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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2009
The ground and provocation of the German Reformed Church are first considerations in the appreciation of its character. It is understood that the Palatinate Church Order of 1563, containing the Heidelberg Catechism and the Palatinate liturgy, introduced a permanent Reformed tradition to Germany. It should also be understood that that kirchenordnung represented the effort of a Melanchthonian church to maintain its evangelical consciousness against the pressures of Gnesio-Lutheranism. Later Palatinate religion arose thus from the ground of Melanchthonianism and in the context of the Crypto-Calvinist controversy—the creation of Zacharius Ursinus, a pupil of Melanchthon and Martyr, and more deeply of John a Lasco, the Polish reformer whose influence in this connection remains untold.
1. Wilhelm, Niesel (ed.) Bekenntnisschriften und Kirchencrdnungen der …Reformierten Kirche (Zurich, 1938), pp. 136–218.Google Scholar
2. August Ebrard used the term. See “Melanchthon and the Melanchthonian Tendency,” Tercentenary Monument … of the Heidelberg Catechism (Chambersburg, 1863), pp. 89–112.Google Scholar
3. Melanchthon's independence began during the Wittenberg disorders (1521–22). Repulsed by the “ignorance” and “bad manners” of his associates, he retreated to the fringe of the Church and assumed the humanist's role of educator. See Melanchthons Opera: Corpus Reformatorum, I, 514, 613, 576; II, 514.
4. Melanchthons Opera: Corpus Reformatorum, I, 673, 675.Google Scholar
5. Ibid, I, 637.
6. Ibid., IX, 766: Opinion of 1558.
7. Ibid., XXI, 271–74: the Loci Communes of 1535.
8. Jacobs, H. E. (ed.) Book of Concord (Phila., 1893), I, 262Google Scholar: the Leipzig Interim.
9. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., IX, 768: Opinion of 1558.
10. A charge frequently made against Melanchthon. For Luther's doctrine, see Schwiebert, E. G., Luther and His Times (St. Louis, 1950), pp. 701–03Google Scholar. Both parties to the Cry-pto-Calvinist Controversy may have misunderstood Luther. Granted this possibility, the controversy was nonetheless real; its results nonetheless significant.
11. Meanchthons Opera: C.R., I. 913: Melanchthon to Jonas.
12. Ibid., I, 948f.
13. Robert, Stupperich (ed.) Melanchthons Werke in Auswahl (Gütersloh, 1951), I, 297–300.Google Scholar
14. See: Melanchthons Opera: C.R., I, 1106; 974; II, 25. See: Bindseil, H. E., Philippi Melanchthonis Epistolae, Iudidicia, Consilia, Testimonia (Halle, 1874), p. 40.Google Scholar
15. Meianchthons Opera: C.R., I, 1070 (to Baumgartner) I, 1068 (to Camcrarius) I, 1108 (to Agricola); I, 1067 (to the Elector); I, 1078, 1080.
16. Ibid, II, 25, 193. Bucer was attacked in his Opinion Concerning the Foundation of the Doctrine of the Sacramentarians; Jacobs, Book of Concord, II, 241–43.
17. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., XXIII, 733–52.
18. Ibid., II, 217 (to Luther); II, 822, 824 (to Camerarius and Brenz, jan., 1535).
19. Ibid., II, 620 (to Rothmann, December, 1532). See: Centuria Epistolarum ad Schwebelium, pp. 150f. (Bucer to Schwebel, Nov. 9, 1530).
20. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., II, 498 (to Bucer, Apr. 1531); II, 822 (the Cassel agreement).
21. Ibid., III, 427. Chancellor Brück to the Elector: “Luther seemed to be provoked because … it seemed as if Melanchthon had almost gone Zwinghan since his return from Cassel.” See: de Wette, W. M. L. (ed.) Luthers Briefe (Berlin, 1825–1856), IV, 569.Google Scholar
22. De Wette, , Luthers Briefe, IV, 572.Google Scholar
23. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., II, 822.
24. Heppe, H., Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche Deutsehlands (Cassel, 1855), p. 346 (The Variata, Art. X)Google Scholar. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., XXI, 863 (The Loci Coinmunes of 1559).
25. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., IX, 960f. (Responsio, 1559).
26. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche, pp. 340ff.Google Scholar
27. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., II, 861, 871. Melanchthon informed Myconius in 1536 that he was making the Confession “almost entirely new.” On May 5, 1537, Elector John Frederick complained “that M. Philip undertook in several places to alter, soften, and publish” the Confession (Ibid., III, 366). Peucer knew of a draft in 1538 (Ibid., XXVI, 342).
28. Ibid., IV, 37, 37.
29. Cum pane et vi, w vere exhibeantur corpus et sanguis Christi, vescentibus in Coena Doimini.
30. Diet of Worms, 1541: Melanckthons Opera: C.R., IV, 34, 37. At Regensburg, 1541, Calvin subscribed: Calvin Opera, V (C.R., XXXIII), 509f. The Variata was used in all imperial diets through 1561.
31. So states the Naumburg agreement (1561): Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprot. Kirche, pp. 583ff.Google Scholar
32. E.g., the Hessian Kirchenordnung (1566), the Pomeranian Synodal Statutes (1574), the Nassau Confession (1578), the Anhalt Repetition (1581), the Private Confession (1614) of John Sigismund of Brandenburg. More often the Invariota was modified by Melanchthon's Loci or Examen, by the Saxon Confession or the Frank fort Recess (1558).
33. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche, p. 563.Google Scholar
34. E.g., the article on the Supper agrees verbally with the Variata, Examen, and Loci (1535). See: Heppe, , Die Bekenmtnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche, pp. 568–70.Google Scholar
35. Die Bekenntnisschriftefl der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (Göttingen,1952), p. 746.Google Scholar
36. Notably Bugenhagen, Camerarius, Major, Eber. Heppe has written four vols. on this period: Geschichte des deutsohen Protestantisinus in den Jahren 1555–1581 (Marburg, 1852–1858).Google Scholar
37. Kluckhohn, A. (ed.) Briefe Friedrich des Frommen Kurfürsten von der Pfalz (Brunswick, 1559–1576), I, 158ff.Google Scholar
38. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantisehen Kirche, p. 591.Google Scholar
39. The liturgical traditiong of Pomerania, Hesse, Cologne (Pia Deliberatio, 1543), Mecklenburg and Wurtemberg. See: Richter, A. L., Die evangelaschen Kirchenordnungen des sechsrehnten Jahrhunderts (Leipzig, 1871).Google Scholar
40. Both the Gemeinkirchenordnung (1563) and Brenz's Lanjescatechismus (1536) teach a Melanchthonian doctrine of the Supper. See: Richter, , Kirehenordnungen, I, 207, 268Google Scholar; see:Buchrucker, Karl, Die Normelkatechismen der christlichen Kirchen (Nllrnberg, 1890), pp. 1–8.Google Scholar
41. By the church order of that year. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 177f.Google Scholar
42. By the church order of that year. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 146.Google Scholar
43. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 295.Google Scholar
44. For example, the Kirchenordnung und Reformation (1576) and the Agenda were reproductions of the Hessian Reformation (1573) and Agenda (1574). Richter, , Kirohenordnungen, II, 400Google Scholar; II, 348ff., 393ff.
45. As one example, the Nassau Confession (1578) cites the Obrigkeit dieses Orths—negst den pfälzischen Kirchen, in etlichen Stüeken, von den benachbarten Hessisehen Kirohen. See: Heppe, Hemrich, Die Bekenntnisschrif ten der reformirten Kirchen Deutschlands (Elberfeld, 1860), pp. 140f.Google Scholar
46. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., XXIII, 1–103; Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 116.Google Scholar
47. See: Heppe, , Geschichte des deutschen Protestantismus, II, 468ff.Google Scholar The Kireheiwrdnung of 1580 affirmed the ungeenderten Augsburgischen Confession. Richter, , Kirchenirdnungen, II, 402.Google Scholar
48. Richter, , Kischenordnungen, II, 146f.Google Scholar
49. Ibid., II, 177ff.
50. Ibid., II, 131ff.
51. Buchrucker, , Die Normelkatechismen, pp. 1–8.Google Scholar
52. Struve, Burcard, Ausführlieher Beris, ht von der Pfälzischen Kirchea-Historte (Frankfort, 1721), p. 52.Google Scholar
53. In addition to the main Electoral line, there were collateral branches of the family, which ruled the smaller portions of the Palatinate as Counts Palatine. These lands were known by the names of their chief cities: Amberg, Neuburg, Zweibrücken, and Simmern. Zweibrücken was directly west of the electoral Palatinate.
54. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 194ffGoogle Scholar. See: Melanchthons Opera: C.R., VIII, 806, 937.Google Scholar
55. Melanchthong Opera: C.R., IX, 341, 343.Google Scholar
56. Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, pp. 29ff.Google Scholar
57. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirehe, p. 597.Google Scholar
58. Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, pp. 66ff.Google Scholar
59. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., IX, 144. 146: to Breaz and Camerarius expressing concern over Palatjnate affairs.
60. Richter, , Kircheiwrdnungen, II, 137.Google Scholar See: Struve, , Kirehen-Historie, p. 48.Google Scholar
61. Text: Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, p. 78.Google Scholar
62. Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, p. 82.Google Scholar
63. Melanehthons Opera: C.R., IX, 960f.
64. By the Kirchen-Raths Ordnung (1560).
65. Kuyper, A. (ed.) Joannis a Lasco Opera (Amsterdam, 1866), II, 724–30.Google Scholar
66. Heppe, Heinrich, Die Entstehung und Fortbildung des Lutherthums und die kirchlichen Bekenntnis-Schriften desselben von 1548–1576 (Cassel, 1863), pp. 60ff.Google Scholar
67. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., IX, 1036.
68. Using Klebitz's Theses (1559). Texts: Struve, Kirehen-Historie, pp. 78, 98.
69. Struve, , Kirehen-Historie, pp. 104–111Google Scholar, passim.
70. Ibid, p. 106.
71. So: Alting, Struve, Sudhoff, Seisen and others. See: Good, James I., The Heidelberg Catechism in Its Newest Light (Phila., 1914), p. 135.Google Scholar
72. Religions other than Roman Catholic and Lutheran “shall not be included in the present peace but shall be totally excluded from it.” See: Kidd, B. J., Documents of the Continental Reformation (Oxford, 1911), p. 364.Google Scholar
73. Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 661–664.Google Scholar
74. See Frederick's Christliche Confession (1577): Heppe: Die Bekenntnisschriften der reformirten Kirchen, p. 3.
75. Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 661–664.Google Scholar
76. Ibid, I, 158f.
77. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschrif ten der altprotestantischen Kirche, p. 591.Google Scholar
78. See: Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 391, 416, 439, 440, 466.Google Scholar
79. Ibid., I, 450.
80. Sudhoff, Karl, C. Olevianus und Z. Ursinus: Leben und ausgewdhlte Schriften (Elberfeld, 1857), p. 483: letter of 04. 14, 1563.Google Scholar
81. Niesel, , Bekenntnisschrif ten und Kirchenordnungen, p. 139.Google Scholar
82. Sudhoff, , Olevianus und Ursinus, p. 457.Google Scholar
83. Corpus doctrinae orthodoxae sive calecheticarum explicationum … opus absolutum D. Davidis Parei (Heidelberg, 1612), p. 1006Google Scholar. The address was entitled: Oratio exhortatoria ad dactrinae christianae studium.
84. Ursini Opera (ed., Quininus Reuter), I, 755–803.Google Scholar
85. Sudhoff, , Olevianus und Ursinus, p. 487 (text).Google Scholar
86. Ibid., p. 9: text of letter to Crato of Craftheim.
87. Ursini Opera (ed., Renter), II.
88. Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 1–277Google Scholar. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 99f.Google Scholar
89. Emden Catechism (1546)—250 questions. Micronius' abridgement in For- ma ac Ratio (1550)—45 questions; Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 127–135Google Scholar. Utenhoven's Flemjshtanslation (1551)—250 questions; Ibid., II, 341–475. Micronius' second abridgement. for the churches of East Friesland (1554)—94 questions; Ibid., II, 500–543; and Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der ref ormirten Kirchen, pp. 295–310.Google Scholar
90. Utenhoven edition, No. 124.
91. Utenhoven edition, No. 125.
92. Mieronius edition (1554), No. 24.
93. Mieronius edition (1550), No. 24.
94. Micronius edition (1550), No. 37.
95. Micronius edition (1550), No. 27; Utenhoven edition, No. 169; Micronius edition (1554), No. 45.
96. Micronius edition (1554), No. 82. See: Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, I, 503Google Scholar: Epitome of Doctrine (1544).
97. Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 676Google Scholar: to Bullinger, June 6, 1553.
98. Ibid, II, 716f., 718. See: Struve, Kirchen-Historie, p. 65.
99. Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 733.Google Scholar
100. Ursini Opera (ed., Reuter), I, 8.Google Scholar
101. The following research is independent of, and often at variance with Lang, A., Der Heidelberger Katechismus und vier verwandte Katechismen: Quellenschriften mr Geschichte des Protestantismus. Jahrgang 1907, Heft 3.Google Scholar
102. To a Lasco: 1, 21, 22, 26, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 53, 54, 56, 66, 68, 69, 74, 81, 82, 92–113, 108, 119–124. To Calvin: 27, 45, 46, 47, 49, 70, 109, 110; Lang adds 30, 32, 48, 88, 108. To Brenz: 59, 60–64, 66, 83, 115 and the relationship between “thanks” and “works” on which Part III is based.
103. “Zacharius Ursinus,” Mercersburg Review Vol. III (09., 1851), pp. 490–512.Google Scholar
104. Buehrueker, , Die Normelkatechismen, p. 6.Google Scholar
105. See: Micronius edition, 1554, No. 2, 3 (Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 451Google Scholar) and Micronius edition, 1550, No. 1 (Opera, II, 127).
106. See: Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, I, 571Google Scholar (Epistpla Amicum); I, 465ff. (Sum- ma Controv. de Coena)
107. Questions 73, 76, 79. See: Buchrucker, , Die Normelkatechismen, p. 4.Google Scholar
108. See: Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 454 (Fred- crick's Defense of 09. 14, 1563Google Scholar; Ebrard, A., Dogma von heiligen A bendmahi und seine Geschiclste (Frankfort, 1846), II, 618–634 (Ursinus' Gründlicher Bericht vom heiligen Abendmahl, 1564)Google Scholar; and Heppe, H., Die confessionelle Entwicklung dsr allprotest antischen Kirche Deutschlande Marburg, 1854), pp. 405–25Google Scholar (the Heidelberg Repetition, 1566).
109. Sudhoff, , Olevianus und Ursinus, pp. 483–85Google Scholar: Olevianus to Bullinger, Oct. 25, 1563.
110. See: Corpus Reformatorum (Calvin), VI, 185.Google Scholar
111. Compare: Pollanus' Liturgia Sacra (1554). Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 150ff.Google Scholar
112. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 136 (Wurtemberg)Google Scholar; II, 42 (Cologne).
113. Ibid., II, 134f.
114. Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 390, 416, 440.Google Scholar
115. Ibid., I, 398.
116. Ibid., I, 399.
117. Ibid., I, 449–460, especially p. 450 and p. 454.
118. Ibid., I, 504–505 (reconstruction).
119. See: Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 625f.Google Scholar
120. Ibid, I, 652f.
121. Ibid., I, 661–664; Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, pp. 187–190.Google Scholar
122. Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 681ff.Google Scholar
124. Ibid., I, 726.
125. Brenz's Verareichniss der Mängel (1565); Hesshus' True Warning (1564); the Censures of Brenz and Andreae (1564). See: Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 399.Google Scholar
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127. Text: Heppe, , Die confessionelle Entwicklung der altprotestantischen Kirche Deutsehiands, pp. 405–25.Google Scholar
128. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschrif ten der reforinirten Kirchen, pp. 3f.Google Scholar
129. Ibid, p. xii, pp. 70f.
130. Compare: the Nassau Confession (Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der reformirten Kirchen, p. 80)Google Scholar and the Frankfort Recess (Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche, p. 570)Google Scholar.
131. Heppe, , Die Bekenmtnisschriften der reformirten Kirchen, p. 247.Google Scholar
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133. Ibid, p. 286.
