God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness,
justice, goodness, and truth.CHAPTER VI.
PROPAGATION AND PERSECUTION OF PROTESTANTISM IN
GERMANY TILL 1530.
§ 91. Causes and Means of Progress.
The Reformation spread over Germany with the spontaneous and irresistible impulse of a great
historical movement that struck its roots deep in the wants and necessities of the church. The only
propaganda of Luther was the word and the pen, but these he used to the utmost of his time and
strength. "There was no need of an arrangement," says Ranke, "or of a concerted agreement, or of
any special mission. As at the first favor of the vernal sun the seed sprouts from the ploughed field,
so the new convictions, which were prepared by all what men had experienced and heard, made
their appearance on the slightest occasion, wherever the German language was spoken."^737
The chief causes of progress were the general discontent with papal tyranny and corruption;
the desire for light, liberty, and peace of conscience; the thirst for the pure word of God. The chief
agencies were the German Bible, which spoke with Divine authority to the reason and conscience,
and overawed the human authority of the pope; the German hymns, which sang the comforting
doctrines of grace into the hearts of the people; and the writings of Luther, who discussed every
question of the day with commanding ability and abundant knowledge, assuring the faith of friends,
and crushing the opposition of foes. The force and fertility of his genius as a polemic are amazing,
and without a parallel among fathers, schoolmen, and modern divines. He ruled like an absolute
monarch in the realm of German theology and religion; and, with the gospel for his shield and
weapon, he was always sure of victory.^738
What Luther did for the people, Melanchthon accomplished, in his gentle and moderate
way, for scholars. In their united labors they were more than a match for all the learning, skill, and
material resources of the champions of Rome.
No such progress of new ideas and principles had taken place since the first introduction
of Christianity. No power of pope or emperor, no council or diet, could arrest it. The very obstacles
were turned into helps. Had the Emperor and his brother favored the cause of progress, all Germany
might have become nominally Lutheran. But it was better that Protestantism should succeed, in
spite of their opposition, by its intellectual and moral force. A Protestant Constantine or Charlemagne
would have extended the territory, but endangered the purity, of the Reformation.
Secular and selfish motives and passions were mingled with the pure enthusiasm for the
gospel. Violence, intrigues, and gross injustice were sometimes employed in the suppression of the
(^737) Deutsche Geschichte, etc., vol. II. 46 (6th ed.).
(^738) I "Selbstherrschender, gewaltiger ist wohl nie ein Schriftsteller aufgetreten, in keiner Nation der Welt. Auch dürfte kein anderer zu
nennen sein, der die vollkommenste Verständlichkeit und Popularität, gesunden, treuherzigen Menschenverstand mit so vielechtem Geist,
Schwung und Genius vereinigt hätte. Er gab der Literatur den Charakter den sie seitdem behalten, der Forschung, des Tiefsinns, der
Polemik." Ranke, II. 56. "Fesselnder, ergreifender und packender hat kein Deutscher geschrieben. Dabei beherrschte er seine Muttersprache
mit solcher Gewalt, dass er sie zur Schriftsprache zu erheben vermochte." Fr. Kapp, Geschichte des deutschen Buchhandels, vol. I. p.
407.