It consisted of the middle degree of Men The Parents of Martin Luther first lived in Isleben a town in that Earldome thence they went to dwell in Mansfield the place of which the Earldome took its name There Iohn Luther father of Martin possessed Mettle Mines bore office and for his integritie was in good esteem among the best Citizens Margaret Lindeman was the wife of Iohn Luther and Mother of Martin she was a woman commendable for all vertues beseeming a worthy Matron especially for her modesty feare of God and calling on his name So that she was a pattern of vertue to many others Martin Luther was born of Isleben Ann. Dom. 1483. Novem. 10. at 9. a clock at night on St. Martins day and was thence call'd Martin His parents brought him up in the knowledge and feare of God according to the capacitie of his tender yeeres and taught him to read at home and accustomed him to vertuous demeanour The father of George Aemilius as Luther often hath related first put him to Schoole where though the trueth was much darkned by clouds of Popery yet God preserved still the heads of Catechisme the Elements of the Cisioian Grammar some Psalmes and formes of prayer At fourteene yeeres of age he with Iohn Reineck who proved a man of especiall vertue and authoritie in those parts were sent to Magdeburg Whence a league of intire friendship ever continued between these two either because of a Sympathy and agreement of their natures or their education together in their first studies At Magdeburg he as many others born of honest parents lived a poore Scholler for the space of one yeere Thus even the greatest matters have small beginnings and scarce any thing is highly exalted but from a lowly degree Thence by his parents he was removed to Isenak where was a Schoole of great fame here was a Schoolemaster who as Luther by experience found and would professe taught Grammar more dextrously and truely One reason also of his being sent thither was because his Mother was born there of a worthy and ancient family There he perfected his Grammar learning and being of a very quick wit and by nature fitted for eloquence he soone surpassed his School-fellows in copiousnesse of speech and matter and excelled in expression of his minde both in prose and verse Upon this his tasting the sweetnesse of learning he was inflamed with an earnest desire to goe to some Vniversitie the well-spring of all good literature and surely had he met with good and commendable Tutors he by his piercing wit had attained all good Arts and perhaps he might by the milder studies of true Philosophy and diligence in well framing his style somewhat have tempered the vehemencie of his nature He went to Erford An. 1501. Where he fell upon the crabbed and thorny Logick of that age which he soone attained as one who by the sagacitie of his wit was better able to dive into the causes and other places of Arguments then others Here out of a desire of better learning he read over Cicero Livy Virgil and other monuments of ancient Latine Authors These he perused not as a child to glean Phrases from them but to discern what therein was usefull towards the right conforming of mans life And to that end seriously observed the counsels and grave sentences in those writers and having a faithfull and sure memory what ever he read or heard he had it still in readinesse for present use Hereby he so excelled in his youth that the whole Universitie admired his wit When at Erphord he was graced a with the degree of Master of Arts at twentie yeeres of his age he read as Professour Aristotles Physicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Afterward his kindred seeing it fit that so worthy indowments of wit and eloquence should be cherished for the publique good by their advise he betooke b himself to the study of the Law But not long after when he was 21. yeeres old of a sudden besides the purpose of his parents and kindred upon an affright from his faithfull mates violent death he betook himself to the Augustine Monks c Colledge in Erphord But before he entred the Monastery he entertained his fellow d students with a cheerfull banquet and thereupon sent them letters valedictory and sending to his parents the Ring and gown of his degree of Master of Arts unfolded to them the reason of the change of his course of life It much grieved his parents that so excellent parts should be spent in a life little differing from death But for a moneths space no man could be admitted to speake with him Nor was it povertie but the love of a pious life which bent his minde to the Monastical life In which though he spent his time in the usual schoole learning and read the Writers upon the Sentences and in publique disputations clearly opened their inextricable labyrinths to the admiration of many yet because in this kinde of life he sought not to ennoble his fame but to further his study of a pious life he looked into those studies but upon the by and with much ease attained their Scholastical methods When on a time in the Library of the Colledge running over the books thereof in order he met with a copie of the Latine Bible which he never saw before There with admiration he observed that there were moe Evangelical and Apostolical texts then what were read to the people in Churches In the old Testament with great attention he read the story of Samuel and Anna his mother and began to wish that he was the owner of the like book which not long after he obtained Hereupon he spent his time on the Propheticall and Apostolicall writings the fountaines of all heavenly doctrine seeking thence to enforme his minde with Gods will and to nourish in himself the feare of God and true faith in Christ from true and undoubted grounds Some sicknesse and feare whet him on to attempt these studies more earnestly It is said that in this Colledge Luther in his younger yeers fell into a most violent disease in so much that there was no hope of life and that an ancient Priest came to him and with these words comforted him Sir Be of good courage for your disease is not mortall God will raise you up to be a man who shall afford comfort to many others At the first the Monks handled him somewhat harshly whilest he performed the office of the Custos and was compelled to cleanse the uncleane places as also to walk up and down the Citie with a bagge or wallet But upon the request of the Universitie of which he had been a member he was eased of that burden He was often cheered up by conference with the ancient Priest to whom he revealed his feares and scruples of minde and heard him discoursing of faith at large and going
