burn all the Pontifician law the sink of heresies yet 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 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 He wrote also against the execrable Bull of Antichrist and call'd the Pope Antichrist and confirmed the Articles censured by the Bull 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 and among o thers 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 for Luther had in his dispu tations 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 Leronymus Alexander 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 if he would write 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 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 unlearned Luther knowing what was done with his writings An. 1520. Decemb. 10. 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 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 Imperialor 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 Countels 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 14. Christs Prtesthood was translated from him to Saint Peter 15. The Pope hath power to make Ordinances and Laws for the Catholike Church 16. This sentencce what soever 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 Prederik Prince Elector obtained of the Emperour to call Luther to the Court held at Wormes in March An. 1521. Luther receiving the Emperours graunt for his safety went from Wittenberg and was conducted thence by Casparus Sturnius Herauld and accompanied with Iustus Ionas Ier. Schurfius and Nic. Amsderfe Of the students he tooke onely Peter Suavenus a Dane as his companion who afterward being called by Christian King of Denmarke to his Court did much advance good letters and did the Church good service When he came to Hidelberg he proffered to dispute publiquely with any that would Here many did dehort Luther from going to Worms Others said that by the burning of his books he might know what was the Popes censure concerning himselfe Others told him of the usage of Hus and Savonarola But Luther with a resolute courage lightly regarded their advise and sayd that these discouragements were but cast into his way by Satan who knew that by the profession of the truth especially inso illustrious a place his kingdome would be shaken and indamaged He further brake forth into these words If I knew that there were so many Devils at Wormes as tiles on the houses yet would I goe thither Also Francis of Sickingen one in high esteeme with the Emperour at Bucers request did invite Luther to come to his Castle at Ebernburgh where the cause might more commodiously be agitated But Luther answered that he was sent for by the Emperour not to Ebernburgh but to Wormes and thither he would goe So taking his journey he came to Wormes on April the sixth which was the third Holyday after Misericordias Domini They say the Duke of Bavaria his Iester whether suborned by others or by some instinct met Luther at his entrance into the towne with a Crosse as is wont in funerals and sung with a loud voyce Welcome comest thou hither and much desired of us who sate in darknesse Presently some counselled Caesar that Luther was to be delt with as they did with Hus. But Caesar thought it just to make good his promise and especially Lodowik the Elector Palatine withstood the designment and prudently sayd That if they should take that course with Luther it would set a brand of imfamy and eternall disgrace on the name of Germany On the 17. day of April at 4. a clock in the afternoon he appeared before the Emperour and many Princes his Assessours Here Iohn Eckius a Lawyer Caesars Spokesman and Officiall of Triers upon command said with an audible voyce Martin Luther there are two causes why Caesar with the consent of the Princes and States have sent for you which I now propound to you and expect your answer First Whether these Books here he held up a bundle of books written in the Latine German tongues were written by you and do you acknowledge them to be yours The second Whether you will revoke and recant any thing in them or stand in defence of them Ierome Schurfius a Lawyer on Luthers part desired that the titles of the books might be recited and spoken publiquely which being done Luther briefly repeated what was desired of him and answered Concerning the books now named I professe and acknowledge that they be mine but concerning my defence of what I have written that I may answer rightly thereunto seeing it is a matter of very great moment I desire that I may not speake rashly and against my conscience some time to deliberate After some debate of the matter Eckius said again Though by Caesar letters missive you might well understand the cause why you were sent for and therefore need not to delay but make your answer presently yet Caesar such is his clemency granteth you one day for to deliberate on the matter and commands that tomorrow about this houre you here present yourself and make your distinct answer by word of mouth and not by writing Upon Luthers desiring of respit some thought that he would not be constant but they failed in their opinion Here I may not passe it over in silence that when Luther drew neere to Caesars throne many of the Princes Counsell encouraged him saying that he should be of good courage and not faint Nor feare them who could kill the body onely but not hurt the soule Others put him in minde to meditate on this When ye shall appeare before Kings and Princes be not solicitous how and what to answer For in that moment it shall be given you what you shall say The day following Luther appeared at the houre appointed And after that Eckius had asked him What now was his resolution he first humbly desired of the Emperour and Princes That they would grant him their gentle attention and then said Of the books which I have written some of them tend to faith and Pietie to these my adversaries give ample Testimony Should I recant these I might be justly censured as a wicked man Other of my books are against the Pope of Rome and Papisticall doctrine which both hath and still doth much trouble the Christian world and doth much mischiefe These should I revoke I should confirme their tyranny The third sort of my books are against some private men who defend the Papists cause and by many calumnies upon me In these I confesse I have been too vehement and besides I confesse that I am not of an unerring perfection but yet I can not safely revoke these books unlesse I will set open a gap to the impudency of many Being a man I may erre and therefore desire any one better to instruct me by the testimony of Scripture
