LUTHER DIES, AND MELANCHTHON MOURNS.
Melanchthon saw him, his dearly beloved father, for the last time, on
the 23d of January, 1546, on which day Luther with his three sons
departed for Eisleben, there to assist in settling the difficulties
between the Counts of Mansfeld. It is not a part of our design to
describe the particulars of Luther's journey, his labors in Eisleben,
his short illness, and his blessed death. Melanchthon wrote to Jonas,
(and doubtless sent the letter along with him,) that the angel of the
covenant might accompany the Doctor, and assist him in his efforts to
restore a lasting and beneficial harmony between the Counts of
Mansfeld; and adds, that he was prevented from accompanying him by
indisposition. He was at that time suffering from constipation, which he
attributed to the stone. And on the 31st of January he wrote to Luther
himself that his wife had been greatly troubled about him and the boys,
because they had heard that the river Saale was very much swollen. "Now
we pray," he adds, "the everlasting God, and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that he would bring you all back again in health, when you have
been successful in restoring harmony among the Counts of Mansfeld. By
God's grace, we are here in the enjoyment of peace; God grant that it
may last for a long time." He received the most hearty greetings from
Eisleben. On the 18th of February, on which day Luther had already made
his happy departure from this world, Melanchthon yet wrote to him. We
will here present the beginning of this letter: "To the venerable man,
Dr. Martin Luther, distinguished by learning, virtue, and wisdom, the
restorer of the true doctrine of the Gospel, his dearest father! Revered
Doctor, and dearest Father! I thank you that you have written to me so
often and kindly. And we now pray God, the eternal Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that he would lead you all safely home." This prayer was
not to be heard, or rather it was to be heard in a far higher sense. On
the following day, February 19, he already received the sad tidings of
the departure of his dear father, from Jonas. At 9 o'clock he was to
lecture on the Epistle to the Romans, but his sorrow would not permit
him to do so, and he said to the assembled students: "Beloved, pious
young men!--you know that I proposed to explain to you the Epistle to
the Romans, according to the simple and natural meaning of the words,
because in this is contained the true doctrine of the Son of God, which
God in special mercy has also revealed to us, in this our day, through
our venerable father and dear teacher, Doctor Martin Luther. But I have
this day received so sad a letter, which troubles and afflicts, and
discourages me so much, that I doubt whether I shall be able in future
to discharge the duties of my office in the University. What this is I
will now relate to you, especially as other persons have also advised me
to do so, and especially that you may know how it came to pass, so that
you may not relate it differently from what is true, or may not believe
other persons who may circulate false reports in regard to the matter,
as is generally the case.
"On Wednesday, February 7, shortly before supper, Dr. Martinus was
attacked by his usual affection, a pain in the pit of the stomach, with
which he was several times afflicted here. This returned after supper,
and as it did not cease, he went into his chamber, and laid himself down
for about two hours, until the pains had become much worse. He then
called Doctor Jonas, who slept in the same room, and asked him to
request Ambrosius, the tutor of his sons, to make a fire in the room. He
then went in, and was soon surrounded by Count Mansfeld and his lady,
and many others, whose names, on account of haste, are not mentioned in
this letter. On the morning of Feb. 18, before four o'clock in the
morning, he commended himself to God in this prayer: 'My dear heavenly
Father, eternal, merciful God! Thou hast revealed unto me thy beloved
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; him have I taught and confessed, him I love
and honor as my dear Saviour and Redeemer, whom the wicked persecute,
despise, and revile. Take my soul to thyself!' He then thrice repeated
the words: 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit, thou hast redeemed me,
O God of Truth!' and then said: 'God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.' This prayer he repeated several
times, and was thus taken by God into the everlasting school, and
eternal joy, where he is now enjoying fellowship with God the Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost, together with all prophets and apostles. Alas! the
Chariot of Israel is gone, which ruled the Church in this last age of
the world. For assuredly this doctrine of forgiveness of sin, and of
faith in the Son of God, was not invented by the wisdom of man, but was
revealed by God through this man, as we ourselves have also seen that he
was awakened by God. Therefore let us willingly remember him, and love
the doctrine which he proclaimed; let us also live more discreetly and
moderately, and consider what great troubles and changes will follow the
departure of this man. I beseech thee, O Son of God and Immanuel, who
wast crucified for us, and didst rise again, to rule and protect thy
Church. Amen."
Thus Melanchthon spoke and prayed, with tears and with a troubled heart.
