The Life of Philip Melanchthon

one hand. This was the case at Wittenberg at that time. By Luther's side we find Melanchthon engaged in this double labor. We have already heard with what joy his intr

reat name. He, therefore, did not only lecture on the Greek poet Homer, and other writers of antiquity, but also treated the writings of the New Testament. His industry was extraordinary. In addition to the regular labors of his station, he for a time also acted as professor of the Hebrew. For this purpose, however, it was necessary that he should first of all make himself thoroughly acquainted with this language. Luther wrote to Spalatin, January, 1519: "Our Philip is now busy with the Hebrew; the faithfulness and industry of the man are too great, so that he hardly permits himself to enjoy any leisure." He could generally be found busily engaged in his study at two o'clock in the morning. The amount of labor accomplished by him in a short time is almost incredi

nd Corinthians, and prefixed an introduction, addressed to Melanchthon, in which he jocosely remarks: "It is I who publish your writings and expositions. I send you to yourself. If you are not pleased with yourself, well and good; let it suffice that we are pleased with you. If I have transgressed in this matter, it is your own fault. Why did you not publish yourself, for which I so often entreated, prayed, and

t only to be read, but studied by all who devote themselves to the discovery of truth. When Luther, at a later period, prefaced and recommended Melanchthon's exposition of the Epistle to the Colossians, to which he had given great attention, he speaks thus of himself and Melanchthon: "I have been born to war and fight with factions and devils, therefore my books are stormy and warlike. I must root out the stumps and stocks, cut away the thorns and h

21, corrected and enlarged. This volume, which may be called the first system of religion in the evangelical church, was everywhere greeted in the most friendly manner. Luther was quite delighted with it, and once said of it, that it was not only worthy of immortality, but even to be admitted into the canon of Scripture. In his table-talk he expressed the following opinion of it: "Whoever wishes to become a theologian now, enjoys great advantages; for first of a

he Bible, and was thoroughly practical. Here the doctrines of sin, of the law and the Gospel, of Justification, of Faith and Good Works, were developed in a convincing manner, as they had been brought to light after a long midnight, by Luther himself. With this work he stood entirely upon the Bible, and on this account i

now Melanchthon entered the lists in February of the year 1521. He wrote a defence of the greatly slandered Luther, under the fictitious name of Didymus Faventinus. He remarks in this: "Judge for yourselves, whether those are seeking the welfare and glory of the Fatherland indeed, who accuse that man, who has delivered our Fatherland from Romish frauds; who has ventured all alone to root out the errors which existed for centuries; who has again brought to light Christian doctrines which were almost buried by the wicked laws of the Popes, and the foolish subtleties of the schools. For this praise is given him by all the learned, and not only by