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Page 135

 

136 RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA

mation in the countries named. Having performed its mission during the Reformation, the book was forgotten until 1877, when Professor Boehmer, of Zurich, discovered in the public library a copy of the Italian version and enabled Professor Milio, of Florence, to publish it in Rivista Cristiana and in a special edition. Benrath found a Dutch edition of 1526, published a German translation (Leipsic, 1880), and judged that there must have been an earlier original Dutch issue in 1523. It appeared, also, that a second part was published in low German, presumably the following year, the author of which claimed the authorship of the first part, but the second part was written originally in low German, and does not appear in other languages. The first part, however, with the prologue, is a translation, and from the Latin, as Benrath surmised and Van Toorenenbergen proved, the author himself being the translator.

An edition of the Latin and the oldest Dutch translation were published by Prof. J. J. van Toorenenbergen, of Amsterdam, in 1882. The Latin,

The Latin. tianam instituens, quidve ereditum in genue Christianum oPortet, ex evangelieis literis erwta, was published, Strasburg, 1527. Com parison shows that the Summa is much less com plete than the (Economica, which was evidently intended to enlighten the minds of the clergy and educated laity regarding the truths of the Gospel, and also to combat the corruptions of monastic life, and especially the illusion that the life, in itself, was sanctified. One portion is practic9,1; the other, theoretical. The Summa is adapted to the popular understanding, and consequently is abridged in many places, especially those portions that refer to monastic fife. The author was at first reluctant to publish the Latin original, and it is questioned whether he indorsed its publication in 1527. Van Toorenenbergen surmises that a friend of the author, Gerardus Goldenhauer, being in straitened circum stances, handed over the work to the Strasburg publisher, Christian Egenolphus. The original (Economica was probably written in 1520. The author was evidently still in the Roman church and desired to reform, but not abolish, monasticism. The influence of Luther's writings is traceable, among others the " Sermon on Baptism " (1519), the " Babylonian Captivity," and " A Christian's Liberty " (1520). In the Summa, the Reformers also speak. In the edition of 1523 is a formula for the celebration of the Lord's Supper: Dat Testa ment Jesu Christi datmen. tot noch toe de misse ghe noempt heeft, verduyts(t) doer Joannem Oecolam padium to Adelenburch, and in the edition of 1526 is an entire chapter taken almost verbatim from one of Luther's writings. In all editions prior to 1526, the twenty-ninth chapter contains a merci less condemnation of war, unless it be for the protection of subjects from foreign or internal op pression. This is evidently an almost verbatim transcript of Luther's treatise of 1526, Ob Kriegslewte ouch im seligen Stands sein kSnnen. The author must be responsible for this change of sentiment, as no one else would have ventured to introduce it, and on the title-page of the edition of 1526 stand

the words " new and thoroughly revised edition." The author's name does not appear on either the (Ecmconaica or the Summa. Van Toorenenbergen and Benrath both incline to ascribe the authorship to Hendrik van Bommel, a preacher in Wesel in 1557, who then acknowledged himself the author of Summa der deuischen Theologie, which had appeared thirty years earlier.

The (Economica consists of two parts, the first containing fifteen, the second fourteen, chapters; the Summa contains thirty-one chapters and a prologos. The first fifteen chapters of

Contents. both works treat of the doctrine of faith under the same headings: What is baptism; What baptism insures, and that it is not a mere sign; What Christians celebrate in bap tism; What Christian faith is and what those must believe who would be saved; On the surest way of salvation; That by God's goodness alone, and not by works, are we saved; In what manner our salva tion is assured by his death who gave us his Testa ment; How, according to the Gospel, faith is never without works; Faith stirs your souls to obey God's commands; Who is a son, and who a hireling; Two kinds of men in the Christian world; The fruits of faith; Of many beliefs mentioned in Holy Scrip ture; The condition of Christendom; That death should not make us sorrowful. In the fourteen chapters of (Ecoywmica (second part), the author shows how all conditions of men should live accord ing to the Gospel, and also in chaps. xvi. to xxxi. of the Summa; but in (Economica eight chapters are devoted to monks and nuns, and in the Summa only four, which are materially abridged, with a special chapter on parents who dedicate their chil dren to monastic life. Chaps. xi. and xii. of (Econ omica deal with the rich, the married, burghers, and magistrates; chap. xiii. shows that the Gospel for bids war; chap. xiv. closes with the inquiry: " By what Gospel authority may princes levy taxes? " and discusses the corresponding duties of subjects. In the Summa, chap. xxii. deals with the question of married life; xxiii. with the Christian rule of children by parents; xxiv. considers the life of the middle classes; and xxv. tells how the rich should conform to the teaching of the Gospel. Chap. xxvi., which treats of worldly and spiritual rule, shows that the author was familiar with Luther's Von weltlicher Obrigkeit; chap. xxvii. points burgomasters, magis trates, and other officers to the Gospel; xxviii. re sembles chap. xiv. of (Economica; xxx. deals with the life of men- and maid-servants and day-laborers; and xxxi. with widows. A truly remarkable work is the Summa, and it indicates that a wholesome spirit of reform pre dominated in the Netherlands earlier than else where, where was, so to speak, an individual refor mation, of which the Summa was the expression. It also bears evidence of a growing sympathy with Luther and Zwingli. In fact, the Netherlands sup ported and furthered the reform movement in other countries partly by the Summa, which spread abroad and fostered the intellectual awakening of the re form spirit. (S. D. vArr VEEN.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Besides the introductions to the editions named in the text, consult the articles in the Theolopi-