and snares to intangle mens soules Rather let one Church freely follow the good example of another or let each Church enjoy her owne wayes so that the unitie of the spirit be kept intire in faith by the word of God though there be diversitie and outward ceremonies and elements of the world About this time the Priests of Wittenberg keeping their Popish rites were at length evicted and in the end of the yeere abrogating private Masse began a Reformation in the Cathedrall Church Luther had long pressed them to this and had written thus to Spalatinus in this yeere By Gods help I will abrogate private Masse or venture upon another designe The yeere 1525. is famous by the rising of the Boores when this broyle was a hatching and the Ruftick fury did not yet breake forth into taking up armes Luther did disswade all men from sedition as being a crime of very high nature He also handled the Articles of the Boores and shewed how most of them were contrary to the word of God He wrote also to the Princes and Nobilitie and put them in minde of their dutie and by another Treatise exhorted all men to joyne for the subversion of the theevish insendiaries as for the quenching of a common fire This book was censured by some as too sharp but was at large defended by Luther In the beginning of this yeere Luther answered Carolostadius his books intitling his book Against the Celestiall Prophets At Wittenberg then the chieftains of the Anabaptists were called Prophets because they boasted of secret revelations and propheticall spirits the principall men were Muncer Ciconius Cellarius and his friend Carolostad Luther in the first part of his book speaketh of images private Masse and Carolostade and affirmeth that images were forbidden in the old Testament not in the new and that Carolostade was not expelled by his meanes and that the name of Masse was given by the Apostles to the Sacrament of the altar The subject of the second book was the Eucharist where he first dealt against Carolostades exposition of the word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} This and then answered the Arguments of Carolostade and said that the words which is given for you have this sense The body which you eate in the bread ere long when it is not eaten shall be given for you And as it is not written Take the body and eate it so neither is it written Take the bread and eate it And that Christs speech The flesh profiteth nothing is to be taken as spoken not of the flesh of Christ but of the sense of the flesh which is death Rom. 8. That the breaking the bread is the distribution of the body and that the bloud of Christ which is powred out for us now sitteth at the right hand of God but that the efficacy of that effusion of his bloud is for ever And finally that it is unknown how the bread becometh and is the body of Christ and that we must stick to the very words of Christ Against this Zwinglius and Oecolampadius wrote as is said in its due place Now also Luther renewed the ordination of Ministers of the Gospel in the Church Of whom George Rorarius was the first and now first the Masse was celebrated at Wittenberg in their mother tongue And now was set forth a booke of German songs composed by Luther and others the last yeere and a book of the abomination of the Masse in which he galled the Popish sore backcjades and made many of them kick against him He wrote also a letter to them of Strasburg where he heard that Carolostade abode and disswaded them from devouring his poyson On the contrary Strasburg sent George Caselius the Hebrew Professor and entreated Luther that he would not break the unitie of the Church for the controversie of the Eucharist that he would acknowledge Zwinglius and Oecolampadius learned men and of good fame for Brethren that he would write of the Lords Supper and shew what he taught was consonant to the truth Luther returned this answer by Caselius Namely That nothing was more to be desired then peace but to be tyed to a continuall silence was not safe that answer could not be made without condemning them and that he word condemn was censured as opprobrious That he was censured of those most modest men as a Cannibal and a worshipper of God turned bread and eatable that he liked not the advise of the Divines Straburgh concerning silence about the question of the bodily presence and preaching faith and other parts of the word That either he himself or they were ministers of Satan and that therefore in this case there was counsell to be taken and no mean between both to be followed That the reasons brought to make the speech tropicall were of no force And that it must be proved that the verb est not in other places of Scripture but here is in effect significat that where Paul saith The rock was Christ he speaketh not of the corporall but the spirituall drink for he addeth the drank of the spirituall rock And that there was a manifest mistake in that This Lambe is the Lords Passeover for this phrase is no where extant in the Scripture and therefore he besought the brethren for Christs sake that they would avoyd this errour Luther being fortie two yeers old of a sudden and unexspectedly married Katherin a Bora a noble virgin late a Nun and this was the occasion Luther had a purpose that this Katherine should have been married to M. Glanus the Pastor of Orlamund Of this she having intimation acquainted Amsdorf Luthers inward friend therewith and by him intreated Luther to alter his determination and to signifie to him that she would enter into the honourable estate of Matrimony with any other rather then with Glanus When Luther heard this and what Ierom Schursius had said namely that if that Monk should marry her the whole world and the devill himself would laugh thereat and so the Monk should undoe all that formerly he had done Here Luther to grieve the world of Papists and the devill and gratifie her father perswading him thereunto resolved to marry her And on the 13. day of Iune inviting to supper Pomeranus and Apelles the Lawyer and Luke the Limmer was betrothed to her and not long after married her This Luthers enemies much disliked so did his friends also not because they thought the marriage unlawfull but because they wished it had been done at some other time For thus writeth Camerarius It fell out that when these turbulent and dangerous broyles were not yet pacisied Martin Luther married not long after the death of Frederik the chiefe of the seven Electors of the Empire Philip Melancthon much grieved at Luthers marriage not that he condemned it as unlawfull but because hereby an occasion was given to Luthers enemies and ill willers who were
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Dr MARTIN LVTHER The Passages where of haue bin taken out of his owne and other Godly and most Learned mens writings who liued in his time 1. Thess 5 12 13 Wee beseech you bretheren to know the m. Who labour among you etc and to esteeme them very highly for there worke sake and be at peace among your selues LONDON Printed by I L for Iohn Stafford and are to be sould at his shop in Chancery lane ouer against the Rolles 1643. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sr. THOMAS ROE Knight Chancellour of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell TO whom rather should I addresse this present discourse then to your Honourable selfe who by your a Embassie extraordinary for his Majestie of England into Germany well observed the countrey and the present estate thereof where many passages here mentioned were acted And much the rather doe I humbly present it to your Honourable Patronage because upon that happie occasion it pleased our gracious God to put then into your mind and to nourish therein ever since a serious consideration of the deplorable distractions of the Christian Church as he did into good b Nehemiahs minde of the lamentable estate of Ierusalem in his time Your compassionate and tender affection was and is still much moved to c observe the living stones of the New Ierusalem lying in the dust or drencht in their own blood some of her Priests and their slocks clad in Sackcloth others with their people by sword and fire cast out and banished and which is worst of all your Honour well discerned how difficult a task it was to cure this fearfull maladie because disaffection of parties dissention of opinions unlesse God prevented the mischiefe would not admit the binding up of the wound Nor did these miserable calamities of Gods people only vex and grieve your pious and