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Westminster。 He was modest and patient； yet could not submit to
the insolence of little men in power。 He even left the papal
palace in disdain when he found his labors unappreciated。 Julius
II。 was forced to bend to the stern artist； not the artist to the
Pope。 Yet when Leo X。 sent him to quarry marbles for nine years；
he submitted without complaint。 He had no craving for riches like
Rubens； no love of luxury like Raphael； no envy like Da Vinci。 He
never over…tasked his brain； or suffered himself； like Raphael；
who died exhausted at thirty…seven；to crowd three days into one；
knowing that over…work exhausts the nervous energies and shortens
life。 He never attempted to open the doors which Providence had
plainly shut against him； but waited patiently for his day； knowing
it would come； yet whether it came or not； it was all the same to
him；a man with all the holy rapture of a Kepler； and all the
glorious self…reliance of a Newton。 He was indeed jealous of his
fame； but he was not greedy of admiration。 He worked without the
stimulus of praise；one of the rarest things；urged on purely by
love of art。 He loved art for its own sake； as good men love
virtue； as Palestrina loved music； as Bacon loved truth； as Kant
loved philosophy；satisfied with itself as its own reward。 He
disliked to be patronized； but always remembered benefits； and
loved the tribute of respect and admiration； even as he scorned the
empty flatterer of fashion。 He was the soul of sincerity as well
as of magnanimity； and hence had great capacity for friendship； as
well as great power of self…sacrifice。 His friendship with
Vittoria Colonna is as memorable as that of Jerome and Paula； or
that of Hildebrand and The Countess Matilda。 He was a great
patriot； and clung to his native Florence with peculiar affection。
Living in habits of intimacy with princes and cardinals； he never
addressed them in adulatory language； but talked and acted like a
nobleman of nature； whose inborn and superior greatness could be
tested only by the ages。 He placed art on the highest pinnacle of
the temple of humanity； but dedicated that temple to the God of
heaven in whom he believed。 His person was not commanding； but
intelligence radiated from his features； and his earnest nature
commanded respect。 In childhood he was feeble； but temperance made
him strong。 He believed that no bodily decay was incompatible with
intellectual improvement。 He continued his studies until he died；
and felt that he had mastered nothing。 He was always dissatisfied
with his own productions。 Excelsior was his motto； as Alp on Alp
arose upon his view。 His studies were diversified and vast。 He
wrote poetry as well as carved stone； his sonnets especially
holding a high rank。 He was engineer as well as architect； and
fortified Florence against her enemies。 When old he showed all the
fire of youth； and his eye； like that of Moses； never became dim；
since his strength and his beauty were of the soul；ever
expanding； ever adoring。 His temper was stern； but affectionate。
He had no mercy on a fool or a dunce； and turned in disgust from
those who loved trifles and lies。 He was guilty of no immoralities
like Raphael and Titian； being universally venerated for his stern
integrity and allegiance to duty；as one who believes that there
really is a God to whom he is personally responsible。 He gave away
his riches； like Ambrose and Gregory； valuing money only as a means
of usefulness。 Sickened with the world； he still labored for the
world； and died in 1564； over eighty…nine years of age； in the full
assurance of eternal blessedness in heaven。
His marbles may crumble down； in spite of all that we can do to
preserve them as models of hopeless imitation； but the exalted
ideas he sought to represent by them； are imperishable and divine；
and will be subjects of contemplation when
〃Seas shall waste； the skies to smoke decay；
Rocks fall to dust； and mountains melt away。〃
AUTHORITIES。
Grimm's Life of Michael Angelo； Vasari's Lives of the Most
Excellent Painters； Sculptors and Architects； Duppa's Life of
Michael Angelo； Bayle's Histoire de la Peinture en Italie。
MARTIN LUTHER。
A。 D。 1483…1546。
THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION。
Among great benefactors； Martin Luther is one of the most
illustrious。 He headed the Protestant Reformation。 This movement
is so completely inter…linked with the literature； the religion；
the education； the prosperityyea； even the political historyof
Europe； that it is the most important and interesting of all modern
historical changes。 It is a subject of such amazing magnitude that
no one can claim to be well informed who does not know its leading
issues and developments； as it spread from Germany to Switzerland；
France； Holland； Sweden； England； and Scotland。
The central and prominent figure in the movement is Luther； but the
way was prepared for him by a host of illustrious men； in different
countries；by Savonarola in Italy； by Huss and Jerome in Bohemia；
by Erasmus in Holland； by Wyclif in England； and by sundry others；
who detested the corruptions they ridiculed and lamented； but could
not remove。
How flagrant those evils！ Who can deny them？ The papal despotism；
and the frauds on which it was based； monastic corruptions；
penance； and indulgences for sin； and the sale of them； more
shameful still； the secular character of the clergy； the pomp；
wealth； and arrogance of bishops； auricular confession； celibacy of
the clergy； their idle and dissolute lives； their ignorance and
superstition； the worship of the images of saints； and masses for
the dead； the gorgeous ritualism of the mass； the substitution of
legends for the Scriptures； which were not translated； or read by
the people； pilgrimages； processions； idle pomps； and the
multiplication of holy days； above all； the grinding spiritual
despotism exercised by priests； with their inquisitions and
excommunications； all centring in the terrible usurpation of the
popes； keeping the human mind in bondage； and suppressing all
intellectual independence；these evils prevailed everywhere。 I
say nothing here of the massacres； the poisonings； the
assassinations； the evil doings of various kinds of which history
accuses many of the pontiff's who sat on papal thrones。 Such evils
did not stare the German and English in the face； as they did the
Italians in the fifteenth century。 In Germany the vices were
mediaeval and monkish； not the unblushing infidelity and levities
of the Renaissance； which made a radical reformation in Italy
impossible。 In Germany and England there was left among the people
the power of conscience； a rough earnestness of character； the
sense of moral accountability； and a fear of divine judgment。
Luther was just the man for his work。 Sprung from the people；
poor； popular； fervent； educated amid privations； religious by
nature； ye