MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 79 



History of the Germanic Empire. Vol. II. By S. A. DUNHAM, 

 Esq., LL.D. Being Vol. LXVII. of Lardner's Cabinet Cy- 

 clopaedia. Longmans, London. 



This volume concludes Mr. Dunham's very valuable " History of the 

 Germanic Empire." The work, as a whole, has some considerable de- 

 fects ; but it nevertheless fills up very satisfactorily a niche in our 

 historical literature. The account given by Mr. Dunham of the Re- 

 formation in Germany is tolerably explicit and full, though marked with 

 some little lightness. The progress of this Reformation, when men's 

 minds began to be loosened from the shackles of bigotry arid religious 

 thraldom, is marked by some extraordinary details of fanaticism ; and 

 the wildest and most wayward fancies gave a character to the earlier 

 steps of the Reformation, at once hateful and fearful. Luther himself, 

 though seemingly born for the purpose of operating this great change, 

 was a man of unscrupulous temper, who cared little for the means, pro- 

 vided he attained his ends ; and hence he not unfrequently pandered to 

 the worst passions of the people : and though glorious fruit has been the 

 result of his labours, the seed was sown not altogether by pure hands. 

 The Anabaptists present one of the most depraved specimens of fana- 

 ticism, which sprung immediately from Lutheranism. Cruelty, unbridled 

 lust, profanity, madness, and impiety, were most singularly and dis- 

 gustingly exhibited ; and, although Mr. Dunham has passed over very 

 properly much that must have come under his eye, even his picture 

 might have been softened. Were it not for the sufferings and the 

 diabolical wickedness of these religionists, their freaks and extravagances 

 might move our laughter: as it is, horror, pity, and hatred, are so 

 blended in examining their career, that it becomes one of the most painful 

 chapters in the history of human errors. 



Mr. Dunham says as follows respecting Luther and his imprudent 

 marriage: " The brutal invectives of the Reformer towards all his ene- 

 mies, whom he always designated as swine or asses, liars or devils, and 

 his presumptuous vain-glory, did more injury to his cause, than it was in 

 their power to inflict. Nor was his conduct in some other respects cal- 

 culated to remove their dislike, or even preserve the favour of his own 

 friends. His marriage with Catherine Borew, a nun, occasioned much 

 scandal to both. He had vowed chastity at an age when he well knew 

 the obligation of the contract, and was well acquainted with the tempt- 

 ations he should have to withstand. Whether that vow were a wise one 

 does not aifect the question ; he had deliberately taken it : it was con- 

 sequently obligatory on him for life. To teach that even a rash vow, so 

 long as its accomplishment does not interfere with the everlasting welfare 

 of the individual, can be broken, is strange morality. If a vow can be 

 annulled at the mere pleasure of him who has made it, so, a fortiori, may 

 a promise: hence, adieu to all human engagements, to all social se- 

 curity. The zeal with which Luther had assailed monastic vows, and the 

 favour with which he had regarded men who had broken them, were 

 now apparent. Great was the triumph of his enemies. Not satisfied 

 with his own sacrilege, he had, they observed, incurred a double portion 

 ^>f guilt, by prevailing on another to violate the sanctity of the obligation. 

 His marriage was indeed an unfortunate measure : it enabled men to 

 say that the causes, which had led to the Reformation, were to be sought, 

 aot in the convictions, but in the passions of Luther. Had he, indeed, 

 felt much regard for the great work beyond one purely personal beyond 

 the consideration, and the other advantages it procured him, he would 

 scarcely have taken a step so disastrous to his reputation for security, for 

 disinterested honest zeal. On every countenance which approached him, 

 even that of Melancthon, there was distrust. His own conscience was 



