CHAP. XI.

A. D. 1546, to A. D. 1550.

e བnར་་་

Persecuting measures-Death of LUTHER-Melancthon's FUNERAL ORATION for him-Tributary lines -Remarks on the friendship of Luther and Melancthon-Position of Public affairs-The Emperor and the Protestants at open war-Perfidy of Maurice-Captivity of John Frederic and imprisonment of the Landgrave---Diet at Augsburg--- The INTERIM Meetings of the Wittemberg and Leipsic Divines--Melancthon's publication on indifferent things-Extracts from his reply to the Interim---Curious preface to an English translation of it---The virulent opposition of Flaccus Illyricus to Melancthon ---Reply of the latter.

PERSISTING in his resolution notwithstanding the objections of the Protestants, the Roman Pontiff summoned a general council to be held at Trent, while the Emperor at the Diet of Worms in the year 1545 used every effort to persuade all parties to acquiesce in that appoint

ment. It was in vain; and the pen of Melandthon was again employed to prepare a publication in the name of the Reformers, containing the chief reasons which induced them to dissent from the Papal decree. It is entitled, “ Causæ, quare et amplexæ sint, et retinendam ducant doctrinam, quam profitentur Ecclesiæ, quæ Confessionem, Augustæ exhibitam Imperatori sequuntur et quare iniquis judicibus collectis in Synodo Tridentina ut vocant, non sit assentiendum;" and "on account of the excellence of the matter, the weight of the argument, and a certain original beauty of style, cannot fail of profiting every reader."(m) It is inserted in the fourth volume of his works.

The Emperor being exasperated at the continual objections raised against the council, departed at last from his usual course of conduct and determined to settle all religious disputes by force of arms. The Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse immediately adopted proper measures for their own defence. At Worms the clergy of Cologne had presented a petition to the Emperor, against the proceedings of their Archbishop in establishing the reformed religion, and he instantly took them into his protection, not only interdicting by his imperial letters any molestation of the Catholics in the electorate,

(m) SECKEND. Hist. Lib. III. P. 602.

but summoning the Elector to appear before him within thirty days. The Pope issued a similar summons for sixty days to the Archbishop, Dean and five Canons of Cologne, who had espoused his cause. In the succeeding January, 1546, the Protestant princes assembled at Frankfort, made common cause with the persecuted Archbishop, and united to defend themselves against the violent designs of the Emperor.(n)

If ever the presiding genius of Martin Luther were requisite to direct the intricate concerns of the Reformation, the present crisis seen.ed particularly to demand his talents. The gathering tempest frowned with a portentous aspect upon all Germany; the newly launched vessel in which many of their princes had embarked with a noble and adventurous spirit, and which had hitherto been driven about by so many raging winds, became at this time exposed to a storm of unusual violence, and every voice was lifted up to demand the pilotage of the first and in many respects the greatest of the Reformers. It is not easy therefore to express or imagine the consternation with which the princes and Reformers in general, and his most intimate friend Melancthon in particular received the

(m) SLEID. Hist. p. 310, 340, 351, 355. SECKEND. Hist. Lib. III. p. 566, 570, 613.

intelligence of his death at this alarming period. In consequence of repeated attacks of the stone his constitution had been declining for many months, and early in the morning of the eighteenth of February, 1546, he died at Eisleben his native place, whither he had gone a second time to settle some existing differences between the Counts of Mansfeld. A few hours afterwards Jonas communicated the melancholy tidings to the Elector of Saxony, and requested his Highness to inform his wife, Melancthon, Pomeranus and Cruciger. In the first journey to Eisleben a short time before, Melancthon had accompanied him and must have deeply regretted his absence on the last painful occasion. When he first received the intelligence of his death, he exclaimed, "My Father! my Father! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof!" (0) He was interred at Wittemberg. Pomeranus preached a funeral sermon, and Melancthon pronounced the following

66

ORATION.

Although amidst this general mourning my voice is obstructed by deep affliction and tears, yet something I would attempt to say; not to eulogize the dead as the heathen do, but

(0) 2 KINGS ii. 12.

to admonish the living in this vast assembly, and especially to impress just sentiments upon the junior part of the auditory respecting the government of the church and its dangers, that they may learn what to desire and by what examples to regulate their lives. Wicked and infidel men represent every thing in the present apparent confusion of human affairs as the result of mere chance, but confiding in the numerous and explicit declarations of God himself we distinguish the church from the promiscuous multitude of mankind, and affirm it is under divine superintendance and protection. To this we constantly look, obeying our lawful governors, and cherishing a pious reverence for those guides and instructors whom we choose.

"It will be necessary to advert to these considerations as often as the name of the Reverend Doctor MARTIN LUTHER, our most beloved father and teacher is introduced, whom we love and honour, detestable as he appears in the eyes of many wicked men, and whom we know to have been raised up by heaven as a minister of the true gospel, by evidences which notwithstanding the charges of our opponents, prove that his doctrines were neither seditious nor dispersed abroad with a blind and impetuous zeal.

"In this place and on these occasions, many things are usually said in a panegyrical