11 OCTOBER 1946, Page 24

Shorter Notices

THIS analysis of the "silver" of Melanchthon against the "gold" of Luther is Very much a specialist study for theologians and his- torians. It is divided into chapters on Melanchthon's various con- cessions—to tradition, reason, law, power, opposition—made in his struggle for Lutheranism ; for this friend of Luther's, who survived him, was "a mediator by nature." The book consists of quotations in mixed English (translated from German), Latin and Greek from Melanchthon, with comments on his opinions. A parallel is drawn between - his compromise with the State and that of the Church under Hider.