shewed to be well decreed but could never be effected because they wanted learned men Concerning that which they decreed about books he rejected it not so that the decree did not extend to the sacred books of the Scripture the publishing whereof was in no wise to be prohibited Lastly concerning the amercing of Priests who either married or left their order the decree was too harsh and if the Gospel was purely to be preached Caesar was offended at the Decree ought to be mitigated The Emperour was somewhat offended with this decree and attempted by his Legate to take it away The Gospel propagated Tom. 2. epist pag. 121. but all in vain For this businesse was farre otherwise concluded of in heaven then at Norinberg as Luther wrote For the Princes and Cities of the Empire strove who first should admit the reformed doctrin This was done in Denmark Prussia Livonia Silesia and elsewhere In this yeere Luther set forth the book concerning the dignitie and office of the Civil Magistrate Luthers book concerning the Civill Magistrate 1523. Frederik the Elector was much delighted with this book He wrote also to the Waldenses commonly called the Picards concerning the adoring the Sacrament In which book he first mentions the opinion of Berengarius concerning the Lords Supper before he began the contention with the Helvetians He now also set forth the five books of Moses in the German tongue The German Pentateuch three thousand yeers since the death of Moses He published also a book to the Senate of Prague about ordeining of Ministers and another about avoyding the doctrine of men He wrote this yeere also to the Livonians and shewed his great joy at their entertaining the Evangelicall doctrin which many tyrants in Germany sought obstinately to oppresse and forewarned them that they must expect cruell persecutions of the same kind to the undergoing whereof he gravely and piously exhorted them encouraging them to be resolute and to persevere valiantly in the truth of the Gospel which they had received He further did instruct them briefly and plainely concerning Justifying faith and the true nature of good workes The forme of the Masse set out by Luther Chytreus in Sax. 10. pag. 282. He this yeere also set forth a forme of the Masse and Communion herein he retained all the usuall rites which were not plainly repugnant to the word of God as the preface out of the Psalmes the Kyrie the Collect the Epistle the sequence the Gospel the Creed the sermon the prayers the preface the Sanctus the Lords prayer the wordes of the Lordes supper the Elevation the agnus Dei the thanksgiving But the Canon of the Masse which transformed the Lords supper into a sacrifice for the quicke and the dead Auricular Confession he wholly omitted This was the first change of the rites though Carolostadius attempted the like before Auricular confession was also brought into use againe 2. Martyrs in Germany 1523 and private absolution also which Carolostadius had abandoned And when 2. Monkeâ— of the Augustinian profession were the first day of Iuly burnt by the Inquisitor first shed their bloud for the reformed doctrine of the faith Luther renowned their constancy with an hymme or Psalm and praised them as the first Martyrs of his time Of this story also Erasmus * Epist b. 21. b. 7. and b. 14. E. 4. writeth Then also Luther sent a Letter consolatory to the Augustins which is extant amidst his workes He wrote also to the Miltebergians who were then in danger for the Gospels sake Their first instructor was Iohn Draco Carolostadius Luther also comforted three noble Misnian virgins which were turned out of the Friburg Court of Henry Duke of Saxonie Other Nuns left their Cloysters elsewhere whereupon Luther wrote thus to Spalatinus There came to me those nine converted Nunnes who left Nimpschen Monastery miserable is their case but they were conducted by honest citizens of Torgaw Nunnes leaving their Cloysters namely by Leonard Coppe and his unkles sonne and Wolfius Tomitzech that there is no cause of suspition I much pity them but especially many other their like who every where in great number perish by their cursed and incestuous chastitie That sex is most weake of it selfe and by Gods and natures appointment is to be a mate for man and being by papisticall crueltie shut up from men is brought into perdition Tom. 2. Epist p. 131. Among them was Katherin de Bora who afterward was Luthers wife He writes to to the same Spalatinus elsewere of other Nunnes thus There departed 16. Tom. 2. cp p. 139. Nunnes out of the Monastery of Widderstetten under the Earle of Mansfield of which 11. came to the Quaestor of Alstet Of them Albertus received five It is now debated among them whether they ought to be entertained or rejected Tom. 2. cp p. 134. and 112. Nor yet is here an end of our newes This yeere is most fruitfull of Novelty and as I perceive still will be Luther also often was earnest with the Elector of Saxony suing to him by Spalatinus that he would demolish the Wittenbergian Bethaven that is the Colledge of All Soules And gave this reason Because almost all the Priests there not onely live wickedly but also are contemners of God and men with obstinate hearts and every night play the whoremasters and in the mornings say Masse with an impudent and brasen forehead For this he called Amsdorfe to witnesse and sayd that all of them except three were wanton persons and not to be maintained yea that it was the duty of the Magistrats to prohibite their whoredom compell them to marry For though no man can be compelled and forced to the truth yet publique wickednesse is to be taken away At the least the Masses might be forborne which were maintained at the Princes charge and were wickedly performed and to no good end Iohn the Prince of Anhalt by Doctour Ieronymus and a Franciscan warned Luther to acquite himselfe of holding a new Article with which Ferdinand of Norinberg did charge him namely that he held that Christ was the seed of Abraham Luther excusing himselfe Tom. 2. pag. 121. At the first Luther conceived that they jested with him but when he found that they spoke it sadly he was forced to give credit to their speech that he was in very deed so accused Frederik Duk. of Saxony warned to punish Luther Pope Adrian then opposed the Gospel and by his Bull as they call it very much blamed Frederik Electour of Saxony for the neglect of his duty in not punishing or banishing Luther And then warned and intreated the Prince that now at length he he would doe it and if he would not he should try how keen the Popes and Emperours swords were The same request Henry the eight King of England and Lodowik King of Hungary and Bohemia made To all these the Elector returned no other answer
as he came what they thought of the Seat of Rome They not knowing the force of this speech answered What know we whether at Rome ye sit on wooden or stone seats He further required of Luther that he would have a regard to the Churches peace and promised to endeavour that the Pope should do the like Luther freely promised most readily to doe what ever he could with a safe conscience in regard of Gods Trueth and affirmed that himself was desirous and studious of peace and that it was not his fault that these stirres arose for necessitie had urged him to do what he had done Multitius also called unto him Tecelius the cheife original of these debates Multitius reproveth Tecelius and with sharp wordes and threates so daunted the man Tom. 1. ep Luth. p. 152. and 208. Tecelius his death till now a clamorous unaffrighted bold face terrible to all so that ever after he languished and with heartes griefe pined away Luther wrote a consolatory letter to him in this case but for feare of the Popes indignation he died Frederik the Elector a prudent and Religious Prince neither yeelded to the Popes desire nor vouchsafed his Rose any respect though Multitius wonderfully boasted of it at Dresa sayd Doctour Martin is in my power About this time the Bohemians sending a booke written by Iohn Hus to Luther encouraged him to constancy and patience The Bohemians encourage Luther and confessed that the Divinity taught by Luther was sound and right Matters being growne to this height of dispute and Luther having many adversaries at Leipsick a towne in Misnia belonging to George Duke of Saxony Cosen german to Prince Frederik Carolostadius dispute with Eckius in the 19. yeere a disputation was held Thither came Andreas Carolostadius accompanied with Luther Melanchthon and Barninus Duke of Pomerania He at that time was in office in the University of Wittenberg Thither came also Iohn Eckius a Divine of Ingolstad Hereupon the 17. day of June Iohn Eckius and Carolostadius began the disputation about free-will Namely whether there be in man any free will to doe good as of himselfe that is as they say whether in congruitie we deserve grace when we doe what is in us to doe Eckius granted that there is not in man a genuine and naturall power and abilitie to doe a good worke but an acquired On this point eight dayes were spent by his playing the Sophister Luther could by no meanes obtaine leave of Duke George freely with his safety to dispute and thereupon came not as a disputer but an as Auditor to Leipsick under the protection granted to Carolostadius Whereupon Eckius comming to Luthers Lodging said Luther invited by Eckius to dispute that he heard that Luther refused to dispute Luther answered How can I dispute seeing I cannot obtaine protection from George the Duke To this Eckius replied If I may not dispute with you I will no longer dispute with Carolost adius For I came hither to dispute with you If I can obtaine for you the Dukes leave will you dispute When Luther assented thereunto Eckius presently procured for him a publique grant of safety and liberty to dispute This Eckius did out of an assured confidence of victorie and renowne to himselfe by confirming that the Pope is the Head of the Church Whether the Pope be head of the Church Jura Divino Iure Divino by Divine right which Luther denied Hence Eckius tooke occasion at large to flatter the Pope and demerit his favour and to derive much hatred and envie on Luther This the bold champion stoutly attempted in the whole disputation but was not able to make good his cause or confute Luther Eckius chiefe arguments were Eckius his argument that the Church could not be without an head seeing it was a body consisting of severall members Then he produced the place in Matthew Thou art Peter c. and some speeches of St Ierome and Cyprian and the Councel of Constance where against the Articles of the Hussites it was concluded That it was necessary to salvation that men should beleeve that the Pope was the Oecomenicall Bishop or Christs vicar over the whole world Afterward they entred into dispute about Purgatorie and Indulgences but in briefe about repentance about remission both of sin and its punishment and about the power of priests The two last dayes Carolostadius disputed againe and on the 14. day of July the disputation ended This disputation was set forth afterward by Luther who granted that the Pope by humane right was head of the Church Epist Tom. 1. p. 176. Whereupon Duke George inviting Luther and Eckius to dinner and embracing both of them sayd Whether the Pope have his authority by divine or humane right Pope he is Luther afterward changed his opinion about this point Before this disputation at Leipsick Luther was desired by Charles Multitius to goe to Confluence there to plead his cause before him being the Popes Commissary But Luther excused himselfe and shewed that for many reasons he neither could nor ought to goe thither In the yeere 1520. upon Multitius advise Luther wrote to the Pope An. 1520. Luther wrote to the Pope and sent him his booke lately written concerning Christian liberty and offered conditions of peace About this time Frederik the Elector fell into a grievous sicknesse Whereupon Luther moved by some friends and out of Christian charity wrote the booke called Tesseradecas to comfort him Then also he wrote the book Of Confession of sins in which he took occasion to speak of vowes and deplored their torturing of mens consciences And whereas in an other Treatise written by him he had said that he judged it behoofefull if the Councel would so permit that the Lords supper should be administred to all in both kindes This speech because it directly crossed the last Lateran Councel was excepted against by many amongst whom was Iohn Bishop of Misnia who prohibited the the Churchmen under his jurisdiction to administer the Lords supper in both kindes and enjoyned them to suppresse Luthers booke Luther maintained his cause and answered his Edict In the mean time the Divines of Lovan consulting with Adrian Cardinal of Derthuse then in Spain and the Divines of Cullen by a decree censure some of Luthers bookes as wicked and worthy to be burnt The Divines of Lovan and Cullen oppose Luther and held it fit that Luther should recant his opinions When Luther heard of this he answered every particular punctually And because he found so many and so great adversaries he wrote to Charles the fifth newly created Emperour and intreating pardon for this his addresse Luther writeth to Charles the fifth Emperour humbly besought him that he would so long onely afford him protection as that he might give account of his proceedings and overcome or be overcome because it would well beseeme the Imperirial power not to permit
