THE

SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN HERALD,

CONDUCTED UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH.

"THE FEAR OF the lord, THAT IS WISDOM."

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1836.

If science be employed as a handmaid to Religion, there is nothing that can afford a more suitable preparation for exploring the mysteries of redemption. By the acquisition of languages, and by an acquaintance with general literature, the memory and reflective faculties are improved, the taste is refined, and a relish is given for the sublime and beautiful, so abundantly found in the Word of God. By a knowledge of history and of human character, we are enabled to value aright the morality of the Gospel, and to appreciate its beneficial effects upon society. But the study of science prepares us for taking a wider view. By teaching us how❘ to estimate the beauty of harmonious contrivance, it shews the grandeur of the Gospel scheme, considered as a whole; and by making us acquainted with the workmanship of the great Framer of the universe, it carries home the conviction that creation and redemption have one common source, and that He alone who contrived the one should have devised the other.

The mere man of taste may be satisfied with the embellishments of pagan mythology, or popish fable; but he who has studied the works of nature scorns their incongruous fancyings. Accustomed to the exercise of that faculty, by which we estimate the adaptation of means to an end, when he contemplates the work of Redemption, he sees in the fitting together of the various parts, the manifold wisdom of Him who is wise in counsel. When he traces the developement of the glorious scheme, from its origin, in the purpose of eternity, to its final consummation, he discovers new beanties as the various dispensations gradually unfold, he finds each part full of wisdom and full of love, every portion deserving gratitude and praise, while the grandeur of the harmonious whole, and the extent of God's redeeming grace, as thereby manifested, are seen in that transcendant splendour which passeth all understanding.

THE EARLY DAYS OF MARTIN LUTHER. THE life of Luther is so intimately connected with the important events of the period in which he lived, that it is difficult to view the man apart from the Reformer. In the following sketch, however, we are desirous as much as possible, to limit ourselves to the personal history and experience of this distinguished individual previously to that period when he became conspicuous in the world as an opponent of the corruptions of the Romish Church.

Martin Luther was born at Eisleben, a small town in Saxony, on the 10th of November 1483. His parents, who appear to have been noted for their industry and integrity, and unostentatious piety, paid peculiar attention, not merely to his education at school, but to his religious training at home; and, accordingly, we find, that through life, Luther retained an affectionate remembrance of the home of his early days. The

vigorous energy of Luther's mind was soon apparent. At the age of twenty, having finished his literary Master of Arts; and, more in accordance with the studies with marked success, he obtained the degree of wishes of his parents than his own inclination, he began to prosecute the study of Law. A remarkable providential occurrence, however, at length determined him to change his profession. The sudden death, whether by violence or accident is disputed, of an intimate friend and seems to have thrown him for a time into a state of and companion, made a deep impression upon his mind, melancholy. One day while labouring under this depression of spirits, he happened, during a walk in the fields, to be overtaken by a violent storm of thunder and lightning, which so alarmed him, that on the spot he formed the resolution to withdraw from the world and retire into a monastery for life. To this proposal his father, who was a man of strong practical good sense, was much opposed. Take care, said he to the rash determined youth, "that you are not ensnared by a delusion of the devil." All remonstrances, however, were ineffectual; without delay Martin entered a monastery at Erfurt.

In vain did Luther attempt to fly from himself, and to dissipate amid the endless formalities of the Romish ritual, that feeling of restless inquiry which seems to have taken possession of his mind. Under the influence of those serious impressions which he had imbibed under his father's roof, he dwelt much in his seclusion on the truths of religion. As yet his views were vague and indistinct; but still, he felt that there was something which was absolutely necessary to be obtained before he could expect deliverance from the gloomy fears and forebodings with which he was beset. A work of grace, in fact, appears to have begun in his soul. He was labouring under a deep-rooted conviction of his sin, and although he struggled to quiet his troubled conscience by the constant observance of the manded, all was unavailing; his sadness and almost numerous ceremonies which the Church of Rome dedesponding melancholy continued to increase rather than diminish. At length, to seek relief in the sympathy, if not the advice of another, he resolved to unbosom his griefs to Staupitz, the vicar-general of that order of Monks to which he himself belonged. Staupitz, besides being a man of considerable sagacity, had himself been subject to feelings similar to those which oppressed the mind of Luther. His reply, accordingly, is somewhat remarkable: "You do not know," said he, "how useful and necessary this trial may be to you; God does not thus exercise you for nothing: you will one day see, that he will employ you as his servant for great

purposes."

