XV. not, however, aware of his error; but having CHAP. cited on his part the decisions of the church, and in particular, one of the extravagants or decretals of Clement VI. called Unigenitus, Luther answered him with such full knowledge, both of the tenor of the decree and the commentaries upon it, as to convince him that nothing by virtue of the keys of St. Peter! On the second question the Roman church has decided, that a legal obedience, or conformity in receiving the sacrament, when combined with good works, is sufficient for salvation; but Luther insisted, that the efficacy of the sacraments depended on the degree of faith with which they were received; an opinion which the cardinal treated with such ridicule as to raise a laugh among his Italian attendants against Luther. Luth. op. tom. i. p. 164. This opinion, of the necessity of faith to salvation, was ever afterwards maintained by Luther with great firmness; and to such a length did he carry it, as "seemed, though perhaps contrary to his intention, to "derogate not only from the necessity of good works, but 66 even from their obligation and importance. He would แ not allow them to be considered either as the conditions, 66 or the means, of salvation, nor even as a preparation for "receiving it." v. Maclean, Note on Mosheim's Eccles. Hist. vol. ii. p. 170. His disciple Amsdorff went still further, and maintained that good works were an impediment to salvation. Mosheim, vol. ii. þ, 172. Luther endeayoured to explain his notion of faith and works, by saying, "Bona opera non faciunt bonum virum; sed bonus vir ❝facit bona opera. Mala opera non faciunt malum virum; ❝sed malus vir facit mala opera," Seckend, lib. i. sect. xxvii. p. 100, A. D. 1518. A. Et. 43. A. Pont. VI XV. CHAP nothing was to be obtained by a further controversy. He therefore endeavoured to recover the ground which he had lost; and with a A. Pout. VI. condescending smile, told Luther, that it was A. D. 1518. Luther ap peals to Leo X. not his intention to enter into a dispute withi him, but paternally to exhort him to disavow his errors and submit himself to the judgment of the church. Luther had now felt his superiority, and was less inclined to comply with this request, than before the interview began. Not choosing, however, and perhaps not thinking it safe to avow an absolute dissent, he requested further time to deliberate, with which the cardinal having complied he took his leave. On the following day, Luther, instead of attending on the cardinal as was expected, to renew the deliberations, made his appearance, accompanied by four imperial senators, a notary and witnesses, and delivered to the cardinal a protest in writing; in which, after recapitulating the proceedings which had already taken place, he declares that he is not conscious of having advanced any thing against the holy scriptures, the ecclesiastical fathers, the decrees of the popes, or right reason; but that all which he has said is catholic, proper, and true. Being however a man, and therefore XV. fore liable to error, he submits himself to CHAP. the church, and offers himself personally, either there or elsewhere, to adduce the reasons of his belief and to reply to all objections that may be made against it.(a) The cardinal again adverted to the objection which he had first made on the preceding day; but Luther, in reply, only referred to his protest, and promised to give a further explanation of his tenets in writing. Accordingly he drew up a full statement of his opinions on the points objected to him, with the reason on which they were founded, which he delivered in person on the following day to the cardinal who affected to treat it as irrelevant to the purpose ;(b) although he told him that he should send it to Rome, and still persevered in requiring an implicit assent to the authority of the holy see. For (a) Pallavicini, Storia del Concilio di Trento. cap. ix. p. 79. (b) Those who are inclined to enter into this ample discussion of the doctrinal points in dispute, between Luther and the cardinal, may consult this document in the works of Luther, tom. i. p. 165, &c. A. D. 1518. A. Et. 13. A. Pont. VI. CHAP. XV. A. D. 1518. A. Pout. VI. A. Et. 43. For the purpose of prevailing on Luther to relax in his opposition, the cardinal had recourse to the interference of John Staupitz Vicar general of the Augustines,(a) and Wenceslaus Linceus, two of the intimate friends of Luther; by whose persuasions he was induced to address a conciliatory letter to the cardinal, in which he acknowledges that he has been indiscreet in speaking in disrespectful terms of the supreme pontiffs; and promises even to be silent in future respecting indulgences, provided his adversaries were also compelled to be silent, or were restrained in their abuse of him.(b) Conceiving, however, that in his appearance and conduct at Augsburg he had now shewn a degree of obedience sufficiently dangerous, he determined (a) Staupitz was in fact a warm adherent to the cause of Luther, and Pallavicini informs us, that it was supposed to have been at his instigation that Luther first opposed himself to the promulgation of indulgences: "non misurando il fu"turo giuoco di quella mina ch' egli accendeva." Pallav. Storia del Conc. di Trento. lib. i. cap. ix. p. 82. That Pallavicini was not mistaken in this conjecture sufficiently appears by a letter from Luther to Staupitz. v. Lutheri, op. tom. i. p. 64. b. (b) This letter, dated 17th October, is given in the Appendix, No. CLV. XV. mined to quit the city. This resolution he CHAP. communicated to the cardinal in another letter, written with great temper and moderation, and which, with the former, may be admitted as a sufficient proof that of the personal conduct of the cardinal towards him, he had no just ground of complaint.(a) Before his departure he prepared an appeal from Leo X. prejudiced and misled, to Leo X. when better informed on the subject; for the adoption of which daring measure he excuses himself, in his last letter to the cardinal, by attributing it to the hardships of his situation and the advice of his friends. He did not however fail to give directions, that after his departure this appeal should be affixed in the great square of the city; which directions were punctually complied with. Notwithstanding the disrespect shewn to the cardinal by the abrupt departure of Luther, he did not exercise the powers which had been intrusted to him, by excommunicating Luther and his adherents; but contented himself with writing to the elector of Saxony, expressing his disappointment in the conduct of Luther; (a) v. Appendix, No. CLVI. A. D. 1518. A. Et. 43. A. Pont. VI. |