religious soule but also so rouzed and summoned up your Honours most serious thoughts that with d an heartie and godlie providence with a sincere and prudent circumspection you presentlie consulted with other most learned religious Christian lovers of Gods Church about the peace thereof so far as possiblie may be attained and so far as it lies in the power of Christian Princes of most judicious Divines and of truly zealous people guided by them both that as much as may be we may all be e of one minde and accord and think and speak one and the same thing as the sacred Scripture often and straightly giveth us in charge For this end Mr. Iohn Dury a Divine of singular pietie learning truly studious of the Churches peace and incomparably sedulous to advance the same and first interessed in the work by your Honourable means and incouragement hath so much prevailed with many illustrious f Princes States and the most eminent learned men in Germany and the parts adjoyning that the work is very wel promoted and an heartie inclination wrought towards a good correspondencie for Ecclesiasticall peace God grant your Honour life and health that to your great comfort and all true Christians joy you may shortly see the work come to more maturitie and perfection Amidst your Honours grave and vveightie intendments for this and other occasions of much concernement may you please to reflect on this discourse I conceive that there be many passages therein very confiderable for these and after times and that they will make much for the exciting of our thankefulnesse to God when we behold from what beginnings in an 100 and few moe yeares Gods truth hath risen and Papisticall and Anabaptisticall errour faln It is remarkable that the points by D. Luther mainly opposed were Indulgences the Popes boundlesse power merit of workes Purgatory Communion but in one kinde all g chiefe points and palpably and and undeniably grosse And on the other side that he stood up against the Anabaptists rebaptization of themselves their not baptizing infants as not commanded by Christ their having all things in common as had the Primitive Christians Acts 2. 44. and against the Antinomians heresies concerning the law and other like erroneous fancies It is also observable that Dr. Luther striking at the Popes unlawfull power never sought to exalt himselfe to honour or h riches For though as he saith he himselfe with other learned men executed Episcopall Authority in visiting the Churches of Saxony reforming things amisse yet he knowing his talent fittest for the Chaire of Wittenberg never would rise higher but wrote a book concerning Christian Episcopacy and installed Nicolas Amsdorf Bishop of Neoburg and George Anhaltinus Bishop of Mersburg And in regard that Luther studied and read as Professor Philosophie of divers kinds was well versed in the Fathers and in Aquinas Scotus Occam other Schoolmen and attained to the Greek and Hebrew tongues he was thereby i inabled rightly and soundly and gravely and not k ignorantly rashly or humorously to judge of these studies and of their use in Theologie It was also very commendable in him that he disliked railing discourse without solid and concluding arguments slighted foolish and groundlesse calumnies reproved young students forward and rash attempts without authority for the promoting of his cause blamed the headie and disorderly tumults raised by the Boores and vulgar sort confessed ingenuously his doubting of some points his ignorance in others and craved pardon if having beene lately a Popish Monk he should in any point erre from the truth Seeing this was D. Luthers prudent and religious course I shall never marvell at his * Heroicall Spirit and impregnable confidence of Gods assistance and of the successe of his attempts and on very good ground famous and worthy Princes countenanced and assisted him as a man by his then opposites convicted of no errour doing much good service in the University offering his cause to any just triall appealing from the Pope to the Generall Counsell and in his whole course manifesting l a true correspondence of his life with his doctrine Much more I might here adde but will not longer detaine your Honour from the discourse it selfe I humbly beseech our gracious God who inabled D. Luther to be an excellent instrument for the reformation of the Christian Church for beating downe of errour and setting up of Gods Truth that he would implant in us all quiet temperate and Christian affections m and love of Christs Name still more and more perfect the setling of Truth and building up of his Church untill we all become living stones in the Spiritual Temple sitted for our God The same God of peace crowne your Honourable selfe and all sincere promoters of Christian peace with peace externall and internall here and with eternall blisse hereafter So prayeth he who is Your Honours ever to be commanded Thomas Hayne Christian Reader DAvid a man after Gods owne heart as in
other respects so especially in not forgetting any of Gods benefits but frequently and sweetly descanting on them in his sacred songs of praise among many other blessings mentions Gods gracious leading his people out of Egypt teaching them by the ministery of Moses and Aaron The like thankfulnesse to God should we shew in our a hymns of glorie to God as for infinite other favours in these later times so especially for our comming out of the spirituall Egypt by the Ministery of Dr. Mart. Luther The goodnesse of God to the Israelites and Us is much alike in both these our deliverances For when Egypts tyrannie was growne to extremity and Romes heresies at full maturity God seasonably put to his hand and by Moses then bred up in Pharaohs Court and by D. Luther lately trained up in Monkery shewed alike mercy to us both However men did project to bend the excellent endowments of these worthy men to their owne purposes God turned them to better use and seasoning them with his grace fitted them for the confusion of the Old New Egypts God will be b plainly knowne to have matters of great importance at his owne disposing He of his great goodnesse directs to the right object his servants ardent zeale to do good as in judgement he lets the malicious and envious zeale of both Egypts persist in an evill course to their overthrow Hence it was that as God took off S. Paul from his blinde and unseasonable zeale for Moses Law in the Pharisaicall way and bent it to the advancing of the Gospell So he quelled Luthers raging fury and intent c to vex and kill the opposers of the Pope and put a zealous spirit in him for the maintenance of sacred Truth and the downfall of Popish superstition And indeed rightly did Erasmus judge that d those corrupt times called for a sharpe and launcing and searing Chirurgion to cure their long festered maladies For the worship of God and the truth of Religion was then as amongst the Israelites in Elias time much depraved and defaced and required a magnanimous and undaunted spirit like to that in Elias to reforme matters extreamly out offrame Erasmus saw full well how difficult a taske D. Luther underwent and for his owne part and undertaking was assured that if the e knowledge of good Arts of polite Learning of the Originall tongues of the Sacred Scripture florisht that the dark fogs of Popery could not long continue undispel'd And therefore he complyed with all f Princes and g men studious of good letters whatsoever to make a knowing world and would in no wise though earnestly set upon both by loving intreaties and kinde usage as also by bitter