CONTENTSCHAPTER XI. THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE GREAT APOSTASYpages3-441. Allies among the Humanists and the Nobility till the Middle of 1520.Friends among the Humanists: Crotus Rubeanus, Eobanus Hessus, etc. The nobility and the revolutionary knights. Piety of Hutten’s language when addressing Luther. Franz von Sickingen. Offer made by Silvester von Schauenberg. Report that Hutten had trapped the Papal Legates; Capito counsels greater moderation. Luther’s reason for only meeting the knights half-way. Luther’s work, “Von dem Bapstum tzu Rome,” 1520; its violence contrasted with Luther’s earlier demands of the “man of good will.” The manifesto against Alveld. Prierias the Dominican attacks Luther’s Indulgence-theses; the latter’s intense annoyance; summary of his second reply. Treatment of Hoogstraaten the Inquisitor. Luther’s description of himself as a “man of contentions.” Scolded by Emser for his lack of self-controlpages3-152. The Veiling of the Great Apostasy.By holding out hopes of reconciliation, Luther delays the final decision. His missive to Bishop Scultetus, in whose diocese lay Wittenberg. Three letters to Pope Leo X; why the last was antedated; its purport. Letter to the Emperor Charles V; reason and setting of the letter; its contents. Luther’s later description of his “inaction” during this period. His correspondence with Spalatin; the real aim of many of the letters: to promote his cause at Court; his offer to resign his professorship. The diplomatist coupled with the enthusiastpages15-263. Luther’s Great Reformation-works—Radicalism and Religion.“To the Christian Nobility”; “On the Babylonish Captivity”; “On the Freedom of a Christian Man”; specimens from the last of Luther’s taking way of addressing the people; his rejection of external authority and assertion of the right of private judgment against the “tyranny” of Popes and Bishops. His new conception of faith. The pietist and religious revolutionarypages26-374. Luther’s Followers. Two Types of His Cultured Partisans: Willibald Pirkheimer and Albert Dürer.The deep-set discontent of the Germans leads even the best-disposed to welcome Luther’s strictures. Two famous Nurembergers: Willibald Pirkheimer’s intervention on Luther’s behalf; his subsequent deception; withdraws from the cause. Albert Dürer’s prepossession in Luther’s favour; his art in Luther’s service; did he afterwards alter his ideas?pages38-44CHAPTER XII. EXCOMMUNICATION AND OUTLAWRY. SPIRITUAL BAPTISM IN THE WARTBURGpages45-961. The Trial. The Excommunication (1520) and its consequences.The proceedings in Rome postponed and then resumed. The 41 propositions. The Bull “Exsurge Domine” menaces all Lutherans with excommunication in the event of their refusing to submit; some excerpts from the Bull. Luther’s writings against the Bull; futility of his appeal to a General Council; the burning of the Bull. “Compos mei non sum”; his feverish activity; “Fluctibus his rapior et volvor”; his hints at armed opposition; on “washing hands in blood”; moderates his language when addressing the Saxon Court. Conviction that the Pope is Antichrist strengthened by the birth of the Freiberg Calf. His “Instruction to penitents concerning forbidden books” (February, 1521) composed in view of the Easter confessionpages45-612. The Diet of Worms, 1521; Luther’s Attitude.The Diet assembled. Luther’s journey to Worms. Happenings at Erfurt. Arrival at Worms; his interrogation; unofficial attempts to reach a settlement; his final refusal to recant. Sympathisers among the members of the Diet; pressure brought to bear by the Knights; the Elector of Saxony. Luther’s departure; preaches sermons in spite of the condition laid down in his safe-conduct; carried off to the Wartburg; formally declared an outlaw; a letter to Sickingenpages61-693. Legends.The story of the Emperor’s breach of the safe-conduct. Luther’s asseveration that his opponents refused to argue because they knew him to be in the right. What Luther stood for at Worms was no “freedom of conscience” in the modern sense. The legendary utterance “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.” Various tales unfavourable to Luther: