them, and sought to do this by the ties of
marriage. The young doctor frequented, in particular,
the house of the burgomaster Krupp, who belonged
to an ancient family. Krupp had a daughter named
Catherine, a woman of mild character and great
sensibility, and Melancthon s friends urged him to ask
her in marriage. He was, however, so absorbed in his
books, that he would hear of nothing besides. His
Greek authors and his Testament were all-sufficient.
The arguments of his friends he met with counter
arguments. But at length they prevailed and his
consent was given. All the preliminary steps were
arranged, and Catherine was given him to wife.
We are informed that he received her very coldly,
exclaiming, with a sigh : " It is God s will ! I must
renounce my studies and my pleasures to comply
with the wishes of my friends." He appreciated,
however, Catherine s good qualities. " The young
woman," said he, " has just such a character and
education as I should have asked of God. May God,
by His right hand, prosper the matter. Certainly she
deserves a better husband."
Matters were settled in August, the betrothal
took place on September 25th, and the wedding
at the end of November, 1520. Old John Luther
with his wife and daughter visited Wittemberg on
this occasion, and many learned men and people of
note were present at the ceremony.
Catherine proved a devoted and affectionate wife,
and quickly won the love of her husband. She was,
perhaps, over-anxious concerning him, and grew
alarmed when the least prospect of danger threat
ened her dear partner. She overwhelmed him with
THE LEIPSIC DISCUSSION. 41
entreaties to renounce any step he proposed taking
of such a nature as to compromise his safety, and
probably to her influence may be ascribed some of the
timidity and fears with which he has so often been
reproached. On one occasion he wrote : "1 was com
pelled to give way to her weakness . . . such is our
lot."
When once Melancthon had tasted the joys of
domestic life, he felt all their sweetness. Nowhere
was he happier than with Catherine and his children.
She was an affectionate mother as well as a loving
wife, and theirs was a home where love reigned
supreme. A French traveller one day finding " the
master of Germany " rocking his child s cradle with
one hand, and holding a book in the other, started
back with surprise. But Melancthon, without being
disconcerted, explained to him with so much warmth
the value of children in the eyes of God, that the
stranger, according to his own words, quitted the
house wiser than he had entered it.
Melancthon s marriage gave a domestic circle to the
Reformation. His house, a three-storied building, is
still standing, and bears an inscription on the outer
wall, intimating that " here dwelt, taught, and died
Philip Melancthon." It was close to the Augustine
monastery, and had a little garden behind, which was
connected with that belonging to Luther. In this
garden was a stone table, now overshadowed by a
yew tree which Melancthon planted, and here he
and his illustrious neighbour might often have been
seen in earnest conversation. Henceforth there was
one house in Wittemberg to which those who had
received the new life were always welcome. Im
mense numbers of strangers came to Melancthon
on different matters, and the established rule of his
household enjoined him to refuse nothing to any one.
Wittemberg was at that time a town of poor dwell
ings in a sandy plain on the borders of civilisation.
At first Melancthon complained that he could hardly
42 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
fet decent food. His highest salary was only three
undred guilders (about 30), and it appears that
neither he nor Luther received any payment for their
books, except indirectly, in the shape of presents.
In the first year after his marriage, Melancthon could
not afford to buy a new dress for his wife. But
both he and his wife were extremely liberal to all
in need ; and when his money was spent, he would
secretly carry his plate to some merchant that
he might have the means to comfort the distressed.
The ability to carry out his benevolent desires with
so limited an income was greatly helped by the con
scientious carefulness of an old and faithful servant,
named John, to whom the whole duty of provisioning
the family was entrusted. To this domestic he was
greatly attached.
Melancthon s good nature was extreme, and was
sometimes abused by the unworthy. The following
story related by his friend and biographer, Camerarius,
exemplifies this. Among Melancthon s treasures
were several gold and silver medals, remarkable for
their inscriptions and figures. One day he was show
ing them to a stranger who had happened to call
upon him. "Take any one you like," said the pro
fessor with his usual generosity. " I should like them
all," replied the stranger. " I confess," says Philip,
" that this unreasonable request displeased me a little
at first ; I nevertheless gave them to him."
It was Melancthon s custom to retire to rest shortly
after supper, and to resume his studies at two or three
o clock in the morning. It was during these early
hours that his best works were written. He was
careless in protecting his manuscripts, which usually
lay on the table exposed to the gaze of any visitor,
so that he was robbed of several. When friends had
been invited to his home, he would beg one of them,
before sitting down to table, to read some small
composition in prose or verse. When on his journeys
he always took some young men with him, and con-
THE LEIPSIC DISCUSSION.
43
versed with them in a manner both amusing and
instructive. If the conversation languished, each had
to recite in turn passages extracted from the ancient
poets. He frequently made use of irony, but always
tempered with mildness. " He scratches and bites,"
said he of himself, " and yet he does no harm."
MELAXCTHON S HOUSE AT WITTEMBERG.
Learning was his passion. His one great object in
life was to diffuse literature and knowledge. In his
estimation the Holy Scriptures ranked far above the
writings of pagan authors. Speaking of himself, he
said : " I apply myself solely to one thing, the defence
of letters. By our example we must excite youth to
44 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
the admiration of learning, and induce them to love
it for its own sake, and not for the advantage that
may be derived from it. The destruction of learning
brings with it the ruin of everything that is good :
religion, morals, divine and human things. The
better a man is the greater his ardour in the preserva
tion of learning ; for he knows that of all plagues
ignorance is the most pernicious."
Melancthon was an affectionate son as well as a
kind husband and father, and ever cherished fond
recollections of his natal city. When paying a visit
to his mother at Bretten a few years after his marriage,
lie dismounted from his horse as soon as he came in
sight of his birthplace, and, falling on his knees, re
turned thanks to God that he had been permitted to
see it once more. And whenever a traveller brought
him news from Bretten, he was as much delighted
as if he had once more returned to the joys of his
childhood.
CHAPTER V.
JFTER burning the pope s bull, Luther re-
entered Wittemberg. On the morrow a
crowded audience awaited his appearance in
the lecture-room, expecting an address from the in
trepid doctor. All were excited, but a solemn feeling
pervaded the assembly. Upon his arrival Luther
resumed his lectures on the Psalms a course that
he had commenced in March of the preceding year.
When his explanations were finished he remained
silent for a few minutes, then continued energetically,
" Be on your guard against the laws and statutes
of the pope. I have burnt his decretals, but this is
merely child s play. It is time, and more than time,
that the pope were burnt ; that is, the See of Rome
with all its doctrines and abominations." Then in
a more solemn tone he added, " If you do not contend
with your whole heart against the impious govern
ment of the pope you cannot be saved. Whoever
takes delight in the religion and worship of popery
will be eternally lost in the world to come."
" If you reject it," continued Luther, " you must
expect to incur every kind of danger, and even to
lose your lives. But it is better to be exposed to
such perils in this world than to keep silence ! So
long as I live I will denounce to my brethren the
sore and the plague of Babylon, for fear that many
who are with us should fall back like the rest into
the bottomless pit."
45
46 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
These bold words, following upon a bold deed,
produced a great effect upon the assembly. The
firmness of Luther spread to his friends and fellow-
countrymen. The perils that threatened him threatened
also his supporters. Yet the nation rallied round the
Reformer, and the University of Wittemberg especially
became daily more attached to this hero who had
shed such glory upon it. Carlstadt, doctor of divinity,
and archdeacon at Wittemberg, exclaimed against that
" furious lion of Florence " which tore all human and
divine laws, and trampled under foot the principles of
divine truth.
Melancthon about this time addressed the states
of the empire in a writing characterised by his peculiar
elegance and wisdom. After proving by various
passages of Scripture that the pope is not superior
to the other bishops, he says :
" What is it that prevents our depriving the pope
of the rights that we have given him ? It matters
little to Luther whether our riches that is to say the
treasures of Europe are sent to Rome ; but the great
cause of his grief and ours is, that the laws of the
pontiffs and the reign of the pope not only endanger
the souls of men but entirely ruin them. Each one
may judge for himself whether it is becoming or not
to contribute his money for the maintenance of Roman
luxury ; but to judge of religion and its sacred
mysteries is not within the scope of the community.
It is on this ground, then, that Luther appeals to
your faith and zeal, and that all pious men unite
with him some aloud, others with sighs and groans.
Call to remembrance that you are Christians, ye
princes of a Christian people, and wrest these sad
relics of Christendom from the tyranny of Antichrist.
They are deceivers who pretend that you have no
authority over priests. That same spirit which
animated Jehu against the priests of Baal urges you,
by this precedent, to abolish the Roman superstition,
which is much more horrible than the idolatry of Baal."
" IN PERILS OFT." 47
War was declared on both sides. Society was
shaken, and the timid were afraid. Many deprecated
the storm that had been raised, and would have
tolerated error and corruption so long as peace was
maintained. But wise men, though often deploring
the need of strife, thought differently, and tried to
remedy the prevailing abuses.
" We are well aware," said Melancthon, " that
statesmen have a dread of innovation ; and it must
be acknowledged that, in this sad confusion which
is denominated human life, controversies, and even
those which proceed from the justest causes, are
always tainted with some evil. It is requisite, however,
that in the Church the Word and commandments
of God should be preferred to every mortal thing.
God threatens with His eternal anger those who
endeavour to suppress the truth. For this reason
it was a duty incumbent on Luther, and from which
lie could not draw back, especially as he was a doctor
of the Church of God, to reprove the pernicious errors
which unprincipled men were disseminating with
inconceivable effrontery. If controversy engenders
many evils, as I see to my great sorrow, it is the
fault of those who, filled with diabolical hatred, are
now seeking to uphold it."
Maximilian was succeeded by Charles V., King of
Spain. This prince, the youngest but most powerful
monarch of Christendom, had been elected Emperor
of Germany, and was crowned with great magnifi
cence at Aix-la-Chapelle on October 22nd, 1520.
1 mmediately after the ceremony, he, with the Elector
Frederick, the assembled princes, ministers, and
ambassadors, repaired to Cologne, as the plague was
raging in the city where the coronation had taken
place. It was clearly seen that the cause of the
-Reformation would speedily be brought before the
new emperor, and every effort was made on the part
of Home to prejudice this monarch against Luther
and to secure his condemnation.
48 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
- Among the crowd of strangers who thronged
Cologne at this time were the two papal nuncios
Marino Caraccioli and Jerome Aleander. The latter
had been specially charged by the Roman consistory
to prevail upon Charles to crush the rising Reforma
tion. Both set every wheel in motion to obtain the
emperor s sanction to the burning of Luther s books
throughout the empire, and especially under the
eyes of the German princes assembled at Cologne.
Already Charles II. had given his consent to the
burning of these books in his hereditary states.
Would he act in the same manner for Germany ?
Men s minds were in great agitation. Charles
ministers and even the nuncios themselves were
expostulated with. " Such measures," it was explained ,
" far from healing the wound, will only increase it.
Do you imagine," said those who defended the
Reformer, "that Luther s doctrines are found only
in those books that you are throwing into the fire ?
They are written where you cannot reach them in
the hearts of the nation."
The nuncios, especially Aleander, defended the
burning piles. "These flames," said he, "are a
sentence of condemnation written in colossal char
acters, equally intelligible to those who are near and
those who are afar off, to the learned and to the
ignorant, and even to those who cannot read."
But papers and books were not what the nuncios
really required, it was Luther himself. " These
flames," said Aleander, " are not sufficient to purify
the infected air of Germany. If they terrify the
simple, they do not punish the wicked. We require
an imperial edict against Luther s person."
Charles was not, however, as easily led as the
nuncios expected. "As I have but recently ascended
the throne," said he to Aleander, " I cannot, without
the advice of my councillors and the consent of the
princes, strike such a blow as this against a numerous
faction surrounded by so many powerful defenders.
" IN PERILS OFT." 49
Let us first learn what our father, the Elector of
Saxony, thinks of the matter ; we shall afterwards
see what reply we can make to the pope."
All the eloquence and artifice of the papal nuncios
was therefore tried upon the elector, but without
avail. Though placed in a very difficult position, he
replied with dignified firmness that neither the emperor
nor any other person had shown that Luther s writings
had been refuted and deserved to be burned. He
requested, therefore, that Doctor Luther should be
furnished wiih a safe-conduct, so that he might appear
before a tribunal of learned, pious, and impartial
judges.
The friends of the Reformer rejoiced, and Melancthon
was overjoyed when the elector s reply reached
Wittemberg. " The German nobility," said he, " will
direct their course by the example of the prince,
whom they follow in all things as their Nestor. If
Homer styled his hero the bulwark of the Greeks, why
should not we call Frederick the bulwark of the
Germans ? "
The elector, knowing that Erasmus was at this
time at Cologne, and that the opinion of a man so
greatly respected would have much influence invited
this illustrious scholar to visit him. " What is your
opinion of Luther ? " asked Frederick. The prudent
Dutchman at first evaded a reply, but seeing that
the elector required one, said in a half-jocular tone :
" Lusher has committed two great faults : he has
attacked the crown of the pope and the bellies of the
monks." Then, seeing the earnestness of the elector,
Erasmus laid aside his reserve and gave his opinion
as follows :
" The cause of all this dispute is the hatred of the
monks towards learning, and the fear they have of
seeing their tyranny destroyed. What weapons are
they using against Luther ? clamour, cabals, hatred,
and libels. The more virtuous a man is, and the
greater his attachment to the Gospel, the less is he
4
50 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
opposed to Luther. The severity of the bull has
aroused the indignation of all good men, and no one
can recognise in it the gentleness of a vicar of Christ.
Two only, out of all the universities, have condemned
Luther ; and they have only condemned him, not
proved him in the wrong. Do not be deceived ; the
danger is greater than some men imagine. Arduous
and difficult things are pressing us. To begin Charles
reign by so odious an act as Luther s imprisonment
would be a mournful omen. The world is thirsting
for evangelical truth ; let us beware of setting up a
blamable opposition. Let this affair be inquired into
by serious men, men of sound judgment ; this will
be the course most consistent with the dignity of the
pope himself."
While Rome was thus seeking the destruction of
the Reformer, Germany was overwhelming him with
acclamations. Although the plague was raging at
Wittemberg, new students arrived every day, and from
four to six hundred disciples habitually sat at the
feet of Luther and Melancthon in the halls of the
academy.
CHAPTER VI.
THE DIET OF WORMS.
Diet of Worms, the first assembly of the
g empire over which the new emperor would
preside, was to be opened on January 6th, 1521.
As Nuremberg, where it should have been held, was
suffering from the plague, it was convoked to meet at
Worms ; and to that city princes, dukes, archbishops,
and other members of the nobility and dignitaries
of the Church, as well as deputies from the towns
and ambassadors from the kings of Christendom,
journeyed ; their brilliant trains thronging the roads
that led to the city. All the princes were desirous
of participating in this first act of the young emperor s
government, and each was pleased at the opportunity
afforded for displaying his power.
Two matters of primary importance were to engage
the attention of the diet ; the first being the nomi
nation of a council of regency to govern the empire
when Charles was absent, and the second, the cause
of the Reformation. The latter subject formed the
chief topic of conversation between the noble person
ages who arrived at Worms.
Indications were not wanting that the diet would
be stormy and difficult to manage. Charles was
young, pale, of weak health, with a character as yet
undeveloped, and had not hitherto shown any remark
able talent, nor apparently adopted any decided line
of conduct. William de Croi, his chamberlain, tutor,
and prime minister, died at Worms ; and here numerous
61
52 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
ambitions met and passions came into collision. The
various parties vied with each other in trying to
insinuate themselves into the counsels of the young
emperor, and were met by the outspoken boldness of
the German princes. The papal nuncios multiplied
their intrigues ; and over all loomed the terrible will
of the Roman Papacy, which had for ages past crushed
every doctor, king, or people that had obstructed its
progress.
A letter written at Rome in January, 1521, by a
Roman citizen, reveals the intentions of the papal
court. " If I am not mistaken," says the writer,
" the only business in your diet will be this affair of
Luther, which gives us much more trouble than the
Turk himself. We shall endeavour to gain over the
young emperor by threats, by prayers, and feigned
caresses. We shall strive to win the Germans by
extolling the piety of their ancestors, and by making
them rich presents, and by lavish promises. If these
methods do not succeed, we shall depose the emperor ;
absolve the people from their allegiance ; elect another
(and he will be one that suits us) in his place ; stir
up civil war among the Germans, as we have just
done in Spain ; and summon to our aid the armies of
the kings of France, England, and all the nations
of the earth. Probity, honour, religion, Christ we
shall make light of all, provided our tyranny be
saved."
In the spirit of this letter, the nuncios had pressed
the emperor to execute the pope s bull ; but on the
other hand, Frederick had besought him to take no
steps against Luther until he himself had been heard.
Desirous of pleasing both parties, Charles had written
to the elector, prior to his departure for Worms, to
bring Luther with him to the diet, assuring him that
no injustice should be shown to the Reformer, that no
violence should be used against him, and that learned
men should confer with him.
But to have the bold monk appearing in the presence
THE DIET OF WORMS. 53
of the princes, maintaining a cause already condemned
by the pope, was by no means Rome s policy ; and
Aleander urged, entreated, and threatened the em
peror, until he. yielded, and informed the elector that
unless Luther would retract what he had written he
was to be left behind at Wittemberg. But meantime
Frederick had quitted Saxony without him.
" I pray the Lord to be favourable to our elector,"
said Melancthon, as he saw him depart.
Although in weak health at the time, Luther was
quite ready to go to Worms, and was grieved when
forbidden to do so. He desired to correct the erroneous
ideas of the princes, and to frankly lay before this
august assembly the true nature of a cause so much
misunderstood. Animated by these feelings, he wrote
a letter to the elector, worded in such a manner that
Frederick might show it to the diet. In it he said :
" I rejoice with all my heart, most serene lord, that
his imperial Majesty desires to summon me before
him touching this affair. I call Jesus Christ to witness
that it is the cause of the whole German nation, of
the Universal Church, of the Christian world, nay, of
God Himself, and not of an individual, especially such
a one as myself. I am ready to go to Worms, pro
vided I have a safe-conduct, and learned, pious, and
impartial judges. I am ready to answer. . . for it is
not from a presurnptous spirit, or with any view to
personal advantage, that 1 have taught the doctrine
with which I am reproached: it is in obedience to
my conscience and to my oath as doctor of the Holy
Scriptures ; it is for the glory of God, for the salva
tion of the Christian Church, for the good of the
German nation, and for the extirpation of so much
superstition, abuse, evil, scandal, tyranny, blasphemy,
and impiety."
Luther s condemnation and not his presence was
what the partisans of Home required, and for this
Aleander urged Charles unceasingly. Writing from
Worms at this time the Elector Frederick states to
54 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
his brother John : " Daily deliberations are held against
Luther ; they demand that he shall be placed under
the ban of the pope and of the ernperor ; they en
deavour to injure him in every way. Those who
parade in their red hats, the Romans, with all their
followers, display indefatigable zeal in this task."
Yielding to the importunities of the nuncio, Charles
prepared a stringent edict, in which he enjoined the
immediate execution of the pope s bull. This edict
was laid before the assembled princes, the emperor,
following the usual custom, adding, " If you can
recommend any better course, I am ready to hear
you."
An animated debate followed, which showed that
the diet was not ready for this extreme measure.
It was necessary to convince it, and this task
Aleander undertook, being promised a hearing on
February 13th.
For three hours he spoke, and the effect upon the
assembly was great. Turning to the emperor, during
the speech, he said : " I entreat your imperial Majesty
to do nothing that may lead to your reproach. Do
not interfere in a matter which does not concern
the laity. Perform your own duties ! Let Luther s
doctrines be interdicted by you throughout the length
and breadth of the empire : let his writings be burnt
everywhere. Fear not ! In Luther s errors there is
enough to burn a hundred thousand heretics." And
in concluding the speech he exclaimed, " But if the
axe is not laid to the roots of this poisonous tree, if
the death blow is not struck, then I see it over
shadowing the heritage of Jesus Christ with its
branches, changing our Lord s vineyard into a gloomy
forest, transforming the kingdom of God into a den
of wild beasts, and reducing Germany to that fright
ful state of barbarism and desolation which has been
brought upon Asia by the superstition of Mahomet."
The immediate effect of the speech was powerful,
but a brief time was sufficient to dissipate much of
THE DIET OF WORMS. 55
the impression produced. The majority of the princes
were willing to sacrifice Luther, but not the rights of
the empire and the grievances of the German nation.
Accordingly, a few days after Aleander s speech,
Duke George, the most determined personal enemy
of Luther, rose in the assembly and brought forward
a most damning accusation against Rome : " The
diet," said he, " must not forget its grievances against
the court of Rome." Then, after enumerating a
number of these, he added :
" These are some of the abuses that cry out against
Rome. All shame has been put aside, their only
object is money ! money ! money ! so that the
preachers who should teach the truth utter nothing
but falsehoods, and are not only tolerated, but re
warded, because the greater their lies the greater
their gain. It is from this foul spring that such
tainted waters flow. Debauchery stretches out the
hand to avarice. . . . Alas, it is the scandal caused by
the clergy that hurls so many poor souls into eternal
condemnation. A general reform must be effected.
An ecumenical council must be called to bring about
this reform. For these reasons, most excellent princes
and lords, I humbly entreat you to take this matter
into your immediate consideration."
Duke George then handed in a list of the grievances
he had enumerated. Other speakers followed in the
same strain, and the diet appointed a committee to
draw up a list of all the grievances named, which
were found to amount to one hundred and one. The
result was that the emperor recalled the edict author
ising Luther s books to be burned, and substituted a
provisional order to deliver them into the keeping of
the magistrates.
But the assembly wished to have the Reformer
before them. " It is unjust," said his friends, " to
condemn Luther without a hearing." And his adver
saries urged that, " his doctrines have so taken hold
of men s minds, that it is impossible to check their
56 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
progress unless we hear them from himself. There
shall be no discussion with him, and if he avows his
writings and refuses to retract them, then we will all
with one accord . . . assist your Majesty to the
utmost of our power in the execution of your decrees."
Finally the emperor decided to summon Luther
before the diet, and safe-conducts were given him
extending for twenty-one days.
The citation from the emperor was delivered to
Luther on March 24th, and he at once made prepara
tions for his journey. His friends, filled with alarm,
thought that, unless saved by the miraculous inter
position of God, he was going to certain death.
Melancthon, with the warmth of true affection and
anxious solicitude, said : " Luther supplies the place
of all my friends ; he is greater and more admirable
for me than I dare express. You know how Alcibiades
admired Socrates ; but I admire Luther after another
and in a Christian fashion. Every time I contemplate
Luther I find him constantly greater than himself."
Melancthon greatly desired to accompany Luther to
Worms, there to share whatever dangers might befall
him, but their common friends, and no doubt the
Reformer himself, opposed his wishes. Philip was
wanted to fill his friend s place, and, if Luther never
returned, to carry on the work of the Reformation.
But Melancthon acquiesced with a sigh, saying :
" Would to God that he (Luther) had allowed me
to go with him."
April 2nd, the day of departure, arrived, and
Luther had to take leave of his friends. Amsdorff,
born of a noble family, impetuous and fearless, was
to accompany him ; also a celebrated professor of
jurisprudence named Jerome Schurff, whom the elector
had invited to Wittemberg, and a young Danish
student, Peter Suaven, who resided with Melancthon.
Turning to Melancthon, in a voice trembling with
emotion, Luther said: " My dear brother, if I do not
return, and should my enemies put me to death,
58 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
continue to teach and stand fast in the truth. Labour
in my stead, since I shall no longer be able to labour
for myself. If you survive, my death will be of little
consequence."
To follow Luther to Worms, and to record the
events connected with his appearance before the diet,
is not the purpose of this biography of his co-worker,
Melancthon. Suffice it to say that he nobly upheld
the cause he espoused, and when a plain, straight
forward retraction was required, he refused it, ending
his refusal with the memorable words, " Here I stand,
I can do no other ; may God help me ! Amen ! "
All the efforts made to procure Luther s retraction
having proved futile, and those of the Papists to
induce Charles to violate the safe-conduct ineffectual,
the Reformer was allowed to depart from Worms, and
commanded to return home within twenty-one days.
He was forbidden to disturb the public peace on his
way, either by preaching or writing.
Luther left Worms on April 26th, 1521, and shortly
after his departure the emperor signed an edict
against him. In this document all the electors of the
empire, the princes, prelates, and others whom it may
concern, are forbidden, under pain of incurring the
penalties due to the crime of high treason, to harbour
Luther after the appointed time should expire ; to
conceal him, to give him food or drink, or to furnish
him by word or deed, publicly or secretly, with any
kind of succour whatever. They are also enjoined to
seize him, or cause him to be seized, wherever he may
be found, and keep him in safe custody until the
emperor s will was made known concerning him. His
adherents are to be apprehended and confined, and
their property confiscated. His books are to be burned,
and all poets, printers, painters, buyers or sellers of
placards, papers, or pictures, against the pope or the
Church, are to be seized, body and goods, and dealt
with according to the good pleasure of those enjoined.
