D’Aubigné speaks thus of the contest between these two men:—
“Each turns against the error which, to his mind, seems most noxious, and in assailing it, goes—it may be—beyond the truth. But this being admitted, it is still true that both are right in the prevailing turn of their thoughts, and though ranking in different hosts, the two great teachers are nevertheless found under the same standard—that of Jesus Christ, who alone is truth in the full import of that word.”[1004]
D’Aubigné says of them after Carlstadt had been banished:—
“It is impossible not to feel a pain at contemplating these two men, once friends, and both worthy of our esteem, thus angrily opposed.”[1005]
Sometime after Carlstadt’s banishment from Saxony he visited Switzerland. D’Aubigné speaks of the result of his labors in that country, and what Luther did toward him:—
“His instructions soon attracted an attention nearly equal to that which had been excited by the earliest theses put forth by Luther. Switzerland seemed almost gained over to his doctrine. Bucer and Capito also appeared to adopt his views.
“Then it was that Luther’s indignation rose to its hight; and he put forth one of the most powerful but also most outrageous of his controversial writings,—his book ‘Against the Celestial Prophets.’”[1006]
Dr. Sears also mentions the labors of Carlstadt in Switzerland, and speaks of Luther’s uncandid book:—
“The work which he wrote against him, he entitled ‘The book against the Celestial Prophets.’ This was uncandid; for the controversy related chiefly to the sacrament of the supper. In the south of Germany and in Switzerland, Carlstadt found more adherents than Luther. Banished as an Anabaptist, he was received as a Zwinglian.”[1007]
Dr. Maclaine tells something which followed, which is worthy of the better nature of these two illustrious men:—