CHAP. 1. this, and send it to Augsburg, where all was to be conducted with the utmost caution! Yet such was the fact: and Cochlæus tells us, that the tract was publicly sold near the hotel of the elector of Saxony. It was also taken and read to the assembled catholic princes by the bishop of Augsburg, of whom we have already heard some interesting particulars, and "who," says Melancthon, relating the present fact, "contends resolutely for us, whatever his success may be." 1 But what are we to conclude would be the effect of such a writing, published at such a time? Maimbourg, a hundred and fifty years after, is moved to such wrath by the perusal of it, that he exclaims, "I will speak my sentiments freely: The emperor is to be censured for not causing Luther to be detained, when he spoke before him in the manner he did at Worms. In that, however, he may be excused on the ground of the safe conduct which he had granted: but now, when Luther was proscribed by an imperial edict, and all were forbidden to harbour him; and when he still went on to issue his insolent papers in the very presence of the emperor, and in defiance of him; he might surely have compelled the elector of Saxony to deliver him up, that such contempt of the imperial authority might not go unpunished. If he would not do this from regard to religion, he evidently ought to have done it for his own sake."2-Charles, no doubt, had ecclesiastics about him who would feel and advise as Maimbourg would have done but happily princes often see it necessary to take a wider view of the interests and feelings of those whom they govern, than the members of a par : ticular profession do; and they enter not with the same keenness of feeling into their quarrels.1 Seckendorf will not venture to pronounce, whether this composition of Luther's, and another to be noticed immediately, tended to promote or obstruct the desired result; though he inclines to the former conclusion. With Luther, he observes, a-private individual, to whom no appeal was made in the confession, and little reference in the discussions which followed, the prelates had nothing directly to do: yet there was much in his address, not only to carry conviction to their minds, but also to give them satisfaction on points which interested them more nearly than religious doctrines did; seeing Luther, at the very time that he asserted all his principles as vehemently as ever, so explicitly avowed his intention to leave their dignity, their jurisdiction, and their revenues untouched and he remarks, as a striking fact, how many of those, who heard this address of Luther's, became within a few years, instead of enemies, friends and patrons of the reformation. He enumerates Herman, archbishop of Cologne, Frederick, count, and soon after elector, palatine, Joachim, son and successor of the elector of Brandenburg, Eric, duke of Brunswick, the dukes of Mecklenburg and Pomerania, and others, whose representatives only were present; not to mention, counts, barons, knights, and free cities. He remarks also, in this connexion, the different tempers of Luther and Melancthon, and the different means by which they 1 In some of these conferences, one having harshly observed, That, supposing Germany should be laid waste, the emperor had other dominions beside that; Charles reproved him, and nobly said, "An emperor ought to consult for the welfare of the world." Melch. Adam in vit. Pontani. A.D. 1530. I. CHAP. pursued the same object: the former, open and avowed, indignantly exposing abuses, and demanding their correction as a matter of right; yet ready to obey as far as he conscientiously could the latter, proceeding modestly and humbly; yielding whatever could safely be conceded, and supplicating the rest, as of favour, and acknowledging it as an act of grace.The fact is, Luther was one of those commanding geniuses who astonish mankind by the boldness of their measures. Men had by this time got to look for extraordinary proceedings from him; and, when he adopted them, they were either carried along with him, or, at least, overawed by that in him, which in others would only have raised their indignation. His Letter to the Elector of His correspondence. The other publication of Luther's, to which we have alluded, was a printed letter to the archbishop of Mentz, in which he admonishes him to be on his guard against the Italians; warns him from the second Psalm, and from the fatal issue to their enemies, which attended the persecution of the apostles; conjures him to stand, like Gamaliel, between the protestants and their persecutors; and scruples not to tell him, that, while associated with the pope and his abettors, he stood involved with Satan himself.2-This letter was written in the month of July, while the confession was in the hands of those who were to refute it. But the private correspondence of the reformer will be still more interesting to us. About the twentieth of May, the elector, then waiting at Augsburg for the emperor's arrival, wrote to Luther, having heard of his illness. He begs that he would make himself 1 Seck. ii. 188. 2 Seck. ii. 184. easy in his retreat, and bear his inactive life with patience; expresses the anxiety which all felt for his health, of which he charges him to take care; and prays God to preserve him. Luther in reply thanks the elector for the concern he took about him, and observes that he felt it his duty to take care of his health, and to pray for it; which he did faithfully. With respect to his situation, he says, "I pass my time without weariness: weeks seem to me but days and we fare quite splendidly." He sympathizes, however, with the elector's situation, who experienced much inconvenience, and had to bear the resentment of all the other princes, purely for the sake of the word of God:-on all other grounds they must esteem him for his moderation and virtue. But he bids him rejoice in this, as an honour assigned him by God; whereas the anger of heaven against his opponents was manifest, from their obdurate hostility to the gospel. He then adds, for the encouragement of his prince, a copious eulogy of the religious state of the electorate of Saxony. Truly," he says, "there are more numerous and more excellent pastors and teachers in your highness's dominions, than in any other country in the world. Our youth of both sexes grow up so well instructed in the holy scriptures and the catechism, that it affords me the most sensible pleasure to see children learn more, and enabled to believe and avow more, concerning God and Christ, than all the papal colleges, monasteries, and schools heretofore knew, or even yet know. These tender plants form a 1 It appears that, besides all other things, the great expence which the elector incurred by being detained so long at Augsburg, with his retinue, was far from convenient to him. Seck. ii. 154 (a). F A. D. 1530. CHAP. 1. most pleasant paradise, planted by God himself, in your highness's territories, which has not its like in all the world beside. The children of God are protected and daily fed with the bread of life in your dominions: the very reverse of which is the case in those of the popish princes. In those countries, however, there are many who look to the sacred land, under your highness's sway, with ardent affection and fervent prayers." These statements afford us valuable information concerning the effect produced by the dissemination of divine truth: and they were surely well suited to fortify the mind of the pious prince, to whom they were addressed, by the assurance that he was not encountering danger for no practical good. Like the apostle, he might well" not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ," when he saw it thus made" the power of God to the salvation" of his subjects. -Luther then calls God to witness, that he wrote not thus to flatter his prince, but in sincerity and truth, lest Satan should deject and sadden his mind. "I know him in part," he says, "and the artifices with which he often disturbs me. He is a gloomy and morose spirit, who reluctantly suffers any heart to enjoy peace; and much less would permit your highness now to do it, on whom he knows that so much depends."1 Seckendorf highly commends the emphasis and elegance of the German style of this long letter; and quotes it as an instance of the courteousness, and almost courtliness, of which Luther was capable, notwithstanding all that is said of his ruggedness and asperity. Luther anticipated no favourable result from 1 Seck. ii. 154, 155. |