The Life of Philip Melanchthon Part 14

[3] His proficiency in the Greek was so remarkable, that even at this early age he composed RUDIMENTS of the language, which were afterwards published.

[4] Erasmus also wrote to Oecolampadius, "Of Melanchthon I have already the highest opinion, and cherish the most magnificent hopes: so much so, that I am persuaded Christ designs this youth to excel us all: _he will totally eclipse Erasmus!_" In a letter to Julius Pflug, he says: "He not only excels in learning and eloquence, but by a certain fatality is a _general favorite_. Honest and candid men are fond of him, _and even his adversaries cannot hate him_!"

[5] It may be mentioned here, that John Agricola, of Eisleben, who was engaged on the Lutheran side, afterwards became an opponent of the Reformation; and John Poliander, the amanuensis of Eck, attached himself to Luther at the close of the disputation, and afterwards preached the Gospel in Prussia.--_Seckendorf. Hist. Luther_, Book I., page 230.

[6] This term applied to the faculty of Theology at Paris. The College of the University in which they a.s.sembled was called the house of the Sorbonne, which was first erected and endowed in the year 1250, by a wealthy favorite of St. Louis, whose name was Robert de Sorbonne. This Theological faculty enjoyed the highest repute at that time.

[7] Karlstadt was heard to say, that "he wished to be as great a man and as much thought of as Luther;" for which he was properly reproved by Melanchthon, who reminded him, "that such language could only proceed from a spirit of emulation, envy, and pride."--_Seckendorf._

[8] Luther's princ.i.p.al a.s.sistants in this work were Philip Melanchthon, Caspar Cruciger, Justus Jonas, John Bugenhagen, or Pomera.n.u.s, and Matthew Aurogallus;--the corrector of the press was George Rorarius.--_Seckendorf._

We are also told in Adams, that Bugenhagen constantly kept the anniversary of the day on which this work was finished, with a select party of friends at his own house. This social meeting was called "The festival of the translation of the Scriptures."

[9] Henry von Zutphen preached the gospel in Ditmars, a county of Holstein. He was seized by the enraged priests, and after having been beaten and stabbed, and covered with more than twenty wounds, was cast into the fire. He suffered martyrdom with most heroic calmness. Luther published the history of this martyr.--_Seckendorf._

[10] Melanchthon addressed the following apologetic letter to Camerarius: "As some unfounded reports will probably reach you, respecting the marriage of Luther, I think it proper to inform you of the true state of the case, and to give my opinion. On the 13th of June, Luther, to our great surprise, and without saying a word to his friends, married Catharine de Bora, and only invited Pomera.n.u.s, Lucca the painter, and Apellus the lawyer, to supper in the evening, celebrating the espousals in the customary manner. Some perhaps may be astonished that he should have married at this unfavorable juncture of public affairs, so deeply afflictive to every good man, and thus appear to be unaffected and careless about the distressing events which have occurred amongst us; even though his own reputation suffers at a moment when Germany most requires his talents and influence. This, however, is my view of the subject: Luther is a man who has nothing of the unsocial misanthropist about him; but you know his habits, and I need say no more on this head. Surely it is no wonderful thing that his great and benevolent soul should be influenced by the gentle affections, especially as there is nothing reprehensible or criminal in it. He is in fact by nature fitted for the married state; and it is p.r.o.nounced honorable in the sacred Scriptures. I saw that his change of situation produced some degree of perturbation and gloom of mind, and I have done my utmost to cheer him; for I cannot condemn him as having committed a fault, or fallen into sin, though I grant G.o.d has recorded many sins which some of his ancient saints committed, in order that we might be stimulated to repose our confidence, not in men, however dignified and distinguished, but in his word alone. I have in possession the most decisive evidences of his piety and love to G.o.d, so that the malicious reproaches heaped upon Luther are nothing else than the inventions of scurrilous sycophants, who want employment for a slanderous tongue, &c.

&c.--_Mel. Epistles. c.o.x._

[11] In Germany, the higher schools, intended to give immediate preparation for the universities, are termed gymnasia.--_Brande._

[12] Melanchthon discloses a secret to Camerarius: "I am applied to from Bohemia to desert the Reformed cause, and promised any remuneration from King Ferdinand. Indeed, my defection is publicly reported as a fact, because in the little book written for the Reformed Churches, I have shown an increased degree of moderation; and yet you perceive I have really inserted nothing different from what Luther constantly affirms.

