CHAPTER XIV

. FROM THE PEASANT-WAR TO THE DIET OF

AUGSBURG (1525-1530) _pages_ 173-399

1. LUTHER’S MARRIAGE.

Luther’s unexpected wedding with Catherine von Bora; his justification of it; Melanchthon’s mixed feelings shown in his confidential letter to Camerarius; his surprise that Luther should have chosen this “unhappy time” (the period of the Peasant-War) for his marriage. Luther’s excitement during the War and his presentiment of approaching death; his determination to spite the devil and himself; his marriage a “work of God.” The death of Frederick the Wise removes an obstacle to Luther’s matrimony. Luther’s jesting references to the step. His friends’ misgivings. Erasmus sadly disappointed in his hope that marriage would tame Luther. Dungersheim’s lament. Marriage-legends: The statement that the marriage was consummated before being solemnised, due to a mere misunderstanding; report of Bora’s early confinement based on a statement of Erasmus which he afterwards withdrew. Statements of Heyden and Lemnius regarding Luther’s misconduct with Bora, too general to be of historical value _pages_ 173-189

2. THE PEASANT-WAR. POLEMICS.

Connection of the Peasant-rising with the new preaching. The “Twelve Articles” of the Swabians; “Evangelical” demands of the Peasants; the Peasants incited by fanatical preachers; efforts made by the better pastors to quiet the populace. Luther drawn into the movement; his “Exhortation to peace”; its description of the lords calculated to fan the flame; his broadside “Against the murderous Peasants” and its drift: “Hew them down, slaughter, and stab them like mad dogs.” The pamphlet alienates the lower classes. Luther’s writing on the defeat of Münzer. His “Circular letter on the severe booklet against the Peasants.” Contemporary opinions regarding Luther’s action; Zasius, Cochlæus, Erasmus. Luther’s later references to his intervention in the revolt; he ceases to be any longer the idol of the people. The Catholic Princes take steps to maintain their authority against the encroachments of the innovators. The Dessau League and the Assembly of Mayence. Luther’s suppressed tract “Against the Mayence proposal,” 1526. The Lutherans enter into an alliance at Torgau; Luther on the aversion of both lords and peasants for himself. His abiding distrust of the peasants. The “awful ingratitude” of the people. His excitement and his polemics only deepen his conviction of his Divine mission. Emser’s indignation with Luther expressed in verse. The multiplicity of the matters of business referred to Luther _pages_ 189-223

3. THE RELIGION OF THE ENSLAVED WILL. THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN LUTHER AND ERASMUS (1524-1525).

The earlier Church on freedom of the will. Growth of Luther’s denial of freedom from the time of the Commentary on Romans; his attack on free-will in the “Resolutions” after the Leipzig Disputation and in the “_Assertio_” against the Bull of Excommunication (1521): “_Omnia de necessitate absoluta eveniunt_,” anything else mere Pelagianism; St. Augustine; the “religion of the Cross”; Scripture the sole rule of faith; Luther’s deviations from his stern doctrine in his practical works; objections within his own fold. Erasmus invited to take the field on behalf of freedom; previous attitude of the leader of the Humanists: partly for, partly against Luther; his eyes opened in 1520; his regret in 1521 for having fanned the flames by his writings; the saying: “Erasmus laid the egg which Luther hatched”; various opinions regarding Erasmus. Luther seeks in vain to dissuade Erasmus from writing against him; publication of the “_De libero arbitrio diatribe_,” 1524; Luther’s reply: “_De servo arbitrio_”; contents and character of the work; religious determinism; God the only real agent; peace to be secured only at the price of surrendering free-will; unfreedom and predestination to hell; God’s Secret Will versus His Revealed Will; existence of commandments and penalties; how explained? Man’s will a saddle-horse mounted alternately by God and the devil. Luther’s psychology as portrayed in his work on the enslaved will. Laurentius Valla. Luther’s later dicta on the enslaved will and predestination; his own opinion unaltered to the end; he commends, however, the second edition of the “_Loci Theologici_” in which Melanchthon sacrifices determinism. Letter to Count A. von Mansfeld on the scandal of the weak; consolation for the damned. Recent views on Luther’s attitude _pages_ 223-294

4. NEW VIEWS ON THE SECULAR AUTHORITIES.

Luther’s own estimation of the value of his teaching on the subject. How his views were reached. His book “Von welltlicher Uberkeytt,” 1523; his depreciation of the Princes: “A good Prince a rare bird from the beginning.” Antagonism to the fanatics and revolted peasants and his desire to serve the cause of the Evangel lead him to exaggerate the secular authority at the expense of the spiritual; Luther’s self-contradictory utterances on the subject of the use of earthly weapons in the service of the Evangel _pages_ 294-312

5. HOW THE NEW CHURCH-SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED.

Döllinger on the preparation of the ground for the Reformation. The proceedings at Altenburg, Lichtenberg, Schwarzburg, and Eilenburg typical of the action of the town councils. Partial retention of olden ceremonial for the sake of avoiding scandal. An instance of misplaced enthusiasm: Hartmuth von Cronberg. Proceedings at Wittenberg, in the Saxon Electorate and in the free Imperial city of Nuremberg. Lutheranism introduced at the University town of Erfurt; Luther’s own part in this; the Catholic opposition headed by Usingen; anticlerical rising in the town; invasion of the peasants and overthrow of the magistracy; awkward position of Luther on being appealed to by the committees set up by the revolutionaries; negotiations with the Saxon Elector and the Archbishop of Mayence; partial success of the Archbishop’s threats _pages_ 312-362

6. SHARP ENCOUNTERS WITH THE FANATICS.

Advantages accruing to Luther from his warfare with the Anabaptists. Thomas Münzer’s opinions and doings. Luther’s Circular on the spirit of revolt and Münzer’s “Schutzrede”; with whom is the decision as to the quality of the spirit to rest? Münzer’s capture and execution; Luther exults. Luther’s tracts against Carlstadt; all his gainsayers possessed by the devil; Münzer’s description of Luther as the Pope of Wittenberg. Ickelsamer’s objection that Luther goes only half-way with his principle of private judgment. Luther’s view that every man sent by God must be “tried by the devil.” Luther shocks his wife _pages_ 363-379

7. PROGRESS OF THE APOSTASY. DIETS OF SPIRES (1529) AND AUGSBURG (1530).

Previous Diets; the Diet of Spires in 1526; the Protest at the Diet of Spires in 1529; that of Augsburg in 1530; Melanchthon’s diplomacy approved by Luther; “_insidiæ_” pitted against “_insidiæ_”; the Gospel-proviso; Luther’s admission to Philip of Hesse; failure of the Augsburg Diet; the tale of the spectre-monks of Spires; Luther’s obsessions in the fortress of Coburg; vehemence of his tract against the “pretended Imperial edict”; his reply to Duke George the “Dresden assassin.” Luther’s fidelity to certain central truths of Christianity, particularly to the doctrine of the Trinity _pages_ 380-399

VOL. II.

THE APOSTASY

LUTHER

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