At this time Luther was ignorant of the Scriptures; but the early instructions of pious parents, aided by a natural tenderness of conscience, and strong reflective powers, led him to entertain more vivid impressions of divine things than the extent of his knowledge would seem to warrant. He knew enough to lead him to thirst after still further acquaintance with the truth. And at length, in the wise providence of God, his wishes, in this respect, were most unexpectedly gratified. In the course of the second year after his admission into the monastery at Erfurt, he met with a Latin Bible in the library. This was to him like the opening of the eyes to the blind. He perused the Word of God for himself, and while poring, with earnest assiduity, over the sacred page, ever and anon did he lift up his soul in prayer to the Father of light, that he might be enabled to understand the Scriptures. Nor was his prayer unanswered. The light of divine truth shone into his soul with a brightness such as he had never before beheld. His study of the Bible was incessant, and under the influence of its refreshing statements, his gloom gave place to a steady cheerfulness,

founded on the possession of that "peace which the world cannot give, and which it cannot take away."

In the year 1507, he was ordained, and so highly was his learning, both secular and theological, appreciated, that in the following year he was invited by the vicargeneral to the Professorship of Philosophy at Wittemberg. Here he became distinguished, both as a teacher of philosophy, and a popular preacher. His fame spread far and wide. While resident in the monastery, he had learned from an old monk the doctrine of justification by free grace, and this vital, this fundamental truth, he proclaimed with a boldness which attracted peculiar attention. "This monk," exclaimed Martin Policbius, a doctor of law and medicine, "will confound all the doctors, will exhibit new doctrines, and reform the whole Roman Church; for he is intent on reading the writings of the prophets and apostles, and he depends on the Word of Jesus Christ; this, neither the philosophers nor the sophists can subvert." Such a declaration, more especially from the mouth of a man who was himself accounted a wonder of his age, clearly shewed that Luther had made an open profession of his views in regard to the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, and more especially in regard to that vitally important doctrine, which he himself afterwards termed the article of a standing or a falling church-Justification by free grace, through faith in the righteousness of the Redeemer.

This cardinal tenet seems, at an early period of his Scripture studies, to have assumed the pre-eminence in his mind, which justly belongs to it as the fundamental | truth of Revelation. And the more strongly he himself felt its importance, so much the more zealously did he labour to make it known to others. Such was the fervour, in fact, and holy eloquence, which characterized the preaching of Luther, that he was regarded as one of the first orators of his time. The theme which chiefly occupied his attention at this period, both in his private meditations, and in his pulpit labours, may be learned from the following extract of a letter which he wrote to a friend :-" I desire to know what your soul is doing; whether wearied at length of its own righteousness, it learns to refresh itself, and to rest in the righteousness of Christ. The temptation of presumption in our age is strong in many, and specially in those who labour to be just and good with all their might, and, at the same time, are ignorant of the righteousness of God, which, in Christ, is conferred upon us, with a rich exuberance of gratuitous liberality. They seek in themselves to work that which is good, in order that they may have a confidence of standing before God, adorned with virtues and merits, which is an impossible attempt. You, my friend, used to be of this opinion, or rather this mistake; so was I; but now I am fighting against the error, but have not yet prevailed.”

Four years before writing this letter, Luther had been appointed Professor of Divinity at Wittemberg, an office which, of course, led him to a still more diligent perusal of the Sacred Volume. At first, he had access only to the Vulgate, or Latin version of the Bible, but, anxious to draw his knowledge of divine truth from the originals, he directed his attention, with the utmost perseverance and success, to the study of the Greek and Hebrew languages. This enabled him to understand still more clearly the precious Word of Inspiration, that Word which, as he advanced in the knowledge of it, proved spirit and life to his soul. His views became clearer and more deeply impressive. He had not yet attacked the errors of the Romish Church, but his knowledge of the fundamental doctrines of religious truth was such, as to lead many to regard him as a heretic. There is an interesting incident which is recorded of Luther, and which places in a strong light the undeviating fidelity with which he preached the Gospel in the face of all opposition. Having been requested

to preach before the Duke of Saxony, he dwelt at great length upon the freeness of the Gospel offer even to the chief of sinners. An honourable matron who had heard the sermon, was asked by the Duke, at dinner, how she liked the discourse. "I should die in peace," she said, "if I could hear such another sermon.' Enraged at this reply, the Duke exclaimed, "I would give a large sum of money that a sermon of this sort, which encourages men in a licentious course of life, had never been preached." Within a month after this conversation, the lady was confined to bed with sickness, and died rejoicing in the belief of the glorious truths which Luther had preached.

