THE ORIGINS OF PROTESTANTISM 



plicity of organization, of doctrine, and of ritual, 

 and to the purity of life, which characterized the 

 Christianity of the apostolic age. This common 

 element is discernible alike in the Bogomilians 

 of the East, and in the Albigensians, Hussites, 

 and Lollards of the West ; and in the Puritan- 

 ism of later times it is conspicuous. The ma- 

 jestic revolt of Luther an event which did 

 more for true religion than anything which had 

 happened in the world since the days of Jesus 

 and Paul can in nowise be likened to the 

 innumerable schisms which have divided the 

 Church on special points of doctrine, organiza- 

 tion, and ritual. Its scope and importance were 

 far greater than any of these, important as many 

 of these have been. It took issue with the fun- 

 damental assumption upon which the Church 

 had come, by slow degrees, to take its stand 

 the assumption of corporate responsibility for 

 opinion and ceremonial. Its denial, though 

 not explicit in every instance, was nevertheless 

 couched in such wise as to cover implicitly the 

 whole ground upon which the Church assumed 

 the right to interfere with individual freedom. 

 The protest of Luther, when its logical impli- 

 cations are unfolded, involves the assertion of 

 the right of each individual to decide for him- 

 self what theological doctrines he can or cannot 

 accept, what ecclesiastical observances he shall 

 or shall not adopt, and generally in what way 

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