the large Confession concerning the Lords Supper which were added for their direction There it is that Luther thus writeth to Amsdorf We * Tom. 2. ep p. 394. are visiters that is Bishops and we find poverty and scarsity every where The Lord send forth workmen into his harvest Amen And in another place to Spalatinus Ibid. p. 394. Our visitation goeth on of what miseries are we eye witnesses and how often doe we remember you when we find the like or greater miseries in that harsh natured people of Voytland Let us beseech God to be present with us and that he would promote the work of his poore Bishops who is our best and most faithfull Bishop against all the Arts and forces of Satan Amen And again In our visitation in the territories of Wittenberg we find as yet all pastors greeing with their people but the people not so forward for the Word and Sacraments Answer to Zwinglius and Oecolampadius The 1. part of the book called The Great Confession of the faith concerning the Lords supper dealeth with Zwinglius the 2. part with Oecolampadius and blameth both of them To this Oecolampadius and Zwinglius replyed at large and dedicated their books to the Prince of Saxony and Landgrave of Hessen Bucers Dialogue Bucer also in the German tongue answered Luther in a Dialogue where he maketh Sebaldus and Arbogastus speakers These are the last books which these men wrote against Luther Carolostade Epistle to Pontanus This yeer also Carolostadius wrote a letter to George Pontamus Chancellour of the Duke of Saxonie in which he layeth down the ground-work of his Tenents concerning the Lords supper This was answered by Luthers Epistle to the same Pontamus Luther therein admonisheth that care must be taken Luthers answer that no blemish be layd upon the Electour by whose connivence Carolostade doth there divulge his own dreams and heresies Luther also * Tom. 4. Ep. Ien. wrote to Carolostadius and confuted his Arguments and in the end of his letter graunteth that Christ alone doth give his body but denieth that thence it followeth that the Minister doth not give it by the Lords command An. 1529. The greater and lesse Catechisme In the beginning of the yeere 1529. Luther put forth his greater and lesser Catechismes for the good of the under sort of people and admonished the Pastors and Ministers that they would seriously attend their offices and teach carefully in the Villages That they would preach still the same things about the same points and often presse them upon the people Luthers booke against the Turk Here also Luther put forth a book against the Turk in the German tongue this he did partly because it was then reported that the Turk was comming upon Hungary and Germany which appeared true by his besieging of Vienna partly because some Pastors endeavoured to perswade the people that warre was not to be waged against the Turk Yea some proceeded to that height of folly that they desired that the Turk would come and lay his yoake upon them The assembly at Spire And when at that time there was held an Assembly at Spire where first arose the Name of Protestants and Luthers assistants whose helpe he used in translating the Prophets The name of Protestants were seperated he himselfe being sickly that he might be in some imployment in Melancthons absense translated the booke of Wisdome which was afterward revised by Melancthon and printed In October this yeere Philip Landgrave of Hessen Conference at Marpurg with a pious intent called together the Prime Doctors of the Saxon and Helvetick Churches Luther called Tom. 4. Ien. p. 4â—â— Among whom Luther beeing sent for returned this answer That little good was to be hoped for by that conference except the adverse part came thither to yeeld and that himselfe could not yeeld because he was assured that he was in the truth In this meeting the chiefe heads of Divinity were handled and concluded of No one point was with choler contended about nor did they depart alienated or divided in their affections by any controversie as elsewhere * The life of Oecolampadius and others is shewed In the last yeere a same was spread of a league made by some Popish Princes against the Duke of Saxonie and Landgrave of Hessen Of this thus Luther writeth to Wenceslaus Lincus Tom. 2. Ep p 386. Fame of the Popish Princes league Luthers letter about it That ungodly league of wicked Princes though they deny it what stirres hath it caused but I do interpret the sleight and poore excuse of Duke George as a confession of the fact But let them deny excuse dissemble it I know that that league was not a Chimera or a thing of no being a Monster cannot be but monstruous and conspicuous enough And the world knoweth well that they with most pertinacious mindes deeds edicts designes have hitherto publiquely attempted and still do attempt the like For they desire that the Gospel was abolished this none can deny But why write I thus to you who know this to be undoubtedly true I doe it onely that you may know that we will not trust that wicked crew though we offer them peace The Lord confound the Counsels of that * George Duke of Saxonie Morotates Moores bundle of folly who like Moab dares attempt more then he can effect and as ever so still is proud above his power Let us pray against such men-slayers Hitherto they have been forborn if again they plot any thing first we will pray to God then we will admonish Princes of them that they may be destroyed without pitty seeing they be unsatiable bloud-suckers and cannot be at rest unlesse they see Germany weltring in her bloud The letter intercepted This letter intercepted and brought to Duke George gave occasion of a great disaffection between the Duke and Luther as the letters written from each of them to the other fully manifest For Luther printed a treatise of letters privately sent and intercepted and on the other side George the Duke printed a preface to the Translation of the New Testament set forth by Emser This preface was full fraught with gall Luther thus saith of it I have received your letter friend VVenceslaus by which you certifie me Ep. Tom. 2. p. 389. what Duke George hath adventured to doe He required the same of me not long agone and afterward of our Duke when he could not prevayle he hath printed the coppie of it with an invective against me such is his notorious folly rayling fury They say that there are 8000. books printed which he transports into all coasts under his owne seale Thus shall poore Luther at length be kept down and Duke George shall triumph most gloriously To the Mart he will send them After I by some private meanes had got a coppie thereof I wrote an answere thereunto which shall be divulged at once
with his writing contrary to his expectation New Broiles thereupon Perhaps he will burst with rage and die like a miserable idiot I could wish that theevish Mericion had taken it in mine owne hand I am so farre from fearing that Satan though I wonder at Scheurferus that not delivered my letter up to them but that he is so familiar with my bitterest enemies I intreat you that with your congregation you would pray against that furious homecide and bloudy ruffian as a man possessed by more then one Devil and breathing out nothing but menaces and slaughter that it would please Christ to save him as he did Saint Paul or confound him For why should this unquiet and mischeivous vassall of Satan be offensive to heaven and earth An. 1530. The assembly at August and conformitie of Protest The remembrance of the thirtieth yeere will never be razed out while men live on earth for in this yeere was held that solemne and numerous assembly before the Emperour and the States of the Empire which was printed and made known to all the nations of Europe Read the Story * Tom. 5. Jer. Germ. Chitr B. 13. Sax. Sleid. b. 2. Luther wrote the seventeen Articles elsewhere We return to Luther He composed the seventeen Articles before the Divines of Saxony took their journey to Augusta In these Articles he omitted scholastick disputes and points unnecessary for the peoples instruction and comprised the summe of holesome and necessary doctrin for the salvation of mens soules and true pietie Other Princes and Cities who embraced the doctrin of Luther commanded their Divines to set down in writing a briefe declaration of the doctrin commonly taught in the Churches of their territories That these seventeen Articles written by Luther Luthers Articles followed by Melanct. were especially made use of by Melancthon in writing the Confession the very words and phrases in most of the Articles retained and the order and methode of the Articles much alike Joh. Elector of Saxony came first to August and the Epistle of Iohn Elector of Saxony dated from Augusta to Luther before Caesars coming do witnesse For Iohn Elector of Saxony came to Auspurg contrary to the opinion and exspectation of all men yea he came thither first of all the Princes accompanied with Iohn Frederik his sonne Francis Duke of Lunenburg his sisters sonne Wolfgang Prince of Anhalt his wives brother and these divines Ionas Philip Spalatinus and Islebius Luther abode at Coburg For when he went from Coburg he left Luther in the Castle because he was banished by the Pope and Emperour and was extreamly hated by the Pontificians yet would that he should remain in that place neere at hand that more easily and speedily he might be consulted with for any matter pertaining to Religion Luther that he might further the common good though he was absent wrote a book to the Bishops and other Divines of note in that assembly in which he deciphered fully what was the state of the Romane Church under the Popedome and opened their cruelty and exhorted them that they would not now omit the occasion of curing this sore He further shewed that the doctrin taught by himself was agreeable to that of the Prophets Apostles that all designes undertaken against God would be frustrate Melanct care in this assembly Melanct. knowing the rage of the Papists Caesars threats was very solicitous troubled thereat not so much for his own as for the issue of these matters and posterities sake and gave himself almost wholly up to griefe sighes and teares Luther having notice hereof did often cheere him up and comfort him by his letters These words are part of one of his epistles In private conflicts I am somewhat weake and you strong In his book written An. 1529. and on the contrary you in publique conflicts are somewhat weake I stronger If I may call that a private conflict which is between me and Satan for you are ready to die if you were called to it but feare the disaster of the publique cause But I am resolute and secure for the publique cause because I am assured that it is just and true that it is Gods and Christs and is not appaled with the guilt of sinne as I a private servant of God am compelled to trembling and palenesse For this cause like a secure spectator and do not regard the menaces and crueltie of the Papists If we fall Christ the Lord and ruler of the world falleth with us And suppose he fall I had rather fall with Christ then stand with Caesar Nor do you alone strive to hold up Gods cause I constantly stand to you with my sighes prayers I wish I might also with my bodily presence For the cause is mine rather I say mine then all yours and attempted by me not out of any rash humour or desire either of glory or gain which thing the Spirit witnesseth to my conscience and the matter it self hath already plainly shewed and will more and more shew it even to the end Wherefore I entreat you for Christs sake not to forget Gods promises and the divine comforts where t is said Psal 55. Cast thy care upon the Lord have thine eyes fixt on the Lord Psal 27. play the man let thine heart be comforted The booke of the Psalmes and the Gospels are full of the like speeches Joh. 16. Be of good comfort I have overcome the world If Christ be the Conquerour of the world why should we feare it as if it would overcome us A man could finde in his heart to fetch such a sentence upon his knees from Rome or Jerusalem And in the same Epistle you would determine of these businesses according to your Philosophy by reason that is cum ratione insanire run wild with humane over-care and kill your self nor do ye see that this matter is beyond your reach and providence and I pray Christ to keep it that it come not into your hand and counsell which is a thing vehemently desired by you For then publikely and apparantly and suddenly we shall perish And in another Epistle Grace and peace in Christ In Christ I say not in the world Amen Concerning your apologie for your silence I will speake elsewhere I extreamely dislike your excessive cares with which you say you are consumed That these raigne so much in your heart is not from the greatnesse of the cause but the greatnesse of your incredulitie For there was greater cause of this in Iohn Hus his time then in ours Then again suppose there be great cause the Agent and chief mover in it is of great power for it is not our cause Why then do you continually and without ceasing macerate your self If the cause be faultie let us revoke it and flie back if it be good why do we make God a lyer who hath made us so great promises and bids us to be of a quiet
