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

ut, had not the building been undermined by fearful abuses, a purification
might have been possible without overthrowing it. Only because the
builders who were called to the work of reform, not only refused to
perform it, but increased the evil, did he become their master; and with
success grew his boldness or his faith in his divine vocation, and his wrath
against his opponents. In his contest with the Papacy he placed in the van
Evangelical freedom of faith, and this is the source of Protestantism; in the
establishment of his Church he often was willing to shackle thought, lost
his own clearness of perception, and became intolerant. But his hardest
and least becoming language appears mild in comparison with the bloodthirsty
intolerance of his opponents, mild in comparison with the
headsman's axe and the stake. A noble eloquence supplanted the
unintelligible prattle of the schools; through him Germany once more
learned to speak, the German people once more to hear. Ie who is
displeased with his style, or with his matter, must yet confess that his.
writings reveal everywhere the inspiration of the fear of God and the power
of faith. Luther never dissimulated. Persuasions, promises, threats had no
power to shake his rock-firm will, his indomitable purpose; and the
seeming self-will and severity connected with this arose, at least, from no
commonplace and perverted character. No man ever grasps the whole
truth, in perfect clearness; but few have more earnestly striven to attain it,
and with more perfect self-renunciation confessed it, than Luther. Among
his opponents not one can be compared with him in personal qualities:
with all his faults, he remains greatest and most memorable among men; a
man in whose train follows a whole world of aspiration, effort, and
achievement."
Ranke.
In affinity with that of Von Raumer is the estimate of Ranke:
"Throughout we see Luther directing his weapons on both sides--against
the Papacy, which sought to reconquer the world then struggling for its
emancipation--and against the sects of many names which sprang up
beside him, assailing Church and State together. The great Reformer, if we
may use an expression of our days, was one of the greatest Conservatives
that ever lived."