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

ecome a revolution of this kind, we are chiefly indebted to Luther, (a
revolution in which war and the flames of popular passion took their own
destructive course.) He it was who thus gave permanency to the
Reformation. Had not Luther opposed with all his power the dangerous
errors into which some of his adherents at the very first fell; had these
fanatical doctrines of universal equality, and of the abolition of all temporal
authority as a thing superfluous in the new state of things, obtained the
upper, hand; had the so-called Reformation of faith and of the Church
become wholly and entirely a political and national revolution; in that case,
the first shock of civil war would have been incontestably more terrific and
more universal; but it would, probably, when the storm had blown over,
have subsided of itself, and a return to the old order of things would have
ensued. The princes in particular were indebted to Luther for having
contributed so vigorously to stifle the flames of rebellion; and he must
thereby have gained consideration even among those who disapproved of
his doctrines and proceedings. His personal character in general was
excellently adapted to consolidate and perpetuate his party. The great
energy, which gave him such a decided preponderance over all who cooperated
with him, preserved as much unity as was at all possible in such a
state of moral ferment. With whatever passionate violence Luther may have
expressed himself, he nevertheless, in his principles and modes of thinking,
preserved in many points the precise medium that was necessary to keep
his party together as a distinct party. Had he at the first beginning gone
farther, had he sanctioned the fanaticism adverted to above, the whole affair
would then have fallen sooner to the ground. The very circumstance, that
he did not at first secede from the ancient faith more than he did, procured
him so many and such important adherents, and gave such strength to his
party. He was undeniably gifted with great qualities. Luther's eloquence
made him a man of the people; his principles, however, despite his
passionate expression of them, remained, nevertheless, in essentials, both
with regard to political subjects and to matters of faith, within certain limits;
and joined to that circumstance, the very obstinacy