And if any person, whatever be his dignity, dares to
THE DIET OF WORMS. 59
act in contradiction to this degree of the emperor, he
is to be placed under the ban of the empire.
Such was the danger that threatened the Reformer
and his adherents.
But just as Rome drew her meshes tighter round
her intrepid foe, an asylum opened for him. He was
journeying homeward from Worms to Wittemberg,
and was passing through the forests of Thuringia,
when he was seized by a band of armed and masked
horsemen, who bore him away to the castle of the
Wartburg, a mountain fortress in the vicinity of
Eisenach.
A cry of dismay sounded throughout Germany.
" Luther has fallen into the hands of his enemies,"
was exclaimed in tones of sadness. The grief of the
friends of the Reformation was prolonged. The spring
passed away, summer, autumn, and winter succeeded,
but still the walls of the Wartburg held their
prisoner.
CHAPTER VII.
TROUBLOUS TIMES AT WITTEMBERG.
LUTHER S confinement in the castle of the
Wartbnrg placed Melancthon at the head of
the Reformed cause, and perhaps no man ever
felt more the responsibility of his position. At first
he was sunk in affliction at the loss of his leader
and friend, and in a letter written at a somewhat
later date, referring to the period of this captivity,
he says : " I feel the need I have of good advice.
Our Elijah is still confined at a distance from us. . . .
His absence absolutely torments me."
But presently the consternation and anxiety of
Luther s friends at Wittemberg was lightened. The
Reformer was alive ; such was the report that
reached them. Melancthon s sorrow was turned to
joy. " Our beloved father lives," he exclaimed ;
" take courage and be firm." But his depression
returned when further intelligence arrived of Luther s
imprisonment.
Constitutionally Melancthon was subject to be easily
cast down, and the state of affairs at this time was
such as to cause much despondency. The transactions
at Worms and the subsequent concealment of Luther
had inspired the Elector Frederick with an unusual
degree of caution. Luther s writings were not allowed
to be published, and the members of the university
were interdicted from discussing questions likely to
give offence to persons of distinction attached to the
Papacy. Luther, in his fortress, chafed at his con-
60
TROUBLOUS TIMES AT WITTEMBERG. 61
finement, and wished again to be in the thick of the
fray. " Alas ! " said he, " there is nothing I desire
more than to appear before my cruellest enemies."
He deeply sympathised with Melancthon in his de
pression and solicitude, and at length managed to
convey a letter to him. In this he wrote : " If I
perish the Gospel will lose nothing ; you will succeed
me as Elisha did Elijah, with a double portion of
my spirit." Then remembering Philip s timidity he
exclaimed with energy : " Minister of the Word !
Keep the wall and towers of Jerusalem until you
are struck down by the enemy. As yet we stand
alone upon the field of battle ; after me they will
aim blows at you."
Mental anxiety on behalf of the cause and the
continued confinement affected the Reformer s health,
and his friends at Wittemberg and the elector s court
became uneasy and alarmed at his state of suffering.
" I fear," said Melancthon, " that the grief he feels
for the Church will cause his death. A fire has
been kindled by him in Israel ; if he dies, what hope
will remain for us ? Would to God that at the cost
of my own wretched life, I could retain in the world
that soul which is its fairest ornament ! Oh ! what
a man ! we never appreciated him rightly."
While in the Wart burg, Luther occupied his time
in reading the Bible in Hebrew and Greek, in replying
to the attacks of his opponents, and especially in the
translation of the Scriptures into German ; a work
which it would have been difficult for him to have
undertaken amid the cares and occupations of Wittem
berg. This work was to establish the new building
on the primitive rock, and after the lapse of many
ages to lead Christians back from the subtleties of the
schoolmen to the pure fountain head of truth.
But at length his sojourn in the Wartburg became
insupportable, and Luther determined at all hazards
to see his friends at Wittemberg again. A secret
visit was arranged ; and at the end of November,
62 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
1521, he quietly quitted the Wartburg, clad in his
garb of a military knight, and repaired to Wittemberg.
He safely reached AmsdorfFs house, when his friends
were immediately and secretly called together, Me-
lancthon being one of the first to arrive. The captive
of the Wartburg spent a brief but happy time in the
midst of his friends. He learnt of the spread of the
Reformation, of the hopes of the brethren ; and,
delighted at what he saw and heard, offered up a
prayer of thanksgiving, and then, without delay,
returned to his fortress asylum.
In this same year the Sorbonne the famous school
of theology at Paris and first authority of the Church
next to the pope had published a formal condemna
tion of Luther s writings, dated April 15th, 1521, and
given its verdict against the Reformation. In some
of his propositions Luther had said : " God ever
pardons and remits sins gratuitously, and requires
nothing of us in return except that in future we
should live according to righteousness." And " of
all deadly sins, this is the most deadly, namely, that
any one should think he is not guilty of a damnable
and deadly sin before God." And further Luther
had added : " Burning heretics is contrary to the will
of the Holy Ghost." To these propositions of the
Reformer, and many others, the Sorbonne replied,
" Heresy 1 Let him be accursed."
Melancthon, then a young man of twenty-four, took
up the gauntlet which the first college in the world
had thrown down. He stood forward on behalf of
the truth and in defence of his friend, and in reply
to the condemnation of the Parisian divines, published
An Apology for Luther, in opposition to the furious
decree of the Parisian T he olog asters. In this pamphlet
he did not confine himself to simply defending Luther
or his propositions, but boldly carried the war into
the enemy s camp : " You say he is a Manichsean !
he is a Montanist ! let fire and faggot repress his
foolishness ! And who is Montanist ? Luther, who
TROUBLOUS TIMES AT WITTEMBERG. 63
would have us believe in Holy Scripture alone, or you,
who would have men believe in the opinions of their
fellow-creatures rather than in the Word of God ? "
Thus spoke the youthful master of arts, but he
proceeded further, and accused the doctors of the
Sorbonne of having obscured the Gospel, extinguished
faith, and substituted an empty philosophy in the
place of Christianity. He also proved unanswerably
that the heresy was at Paris and Rome, and the catholic
truth at Wittemberg.
A very general agitation was caused in this city
LUTHER S CHAMBER AT i
towards the end of 1521 by events that led to the
abolition of the mass at Wittemberg. A zealous
monk, named Gabriel Z willing, the chaplain of the
monastery of the Augustines, had declared in his
preaching that private masses were contrary to
Scripture, that the worship of the host was idolatry,
and that the Lord s Sacrament should be partaken
of in both the bread and the wine. Zwilling was
supported by his brother monks, but opposed by the
prior of the convent. The controversy quickly spread
to the inhabitants of the city and the students of the
64 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
university, some taking sides with the monks and
others with the prior. The elector s court was
troubled, and Frederick sent his chancellor to Wittem
berg, with orders to reduce the refractory monks to
obedience by putting them, if necessary, on bread and
water.
On October 12th, a deputation from the pro
fessors of the university, which included Melancthon,
visited the convent, and exhorted the brethren to
attempt no innovations, or at least to wait a little
longer before so doing. The arguments with which
the exhortations of the deputation were met were,,
however, so convincing that the professors were
inclined to embrace them, and handed a report to
the elector in which, after setting forth the errors of
the mass, they said : " Let your highness put an end
to every abuse, lest Christ in the day of judgment
should rebuke us as He did the people of Capernaum."
Melancthon followed the report by publishing fifty-
five propositions intended to enlighten men s minds
on the Scriptural meaning of the Lord s Supper, in
which he showed that there is but one sacrifice one
satisfaction for sins Jesus Christ. Beside Him there
is none other.
On Christmas Day Carlstadt administered the Lord s
Supper in the parish church, according to its primitive
form, and again on New Year s Day, and in January,
1522, the council and university of Wittemberg gave
their sanction and authority to this sacrament being
administered according to the new and reformed
ritual.
Zwilling also attacked monasticism, with the result
that fifteen monks left the Augustine monastery and
laying aside the costume of their order returned into
the midst of the world, there to follow the command
ments of God and render themselves profitable to
society.
Much trouble was caused at Wittemberg about
this time by the pretensions of the Anabaptists and
TROUBLOUS TIMES AT WITTEMBERG. 65
the impetuosity of Carlstadt. This sect had arisen
at Zwickau, where a clothier named Nicholas Storch,
a former student of Wittemberg by name Mark
Stubner, and a weaver Mark Thomas, professed to
have received direct revelations from heaven, and took
upon themselves, in conjunction with one Thomas
Munzer, to complete the reformation which Luther
had begun. Storch, Stubner, and Thomas arrived at
Wittemberg on December 27th, and calling on the
professors of the university, announced that they were
sent by God to instruct the people. " We have held
familiar conversation with the Lord," said they, " we
know what will happen ; in a word, we are apostles
and prophets, and appeal to Dr. Luther."
" Who has commissioned you to preach ? " asked
Melancthon of his old pupil Stubner. " The Lord
our God," he replied. " Have you written any books?"
" The Lord our God has forbidden me to do so."
Melancthon was agitated. " There are, indeed, extra
ordinary spirits in these men," he said, u but what
spirits ? Luther alone can decide. On the one hand
let us beware of quenching the Spirit of God, and
on the other of being led away by the spirit of Satan."
He was also perplexed concerning the doctrine of
these men in their rejection of infant baptism ; and
thought it worthy of examination, "for," said he,
" we must neither admit nor reject anything lightly."
The elector hesitated to give an opinion as to the
divine commission of these new teachers. " This is a
great matter," said he, " and as a layman I cannot
understand it. But rather than fight against God,
I would take a staff in my hand and descend from
my throne."
The opinions of the new prophets spread, and
Luther in the Wartburg was apprised of the agitation
prevailing at the elector s court and at Wittemberg.
He saw that these afflicting events had been per
mitted by God to humble His servants, and to excite
them by trials to strive more earnestly after sanctifica-
66 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
tion. " I always expected that Satan would send
us the plague," he wrote to the elector. But at the
same time he deprecated the use of harsh measures
towards these new apostles. " Beware of throwing
them into prison," he wrote to Spalatin ; and, " Let
not the prince dip his hand in the blood of these
new prophets."
Carlstadt rejected many of the doctrines of the
Anabaptists, and especially that concerning infant
baptism, but from the time of their arrival in Wittem-
berg he quickened his movements in the way of
violent reforms. "We must fall upon every ungodly
practice, and overthrow them all in a day," he declared ;
and bringing together all the passages of Scripture
against images, he inveighed energetically against
the idolatry of Eome. " They fall down, they crawl
before their idols," he exclaimed ; "they burn tapers
before them, and make them offerings. Let us arise
and tear them from the altars."
The excited populace eagerly seized on these words.
They entered the churches, carried away the images,
broke them in pieces and burnt them. To judge by
the language of these enthusiasts, there were no true
Christians in Wittemberg save those who went not
to confession, who attacked the priests, and who ate
meat on fast days. If any one was suspected of not
rejecting all the rites of the Church as an invention
of the devil, he was set down as a worshipper of
Baal. " We must form a Church," cried they, " com
posed of saints only."
Learning was also despised. Carlstadt advised his
pupils to return home and till the land ; and others
spoke in the same strain. What need was there to
study, when Storch and Thomas, who had never been
at the university, were prophets ? A mechanic, there
fore, was as well qualified as all the doctors in the
world, and perhaps better, to preach the Gospel.
The results of such teaching were quickly mani
fested. Men s minds, filled with these new doctrines,
TROUBLOUS TIMES AT WITTEMBERG. 67
were agitated, and led away from the truth. The
university became disorganised, the students dis
persed, and the governments of Germany recalled
their subjects. Thus the cause of the Reformation
was greatly imperilled, and seemed to totter on the
verge of ruin.
Melancthon was deeply grieved by these disorders.
He reproved Carlstadt for his pride ; but he was too
young and weak to successfully combat the evil.
All eyes turned to Luther, and his name was con
stantly upon the lips of the inhabitants of Wittein-
berg ; but he was a captive far away ! Yet he had
been apprised of the state of affairs ; and pains more
keen than he had ever suffered before racked and
tortured him, and new temptations assailed his firm
faith in God. " Can such, then, be the end of the
great work of the Reformation ? " he cried in his
agitation. " Impossible ! God has begun . . . God
will perfect the work. I creep in deep humility to
the grace of the Lord," he exclaimed, " and beseech
Him that His name may remain attached to this
work, and that if anything impure be mixed up with
it, He will remember that I am a sinful man."
Fully realising the perilous position of affairs at
Wittemberg, and also well aware of the imminent
dangers that threatened his life, Luther resolved at
all hazards to return to that city and try to quench
the spreading conflagration. " More serious intelli
gence reaches me every day," he wrote ; " I shall set
out ; circumstances positively require me to do so."
He left the Wartburg on March 3rd, 1522, and
arrived at Wittemberg on the seventh of that month.
On the following Sunday he preached, when the
church was filled with an attentive but excited crowd.
Speaking in language simple and gentle, yet noble
and full of strength, he prepared the minds of his
hearers for the more searching sentences with which
he pressed home their guilt :
" The abolition of the mass, say you, is in con-
68 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
formity with Scripture. Agreed ! But what order,
what decency have you observed ? It behoved you to
offer up fervent prayers to the Lord, and apply to
the public authority ; then might every man have
acknowledged that the thing was of God."
He reminded his hearers of Paul s behaviour at
Athens, and how the idols fell without the touch of
the Apostle s hands, and then continued :
u I will preach, discuss, and write ; but I will con
strain none, for faith is a voluntary act. See what I
have done ! I stood up against the pope, indulgences,
and Papists, but without violence or tumult. I put
forward God s Word ; I preached and wrote this
was all I did. And yet while I was asleep, or seated
familiarly with Amsdorff and Melancthon, the Word
that I had preached overthrew popery, so that neither
prince nor emperor has done it so much harm. And
yet I did nothing, the Word alone did all. If I had
wished to appeal to force, the whole of Germany
would perhaps have been deluged with blood. But
what would have been the result ? Kuin and
desolation both to body and soul."
Luther preached again on the following Tuesday,
and afterwards met the new prophets in conference,
the result being that they abandoned the field and
left the city.
Tranquillity was restored. The people became quiet
and submissive, and the Reformation was saved.
CHAPTER VIII.
LITERARY LABOURS.
was no sooner established than
Luther turned to Melancthon, and asked his
assistance in the final revision of the New
Testament, which he had brought with him from the
Wartburg. This was a work after Melancthon s own
heart, and readily he complied with his friend s request.
In 1519 this young professor had laid down the
important principle that the Fathers must be explained
according to Scripture, and not Scripture by the
Fathers ; and the more he meditated upon the books
of the New Testament, the more was he charmed
by their simplicity and impressed by their depth.
" There alone can we find true food for the soul," he
boldly asserted, in face of his familiarity with all the
philosophy of the ancients. Many long hours were
passed together by the two friends in studying and
translating the Word of God.
The printing of the New Testament was carried on
with unexampled zeal. Three presses were employed
in this labour, and ten thousand sheets, says Luther,
were printed daily. On September 21st, 1522, the
first edition, of three thousand copies, was issued. The
book was in two folio volumes, and bore the simple
title : THE NEW TESTAMENT GERMAN WITTEMBERG.
Every German might henceforward procure the Word
of God at a moderate price.
While the first edition of the New Testament was
69
70 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
passing through the press, Luther undertook a trans
lation of the Old. This labour, begun in 1522, was
continued unremittingly, and the translation published
in parts as completed, the more speedily to gratify
public impatience and to enable the poor to procure
the book.
The effect produced was immense. The New
Testament was read by all classes. The simplest
men, even women and mechanics, providing they knew
how to read, studied it. They carried it about with
them ; soon they knew it by heart ; and the pages
of this book loudly proclaimed the perfect unison of
Luther s Reformation with the divine revelation.
The Reformation could say, as it gave this book,
" Here is my system ! " But it was called to arrange
what it had found in Scripture ! This Melancthon
did in its name.
With regular but confident steps he had walked in
the development of his theology, and from time to
time had published the results of his inquiries. In
1520 he had declared that in several of the seven
sacraments he could see nothing but an imitation of the
Jewish ceremonies, and in the infallibility of the pope
naught but a haughty presumption alike opposed to
the Holy Scriptures and to good sense. He had now
reached much the same point as Luther, but by a
calmer and more scientific process.
In 1521, during Luther s captivity, Melancthon first
issued his celebrated work, On the Common-places of
Theology. None of his works, and scarcely any among
those of his contemporaries, excited greater attention
or circulated to a wider extent. It presented to Chris
tian Europe a body of doctrine of solid foundations
and admirable proportions. The translation of the
New Testament justified the Reformation to the
people ; Melancthon s Common-places justified it in
the opinion of the learned. Forsaking the ordinary
developments of scholastic theology, he gave the world
a theological system, derived solely from Scripture.
LITERARY LABOURS. 71
In it there reigned a breath of life, a vitality of
understanding, a strength of conviction, and a sim
plicity of statement in striking contrast with the
subtle and pedantic systems of the schools. Men of
the most philosophic minds, as well as the strictest
theologians, were equally filled with admiration.
Erasmus entitled this work a wondrous army drawn
up in battle array against the tyrannous battalions of
LUTHER S STUDY AT WITTEMBERG.
the false doctors ; and Calvin said : " So true it is
that the greatest simplicity is the greatest virtue in
treating of the Christian doctrine." But no one joyed
so much over the work as Luther. Throughout his
life it was the object of his admiration. Hence he
never ceased to recommend the study of it to the
youths who came to Wittemberg in search of know
ledge. Referring to the subject in his Table Talk at
a somewhat later date he says :
" The student of theology has now far greater
72 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
advantages than students ever before had ; first, he
has the Bible, which I have translated into German
so clearly and distinctly, that any one may comprehend
it ; next he has Melancthon s Common-place Book
(Loci- Communes), which he should read over and over
again until he has it by heart. Once master of these
two volumes, he may be regarded as a theologian,
whom neither devil nor heretic can overcome ; for he
has all divinity at his fingers ends, and may read
understandingly whatsoever else he pleases. . . . We
possess no work wherein the whole body of theology,
wherein religion, is more completely summed up
than in Melancthon s Common-place Book ; all the
Fathers, all the compilers of sentences, put together,
are not to be compared with this book. Tis, after
the Scriptures, the most perfect of works. Melancthon
is a better logician than myself; he argues better.
My superiority lies rather in the rhetorical way."
A deep conviction of the wretched state to which
man is reduced by sin is, according to Melancthon, the
foundation on which Christian theology should be
built. "Original sin," said he, "is an inclination
born within us, a certain impulse which is agreeable
to us, a certain force leading us to sin, and which has
been communicated by Adam to all his posterity. As
in fire there is a native energy impelling it to mount
upward, as there is in the loadstone a natural quality
by which iron is attracted, so also there is in man a
primitive force that inclines him to evil."
Melancthon then proceeds in his Common-place Book
to show how man is saved from this wretched condi
tion. " The apostle invites thee to contemplate the
Son of God, sitting at the right hand of the Father,
mediating and interceding for us ; and calls upon
thee to feel assured that thy sins are forgiven thee,
that thou art reputed righteous, and accepted by the
Father for the sake of that Son who suffered for us
on the cross."
The first edition of this important book was especi-
LITERARY LABOURS. 73
ally remarkable for the manner in which it speaks
of free will. Melancthon saw that this doctrine could
not be separated from that upon which the Reforma-
tion had been founded. That man s justification before
God proceeds from faith alone was the cardinal
doctrine expounded by Luther ; that faith enters
man s heart by grace alone was seen by Melancthon
to be a necessary sequence to that doctrine. Hence
to allow that man had any natural ability to believe
would be to weaken the foundation upon which the
whole fabric of the Reformation was raised. Therefore
we find him stating in the Common-place Book :
u The Gospel teaches that such is the dreadful
depravity of nature that it is totally repugnant to
the Law of God, so that we cannot obey ; and the
human will cannot, by any exertion of its own, eradicate
this depravity. Such is the blindness of human nature
that we do not even discern this moral infirmity and
corruption, for if we did, the reason of our incapacity
to satisfy the divine law would be at once apparent.
The law requires perfect obedience, but our corrupt
nature cannot render it ; and it is of this corruption
we speak, not in reference to external acts but internal
affections and conformity to God, when discoursing
on the freedom of the human will.
u To this let it be added, that without the Holy
Spirit we cannot exercise spiritual affections, as love
to God, faith in His mercy, obedience and endurance
in afflictions, delight in Him, and others of a similar
nature. Many passages of Scripture confirm this
statement, i As many as are led by the Spirit of God
they are the sons of God. If any man have not
the Spirit of Christ he is none of His . . . The
question then being proposed respecting spiritual
actions, this seems to be the truth which it becomes
us to maintain, that without the aid of the Holy
Spirit the human will can perform none of those
spiritual actions which God requires."
But Melancthon s special object was to present
74 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
theology as a system of piety. All vitality had been
lost under the treatment of the schoolmen, and the
task of the Reformation was to revivify it, so that
it might become the great power in moulding the
lives of men. In later editions of his Common-place
Book Melancthon expounded the doctrines relating
to personal piety as opposed to a mere system of
dialectics with greater clearness : " To know Christ,"
said he, " is to know His blessings. Paul in his
epistle to the Romans, desiring to give a summary
of the Christian doctrines, does not philosophise on
the mystery of the Trinity or the mode of incarnation,
on active or passive creation ; of what then does he
speak ? of the law, of sin, of grace ! On these our
knowledge of Christ depends."
The publication of such a system of theology was
of essential service to the cause of truth. Calumnies
hurled against the new religion were refuted, prejudices
swept away. Luther s roughness and occasional
violence of language had repelled many, but in
Melancthon was found a man who explained those
mighty truths which had shaken the world with
great elegance of style, exquisite taste, admirable
clearness, and perfect order. His work was sought
after, and eagerly read and studied. Between 1521
and 1595 the Common-place Book passed through
sixty-seven editions, without including translations.
The Reformation continued to gain ground, not
withstanding the edict against Luther and the burning
of his books. Two great ideas were at this time
agitating Germany a desire for a revival of faith
and a longing to possess a national government in
which the German states might be represented, thus
to serve as a counterpoise to the power of the
emperors. Luther represented the reform in faith,
the Elector Frederick that of the State. At the
election of Charles V. he had insisted on this reform,
and the young emperor had submitted. A national
government was formed, which consisted of the
LITERARY LABOURS. 75
imperial governor and representatives of the electors
and circles.
But while the Reformation was gaining increased
power over the hearts of the people, policy, ambition,
and interest caused pope and emperor to combine
to attempt its destruction ; and it seemed in great
danger of falling beneath the blows of two such
powerful adversaries. War with Francis I., King
of France, however, diverted the attention of the
emperor, and the death of Leo X. in December,
1521, arrested for a brief period the plans of the
Papacy.
Leo X. was succeeded by Adrian VI., a man of
a very different spirit, who sought a reformation of
the Church by the Church.
As already observed, Melancthon left his manu
scripts lying exposed on his table, and in 1522
Luther, knowing his friend s reluctance to print his
own productions, secretly took Melancthon s Com
mentary on the Romans and had it printed without
his knowledge. It was afterwards reprinted in 1540,
with a dedication to Philip, Landgrave of Hesse.
Luther s apology for this proceeding, which is curious
and characteristic, is prefixed to the Commentary of
his friend. We give brief extracts :
" Martin Luther to Philip Melancthon, grace and
peace in Christ.
" Be angry and sin not : commune with your own
heart upon your bed and be still. I am the person
who dares to publish your Annotations, and I send
you your own work. If you are not pleased with it
it may be all very well, it is sufficient that you please
us. If I have clone wrong, you are to blame ; why
did you not publish it yourself ? Why did you suffer
me so often to ask, to insist, to importune you to
publish it, and all in vain ? ... As to those whom
you suspect of being disposed to sneer, I have this
to say to them < Do better ! What the impious
Thomists falsely arrogate to their leader, namely,
76 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
that no one has written better upon St. Paul, I truly
affirm of you. . . . But what, you will say, is the
purpose of aiming to provoke these great men against
me ? Well, you may be humble if you please, but
let me boast for you. Who has ever prohibited
persons of great capacity from publishing something
better if they can, and thus demonstrating the rash
ness of my judgment ? For my part, I wish we could
find out those who could and would publish something
better. I threaten you further to steal and publish
your remarks upon Genesis and the Gospels of
Matthew and John, unless you supersede me by bring
ing them forward. You say Scripture ought to be
read alone and without a commentary ; this is right
enough if you speak in reference to Jerome, Origen,
Thomas Aquinas, and others of the same class, for
their commentaries are the mere vehicles of their
own notions, rather than the sentiments of Paul
and the doctrines of Christianity; but no one can
properly call yours a commentary; it is rather an
introduction to the study of Scripture in general, and
a guide -to the knowledge of Christ ; in which it
surpasses all the commentaries hitherto published.
