Beacon Lights of History, Volume 06: Renaissance and Reformation

Part 2: Renaissance and Reformation. See E-Book#1499,

LORD'S LECTURES

BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME VI

RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION.

BY JOHN LORD, LL.D.,

AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ROMAN WORLD," "MODERN EUROPE," ETC., ETC.

CONTENTS.

DANTE.

RISE OF MODERN POETRY.

The antiquity of Poetry The greatness of Poets Their influence on Civilization The true poet one of the rarest of men The pre-eminence of Homer, Dante, Shakspeare, and Goethe Characteristics of Dante His precocity His moral wisdom and great attainments His terrible scorn and his isolation State of society when Dante was born His banishment Guelphs and Ghibellines Dante stimulated to his great task by an absorbing sentiment Beatrice Dante's passion for Beatrice analyzed The worship of ideal qualities the foundation of lofty love. The mystery of love Its exalted realism Dedication of Dante's life-labors to the departed Beatrice The Divine Comedy; a study The Inferno; its graphic pictures Its connection with the ideas of the Middle Ages The physical hell of Dante in its connection with the Mediaeval doctrine of Retribution The Purgatorio; its moral wisdom Origin of the doctrine of Purgatory Its consolation amid the speculations of despair The Paradiso Its discussion of grand themes The Divina Commedia makes an epoch in civilization Dante's life an epic His exalted character His posthumous influence

GEOFFREY CHAUCER.

ENGLISH LIFE IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

The characteristics of the fourteenth century Its great events and characters State of society in England when Chaucer arose His early life His intimacy with John of Gaunt, the great Duke of Lancaster His prosperity His poetry The Canterbury Tales Their fidelity to Nature and to English life Connection of his poetry with the formation of the English Language The Pilgrims of the Canterbury Tales Chaucer's views of women and of love His description of popular sports and amusements The preponderance of country life in the fourteenth century Chaucer's description of popular superstitions Of ecclesiastical abuses His emancipation from the ideas of the Middle Ages Peculiarities of his poetry Chaucer's private life The respect in which he was held Influence of his poetry

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

MARITIME DISCOVERIES.

Marco Polo His travels The geographical problems of the fourteenth century Sought to be solved by Christopher Columbus The difficulties he had to encounter Regarded as a visionary man His persistence Influence of women in great enterprises Columbus introduced to Queen Isabella Excuses for his opponents The Queen favors his projects The first voyage of Columbus Its dangers Discovery of the Bahama Islands Discovery of Cuba and Hispaniola Columbus returns to Spain The excitement and enthusiasm produced by his discoveries His second voyage Extravagant expectations of Columbus Disasters of the colonists Decline of the popularity of Columbus His third voyage His arrest and disgrace His fourth voyage His death Greatness of his services Results of his discoveries Colonization The mines of Peru and Mexico The effects on Europe of the rapid increase of the precious metals True sources of national wealth The destinies of America Its true mission

SAVONAROLA.

UNSUCCESSFUL REFORMS.

The age of Savonarola Revival of Classic Literature Ecclesiastical corruptions Religious apathy; awakened intelligence; infidel spirit Youth of Savonarola His piety Begins to preach His success at Florence Peculiarities of his eloquence Death of Lorenzo de' Medici Savonarola as a political leader Denunciation of tyranny His influence in giving a constitution to the Florentines Difficulties of Constitution-making His method of teaching political science Peculiarities of the new Rule Its great wisdom Savonarola as reformer As moralist Terrible denunciation of sin in high places A prophet of woe Contrast between Savonarola and Luther The sermons of Savonarola His marvellous eloquence Its peculiarities The enemies of Savonarola Savonarola persecuted His appeal to Europe The people desert him Months of torment His martyrdom His character His posthumous influence

MICHAEL ANGELO.

THE REVIVAL OF ART.

Michael Angelo as representative of reviving Art Ennobling effects of Art when inspired by lofty sentiments Brilliancy of Art in the sixteenth century Early life of Michael Angelo His aptitude for Art Patronized by Lorenzo de' Medici Sculpture later in its development than Architecture The chief works of Michael Angelo as sculptor The peculiarity of his sculptures Michael Angelo as painter History of painting in the Middle Ages Da Vinci The frescos of the Sistine Chapel The Last Judgment The cartoon of the battle of Pisa The variety as well as moral grandeur of Michael Angelo's paintings Ennobling influence of his works His works as architect St. Peter's Church Revival of Roman and Grecian Architecture Contrasted with Gothic Architecture Michael Angelo rescues the beauties of Paganism Not responsible for absurdities of the Renaissance Greatness of Michael Angelo as a man His industry, temperance, dignity of character, love of Art for Art's sake His indifference to rewards and praises His transcendent fame

MARTIN LUTHER.

