Western Civilization - History Of European Society

The Religious Reformations of the Sixteenth Century 261

rejected transubstantiation while arguing that Christ
was nevertheless truly present in the Eucharist (see il-
lustration 14.3). The Freedom of a Christiansummarized
Luther’s doctrine of salvation by faith. Luther had not
intended to break with the church, but his extraordi-
nary skill as a writer and propagandist ignited anti-
clerical and antipapal feeling throughout Germany.

Compromise was now impossible, and he was

excommunicated on January 31, 1521.

The affair might have ended with Luther’s trial and

execution, but political considerations intervened. His

own prince, Frederick “the Wise” of Saxony, arranged

for him to defend his position before the Imperial Diet

at Worms in April. The new emperor Charles V was

DOCUMENT 14.3

Luther: Address to the German Nobility

Martin Luther’s primary concerns were always spiritual and theologi-
cal, but he knew how to appeal to other emotions as well. These ex-
tracts from his Address to the Christian Nobility of the
German Nationare a relatively modest example of the rhetoric with
which he attacked the authority of the Catholic Church.

What is the use in Christendom of those who are called
“cardinals”? I will tell you. In Italy and Germany there are
many rich convents, endowments, holdings, and
benefices; and as the best way of getting these into the
hands of Rome they created cardinals, and gave to them
the bishoprics, convents, and prelacies, and thus de-
stroyed the service of God. That is why Italy is almost a
desert now.... Why? Because the cardinals must have the
wealth. The Turk himself could not have so desolated
Italy and so overthrown the worship of God.
Now that Italy is sucked dry, they come to Germany.
They begin in a quiet way, but we shall soon have Ger-

many brought into the same state as Italy. We have a few

cardinals already. What the Romanists really mean to do,

the “drunken” Germans are not to see until they have lost

everything ....

Now this devilish state of things is not only open rob-

bery and deceit and the prevailing of the gates of hell, but

it is destroying the very life and soul of Christianity;

therefore we are bound to use all our diligence to ward off

this misery and destruction. If we want to fight Turks, let

us begin here—we cannot find worse ones. If we rightly

hang thieves and robbers, why do we leave the greed of

Rome unpunished? for Rome is the greatest thief and rob-

ber that has ever appeared on earth, or ever will.

Luther, Martin. “Address to the Nobility of the German Nation,” (1520),

trans. Wace and Buckheim. In B.J. Kidd, Documents Illustrative of the

Continental Reformation,No. 35. Oxford, England: Oxford University

Press, 1911.

Illustration 14.3

The Lutheran Sacraments.This al-

tar painting from the Lutheran church at

Thorslunde, Denmark, is intended as a

graphic lesson in theology. Infant bap-

tism is shown at the left. In the center,

two communicants receive the sacra-

ment in both kinds, while the preacher

at the right emphasizes the importance

of God’s word.