mething about him, an originality of view,
an arresting way of phrasing his thoughts, a quiet sense of humor, that
commanded attention. His young friends willingly acknowledged his
leadership, and the older watched him with expectation. Nor were they
disappointed. His _Northern Mythology_ appeared in 1808, and _Episodes
from the Decay of Northern Heroism_ only a year later. And these
strikingly original and finely written works immediately established his
reputation as one of the foremost writers of Denmark. There were even
those who in their enthusiasm compared him with the revered
Oehlenschlaeger. A satirical poem, "The Masquerade Ball of Denmark,"
inspired by the frivolous indifference with which many people had reacted
to the English bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807, showed his power of
burning scorn and biting satire.

In the midst of this success and the preparation of plans for new and
more ambitious works, Grundtvig received a request from his old father to
come home and assist him with his parish work. The request was not at all
pleasing to him. His personal attitude toward Christianity was still
uncertain, and his removal from the capital would interfere with his
literary career. But as the wish of his good parents could not be
ignored, he reluctantly applied for ordination and began to prepare his
probation sermon.

This now famous sermon was delivered before the proper officials March
17, 1810. Knowing that few besides the censors would be present to hear
him and feeling that an ordinary sermon would be out of place before such
an audience, Grundtvig prepared his sermon as an historical survey of the
present state of the church rather than as an Evangelical discourse.

His study of history had convinced him of the mighty influence
Christianity had once exerted upon the nations, and he, therefore, posed
the question why this influence was now in decline. "Are the glad
tidings," he asked, "which through seventeen hundred years passed from
confessing lips to listening ears still not preached?" And the answer is
"no". Even the very name of Jesus is now without significance and worth
to most people of the younger generation, "for the Word of God has
departed from His house and that which is preached there is not the Word
of God, but the earth-bound speculations of men. The holy men of old
believed in the message they were called to preach, but the human spirit
has now become so proud that it feels itself capab