Morning of the reformation

Front matter

UNITED STATES OP AMERICA.

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Preface

The Protestant Reformation was one of those great and surprising events which attract the notice of succeeding generations, and mark the periods in which they occur as epochs in the history of the world. In many particulars, this event resembled the first triumph of Christianity; and among all the revolutions which the earth has witnessed, was second only to that in point of interest and importance. It sundered the chains of debasing ignorance and inveterate superstition. It broke the yoke of the most grinding moral and spiritual oppression. It unlocked the longsealed fountains of knowledge, and gave the Bible to the nations. In the course of a few years, it enlightened and emancipated half Europe. Nor was its influence confined to the period when it oc-

4 PREFACE.

curred. Its blessed results have rolled down the tide of time, in a constantly widening and increasing current, from generation to generation, and they will continue thus to roll, till time shall be no more.

In all true history the hand of God is more or less visible ; but never have his power and grace been more strikingly displayed than in the series of events connected with the Protestant Reformation. By a succession of remarkable, though often mysterious, providences, he prepared the way for the purification of his church. It was his providence and grace which raised up and qualified the individuals by whom this work was chiefly conducted ; which protected and sustained them in the midst of trials and dangers ; and which brought, at length, the mighty enterprise in which they were engaged to a successful issue. At every stage in the progress of the work, we find these individuals humbly looking to God for direction ; and

PREFACE. d

in every season of encouragement and deliverance, they devoutly ascribed to him the glory. Let those who come after them, and who read the story and reap the fruits of their toils and perils, do the same.

The object of the writer in the following history (as the intelligent reader must perceive) has not been so much to be profound or original, as to be instructive and entertaining. As he writes more especially for the benefit of the young, he has endeavoured to give to the narrative somewhat of a scenic character, and to embody as much of stirring incident as was consistent with the necessary brevity of the work.

In preparing these pages, the author has had access to nearly all the histories of the Reformation, both Romish and Protestant. He has been chiefly indebted, however, to the new history of President D'Aubigne, whose course of narrative he has more generally followed, and 1*

6 PREFACE.

whose language he has^ in some mstances, adopted.

He now commits the work to the beloved youth of our land, in the hope and prayer that it may tend to open their eyes to the errors, the evils and dangers of that system of darkness with which the Romish church has covered so large a portion of this world, and may deeply impress them with a sense of obligation to those often traduced but ever memorable reformers, who braved for us the terrors of ecclesiastical tyranny and persecution, and at the expense of whose toils, sacrifices and blood, we have received the Bible, and nearly all those blessings, whether civil or religious, which we now enjoy. Next to the apostles and evangelists of the primitive church, ihe Reformers of the sixteenth century should be remembered with gratitude and honour by Christians in all coming time.

Theological Seminary, Bangor, 1842.

Chapter I

Events introductory and preparatory to the Reformation — Labours of Wicklifle and his followers — Removal of the seat of the popedom from Rome to Avignon — Schism of the ¥/est— Gradual revival of learning from the eleventh to the sixteenth centuries —Art of printing — Labours of learned men not connected with the Reformers — Forms of government in Germany and Switzerland — Death of the Emperor Maximilian— Frederic the Wise, Elector of Saxony — Engrossing occupations of Charles V.— Dreadful corruptions in the church of Rome— Fruitless attempts at reformation — No hope remaining but in the power of God Page 13

CHAPTER IL

Reformation in Germany — Parents of Luther — His birth and early education- — At school at Magdeburg and at Eisenach — His extreme poverty and distress — Sent to the university at Erfurth — Academical honours — Luther awakened and distressed — Enters a convent — Menial employments — Studies in the convent — Great mental anguish — Is converted through the instrumentality of Staupitz — Ordained priest — Appointed to a professorship at Wittemberg 43

