the Reformation, drawn up by himself and several leading Reformers, and revised by Melancthon. This paper was termed the Augsburg Confession. The reading of it was listened to with profound attention; but the emperor, so much was he influenced by the pope, acted in opposition to his convictions, and commanded his people to yield obedience to the pontiff in ecclesiastical affairs. Their situation becoming more alarming every day as the several edicts issued against them increased in severity, the friends of the Reformation once more took measures for defence; and, assembling at Smalcald, renewed their league. At this, the emperor in his turn became alarmed, and sued for peace; which was concluded A. D. 1532, at Nuremburg. While these things were transpiring in Germany, the principles of the Reformation were taking deep root in Sweden, Denmark and France. One Olans Petri first proclaimed the doctrines of Luther in Sweden; and in his efforts to establish them, he received aid from the king, Gustavus Vasa. The protestant faith was introduced into Denmark by Christian II., in 1521, who used many efforts to overthrow the Romish power in his dominions. To Christian III., however, by the blessing of God, were the Danes indebted for religious freedom. ‘In France, Margaret, queen of Navarre, was pleased with the principles of the reformed religion; and hence, several pious men, well acquainted with the scriptures, and sustained by her protection, ventured to teach this religion, and to form religious societies, in one place and another.' * ... From the treaty of peace at Nuremburg, numerous conferences were held at different places, having for their object, the winning of Luther and his adherents back to the mother church. But all the efforts *Mosheim. of the pontiff and his friends were unsuccessful; and as an only resort with them, war was declared against the heretics, and extensive preparations commenced for subduing them by the force of arms. At this period, the father of the Reformation-LUTHER -the scholar and the Christian, yielded up a life that had been devoted to the cause of truth and human happiness.* About this time, or toward the close of the year 1546, many arbitrary and intolerant decrees were published by the council of Trent. Among others was this, that the pope alone had the power of fixing the meaning of the Scriptures, and that they were not intended for the common people. The Protestants refusing to listen to these decrees, an army was immediately marched against them by the emperor, and in a pitched battle they were defeated. This was a cause of much rejoicing to the Romish church, who now considered the downfall of the Reformation certain. But, Truth crushed to earth will rise again; The Reformers still continued to struggle with the On the 25th of September, after various discussions, all those who had embraced the Augsburg Confession, were pronounced free and exempt from * Luther died Feb. 18, 1546, aged 63 years. all jurisdiction of the pontiff and the bishops; and were bidden to live securely, under their own laws and regulations; and liberty was given to all Germans to follow which of the two religions they pleased; and lastly, all those were declared to be the public enemies of Germany, who should presume to make war upon others, or to molest them, on the ground of their religion. Nothing scarcely could more clearly demonstrate the superstition, ignorance, and wretchedness of that age, and consequently, the necessity that existed for a reformation in the prevalent views of religion and things sacred, than the fact, that most of the Germans needed to be instructed by so many writings, controversies and wars, before they could assent to regulations so equitable, and so consonant to reason and the holy scriptures.' * REFORMATION IN ENGLAND. At the death of Henry VIII., through whose neglect and vicious practices the protestant religion had suffered, his son, Edward VI., ascended the throne, and immediately took measures for its further introduction into his kingdom. Several eminent men from Germany, came at his invitation into England, and the work of reformation went gloriously on. Edward dying A. D. 1553, the crown descended to his sister Mary, who is said to have been bigotedly attached to the old religion. She at once reversed the liberal decrees of her brother, and made Romanism the religion of her dominions. It was during her reign, and by her order, that archbishop Cranmer and many other distinguished men of the Reformation, were burned at the stake. Elizabeth succeeding to the throne in 1558, again a change was produced in religious affairs-the authority of the pope was denied, and that form of re* Mosheim. ligion and worship introduced which still prevails in Britain.* REFORMATION IN SCOTLAND. In the year 1559, John Knox, a disciple of Calvin, entered Scotland; and by his preaching and writings, completely uprooted the papal religion in this kingdom. The seeds of the Reformation had early been sown, by some young men who had resided in Germany, on the highlands and in the glens of the land of Wallace and Bruce. But it was reserved for Knox to complete the work, and to establish permanently the protestant faith. REFORMATION IN IRELAND. Although the Catholic religion prevails in this country at the present day, still, the principles of the Reformation were introduced there at the time they were introduced into England. During the reign of Henry VIII., Brown, archbishop of Dublin, caused to be destroyed the images and relics of all the Romish churches; and such was his influence over the people, that they very soon acknowledged the king to be at the head of the church. From that time, the history of the church in England was its history in Ireland. REFORMATION IN THE NETHERLANDS. Soon after the Scots, says Mosheim, the inhabitants of the provinces now called the United Netherlands, revolted entirely from the Roman pontiff. . . This republic, rescued from the dominion of the Spaniards, by its leader, the prince of Orange, William of Nassau, with the aid of Elizabeth, queen of England, and of the king of France, adopted, in the year 1573, the doctrines, the ecclesiastical organization, and the worship of the Swiss; yet gave to all ❤ Mosheim. the citizens entire liberty of opinion on religious subjects, provided they attempted nothing against the peace and prosperity of the community.'* In other countries the Reformation spread more or less rapidly, and it continued to advance until the Romish power tottered to its fall. The work is going on now-it could not remain as Luther, and Jerome, and Melancthon, and others left it-and it will be carried on until the darkness of error has vanished, and the light of truth prevails! * Ecl. Hist., Vol. III. p. 79. |