His supposed drunkenness and excesses at Worms; despatches of Contarini the Venetian minister and Aleander the papal nunciopages69-794. Luther’s Sojourn at the Wartburg.Luther’s disposition and occupation in his lonely retreat. Rising scruples crushed; gloomy thoughts; bodily assaults of the evil one; temptations. His cogitations on the question of celibacy; discovers the best argument to use against vows and priestly obligations, viz. “evangelical freedom”; result committed to print in his work “On Monastic Vows”; his own intention to remain unmarried. His self-accusations of gluttony and laziness not to be taken literally. His translation of the New Testament. His work “On the Abuse of the Mass”; its frightful caricature of the Pope of Rome. His spiritual Baptism; his conviction of the reality of his Divine missionpages79-945. Wartburg Legends.Luther’s own language responsible for certain unfounded charges against him. Meaning of the “titillationes” and “molestiæ” of which he complains. The haunted castle; incident of the visit of “Hans von Berlips’s wife”; the ubiquitous ink-smudgepages94-96CHAPTER XIII. THE RISE OF THE REFORMED CHURCHESpages97-1721. Against the Fanatics. Congregational Churches?Luther quits the Wartburg and returns to Wittenberg. Progress of the movement at Wittenberg during his absence. Carlstadt a cause of misgivings. The Zwickau Prophets appeal to Holy Writ and their Divine mission; Luther preaches against their ways; haste to be deprecated; he bases his superior claim on the priority of his revelation; he is backed by the Court. He invites people to smash the Bishoprics and drive away the “wolves” (1522). As organiser of a new Church he is faced by practical difficulties owing to his having no clear notion of what the Church should be. Apocalyptic dreams. A dilemma: Is the new church-system to be introduced by the secular authorities or to spring up spontaneously within the congregations? The free brotherhood without law or coercion. The new “Christians”; use of title “Evangelicals.” Two points to be settled first, viz. the celebration of the Supper and the appointment of pastors. Luther’s then leanings to the democratic congregational ideal. “De instituendis ministris ecclesiæ” and his writing to the Church of Leisnig (1523) a programme of congregationalism. High hopes and excessive claims; his mysticism gives him the assurance that unity will be achievedpages97-1152. Against Celibacy. Doubtful Auxiliaries from the Clergy and the Convents.Advantages and disadvantages of Luther’s warfare on the state of religious celibacy. His work “On MonasticVows.” His exhortations to a religious to “pocket his scruples and be a man.” On man’s need to marry. Significant admissions. His teaching in the Postils and Larger Catechism; advice to the Prince-abbots and Knights of the Teutonic Order; sarcastic remarks concerning the olden Fathers, particularly Jerome, and their “petty temptations”; connection of Luther’s attack on vows and his early dislike of “works.” The character of the new pastors and preachers; Luther suggests the erection of a jail for their especial benefit; Eberlin, Hessus, and Cordus, Erasmus and Ickelsamer on the reformed pastors’ failings. Eberlin’s testimony in favour of the Franciscanspages115-1293. Reaction of the Apostasy on its Author. His Private Life (1522-1525).The “scandal” of his life as it appeared to the Fanatics; displeasure of a Catholic contemporary; reports carried to the Court of King Ferdinand; moral circumspection imposed on Luther by his situation: “we are a spectacle unto the whole world.” Flight of Catherine von Bora and the Nimbschen nuns; the “delivery” of other convent-inmates elsewhere; Luther’s intercourse at Wittenberg with the escaped nuns; his allusions to them. His joke about his “three wives”; urges the Archbishop of Mayence to wed, the latter’s retort and Luther’s offer “to prance along in front” as an example to His Grace. Some characteristic extracts from his letters to intimates. Melanchthon shocked at Luther’s behaviour and jests. Dungersheim on Luther’s doings in the “herd of runaway nuns.” Eck on Luther’s character and conduct. Luther’s sermons on