are, eligere, electio, &c. he immedi-||fore he knew how wide and irrecon ately concluded that these were so cileable the schisms which he had many confirmations of his own pre-occasioned in the Catholic church, conceived opinions, without examin- would be, or how much depended ing their true import, or proper ap-on him, he had engaged in a controplication. He grasped with eager-versy with Erasmus concerning free ness at those latin words, just as all will; and like St. Augustine, bewarm disputants will force every coming irritated as the controversy thing that has the least shadow of proceeded, venerating his teacher St. resemblance to their views, to bear on Augustine, and not yet having those their side of the question, and think clear views which he afterwards exthat as they are right, every thing pressed, he, in some degree, appearmust coincide with their opinions-ed to advocate Augustinianism, but verifying the well known maxim, without using or approving of the that the head is often the dupe of harsh expressions of the Predestinathe heart. He knew not that these rians.* How tenaciously did the words frequently refer, not to a choice apostles cling to their fond notions of from among Christians, but from a temporal Messiah. How long was among heathens and Jews, and had it before they would comprehend the no reference to Christians-he knew words of Christ. Though he gave not that they often signified, in the them so many opportunities to correct Greek idiom, merely the chosen these views, and so often told them well beloved of God-that the elect, to expect no temporal advantages from as when a whole congregation is ad- him, they still would believe that he dressed by that name, were those was to restore the Jewish commonwho had renounced the errors of Ju- wealth. If they who enjoyed a daism and Heathenism, as we often personal intercourse with Christ, still apply, in familiar discourse the word retained for a season the hopes and "choice" to an object which appears feelings of their youth, is it surprito us to be possessed of excellence sing that Luther for a season did not or be free from defects. But with- banish those impressions from his out entering into a discussion of this mind which he had received in early thorny subject, we would add that youth? Do we not lay great stress St. Augustine's want of a correct on the argument, that if the disciples, knowledge of the Greek language, who were Jews, attached to the Mowhich he often regretted, together saic law, expected it to be a permawith his ignorance of the right rules nent institution and had no idea of a of interpretation, permitted him to change--if they relinquished all adopt and inculcate many erroneous these opinions without the hope of views. As a proof of his unacquain-gain, it must have been the force of tance with these subjects we merely truth which changed their views? refer to the contradictory remarks, Now if Luther, after having been hasty assertions, doctrines maintain-educated as a Catholic, after having ed, modified and again denied, with imbibed at an early period, from St. which his works abound, and which Augustine, those ideas concerning are mentioned by almost all who Predestination, &c. with which his write of him or his acquirements. memory is still reproached, (unjustly Luther who was intimately acquain-and falsely in reality) is it not a trited, with his writings, adopted at an umphant proof, on our part, of the early period, some of his views. falsity of Catholic and Augustinian Before his ideas were perfectly ma-or Calvinistic views, if he afterwards tured, before he had formed the plan effaced the impressions of his youth, which he afterwards followed, or be

Augustine, Dogmengeschichte $285.

Was Luther an Absolute Predestinarian?

115

banished these opinions which he||(3.) Liber De Servo Arbitrio. This had hitherto cherished, and adopted book, on which Predestinarians, misviews altogether opposed to his for-led by certain expressions, principalmer system of faith, and this withly rest their charge, was written the prospect of calumny, danger, and (Seckendorf col. 720,) in the year perhaps death? Is it not another proof that truth is powerful and will and must prevail?