Chapter III

Luther's labours and studies at Wittemberg — Popularity as a lecturer and preacher — Goes on an embassy to Rome — Shocked with what he saw there — Becomes a doctor of divinity and teacher of the Bible — Attacks the schoolmen and the prevailing superstitions — Visits the Augustine convents — Exposed to the plague — Oppressed with labour — His theses on depravity, free-will and grace — History of indulgences — Tetzel's manner of selling them — His preaching on the subject — Tetzel outwitted — Minds of people divided and distressed 70

Chapter IV

Luther refuses absolution on the ground of indulgences — Tetzel's anger — Luther preaches on the subject — Publishes his theses on indulgences — The elector's dream — Rapid circulation of the theses — Effects on different minds — Attacked by Tetzel and the Dominicans — Tetzel's antitheses burned at Wittemberg — Controversy with Prierias — With Hochstraten — With Dr. Eck — Luther's labours as preacher and teacher — His journey to Heidelberg — His dispute there on law and grace — Martin Bucer converted-^Luther returns to Wittemberg 101

Chapter V

Luther's explanations on the subject of indulgences — - His letter to Pope Leo X. — Luther summoned to Rome — The pope consents that he shall be tried before Cardinal Cajetan at Augsburg — Is secretly condemned at Rome, before the time for his trial — Luther sets out on foot for Augsburg — Arrives there — Interview with Serra Longa — Receives a safe-conduct from the emperor — First interview with Cajetan — Second interview — Third interview — Luther celebrates the Lord's supper with his friends — Appeals to the pope when better informed — Leaves Augsburg — Returns to Wittemberg 129

CHAPTER VL

Cajetan angry at Luther's departure — Luther on the point of being ordered away from "Wittemberg — A new bull in favour of indulgences — Luther appeals to a general council — Cajetan blamed at Rome— Miltitz sent to negotiate with Luther — Miltitz enraged against Tetzel— Luther's first interview with Miltitz — Second interview, when a truce is agreed upon — Tetzel's disgrace and death — Luther's great popularity as a teacher — His works pubHshed at Basle — Miltitz embarrassed — The truce broken by Dr. Eck — Dispute at Leipzic between Eck and Carlstadt — Luther takes part in it — Important results of the dispute — Melancthon's history — Effect of the dispute on his mind — Luther's commentary on the Galatians 164

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 Luther — Miltitz 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 bull — He renews his appeal to a general council — He burns the pope's bull, with the decretals, the canon law, &c 196

CHAPTER Vin.

Melancthon's Discourse to the States of the Empire — Luther's " retractations" — The elector refuses to give up Luther — Erasmus's opinion of Luther — Luther's advice to the penitents — Proves that the papacy is Antichrist — Increasing popularity of the reformers at Wittemberg — Staupitz alarmed, and begins to draw back — Luther's letters — Diet at Worms, in 1521 — A new bull of excommunication against Luther — Money sent from Rome to the diet — Aleander, the pope's legate, seeks to effect the destruction of Luther in his absence — The Catholic members of the diet demand a redress of grievances — A list of grievances presented — Aleander tries to prevent the appearance of Luther at the diet — The feelings of Luther at this time 228

Chapter IX

Luther summoned to appear at Worms — Bugenhagen at Wittemberg — Luther leaves Wittemberg — Arrives at Weimar — At Erfurth — Meets Justus Jonas— Arrives at Frankfort — Papists try in vain to stop him — His entry into Worms — His desertion and prayer — His first appearance before the diet — His second appearance — His answers and appeal — Persists in the answer that he had given — The emperor's indiscreet decision — The diet divided — Great pains taken to bring Luther to retract, but in vain — He is ordered to leave Worms — His departure 260

Chapter X

Luther pursues his journey towards Wittemberg — Writes to the emperor — Visits his relatives at Mora — Is captured and confined in the castle of Wartburg — His condemnation at Worms — The edict disregarded in Germany — Reasons for this — Great excitement on account of Luther's supposed imprisonment or death — Luther's despondency in the castle — Is allowed more liberty — His studies and labours — His publications — He humbles the Archbishop of Mentz — He commences translating the Scriptures — His conflicts with the adversary — His writings censured by the University of Paris—Melancthon replies to the Doctors of the Sorhonne — Outward progress of the Reformation — Priests begin to enter tbe marriage state — The mass gives place to the Lord's supper — The monks quit their cloisters and return to society — The fanatical prophets — Melancthon and Luther declare against them — Carlstadt is taken with them — Luther's presence needed at Wittemberg — He leaves his castle, and returns ^ 295

MORNING

OF

THE HEFOMATION.

