distinguished himself by his violence. He foamed and trembled with anger.[151] They could not hear one another in the room where they met in conference. At length the three prophets abandoned the field and left Wittemberg the same day. [146] Vehementer superbus et impatiens......credi vult plena auctoritate, ad primam vocem......L. Epp. ii. 179. [147] Audivit Lutherus placide. Camer. p. 52. [148] Cum et solum pedibus et propositam mensulam manibus feriret. Ibid. [149] Quid pollicentes de mirabilibus affectionibus. Ibid. p. 53. [150] Ihren Geist haue er über die Schnauze. L. Opp. Altenburg. Ausg. iii. 137. [151] Spumabat et fremebat et furebat. L. Epp. ii. 179. Thus had Luther accomplished the work for which he had left his retreat. He had made a stand against fanaticism, and expelled from the bosom of the renovated Church the enthusiasm and disorder by which it had been invaded. If with one hand the Reformation threw down the dusty decretals of Rome, with the other it rejected the assumptions of the mystics, and established, on the ground it had won, the living and unchangeable Word of God. The character of the Reformation was thus firmly settled. It was destined to walk for ever between these two extremes, equally remote from the convulsions of the fanatics and the death-like torpor of the papacy. A whole population excited, deluded, and unrestrained, had at once become tranquil, calm, and submissive; and the most perfect quiet again reigned in that city which a few days before had been like the troubled sea. Perfect liberty was immediately established at Wittemberg. Luther still continued to reside in the convent and wear his monastic dress; but every one was free to do otherwise. In communicating at the Lord's table, a general absolution was sufficient, or a particular one might be obtained. It was laid down as a principle to reject nothing but what was opposed to a clear and formal declaration of Holy Scripture.[152] This was not indifference; on the contrary, religion was thus restored to what constitutes its very essence; the sentiment of religion withdrew from the accessory forms in which it had well nigh perished, and transferred itself to its true basis. Thus the Reformation was saved, and its teaching enabled to continue its development in the bosom of the Church in charity and truth. [152] Gans klare und gründliche Schrift. CHAPTER IX. Translation of the New Testament--Faith and Scripture--Opposition--Importance of this Publication--Necessity for a systematic Arrangement--Melancthon's Loci Communes--Original Sin--Salvation--Free Will--Effects of the Loci Communes. [Sidenote: TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.]