This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859* edition. Excerpt: ...deposited in the hands of their representatives. ""Where (he asked) are the people to form the synods? I cannot find them." This was a political calamity or mistake, but it was not a treason to the rights of the Christian people. Still more did Luther abhor the rapacity of the nobility and of the courtiers to ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859* edition. Excerpt: ...deposited in the hands of their representatives. ""Where (he asked) are the people to form the synods? I cannot find them." This was a political calamity or mistake, but it was not a treason to the rights of the Christian people. Still more did Luther abhor the rapacity of the nobility and of the courtiers to possess themselves of the spoils of the Church. It was Melancthon's influence which facilitated the despotic system, and hampered the thorough reform of the forms of worship. Luther withdrew from a sphere which was not his. He composed, in 1529, the small and great Catechisms, of which the former has maintained its place as a guide of popular doctrine up to this day; but when measures of persecution were proposed, he raised his voice against them. He wrote, in 1528, False Teachers are not to be put to Death; it suffices to Remove them. While Luther preached this doctrine, the most bloody persecution went on in the estates of the elector of Brandenburg (where the electress professed courageously the principles of the gos pel, ) in Bavaria, and above all, in the hereditary states of Austria. In February 1528, the impetuous landgrave was on the point of committing a rash act, in consequence of a forged document which had been shown to him, purporting to be a secret convention to assassinate Luther and Melancthon, and crush the evangelical princes. Philip infected the elector with his apprehensions, and violent measures of persecution were to be resorted to, when Luther and Melancthon both gave, as their solemn advice, this verdict, --"The attack must not come from our side, and the guilt of bloodshedding must not come upon us. Let the emperor know of this odious conspiracy." The elector, however, assembled his troops; but the forgery was soon...
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