the innocent to be violently handled and trampled on by their wicked adversaries To the same purpose he wrote to other the Dukes and Lords of the Empire and shewed them how he began and was drawn into these attempts Not long after he wrote to Albertus Archbishop of Mentz Cardinal Luther writeth to the Archbishop of Mentz and in submissive manner shewed how he was condemned by two sorts of men one who never read his books the other who read them but with hearts full of hatred and prejudice The Archbishops answer The Bishop answered that he heartily desired that all sacred matters should be handled both by Luther and all other Divines as it was meet religiously reverently modestly without tumults envie contumely He said moreover that it was a griefe to him to heare that some great men disputed concerning the Primacie of Rome free-will and other sleight matters so he call'd them not much pertaining to a Christian indeed and that such like rash opinions could not be broached among the ignorant people but with incouraging them to disobedience He wrote also about the Lords Suppers celebrating in both kinds and about the Authoritie of Councels And shut up his letter with Gamaliels verdict If thy work be of God Tom. 2. Lat. Witt. pag. 48. it will stand firme and unmoveable if it was begun of envie or pride it will easily be blown away In like manner Luther wrote to Adolphus Bishop of Mersberg who answered him to the same purpose and admonished him that he would over-rule his pen with the love of Christ the Author of our peace At the same time it befell 1520. The Duke of Saxon maliced for Luther that Frederik Duke of Saxony had some occasion to send to Rome and gave the businesse in charge to Valentine a Dithleben a German He brought word back that the Elector was in disgrace at Rome for Luthers sake because he permitted his new opinions to be dispersed His excuse Tom. 2. Lat. Wittemb p. 50. The Prince hereupon thus wrote in his own defence and answered That he never defended the doctrine and books of Luther nor was of that bent and though he did heare that many learned men approved Luthers judgement yet he opened not his minde therein Further he said that Luther was ready to give an account of his doctrine before the Popes Legate so that he might be assured of safe conduct and that if his error was detected he would change his opinion and that Luther of his own accord would have departed out of those coasts had not Multitius perswaded to detaine him there rather then to permit him to settle elsewhere that so he might more freely and safely attempt some higher designe And therefore that there was no cause why any one should have an ill opinion of him Tom. 2. Lat. Wittenb pag. 51. c. The Popes Bull. To this Letter the Pope returned answer and sending a Copie of the Bull which Eckius had obtained desired that the Elector would make Luther to recant or if he refused so to do he would imprison him and keep him safe till he further declared his pleasure At this the Court of Saxony was somewhat * Tom. 1. epist pag. 249. Luther thought of a place to retire himself in troubled and Luther began to think of some retired place where he might conceale himself Some Noble Germans approvers of Luthers judgement hearing this offered Luther entertainment and protection as namely Francis a Sickengen Hulderike Hutten Sylvester de Schavenburgen Of whom the said Sylvester wrote to Luther and intreated him not to depart into Bohemia or into any other countrey but to come to him during the time of the Popes exasperation and menaces and promised that an 100. French Horse should attend his safetie Hereupon Luther taking courage admonisheth Spalatinus that this course should by the Letter of Duke Frederik be made known to the Cardinal of St. George These are Luthers words Tom. 1. epist I send you the Letter of Sylvester Schavenb the French Knight and were it not displeasing to you I desire that by the letter of the Prince notice may be given to the Cardinal of St. George whereby they may know that should they with their threats and curses expell me from Witten they should effect nothing else but to make a bad matter much worse For now there are not onely in Bohemia but even in the midst of Germany such Princes who both will and can defend me from the threats thundred out against me by mine adversaries And then perhaps it may so fall out that biding under their protection I shall more strongly bend my forces against the Romanists then if under the Princes government I should publiquely performe my place as Reader of Divinitie This unlesse God prevent it will doubtlesse be the issue of this matter Hitherto I have given all due respect to the Prince but then if I be provoked by ill usage I shall not need to submit unto him And therefore in what matters soever I have not so roughly dealt with them let them attribute my forbearance therein not to my modesty nor to their tyranny nor their deserts but to my respect to the Prince and to his authoritie as also to the common good of the Students of Wittenberg Concerning my self I venture upon the danger and contemne Romes both fury and favour Let them censure and burne all mine I will not be reconciled to them nor at any time hereafter joyne with them On the contrary I unlesse I can get no fire will burn all the Pontifician law the sink of heresies yea I will put an end to my humble observance which I have hitherto in vaine shewed and wherewith the enemies of the Gospel are more and more incensed Tom. 2. Lat. p. pag. 66. Book of Captivitie of Babylon Luther also before he saw the Popes Bull put forth his book Of the Babylonian Captivitie In which he wished that what he had written concerning Indulgences was abolished and this proposition divulged in stead thereof Indulgences are the wicked tricks of Romes flatterers And in stead of what he wrote against the Pope this Proposition The Popedome is a robustious Hunting practised by the Bishop of Rome Then he handled the Sacraments and acknowledged but three of the seven to be Sacraments of Christs Covenant The Pope called Antichrist He wrote also against the execrable Bull of Antichrist and call'd the Pope Antichrist and confirmed the Articles censured by the Bull. An. 1520. Charles the Emperour that yeere came to Aquisgran where with great solemnitie he was crowned Emperour About the Calends of Septemb. he with Frederik Elector of Saxony went to Colonia Agrippina At this time the controversies of Religion being hotly prosecuted the Elector would not suddenly do any thing of his own head in a matter of so great import but would try the votes of the most prudent and learned Clarkes Erasmus
judgement about Luther desired and among others of Erasmus whom he sent for from Lovan to Collen When first he requested to heare Erasmus judgement concerning Luther and wondered that so great and extreame hatred should be raised by some Monks and the Pope against Luther whose life and carriage he conceived to be commendable and his doctrine not impious Erasmus answered in a pleasant manner That his Highnesse needed not wonder at that Tom. 2. Lat. Sleidan Luthers judgement for Luther had in his disputations dealt against the Monks bellies and the Popes crowne Afterward seriously and gravely giving his opinion concerning the controversies of these times he shewed that Indulgences and other abuses and superstitions were justly taxed and that their reformation was necessary and that the summe of Luthers doctrine was orthodox and that onely he seemed too vehement and violent in contending with his adversaries and that an Evangelical businesse was to be handled after an Evangelical manner Frederick the Elector being confirmed in the truth by the sage judgement of Erasmus did gravely admonish Luther to moderate his fiercenesse in disputes Then also there came to Collen Martinus Coroccialus and Ieronymus Alexander Tom. 2. Lat. who again set upon Duke Frederik in the Popes name But when the Elector answered not as they expected they said that they must deale with him according to the forme of the decree and burnt Luthers books It is reported that these advocates of the Pope did promise Erasmus a Bishoprick of rich revenew Luthers books burnt if he would write against Luther Erasmus is instigated against Luther But he answered That Luther was a man too great for him to write against and that he learned more from one short page of Luthers writings then from all Thomas Aquinas bookes Lady Margarets answer It is also said that Margaret the Emperours Aunt who ruled all Belgium when the Magistri nostri of Lovan complained that Luther with his writings did subvert all Christendome did demaund what manner a man Luther was when they answered that he was an unlearned Monke she replied Why then see that all you learned men being a great multitude write against that one unlearned fellow and doubtlesse the world will give more credit to many of you being learned then to him being but one and unleâ—â—ned Tom. 1. Epist p. 290 Luther knowing what was donâ— with his writings An. 1520. Decemb. 