The  first  effect  of  the  new  studies  showed  itself  in  the  nature  and  modes
of  instruction — the  more  natural  and  rational  training  of  the  youthful
mind  which  has  continued  to  be  the  basis  of  German  erudition.     The
hierarchical  system  of  opinions  which,  though  it  had  been  wrought  up
to  a  high  point  of  brilliancy  and  refinement,  could  not  possibly  endure,
was  thus  completely  broken  up.     A  new  life  stirred  in  every  department  ,
of  human  intelligence.     "What  an  age  !  "  exclaims  Hutten,   "  learning  j
flourishes,  the  minds  of  men  awake  ;  it  is  a  joy  to  be  alive."     This  was!
peculiarly  conspicuous  in  the  domain  of  theology.     The  highest  ecclesiastic  j
of  the  nation,  Archbishop  Albert  of  Mainz,  saluted  Erasmus  as  the  restorer
of  theology.
But  an  intellectual  movement  of  a  totally  different  kind  was  now
about  to  take  place.
EARLY  CAREER  OF  LUTHER.
The  authorities,  or  the  opinions  which  rule  the  world,  rarely  encounter
their  most  dangerous  enemies  from  without ;  the  hostilities  by  which  they
are  overthrown  are  usually  generated  and  nurtured  within  their  own  sphere.
1  In  the  Essay  De  Ratione  conscribendi  Epistolas,  the  dedication  of  which
belongs  to  the  year  1522,  he  exclaims  (ed.  of  1534,  p.  71.),  "  Videmus  quantum
profectum  sit  paucis  annis.  Ubi  nunc  est  Michael  Modista,  ubi  glossema  Jacobi,
ubi  citatur  Catholicon  brachylogus  aut  Mammaetrectus,  quos  ohm  ceu  rarum
thesaurum  aureis  Uteris  descriptos  habebant  monachorum  bibliothecas."  It  is
evident  how  much  the  method  had  changed.
140  EARLY  CAREER  OF  LUTHER  [Book  II.
In  the  bosom  of  theological  philosophy  itself,  discords  arose  from  which
a  new  era  in  the  history  of  life  and  thought  may  be  dated.
