LABORS, RECREATION, AND TROUBLE.
The Gospel gained greater and greater victories. The preaching of the
truth found open doors in Denmark and Sweden, in Transylvania and
Hungary, in Silesia and France. As the spirit of primitive Christianity
in Germany went forth from Wittenberg through the various provinces, so
also did ZWINGLI, and Melanchthon's friend and fellow-student,
OECOLAMPADIUS, labor in Switzerland with blessed results. A new time was
coming, and its spring had already dawned. Perhaps no other means
contributed so much to the promotion of the Reformation as the
translation of the Bible, which we owe to Luther's master hand. In the
Wartburg he completed the translation of the New Testament, with a
spirit which to this day has not been excelled. But he was not ashamed
to make use of the assistance and advice of his friends in this work.[8]
Among these friends, Melanchthon was the principal one, who, indeed,
excelled Luther in learning. Melanchthon took very great pains to
discover the true meaning of the passages, for which his assistance had
been solicited. If any expression remained dark, he could apply for an
explanation to the physician, STURTZ, in Erfurt, to Spalatin, and other
friends. We have before heard that he applied himself to the Hebrew
language. The knowledge of this language was very serviceable to him in
the translation of the Old Testament. The Book of Job particularly
called forth the efforts of the Wittenbergians. Luther somewhere speaks
of it in a letter: "M. Philip, Aurogallus, and I, are laboring so
carefully in Job that sometimes we could scarcely complete three lines
in four days. But Melanchthon labored with especial energy in his own
field of labor. He saw the importance of a classical education, and
labored very zealously for its extension. But, although he mightily
promoted the ancient languages, his heart was yet in the Holy
Scriptures. This is proved by his explanations of several books of the
Old and New Testaments, which appeared in 1523.
But his numerous uninterrupted labors were beginning to undermine his
health. He was particularly troubled with sleeplessness about this time.
Recreation was indispensable for him, and his friends also earnestly
advised him to it. When Luther went to Worms, he was not permitted to
refresh himself by a visit to his home. He now wished to pay this visit.
One of his friends and colleagues, NESEN, intended to make a trip to
Frankfort. It seemed best to join him, and from thence to visit his
beloved native city, Bretten, and to see the dear relatives residing
there. Luther, to whom he communicated his intentions, approved of them,
relieved him of all scruples and doubts, and dismissed him with these
pleasant words: "Go, dear brother Philip, in the name of God. Even our
Lord Jesus did not always preach and teach, but also journeyed, and
visited his relatives and friends. All I ask of you is, that you return
to us soon! I will include you in my prayers day and night. And now
depart!"
On the 16th of April, 1524, he departed, with a very pleasant caravan of
friends. NESEN, who taught History, Geography and the Languages, in
Wittenberg; Philip's fellow-boarder, FRANCIS BURKHARD, of Weimar, who
afterwards became Chancellor in Saxony; JOHN SILBERBORNER, of Worms; and
his dearest friend in all the world, with whom he became acquainted
during the Leipzig disputation, JOACHIM CAMERARIUS, were his
fellow-travellers. They rode upon horses, which were none of the best;
but most likely these gentlemen were not among the best of riders. Their
way led them through Leipzig. There a most worthy man, PETER SCHADE,
called MOSELLANUS, who had expressed himself much in favor of the
Reformation, was breathing his last. They visited him, and bade him
farewell in this world. Thence they went to the city of Fulda. CROTUS
RUBIANUS and ADAM KRAFT rejoiced in the arrival of the beloved Saxons,
and entertained them most hospitably. Here the travellers heard of the
death of the Knight ULRICH VON HUTTEN, who died upon an island in the
Lake of Zurich. It is well known with what ardor this champion joined
the Reformation. Neither Luther nor Melanchthon, however, could approve
of everything in the conduct of the clever freebooter; for he was not
inspired with the pure, evangelical spirit.
Nesen remained in Frankfort; but Melanchthon and his remaining
companions, after a short stay, hastened to the end of their journey. It
is said that when he first beheld his beloved native city in the
distance, overcome with joy, he dismounted, and falling upon his knees,
exclaimed: "Oh! my native soil! I thank thee, Lord, that I have been
permitted to see it again!" And now they went to Bretten, to his
mother's house. How she rejoiced to behold her son again! She had in the
meantime ceased to be a widow, and had married a widower named
Christopher Kolbe. It seems she had remained a good Catholic; and
perhaps had no other fault to find with her Philip, but that he had
taken too decided and zealous a part in the Reformation. Now there was
opportunity to speak of these things; and the son did not neglect to
instruct his mother as to the object and extent of the Reformation. But
she seems to have remained steadfast in her old persuasion.
The mother knew very well that her son had gained a great name. She
could see this with her own eyes during his stay in Bretten. CAMPEGIUS,
at that time the Papal legate in Germany, was then in Heidelberg on
account of a great hunt. We can well conceive how anxious he must have
felt to detach Melanchthon from Luther; and he must have thought it
worth while to make an attempt to bring about this desirable result. He
had a very shrewd secretary, named NAUSEA, who was sent upon this
difficult and important errand. When he arrived in Bretton, he
immediately repaired to Melanchthon, in order to introduce the matter.