But because I have employed no asperity of language, these very acute men judge that I necessarily differ from Luther.--_Mel. Epist. c.o.x._

[13] The first who thus acquired the honorable appellation of _Protestants_, were John, Elector of Saxony, George, Elector of Brandenburg, Ernest and Francis, Dukes of Luneburg, Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, and Wolfgang, Prince of Anhalt. They were seconded by thirteen or fourteen imperial cities.

[14] During a conversation at this time, his mother mentioned the manner in which she was accustomed to attend to her devotions, and the form she generally used, which was free from the prevailing superst.i.tions. "But what," said she, "am I to believe amidst so many different opinions of the present day?" "Go on," replied Melanchthon, "believe and pray as you now do, and have done before, and do not disturb yourself about the disputes and controversies of the time."--_Adam. in c.o.x._

[15] The election of Ferdinand as King of Rome, was regarded as an artful proceeding of his brother, the Emperor, for the purpose of rendering the imperial crown hereditary in his family, and consequently, subversive of the liberties of the empire.--_c.o.x._

[16] Maimbourg relates, that Queen Margaret of Navarre, sister of Francis I., united with other ill.u.s.trious females attached to the Court, who cherished sentiments favorable to the Reformation, to request that he might be invited for the purpose of consultation on existing disputes in religion. The Queen frequently spoke of him to her brother as a man of exalted piety, profound learning, and singular eloquence.--_c.o.x._

[17] Some Parisians, who had imbibed the principles of Protestantism, indiscreetly posted up hand-bills in several of the public places, and on the gates of the Louvre, containing reflections on the doctrines, rites, and clergy of the Church of Rome. The king, being highly incensed at these proceedings, issued a general order against heretics, and appointed a solemn procession. The holy host was carried through the city, the king walked with his feet bare, and his head uncovered, attended by the queen, the princes of the blood, and all his courtiers.

Six Lutherans were publicly condemned by the parliament to be burnt; a decree which was executed with the most shocking barbarity before the procession was finished, and others were sought after with the most eager diligence.--_Sleid. Dupin. Belcar. in c.o.x._

[18] Milichius was a physician, to whom he was particularly attached on account of his professional skill, devoted friendship, and literary taste. He was a native of Freiburg, and for a series of years led a useful and eminent course of public life at Wittenberg.--_Cam. Life of Mel. in c.o.x._

[19] Those who wish to know more of this strange event, which has so often been used as an argument against the Wittenberg Reformers, will find a complete and excellent examination of it in Dr. John Bachman's "Defence of Luther and the Reformation against the charges of John Bellinger, M. D., and others." Page 153.

[20] Melanchthon wrote an enigma upon the names of these persons, playing upon the German words Pflug (plow), Eck (harrow), Groper (digging), &c. As this could not retain its meaning in a translation, we have omitted it from the text.--T.

[21] Eck, during the heat of disputation, made use of some puzzling sophism, at which Melanchthon paused to revolve the statement in his mind, and at length replied: "I will give you an answer to-morrow."

"Oh," said his antagonist, "there is no merit or honor in that, if you cannot answer me immediately." To which he replied in these memorable words: "My good Doctor, I am not seeking my own glory in this business, but truth; I say then, G.o.d willing, you shall have an answer to-morrow."--(_Adam. Lives of Germ. Theolog. c.o.x._)

[22] Melanchthon's disinterestedness is evident from a letter written in former years by Luther to the Elector. He mentions Melanchthon's hesitation to accept an increase of his salary to the amount of an hundred florins, and his wish to continue his Greek lectures without any remuneration, so that the ordinary stipend might be devoted to augment the revenue of the University. "But," says Luther, "he has sustained the greatest share of academical labor for upwards of twenty years past, and surely he has the greatest right to enjoy in quiet some of the profits.

