תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

creatures, stated to have acted only on the defensive. There are, however, two ways in telling a tale, though there can be only one that is right and true. The reader has seen that told by Fox, it will now be our duty to give a brief but correct description of the transactions arising out of this reformation, so called. As to Luther's unmasking Popery, by which term Catholicism is called by the "few plain Christians," it had never been concealed or obscured, and therefore could not stand in need of being unmasked. That Luther prosecuted his doctrines with vigour, and that these doctrines threatened destruction to religion and morality, we readily admit, for certainly Luther and his associates were the cause of the most horrible outrages and most bloody struggles that stain the annals of Christian states. The pope had no occasion to engage Charles the fifth in a scheme of utter extirpation of the reformers, for Charles found himself under the necessity of assuming a warlike attitude to prevent the Catholics and himself from being utterly extirpated; for we shall make it clear that these innocent reformers, (as Fox would make them appear) meditated and were bent upon the extinction of every thing that savoured of Catholicism.

We have detailed some of the outrages committed by the Hugonots of France, under pretence of serving religion; the same conduct and ferocious disposition marked the progress of the reformation so called every where. We refer the reader to page 297 of this Review for a specimen of some of the doctrines taught by Luther and Calvin, which doctrines could not fail to be productive of the evils which ensued. By an attention to dates, it will be found that the Protestants had entered into confederacies against Charles before that monarch had recourse to arms against them. It must also be mentioned that the empire was threatened at this time with irruptions from the Turks, so that, in fact, Charles had other occupation for his arms than contending against his own rebellious subjects. We must here also observe, that the name first assumed by the reformers of these days was that of Evangelists or Gospellers; till the year 1529, when they took the name of Protestants. Luther threw off his monastic habit in 1524, after having created a tumult in Germany, which made it necessary for him to flee to a place of safety. In consequence he retreated to a castle belonging to the duke of Saxony who became his protector. His next step was to marry a nun, who, like himself, was bound by solemn vows to lead a life of chastity and virtue. This step put Luther's friends into some confusion, but he knew too well what the influence of love and pleasure would have upon the human frame, when not guarded by the evangelical virtues of self-denial, prayer, fasting, temperance, conti♦nence and sobriety, and he soon gained an ascendency over the corrupt and vicious part of mankind. To gain the civil power on his side, he proposed to the princes of the empire to take into their possession the rich abbeys, bishoprics, and church lands. The proposition was no sooner made than it was acceeded to by several of the chief magistrates and princes of Germany. Dr. Heylin a Protestant divine, in his Cosmography; p. 106, edit. London, 1612, says, that Frederick I, having deposed his nephew Christiern II, seized on the throne of Denmark, and introduced the Lutheran doctrines into that kingdom. This change he effected by removing all the old bishops, not one of whom could he

[ocr errors]

persuade to the introduction of a new faith, and substituting others in their places, shorn of a great part of their revenues, and deprived of a great part of their power. In the year following Gustavus Ericus expelled Christiern from the throne of Sweden, and began his reign over that kingdom by the introduction of Lutheranism, to which he was chiefly moved "by a desire to appropriate to himself the goods of the "church. And this appears to have had some strong influence on him "in it, that he presently seized upon what he pleased, and made a law "that bishops should enjoy no more than the king thought fit." Cosmog. p. 120. In the kingdom of Poland similar scenes were carried on, with this difference only, that in the two former kingdoms the spoliations were committed by the magistrates, but here the change and outrages originated with a fanatic rabble. "Dantziok," writes Heylin, 66 was the first town in the kingdom of Poland, which gave entrance to "the doctrines of Luther, anno 1525, but in so tumultuous a manner, "that they that favoured his opinions, deposed the old common-coun"cil men, and created new ones of their own, profaned the churches, " robbed them of their ornaments, and shamefully abused the priests " and religious persons, abolished the mass, and altered all things at "their pleasure. But by the coming of the king they grew somewhat "quieter, leaving one convent of black friars, and two of nuns, who "still enjoy the exercise of their religion."Ibid. p. 148.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Other towns were soon initiated in this work of desolation and insubordination. The same historian says, "That in the year 1528, re"ligion being altered, in a tumult of the people, in the canton of Bern, near adjoining to Geneva, Viret and Farellus, two Zuinglian preachers, did endeavour it in Geneva also, But, finding that the "bishop and clergy did not like their doings, they serewed themselves " into the people, and, by their aid in a popular tumult, compelled the bishop and his clergy to abandon the town. Nor did they only in "that tumult alter the doctrine and orders of the church before esta "blished, but changed the government of the state also, disclaiming all "allegiance both to duke and bishop, and standing on their own liberty as a free commonwealth. And though all this was done by Viret and Farellus, before Calvin's coming to that city, which was "not till 1536; yet being come, no man was forwarder than he to approve the action."-Ibid. p. 136,0.5*~

