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scarcely any other in that age； and he entered a Dominican convent；
as Luther； a few years later； entered an Augustinian。 But he was
not an original genius； or a bold and independent thinker like
Luther； so he was not emancipated from the ideas of his age。 How
few men can go counter to prevailing ideas！ It takes a prodigious
genius； and a fearless； inquiring mind； to break away from their
bondage。 Abraham could renounce the idolatries which surrounded
him； when called by a supernatural voice； Paul could give up the
Phariseeism which reigned in the Jewish schools and synagogues；
when stricken blind by the hand of God； Luther could break away
from monastic rules and papal denunciation； when taught by the
Bible the true ground of justification；but Savonarola could not。
He pursued the path to heaven in the beaten track； after the
fashion of Jerome and Bernard and Thomas Aquinas； after the style
of the Middle Ages； and was sincere； devout； and lofty； like the
saints of the fifth century； and read his Bible as they did； and
essayed a high religious life； but he was stern； gloomy； and
austere； emaciated by fasts and self…denial。 He had； however；
those passive virtues which Mediaeval piety ever enjoined；yea；
which Christ himself preached upon the Mount； and which
Protestantism； in the arrogance of reason； is in danger of losing
sight of；humility； submission； and contempt of material gains。
He won the admiration of his superiors for his attainments and his
piety； being equally versed in Aristotle and the Holy Scriptures。
He delighted most in the Old Testament heroes and prophets； and
caught their sternness and invective。
He was not so much interested in dogmas as he was in morals。 He
had not； indeed； a turn of mind for theology； like Anselm and
Calvin； but he took a practical view of the evils of society。 At
thirty years of age he began to preach in Ferrara and Florence； but
was not very successful。 His sermons at first created but little
interest； and he sometimes preached to as few as twenty…five
people。 Probably he was too rough and vehement to suit the
fastidious ears of the most refined city in Italy。 People will not
ordinarily bear uncouthness from preachers； however gifted； until
they have earned a reputation； they prefer pretty and polished
young men with nothing but platitudes or extravagances to utter。
Savonarola seems to have been discouraged and humiliated at his
failure； and was sent to preach to the rustic villagers； amid the
mountains near Sienna。 Among these people he probably felt more at
home； and he gave vent to the fire within him and electrified all
who heard him； winning even the admiration of the celebrated Prince
of Mirandola。 From this time his fame spread rapidly； he was
recalled to Florence； 1490； and his great career commenced。 In the
following year such crowds pressed to hear him that the church of
St。 Mark； connected with the Dominican convent to which he was
attached； could not contain the people； and he repaired to the
cathedral。 And even that spacious church was filled with eager
listeners；more moved than delighted。 So great was his
popularity； that his influence correspondingly increased and he was
chosen prior of his famous convent。
He now wielded power as well as influence； and became the most
marked man of the city。 He was not only the most eloquent preacher
in Italy； probably in the world； but his eloquence was marked by
boldness； earnestness； almost fierceness。 Like an ancient prophet；
he was terrible in his denunciation of vices。 He spared no one；
and he feared no one。 He resembled Chrysostom at Constantinople；
when he denounced the vanity of Eudoxia and the venality of
Eutropius。 Lorenzo de' Medici； the absolute lord of Florence； sent
for him； and expostulated and remonstrated with the unsparing
preacher；all to no effect。 And when the usurper of his country's
liberties was dying； the preacher was again sent for； this time to
grant an absolution。 But Savonarola would grant no absolution
unless Lorenzo would restore the liberties which he and his family
had taken away。 The dying tyrant was not prepared to accede to so
haughty a demand； and； collecting his strength； rolled over on his
bed without saying a word； and the austere monk wended his way back
to his convent； unmolested and determined。
The premature death of this magnificent prince made a great
sensation throughout Italy； and produced a change in the politics
of Florence； for the people began to see their political
degradation。 The popular discontents were increased when his
successor； Pietro； proved himself incapable and tyrannical；
abandoned himself to orgies； and insulted the leading citizens by
an overwhelming pride。 Savonarola took the side of the people； and
fanned the discontents。 He became the recognized leader of
opposition to the Medici； and virtually ruled the city。
The Prior of St。 Mark now appeared in a double light；as a
political leader and as a popular preacher。 Let us first consider
him in his secular aspect； as a revolutionist and statesman；for
the admirable constitution he had a principal hand in framing
entitles him to the dignity of statesman rather than politician。
If his cause had not been good； and if he had not appealed to both
enlightened and patriotic sentiments； he would have been a
demagogue； for a demagogue and a mere politician are synonymous；
and a clerical demagogue is hideous。
Savonarola began his political career with terrible denunciations；
from his cathedral pulpit； of the political evils of his day； not
merely in Florence but throughout Italy。 He detested tyrants and
usurpers； and sought to conserve such liberties as the Florentines
had once enjoyed。 He was not only the preacher； he was also the
patriot。 Things temporal were mixed up with things spiritual in
his discourses。 In his detestation of the tyranny of the Medici；
and his zeal to recover for the Florentines their lost liberties；
he even hailed the French armies of Charles VIII。 as deliverers；
although they had crossed the Alps to invade and conquer Italy。 If
the gates of Florence were open to them； they would expel the
Medici。 So he stimulated the people to league with foreign enemies
in order to recover their liberties。 This would have been high
treason in Richelieu's time；as when the Huguenots encouraged the
invasion of the English on the soil of France。 Savonarola was a
zealot； and carried the same spirit into politics that he did into
religion；such as when he made a bonfire of what he called
vanities。 He had an end to carry： he would use any means。 There
is apt to be a spirit of expediency in men consumed with zeal；
determined on success。 To the eye of the Florentine reformer； the
expulsion of the Medici seemed the supremest necessity； and if it
could be done in no other way than by opening the gates of his city
to the French invaders； he would open the gates。 Whatever