Second Diet of Speyer
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The Second Diet of Speyer was convened in March, 1529, for action against the Turks, and against the further progress of Protestantism.
Ascendant Roman Catholic forces prevailed to reverse the policy of religious tolerance adopted in 1526. The Edict of Worms was to be enforced after all, without waiting for a General Council. This was opposed by members that supported Lutheran teachings and practices, who vigorously protested the decision. Their action created the term Protestantism still used today as a name for this religious movement.
The Catholic dignitaries appeared in full force, and were flushed with hopes of victory. The Protestants felt that "Christ was again in the hands of Caiaphas and Pilate." The Diet neutralized the recess of the preceding Diet of 1526; it virtually condemned (without, however, annulling) the innovations made; and it forbade, on pain of the imperial ban, any further reformation until the meeting of the council, which was now positively promised for the next year by the Emperor and the Pope. The Zwinglians and Anabaptists were excluded even from toleration. The latter were to be punished by death.
[edit] Protestation
The Lutheran members of the Diet, under the well-founded impression that the prohibition of any future reformation meant death to the whole movement, entered, in the legal form of an appeal on behalf of themselves, their subjects and all Christians, the famous protest of April 25, 1529. They protested against all those measures of the Diet which they saw as contrary to the Word of God, to their conscience, and to the decision of the Diet of 1526, and appealed from the decision of the majority to the Emperor, to a general or German council, and impartial Christian judges.
The document was signed by the Elector John of Saxony, Margrave George of Brandenburg, Dukes Ernest and Francis of Braunschweig-Luneburg, Landgrave Philip of Hesse, Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, and the representatives of fourteen imperial cities, including Strassburg and St. Gall of the Zwinglian persuasion. They were determined to defend themselves against every act of violence of the majority. Their motto was that of Elector John the Constant: "The Word of God abideth forever."
[edit] References
- Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church, Volume VII, 1882
