Luther and the German reformation

Front matter

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Preface

Although Luther's life has been written scores of times, it has always seemed to me that there is room for another — for one which will be careful to set Luther in the environment of the common social life of his time. For it is often forgotten that the sixteenth century, in which he was the most outstanding figure, saw the beginnings of our present social life in almost everything, from our way of looking at politics and our modes of trade to our underclothing. To show what that life was, and to show Luther in it, would, it seems to me, bring him nearer us than has yet been done.

I do not for a moment pretend that this little book is even a sketch of the Reformer's life written in this way. That needed far more space than was permitted. Yet I have had the thought before me in writing, and for that reason have been careful to make as much use as possible of contemporary evidence.

The book has not been weighted with continual references to authorities. Instead of that a list of viii PREFACE

a large number of works consulted has been placed in the appendix, and their position there is, I trust, sufficient acknowledgment of the debt owed to them. One set of authorities I have been obliged to omit from this list — the numerous letters, records of conversations, extracts from diaries, all belonging to the times of Luther, which have been printed during the last twenty-five years in such journals as the Studien und Kritiken, the Zeitschrift fur die historische Theologie, etc. The last edition of Kostlin's Martin Luther : sein Leben und seine Schriften, with its admirable notes and references, deserves a special mention. No one can write about Luther without acknowledging the debt he owes to it.

THOMAS M. LINDSAY.

Glasgow, 13ft April 1900.

To

James Campbell, Esq.

of TuUichewan

In Token of a Quarter of a Century's Kindness and Friendship

Contents

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Pkbface . vii

Introduction

The Reformation Epoch can be looked at from various Points of View— The Religious— The Political— The Intellectual— The Moral^The Economic — Luther's Relation to these . . 1

CHAPTER I Luther's Childhood and Education, 1483-1505

Born at Eisleben — His Parents — Earliest Home Life— Christian Training — German Peasant Life — Its Toils — Its Amusements — Need for Parental Severity — School at Mansfeld — Mediseval Schools — The Wandering Students — Thomas Platter's Autobiography— School at Magdeburg — Eisenach — Fran Cotta — The Holy Elizabeth — The University of Erfurt — Humanism — Luther's inner Life at Erfurt absolutely unknown — Sudden Entrance into the Convent — Eaots and Legends ... 9

CHAPTER II The Years of Pkeparation, 1505-1517

Entrance into the Convent Life — Training as Novice — What sent Luther there — Soul Struggles — Staupitz — "The Righteousness of God" — Peace found — Still a Devout Member of the Mediaeval Church — Ordination — University of Wittenberg — Luther, Professor of Philosophy — Visit to Rome — Made Doctor of Theology — Preaching, Lectures on New and on Old Testament — Superintendent of Convents ... 31

X CONTENTS

CHAPTEE in Indttlgbncb Contkovbest, 1517-1519

PAGE

Albert of Mainz farms an Indulgence — His Statements of its Efficacy — Not Efficacious for Smugglers of Alum — Myconins gets a "Papal Letter " for nothing — " Papal Letters " bought by Wittenberg People — Luther's Perplexity — "St. Ursula's Schifflein " — A possible Evangelical Meaning in Indulgences — The Ninety-five Theses — Luther and Mediseval Teaching — The Medieval "Dead-lock" — How Luther solved it' — How solved by Indulgence — The Gist of the Theses — How received by Friends and Foes — Augustinian Chapter at Heidelberg — Dr. John Eok — Luther summoned to Rome — The Emperor and the Elector insist on a Trial in Germany — Luther at Augsburg — Appeals to a General Council — Embassy of von Miltitz — The Leipzig Disputation — Its Effects on Luther's Position — Duke George of Saxony — Luther's Use of the Printing-Press .......... 53

Chapter IV

On Christian Liberty — Its Pathetic Origin — Its Main Theme, the Priesthood of all Believers — The Babylonian Captivity of the Church — A Criticism of the Romanist Sacramental Theory — The Threefold Bondage of the Eucharist — Romanist Dispensations denounced — Priests should be allowed to Marry — -To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, respecting the Reformation of the Christian Estate — An Indictment of the Roman Treatment of Germany — The Three Walls of the Papacy — Remedies Suggested — Papal Bull against Luther — Luther Burns the Bull — AVhat the Students did . , 93

CHAPTER V At the Diet of Woems, 1521

Death of the Emperor Maximilian — Rival Candidates for the Throne — State of Germany — Throne offered to the Elector of Saxony — Charles v. Elected — The ' ' Holy Roman Empire " — Political Condition of Germany — Charles's Dream — Middle Ages and Modern Times meet at the Diet of Worms — The Papal Legate, Aleander — The Passional Christi et Antichristi — 'The Safe-Conduct — On the Road to Worms — Before the Diet— Excitement among the People — Emperor completes his Bargain with the Pope — The Ban against Luther . . . 113

CONTENTS xi

CHAPTER VI In the Wart burg. From 4th May 1521 to 3rd March 1522 nas

Journey back from the Diet — Luther seized on the Road — In the Wartburg — Memories of Song and Saintship — Letter to Albert of Maiuz — Tract on Monastic Vows — Translation of New- Testament — Anxieties about Wittenberg — How John Kessler saw Dr. Martin dressed as a Man-at-Arms .... 136

CHAPTER VII The Progress of the Reformation, 1522-1525

Luther back in Wittenberg — Preaches Patience and Charity — Makes Preaching Tours through Electoral Saxony — The " Imperial Council " and its Difficulties — Pope Adrian Appeals to it to enforce the Edict of Worms — "The Hundred Grievances"-— How the Reformation Spread quietly — George of Brandenburg — Albert, the Grand Master — The First Martyrs 150

CHAPTER VIII Political and Social Revolts, 1522-1525

The Social and Economic Condition of Germany — Franz von Sickingen — The Rising of the Nobles — Luther and Sickingen — The "Peasants' War " — The Religious Reformation and the Social Revolution — Condition of Peasants and Artisans — Propaganda of the Revolt — Mattock John — Foundation of the "Evangelical Brotherhood" — The Swabian League — "The Twelve Articles" — Swift Spreading of the Terror — Sudden Collapse and Bloody Repression — Luther's Connection with the Rising— Disastrous Effects on the Reformation . . 161

CHAPTER IX Marriage, Family and Pcblic Life

The Conception of " Marriage " in the Reformation Movement — Luther's Personal Disinclination for the Married Life — The Nine Nuns — Catherine von Bora — Luther Marries her — The Augustinian Convent a Family Home — How his Wife helped Luther — The Plague in Wittenberg — The Luther Household — The Liber Vagatorum — Luther's Devotion to his Wife — ■ His Letters to her — Delight in his Children — " Lena " Luther — Sayings in the Family Circle — The Emperor determined to Crush the Reformation — "Not Head off, dear Prince" — Luther at Coburg — The "Augsburg Confession" — The Storm Clouds pass away 190 xii CONTENTS

CHAPTER X Latino the Foukdations of the Evangelical Chuech

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Luther's earlier Hopes that the Evangelical Doctrine would spread without many External Changes — The Visible Catholic Church- — Depended on a Succession of Pious Generations from the Apostles, not on an Historical Succession of Bishops —The Work the Church had to do— The "Visitations"— The "Circle" of Wittenberg — The Short and the Larger Catechisms — Luther's Zeal for "Common Schools" — The Eeformation Movement and Education — Luther and the Swiss — The Sacramental Question 219