and if the Gospel was purely to be preached ought to be mitigated The Emperour was somewhat offended with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tempted by his Legate to take it away 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 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 three thousand yeers since the death of Moses He published also a book to the Senate of Prague about ordaining 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 pudent and brasen forehead For this he called Amsdorfe to witnesse and sayd that all of them except three were want on 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 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 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 then that Luther was first to be heard in the Councel before he was to be condemned 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. made Pope in Adrians steed sent Laur. Campegius the Cardinal his Logate 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 perswaded by the King of England and Thomas Wolsey Cardinal wrote against â—…ker He put forth against his will as he wrâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…thor the Treatise concerning fâ—… What was Luthers judgement about the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he wrote to Spalatinus sheweth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 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 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 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 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 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 so that the unitie of the spirit be kept intire in faith by the word of God though there be diversitie and outward ceremonies and elements of the world About this time the Priests of Wittenberg keeping their Popish rites were at length evicted and in the end of the yeere abrogating private Masse began a Reformation in the Cathedrall Church Luther had long pressed them to this and had written thus to Spalatinus in this yeere By Gods help I will abrogate private Masse or venture upon another designe The yeere 1525. is famous by the rising of the Boores when this broyle was a hatching and the Ruftick fury did not yet breake forth into taking up armes Luther did disswade all men from sedition as being a crime of very high nature He also handled the Articles of the Boores and shewed how most of them were contrary to the word of God He wrote also to the Princes and Nobilitie and put them in minde of their dutie and by another Treatise exhorted all men to joyne for the subversion of the theevish insendiaries as for the quenching of a common fire This book was censured by some as too sharp but was at large defended by Luther In the beginning of this yeere Luther answered Carolostadius his books intitling his book Against the Celestiall Prophets At Wittenberg then the chieftains of the Anabaptists were called Prophets because they boasted of secret revelations and propheticall spirits the principall men were Muncer Ciconius Cellarius and his friend Carolostad Luther in the first part of his book speaketh of images private Masse and Carolostade and affirmeth that images were forbidden in the old Testament not in the new and that Carolostade was not expelled by his meanes and that the name of Masse was given by the Apostles to the Sacrament of the altar The subject of the second book was the Eucharist where he first dealt against Carolostades exposition of the word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} This and then answered the Arguments of Carolostade and said that the words which is given for you have this sense The body which you eate in the bread ere long when it is not eaten shall be given for you And as it is not written Take the body and eate it so neither is it written Take the bread and eate it And that Christs speech The flesh profiteth nothing is to be taken as spoken not of the flesh of Christ but of the sense of the flesh which is death Rom. 8. That the breaking the bread is the distribution of the body and that the bloud of Christ which is powred out for us now sitteth at the right hand of God but that the efficacy of that effusion of his bloud is for ever And finally that it is unknown how the bread becometh and is the body of Christ and that we must stick to the very words of Christ Against this Zwinglius and Oecolampadius wrote as is said in its due place Now also Luther renewed the ordination of Ministers of the Gospel in the Church Of whom George Rorarius was the first and now first the Masse was celebrated at Wittenberg in their mother tongue And now was set forth a booke of German songs composed by Luther and others the last yeere and a book of the abomination of the Masse in which he galled the Popish sore backcjades and made many of them kick against him He wrote also a letter to them of Strasburg where he heard that Carolostade abode and disswaded them from devouring his poyson On the contrary Strasburg sent George Caselius the Hebrew Professor and entreated Luther that he would not break the unitie of the Church for the controversie of the Eucharist that he would acknowledge Zwinglius and Oecolampadius learned men and of good fame for Brethren that he would write of the Lords Supper and shew what he taught was consonant to the truth Luther returned this answer by Caselius Namely That nothing was more to be desired then peace but to be tyed to a continuall silence was not safe that answer could not be made without condemning them and that he word condemn was censured as opprobrious That he was censured of those most modest men as a Cannibal and a worshipper of God turned bread and eatable that he liked not the advise of the Divines Straburgh concerning silence about the question of the bodily presence and preaching faith and other parts of the word That either he himself or they were ministers of Satan and that therefore in this case there was counsell to be taken and no mean between both to be followed That the reasons brought to make the speech tropicall were of