calumnies and harsh railings of the Pontificians doe any thing of speciall moment against Luther He was confident that if Luther being violently opposed and maliced should faile yet the Truth of Christ by the light of all good literature and Gods blessing would maugre all the Papists malice get the upper hand and spread it selfe But God was abundantly gracious to D. Luther and made him as Ieremy h a defenced citie an iron pillar and a vvall of brasse against which his Antagonists could in no wise prevaile Had a spirit of pride or contention or any by-respect set Luther on work against the Pope or had he stood upon questions litigious or of an indifferent nature he could never have begun with that courage gone forward with that confidence come off with that honour which he did The blessing of God and a good conscience bore him out to take such incredible paines in reading preaching translating commenting disputing writing advising the Politicall State directing the Ecclesiasticall restraining the Papists fury from open war counselling some Protestants from too hastie proceedings preventing tumultuous designes avoiding secret traps set for him and in daily praying to God for the prosperity of the Gospell All true Christians will heartily blesse God for him and his resolute and happy beginning of Reformation if Papists who notoriously defamed and standered him in his life time persist still to calumniate him after his death * God in the last day will be judge betweene them Luther was and who is not subject to such weaknesses as humanity makes incident to the best men He knew his slips he acknowledged them he craved pardon for them Yea he considering that he was a man and might erre intrusted his learned and faithfull friend i Melancthon to revise and moderate some of his Tenents after his decease In briefe Luthers faith was admirably strong in his God his labours and studies of singular benefit to Gods Church his books and writings very many and learned his life most pious and therefore his death full of comfort and blessed Accept good Reader this Treatise now presented unto you in an English dresse out of the leerned and laborious work of Melchior Adamus and expect the Lives of other most godly and reverend Fathers in Gods Church and worthy Champions against the enemies of Gods truth both English and forraine Some whereof were never extani before others but sparingly in English set forth all of them worthy of ever lasting memory for their promoting of Gods glory and their love to Christian Truth These will shortly appeare from the Pens of sundry reverend religious and faithfull Divines amongst us God make all these labours usefull to Gods people and us all thankfull for his Divine and gracious goodnesse to these last and worst times Yours in all Christian offices Tho. Hayne To the pretious Memory of Dr. Mart. Luther WElfare those gentle Quils whose ere they be Whose meritorious labours shall set free The Urne imprisoned Dust of that renown'd Thrice famous Luther Let his head be crown'd With sacred Immortality and rais'd Much rather to be wondred at then prais'd Let Babes unborne like fruitfull plants bring forth To after dayes new Monuments of his worth And time-outlasting Name that Babels Whore And all her bald-pate panders may ev'n roro For very anguish and then gnaw and bite Their tongues for malice and their nailes for spite Whilst men made perfect in his well knowne story May all turne Patrons and protect his Glory Francis Quarles WHen blackest clouds of Romish errours base Had quite ore-spred Truths amiable face And Antichrists ore-topping tyrannie Had chain'd all Europe to Idolatry Then suddenly and strangely God did raise To Romes deepe admiration and amaze Renowned Martin Luther dauntlesly To vindicate his Truth and Rome defie He maugre all their spight and fury fell Did Papall fogs of Errour cleane expell Clearing the Sun of Truth to such pure light As ever since hath shone abroad most bright Of Hercules his Club what talk we then Since Rome is ruin'd with great Luthers Pen I. Vicars THE LIFE AND DEATH of Dr. Martin Luther THE Family of the Luthers was ancient and spred into divers parts of the Territories of the Earle of Mansfield
sentent et re judic. c. Pastoralis 22. The Pope teacheth that it is just and lawfull for a Christian by force to repulse force and violence 23. That inferiors and subjects may be disobedient and resist their Princes and that the Pope can depose Kings 24. The Pope laboureth to have power to dissolve and breake all oathes leagues obligements made between superiours and inferiours 25. The Pope hath power to break and alter vowes made to God De vot et vot red 26. The Pope teacheth that he that delayes to pay his vow commanded by God is not to be censured as a breaker of his vow ibid. 27. The Pope teacheth that no married man or woman can serve God 28. The Pope compareth his unprofitable lawes with the Gospels and sacred scriptures 29. The Pope hath power to interpret and unfold or expound the sacred scripture at his pleasure and will and to permit no man to interpret the same otherwise then the Pope himselfe pleaseth 30. The Pope receiveth not his authority power strength and dignitie from the scripture but the scripture from the Pope This in briefe is the summe of the whole Canon Law The Pope is God on earth supreame in all heavenly earthly spirituall and secular matters And All things are the Popes to whom none dare say what doe you Here Prederik Prince Elector obtained of the Emperour to call Luther to the Court held at Wormes in March An. 1521. Luther receiving the Emperours graunt for his safety went from Wittenberg and was conducted thence by Casparus Sturnius Herauld and accompanied with Iustus Ionas Ier. Schurfius and Nic. Amsderfe Of the students he tooke onely Peter Suavenus a Dane as his companion who afterward being called by Christian King of Denmarke to his Court did much advance good letters and did the Church good service When he came to Hidelberg he proffered to dispute publiquely with any that would Here many did dehort Luther from going to Worms Others said that by the burning of his books he might know what was the Popes censure concerning himselfe Others told him of the usage of Hus and Savonarola But Luther with a resolute courage lightly regarded their advise and sayd that these discouragements were but cast into his way by Satan who knew that by the profession of the truth especially inso illustrious a place his kingdome would be shaken and indamaged He further brake forth into these words If I knew that there were so many Devils at Wormes as tiles on the houses yet would I goe thither Also Francis of Sickingen one in high esteeme with the Emperour at Bucers request did invite Luther to come to his Castle at Ebernburgh where the cause might more commodiously be agitated But Luther answered that he was sent for by the Emperour not to Ebernburgh but to Wormes and thither he would goe So taking his journey he came to Wormes on April the sixth which was the third Holyday after Misericordias Domini They say the Duke of Bavaria his Iester whether suborned by others or by some instinct met Luther at his entrance into the towne with a Crosse as is wont in funerals and sung with a loud voyce Welcome comest thou hither and much desired of us who sate in darknesse Presently some counselled Caesar that Luther was to be delt with as they did with Hus. But Caesar thought it just to make good his promise and especially Lodowik the Elector Palatine withstood the designment and prudently sayd