New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,,Ourp ON THE REFORMATION.
WIT. .,EpoRMATIoN BY GEORGE r FIsHER, ID.
mo sve' m 69o scribner. Armstrong; n 20.


Tn thia volume the Protestant Reformation 10 not
rgarded as an isolated event in the history of the
.xteentb century, is il treated exclusively ar
chiefly in its theological aspects. The author con
ssders the subject from more comprehensive point
Of view and brings into prominent notice the secular
and political relations which formed such an I'M
pOrtant element in the evolution of the grand his
torioal drama In his admirable analysis OF the
social condition Of Europe at the epoch ID the he
formation he presents that movement as the fruit
of the intellectual progress which marked the transit
Sjon from the Middle Ages to modern civilization.
II was the period of extraordinary inventions
and discoveries. The magnetic compass had
enabled the mariner 10 pursue his voyages
an distant seas In the conduct of war. the
use Of gunpOwder had raised the peasant 10 inc
level of the knight The art of printing han gNeu
almost miraculous impulse tn the dirusion "
knoWlege Columbus had added new Worid 10 'ne
sncient European hemisphere. Nasco da "aiha hAd
opened fresh channel TO commerce 10y the passage
10 India ronnd the Cape of Good Hope Copernicus
had explored the heavens and discovered the true
system of the universe The masterpieces Of ancient
sculpture and the literary treasures OF antiquity
which had lain in cOncealmentf for ages were brought
forth from their hidingplaces Art had received
new Hfeunder inspiration of Raphael and Michael
Angela of Leonardo da Vnci. and Albert DureI'
The sfulv of the classics had opened new pain Tor
intellectual activity Not less significant was the
change in the political life of Europe. tendallsh
had Welded 10 monarchy. The principal Kingdoms
had gained a vast accession of strength, ana tue
roitical condition gave broader character TO the
jntercourse Of nations.
The germ Of Professionalism was developed at this
,uncture, producing changes of the highest moment
One Of the earliest consequences OF the movement
A. described by Professor Fisher. was the rejection
Of prestly authority Tokens of this revolt agalWt
the preensons of the hierarchy had been long Visi
ble Anti-sacerdOtal sects had become numerous ana
powerful ~ far back the twelfth and thirteenth
centuries A widespread dissatisfaction was feit
with the worldlness of the clergy. and the prelat
cal government of the Church. The supremacy of
individual conscience received powerful impulse
especially from the influence OF the mystics Their
religion was founded in feeling. They preferred ln-
tuition TO logic the quest of knowledge through the
inner light rather than by processes of the intellect
md the consciousness of the divine presence in the
serene absorption of the soul rather than the exter
nal supports of proof and argument. They were the
rrophets Of "A more vital kind of religion than was
found in the ecclesiastical order, and thousands OF
yearujpg spirits trembled with ecstscy at their
words.
- The effects of the revival of learning in the prog
fess Of the Reformation are deneated with mastery
,hi in one Of the most INTERESTING chapters OF me
volume This great intellectual GhanSS b"u I.S
prigiU in Italy. During the gloom of the MluS0
Ages, that favored country never wholly LOST tue
traces of ancient civilization. The three great
writers Dante PetTarch, and Boccacio, introduced
new era of culture The national mind went back
"a its ancient history and literature. The study OF
the Roman classics became passion. Great zeal
VAS expended in the recovery of manuscripts and
the collection of Libraries Princes became the pat
Tons Of letters which they cultivated with personal
interest The revival extended to the literature OF
Greece. The philosophers and poets of antiquity
were once more read in their own tongues. From
Italy the same literary spirit spread over the other
countries of Europe This movement exerted u
poverfl influence in the field of reh-
zion. II contributed largely TO the over
throw Of the priesthood 1t marked new
stage OF culture when instruction ceased 70 be ex-
rlusiyely sacerdotal. Hitherto the scholastic phi-
losophy aud theology had reigned with an almost
undismted sway From about the middle OF the
eleventh century. il had been dominant over the
intellect of the age. Nor, according to Professor
Fisher who adopts on this point the liberal views
Of Giesler. was il wholly without good trnit. 1t
formed valuable mental discipline for seni-civil-
lied people As counterpoise TO the prevailing SUI
rerstitpis tendencies of the times the scho lastc
training was Of unquestionable service. But the
ua-Towness of the system was laid bare by cOmpar-
;snn with the new studies. The barbarouS style OF
the schoolnen was Turned into ridicule 10y the de-
voices of classical learning Their fantastic hair
splittnc when contrasted with the noblermethod of
the ancient philosophers, only awakened contempt
The works of Aristotle which were now read in
their original language exposed the disTaceful
,l,o obj lrup in
construction Nothing could save them from de-
rson as their ignorance of history their uncrti cal
habits and their extravagant subtety were exposed
and they al length laughed of the stage by the
new generation Of classical scholars.
Among the leaders of the great revival of humane
letters Erasmus, OF course occupies conspicuous
Mace in the present history. The character of that
tmid. self-indulgent semi-skeptica worldly -mind-
ed milk and water TefOrmer is delineated with sin
sular felicity He is represented as having attained
n proGminence in literature which no other scholar
unless ID be NOltaiTe. has approached lie resembled
the versatile Frenchman in the Difference paid to
him by the great in worldly rank Each was wit
and an icopoclast in bis own way but in other re-
.pects. they were totally unlike. BY the native
heut of his mind. as well as by assduous culture,
Erasmus was essentially a man Of letters His
knowledge of Greek was. perhaps, less than that Of
,ome Of his rivals; he took pains TO give clas-
meal finish 10 his style; preciptate,' he says,
"rather than compose; yet his rare union of wisdom
and wit the compass Of his erudtion and the full
sness Of his mind made him the most popular
writer of his day. He sat on his throne the object
af admiration and envy. His influence extended
over all Europe. The most eminent statesmen, eccle-
.iasfics, and scholars sought him for advice. His
private correspondence almost eqnaled the multi
tpde Of his publications. In the early part of his
career be had struggled with poverty. His infirm
health gave him many artificial wants. He could
,,ot live upon little Hence he was fond OF the
patronage of the ich and was tettered by pensions