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

consolidated. Without this, Protestantism would have sunk into the lawless
anarchy which marked the proceedings of the Hussites, and to which the
War of the Peasants rapidly tended; and it would inevitably have been
suppressed, like all the earlier popular commotions--for, under the latter
form, Protestantism may be said to have sprung up several centuries before.
None of the other heads and leaders of the new religious party had the
power, or were in a situation to uphold the Protestant religion: its present
existence is solely and entirely the work and the deed of one man, unique
in his way, and who holds unquestionably a conspicuous place in the
history of the world. Much was staked on the soul of that man, and this
was in every respect a mighty and critical moment in the annals of
mankind and the march of time.”
Dr. Bancroft.
It will, perhaps, not be wholly a thankless work to add here some of
the attestations of distinguished men of every shade of opinion, and in the
most varied positions, which demonstrate how profound and many-sided
was that character which left so great an impress on them all. "Martin
Luther," says Dr. Bancroft, “a man of the most powerful mind and intrepid
character, who persisted resolutely in his defence of Christian liberty and
Christian truth; and by the blessing of God he triumphed over all
opposition. His name is identified in every country with the reformed
religion, and will be venerated and esteemed in every subsequent age, by
all who prize religious freedom, and set a value on religious privileges.” 19
Atterbury.
This is the language of a Congregational Unitarian, in New England.
Let us hear from a high-church English Bishop, eminent for all that
intellect can confer, a testimony no less strong: "Martin Luther's life," says
Bishop Atterbury, "was a continued warfare. He was engaged against the
united forces of the Papal world, and he stood the shock of them bravely,
both with courage and success. He was a man certainly of high
endowments of mind, and great virtues. He had a vast understanding,
which raised him to a
19 Sermons on Doctrines, etc., which Christians have made the Subject of Controversy. By Aaron Bancroft, D. D.
Worcester, 1822. Serm. XI.