" The protagonist of the
Reformation, from whom the whole of the Evangelical sects
are lineally descended, states the case with that plainness
of speech, not to say brutality, which characterised him.
Luther says that man is a beast of burden who only moves as
his rider orders; sometimes God rides him, and sometimes
Satan. "Sic voluntas humana in medio posita est, ceu
jumentum; si insederit Deus, vult et vadit, quo vult
Deus.... Si insederit Satan, vult et vadit, quo vult Satan;
nec est in ejus arbitrio ad utrum sessorem currere, aut eum
quaerere, sed ipsi sessores certant ob ipsum obtinendum et
possidendum" (_De Servo Arbitrio_, M. Lutheri Opera, ed.
1546, t. ii. p. 468). One may hear substantially the same
doctrine preached in the parks and at street-corners by
zealous volunteer missionaries of Evangelicism, any Sunday,
in modern London. Why these doctrines, which are conspicuous
by their absence in the four Gospels, should arrogate to
themselves the title of Evangelical, in contradistinction to
Catholic, Christianity, may well perplex the impartial
inquirer, who, if he were obliged to choose between the two,
might naturally prefer that which leaves the poor beast of
burden a little freedom of choice.
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