The time had now arrived when, though reluctantly, Luther felt himself necessitated to enter the field against the gross errors of that Church to which he belonged. In the course of his residence at Rome, on a mission which he had undertaken in connection with the affairs of the Augustinian Monks, he had been shocked at the unbecoming and even immoral conduct of the clergy. But still his attachment to the Romish Church was great, and while he himself stood aloof from those of his clerical brethren who disgraced their office, he made no attempt to expose them to the world. And it was not until he was forced to assume the decided position of a Reformer, that he took steps to vindicate himself from the charge of heresy which was not unfrequently brought against him in private.

At length a circumstance occurred, which roused the indignation of Luther. One John Tetzel, a Dominican Friar, had been employed to sell indulgences, with the view of recruiting the exhausted treasuries of Pope Leo X. This profligate friar, whose presumption and effrontery knew no bounds, gave absolution, not only for past, but also for future sins, and scattered his indulgences with a profusion which shocked even those who were disposed to pay respect to the demands of the Papal See. Luther was enraged at the conduct of Tetzel, and made no secret of his disapprobation. He wrote to the Archbishop of Mentz, calling upon him to put a stop to such shameless excesses. His remonstrances, however, were unheeded. Thus frustrated in his endeavours to interest his ecclesiastical superiors, he published to the world his opinions in regard to the whole subject, including indulgences, purgatory, and other kindred topics; at the same time inviting any one publicly to dispute with him. Tetzel, alarmed at the appearance of Luther's exposure, promptly replied, attempting to refute the arguments which had been urged against the doctrines of the Church of Rome. The Church was roused upon the subject; and it is said, that at the first public disputation, no fewer than three hundred monks were present. Fair argument, however, was not sufficient for the ghostly Dominican. He ventured even to wreak his vengeance upon the Augustinian heretic, as he termed the Reformer, by causing his publication to be burned,—an act of pitiful spite, which was speedily retaliated upon the work of Tetzel by the disciples of Luther at Wittemberg. The Reformer himself was far from sanctioning this rash act on the part of his followers; but, on the contrary, alluding to the report which was industriously circulated by his enemies, that he had been the instigator of the deed, he thus expresses himself: "I wonder you could believe that I was the author of the deed. Think you that I am so destitute of common sense, as to stigmatize, in such a manner, a person in so high an office? I know better the rules of ecclesiastical subordination, and have some regard to my own character, both as a monk and a theologian, than to act so.'

"

The controversy, however, was not limited to Luther and Tetzel; it called forth the strenuous exertions of others also, and among the rest, of Henry Duke of Brunswick, who afterwards distinguished himself in the cause of the Reformation. Luther continued for several

"bulls and menaces;

years to propagate his tenets, by publishing theses, not
only on the subject of indulgences, but also upon the
cardinal doctrines of Christianity. Nor was the contest
confined to Germany. From the very seat of the Papal
power there issued severe attacks upon the new doc-
trines, which, accordingly, Luther was compelled to de-
fend. In these answers to the Romanists, even his op-
ponents admitted that a spirit of gentleness was obvious-
ly discernible. At this time, also, he wrote to his own
diocesan, and to his vicar-general. In his letter to the
former he expresses himself with that undaunted con-
fidence which might be expected to characterize a per-
son who was conscious of being engaged in a righteous
cause. "I fear not," says he,
it is the audaciousness and the ignorance of men that
induce me to stand forth, though with much reluctance;
were there not a weighty cause for it, no one out of my
own little sphere should ever hear of me. If the cause
I defend be not the work of God, I would have no-
thing to do with it; let it perish. Let Him alone have
glory, to whom alone glory belongs.' The position
which Luther now occupied was one which harassed
and distressed his mind. It was with the utmost re-
luctance that he felt himself compelled to oppose the
Church with which he was connected, and, more espe-
cially, as the ground of his opposition was of such vital
importance. Unwilling, however, to be considered as
disclaiming the authority of the Pope, as his enemies
alleged that he did, he requested his faithful friend and
patron, Staupitz, to transmit his writings to Rome, that
all misrepresentation of his doctrines might be prevented.
"Not," says he, "that I would involve you in my
dangers. I desire alone to stand the shock of it. Let
Christ see to it, whether the cause be mine or His. To
the kind admonitions of my friends, who would warn
me of danger, my answer is, The poor man has no fears.
I protest that property, reputation, and honours shall
be of no estimation with me, compared with the de-
fence of the truth. I have only a frail body to lose,
and that weighed down with constant fatigue. If, in
obedience to God, I lose it through violence or fraud,
what is the loss of a few hours of life? sufficient for
me is the lovely Redeemer and advocate, my Lord Jesus
Christ, to whose praise I will sing as long as I live."
He even addressed a letter to the Pope himself, ex-
planatory of his conduct, and couched in such language
as clearly shews, that at this period, he had no intention
of separating from the Church.