no force And that it must be proved that the verb est not in other places of Scripture but here is in effect significat that where Paul saith The rock was Christ he speaketh not of the corporall but the spirituall drink for he addeth the drank of the spirituall rock And that there was a manifest mistake in that This Lambe is the Lords Passeover for this phrase is no where extant in the Scripture and therefore he besought the brethren for Christs sake that they would avoyd this errour Luther being fortie two yeers old of a sudden and unexspectedly married Katherin a Bora a noble virgin late a Nun and this was the occasion Luther had a purpose that this Katherine should have been married to M. Glanus the Pastor of Orlamund Of this she having intimation acquainted Amsdorf Luthers inward friend therewith and by him intreated Luther to alter his determination and to signifie to him that she would enter into the honourable estate of Matrimony with any other rather then with Glanus When Luther heard this and what Ierom Schursius had said namely that if that Monk should marry her the whole world and the devill himself would laugh thereat and so the Monk should undoe all that formerly he had done Here Luther to grieve the world of Papists and the devill and gratifie her father perswading him thereunto resolved to marry her And on the 13. day of Iune inviting to supper Pomeranus and Apelles the Lawyer and Luke the Limmer was betrothed to her and not long after married her This Luthers enemies much disliked so did his friends also not because they thought the marriage unlawfull but because they wished it had been done at some other time For thus writeth Camerarius It fell out that when these turbulent and dangerous broyles were not yet pacisied Martin Luther married not long after the death of Frederik the chiefe of the seven Electors of the Empire Philip Melancthon much grieved at Luthers marriage not that he condemned it as unlawfull but because hereby an occasion was given to Luthers enemies and ill willers who were
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 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 * 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 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 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 and began to broach their fancies at Anwerp Hereupon Luther by an Epistle warned them of Anwerp to take heed of the erroneous spirit 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 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 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 calledit the Ill languaged and contumelious booke of the King of England In the yeare 1526. Luther refused Erasmus book intituled de servo Arbitrio The delaying of his answer proceeded from the cause certified to * 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 of which book Luther thus writeth Erasmus that viper being rouzed up will write against me again 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 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 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
William Duke of Bavaria Of this mans Martyrdome thus Luther writes I have received the relation concerning Leonard Keisars death 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 for sake 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 The chiefe care of this businesse was committed to Iohn a Plaunitz 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 the large Confession concerning the Lords Supper which were added for their direction There it is that Luther thus writeth to Amsdorf We * 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 Our visitation goeth on of what miseries are we eye witnesse 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 The 1. part of the book called The Great Consession 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 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 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 that no blemish be layd upon the Electour by whose connivence Carolostade doth there divulge his own dreams and heresies Luther also * 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 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 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 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 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 with a pious intent called together the Prime Doctors of the Saxon and Helvetick Churches 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 else where * is shewed In the last yeere a fame 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 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 * Morotatos 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 anything 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 her bloud This letter intercepted and brought to Duke George gave occasion of a great disaffection between the Duke and Luther
our Lord Iesus Christ thus professe and beleeve That faith alone without respect to our good workes doth justify us before God and that this Article cannot be overthrown by the Roman Emperour or the Turk or the Tartarian or the Persian nor by the Pope or all his Cardinals Bishops Sacrificers Monks Nunnes Kings Princes Potentates of the world and all the Devils This Article will they nill they will stand Hell gates cannot prevayle against it The spirit of God doth dictate this unto me this is the true Gospel For thus the Article in the mouth of all Christian children hath it I beleeve in Iesus Christ crucified and dead Now no man died for our sinnes but Iesus Christ the sonne of God the one and onely sonne of God I say it again again Iesus the one and onely son of God redeemed us from our sinnes This is most surely grounded undoubted Doctrin this the whole scripture crieth out aloud though the devils all the world storme and burst with anger at it And if he alone take away the sinnes of the world we verily cannot doe it with our workes and it is impossible that I can lay hold on Christ otherwise then by faith he is never apprehended by my good workes And seeing faith alone layeth hold on our Redeemer and not our workes the concomitants of our faith it abideth undoubted truth that faith alone before our works or without our works considered doth this which is nothing else but to