10. Luther burneâ— popish books called the students of Wittenberg together and in a frequent assembly of learned men before the gate of Elister neer to the great Colledge where a fire was made cast the Popes lawes and the Bull of Leo with some writings of Eckius Emser and others thereinto and said Because thou troublest Christ the holy one of God eternall fire will trouble thee The next day he expounded the Psalmes and earnestly charged his auditors that as they loved the salvation of their soules they should take heed of the Popes statutes And in writing gave a reason presently of this his action Thirty errors of Popery Tom. 2. lat pag. 125. And out of the great multitude of errors in the Popes Lawes culled out these thirty 1. The Pope and his clergy are not bound to be subject and obedient to the commandements of God 2. It is not a precept but a counsel of St Peter where he saith That all men ought to be subject to Kings 3. That by the Sun the Papal power by the Moon the Imperial or secular power in a common wealth was signified 4. That the Pope and his Chaire were not bound to be subject to Councels and Decrees 5. That the Pope had in the Closet of his breast all lawes and plenary power over all lawes 6. Whence it followeth That the Pope hath power to disanull to change and determine of all Councels and all Constitutions and Ordinances as he daily practiseth 7. That the Pope of Rome hath a right to require an oath of all Bishops and to oblige them to him in regard of their palls received of him 8. If the Pope be so neglective of his owne and his brethrens salvation and so unprofitable and remisse in his place that he carry along with himself as if he was the chiefe slave of Hell innumerable people to be eternally tormented no mortall man ought to reprove him for this sinne 9. That the salvation of all faithfull men dependeth on the Pope next after God 10. No man on earth can judge the Pope or censure his determinations but the Pope is judge of all men 11. The Sea of Rome giveth authority to all rights and Lawes and is it selfe subject to none of them 12. The Rocke on which Christ Matt. 16. buildeth his Church is the Sea of Rome with them adjoyning 13. The Keyes were given to Saint Peter onely De Constit. c. Translat 25. q. 1. Jdeo permittente 14. Christs Priesthood was translated from him to Saint Peter 15. The Pope hath power to make Ordinances and Laws for the Catholike Church 16. This sentencce whatsoever thou bindest on earth shall also be bound in heaven establisheth this conclusion that the Pope hath power to charge the Catholike Church even with his rash lawes 17. That his command of abstinence from flesh egges butter and other meates made of milke is to be observed else men sin and are liable to excommunication 18. The Pope forbidding all priests to marry wives inhibits all the Priesthood from Matrimony 19. Pope Nicolaus either the 3. or 4. in his Antichristian Decretal among other matters badly decreed well judged that Christ by giving the Keyes gave power over both the celestial and terrestrial kingdome 20. The Pope judgeth that loud and impious lye for a truth and requireth that it be received namely That Constantine the Great gave him the Romans provinces and Countries and power over the whole inferior world 21. The Pope affirmeth that he is the heire of the sacred Roman Empire De 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 Frederik Prince Elector obtained of the Emperour to call Luther to the Court held at Wormes in March An. 1521. Luther sene for to Wormes 1521. And goeth thither 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 Some dehort him 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 in so 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 Luther commeth to Wormes 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 Promise of safety to Luther was to be kept 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. Luther appeareth before Caesar 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 What he is to answer to 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 Luthers answer 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 sometime 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 to morrow about this houre you here present your self 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 Luther incouraged by divers present Mat. 10.19.20 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 Luthers second answer 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 Eckius indignation and reply 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
lay aside his sword and to take in hand the books before him for so he might be descried Sometimes he went forth a hunting with his friends Of this sport thus he writeth I was a hunting two dayes to see that lordly but bitter-sweet sport Here we took two Hares and some silly young Partridges The sport is meet for such as have nothing else to do There did I contemplate as a Divine amidst their nets and dogs Nor did the outward appearance of the game more delight me then what I conceived by it Hunting is a resemblance of the devils practise move me to pitie and griefe For what could this sport signifie and resemble but by the dogs wicked Popish divines and by the nets the cunning tricks and wiles by which they seeke to catch harmlesse Christians as hunters those silly creatures This was a most evident mysterie of the pursuing of plain hearted and faithfull souls Yet was there a more cruell mysterie presented to me When by my meanes we kept a young Hare alive and put her in my Coats sleeve and so left her in the meane time the dogs finding it broke one of her legs and taking her by the as she was in the sleeve stopt her wind Thus it is with Satan and the Pope who cruelly destroy poore souls without regard of my paines to save them I was by this time weary of this sport and thought that more pleasing where Beares Wolves Bores Foxes and such like savage creatures are strook dead with darts and arrows It comforted me again for I took it as a mystery resemblance of salvation that Hares and harmless creatures are taken by men not by Beares Wolves and ravenous Hawkes who resemble Popish Bishops and Divines because by these may be signified a devouring by Hell by those an eating of them as food for heaven He passed also to Wittenberg from his Patmos making few acquainted therewith He came privately to Wittenberg Tom. 1. epist pag. 367. Luthers infirmitie Tom. 1. epist pag. 361. and lodged with Amsdorf here he spent some few dayes and was merry with his friends without the Electors knowledge In his retirednesse he was much troubled with costivenesse having the benefit of naturall ease that way but once in foure or five dayes Then also was he tried by some devillish tentations which much disquieted him This disease he overcame by exercise and medicines sent him from Spalatinus Then read he also the Hebrew and Greek Bibles and besides the books above mentioned he wrote many letters to his friends which be now printed At length not enduring further delay and innovations he returned from his Patmos to Wittenberg He returned to Wittenberg without the knowledge of the Electour March the sixth Ann. 1522. he rendred these reasons of his return to the Electour Tom. 2. epist pag. 47. First said he I am call'd back by the Letters of the Church and People of Wittenberg and that with much solicitation and entreaty Secondly at Wittenberg Satan hath made an inrode into my flock and raised such stirres that I cannot well represse and quiet them with my writing alone but of necessitie I must live there be present among them and both heare them and speake to them goin and out before them and do what I can for their good Besides I feare that some great and violent sedition will arise in Germany and make Germany undergo grievous punishment for its contempt and ingratitude I thought it therefore needfull to do doe what I ought and could for them in this regard by my counsell and endeavour to teach admonish and exhort them thereby to avert Gods anger and judgement or at least to stay them awhile Furthermore Luthers confidence and relying on God I know well and am verily perswaded that my preaching and my proceeding to divulge the Gospel of Christ is not of my own motion but the worke of God Nor shall any kinde of death or persecution shake this my confidence and make me thinke otherwise and I conceive that I rightly divine that no terrours or crueltie can put out the light already shining And in an other Epistle I return to Wittenberg under a more sublime and strong protection then the Elector of Saxonie can give me Nor did I ever minde to sue for defence from your Highnesse Moreover did I know that your Highness would and could defend me verily I would not returne No sword can advance and maintaine this cause God alone can order and promote it without any mans excessive care and helpfull hand Therefore in this cause he that most strongly trusts to Gods assistance he most surely defendeth himself and others Seeing therefore I perceive your Highnesse to be weake in faith I can by no meanes attribute so much to your Highnesse as to be perswaded that I can be defended and freed from danger by you I will keep your Highnesse person your minde and body and estate safe from all danger and damage in this my cause whether you beleeve me or not Let your Highnesse then be assured and not doubt at all that this matter is farre otherwise concluded of in heaven then at Norimberg For we shall finde that they which think they have devoured all the Gospel and queld it in the rising are not yet come to the Benedicite I have to deale with another manner and more powerfull Prince then our Duke He knoweth me and I him conveniently well Did your Highnesse beleeve you should behold the wonderfull works and glory of God Whereas you not yet beleeving see none of these things To God be glory and praise for ever This and much more to this purpose he wrote shewing his full assurance and plerophory of faith most admirable He also wrote thus to Melancthon concerning the cause of his return Provide a lodging for me Another cause of Luthers return for the Translation of the Bible compels me to return to you pray to God that it may stand with his good pleasure I desire to conceale my self as much as I can yet will I proceed in my worke resolved upon He wrote the like to Amsdorf That for the translation of the Bible he must return to Wittenberg that therein he might use other mens counsell and help Luther being returned from the Lords Day first in Lent that whole weeke every day preached one Sermon these are extant and in them he shewed what he liked or disliked in the alterations made in his absence He found fault with them who had abrogated private Masse and Idols and administred the Lords Supper in both kinds and taken away auricular confession differences of meats invocation of Saints and other the like matters not because they had done impiously but because they proceeded not herein orderly He affirmed that he condemned the Papisticall Masse the worshipping of Images the rules of auricular confession prayer to Saints the Popish fasting but he did condemne them onely by the Word of God
preached and not by a violent abrogation of them How much he prevailed by those Sermons Carolostade offended with Luther he telleth in these words I saith he gave offence to Carolostade because I blamed his proceedings though I condemned not his doctrin Onely this disliked me that dealing about ceremonies and outward matters he laboured lesse in that which is Christian doctrin indeed namely faith and charitie for by his unadvised course of teaching he brought the people to this passe that he thought himselfe a Christian by these petty matters by communicating in both kinds by not using confession and by breaking down images c. And this was the beginning of dissention between Luther and Carolostade 1522. Luther translated the New Testament and printed it In this 22. yeer the New Testament came forth as it was translated into the German tongue in his Patmos and afterward revised somewhat by * Melanct. used about it Tom. 2. epâ—st p. 55. epâ—st 1. to Camerat Melancthon Some Popish Princes and Bishops prohibited their people to read it He wrote also a Letter to the a Tom. 2. epist pag. 85. Bohemians concerning matters of great moment and exhorted them to constancie in the truth which they had received and that they would not fall back to Antichrist for a vain hope of peace He also disswaded them from making themselves guiltie of the innocent blood of John Hus and Jerome of Prague And where as some objected their many different Sects he shewed that there were many more among the Papists and prescribed the Bohemians a course how they might cure this disease Here he inveighed earnestly against such Bishops as did condemne and persecute the doctrin of the Gospel and being often provoked did neither defend their own doctrin nor refute Luthers He shewed them that by their tyranny they should not prevaile because he was neither moved by the Popes Anathema or curse nor Caesars proscription and that he would endeavour so much the more to propagate the Gospel and set to it with the more courage by how much the more violently they withstood it and that the Gospel would not be extinguished though they should kill him and that God would plague them most conspicuously and grievously if they proceeded in their furious course In this booke he so angred the then Bishops Abbats Monks and the whole dregs of them that they resolved that seeing they could not burne Luther himself they would burne all his books About this time also Luther confuted Nicolas Stork Luthers dealing with the ring-leaders of the Anabaptists Thomas Muncer and other fanaticall ring-leaders and Prophets broaching new doctrines who pretended revelations Angelical and conferences with God and denyed the Baptisme of infants and thereby sowed the seed of Anabaptisme These false prophets came from the Cygnean Citie to Wittenberg in Luthers absence and molested Carolostade Luthers harsh answer to the King of England and Melancthon Now also Luther answered Henry the eight King of England who as other adversaries also set out a book against Luther and had given him by Pope Leo the title of Defender of the Faith of the Church Onely Luther answered him somewhat sharply which course some of Luthers friends disliked Of