heart turns good to evil, a good one turns even evil to good. For example: Does a good man see a murderer or a thief-he is moved to compassion; pities him, prays for him, mourns over the misery of man; admonishes him, reproves him, does all he can to reclaim him. Next, mindful of human frailty, he humbly reflects, He did so yesterday, I may do it to-day!' Hence, thirdly, he prays to God to keep him, and praises him for having kept him hitherto. So much good does a rightly disposed heart derive from one evil seen in another person."

The remark of the pious and learned Seckendorf on Luther's expositions of Scripture seems to be very just. "I do not deny," he says, "that there are to be found at this day commentaries on the sacred writings distinguished by erudition, eloquence, and deep research, but I confess I much doubt whether there ever existed a man who furnished, in extemporaneous language (for thus Luther delivered his lectures, and many of those which have been published were taken down from his mouth as thus delivered), a more forcible and more edifying exposition of the Word of God. I would not indeed undertake to defend every phrase or every opinion which he uttered, as if it were inspired he himself earnestly disclaimed all pretensions to such perfection: but I speak of the general consistency of his expositions with the analogy of faith, and of the heroic energy of the language and the arguments which he employed: and I think that all who will bestow any such pains as I have done on the study of his writings will agree with me in this sentiment."*

*So the good Elector John Frederic, then in captivity, says, "My heart is deeply affected, my inmost soul penetrated by Luther's writings. I derive more edification, comfort, strength, from a page of Luther than from whole volumes of other authors."

CHAPTER XXI.

Death of George of Saxony, and Succession of Henry— Reformation of his Dominions; and of the Electorate of Brandenburg-Joachim II.-Conferences of Haguenau, Worms, and Ratisbon-Gropper's Book-Misconduct of the Landgrave-Dangerous Illness of Melancthon.

"A FEW days after the convention at Frankfort, George Duke of Saxony died, and his death was an event of great advantage to the reformation. That prince, the head of the Albertine, or younger branch of the Saxon family, possessed, as Marquis of Misnia and Thuringia, extensive territories, comprehending Dresden, Leipzig, and other cities, now the most considerable in the electorate. From the first dawn of the reformation, he had been its enemy as avowedly as the electoral princes were its protectors; and had carried on his opposition, not only with all the zeal flowing from religious prejudices, but with a virulence inspired by personal antipathy to Luther, and imbittered by the domestic animosity subsisting between him and the other branch of the family. By his death without issue, the succession fell to his brother Henry, whose attachment to the Protestant religion surpassed, if possible, that of his predecessor to popery. Henry no sooner took possession of his new dominions than, disregarding a clause in George's will, dictated by his bigotry, whereby he bequeathed all his dominions to the emperor and the king of the Romans, if his brother should attempt to make any innovation in religion, he invited some Protestant divines, and among them Luther himself, to Leipzig. By their advice and assistance, he overturned in a few weeks the whole system of ancient rites, establishing the full exercise of the reformed religion, with the universal applause of his subjects, who had long wished for this change, which the authority of their duke alone had hitherto prevented. This revolution delivered the Protestants from the danger to which they were exposed by having an inveterate enemy situated in the middle of their

territories; and the territories of the princes and cities attached to their cause now extended, in one great and almost unbroken line, from the shore of the Baltic to the banks of the Rhine."

Such is the account given by Dr. Robertson of the next event which materially advanced the cause of the reformation.

During the lifetime of his brother, Henry had possessed little or nothing beyond the small territory of Freyburg. In that district he had been careful to introduce reformation. He had however to encounter the opposition of his brother George, who expostulated with him as going contrary to the purposes, and even the promises, which he had expressed, of making no changes till a council should have defined what reformation ought to take place, and by what means it might properly be effected. He implored him not rashly to adopt a course of proceeding unworthy of his family, and contrary to his duty; not to listen to people in whose estimation "unbelief was the only sin;" or, while he pretended "to seek the gospel in barns and cellars," to risk not only the peace of his country but the salvation of his soul. "Did he plead conscience? He had only to look to himself, and not trouble his mind about others. I myself;" said George, "if power in religious matters had been assigned me by the Word of God, or committed to me by the pope and the emperor, should long ago have reformed what I considered as abuses: but, finding myself possessed of no such authority, I determine to make no innovations till a council shall direct them." If Henry would persist, he declares that he should feel it necessary to report his conduct to the emperor.

