. Mediæval and modern history . (in 1516) Erasmus published his Novum Instrumentum, the Greek text of theNew Testament witha Latin version. Thesepublications must beassigned a prominentplace among the vari-ous agencies whichprepared the mindsand hearts of thenorthern peoples forthe Reformation. As was inevitablea conflict soon de-veloped between thetheologians — whowere the championsof the old Scholasti-cism—and the pro-moters of the newhumanistic learning. It was the first phase in modern timesof the age-long warfare between Theology and Science. Thefirst blows exchanged by the two parties we
. Mediæval and modern history . (in 1516) Erasmus published his Novum Instrumentum, the Greek text of theNew Testament witha Latin version. Thesepublications must beassigned a prominentplace among the vari-ous agencies whichprepared the mindsand hearts of thenorthern peoples forthe Reformation. As was inevitablea conflict soon de-veloped between thetheologians — whowere the championsof the old Scholasti-cism—and the pro-moters of the newhumanistic learning. It was the first phase in modern timesof the age-long warfare between Theology and Science. Thefirst blows exchanged by the two parties were given in a con-troversy in which the real principle involved was the freedomof scholars in their investigations and the limits of theologicalauthority in matters of scholarship. The war raged around theperson of the eminent humanist John Reuchlin (1455-1522), thesame whom we have seen in the closing years of the fifteenthcentury trudging over the Alps in order to study Greek at thefeet of the Italian masters (sect. 262).. ^^-v-*^ X^ Fig. 56. Erasmus. (After a painting by//f?/*^^/;/) §289] HUMANISM AND RELIGIOUS REFORM 267 Hostilities had arisen in this way. It had been proposed byhaters of the Jews that their books should be taken from themand burned, on the ground that these works were unfriendly toChristianity. Reuchlin, who was the best Hebrew scholar of histime, was asked, by the authorities before whom the matter hadbeen brought, for his opinion on the proposal. He advisedagainst it, and embraced the opportunity to say that much of theJewish literature might be read by Christians with great advan-tage to themselves. This caused Reuchlin to be bitterly attackedby the clerical party. The theological faculties of many of theGerman universities and that of the University of Paris con-demned his views, while the humanists, among others Erasmus,sent him letters of approval and encouragement. Some of theseReuchlin published under the title of Epistolae Clarorum Virorum,o
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