the same thus Erasmus wrote If Luther first commending the godly care of the King had afterward with solid arguments refuted his opinions and laid no disgrace on the Kings person I suppose he had done that which would much have advanced his cause Againe What set Luther on to say in his book against the King Let your Highnesse come to me and I will teach you Truely the Kings book was written in a good Latine style and not unlearnedly Luther thus excuseth this his fact Luthers excuse for so writing If any man be offended at my sharpnesse towards the King I thus answer him In that book I have to do with senselesse monsters who contemne my best and most modest writings and my humble submission and are more hardened by my calmnesse Besides I abstained from bitter speeches and lyes with which the Kings book is full fraught nor is it any great matter if I give no more respect to an earthly King and speake sharply seeing he was not afraid to blaspheme the King of Heaven with his speech and to speake profanely in his virulent lyes God the righteous judge divide the matter between us This book he dedicated to Sebastian Earle of Schlick Sebastian Earl of Schlick whose singular pietie and zeale he commendeth and saith he will make this writing the beginning of his flying to the Bohemians For both the King and others had falsely accused him of flying thither and did triumph and brag saying We have wonne the day the Heretick is fled to the Hereticks In the yeere 1523. at the Assembly at Norinberg 1523. An assembly at Norinberg the Emperour being absent the decree made at Wormes was disannulled And when the Popes Legate complained thereof and said that Luther was not punished according to Caesars decree The Princes answered that most men in Germany were so instructed by Luthers Sermons and books that if that decree had been executed it would have given occasion of great sedition and that this construction would have been made thereof namely that the truth of the Gospel was thereby oppressed and extinguished and manifest errors and evils stood for which might not be tolerated or winked at any longer A Councell to be held in Germany And that now this assembly was gathered that a free Councell might shortly be kept in Germany at Mentz or Argentorate or Mets or Cullen And that in the meane time Luther and others should set forth no books the Preachers should Preach nothing but the Gospel plainly and modestly according to the interpretations commonly received by the Church that such Preachers as transgressed should be mildly punished by fit men appointed by the Bishops lest any one should suspect that this was done to hinder the free preaching of the Gospel that the Printers should imprint or divulge nothing but what was allowed and approved by learned and judicious men that the Priests who had married wives should be amerced according to the award of the Popes lawes The hundred grievances of Germany Sleid. lib. 4. pag. 29. There were here also exhibited to the Legate an hundreth grievances of the German nation of which we will speak else-where Luther interprets the Decree Sleidan 4. pag. 83. This Decree was diversly interpreted by severall parties Luther by his letters to the Princes declared how he conceived the meaning of it And 1 that they commanding that the Gospel should be taught according to the received judgement of the Church intended not according to the course of Thomas or Scotus but of Hilarie Ambrose Augustine and the like Againe that the Bishops should chuse fit men who should be present at Sermons and mildly admonish such as offended if need were This Luther
then that Luther was first to be heard in the Councel before he was to be condemned The Popes Legate accuseth Luther The Popes Legate also accused Luther at the Norician assembly as being most like to Mahomet For as the Turkes by Polygamy so Luther taking away the vowes of Chastity doth loose the reines to all licentiousnesse and overthrow the state of the Church and therefore he might be condemned before he was heard besides as now he did shew his cruelty against the Ecclesiasticall state he would afterward doe the like against the Political In this yeere Christiern King of Denmark and his wife sister of Charles the fifth were expulsed their Kingdome for his too violent government And being in banishment at the Court of his Unkle Frederik Elector of Saxony heard Luther preach In the 24. yeere Clemens the 7. Laurent Campegius the Popes Legate made Pope in Adrians steed sent Laur. Campegius the Cardinal his Legate to Norinberg He wrote at large to Frederik the Elector and highly praysed the Popes good will and did undertake that a Councel should be called Then also Caesar and most of the Princes of the Empire pressed for the decree of Wormes Which thing when Luther had notice of he bewayled the state of Germany and complained of the blindnesse of men That yeare Erasmus Roterod. Erasmus wrote against Luther being much importuned thereunto perswaded by the King of England and Thomas Wolsey Cardinal wrote against Luther He put forth against his will as he wrote to Melancthon the Treatise concerning free-will What was Luhers judgement about the same that which he wrote to Spalatinus sheweth Tom. 2. epist 230. namely It is incredible how I disdaine the booke of Eras concerning free-will and yet I have scarce read eight leaves thereof It grieveth me to answer so unlearned a book of a man so learned That book was answered by Luther An. 1526. with which delay the mindes of learned men were held in suspence what would be the issue of the controversie This yeere was remarkable for the unhappy Sacramentary controversie The beginning and proceeding whereof is related in the life of Carolostade Zwingl and Oecolamp and I list not here to renew our griefe by opening the sore again About this time came forth the fanatick writing of Tho. Muncer of Stolberg Muncers writing against Luther and the Preacher of Alstet in which he disgorged his venemous fury against the Lutherans The book which he wrote against Luther was dedicated to Christ Prince of Princes He rayled on Luther because he wanted an Enthusiasticall spirit and had nothing in his writing but a carnall spirit The same Muncer wrote to Melancthon a letter plainly shewing his fanaticall spirit The Psalmes put forth c. Luther now put forth Davids Psalter in the German tongue a book against the seditious and an Epistle to Frederik and Iohn Princes of Saxony against the enemies of images and Enthusiasts who boasted of illumination and conference with God He also set forth a booke about the Exaltation of Benno a Bishop once of Misnia Of Benno Bishop of Misnia whose bones were on the sixteen day of May digged up at Misnia exalted and placed in a marble Tombe which act some took to be religious other jested and laughed thereat This yeere in October Luther laid aside his Monkishhood Luther casts away his monkish weed and declared his judgement concerning the Synode to be called for determination of the ceremonies saying thus I thinke it not very safe to call together a Councell of our men for the setling an uniformitie of Ceremonies Of calling a Counsel for it will set a bad example though it be attempted with a good zeale as appeareth by all Councels from the beginning So that in the Apostolicall Synode they did more treat concerning matter of action and Traditions then of faith In the Synodes after this they never disputed about faith but alwayes about opinions and questions that the name of Councels is more suspected and hated by me then the name of free will If one Church will not of its own accord imitate another in externall matters what need is there to compell them by the decrees of Councels which presently are changed into lawes 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 Reformation in the Cathedal Church at Wittenberg Tom. 2. Ep. p. 246. 1525. 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. The Boores rise in armes is famous by the rising of the Boores when this broyle was a hatching and the Rustick 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 Luther exhorts to quell them 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 The contention with Carolostade 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 The Anabaptists 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 The name of Masse 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 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 Ordering of Ministers 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 German songs and a book of the abomination of the Masse in which he galled the Popish sore backtjades Luther writeth to Strasburg about Carolostade 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 Luthers answer 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 the 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 Strasburgh 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 marrieth Luther being fortie two yeers old of a sudden and unexpectedly 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 Schurfius 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 Cameratius in the life of Melancthon 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 pacified 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 many rich and of great power to speak against him bitterly and with open mouth to reproach him when especially the very time did help forward and set them on who were minded so to do And of what power the conveniency of time is in every action all know full well But when he perceived that Luther himself was somewhat troubled with the same thoughts he not onely moderated his passion but did cheere up Luther and endeavoured to ease his griefe and sorrow with pleasant conference and thereby brought him to his wonted cheerefulnesse again What Luthers adversaries did about this marriage Luthers adversaries not onely observed the time of the marriage but proclaimed the marriage to be incestuous in which a Monk married a Nun. Hereupon the King of England in his Answer to Luther stiles this marriage incestuous and there saith among other opprobries put upon Luther that he could not have committed a sinne of higher nature Conradus Collinus Prior of Cullen and Ierome Emsenus * Chaplain to George Duke of Saxony the best Divine among the Papists wrote virulently and disgracefully of this marriage Yea some there were whom Erasmus gave credit unto who laid a sinne to Luthers charge from which the time of his childs birth did acquit him Against these disgraces Luther thus animated himself saying Luthers answer to their opprobries If my marriage be a work of God what wonder is there if the flesh be offended at it It is offended even at the flesh which God our Creator took and gave to be a ransome and food for the salvation of the world if the world was not offended with me I should be offended with the world and should feare that it was not of God which I have done Now seeing the world is vexed and troubled at I am confirmed in my course and comforted in God The cause of Luthers marriage So do you The cause of his marriage he there also relateth saying We resigned the revenew of the Monastery to the Prince I who abode in the Monastery so long as it pleased God now like a private housekeeper I have not married to prolong my life but seeing my dissolution neerer approaching and people with their Princes to rage against me that I might leave mine own doctrine for the weaks sake confirmed by mine own example for my doctrine
