LUTBIE 449 LUTHBB
flal liberty" of taking Communion under two kinds, tolerated no rival, brooked no contradiction. Thia
held up confession and absolution to derision, and was constantly in evidence, but now comes into ob-
railed against fasting as an unscriptural imposition, trusive eminence in his hectoring course pursued to
He next proceeded to the altar and said Mass in Ger- drag Erasmus, whom he long watched with jealous eye,
man. omitting all that refened to its sacrificial charae- into the controversial arena (De Wette, op. cit., II.
ter, left out the Elevation of the Host, and in condu- 199^201, 352-353). Erasmus, like all devotees ot
sion extended a general invitation to all to approach humanistic learning, lovers of peace and friends of re-
and receive the Lord's Supper, by individually taking ligion, was in full and accordant sympathy with Luther
the Hosts in their hands and drinking from the Chalice, when he first sounded the note of reform (Stichart,
The advent of the three Zwickau prophets (27 Dec), "Erasmus yon Rotterdam", Leipzig, 1870, 308-326).
with their communistic ideas, direct personal commu- But the bristling, imgoverned character of his apo^
nicaticm with God, extreme subjectivism in Bible inter- dictic assertions, the bitterness and brutality of nis
pretation, all of which impressed Melanchthon forci- ^leech, his alliance with the conscienceless politi(»U
bly (Corp. Ref .", 1, 513, 514,515,534; Barge, op. cit.^ I, radicalism of the nation, created an instinctive repul-
401), only added fuel to the already fiercely Dummg sion, which, when he saw that the whole movement
flame. The^ came to consult Lutbier, and with ^ood " from its very beginning; was a national rebellion, a
reason, for " it was he who taught the universal pnest- mutiny of the German spirit and consciousness against
hood of all Christians, which authorized every man to Italian despotism" (Thudichum, op. cit., I, 304; Sti-
preach; it was he who announced the full liberty of all chart, op. cit., 351-382) he, timorous by nature, vacil-
the sacraments, especially baptism, and accordingly lating in spirit, eschewing all controversy, shrinkingly
they were justified m rejecting infant baptism" (Thu- retired to his studies. Popular with popes, honoured
dichum, op. cit., 1. 220). That they associated with by kings, extravagantly extolled by humanists, re-
Carbtadt mtimately at this time is doubtful; that he spected h}[ Luther's most intimate friends, he was in
fully subscribed to their teachings improbable, if not spite of ms pronounced rationalistic proclivities, hia
impossible (Barge, op. cit., I, 402). withering contempt for monks, and wnat was a con-
What brought Luther in such hot haste to Witten- vertible term. Scholasticism, unquestionably the fore- berg? The character given Carlstadt as an instigator most man of learning in his day. His satiric writings, of rebellion, the leader of the devastating '* iconoclas- which according to Kant, did more good to the worki tic movement", has been found exaggerated and un* than the combined speculations of all metaphysicians true in spite of its universal adoption (Barge, op. cit., and which in the minds of his contemporaries laid the Ij 398-405; Corp. Ref.", 1, 545, 553; Thudichum, op. egg which Luther hatched — gave him a great vogue cit., Ij 193, who Drands it as a shameless lie"); the in all walks of life. Such a man's convictions were assertion that Lu ther was requested to come to Witten- naturally supposed to run in the same channel as berg by the town council or congregation, is dismissed Luther's — and if his co-operation, in spite of alluring as " untenable" (Thudichum, op. cit., 1, 197). Nor was overtures, failed to be secured — his neutrality was at he summoned by the elector, although the elector had all hazards to be won. Prompted by Luther's oppo* misgivinf^s about his return, and inferentially did not nents, still more goaded by Luther's militant attitude, consider it necessary, so far as the matter of bringing if not formal challenge, he not only refused the per- the reformatory zeal of the Wittenbergers into the sonal request to refrain from all participation in the bounds of moderation was concerned ; he did not for- movement, and become a mere passive " spectator of bid Luther to return, but expressly permitted it" the tragedj^" (De Wette, op. cit., II, 498-501; En- (Thudichum, op. cit., I, 199; Bar>Ee, op. cit., I, 435). ders, op. cit., IV, 319-323), but came before the Did perhaps information from Wittenberg portend public with his Latin treatise " On Free Will". In it the ascenclancy of Carlstadt. or w^as there cause for ne would investigate the testimony afforded by the alarm in the propaganda oi the Zwickau prophets Old and New Testament as to man's " free will' , and (Barge, op. cit., 1. 434-35)? At all events on 3 March, to establish the result, that in spite of the profound. Luther on horscoack, in the costume of a horseman, thought of philosopher or searchmg erudition of theo- with buckled sword, full grown beard, and long hair, logian, the subject is still enshrouded in obscurity^ and issued from the Wartburg. Before his arrival at that its ultimate solution could only be looked for in Wittqnberg, he resumed his monastic habit and ton- the fulness of light diffused by the Divine Vision. It sure, and as a fully groomed monk he entered the was a purely scholastic question involving philosophy deserted monastery. He lost no time in preaching on cal and exegetioal problems, which were then, as they eight consecutive davs (9-17 March) sermons mostly are now, arguable points in the schools. In no single in contravention of Carlstadt's innovations, every one point does it antagonise Luther in his war with Rome of which, as is well known, he subsequentl^r adopted. CThudichum, <^. cit., I, 313). The work received a The Lorci's Supper again became the Mass; It is sung in wide circulation and general acceptance. Melandn Latin, at the high altar, in rubrical vestments, though thon writes approvingly of it to the author and Spala- all allusions to a sacrifice are expunged; the elevation tin (Corp. Rei., I, 675, 673-^674). After the lapse of a is retained ; the Host is exposed in the monstrance; year Luther gave his reply in Latin " On the Servitude the adoration of the congregation is invited. Com- of the Will". Luther 'never in his whole life had a muni on under one kind is administered at the high purely scientific object in view, least of all in thia altar — but under two kinds is allowed at aside altar, writing" (Hausrath, op. cit., II, 75). It consists of The sermons characterized by a moderation seldom "a torrent of the grossest abuse of Erasmus" (Thudi- found in Luther, exercised the thrall of his accustomed chum, op. cit., I, 315; Walch, op. cit., XVIII, 2049-* elociuence, — but proved abortive. Popular sentiment, 2482 — gives it in German translation), — and evokes intimidate! and suppressed, favoured C-arlstadt. The the lament of the hounded humanist, that he, tbe feud l)ctween Luther and Carlstadt was on, — and it lover of peace and quiet, must now turn gladiator and showed the former "glaringly in his most repellent do battle with "wild beasts" (Stichart, op. cit., 370). form" (Barge, I, op. cit., VI), and was only to end His pen portraiture of Luther and his controversial when the latter, exiled and impoverished through methods, ^ven in his two rejoinders, are masterly, and Luther's machinations, went to eternity accompanied even to this day find a general recognition on the part by Luther's customary benediction on his enemies. of all unbiassed students. His sententious characteri-
Liither had one prominent trait of character, which zation that where " Lutheranism flourishes the sciences
in the consensus of those who have made him a special perish"^ that its adherents then, were men "with but
stud}^, overshadowed all others. It was an over- two objects at heart, money and women", and that
weening confidence and unbending will, buttressed by the " Gospel which relaxes the reins" and allows eyery*
an inflexible dogmatism. He recognized no superior, one to do as he pleases (Epist. 1006, London, 1901-04) IX.— 29
