safe. But what would have been the result? Ruin and desolation of body and soul. I therefore kept
quiet, and gave the Word free course through the world. Do you know what the Devil thinks when
he sees men use violence to propagate the gospel? He sits with folded arms behind the fire of hell,
and says with malignant looks and frightful grin: ’Ah, how wise these madmen are to play my
game! Let them go on; I shall reap the benefit. I delight in it.’ But when he sees the Word running
and contending alone on the battle-field, then he shudders and shakes for fear. The Word is almighty,
and takes captive the hearts."^487
Eloquence rarely achieved a more complete and honorable triumph. It was not the eloquence
of passion and violence, but the eloquence of wisdom and love. It is easier to rouse the wild beast
in man, than to tame it into submission. Melanchthon and the professors, the magistrate and peaceful
citizens, were delighted. Dr. Schurf wrote to the Elector, after the sixth discourse: "Oh, what joy
has Dr. Martin’s return spread among us! His words, through divine mercy, are bringing back every
day misguided people into the way of the truth. It is as clear as the sun, that the Spirit of God is in
him, and that he returned to Wittenberg by His special providence."
Most of the old forms were restored again, at least for a season, till the people were ripe for
the changes. Luther himself returned to the convent, observed the fasts, and resumed the cowl, but
laid it aside two years afterwards when the Elector sent him a new suit. The passage in the mass,
however, which referred to the unbloody repetition of the sacrifice and the miraculous transformation
of the elements, was not restored, and the communion in both kinds prevailed, and soon became
the universal custom. The Elector himself, shortly before his death (May 5, 1525), communed with
the cup.
Didymus openly acknowledged his error, and declared that Luther preached like an angel.^488
But the Zwickau Prophets left Wittenberg for ever, and abused the Reformer as a new pope and
enemy of spiritual religion. Münzer stirred up the Peasants’ War, and met a tragic fate.^489
Carlstadt submitted silently, but sullenly. He was a disappointed and unhappy man, and
harbored feelings of revenge against Luther. Ranke characterizes him as "one of those men, not
rare among Germans, who with an inborn tendency to profundity unite the courage of rejecting all
that is established, and defending all that others reject, without ever rising to a clear view and solid
conviction." He resumed his lectures in the university for a time; but in 1523 he retired to a farm
in the neighborhood, to live as "neighbor Andrew" with lowly peasants, without, however, resigning
the emoluments of his professorship. He devoted himself more fully than ever to his mystical
speculations and imaginary inspirations. He entered into secret correspondence with Münzer, though
he never fully approved his political movements. He published at Jena, where he established a
printing-press, a number of devotional books under the name of "a new layman," instead of Doctor
of Theology. He induced the congregation of Orlamünde to elect him their pastor without authority
from the academic Senate of Wittenberg which had the right of appointment, and introduced there
his innovations in worship, storming the altars and images. In 1524 be openly came out with his
novel theory of the Lord’s Supper in opposition to Luther, and thus kindled the unfortunate
(^487) Erl. ed., XXVIII. 219 and 260 (second sermon). The allusion to the drinking of "Wittenbergisch Bier mit meinem Philippo und
Amsdorf" (p. 260) is omitted in the shorter edition, which has instead: "wenn ich bin guter Dinge gewesen" (p. 219).
(^488) Luther speaks favorably of him, and recommended him to a pastoral charge at Altenburg. See his letters in De Wette, II. 170, 183,
184.
(^489) He published at Nürnberg, 1524, a self-defense "Wider das geistlose sanftlebende Fleisch zu Wittenberg," and called Luther an
"Arch-heathen," "Arch-scamp," "Wittenberg Pope," "Babylonian Woman," "Dragon," "Basilisk," etc.