may perchance be kicked against and trodden on after my death This yeere the Anabaptists spread themselves over Helvetia and other parts of Germany Anabaptists at Anwerp and began to broach their fancies at Anwerp Hereupon Luther by an Epistle warned them of Anwerp to take heed of the erroneous spirit Luther writeth to Anwerp which had hindred him very much and recited the impostures of false spirits in Popery and the by-pathes of the seducing spirits of the present times There he set downe the erroneous Articles of a tumultuous spirit at Anwerp and opened the inconstancy lying boldnesse and ambitious desire of honour lurking in that Spirit and entreateth them to forbeare the question concerning Gods hidden will and to attend to The Articles of the Anabaptists and learne the necessary precepts set before us by our God The Articles were these 1. That every man hath the Spirit 2. That the Spirit was nothing else but our reason and understanding 3. That every man beleeveth 4. That there were no inferi or place of torment for mens soules but that the body onely was condemned 5. That every soule should be saved 6. That by the law of nature we are taught to do good to our neighbour as we would he should doe to us and that this will in us was faith 7. That we sinne not against the law by desiring any thing if our will consent not to our desire and lust 8. That he which hath not the Spirit hath not sin because he wanteth reason which they called the Holy Ghost Now also Luther wrote to the King of England by the perswasion of Christiern the banished King of Denmark Tom. 2. Ep. 290. Luther writeth to the King of England c. This Epistle was submissive and is extant in his Epistles He wrote also humbly to George Duke of Saxony that he would be pleased to afford him his favourable respect But the King returned him an harsh answere and objected to him his levity and inconstancy and defended Cardinal Wolsey against Luthers writing to him that hence it appeared how he hated Luther When Luther saw the Kings answer printed he was very much grieved at what he had done and that he had so much yeelded to his friends as to write in so humble a strain The like befell him upon his writing to Cajetan George Duke of Saxony and Erasmus Rotterod who by Luthers lenity were incensed rather then pacified He resolved never afterward to run into the like errour Cocleus and Eckius wonderfully also insulted over Luthers submissivenesse Wherefore Luther now printed a booke against as he called it the Ill languaged and contumelious booke of the King of England An. 1526. In the yeare 1526. Luther refused Erasmus book intituled de serve Arbitrio The delaying of his answer proceeded from the cause certified to * Tom. 2. ep 270. Amsdorf in these words I will not answer Erasmus till I have done with Carolostade who makes great troubles and stirres in upper Germany Erasmus provoketh thereby put forth his Hyperaspides Erasm his Hyperasp of which book Luther thus writeth Erasmus that viper being rouzed up will write against me again Tom. 2. epist 314. what eloquence will that most vain hunter after glory exercise to cast down Luther About the same time Duke George and the Bishops attempted many wayes to wrong Luther as appeareth by his letter to Myconius saying The wicked Papists conspire and Epist pag. 324. as Melanctheus writeth to me from Iena threaten warre against me Wherefore see you that the people admonished hereof manfully contend by faithfull and continuall prayer to the Lord that they may be overcome and withheld by the Spirit and constrained to keepe outward peace Verily I understand by the writings and speeches of many that there is very great need of earnest prayer for Satans plots are a working Wherefore I intreat you that you would perswade the people to this most necessary and prevalent work because they are endangered and exposed to Satans sword and fury encompassing them He further saith Sixe Sects of the Sacramentarians That the Sectaries were divided into sixe Sects Sixe heads in one yeere are sprung up among the Sacramentarians t is a strange spirit which so much differs from it selfe One sect followed Carolostade that is fallen a second is that of Zwinglius which is falling the third is with Oecolampadius which will fall the fourth also which is Carolostade is fallen he thus disposeth of the words That which is given for you is my body The fifth is now arising in Silesia set forth by Valentine Crantwald and Caspar Schwenkfeld who thus invert the words My body which is given for you is this that is spirituall meat These grievously vex and molest us with their writings for they are most obstreperous and full of words I wish they had my disease of the Stone they seeme so strong to undergo it The sixth is that of Peter Florus at Cullen which Melancthon will deale with I never saw ought but one letter about it O how he reprobates Luther I know saith he that Luther is forsaken of the Lord. All those Spirits differing each from other contend with subtle arguments all of them boast of revelations obtained by prayer and teares and agree onely in this that all of them fight each with other for us This Christ effecteth for us Luther wrote a consolatory letter to Iohn Husse of Breslow a Teacher of the Gospel notwithstanding the scandall raised by the Heretiks and their fighting against the Articles of our Faith and in speciall manner he animated him against Schwenfeld and Crantwald Luthers speech of comfort to Hessus saying You speak the Truth friend Hesse Hitherto the combate was about points not grounded in the Scriptures as about the Pope and Purgatory and the like Now ye come to more serious matters and to the battell already won concerning points in the Scripture Here we shall see the Dragon fighting or rather we shall combat with him Michael being our Captain in these Heavenly fights When the Dragon shall pull down the third part of the stars with his tayle to the earth then the cause will call for our strength in Christ Here you shall see what manner a warriour and how strong a champion Satan is whom yet you have not sufficiently tried or had experience of Schwenkfeld and Crantwald which I much lament are reserved for these mischiefes But the foundation of God standeth firme having this seale The Lord knoweth who are his let this be our comfort and in this let us be confident to prevaile over the gates of Hell Besides other studies of Luther Tom. 2. epist 318. he now expounded Ecclesiastes which was not easie and plain as he said for an Interpreters labour There are saith he The forme of the German Masse therein many Hebraismes and obstacles in that tongue not yet well made known Yet by the grace of God
I break thorow them This yeere he wrote a forme of the Masse in the German tongue in which he permitted some ceremonies to be used or not used at mens pleasures Among other speeches thus he saith Yet we retain those garments altars His work at Jen. Tom. 3. p. 277. waxe-candles used at the Masse till they grow old or that it seeme good to change them If it please any man to do otherwise I permit him to do as he liketh best But in the true Masse among Christians unmixt with Papists it is fit that the altar should not remain but that the Minister should turn himself to the people as Christ doubtlesse did at the first celebration of the Lords Supper But let this also await its due time He wrote also foure consolatory Psalmes to Mary Queen of Hungary upon the miserable death of her husband King Lodowick who was drowned He then also divulged other Treatises which are mentioned in his works An. 1527. The Anabaptists In the 27. yeere the Anabaptists broached their new doctrin about the not baptizing of Infants and were themselves rebaptised they also taught communitie of goods Both Luther and Zwinglius wrote against them and the Magistrates punished them in divers places Of the military life Luther wrote also upon the question whether souldiers lived in a kinde of life tending to happinesse In which discourse he learnedly and godly handled many things concerning warre and its discipline He dealt also against the Sacramentarians as he calleth them and in his book averreth that Christs word This is my body yet stand firme Tom. 2. epist p. 331. Of the book thus Luther writeth to Spalatinus I doubt not but that I have throughly moved the Sacramentarians for though my book be full of words and not so learned yet I am perswaded that I have touched them to the quick Bucer hath written most virulent letters against me unto our Jonas already they make a Satan of Luther what suppose you that they will do when they be gauled with that book But Christ liveth and raigneth What strange portent was before his death See Tom. 2. epist pag. 337. Amen He also comforted them of Hall for the death of George Winckler their Pastor who was slain by conspiracy He also answered Iohn Hessus to the question Whether a Christian man may flie in time of Pestilence and to an other question namely Whether after the truth of the Gospel is made known a man may for feare of the tyrants forbeare to administer the Lords Supper in both kinds which Luther denyed against the Prischanists About the beginning of the yeere 27. Luther fell suddenly Luther sicknesse 1527. sicke of a congealing of bloud about his heart which almost kil'd him but the drinking of the water of Carduus Benedictus whose vertue then was not so commonly knowne he was presently helped But he wrastled with a farre worse agony afterward on the Sabbath after the visitation of the blessed Virgin This is recorded by Iohn Bugenhagius and Iustus Ionas who saw his affliction A worse sicknesse afterward Here he indured not onely a corporall malady but also a spirituall tentation which Luther called a buffiting of Satan It seemed to him that swelling surges of the sea in a tempest did sound aloud at his left eare and against the left side of his head yet not within but without his head and that so violently that die he must except they presently grew calme Afterward when it seemed to come within his head he fell downe as one dead and was so cold in each part of his body that he had remaining neither heat nor bloud nor sence nor voyce But when his face was besprinckled with cold water by Jonas for so Luth. had bidden he came again to himself and began to pray most earnestly and to make a confession of his faith to say that he was unworthy of Martirdom which by his proceedings he might seemed to run upon Luthers last Will. His will and Testament concerning his wife with child and his young sonne this he made Lord God I thank thee that thou wouldest have me live a poore and indigent person upon Earth I have neither house nor lands nor possessions nor mony to leave Thou hast given me wife and children them I give back unto thee Nourish teach keep them O thou the father of orphans and Iudge of the widow as thou hast done to mee so do unto them Luthers recovery But by using daily prayers and continuall fomentations after that he had sweat thoroughly the griefe by degrees decreased so that in the evening of that day he rose up and supped with his friends and confessed that his spirituall temptation was farre sorer then his corporall sicknesse Hereupon the day following he sayd to Iustus Ionas I will take speciall notice of the day last past in which as in a schoole I was put to the tryall of my progresse And sate in a most hot sweating house The Lord bringeth to the graves mouth and fetcheth back againe He often makes mention of this tentation in his letters to his friends and confirmed the faith by receiving absolution from a Minister and the use of the Sacrament Leon Keisar burnt for Religion This yeere also he put forth the Story of Leonard Keisar his friend who was burnt for the Gospels sake at the Command of William Duke of Bavaria Of this mans Martyrdome thus Luther writes I have received the relation concerning Leonard Keisars death Tom. 2. pag. 354. b. as also all his manuscripts from his Vnkles son which shall shortly be published God willing Pray for me who have been much buffetted by the Angel of Satan that Christ should not forsake me O wretch that I am and so much inferiour to Leonard I am a preacher onely in wordes in regard of him so powerfull a preacher by his suffering Who can make me fit that not by his Spirit double on me but by one halfe of it I may overcome Satan put a period to this life Blessed be God who among so many monsters hath shewed us unworthy sinners this one glorious spectacle of his grace that he may not seeme wholly to have forsaken us Then also by the advise of Luther and the Command of Iohn the Elector was ordained a visitation of the Churches in Saxony An. 1527. 1528. The chiefe care of this businesse was committed to Iohn a Plannitz a noble Knight to Ierom Schurfius a Lawyer Asmus Hanbicius and Melancthon Many matters were hereby discried which needed speedy redresse many faults were found which must necessarily be amended nor can I easily say how great was the benefit of this visitation For faults of many yeeres continuance were reformed the Churches falne backe were in many places confirmed and their safety for time to come was well provided for This visitation ended An. 1528. in which yeere Luther put forth the Institution of Visiters and