self-control, devil’s chastity, etc. “On Conjugal life.” Luther’s disregard for decency unmatched by any writer of his age. His description of King Henry VIII. Rebuked by contemporaries for his incessant recourse to invectivepages129-1574. Further Traits Towards a Picture of Luther. Outward Appearance. Sufferings, Bodily and Mental.General descriptions of Luther’s personal appearance. His reputed portraits not good likenesses. Effect of anxiety and overwork on his nervous system. Discussion of the question whether Luther suffered from the venereal disease so common in his time; the newly discovered letter of the physician Rychardus in 1523 regarding Luther’s indisposition. Luther’s fits of depression; he relieves his feelings by greater violence in his attacks on the Church of Rome, religious vows, the Popish Mass, and the foe within the camp; Satan raging everywhere; the end of all not far off. He invites Amsdorf to come and comfort him, being “very sad and tempted”; falls into a fainting-fit when alone at home; recovers his composure under the cheering influence of music; requests Senfl of Munich to set to music a favourite anthempages157-172CHAPTER XIV. FROM THE PEASANT-WAR TO THE DIET OF AUGSBURG (1525-1530)pages173-3991. Luther’s Marriage.Luther’s unexpected wedding with Catherine von Bora; his justification of it; Melanchthon’s mixed feelings shown in his confidential letter to Camerarius; his surprise that Luther should have chosen this “unhappy time” (the period of the Peasant-War) for his marriage. Luther’s excitement during the War and his presentiment of approaching death; his determination to spite the devil and himself; his marriage a “work of God.” The death of Frederick the Wise removes an obstacle to Luther’s matrimony. Luther’s jesting references to the step. His friends’ misgivings. Erasmus sadly disappointed in his hope that marriage would tame Luther. Dungersheim’s lament. Marriage-legends: The statement that the marriage was consummated before being solemnised, due to a mere misunderstanding; report of Bora’s early confinement based on a statement of Erasmus which he afterwards withdrew. Statements of Heyden and Lemnius regarding Luther’s misconduct with Bora, too general to be of historical valuepages173-1892. The Peasant-War. Polemics.Connection of the Peasant-rising with the new preaching. The “Twelve Articles” of the Swabians; “Evangelical” demands of the Peasants; the Peasants incited by fanatical preachers; efforts made by the better pastors to quiet the populace. Luther drawn into the movement; his “Exhortation to peace”; its description of the lords calculated to fan the flame; his broadside “Against the murderous Peasants” and its drift: “Hew them down, slaughter, and stab them like mad dogs.” The pamphlet alienates the lower classes. Luther’s writing on the defeat of Münzer. His “Circular letter on the severe booklet against the Peasants.” Contemporary opinions regarding Luther’s action; Zasius, Cochlæus, Erasmus. Luther’s later references to his intervention in the revolt; he ceases to be any longer the idol of the people. The Catholic Princes take steps to maintain their authority against the encroachments of the innovators. The Dessau League and the Assembly of Mayence. Luther’s suppressed tract “Against the Mayence proposal,” 1526. The Lutherans enter into an alliance at Torgau; Luther on the aversion of both lords and peasants for himself. His abiding distrust of the peasants. The “awful ingratitude” of the people. His excitement and his polemics only deepen his conviction of his Divine mission. Emser’s indignation with Luther expressed in verse. The multiplicity of the matters of business referred to Lutherpages189-2233. The Religion of the Enslaved Will. The Controversy Between Luther and Erasmus (1524-1525).The earlier Church on freedom of the will. Growth of Luther’s denial of freedom from the time of the Commentaryon Romans; his attack on free-will in the “Resolutions” after the Leipzig Disputation and in the “Assertio” against the Bull of Excommunication (1521): “Omnia de necessitate absoluta eveniunt,” anything else mere Pelagianism; St. Augustine; the “religion of the Cross”; Scripture