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in penance and self…expiation and other modes of propitiating the
Deity； like soofists and fakirs and Braminical devotees。 In
defiance of the most sacred of the institutions of the Middle Ages；
he openly marries Catherine Bora and sets up a hilarious household；
and yet a household of prayer and singing。 He abolishes the old
Gregorian service； and for Mediaeval chants； monotonous and gloomy；
he prepares hymns and songs；not for boys and priests to intone in
the distant choir； but for the whole congregation to sing； inspired
by the melodies of David and the exulting praises of a Saviour who
redeems from darkness into light。 How grand that hymn of his；
〃A mighty fortress is our God；
A bulwark never failing。〃
He makes worship more heartfelt； and revives apostolic usages：
preaching and exhortation and instruction from the pulpit；a
forgotten power。 He appeals to reason rather than sense； denounces
superstitions； while he rebukes sins； and kindles a profound
fervor； based on the recognition of new truths。 He is not fully
emancipated from the traditions of the past； for he retains the
doctrine of transubstantiation； and keeps up the holidays of the
Church； and allows recreation on the Sabbath。 But what he thinks
the most of is the circulation of the Scriptures among plain
people。 So he translates them into German。 And this； not the
first but the best translation； is done so well that it becomes the
standard of the German language； as the Bible of Tindale helped to
form the English tongue； and not only so； but it has remained the
common version in use throughout Germany； even as the authorized
King James version； made nearly a century later by the labor of
many scholars and divines； has remained the standard English Bible。
Moreover； he finds time to make liturgies and creeds and hymns； and
to write letters to all parts of Christendom；a Jerome； a
Chrysostom； and an Augustine united； a kind of Protestant pope； to
whom everybody looks for advice and consolation。 What a wonderful
man！ No wonder the Germans are so fond of him and so proud of
him；a Briareus with a hundred arms； a marvel； a wonder； a prodigy
of nature； the most gifted； versatile； hard…working man of his
century or nation！
At last； this great theologian； this daring innovator； is summoned
by imperial； not papal； authority before the Diet of the empire at
Worms； where the Emperor； the great Charles V。； presides； amid
bishops； princes； cardinals； legates； generals； and dignitaries。
Thither Luther must go；yet under imperial safe conduct；and
consummate his protests； and perhaps offer up his life。 Painters；
poets； historians； have made that scene familiar；the most
memorable in the life of Luther； as well as one of the grandest
spectacles of the age。 I need not dwell on that exciting scene；
where； in the presence of all that was illustrious and powerful in
Germany； this defenceless doctor dares to say to supremest temporal
and spiritual authority； 〃Unless you confute me by arguments drawn
from Scripture； I cannot and will not recant anything 。 。 。 Here I
stand； I cannot otherwise： God help me！ Amen。〃 How superior to
Galileo and other scientific martyrs！ He is not afraid of those
who can kill only the body； he is afraid only of Him who hath power
to cast both soul and body into hell。 So he stands as firm as the
eternal pillars of justice； and his cause is gained。 What if he
did not live long enough to accomplish all he designed！ What if he
made mistakes； and showed in his career many of the infirmities of
human nature！ What if he cared very little for pictures and
statues；the revived arts of Greece and Rome； the Pagan
Renaissance in which he only sees infidelity； levities； and
luxuries； and other abominations which excited his disgust and
abhorrence when he visited Italy！ HE seeks； not to amuse and adorn
the Papal empire； but to reform it； as Paul before him sought to
plant new sentiments and ideas in the Roman world； indifferent to
the arts of Greece； and even the beauties of nature； in his
absorbing desire to convert men to Christ。 And who； since Paul；
has rendered greater service to humanity than Luther？ The whole
race should be proud that such a man has lived。
We will not follow the great reformer to the decline of his years；
we will not dwell on his subsequent struggles and dangers； his
marvellous preservation； his personal habits； his friendships and
his hatreds； his joys and sorrows； his bitter alienations； his
vexatious； his disappointments； his gloomy anticipations of
approaching strife； his sickened yet exultant soul； his last days
of honor and of victory； his final illness； and his triumphant
death in the town where he was born。 It is his legacy that we are
concerned in； the inheritance he left to succeeding generations；
the perpetuated ideas of the Reformation； which he worked out in
anguish and in study； and which we will not let die； but will
cherish in our memories and our hearts； as among the most precious
of the heirlooms of genius； susceptible of boundless application。
And it is destined to grow brighter and richer； in spite of
counter…reformation and Jesuitism； of Pagan levities and Pagan
lies； of boastful science and Epicurean pleasures； of material
glories； of dissensions and sects and parties； as the might and
majesty of ages coursing round the world regenerates institutions
and nations； and proclaims the sovereignty of intelligence； the
glory and the power of God。
AUTHORITIES。
Ranke's Reformation in Germany； D'Aubigne's History of the
Reformation； Luther's Letters； Mosheim's History of the Church；
Melancthon's Life of Luther： Erasmi Epistolae； Encyclopaedia
Britannica。
THOMAS CRANMER。
A。 D。 1489…1556。
THE ENGLISH REFORMATION。
As the great interest of the Middle Ages； in an historical point of
view； centres around the throne of the popes； so the most prominent
subject of historical interest in our modern times is the revolt
from their almost unlimited domination。 The Protestant
reformation； in its various relations； was a movement of
transcendent importance。 The history of Christendom； in a moral； a
political； a religious； a literary； and a social point of view； for
the last three hundred years； cannot be studied or comprehended
without primary reference to that memorable revolution。
We have seen how that great insurrection of human intelligence was
headed in Germany by Luther； and we shall shortly consider it in
Switzerland and France under Calvin。 We have now to contemplate
the movement in England。
The most striking figure in it was doubtless Thomas Cranmer；
Archbishop of Canterbury； although he does not represent the
English Reformation in all its phases。 He was neither so prominent
nor so great a man as Luther or Calvin； or even Knox。 But； taking
him all in all； he was the most illustrious of the English
reformers； and he； more than any other man； gave direction to the
spirit of reform； which had been quietly working ever since the
time of Wyclif； especially among the humbler classes。
The English Reformationthe way to which had been long preparing
began in the reign of Henry VIII。； and this unscrupulous and
tyrannical monarch； without being a religious man； gave the first
great impulse to an outbreak the remote consequences of which he
did not anticipate； and with which he had no sympathy。 He rebelled
against the authority of the Pope； without abjuring the Roman
Catholic religion； either as to dogmas or forms。 In fact； the
first great step towards reform was made； not by Cranmer； but by
Thomas Cromwell； Earl of Essex； as the prime minister of Henry
VIII。；a man of whom we really know the least of all the very
great statesmen of English history。 It was he who demolished the
monasteries； and made war on the whole monastic system； and
undermined the papal power in England； and swept away many of the
most glaring of those abuses which disgraced the Papal Empire。
Armed with the powers which Wolsey had wielded； he directed them
into a totally different channel； so far as the religious welfare
of the nation is considered； although in his principles of
government he was as absolute as Richelieu。 Like the great French
statesman； he exalted the throne； but； unlike him； he promoted the
personal reign of the sovereign he served with remarkable ability
and devotion。
Thomas Cromwell； the prime minister of Henry VIII。； after the fall
of Wolsey； was born in humble ranks； and was in early life a common
soldier in the wars of Italy； then a clerk in a mercantile house in
Antwerp； then a wool merchant in Middleborough； then a member of
Parliament； and was employed by Wolsey in suppressing some of the
smaller monasteries。 His fidelity to his patron Wolsey； at the
time of that great cardinal's fall； attracted the special notice of
the King； wh