The principles at the foundation of their ideas of the Reformation were these: Carlstadt insisted on rejecting everything in the Catholic church not authorized in the Bible; Luther was determined to retain everything not expressly forbidden. Dr. Sears thus states their primary differences:— “Carlstadt maintained, that ‘we should not, in things pertaining to God, regard what the multitude say or think, but look simply to the word of God. Others,’ he adds, ‘say that, on account of the weak, we should not _hasten_ to keep the commands of God; but wait till they become wise and strong.’ In regard to the ceremonies introduced into the church, he judged as the Swiss reformers did, that all were to be rejected which had not a warrant in the Bible. ‘It is sufficiently against the Scriptures if you can find no ground for it in them.’ “Luther asserted, on the contrary, ‘Whatever is not against the Scriptures is for the Scriptures, and the Scriptures for it. Though Christ hath not commanded adoring of the host, so neither hath he forbidden it.’ ‘Not so,’ said Carlstadt, ‘we are bound to the Bible, and no one may decide after the thoughts of his own heart.’”[994] It is of interest to know what was the subject which caused the controversy between them, and what was the position of each. Dr. Maclaine thus states the occasion of the conflict which now arose:— “This difference of opinion between Carlstadt and Luther concerning the eucharist, was the true cause of the violent rupture between those two eminent men, and it tended very little to the honor of the latter; for, however the explication, which the former gave of the words of the institution of the Lord’s supper, may appear forced, yet the sentiments he entertained of that ordinance as a commemoration of Christ’s death, and not as a celebration of his bodily presence, in consequence of a consubstantiation with the bread and wine, are infinitely more rational than the doctrine of Luther, which is loaded with some of the most palpable absurdities of transubstantiation; and if it be supposed that Carlstadt strained the rule of interpretation too far, when he alleged, that Christ pronounced the pronoun _this_ (in the words _This is my body_) pointing to his body, and not to the bread, what shall we think of Luther’s explaining the nonsensical doctrine of consubstantiation by the similitude of a red-hot iron, in which two elements are united, as the body of Christ is with the bread of the eucharist?”[995] Dr. Sears also states the occasion of this conflict in 1524:—