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

industry which he displayed against the Pope. He is the trumpet, or rather,
he is the thunder--he is the lightning which has roused the world from its
lethargy: it was not so much Luther that spoke as God whose lightnings
burst from his lips. And it is true he had a strength of genius, a vehemence
in his discourses, a living and impetuous eloquence which entranced and
ravished the people.” 27
Bower.
The judgment of Bower in regard to Luther, is, on the whole, the
most discriminating which had appeared in the English language up to his
time. "In the personal character of Luther, we discern many qualities
calculated to enable him to discharge with success the important duty to
which he was called. A constitutional ardor for devotion, a boundless
thirst of knowledge, and a fearless zeal in communicating it, were
prominent characteristics of this extraordinary man. An unwearied
perseverance in theological research, led him to detect errors, and to
relinquish step by step, many of his early opinions. In all situations Luther
is the same, pursuing indefatigably the knowledge of the word of God, and
never scrupling to avow his past mistakes, whenever the confession could
facilitate the inquiries or confirm the faith of others. It was in vain that the
head of the Church, and the chief of the German Empire combined to
threaten and proscribe him--he braved with equal courage the very lance of
either power, and continued to denounce, with an unsparing hand, the
prevalence of corruption. In no single instance did he seek to turn to his
personal advantage, his distinctions and the influence attached to them.
How few individuals would have possessed Luther's power without
making it subservient to the acquisition of rank or honors? All these were
disdained by him, and his mind remained wholly occupied with the
diffusion of religious truth. Even literary fame had no attractions for him.
The improvement of the condition of his fellow-creatures was the object,
which with him superseded every other consideration. No temptation of
ambition could remove him, in his days of
27 (Euvres de Bossuet, (Histoire des Variations,) Paris, Didot Frbres, 1847, vol. iv., p. 9.