as strictly as they can In briefe I wholly dislike this agitation for concord in doctrin as being a thing utterly impossible unlesse the Pope will abolish his Popedome Concerning the Confutation this should have been added that it was a very cold one Of it thus Luther wrote to Melancthon Grace and peace in Christ the Lord over his enemies I thanke God who permitted our Adversaries to devise so fond a confutation Christ is come and reigneth Let the devils if they will turn Monks and Nunnes Nor doth any shape better become them then that in which they have hitherto set forth themselves to be adored by the world Then a little after this Did not I foretell you that you troubled your self in vain about traditions because that point exceedeth very much the capacitie of Sophisters There hath ever been disputation about laws amongst the wisest men and truly it requireth an Apostolicall abilitie to judge purely and surely thereof for there is no Author extant except Paul alone who hath written fully and perfectly of this matter Because it is the death of all humane reason to judge the law the spirit in this case being the onely Iudge What then can Sophisters here performe whose reason is blinded Well we have done our part and well satisfied them Now is the time of working together with the Lord whom I beseech to direct and preserve us Amen In that loving course for composing the differences by the Arbitratours when the point of invocation of Saints was handled and Eckius produced Iacobs speech Let my name be called upon those children Melancthon first answered and then Brentius said that there was nothing extant in all the Scripture of the invocation of Saints Hereupon Coclaus that he might step in as patrone to the Cause did thus excuse the matter That in the old Testament the Saints of God were not prayed unto because they were then in Limbo and not in Heaven Here Iohn Duke of Saxony concluded and said to Eckius Behold O Eckius the speech by you brought out of the old Testament notoriously defended The Confession of our partie which Caesar Ferdinandus his brother the Princes of Bavaria The Confession of the Protestants translated into divers tongues and some Bishops attentively listened unto and the other partie could not endure was translated into Italian for the Pope who was not very well skilled in Latine and into the English Spanish French Boemian Vngarian tongues The issue of all came to this The issue of matters in this assembly that though the Protestants did desire peace of Caesar and space farther to deliberate of the matter they could not obtain their desire The Confession it self was rejected and all who assented to it unlesse they suffered all matters to run in their old Tenour were brought into hazard of their lives and States there were some also appointed to execute Caesars decree Whereas therefore it was daily exspected that the Protestants should be warred against by the Pontificians Luther soon after the Assembly with a noble and Heroik spirit set forth a book to the Germans whose title was * Luthers admonition ad Germanos Warnungan seine liebe deutschen Wherein he exhorted them to embrace peace and shewed that they ought not to obey a wicked Edict and further by armes the persecution of the true doctrin of the Gospel and harmelesse Princes and Churches and fight for Idols and other abominations of the Papists Yet he did not counsell the Protestant side to take up armes before the Pontifician faction should in the Emperours name invade them with warre But if they should resist and defend themselves with force of Armes when they were set upon he excused them from being traduced and condemned as seditious persons and shewed that they must be conceived to stand onely upon their own and their peoples defence Luther studies in the wildernesse at Coburgh Before we leave the wildernesse of Coburg and come thence with Luther observe first what books he there wrote Besides some mentioned before of the rest he thus writeth to Melancthon Though I have been troubled with wearinesse of the taske and head ache and have laid aside Ezekiel yet do I in the meane time translate the small Prophets and in one week more I hope shall finish them by Gods help For now onely Haggai and Malachi remain undone I busie myself herein rather for the comfort I reap by them Luthers ardent prayers then that I am able to undergo the pains Secondly know the fervency of his prayers in this wildernesse of which Vitus Theodorus who accompanied him at Coburg thus wrote to Melancthon No day passeth in which Luther spendeth not three houres at the least and they are the houres most fit for studie in Prayer Once it so fell out that I heard him praying Good God what a spirit what a confidence was in his very expressions with such reverence he sueth for any thing as one begging of God and yet with such hope and assurance as if he spake with a loving father or friend I know saith he that thou art a father and our God I know therefore assuredly that thou wilt destroy the persecuters of thy children If so be thou please not so to doe thy danger will be joyned with ours this businesse is wholly thine we adventured not on it but were compelled thereunto Wherefore thou wilt defend us When I heard him praying in this manner with a cleare voyce as I stood a farre off my mind also was inflamed with a singular kind of ardency because I observed how passionately how gravely how reverently he in his prayer spake of God and urged Gods promises out of the Psalmes as one assured that what he asked should come to passe I doubt not therefore but that his prayers will much advance and further the desperate cause treated of at the Assembly When in that assembly the chiefe and almost the sole dissention between Luther and the Protestants was about the Lords supper this liked the Papists but grieved the Potestants Bucer therfore by the consent of the Duke of Saxony and his Magistrates consent Bucer goeth to Luther went from Auspurg to Coburg to see what agreement could be made betweene him and Luther Nor did he receive a crosse answer but diversly the businesse was hindred Thither also came Vrbanus Regius * See Regius his life for to consult with Luther An. 1531. An. 1531. An interpretation of Caesars edict Luther mildly wrote an Interpretation of Caesars Edict not against the Emperour but against the Princes and Bishops who were the chiefe instruments of the Civill broyles In this he defended diverse chiefe heades of Christian Religion As the Eucharist in both kindes that the Church might erre the Masse and free will he disallowed and shewed that we are justified by faith not by workes Of this point observe his remarkable profession I Martin Luther an unworthy preacher of the Gospel of our
Lord Iesus Christ thus professe and beleeve That faith alone without respect to our good workes doth justify us before God An exelent Protestation of M. Luther 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 In the book Weber den Wrucht c. 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 * Tom. 5. of his works at len p. 304 c. An. 1532. his German writings and other books by him set out this yeere In the yeere 32. by Gods goodnesse and the intercession of the Archbish of Mentz and the Elector Palatine the Emperour a First peace to the Protestants 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 Sleid. B. 8. p. 205. 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 An. 1533. Luther comforted the Oschatz 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 A controversie with George Duke of Saxony 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 George the Duke called the Devils Angel 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 Luther comforts the banished Citizens of Leipsick 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 into the ground Luthers lesse Apologie He wrote also a briefe Apologie in which he cleareth himself of these crimes objected against him Namely that he was a lyer a broâ—ker 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 betaketh himself to Christ To these passages he added divers things concerning Monkery Of the dispute with the Devil 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 A letter to Frankford 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 An. 1534. Petrus Paulus Vergerius In the yeere 1534. the Elector of Saxony joyned in pacification with King Ferdinando This highly grieved Petr. Paulus Vergerius so that in the name of Pope Clement he expostulated the matter with Ferdinando This yeere Luther spent in preaching writing Treatises and Commenting And this yeere the German Bible translated by him and brought into one body was first printed as the old priviledge dated at Bibliopolis under the Electors hands sheweth An. 1535. P. Vergerius returneth into Germany In the 1535. yeer this Bible was published Then the fancies of the Anabaptists began to appeare in Westphalia and made a very great combustion This yeere P. Paul Vergerius was sent back by the Pope into Germany He spake to the Duke of Saxony about the holding a Councel at Mantua Luthers labours He also met with Luther and dealt with him about matters of Religion Then Luther wrote many Sermons and Epistles and a book in a popular way about prayer and a Preface to Vrbanus Rhegius book against the Monasterians New Valentinians and Donatists And when the Pope had appointed the Councel at Mantua Councel at Mantua Luther wrote certain asseverations and Theses against the Constantian as he call'd it the Obstantian Councell He sent also a consolatory writing to the Christians of Mittweid expulsed for the Gospels sake and a letter to the Archbishop of Mentz the last he calleth it yet he wrote many after it This yeere Luther began publiquely to preach on Genesis which taske he ended as himself was wont to ominate with his life six yeers after An. 1536. Concord between Luther and Bucer c. In the yeer 36. the forme of the Concord between Luther and Bucer and other Doctors in the Churches of upper Germany was written by Melancthon at Wittenberg And published in the end of May. In Bucers life This elsewhere we spake of and told who subscribed therunto This yeer Philip Duke of Pomerania at Torgaw married Mary daughter of Iohn Elect of Saxony and of Marg. of Anhalt Luther was at the marriage and prayed for Gods Blessing upon the new married couple When all the rites were performed Duke Philip reached out his hand to Luther at this Luther stood a while silent and still held his hand and with a loud voice said The Lord God be with you and keep your posteritie from failing Now when as Barnimus the Vnkle of Philip had no male children Philips wife for foure yeeres was barren so that all the Male stocke of the Duke of Pomerania was likely to be ere long extinct at length by Gods blessing according to the prayer of Luther he had seven sonnes by this wife and wonderfully enlarged that noble Family The Assembly at Smalcald In February the yeere following the Duke Elector of Saxony with the Confederate Princes and Cities and their Divines held an Assembly at Smalcald for matters of Religion that the Princes might deliberate about calling the Councel to Mantua and the Divines conferre about matters of doctrine Luthers articles there approved and to be exhibited to the Councel Hither therefore Luther and Melancthon were called Luther wrote Articles concerning the chiefe controverted heads of Christian doctrine These the other Divines did approve and these were to be exhibited in the Councel of Mantua if ever it were held and put up in the name of the Saxon and neere thereunto adjoyning Churches Commonly they are called the Smalcaldick Articles These were joyned to the Augustane Confession and the Apologie and Luthers Catechismes Luther sick of the stone At this meeting Luther fell sick of a grievous disease so that there was no hope of his life He was pained of the stone and obstruction in the bladder eleven dayes Here he though most of his friends disliked and reasoned against it would be carried thence the event proved his resolution good George Sturk the Physitian being sent for from Erphord went along with him Luther as he was carried along made his will in which he bequeathed his detestation of Popery to his friends and the Pastors as before in the house of Spalatinus in the yeere 1530. where he made this Verse Pest is eram vivus moriens ero mors tua Papa I living stopt Romes breath And Dead will be Romes Death But the night after his departure thence he began to be somewhat better Luthers recovery At Tambach the passages of his urine opened so that he voyded it in great abundance The joy at his recovery shewed by Melancthons Letter and called that Village the place of his happinesse This recovery of Luther was cause of great joy to many godly men even to all who loved Luther especially to Melancthon who signified the same to Luther in these words by his letter I heartily thanke the God of all mercy and our Lord Iesus Christ our high Priest interceding for us and compassionating our infirmities for your recovery from your dangerous disease I rejoyce at my heart both for your and the Churches sake that you enjoy your health againe and the rather because herein we behold the apparent love mercy of God to his Church Your letter expressing your recovery put cheerfulnesse into the countenances of the Princes and all good men they all acknowledg that the light of the Gospel hath been in these dayes made known to the world by your Ministry and know that they are beholding to you for it and foresee what a losse it would be to the Church if they should lose you Therefore with joynt votes they pray that long you may live among us and thanke God who hath restored you from death to life I hope God accepted of this their joy and thanks And I pray God for Christs sake to make you perfectly sound and healthfull Here we have not yet ended our deliberation about giving Caesars messenger an answer to his harsh dispute against our former answer So that neither yet is any answer given to the Pope The Duke of Wittenberg commendeth your noble courage who durst in such a disease travel and fly from this cave He mindeth to follow your example for having been eight dayes sicke he resolveth to be gone to morrow Christ graunt that I may shortly see you in good health I was much grieved for you that the more because being absent I could not performe any friendly office to you I was perplexed at some physical errours by which your disease was augmented so that no man can expresse how extreamity of griefe wrought upon me Nor am I yet freed from all griefe If your malady was onely a
