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In Germany to the Leipsic Disputation - James Aitken Wylie

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thrones of Europe. To <strong>the</strong>se we may add <strong>the</strong><br />

potentate of <strong>the</strong> Vatican, in some points <strong>the</strong> least,<br />

but in o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>the</strong> greatest of <strong>the</strong> four. The<br />

conflicting interests and passions of <strong>the</strong>se four men<br />

preserved a sort of balance, and restrained <strong>the</strong><br />

tempests of war from ravaging Christendom. The<br />

long and bloody conflicts which had devastated<br />

<strong>Germany</strong> were ended as <strong>the</strong> fifteenth century drew<br />

<strong>to</strong> its close.<br />

The sword rested meanwhile in Europe. As in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Roman world <strong>the</strong> wars of centuries were<br />

concluded, and <strong>the</strong> doors of <strong>the</strong> temple of Janus<br />

were shut, when a great birth was <strong>to</strong> take place, and<br />

a new era <strong>to</strong> open, so was it once again at <strong>the</strong><br />

beginning of <strong>the</strong> sixteenth century. Protestantism<br />

was about <strong>to</strong> step upon <strong>the</strong> stage, and <strong>to</strong> proclaim<br />

<strong>the</strong> good news of <strong>the</strong> recovery of <strong>the</strong> long-lost<br />

Gospel; and on all sides, from <strong>the</strong> Carpathians <strong>to</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Atlantic, <strong>the</strong>re was comparative quiet, that <strong>the</strong><br />

nations might be able <strong>to</strong> listen <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> blessed<br />

tidings. It was now that Lu<strong>the</strong>r was born.<br />

First of <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r. His name was John – John<br />

7

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