[ocr errors]

66

Speaking of the means adopted by Calvin and his disciples to propa, gate their errors and discipline, Dr. Heylin tells us, "That rather " than their discipline should not be admitted, and the episcopal government destroyed in all the churches of Christ, they were re"solved to depose kings, ruin kingdoms, and to subvert the funda“mental constitutions of all civil states. And hereunto their own am"bition gave them spur enough, affecting the supremacy in their seve“ral parishes; that they themselves might lord it over God's in"heritance, under the pretence of setting Christ upon his throne.— "Upon which love to the pre-eminence they did not only prate against "the bishops with malicious words, &c. but not therewith content, "neither would they themselves receive them, nor permit them that "would, casting them out of the church with reproach and infamy."Which proud ambition in the ordinary parochial minister was cun

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"ningly fomented by some great persons, and many lay-patrons in all places, who underhand aimed at a further end; the one to raise "themselves great fortunes out of bishops' lands; the other to keep "those tithes themselves, to which by the law they only were to "nominate some deserving person. Such were the helps by which this new device of Calvin was dispersed and propagated." —Ibid. p. 137.ˆ Though Luther stood alone in the beginning of his work of deformation, he was not long without helpmates; but as their master built his notions on the false pride of the human heart, so those who became enamoured with his doctrines, soon differed from their leader,cand commenced for themselves. Among these was one Nicholas Stork, who, in 1524, conceived that infants could not be justified by baptism, and that rebaptism was necessary to salvation. From him sprung the sect of Anabaptists. This Stork pretended familiarity with God by an an» gel promising him a kingdom if he would reform the church and destroy the princes that should injure him. Carlostadius, Muncer, and others adopted the notions of Stork, and the Anabaptists became a powerful sect, even in Wirtemberg itself, where Luther had fixed his seat. The grand apostle took the alarm, he thundered from the pulpit against Muncer, Stork, and Carlostadius, but finding he could not make them come into his views, he caused them to be banished from Wirtemberg. Thus Luther became a persecutor of the reformers, as they called themselves, before a Catholic prince raised the sword against them. The events of this period are so strikingly awful and interesting, that we feel ourselves impelled to enter somewhat fully into the details, in order that the reader may be the more able to form a correct conclusion on the transactions of those days, and the spirit which influenced them. Being compelled to quit Wirtemberg, Carlostadius retired to Switzerland, where he became the founder of a new sect, called the Sacramentarians; while Stork and Muncer dogmatised in Suabia, Thuringia, and Franconia, preaching alike against Luther and the pope.te "Stork and Muncer," writes the Rev. Mr. Bell, in his Wanderings of the Human Intellect, &c." now conceived the design of forming in the "heart of Germany a new and independent monarchy; while some of "their brethren, of more pacific dispositions, thought it criminal to "stand upon their own defence even against the most wanton and un"provoked attacks of their enemies. The people of Mulhausen respected Muncer as a prophet, divinely commissioned to free them " from oppression. They expelled their magistrates, declared all pro perty to be common stock, and proclaimed Muncer judge of Israel. "This new Samuel wrote to the sovereigns and various states of Europe, to notify to them that the time was now come when a final pe"riod should be put to the oppression of the people and the tyranny of kings; and that God had commanded him to exterminate the whole "race of tyrants, and to establish over the people men of virtue and % real merit. The flame of sedition quickly spread over the greatest part of Germany, and Muncer soon found himself at the head of a ❝ formidable army; whole districts suddenly rising in rebellion and flying to his standard. The disorders committed by this religious "banditti, alarmed the princes of the neighbouring states, and forced "them to take the field. At their head was the landgrave of Hesse,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

66

[ocr errors]

