Luther and the Anabaptists - A History of Philosophy Without a Leader

melancthon was inching away luther's teachings for the sake of avoiding extremism. He recognizes that ruler of christian communities have an additional set of powers and duties which would not belong to rulers of other communities. Since a christian people has salvation as its ultimate end, the ruler must see that this end is pursued. His distaste for radicals comes out even in his orations about philosophical education.