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262 VI. GREAT KINGS AND BISHOPS (A.D. 15931718).
making up their minds for themselves in a reasonable
manner, but of adhering to their decisions arrived at in
such moments of feeling. It must be remembered that
they had had seventy years of trying experience since the
Riksdag of Vesteras. Various methods had been set
before them by various powers, and the result of following
those methods had been subjected to a considerable amount
of trial. Personally, I do not think that what was good
in King John s policy had been sufficiently tried. He
had spoiled its effect by persecuting his opponents with
great harshness. But, viewing the matter as a whole, a
foreigner must, I think, judge that the Swedes took the
wisest course that was possible to them under the circum
stances, and one which their descendants of the same blood
will view with satisfaction for generations yet to come.
They accepted the most reasonable and uncontroversial
Protestant confession of faith which was open to them,
and they did this without revising it. Had they attempted
to revise it they might have disputed for a long period.
But time pressed, and they took as a watchword the
formulary \vhich would best secure their general agree
ment at home, and unite them with their natural allies in
Germany, allies in the struggle which was obviously
imminent and obviously most serious.
In regard to the character of the Confession of Augs
burg, I
may quote what our own Hardwick says of it :
"
In
the mildness of its tone, the gracefulness of its diction, and
the general perspicuity of its arrangement, it is worthy of
its gifted author ;
while in theological terminology it every
where adheres, as closely as the truth permitted, to existing
standards of the Western Church. Melanchthon seems
indeed to have been confident that he was treading in the
steps of St. Augustine, and the Early Fathers; all his pro
tests were accordingly confined to modern innovations and
distortions by which sectaries and schoolmen had been
gradually corrupting the deposit of the Christian faith."
After giving an abstract of its articles, he says: This
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