at the Lord would open their hearts. Thou canst tell this
confidentially. As a preacher of Christ, who is the Truth, I write the
truth. By it thou canst quietly oppose all liars and disturbers. They
behaved toward us with incredible humanity and compliance. But, as it
now appears, all was show, in order to bring about a hypocritical
concord and make us the partners of their errors. O how cunning Satan
is! But Christ is still wiser. He has preserved us. I am no longer
surprised, if they lie shamelessly. I see that they could not do
otherwise, and am glad of it; for they have reached this point under
the guidance of Satan, that they betray themselves not merely by their
secret intrigues, but openly before all the world."

Sad of heart, the _landgrave_ left Marburg before Luther and
Melanchton. Since concord was not to be restored among the theologians,
it became so much the more necessary to secure a closer connection of
the governments. He held various consultations on this subject with
Zwingli, Sturm and several of their associates. The political
consequences flowing from the Conference, will be detailed in the next
chapter; concerning those of a religious and scientific nature, this
much may be yet said:

The enemies of the combatants alone derived gain from it. Their hatred
against the Reformation appeared now to be wholly justified. "Here you
have," said they, "the effects, when children tear loose from the
Everlasting Mother. They now turn against themselves the intellectual
weapons, so highly bepraised, which they have used against us. What
others are left for them against us, save those of iron?" Now, to these
neither Luther nor Melanchton would have recourse. But Zwingli tried
it, and--fell. The Reformation seemed about to go backward. Paralyzing
formulas took the place of the living Gospel: first, the Augsburg
Confession; then, the Helvetic, and for others again, the XXXIX
Articles of the Episcopal Church of England. Protestant Popes rose up
beside the Catholic, who, from this time forth, wore his triple crown
with greater security. It is true, indeed, that Zwingli also handed in
a confession of faith at the Imperial Diet, but only in defence, not to
force it upon others. He expressly said, in the letter to the Emperor,
which accompanied it: "I _alone_ deliver it, without encroaching on the
rights of my people." According to his view the Gospel only is
unassailable. Whatever of true or false man adds to the int