the sole rule of faith; Luther’s deviations from his stern doctrine in his practical works; objections within his own fold. Erasmus invited to take the field on behalf of freedom; previous attitude of the leader of the Humanists: partly for, partly against Luther; his eyes opened in 1520; his regret in 1521 for having fanned the flames by his writings; the saying: “Erasmus laid the egg which Luther hatched”; various opinions regarding Erasmus. Luther seeks in vain to dissuade Erasmus from writing against him; publication of the “De libero arbitrio diatribe,” 1524; Luther’s reply: “De servo arbitrio”; contents and character of the work; religious determinism; God the only real agent; peace to be secured only at the price of surrendering free-will; unfreedom and predestination to hell; God’s Secret Will versus His Revealed Will; existence of commandments and penalties; how explained? Man’s will a saddle-horse mounted alternately by God and the devil. Luther’s psychology as portrayed in his work on the enslaved will. Laurentius Valla. Luther’s later dicta on the enslaved will and predestination; his own opinion unaltered to the end; he commends, however, the second edition of the “Loci Theologici” in which Melanchthon sacrifices determinism. Letter to Count A. von Mansfeld on the scandal of the weak; consolation for the damned. Recent views on Luther’s attitudepages223-2944. New Views on the Secular Authorities.Luther’s own estimation of the value of his teaching on the subject. How his views were reached. His book “Von welltlicher Uberkeytt,” 1523; his depreciation of the Princes: “A good Prince a rare bird from the beginning.” Antagonism to the fanatics and revolted peasants and his desire to serve the cause of the Evangel lead him to exaggerate the secular authority at the expense of the spiritual; Luther’s self-contradictory utterances on the subject of the use of earthly weapons in the service of the Evangelpages294-3125. How the New Church-system was Introduced.Döllinger on the preparation of the ground for the Reformation. The proceedings at Altenburg, Lichtenberg, Schwarzburg, and Eilenburg typical of the action of the town councils. Partial retention of olden ceremonial for the sake of avoiding scandal. An instance of misplaced enthusiasm: Hartmuth von Cronberg. Proceedings at Wittenberg, in the Saxon Electorate and in the free Imperial city of Nuremberg. Lutheranism introduced at the University town of Erfurt; Luther’s own part in this; the Catholic opposition headed by Usingen; anticlerical rising in the town; invasion of the peasants and overthrowof the magistracy; awkward position of Luther on being appealed to by the committees set up by the revolutionaries; negotiations with the Saxon Elector and the Archbishop of Mayence; partial success of the Archbishop’s threatspages312-3626. Sharp Encounters with the Fanatics.Advantages accruing to Luther from his warfare with the Anabaptists. Thomas Münzer’s opinions and doings. Luther’s Circular on the spirit of revolt and Münzer’s “Schutzrede”; with whom is the decision as to the quality of the spirit to rest? Münzer’s capture and execution; Luther exults. Luther’s tracts against Carlstadt; all his gainsayers possessed by the devil; Münzer’s description of Luther as the Pope of Wittenberg. Ickelsamer’s objection that Luther goes only half-way with his principle of private judgment. Luther’s view that every man sent by God must be “tried by the devil.” Luther shocks his wifepages363-3797. Progress of the Apostasy. Diets of Spires (1529) and Augsburg (1530).Previous Diets; the Diet of Spires in 1526; the Protest at the Diet of Spires in 1529; that of Augsburg in 1530; Melanchthon’s diplomacy approved by Luther; “insidiæ” pitted against “insidiæ”; the Gospel-proviso; Luther’s admission to Philip of Hesse; failure of the Augsburg Diet; the tale of the spectre-monks of Spires; Luther’s obsessions in the fortress of Coburg; vehemence of his tract against the “pretended Imperial edict”; his reply to Duke George the “Dresden assassin.” Luther’s fidelity to certain central truths of Christianity, particularly to the doctrine of the Trinitypages380-399VOL. II.THE APOSTASY
