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of conveying instruction, and especially his uniform and zealous efforts to purify the logic of the schools, and terminate the endless disputations of former times by introducing juster principles of reasoning, were exceedingly grateful, instead of being, as his adversaries calumniously misrepresented, disgusting to Martin Luther. That eminent Reformer always sought his advice, and with his characteristic ingenuousness acknowledged his superiority.

An anecdote which is related of them is

confirmatory of this statement. Luther was writing the following words, "Res et verba Philippus; verba sine rebus Erasmus; res sine verbis Lutherus; nec res, nec verba Carolostadius." Philip Melancthon is both substance and words-Erasmus words without substance-Luther substance without words-Carlostadt neither substance nor words"-when Melancthon came in unexpectedly, and overlooking him said with a smile, "As to Erasmus and Carlostadt it is well judged and censured, but too much is attributed to me, and good words as well as matter ought to be ascribed to Luther, for he speaks exceedingly well." (0)

Among a variety of other important labours, Melancthon was very much occupied at this time with the furious zealots who had

(p) COLLOQ. MENSAL. p. 510.

created so much disturbance in Germany under the name of Anabaptists. During the temporary removal of the Academy to Jena, he and Cruciger were indefatigable in their efforts to reclaim them, and it must be owned were in some degree succesful. Melancthon wrote an excellent treatise against them in the German language.(r)

Soon after his return from Jena, he was engaged in a conference with Bucer and Capito on the sacramental controversy. Pursuing with unabated ardour the great purpose of a general re-union among the Reformers, Bucer and Capito had repaired, in the month of January, to an assembly of the ministers and magistrates of the Reformed Cantons of Switzerland, at Basil. They urged a union with the Lutherans, which they deemed more than ever probable from their decreased animosity. A meeting was afterwards convened in May at Eisenach, to which the Swiss divines sent their confession of faith; but as Luther could not personally attend, Bucer and Capito proceeded to Wittemberg, where, after several conferences with him and his associates, Melanethon was appointed to draw up a formula on the sacrament, which, it is remarkable, the inflexible Lutherans, the moderate Reformers,

(q) SECKEND. Hist. Luth. Lib. III. P. 115.

and the whole Synod composed of the ministers of Upper Germany, concurred in signing. Thus the purpose of unanimity was obtained to a very considerable extent, and was celebrated on the occasion with great mutual congratulations ;(t) though it may be questioned, from a perusal of this document, whether Bucer and his moderating associate did not manifest too much of a servile and temporizing flexibility.

(r) Myconius says, "Proruperunt lacrymæ Capitoni et Bucero et utrinque cancellatis manibus et gestibus piis Deo gratias egimus."

CHAP. X.

A. D. 1537 to A. D. 1545.

A General Council proposed-Meeting at Smalcald -Melancthon writes on the Pope's Supremacy, and against the manner of appointing the Council-Communications with Francis I-Passage from the Recess of Smalcald─Melancthon is solicited to visit Augsburg respecting the institution of a Public Library-Letter of Cardinal Sadolet-A second Commission from Henry VIII.-Persons sent into England-Melancthon's Letter to the king-Second Letter against the Anabaptists—Another Deputation from Frankfort-Melancthon's third and fourth Letters to the king-Death of George of Saxony-Progress of the Reformation-Diet held at Haguenau-Melancthon's dangerous illness on the way-Interesting account of Luther's visit to him-Another Diet at Worms-Referred to Ratisbon-Melancthon meets with an Accident on the Road-Conference between Select Persons-Augsburg Decree confirmed-Several Anecdotes of Melancthon-Contentions about the Election of a Bishop at Naumburg—Account of Melancthon and Bucer's co-operation with the Archbishop of Cologne, to introduce the Reformation into his Diocese-Acrimonious Publication of some of the Clergy-Melancthon's satirical Reply-Pri

vate Afflictions-Draws up a Plan of Reform for the Elector Palatine-Engages in the Ordination of George Prince of Anhalt-Sketch of his LifeEpigram by Melancthon.

PAUL III. who had succeeded to the Popedom in the year 1534, appeared more disposed than his predecessor to convene a general Council, and sent circular letters throughout the states under his jurisdiction, appointing a time and place, namely, the twenty-seventh of May, 1537, at Mantua. The confederate Protestant Princes re-assembled together at Smalcald, and in the February preceding the proposed Council, Vorstius, the Papal Nuncio, and Heldus, ViceChancellor to the Emperor, came to announce it, and exhort them to attend. This occasioned long and close deliberations.

The Wittemberg Theologians were summoned to the meeting at Smalcald, and as Luther was incapable of attending in consequence of a severe illness, the chief trouble, accompanied as usual with no inconsiderable odium, devolved upon Melancthon. They were required to make an accurate comparison of the different sentiments which prevailed among themselves, in order to terminate the existing disputes, and devise some common form of doctrine for the Protestant churches; then to determine upon those articles of faith which from their radical importance were to be retained and

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