CHAPTER VII.

Charles V. chosen Emperor of Germany-Luther writes to him-Luther's works condemned by the universities of Cologne and Louvain-Luther on good works His appeal to the German nation-Discourse on the mass-On the "Babylonian Captivity of the Church" -Melancthon's marriage-Eck goes to Rome and procures a bull of excommunication against LutherMiltitz still anxious to effect a reconciliation-Persuades Luther to write to the pope-His letter and tract on Christian liberty-The excommunication disregarded in Germany-Luther's reply to the bullHe renews his appeal to a general council-He burns the pope's bull, with the decretals, the canon law, &c.

THE year following the death of the Empe ror Maximilian, the electors of Germany assembled at Frankfort, to choose a successor. The occasion was one of high interest and importance to all Europe. The principal candidates for the imperial crown were Charles V., grandson of the late emperor, who already governed the Netherlands, Spain, Sicily, Naples and Austria, and Francis I., King of France. Passing by both these, the electors

first laid the crown at the feet of one of their own number, the friend of Luther, the Elector of Saxony. But he, through perhaps an excess of prudence, thought proper to decline it. "There is need," said he, "in present circumstances, of an emperor more powerful than myself, to save Germany. The Turk is at our gates. The King of the Netherlands and Spain, whose hereditary possessions in Austria border on the menaced frontier, is its natural defender."

It was chiefly in consequence of the recommendation of Frederic that Charles V. obtained the crown. The Spanish envoys offered the elector 30,000 gold florins, in token of their master's gratitude; but he promptly rejected the gift, and prohibited his ministers from accepting any present. The coronation of Charles, as Emperor of Germany, took place on the 22d of October, 1520.

Before the coronation, Luther took the precaution to write to Charles an humble and submissive letter. "If," said he, "the cause I defend is worthy of appearing before the throne of the Majesty of heaven, it surely is not unworthy of engaging the attention of a prince

of this world. O, Charles! thou prince among the kings of the earth! I throw myself, as a suppliant, at the feet of your most serene majesty, and conjure you to deign to receive under the shadow of your wings, not me, but the cause of that eternal truth, for the defence of which God has intrusted you with the sword." To this most respectful letter, the young monarch returned no answer. He threw it aside, probably, as beneath his notice.

While Luther was in vain supplicating the favour of the new emperor, the storm seemed to thicken around him in Germany. Hochstraten, a Dominican and inquisitor of Cologne, between whom and Luther there had been already more than one encounter, extracted certain theses from his writings, which he persuaded the universities of Cologne and Louvain to condemn as heretical. This produced much excitement, at the time, in Germany, and led to some attempts upon the reformer's life. The elector, also, received repeated letters from Rome-some of them of the most urgent character-requesting him to withhold his protection from Luther, and give him over to the power of his enemies.

But while many were seeking the life of the reformer, others were raised up and prepared to defend him. The elector, though cautiously forbearing to commit himself fully to the cause of the Reformation, yet resolutely refused to abandon Luther. Several powerful German knights also wrote to Luther, of their own accord, inviting him to repair to their castles, and take refuge under their arms. It is interesting to see how different were their views, as to the means of defending and promoting the gospel, from those which actuated the reformer. "We want,” said one of them, writing to Luther "we want swords, bows, javelins and bombs, in order to repel the fury of the devil." But Luther replied, "I will not resort to arms and bloodshed, for the defence of the gospel. It is by the preaching of the word that the world has been conquered. By the word the church has been saved; by the word, also, it will be restored."

Relying thus confidently upon the power of the divine word, Luther laboured incessantly, in the midst of all his perils, to diffuse it. He published, at this time, his discourse on good works, which he dedicated to Duke John, the

elector's brother.

Of all his works, Luther seems to have regarded this as the best; because that in it he opens, most powerfully, the great doctrine of justification by faith. "No one," says Melancthon, "among all the Greek and Latin writers, has come nearer to the spirit of St. Paul than Luther in this discourse."

In June of this year, 1520, Luther published another work of great power and boldness, and which produced much effect. It was entitled, "An Appeal to his Imperial Majesty and the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, concerning the Reformation of Christianity." In his introduction, the reformer says, "It is not rashly and without consideration, that I, a man of the common people, take upon myself to address your highnesses. The misery and oppression which, at this hour, weigh down all Christian states, and more especially Germany, wring from me a cry of distress. I find myself compelled to call for help. I must see if God will not give his Spirit to some one or other of our countrymen, and thus stretch forth his hand to save our wretched nation. God has placed over us a young and generous monarch, and thus filled our hearts with high hopes. But