His hearers were so deeply affected, that it seemed, as Selnecker says,
as if the very walls were weeping, for all manifested their sorrow by
sobbing aloud. On the 19th of February, he inquired of Jonas on what day
they would arrive in Wittenberg with the corpse. In this letter, he also
expresses his great sorrow on account of the death of this beloved man:
"We are greatly troubled at the loss of such a teacher and leader, not
only on account of the University, but also because of the Church
Universal of the whole world, which he led by his counsels, doctrine,
reputation, and the power of the Holy Ghost. Especially are we troubled
when we think of the dangers and storms which will come, since he has
been called away from his post.... But let us call upon our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has said, I will not leave you comfortless, that he may
continue to guide and preserve his Church, and let us thank him for the
benefits he has conferred upon us through Dr. Luther, and let us hold
Luther in grateful remembrance." On the same day, he also informed
Amsdorf of this calamity, and concluded thus: "Although I have no doubt
that many worthy persons everywhere will grieve most sincerely, I yet
know that your grief will be still greater, because he had no older and
dearer friend than you, and you loved him as a father. You have
therefore a great personal reason for your sorrow. But to this must also
be added public reasons, for after his death we seem to be threatened by
many other evils; but I pray and conjure you, for God's sake, that you
would encourage yourself with the divine consolations afforded us in the
Gospel, and that you would remember us and the Church."
About noon on the 22d of February, Luther's remains arrived at the
Elster gate of Wittenberg, and amidst the ringing of all the bells, and
the escort of a vast, deeply-moved multitude, were solemnly conveyed to
the Electoral church, where the Elector had assigned him a
resting-place. Melanchthon also walked in the procession; and after
Bugenhagen had, with many tears, preached an affecting funeral sermon,
Melanchthon also ascended the pulpit, and delivered a Latin address, the
substance of which we propose to relate.
"Although my own great sorrow almost forbids me to speak in this great
sorrow of all pious hearts, and of the Church of Christ, yet, as I am to
say something to this Christian assembly, I will not, after the manner
of the heathen, merely praise the departed one, but would rather remind
this honorable assembly of the great, wonderful, and divine guidance of
the Church, and of the many dangers with which it must always contend,
in order that Christians might learn so much better what should grieve
them most, what they should seek and ask of God, more than anything
else." Thus he commenced, and then spoke of _the office_ which Luther
had filled in the Church.
He mentions particularly what he had done in respect to doctrine, how he
had taught true repentance, justification by faith alone, the difference
between the law and the Gospel, and true good works; how he had
translated the Holy Scriptures, "in such a clear and plain manner," into
the German language, and had also written other useful books.
"Therefore, there can be no doubt but that pious Christian hearts will
for ever continue to praise and glorify the divine blessings, which he
has given to his Church by the hands of this Doctor Luther. They will
first of all praise and thank God for it; but after that, also confess
that they have been greatly benefited by the faithful labors of this
worthy man in his writings and preaching, and that they owe him thanks
for all this." He now speaks of it, that many reproached Doctor Luther
"on account of being too severe and rough in his writings." He would
reply to this, in the words of Erasmus: "God has also given a severe and
rough physician to the world, which in this latter time has been filled
with grievous plagues and defects." But he is truly blamed too much. "He
always faithfully and diligently defended the true faith, and always
maintained a good, sincere, and undefiled conscience. And every one who
knew him well, and had much intercourse with him, must confess that he
was a very kind-hearted man; and when among others, was always friendly,
amiable, and gracious in his conversation, and by no means insolent,
stormy, obstinate, or quarrelsome. And yet withal, there was an
earnestness and bravery in his words and gestures, which should be found
in such a man. In short, he had a heart, faithful and without guile,
words gracious and friendly, and, as St. Paul requires of the Christian,
'whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report.' Therefore, it is evident
that the severity which he manifested in his writings against the
enemies of the pure doctrine, did not proceed from a quarrelsome or
wicked spirit, but rather from his great earnestness and zeal for the
truth. This testimony must be given by us, and many pious persons, who
saw and knew him intimately." He then proceeds to say: "No unchaste act
or any other vice was ever discovered in him, no word leading to tumult
or rebellion was ever heard from his lips, but he always exhorted men to
reconciliation and peace; he never mingled other things with matters of
religion, and never made use of any intrigues to strengthen his own
power or that of his friends."... "I myself have often heard him pray
with many tears for the whole Church. For he daily took time to repeat a
few Psalms, with which he mingled his prayers to God, with sighs and
tears, and often, in his daily conversation, expressed his displeasure
against those who, because of their indolence or business, pretend that
it is sufficient to call upon God with a brief ejaculation."... "We have
likewise frequently seen, when great and important debates in regard to
sudden and dangerous emergencies arose, that he always exhibited great
courage and manliness; for he was not easily terrified, and did not lose
confidence on account of threats, or dangers, or terror. For he trusted
to this sure foundation, as upon an immovable rock, even upon the help
and support of God, and permitted nothing to take this faith and
confidence from his heart. Besides this, he possessed so great and keen
an understanding, that he could tell before all others what should be
advised and done in intricate, dark, and difficult affairs and disputes.
