The Landgrave urged the insertion that each party should show Christian charity to the
other. The Lutherans assented to this only on condition that the clause be added: "as far as the
conscience of each will permit."
The articles were read, considered, and signed on the same day by Luther, Melanchthon,
Osiander, Agricola, Brentius, on the part of the Lutherans; and by Zwingli, Oecolampadius, Bucer,
and Hedio, on the part of the Reformed. They were printed on the next day, and widely circulated.^873
On the fifth day of October, in the afternoon, the guests took leave of each other with a
shake of hands. It was not the hand of brotherhood, but only of friendship, and not very cordial on
the part of the Lutherans. The Landgrave left Marburg on the same day, early in the morning, with
a painful feeling of disappointment.
Luther returned to Wittenberg by way of Schleitz, where he met the Elector John by
appointment, and revised the Marburg Articles so as to adapt them to his creed, and so far to weaken
the consensus.
Both parties claimed the victory. Zwingli complained in a letter to Vadian of the overbearing
and contumacious spirit of Luther, and thought that the truth (i.e., his view of it) had prevailed, and
that Luther was vanquished before all the world after proclaiming himself invincible. He rejoiced
in the agreement which must destroy the hope of the papists that Luther would return to them.
Luther, on the other hand, thought that the Swiss had come over to him half way, that they
had humbled themselves, and begged his friendship. "There is no brotherly unity among us," he
said in the pulpit of Wittenberg after his return from Mar-burg, "but a good friendly concord; they
seek from us what they need, and we will help them."
Nearly all the contemporary reports describe the Conference as having been much more
friendly and respectful than was expected from the preceding controversy. The speakers addressed
each other as "Liebster Herr," "Euer Liebden," and abstained from terms of opprobrium. The Devil
was happily ignored in the interviews; no heresy was charged, no anathema hurled. Luther found
that the Swiss were not such bad people as he had imagined, and said even in a letter to Bullinger
(1538), that Zwingli impressed him at Marburg as "a very good man" (optimus vir). Brentius, as
an eye-witness, reports that Luther and Zwingli appeared as if they were brothers. Jonas described
the Reformed leaders during the Conference as follows:^874 "Zwingli has a certain rusticity and a
little arrogance.^875 In Oecolampadius there is an admirable good-nature and clemency.^876 Hedio
has no less humanity and liberality of spirit; but Bucer possesses the cunning of a fox,^877 that knows
how to give himself the air of acumen and prudence. They are all learned men, no doubt, and more
formidable opponents than the papists; but Zwingli seems well versed in letters, in spite of Minerva
and the Muses." He adds that the Landgrave was the most attentive hearer.
The laymen who attended the Conference seem to have been convinced by the Swiss
arguments. The Landgrave declared that he would now believe the simple words of Christ, rather
(^873) Three copies were signed at Marburg (according to Osiander’s report, who took one to Nürnberg). They were long supposed to be
lost, but two have been recovered and published by Heppe and Usteri from the archives at Cassel and Zürich (see Lit.). They agree almost
verbatim, except in the order of signatures, the former giving the first place to the Lutheran, the latter to the Reformed names. The small
differences are discussed by Usteri. l.c.
(^874) In a Latin letter to Reiffenstein, dated Marburg, Oct. 4, 1529; in the "Corp. Reform.," I. 109, and Seckendorf, vol. II. 140.
(^875) "In Zwinglio agreste quiddam est et arrogantulum."
(^876) "Mira bonitas naturae et clementia."
(^877) "Calliditas vulpina."