§ 108. THE EUCHARISTIC CONTROVERSY. 613
IV. Special discussions. Dorner: Geschichte der protestant. Theologie (Miinchen, 1867), pp. 296-329. JuL. MULLER: Vergleichung der Lehren Luther’s und Calvin’s tiber das heil. Abendmahl, in his *‘ Dogmatische Abhandlungen” (Bremen, 1870, pp. 404-467). K6sTLin: Luther’s Theologie, 11. 100 sqq., 511 sqq.; Mart. Luther, 1. 715-725; 11. 65-110 (Luther und Zwingli); 127 sqq.; 363-369. AuGusr BAuR: Zwingli’s Theologie (Halle, 1885; second vol. has not yet appeared).
American discussions of the eucharistic controversies. J. W. NEVIN (Reformed, d. 1886): The Mystical Presence, Philadelphia, 1846; Doctrine of the Reformed Church on the Lord’s Supper, in ‘‘ The Mercersburg Review,”’ 1850, pp. 421-549. Cu. Hop@e (Presbyt., d. 1878): in “‘ The Princeton Review”’ for April, 1848; Systematic Theology, New York, 1873, vol. III., 626-677. C. P. Krautru (Luth., d. 1883): The Conservative Reformation (Philadelphia, 1872), p. 585sqq. H. J. VAN DYKE (Calvinist): The Lord’s Supper, 2 arts. in ‘‘ The Presbyterian Review,”’ New York, 1887, pp. 193 and 472 sqq. J. W. RicnHarp (Luth.), in the “‘ Bibliotheca Sacra’”’ (Oberlin, O.), Oct. 1887, p. 667 sqq., and Jan. 1888, Ῥ. 110 sqq.
See, also, the lit. quoted in Schaff, Church Hist., I. 471 sq. and IV. 543 sq. |
While the Reformers were agreed on the question of infantbaptism against the Anabaptists, they disagreed on the mode and extent of the real presence in the Lord’s Supper.
The eucharistic controversies of the sixteenth century present a sad and disheartening spectacle of human passion and violence, and inflicted great injury to the progress of the Reformation by preventing united action, and giving aid and comfort to the enemy; but they were overruled for the clearer development and statement of truth, like the equally violent Trinitarian, Christological, and other controversies in the ancient church. It is a humiliating fact, that the feast of union and communion of believers with Christ and with each other, wherein they engage in the highest act of worship, and make the nearest approach to heaven, should have become the innocent occasion of bitter contests among brethren professing the same faith and the same devotion to Christ and his gospel. The person of Christ and the supper of Christ have stirred up the deepest passions of love and
614 THE GERMAN REFORMATION. A.D. 1517 To 1580.
hatred. Fortunately, the practical benefit of the sacrament depends upon God’s promise, and simple and childlike faith in Christ, and not upon any scholastic theory, any more than the benefit of the Sacred Scriptures depends upon a critical “snowledge of Greek and Hebrew.
The eucharist was twice the subject of controversy in the fiddle Ages, — first in the ninth, and then in the eleventh, entury. The question in both cases turned on a grossly ealistic and a spiritual conception of the sacramental presence
and fruition of Christ’s body and blood; and the result was the triumph of the Roman dogma of transubstantiation, as advocated by Paschasius Radbertus against Ratramnus, and by Lanfrane against Berengar, and as finally sanctioned by the fourth Lateran Council in 1215, and the Council of Trent in 1551.1
_ The Greek and Latin churches are substantially agreed on the doctrine of the communion and the mass, but divide on the ritual question of the use of leavened or unleavened bread. The withdrawal of the cup from the laity caused the bloody Hussite wars.
The eucharistic controversies of the Protestants assumed a different form. 'Transubstantiation was discarded by both parties. The question was not, whether the elements as to their substance are miraculously transformed mto the body and blood of Christ, but whether Christ was corporally or only spiritually (though no less really) present with the natural elements; and whether he was partaken of by all communicants through the mouth, or only by the worthy communicants through faith.
The controversy has two acts, each with several scenes: first, between Luther and Zwingli; secondly, between the Lutherans and Philippists and Calvinists. At last Luther’s theory triumphed in the Lutheran, Calvin’s theory in the
1 Schaff, Church History, vol. IV. 543-572; Creeds of Christendom, 11. 130-139.