That so worthy a man, gifted with such a mind, of sound learning, and
tried and experienced by long practice, gifted with many lofty,
Christian, and peculiar virtues, chosen by God to raise up the Church;
one, too, who loved us with all his heart as a father; that such a man
should have been called away, and has departed from this life, and from
our midst and association, even from the foremost place of all, is
surely enough to call forth our sorrow and distress. For we are now like
poor, wretched, forsaken orphans, who have lost an affectionate and
excellent father. However, as we ought to obey God, and resign ourselves
to his will, we should for ever cherish the memory of this our beloved
father, and never suffer it to be effaced from our hearts." The speaker
then proceeded to describe the pleasant lot which had fallen to the
sainted one in heaven, after having found that for which he had wished
for a long time. "We ought not to doubt that this our dear father, Dr.
Luther, is present with God, in external happiness." It is God's will
that we should always remember his virtues, and the blessings bestowed
upon us through him. We should faithfully discharge this debt of
gratitude towards him, and should acknowledge that he was a precious,
noble, useful, and blessed instrument in God's hands; and we should
study his doctrine diligently, and preserve it faithfully. We should
also regard his virtues as an example to be imitated by us; such as his
piety, faith, earnest and fervent prayer, fidelity and diligence in
office, chastity and modesty, prudence, anxiety to avoid everything
which might cause tumults and other offences, and a constant pleasure
and desire to learn more and more.
Thus Melanchthon spoke with a sorrowful heart. He felt more than all how
much he had lost in Luther, who might well be compared to the sturdy
oak, against which this timid man could often lean. He expressed his
sorrow in every direction, as his letters at this time prove. And his
way was gradually becoming lonely, for his dearest friends were dying,
as for instance Spalatin; and the departure of another, his beloved
Myconius, who had once before been snatched from the bonds of death by
the faith and prayer of Luther, was also near at hand. Myconius was
suffering with bronchitis, and it was evident that he would soon rest
from his labors. It was at this time that Melanchthon addressed two
letters to him, which we present on account of their consolatory
contents. On the 1st of March, 1546, he wrote: "I most earnestly wish
that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, might again restore your
bodily strength, so that you might serve the Church longer, and
superintend the studies of your sons. But if God, my Frederick, has
resolved to call you away, oh! then consider into what an assembly you
shall be admitted; to God, and his Son given for us, to the patriarchs,
prophets and apostles. You will see and converse with those who shall
proclaim the glory of God to you without deceitful arts. I seek their
intercourse with such ardent desire, that I am often sorrowful that I am
obliged to sojourn longer in this earthly prison, especially as I am
constantly contending with great sufferings and dangers. Rather would I
be torn in pieces than unite with those deceivers who are at present
endeavoring to consummate false unions. And yet you know that I am
constantly called to attend these artful proceedings. Therefore I
beseech you to commend the Church and me to God!" And on March 4, he
wrote: "Dearest Frederick! The gracious word of the Son of God has
frequently comforted me in great afflictions: '_Neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand._' We will not seek any other explanation of
the sheep, than that given us by Christ, who calls those his sheep who
hear and love the Gospel. We are such, without doubt. Therefore, in all
the dangers of this life and of death, we should entertain the confiding
assurance that the watchman and defender, our shepherd, the Son of God,
is with us always. Since Luther has been called away from this mortal
state of existence, I have, besides my sorrow, additional cares and
labors."
On the 7th of April, Myconius died, to the great sorrow of Melanchthon,
who thus expresses it in a letter to Jonas: "Frederick Myconius, after
contending with his disease for a long time, has at last been called
away from this mortal life. You see that the righteous are gathered in,
that they may not behold the approaching calamities, which may God
lessen, as we pray." These calamities were nearer at hand than he
thought.