Progress of Reform in Germany
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people by palming off upon them a counterfeit in place of the true
work. As there were false Christs in the first century of the Christian
church, so there arose false prophets in the sixteenth century.
A few men, deeply affected by the excitement in the religious
world, imagined themselves to have received special revelations from
Heaven, and claimed to have been divinely commissioned to carry
forward to its completion the Reformation which, they declared, had
been but feebly begun by Luther. In truth, they were undoing the very
work which he had accomplished. They rejected the great principle
which was the very foundation of the Reformation,—that the Word of
God is the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice; and for that unerring
guide they substituted the changeable, uncertain standard of their own
feelings and impressions. By this act of setting aside the great detector
of error and falsehood, the way was opened for Satan to control minds
as best pleased himself.
One of these prophets claimed to have been instructed by the angel
Gabriel. A student who united with him forsook his studies, declaring
that he had been endowed by God himself with wisdom to expound his
Word. Others who were naturally inclined to fanaticism united with
them. The proceedings of these enthusiasts created no little excitement.
The preaching of Luther had aroused the people everywhere to feel the
necessity of reform, and now some really honest persons were misled
by the pretensions of the new prophets.
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The leaders of the movement proceeded to Wittenberg, and urged
their claims upon Melancthon and his co-laborers. Said they: “We are
sent by God to teach the people. We have received special revelations
from God himself, and therefore know what is coming to pass. We are
apostles and prophets, and appeal to Doctor Luther as to the truth of
what we say.”
The reformers were astonished and perplexed. This was such an
element as they had never before encountered, and they knew not what
course to pursue. Said Melancthon: “There are indeed spirits of no
ordinary kind in these men; but what spirits?” “On the one hand, let
us beware of quenching the Spirit of God, and on the other, of being
seduced by the spirit of Satan.”
The fruit of the new teaching soon became apparent. The people
were led to neglect the Bible or to wholly cast it aside. The schools
were thrown into confusion. Students, spurning all restraint, aban-