The Life of Philip MelanchthonLedderhose, Karl Friedrich
History
The Life of Philip Melanchthon
Ledderhose, Karl Friedrich
Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560
Therefore pray God, as we also
do, that this union, which, thanks to God, is prospering better and
better, may at last be fully established. May God not be merciful to me,
if anything is wanting on my part, or if I lay difficulties in the way;
so anxious am I that peace should be restored to the Church before my
death." Melanchthon had written to the ministers in Augsburg: "I would
willingly endanger my life to promote this Concord, and I trust that the
way is already prepared for it. May Christ rule and guide the designs of
the godly." Thus the two leaders were warmly in favor of the Form of
Concord. The place was also appointed, the Elector selecting EISENACH.
But all at once, Melanchthon began to fear that greater divisions might
be brought about by this conference, as he writes to the Landgrave of
Hesse in April: "Now I have all the time feared, if this should be held
at this time, that some rigorous individuals might attend, and thus more
disunion and offence than improvement would be the consequence." He then
goes on to say that no negotiations should be undertaken without the
presence of the Landgrave and the other princes and States, and that, on
the whole, too great haste should be avoided. His concern may have been
caused by an epistle sent forth at this time by Zwingli and
Oecolampadius, which could not promote unity. This was prefaced too by a
letter of Bucer, who praised these men on account of their orthodoxy. On
this account Melanchthon was so anxious, and feared that it would only
increase discord. "This disease," he wrote to Veit Dietrich on the 15th
of May, "cannot be healed suddenly. But I beseech God in mercy to look
upon the Church, and to deliver it from all offences."
Notwithstanding all this, the Conference was held. But because Luther
suffered great bodily pain at this time, and could not go to Eisenach,
he proposed Grimma, which was nearer. Melanchthon was already on the way
thither, when Bucer, with his friends Capito and Wohlfahrt, called
Lycosthenes, arrived in Wittenberg, May 21, 1536.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account