Chapter I

Events introductory and preparatory to the Reformation — Labours of Wickliffe and his followers — Removal of the seat of the popedom from Rome to Avignon — Schism of the West — Gradual revival of learning from the eleventh to the sixteenth centuries — Art of printing — Labours of learned men not connected v^rith the Reformers — Forms of government in Germany and Switzerland — Death of the Emperor Maximilian — Frederic the Wise, Elector of Saxony —Engrossing occupations of Charles V. — Dreadful corruptions in the church of Rome — Fruitless attempts at reformation — No hope remaining but in the power of God.

Before entering directly on a history of the Reformation, it may be proper to notice some of those providential occurrences which went 2 13 before it and prepared the way for it ; which rendered the world so eminently ripe for reformation, and so ready to aid in promoting its triumphs.

The first of these preparatory dispensations to ^hich I shall direct attention, was the preaching and labours of WicklifFe^ and his followers. John WicklifFe died ninety-nine years before Luther was born. Although it was his lot to live in an age of thick darkness, and to labour under circumstances of peculiar disadvantage, yet so vigorously and perseveringly did he pursue his labours, and so wisely did he plan for their perpetuity and increase, that the precious fruits of them remained and continued to diffuse themselves, down to the times of which we speak. In England, though great numbers of his followers were burned at the stake, others were raised up to take their places ; and though his books were studiously sought out and destroyed, yet copies of them continued to be multiplied, and were read with the deepest interest. His Bible was concealed and studied by numbers in England, notwithstanding the

* A life of this eminent servant of God has been lately published by the American Sunday-School Union.

threats of popish inquisitors, and was received by the famishing of that terrible period as the bread and the water of life. The writings of Wickiiffe removed the darkness from the minds of John Huss and Jerome of Prague, and kindled up a light in Bohemia which all the floods of error were not able to quench. In a word, althougli it was not the privilege of such men as Wickiiffe and Huss to see the tyranny of the Romish church overthrown, and the whole face of society changed under the influence of the gospel, yet it devolved on them to infuse the leaven which ultimately pervaded and moved the entire mass. The light which they kindled was never extinguished ; we trust in God it never will be. It continued to burn and shine through more than a hundred years of prevailing darkness and ignorance, till at length it was merged in the brighter beams of the Protestant Reformation.

There were circumstances connected with the papacy, occurring as far back as the age of Wicklifle, which tended eminently to prepare the way for the reformation of which we speak. One of these was the removal of the seat of the popedom from Rome to Avignon, where it remained about seventy years. In consequence of this removal, the revenue of the pontiffs was materially diminished, and their enemies in Italy became more bold and insolent. They invaded and laid waste the territories of the church and assailed the pontifical authority in their publications. A number of cities revolted from the pope. Rome itself became the fomenter of cabals and civil wars ; and the laws and decrees sent thither from France were often treated with contempt. In this latter respect the example of Italy was followed by other countries of Europe, Numerous instances might be adduced to show, that people generally attributed far less power to the fulminations and decrees which issued from France, than to those which used to proceed from Rome. Seditions were excited in different places against the pontiffs, which they were but poorly able to put down and subdue.

Scarcely had what the Romanists call their "Babylonish captivity" terminated, and the throne of the pontiffs been restored to Italy, when another event occurred of most disastrous influence upon their pretensions and claims. I refer now to what has been called '' the great schism of the West." During the next fifty years the church had two or three heads at once, and the rival popes assailed each other with excommunications, maledictions and all sorts of hostile measures. By this means the nerves of the pontifical power were cut, and could not afterwards be restored. Kings and princes who before had been, in some sense, the servants of the pontiffs, now became their j udges and masters. Moreover, great numbers, despising and disregarding those who could thus quarrel and fight for empire, committed their salvation into the hands of God, acknowledging that religion might subsist and the church be safe without any visible earthly head.