That if they should take that course with Luther it would set a brand of imfamy and eternall disgrace on the name of Germany On the 17. day of April at 4. a clock in the afternoon he appeared before the Emperour and many Princes his Assessours Here Iohn Eckius a Lawyer Caesars Spokesman and Officiall of Triers upon command said with an audible voyce Martin Luther there are two causes why Caesar with the consent of the Princes and States have sent for you which I now propound to you and expect your answer First Whether these Books here he held up a bundle of books written in the Latine German tongues were written by you and do you acknowledge them to be yours The second Whether you will revoke and recant any thing in them or stand in defence of them Ierome Schurfius a Lawyer on Luthers part desired that the titles of the books might be recited and spoken publiquely which being done Luther briefly repeated what was desired of him and answered Concerning the books now named I professe and acknowledge that they be mine but concerning my defence of what I have written that I may answer rightly thereunto seeing it is a matter of very great moment I desire that I may not speake rashly and against my conscience some time to deliberate After some debate of the matter Eckius said again Though by Caesar letters missive you might well understand the cause why you were sent for and therefore need not to delay but make your answer presently yet Caesar such is his clemency granteth you one day for to deliberate on the matter and commands that tomorrow about this houre you here present yourself and make your distinct answer by word of mouth and not by writing Upon Luthers desiring of respit some thought that he would not be constant but they failed in their opinion Here I may not passe it over in silence that when Luther drew neere to Caesars throne many of the Princes Counsell encouraged him saying that he should be of good courage and not faint Nor feare them who could kill the body onely but not hurt the soule Others put him in minde to meditate on this When ye shall appeare before Kings and Princes be not solicitous how and what to answer For in that moment it shall be given you what you shall say The day following Luther appeared at the houre appointed And after that Eckius had asked him What now was his resolution he first humbly desired of the Emperour and Princes That they would grant him their gentle attention and then said Of the books which I have written some of them tend to faith and Pietie to these my adversaries give ample Testimony Should I recant these I might be justly censured as a wicked man Other of my books are against the Pope of Rome and Papisticall doctrine which both hath and still doth much trouble the Christian world and doth much mischiefe These should I revoke I should confirme their tyranny The third sort of my books are against some private men who defend the Papists cause and by many calumnies upon me In these I confesse I have been too vehement and besides I confesse that I am not of an unerring perfection but yet I can not safely revoke these books unlesse I will set open a gap to the impudency of many Being a man I may erre and therefore desire any one better to instruct me by the testimony of Scripture
When he had thus said Eckius with a sowre countenance replyed You answer not to the matter nor doth it pertaine to you to call the authoritie of the Councell into question A plaine and direct answer is required of you whether you desire that your writings should stand good Then said Luther Seeing you O Caesar and the Princes command me to answer punctually I obey This is my resolution Unlesse I be convicted by testimony of Scripture or evident reason I may not revoke any thing which I have written or spoken For I will not in any wise wound my conscience I do not conforme my beleefe to the Popes or the Councels determinations alone for they have often erred and delivered contrarieties one to another I neither can nor will doe any thing concerning Gods word to the offence of my conscience Seeing it is neither safe nor honest to do any thing against conscience This will I stand to vary from this I may not God helpe me A men When he was againe urged he persisted in this answer So they departed The next day Caesar sent a letter to the assembly of the Princes this was the summe thereof Our ancestors and other Christian Princes obeyed carefully the Church of Rome which now D Martin Luther opposeth now because he is resolute not to yeeld one inch of his errors we cannot without a blemish to our name depart from the example of our ancestors but must defend the ancient faith and be assistant to the Sea of Rome we will then excomunicate Martin Luther himselfe and all his adherents and take any other course which may conduce to extinquish these disputes But we will not in any wise violate and breake our promise made to him under our seale but give him safe conduct to the place whence he came This Letter of Caesar was diligently and a good while scanned in the Senate by the Princes It is reported that some there were among them who would have followed the decree and practise of the Councel of Constance and held themselves not bound to make good the promise of his safe return But some of the Princes especially Lodowik Prince Palatine as it is reported earnestly withstood them Wherefore they judged that not onely fidelitie was to be observed towards him but also that he was not rashly to be condemned because the matter was of very great consequence whatsoever the Emperour decreed whom being newly come to the Imperiall seat they did well perceive to be pressed and provoked by the Popes instruments against Luther After a few dayes the Archbishop of Triers and other Princes who by Caesars permission were present call Luther April 24. unto them The Bishop then in a friendly manner delt with him to desist from his resolution But Luther giving him thankes for care of his safety stood firmly in his former doctrine and submitted what even he had written to Caesars and the Princes perusall and judgement so that they tried them by Gods word When the Bishop asked him what remedy he knew or could advise for these stirres Luther answered None other then that of Gamaliel in the Acts of the Apostles If this counsel and proceeding be of Men it will not continue if of God no power of man can dissolve it And this he besought him to siguisie to the Pope The Bishop againe said What if the Articles were collected and submitted to the Councel Luther answered Yes they might so that they were not the same which the Councel at Constance condemned The Bishop replying that he feared they would be the very same Luther couragiously answered Those will I defend though I was presently to die Hereupon the Bishop quietly dismissed Luther who intreated him that he might have leave to returne to his friends and have safe conduct from Caesar The Bishop promised to obtaiue it for him and a little while after sent Eckius the officer of Caesar to signifie to Luther that he had free liberty to depart under Caesars protection within 21. dayes withall he was bid not to preach in his journey home nor to write any thing which might rayse further stirres Luther answered As it seemeth good to the Lord so be it blessed be the name of God Afterward he gave humble thankes to Caesar and the Princes and commended himselfe to them On the 26. of April Luther taking his leave departed from Wormes Casp. Sturmius a Messenger some houres after followed him and found him at Openheim Luther