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION.

Luther's predecessors Corruptions of the Church Luther the man for the work of reform His peculiarities His early piety Enters a Monastery His religious experience Made Professor of Divinity at Wittenberg The Pope in great need of money to complete St. Peter's Indulgences; principles on which they were based Luther, indignant, preaches Justification by Faith His immense popularity Grace the cardinal principle of the Reformation The Reformation began as a religious movement How the defence of Luther's doctrine led to the recognition of the supreme authority of the Scriptures Public disputation at Leipsic between Luther and Eck Connection between the advocacy of the Bible as a supreme authority and the right of private judgment Religious liberty a sequence of private judgment Connection between religious and civil liberty Contrast between Leo I. and Luther Luther as reformer His boldness and popularity He alarms Rome His translation of the Bible, his hymns, and other works Summoned by imperial authority to the Diet of Worms His memorable defence His immortal legacies His death and character

THOMAS CRANMER.

THE ENGLISH REFORMATION.

Importance of the English Reformation Cranmer its best exponent What was effected during the reign of Henry VIII Thomas Cromwell Suppression of Monasteries Their opposition to the revival of Learning Their exceeding corruption Their great wealth and its confiscation Ecclesiastical courts Sir Thomas More: his execution Main feature of Henry VIII.'s anti-clerical measures Fall of Cromwell Rise of Cranmer His characteristics His wise moderation His fortunate suggestions to Henry VIII Made Archbishop of Canterbury Difficulties of his position Reforms made by the government, not by the people Accession of Edward VI Cranmer's Church reforms: open communion; abolition of the Mass; new English liturgy Marriage among the clergy; the Forty-two Articles Accession of Mary Persecution of the Reformers Reactionary measures Arrest, weakness, and recantation of Cranmer His noble death; his character Death of Mary Accession of Elizabeth, and return of exiles to England The Elizabethan Age Conservative reforms and conciliatory measures The Thirty-nine Articles Nonconformists Their doctrines and discipline The great Puritan controversy The Puritans represent the popular side of the Reformation Their theology Their moral discipline Their connection with civil liberty Summary of the English Reformation

IGNATIUS LOYOLA.

RISE AND INFLUENCE OF THE JESUITS.

The counter-reformation effected by the Jesuits Picture of the times; theological doctrines The Monastic Orders no longer available Ignatius Loyola His early life Founds a new order of Monks Wonderful spread of the Society of Jesus Their efficient organization Causes of success in general Virtues and abilities of the early Jesuits Their devotion and bravery Jesuit Missions Veneration for Loyola; his "Spiritual Exercises" Lainez Singular obedience exacted of the members of the Society Absolute power of the General of the Order Voluntary submission of Jesuits to complete despotism The Jesuits adapt themselves to the circumstances of society Causes of the decline of their influence Corruption of most human institutions The Jesuits become rich and then corrupt Ésprit de corps of the Jesuits Their doctrine of expediency Their political intrigues Persecution of the Protestants The enemies they made Madame de Pompadour Suppression of the Order Their return to power Reasons why Protestants fear and dislike them

JOHN CALVIN.

PROTESTANT THEOLOGY.

John Calvin's position His early life and precocity Becomes a leader of Protestants Removes to Geneva His habits and character Temporary exile Convention at Frankfort Melancthon, Luther, Calvin, and Catholic doctrines Return to Geneva, and marriage Calvin compared with Luther Calvin as a legislator His reform His views of the Eucharist Excommunication, etc His dislike of ceremonies and festivals The simplicity of the worship of God His ideas of church government Absence of toleration Church and State Exaltation of preaching Calvin as a theologian; his Institutes His doctrine of Predestination His general doctrines in harmony with Mediaeval theology His views of sin and forgiveness; Calvinism He exacts the same authority to logical deduction from admitted truths as to direct declarations of Scripture Puritans led away by Calvin's intellectuality His whole theology radiates from the doctrine of the majesty of God and the littleness of man To him a personal God is everything Defects of his system Calvin an aristocrat His intellectual qualities His prodigious labors His severe characteristics His vast influence His immortal fame

LORD BACON.

THE NEW PHILOSOPHY.

Lord Bacon as portrayed by Macaulay His great defects of character Contrast made between the man and the philosopher Bacon's youth and accomplishments Enters Parliament Seeks office At the height of fortune and fame His misfortunes Consideration of charges against him His counterbalancing merits The exaltation by Macaulay of material life Bacon made its exponent But the aims of Bacon were higher The true spirit of his philosophy Deductive philosophies His new method Bacon's Works Relations of his philosophy Material science and knowledge Comparison of knowledge with wisdom

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