" As to what you plead, that your Annotations are
not in all respects satisfactory to yourself, it is
difficult enough to believe you. But, behold, I do
believe you are not fully satisfied with yourself, nor
is this asked or desired of you ; we would have Paul
maintain his pre-eminence, lest any one should in
sinuate that Philip is superior or equal to Paul. . . .
We know very well that you are nothing ; and we
know also that Christ is all and in all, who, if He
pleases, can speak as He did to Balaam by an ass ;
why then should He not speak by a man ? Art thou
not a man ? Art thou not a servant of Christ ? Has
not He endowed thee with capacity ? If thou shouldest
choose to improve and enlarge this volume by elegant
and learned additions, it will be a grateful service ; but
in the meantime we are determined to be gratified
LITERARY LABOURS. 77
in spite of you by possessing ourselves of the senti
ments of Paul by your means.
" If I have offended you by this proceeding, I do
not ask pardon ; but lay aside your displeasure, by
which you will rather give offence to us, and you
will have to ask forgiveness. God preserve and
prosper you for evermore. Wittemberg, July %9th,
1522."
Space prevents us from giving more than one or
two brief extracts ; these, however, may give the
reader some idea of the style of this important
work :
"CHAP. L, VEK. 1. Paul . . . separated unto the
gospel of God? Here the apostle states the business
he was commanded to execute, namely, to preach the
gospel. The reader should remember that there is
a material difference between the law and the gospel,
to which we have already adverted, and of which more
will be said in remarking upon the third chapter.
The description which he gives of the gospel is, that
it is a divine promise, communicated in the sacred
writings, concerning Jesus Christ the Son of God,
of the seed of David according to the flesh, declared
to be the Son of God with power, through sanctifica-
tion of the Spirit, and resurrection from the dead ;
that He is the Messiah or King, by whom deliverance
from sin and eternal life are dispensed.
" This distinction will be more obvious by noticing
the contradistinction between law and gospel. The
Law represents what we are, and what we are required
to do. It demands perfect obedience, without pro
viding for the forgiveness of sin or liberating us from
the power of sin and death. But the Gospel freely
promises the remission of sin and deliverance from
death, by Jesus Christ the Son of God, who was
descended from David according to the prophetic
declarations. Paul states this at the outset of his
discourse, that we might know his meaning and
distinguish properly between the law and the gospel,
78 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
as though he had said, Paul divinely called to teach
the gospel of Christ ; not to teach the law or to teach
philosophy.
" VER. 17. < The just shall live by faith You will
observe that two important benefits are attributed to
faith that we are justified, and that we live by it.
God sent His own Son into the world to be our
propitiation, lest we should perish ; as He says with
an oath, 4 As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure
in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should
be converted and live. To the terrified conscience
He proclaims the forgiveness of sin by faith, that its
fears may be removed, and genuine consolation im
parted, which is the very commencement of eternal
life ; for this, said Christ, is eternal life, to know
Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou
hast sent. We know, therefore, that the gift of the
Holy Spirit is joined with the remission of sins and
reconciliation with God ; we know that the dominion
of Christ in the Church is not indolent, but His
presence is constantly with us to destroy the works
of the devil, to fight our battles, and to assist our
progress. These ideas are included when the prophet
promises life that is, joy, victory, and everlasting
salvation to all believers.
" CHAP. V., VER. 3. And not only so, but we (/Ion/
in tribulation also] etc. He, as it were, corrects the
former statement. We have not only a glory in
expectation, but in present possession ; and what is
it ? Affliction. He is opposing the opinions and
reasonings of the world.
" In the view of the world we are afflicted : we seem
abandoned and rejected by God; and this reproach
upon the gospel deters the generality of mankind
from embracing it. This mode of reasoning indeed
seems legitimate enough afflictions are curses, that
is, evils ; and therefore signs of God s displeasure.
But Paul on the contrary assures us that they are
not curses, but are proper occasions of glorying ; for
LITERARY LABOURS. 79
they are not signs of the divine displeasure, but
intimations of the love of God.
" We have, then, a double glory the one which is
the greatest is in expectation, consisting in the renova
tion of our nature and the enjoyment of eternal life ;
but this glory we possess in hope : the other glory
is in present possession, and it consists in affliction
for although the world judges that affliction is an
evidence of divine anger, yet we know it to be an
indication of His love ; and obedience to His afflictive
dispensations to be a new and acceptable kind of
worship.
" Four things, therefore, ought to be well impressed
upon our minds respecting afflictions :
" 1. They are appointed. We do not suffer affliction
by chance, but by the determinate counsel and per
mission of God.
" 2. By means of affliction God punishes His people,
not that He may destroy them, but to recall them to
repentance and the exercise of faith ; for afflictions
are not indications of displeasure, but of kindness
1 He willeth not the death of a sinner.
" 3. God requires our submission to His afflictive
dispensations, and that we should expend our indig
nation and impatience upon our own sins ; and as
God determines to afflict His Church in the present
state, submission tends to glorify His name.
" 4. Resignation, however, is not all ; He requires
faith and prayer, that we may both seek and expect
divine assistance. Thus He admonishes us, Call
upon Me in the day of trouble : I will answer thee,
and thou shalt glorify Me.
u These four precepts are applicable to ail our
afflictions, and are calculated, if properly regarded, to
produce that truly Christian patience which essentially
differs from mere philosophical endurance,"
CHAPTER IX.
PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES.
HE years 1522 and 1523 were years of progress
for the Reformed cause, notwithstanding the
efforts of its opponents ; among whom George
Duke of Saxony, Henry Duke of Brunswick, and
Ferdinand Archduke of Austria, may be considered
the principal in Germany. The first-named used
every means to influence the Elector Frederick and
his brother John to adopt hostile measures against
the new religion, but their prudence frustrated his
efforts in Saxony. Frederick nevertheless felt him
self to be in a most critical position.
The Diet of Nuremberg assembled in March, 1522,
but was almost immediately prorogued, owing to an
irruption of the Turks and their successes in Hungary.
It met again in December, and the Reformation was
the subject specially demanding its attention. Adrian
had commissioned his legate, Chieregati, to repair to
the diet, there, jointly with the Cardinal-archbishop
of Salzburg, to call for Luther s death. Several of
the princes also spoke strongly against him, and
pressed for the execution of the edict of Worms.
Very considerable sensation was caused in the diet,
when the legate, despairing of gaining over the
assembly by measures of authority, made known to
it the mandates which had been entrusted to him by
the pope. In these Adrian said, " We are well aware
that for many years certain abuses and abominations
have crept into the holy city. The contagion has
80
PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES. 81
spread from the head to the members ; it has descended
from the popes to the other ecclesiastics. It is our
desire to reform the Roman court, whence proceed
so many evils ; the whole world is craving after it,
and to effect this we submitted to ascend the papal
chair."
Thus the corruption with which the Reformer had
charged the Papacy was now admitted by the pope
himself.
The diet seized this apparently favourable moment
to bring forward the grievances which for ages
Germany had endured from Rome, and it was resolved
that these be collected into one body and forwarded
to the pope. The diet also required that a free and
Christian council should be assembled as soon as
possible at Strasburg, Mentz, Cologne, or Metz, in
which laymen should be present, and where every
man should have liberty to speak freely for the glory
of God, the salvation of souls, and the good of the
Christian commonwealth. It then proceeded to draw
up a list of the grievances, which amounted to eighty,
and decided that, pending the convocation of a free
council in the empire, the pure Gospel alone should
be preached, and nothing should be printed without
the approbation of a certain number of pious and
learnetl men.
The indignation at the Vatican was great when the
resolutions of the diet were made known, and the list
of grievances received. Adrian was filled with wrath,
and discharged his anger upon the head of the
Elector Frederick. " We have waited long, and
perhaps too long," said the pope to the prince ; " we
were anxious to see whether God would visit thy
soul, and if thou wouldst not at last escape from the
snares of Satan. But where we looked to gather
grapes we found nothing but sour grapes. The
blower hath blown in vain ; thy wickedness is not
melted. Open, then, thine eyes to see the greatness
of thy fall."
6
82 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
Then Adrian added, " What punishment, what
torments dost thou think we judge thee to deserve ?
Have pity on thyself ; have pity on thy wretched
Saxons ; for if you do not all return to the fold, God
will pour out His vengeance upon you. In the name
of the Almighty God and of our Lord Jesus Christ,
whose representative I am upon earth, I declare that
thou shalt be punished in this world, and plunged
into everlasting fire in that which is to come. Repent
and be converted ! Both swords are suspended over
thy head the sword of the empire and the sword
of the Church."
The aged and pious elector shuddered as he read
this threatening brief. He had written to the
emperor shortly before to the effect that old age and
sickness rendered him incapable of taking part in
these ecclesiastical affairs, and been answered by so
insolent a letter that his eye turned to his sword, and
he feared that though already on the brink of the
frave, he would be compelled to take up arms in
efence of the conscience of his subjects. He wrote
to Wittemberg to hear the opinions of the fathers of
the Reformation on the question : " Is it lawful for
your prince, if his subjects should be attacked on
account of religion by the emperor or any other ruler,
to protect them by force of arms ? "
At Wittemberg troubles and persecutions were
apprehended. " What shall I say ? " exclaimed
Melancthon ; " whither shall I turn ? Hatred over
whelms us, and the world is transported with fury
against us."
Luther, Melancthon, Link, Bugenhagen, and
Amsdorff consulted together on the reply that should
be made to the elector, and the answer they returned
was remarkable for its moderation. " No prince,"
said they, " can undertake a war without the consent
of the people from whose hands he has received his
authority. Now the people have no desire to fight
for the Gospel, for they do not believe. Let not
PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES. 83
princes, therefore, take up arms ; for they are rulers
of the nations, that is to say, of unbelievers."
The wrath of the pontiff too quickly bore fruit.
Persecution broke out. Duke George of Saxony
imprisoned the monks and priests that followed
Luther, and recalled the students belonging to his
states from Wittemberg. He also ordered that all
copies of the New Testament in the vulgar tongue
should be given up to the magistrates. Similar
measures were enforced in Austria, Wurtemberg, and
the Duchy of Brunswick. But in the Low Countries,
under the immediate authority of Charles V., the
persecution raged with the greatest fury. There,
on July 1st, 1523, the first martyrs of the Reformation
laid down their lives, two young monks named Esch
and Voes, who had embraced the Gospel, being
burnt by the Inquisition at Brussels ; and another
monk, Lambert Thorn, whose courage at first failed
but who afterwards boldly confessed the faith, shared
their fate a little later.
Good men shuddered when the news of these
executions reached them, and keen sympathy was felt
for the youthful martyrs, especially at Wittemberg.
" At last," cried Luther, " Christ is gathering some
fruits of our preaching, and is creating new martyrs."
Luther then commemorated the death of these young
monks in a beautiful hymn, which was soon sung
throughout Germany and the Netherlands.
Adrian VI. died on September 14th, 1523, and was
succeeded on November 19th by Clement VII. ; an
Italian, crafty and faithless, whose great object
throughout his pontificate was to advance the interests
of the popedom. One of his first acts was to send to
Nuremberg a legate of his own character, Cardinal
Campeggio, who, on the re-assembling of the diet in*
January, 1524, reminded its members of the edict
of Worms, and called upon them to put down the
Reformation by force.
"What has become of the list of grievances
84 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
presented to the pope by the German nation ? "
replied the princes.
Caropeggio returned an evasive reply, which being
deemed unsatisfactory, the assembly decided that the
people must conform to the edict as far as possible.
They also demanded the convocation of a general
council of Christendom to be held in Germany, and
agreed that a diet should meet at Spires in November,
to regulate all religious questions, and that the states
should immediately instruct their theologians to draw
up a list of the controverted points, to be laid before
that august assembly.
This decision was unfavourably received by the
Roman hierarchy. The pope was exasperated.
"What! a secular council to decide on religious
questions in direct opposition to his authority ! It
must not be ! " So eiforts were made to prevent the
meeting of the diet at Spires. The pope wrote to
the emperor : " If I am the first to make head
against the storm, it is not because I am the only one
the tempest threatens ; but because I am at the helm.
The rights of the empire are yet more invaded than
the dignity of the court of Rome."
Rome also sought to form a league against the
Reformation, and with it the unity of Germany. The
legate concerted the plan with the Archduke Fer
dinand. " There is everything to be feared," said he,
" in an assembly where the voice of the people is
heard. The Diet of Spires may destroy Rome and
save Wittemberg. Let us close our ranks ; let us
come to an understanding for the day of battle."
A meeting of princes, most of whom were bishops,
was consequently held at Ratisbon in July, 1524, at
which Campeggio opened the proceedings. It was
held in the town hall and lasted fifteen days. The
assembly bound themselves to enforce the edicts of
Worms and Nuremberg, to permit no change in
public worship, to tolerate no married priests in their
states, to recall all their subjects who might be
PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES. 85
studying at Wittemberg, and to employ every means
in their power for the extirpation of heresy.
The emperor issued an edict against the assembling
of the Diet of Spires, declaring that " the pope alone
had the right of convoking a council, and the emperor
of demanding one, that the meeting appointed to take
place at Spires could not, and ought not to be toler
ated, and that no time should be lost in enforcing
the decree of Worms against the new Mahomet."
But the assembly at Spires was still kept in view,
and it was hoped that it might repair the mischief
Campeggio had effected at Ratisbon.
The cause of the Reformation was not only exposed
to many and great dangers from without, but about
this time it was torn from within by a pernicious
controversy that arose respecting the manner in which
the body and blood of Jesus Christ are present in
the Lord s Supper. Luther and his adherents, while
they rejected the Romish dogma that the bread and
wine are transmuted into the body and blood of
Christ, yet held that persons coming to the sacred
supper participated truly, though in an inexplicable
manner, of the body and blood of Christ, together
with the bread arid wine. Carlstadt, on the other
hand, maintained that the bread and wine were simply
emblems of Christ s body, in which opinion he had
been anticipated by Cornelius Hoen, a learned Dutch
jurist, in 1521, and was followed by Zwingle and the
Swiss Reformers as well as by many in Upper
Germany.
The controversy, which commenced between Carl
stadt and Luther, became later a contest waged more
especially between Luther and Melancthon on the
one side, and Zwingle and (Ecolampadius on the
other, the two Swiss Reformers maintaining that
the word is in the sentence This is My body, spoken
by Jesus Christ, means represents, and that the bread
and wine are emblems or representations of the body
of the Redeemer.
86 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
Several fruitless attempts were made to bring about
a compromise, but the result was a lamentable schism
among those who seceded from the papal jurisdiction.
The early part of the year 1524 was devoted by
Melancthon, with the view of recruiting his health
and spirits, to a journey on horseback to different
places in Germany. He was accompanied by Kesenus
and Camerarius, two intimate friends, the former
distinguished for prudence, knowledge, and amiable-
ness of disposition, the latter, who was afterwards
Melancthon s biographer, for very eminent literary
attainments. Two youths, Burcardus and Silber-
bornerus, attended them.
The first city of note at which they arrived was
Leipsic, which they reached on the same day that the
Greek professor, Peter Mosellanus, died. Melaucthon
and Camerarius had just time to visit him before he
passed away. The former wept for the loss of a
friend, and the latter of a tutor. From Leipsic the
party proceeded across Upper Saxony to Fulda, where
they heard of the death of Ulric Hutten at Zurich.
Thence they proceeded onward to Frankfort, after
visiting which town they went to Bretten, where they
remained some time with Melancthon s mother, who
had married again. After taking leave of his relatives,
he and his friends went to Heidelberg, where the
university received their former student with every
mark of distinction. He returned to Wittemberg in
June.
The Catholic League at Batisbon, and the persecu
tions by which it was followed, created a powerful
reaction among the German people. The Word of
God, which had at last been restored to them, they
were determined to keep, notwithstanding the orders
of Charles V., the bulls of the pope, and the menaces
and burning piles of Ferdinand and the other lloman
Catholic princes.
No sooner was the meeting of the League over, and
its members had quitted liatisbon, than the deputies
PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES.
87
of those towns whose bishops had joined this alliance,
in surprise and indignation met at Spires, and declared
that in despite of the prohibition of the bishops their
ministers should preach the Gospel and nothing but
the Gospel, conformably to the doctrine of the
prophets and apostles. They then proceeded to draw
up a memorial to be laid before the national assembly.
LEIPSIC.
Furthermore these deputies, with many nobles, met
at Dim, about the close of the year 1524, and swore
to assist one another in case of attack.
Thus was Germany divided into two camps : one
formed by Austria, Bavaria, and the bishops of the
Eatisbon League ; the other by the free cities, whose
standard was that of the Gospel and the national
liberties.
88 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
And while the cities were thus placing themselves
in the van of the Reformation, many princes were
won over to the cause. Early in June, 15 M, as
Melancthon was returning from his visit to his
mother accompanied by Camerarius and his other
friends, and when he had left Heidelberg, he met a
brilliant train near Frankfort. It consisted of Philip,
Landgrave of Hesse, and his attendants, who were on
their way to a tournament at Heidelberg, at which
town all the princes of Germany were to be present.
One of the landgrave s attendants seeing the small
party advancing towards them, and knowing that the
celebrated professor of Wittemberg had been paying
a visit to his native place, said to the prince, " It is
Philip Melancthon, 1 think."
The young landgrave spurred his horse forward,
and approaching the professor said, " Is your name
Philip?" "It is," replied the Wittemberg doctor,
a little intimidated, and respectfully preparing to
alight. " Keep your seat," said the prince, " turn
round, and come and pass the night with me ; there
are some matters on which I desire to have a little
talk with you : fear nothing." " What can I fear
from such a prince as you ? " replied the doctor.
" Ah ! ah ! " said the landgrave, with a laugh, " if 1
were to carry you off and give you up to Campeggio,
he would not be offended, I think."
The two Philips then rode on together, the prince
asking questions, and the doctor replying. The
landgrave was delighted with the clear and im
pressive views set before him by Melancthon, and
when at length the latter begged permission to con
tinue his journey, Philip of Hesse parted from him
with reluctance, saying, " On one condition, that on
your return home you will carefully examine the
questions we have been discussing, and send me the
result in writing." Melancthon gave his promise.
" Go then," said the landgrave, " and pass through
my states."
PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES. 89
Melancthon, on his return to Wittemberg, drew up
an Abridgment of the Reused Doctrine of Christianity
which he transmitted to the prince. This was a
forcible and concise treatise, and made a deep im
pression on the landgrave s mind. Shortly after his
return from the tournament at Heidelberg he, with
out joining the free cities, published an edict by
which, in opposition to the League of Ratisbon, he
ordered the Gospel to be preached in all its purity
throughout his domains. The Landgrave of Hesse
was commonly styled " Melancthon s disciple."
Other princes followed in the same direction ;
among them were the Elector Palatine, the Duke of
Luneburg, the King of Denmark, and Albert Margrave
of Brandenburg and Grand Master of the Teutonic
Order.
While the nations with their rulers were thus
moving towards the light, the lleformers were striving
to regenerate all things by permeating them with the
principles of Christianity. Public worship had to be
purified, youth educated, schools improved, and the
knowledge necessary for a profound study of the Scrip
tures propagated throughout Christendom. Luther
wrote to the councillors of all the cities of Germany,
calling upon them to found Christian schools. In this
letter he said :
" DEAR SIRS, We annually expend so much money
on arquebuses, roads, and dikes, why should we not
spend a little to give one or two schoolmasters to our
poor children ? God stands at the door and knocks ;
blessed are we if we open to Him ! Now the Word of
God abounds. my dear Germans, buy, buy, while
the market is open before your houses. The Word
of God and His grace are like a shower that falls and
passes away."
He specially insisted on the necessity of studying
literature and languages. " What use is there, it may
be asked, iu learning Latin, Greek, and Hebrew ?
90 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
We can read the Bible very well in German ! " But
he replies, u Without languages we could not have
received the Gospel. . . . Languages are the scabbard
that contains the sword of the Spirit."
He called for the establishment of libraries, to con
tain not only editions and commentaries of the school
men and Fathers of the Church, but the works of the
poets, orators, and those devoted to the fine arts, law,
medicine, and history. " These productions," said he,
" serve to make known the works and the wonders of
God."
And Melancthon added, " Those who despise pro
fane literature hold theology in no greater estimation.
Their contempt is a mere pretext, with which they
seek to conceal their idleness."
Luther also attached much importance to music.
" Next to theology, I give the first place and the
highest honour to music."
Soon after his return to Wittemberg Melancthon
was deeply afflicted by the accidental death of his
friend Nesenus. He was lying at his ease in a fishing-
boat which he had hired for purpose of recreation on
the river Elbe, and which he had fastened to the
trunk of a tree. The boat gave a sudden lurch, and
he was thrown into the water and drowned. Another
event of this year that caused Melancthon much grief
was the tragic death of Henry von Zutphen, to whom
he and the whole university were much attached.
Zutphen had gone to preach the reformed doctrines
at Ditmas in Denmark, when he was seized by the
priests and put to death with great torture.
The Peasants War of 1524 and 1525 caused great
sorrow to the friends of the Reformation.
The insurrection began in the Black Forest in July,
1524, and rapidly spread as far as the Rhenish pro
vinces Franconia, Thuringia, and Saxony, so that in
January, 1525, all these countries were in a state of
rebellion. Thus there arose a great multitude of
seditious persons in various parts of Germany, who
PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES. 91
declared war against the laws and the magistrates,
and spread rapine, conflagration, and slaughter through
out the community. This rabble consisted for the
greater part of peasants, who were discontented with
the government of their lords ; hence this calamitous
outbreak has been called the war of the peasants.
But among them were a number of men of various
descriptions, some of whom were fanatics, but others
were idle and dissolute, who wished to live comfortably
on other people s labours.
It must not be forgotten, however, that at this
time the condition of the peasants was very bad, and
that the oppression of many of the barons was intoler
able. In several parts the peasants were treated as
slaves or serfs, and bought and sold with the lands
to which they were attached. And the landlords, the
barons, bishops, abbots, and priests, were generally
disposed to oppress and grind their tenants to the
utmost. Thus, prior to the present outbreak, there
had been several revolts of the peasants in one place
or another.
While at first the movement was altogether of a
civil nature, the peasants requiring to be relieved of
some part of their burdens and to enjoy greater free
dom, yet when Munzer, the fanatical Anabaptist,
joined the multitude, the commotion, especially in
Saxony and Thuringia, from civil became religious,
though the sentiments of the insurgents differed
greatly in this respect.
Luther when in the Wartburg had foreseen the
storm, and had addressed a serious exhortation to the
people with the object of restraining their agitation.
" Rebellion," said he, " never produces the amelioration
we desire, and God condemns it. What is it to rebel,
if it be not to avenge oneself ? The devil is striving
to excite to revolt those who embrace the Gospel, in
order to cover it with opprobrium ; but those who
have rightly understood my doctrine do not revolt."
About the end of January the peasants published
92 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
a declaration in twelve articles, in which they claimed
the liberty of choosing their own pastors, the abolition
of small tithes, of slavery, and of fines on inheritance,
the right to hunt, fish, and cut wood, etc. Each
demand was supported by a passage from the Bible,
and in conclusion they said, " If we are deceived, let
Luther correct us by Scripture."
The opinions of the Wittemberg divines were con
sulted. Luther and Melancthon delivered theirs
separately. The latter, who deemed every kind of
disturbance a crime, departed from his usual gentle
ness, and was hardly able to find language sufficiently
strong to express his indignation. The peasants were
criminals, against whom he invoked both human and
divine law. If friendly negotiation failed, the magis
trates ought to hunt them down as if they were robbers
and assassins. " And yet," he added, " let them take
pity on the orphans when having recourse to the
penalty of death ! "
Luther s opinion of the revolt was the same as
Melancthon s. But he felt for the miseries of the
people. He reminded the princes of their oppressions
of the poor, which had driven them to revolt, and
counselled mildness in quelling the disturbances,
pointing out that among the twelve articles there were
certain demands which were just and equitable. At
the same time he represented to the people that most
of their demands were well founded, but that to revolt
was to act like heathens ; that the duty of a Christian
is to be patient and not to fight ; that if they per
sisted in revolting against the Gospel in the name
of the Gospel he should look upon them as more
dangerous enemies than the pope.
But the revolt instead of dying away became more
formidable, and fearful cruelties, afterwards terribly
avenged, were perpetrated by the infuriated peasantry.
