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HISTORY OF PRINTING.

to Frederick, by the pope, induce him to with- hold that support, which, both from policy and principle, he had bestowed.

Luther's doctrines were now rapidly spread, and readily received: mauy g^eat and learned men assisted and encouraged him; among others, Philip Melancthon, Andrew Carolostadius: and even Erasmus secretly admitted the truth of the tenets he had not the courage to avow. In 1519, Luther had disputed again with John Eckius, at Leipsic, upon the doctrines of purgatory, indul- gences, and the supremacy of the pope; a dis- pute which tended but to confirm each party in their views, and increase the interest of the con- troversy. Such was the progress he had made, when Charles V. arrived m Germany, who, find- ing it politically expedient to secure the pope's friendsuip, determined on the sacrifice of Lutoer. A safe pass, under the emperor's hand, was con- sequently forwarded to him, with a summons to appear at the diet held at Worms, in March, 1521. With this Luther did not hesitate to comply : in vain his friends urged the danger; reminded him of the fate of John Huss, con- demned, under similar circumstances, to death. Superior to the fears of a similar result, he boldly declared, "I am lawfully called to appear in that city, and thither I will go in the name of the Lord, though as many devils as there are tiles on the houses were there combined against me." At his appearance on this memorable occasion, princes and personages of the highest rank treated him with every demonstration of respect. He replied with firmness to the charges, and refused to retract, even although many of the diet were willing to proceed to his immemate execution.

A few days after he left the city, Charles issued his eaict, excommunicating him as an heretic, and requiring all persons to concur in seizing his person as soon as the term of his safe conduct was expired. Luther was, however, saved by the elector, who contrived his seizure and detention in the strong castle of Wartburg, where he remained in security till the spirit of persecution was in some deg^ree subdued. In this interval, he replied to the university of Paris, and Henry VIII. of England, who had received the title of Defender of the Faith, tat his answer to Luther's work. Of the Captivity of Babylon. After leaving his retreat m 1522, he com- pleted his translation of the Bible in the Ger- man tongue, which was read with wonderful avidity by persons of all ranks, and, until the year 1524, he continued, by publications of every description, to undermine the power and examine the opinions, of the church of Rome.

For the purpose of engaging in the important labour of translation, he biui previously devoted some time to the study of the Hebrew and the Greek. His skill in German is universally ad- mitted. And with a view to extensive circula- tion among the lower orders, Luther took care that the form of the edition should be cheap, and by publishing them separately, sold them at a very low rate.

Different opinions have been formed of the style and correctness of Luther's version of the Bible, and it might be expected that his adver- saries would endeavour to depreciate his version yet even the papal historian, Maimboorg, acknowledges, that Luther's translations of the Old and New Testament were remarkably ele- gant, and in general so much approved, that they were read by almost every body throughout Germany.* Woiuen of the first distinction studied them with indefatigable diligence, and steadily defended the tenets of the reformer against bishops, monks, and catholic doctors. The dialect of the translation became the literary language of the most elegant German writers, and has maintained its superiority to the present time. The chief coadjutors of Luther in the laborious task of translation, and in the subse- quent revisions, were Philip Melancthon, John Bttgenhagen or Pomeranus, Justus Jonas, Cas- per Cruciger, and Matthew Aurogallus. The corrector of the press was George Rorar, or Rorarius.

Clement VII.,f who had now succeeded to Adrian and Leo in the papal chair, with a view of avoiding the demands of the Germans for a general council to terminate the dispute, in-

Biblea, Mr. Dlbdlo io his Biiltotk. Sptneer, vol. i. p. 63, observes, "they ore a maenlficent production! bdng printed in a lar^ type, with Jet bltck ink, upon stoat excellent vellum, and havin; a great number of capital initials, spiritedly cut in wood, which contain historiol or other subjects, treated of in eadi chapter. They have signatares, catch-words, and paginary numben." Respecmig the edition of IS39, Luther wrote to Ills friend Pontanus on the soth September of that year. In which he thus expresses his desire : " I hope the Anhault noble- men and gentlemen will take care that there be at least three c(q>ies of this edition printed upon vellum; for each of which it may be necessary to pixxrnre 340 calves skins, formerty to be procured for (So florins, but now indeed at four times that price."
 * CoDcemlne the ezeeution of these edlUoni of Lather^

An edition of Luther's German translation of the Bible, so far as had then appeared, including the whtde, except the Prophets, was printed at Nuremberg, by Fey- pus, in ISM, folio. A copy of this eaily edition is in the msf^niflcent library of Lord Spencer.

Of the later editions, that of 164) was the one upon which Lather bestowed the greatest care in revising and correcting. It was printed in 3 vols, folio, and ornamented with wood- cuts. An unique copy upon vtUum, of this edition, was purchased by George Blbbeit, Esq., for jfsg it. 6d., at the sale of the rare collection of books oT Jas. Edwards, Esq., of Manor House, Harrow on the Hin.

The king of Wuitembnrg's library, at Stntgaid, con- tains many of the rarest editions of Luther's Bilile, among wliicb we notice the following In folio, viz.; Uie New Testament, without date, but known to be the ib^ edition of IfiSS; two editions of the Pentateuch, without date, said to be of the year iSSS, the books of Job, Psalms, Prorerbs, Ecclesiastea, and Song of Solomon, I5S4; the Prophets, 153S; the firat edition of the whole Bible, 1(34 : (the third part of the Old Testament wanting j) sevcnl other of the rarest editions, viz., 1S36, 1936, 1539, 1&41, 1643, 1545, all printed at Wittemberg, by John (Bans) LufR. There are also in the same valuable collection, three editions of the Prophecy of Habakkak,all dated 15Sfl, 4to., but diifering from each other in the tranalaUon; two of Jonah, of the same date, in 4to, diifering flrom each other in the translation i one ofDaniel, 1630, 4to.i and alio Jonah and Habakknk, 1526, 4to.i beside many other rare editions of the whole, or part of Luther's German trans- lation of the Bible, printed daring his life.

t Clement VII. died September 36th, I6S4. The elec- tion of pope Clement VII., Julius de Medici, 1613, to Oie disappointment and deep resentment of Wolsey, was an event which led to and estatdished our reformation.

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