History of the Great Reformation Part 34

[636] ? ?de?f? ??t???at???? studet n.o.bis placare fratrem. (Ibid. p. 178.)

[Sidenote: VACILLATION OF MELANCTHON.]

Melancthon, encouraged by these demonstrations, and at the same time alarmed by the threats of war that the adversaries did not cease from uttering, thought it his duty to purchase peace at any cost, and resolved in consequence to descend in his propositions as low as possible. He therefore demanded an interview with the legate in a letter whose authenticity has been unreasonably doubted.[637] At the decisive moment the heart of the Reform champion fails--his head turns--he staggers--he falls; and in his fall he runs the risk of dragging with him the cause which martyrs have already watered with their blood.

[637] See the Corp. Ref. ii. p. 168

Thus speaks the representative of the Reformation to the representative of the Papacy:--

"There is no doctrine in which we differ from the Roman Church;[638]

we venerate the universal authority of the Roman Pontiff, and we are ready to obey him, provided he does not reject us, and that of his clemency, which he is accustomed to show towards all nations, he will kindly pardon or approve certain little things that it is no longer possible for us to change......Now then, will you reject those who appear as suppliants before you? Will you pursue them with fire and sword?......Alas! nothing draws upon us in Germany so much hatred, as the unshaken firmness with which we maintain the doctrines of the Roman Church.[639] But with the aid of G.o.d, we will remain faithful, even unto death, to Christ and to the Roman Church, although you should reject us."[640]

[638] Dogma nullum habemus diversum ab Ecclesia Romana. (Ibid. p.

170.)

[639] Quam quia Ecclesiae Romanae dogmata summa constantia defendimus.

(Ibid.)

[640] Vel si recusabitis nos in gratiam recipere. (Ibid.)

[Sidenote: LUTHER OPPOSES CONCESSION.]

Thus did Melancthon humble himself. G.o.d permitted this fall, that future ages might clearly see how low the Reform was willing to descend in order to maintain unity, and that no one might doubt that the schism had come from Rome; but also a.s.suredly that they might learn how great in every important work is the weakness of the n.o.blest instruments.

Fortunately there was then another man who upheld the honour of the Reformation. At this very time Luther wrote to Melancthon: "There can be no concord between Christ and Belial. As far as regards me, I will not yield a hair's breadth.[641] Sooner than yield, I should prefer suffering everything, even the most terrible evils. Concede so much the less, as your adversaries require the more. G.o.d will not aid us until we are abandoned by all."[642] And fearing some weakness on the part of his friends, Luther added: "If it were not tempting G.o.d, you would long ago have seen me at your side!"[643]

[641] At certe pro mea persona, ne pilum quidem cedam. (L. Epp. iv. p.

88.)

[642] Neque enim juvabimur ni deserti prius simus. (Ibid. p. 91.)

[643] Certe jamdudum coram vidissetis me. (Ibid. p. 98.)

Never, in fact, had Luther's presence been so necessary, for the legate had consented to an interview, and Melancthon was about to pay court to Campeggio.[644]

[644] Ego multos prehensare soleo et Campegium etiam. (Corp. Ref. ii.

p. 193.)

The 8th July was the day appointed by the legate. His letter inspired Philip with the most sanguine hopes. "The cardinal a.s.sures me that he will accede the usage of the two kinds, and the marriage of priests,"

said he; "I am eager to visit him!"[645]

[645] Propero enim ad Campegium. (Ibid. p. 174.)

[Sidenote: SCHEME OF THE ROMISH DOCTORS.]

This visit might decide the destiny of the Church. If the legate accepted Philip's _ultimatum_, the Evangelical countries would be replaced under the power of the Romish bishops, and all would have been over with the Reformation; but it was saved through the pride and blindness of Rome. The Papists, believing it on the brink of the abyss, thought that a last blow would settle it, and resolved, like Luther, to concede nothing, "not even a hair's breadth." The legate, however, even while refusing, a.s.sumed an air of kindness, and of yielding to foreign influence. "I might have the power of making certain concessions, but it would not be prudent to use it without the consent of the German princes;[646] their will must be done; one of them in particular conjures the Emperor to prevent us from yielding the least thing. I can grant nothing." The Roman prince, with the most amiable smile, then did all he could to gain the chief of the Protestant teachers. Melancthon retired filled with shame at the advances he had made, but still deceived by Campeggio. "No doubt,"

said he, "Eck and Cochlus have been beforehand with me at the legate's."[647] Luther entertained a different opinion. "I do not trust to any of these Italians," said he; "they are scoundrels. When an Italian is good, he is very good; but then he is a black swan."

[646] Se nihil posse decernere, nisi de voluntate principum Germaniae.

(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 174.)

[647] Forte ad legatum veniebant Eccius et Cochlus. (Ibid. p. 175)

It was truly the Italians who were concerned. Shortly after the 12th of July arrived the Pope's instructions. He had received the confession by express[648] and sixteen days had sufficed for the transmission, the deliberation, and the return. Clement would hear no mention either of discussions or of council. Charles was to march straight to the mark, to send an army into Germany, and stifle the Reformation by force. At Augsburg, however, it was thought best not to go so quickly to work, and recourse was had to other means.