He seconded his appeal with the best inducements, but he did not find a
reed that could be swayed to and fro by the wind. The Wittenberg
Professor declared, in a firm and decided manner: "If I discover
anything to be true, I hold it fast, and maintain it without any regard
to the consequence of any mortal, without any regard to advantages,
honor, or gain. I shall never forsake those who were the first to bring
better things to light. But in the same manner I shall also continue to
prove true to myself, that I shall teach and defend the truth without
quarrelling or abuse. I therefore advise every one who earnestly desires
peace and unity, to do all he can to heal those wounds which can no
longer be concealed, and to restrain the mad rage of those who are
constantly tearing them open again!" He added a small essay on the
principal points of the Lutheran doctrine, in which he particularly gave
prominence to the difference between divine and human righteousness, and
that they were only striving against work-holiness.
Nausea returned to Heidelberg, without having effected his object; but
Melanchthon received another visit, from three professors of the
University. These did not come to alienate him from _that_ cause, which
was the cause of God. On the contrary, they presented him with a richly
ornamented goblet, as an acknowledgment of his meritorious services, for
which he returned his cordial thanks in a letter.
Whilst Melanchthon was spending most agreeable days in Bretten, his
travelling-companions sojourned in Basle. ERASMUS of Rotterdam resided
in this city, and by his great reputation also attracted these
Wittenbergians. This will be the proper place to say something of the
relations existing between this renowned scholar and Melanchthon. It was
Erasmus who, at a very early period, recognized and admired
Melanchthon's talents and great acquirements. Melanchthon had taken this
great man, who exerted such an influence upon the restoration of the
sciences, for his model. But Erasmus was a man who preferred standing on
neutral ground, and considered the Reformation commenced by Luther, and
supported by Melanchthon's learning, as by far too extravagant. He was
very fond of the honor of this world, which prevents so many learned men
from arriving at a knowledge of the truth. Although he, therefore, at
first expressed his approbation of the work in Wittenberg, he gradually
became more and more opposed to it. He manifested his hostility
particularly in his work "ON FREE WILL." He shows in this, like all
persons who do not consult the word of God, and a deep inward
experience, that the great corruption of this world of sin, and the
indescribable riches of divine grace, were both mysteries to him. He
also expressed his views more fully in a letter to his friend at
Wittenberg, on the 6th of September, 1524; and did not forget to state
that he could not agree on all points with Melanchthon's book, Loci
Communes, in which he had, however, found much that was excellent.
Nothing else could have been expected, for Melanchthon had most
decidedly expressed the doctrine of the renewed Church. He could,
therefore, neither be satisfied with Erasmus' publication against
Luther, nor with his letter to himself.
It is well known to every one acquainted with these disputes, that
Erasmus had found a powerful opponent in Luther, by means of his work
"Of the Bond Will," which is one of the ablest and most powerful
productions of the Reformer. The gulf between these two men became wider
and wider. All mediation was impossible.
In a letter to Erasmus, in answer to the one already referred to,
Melanchthon expressed his decided adherence to Luther's doctrine, and
declared that if the Bible should teach differently, he would gladly
adopt it. He took Luther's side, and defended him against Erasmus'
attacks upon his character. But Erasmus adhered to his own opinions, and
especially censured Luther's violence. He was particularly displeased
with this violence in Luther's polemic treatise against himself. This
relation to the great man in Rotterdam caused Melanchthon much trouble.
It was one of the many sorrows which afflicted him.
But we have thus already returned to Wittenberg, and we must first see
what happened to Melanchthon on his return. It was difficult to part
from Bretten, for his mother did not wish him to depart so soon. It
seemed to her, as we often feel when bidding farewell, that she was then
beholding him for the last time. But at last, with his companions who
had returned from Basle, he tore himself away from his home. Not far
from Frankfort he met with a singular adventure. The young Landgrave
PHILIP of Hesse, who had early exhibited a warm interest in the progress
of the Reformation, was travelling with his retainers to Heidelberg. He
had, no doubt, heard that Melanchthon was on the road. He sees a company
of travellers approaching, and he feels that Melanchthon must be among
them. He rode towards them, and asked for him. When Melanchthon
discovered himself, and was about to dismount in token of respect, the
Landgrave prevented him, and requested him to change his route, and to
remain with him over night, because he would like to have many matters
explained to him. He bade him entertain no fear, but be of good courage.
Melanchthon assured the Landgrave that he was not afraid, and that he
was a very unimportant person besides. The prince replied: "But,
nevertheless, Cardinal Campegius would be not a little rejoiced if you
were to be delivered into his hands." On the condition that, after his
return to Wittenberg, he would prepare a written statement concerning
these innovations in religion and send it to the Landgrave, he permitted
him to continue his journey, and gave him the promise of a safe conduct
through the Hessian dominion. This writing was really prepared, and bore
the title: "An Epitome of the renewed Christian doctrine, addressed to
his most serene highness the Landgrave of Hesse." The journey was safely
completed, but he soon experienced great sorrow in Wittenberg. His
beloved travelling companion, Nesen, wished to cross the Elbe in a
fisherman's boat, as he had often done before; but upon the present
occasion, it was July 5th, the boat struck against the trunk of a tree,
was capsized, and Nesen was drowned. Besides this, his beloved
Camerarius, who was daily more endeared to him, removed from Wittenberg.
He felt very lonely and forsaken, and in this frame of mind wrote to
Camerarius: "I sit at home like a lame cobbler."