The Emperor of Germany in the time of Luther was Charles V.,—­the most powerful potentate of Europe, and, moreover, a bigoted Catholic.  On his abdication,—­one of the most extraordinary events in history,—­the German dominions were given to his brother Ferdinand; Spain and the Low Countries were bestowed on his son Philip.  Ferdinand had already been elected King of the Romans.  There was a close alliance between these princes of the House of Austria to suppress Protestantism in Europe.  The new Austrian emperor was not, indeed, so formidable as his father had been, but was still one of the greatest monarchs of Europe; and so powerful was the House of Austria that it excited the jealousy of the other European powers.  It was to prevent the dangerous ascendency of Austria that Henry IV. of France raised a great army with a view of invading Germany, but was assassinated before he could carry his scheme into execution.  He had armed France to secure what is called the “balance of power;” and it was with the view of securing this balance of power that Cardinal Richelieu, though a prince of the Church, took the side of the Protestants in the Thirty Years’ War.  This famous contest may therefore be regarded as a civil war, dividing the German nations; as a religious war, to establish freedom of belief; and as a war to prevent the ascendency of Austria, in which a great part of Europe was involved.

The beginning of the contest, however, was the result of religious agitation.  The ideas of Luther created universal discussion.  Discussion led to animosities.  All Germany was in a ferment; and the agitation was not confined to those States which accepted the Reformation, but to Catholic States also.  The Catholic princes resolved to crush the Reformation, first in their own dominions, and afterwards in the other States of Germany.  Hence, a bloody persecution of the Protestants took place in all Catholic States.  Their sufferings were unendurable.  For a while they submitted to the cruel lash, but at last they resolved to defend the right of worshipping God according to their consciences.  They armed themselves, for death seemed preferable to religious despotism.  For more than fifty years after the death of Luther, Germany was the scene of commotions ending in a fiery persecution.  At that time Germany was in advance of the rest of Europe in wealth and intelligence; the Protestants especially were kindled to an enthusiasm, pertaining to theological questions, which we in these times can but feebly realize; and the Germans were doubtless the most earnest and religious people in Europe.  In those days there was neither religious indifference nor scepticism nor rationalism.  The faith of the people was simple, and they were resolved to maintain it at any cost.  But there were religious parties and asperities, even among the Protestants.  The Lutherans would not unite with the Calvinists, and the Calvinists would not accede to the demands of the Lutherans.