1525, more than twenty years before Luther's death, which occurred in 1546. It was republished in 1664, J. G. Walch says in his Introd. in by Sebastian Schmid, the celebrated Lib. Luth. Symb. p. 318, that the Latin translator of the Bible, and Reformed took advantage of some accompanied by annotations, in which expressions in Luther's work De he successfully vindicated Luther's Servo Arbitrio, and maintained that memory against the aspersions of he taught Predestination. The ap- those who attributed to him a belief parent error of Luther was, however, in an unconditional decree.* We explained in P. Haberkon's "Ne-are to consider, besides, that as he cessarii et solida vindicatio libri Lu- was strongly opposed to the Pelagian theri de Servo Arbitrio"-and in va- views of man's remaining strength, rious other writings, the remarks, and as he treated the subject philoalso, p. 877, that Luther's views of sophically, as Erasmus had done, this doctrine were altogether in op- many of his expressions were either position to those of the Reformed, if stronger than he would at another we are to believe his own writings. time have used, or were liable to misThis is fully proved by Rambach in apprehension, from the fact that lana little work, entitled "des seeligen guage is too defective to express Mannes Gottes Martini Lutheri wah-every shade of meaning in such an re Meynung, &c.” It would occu-abstract subject.

py too much space to make a full We say then, that Luther many quotation from Walch. The wit-years before his death, appeared to nesses of the Predestinarians, I think, incline to some of those views which are the following: (1.) The com- belong to the Calvinistic scheme, mentary on the epistle to the Ro- just as he had previously believed mans. This was written 1514, A. Catholic doctrines. But, in the course D. three years before Luther com- of time, as he devoted more intense menced the Reformation, (See In-study to the scriptures, and as the trod. Hist. prefixed to C. M. Pfaff's dawn changed into full sun-shine, as edition of the Symbolical Books.) divine light and truth gradually arose (2.) The commentary on the ep. to in his soul, all those vapors and mists, the Galatians. This was written both of Catholicism and Augustini1516, A. D. Both these works, anism vanished gradually but totally written before Luther commenced the from his mind; and he finally reReformation, and while he entertain-nounced and most solemnly disclaimed his former Catholic and Augustinian views, incline apparently to predestinarianism. However, they are not to be adduced as arguments, any more than we would reproach one of the Evangelists for having, when he first began to follow his Master, still expected a temporal Messiah. Luther wrote under an influence which time, his own good sense, and the grace of God happily removed.

* It was again published in 1707, by J. J. Zentgraf, together with the annotations of Schmid, and an apologelical preface (Seckendorf col. 721. Walch, p. 319.) Augusti also mentions a work or dissertation by Trellund, published in 1717, and entitled "De Luthero doctrine absoluti decreti suspicione multis et manifestis testimoniis absoluto." In these works, which deserve to be translated and republished here, there is no doubt cal contemporaries that Luther gave no cresufficient testimony to convince our skeptidence to the doctrine of Predestination.

quite as candid, if you would say that you could prove to the satisfaction of all who would apply to you, that Luther was a Catholic and St.

ed all his former erroneous ideas.
In all his subsequent writings to the
day of his death, he taught doctrines
decidedly opposed to Predestination.
Hence nothing of this doctrine ap-Paul a Jew.
pears in any of our Symbolical books;
Before I conclude, I have one more
it is, of course, not taught in the remark to make, occasioned by the
Augsburgh Confession, and is most same article in your last number.
strongly reprobated and indignantly It is very much the fashion among
rejected in the Formula Concordioa. our own members, as well as many
But would Luther have omitted it of those of other denominations, to
in the Augsburgh Confession, if he call the Lutherans, Arminians. But
had in the most remote degree be- why not as well call us Catholics,
lieved it to be true? Why does he Methodists, Hopkinsians, Jews, or
write, preach and teach doctrines any thing else? Each denomination
that strike at the very root of Pre- has some one doctrine at least, in
destination, why give not, to his lat- common with us. By way of an
ter years, when the whole Protes-example, the last new sect is called,
tant world received his decisions as
oracles, even the least hint, that he
believed Predestination? It is folly,
to make the assertion-it bears con-
tradiction on its own front.* When,
therefore it is said, that Luther was
a Predestinarian, it may appear to
be partially true, as applied to his
earlier years; it is false, altogether
false, as applied to the last years of
his life, when his mind was fully il-
luminated. If, then, any still persist
in calling him a Predestinarian, with-
out considering all those circumstan-
ces, it would be quite as dignified
* Dr. Endress, in his essays published in
your Intelligencer, has quoted passages
which might convince any candid person
that Luther gave no countenance to the doc-
trine. He must indeed have otherwise been