Henry, however, was not thus to be satisfied or impeded. He professed himself to be convinced from the Holy Scriptures that the doctrines and practices hitherto received in his country were contrary to the Word of God, and dangerous to the souls of men: and therefore he could not in conscience postpone a change till it should have been decreed by a council. He would however deprive no one of his rights, nor impose on any persons what might be contrary to their consciences; and he hoped in all things so to conduct himself that he could justify his proceedings to the emperor. He adds, that the people were so desirous

of reformation that they would by ready to raise tumults should he withhold it.

After the correspondence here referred to, George appears to have left Henry unmolested in his proceedings within his own small territory; but he was exceedingly anxious to prevent the introduction of similar changes into ducal* Saxony after his own decease. Among the expedients to which he had recourse for this purpose, we may reckon a compromise which he attempted, by proposing a partial reformation conducted according to a different model, and on this basis a reconciliation between the two parties. When this expedient failed, he had recourse to another, which must be considered as reflecting much dishonour upon his memory. He had one surviving son, an idiot, who had been pronounced incapable of reigning, or of entering into any of the rela tions of life. George however now determined, according to a threat which he had some time before held out, to have him married, and to appoint him his successor Accordingly, he was married in January, 1539, to a daughter of Eric, one of the counts of Mansfeldt; but he died within a month. Being disappointed here also, George's next step was to make a will, binding Henry, as the condition of succeeding him, to maintain the ancient religion, and accede to the Roman Catholic league; and, in case of his failure to do this, directing his own dominions, as has already been stated, to pass to the emperor and King Ferdinand, till an heir professing the true religion should arise. This will he produced at the funeral of his son, desiring the confirmation of it by his nobles. They, however, foreseeing the consequences of such a measure, declined concurring in it unless it had the approbation of Henry; which of course could not be obtained. Henry was next desired to send over immediately some trusty persons to whom more acceptable terms might be proposed: and he in consequence himself set out for Dresden on the 17th of April, but was met on the road by messengers announcing the death of George on that same day. George was sixty-eight years of age, and had been for some weeks confined to his bed. The priest of Dresden, when George's death approached, ex

By this term, though it may not be strictly correct, I would distinguish the dominions of the prince who was simply duke, from him who was also Roman elector of Saxony.

horted him to call upon S. James, whom he had ever considered as in a special manner his patron saint: but some noblemen standing by repelled the priest, and exhorted the duke to call upon Christ, which, we are told, he did in few but emphatic words.

Henry arrived at Dresden the same evening, and was received with every demonstration of respect and joy; even those who during George's lifetime had declared that they would leave all behind them, and go into exile, rather than witness any change of religion, now vying with one another in their testimonies of regard for their new master. So great is the difference between a dead prince and a living one!

Maimbourg represents the change of religion which ensued as rapid indeed: "At Leipzig, Luther in one day, and by one sermon, turned the whole city from Catholic to Protestant!" And his remark upon it is in all respects worthy of its author. "So frail," says he, "is the foundation of the religion of these miserable nations, who are ever ready to embrace, not what may be pleasing to God, but what may gratify their princes." Nothing could be more contrary to the fact in the present instance. The truth is, as Dr. Robertson has justly stated, the people "had long wished for this change, which the authority of their duke alone had hitherto prevented."

But the proceedings in this important case, which was big with great consequences to Germany, deserve to be more particularly related.

1

Henry, it is to be observed, was a man of inferior talents. He was now also old and feeble; and his zeal in the Protestant cause, though sincere, can hardly, I fear, be shown (notwithstanding Dr. Robertson's statement) to have been so warm and persevering as that of his predecessor had been in the opposite interest. He had the wisdom, however, to place himself under the direction of the elector and other able counsellors, and under their guidance he at present proceeded with vigour and success.

The first opposition offered to his designs was from King Ferdinand, who urged that the extension of the reformation was contrary to the pacification of Nuremberg and the convention of Frankfort, and that its introduction into Henry's new dominions would be a violation of the rights of the