ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



317 



Kcelesiasti- whether the universal* were things actually existing in 

 c*l History, nature, or whether they were merely words, that is, 

 > ""V"' things existing only by designation. We trust our rea- 

 ders will see that this question was much more easily 

 proposed than answered. In point of fact it proved to 

 be so ; but on that very account, it formed the better 

 subject of discussion. Argument was held upon it 

 after argument, and syllogism tried after syllogism ; 

 objections were made and rejoinders tendered, divisions 

 took place, and deadly feuds were established. The 

 learned every where engaged in the dispute, and all 

 Europe rung again with the momentous controversy. 

 Books were published; numerous and heavy comments 

 were written, and annotations upon comments. Nor 

 do we believe that this abstruse and subtle question is 

 determined even at the present day. Our latest phi- 

 losophers range themselves on opposite sides; Dr Reid 

 embracing the opinion of the Realists, and Dr Berke- 

 ley and Professor Stewart attaching themselves to that 

 of their more popular antagonists. 



it The question above referred to was one of breadth 

 proposed in and generality. There were others, however, of a 

 the schools. mo re particular nature; and some, if not very important 

 in the result, were sufficiently amusing in the enuncia- 

 tion. Of these last the following are instances : " Can 

 an angel pass from one extreme to another, without 

 travelling through the middle space ? When a man 

 leads a pig to market, by means of a rope, is the pig 

 led by the man or by the rope ? (This question was 

 propounded in a dispute about causes.) Is a Negro 

 black or white? (answer, he is white sccun'fum quiil, 

 that is, in relation to his teeth.) Other questions en- 

 tertained in the schools were impious and blasphemous 

 in the highest degree. We shall mention a few of these 

 in the language in which they were originally proposed. 

 An possibile fuit habere Mariam, plures Jilios, unica 

 generatione. qua genuerit verbum ? An Maria ilormietido, 

 habuerit unum rationis f An fueril apostolorum apos- 

 tola, et omnium arlium meckanicarum perita ? An in 

 statu innoceittiae, eequalis numrrus futurutfuisset, viro- 

 rum et main-rum ? An passeret, et alia bruta ecclesiam 

 Jadanlia liceat excommunicare ? An pnssit baptizari 

 aliquis, in laxivio, mulso, jure carnium, brnrfio piscium, 

 nrina f An teneat baptismus, si coiiferatur in nomine 

 Diaboli f Ulrvm naturam mulierit, afini, serpentis, vel 

 columbce Chrittui debutrit out potuerit astumere f An 

 h<c ac simile* propotitiones, Dent est upupa, esl scara- 

 Ixeas, aeque tint possibles atque ilia, Deus est homo ? An 

 pontifex Romanus. tit Deus, an homo, an ex utroyue 

 unum ? From these questions, it will appear, that a 

 reformation was no less necessary in the schools than it 

 was in the church. 



CHAP. IV. 



The History of the Church of Christ, from the JEra of 

 the Reformation (inclusive) about the Year 1545 to 

 the present Time. 



Tetzel * N tne ye** 1517, John Tetzel, a Dominican friar, 



preaches began to publish indulgences in Germany, and to of- 

 indulgen- fer them for sale. He was employed by Albert, elector 

 of Metz and archbishop of Magdeburg ; and Albert him- 

 self was the immediate agent of Leo X. whose profuse 

 munificence had exhausted the papal treasury, and in- 

 duced him to replenish it by the most unjustifiable 

 means. The indulgences in question were plenary, in 

 the highest sense of the word ; for Tetzel proclaimed 



the complete remission of sins, whether past, or pre-Ecclesiasti. 

 sent, or future, to all who could pay the stipulated sum. ral History. 

 He who had money, or who had interest enough to " ~Y"~"' 

 borrow it, might transgress with impunity every pre- 

 cept of the decalogue, and set the justice of heaven at 

 defiance. With an absolution already in his posses- 

 sion, nothing but the punishments of the civil magis- 

 trate could restrain him from committing the most 

 atrocious wickedness ; and, by the usurpations of the 

 ecclesiastical courts, the number even of heinous crimes 

 which fell within the jurisdiction of the civil magis- 

 trate was exceedingly small. The church, or, more 

 correctly speaking, the pope, reigned triumphant ; the 

 prerogative of the Supreme Judge was violated and de- 

 stroyed ; and the thunderbolt of the divine wrath 

 snatched from the hand of Omnipotence. All morali- 

 ty was relaxed all government weakened and all 

 subordination and obedience appeared likely to cease; 

 and the pernicious tendency of the doctrine was sur- 

 passed by nothing but the shameless impudence of Tet- 

 zel, and his associates, who published the indulgences, 

 and magnified their value. The lives, too, of these un- 

 blushing apostles, corresponded with the nature of their 

 mission; they often squandered, in low debauchery, 

 the money which had been given by the pious and the 

 simple, in the hope of obtaining everlasting happiness ; 

 and such was the perception of their worthlessness, and 

 general opinion of their character, that even those who 

 purchased the indulgences were ashamed to be seen in 

 the company of the persons who sold them. The 

 princes and great lords were provoked to find their 

 subjects drained of their wealth, in order to supply 

 the profusion of the sovereign pontiff; men of reflec- 

 tion, superior to the times in which they lived, marked 

 the deep ignorance of the age ; and men of learning an- 

 ticipated a brighter era, or hailed the indications of its 

 approach. 



In these circumstances, it seemed good to the provi- Martin Lu- 

 dence of Almighty God, to scatter the darkness, to put * 

 a stop to the accumulating corruption, to awaken in- 

 quiry, and restore the intellect of man to its exercise 

 and strength. The dominion of imposture, and the 

 despotism of Rome, were now to be shaken. At the 

 juncture of affairs which we have described above, there 

 arose in Germany, the celebrated Martin Luther, a man 

 of humble extraction, but endowed with penetration, 

 with learning, and with courage, far beyond the pro- 

 portion which falls to the lot of ordinary mortals. He 

 was a native of Eisleben in Saxony, and in early life 

 had entered a convent ot the Augustine friars. Being 

 speedily distinguished, on account of his piety, his love 

 of knowledge, and unwearied application, he was ap- 

 pointed by Frederic the Wise, Elector of Saxony, to 

 tench philosophy and theology in the university of Wit- 

 tenburg. The prince just mentioned had lately found- 

 ed the university, and was anxious to fill it with men 

 who were celebrated for their learning. 



Nothing is more certain, than that he who teaches Steps by 

 others must first be taught himself. When knowledge whirh Lu- 

 is disseminated through the world, it is taken for grant- *'! 

 ed, that some individual mind has previously been in- huo P' m 

 structed. It would be gratifying, therefore, if we had 

 it in our power, to ascertain the endeavours and approxi- 

 mations, in consequence of which Luther's own senti- 

 ments were formed. It would be interesting ;is u phi- 

 losophical inquiry, and it would be most satisfactory to 

 the readers of ecclesiastical history, could we trace the 

 steps by which this extraordinary individual was led 

 to call in question the truth of the preyailing opinions. 



