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In Germany to the Leipsic Disputation - James Aitken Wylie

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doctrines Christians were <strong>to</strong> believe, and what <strong>the</strong>y<br />

were not <strong>to</strong> believe. Protestant liberty, claiming<br />

freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and<br />

freedom of printing, came at this early stage in<strong>to</strong><br />

immediate conflict with Roman despotism, which<br />

claimed absolute control over <strong>the</strong> mind, <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>ngue,<br />

and <strong>the</strong> pen. The monk of Wittemberg, who nails<br />

his "Theses" on <strong>the</strong> church door in <strong>the</strong> open day,<br />

encounters <strong>the</strong> Papal censor, who blots out every<br />

line that is not in agreement with <strong>the</strong> Papacy.<br />

The controversy between Lu<strong>the</strong>r and Prierio, as<br />

raised by <strong>the</strong> latter, turned on "<strong>the</strong> rule of faith."<br />

Surely it was not al<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r of chance that this<br />

fundamental point was debated at this early stage.<br />

It put in a clear light <strong>the</strong> two very different<br />

foundations on which Protestantism and <strong>the</strong> Papacy<br />

respectively s<strong>to</strong>od.<br />

Prierio's performance <strong>to</strong>ok <strong>the</strong> form of a<br />

dialogue. He laid down certain great principles<br />

<strong>to</strong>uching <strong>the</strong> constitution of <strong>the</strong> Church, <strong>the</strong><br />

authority vested in it, and <strong>the</strong> obedience due by all<br />

Christians <strong>to</strong> that authority. The universal Church<br />

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