SUMMA DER GODLIKER SCRIFTUREN: The
first clause in the title of a noted book which first appeared in Leyden, 1523. The full title reads: Summa der Godliker Serif turen, oft een duytsche The-
ologie, leerende en onderwijsende atte History menschen, wat dat Christen gheloue is, of the waer doer wi allegader salich worden, Work. ende wat dat doepsel beduyt, nae die
leeringe des heiligen evangelijs ende sinte Pauwels episteln. It was suppressed by the stadtholders in the name of Charles V., orders were given for its destruction as containing prohibited doctrines, all persons were forbidden to own, read, buy or sell the book, while in 1524 the publisher, Jan Zwerts, was banished for life and his fortune confiscated. Fresh editions continued to appear, however, as well as translations into other languages, although it was placed on the Index of the Church and on that of the Louvain Theological Faculty. In England various edicts issued in 1526, 1535, 1539, against the Latin original and the English version (The Summa of Holy Scripture, 1542, etc., five editions). The Sorbonne condemned it in 1550, in Italy it was found on all the indexes after 1549, in Spain the indexes of Valdez, 1559, and Quiroga, 1583, mention it, and it was known at the court of Charles V It had an important part in the Refor-
RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Suidger
Summa
mation in the countries named. Having performed its mission during the Reformation, the book was forgotten until 1877, when Professor Boehmer, of Zurich, discovered in the public library a copy of the Italian version and enabled Professor Milio, of Florence, to publish it in Rivista Cristiana and in a special edition. Benrath found a Dutch edition of 1526, published a German translation (Leipsic, 1880), and judged that there must have been an earlier original Dutch issue in 1523. It appeared, also, that a second part was published in low German, presumably the following year, the author of which claimed the authorship of the first part, but the second part was written originally in low German, and does not appear in other languages. The first part, however, with the prologue, is a translation, and from the Latin, as Benrath surmised and Van Toorenenbergen proved, the author himself being the translator.
An edition of the Latin and the oldest Dutch translation were published by Prof. J. J. van Toorenenbergen, of Amsterdam, in 1882. The Latin, (Economica Christiana in rem Chris- The Latin, tianam instituens, quidve creditum ingenue Christianum oportet, ex evangelicis Uteris eruta, was published, Strasburg, 1527- Comparison shows that the Summa is much less complete than the (Economica, which was evidently intended to enlighten the minds of the clergy and educated laity regarding the truths of the Gospel, and also to combat the corruptions of monastic life, and especially the illusion that the life, in itself, was sanctified. One portion is practical; the other, theoretical. The Summa is adapted to the popular understanding, and consequently is abridged in many places, especially those portions that refer to monastic life. The author was at first reluctant to publish the Latin original, and it is questioned whether he indorsed its publication in 1527. Van Toorenenbergen surmises that a friend of the author, Gerardus Goldenhauer, being in straitened circumstances, handed over the work to the Strasburg publisher, Christian Egenolphus. The original (Economica was probably written in 1520. The author was evidently still in the Roman church and desired to reform, but not abolish, monasticism. The influence of Luther's writings is traceable, among others the " Sermon on Baptism " (1519), the " Babylonian Captivity," and " A Christian's Liberty " (1520). In the Summa, the Reformers also speak. In the edition of 1523 is a formula for the celebration of the Lord's Supper: Bat Testament Jesu Christi datmen tot noch toe de misse ghenoempt heeft, verduyts(t) duer Joannem Oecolampadium to Adelenburch, and in the edition of 1526 is an entire chapter taken almost verbatim from one of Luther's writings. In all editions prior to 1526, the twenty-ninth chapter contains a merciless condemnation of war, unless it be for the protection of subjects from foreign or internal oppression. This is evidently an almost verbatim transcript of Luther's treatise of 1526, Ob Kriegsleute auch im seligen Stande sein konnen. The author must be responsible for this change of sentiment, as no one else would have ventured to introduce it, and on the title-page of the edition of 1526 stand
the words " new and thoroughly revised edition." The author's name does not appear on either the (Economica or the Summa. Van Toorenenbergen and Benrath both incline to ascribe the authorship to Hendrik van Bommel, a preacher in Wesel in 1557, who then acknowledged himself the author of Summa der deutschen Theologie, which had appeared thirty years earlier.
The (Economica consists of two parts, the first containing fifteen, the second fourteen, chapters; the Summa contains thirty-one chapters and a prologue. The first fifteen chapters of
Contents, both works treat of the doctrine of faith under the same headings: What is baptism; What baptism insures, and that it is not a mere sign; What Christians celebrate in baptism; What Christian faith is and what those must believe who would be saved; On the surest way of salvation; That by God's goodness alone, and not by works, are we saved; In what manner our salvation is assured by his death who gave us his Testament; How, according to the Gospel, faith is never without works; Faith stirs your souls to obey God's commands; Who is a son, and who a hireling; Two kinds of men in the Christian world ; The fruits of faith; Of many beliefs mentioned in Holy Scripture; The condition of Christendom; That death should not make us sorrowful. In the fourteen chapters of (Economica (second part), the author shows how all conditions of men should live according to the Gospel, and also in chaps, xvi. to xxxi. of the Summa; but in (Economica eight chapters are devoted to monks and nuns, and in the Summa only four, which are materially abridged, with a special chapter on parents who dedicate their children to monastic life. Chaps, xi. and xii. of (Economica deal with the rich, the married, burghers, and magistrates; chap. xiii. shows that the Gospel forbids war; chap. xiv. closes with the inquiry: " By what Gospel authority may princes levy taxes? " and discusses the corresponding duties of subjects. In the Summa, chap. xxii. deals with the question of married life; xxiii. with the Christian rule of children by parents; xxiv. considers the life of the middle classes; and xxv. tells how the rich should conform to the teaching of the Gospel. Chap, xxvi., which treats of worldly and spiritual rule, shows that the author was familiar with Luther's Von weltlicher Obrigkeit; chap, xxvii. points burgomasters, magistrates, and other officers to the Gospel; xxviii. resembles chap. xiv. of (Economica; xxx. deals with the life of men- and maid-servants and day-laborers; and xxxi. with widows.
A truly remarkable work is the Summa, and it indicates that a wholesome spirit of reform predominated in the Netherlands earlier than elsewhere, where was, so to speak, an individual reformation, of which the Summa was the expression. It also bears evidence of a growing sympathy with Luther and Zwingli. In fact, the Netherlands supported and furthered the reform movement in other countries partly by the Summa, which spread abroad and fostered the intellectual awakening of the reform spirit. (S. D. van Veen.)
Bibliography: Besides the introductions to the editions named in the text, consult the articles in the Theologi-
Summen hart
Sun and Sun Worship