ground. Staupitz, who, although well disposed, was a man of a weak mind, and had been led by his fears to abandon Luther, left Saxony, and established himself at Salzburg, in the Benedictine Monastery of St. Peter, where he died December 28, 1524. At Nuremberg, the Pope's letter to Cardinal Cajetan fell into the hands of Luther. It was dated from Rome 23rd August, 1518, and, amongst other instructions, contained the following:

"Invite this heretic into thy presence; and as soon as thou hast him in thy power, see that he be closely guarded, until thou shalt receive instructions from us relative to his being brought before us and the apostolic chair. Should he show signs of repentance, and sue for grace, you are authorised to receive him again into the bosom of the church. Should he, however, remain stubborn, and you are unable to conquer his resolution, we empower you throughout all Germany by public proclamation to denounce him, and all his adherents, as heretics and outlaws, under the curse and anathema of the church; and to command all faithful Christians to avoid intercourse with them. In this proclamation it shall be required of all prelates, secular and spiritual orders, dukes, markgraves, counts, commissioners, universities, and potentates, to seize on Luther and his adherents, and deliver them up to Cajetan. Should, however, which God forbid! the said princes, prelates, universities, &c. or their subjects, harbour the said Luther, or any of his adherents, or counsel them, or yield them in any way assistance, support, or relief, or openly favour or secretly protect them, we declare the said princes, &c. together with their cities, lands, &c. wherein the said Martin Luther may have retired, also under the interdict of the church. In this case, the aforesaid persons are deprived of all their lands and revenues."

Such were the formidable arms with which the Romish church thought it expedient to contend against the doctrines of the reformers; even the pretence of prudence or justice was not sought for a moment. After Luther's return the face of affairs seemed to wear an evil aspect for when he arrived at Wittemberg, the Elector forbade him to publish his negociations with Cajetan; furthermore, he caused it to be signified to him by Spalatin, that he should be glad if he quitted his dominions. He, in consequence of this, invited his friends to a farewell feast at Frankfort. During the repast, a letter arrived from Spalatin, informing Luther that the Elector was much astonished that he had not yet taken his departure, and commanded him to hasten it. He was at first greatly disturbed and thought himself forsaken by all the world; but he soon took courage, and said aloud, "My father and my mother may forsake me, but the Lord will uphold me." He had not yet risen from table, when another letter arrived from Spalatin, the contents of which were, that if he were

not already gone, he should remain, for he had hopes by a powerful interposition to be enabled to arrange matters. Thus did the Elector vacillate between conviction and worldly prudence.

Luther was then under considerable anxiety, lest, by his fall, Karlstadt and the whole university should be involved in his ill fortune. At this period, the university was in a very flourishing condition. It had lately added to its members Philip Schwarzerd, better known by the name of Melancthon. This great man was born at Bretten, in the Palatinate, February 15, 1497. He had studied at Heidelberg and Tubingen with great success, and, so early as the year 1514, was made professor of philosophy. When the Elector, Frederick the Wise, visited Augsburg, in the year 1515, he heard of the fame of this extraordinary young man, and offered him the Greek professorhip at Wittemberg. Melancthon readily accepted the proposal, and on the 25th of August, the same year, went thither, being then but 22 years of age. He immediately formed the most intimate and confidential friendship with Luther.

In the month of October of the same year, Cajetan wrote a letter to the Elector, containing various charges against Luther, and asserting that this monk taught doctrines in direct opposition to those of the apostolic church. He then recommended him to seize the person of this innovator, and deliver him into the power of the church, that he might avoid the imputation of being a partaker in his errors. The Elector at first hesitated in what manner to act; but, after some reflection, he caused a copy of this letter to be given to Luther, in order that he might reply to it. Luther's answer to this letter is a mas

ter piece of eloquence:

"How earnestly do I wish this letter had been written by a Silvester Prierate, that I might be at liberty to answer it with my usual frankness and boldness. I would then clearly point out how difficult it is to conceal an evil and ill-disposed mind under the mask of virtue. But respect and reverence for this worthy and friendly man oblige me, in some measure, to controul the violence of my feelings. I cannot, however, endure to see an excellent prince, who acts in all things with sincerity and liberality, converted, by the machinations of others, into a Pontius Pilate. For when the Jews brought Christ before Pilate, and were asked, what evil he had done, they answered, if this man had not been an evil doer we should not have delivered him over to thee. The reverend legate does the same thing, for when he delivered brother Martin into the hands of the Elector, after much vehement discourse, upon the Elector inquiring, what the unhappy brother Martin had done? the legate replied, the Elector may believe that I do not speak from mere report or caprice, but from certain information. Then, were I the Elector, I would reply, prove to me that you do not speak from mere caprice, but from certain information. If you

can do that, I will send brother Martin to Rome; I will even seize him myself, and execute justice upon him. I would then answer, but your highness requires, in this case, neither teacher nor counsellor. He says further, that he intends to recant only when his principles and scripture texts are refuted by principles and corresponding texts; for he desires nothing better than to be instructed, and this no Turk would refuse to him. I beseech your electoral highness, once more, and for the third time, not to give credit to those who say, that brother Martin has spoken, or taught, that which is wrong: let him be heard, and convicted of having done so. Simon Peter erred after having received the Holy Ghost; in like manner, a cardinal may also err, however learned he may be. Therefore, I hope your electoral highness, in your honour and conscience, will not send me to Rome, a measure to which no man can compel you, be he who he may, for it is impossible I can be in safety at Rome. An act like this would be not less criminal than if your highness were to command the blood of an innocent Christian to be shed, and you would thus become guilty of my murder."

