The Thirty Years' War - James Aitken Wylie

upon the fundamental principle of Protestantism –
namely, submission to the Word of God – and were
covering Christendom with a new and higher life,
individual and national. Protestantism opens its
second century with its third grand phase, which is
War. The Old now begins clearly to perceive that
the New can establish itself only upon its ruins, and
accordingly it girds on the sword to fight. The
battle-field is all Germany: into that vast arena
descend men of all nations, not only of Europe, but
even from parts of Asia: the length of the day of
battle is thirty years.
Some have preferred this as an indictment
against Protestantism; see, it has been said, what
convulsions it has brought on. It is true that if
Protestantism had never existed this unprecedented
conflict would never have taken place, for had the
Old been left in unchallenged possession it would
have been at peace. It is also true that neither
literature nor philosophy ever shook the world with
storms like these. But this only proves that
conscience alone, quickened by the Word of God,
was able to render the service which the world
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