Fearful retribution overtook the misguided men. The
power of the princes was arrayed against them, and
after several defeats they were finally crushed at
PROGRESS, STORMS, AND LOSSES. 93
Mulhausen on May loth, 1525, when Mnnzer was
taken prisoner and put to death.
These sad events caused great trouble and anxiety
to the friends of the Reformation. The princes and
their partisans frequently declared that Luther and his
doctrine was the cause of the revolt, while, on the
other hand, the violence with which he had declared
against the rebels caused him to lose favour with the
people. The friends of Rome exulted. But Luther s
greatest affliction was to see the cause of Christ thus
dragged in the mire and classed with the most
fanatical projects.
A further source of trial to the Reformers in this
year of 1525 was the death of the aged Elector
Frederick, which took place on May 5th, while the
insurrection was at its height. While he lived he
had been a kind of mediator between the Roman
pontiff and Luther, nor would he give up the hope
that eventually a righteous and honourable peace
might be established between the contending parties,
without the formation of separate communities under
different regulations. Without giving direct aid to
the Reformer, the elector had sheltered him, so that
his work might not be hindered ; now that the shelter
had gone, and adversaries were advancing on every
side, it seemed as though there was nothing left to
defend the infant cause from the sword of those who
were pressing it with such violence.
The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Luther
and Melancthon. Luther delivered a short discourse
in German, and Melancthon an oration in Latin.
Melancthon also composed an epitaph in Latin verse
which was inscribed upon the elector s monument.
Frederick was succeeded in the electorate by his
brother John, a ruler who more openly favoured the
cause of the Reformation,
CHAPTER X.
A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHUKCHES.
|T what seemed to many of his friends a most
inauspicious moment, and when his life seemed
more likely to speedily end upon the scaffold
than to be passed in the enjoyment of domestic bliss,
Luther married Catherine Bora. Catherine was a nun
who, having embraced the Reformed faith, had two
years previously with eight of her fellow-nuns left
the convent at Nimptsch and sought refuge at Wittem-
berg. The marriage took place on June llth, 1525;
and by this action Luther still further broke away
from the Papacy. The adversaries of the Reformation
were indignant, and some of his friends, among whom
was Melancthon, thought the time ill-chosen.
But though at first alarmed, Melancthon speedily
came to the defence of his friend. " It is false and
slanderous," said he, " to maintain that there is
anything unbecoming in Luther s marriage. I think
that in marrying he must have done violence to
himself. A married life is one of humility, but it
is also a holy state, if there be any such in the world,
and the Scriptures everywhere represent it as honour
able in the eyes of God."
We have already seen how four years before this
event thirteen Augustine monks had left the monastery
at Wittemberg to return to the ordinary avocations of
daily life. These had been followed by others, until
Luther, who had assumed the dress of a secular priest,
was left algne in the old building. About the end
94
A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES. 95
of December, 1524, lie had sent the keys to the
elector, who gave the convent to the university and
invited Luther to continue his residence in it.
His marriage was a very happy one. " The best
gift of God," said he, " is a pious and amiable wife,
who fears God, loves her family, with whom a man
may live in peace and in whom he may confide."
He continued to reside in the old Augustine monastery,
AUGUSTINE MONASTERY, WITTEMBERG.
which became a joyous home, the rooms in which the
monks used to assemble echoing the merry prattle
of little tongues and the clatter of tiny feet. And
frequently might he and his Kertha, as he called
Catherine, have been seen sitting at the window that
overlooked their beautiful garden, singing together
sweet songs of praise.
And notwithstanding the adverse effects of the
revolt of the peasants, and the threatened danger from
the emperor and princes still favourable to the Papacy,
the cause of the Reformation continued to grow. The
96 PHILir MELANCTHON.
Elector John of Saxony adopted a somewhat bolder
course than his deceased brother had taken, and more
openly espoused the cause. Philip, the Landgrave of
Hesse, and Albert Duke of Prussia, openly favoured
it. The monastic orders were disappearing, convents
were being changed into hospitals, and the Gospel was
preached in the meanest villages.
Luther entreated the new elector to establish an
evangelical ministry in place of the Romish priesthood,
and to order a general visitation of the churches. At
Wittemberg the Reformers were beginning to exercise
episcopal functions and to ordain ministers. u Let
not the pope, the bishops, the monks, and the priests
exclaim," said Melancthon, " we are the Church ;
whosoever separates from us separates from the
Church ! There is no other Church than the assembly
of those who have the Word of God, and who are
purified by it."
About this time Erasmus sought to detach Melanc
thon from the Lutheran cause. He had been engaged in
an acrimonius dispute with Luther, whose bold nature
could not endure the learned Dutchman s trimming
artifice and sycophancy. Erasmus wrote to Melanc
thon, saying that he had read his Loci-Communes,
that he admired more than ever his candid and happy
genius, that he had given the most moderate counsel
to popes and princes, and that when Cardinal Cam-
peggio had sent one of his agents to discuss with him
the propriety of removing Melancthon from his present
situation, he had replied, " My answer was that I
sincerely wished such a genius as yours to be perfectly
free from all these contentions, but that I despaired
of your recantation." Erasmus then stated in his
letter, " I open this secret to you in the entire con
fidence that you will be candid enough not to divulge
it among the wicked ones."
Vexed at heart that the Lutheran cause should
be strengthened by the literary authority, unquestion
able moderation, and superior talents of Melancthon,
A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES.
97
Erasmus employed every means to separate him from
it. He fully believed that the Reformation could not
ultimately prevail, and wished to secure the merit of
winning over the learned Wittemberg professor to
the other side. But all his efforts were unavailing.
CHRISTMAS DAY IN LUTHER S HOME.
Melancthon replied to these advances in words of
courageous conscientiousness :
" For my part I cannot with a safe conscience
condemn the sentiments of Luther, however I may
be charged with folly or superstition ; that does not
weigh with me. But I would oppose them strenuously
if the Scriptures were on the other side ; most certainly
7
98 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
I shall never change my sentiments from a regard to
human authority, or from the dread of disgrace."
In the autumn of 1525 Melancthon repaired, at the
express solicitation of the Senate of Nuremberg and
with the elector s permission, to assist in preparing
a plan for the establishment of a public seminary in
that city. In this journey he was accompanied by
Camerarius ; but being simply of a preparatory nature,
he again visited the place in the following year, for
the purpose of establishing the academy and of giving
his advice concerning the management of ecclesiastical
affairs. He was also appointed to deliver an address
at the public opening of the academy, in which, after
showing the evil effects of ignorance as exhibited in
nations totally unacquainted with letters, and com
plimenting the Senate for introducing learning into
their city, he said :
" If you proceed to cultivate these studies you will
not only be illustrious in your own country, but
renowned abroad. You will be regarded as the author
of your country s best defence, for e no bulwarks can
prove more durable memorials of cities than the
learning, wisdom, and virtues of its citizens. 5 A
Spartan said that their walls ought to be constructed
of iron and not of stone ; but I am of opinion that
wisdom, moderation, and piety, form a better protection
than arms or walls. . . .
"It is not only a sin against heaven, but betrays
a brutal mind whenever any one refuses to exert him
self for the proper instruction of his children. One
great distinction between the human race and the
brute creation is this, that nature teaches the animal
to desist from all further care of its offspring as soon
as it grows up, but enjoins it upon man not only to
nourish his children during the first and infantine
period of life, but as they rise into maturer age to
cultivate their moral powers with increased assiduity
and diligence.
" In the proper constitution of a state, therefore,
A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES.
schools of learning are primarily requisite where the
rising generation, which is the foundation of a future
empire, should be instructed, for it is a most fallacious
idea to suppose that solid excellence is likely to be
acquired without due regard to instruction ; nor can
persons be suitably qualified to govern the state with-
NUREMBERG.
out the knowledge of those principles of right govern
ment which learning only can bestow.
" May the Lord Jesus Christ bestow His blessing
upon these transactions, and abundantly prosper your
counsels and the studies of your youth ! "
In May of the preceding year Charles V., in a
letter to his brother, the Archduke Ferdinand, had
commanded that a diet should be held at Augsburg.
This diet was opened on December llth, 1525. The
100 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
evangelical princes were not present in person, but
were represented by deputies, who spoke out boldly
and declared that the insurrection of the peasants was
owing to an impolitic severity, "jit is neither by fire
nor sword," said they, " that God s truth can be torn
from the heart. If you determine to employ violent
measures against the Reformation, more terrible
calamities will befall you than those which you have
so recently and so narrowly escaped."
It was generally felt in the assembly that whatever
resolution was adopted, its results would be of the
greatest importance, and as each desired to put off
the decisive moment in order to increase his own
strength, the diet was prorogued, to assemble again
at Spires in the May following.
Meanwhile Philip of Hesse and the Elector John
had formed an alliance, that if they were attacked on
account of the Word of God they would unite their
forces to resist their adversaries. This alliance was
ratified at Torgau, and was afterwards strengthened
by the admission of other princes favourable to the
evangelical cause.
But Luther and Melancthon desired that the cause
should be defended by God alone, not by force of
arms. Luther thought that the less men interfered
with it the more striking would be God s interposition.
Melancthon feared that the alliance of the evangelical
princes would precipitate the struggle they were
desirou^ of avoiding.
The Diet of Spires opened on June 25th, 1526.
In the instructions sent by the emperor, he ordered
that the Church customs should be maintained entire,
and called upon the diet to punish those who refused
to carry out the edict of Worms. Ferdinand himself
was at Spires, and his presence rendered these orders
more formidable. Never had the hostility which the
Romish partisans entertained against the evangelical
princes appeared in so striking a manner.
But the boldness and firmness of the friends of the
A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES. 101
Reformation weakened the power of their adversaries.
Men saw that they were animated by the spirit of the
Bible, and the timid and hesitating became brave.
Ferdinand deemed it inadvisable at this stage to
communicate to the diet the instructions he had
received, and substituted for them a proposition calcu
lated to satisfy both parties. The deputies from the
free cities called for the abolition of every usage con
trary to the faith of Jesus Christ, and the diet was
divided into committees for the abolition of abuses.
Ferdinand, stirred up by the more bigoted partisans
of Rome, published on August 3rd the instructions
he had received from Charles V. in favour of enforcing
the edict of Worms. The effect was immense. Per
secution seemed on the eve of breaking out. The
Elector John and the landgrave announced their
intention of quitting the diet, and ordered their
attendants to prepare for their departure. The
deputies of the free cities drew towards these two
princes, and it seemed as if the Reformation were
about to enter into an immediate conflict with the
emperor and the pope.
But the blow intended for the Reformation was
diverted, and fell upon the pontiff. He and the
emperor quarrelled. Charles stood in need of the
help of the German princes. So another letter was
sent to Ferdinand : " Let us suspend the Edict of
Worms ; let us bring back Luther s partisans by mild
ness ; and by a good council cause the triumph of
evangelical truth." So wrote the emperor.
The effect of this change of front upon the diet was
the declaration of religious liberty. By its recess,
dated August 27th, it decreed that a universal, or at
the least a national, free council should be convoked
within a year ; that the assembly should request the
emperor to return speedily to Germany ; and that
until then each state should behave in its own territory
in such a manner as to be able to render an account to
God and to the emperor.
102 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
Rome was sacked. Clement VII. was besieged in
the castle of St. Angelo, and finally capitulated,
renouncing every alliance against Charles V. and
binding himself to remain a prisoner until he had
paid the army four hundred thousand ducats. Terrible
was the carnage. The sack lasted ten days, a booty
of ten million golden crowns was collected, and
from five to eight thousand victims perished. The
Spaniards were the most cruel. Nothing could with
stand their fury. These faithful sons of the Church
put the prelates to death amidst horrible cruelties,
designed to extort their treasures from them, and
spared neither rank, sex, nor age.
Thus fell the papal capital ; audits splendour, which
from the beginning of the sixteenth century had been
world renowned, vanished in a few hours.
Luther and Melancthon trembled for the doomed
city. " I would not have Rome burnt, it would be
a monstrous deed," said the former ; and the latter
said, " I tremble for the libraries ; we know how
hateful books are to Mars."
The Reformation needed some years of repose that
it might grow and gain strength, and this seemed
only possible while its greatest enemies were at war
with each other. The madness of Clement VII.
formed, as it were, the lightning-conductor of the
Reformation, and the ruin of Rome built up the
Gospel in Germany. From 1526 to 1529 was a
period of rest from outside trouble for the Reformed
cause.
The papal yoke having been broken, the ecclesias
tical order needed re-establishing. It was impossible
to restore to the bishops their ancient jurisdiction,
as they regarded themselves as being in an especial
manner the servants of the pope. A new state of
things was called for, otherwise the Church, in the
Reformed states, would fall into anarchy. This need
was at once provided for.
The Landgrave of Hesse, upon his return from the
A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES. 103
Diet of Spires, devoted himself to the promotion of
the Reformation in his own provinces. He wrote
letters to Melancthon soliciting his advice, who urged
the prince to proceed in a gradual and cautious man
ner, conniving for a time at certain non-essentials, the
sudden abolition of which might be prejudicial to
the cause he desired to promote. Melancthon lamented
the contentions which existed among the Reformers
themselves, often about trifles, which should by
every means be avoided. The preachers of the
Gospel ought to inculcate not only the doctrines of
faith but the practice of piety, the fear of God, love
to man, and obedience to magistrates. He besought
his highness to abstain from every attempt to extend
the Reformation by military force ; for the late
occurrences of the rustic war would show that they
who delight in war should certainly be scattered.
" The Roman ecclesiastics instigate to war," he
said ; " why do not the rest exhort men to gain a
knowledge of the subject and to preserve peace ?
Your highness, I am convinced, might do a great
deal with the princes, if you would exhort them to
take pains to understand the points in dispute, and
endeavour to terminate these contentions."
The first Church constitution produced by the
Reformation was prepared under the guidance of
Francis Lambert for the Landgrave Philip, and was
established for the churches of his principality. The
other rulers in Germany, who had before the opening
of the diet rejected the papal authority, now carefully
employed the liberty afforded them to strengthen
their cause and to regulate properly their religious
affairs. During this period Luther and his associates,
especially those who resided with him at Wittemberg,
by their writings, preachings, admonitions, and refuta
tions, added courage to the irresolute and imparted
light and animation to all.
It was during this interval of rest from external
menace that the Elector of Saxony ordered the
104 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
visitation of the churches to be made that had been
recommended by Luther. A new ministry had to
be formed and a Christian people created. " Alas ! "
said Luther, referring to some of the adherents of
reform, " they have abandoned their Romish doctrines
and rites, and they scoff at ours." In October, 1526,
he had written to the Elector John as follows :
" Your highness, in your quality of guardian of
youth, and of all those who know not how to take
care of themselves, should compel the inhabitants
who desire neither pastors nor schools to receive these
means of grace, as they are compelled to work on
the roads, on bridges, and such-like services. The
papal order being abolished, it is your duty to regulate
these things ; no other person cares about them, no
other can, and no other ought to do so. Commission,
therefore, four persons to visit all the country ; let
two of them inquire into the tithes and Church
property, and let two take charge of the doctrine,
schools, churches, and pastors."
The visitation having been resolved upon, Melancthon
was commissioned to draw up the necessary instructions.
This he did, with the conviction that he must give
the Church, not the best form of worship imaginable,
but the best possible under the circumstances of the
time. In Switzerland the Eeformation had become
a democratic system, but in Germany it took a con
servative form. Melancthon went farther than Luther
in his concessions to the Roman system, and some
what later, in writing to one of the inspectors said,
" All the old ceremonies that you can preserve, pray
do so. Do not innovate much, for every innovation
is injurious to the people."
The Instructions were prepared under the title
Libellus Visitatorius, and were published with the
express sanction of the elector. The work was
divided into eighteen sections, comprehending the
doctrine of forgiveness and justification by faith in
Christ, the law, prayer, the endurance of tribulation,
A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES. 105
baptism, the Lord s Supper, repentance, confession,
the atonement, public worship, marriage, freedom of
the will, Christian liberty, the Turkish war, the
mode of preaching, excommunication, the office of
superintendents or bishops, and public schools of
literature.
In Melancthon s directory for the use of the Churches
as prepared above, the Latin liturgy was retained, a
few German hymns being mingled with it ; also the
communion in one kind for those <only who scrupled
from habit to take it in both, confession made to the
priest without being in any way obligatory, many
saints days, the sacred vestments, and other rites in
which he saw no harm were allowed to remain. At
the same time the doctrines of the Reformation were
set forth with reserve.
Perhaps Melancthon effected all that was possible
at that time, but it was necessary that one day the
work should be resumed and re-established on its
primitive plan. This was afterwards done by Calvin.
Many of the more ardent Reformers were dismayed
when the Instructions appeared. " Our cause is
betrayed," they cried, " the liberty is taken away that
Jesus Christ had given us." The Papists triumphed
and looked upon Melancthon s moderation as a
retraction, taking advantage of it to insult the Re
formation. The elector was astonished, and resolved
to communicate Melancthon s paper to Luther, who
merely made one or two unimportant additions and
then returned it with the highest eulogiums. He
knew that his friend s aim was to strengthen the
Reformation in all the Churches of Saxony, that in
everything there must be a transition, and being-
convinced that Melancthon was more than himself a
man of transition, he frankly accepted his view.
The Papists professed to discover in Melancthon s
Instructions a defection from many of the sentiments
of Luther, and hailed the imaginary difference with
great, but premature, exultation. Such a circum-
106 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
stance they eagerly desired, and from their standpoint
it would have been worthy of their congratulations.
But it was false. " Let our adversaries glory in their
lies," said Luther, " as they always do, for they take
no pleasure in truth." Again he writes : " Their
glorying is a miserable one, and will be ,of no long
continuance ; but let them solace themselves with
their vain hopes and joys, as they often do, and let
them swell and bluster. I am very well pleased."
At this time Melancthon confided to Camerarius
the tenor of a letter that had reached him. " I am
applied to from Bohemia to desert the Reformed
cause," he said, " and promised any remuneration
from King Ferdinand. Indeed, my defection is
publicly reported as a fact, because in the little book
written for the Reformed Churches I have shown an
increased degree of moderation ; and yet you perceive
I have really inserted nothing different from what
Luther constantly maintains. But because I have
employed no asperity of language, these very acute
men judge that I necessarily differ from Luther."
The general visitation began in October and No
vember, 1528, when Luther visited Saxony, Spalatin
the districts of Altenburg and Zwickau, Melancthon,
Thuringia, and Thuring Franconia. Ecclesiastical
deputies and several lay helpers accompanied them.
They purified the clergy by dismissing every priest
of scandalous life, assigned a portion of the Church
property to the maintenance of public worship, and
placed the remainder beyond the reach of plunder.
They continued the suppression of the convents, and
everywhere established unity of instruction ; they
commissioned the pastors of the great towns, under
the title of superintendents, to watch over the
churches and the schools ; they maintained the
abolition of celibacy, and the ministers of the Word,
becoming husbands and fathers, formed the germ of
a third estate, whence in after years were diffused in
all ranks of society learning, activity, and light.
A TRUCE VISITATION OF THE CHURCHES. 107
The results of the visitation spread beyond the
boundaries of Saxony, and exerted a powerful influence
throughout other states of the empire, so that the
new doctrines advanced with gigantic strides. The
years of peace \ were most usefully employed, the Re
formation not only framing for itself a constitution,
but extending its doctrine.
Persecution reigned, however, in many of the states
whose rulers belonged to the papal party, and numbers
were added to the noble army of martyrs, sealing
their testimony with their blood.
Much anxiety prevailed about this time lest the
Reformed princes, at the instigation of Philip of
Hesse, should prematurely declare war. A plot had
been discovered, all preparations were made, money
was subscribed, and the raising of an army began.
The plot of the Romanist princes was to demand
Luther from the Elector John, with all the apostate
priests, monks, and nuns, and in default to invade his
states and depose him and his descendants.
But as soon as Luther and Melancthon, who were
most immediately endangered, saw the probability of
an appeal to the sword, they uttered a cry of warning,
and immediately sent the following advice to the
elector : " Above all things let not the attack proceed
from our side, and let no blood be shed through our
fault. Let us wait for the enemy and seek after
peace. Send an ambassador to the emperor to make
him acquainted with this hateful plot."
The state of tension was extreme, and the agony
of mind of the leading Reformers great. Melancthon
cried in his anxiety, " I am worn away with sorrow, and
this anguish puts me to the most horrible torture."
The war cloud soon passed away. The plot was
discovered to be the fabrication of a crafty and dissi
pated man, the vice-chancellor to Duke George, who
had imposed upon the landgrave by means of a forged
document. Its falsity was proved, its author executed,
and peace restored.
CHAPTER XI.
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION.
second Diet of Spires had been convoked to
meet on February 21st, 1529. Ferdinand, the
emperor s brother, was to preside. Charles Y.
and the pope had concluded a peace, based on the
destruction of heresy. The emperor had resolved first
to endeavour to destroy the Reform by a federal vote ;
if that proved unavailing he would employ his whole
power against it. Thus was the Reformation to be
crushed !
The Elector John reached Spires attended by the
theologians Melancthon and Agricola only. The
papal party were powerful, decided, and largely in
the majority. The decree passed three years before,
giving the power to each prince to regulate religious
matters in his own territories as he saw fit until the
meeting of a general council, was revoked ; and all
changes in the public religion were declared to be
unlawful until the decision of the council should take
place.
Such a resolution could not appear as otherwise
than grievous to the Elector of Saxony, the Landgrave
of Hesse, and the other patrons of the Reformation.
It was well known that the pope would sooner con
cede anything than the assembly of a free and
legitimate council to decide the matters in dispute,
and consequently all reform in matters of faith was,
according to this new decree, to be stopped. The
108
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 109
evangelical princes argued against it, but finding
Ferdinand and the papal majority immovable, and
that their arguments and reasonings made no im
pression on the adherents of the old religion, who
were guided by the pontifical legate, they publicly
remonstrated against the decree on April 19th. In
the language of the jurists such a remonstrance was
called a Protest, and from these protesting princes
arose the name Protestants, borne henceforth by those
READING THE PROTEST AT SPIRES.
who forsook the Roman communion. In this protest
the evangelical princes appealed from the diet to the
emperor and to a future council.
This protest was first read in the hall of the diet
before the assembled states ; then as Ferdinand had
left the hall prior to the reading, it was presented to
him, and afterwards put into legal form and published.
The position of the Protestants in Spires at this
time was one of great danger. A curious circumstance
indicating this is related by Melancthon. Simon
110 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
Grynseus, a very intimate friend of his, and at this
time Greek professor in the University of Heidelberg,
who added zealous piety to profound learning, came
over unexpectedly to Spires to see Melancthon.
Being also intimate with Faber, Bishop of Vienna, one
of the most bitter opponents of reform at the diet,
Gryneeus went to him and begged him no longer
to make war against the truth. Faber dissembled his
anger, but on Gryngeus departure immediately re
paired to the king, from whom he obtained an order
against the Heidelberg professor.
No dissembler himself, Gryna3us returned to his
friends without any suspicion of the wily courtier s
intentions ; nor would any of them have known of the
impending danger but for what Melancthon deemed
a supernatural circumstance. They were all sitting
down to supper, and Grynaaus had related part of
his conversation with Faber, when Melancthon was
suddenly called out of the room to an old man, of
whom he had neither before seen nor heard, nor could
afterwards discover, who said that persons by the
king s authority would soon arrive to seize Gryngeus
and put him in prison, the bishop having influenced
the king to this persecuting measure. He enjoined
that instant means should be taken to secure the
departure of Grynseus to a place of safety, and then
immediately withdrew.
Melancthon and his friends instantly bestirred
themselves, and saw the endangered man safe across
the Rhine. " At last," cried the Wittemberg professor,
as he watched his friend reach the opposite side in
safety " At last he is torn from the cruel jaws of
those who thirst for innocent blood." When he
returned to his house Melancthon was informed that
officers in search of Grynasus had ransacked it from
top to bottom.
Nothing further requiring the presence of the
Protestant princes at Spires, they departed for their
homes. Melancthon reached Wittemberg on May
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. Ill
6th. He felt persuaded that the two parties would
resort to war, and his friends were alarmed at seeing
him agitated, exhausted, and almost like one dead.
"It is a great event that has just taken place at
Spires," he said ; " an event pregnant with dangers
not only to the empire but to religion itself. All the
pains of hell oppress me."
While at Spires he had availed himself of a
favourable opportunity to again visit his mother.
In the course of conversation she mentioned to him
the manner in which she was accustomed to perform
her devotions, and the form she generally used,
which was free from the prevailing superstitions.
" But what," said she, " am I to believe amidst so
many different opinions of the present day ? "
" Go on," replied Melancthon ; " believe and pray as
you do and have done before, and do not disturb
yourself about the disputes and controversies of the
times."