being in his journey sent Letters backe both to Caesar and the Princes Electors and States of the Empire commending himselfe and his cause to them and sayd he was ready to doe any thing which was meet except to revoke any thing that he knew to be warranted by Gods word The Emperour hereupon May the 28. proscribed Luther whom Pope Leo on the 28. of March on the day of the administration of the Lords Supper had excommunicated At this all men stood earnestly expecting what those thunder-bolts would effect Frederik the Elector a prudent Prince seeing Luther to have incurred the hatred of all that no danger might seize on him committed the businesse of conveying Luther into some safe place where he might be free from accesse to some faithfull friends of the Nobility that there he should be kept private till Caesar was departed out of Germany They presently faithfully and secretly conveyed him to the Castle of Wartenburg neere Isenack This place Luther afterward used to call his Patmos There were but eight privy to this who did it with that secrecy that not any but themselves could know what was become of him It is reported that the Papists set their wisards on worke to descry him but they could not certainly designe the place where he was Luther abode in that woody wildernesse about tenne monethes and in this retirednesse wrote diverse usefull Treatises for the Church as the Explications of the Gospels and Epistles dedicated to Albertus of Mansfield the book against Latomus about sinne remaining in the regenerate Besides he cut in two the two sinnewes of the Popes kingdome namely Private Masses and Monastick Vowes which books he dedicated to the Augustine Friers who in his absence abrogated private Masses and began to dispute about Monastick Vowes and to his Father They of Wittenberg also gave a reason to the Elector why they did so and shewed to what end Temples and Colledges were instituted at the first that is not for private Masses but that young people might be there brought up piously and that the meanes they were indowed with were for the use of both Readers and scholars that were in want And that this buying and selling of Masses was crept in within foure hundreth yeeres of that time Luther found courteous entertainment and kind respect in that his wildernesse for in his Epistles he often mentions the friendly offices of his Hoste to whom he preached on the Lords day and at
our Lord Iesus Christ thus professe and beleeve That faith alone without respect to our good workes doth justify us before God and that this Article cannot be overthrown by the Roman Emperour or the Turk or the Tartarian or the Persian nor by the Pope or all his Cardinals Bishops Sacrificers Monks Nunnes Kings Princes Potentates of the world and all the Devils This Article will they nill they will stand Hell gates cannot prevayle against it The spirit of God doth dictate this unto me this is the true Gospel For thus the Article in the mouth of all Christian children hath it I beleeve in Iesus Christ crucified and dead Now no man died for our sinnes but Iesus Christ the sonne of God the one and onely sonne of God I say it again again Iesus the one and onely son of God redeemed us from our sinnes This is most surely grounded undoubted Doctrin this the whole scripture crieth out aloud though the devils all the world storme and burst with anger at it And if he alone take away the sinnes of the world we verily cannot doe it with our workes and it is impossible that I can lay hold on Christ otherwise then by faith he is never apprehended by my good workes And seeing faith alone layeth hold on our Redeemer and not our workes the concomitants of our faith it abideth undoubted truth that faith alone before our works or without our works considered doth this which is nothing else but to be justified but to be redeemed from our sinnes Then good works follow our faith as the effects and fruits thereof This doctrin I teach and this the Spirit of God and the whole Christian Church delivereth for truth In this I will persist Amen With these two writings The Admonition to the Germans and The interpretation of Caesars Edict Luther madded the nest of the Popish Hornets who thereupon put forth a book against him but without any mans name to it Luther sharply answered this book and gravely acquitted himself of the crimes objected against him that is That he denyed the yeelding obedience to Caesar that he himself was a Trumpet for rebellion and sedition that all things written by him concerning the designes of the Pope were figments and lies But he proved them to be true by many remarkable sayings and deeds of the Pontificians which are contained in * his German writings and other books by him set out this yeere In the yeere 32. by Gods gooduesse and the intercession of the Archbish. of Mentz and the Elector Palatine the Emperour a granted Peace to the Protestant Churches upon some certain conditions propounded to the Duke of Saxony especially Which that he should most willingly embrace Luther by his b letter seriously perswaded the then present Elector and his sonne Frederik who soone after succeeded his father For this very yeere the 16 day of August that godly Duke a most constant confessour of the Evangelicall truth departed this life For the perpetuating of whose memory Luther made two funerall Sermons and Melancthon a funerall oration at his buriall which expressed the Idea or Character of a good Prince In the yeere 1533. Luther comforted the Citizens of Oschatz by his letter who had been turned out for the confession of the Gospel In his letter he saith The Devil is the Host and the World is his Inne so that where ever you come you shall be sure to find this ugly Hoste He answered also the Elector of Saxony to this question How farre it is lawfull to take up armes in our own defence Especially now there was a great controversie betweene Luther and George Duke of Saxony who of old hated most vehemently Luther and his doctrin Therefore that the Protestant partie might not be inlarged by his peoples embracing it he bound them all by oath not to receive Luthers doctrin He also provided that the Citizens of Leipsick who coming to Confession after the Papists manner and then received the Sacrament should have a ticket given them which afterward they should redeliver to the Senate About seventie were found without tickets For these consulted with Luther what they should do Luther answered That they should do nothing contrary to their consciences as men which firmely beleeved that they should receive the Sacrament in both kinds and that they should undergo any extreamitie In the Epistle are these words Seeing now Duke George dareth undertake to dive into the secrets of mens consciences he is worthy to be deceived because he will be the Devils Apostle Hereupon Duke George wrote to the Elector of Saxony his cousen German and accused Luther both of giving him base language and also of stirring up the people under his command to rebellion The Elector wrote this to Luther and told him that unlesse he can cleare himself he must receive condigne punishment Upon this occasion Luther refuted this accusation and denyed That he ever counselled them to resist their Prince but that patiently they would endure their banishment And that he was so farre from infringing the authoritie of the Magistrate that no man did more stoutly confirme it or more fully declare it And that George the Duke was called the Devils Angel for the Subjects sake because they should not thinke that the Edicts were a lawfull