A. D. 1539. alone relates. We ought to do good works from obedience to God, for the glory of his name, for the benefit of our neighbour, and to prove the sincerity of our faith. For, as faith soars upwards, bringing us into the favour of God, so works descend downwards, proving us to be in his favour. Yet faith does not procure our salvation by its intrinsic merit, but by embracing the divine promise. Thus we have righteousness before God, and salvation by faith only; but from this faith, through divine grace, good works do spring."-These, it is then Good works observed, are to be set forth from the decalogue; and the people are at the same time to be instructed, that, " though the observance of the law is to human strength impossible, yet the Holy Spirit is given to us by God; and that through his grace the yoke of Christ becomes easy and pleasant to us: and, though in this life we can never attain perfection, and must remain under the perpetual care and regimen of the heavenly physician, nevertheless God will graciously bestow eternal rewards on the incipient obedience of his faithful and reconciled people, and will crown, not indeed human merits, but his own gifts in them." 2 This regulation or constitution was drawn up by James Stratner, the court preacher at Anspach, and George Buchholzer, superintendant of Berlin. They communicated with Luther respecting it, who objected to nothing but that too many ceremonies were retained; some of which, however, he trusted time would do away. The elector of Brandenburg submitted it not only to his counsellors, but to the 1 So I paraphrase the words, "Sicut enim fides officium suum præstat sursum erga Deum, ita opera id præstant deorsum." 2 Seck. iii, 237, 238. CHAP. V. Importance formation of Bran denburg. states of his dominions, and, having obtained their approbation, he published it, and appointed a visitation throughout his provinces to be conducted in conformity with it.1 Of the importance of this reformation, Seckof the Re- endorf remarks, no one can doubt, who considers the ample extent of the provinces concerned : and to us its importance must appear still more striking when we consider, that the electorate of Brandenburg has since grown into the kingdom of Prussia. We can only say, on considering the subsequent course of things, Oh that the pure doctrine thus introduced had ever been received in faith and love, and had produced its genuine holy fruits in all who professed to embrace it! The elector of Brandenburg, indeed, influenced perhaps by the hope that he should thus be enabled, with less prejudice, to promote more extensively the reformation of Germany at large,2 never acceded to the protestant league; and, during the Smalkaldic war and in the events which followed it, he acted not a part which we can approve; but at this period he actually accomplished more than Luther conceived would have been found practicable. In a letter to him, dated December 4, 1539, the reformer expresses his joy and thankfulness to God for what had taken place, and owns that he had doubted whether the elector could surmount the obstacles opposed to him; so much so, as hitherto to have abstained from exhorting him. But God, he says, "performs all things, beyond our powers and our hopes." 3 Among the epistles of Melancthon is preserved one of considerable length, drawn up * Seck. iii. 235, 236. 2 lb. 236 (7). 3 Ib. 236. A. D. 1539. of Poland. by him for the elector Joachim, and addressed to Sigismund king of Poland, whose daughter Joachim had married for his second wife, and Letter to on whom he was dependent for some part of the king his dominions. It is dated in October 1539, and is intended to explain and justify the steps which the elector had taken. It is written in a respectful and affectionate style, yet with becoming firmness; and the following passage exhibits a pleasing picture of the piety of the elector's retired life.-Speaking of his wife, (Sigismund's daughter,) and of the happiness he enjoyed, and should ever be careful to preserve, in his marriage with her, he says, "She knows that religion is a matter of earnest concern with me, and that my mind abhors all unrighteous counsels. And, as it is our mutual desire that God should be glorified in our connexion, we often unite in prayer, and often discourse together on the divine commandments, on the hope of eternal life, and on the blessings derived from Christ." 1 represen Maimbourg represents Joachim as bribed to Maimmake this change in religion, and as having bourg's been a good catholic till the states offered to tation. pay his debts if he would comply with their wishes and protestant writers have indeed related that such a promise was made him,2 though Seckendorf found no notice of it in any of the original papers submitted to his inspection. Certainly, however, his attachment to the reformed doctrines, long before this time, was notorious: so that at the most he did but receive this provision (perhaps in itself a reasonable one,) in return for acting more openly according to his principles; whereas it is known, 2 Chytræi Saxonia, lib. xii. 1 Melanc. Ep. i. 55. CHAP. V. Confer ences be tween the Catholics and Protestants; from authorities with which Maimbourg could not be unacquainted, that, in allowing the reformation of Magdeburg and Halberstadt, the archbishop of Mentz received a similar consideration for acting contrary to his principles. Yet not a word upon that subject escapes the popish historian.1 The history of these more interesting events has withdrawn our attention from the conference which was to be held, in pursuance of the convention of Francfort, between select persons of the contending parties; who were to endeavour to draw up articles of accommodation between them, to be submitted to the next diet.2 The futility of all such attempts must be obvious to any one who considers the nature of their differences, and that they stood irreconcilably opposed to each other upon such fundamental points, as the very rule by which controversies were to be decided, and the authority of the pope to decide them in a summary and absolute manner. Where no beneficial result, therefore, could ensue, the detail of proceedings would only be wearisome, and often vexatious. The emperor, however, seems to have entertained the hope, that accommodation might be effected, and hence to have sincerely desired the conference.3 To the protestants all such proceedings were useful, both because they gained them time, which was highly for their advantage, and also because they accustomed men to see religious questions brought under discussion, instead of being submitted to the absolute dictation of the pope. On this very account they were 1 Seck. iii. 241. On the whole subject of this reformation, see Seck. iii. 234-241. Above, p. 205. 3 Seck. iii. 270. A. D. 1540. objects of high offence to the court of Rome, which regarded the proposal of them as little short of an act of treason and rebellion against the church; and accordingly stigmatized Vesalius archbishop of Lund, the emperor's ambassador at the diet of Frankfort, who had proposed the conference, as a traitor that had sold himself to the Lutherans. The archbishop, who appears to have been a well-intentioned man, inclined to moderate and pacific counsels,2 treated these charges with the contempt they deserved: 3 but the opposition of the pope and his devoted adherents had the effect of long delaying and greatly interrupting the execution of the proposed measure. A meeting was to have been held at Nuremberg in August, 1539, preparatory to such conference: and the protestants early appointed a goodly list of persons, venerable in the annals of reformation, to attend this meeting. It did not, however, take place; nor does any thing appear to have been done till June, 1540. Then, in the words of Dr. Robertson," in a diet held at Haguenau, 5 at matters were ripened for the conference. In Haguenau, another diet assembled at Worms," in De- Worms, cember following," the conference was begun, Melancthon on the one side, and Eckius on the other, sustaining the principal part in the dispute; but, after they had made some progress, 1 In Sweden. He was a native of Germany, and had been deprived and banished, when Christiern II, king of Denmark, was expelled from Sweden, and eventually from Denmark also. He was afterwards made bishop of Constance. Sleid. 248, 469. Seck. iii. 299 (c). 3 Ib. 203 (12), 206. 4 Ib. 203, 205. 5 Sleid. 267, 268. Seck. iii. 258, 270. 6 Sleid. 270, 271. Seck. iii. 294-299. Mel. Ep. iv. 228. 7 Calvin was one of those who attended on this occasion. -It is a curious circumstance, that, in this conference, the |