I.

CHAP. God, who have it? And, if God be for us, who can be against us? Sinners we are, and ungrateful, it is true; but he will not on that account prove false to his word.-But you do not listen to these things: so much does Satan afflict you. I earnestly pray that Christ may be your healer. Amen!"1

Situation

testants at

Augsburg.

He concludes another letter thus: "Believe that Christ is with us, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Should he lose this title at Augsburg, he will lose it in heaven and earth :" meaning that they might be as secure against the one event as the other.2

In the middle of July he writes to Justus of the Pro- Jonas, that he had "less apprehension from the threats, than from the artifices and frauds practised against them at Augsburg." And indeed it is necessary to bear in mind the variety of ways in which the supporters of the protestant cause were there assailed. Without this we shall not properly enter into the difficulties of their situation, nor perceive the grounds of that great degree of distress which Melancthon and others suffered. They were indeed in general, though not always, treated with a degree of civility, particularly by the emperor; who seems in this way to have led both Luther and Melancthon into the opinion, which they willingly admitted, that he was more favourably disposed to them than the rest.3 But by the avowed zealots of the papal

1 Seck. ii, 182, 183.

2 Ib. 183.

3" I know nothing more worthy of remark in the whole diet, than the history of the emperor. His uninterrupted success must excite our admiration: but what is far more honourable, and more to be admired is, that, in the midst of such prosperity, and with every thing succeeding according to his wishes, he retains such moderation that not an arrogant

party, and by some also who more sincerely wished for peace, we must conceive of Melancthon, Pontanus, and their coadjutors, as baited from day to day, and every approach to their minds incessantly attempted, to awe, to allure, to betray them into concessions injurious to their cause or their honour. And it is under the influence of a daily conflict of this kind that we must suppose the gentle spirit of Melancthon, anxious to refuse nothing that he might lawfully yield, yet most religiously fearful of betraying the truth, to have been harassed to the degree we have seen that it was. The very idea also of involving his country in a civil war, the too probable and eventually the actual consequence, must have been distressing in the extreme to a patriot and a Christian

word or action can be charged upon him. What prince can you quote to me, who has not been altered by prosperity? In the emperor alone the indulgence of fortune has been able to effect no change of mind. No inordinate passion, no indication of pride or severity is discoverable in him.... His domestic life is distinguished by continence, moderation, and frugality.... No profligate character can insinuate himself into his friendship.... So that whenever I look upon him I seem to have before me some one of the most celebrated of the heroes or demigods, who are said anciently to have sojourned with mankind: and much more justly to him, than to Augustus, may be applied the words of the poet,

This is really too much to have been written after the battle of Pavia, the captivity of Francis, the sack of Rome, the imprisonment of the pope, &c. &c. It shews, however, how willing Melancthon was to be pleased, and how unwise princes and great men are, who do not purchase the esteem of mankind, when it may be often bought by them at so low a price as that of a little courtesy of manners and a few gracious words.

A. D. 1530.

1.

CHAP. minister-especially one of Melancthon's temper. Of the direct artifices practised, the manuscript relation of the transactions at Augsburg, before referred to, as abstracted by Seckendorf, speaks in strong language. "The hypocrisy of some was shewn in conversing kindly with the evangelical preachers, that they might corrupt them, and fish out of them the secrets of their princes: so that it became necessary to forbid the preachers to enter into these conversations. In short, such were the arts, such the machinations employed, (which might be particularly described if needful,) that their adversaries themselves could not sufficiently wonder that the protestants were not entrapped by them. That they were not so, must be ascribed to the wisdom and power of God alone. They might adopt the words, The snare is broken and we are delivered: our help standeth in the name of the Lord."2

When Luther heard of the demand that the abrogated rites should be restored, the monasteries rebuilt, and all things replaced on their old footing, he says: "Let us, on our part, demand that they restore to life Leonard Cesar,3 and many others whom they have iniquitously

1 He himself particularly mentions his anxiety on account of the princes, who had so much at stake, and who were undecided as to what should be yielded, what not. Ep. i. 16, 18. For himself he says, " Nihil moveor meo periculo." Further, "Nostra moderatio auget insolentiam hominum ferocium."- "Fuit eo in conventu valde solicitus Melancthon, ne vel conscientiam vulneraret, vel existimationem suam læderet, vel republicæ Christianæ incommodaret." Melch. Adami Vit. Melancth. 161. Camerarius says of him in these circumstances, " Ipse ego inter tales cogitationes non modo suspirantem, sed profundentem lacrymas conspexi, &c." De Vit. Mel. § 37.

2 Seck. ii. 184, 202.

3 Milner v. 468-471. (1065--1068.)

put to death. Let them restore the many souls ruined by their impious doctrine. Let them restore also the wealth extorted by indulgences and other cheats. Let them restore the glory of God, insulted by so many blasphemies; the purity of the church, so foully corrupted; and other things, more than can be enumerated." He recommends that they should meet the artifices of the papists by still appealing to a council-" which never would be held, but the appeal to which might serve to continue to them a state of peace:" and he again sharply reproves the fears of Melancthon.1

Again, comforting Brentius and Melancthon, (who was still, he says, " tormenting himself,") he declares that, after his death, by his writings left behind him, and by his prayers in heaven, he will be the defender of those who may follow him, and their avenger on their persecutors. "Some, indeed, he knows will say, Where is Abel thy brother? but, for himself, he looks to another world; and, for those whom he may leave behind him he says, He that created me will be the father of my child, and the husband of my widow, the ruler in the commonwealth, and the preacher in my parish." 2

Such were the prudence, the undaunted courage, the faith, the piety, the zeal with which Luther sustained the spirits of his harassed and afflicted friends at this arduous period. Nearly half the letters in the volume of his epistles collected by Buddeus were written during the period of the diet of Augsburg, and I do not remember to have observed in one of them any other than the heroic spirit displayed

A. D.

1530.

I.

CHAP. in the above extracts. In one of them, addressed to Pontanus, I find the following fine burst of sentiment and description. "I looked out at my window,"-probably alluding to his custom of offering up his devotions standing at a window," I looked out at my window, and saw two prodigies. I beheld the glittering stars, and all the glorious vault of heaven: I looked around for the pillars by which it was upheld, but I could discover none. Yet it

remained firm and secure. The same unseen hand, which had formed, sustained it still. Yet numbers anxiously search on all sides for its supports could they feel them with their hands, they might then be at ease: but, as this is impossible, they live in constant disquiet, lest the heavens should fall down upon their heads!-I beheld again, and lo thick clouds of water, like a mighty ocean, which I saw nothing to contain, nothing to hold up, rolled above our heads. Yet they descended not upon us ; but, after presenting a threatening aspect for a little time, they passed away, and a brilliant rainbow succeeded them. This was our protection. Yet it appeared frail and evanescent : and, though it has ever hitherto proved availing, still numbers think more of the thick and dark mass of waters, than of the slender fleeting arch of light. They want to have sensible proof of its sufficiency: and, because they cannot obtain that, they live in dread of a second deluge."2 The application to the case of his friends at Augsburg is obvious.

From this passage we obtain some intimation of the means by which our heroic reformer was enabled to soar so high, and to maintain such