ECE
272
ECK
he began the study of philosophy and theology, took
courses at the same time in jurisprudence, physics,
mathematics, and geography, joined the Humanistic
movement, and in addition to Latin, learned Hebrew
and Greek. Among his instructors at the university
were many distinguished scholars. His uncle now
withdrew his allowance and Eck was obliged to earn
his livelihood as a tutor while continuing his studies.
In 1505 he was appointed rector of the Artistenbtirse
zum Pjini, i. e. principal of the hall for students in arts
at Freiburg, and received the degree of Bachelor of
Theology; he lectured on the "S^entences" in 1506;
was promoted to the licentiate in 1509; and in 1510,
when twenty-four years old. he received the degree of
Doctor of Theology. He had been ordained to the
priesthood in 1508 with a papal dispensation from the
age-requirement. Shortly after graduating as doctor,
he was invited (1510) by the Dukes of Bavaria to the
professorship of theology in Ingolstadt. He was ap-
pointed pro-chancellor of the university in 1512, and
during his professorate of thirty-two years filled re-
peatedly the offices of dean, pro-rector, and rector; he
also served as pastor and was appointed canon in
Eichstatt. At Freiburg and during his earlier years
at Ingolstadt, his literary activity was remarkable,
not only in theology but also in other departments of
science, as is evidenced by his writings which have
been preserved partly in print and partly in MS. He
engaged in geographical research and published a
series of philosophical works, some of which were to
serve as textbooks in the faculty of arts at Ingol-
stadt. In these writings he attempts to combine in a
rational synthesis the advantages of the older philos-
ophy with those of the new. His principal theologi-
cal work during this period, entitled " Chrysopassus ",
treats of predestination with special reference to the
dogmas of grace and free will which were so soon to
become, in consequence of Luther's outbreak, the cen-
tre of sharp discussion. The tenor of this treatise,
written when its author was only twenty-eight years
old, evinces both confidence and modesty.
Luther's appearance, and especially the Disputa- tion at Leipzig (1519), formed the turning-point in Eck's intellectual development and in his activity as a theologian. Thenceforth he is a prominent figure in the history of that period. With a clear insight into the meaning of Lutheranism, he was the first to cham- pion the cause of Catholic teaching against Protestant error; and he became Luther's ablest opponent, skilful, imtiring, and thoroughly equipped in theol- ogy. The rest of his life was spent in conflict with the Reformers in Germany and Switzerland. He de- fended the Catholic Church, its doctrines and its insti- tutions, in his writings, in public debates, in his speeches at the diets, and in his diplomatic missions. For the betterment of ecclesiastical life and the spread of genuine reform he laboured earnestly by preaching to the people and by insisting on the scientific educa- tion of the clergy. As a reply to Luther's "theses" he wrote his " Obelisei", originally intended solely for the Bishop of Eichstatt. Both Luther and Karlstadt answered bitterly and then it was agreed to submit the points at issue to the test of a public debate, which was held in Leipzig, 27 June-15 July, 1519. Eck came off victorious, exposed Luther's heresy, and won over as a loyal adherent to the Catholic standard, George, Duke of Saxony. During the same year he published several essays attacking the tenets of Luther, and grew steadily in prominence as an au- thority on theological questions. In 1520 he visited Rome to report on the condition of affairs in Germany and to secure the condemnation of Luther's heresy. He submitted his es.say on the Primacy of Peter to IjCO X, was appointed prothonotary Apostolic, and was charged as papal legate, along with the two other legates, Aleander and ("aracciolo, to carry out in Ger- many the provisions of the Bull "E.xsurge Domine",
which excommunicated Luther and condemned his 41
theses. The execution of this mandate was beset with
difficulties on every side. Eck, through his " Epistola
ad Carolum V" (1521), admonished Emperor Charles
to enforce the papal bann. In the same year he went
to Rome again, principally at the behest of the Bava-
rian dukes for whom he acted as counsellor in ecclesi-
astical affairs, and made a third visit to Rome in 1523.
Meanwhile (1522) he had induced the Bavarian duker
to publish an edict in defence of the Catholic Faith.
While in Rome he procured for the dukes, among
other privileges, the power of enacting, independently
of the bishops, decrees for the moral reformation of
the clergy; and fiu'thermore the right to appropriate,
for use against heretics and Turks, a fifth part of all
church revenues.
Eck in the meantime combated Lutheranism by his letters and essays. Between the years 1522 and 1526 he published eight voluminous treatises against Luther. Through his influence the University of Ingolstadt retained its strictly Catholic attitude and strenuously opposed the rising Protestant institutions. Eck had also a considerable share in organizing the "Catholic Federation", founded 5 June, 1524, by the leaders in Church and State for the purpose of safeguarding the ancient faith and enforcing the Edict of Worms. He also defended in numerous essays the traditional doc- trines of the Church against Zwingli and his adher- ents, and participated in the religious discussion in Baden (1.526). AMien the Protestants, at the Diet of Augsbiu-g in 1530, promulgated the " Augsburg Con- fession", defining their religious views, Eck headed the Catholic champions upon whom the refutation of the articles in this confession devolved. Together with Wimpina and Cochla?us he represented the Cath- olic party at the conference (16 Aug.) between Cath- olic and Lutheran theologians relative to the "Con- fessio" and its "Confutatio"; and as theologian he served on the sub-committee which canvassed the re- sults of the conference. Zwingli also had presented at Augsburg a Confession of Faith and this Eck alone refuted. Eck then drew up 404 heretical theses upon which he challenged the Protestant theologians to public debate. The challenge was not accepted; the only answer from the Protestant party was a torrent of abuse. In the negotiations relative to the Council of Trent, Eck was consulted by the emperor, Charles V, as well as by the pope. Paul III, and was charged by the latter with preliminary work for the council. At the religious disputation in Worms (1540), Eck again appeared as the chief Catholic representative and debated with Melanchthon on the issues involved in the "Augsburg Confession". This discussion was continued during the Diet of Ratisbon (1541) to which, besides Eck, the emperor delegated as spokes- men on the Catholic side, Julius Pflug and Gropper. Eck mamtained clearly and decisively the Catholic position, and quite disapproved the "Ratisbon In- terim". He also went on a mission to England and the Netherlands in the interest of the Catholic cause. In 1529 the bishops of Denmark invited Eck and Cochlteus to the discussion at Copenhagen; but neither appeared. Eck fully deserved the promi- nence gained by him during the struggle against Prot- estantism. He was the most distinguished theologian of the time in Germany, the most scholarly and cour- ageous champion of the Catholic Faith. Frank and even in disposition, he was also inspired by a sincere love of truth; but he showed none the less an intense •self-consciousness and the jovial bluntness of speech which characterized the men of that day. His ad- versaries, lampooning him publicly, taxed him with drunkenness and immorality; but the general tone of the writings published against Eck and the readiness of the Protestants to calumniate their victorious op- ponent, arouse strong suspicion as to the truth of these accusations and make them, so far as the evi-