He has been a kind of general servant to the whole inst.i.tution, and well merits the bounty of your highness. The whole Christian world is his debtor, and, blessed be G.o.d, the Popish fraternity are more afraid of him and his scholars, than all the learned besides put together."--_Seckendorf. c.o.x._

[23] Agricola was liberally rewarded by the Emperor and by Ferdinand; and Sidonius obtained the Bishopric of Merseburg. This furnished occasion for a common joke upon them, "that they only defended the Popish chrism and oil as necessary to salvation, that they might come off the better greased themselves."--_Sleidan, in c.o.x._

[24] Their house was crowded with a constant succession of comers and goers, of every age, s.e.x, and condition; some pressing in to receive, and others departing well-stored from this ample repository of kindness and bounty. It formed a part of their domestic regulations, never to refuse an applicant.... Camerarius has stated, that on several occasions when his pecuniary resources have been exhausted, he would contrive to supply the necessitous by privately taking cups, or other vessels appropriated to domestic use, to a trader to sell, even at a very low rate. He received many presents of gold and silver coin. These he would often give to the first person who, from avarice or curiosity, might be induced to ask for them, simply from a disposition to oblige.

[25] Anna was handsome, accomplished, and of a very literary turn.

Luther, in one of his letters, calls her "the elegant daughter of Philip."--_c.o.x._

[26] He always estimated _time_ as a most precious possession. It is said of him, that when he made an appointment, he expected not only the day or the hour, but the _minute_ to be fixed, that time might not be squandered away in the vacuity or idleness of suspense.--_c.o.x._

[27] John Bugenhagen, Pomera.n.u.s, or Pommer, was one of the most remarkable men of the age, and may be justly ranked with Luther and Melanchthon, with whom he cherished a long and close friendship, and to whom he was in many respects little inferior. Originally he was a schoolmaster at Treptow in Pomerania; and when he first saw the "Babylonish Captivity" by Luther, exclaimed, "The author of this book is the most pestilent heretic that ever infested the Church of Christ." But after examining it more seriously, and with an inquisitive mind, it produced so entire a change of sentiment, that he said, "The whole world is blind, and this man alone sees the truth." When he was chosen to be minister of the great Church at Wittenberg, he not only did not aim at this elevation, but was almost dragged by force out of his obscurity to possess it, and a.s.siduously devoted himself to the duties of this eminent station during thirty-six years. He expired in peace, at the advanced age of seventy-three."--_c.o.x._

[28] His well-known friend and pupil, John Matthesius, wrote an epitaph in verse, which the author says he proposes to lay upon the G.o.dly man's grave as a lovely flower. Despairing of being able to give it to the reader in a good translation, we have omitted it in the text, and propose to give it as well as we can in simple prose: "A honey-flower, sprung from _black earth_ (alluding to the name Melanchthon, or Schwartzerd), worthy of the crown of honor and praise, withered by the intense heat, lies at rest here. Many grateful little bees sipped and made honey from it, for the comfort and instruction of Christendom; and therefore many churches and schools are filled with sorrow. This little flower has satisfied many insects and wild birds with its perfume and precious nectar. G.o.d has done much good by it in the Church, school, house, and government, and now all its labors and dangers are at an end.

Neither caterpillars, bees, horse-flies, wasps, nor nettles, burdock, thistle, or c.o.c.kle, could destroy this sweet little flower; and it continued to praise G.o.d, and to instruct men at all hours. Many a spider crept over it, many poisonous reptiles pierced it; but yet it lives, and slumbers in this shrine, and its work will never be forgotten. G.o.d now wipes away its tears, and refreshes it with the dew of heaven. Its little leaves give out a pleasant perfume, and in a short time it will live again. When the bones and skin of faithful teachers shall blossom like the green herb, then its faith, patience, and industry, will receive praise, thanksgiving, and honor. Whosoever, therefore, performs a pilgrimage to this shrine, let him drop a longing tear, and sigh with us from the depths of his heart, for G.o.d is pleased with a grateful heart and mouth. Lord Christ, come and show thy glory, which is prepared for this little flower. Help thy church in all her distresses, by thy intercessions, and b.l.o.o.d.y wounds. Preserve all thy little bees, and the leaves of this little flower, in thine own cypress shrine, for they are the witnesses of thy name. Thy word, and the writings of good men, avail against murder and the poison of Satan, teach, comfort, refresh, and warn every one; but an evil book is the cause of all misery."