The Protest of Spires still farther increased the
indignation of the Papists, and the messengers sent by
the Protestant princes to deliver it to the emperor
were placed under arrest.
The Sacramental controversy continued to rage with
unabated violence, yet it was felt to be necessary for
the success of the Reformation that all the disciples
of the Word should be united. An attempt to bring
this about was made by Philip of Hesse, who arranged
a friendly conference between the opposing parties
at Marburg in October, 1529. Luther was to dispute
with (Ecolampadius and Melancthon with Zwingle.
But owing to the inflexible attitude of Luther, the
controversy failed to bring about an agreement ;
though before separating a report was drawn up and
signed by both the German and Swiss theologians
present, which, after enumerating the articles agreed
upon by both parties, concluded as follows :
u And although at present we are not agreed on
the question whether the real body and blood of
112 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
Christ are corporeally present in the bread and wine,
yet both the interested parties shall cherish more and
more a truly Christian charity for one another, so far
as conscience permits ; and we will all earnestly
implore the Lord to condescend by His Spirit to
confirm us in the sound doctrine."
In the same year, 1529, Luther wrote a preface to
the second edition of Melancthon s Commentary on the
Epistle to the Colossians, in which he speaks of it
as being a book small in size, but great in point of
matter and useful tendency, and states that he
prefers the writings of Melancthon to his own, and
was more desirous that they should be published and
read.
The Protest of Spires had been handed to Charles V.
while on his way from Genoa to Bologna ; which city
he entered on November 5th, 1529. There he was
met by the pope, whose feet he kissed, and to whom
he paid frequent visits. Finally it was arranged that
Charles should constrain the heretics by force, while
the pope was to summon all other princes to the
emperor s aid.
In February, 1530, Charles was crowned by the
pope at Bologna with great magnificence, and, kissing
the white cross embroidered on the pope s red slipper,
he exclaimed : " I swear to be, with all my powers
and resources, the perpetual defender of the pontifical
dignity and of the Church of Rome."
Then he turned his face toward Germany and
quickly appeared on the Alps, the anointed of the
Papacy coming by rigorous measures to maintain her
cause.
But prior to this, he had on January 21st, 1530,
summoned the states of the empire to meet at
Augsburg.
The alarm in Germany was great as the Protestants
heard of the emperor s advance, and many of the
affrighted people looked upon Luther and Melancthon
as already dead. "Alas!" said the latter, "the
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 113
rumour is but too true, for I die daily." Luther
boldly exclaimed : " Our enemies triumph, but ere
long to perish." And boldness characterised the
councils of the elector. " Let us collect our troops,
let us march on the Tyrol and close the passage of
the Alps against the emperor." Such was the counsel
given.
Bat before so doing the elector desired to consult
Luther, who, dreading the intervention of the secular
arm in Church affairs, gave his opinion against the
proposal.
" What must be done, then ? " was inquired.
" Listen ! " replied Luther. " If the emperor desires to
march against us, let no prince undertake our defence.
God is faithful : He will not abandon us."
The approaching diet was to be a lay council, or
at least a national convention, and it was deemed
advisable by the Protestants to settle what were the
essential articles of Christian truth, in order to know
how far it was possible to come to an understanding
with their adversaries. This task was confided to the
four principal theologians at Wittemberg Luther,
Melancthon, Jonas, and Pomeranus ; the definitive
arrangement of the Confession being committed to
Melancthon. Then after ordering prayers to be
offered, the elector, on April 3rd, began his journey
to Augsburg, accompanied by an escort of one hundred
and sixty horsemen.
All realised the danger of the elector thus placing
himself in the emperor s power, and many in the
escort marched with downcast eyes and sinking hearts.
But Luther, full of faith, revived the courage of his
friends by composing and singing the hymn, Our God
is a Strong Tower.
" With our own strength we nought can do,
Destruction yawns on every side :
He fights for us, our champion true,
Elect of God, to be our Guide.
8
114 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
What is His Name ? The anointed One,
The God of armies He ;
Of earth and heaven the Lord alone
With Him in field of battle won,
Abideth victory."
The elector took with him his most eminent divines
and theologians, including Luther and Melancthon ;
but not thinking it either safe or politic for Luther
to appear at Augsburg he commanded him to remain
at Coburg, within easy reach, while the others went
onward to Augsburg.
Meanwhile the emperor was approaching, accom
panied by Ferdinand, the Queens of Hungary and
Bohemia, the ambassadors of France, England, and
Portugal, the papal legate Campeggio, other cardinals,
and many princes and nobles of Germany, Spain, and
Italy.
The elector entered Augsburg on May 2nd, and
Philip of Hesse on the 12th. The preaching of the
Gospel was carried on in the cathedral and other
churches, which, arousing the ire of the priests, they
besought the emperor to interfere. Charles sent two
of his influential ministers to request that the evan
gelical preachings should be stopped. After referring
the matter to Luther and Melancthon, the elector
wrote to the emperor, stating that nothing but God s
truth was declared in the preaching, that it was neces
sary for them, and that they could not do without it.
As it was foreseen that Charles, on receipt of this
letter, would hasten his journey to Augsburg, it became
urgent that the Confession of Faith should be imme
diately prepared, so that the evangelical princes might
be prepared to receive him. To Philip Melancthon
this important work had been assigned, and though
frail of body, and in much trepidation at the task set
before him, he had undertaken it, and worked at it
diligently day and night. Indeed, so unremittingly
did he labour, that his friends trembled lest he should
die before the Confession was completed. Luther
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION.
115
enjoined him to take measures for the preservation
of his little body, and not " to commit suicide for the
love of God," adding: " God is as usefully served by
repose ; and, indeed, man never serves Him better
than by keeping himself tranquil. V
But Melancthon s application increased, and he pre
pared an exposition of the Christian faith, mild,
AUGSBURG.
moderate, and as little removed as possible from the
doctrine of the Roman Church. Often did he weep
over the page, and frequently did he complain of his
incompetence for such a work.
On May llth The Apology, as the Confession was
named, was completed. Luther s advice had been
continually sought during its preparation, and there is
no doubt that the skill displayed and the sentiments
116 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
stated met with his approval. The elector sent the
work to him, requesting him to mark whatever needed
alteration, and Melancthon, who feared he might find
the Confession too weak, added, " I have said what I
thought most useful ; for Eck is always circulating
the most diabolical calumnies against us, and I have
endeavoured to oppose an antidote to his poisons."
" I have read Master Philip s Apology" replied
Luther to the elector. " I like it well enough, and
have no corrections to make. Besides, that would
hardly suit me, for I cannot walk so meekly and so
silently. May Christ our Lord grant that the work
may produce much and great fruit."
Possibly the mental strain of preparing this impor
tant document in so short a time, added to ill-health
and natural timidity, brought on that state of extreme
depression and excitability from which Melancthon
suffered during the remainder of his stay at Augsburg.
It is stated that he was in constant agitation, running
to and fro, slipping in everywhere, visiting not only
the houses and mansions of private persons, but also
finding his way into the palaces of cardinals and princes
and even into the court of the emperor. And wherever
he went he spared no means in trying to persuade
those he met that nothing was easier than to restore
peace between the two parties.
But others were not so ready to accept this view,
and the proceedings of the papal party were calculated
to disturb the stoutest heart. Efforts were especially
directed by them against the elector and the Protes
tant princes, with the object of causing these noble
men to act false to their conscience or to incur the
severe displeasure of the emperor. The elector s
burden was particularly heavy, for not only had he to
take the lead among the princes, but to defend himself
against the enervating influence of Melancthon at this
time. But the spirit that actuated these men was
well expressed, when in the emperor s private chamber
the elector and three other princes had to choose
TEE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 117
between fidelity to conscience and Charles indigna
tion. " Rather than allow the Word of the Lord to
be taken from me," said one of their number, the
Margrave of Brandenburg, " rather than deny my God,
I would kneel down before your majesty and have my
head cut off."
The diet was opened on June 20th, 1530 ; and
Charles, after much hesitation, on the 22nd ordered
the elector and his allies to have their Confession
ready for Friday the 24th. A fair copy had to be
made, and the conclusions as well as the exordium to
be definitely drawn up. Incessant labour was there
fore bestowed, even during the night, to correct and
transcribe this document.
On the following morning, the 23rd, all the Pro
testant princes, deputies, councillors, and theologians,
met early at the elector s. The Confession was read
in German, and all gave their adhesion to it, except
the Landgrave of Hesse and the deputies from Stras-
burg, who desired a change in the article on the
Sacrament.
The Elector of Saxony was preparing to sign the
document, when Melancthon, who feared giving too
political a colouring to this religious business, stopped
him, saying : " It is for the theologians and ministers
to propose these things ; let us reserve for other mat
ters the authority of the mighty ones of the earth."
" God forbid that you should exclude me," replied
the elector ; " I am resolved to do what is right
without troubling myself about my crown. I desire
to confess the Lord. My electoral hat and my ermine
are not so precious to me as the cross of Jesus Christ.
I shall leave on earth these marks of my greatness,
but my Master s cross will accompany me to heaven."
Then the elector signed, followed by the landgrave
and the other Protestant princes, and the deputies
from Nuremberg and Reutlingen ; all resolved to
demand from the emperor that the Confession should
be read publicly.
118 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
Melancthon had no thought of turning back, and
was quite prepared to confess his faith ; but, at this
time, he was filled with sadness. Reproached by
some of his own friends for his weakness, he was
upbraided by the opposite party for what they termed
his hypocrisy. Camerarius, who visited Augsburg
during the sitting of the diet, often found him plunged
in thought, uttering deep sighs, and shedding bitter
tears ; and Jonas, moved by his sorrow, sought to
console him by exhorting him to take the Book of
Psalms and cry to God with all his heart, making
use of David s words rather than his own.
June 25th was the day finally appointed for the
reading of the Confession, and on the eve of that
day Melaucthon in imagination had the scene vividly
before him. He was in great distress. One word
too many or too few might decide on the approbation
or the hatred of the princes, on the safety or the ruin
of the Reformation and of the empire. His anguish
was too great to bear, and writing to Luther s
secretary, he said, " All my time here is spent in
tears and mourning." On the morrow he wrote to
Luther himself at Coburg : " My dwelling is in per
petual tears. My consternation is indescribable.
my father ! I do not wish to exaggerate my sorrows ;
but without your consolations it is impossible for me
to enjoy the least peace."
Luther himself was anxiously awaiting news from
Augsburg, but day after day passed and none came.
At last letters arrived, and learning that Melancthon s
anguish still continued, Luther wrote to him in the
following words :
" Grace and peace in Christ ! in Christ, I say, and
not in the world, Amen. I hate with exceeding hatred
those extreme cares which consume you. If the cause
is unjust, abandon it : if the cause is just, why should
we belie the promises of Him who bids us to sleep
without fear ? Can the devil do more than kill us ?
Christ will not be wanting to the work of justice and
120 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
truth. He lives ; He reigns. What fear, then, can
we have? God is powerful to upraise His cause if
it is overthrown, to make it proceed, if it is motion
less ; and if we are not worthy of it, He will do it by
others.
" I have received your Apology, and I cannot
understand what you mean when you ask what we
must concede to the .Papists. We have already
conceded too much. Night and day I meditate on
this affair, turning it over and over, diligently searching
the Scriptures, and the conviction of the truth of
our doctrine every day becomes stronger in my mind.
With the help of God, I will not permit a singi e
letter of all that we have said to be torn from us.
" The issue of this affair torments you because
you cannot understand it. But if you could, I would
not have the least share in it. God has put it in
a common place, that you will not find either in
your rhetoric or in your philosophy : that place is
called Faith. It is that in which subsist all things
that we can neither understand nor see. Whosoever
wishes to touch them, as you do, will have tears
for his sole reward.
" If Christ is not with us, where is He in the whole
universe ? If we are not the Church, where, I pray,
is the Church ? Is it the Dukes of Bavaria, is it
Ferdinand, is it the pope, is it the Turk, who is the
Church ? If we have not the Word of God, who
is it that possesses it ?
" Only we must have faith, lest the cause of faith
should be found to be without faith. If we fall,
Christ, that is to say, the Master of the world, falls
with us. I would rather fall with Christ than remain
standing with Caesar."
On the afternoon of the 25th the emperor took
his seat on the throne in the chapel of the Palatine
Palace, surrounded by the electors or their repre
sentatives, and the other princes and states of the
empire. The papal legate had refused to appear, lest
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 121
by his presence he should seem to authorise the
reading of the Confession. Then stood up the Elector
John of Saxony and his son John Frederick, Philip of
Hesse, and the other signatories to the document. The
emperor, seeing this, motioned the Protestants to sit
down, after which the two chancellors of the elector,
Briick and Bayer, advanced to the middle of the
chapel and stood "before the throne, holding in their
hands, the former the Latin and the other the German
copy of the Confession. The emperor required the
Latin copy to be read. " We are Germans," said
the Elector of Saxony, " and on German soil ; I hope,
therefore, your majesty will allow us to speak
German." The emperor complied. If read in Latin
the general effect would have been lost on most of
the princes.
Bayer then began to read the Confession, or Apology,
slowly, seriously, distinctly, with a clear, strong, and
sonorous voice, which re-echoed under the arched roof
of the chapel, and carried even to the outside this
great testimony paid to the truth.
" Most serene, most mighty, and invincible emperor
and most gracious lord," said he, " we who appear
in your presence declare ourselves ready to confer
amicably with you on the fittest means of restoring one
sole, true, and same faith, since it is for one sole and
same Christ that we fight. And in case that these
religious dissensions cannot be settled amicably, we
then offer to your majesty to explain our cause in a
general, free, and Christian council."
Then Bayer confessed the Holy Trinity, conformably
with the Nicene Council, original and hereditary sin,
"which bringeth eternal death to all who are not
born again," and the incarnation of the Son, " very
God and very man."
" We teach, moreover," he continued, " that we
cannot be justified before God by our own strength,
our merits, or our works ; but that we are justified
freely for Christ s sake through faith, when we be-
122 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
lieve that our sins are forgiven in virtue of Christ,
who by His death has made satisfaction for our sins :
this faith is the righteousness that God imputeth to
the sinner.
" But we teach, at the same time, that this faith
ought to bear good fruits, and that we must do all the
good works commanded by God, for the love of God,
and not by their means to gain the grace of God."
Faith in the Christian Church was next declared,
" which is the assembly of all true believers and
all the saints," in the midst of whom are, in this
life, many false Christians, hypocrites, and manifest
sinners ; and, added the Confession, " that it is
sufficient for the real unity of the Church that they
agree on the doctrine of the Gospel and the adminis
tration of the Sacraments, without the rites and cere
monies instituted by man being everywhere the same."
The necessity of baptism was proclaimed, and it was
asserted " that the body and blood of Christ are really
present and administered in the Lord s Supper to
those who partake of it."
The chancellor then successively confessed the faith
of the Protestants touching confession, penance, the
nature of the Sacraments, the government of the
Church, ecclesiastical ordinances, political government,
and the last judgment. " As regards free will," he
read, " we confess that man s will has a certain liberty
of accomplishing civil justice, and of loving the things
that reason comprehends ; that man can do the good
that is within the sphere of nature plough his fields,
eat, drink, have a friend, put on a coat, build a house,
take a wife, feed cattle, exercise a calling ; as also
he can, of his own movement, do evil, kneel before an
idol, commit murder. But we maintain that without
the Holy Ghost he cannot do what is righteous in the
sight of God."
Then recalling to mind that the doctors of the pope
" have never ceased impelling the faithful to puerile
arid useless works, as the custom of chaplets, invoca-
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 123
tion of saints, monastic vows, processions, fasts,
feast-days, brotherhoods," the Protestants added, that
as for themselves, while urging the practice of truly
Christian works, of which little had been said before
their time, " they taught that man is justified by faith
alone ; not by that faith which is a simple knowledge
of the history, and which wicked men and even devils
possess, but by a faith which believes not only the his
tory, but also the effect of the history ; which believes
that through Christ we obtain grace ; which sees that
in Christ we have a merciful Father ; which knows this
God ; which calls upon Him ; in a word, which is not
without God, as the heathen are."
" Such," said Bayer, " is a summary of the doctrine
professed in our Churches, by which it may be seen
that this doctrine is by no means opposed to Scripture,
to the Universal Church, nor even to the Romish
Church, such as the doctors describe it to us ; and
since it is so, to reject us as heretics is an offence
against unity and charity."
This ended the first part of the Confession, that
which explained the evangelical doctrine ; next
followed the portion destined to expose errors and
abuses.
Bayer, continuing his reading, explained and demon
strated the doctrine of the two kinds ; he attacked
the compulsory celibacy of priests, maintained that
the Lord s Supper had been changed into a regular
fair, in which it was merely a question of buying and
selling, and that it had been re-established in its
primitive purity by the Reformation, and was celebrated
in the evangelical Churches with entirely new devotion
and gravity. He declared that the Sacrament was
administered to no one who had not first made con
fession of his faults, and he quoted this expression
of Chrysostom, " Confess thyself to God the Lord,
thy real Judge ; tell thy sin, not with the tongue,
but in thy conscience and in thy heart."
The precepts on the distinction of meats and other
124 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
Roman usages were next noticed. " Celebrate such
a festival, repeat such a prayer, or keep such a fast ;
be dressed in such a manner, and so many other
ordinances of men this is what is now styled a
spiritual and Christian life ; while the good works
prescribed by God, as those of a father of a family
who toils to support his wife, his sons, and his
daughters of a mother who takes care of her children
of a prince or of a magistrate who governs his
subjects, are looked upon as secular things, and of an
imperfect nature. As for monastic vows in parti
cular, the Confession represented that, as the pope
could give a dispensation from them, these vows
ought to be abolished.
The last article of the Confession treated of the
authority of the bishops, and notwithstanding the
powerful princes, who wore the episcopal mitre, that
were present, Bayer fearlessly continued : " Many
have unskilfully confounded the episcopal and the
temporal power ; and from this confusion have
resulted great wars, revolts, and seditions. It is for
this reason, and to reassure men s consciences, that
we find ourselves constrained to establish the differ
ence which exists between the power of the Church
and the power of the sword.
" We therefore teach that the power of the keys,
or of the bishops is, conformably with the Word of
the Lord, a commandment emanating from God to
preach the Gospel, to remit or retain sins, and to
administer the Sacraments. This power has reference
only to eternal goods, is exercised only by the minister
of the Word, and does not trouble itself with political
administration. The political administration, on the
other hand, is busied with everything else but the
Gospel. The magistrate protects, not souls but
bodies and temporal possessions. He defends them
against all attacks from without, and by making use
of the sword and of punishment, compels men to
observe civil justice and peace.
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 125
" For this reason we must take particular care not
to mingle the power of the Church with the power
of the State. The power of the Church ought never
to invade an office that is foreign to it ; for Christ
Himself said : i My kingdom is not of this world? And
again : i Who made Me a judge over you ? St. Paul
said to the Philippians : l Our citizenship is in heaven.
And to the Corinthians : i The weapons of our warfare
are not carnal, but mighty through God?
" It is thus that we distinguish the two governments
and the two powers, and that we honour both as the
most excellent gifts that God has given us here on
earth. The duty of the bishops is therefore to preach
the Gospel, to forgive sins, and to exclude from the
Christian Church all who rebel against the Lord, but
without human power, and solely by the Word of
God. If the bishops act thus, the Churches ought
to be obedient to them, according to this declaration
of Christ : i Whosoever heareth you, heareth Me?
" But if the bishops teach anything that is contrary
to the Gospel, then the Churches have an order from
God which forbids them to obey (Matt. vii. 15 ; Gal.
i. 8 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 8, 10). And St. Augustine himself,
in his letter against Pertilian, writes : We must
not obey the Catholic bishops if they go astray and
teach anything contrary to the canonical Scriptures
of God. "
Some remarks followed on the ordinances and
traditions of the Church, and then the epilogue of the
confession : "It is not from hatred that we have
spoken, nor to insult any one ; but we have explained
the doctrines that we maintain to be essential, in
order that it may be understood that we admit of
neither dogma nor ceremony which is contrary to the
Holy Scriptures, and to the usage of the Universal
Church."
Bayer had read for two hours. The silence and
serious attention of the assembly had not been once
disturbed. When he finished, Chancellor Brtick pre-
126 PHILIP MELA1SCTHON.
sented both the Latin and German copies to the
emperor s secretary. Charles V. took the two Confes
sions, handed the German one, which was considered
official, to the Elector of Mentz, and kept the Latin
copy for himself. He then made reply to the Elector
of Saxony and his allies that he had graciously heard
their Confession, but as this affair was one of extreme
importance, he required time to deliberate upon it.
The reading of the Confession had produced a deep
impression. u We would not for a great deal have
missed being present at this reading," was the remark
made on every side, and the Bishop of Augsburg
exclaimed, " All that the Lutherans have said is true ;
we cannot deny it."
A characteristic anecdote is related of the Duke of
Bavaria and Dr. Eck. The duke, who was a violent
opponent of the Reformation, said in a reproachful
tone, " Well, doctor, you had given me a very
different idea of this doctrine and of this affair." He
then added, " But, after all, can you refute by sound
reasons the Confession made by the elector and his
allies ? " u With the writings of the apostles and
prophets no ! " replied Eck ; " but with those of the
Fathers and of the Councils yes ! " "I understand,"
quickly answered the duke, " I understand. The
Lutherans, according to you, are in Scripture ; and
we are outside."
The impression produced outside Germany was
perhaps even greater than among its own inhabitants.
The Confession was translated into French, Italian,
Spanish, and Portuguese, and circulated through all
Europe. Charles himself sent copies to all the courts.
It destroyed the prejudices that had been entertained,
gave Europe a sounder idea of the Reformation, and
prepared the most distant countries to receive the
seeds of the Gospel.
On June 26th, the emperor summoned the princes
and other members of the diet who were adherents
of the Papacy, and set before them the question, "What
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 127
reply should be made to the Confession ? " It was
decided, after an animated discussion, that a refutation
should be composed, read to the Protestants in the
diet, and ratified by the emperor. The preparation
of this refutation was entrusted to Eck, Faber, and
other champions of Rome, numbering twenty in all,
who sat twice a day, and on July 13th transmitted
to Charles V. a volume of two hundred and eighty
pages, filled with abuse. So violent a contrast did
this present to Melancthon s Confession that the
emperor would not allow it to be read to the diet, but
returned it to the commission, and required them to
draw it up anew, shorter, and in more moderate
language.
Meanwhile strenuous efforts were made to seduce
the Protestant princes from their allegiance to the
Reformed cause. Lavish promises were made of
favours to be bestowed if they submitted to Rome ;
terrible threats of the emperor s anger if they re
mained obdurate. But while willing to agree on all
non-essential points, so as to preserve unity, they
remained firm when conscience and duty to God were
imperilled; preferring to enjoy the grace of God
rather than the favours of the mighty, or the joys that
this world affords.
On August 3rd the diet assembled to hear the
reading of the revised Refutation. The emperor
occupied the throne in the same chapel in which Bayer
had read the Confession. When the elector and the
other Protestant princes were introduced, the court
palatine, addressing them, said : u His majesty
having handed your Confession to several doctors of
different nations, illustrious by their knowledge, their
morals, and their impartiality, has read their reply
with the greatest care and submits it to you as
his own."
The Refutation was then read. It upheld the seven
sacraments, the mass, transubstantiation, the with
drawal of the cup, the celibacy of priests, the invocation
128 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
of saints, and denied that the Church was an assembly
of the saints.
After the reading the court palatine, who acted as
Charles spokesman, declared that his majesty found
the articles of the Refutation orthodox, catholic, and
conformable to the Gospel ; that he therefore required
the Protestants to abandon their Confession, now
refuted, and to adhere to all the articles which had
just been set forth ; that if they refused, the emperor
would remember his office, and would know how
to show himself the advocate and defender of the
Roman Church.
The Protestants were to consider their Confession
refuted because they were commanded so to do. But
they remained unshaken, and asked for a copy of
the Refutation. This was at first refused, and after
wards offered on terms that made its acceptance quite
inadmissible. One of the auditors, Camerarius, had,
however, noted down a considerable portion of its
contents.
Violent counsels were given to Charles V. and war
and persecution appeared imminent. The emperor,
indeed, went so far as to place his own guards at the
city gates, with instructions to allow no one to pass.
The Protestant princes and deputies were prevented
from leaving the city, and the climax of the straggle
seemed at hand.
On August 6th they received a sudden summons
to appear before commissioners appointed by the
emperor ; and on their arrival, Joachim, Elector of
Brandenburg, who acted as spokesman for the com
mission, addressing the Protestants said: " You know
with what mildness the emperor has endeavoured to
re-establish unity. If some abuses have crept into
the Christian Church he is ready to correct them,
in conjunction with the pope. But how contrary to
the Gospel are the sentiments you have adopted !