Magistrates but the devils He joyned thereunto an epistle to them of Leipsick to comfort them in their banishment and to counsell them cheerfully to undergo their present calamitie and to give God thanks for giving them courage constancy He told them that this rejoycing of their adversaries was neither sound nor lasting and that it would perish sooner then any man thought and that all attempts of the enemies of the Gospel were hitherto frustrate by Gods singular favour faln to the ground He wrote also a briefe Apologie in which he cleareth himself of these crimes objected against him Namely that he was a lyer a breaker of his promise an Apostate Here denying the former he yeelded himself to be an Apostate or revolter but a blessed and holy one who had not kept his promise made to the Devil and that he was no other revolter then a Mammeluke who turneth Christian or a Magician who renouncing his covenant made with the Devil hetaketh himself to Christ To these passages he added divers things concerning Monkery And again in a new Treatise he oppugned private Masse and their consecration of Priests In this Treatise he related his Disputation with the Devil which the Papists Jesuits diversly play upon The truth of that matter he in this book unfoldeth as being the best Expositour of his own meaning He sent also a letter to the Senate and people of Frankford in which he exhorted them to take heed of Zwinglius doctrin and instructed them about the Confession In the yeere 1534. the Elector of Saxony joyned in pacification with King Ferdinando
know the intent of this reformation Yet was it not long hid and as soone as it was taken notice of in Germany Luther in the vulgar tongue and Iohn Sturmius in Latine wrote to the Reformers an answer Luthers booke by a picture in the frontispice shewed its argument For the Pope was pictured sitting on a high throne with some Cardinals standing round who with Fox tails on the end of long poles as with brushes cleansed all parts above and beneath At length all that reformation came to nothing by whose policy and tricks it is well enough knowne Luther now divulged one of the chiefe Articles of the Papists belief namely concerning Constantines donation with annotations confuting it for the Pontificians sake He published also some Epistles of Iohn Hus which were sent to the Bohemians in the prison at Constance An. 1516. and wrote a preface to the Spiritualty who would be present at the Councel He sent also to the Pope Cardinals and Prelates the Legend concerning Iohn Chrysostome with a preface and annotations He sent also an Epistle written in a way of friendly compliance to them of the Evangelical league concerning the Concord of the Helvetians and therein shewed his consent and what was his judgement concerning the Supper of the Lord Here as if the Church had not contentions enow already the new Sect of the Antinomians start up Their chief ring-leader was Iohn Agricola of Isleben who formerly had been familiarily acquainted with Luther They held that repentance was not to be taught from the decologue and they reasoned against them who taught that the Gospel was not to be taught to any but to such as were humbled by the Law And they themselves taught that whatsoever a mans life was though impure yet he was justified so that he beleeved the Gospel Thus Luther was put to a new paines and at large confuted them And shewed that the Law was not given that we might be justified by it but to shew us our sinnes and to terrifie our consciences Therefore the Law was first to be taught and the Gospel afterward which sheweth the Mediator Iohn Agricola being better instructed by Luther acknowledged his errour and revoked it under his owne hand in publique About this time An. 1538. neere Whitsontide Melancthon being Rector of the University the summer halfe yeere one Sim. Lemnius put forth a booke of Epigrams by which some thought the fame of diverse men and women was blemished Luther hereupon shewed himselfe to be as ever a detester of such notorious libels and wrote an Epistle to the Church of Wittenberg in which he inveighed against the Author of the libell and shewed how he disliked the course of this base Poet But the Author escaped and afterward by most impudent lying set forth so filthy and impure writings that all good people judged that he was not to be pardoned for his former folly and that what evill soever befell him it was farre lesse then his wickednesse and madnesse deserved This yeere also were put forth the three Oecomenicall Creeds with Luthers annotations and exposition In the yeere 1539. were agitated deliberations with much care and difficultie concerning the obtaining peace of the Emperour because many feared an attempt unjustly to oppresse the State Luther therefore together with his Collegues of Wittenberg composed and put forth a Treatise concerning a Defence lawfull approved and not contrary to Gods will And because now the name of the Councell and Church were in every mans mouth Luther put forth a book in their mother tongue concerning both of them In the Preface whereof he saith that the Pope by calling a Councell doth play with the Church of Christ as they do with a Dog who offer him a crust of bread on the point of a knife and when the Dog taketh it knock him on the nose with the handle thereof to make such as see it laugh Luther in that booke declared the authoritie of the Scriptures And then treats of the councell Apostolicall of the Nicene Constantinopolitan Ephesine Carthaginian Councels And sheweth what a Councell is and which to be called true what are the signes and works thereof and that Christian Schooles are perpetuall Councels and therefore that they are with great care to be maintained as much advancing the good of the Ecclesiasticall Politicall Oeconomicall Hierarchy on earth About the Conclusion of the Smalcald Assembly April 24. George Duke of Saxony died childlesse and declared Henry his brother with his sons Maurice and Augustus his heires upon condition that they should not alter the Religion which if they should attempt he bequeathes his whole territories to King Ferdinando to have and hold the same till the condition was observed But whilest the Embassadours treat with Henry about the same making glorious propositions to him and promising him mountaines of gold He resolutely denyed to do it George died before the Embassadours could returne so that George otherwise then he intended held Henry for his heire Hereupon in Misnia was presently made such an alteration that whereas in Easter Holidaies the Papisticall Priests preached at Whitsontide Luther * and his Schollers had free possession of the Pulpits So Luther here began Reformation others after him added perfection thereunto In the yeere 1540. it was decreed that the Divines should meet at Hagenaw on the Rhine and peaceably conferre about the Doctrin of controverted points Melancthon journying thither fell into a grievous disease at Vinaria so that there he stayd and made his Will and prepared himself for death Hither Luther and Cruciger at the Electors instance took their journey both by night and day Here Luther finding Melancthon pittyfully consumed with the disease weeping and sighing cried How excellent and usefull an instrument of the Church do we find miserably sick and almost dead And when he had saluted him He fell down on his knees and heartily prayed for him and then performed what friendly offices he could by comforting admonishing and sometimes chiding the sick man Of this Melancthon thus wrote to Camerarius I cannot by words expresse what paines I have undergone into which sometimes I have a relaspe I perceived also that Doctor Luther was much afflicted in minde for me but he concealed his sorrow because he would not encrease mine And endeavoured to cheere me up with his noble courage sometimes comforting sometimes reproving me somewhat sharply Had he not come to me I had died This yeere Robert Barnes a learned Divine was burnt at London the last of Iune for witnessing to Gods truth He was familiarly known to Luther upon his coming to Wittenberg in the Embassie about the divorce made by King Henry Luther caused the Confession of this his friend and the faithfull Martyr of Christ to be printed with his Preface and besides admonished the Pastours by another peculiar Treatise to inveigh against Usurers and