He concludes by declaring that, as he perceives his enemies threaten to bring even the Elector into trouble, on his account, he is willing, in God's name, to quit his dominions. "I will wander wheresoever it shall please the eternal and merciful God to ordain, resigned to his divine will; let him do with me according to his pleasure, for it would grieve me to the heart, that any man, and still more your highness, should be exposed to ill-will or danger, on my account." He then thanks the prince for all the kindness he had shewn him. "In whatever place my destiny may lead, I shall never forget your electoral highness; but, with the warmest sincerity and gratitude, offer up my prayers to God, for the welfare of you and yours.'

The prince was so well pleased with this answer, that he secretly resolved to protect its author. He wrote to Cajetan, (to whom he inclosed the above letter,) expressing his astonishment that Martin should be called upon to recant before his opinions had been refuted, and that no one had yet appeared amongst the learned, or in the universities of Germany, who had been able to point out any thing anti-christian in his doctrines, except some few persons, who knew them to be detrimental to their own interest. At the same time, urged partly by his own inclination, and partly at the solicitation of the university of Wittemberg, he wrote to his minister at the imperial court, to do his utmost to induce the emperor to order the matter to be investigated in Germany, before impartial judges. During these negociations, the em

• Luther's Werke, xv. p. 772.

peror Maximilian died, and the Elector of Saxony became vicar of the empire. "At this period," says Luther, "the storm began to abate, and the bann, by which the pope had shortly before terrified the world, as by a thunderstroke, gradually sank into contempt." The court of Rome had, in the mean time, with more consideration than usual, slackened the persecution against Luther, for his cause was now becoming that of the whole German nation. The pope's nuncio, therefore, Von Miltitz, was sent into Germany, under pretext of delivering the consecrated rose to the Elector, but, in fact, to investigate the affairs of Luther. Miltitz endeavoured to repair, by prudence, the mischief caused by the violent proceedings of Cajetan. He brought to light all the knaveries of Tetzel, and proceeded against him with so much severity, that he shortly after died of terror. He conducted himself, however, with so much candour and courtesy towards Luther, that the latter professed himself ready to make every submission, except in the article of recantation. He even wrote a very submissive letter to the pope, on the third of May, wherein he thus expresses himself: " Holy father, what shall I do? I know not what further counsel to take in this affair; I cannot endure the weight of your holiness's indignation, and yet know not by what means I can escape it. I am required to recant my disputation. If my recantation could produce the desired effect, I would, without delay, obey the behest. But since my works, owing to the opposition they have met with, have spread so widely, they have taken too deep a root in the hearts of many, to expect that these also should recant; and now, that the whole German nation offers so fair a promise, and contains many learned and enlightened men, the number of which is daily increasing, who comprehend, and are able to judge and reason upon it, I must be doubly cautious, never, in any way, to recant, however I may otherwise revere the court of Rome." Precisely at this period, in order to make manifest his inclination towards the offered accommodation, he published a work, under the title of D. M. Luther's Explanation of certain Articles attributed to him by his Ill-wishers. This work must be considered throughout, as having been composed with the view of preventing, by moderation and selfcontroul, the threatened breach with the church. He was inclined rather to act, in some measure, contrary to conviction, than to take a, perhaps, too hasty step; at that time also, his view of the subject was not quite so decided as it afterwards became. It was this which induced him to say, "There is no doubt that the Romish church is more approved in the sight of God, than any other. If, unhappily, there be some things in Rome which required amendment, yet, neither this nor any

other cause is sufficient to induce a separation from it. The worse its condition, so much the more is it the duty of all to cling to it and support it; for no good can arise from separation and contempt. With respect to the power and authority of the papal chair, and how far they may extend, let the learned decide that question. The beatitude of the soul is in no way connected therewith, and Christ did not found his church on outward and visible power and authority, or on any temporal advantages, but on internal love, meekness, and unanimity."

All these efforts, as well as another meeting between Miltitz and Luther, which took place Oct. 8, 1519, were fruitless. In the mean time, Luther devoted himself entirely to preaching the gospel, and daily improved in experience and knowledge. At this period, his correspondence with Erasmus first commenced; but Luther soon found out that Erasmus was much more of a scholar than a religionist, and that his easy and philosophical temperament led him rather to the elegant pursuits of literature, than to the stormy and dangerous path of the reformer and martyr. No answer had yet arrived from Rome to the communications made by. Miltitz, when the Franciscan monks took up arms against Luther, and openly attacked and accused him of heresy. He repelled this assault with great force. At the same time, Von Eck, author of the Obelisken, once more appeared against him. This proud and self-conceited man charged Luther with having preached against the doctrine of absolution; and even went so far as to vent his spleen against the university of Wittemberg. Constrained by circumstances, Luther once more took up his pen. In the preface to this work, he apologises for the incorrectness of his style. "I do this," says he, "with eagerness, because, I hope my name will not long be vilified, in a manner of which I know no example."

He then touches on a reproach made against him, that his conduct towards his opponents was too harsh and rigorous:

"If I have gone too far in this work, I entreat, with all humility, to be excused. I did it merely from too great displeasure, at seeing myself compelled publicly to express my opinions and anger against those who robbed me of my precious time. Also, because I met with obstinate and stubborn opposition, which seeks, artfully and zealously, to extract from every syllable I utter, shame to me, and to itself the glory of the Christian name. And I know not, if a milder line of conduct could be pursued, with any effect, towards those who assume. to themselves the right of censuring the writings of others, and deal around them the appellation of Heretic, to all who differ from their own old and deeply-rooted prejudices; who are so deaf to the accents of truth, that a voice from heaven would scarcely rouse them. I cannot express how difficult I find it to act with moderation towards those