CONTENTSCHAPTER XI. THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE GREAT APOSTASYpages3-441. Allies among the Humanists and the Nobility till the Middle of 1520.Friends among the Humanists: Crotus Rubeanus, Eobanus Hessus, etc. The nobility and the revolutionary knights. Piety of Hutten’s language when addressing Luther. Franz von Sickingen. Offer made by Silvester von Schauenberg. Report that Hutten had trapped the Papal Legates; Capito counsels greater moderation. Luther’s reason for only meeting the knights half-way. Luther’s work, “Von dem Bapstum tzu Rome,” 1520; its violence contrasted with Luther’s earlier demands of the “man of good will.” The manifesto against Alveld. Prierias the Dominican attacks Luther’s Indulgence-theses; the latter’s intense annoyance; summary of his second reply. Treatment of Hoogstraaten the Inquisitor. Luther’s description of himself as a “man of contentions.” Scolded by Emser for his lack of self-controlpages3-152. The Veiling of the Great Apostasy.By holding out hopes of reconciliation, Luther delays the final decision. His missive to Bishop Scultetus, in whose diocese lay Wittenberg. Three letters to Pope Leo X; why the last was antedated; its purport. Letter to the Emperor Charles V; reason and setting of the letter; its contents. Luther’s later description of his “inaction” during this period. His correspondence with Spalatin; the real aim of many of the letters: to promote his cause at Court; his offer to resign his professorship. The diplomatist coupled with the enthusiastpages15-263. Luther’s Great Reformation-works—Radicalism and Religion.“To the Christian Nobility”; “On the Babylonish Captivity”; “On the Freedom of a Christian Man”; specimens from the last of Luther’s taking way of addressing the people; his rejection of external authority and assertion of the right of private judgment against the “tyranny” of Popes and Bishops. His new conception of faith. The pietist and religious revolutionarypages26-374. Luther’s Followers. Two Types of His Cultured Partisans: Willibald Pirkheimer and Albert Dürer.The deep-set discontent of the Germans leads even the best-disposed to welcome Luther’s strictures. Two famous Nurembergers: Willibald Pirkheimer’s intervention on Luther’s behalf; his subsequent deception; withdraws from the cause. Albert Dürer’s prepossession in Luther’s favour; his art in Luther’s service; did he afterwards alter his ideas?pages38-44CHAPTER XII. EXCOMMUNICATION AND OUTLAWRY. SPIRITUAL BAPTISM IN THE WARTBURGpages45-961. The Trial. The Excommunication (1520) and its consequences.The proceedings in Rome postponed and then resumed. The 41 propositions. The Bull “Exsurge Domine” menaces all Lutherans with excommunication in the event of their refusing to submit; some excerpts from the Bull. Luther’s writings against the Bull; futility of his appeal to a General Council; the burning of the Bull. “Compos mei non sum”; his feverish activity; “Fluctibus his rapior et volvor”; his hints at armed opposition; on “washing hands in blood”; moderates his language when addressing the Saxon Court. Conviction that the Pope is Antichrist strengthened by the birth of the Freiberg Calf. His “Instruction to penitents concerning forbidden books” (February, 1521) composed in view of the Easter confessionpages45-612. The Diet of Worms, 1521; Luther’s Attitude.The Diet assembled. Luther’s journey to Worms. Happenings at Erfurt. Arrival at Worms; his interrogation; unofficial attempts to reach a settlement; his final refusal to recant. Sympathisers among the members of the Diet; pressure brought to bear by the Knights; the Elector of Saxony. Luther’s departure; preaches sermons in spite of the condition laid down in his safe-conduct; carried off to the Wartburg; formally declared an outlaw; a letter to Sickingenpages61-693. Legends.The story of the Emperor’s breach of the safe-conduct. Luther’s asseveration that his opponents refused to argue because they knew him to be in the right. What Luther stood for at Worms was no “freedom of conscience” in the modern sense. The legendary utterance “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.” Various tales unfavourable to Luther: His