[648] Nostra Confessio ad Romam per veredarios missa est. (Corp. Ref.

ii. pp. 186, 219.)

[Sidenote: MELANCTHON'S EXPLANATION.]

"Be quiet; we have them," said the Romish doctors. Sensible of the reproach that had been made against them, of having misrepresented the Reformation, they accused the Protestants themselves as being the cause. "These it is," they said, "who, to give themselves an air of being in accord with us, now dissemble their heresy; but we will now catch them in their own nets. If they confess to not having inserted in their Confession all that they reject, it will be proved that they are trifling with us. If, on the contrary, they pretend to have said everything, they will by that very circ.u.mstance be compelled to admit all that they have not condemned." The Protestant princes were therefore called together, and they were asked if the Reformation was confined to the doctrines indicated in the Apology, or if there was something more.[649]

[649] An plura velimus Caesari praeponere controversa quam fecerimus.

(Ibid. p. 188.)

The snare was skilfully laid. The Papacy had not even been mentioned in Melancthon's paper; other errors besides had been omitted, and Luther himself complained of it aloud. "Satan sees clearly," said he, "that your Apology has pa.s.sed lightly over the articles of purgatory, the wors.h.i.+p of saints, and, above all, of the Pope and of Antichrist."

The princes requested to confer with their allies of the towns; and all the Protestants a.s.sembled to deliberate on this momentous incident.

They, looked for Melancthon's explanation, who did not decline the responsibility of the affair. Easily dejected through his own anxiety, he became bold whenever he was directly attacked. "All the essential doctrines," said he, "have been set forth in the Confession, and every error and abuse that is opposed to them has been pointed out. But was it necessary to plunge into all those questions so full of contention and animosity, that are discussed in our universities? Was it necessary to ask if all Christians are priests, if the primacy of the Pope is of right divine, if there can be indulgences, if every good work is a deadly sin, if there are more than seven sacraments, if they may be administered by a layman, if divine election has any foundation in our own merits, if sacerdotal consecration impresses an indelible character, if auricular confession is necessary to salvation?......No, no! all these things are in the province of the schools, and by no means essential to faith."[650]

[650] Melancthonis Judicium. (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 182.)

[Sidenote: THE REFUTATION.]

It cannot be denied that in the questions thus pointed out by Melancthon there were important points. However that may be, the Evangelical committee were soon agreed, and on the morrow they gave an answer to Charles's ministers, drawn up with as much frankness as firmness, in which they said "that the Protestants, desirous of arriving at a cordial understanding, had not wished to complicate their situation, and had proposed not to specify all the errors that had been introduced into the Church, but to confess all the doctrines that were essential to salvation; that if, nevertheless, the adverse party felt itself urged to maintain certain abuses, or to put forward any point not mentioned in the Confession, the Protestants declared themselves ready to reply in conformity with the Word of G.o.d."[651]

The tone of this answer showed pretty clearly that the Evangelical Christians did not fear to follow their adversaries wherever the latter should call them. Accordingly the Roman party said no more on this business.

[651] Aus Gottes Wort, weiter bericht zu thun. (F. Urkundenbuch, ii.

p. 19.)

IX. The commission charged to refute the Confession met twice a day,[652] and each of the theologians who composed it added to it his refutation and his hatred.

[652] Bis die convenire dic.u.n.tur. (Zw. Epp. ii. p. 472.)

On the 13th July the work was finished. "Eck with his band,"[653] said Melancthon, "transmitted it to the Emperor." Great was the astonishment of this prince and of his ministers at seeing a work of two hundred and eighty pages filled with abuse.[654] "Bad workmen lose much wood," said Luther, "and impious writers soil much paper." This was not all: to the Refutation were subjoined eight appendices on the heresies that Melancthon had dissembled (as they said), and wherein they exposed the contradictions and "the horrible sects" to which Lutheranism had given birth. Lastly, not confining themselves to this official answer, the Romish theologians, who saw the sun of power s.h.i.+ning upon them, filled Augsburg with insolent and abusive pamphlets.

[653] Eccius c.u.m sua commanipulatione. (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 193.)

[654] Longum et plenum conviciis scriptum. (Ibid.)

[Sidenote: CHARLES'S DISSATISFACTION.]

There was but one opinion on the Papist Refutation; it was found confused, violent, thirsting for blood.[655] Charles the Fifth had too much good taste not to perceive the difference that existed between this coa.r.s.e work and the n.o.ble dignity of Melancthon's Confession. He rolled, handled, crushed, and so damaged the 280 pages of his doctors, that when he returned them two days after, says Spalatin, there were not more than twelve entire. Charles would have been ashamed to have such a pamphlet read in the diet, and he required, in consequence, that it should be drawn up anew, shorter and more moderate.[656] That was not easy, "for the adversaries, confused and stupified," says Brenz, "by the n.o.ble simplicity of the Evangelical Confession, neither knew where to begin nor where to end; they accordingly took nearly three weeks to do their work over again."[657]

[655] Adeo confusa, incondita, violenta, sanguinolenta et crudelis ut puduerint (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 198.)

[656] Hodie auctoribus ipsis Sophistis, a Caesare rursus esse redditam ut emendetur et civilius componatur. (Ibid.)