[500] Hurt at the new attacks which Luther began to direct against
their doctrine in his Short Confession upon the Supper, (see Letter
CXXII.,) the ministers of Zurich published in 1545 an Apology,
intituled:--"Orthodoxa Tigurinaæ Ecclesiæ Ministrorum Confessio,
una cum æqua et modesta responsione ad vanas et offendiculi
plenas D. Martini Lutheri calumnias, condemnationes et convitia,
etc...."--Hospinian, _Hist. Sacrament._, tom. ii. p. 354. Provoked
by Luther's violence, this reply irritated the zealous Lutherans,
afflicted Melanchthon, delighted the adversaries of the Reform by
the unseemly divisions which had got the upper hand among them.
He complains of Luther's tyranny, and affectionately exhorts
Melanchthon to manifest greater decision and firmness.
_28th June 1545._
Would that the fellow-feeling which enables me to condole with you,
and to sympathize in your heaviness, might also impart the power
in some degree, at least, to lighten your sorrow. If the matter
stands as the Zurichers say it does, then they have just occasion
for their writing. Your Pericles allows himself to be carried beyond
all due bounds with his love of thunder, especially seeing that
his own case is by no means the better of the two. We all of us
do acknowledge that we are much indebted to him. Neither shall I
submit myself unwillingly, but be quite content, that he may bear
the chief sway, provided that he can manage to conduct himself with
moderation. Howbeit, in the Church we must always be upon our guard,
lest we pay too great a deference to men. For it is all over with
her, when a single individual, be he whosoever you please, has more
authority than all the rest, especially where this very person does
not scruple to try how far he may go. Where there exists so much
division and separation as we now see, it is indeed no easy matter
to still the troubled waters and bring about composure. But were
we all of that mind we ought to be, some remedy might, perhaps, be
discovered; most certainly we convey a mean example to posterity,
while we rather prefer, of our own accord, entirely to throw away
our liberty, than to irritate a single individual by the slightest
offence. But, you will say, his disposition is vehement, and his
impetuosity is ungovernable;--as if that very vehemence did not
break forth with all the greater violence when all shew themselves
alike indulgent to him, and allow him to have his way, unquestioned.
If this specimen of overbearing tyranny has sprung forth already as
the early blossom in the springtide of a reviving Church, what must
we expect in a short time, when affairs have fallen into a far worse
condition? Let us therefore bewail the calamity of the Church, and
not devour our grief in silence, but venture boldly to groan for
freedom. Consider, besides, whether the Lord may not have permitted
you to be reduced to these straits in order that you may be brought
to a yet fuller confession upon this very article. It is indeed most
true, as I acknowledge it to be, that which you teach, and also that
hitherto, by a kindly method of instruction, you have studiously
endeavoured to recall the minds of men from strife and contention.
I applaud your prudence and moderation. While, however, you dread,
as you would some hidden rock, to meddle with this question from the
fear of giving offence, you are leaving in perplexity and suspense
very many persons who require from you somewhat of a more certain
sound, on which they can repose; and besides, as I remember I have
sometimes said to you, it is not over-creditable to us, that we
refuse to sign, even with ink, that very doctrine which many saints
have not hesitated to leave witnessed with their blood. Perhaps,
therefore, it is now the will of God thus to open up the way for a
full and satisfactory declaration of your own mind, that those who
look up to your authority may not be brought to a stand, and kept in
a state of perpetual doubt and hesitation. These, as you are aware,
amount to a very great number of persons. Nor do I mention this so
much for the purpose of arousing you to freedom of action, as for
the sake of comforting you; for indeed, unless I could entertain
the hope, that out of this vexatious collision some benefit shall
have arisen, I would be utterly worn out by far deeper distress.
Howbeit, let us wait patiently for a peaceable conclusion, such
as it shall please the Lord to vouchsafe. In the meanwhile, let
us run the race set before us with deliberate courage. I return
you very many thanks for your reply, and at the same time, for the
extraordinary kindness which Claude assures me had been shewn to him
by you.[501] I can form a conjecture what you would have been to
myself, from your having given so kind and courteous a reception to
my friend. I do not cease, however, to offer my chief thanks to God,
who hath vouchsafed us that agreement in opinion upon the whole of
that question about which we had both been examined; for although
there is a slight difference in certain particulars, we are,
notwithstanding, very well agreed upon the general question itself.
[_Calvin's Lat. Corresp._--Opera, tom. ix. p. 33.]
[501] Claude de Senarclens returned to Geneva loaded with
testimonials of affection from the German Reformers. In the Town
Library of Geneva there is an Album preserved, containing pious
inscriptions of several of the Reformers, which he had brought away
with him in the course of his travels.