supposed drunkenness and excesses at Worms; despatches of Contarini the Venetian minister and Aleander the papal nunciopages69-794. Luther’s Sojourn at the Wartburg.Luther’s disposition and occupation in his lonely retreat. Rising scruples crushed; gloomy thoughts; bodily assaults of the evil one; temptations. His cogitations on the question of celibacy; discovers the best argument to use against vows and priestly obligations, viz. “evangelical freedom”; result committed to print in his work “On Monastic Vows”; his own intention to remain unmarried. His self-accusations of gluttony and laziness not to be taken literally. His translation of the New Testament. His work “On the Abuse of the Mass”; its frightful caricature of the Pope of Rome. His spiritual Baptism; his conviction of the reality of his Divine missionpages79-945. Wartburg Legends.Luther’s own language responsible for certain unfounded charges against him. Meaning of the “titillationes” and “molestiæ” of which he complains. The haunted castle; incident of the visit of “Hans von Berlips’s wife”; the ubiquitous ink-smudgepages94-96CHAPTER XIII. THE RISE OF THE REFORMED CHURCHESpages97-1721. Against the Fanatics. Congregational Churches?Luther quits the Wartburg and returns to Wittenberg. Progress of the movement at Wittenberg during his absence. Carlstadt a cause of misgivings. The Zwickau Prophets appeal to Holy Writ and their Divine mission; Luther preaches against their ways; haste to be deprecated; he bases his superior claim on the priority of his revelation; he is backed by the Court. He invites people to smash the Bishoprics and drive away the “wolves” (1522). As organiser of a new Church he is faced by practical difficulties owing to his having no clear notion of what the Church should be. Apocalyptic dreams. A dilemma: Is the new church-system to be introduced by the secular authorities or to spring up spontaneously within the congregations? The free brotherhood without law or coercion. The new “Christians”; use of title “Evangelicals.” Two points to be settled first, viz. the celebration of the Supper and the appointment of pastors. Luther’s then leanings to the democratic congregational ideal. “De instituendis ministris ecclesiæ” and his writing to the Church of Leisnig (1523) a programme of congregationalism. High hopes and excessive claims; his mysticism gives him the assurance that unity will be achievedpages97-1152. Against Celibacy. Doubtful Auxiliaries from the Clergy and the Convents.Advantages and disadvantages of Luther’s warfare on the state of religious celibacy. His work “On MonasticVows.” His exhortations to a religious to “pocket his scruples and be a man.” On man’s need to marry. Significant admissions. His teaching in the Postils and Larger Catechism; advice to the Prince-abbots and Knights of the Teutonic Order; sarcastic remarks concerning the olden Fathers, particularly Jerome, and their “petty temptations”; connection of Luther’s attack on vows and his early dislike of “works.” The character of the new pastors and preachers; Luther suggests the erection of a jail for their especial benefit; Eberlin, Hessus, and Cordus, Erasmus and Ickelsamer on the reformed pastors’ failings. Eberlin’s testimony in favour of the Franciscanspages115-1293. Reaction of the Apostasy on its Author. His Private Life (1522-1525).The “scandal” of his life as it appeared to the Fanatics; displeasure of a Catholic contemporary; reports carried to the Court of King Ferdinand; moral circumspection imposed on Luther by his situation: “we are a spectacle unto the whole world.” Flight of Catherine von Bora and the Nimbschen nuns; the “delivery” of other convent-inmates elsewhere; Luther’s intercourse at Wittenberg with the escaped nuns; his allusions to them. His joke about his “three wives”; urges the Archbishop of Mayence to wed, the latter’s retort and Luther’s offer “to prance along in front” as an example to His Grace. Some characteristic extracts from his letters to intimates. Melanchthon shocked at Luther’s behaviour and jests. Dungersheim on Luther’s doings in the “herd of runaway nuns.” Eck on Luther’s character and conduct. Luther’s sermons on self-control, devil’s