difficulty of urine from some stopping I hope all danger is past But if it be from the bignesse of any stone I trust that the danger will be much the lesse and that you have a prudent and faithfull Physitian whom I pray God to direct and assist From Smalcald 1537. An. 1537. Here the Pope rejourned the meeting of the Synod from the first of November to the first of May the yeere following and designed the place for it to be Vincentia a large and renowned City of the Venetians and sent thither some of the Cardinals to begin the Councel He pretended a serious consultation for the purging the Augean Stable and now commended the same busines to some choise men but omitted the propounding of the oath to them and would that no man should 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 Luthers booke of the Popes reformation 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 The Popes reformation turned to smoake 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 The Legend of Iohn Chrysostom 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 Luther of the Helvetians 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 The sect of the Antimonians 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 decalogue 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 An. 1538. Sim. Lemnius his libel 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 Sleid. b. 12. Camerarius in Melancthons life 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. An. 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 Of lawfull defence composed and put forth a Treatise concerning a Defence lawfull approved and not contrary to Gods will Of the name of Councels and the Church 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 George Duke of Saxony dyeth Henry succeeds 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 Protestancy in Mâ—snia 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 * Now fiftie yeeres old and his Schollers had free possession of the Pulpits So Luther here began Reformation others after him added perfection thereunto An. 1540. The conference at Hagenaw 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 sick in his journey 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 Luther prayeth for Melancthon c. 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 Robert Barnes burnt at London 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 His confession printed by Luther 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. An. 1541. Myconius sick and comforted by Luther 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 Iohn â—udding whom he calleth Hans Wurst Wherein he defended himself and his doctrin against the Papists and their Popish errours Tom. 7. Jen. 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 An. 1542. 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 The Alcoran in the German tongue 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 Wurceâ— 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 An. 1543. produced many great troubles and stirres For now the Sacramentary contention began afresh to Melancthons great grief Camerarius in the life of Melancthon 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 to the Printer to Tigur 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 Luther writeth against the Jews 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 His answer to C. Schwenckfeld 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 His judgement about ceremonies and excommunication 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 which some then were taxed yea he threatned that he would hold no societie with men of that ill condition Luther at Mersberg 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 A commentary upon Davids last words 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 An. 1544. Commentary on Genesis 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
presently followed she wandred up and down with her orphans and in banishment was exposed to many difficulties and dangers And besides the miseries of widowhood which are full many the ingratitude of many did much afflict her for where she hoped for kindnesse in regard of her husbands worthy and noble deserts of Gods Church often she was put of with great indignitie When afterward her house at Wittenberg in time of pestilence was infected she for her childrens safetie as became a godly mother betooke her self to Torg where 〈…〉 also an Universitie But in the way when the horâ—â—s affrighted ran out and seemed to indanger the waggon she amazed not so much for her own as her childrens preservation lept out of the waggon whereby poore wretch she grievously bruised her body in the fall and being cast into a poole of cold water caught thereby a disease of which she lay sick three monethes in banishment and pining away at length died quietly in the yeere 1552. Luthers writings were published at Wittenberg and Iene in severall Towns both in Latine and the German tongue Luthers writings Part of them were expositions of Scriptures part doctrinall part polemicall Of these this was his own judgement Above all I beseech the godly Reader and I beseech him for our Lord Iesus Christs sake His judgement of them in the Praes of Tom. 1. Lat. Work printed at Wittenberg that he would read my writings judiciously and with much pittying my case And let him know that I was formerly a Monk and a most furious Papist when I first entred into the cause undertaken by me yea I was so drunk drowned in the opinions of Papisme that I was most ready to kill all men if I could or to assist and consent to their attempts that did kill them who even in one syllable should dissent from the Pope Such a Saul was I as some that be yet alive I was not so cold and calme in defending Popery as was Eckius and his mates who more truly for their bellies sake seemed to defend Popery then that they were serious in the cause yea they seeme still to me to laugh at the Pope in secret as Epicureans But I proceeded in the Popes defence earnestly because I set before mine eyes the last day of judgement and trembled thereat and desired from my very heart to attain salvation In another of his writings he in a manner wisheth his books extinct Tom. 7. Jen. Germ. p. 288. saying Alas my friends should not trouble me I have enough to do with the Papists and might almost say with Job and Jeremy would I had not been born yea almost say I would I had not published so many books and would not care if they were all perished The Antimonians Let other such spirited mens writings be sold in every shop as they desire Luther also was much against it that any man should be called a Lutheran after his name Tom. 2. Jen. Germ. p. 69. Because the doctrin was not his neither did he die for any one and because Saint Paul would not endure to have it done by his own person 1 Cor. 3. Against this humour of men also Luther said How should it come to passe that I a sack of wormes meat should be accessary to this that the children of Christ should be called after my base and unworthy name He also much opposed the title of Lutherans because we be all Christians and professe the doctrin of Christ as also because the Papists are guiltie of this crime by calling themselves Pontificians In his b. of Rhetoric Exer. We ought not to imitate them in evill Of Luthers books thus writeth Sturmius I remember that in an epistle of Luthers to Wolfgangus Capito which is in Conradus Huberts Library some yeeres ago I read That he himself took content in none of his books but onely in his Catechisme and his book against Free Will For a conclusion I will here adde Melancthons judgement concerning the Talents by God bestowed on Luther and others Pomeranus saith he Melancth in Mathes serm is a Gramarian and explains the force of words I intend Logick and shew the context of the matter and the Arguments Justus Jonas is an orator and copiously and elegantly discourseth But Luther is all these a very miracle among men What ever he saith Camerarius in Melancth life pag. 251. what ever he writeth it peirceth mens minds and leaves behind it a wonderfull sting in their hearts And Camerarius speaketh thus of Luther The name of Luther is so odious to some that they detest the hearing it on the contrary other endure not that any thing should be found fault with which either he speak or did if any man dare speake against him they declaime against him presently as one guilty of impiety They who thus extoll the name and authority of Martin Luther as not doubting to elevate him above the condition and measure of Mortall men should see to it that they doe not wrong the good name of so excellent and admirable a man by attributing too much to him and that they doe not seeme to shelter and protect their audaciousnesse under his excellency And those calumniators who not onely condemne all his writings as ungodly and turbulent now also if they had any wit might remember and consider what is gotten by bitter envie contumacy froward opposition and outragious clamours Wolf Severus of Luther Wolfgang Severus Tutour of Ferdinando of Austria afterward Emperour wrote a distich encomiastick upon Luther to this purpose Of Iaphets race hath Luthers like n'ere been And his superiour sure will n'ere be seen His Imprese was a Rose and a Crosse the explication whereof is this A Rose and Crosse great Luthers heart disclose The Rose his Ioy the Crosse Christs yoak he chose Thus have we described Luthers Life and Death out of his owne and other learned mens writings in perusing whereof the Reader is to be intreated which thing Luther himselfe requested concerning his whole workes to judge well what he readeth and to consider well whence Luther came and at what time he wrote namely out of the dark mistes of Popery and when the raies of the Gospel began again to shew themselves FINIS Errata PAg. 2. l. 3. borne at p. 7. l. 18. Dominica p. 8. l. 9. controversy p. 10. l. 14. were by Erasmus writings p. 13. l. 4. to Hal. p. 17. l. 21. â—eeing justly pref p. 21. l. 29. Baraimas p. 29. l. 25. Aleander p. 34. l. 28. his Jester p. 37. l. 7. and lay many p. 42. l. 6. name of p. 56. l. 23. and against â—uth p. 61. M. Glacius p. 64. l. pen. refuted p. 65. l. 4. provoked l. 5. Hyperaspistes l. 12. Melancthon l. pen. Carolostados p. 66. l. 16. Hesse p. 68. l. 12. words p. 68. l. 28. Priscilianists p. 69. l. 1. suddenly sick l. 2. but by the. p. 69. l. 25. son thus p. 72. Pontanius l. 26. the rudersort p. 74. l. 18. Mâ—rotatos moros p. 75. l. 25. Scheurlerus p. 78. l. 9. I am like p. 100. l. 10. whereas l. 21. Cruciger p. 113. l. 10. in faiths p. 121. l. 25. Sturmius p. 123. Aleander l. 29. â—licers p. 127. l. 18. the ministers of l. 25. caused Psalmes p. 132. l. 9. judged