death,)"Who knows whether I am elec

can,

a most inconsistent, wavering, weak man.
In Walch's edition of his Kirchen Postill,'
p. 701, he proposes the question (in a dis-
course published 1540, six years before his
ted," and shows the folly of such doubts, by
demonstrating that all are elected, that all
human beings are included in the number
of those for whom Christ died, and that all
if they will, participate in the benefits
of Christ's death. He then adds Be-
ware that you do not exclude yourself-do
not thus give the lie to the word of God."
Now according to the Calvinistic plan, which
Luther is said, but never proved to have
adopted, some are already excluded; but
how will we reconcile this with Luther's
earnest appeals? A countless number of ex
pressions scattered through his later works,
prove that he abhorred the doctrine.

I think, the "Hicksite." They believe in a future world-so do we. But it would be folly to name us therefore "Hicksites." Arminius, from whom the party has its name, did not renounce his Calvinistic tenets and openly advocate Lutheran views till the year, 1591, which was long after the Lutheran Church had received a definite form and inculcated the same doctrines which are now designated as Arminian. We are very far from admitting all the doctrines of Arminius-why then, if he received some of our doctrines, taught by our church long before he appeared in public as their advocate, should we adopt his name? For the sake of convenience, it may be proper to designate us and Episcopalians by the term Arminian, implying that we reject predestination, &c. Still our own name, and that of the Episcopal church should speak for themselves, particularly since it may occasion a misunderstanding in many, and lead to the belief that we sanction all the views of Arminius, if we adopt his name.

I have written these remarks as they suggested themselves to me, when I read the article in your last number, p. 153. I have given but few references or quotations, but they are at hand to prove any of the

Singular Providence.

above assertions. If you think these remarks worthy of insertion in your next number, you will oblige

LUTHERANUS.

A SINGULAR PROVIDENCE.

117

They accordingly came at the time appointed, and being convicted, the justice ordered their mittimus to be written to send them all to prison. Mr. Rogers expecting to see the little girl again, brought some sweet(A curious and affecting Narrative.) soon as she saw him she came runmeats with him to give her. As Sir Richard Cradock, a justice of ning to him, and appeared fonder of the peace, who was a violent hater him than before. This child being and persecutor of the Dissenters, a great favorite with her grand faand who exerted himself to enforce ther, had got such an ascendency all the severe laws then in existence over him that he could deny her against them, happened to live near nothing, and she possessed such a Mr. Rogers, to whom he bore a par- violent spirit that she could bear no ticular enmity, and whom he wanted contradiction, so that she was indulabove all things to have in his pow-ged in every thing she wanted. At er. Hearing that he was to preach one time when she had been contraat a place some miles distant, he dicted, she ran a pen knife into her thought it a fair opportunity for ac-arm, to the great danger of her life. complishing his base design, and in order thereto he hired two men to go as spies, and take down the names of all the hearers whom they knew, that they might appear as witnesses both against them and Mr. Rogers. The plan seemed to succeed to his wishes. These men brought him the names of several persons who were present at the meeting, and he warned such of them as he had a particular spite against, together with Mr. Rogers, to appear before him. Knowing the violence of the man, they came with trembling hearts, expecting to be treated with the utmost severity. While they were waiting in the great hall, expecting to be called upon, a little girl, about six or seven years of age, who was Sir Richard's grand daughter, happened to come into the hall. She looked at Mr. Rogers, and was much taken with his venerable appearance. He being naturally fond of children, took her upon his knee and caressed her, which occasioned her to conceive a great fondness for him. At length Sir Richard sent a servant to inform him and the rest that one of the witnesses being taken ill, was unable to attend, and that therefore they must come again another day.