The disrespect for the pontiffs, which had been thus excited, was rather increased than diminished by the proceedings of the councils of Constance and Basil. By their bold exercise of authority, in resisting, deposing and electing popes, these great councils impressed upon the nations of Europe that there was a jurisdiction in the church superior even to the power of the pope, which they had before been taught to regard as supreme. 2*

The revival of learning throughout Europe was an event exceedingly favourable to the Eeformation. This revival had commenced as early as the eleventh century, but for a long period its progress was slow and almost imperceptible. It was greatly accelerated, near the middle of the fifteenth century, in consequence of the capture of Constantinople by the Turks ; an event which, however disastrous to the interests of learning in the East, was the occasion of imparting new life and vigour to these interests in the West. Great numbers of learned Greeks, with their books and arts, were compelled to take refuge in Italy, and in other parts of Europe, where they gathered pupils, opened schools, and promoted the study of the classical authors of antiquity. Under such an influence, the mind of Europe began speedily to be enlightened and liberalized. Mankind awoke from the lethargy in which they had been sunk for so many centuries, and assumed the power of thinking and acting for themselves ; and no sooner was this power assumed, than it began to be exercised with extraordinary boldness. Men were not afraid now of entering an untrodden path, or of embracing' a new opinion. The novelty of a doctrine seems to have been a recomnnendation of it, and, instead of being startled when the daring hand of Luther tore aside the veil which covered long established errors, the genius of the age applauded and aided the attempt.

It was a circumstance highly favourable to the reformers, that they were, in general, learned men, and appeared before the public as the advocates, not only of a pure religion, but of sound learning : whereas the ignorant monks not only opposed the spread of Luther's doctrines, but set themselves with equal fierceness against the introduction of learning into Germany. With them, it was a sufficient objection to the works of Erasmus, that they were written in so good Latin. It was in this way that the cause of learning and the cause of the Reformation came to be regarded, for a time, as almost identical. They had, in general, the same friends and the same enemies. This enabled the reformers to carry on the contest with great advantage. Erudition, industry, accuracy of sentiment, purity of composition, even wit and raillery were almost wholly on their side ; and they triumphed easily over illiterate monks, whose rude arguments and ruder style were found insufficient for the defence of a system which all the learning and Jesuitry of its later advocates have not been able to support, or so much as to palliate.

Another circumstance which greatly promoted the Reformation, was the then recent invention of the art of printing. By means of this art, the facility of acquiring and propagating knowledge was wonderfully increased, and the books of the reformers, which must otherwise have made their way slowly and with uncertainty into distant countries, spread at once all over Europe. Nor were they read only by the rich and the learned, w^ho alone had access to books before printing was discovered. They were adapted to the capacities and came into the hands of the common people, who, upon this appeal to their individual judgment, were led to examine and to reject many doctrines which formerly they had been required to believe.

In consequence of the revival of learning, many learned men were raised up, some before and some contemporary with the reformers, who, without joining them or holding any formal connexion with them, still helped forward the work in which they were engaged. Such were Dante and Petrarch in the fourteenth century, the former of whom places several of the popes in the depths of hell, and represents the church as utterly corrupt and sunk under the weight of her pollutions.-'^' In one of his sonnets, Petrarch assimilates the papal court to Babylon, and declares that he has quitted it forever, as a place equally deprived of virtue and of shame, the residence of misery and the mother of error. In another, he fairly exhausts, on this subject, every epithet of reproach and abhorrence of which his native language was capable. Of the same general character and influence were the writings of the celebrated Boccacio. It was the principal object of his Decameron (the most popular and entertaining of all his works) to expose the debaucheries of the religious orders, and to bring them into utter contempt. This v/ork was translated into various languages, and circulated all over Europe.

Of like character with this were the Facetiae of Poggio, upwards of ten editions of which

were issued in the last thirty years of the fifteenth century. This work was published, not only in Italy, but at Antwerp and Leipsic ; an evident proof of its great and almost universal celebrity.

