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name。 All the papal legates and cardinals in the world could
neither convince nor frighten him。 He courted argument； he
challenged the whole Church to refute him。
Then the schools took up the controversy。 All that was imposing in
names； in authority； in traditions； in associations； was arrayed
against him。 They came down upon him with the whole array of
scholastic learning。 The great Goliath of controversy in that day
was Doctor Eck； who challenged the Saxon monk to a public
disputation at Leipsic。 All Germany was interested。 The question
at issue stirred the nation to its very depths。
The disputants met in the great hall of the palace of the Elector。
Never before was seen in Germany such an array of doctors and
theologians and dignitaries。 It rivalled in importance and dignity
the Council of Nice； when the great Constantine presided； to settle
the Trinitarian controversy。 The combatants were as great as
Athanasius and Arius；as vehement； as earnest； though not so
fierce。 Doctor Eck was superior to Luther in reputation； in
dialectical skill； in scholastic learning。 He was the pride of the
universities。 Luther； however； had deeper convictions； more
genius； greater eloquence； and at that time he was modest。
The champion of the schools； of sophistries and authorities； of
dead…letter literature； of quibbles； refinements； and words； soon
overwhelmed the Saxon monk with his citations； decrees of councils；
opinions of eminent ecclesiastics； the literature of the Church；
its mighty authority。 He was on the eve of triumph。 Had the
question been settled； as Doctor Eck supposed； by authorities； as
lawyers and pedants would settle the question； Luther would have
been beaten。 But his genius came to his aid； and the consciousness
of truth。
He swept away the premises of the argument。 He denied the supreme
authority of popes and councils and universities。 He appealed to
the Scriptures； as the only ultimate ground of authority。 He did
not deny authority； but appealed to it in its highest form。 This
was unexpected ground。 The Church was not prepared openly to deny
the authority of Saint Paul or Saint Peter； and Luther； if he did
not gain his case； was far from being beaten； andwhat was of
vital importance to his successhe had the Elector and the people
with him。
Thus was born the second great idea of the Reformation；the
supreme authority of the Scriptures； to which Protestants of every
denomination have since professed to cling。 They may differ in the
interpretation of texts；and thus sects and parties gradually
arose； who quarrelled about their meaning；but none of them deny
their supreme authority。 All the issues of Protestants have been
on the meaning of texts； on the interpretation of the Scriptures；
to be settled by learning and reason。 It was not until rationalism
arose； and rejected plain and obvious declarations of Scripture； as
inconsistent with reason； as interpolations； as uninspired； that
the authority of the Scriptures was weakened； and these
rationalistsand the land of Luther became full of themhave gone
infinitely beyond the Catholics in undermining the Bible。 The
Catholics never have taken such bold ground as the rationalists
respecting the Scriptures。 The Catholic Church still accepts the
Bible； but explains away the meaning of many of its doctrines； the
rationalists would sweep away its divine authority； extinguish
faith； and leave the world in night。 Satan came into the
theological school of the Protestants； disguised in the robes of
learned doctors searching for truth； and took away the props of
religious faith。 This was worse than baptizing repentance with the
name of penance。 Better have irrational fears of hell than no
fears at all； for this latter is Paganism。 Pagan culture and Pagan
philosophy could not keep society together in the old Roman world；
but Mediaeval appeals to the fears of men did keep them from crimes
and force upon them virtues。
The triumph of Luther at Leipsic was； however； incomplete。 The
Catholics rallied after their stunning blow。 They said； in
substance： 〃We； too； accept the Scriptures； we even put them above
Augustine and Thomas Aquinas and the councils。 But who can
interpret them？ Can peasants and women； or even merchants and
nobles？ The Bible； though inspired； is full of difficulties； there
are contradictory texts。 It is a sealed book； except to the
learned； only the Church can reconcile its difficulties。 And what
we mean by the Church is the clergy；the learned clergy；
acknowledging allegiance to their spiritual head； who in matters of
faith is also infallible。 We can accept nothing which is not
indorsed by popes and councils。 No matter how plain the Scriptures
seem to be； on certain disputed points only the authority of the
Church can enlighten and instruct us。 We distrust reason；that
is； what you call reason；for reason can twist anything； and
pervert it； but what the Church says； is true；its collective
intelligence is our supreme law ＇thus putting papal dogmas above
reason； above the literal and plain declarations of Scripture＇。
Moreover； since the Scriptures are to be interpreted only by
priests； it is not a safe book for the people。 We； the priests；
will keep it out of their hands。 They will get notions from it
fatal to our authority； they will become fanatics： they will； in
their conceit； defy us。
Then Luther rose； more powerful； more eloquent more majestic than
before； he rose superior to himself。 〃What；〃 said he； 〃keep the
light of life from the people； take away their guide to heaven；
keep them in ignorance of what is most precious and most exalting；
deprive them of the blessed consolations which sustain the soul in
trial and in death； deny the most palpable truths； because your
dignitaries put on them a construction to bolster up their power！
What an abomination！ what treachery to heaven！ what peril to the
souls of men！ Besides； your authorities differ。 Augustine takes
different ground from Pelagius； Bernard from Abelard； Thomas
Aquinas from Dun Scotus。 Have not your grand councils given
contradictory decisions？ Whom shall we believe？ Yea； the popes
themselves； your infallible guides；have they not at different
times rendered different decisions？ What would Gregory I。 say to
the verdicts of Gregory VII。？
〃No； the Scriptures are the legacy of the early Church to universal
humanity； they are the equal and treasured inheritance of all
nations and tribes and kindreds upon the face of the earth； and
will be till the day of judgment。 It was intended that they should
be diffused； and that every one should read them； and interpret
them each for himself； for he has a soul to save； and he dare not
intrust such a precious thing as his soul into the keeping of
selfish and ambitious priests。 Take away the Bible from a peasant；
or a woman； or any layman； and cannot the priest； armed with the
terrors a