The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

to Lutheranism, and for her domestic virtues. Augustus assisted in bringing
about the religious peace of Augsburg, in 1555, by which the Protestants
(Lutherans) obtained important rights in common with the Roman
Catholics. The fact that these benefits were confined to the "adherents to
the Augsburg Confession," was one dangerous source of temptation to the
Reformed. It led men to pretend to adhere to that Confession, simply to
secure the civil benefits connected with it.
The Elector was in advance of his time in the principles of
constitutional sovereignty. In an arbitrary age he governed by law. He
consulted his parliament on all great questions, and raised no money by
taxation without their advice. His edicts were so just that he has been
called the Saxon Justinian. His subjects regarded him with peculiar love
and reverence. By his skilful internal administration, he raised his country
far above the rest of Germany, introducing valuable reforms both in
jurisprudence and finance, and giving a decided impulse to education,
agriculture, and manufactures. The Dresden Library owes to him its origin,
as do also most of its galleries of arts and science.
Augustus bore a part in the Formula of Concord worthy of him. To
meet the necessary expenses connected with the Formula, the Elector
himself paid a hundred thousand dollars in gold. His gifts and efforts were
unceasing till the great end was attained. Noble and unsuspicious, he had
been slow to believe in the possibility of the treachery of the false teachers,
whose mischievous devices he at length reluctantly came to understand.
The troubles they brought upon the Church whitened untimely the
Elector's head, but so much the more did he toil and pray till the relief
from the evil was wrought. While the theologians were engaged in
conferences, the Elector and his noble wife were often on their knees,
fervently praying that God would enlighten His servants with His Holy
Spirit. In large measure, to the piety, sound judgment, and indefatigable
patience of this great prince, the Church owes the Formula of Concord. 216
2. Next to the name of AUGUSTUS, is to be placed that of
216 Hutter: Cone. Cone. ch. xi. Anton: i. 147, 148. Köllner: 533.