It is interesting to observe how clear, even at this early period of his history, Luther's views of divine truth were. The Bible had been for years his constant study; prayer had been his unceasing exercise, and in the habitual use of these two means of grace, his knowledge of the Gospel had become at once extensive and accurate. In the doctrines of free grace, more particularly, Luther gloried. "A Christian," to use his own words, "may glory that in Christ he has all things; that all the righteousness and merits of Christ are his own, by virtue of that spiritual union with him which he has by faith: and, on the other hand, that all his sins are no longer his, but Christ, through the same union, bears the burden of them. And this is the confidence of Christians, this is the refreshment of their consciences, that by faith our sins cease to be ours judicially, because they are laid on him, the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sin of the world."" The righteousness of Christ, the Reformer viewed as the sole foundation of the sinner's hope, and he accordingly urged it, with the utmost earnestness, upon all who came within the sphere

of his influence.

Thus pure were the religious sentiments of Luther, at the outset of his career as a Reformer, and before his doctrines had assumed such a prominence, as to attract the attention and call down upon him the wrath of the Papal See. The Almighty had been gradually training

him for the important duties which were yet to devolve upon him, and which could only be discharged by one who was specially enlightened by the Spirit of God. His work was arduous, and therefore he was endowed with peculiar qualifications, both of an intellectual and moral kind. But to what extent, and by what means, he succeeded, under God, in carrying forward the glorious cause of the Reformation, will probably engage our attention in a future number.

THE VASTNESS OF THE UNIVERSE.

IN the admirable Bridgewater Treatise of Professor Whewell, the following interesting and impressive observations occur.

"The aspect of the world, even without any of the peculiar lights which science throws upon it, is fitted to give us an idea of the greatness of the power by which it is directed and governed, far exceeding any notions of power and greatness which are suggested by any other contemplation. The number of human beings who surround us the various conditions requisite for their life, nutrition, well-being, all fulfilled; the way in which these conditions are modified, as we pass in thought to other countries, by climate, temperament, habit;-the vast amount of the human population of the globe thus made up; yet man himself but one among almost endless tribes of animals; the forest, the field, the desert, the air, the ocean, all teeming with creatures whose bodily wants are as carefully provided for as his ;-the sun, the clouds, the winds, all attending, as it were, on these organzied beings;—a host of beneficient energies, unwearied by time and succession, pervading every corner of the earth; this spectacle cannot but give the contemplator a lofty and magnificent conception of the Author of so vast a work, of the Ruler of so wide and rich an empire, of the Provider for so many and varied wants, the Director and Adjuster of such complex and jarring interests.

"But when we take a more exact view of this spectacle, and aid our vision by the discoveries which have been made of the structure and extent of the universe, the impression is incalculably increased.

"The number and variety of animals, the exquisite skill displayed in their structure, the comprehensive and profound relations by which they are connected, far exceed any thing which we could have beforehand imagined. But the view of the universe expands also on another side. The earth, the globular body thus covered with life, is not the only globe in the universe. There are, circling about our own sun, six others, so far as we can judge, perfectly analogous in their nature: besides our moon and other bodies analogous to it. No one can resist the temptation to conjecture, that these globes, some of them much larger than our own, are not dead and barren; that they are, like ours, occupied with organization, life, intelligence. To conjecture is all that we can do, yet even by the perception of such a possibility, our view of the domain of nature is enlarged and elevated. The outermost of the planetary globes of which we have spoken is so far from the sun, that the central luminary must appear to the inhabitants of that planet, if any there are, no larger than Venus does to us; and the length of their year will be 82 of ours.

"But astronomy carries us still onwards. It teaches