"who fell upon Muncer before he could be joined by the several bo"dies of insurgents on their march to reinforce him. Muncer was discomfited; and more than seven thousand Anabaptists perished on "this occasion. Their fanatic leader was himself taken, and a short "time after executed. (See, Catrou, Hist. des Anab. Sleidam, 1. 10, "Seckendorf Comment. Hist. &c.) The defeat and death of Muncer "did not extinguish Anabaptism in Germany: the party, indeed, was "no longer formidable; although it seemed even to increase in num"bers. Its sectaries, odious alike to Catholics, to Protestants, and Sa"cramentarians, were persecuted and défamed through the German "territories. In Switzerland, the Low Countries, and in Holland, they "were treated with still greater rigour; numbers were put to death, " and the prisons were crowded with these poor deluded people. Their “enthusiasm, however, could not be subdued by terror; and they still " continued to increase. From time to time, there appeared among "them impostors who promised them more happy times. Matthew❝ son, a baker at Haarlem, sent ten apostles into Friesland, to Munster "and other places. At Munster there were already some Anabaptist "proselytes, who received the new apostles as emissaries from heaven. They all assembled together in a body at night; and Matthew"son's vice-deputy conferred upon them the apostolic spirit which they were eagerly waiting to receive. They appeared not much in "public, till their numbers were greatly augmented; when they sud"denly ran up and down the country exclaiming: Repent ye, and do pe"nance and be baptized, that the wrath of God may not fall upon you. "The spirit of fanaticism was quickly diffused; and when the magis"trates set forth an ordinance against them, the Anabaptists flew to "arms, and seized upon the market place: the townsmen took their "post in another quarter of the city. Thus they guarded each other "during three days; till they at length agreed to lay down their arms, "and that both parties should mutually tolerate each other, notwith"standing their difference of sentiments in matters of religion.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"Meanwhile the Anabaptists dispatched secret messages to different parts, informing by letter their adherents, that a prophet inspired by "the Holy Spirit was come to Munster; that he predicted marvel"lous events, and instructed men in the true method of saving their "souls. In consequence of this intelligence, a prodigious number of Anabaptists repaired to Munster; upon which several of the party 66 ran up and down the streets, crying out with all their might: Re"tire all ye wicked from this place, if you wish to escape entire destruc❝tion: all those who refuse to be rebaptized will be knocked on the head. "The clergy and the natives then abandoned the town; and the Ana"baptists pillaged the churches and forsaken houses; and committed "to the flames all books indiscriminately, except the bible. Soon after "the town was besieged; and Matthewson, sallying out upon the assailants, was himself numbered among the slain. His death was a "thunderbolt to the party; till John Becold revived their drooping "spirits by running naked through the streets, and crying out: the king of Sion is at hand. After this extraordinary frolic, he retired to "his lodgings, and dressed himself as ordinary; but stirred not out of "doors. The next morning the people attended in crowds to learn the

[ocr errors]

"

[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"Without loss of time, Becold dispatched twenty-six apostles to their "various destinations, with commission every where to propagate his "empire. Confusion and disorder marked the progress of these new "missionaries, particularly in Holland, where John of Leyden pre"tended that God had made him a present of Amsterdam, and of se"veral other cities. Here the Anabaptists, after exciting much tumult "and sedition, were many of them punished with death. The king of "Sion learnt with extreme concern the deplorable mischances of his apostles. All was now despondency in Munster; the town was taken, " and king Becold himself was put to an ignominious and cruel death. "Thus terminated the reign of Anabaptism at Munster, in the year "1536." So far Mr. Bell.

The Fanatic Martyrology is more explicit on the freaks of this king. of Sion, and as we are threatened, not altogether with as violent outrages, but with equally as fanatical prophets and preachers, we feel it our duty to shew the extremes to which the human mind will go, when unrestrained by divine authority, and acting upon that unstable guide, called REASON. Within these few days, a shoemaker, named Hale, after realizing an independent property by his trade in the Strand took it into his head to be inspired with scriptural wisdom, and discovered that war was against the sacred text, and therefore every soldier who fought in defence of his country would be damned. Not willing to confine this opinion to himself, he caused his notion to be printed in the form of a pamphlet, and set about converting the soldiers in the barracks to his way of thinking, Had he succeeded, we should have had very little security for our property or our lives; the civil authorities, however, held him to bail for his good behaviour, which he, fired with enthusiasm, refusing to give, the result has been a commitment to prison to take his trial for the offence. Had this business happened in a country, instead of Protestant England, there is no doubt but the "few plain Christians would have made the treatment of Mr. Hale a subject of religious persecution. At the time we are now writing (Oct. 8, 1824) the papers are filled with a detail of fanaticism scarcely surpassed in the frensied days of the pretended Reformation

« הקודםהמשך »