Chapter XV: Organisation and Public Position of the New

CHURCH _pages_ 3-108

1. LUTHER’S RELIGIOUS SITUATION. WAS HIS REACTION A
BREAK WITH RADICALISM?

The New Church, with its binding formularies of faith and
its constituted authorities, contrasted with Luther’s
earlier demands for freedom from all outward bonds. The
change which occurred in his mind in 1522. What prompted
the reaction? Did Luther, prior to 1522, ever cherish
the idea of a “religion minus dogma”? His clear design
from the beginning to preserve all the Christian elements
deemed by him essential. His assertion of the freedom
of the Christian; the negations it logically involved
pass unperceived. Greater stress laid on the positive
elements after 1522; the subjective counter-current.
Ecclesiastical anarchy. Modern Protestants more willing
than was Luther to push his principles to their
legitimate consequences. Conclusion: The reaction which
set in in 1522 implied no real change of view. How Luther
contrived to conceal from himself and from others the
incompatibility of his leanings _pages_ 3-21

2. FROM THE CONGREGATIONAL TO THE STATE CHURCH. SECULARISATIONS.

Previous to espousing the idea of the Congregational
Church Luther invites the secular authorities to
interfere; his “An den christlichen Adel”; his hopes
shattered; Luther’s new ideal: the Evangel not intended
for all; the assembly of true Christians; the Wittenberg
congregation and the model one established at Leisnig.
The Congregational Church proving impracticable, Luther
advocates a popular Church; its evolution into the
State Church as it afterwards obtained in Protestant
Germany. Secularisation of church property in the Saxon
Electorate. Luther’s view as to the use to which church
property should be put by the rulers; he complains of
princely avarice. Secularisation of the marriage-courts;
matrimonial cases dealt with by secular lawyers; Luther’s
antipathy for lawyers, how accounted for _pages_ 21-43

3. THE QUESTION OF THE RELIGIOUS WAR; LUTHER’S VACILLATING
ATTITUDE. THE LEAGUE OF SCHMALKALDEN, 1531.

Luther casts all reserve to the winds; his resolve to
proceed regardless of the consequences. His earlier
opposition to armed resistance; his memoranda on the
subject clearly evince his hesitation. His change of
view in 1530; reasons why he veered round; the change
kept secret; difficulties with the Nurembergers; a
tell-tale memorandum published by Cochlæus. The League of
Schmalkalden; Luther’s hopes and fears; a new memorandum.
Luther’s misgivings regarding Philip of Hesse’s invasion
of Würtemberg; the expedition turning out successful is
blessed by Luther. The religious war in Luther’s private
conversations in later years. Later memoranda. A question
from Brandenburg. Later attempts to deny the authenticity
of the document signed by Luther in 1530 _pages_ 43-76

4. THE TURKS WITHOUT AND THE TURKS [PAPISTS] WITHIN THE
EMPIRE.

The danger looming in the East. Luther’s earlier
pronouncements (previous to 1524) against any military
measures being taken to prevent the Turkish inroads;
attitude of the preachers; imminent danger of the
Empire after the battle of Mohacz; Luther’s “Vom Kriege
widder die Türcken” registers a change of front; his
“Heer-Predigt widder den Türcken” and the approval it
conveys of warlike measures against the invader; he robs
his call to arms of most of its force by insisting on his
pet ideas; his later sayings on the subject; the Turk not
so dangerous a foe as Popery _pages_ 76-93

5. LUTHER’S NATIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM.

Luther’s sayings about the virtues and vices of his
own countrymen; his teaching sunders the Empire and
undermines the Imperial authority; his advocacy of
resistance; the “Prophet of the Germans”; discouragement
of trade and science; Döllinger on Luther as the typical
German; the power of the strong man gifted with a facile
tongue _pages_ 93-108