Hieronymus Kromayer [1610-1670]: “It may happen that the ears of the hearers may take from what is presented to them something that is better and more consonant with the truth than was intended by the teachers. Thus, for example, in the papacy, despite the rubbish of human traditions, Christ nevertheless was apprehended and retained by devout hearers, and again among the hearers that recently left the papacy [Calvinists], who did not recognize the depths of Satan despite the subtle discussions of the absolute [divine] decree [regarding predestination], some had the doctrine of the justification of a sinner by faith in Christ’s merits deeply engraved on their hearts. Therefore, we by no means absolutely condemn those who toward the end of the preceding century were put to death by the command of Duke Alva in Belgium [in 1567].[1] Most of them did not recognize the depths of Satan, and far from trusting in their good works, they desired to be justified and saved solely by faith in Christ. The [practical] use of this doctrine in the area of teaching is that we must carefully distinguish between the dogmatists and the hearers and not measure the whole church [ganzen Kirchen], by the errors of the former. In controversies this doctrine is to be used against those severe judges who often cast the stone of judgment upon whole and often innocent fellowships [Gemeinschaften] if religious persecution arises” (Theologia positivo-polemica, part 2, pp. 512–13).
From C.F.W. Walther, "Kirche und Amt."
[1] Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba[1] (29 October 1507 – 11 December 1582) was a Spanish general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands (1567–1573), nicknamed "the Iron Duke" by the Protestants of the Low Countries because of his harsh rule and cruelty…. n 1567, Philip, who was a zealous opponent of Protestantism, sent Alba into the Netherlands at the head of an army of 12,000 men, with unlimited powers for the extirpation of the heretics. Alba quickly erected a tribunal, the Council of Troubles, which soon became known to the Calvinists as the "Council of Blood," to try all persons who had been engaged in the late commotions that the rule of Philip had excited. During the ten years it operated, thousands of people were executed. The precise number is disputed: Dutch sources cite 18,000 victims, while Spanish accounts mention only a few hundred. About 12,000 casualties can be considered as the most accurate estimate, of which 1,083 were executed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Álvarez_de_Toledo,_3rd_Duke_of_Alba#cite_note-Israel-1
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2 comments:
Sounds like Pieper's "Felicitous Inconsistencies"
Kromayer's excerpt is used to support C.F.W. Walther's Thesis VIII, on the Church: Although God gathers for Himself a holy church of elect also where His Word is not taught in its perfect purity and the sacraments are not administered altogether according to the institution of Jesus Christ, if only God's Word and the sacraments are not denied entirely but both remain in their essential parts, nevertheless, every believer must, at the peril of losing his salvation, flee all false teachers, avoid all heterodox congregations or sects, and acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox pastors wherever such may be found.
A. Also in heterodox and heretical churches there are children of God, and also there the true church is made manifest by the pure Word and the sacraments that still remain.
B. Every believer for the sake of his salvation must flee all false teachers and avoid all heterodox congregations or sects.
C. Every Christian for the sake of his salvation is in duty bound to acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and orthodox pastors, wherever he can find such.
[Church and Ministry (Kirche und Amt), C.F.W.Walther, trans. J.T. Mueller, CPH, 1987]
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