Frederick was a devout Catholic, a believer in relics and indulgences, but at the same time
a lover of fair dealing, an admirer of Luther, and much concerned for his university. He saved the
German Reformation by saving the Reformer, without openly breaking with the Catholic Church.
He never saw Luther, except at a distance in the Diet of Worms, and communicated with him chiefly
through his chaplain and secretary, Spalatin. His cautious reserve was the best policy for the time.
Frederick was succeeded by his brother, John the Steadfast or Constant (1525–1532). He
was less prudent and influential in politics, but a more determined adherent of the Reformation.
He was too fat to mount his horse without the aid of a machine. He went to sleep at times under
Luther’s sermons, but stood by him at every cost. His motto was: "The word of God abideth for
ever," which was placed on his ensigns and liveries.^566 He was the first to sign the immortal protest
of Speier in 1529, and the Confession of Augsburg in 1530.
His son and successor, John Frederick the Magnanimous (1532–1554), survived Luther.
He founded the University of Jena. He suffered the disastrous defeat at Mühlberg (April 24, 1547),
and would rather lose his Electorate and half of his estates than deny the evangelical faith in which
he was brought up. How different was the conduct of Elector Augustus the Strong of Saxony, who
sold the Lutheran faith of his ancestors for the crown of Poland (1697), and disgraced both by his
scandulous life.
Luther has left some characteristic remarks about his three sovereigns. Of Frederick, whom
he only knew from a distance, he said, "He was a wise, intelligent, able, and good man, who hated
all display and hypocrisy. He was never married.^567 His life was pure and modest. His motto ’Tantum
quantum possim’ was a sign of his good sense .... He was a fine manager and economist. He listened
patiently in his council, shut his eyes, and took notes of each opinion. Then he formed his own
conclusion. Such a prince is a blessing from God." Of John he said, "He had six pages to wait on
him. They read the Bible to him for six hours every day. He often went to sleep, but when he awoke
he had always some good text in his mouth. At sermon he used to take notes in a pocket-book.
Church government and secular affairs were well administered. The Emperor had only good to say
of him. He had a strong frame, and a hard death. He roared like a lion." John Frederick he judged
to be "too indulgent, though he hates untruth and loose living. He fears God, and has his five wits
about him. You never hear an impure or dishonorable word from his lips. He is a chaste husband,
and loves his wife,—a rare virtue among kings and princes. One fault he has: he eats and drinks
too much. Perhaps so big a body requires more than a small one. Otherwise he works like a donkey;
and, drink what he will, he always reads the Bible or some good book before he goes to sleep."^568
These three Electors of Saxony are the model princes of the Lutheran Reformation, which
owes much to their protection. Philip of Hesse was more intelligent, brilliant, liberal, and daring
than any of them, but his bigamy paralyzed his influence. He leaned more to the Reformed side,
and stood on good terms with Zwingli. The most pious of the princes of Germany in the sixteenth
century was Frederick III., surnamed the Pious, Elector of the Palatinate (1559–1576), who
introduced the Heidelberg Catechism.
The Protestant sovereigns became supreme bishops in their respective dominions. They did
not preach, nor administer the sacraments, but assumed the episcopal jurisdiction in the government
(^566) "V. D. M. I. AE." = Verbum Dei manet in aetemum.
(^567) But he left two illegitimate sons.
(^568) Extracts from the Tischreden, Erl. ed., vol. LXI., 379, 380, 385, 387, 389, 393, 394.