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
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 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
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
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
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
of Master of Arts unfolded to them the reason of the change of his course of life It much grieved his parents that so excellent parts should be spent in a life little differing from death But for a moneths space no man could be admitted to speake with him Nor was it povertie but the love of a pious life which bent his minde to the Monastical life In which though he spent his time in the usual schoole learning and read the Writers upon the Sentences and in publique disputations clearly opened their inextricable labyrinths to the admiration of many yet because in this kinde of life he sought not to ennoble his fame but to further his study of a pious life he looked into those studies but upon the by and with much ease attained their Scholastical methods When on a time in the Library of the Colledge Luther meets with a Latine Bible running over the books thereof in order he met with a copie of the Latine Bible which he never saw before There with admiration he observed that there were moe Evangelical and Apostolical texts then what were read to the people in Churches In the old Testament with great attention he read the story of Samuel and Anna his mother and began to wish that he was the owner of the like book which not long after he obtained Hereupon he spent his time on the Propheticall and Apostolicall writings the fountaines of all heavenly doctrine seeking thence to enforme his minde with Gods will and to nourish in himself the feare of God and true faith in Christ from true and undoubted grounds Some sicknesse and feare whet him on to attempt these studies more earnestly It is said Luther fell into a grievous sicknesse An. 1501. A Priest comforted him The Monks used him hardly that in this Colledge Luther in his younger yeers fell into a most violent disease in so much that there was no hope of life and that an ancient Priest came to him and with these words comforted him Sir Be of good courage for your disease is not mortall God will raise you up to be a man who shall afford comfort to many others At the first the Monks handled him somewhat harshly whilest he performed the office of the Custos and was compelled to cleanse the uncleane places as also to walk up and down the Citie with a bagge or wallet But upon the request of the Universitie of which he had been a member he was eased of that burden He was often cheered up by conference with the ancient Priest to whom he revealed his feares and scruples of minde and heard him discoursing of faith at large and going on the Creed to the Article The Article of remission of sinnes explained I beleeve the Remission of sins Which he thus explained Namely that a man must not onely in generall beleeve that sinnes are remitted to some men as to David and to Ester for this the devils beleeve but that God commands that we should each man in particular beleeve that our sinnes be forgiven us in Christ Jesus This exposition said he is confirmed by St. Bernard and shewed him the place in his Sermon upon the Annuntiation where these words are to be found Bernard Sermon of the Annunt But adde this and beleeve this also that thy sins are forgiven thee for Christs sake This is the Testimony in thy heart which the spirit of God giveth saying Thy sins are forgiven thee For the Apostle thus determines of the matter That a man is freely justified by faith Luther said that he was not onely confirmed in the truth but also put in minde of Saint Paul ever in these words asserting this trueth We are justified by faith Concerning this point after that he had read the expositions of divers men he further said that from the speeches of Paul he observed to accrew unto himself much comfort and great light to discerne the vanitie of other interpretations which then were used Then he began to read St Augustines workes He read St Augustine where both in his Comment on the Psalmes and in the booke Of the Spirit and letter he found many evident places which confirmed this doctrine concerning faith c And writers on the sentences and the comfort which was before kindled in his breast Yet did he not utterly cast of the reading of Gabriel and Camaracensis writers on the Sentences but was able to recite them by heart in a manner He spent much time in often reading Occam and esteemed him for acutenesse of wit before Thomas Aquinas and Scotus also he studiously perused Gerson But chiefly he read often Austins workes and kept them well in memory This earnest prosecution of his studies he began at Erphord and spent there five yeares in the Colledge In the yeare 1507. he put on the priests hood He began to say Masse An. 1507. B. 1. Epist 1. The first Masse which he celebrated was May 2. Domini Cantate Then was he 24. yeares old In this course he continued 15. yeares to the yeare of our Lord 1527. At that time Io. Staupicius who endeavored to promote the university of Wittenberg lately begun He was removed to Wittenberg An. 1508. desired that the study of Theologie should there flourish and well knew the wit and learning of Luther and removed him to Wittenberg An. 1508. when he was 26. yeares old Here in regard of his daily exercises in the schooles and his sermons the eminency of his good parts did more and more shew themselves And among other learned men who attentively heard him Martinus Mellurstad commonly cal'd Lux mundi Mellurstads Judgement of Luther the light of the world often said of Luther that there was in him so noble a straine of wit that he did verily presage that he would change the vulgar course of studies which at that time was usuall in schooles and prevailed He was professor of Philosophy at Wittenberg and inveyes against Arist Tom. 1. Epist 10. He went to Rome An. 1510. What manner of Masses at Rome Tom. 6. Ien. Germ. pag. 88. At Wittenberg Luther first explained Aristotles Logick and Physickes yet intermitted not his study of Divinitie Three yeares after that is An. 1510. he was sent into Italy and to Rome in the behalfe of his Covent for the deciding of some controver-among the Monkes There he saw the Pope and the Popes palace and the manners of the Roman Clergie Concerning which he sayth I was not long at Rome There I sayd and heard others say Masse but in that manner that so often as I call them to minde I detest them For at the Table I heard among other matters some Curtisans laugh and boast and some concerning the bread and wine on the Altar to say Bread thou art and bread thou shalt remaine Wine thou art and wine thou shalt remaine He further addeth that the priests celebrated the Masses so hastily and perfunctorily that he left
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
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
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