chastity, etc. “On Conjugal life.” Luther’s disregard for decency unmatched by any writer of his age. His description of King Henry VIII. Rebuked by contemporaries for his incessant recourse to invectivepages129-1574. Further Traits Towards a Picture of Luther. Outward Appearance. Sufferings, Bodily and Mental.General descriptions of Luther’s personal appearance. His reputed portraits not good likenesses. Effect of anxiety and overwork on his nervous system. Discussion of the question whether Luther suffered from the venereal disease so common in his time; the newly discovered letter of the physician Rychardus in 1523 regarding Luther’s indisposition. Luther’s fits of depression; he relieves his feelings by greater violence in his attacks on the Church of Rome, religious vows, the Popish Mass, and the foe within the camp; Satan raging everywhere; the end of all not far off. He invites Amsdorf to come and comfort him, being “very sad and tempted”; falls into a fainting-fit when alone at home; recovers his composure under the cheering influence of music; requests Senfl of Munich to set to music a favourite anthempages157-172CHAPTER XIV. FROM THE PEASANT-WAR TO THE DIET OF AUGSBURG (1525-1530)pages173-3991. Luther’s Marriage.Luther’s unexpected wedding with Catherine von Bora; his justification of it; Melanchthon’s mixed feelings shown in his confidential letter to Camerarius; his surprise that Luther should have chosen this “unhappy time” (the period of the Peasant-War) for his marriage. Luther’s excitement during the War and his presentiment of approaching death; his determination to spite the devil and himself; his marriage a “work of God.” The death of Frederick the Wise removes an obstacle to Luther’s matrimony. Luther’s jesting references to the step. His friends’ misgivings. Erasmus sadly disappointed in his hope that marriage would tame Luther. Dungersheim’s lament. Marriage-legends: The statement that the marriage was consummated before being solemnised, due to a mere misunderstanding; report of Bora’s early confinement based on a statement of Erasmus which he afterwards withdrew. Statements of Heyden and Lemnius regarding Luther’s misconduct with Bora, too general to be of historical valuepages173-1892. The Peasant-War. Polemics.Connection of the Peasant-rising with the new preaching. The “Twelve Articles” of the Swabians; “Evangelical” demands of the Peasants; the Peasants incited by fanatical preachers; efforts made by the better pastors to quiet the populace. Luther drawn into the movement; his “Exhortation to peace”; its description of the lords calculated to fan the flame; his broadside “Against the murderous Peasants” and its drift: “Hew them down, slaughter, and stab them like mad dogs.” The pamphlet alienates the lower classes. Luther’s writing on the defeat of Münzer. His “Circular letter on the severe booklet against the Peasants.” Contemporary opinions regarding Luther’s action; Zasius, Cochlæus, Erasmus. Luther’s later references to his intervention in the revolt; he ceases to be any longer the idol of the people. The Catholic Princes take steps to maintain their authority against the encroachments of the innovators. The Dessau League and the Assembly of Mayence. Luther’s suppressed tract “Against the Mayence proposal,” 1526. The Lutherans enter into an alliance at Torgau; Luther on the aversion of both lords and peasants for himself. His abiding distrust of the peasants. The “awful ingratitude” of the people. His excitement and his polemics only deepen his conviction of his Divine mission. Emser’s indignation with Luther expressed in verse. The multiplicity of the matters of business referred to Lutherpages189-2233. The Religion of the Enslaved Will. The Controversy Between Luther and Erasmus (1524-1525).The earlier Church on freedom of the will. Growth of Luther’s denial of freedom from the time of the Commentaryon Romans; his attack on free-will in the “Resolutions” after the Leipzig Disputation and in the “Assertio” against the Bull of Excommunication (1521): “Omnia de necessitate absoluta eveniunt,” anything else mere Pelagianism; St. Augustine; the “religion of the Cross”; Scripture the sole rule