457 - The Reformation

The Reformation
Edited by Hans J. Hillerbrand
495 pp. New York, Harper & Row, Publishers, 1964. $7.50.

This is an interesting narrative of the Reformation. By means of brief introductions at the beginning of each chapter and identifying headings before each selection, Dr. Hillerbrand uses excerpts from contemporary documents and accounts to set forth the main outlines of one of the most significant periods of our religious history. The book's eight chapters deal with discontent before the storm, the outbreak, Zwingli, Calvin, the Anabaptists, reforms in England and Scotland, con-

458 - The Reformation

solidation in Germany, and Catholic reaction. The various selections, chosen to dramatize events rather than ideas, closely follow the editor's introductory remarks and serve to substantiate his comments. A number of the items are newly translated, and woodcuts add a flair of interest. By preliminary editorial decision, secondary figures fare sparsely, but the main events with only a few exceptions are commendably covered.

The editor while acknowledging certain disadvantages, namely, that not all the events are equally documented by contemporaries, skillfully uses the excerpts that he has selected, and indicates in footnotes where additional studies may be obtained.

Unfortunately, theological writings were purposely omitted for the reason that they are readily available, but some of them are no more readily available than many of the documents which are included, which leaves one with the impression that the book leans too heavily on events and personalities. Many of the theological writings were eventful and could have been profitably excerpted. Eighteen of Luther's 95 theses and of Zwingli's 67 articles are given, but nothing from Luther's three 1520 essays and nothing from the Augsburg Confession. The chapter which deals with "Catholic Response and Renewal" devotes 30 pages to Loyola and Xavier, but none to the reform efforts in Italy which brought Caraffa and Contarini to the forefront, and none to the Council of Trent which set the doctrinal standard for Roman Catholicism for 400 years. Excerpts from these and similar writings would have added a valuable theological dimension.

The chapter on the political and organizational consolidation in Germany is unduly thin. It deals with Worms, Wartburg, the Peasants' uprising, Luther's marriage, Speyer, the conflict at Augsburg, Luther's death, and the Peace of Augsburg. Luther's hymns, liturgies, and catechisms, which contributed so much to the consolidation of Lutheranism in Germany, are not included, nor is there any mention of the Visitation Articles of 1528, which held such momentous consequences for the church-state situation in Germany. The Schmalkald League, which bore so heavily on politics, and Duke Maurice, who was vitally connected with the military defeat of Protestantism, receive no attention.

The book deserves better copy editing than it received. Entries under Luther in the index are neither alphabetical, chronological, nor paginally continuous.

All of this is not to say that this is not a good collection. It is. And it should prove to be a valuable supplement of sources for students of the Reformation.

Clyde L. Manschreck
Methodist Theological School
Delaware, Ohio