. Philip Melanchthon, the Protestant preceptor of Germany, 1497-1560 . d some of the Protestants blamed it for its con-cessions, its characterisation of Luther, and its al-lusion to the heads of the Schmalkald League. Butto Protestants and Catholics alike it can be saidthat the letter adheres to essentials in doctrine, andconcedes only things indifferent. Its characterisa-tion of Luther is only too true, and all historiansagree that the irresolution of John Frederick andothers is responsible for the outcome of the Schmal-kald War. To have written such a letter at that time may beregarded as un
. Philip Melanchthon, the Protestant preceptor of Germany, 1497-1560 . d some of the Protestants blamed it for its con-cessions, its characterisation of Luther, and its al-lusion to the heads of the Schmalkald League. Butto Protestants and Catholics alike it can be saidthat the letter adheres to essentials in doctrine, andconcedes only things indifferent. Its characterisa-tion of Luther is only too true, and all historiansagree that the irresolution of John Frederick andothers is responsible for the outcome of the Schmal-kald War. To have written such a letter at that time may beregarded as unwise and impolitic, and we may withRanke wish that it never had been written. Initself it shows the transparent honesty of Melanch-thon. It contains no taint of treachery, nor ofhypocrisy, nor of ingratitude, and no intimation of asurrender of fundamental truth. The evil lay in theevil that was made out of it, and in the deceitfulpurpose of the man who obtained it, and then di-vulijcd it. Carlowitz, as the letter shows, wrote of See Concilia IVitfbergcjisia, p. I54S] The Interims 333 the necessity of preventini^ war, of conciliating theEmperor, of saving the Protestant cause from utterruin. All this could be done by a little concessionon the part of Melanchthon ! He should thereforesign the Interim and secure these great ends! Hisanswer in substance is: I do not have Luthersheroic nature. I will make concessions in adiaphora,but not in doctrine. If I cannot bear the Electorsdecrees, I will go into exile. He did not expect hismoderation to please those in power, but he wasresolved, by the help of God, to bear whatevermight befall him, because he preferred truth to have only to know all the circumstances ofthose terrible times, and to put ourselves in Mel-anchthons place, in order to judge righteously aswell as charitably of the matter. The letter is apolite but firm way of saying, / will not accept theInterim; and to this Melanchthon adhered; for notonly did he wri
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