As we draw nearer to the times of the Reformation, we find men of learning were multiplied in different parts of Europe, and God was employing them, in various ways, preparatory to the deliverance of his church. It devolved on Reuchlin, the most learned man of his age, to revive in Germany the study of the Scriptures in their original tongues.

At the very beginning of the sixteenth century, he revised the Vulgate, and gave to the world the first Hebrew and German Grammar and Dictionary that had ever been published. By this labour he took off* the seals from the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and made it easy for Luther to open and translate these sacred books for the good of his countrymen. Reuchlin was the uncle, the patron and tutor of the celebrated Melancthon, by whom the latter was trained up to be a principal promoter, as well as ornament of the Reformation.

Ulric de Hutten, an orator and knight, was not improperly called the Demosthenes of Germany, on account of his philippics against the papacy. Among his various writings was one which he entitled The Romish Trinity ; in which he strips bare the disorders of the papal court, and urges the necessity of putting a forcible stop to its oppressions. " There are three things," says he, in this tract, " which we commonly bring away with us from Rome ; a bad conscience, a vitiated stomach and an empty purse. There are three things which Rome has no faith in ; the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the dead and hell. There are three things which Rome chiefly trades in ; the grace of Christ, the dignities of the church and wom.en." Hutten, like Reuchlin, was sorely persecuted by the monks, and was obliged, in the latter part of his life, to take refuge in one of the castles of Germany.

But the most remarkable personage among the learned, who, while he cautiously stood aloof from the Reformation, was employed, in providence, to help it forward, was Erasmus of Rotterdam. Being destined for the priesthood, though he never entered it, and trained up in the knowledge of ecclesiastical literature, he applied himself more to theological inquiries than any of the revivers of learning in that age. Though engaged, after a time, in open controversy with the reformers, he was nevertheless useful to the Reformation in various ways. By his example and influence, he contributed to diffuse a love of learning and a spirit of liberal inquiry and discussion. He unveiled the errors and corruptions of the church, and assailed them with the most pungent satire. But more especially he laboured to recall the public mind from scholastic quibbles, and to direct it to the study of the Holy Scriptures. " I am firmly resolved," said he, " to die in the study of the Scriptures. In that is my joy and peace."

It was in the year 1616, that he published his New Testament in Greek; the first, and for a long time the only, critical edition extant. This he accompanied with a Latin translation, in which he boldly corrected the Vulgate and gave a reason for his corrections. It was in vain that the monks clamoured against this most important work, charging Erasmus with undertaking to correct the Holy Ghost. He knew the ground on which he stood, and was well able to refute their clamours, if not to silence them. Erasmus did for the New Testament what Reuchlin before had done for the Old. These men gave the Scriptures to the learned of Europe, but Luther gave them to the common people.

Among the arrangements of Providence calculated to favour the Reformation may be reckoned, also, the particular ybrm^ of gov emraent at that time established in the countries where it commenced. The German empire was a confederacy of different States, with the emperor as its head. Each of these States possessed the sovereignty over its own territories. The Imperial Diet or Congress was composed of the princes of the sovereign States, and exercised the legislative power for the whole of the Germanic body. The emperor ratified the laws, decrees, or resohitions of this assembly. It was his office, also, to publish and execute them. The emperor was chosen for life ; and it devolved on seven of the more powerful princes, under the title of electors, to award the imperial crown. This particular form of constitution, which, by the ordering of Providence, the empire had received, was 3

26 MORNING or THE REFORMATION.

manifestly favourable to the promulgation of new doctrines. If Germany had been a monarchy, strictly so called, like France or England, the arbitrary will of the sovereign might have delayed, if not frustrated, the progress of the gospel. But, as we have seen, it was a confederacy. The truth, opposed in one State, might be received favourably in another. Important centres of light, which might gradually penetrate the darkness and enlighten the surrounding population, might quickly be formed in different districts of the empire.