Abandon your errors, do not any longer remain
separate from the Church, and sign the Refutation
130 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
without delay. If you refuse, then, through your
fault, how many souls will be lost, how much blood
shed, what countries laid waste, what trouble in all
the empire ! And you," said he, turning to the Elector
of Saxony, "your electorate, your life, all will be torn
from you, and certain ruin will fall upon your subjects,
and even upon their wives and children."
To submit voluntarily, or be reduced by force, was
the dilemma placed before the Protestants. " We
now understand," said they one to another, " why the
imperial guards occupy the gates of the city." But
they remained firm, and, begging a few minutes delay
to consider their reply, retired.
At this moment a startling rumour increased the
agitation the Landgrave of Hesse had escaped from
the city ! Irritated by Charles treatment, and con
vinced that there was no more chance of peace, he
had, in a foreign disguise, at night, passed the
emperor s guards and was now fleeing with headlong-
speed from Augsburg. He would thus be able to act
freely and serve as a support to the evangelical states.
Then occurred a sudden change of action in the
diet. Fear arose on the part of some of the German
princes who favoured Rome, but whose states were
contiguous to the landgrave s, for the safety of their
frontiers. They were not prepared for war, nor willing
that the emperor should make use of their troops for
attacking the heretics. The appeal to arms was
therefore opposed, and henceforth their cry was
Peace !
Conferences were now held to try and entangle the
Reformers and re-subject them to the dominion of the
Papacy. A mixed commission was framed consisting
on each side of two princes, two lawyers, and three
theologians. On the Roman side were Duke Henry
of Brunswick, the Bishop of Augsburg, the Chancellors
of Baden and Cologne, and Eck, Cochleus, and Wim-
pina ; on that of the Protestants, the Margrave George
of Brandenburg, the Prince Electoral of Saxony, the
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 131
Chancellors Briick and Haller, and Melancthon,
Brentz, and Schnepf.
The Evangelical Confession was taken as a basis,
and read article by article. By appearing to agree
to the less important articles the Romanists sought
to gain concessions from the Protestants on those
that were fundamental, or to get them stated in such
manner that an ultimate appeal would be made to
Rome. Melancthon, as the principal doctor on the
Protestant side, was more especially approached by
the Papists. He was willing to make great con
cessions to preserve unity, and to some he and the
other Protestant theologians seemed to approach
dangerously near the abyss of ruin in the points
yielded. The bishops were to have their jurisdiction
restored, and even the pope was to be acknowledged
(but by human right only) as supreme bishop of
Christendom.
Then evangelical Christians became alarmed.
" Better die with Jesus Christ than gain the whole
world without Him," said the people of Augsburg.
And Luther, from Coburg, cried, u I learn that you
have begun a marvellous work, namely, to reconcile
Luther and the pope ; but the pope will not be
reconciled, and Luther begs to be excused."
But the arrogance of the Papacy caused the failure
of the negotiations. The pope had in the previous
July assembled a consistory of cardinals, who rejected
the concessions called for in the Augsburg Confession,
and the legate Campeggio, as he saw the disposition
of the Protestant divines to reduce their minimum,
urged more earnestly Charles V. and the Catholic
princes to concede nothing. " Celibacy, confession,
the withdrawal of the cup, private masses ! " ex
claimed he, " all are obligatory ; we must have them
all."
The Protestants eyes were opened. Courage re
vived. The humiliating capitulation was rejected, and
the commission immediately dissolved,
132 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
A second and smaller commission was appointed,
consisting on the papal side of Eck and the
Chancellors of Cologne and Baden, and on the other
side of Melancthon with the Chancellors Brtick and
Haller. But compromise without the sacrifice of
principle was found to be impossible ; and not only
did the conference come to nought, but it was seen
that all others would be superfluous.
Melancthon had failed in his efforts to bring about
unity. Earnestly desirous of peace, he had under
taken an impossible task. His friends now west* that
though willing to yield much, he was loyal to Christ,
and his defeat justified him in the eyes of the
Protestants. Referring to this period of his history,
the ecclesiastical historian Mosheim states :
" In these discussions the character of Philip
Melancthon, whom as the principal doctor among the
Protestants the adherents of the pontiff took special
pains to conciliate, very clearly appeared. He seemed
easy of access and ready to make concessions when
his opposers dealt in compliments and promises ;
but when they would terrify him by threats and
denunciation he seemed quite another man, bold,
courageous, and regardless of life and fortune. For
in this great man a mild and tender spirit was united
with the strictest fidelity and an invincible attach
ment to what he regarded as the truth."
The emperor s recess of the diet was drawn up and
read to the Protestants assembled in his palace, by
the court palatine, on September 22nd. In this
decree the emperor granted to the Elector of Saxony,
the five Protestant princes, and the six cities, a delay
of six months, during which to come to an arrange
ment with the Church, the pope, the emperor, and
all the princes and monarchs of Christendom. This
delay was granted on the express condition that the
Protestants should immediately join the emperor in
reducing the Anabaptists and all those who opposed
the Holy Sacrament (the Zwinglians). Finally they
THE PROTEST AND CONFESSION. 133
were forbidden to make any innovations, to print or
sell anything on the objects of faith, or to draw any
one whatever to their sect, " since the Confession had
been soundly refuted by the Holy Scriptures."
Briick replied on behalf of the Protestants. " We
maintain," said he, " that our Confession is so based
on the holy Word of God that it is impossible to
refute it. We consider it as the. very truth of God,
and we hope by it to stand one day before the
judgment seat of the Lord." He then announced that
they had refuted the Refutation, and, stepping forward,
offered Charles The Apology for the Confession of
Augsburg, which had been prepared by Melancthon
from the notes taken by Camerarius. This the
emperor declined.
All hopes of accommodation had now vanished,
and the worst was anticipated. " We expect," said
Melancthon, " violent measures, for no moderation can
satisfy the popish faction. They, in fact, seek our
destruction. Pray that God may preserve us."
On the 23rd the Elector of Saxony, accompanied
by other of the Protestant princes, quitted Augsburg ;
and on November 19th a still more hostile decree
against them was read to the diet and passed by
command of the emperor. Two days later Charles
quitted Augsburg. Nothing remained but war !
CHAPTER XII.
KOYAL INVITATIONS.
;HE political and ecclesiastical history of Ger
many during the remaining years of Melanc-
thon s life is so interwoven that space prevents
more than a brief allusion to a few of the more important
events in which the subject of this biography took part.
In December, 1530, and again in March, 1531, the
Elector of Saxony and his associates assembled at
Smalcald, and afterwards at Frankfort, and formed
a league for their mutual protection against the evils
which the edict of Augsburg portended, excluding
all offensive operation against any one. They also
took measures to induce the kings of France, England,
and Denmark, as well as other princes and states,
to join the confederacy. The common danger had
also drawn together the Swiss and Saxon Reformers.
" We are one in the fundamental articles of faith,"
the Zwinglians had said ; " receive us." And the
Saxon deputies had replied, " Let us unite for the
consolation of our brethren and the terror of our
enemies."
Soon after these transactions Melancthon and Luther,
with other divines, met together to deliberate upon
the proper measures to be adopted in the present
emergency. After prayer had been offered, Melancthon,
who was much depressed, was called out of the room,
and saw some of the elders of the Reformed Churches
with their parishioners and families. Little children
were in their mothers arms, while others, somewhat
134
ROYAL INVITATIONS. 135
older, were engaged in prayer. This reminded him
of the Psalmist s language, " Out of the mouth of
babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength
because of Thine enemies," and so animated him that
he returned to his friends with a cheerful countenance.
Luther, astonished at the sudden change, inquired
the reason, when Melancthon replied : " sirs, let
us not be discouraged, for I have seen our noble
protectors, and such as I will venture to say will
prove invincible against every foe." Asked as to
who those powerful heroes were, Melancthon added :
" Oh ! they are the wives of our parishioners and
their little children whose prayers I have just
witnessed, prayers which I am satisfied our God will
hear ; for as our heavenly Father and the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ has never despised or rejected
our supplications, we have reason to trust that He
will not in the present alarming crisis."
Again outside events made it expedient for
Charles V. to conciliate the Protestant princes, and
a peace was concluded at Nuremberg in 1532 ; the
Protestants agreeing to contribute money for the
Turkish war then impending, and to acknowledge
Ferdinand as king of the Romans (whose title they
had challenged). Charles, on his part, consented to
annul the edicts of Worms and Augsburg, and to
allow the followers of Luther full liberty to regulate
their religious matters, until either a council or a
diet of the empire should determine what religious
principles were to be adopted and obeyed.
In August, 1532, the Elector John died suddenly of
apoplexy. Luther and Melancthon, who had been
sent for, arrived only in time to see him expire. The
latter delivered a funeral oration in Latin, in which
the virtues of the deceased prince were extolled.
He was succeeded by his son John Frederick, who
was devotedly attached to the Protestant cause.
After the Turks had been compelled to retreat
Charles urged the pope to hasten the meeting of
136 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
a general council. But Clement, anxious to delay
matters, appointed his nuncio to accompany the em
peror s ambassador, and to confer with the new elector
on the subject ; proposing that the council should be
convened at Mantua, Bologna, or Placentia, instead of
being a free council held in Germany as required by
the Protestants.
The elector referred the proposition to his principal
divines, when Melancthon stated it as his decided
conviction : " That the Roman pontiff was practising
a piece of dissimulation to cajole them into conditions
to which they must not submit ; that he made extra
ordinary concessions to induce them to agree to the
decisions of a general convention of his arrangement,
to which he (Melancthon) could not agree, because it
ought to be a free assembly in which opinions on both
sides might be discussed fairly and without restraint ;
that a deceptive purpose was obvious, and it would
be preposterous to consent to a council before they
knew what forms of proceedings were to be adopted,
or who were to be implicated in its decrees ; that the
emperor could not, and the pope would not actually
convene it."
In this opinion all present concurred, and intimated
to the nuncio that as the controversy had arisen and
was principally conducted in Germany, there the
council ought to be assembled.
An attempt was made in 1534 to bring to an end
the Sacramental controversy between the Swiss and
Saxon Reformers, and Melancthon was commissioned
to confer with Bttcer at Gassel, but the effort was
unsuccessful ; as was also an endeavour made the
same year by Ferdinand; Duke George, and the
Elector of Saxony, to arrange the religious differences
between the Protestants and Papists in Germany.
Clement VII. died in 1534 and was succeeded by
Paul III.
In the following year Melancthon received a pressing
invitation from Francis I., the King of France, to
ROYAL INVITATIONS. 137
visit that country, with the object of healing the
differences in religion then existing in that kingdom.
The letter, which was sent by the king, was supported
by another from Cardinal Bel lay, urging upon the
recipient the importance of this visit. But though
Melancthon was willing to comply with the request,
and Luther urged the elector to allow the journey
to be made, John Frederick was dubious of any real
good resulting to the cause of evangelical truth, and
being also apprehensive of offending the emperor, he
withheld his consent.
Melancthon also received an invitation from Henry
VIII. to visit England ; but the elector was averse
to the visit being paid, and though much disappointed
at the interdiction, Melancthon acquiesced, and wrote
a letter, complimenting the king in very elegant style
upon his literary inclination, sending him also a copy
of the Commentary on the Romans.
Several circumstances occurred about this time to
excite the state of extreme depression which greatly
embittered some of the years of Melancthon s life.
He narrowly escaped being struck by lightning, he
suffered severely in his back through a fall ; and the
removal of the academy from Wittemberg to Jena,
on account of pestilence then raging in the former
city, caused much inconvenience and discomfort.
Another source of anxiety was occasioned by renewed
disturbances on the part of the Anabaptists.
A journey was taken among his friends, and a visit
paid to the place of his former professorship Tubingen.
In the beginning of 1536 the professors and students
returned to Wittemberg from Jena ; and shortly after
wards Melancthon was again engaged in conference
at Basle, with Bucer and Capito, over the Sacramental
controversy. A meeting was afterwards convened at
Eisenach, but as Luther could not personally attend,
Bucer and Capito visited him at Wittemberg. After
several meetings between Luther and his associates
and the Swiss delegates, Melancthon was appointed
138 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
to draw np a formula on the Sacrament, which all
signed. Thus unity was to a large extent obtained,
and this cheering result was received with mutual
congratulations .
The events of the next decade may be briefly
summarised. Paul III. having appointed Mantua as
the place for the assembly of the general council, and
the date May 27th, 1537, the confederate Protestant
princes reassembled in the February of that year at
Smalcald. But foreseeing that in such a council, held
in an Italian city, everything would go according to
the opinion and pleasure of the pontiff, they declared
their entire dissatisfaction with it. They procured,
however, a new summary of their religious faith,
which might be presented to the assembled bishops, if
required.
The Senate of the city of Augsburg were in this
year establishing a public library, and wished
Melancthon to pay them a visit. They applied also
to the elector asking him to grant his leave, but he
declined on the ground of the great resort of students
to Wittemberg, and the need of Melancthon s presence
there. Indeed, at this time Melancthon was unable
to command a moment s leisure, as, in addition to his
labours in the university and in the public cause, he
was assailed continually by the reproaches of those
who either misunderstood his actions and motives, or
maliciously misrepresented them. It was reported
that in consequence of serious differences of opinion
he was alienated from his own party ; and efforts were
made by several princes to induce him to relinquish
his existing engagements and become a professor in
their universities. Every advantage was also taken
to sow dissension between him and Luther, and
though at some periods considerable strain was put
upon their friendship, it was a bond fully equal to that
strain ; and the malevolent exultation of interested
enemies over supposed differences was proved to be
baseless.
ROYAL INVITATIONS. 139
A letter received by Melancthon in this year from
the learned Cardinal Sadolet, in which the cardinal
expressed warm friendship and affection for the
talented Wittemberg professor, and solicited his friend
ship in return, became an object of suspicion because
it came from Italy. In fact, as Camerarius remarks,
no integrity or innocence of character can escape
suspicion or slander. Melancthon always placed
public duty before private emolument, and all the
efforts to detach him from Wittemberg failed.
Kerry VIII. frequently expressed his desire to see
Melancthon, but events so interposed that a visit
was never paid. Melancthon, however, took the
opportunity of sending by Frederic Myconius, who
formed part of a legation sent by the Reformers to
England, a letter to the king in which he said :
" Private men very much need the aid of dis
tinguished princes and states, and your Majesty has
excited the greatest hopes in every country that you
would promote the wishes of the pious for the reforma
tion of the Churches. What else does the papal
faction aim at than the total extinction of divine truth
and the infliction of the most barbarous cruelties
upon kings, princes, and nations, and the support of
the Catholic abuses by a system of boundless tyranny
in the Church ? Such being the dangerous situation
of her affairs, I will not cease to exhort and implore
your Majesty to pay attention to the circumstances of
the Christian Church now a suppliant at your feet, to
promote some firm and durable union, and to dissuade
other princes from connecting themselves with popish
counsels. This is an affair of the greatest importance,
and therefore worthy the attention of a king so superior
to others in learning and wisdom."
Other letters were subsequently written by
Melancthon to Henry VIII. commending the cause of
the Christian religion to that monarch, and imploring
him to use his influence for the reformation of the
abuses that distracted the Church. In one he writes :
140 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
" All good men entreat and implore you not to listen
to the impious, the cruel sentiments and sophistical
cavils in circulation against us, but to regard our
just and well-founded petition. In doing this, you
will secure no doubt a great and a divine reward, as
well as the highest degree of celebrity amongst all
Christians. . . . If our Churches be indeed the Churches
of Christ and we seek His glory, the cause will never
want patrons and protectors, who will bestow due
praises on the deserving and merited contempt on
the persecutor. Hungry, thirsty, naked, bound, Christ
Himself complains of the fury of the Roman hierarchy
and the iniquitous severities practised by many kings
and princes ; He entreats for the wounded members
of His body that His true Church may be defended
and the Gospel honoured. To acknowledge, to enter
tain, to minister to Him, is the duty of a pious king
and a most grateful service to God."
Melancthon also addressed letters to Cromwell Earl
of Essex and Archbishop Cranmer.
In 1539 a Protestant conference was held at Frank
fort, whither Melancthon accompanied the elector.
Here the Protestant princes consulted about the proper
measures for preserving their religious freedom, and
Melancthon was deputed to write a piece on the
subject of lawful defence, which he executed with
great care and success,
George Duke of Saxony was dead ; and having
been succeeded by his brother Henry, who was
favourably disposed to the Reformation, that prince
employed Luther and Melancthon to investigate the
state of the Churches in his province, and to regulate
the affairs of the university at Leipsic.
In 1540 the Protestant princes, at the request of
Charles V., assembled at Smalcald to deliberate on
the concessions they were prepared to make to their
adversaries, and replied by the pen of Melancthon
that they adhered to the Confession of Augsburg ancl
its Apology.
ROYAL INVITATIONS.
141
A little later lie was journeying to the diet which
was to have been held at Spires, but was on account
of the plague removed to Hagenau. On the road he
fell dangerously ill through over-anxiety and depres
sion and had to halt at Weimar, where he was kindly
cared for by the Elector of Saxony and his friends.
He felt that death was near, and when Luther
LUTHER PRAYING FOR MELANCTHON.
hastened to his presence he found him apparently
dying. His eyes were dim, his understanding almost
gone, his speech and hearing imperfect, incapable of
distinguishing any one and indisposed to all nourish
ment.
Luther was much alarmed, and, after fervent prayer,
seized hold of his friend s hand and said, " Be of
142 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
good courage, Philip, you shall not die. Although
God has always a sufficient reason for removing us
hence, He willeth not the death of a sinner but
rather that he should be converted and live it is
His delight to impart life, not to inflict death. . . .
Do not, therefore, give way to this miserable dejection
and destroy thyself, but trust in the Lord who can
remove it and impart new life."
While Luther thus spoke, Melancthon s spirit re
vived, and shortly after he was restored to his accus
tomed health.
Conferences and diets occupied much of Melancthon s
time after his recovery, varied by a visit to Cologne
in 1543, to assist the Archbishop and Elector Herman
in introducing the Reformed religion into his diocese.
On his return to "Wittemberg he was received with
marked respect, the students and most of the pro
fessors going out to meet him on the road and to
hail his arrival.
But domestic perplexity and sorrow, caused by the
conduct of a son-in-law and the removal of his
favourite daughter into Prussia, added at this time a
bitter ingredient to his cup. Of his marriage and
happy home mention has already been made. Me-
lancthon and his beloved Catherine were long spared
to each other; for thirty-seven years they walked
harmoniously together, and four children two sons
and two daughters added, by merry and innocent
prattle, to their joy. Of the sons but little is known,
one named George, who was his father s delight, dying
when two years old. Both the daughters grew up
to womanhood, the younger, Magdalena, marrying a
worthy physician and professor of medicine in the
University of Wittemberg named Casper Peucer ;
and the elder, Anna, whom Luther calls in one of his
letters " the elegant daughter of Philip," being united
to a promising student, by name George Sabinus.
But the marriage of his elder and favourite
daughter became a source of considerable affliction to
ROYAL INVITATIONS. 143
Melancthon. Sabinus was ambitious, worshipping
fame and wealth ; Melancthon valued literature and
piety above all, and could not be induced to seek
worldly advancement either for himself or children.
The two differed, and at last found it advisable to
separate ; but eventually parted with good-will and
kindness. Sabinus took his wife into Prussia, where
four years later, in 1547, she died, to the inexpressible
grief of her father. Her three daughters henceforth
became a part of the Wittemberg household. The
events in connection with this removal caused Melanc
thon much anxiety ; and his constitutional tendency
to depression was also added to by the loss of several
of his friends through death and the increased bitter
ness with which the Sacramental controversy was at
this period renewed.
The pope, setting aside the objections of the
Protestants, summoned a general council to be held
at Trent, a town in the Tyrol ; and at the Diet of
Worms in 1545 the emperor used strenuous efforts
to induce the Reformers to acquiesce in that appoint
ment, but in vain. Again Melancthon was employed
to draw up a paper, in which he set forth the chief
reasons that induced them to dissent from the papal
decree.
Exasperated at the failure of his efforts, and seeing
no prospect that the Protestants would ever submit
themselves to the council, the emperor listened to
the advice of Paul III., and in conjunction with that
pontiff prepared for war. The Elector of Saxony and
the Landgrave of Hesse on their part took measures
not to be overwhelmed in a defenceless state, and
raised forces for their defence.
CHAPTER XIII.
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH.
this critical moment, when to the eye of man
his presence and counsel seemed more than
ever needful, the guiding spirit of the Reforma
tion was called away. For some years past Luther s
constitution had been enfeebled, but he continued at
his post till the last, undertaking a journey from
Wittemberg to Eisleben in January, 1546, in the hope
of settling a dispute between the Dukes of Mansfeld
and their subjects. At the latter place, early on the
morning of February 18th, his spirit, released from
the trammels of the flesh, passed into the presence
of Jesus Christ his Saviour ; whose cause he had so
valiantly championed on earth, whose faith he had
taught, and whose love had been his constant joy and
comfort.
Sad was the heart of Melancthon when the melan
choly news was made known to him ; and in his first
outburst of grief he exclaimed : " My Father ! my
Father ! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen there
of." For nearly twenty-eight years had their friend
ship existed, and so strong had their attachment
grown that they had become almost necessary to each
other. Founded on principle and mutual admiration,
the roots of their love had deepened with the passing
years. The two friends were not perfectly agreed,
but they were perfectly united. Mutual forbearance
admitted the free exercise of individuality. They
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH. 145
thoroughly knew each other, and did not allow the
gusts of temporary passion to destroy the fabric that
so many years of mutual affection and esteem had
raised.
Luther was buried in the church of All Saints at
Wittemberg. Pomeranus preached the funeral sermon,
and Melancthon delivered an eloquent and pathetic
address over the grave of his departed friend. From
this the following brief passage may be quoted :
" The removal of such a character from among us,
of one who was endowed with the greatest intellectual
capacity, well instructed and long experienced in the
knowledge of Christian truth, adorned with numerous
excellencies and with virtues of the most heroic cast,
chosen by divine Providence to reform the Church of
God, and cherishing for all of us a truly paternal
affection the removal, I say, of such a man demands
and justifies our tears. We resemble orphans bereft
of an excellent and faithful father ; but while it is
necessary to submit to the will of Heaven, let us not
permit the memory of his virtues arid his good offices
to perish. He was an important instrument in the
hands of God of public utility ; let us diligently study
the truth he taught, imitating in our humble situations
his fear of God, his faith, the intensity of his devotions,
the integrity of his ministerial character, his purity,
his careful avoidance of seditious counsel, his ardent
thirst of knowledge."
It was not only the burden of a wounded and
bereaved heart that Melancthon carried away from
the sepulchre of his departed friend, but the sense
of public loss, and overwhelming anxiety for the
future. War seemed imminent ; in fact, the emperor
and the pope had agreed upon the destruction of those
who should oppose the Council of Trent.
Melancthon was also now the head and leader of
the theologians of the Lutheran Church ; and the re
mainder of his life was greatly embittered by the fierce
controversies that arose within it, which controversies
10
14G PHILIP MELANCTHON.
he was unable to quell. To these anxieties were added
those connected with political affairs, for war "broke
out in 1546, soon after the Council of Trent had passed
its first decrees ; and in the November of that year
the University of Wittemberg was dissolved, the
students were dismissed, and Melancthon with his wife
and family retired to Zerbst. He afterwards for a few
months filled the posts of theological and philosophical
professor at Jena.
The Saxon and Hessian princes led their forces into
Bavaria there to oppose the emperor ; and while thus
engaged Maurice Duke of Saxony, and uncle to John
Frederick, perfidiously invaded the Saxon territories.
This action necessitated the breaking up of the
Protestant army and the return home of the elector.
Charles V. pursued him by forced marches, and falling
upon him unawares on April 24th, 1547, he was
defeated and taken prisoner. Philip of Hesse was
also induced to surrender to the emperor, who kept
him in close confinement.
Maurice, as the reward of his perfidy, was given
the electorship, along with most of his nephew s
lands ; the cause of the Protestants appeared to be
hopelessly ruined, and the pope triumphant. At a
diet held soon afterwards at Augsburg, Maurice and
the greater part of the Protestants consented to
submit the decision of the religious differences to
the Council of Trent. But a little later pestilence was
reported as having broken out at Trent, when most
of the Fathers retired to Bologna, and the council
was dissolved. Paul III. could not be induced to
re-convene it, and as the prospect of its again meeting
seemed remote, the emperor deemed it necessary
in the interim to adopt some method to preserve
the peace in regard to religion, until the council should
assemble. He therefore caused a paper to be drawn
up, which should serve as a rule of faith and worship
to the professors of both the old and new religions,
until the meeting of the council. This paper, because
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH. 147
it had not the force of a permanent law, was called
the Interim.
