We have given some account of the writings Works of of Luther as far as the end of the year 1541. Luther. His principal publications in 1542, besides his tract on the rejection of Pflug, and the inauguration of Amsdorf as bishop of Naumburg, and his address to the elector and Maurice on their quarrel, (both which have been already noticed,) 1 "By Luther and his fellow labourers," says Melchior Adam," God brought to light to his church those most essential doctrines which respect the Mediator, the way of justification, the difference between the law and the gospel, the nature of acceptable worship, and other subjects of vital importance."-He then quotes the following testimony of Melancthon concerning Luther. "He often bewailed the impious addresses made to departed saints, and said, For various reasons such a profane practice is to be execrated, but especially because it obscures the evidence of the deity of Christ, arising from the divine honours which we are taught to pay to him, in the scriptures both of the prophets and the apostles. This is the idolatry which whets the cimeters of the Turks against us: nor will our blood cease to be shed by them, unless a pious reformation be made. Who can deny the gross impiety of such sentences as these, which are constantly heard in the papal churches: And again: O Mary, mother of grace, Defend us from the enemy! Receive us in the hour of death! O Saint Dorothy, create in me a clean heart! O Saint Catharine, remove us from the troubles of this world to the bliss of paradise! Open to us the gates of paradise!” CHAP. IX. On the Conformities of were a commentary on the prophet Micah; a translation into German, with a preface and notes, of a work of Richard Dominicanus (a writer whom he supposes to have lived early in the fourteenth century,) on the Koran; and prefaces to an epitome of the Conformities of S. Francis, and to the postills of John Spangenberg, subsequently superintendant of Mansfeld. The work of Richard had excited his curiosity concerning the Koran. He could not for some time believe that rational beings could be found to receive propositions so monstrous, as it professed to exhibit from the Koran: but he had since obtained a Latin translation of the work of the Arabian impostor, and had found that there was no fiction in Richard's charges. He wished therefore to make them known to his countrymen, at a time when the Mahometans were so much spreading their conquests, and with them their religion in Europe. He takes occasion therefore to introduce many admonitions and addresses suitable to the times. 1 The Conformities of S. Francis he wished to S. Francis. keep before the public eye, that it might not be forgotten what things had really been taught under the papacy.-Many now affected to disbelieve that such things had actually been written and received; many were found to soften them down or varnish them over, especially in the diets: 2 not that the papists had renounced them; they only kept them in the back ground, to reproduce them at a more favourable opportunity; and we may easily, says Luther, relapse into them, if we prove un 1 Seck. iii. 411, 412. 2 Qu. May we not read, In the houses of Lords and Commons? grateful for the benefits conferred upon us, and thus provoke God to withdraw his grace from us. 1 He A. D. 1542. Spangen In his preface to Spangenberg he dwells at Preface to some length on the term "mystery," applied berg's by S. Paul to the gospel, and particularly (Eph. Postills. v.) to the union between Christ and the church. When he first set out, he says, "he thought that he well understood all this, as many other smatterers now did; but, when he had made some little progress, he found that it was indeed a mystery, which too much pains could not be taken to understand and unfold." laments, however, that many wrote, "not to make known this mystery, but that their own fine thoughts might not be lost; and they then set both themselves and their books to sale. But such men would never effect any thing in the church of God." On the contrary, he reprehends idle preachers, who contented themselves with "repeating, like parrots and jackdaws, only what others had written." His one wish, he declares for himself, was, that, "when he and his comrades, who could not always stand in the foremost ranks as they had done, were removed, the truth of Christ might still be defended against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Though those who followed them might not have such a work to perform as the reformers had had, they would yet have at least enough to do, to prevent the devil's re-introducing like abominations into the church. They could not, therefore, too diligently study the scriptures, too earnestly teach what they learned from them, or too carefully illustrate what they taught by their own life and conversation." 2 CHAP. words of David. The latter of these publications led him to a third, on "the last words of David," 2 Samuel On the last xxiii; in which he considers at some length the doctrine of the Trinity, the addressing of our worship to the several persons, distinctly or conjointly, and the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This work is highly commended by Seckendorf. 1 Preface to declama Elector's sons. Among the minor writings of Luther at this tions of the period, a preface may deserve to be mentioned, which he wrote to some Latin declamations composed and delivered by the elector's sons, boys of thirteen and fourteen years of age. Luther here expresses great joy at the progress of learning, (so different than under the papacy!) at the elector's manner of training his sons, and the good hopes which they afforded him; and concludes with offering fervent prayers for them, and for others of their rank, adapted particularly to the times in which their lot was cast. On the whole it is a very pleasing spectacle which this little publication presents to us, both of the elector's family, and of the regard which Luther bore to them.2 Elevation of the Sa Elements. Several passages of Luther's correspondence cramental about this time turn upon the question of the elevation of the elements in the eucharist. This he ever held to be a ceremony which might be retained or discontinued as circumstances should suggest. When Carolstadt demanded its abrogation, and called Luther "a murderer and crucifier of Christ," if he continued it, he would not give it up. Afterwards, when most protestant bodies had dropped it, he did the same, being resolved not to differ from them in a practice which he esteemed 1 Seck. iii. 463, 464. 2 Ib. 465-467. altogether indifferent. In other cases, where the omission gave offence, and occasioned prejudice, he recommended that it should be retained and such was also the conduct of George of Anhalt. 1 On this subject the bishop of Meaux very harshly and groundlessly insults the memory of Luther, as if he had been influenced in his varying practice by corrupt motives; whereas the unvarying and liberal principle by which he was guided is obvious. The bishop particularly insinuates that he was overawed by the landgrave of Hesse, who, he says, became after his double marriage "the patriarch of the reformation," and dictated to Luther as he pleased! Nothing can be more contrary to fact. 2 A. D. 1544. versy. In the year 1544, Luther published again on Sacramenthe eucharist, treating the Zuinglians with tal contromuch severity, and especially declaring himself shocked at what Zuinglius had written concerning the heathen. 3-He also published some sermons. In one on Michaelmas day, speaking Sermons. of the divinity of Christ, he declares that he who does not learn to believe in him as God incarnate, and to rejoice in him accordingly, can learn nothing rightly concerning Christianity, and had better give up the Bible. 4Another of his sermons was delivered at the consecration of the chapel in the castle at Torgau, the first that had been consecrated 1 Seck. iii. 380, 469-471, 497, 593. "On the elevation of the sacramental elements," he writes to Spalatinus, 10 November, 1542, "Do as you please. On such indifferent matters I would put no snare in any man's way. So I write, have written, and will write to all who daily tease me upon that question." Buddeus, p. 276. 2 See Seck. iii. 470. 3 Ib. 515. See Milner v. 524, 525. (1125, 1126.) Seck. iii. 516. |