PREFACE. ready we often see in it a feeling of religion, inadequate no doubt, but yet a movement in the direction of sound learning, encouraging us to look for more definite advances. But modern Protestantism, like old Catholicism, is, in itself, a thing from which nothing can be hoped,-a thing quite powerless. Something very different is necessary, to restore to men of our day the energy that saves. A something is requisite which is not of man, but of God. "Give me," said Archimedes, a point out of the world, and I will raise the world from its poles." True Christianity is this standing be yond the world, which lifts the heart of man from its double pivot of selfishness and sensuality, and which will one day move the whole world from its evil way, and cause it to turn on a new axis of righteousness and peace. Whenever religion has been the subject of discussion, there have been three points to which our attention have been directed. God,-Man,and the Priest. There can be but three kinds of religion on this earth, God, Man, or the Priest, is its author or its head. I call that the religion of the Priest, which is devised by the priest, for the glory of the priest, and in which a priestly caste is dominant. I apply the name of the religion of Man to those systems and various opinions framed by man's reason, and which, as they are the offspring of his infirmity, are, by consequence, destitute of all sanative efficacy. I apply the words religion of God, to the Truth, such as God himself has given it, and of which the object and the effect are God's glory and Man's salvation. Hierarchism, or the religion of the priest; Christianity or the religion of God; rationalism, or the religion of man;-such are the three doctrines which in our day divide Christendom. There is no salvation, either for man or society, in hierarchism, or in rationalism. Christianity alone can give life to the world; and, unhappily, of the three prevailing systems, it is not that which numbers most followers. Some, however, it has. Christianity is operating its work of regeneration among many Catholics of Germany, and doubtless also of other countries. It is now accomplishing it with more purity, and power, as we think, among the evangelical Christians of Switzerland, of France, of Great Britain, and of the United States. Blessed be God, such individual or social regenerations, wrought by the Gospel, are no longer in these days prodigies to be sought in ancient annals. We have ourselves witnessed a powerful awakening, begun in the midst of conflicts and trials, in a small republic, whose citizens live happy and tranquil in the bosom of the wonders with which creation surrounds them.* It is but a beginning;-and already from the plenteous horn of the Gospel we see come forth among this people a noble, elevated, and courageous profession of the great truths of God; a liberty ample and real, a government full of zeal and intelligence; an affection, elsewhere too rarely found, of magistrates for people, and of the people for their magistrates; a powerful impulse communicated to education and general instruction, which will make of this country, an example for imitation; a slow, but certain amelioration in morals; men of talent, all Christians, and who rival the first writers of our language. All these riches developed between the dark Jura and the summits of the Alps, on the magnificent shores of Lake Leman, must strike the traveller attracted thither by the wonders of those mountains and valleys, and present to his meditation one of the most eloquent pages which the Providence of God has inscribed in favour of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Canton of Vaud. PREFACE. It is the history of the Reformation in general that I propose to write. I intend to trace it among different nations, to point out the same effects of the same truths, as well as the diversities which take their origin in the varieties of national character. But it is in Germany especially that we shall see and describe the history of the Reformation. It is there we find its primitive type;-it is there that it offers the fullest development of its organization. It is there that it bears, above all, the marks of a revolution not confined to one or more nations, but, on the contrary, affecting the world at large. The German Reformation is the true and fundamental Reformation. It is the great planet, and the rest revolve in wider or narrower circles around it, like statellites drawn after it by its movement. And yet the Reformation in SWITZERLAND must, in some respects, be considered as an exception, both because it took place at the very same time as that of Germany, and independently of it; and because it bore, especially at a later period, some of those grander features which are seen in the latter. Notwithstanding that recollections of ancestry and of refuge, and the memory of struggle, suffering, and exile, endured in the cause of the Reformation in France,—give, in my view, a peculiar charm to the history of its vicissitudes, I nevertheless doubt whether I could place it in the same rank as those which I have here spoken of. From what I have said, it will be seen that I believe the Reformation to be the work of God. Nevertheless, as its historian, I hope to be impartial. I think I have spoken of the principal Roman Catholic actors in the great drama, Leo X., Albert of Magdeburg, Charles V., and Doctor Eck, &c. more favourably than the majority of historians. And, on the other hand, I have had no wish to conceal the faults and errors of the Reformers. This history has been drawn from the original sources with which a long residence in Germany, the Low Countries, and Switzerland has made me familiar: as well as from the study, in the original languages, of documents relating to the religious history of Great Britain and other countries. Down to this time we possess no history of that remarkable period. Nothing indicated that the deficiency would be supplied when I commenced this work. This circumstance could alone have led me to undertake it;-and I here allege it in my justification. The want still exists;-and I pray Him from whom cometh down every good gift, to cause that this work may, by His blessing, be made profitable to some who shall read it. The editions of Luther's works quoted are the German edition printed at Leipsic, [L. Opp. (L.);] the German edition by Walch, L. Opp. (W.); and the edition in Latin printed at Wittemberg, L. Opp. Lat.:-of the Letters, De Wette's excellent edition, 5 vols. CONTENTS. BOOK I-PAGE 15. STATE OF EUROPE PRIOR TO THE REFORMATION. Rise of the Papacy-Early Encroachments-Co-operation of the Bishops BOOK II.-PAGE 118. THE YOUTH, CONVERSION, AND EARLY LABOURS OF LUTHER. 1483-1517. Luther's Parents-Birth of Luther-Luther's Early Life-Magdeburg -Discovery-The Bible-Mental Agitation-Visit to Mansfeldt- mon- BOOK III.-PAGE 209. THE INDULGENCES AND THE THESES. 1517-1518. Tetzel-Confessions-The Sale-Penance-Letter of Indulgence CONTENTS. ciliation-Luther's Tracts-"Who art in Heaven"-"Our Daily Bread"-"Remission of Sins"-Effects of Luther's Teaching-Luther's Journey-The Palatine Castle-The "Paradoxes"-The Disputation -Its Results-Bucer-Brentz-The Gospel of Heidelburg-Effect on Luther—The Old Professor-Return to Wittemberg. BOOK IV.-PAGE 306. LUTHER BEFORE THE LEGATE. May to December 1518. The Pope-Leo X--Luther to his Bishop-Luther to the Pope-Luther to the Vicar-General-The Cardinal to the Elector-Sermon on Excommunication-Luther's Influence-Diet at Augsburg-The Emperor and the Elector-Letters to the Pope-Citation of Luther to Rome-Intercession of the University-The Legate De Vio-The Pope's Brief-Luther's Indignation-The Pope to the Elector-George Schwarzerd-Melancthon-Luther and Melancthon-Staupitz to Spalatin-Luther's Resolution-He sets out-At Nuremburg-Luther at Nuremburg-De Vio-Serra Longa and Luther-Return of Serra Longa-Prior of the Camelites-Serra Longo-Luther and Serra Longa-The Safe Conduct-Appearance before the Legate-First Interview-De Vio's Proofs-Luther's Replies-A Proposal-Luther and De Vio-Luther's Declaration--The Legate's Answer-Luther's Request Third Conference-Luther's Declaration-The Legate's Answer-Luther's Reply-The Cardinal Foiled-Rumours-De Vio and Staupitz-Luther to Carlstadt-The Communion-Departure of Staupitz-Letter to the Legate-Luther and the Legate-Luther's Letter to the Legate-His Appeal-Luther's Flight-NuremburgThe Legate to the Elector-Luther to the Elector-GraefenthalLuther to Spalatin-Luther's Intended Departure-A Critical Hour -Deliverance-Dissatisfaction at Rome-The Pope's Bull-Luther Appeals to a Council. |