of faith; Luther’s deviations from his stern doctrine in his practical works; objections within his own fold. Erasmus invited to take the field on behalf of freedom; previous attitude of the leader of the Humanists: partly for, partly against Luther; his eyes opened in 1520; his regret in 1521 for having fanned the flames by his writings; the saying: “Erasmus laid the egg which Luther hatched”; various opinions regarding Erasmus. Luther seeks in vain to dissuade Erasmus from writing against him; publication of the “De libero arbitrio diatribe,” 1524; Luther’s reply: “De servo arbitrio”; contents and character of the work; religious determinism; God the only real agent; peace to be secured only at the price of surrendering free-will; unfreedom and predestination to hell; God’s Secret Will versus His Revealed Will; existence of commandments and penalties; how explained? Man’s will a saddle-horse mounted alternately by God and the devil. Luther’s psychology as portrayed in his work on the enslaved will. Laurentius Valla. Luther’s later dicta on the enslaved will and predestination; his own opinion unaltered to the end; he commends, however, the second edition of the “Loci Theologici” in which Melanchthon sacrifices determinism. Letter to Count A. von Mansfeld on the scandal of the weak; consolation for the damned. Recent views on Luther’s attitudepages223-2944. New Views on the Secular Authorities.Luther’s own estimation of the value of his teaching on the subject. How his views were reached. His book “Von welltlicher Uberkeytt,” 1523; his depreciation of the Princes: “A good Prince a rare bird from the beginning.” Antagonism to the fanatics and revolted peasants and his desire to serve the cause of the Evangel lead him to exaggerate the secular authority at the expense of the spiritual; Luther’s self-contradictory utterances on the subject of the use of earthly weapons in the service of the Evangelpages294-3125. How the New Church-system was Introduced.Döllinger on the preparation of the ground for the Reformation. The proceedings at Altenburg, Lichtenberg, Schwarzburg, and Eilenburg typical of the action of the town councils. Partial retention of olden ceremonial for the sake of avoiding scandal. An instance of misplaced enthusiasm: Hartmuth von Cronberg. Proceedings at Wittenberg, in the Saxon Electorate and in the free Imperial city of Nuremberg. Lutheranism introduced at the University town of Erfurt; Luther’s own part in this; the Catholic opposition headed by Usingen; anticlerical rising in the town; invasion of the peasants and overthrowof the magistracy; awkward position of Luther on being appealed to by the committees set up by the revolutionaries; negotiations with the Saxon Elector and the Archbishop of Mayence; partial success of the Archbishop’s threatspages312-3626. Sharp Encounters with the Fanatics.Advantages accruing to Luther from his warfare with the Anabaptists. Thomas Münzer’s opinions and doings. Luther’s Circular on the spirit of revolt and Münzer’s “Schutzrede”; with whom is the decision as to the quality of the spirit to rest? Münzer’s capture and execution; Luther exults. Luther’s tracts against Carlstadt; all his gainsayers possessed by the devil; Münzer’s description of Luther as the Pope of Wittenberg. Ickelsamer’s objection that Luther goes only half-way with his principle of private judgment. Luther’s view that every man sent by God must be “tried by the devil.” Luther shocks his wifepages363-3797. Progress of the Apostasy. Diets of Spires (1529) and Augsburg (1530).Previous Diets; the Diet of Spires in 1526; the Protest at the Diet of Spires in 1529; that of Augsburg in 1530; Melanchthon’s diplomacy approved by Luther; “insidiæ” pitted against “insidiæ”; the Gospel-proviso; Luther’s admission to Philip of Hesse; failure of the Augsburg Diet; the tale of the spectre-monks of Spires; Luther’s obsessions in the fortress of Coburg; vehemence of his tract against the “pretended Imperial edict”; his reply to Duke George the “Dresden assassin.” Luther’s fidelity to certain central truths of Christianity, particularly to the doctrine of the Trinitypages380-399VOL. II.THE APOSTASY
VOL. II.
THE APOSTASY