Like many other compromises this attempt to
legislate for the consciences of men was displeasing
to both parties. It contained all the essential
doctrines of the Church of Rome, though veiled
so as to make them acceptable to the Protestants.
It was forced upon the Diet of Augsburg, and its
opponents were for the most part compelled to submit.
Maurice, the Elector of Saxony, who, though a
Protestant, occupied a middle position between those
who approved and those who rejected the Interim,
held several consultations at Leipsic and other places
in 1548, with his theologians and principal men,
of whom Melancthon was the most distinguished,
to determine what course to pursue. Melancthon,
who was followed by the other theologians, decided
that the whole instrument called the Interim could
not be admitted, but that there was no impediment
to receiving and approving it so far as it concerned
things not essential to religion, or things indifferent.
This decision gave rise to a most violent controversy,
called from the Greek word adiaphorre, meaning in
different, the Adiaphoristic Controversy. Melancthon
was fiercely and persistently assailed, and charged
with having abandoned the truth through excessive
timidity or servile compliance to the wishes of the
emperor and elector. This Adiaphoristic Controversy
led to others equally lamentable, so that the Reformed
Church was torn with internal strife, and in imminent
danger of destruction.
Among the matters classed by Melancthon as
indifferent were some which had appeared of the
highest importance to Luther, such as the doctrine of
justification by faith alone, the question respecting
the necessity of good works to eternal salvation, the
number of the sacraments, and to some extent
the jurisdiction claimed by the pope, bishops, etc.
The more zealous Lutherans looked upon these as
148 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
essentials ; and exclaimed against those who took the
opposite view as being false brethren and apostates
from the true religion. At their head was Flacius
Illyricus, who for some time had been a disciple at
Wittemberg of both Luther and Melancthon, and had
been treated by the latter with great kindness and
liberality.
Seldom, perhaps, has the injunction of the apostle
not rendering railing for railing been better exempli
fied than in the manner and spirit in which Melancthon
treated the attacks of his calumniators. Grieved he
certainly was ; but, when for the sake of truth he felt
bound to reply, his language was dignified, worthy of
a Christian gentleman, and calculated rather to win
over an adversary than inflame his ire. Never did
he appear more noble than w r hen, assailed both by
Papists and extreme Protestants, he calmly stood in
the place of duty and danger, inflexible to maintain
what seemed to him to be essential, but willing to
concede such things as appeared indifferent, and the
sacrifice of which might tend to promote the harmony
and unity of the Universal Church.
Paul III. died on November 10th, 1549, and was
succeeded by Julius III. in 1550. He consented to
the reassembling of the Council of Trent ; and at the
Diet of Augsburg held at that time the emperor
conferred with the princes on the prosecution of the
council. The major portion agreed that it ought to
go on, but Maurice only consented on certain con
ditions. At the close of the diet, therefore, in 1551,
the emperor directed all to prepare themselves for the
council, and promised to use his endeavours to have
everything done there in a religious and Christian
manner. Hence confessions of faith to be exhibited
to the council were drawn up, one in Saxony by
Melancthon, and another at Wurtemberg by Brentius.
The leading Protestant divines of Wurtemberg repaired
to Trent ; and the Saxon theologians, at whose head
was Melancthon, received orders to set out for that
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH. 149
place, but to wait at Nuremberg till they received
further instructions.
The Elector Maurice was at this time maturing a
secret plot for the weakening of the emperor s power
in Germany, the liberation of the Landgrave of Hesse
and John Frederick of Saxony, and the furtherance
of the cause of Protestantism and liberty. Retaining
the confidence of the emperor till his plans were
completed, he suddenly took up arms, issued a
manifesto, in which he represented that the defence
of the Protestant religion, the liberties of Germany,
and the release of the Landgrave of Hesse, were his
principal motives, and then, in 1552, led forth a well-
appointed army against Charles V. So sudden and
vigorous was his action that the emperor was un
prepared to meet it ; and soon after, in August, he
concluded a treaty of peace at Passau, in which he
not only gave present tranquillity to the Protestants,
but promised to assemble a diet within six months
to terminate the long-protracted religious contests.
The diet thus promised was through various com
motions prevented from assembling until 1555. But
in that year, at Augsburg, and in presence of Ferdinand,
the emperor s brother, the convention was held which
gave to the Protestants the firm and stable peace
they still enjoy; for on September 25th, after various
discussions, all those who had embraced the Augsburg
Confession were pronounced free from all jurisdiction
of the pontiff and the bishops, and were bidden to
live securely under their own laws and regulations.
Liberty was given to all Germans to follow which of
the two religions they pleased ; and all those were
declared to be public enemies of Germany who should
presume to make war upon others, or to molest them,
on account of their religion.
Melancthon returned from Nuremberg to Wittem-
berg, and there resumed his duties both public and
private. He had to endure some fierce attacks from
a pastor named Osiander, in connection with the
150 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
Interim ; and was likewise engaged in refuting tlie
errors of Stancarus, the Hebrew professor at Konigs-
berg. Added to these cares was the oversight of the
Churches and academical establishments in Misnia.
In fact, as the most competent director in all matters
of this description, his advice was constantly sought
and his plans most generally adopted,
During the year 1553 he had to mourn the loss of
several friends, among them his old and trusted servant
John. " Domestic afflictions," he said, " are super-
added to others. My servant John, remarkable for
his fidelity and virtue, is called from the present life
to the heavenly Church ; and now my wife is so
extremely ill that nature seems overpowered by dis
ease. But I pray the Son of God to grant us His
presence and preserve us with His whole Church."
John grew old in his master s service and expired
in his master s house after a residence there of thirty-
four years, amid the affectionate regret of the whole
family. Melancthon invited the academicians to his
funeral, delivered an oration over his grave, and com
posed an epitaph for his tombstone, of which the
following may be given as a translation :
"Here at a distance from his native land
Came faithful John, at Philip s first command ;
Companion of his exile, doubly dear,
Who in a servant found a friend sincere
And more than friend, a man of faith and prayer,
Assiduous soother of his master s care ;
Here to the worms his lifeless body s given,
But his immortal soul sees God in heaven."
In the two succeeding years Melancthon suffered
further bereavement by the death of John Frederick,
and of Justus Jonas, the rector of the university at
Wittemberg, with whom both he and Luther had
been intimately acquainted for many years. But his
greatest sorrow came in 1557, while upon a journey to
Heidelberg, whither he had been summoned by the
Elector Palatine, who wished him to oversee the
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH. 151
arrangements for converting the Augustine monastery
there into an academy. Here he rejoiced in meeting
his brother George, his daughter Magdalena, and
her husband Casper Peucer. And as if to add to
the happiness of the harmonious circle, his friend
Camerarius arrived one evening unexpectedly from
Tubingen. But this friend had come on a sad
mission, for the morning after his arrival, while they
were walking together in the prince s garden, he
informed Melancthon that his beloved Catherine was
dead. For a moment the bereaved husband failed to
grasp the import of the sad tidings, and then, as
though speaking prophetically, he said that "he ex
pected very soon to follow her."
But for over two years longer he was spared.
Though enfeebled in body, his mind remained clear,
and his time was fully occupied in unremitting
attention to academical duties, in seeing his books
through the press, in controversy, in important corre
spondence, and in visits to more or less distant places.
In fact, he was simply overwhelmed with work, and
in April, 1558, wrote to a friend, " I am so over
whelmed with work that I am every day expecting to
break down and die."
A pleasing diversion occurred shortly afterwards
in the marriage of two of his grand-daughters, one
in the summer and the other in October, 1558.
Melancthon s last journey was taken at the end of
March, 1560, to Leipsic, to attend the annual theo
logical examinations. While there he was suddenly
taken ill, but recovered so that he was able to return
home. He then complained of the cold dampness,
saying he had not felt it so much during the whole
winter. During the return journey, in his delicate
state, he had taken cold, and fever quickly super
vened. During the night of April 7th he was
restless and his cough was extremely troublesome ;
and when about six o clock in the morning his son-
in-law, Dr. Peucer, came to see him, the doctor
152 PHILIP MELAttCTHOtf.
intimated his alarm, and information of the danger
was at once sent to his life-long friend Camerarius.
After this Melancthon wrote several letters and
made use of the medical remedies provided by his
son-in-law. After an interval of silence he exclaimed,
" If such be the will of God, I can willingly die, and
I beseech Him to grant me a joyful dismission."
Nine o clock was the hour for his attendance at
the university. He prepared to meet his class and
deliver a half-hour lecture on logic, taking a warm
bath afterwards. His weakness was very great, and
when in the presence of his students he found that he
could only speak for a quarter of an hour. After the
bath he had dinner, and then slept soundly ; employing
the evening before supper in writing. On succeeding
days up to the twelfth he attended the university, on
one occasion rising early and delivering a six o clock
lecture on John xvii. His final lecture was delivered
on the twelfth, its subject being the words of Isaiah,
" Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the
arm of the Lord revealed ? "
Camerarius arrived the same evening, and the two
friends spent several days together for the last time.
Melancthon was cheerful, speaking of death with
composure, saying that he dreaded nothing so much
as becoming a useless cumberer of the ground, and
praying that if life were spared he might be service
able to the youth under his care and to the Church of
Jesus Christ. When on the evening of the sixteenth
Camerarius thought of leaving, his dying friend said :
" My dear Dr. Joachim, we have been joined in
the bond of friendship forty years, a friendship
mutually sincere and affectionate. We have been
helpers of each other with disinterested kindness in
our respective stations and employments as teachers
of youth, and I trust our labours have been useful ;
and though it be the will of God that I die, our
friendship shall be perpetuated and cultivated in
another world."
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH, 153
Camerarius remained until the morning of the next
day, when he took his final leave. Melancthon, who
had just finished some letters, gave him his farewell
benediction, saying : " Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
who sitteth at the right hand of the Father, and giveth
gifts to men, preserve you and yours and all of us ! "
On the eighteenth his bed was removed by his
own desire into his library, and he was placed upon
it. While several of his friends were standing around,
he said, " By the blessing of God I have now no
particular domestic anxieties, for with respect to my
grandchildren, whom I tenderly love, and who are
now before my eyes, I am comforted to think they
are in the hands of pious and beloved parents, who
will be solicitous for their welfare, as much as I could
ever be ; but I feel for the state of public affairs,
especially for the Church of Christ in this cavilling
and wicked age. Through the goodness of God, how
ever, our doctrine is made public." A little later,
addressing some present, he remarked, " God bestows
talents on our youth ; do you see that they use them
aright." And seeing one of his grandchildren near
him, he said, " Dear child, I have loved you most
affectionately ; see that you reverence your parents,
and always endeavour to please them, and fear God,
who will never forsake you. I pray you may share
His constant regard and benediction."
The same day, having searched in vain for a will
he had formerly written, he attempted, with the aid
of his son-in-law, to compose another, but increasing
weakness prevented him from completing it. He also
conferred with this relative upon matters relating
to the interests of the university, and expressed a
wish that Dr. Peucer might be his successor in that
institution.
April 19th was his last day upon earth. His
thoughts were still upon the disturbed state of the
Church, and he offered fervent prayers for its welfare.
Shortly after eight o clock in the morning he re-
154 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
peated a form of prayer which he had written for
his own daily use, and later on, after an interval of
tranquil repose, said to Dr. Fencer, " I have been in
the power of death, but the Lord has graciously
delivered me." Several passages of Scripture were
read to him, and his mind dwelt much on the state
ments of John : " The world knew Him not . . . but
as many as received Him to them gave He power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
His name " ; and, " God so loved the world that He
sent His only begotten Son into the world, that who
soever believeth on Him might not perish, but have
everlasting life."
The end was now near. Upon being asked by
Dr. Fencer if he required anything else, he replied :
" Nothing else but heaven ! " His last audible words
were a hearty assent to the prayer of the Psalmist
which one of the bystanders had recited : " Into Thine
hands I commend my spirit. Thou hast redeemed me,
Lord, Thou God of Truth ! "
At a quarter to seven on the evening of the nine
teenth he ceased to breath. Quietly, calmly he passed
from the field of earthly strife to the repose of heaven,
no more to be tormented by acrid controversy or
imbittered censure. During his illness he had found
comfort in the following thoughts on the blessings
procured by death, which he had written on paper,
in Latin, in parallel columns :
Thou shalt come into the
light.
Thou shalt see God, and
behold the Son of God.
" Thou shalt be free from Thou shalt learn those
sin. wonderful mysteries which
Free from cares, and from pass our comprehension in
the fury of theologians. this life, as the cause of our
creation and present con
dition, and the mystery of
the union of the divine and
human nature in Christ."
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH. 155
Melancthon had passed into the presence of the
Eternal, where the placid and gentle spirit, which
had been so sorely vexed with the strife of tongues,
would find peace, and the powerful intellect an answer
to those questions that had eluded its subtle grasp.
Information of Melancthon s death was at once
transmitted to the elector, and preparations made for
a suitable funeral. For a day and a half the public
were admitted to view the remains of the illustrious
scholar, and hundreds availed themselves of the per
mission granted. His body was then placed in a
leaden coffin and conveyed by professors of the
university to the parish church. Crowds of students,
citizens, strangers, arid persons of all ranks filled the
sacred building, among them being several professors
from the University of Leipsic, many of the nobility,
and pastors from the churches of the surrounding
districts.
The funeral service was conducted by Dr. Paul
Eberus, pastor of the church, after which an oration
in Latin was delivered in honour of the deceased.
Then the coffin was lowered into its position beside
that of Martin Luther. There, in the Schlosskirche
at Wittemberg, beneath two tablets of bronze inserted
in the pavement of the church, lie the ashes of these
two eminent servants of the divine Lord, side by side,
awaiting the final trumpet call for the resurrection of
the dead.
Calumny followed Melancthon for many years after
his death, and during the polemical strife of the
seventeenth century his name remained under a cloud.
But as men s minds cleared and were enlightened by
the revival of the evangelic theology, especially in the
nineteenth century, the cloud passed away ; and
to-day there is scarcely a Protestant divine of any
note in Europe or America who does not venerate
the name of Philip Melancthon.
The tri-centennial celebration of his death was held
156
PHILIP MELANCTHON.
at Wittemberg on April, 19th, 1860, when the founda
tion stone was laid of a noble monument to his memory,
erected by the side of that commemorating his friend
and leader Luther. The festival oration was delivered
by Dr. Nitzsch, of Berlin, the only surviving professor
of the once famous University of Wittemberg, this
LUTHER AND MELANCTHON s MONUMENT AT LEIPSIC.
university having been merged, in 1815, into that
of Halle.
At a later date a beautiful monument in bronze was
erected at Leipsic in honour of the two friends Luther
and Melancthon. There, outside a churchy it now
stands, one of the adornments of that ancient city.
Of the amazing fertility of Melancthon s pen we
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH. 157
have had traces in the previous pages of this book.
His works fill twenty-eight quarto volumes of the
Corpus Reformatorum, issued 1836-1860, edited by
Bretschneider and Bindseil, and published at Halle
in Saxony. They are theological, philosophical, and
AIELANCTHON S MONUMENT AT WITTEMBERG.
moral, while some relate to what are usually termed
the Belles Lettres, others to the science of education ;
and the works of various classical authors formed yet
further subjects for his illustration.
. His greatest work is the AugsburgiConfession, which
158 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
is the generally received creed of the Lutheran Church.
His Loci-Communes passed through five revisions and
more than thirty editions before the author s death,
and for a long period was used as a text book in the
Lutheran universities. His Biblical Commentaries,
although surpassed by those of Luther, Calvin, and
Beza, were yet extremely popular in their day, and
useful in showing the natural sense and evangelical
ideas of the Scriptures in support of the Reformation.
Of the character of this truly great and yrt child
like man we have already given glimpses. " Nature,"
says one of his early biographers, "had given
Melancthon a peaceable temper, but ill-fitted to the
time in which he lived. His moderation became a
cross. He was like a lamb amidst wolves. Nobody
appreciated his mildness ; it looked as if he were
lukewarm." Yet in his public capacity he was the
model of a Christian scholar. He combined the
highest scientific and literary culture which was
attainable in that age with an humble and childlike
Christian faith. Love to God and man and supreme
regard to truth animated and controlled his studies
and his whole life. He was emphatically the
theologian of the German Reformation, and from
posterity received the honourable title Praeceptor
Germanise. He was a man of thought, not of action,
and in this differed from Luther, who was great in
both.
Speaking of Melancthon s talents and virtues
Mosheim states : " Few men of any age can be com
pared with him, either for learning and knowledge of
both human and divine things, or for richness,
suavity, and facility of genius, or for industry as a
scholar. He performed for philosophy and the other
liberal arts what Luther performed for theology that
is, he freed them from the corruptions which they had
contracted, restored them, and gave them currency in
Germany. He possessed an extraordinary ability to
comprehend and to express in clear and simple Ian-
CLOSING SCENES AND DEATH. 159
gnage the most abstruse and difficult subjects, and such
as were exceedingly complicated. This power he so
happily exerted on subjects pertaining to religion that
it may be truly said no literary man by his genius and
erudition has done more for their benefit. From his
native love of peace he was induced most ardently
to wish that religion might be reformed without any
public schism, and that the visible brotherhood among
Christians might remain entire. And hence it was
that he frequently seemed too yielding. ... In the
natura] temperament of his mind there was a native
softness, tenderness, and timidity. Hence when he
had occasion to write or to do anything, he pon
dered most carefully every circumstance, and often
indulged fears where there were no real grounds for
them. But on the contrary, when the greatest
dangers seemed to impend and the cause of religion
was in jeopardy, this timorous man feared nothing and
opposed an undaunted mind to his adversaries."
Possessed of a delicate constitution and weak health,
he was enabled by the most rigid temperance to pursue
his studies with an intenseness of application that is
almost incredible. His custom was to retire to rest
immediately after an early supper and rise soon after
midnight to his labours. He endeavoured as far as
possible during the time devoted to rest to dismiss
from his mind everything that would tend to disturb
his repose, and to this end postponed the reading
of any letters brought to him in the evening till the
next day. He was civil and obliging to all, at times
somewhat irritable, but entirely free from envy, de
traction, jealousy, and dissimulation. His principal
relaxation from severe study was the conversation
of his friends during his meals.
He loved his home, and his child-like nature
asserted itself in his love of children. Sad at heart
he often was, and tears frequently welled to his eyes ;
but never was he more effectually comforted than
when on one occasion, as he sat weary and sad, his
160 PHILIP MELANCTHON.
little daughter Anna climbed upon his knee, and
seeing the tears in her father s eyes wiped them away
with her pinafore.
That he was not, however, perfectly free from the
persecuting spirit of the age in which he lived is
evidenced by his approval of the burning of Michael
Servetus, who was executed by the Swiss Reformers
at Geneva, in 1553.
Monuments have been erected in honour of Philip
Melancthon, orations have been delivered in his praise,
but the best and most fragrant of all his memorials is
the record of his pure and unselfish Christian life,
spent in the service of God and in efforts for the
elevation of his fellow-men.
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io Catalogue of Books Published
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12 Catalogue of Books Published
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i_ , . . , . ,
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14 Catalogue of Books Published
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The Adventures of Ji. By G. E. Farrow, Author of " The
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Heroines : True Tales of Brave Women. By C. D. Michael.
Granny s Girls. By M. B. Manwell.
Mousey ; or, Cousin Robert s Treasure. By Eleanora . H.
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Marigold s Fancies. By L. E. Tiddeman.
" Our Phyllis." By M. S. Haycraft.
The Lady of Greyham ; or, Low in a Low Place. By Emma
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The Gipsy Queen. By Emma Leslie.
Kathleen ; or, A Maiden s Influence. By Julia Hack.
The Rajah s Daughter; or, The Half-Moon Girl. By Bessie
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In Self-Defence. By Julia Hack.
Regia; or, Her Little Kingdom. By E. M. Waterworth and
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Una s Marriage. By Mrs. Haycraft.
Tephi : An Armenian Romance. By Cecilia M. Blake.
Queen of the Isles. By Jessie M. E. Saxby.
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1 6 Catalogue of Books Published
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Firemen and their Exploits. With an Account of Fire Brigades
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The Romance of the Savings Banks. By Archibald G
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The Romance of Glass Making. A Sketch of the History of
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Musicians and their Compositions. By J. R. Griffiths.
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The Holy War. By John Bunyan.
Letters on the Simple Life. By the Queen of Roumania, Marie
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IS. 6d. each (continued).
Popular ^Missionary Biographies.
Crown 8vo. 160 pages. Cloth extra. Fully Illustrated.
Dr. Paton : Missionary to the New Hebrides. By Jesse Page.
The Christianity of the Continent : a Retrospect and a
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Missionaries I have met, and the work they have done.
By Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.
James Chalmers, Missionary and Explorer of Rarotonga and
New Guinea. By William Robson.
Griffith John, Founder of the Hankow Mission, Central China,
By William Robson.
Robert Morrison : The Pioneer of Chinese Missions. By William
J. Townsend.
Amid Greenland Snows; or, The Early History of Arctic
Missions. By Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.
Bishop Patteson : The Martyr of Melanesia. By same Author.
Captain Allen Gardiner : Sailor and Saint. By same Author.
The Congo for Christ : The Story of the Congo Mission. By
Rev. J. B. Myers. New Edition, brought up to date.
David Brainerd, the Apostle to the North-American Indians.
By Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.
David Livingstone : His Labours and his Legacy. By Arthur
Montefiore-Brice.
From Kafir Kraal to Pulpit : The Story of Tiyo Soga, First
Ordained Preacher of the Kafir Race. By Rev. H. T. Cousins.
Japan : and its People. By Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.
John Williams : The Martyr Missionary of Polynesia. By Rev.
James Ellis.
James Calvert ; or, From Dark to Dawn in Fiji. By R. Vernon.
Lady Missionaries in Foreign Lands. By Mrs. E. R. Pitman.
Missionary Heroines in Eastern Lands. By Mrs. E. R. Pitman.
Reginald Heber : Bishop of Calcutta, Author of " From Green-
land s Icy Mountains." By A. Montefiore-Brice, F.R.G.S.
Robert Moffat : The Missionary Hero of Kuruman. By David
J. Deane.
Samuel Crowther : The Slave Boy who became Bishop of the
Niger. By Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.
Thomas J. Comber : Missionary Pioneer to the Congo. By
Rev. J. B. Myers.
William Carey : The Shoemaker who became the Father and
Founder of Modern Missions. By Rev. J. B. Myers.
Henry Martyn. By Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.; B
1 8 Catalogue of Books Published
IS. 6d. each (continue^.
Popular Biographies.
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George Miiller : The Modern Apostle of Faith. By Fred. G.
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Life-Story of Ira D. Sankey, The Singing Evangelist. By
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Great Evangelists, and the Way God has Used Them.
By Jesse Page. Crown 8vo. 160 pages, with Portraits and Illus
trations.
Women who have Worked and Won. The Life Story of
Mrs. Spurgeon, Mrs. Booth-Tucker, F. R, Havergal, and Ramabai.
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John Bright : Apostle of Free Trade. By Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.
The Two Stephensons. By John Alexander.
J. Passmore Edwards: Philanthropist. By E. Harcourt Burrage.
Dwight L. Moody : The Life-work of a Modern Evangelist. By
Rev.J. H. Batt.
Noble Work by Noble Women : Sketches of the Lives of the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts, Lady Henry Somerset, Miss Sarah Robin
son, Mrs. Fawcett, and Mrs. Gladstone. By Jennie Chappell.
Four Noble Women and their Work: Sketches of the Life and
Work of Frances Willard, Agnes Weston, Sister Dora, and Catherine
Booth. By Jennie Chappell.
The Canal Boy who became President By Frederic T.
Gammon.
Florence Nightingale : The Wounded Soldiers Friend. By
Eliza F. Pollard.
Four Heroes of India : Clive, Warren Hastings, Havelock,
Lawrence. By F. M. Holmes.
General Gordon : The Christian Soldier and Hero. By G.
Barnett Smith.
W. E. Gladstone : England s Great Commoner. By Walter
Jerrold. With Portrait and 38 other Illustrations.
Heroes and Heroines of the Scottish Covenanters. By
J. Meldrum Dryerre, LL.B., F.R.G.S.
John Knox and the Scottish Reformation. By G. Barnett
Smith.
Philip Melancthon : The Wittemberg Professor and Theologian
of the Reformation. By David J. Deane,
By S. W. Partridge & Co. 19
IS. 6d. each (continued).
POPULAR BIOGRAPHIES (continued].
The Slave and his Champions : Sketches of Granville Sharp,
Thomas Clarkson, William Wilberforce, and Sir T. F. Buxton. By
C. D. Michael.
C. H. Spurgeon : His Life and Ministry. By Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.
Two Noble Lives : John Wicliffe, the Morning Star of the
Reformation ; and Martin Luther, the Reformer. By David J.