The same remark may be made in respect to Switzerland, -where the Reformation commenced about at the same time as in Germany. It was so ordered in providence that Switzerland also should be a confederacy ^ and not a simple monarchy. Each of the cantons was an independent republic, all of which were confederated together, and governed by a general diet or congress.

The arrangements of Providence in regard to some of the reigning powers in Germany were also in the highest degree favourable to the Reformation. But for the death of the Emperor Maximilian, almost at the commencement of the

Reformation, it is hard to see how the life of Luther could have been preserved. This monarch was deeply interested, from considerations of policy as well as of principle, to conciliate the pontiff, and urged him, by letter, to take vigorous measures in opposition to Luther. '* We will be careful," said he, "to enforce throughout our empire w^hatever your holiness shall decree on this subject." The life of the reformer was completely in the emperor's liands ; he had the opportunity, the power and the disposition to destroy it ; and without a miracle we see not how it could have been preserved. But before any measures could be matured, the emperor himself was removed by death.

The raising up of such a man as Frederic the Wise, the renowned Elector of Saxony, to be the sovereign and protector of Luther, is another interposition of Providence that must not be overlooked. During the period intervening between the death of Maximilian and the elevation of Charles V. to the throne of the empire, Frederic was sole monarch in his own dominions. And after the election of Charles, he was under so great obligations to Frederic for the influence which he had exerted in his favour, that he was very unwilling to displease him.* Yet " Frederic," to use the language of another, " was precisely the prince that was needed for the cradle of the Reformation. Too much weakness on the part of those friendly to the work might have allowed it to be crushed. Too much haste would have caused a premature explosion of the storm that was gathering against it." Frederic was cautious and moderate, but firm. He possessed in large measure that grace which, of all others, is most necessary in difficult times — he waited upon God. He put in practice the wise counsel of Gamaliel, *' If tliis work be of man, it will come to naught ; but if it be of God, we cannot overthrow it." " Things," said he, " are come to such a pass, that men can do no more. God alone can effect any thing. We must, therefore, leave to his power those great events which are too hard for us." We may well admire the wisdom of Providence in the choice

* Frederic had the offer of the imperial crown, but he declined it, and recommended to his brother electors to unite with him in the elevation of Charles.

of such a prince, to guard the beginnings of the Reformation.

Another thing to be admired, and which we shall have frequent occasion to notice as we proceed with this history, is the manner in which divine Providence kept the thoughts and the hands of the Emperor Charles occupied, so that he had no time or opportunity to exert liis power in crushing the infant Reformation. Governing, as he did, not only Germany, but Spain, Sicily, Naples, the Netherlands, and Austria, with the Turks on one side of him, and his great rival, Francis I., on another, and the aspiring, intriguing court of Rome on another, he was so continually and intensely busied with wars, reprisals, negotiations, and other affairs of state, that he could give little attention to what he considered as a mere ecclesiastical, theological controversy ; and thus the Reformation was permitted to take root, and spring up, and extend itself on every side, till it was able to put him at defiance. When, at length, he set himself to overthrow it, it could not be subverted or overthrown.

In view of the remarks which have been madcj we see the providence of God exerting itself in various ways preparatory to the reformation of his church. But that which tended more than every thing else to prepare for the coming Reformation, was the internal corruptions of the church itself. The language of Jeremiah was truly applicable to the Romish church at this period: *'Her own wickedness corrected her, and her backslidings reproved her." Having long persisted in despising the reproofs and slighting the solemn warnings of Heaven, she was permitted to run down from one degree of corruption to another, till the earth itself could no longer endure her, and was prepared to welcome any thing that promised a reformation. Who can contemplate without horror the character of the popes, at the commencement of the sixteenth century ? Rodrigo Borgia — after having lived in illicit intercourse, first with a Roman lady, and afterwards with her daughter, by whom he had several children — obtained the pontificate by bribery, in 1492. He took the name of Alexander VI., and has been called, not improperly, the Nero of the pontiffs. The veryday of his coronation he created his son, Caesar Borgia, a ferocious and dissolute youth,