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Page 222

 

Syncretism Synergism THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG

responsible offices for the restoration of order, for they (the clergy) who excite the tumult are not the ones to allay it. A. German edition of the above, entitled Schutzrede der Juliumniversitdt, issued shortly after by C. Schrader, summed up the judgment upon the Consensus, that (1), according to the scheme, the profutemur is not invariably the universal confession of the Lutheran Church; (2) rejicimus is opposed to liberty and promotes schism; and (3) its docet, the doctrines attributed to Calixtus and Horneius are unwarranted and untruly represented. Even the pope was slow to decree new articles of belief and not until after prolonged investigation with the cardinals and councils. Calovius dismisses without notice the greater number of adherents of the Augsburg Confession, sums up the mass of disputed points, and in the heat of haste forges a number of antagonistic tenets, which henceforth are to be called Lutheran. Those who do not approve of the intruded symbols are to be thrust out of the fellowship of the saints; and this is not the end, but the process is to be perpetual. As the Galatians refused circumcision (Gal. v. 1-2), so they will decline the Consensus. These writings, scattered among courts, consistories, and universities, had the effect of arousing apprehension; for if it came to be accepted that those not recognizing the Consensus were out of the Lutheran Church, they might lose the benefits of the treaty of Westphalia, a result not far removed from the motive of Calovius. Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Saxe-Altenburg now sought to counteract further separation and passion, and induced his brother-in-law, Elector Johann Georg III., to give audience to the theologians of Wittenberg. Their long report of Apr. 22, 1669, may be summed up as follows: (1) continuance of the refutation; or (2) a synod, or rather, since no examination of the Helmstedt doctrine is further necessary, letters of communication for sounding the opinion and binding together the orthodox; (3) that first the theologians of electoral Saxony get the consensus of other theologians before the elector refers to other potentates; (4) amendment of the code for the clerical and political ministries with a clause forbidding syncretism, the mixing of religions, ecclesiastical toleration, and spiritual affiliation with papists and Calvinists, or its equivalent, subscription to the Consensus; (5) compulsory binding of the Brunswick theologians to their old confessions without reservation, which latter " knavery " is not to be tolerated by any Christian government. Though approved by the elector, the effect of which as well as the advice of the counselors was to perpetuate the quarrel, yet the alarm sounded by Conring and the theologians of Helmstedt was not without results, for the order given in Saxony to refrain from literary polemics was heeded for several years.

An interim of quiet followed, 1669-79. Duke Ernst the Pious, successor to Friedrich Wilhelm of

Saxony, made an alliance with his son-. 5. The in-law Ludwig VI. of Hesse-Darmstadt,

Counsel and conceived the preventive of a peroi Spenen manent college of theologians. With his three sons he gathered his clergy and ministry, together with several outside theologians, among

whom was Johann Musaeus (q.v.), in a conference at Jena (Apr. 15-17, 1670). The most diverse personages, like Calovius, Spener, Quenstedt, were already being proposed for a peace court, when the measure carried to send deputations to ascertain the opinions of other Lutheran courts. These gave only friendly but evasive replies, but Ernst redoubled his efforts to remove the schism. He obtained an opinion from Spener (May 31, 1670) to the effect that it was not yet too late for the restoration of unity; because the quarrel had not yet rent the churches, and the Consensus had nowhere been introduced. As to the cause of the strife he did not exonerate Calixtus from eccentricities of doctrine and obduracy, and ascribed the disorder to " human affections." As to the measures for restoration, he advised a cooperation of Christian governments and clergy and a reformation from external sterile conformity. If a synod of all Germany was not practicable, then a consultation of earnest, enlightened men would be advisable. The question as to what Calixtus the elder and Horneius once taught should be buried with the past, and the profession and assertion by the Helmstedt theologians that their teaching was in accord with the symbols, and their declination of the charge of syncretism and adherence to the fundamental errors. of Romanism, should be deemed sufficient. Whether and how far the remaining doctrines like that of ubiquity were fundamental to faith might then be easily determined. Toleration and gentleness were meet for weaker brethren and unnecessary invective without prejudice to the elenchus was to be forbidden. Ernst sent out another deputation with an outline of this to seek out the theologians and persuade them to the counsels of peace. Turning first to the electorate of Saxony, these were referred from Dresden to Wittenberg. Quenstedt and B. Meisner (q.v.) themselves complained of the radicalism and inflexibility of Calovius, who now surreptitiously inserted over his signature to the theses to be submitted to the Helmstedt theologians, two fresh points: on abandoning the errors of syncretism and on believing the mystery of the Holy Trinity in the Old and New Testaments. The three things demanded by the other theses were that the theologians should not dispute any doctrine contained in the Book of Concord; should teach according to their charter; and renounce syncretism, by which was meant only the recognition of a fundamental consensus between Lutherans and Reformed. But at Helmstedt and other places under its influence, Calovius was utterly mistrusted, and a quarrel among the rulers caused the forbidding of the Helmstedt theologians to commit themselves. Yet the negotiations allayed the strife for a few years.

S. The Third Period: In 1675 the conflict was renewed and lasted till the death of Calovius in

1686. The latter knew how to take i. Recru- advantage of the favor of Ernst and dCsoencu of speciallof his successor, so that he felt

Calovina. bold to reopen hostilities. In the year in which Spener by his Pia desideria (1675) opened a new epoch in Christian life, Calovius again announced in programs as his unchanged life purpose,