the enthusiasm either of the seething
masses or of {21} the leaders who saw a new Jerusalem just ready to
come down out of heaven from God.[11]

After the Augsburg period, Denck spent some time in Strasbourg, where
he gained many followers. Capito bears testimony at this time to the
purity of Denck's life, to his moderation and goodwill, and to the
impressive effect of his preaching and teaching upon the people of the
city.[12] Vadian, the Humanist and reformer of St. Gall, too, in spite
of his disapproval of some of Denck's ideas, speaking of him in
retrospect after his death, called him "a most gifted youth, possessed
of all excellencies." But his teaching was too strange and unusual to
be allowed currency even in free Strasbourg. After being granted a
public discussion he was ordered to leave the city forthwith. During a
short stay in Worms, following the Strasbourg period, in collaboration
with Ludwig Hetzer, they brought to a successful conclusion a German
translation of the Prophets from the Hebrew, a work which Hetzer had
begun. This important piece of scholarly work was published under the
title, _Alle Propheten nach hebraeischer Sprache verteutscht_, in Worms,
April 3, 1527, and had a wide circulation and use, its main demerit
being that it had been done by "Anabaptists."

Pursued on every hand, hunted from place to place, he finally sought
peace and shelter with his old friend, the teacher who had first
inspired him in his youth, OEcolampadius, and here in Basle in a quiet
retreat, he died of the plague in November 1527, hardly more than
thirty-two years of age.[13]

We must now turn to the little books of this persecuted and homeless
Humanist to see what his religious teaching really was, and to discover
the foundation principle which lay at the root of all the endeavours of
this period to launch a Christianity grounded primarily on the {22}
fundamental nature of man.[14] Denck writes like a man with a
message--straight to the mark, lucid, vivid, and intense. He believes
what he says and he wants others to see it and believe it. His
writings are entirely free from the controversial temper, and they
breathe throughout the spirit of tolerance and charity. He knows when
to stop, and brings his books to an end as soon as he has made his
points clear. The fundamental fact of man's nature for Denck is
personal _freedom_. Starting with no theological presuppositions he is
under no obligation to make