This bad spirit in the present in-
stance was overruled for good. While
she was sitting on Mr. Rogers's knee,
eating the sweetmeats, she looked
earnestly at him, and asked,
"What
are you here for, sir?" He said, “I
believe your grand father is going to
send me and my friends to jail.".
"To jail!" said she, "Why, what
have you done?" "Why, I did
nothing but preach, and they did
nothing but hear me." "He shall
not send you to jail!" replied she.
แ Aye, but my dear," said he, "I
believe he is now making out our
mittimus to send us all there." Up-
on this, she ran up to the chamber,
where Sir Richard was, and knock-
ed with her head and heels till she
got in, and said to him, "What are
you going to do with my good old
gentleman in the hall?"
"That's
nothing to you," said he "get you
about your business."
'But I won't,'
says she, "He tells me that you
are going to send him and his friends
to jail; and if you send them, I will
drown myself in the pond as soon as
they are gone. I will indeed."-
When he saw the child thus per-
emptory, it shook his resolution, and
induced him to abandon his mali-
cious design. Taking the mittimus

how she, who had been brought up in an aversion to Dissenters and to serious religion, now discovered such an attachment to both-upon which she cheerfully gave them the following narrative:

in his hand, he went down into the||fection; and then he and Mr. Bradhall, and thus addressed these good bury expressed a desire to know men: "I had made out your mittimus to send you all to jail as you deserve; but at my grand child's request I drop the prosecution and set you all at liberty." They all bowed, and thanked his worship; but Mr. Rogers, going to the child, laid his hand upon her head, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, exclaimed, "God bless you, my dear child. May the blessing of that God whose cause you did now plead, though as yet you know him not, be upon you in life, in death, and to all eternity."

After her grand father's death she became sole heiress to his estate, which was considerable. Being in the bloom of youth, and having none to control her, she ran into all the fashionable diversions of the age, without any restraint; but she confessed, when the pleasurable scenes The above remarkable story was were over, she felt a dissatisfaction told by Mr. Timothy Rogers, the both with them and herself that alson of the ejected minister, who had ways struck a damp to her heart, frequently heard his father relate it which she did not know how to with great pleasure; and the cele- get rid of any other way than by brated Mr. Thomas Bradbury once running over the same round again heard it from him when he was di- and again. But all was in vain. ning at the house of Mrs. Tooley, Having contracted some slight illan eminent christian lady in London, ness, she thought she would go to who was distinguished for her reli- Bath, hearing that it was a place for gion and for her love to Christ and pleasure as well as health. When his people, whose house and table, she came thither she was providenlike Lydia's, were always open to tially led to consult an apothecary, them. What followed is yet more who was a very worthy and religious remarkable, as containing a striking man. When he inquired what proof of Mr. Rogers's prayers for ailed her, she answered, "Why, this child, and the blessing which doctor, I don't ail much as to my descended upon her who had been body; but I have an uneasy mind such an instrument in the deliv- that I cannot get rid of." "Truly, erance of the persecuted servants Miss," said he, "I was so too, till I of God. Mrs. Tooley had listened met with a certain book, and that with uncommon attention to Mr. cured me." "Books!" said she, Rogers's story, and when he had en-" I get all the books I can lay my ded it, she asked him, "And are hands on-all the plays, novels, and you that Mr. Rogers's son ?" He romances I hear of, but after I have told her he was-upon which she read them my uneasiness is the said, Well, as long as I have been same. "That may be, Miss," said acquainted with you, I never knew he, " and I don't wonder at it. But that before; and now I will tell you as to this book I speak of, I can say something that you do not know: I of it what I can say of no other I am the very girl your dear father ever read, that I never tire in readblessed in the manner that you have ing it, but can read it again and related, and it made an impression again, as if I had never read it beupon me that I never could forget." fore; and I always see something Upon this double discovery, Mr. new in it." "Pray, doctor," says Rogers and Mrs. Tooley found an she, "what book is that?" " Nay, additional tie of mutual love and af- Miss," answered he, "that is a se