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

which is the highest form of that dignity, and of all dignity." 33 "I will call
this Luther a true Great Man; great in intellect, in courage, affection, and
integrity; one of our most lovable and precious men. Great, not as a hewn
obelisk; but as an Alpine mountain,--so simple, honest, spontaneous, not
setting up to. be great at all; there for quite another purpose than being
great! Ah, yes, unsubduable granite, piercing far and wide into the
heavens; yet in the cleft of its fountains, green beautiful valleys with
flowers! A right Spiritual Hero and Prophet; once more, a true Son of
Nature and Fact, for whom these centuries, and many that are to come yet,
will be thankful to Heaven." 34
Chemnitz.
Martin Chemnitz, that most precious man of the second generation of
the great divines of our Church, like all who spoke of Luther, immediately
after his own time, breathes the spirit of profound reverence toward him.
After the death of Melanchthon, Chemnitz was indubitably the greatest
living theologian. "What Quintilian said of Cicero: 'Ille sciat se in literis
multum profecisse, cui Cicero plurimum placebit,' I apply to Luther. A
man may tell how far he has advanced in theology, by the degree to which
he is pleased by Luther's writings." 35
Claude.
Claude, in his famous "Defence of the Reformation," which is still
richly worth perusal, has vindicated the character of Luther in a very
judicious manner: “We discover," he says, "a great many excellent things
in him, an heroical courage, a great love for the truth, an ardent zeal for the
glory of God, a great trust in His providence, extraordinary learning in a
dark age, a profound respect for the Holy Scripture, an indefatigable spirit,
and a great many other high qualities." 36
Coleridge.
All who are familiar with the writings of S. T. Coleridge, know how
deep was his reverence for Luther. To this his son, Henry Nelson
Coleridge, makes numerous allusions in the defence of his father's
religious opinions,
33 Critical and Miscellaneous Essays, by Thomas Carlyle, Philadelphia, 1850, p. 224.
34 Heroes and Hero-Worship, p. 127.
35 Locorum Theolog. M. Chemnitti, Pars Tertia, 1623, Witeberge, p. 41.
36 A Defence of the Reformation, translated from the French of Monsieur Claude, etc., London, 1815, vol. i., p.
289.