Deane. 208 pages.
William Tyndale : The Translator of the English Bible. By G
Barnett Smith.
The Marquess of Salisbury : His Inherited Characteristics
Political Principles, and Personality. By W. F. Aitken.
Joseph Parker, D.D. : His Life and Ministry. By Albert
Dawson.
Hugh Price Hughes. By Rev. J. Gregory Mantle.
R. J. Campbell, M.A. ; Minister of the City Temple, London
By Charles T. Bateman.
Dr. Barnardo : " The Foster-Father of Nobody s Children." By
Rev. J. H. Batt.
W. Robertson Nicoll, LL.D. ; Editor and Preacher. By Jane
Stoddart,
F. B. Meyer : His Life and Work. By Jennie Street.
John Clifford, M.A., B.Sc., LL.D., D.D. By Chas. T. Bateman
Thirty Years in the East End A Marvellous Story of Mission
Work. By W. Francis Aitken.
Alexander Maclaren, D.D. : The Man and His Message. By
Rev. John C. Carlile.
Lord Milner. By W. B. Luke.
Lord Rosebery, Imperialist. By J. A. Hammerton.
Joseph Chamberlain : A Romance of Modern Politics. By
Arthur Mee.
General Booth : The Man and His Work. By Jesse Page,
F.R.G.S.
Torrey and Alexander : The Story of their Lives: By J.
Kennedy Maclean. Crown 8vo. Illustrated. Imitation cloth,
is. net. Cloth boards, is. 6d. net.
John Kirk : The Story of a Great Mission. By John Stuart.
Crown 8vo. Cloth Boards, is. 6d net.
20 Catalogue of Books Published
IS. 6d. each (continued).
Illustrated Reward Boofo.
Crown 8vo. 160 pages. Cloth extra. Fully Illustrated.
Bethesda Chapel. A Story of the Good Old Times. By Rev.
C. Leach, D.D.
Philip s Inheritance ; or, Into a Far Country. By F. Spenser.
Donald s Victory. By Lydia Phillips.
A Red Brick Cottage. By Lady Hope.
Marchester Stories. By Rev. C. Herbert.
Sister Royal. By Mrs. Haycraft.
" Onward " Temperance Library.
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Dick s Chum. By Miss M. A. Paull.
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We Girls. By Miss M. A. Paull.
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Manor House Mystery. By Mrs. C. L. Balfour.
" It is written in excellent style, with a well-constructed plot, sparkling dialogue
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The Bird Angel. By Miss M. A. Paull.
" One of Miss Paull s most delightful stories."
Lyndon the Outcast. By Mrs. Clara Lucas Balfour.
Ronald Clayton s Mistake. By Miss M. A. Paull.
" It is a capital book to place in the hands of working lads."
Nearly Lost, but Dearly Won. By Rev. T. P. Wilson, M.A.,
Author of " Frank Oldfield," etc.
Hoyle s Popular Ballads and Recitations. By William Hoyle,
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"A capital book for Sunday School, Temperance, and general Recitations,"
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True Stories of Brave Deeds ; or, What Boys and Girls can
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The Mystery of Marnie. By Jennie Chappell.
Gipsy Kit ; or, The Man with the Tattooed Face. By Robert
Leighton.
Dick s Desertion ; A Boy s Adventures in Canadian Forests
By Marjorie L. C. Pickthall.
The Wild Swans ; or, The Adventure of Rowland Cleeve. By
Mary C. Rowsell.
George & Co. ; or, The Choristers of St. Anselm s. By Spencer
T. Gibb.
Fern Dacre : A Minster Yard Story. By Ethel Ruth Boddy.
Caravan Cruises : Five Children in a Caravan not to mention
Old Dobbin. By Phil Ludlow.
Other Pets and their Wild Cousins. By Rev.J.Isabell,F.E.S.
Many Illustrations.
Little Chris the Castaway. By F. Spenser.
The Children of the Priory. By J. L. Hornibrook.
Through Sorrow and Joy ; or, The Story of an English Bible in
Reformation Times. By M. A. R.
Tom and the Enemy. By Clive R. Fenn.
Ruth s Roses ; or, What Some Girls Did. By Laura A. Barter-
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In Paths of Peril : A Boy s Adventures in Nova Scotia. By
J. Macdonald Oxley.
Pets and their Wild Cousins : New and True Stones of
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A Brother s Need. By L. S. Mead. Crown 8vo. 128 pages.
Sunshine and Snow. By Harold Bindloss.
Donalblane of Darien. By J. Macdonald Oxley.
Crown Jewels. By Heather Grey.
At the Bend of the Creek. By E. Gertrude and Annie A. Hart.
All Play and No Work. By Harold Avery.
Bernard or Ben ? By Jennie Chappell.
Always Happy ; or, The Story of Helen Keller. By Jennie
Chappell.
22 Catalogue of Books Published
IS. each (continued).
ONE SHILLING REWARD BOOKS (continued),
Birdie and her Dog, and other Stories of Canine Sagacity. By
Miss Phillips (Mrs. H. B. Looker).
Bessie Drew ; or, The Odd Little Girl. By Amy Manifold.
Cola Monti ; or, The Story of a Genius. By Mrs. Craik, Author
of "John Halifax, Gentleman."
The Children of Cherryholme. By M. S. Haycraft.
The Fatal Nugget. By E. Harcourt Burrage.
Frank Burleigh ; or, Chosen to be a Soldier. By Lydia
Phillips.
Harold ; or, Two Died for Me. By Laura A. Barter.
Indian Life in the Great North-West. By Egerton R. Young,
Missionary to the North American Indian Tribes.
Jack the Conqueror ; or Difficulties Overcome. By the
Author of " Dick and his Donkey."
Little Bunch s Charge ; or, True to Trust. By Nellie Corn-
wall.
Lost in the Backwoods. By Edith C. Kenyon.
The Little Woodman and his Dog Caesar. By Mrs. Sher
wood.
Our Den. By E. M. Waterworth.
Paul the Courageous. By Mabel Quiller- Couch.
Roy s Sister; or, His Way and Hers. By M. B. Manwell.
Raymond s Rival ; or, Which will Win ? By Jennie Chappell.
Sweet Nancy. By L. T. Meade.
Who was the Culprit? By Jennie Chappell.
Is. each net.
(Not Illustrated.)
Partridge s Popular Reciter. Old Favourites and New. 208
pages. Crown 8vo. Imitation Cloth, is. net; Cloth boards,
is. 6d. net.
Partridge s Humorous Reciter (uniform with Partridge s Popular
Reciter). Imitation Cloth, is. net; Cloth boards, is. 6d. net,
By S. W. Partridge & Co. 23
IS. each (continued).
Cheap Reprints of Popular Boofy for the Young.
Crown 8vo. 160 pages. Illustrated. Cloth Boards, 1s. each.
Heroes All ! A Book of Brave Deeds. By C. D. Michael.
The Old Red Schoolhouse. By Frances H. Wood.
Christabel s Influence. By J. Goldsmith Cooper.
Deeds of Daring; or, Stories of Heroism in Everyday Life
By C. D. Michael.
Everybody s Friend ; or, Hilda Danver s Influence, By Evelyn
Everett Green.
The Bell Buoy ; or, The Story of a Mysterious Key. By F. M
Holmes.
Saph s Fester-Bairn. By Rev. A. Colbeck.
Vic : A Book of Animal Stories. By Alfred C. Fryer, Ph.D.,
F.S.A.
In Friendship s Name. By Lydia Phillips.
Nella; or, Not my Own. By Jessie Goldsmith Cooper.
Blossom and Blight. By M. A. Paull.
Aileen. By Laura A. Barter-Snow.
Satisfied. By Catherine Trowbridge.
Ted s Trust; or, Aunt Elmerley s Umbrella. By Jennie
Chappell.
A Candle Lighted by the Lord. By Mrs. E. Ross.
Alice Western s Blessing. By Ruth Lamb.
Tamsin Rosewarne and Her Burdens: A Tale of Cornish
Life. By Nellie Cornwall.
Raymond and Bertha : A Story of True Nobility. By Lydia
Phillips.
Gerald s Dilemma. By Emma Leslie.
Fine Gold ; or, Ravenswood Courtney. By Emma Marshall.
Marigold. By Mrs. L. T. Meade.
Jack s Heroism. By Edith C. Kenyon.
The Lads of Kingston. By James Capes Story.
Her Two Sons: A Story for Young Men and Maidens. By
Mrs. Charles Garnett.
Rag and Tag : By Mrs. E. J. Whittaker.
Through Life s Shadows. By Eliza F. Pollard.
24 Catalogue of Books Published
IS. each (continued.)
CHEAP REPRINTS OF POPULAR BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG
(continued).
The Little Princess of Tower Hill. By L. T. Meade.
Clovie and Madge. By Mrs. G. S. Reaney.
Ellerslie House: A Book for Boys. By Emma Leslie.
Like a Little Candle ; or Bertrand s Influence. By Mrs.
Haycraft.
Louie s Married Life. By Sarah Doudney.
The Dairyman s Daughter. By Legh Richmond.
Bible Wonders. By Rev. Dr. Newton.
The Pilgrim s Progress. By John Bunyan. 416 pages. Eight
coloured and 46 other Illustrations.
Our Duty to Animals. By Mrs. C. Bray.
"Onward" Temperance Library.
Crown 8vo. Illustrated. Cloth extra. Is. each.
A Western Waif. By Old Cornish.
Addy s Two Lives. By Mrs. Ruth B. Yates.
John Dudley s Secret; or, The Gambler s Daughter. By
Edward Armytage.
Suspected ; or, Under a Cloud. By A. J. Glasspool.
Whispers to those who wish to Enjoy a Happy Life. By
Rev. Benj. Smith.
Snatched from Death. By Alfred J. Glasspool.
Everyone s Library.
A re-issue of Standard Works in a cheap form, containing from 320
to 500 pages, printed in the best style ; with Illustrations on art paper,
and tastefully bound in Cloth Boards. Is. each.
The Coral Island. By R. M. Ballantyne.
Hans Andersen s Fairy Tales.
John Halifax, Gentleman. By Mrs. Craik.
Little Women and Good Wives. By Louisa M. Alcott.
Tom Brown s Schooldays. By an Old Boy.
The Wide, Wide World. By Susan Warner.
Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. By Daniel Defoe.
Uncle Tom s Cabin. By H. B. Stowe.
The Old Lieutenant and His Son. By Norman McLeod.
By S. W. Partridge < Co. 25
IS. each (continued).
Boo fa for Christian Workers.
Large Crown 16mo. 128 pages. Chastely bound in Cloth Boards.
Is. each.
Deeper Yet : Meditations for the Quiet Hour. By Clarence E.
Eberman.
The Master s Messages to Women. By Charlotte Skinner.
Royal and Loyal : Thoughts on the Twofold Aspects of the
Christian Life. By Rev. W. H. Griffith-Thomas.
Thoroughness : Talks to Young Men. By Thain Davidson
D.D.
Some Secrets of Christian Living. By Rev. F. B. Meyer.
The Overcoming Life. By Rev. E. W. Moore.
Marks of the Master. By Charlotte Skinner.
Some Deeper Things. By~Rev. F. B. Meyer.
Steps to the Blessed Life. By Rev. F. B. Meyer.
Daybreak in the Soul. By Rev. E. W. Moore.
The Temptation of Christ. By C. Arnold Healing, M.A.
Keynotes to the Happy Life. By Charlotte Skinner.
For Love s Sake. By Charlotte Skinner.
Novelties, and How to Make them : Hints and Helps
in providing occupation for Children s Classes. Compiled by
Mildred Duff.. Full of illustrations. Cloth boards, is.
Ingatherings : A Dainty Book of Beautiful Thoughts. Compiled
by E. Agar. Cloth boards, is. net. (Paper covers, 6d. net.)
Golden Words for Every Day. By M. Jennie Street. A
prettily illustrated Text Book for the Young.
The Armour of Life. A Little Book of Friendly Counsel
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Cloth.
The New Cookery of Unproprietary Foods. By Eustace
Miles, M.A. 192 pages, is. net.
The Child s Book of Health. A Series of Illustrated and Easy
Lessons for Children and Parents on taking care of ourselves. By
Walter N. Edwards, F.C.S. is. net.
Hiram Golfs Religion. By George H. Hepworth, D.D., Author
of " The Life Beyond," etc. 128 pages. Cloth gilt.
Eon the Good ; and other Verses. By Charlotte Murray.
Crown 8vo.
Uncrowned Queens. By Charlotte Skinner. Small 8vo. 112
pages. Cloth.
Victoria: the Well-Beloved. (1819-1901.) By W. Francis
Aitken. Eight Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 152 pages. Cloth
boards.
26 Catalogue of Books Published
IS. each (continued).
New Series of One Shilling Picture floods.
Size 70$ by 8 inches. 96 pages. Coloured Frontispiece and numerous other
illustrations. Handsomely bound in Paper Boards, covers printed in 10
colours and varnished.
A Trip to Storyland. By R. V.
Holiday Hours in Animal Land. By Uncle Harry.
Animal Antics ! By the Author of " In Animal Land with Louis
Wain,"
Happy Days. By R. V.
Old Testament Heroes. By Mildred Duff.
Feed My Lambs. Fifty-two Bible Stories and Pictures. By the
Author of " The Friends of Jesus."
Jesus the Good Shepherd. A Book of Bible Pictures in
colours, with suitable letterpress.
Tell Me a Tale ! A Picture Story Book for Little Children.
ByJ.D.
Little Snow-Shoes Picture Book. By R. V.
In Animal Land with Louis Wain. Coloured Frontispiece
and many other of Louis Wain s striking animal pictures for the
young.
Two Little Bears at School. By J. D.
Merry and Free. Pictures and Stories for our Little Ones. By
R. V.
Bible Pictures and Stories : Old Testament. By D. J. D.
Bible Pictures and Stories: New Testament. By James
Weston and D. J. D.
Pussies and Puppies. By Louis Wain,
The Life of Jesus. By Mildred Duff. 112 pages.
Gentle Jesus : A Book of Bible Pictures in colour. Size, n by
8 inches.
Commendations from all parts of the world have reached
Messrs. S. W. Partridge and Co. upon the excellence of their
Picture Books. The reading matter is high-toned, helpful, and
amusing, exactly adapted to the requirements of young folks;
while the Illustrations are by first-class artists, and the paper is
thick and durable. Bound in attractive coloured covers, they
form a unique series,
By S. W. Partridge & Co. 27
9d. each.
Ninepenny Series of Illustrated Books.
96 pages. Small Crown 8vo. Illustrated. Handsome Cloth Covers.
Kibble & Co. By Jennie Chappell.
Marjory ; or, What Would Jesus Do ? By Laura A. Barter- Snow.
Brave Bertie. By Edith C. Kenyon.
The Little Slave Girl. By Eileen Douglas.
Marjorie s Enemy : A Story of the Civil War of 1644. By Mrs.
Adams.
Lady Betty s Twins. By E. M. Waterworth.
A Venturesome Voyage. By F. Scarlett Potter.
Out of the Straight ; or, The Boy who Failed and the Boy
who Succeeded. By Noel Hope.
Bob and Bob s Baby. By Mary E. Lester.
Robin s Golden Deed. By Ruby Lynn.
The Little Captain : A Temperance Tale. By Lynde Palmer.
The Runaway Twins ; or, The Terrible Guardian. By Irene
Clifton.
Grandmother s Child. By Annie S. Swan.
Dorothy s Trust. By Adela Frances Mount.
Grannie s Treasures ; and how they helped her. By L. E.
Tiddeman.
His Majesty s Beggars. By Mary E. Ropes.
Love s Golden Key. By Mary E. Lester.
Faithful Friends. By C. A. Mercer.
Only Roy. By E. M. Waterworth and Jennie Chappell.
Aunt Armstrong s Money. By Jennie Chappell.
The Babes in the Basket ; or, Daph and Her Charge.
Bel s Baby. By Mary E. Ropes.
Birdie s Benefits ; or, A Little Child Shall Lead Them. By
Edith Ruth Boddy,
Carol s Gift ; or, " What Time I am Afraid I will Trust in
Thee." By Jennie Chappell.
Cripple George ; or, God has a Plan for Every Man. A Tem
perance Story. By John W. Kneeshaw.
Cared For ; or, The Orphan Wanderers. By Mrs. C E. Bowen
A Flight with the Swallows. By Emma Marshall.
28
Catalogue of Books Published
9d. each (continued.)
NINEPENNY SERIES OF ILLUSTRATED BOOKS (continued).
The Five Cousins. By Emma Leslie.
Foolish Chrissy ; or, Discontent and its Consequences. By
Meta.
For Lucy s Sake. By Annie S. Swan.
Giddie Garland ; or, The Three Mirrors. By Jennie Chappell.
How a Farthing made a Fortune ; or, Honesty is the Best
Policy. By Mrs. C. E. Bowen.
How Paul s Penny became a Pound. By Mrs. Bowen.
How Peter s Pound became a Penny. By the same Author
John Blessington s Enemy: A Story of Life in South Africa.
By E. Harcourt Burrage.
John Oriel s Start in Life. By Mary Howitt.
The Man of the Family. By Jennie Chappell.
Mattie s Home ; or, The Little Match-girl and her Friends.
Nan ; or, The Power of Love. By Eliza F. Pollard.
Phil s Frolic. By F. Scarlett Potter.
Paul : A Little Mediator. By Maude M. Butler.
Rob and I ; or, By Courage and Faith. By C. A. Mercer.
A Sailor s Lass. By Emma Leslie.
Una Bruce s Troubles. By Alice Price.
Won from the Sea. By E. C. Phillips (Mrs. H. B. Looker).
6d. each.
The Marigold Series.
An unequalled, series of Standard Stories, printed on good laid paper.
Imperial 8vo. 128 pages. Illustrated covers with vignetted design
printed in eight colours. Price 6d. each net.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. By
Jane Austen.
FROM JEST TO EARNEST. By
E. P. Roe.
THE WIDE, WIDE WORLDV
By Susan Warner.
By S. W. Partridge & Co.
29
6d. each (continued).
New Series of Sixpenny Picture Boo^s.
Crown 4to. With Coloured Frontispiece and many other Illustrations.
Handsomely Bound in Paper Boards, with cover printed in ten colours.
Off to Toyland ! By Uncle Jack.
Going A-Sailing ! By J. D.
Follow the Flag. By J. D.
Dollie Dimple. By J. D.
Old Mother Bunnie ! A Picture Story Book for Laddies and
Lassies. By J. D.
Off We Go ! Pictures and Stories for Boys and Girls. By R. V.
Sweet Stories Re-Told : A Bible Picture Book for Young Folks.
Little Snowdrop s Bible Picture Book.
March Away ! Pictures and Stories for Every Day.
After the Ball : Pictures and Stories for One and All.
Mother s Sunday A B C : A Little Book of Bible Pictures,
which can be coloured by hand.
The " Red Dave " Series.
New and Enlarged Edition. Handsomely bound in Cloth Boards.
Well Illustrated.
" ROAST POTATOES ! " A Temper
ance Story. By Rev. S. N. Sedg-
wick, M.A.
His CAPTAIN. By Constancia
Sergeant.
"!N A MINUTE!" By Keith Mar-
low.
UNCLE Jo s OLD COAT. By
Eleanora H. Stooke.
THE COST OF A PROMISE. By
M. I. Hurrell.
FARTHING DIPS ; or, What can I
do ? By J. S. Woodhouse.
ROY CARPENTER S LESSON. By
Keith Marlow.
GERALD S GUARDIAN. By Charles
Herbert.
WHERE A QUEEN ONCE DWELT.
By Jetta Vogel.
WILFUL JACK. By M. I. Hurrell.
WILLIE THE WAIF. By Minie
Herbert.
A LITTLE TOWN MOUSE.
THE LITTLE GOVERNESS.
PUPPY-DOG TALES.
MOTHER S BOY.
A GREAT MISTAKE,
FROM HAND TO HAND.
THAT BOY BOB.
BUY YOUR OWN CHERRIES.
LEFT IN CHARGE, and other
Stories.
A THREEFOLD PROMISE.
THE FOUR YOUNG MUSICIANS.
Two LITTLE GIRLS AND WHAT
They Did.
Catalogue of Books Published
6d. each (continued).
THE "RED DAVE" SERIES (continued).
A SUNDAY TRIP AND WHAT CAME
of it. By E. J . Romanes.
LITTLE TIM AND HIS PICTURE.
By Beatrice Way.
MIDGE. By L. E. Tiddeman.
THE CONJURER S WAND. By
Henrietta S. Streatfeild.
BENJAMIN S NEW BOY.
ENEMIES : a Tale for Little Lads
and Lassies.
CHERRY TREE PLACE.
A TALE OF FOUR FOXES.
JOE AND SALLY : or, A Good Deed
and its Fruits.
THE ISLAND HOME.
CHRISSY S TREASURE.
LOST IN THE SNOW.
OWEN S FORTUNE.
RED DAVE ; or, What Wilt Thou
have Me to Do ?
DICK AND His DONKEY.
JESSIE DYSON.
COME HOME, MOTHER.
4d. each.
Cheap "Pansy" Series.
Imperial 8vo. 64 pages. Many Illustrations. Cover printed in five colours.
THE STRAIT GATE. By Annie S.
Swan.
MARK DESBOROU^H S Vow. By
Annie S. Swan.
HER SADDEST BLESSING.
Miss PRISCILLA HUNTER, and
other Stories.
WILD BRYONIE.
Avic A Story of Imperial Rome.
LINKS IN REBECCA S LIFE.
FROM DIFFERENT STANDPOINTS.
THOSE BOYS.
CHRISSIE S CHRISTMAS.
FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA,
JULIA RIED.
ESTER RIED YET SPEAKING.
ECHOING AND RE-ECHOING.
CUNNING WORKMEN.
TIP LEWIS AND His LAMP,
THE KING S DAUGHTER.
HOUSEHOLD PUZZLES.
THE RANDOLPHS.
WISE TO WIN ; or, The Master
Hand.
A NEW GRAFT ON THE FAMILY
Tree.
THE MAN OF THE HOUSE .
By S. W. Partridge & Co.
4d. each (continued).
The Young Folds Library
Of Cloth-bound Books. With Coloured Frontispiece. 64 pages.
Well Illustrated. Handsome Cloth Covers.
THE LITTLE WOODMAN.
JACKO THE MONKEY, and other
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LITTLE DAN, THE ORANGE BOY,
RONALD S REASON.
FROM SHADOW TO SUNSHINE.
A BRIGHT IDEA.
SYBIL AND HER LIVE SNOWBALL.
THE CHURCH MOUSE.
DANDY JIM.
A TROUBLESOME TRIO.
PERRY S PILGRIMAGE.
NITA ; or, Among the Brigands.
3d. each.
New ^Pretty " Gift-Book " Series.
With Beautiful Coloured Frontispiece, and many other Illustrations.
Paper Boards, Cover printed in eight Colours and Varnished, 3d. each.
Size 6 by 5 inches.
JACK AND JILL S PICTURE BOOK.
LADY - BIRD S PICTURES AND
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PLAYTIME JOYS FOR GIRLS AND
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DOLLY S PICTURE BOOK.
BY THE SEA.
TOBY AND KIT S ANIMAL BOOK.
"PETS" AND " PICKLES."
OUR LITTLE PETS ALPHABET.
BIBLE STORIES OLD TESTAMENT.
BIBLE STORIES NEWTESTAMENT
^Paternoster Series of Popular Stories.
An entirely New Series of Books, Medium
Cover daintily printed in two colours.
A CANDLE LIGHTED BY THE LORD.
By Mrs. Ross.
GRANDMOTHER S CHILD. By
Annie S. Swan.
THE BABES IN THE BASKET ; or,
Daph and her Charge.
JENNY S GERANIUM; or.ThePrize
Flower of a London Court
THE LITTLE PRINCESS OF TOWER
Hill. ByL.T. Meade.
THE GOLD THREAD. By Norman
Macleod, D D.
8vo. in size, 32 pages, fully illustrated.
H. each. Titles as follows :
THROUGH SORROW AND JOY. By
M. A. R.
THE LITTLE WOODMAN AND HIS
Dog Caesar. By Mrs. Sherwood.
CRIPPLE GEORGE. By J. W.
Kneeshaw.
ROB AND I. By C. A. Mercer.
DICK AND HIS DONKEY. By Mrs.
Bowen.
THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL.
32 S. W. Partridge & Co. s Catalogue.
Partridge s Pictorial Magazines.
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The British Workman. Contains popular Articles and Stories
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The Yearly Volume, 144 pages full of illustrations, coloured paper boards,
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id. Monthly.
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DUE
H
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