ome seven times worse than when he
was a Papist, according to Christ's judgment: 'The last state of that
man shall be worse than the first.' I make such a confession, that I
may be without blame before God and the world, because I have no share
in Zwingli's doctrines, nor will have to all eternity!"[6]

To allay this strife was the task which the _landgrave_ Philip of
Hesse, proposed to himself. This Prince, then in his twenty-fifth year,
a man of scientific culture, an indefatigable ruler, beloved by his
people and feared by his more powerful neighbors, on account of his
decided and enterprising character, was the soul of the Protestant
party. To the Elector of Saxony, who, possessed of more prudence and
timidity, stood along with him at its head, he wrote: "Rather would I
give up body and life, land and people, than abandon God and his Word."
At his court lived Duke Ulric, of Wuertemberg, an exile, driven from
his country by the Emperor, and the Swabian League, but undaunted,
eager for war, and continually busied with plans for recovering his
princely seat. At an earlier period he had spent some time in
Switzerland and became personally acquainted with Zwingli, and through
him the _landgrave_ was also brought into connection with the Reformer.
Thinking clearly and feeling dearly; imbued also with the spirit of the
Holy Scriptures, he thought, if stubbornness did not prevent it, a
mutual understanding was yet possible, and resolved to spare no pains
in order to attain it. Zwingli and [OE]colampadius willingly consented
to his proposal of a Conference. They only wished it to be held in
Strassburg, because Zwingli especially despaired of receiving
permission from the Zurich Council for the dangerous journey to
Marburg, the residence of the _landgrave_, and so long an absence. The
consent of the Saxons was more difficult to obtain. Melancthon from
timidity, and because he did not wish to break fully with the
Catholics, reconciliation with whom he thought yet possible, and Luther
from dislike avoided the Conference; the former even privately
requested the Elector not to permit them to go. "It is not well," he
said, "for the _landgrave_ to have much to do with the Zwinglians; he
has taken, moreover, a greater liking to them, than is necessary; for
the matter has come to such a point, that acute people, like the
_landgrave_, regard it with the deepest interest, and the understanding
seizes readily upon what it comprehends, e