Usury In the beginning of the yeere 1541. Luther wrote a consolatory letter to Frederik Myconius lamentably spent with a Consumption and affirmed that himself could have no joy to live if he died and thereupon wished that he himself might first lay down the tabernacle of his weake body and said that he was verily perswaded that his prayers should be granted for Myconius life As indeed it came to passe for Myconius out-lived Luther six yeers and would say that Luther obtained this for him by his prayers After Easter Bernard the infant sonne of Iohn of Anhalt was baptized at Dessaw Here Luther preached two Sermons to the Courtiers the Brother of the Prince of Anhalt and the Bishop of Brandenburgh which were printed He wrote also an Answer to a rayling book of one whom he calleth Hans Wurst Wherein he defended himself and his doctrin against the Papists and their Popish errours He put forth also an Exhortation to prayer against the Turk and answered the Princes questions concerning Transubstantiation Free-will Justification by faith and other points About this time the Bishoprick of Neoburg by Sala was voyd There Nicolas Amsdorf a Divine born of a noble Family was enstalled by Luther at the command of the Elector of Saxony the Patron of that Diocesse and Iulius Pflugius whom the Canons of the Colledge chose was refused Luther placed him in the Bishoprick Ian. 20. An. 1542. This thing as many conceived gave occasion to other stirres and very much offended the Emperour who much affected Pfugius for divers respects Of this see more in Amsdorfs life After this Luther wrote a book in the German tongue and call'd it The Pattern of the inauguration of a true Christian Bishop He published at that time the Alcoran which by Richard a Dominican was translated into the vulgar tongue He added to it a faithfull admonition concerning the abandoning the Turks doctrin and affirmed that not the Turk but the Pope was Antichrist And upon a difference rising between the Elector of Saxony and Maurice concerning the territories and town of Wurcen so that warre was likely to ensue Luther with weightie reasons in his letters disswaded both the Princes from their designes He further also opened his judgement about a Position some yeeres agone by him propounded Namely that to warre against the Turk was nothing else but to fight against God who useth him as his whip to scourge us Now also he wrote a consolatory letter concerning abortive birthes and bringing forth dead children The yeers 1543 and 44 produced many great troubles and stirres For now the Sacramentary contention began afresh to Melancthons great grief whom some attempted to set at jarres with Luther Some there were also who sought to coole Luthers heat and spake little more favourably of the Rhenan Churches then of the Turks Wherefore when Christopher Froschoverus the Printer of Tigur sent Luther a copie of his Tigurin Bible then Printed Luther admonished him by his letter that he should not publish anything which came to him from the Ministers of Tigur and that he had nothing to do with them nor would receive or read their books that the Churches of God could not joyne in Communion with them who already were running into the way of Perdition and would bring others into hell and damnation and that he would oppugne them with his prayers and books whilest he lived And now Luther first wrote against the Jews and refuted their lies and their blasphemous conceit about Shemhamphoras the name of God expounded He also wrote his judgement and a short answer to Casp. Schwenckfelds book and letter whom he bad not to mention him in his writings and sent him away with this answer The Lord reprove Satan who is in thee confusion befall the Spirit which called thee and the course which thou runnest and all the Sacramentarians and Eutychians who partake with thee and all thy blasphemies Thou doest as they of whom it was written they ran and I sent them not they spake and I commanded them not He wrote also his minde to others concerning the Ceremonies and excommunication he desired that there should be few Ceremonies and they tending to edification and that excommunication should be brought into the Church as a profitable discipline but could scarce hope to see it He admonished the young students at Wittenberg to avoyd fornication with wch some then were taxed yea he threatned that he would hold no societie with men of that ill condition and tarried some time at Mersburg with the Prince of Anhalt But afterward he was call'd to his ordinary taske by the University sending for him an honourable Embassie About this time he wrote an excellent Commentary upon the last words of David wherein he soundly and plainly declared the Article of the Trinitie the distinction of the persons Christs Deitie and humanitie In the yeere 1544. he finished the first part of his Commentaries on Genesis in which he often blameth the Sacramentarians and foretelleth that after his death many would oppugne Luthers doctrin Then in September he published the briefe and last Confession concerning the Eucharist wherein he expressely explaineth what in the Lords Supper is received by the worthy receivers what by the unworthy what by faith what without faith and censures Zwinglius Oecolampadius and others at Tigur who set forth an Apologie of their doctrin the yeere following Of this * elsewhere is spoken This very yeere the 17. of November he finished his explication of Genesis which was his last publique reading in the Universitie which he concluded with these words Thus end I my explication on Genesis God grant that others may more rightly and truly expound it then I have done I cannot proceed farther therein my strength faileth me pray for me that it would please God to grant me a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life This yeere in Italy was spread a most impudent lie about Luthers death The summe of it translated out of the Italian is this A stupendious rare miracle which God ever to be praised shewed about the filthy death of Martin Luther a man damned both in body and soule so that it conduced to the glory of Jesus Christ and the amendment and comfort of godly men When Martin Luther was sick he desired the Lords body to be communicated to him which he receiving died presently When he saw that he must die he requested that his body might be set upon the Altar and be adored with divine worship But God to put an end to his horrible errours by a great miracle warned the people to abstain from the impietie which Luther invented For when his body was laid in his grave suddenly so great a stirre and terrour arose as if the foundations of the earth were shaken together Whereupon all at the funerall trembling were astonished and after a while