be justified but to be redeemed from our sinnes Then good works follow our faith as the effects and fruits thereof This doctrin I teach and this the Spirit of God and the whole Christian Church delivereth for truth In this I will persist Amen With these two writings The Admonition to the Germans and The interpretation of Caesars Edict Luther madded the nest of the Popish Hornets who thereupon put forth a book against him but without any mans name to it Luther sharply answered this book and gravely acquitted himself of the crimes objected against him that is That he denyed the yeelding obedience to Caesar that he himself was a Trumpet for rebellion and sedition that all things written by him concerning the designes of the Pope were figments and lies But he proved them to be true by many remarkable sayings and deeds of the Pontificians which are contained in * his German writings and other books by him set out this yeere In the yeere 32. by Gods gooduesse and the intercession of the Archbish. of Mentz and the Elector Palatine the Emperour a granted Peace to the Protestant Churches upon some certain conditions propounded to the Duke of Saxony especially Which that he should most willingly embrace Luther by his b letter seriously perswaded the then present Elector and his sonne Frederik who soone after succeeded his father For this very yeere the 16 day of August that godly Duke a most constant confessour of the Evangelicall truth departed this life For the perpetuating of whose memory Luther made two funerall Sermons and Melancthon a funerall oration at his buriall which expressed the Idea or Character of a good Prince In the yeere 1533. Luther comforted the Citizens of Oschatz by his letter who had been turned out for the confession of the Gospel In his letter he saith The Devil is the Host and the World is his Inne so that where ever you come you shall be sure to find this ugly Hoste He answered also the Elector of Saxony to this question How farre it is lawfull to take up armes in our own defence Especially now there was a great controversie betweene Luther and George Duke of Saxony who of old hated most vehemently Luther and his doctrin Therefore that the Protestant partie might not be inlarged by his peoples embracing it he bound them all by oath not to receive Luthers doctrin He also provided that the Citizens of Leipsick who coming to Confession after the Papists manner and then received the Sacrament should have a ticket given them which afterward they should redeliver to the Senate About seventie were found without tickets For these consulted with Luther what they should do Luther answered That they should do nothing contrary to their consciences as men which firmely beleeved that they should receive the Sacrament in both kinds and that they should undergo any extreamitie In the Epistle are these words Seeing now Duke George dareth undertake to dive into the secrets of mens consciences he is worthy to be deceived because he will be the Devils Apostle Hereupon Duke George wrote to the Elector of Saxony his cousen German and accused Luther both of giving him base language and also of stirring up the people under his command to rebellion The Elector wrote this to Luther and told him that unlesse he can cleare himself he must receive condigne punishment Upon this occasion Luther refuted this accusation and denyed That he ever counselled them to resist their Prince but that patiently they would endure their banishment And that he was so farre from infringing the authoritie of the Magistrate that no man did more stoutly confirme it or more fully declare it And that George the Duke was called the Devils Angel for the Subjects sake because they should not thinke that the Edicts were a lawfull Magistrates but the devils He joyned thereunto an epistle to them of Leipsick to comfort them in their banishment and to counsell them cheerfully to undergo their present calamitie and to give God thanks for giving them courage constancy He told them that this rejoycing of their adversaries was neither sound nor lasting and that it would perish sooner then any man thought and that all attempts of the enemies of the Gospel were hitherto frustrate by Gods singular favour faln to the ground He wrote also a briefe Apologie in which he cleareth himself of these crimes objected against him Namely that he was a lyer a breaker of his promise an Apostate Here denying the former he yeelded himself to be an Apostate or revolter but a blessed and holy one who had not kept his promise made to the Devil and that he was no other revolter then a Mammeluke who turneth Christian or a Magician who renouncing his covenant made with the Devil hetaketh himself to Christ To these passages he added divers things concerning Monkery And again in a new Treatise he oppugned private Masse and their consecration of Priests In this Treatise he related his Disputation with the Devil which the Papists Jesuits diversly play upon The truth of that matter he in this book unfoldeth as being the best Expositour of his own meaning He sent also a letter to the Senate and people of Frankford in which he exhorted them to take heed of Zwinglius doctrin and instructed them about the Confession In the yeere 1534. the Elector of Saxony joyned in pacification with King Ferdinando
men of the world say that Homer is the father of all the Poets the fountain yea the Ocean of all learning and wisdome and eloquence so our Moses is the father and fountain of all the Prophets and sacred books that is of all heavenly wisdome and eloquence Concerning humane learning I am perswaded that Theologie could not wholly be kept sincere without the skill of other Arts For heretofore when knowledge of other learning was decayed or despised Theologie did fall and lay neglected most miserably Nay I discern that the revelation of Gods Word would never have become so glorious unlesse first the Tongues and Arts had been brought into use and flourished and made a way for Divinitte as John Baptist did for Christ And elsewhere I think they erre and are extremely out of the way who think the knowledge of Philosophy and of nature to be of no use for Theologie Of Tentations thus he speaketh I would have men who are tempted thus to be comforted with faith and hope first to avoyd solitarinesse and still to have company and to sing Psalmes and talke of holy matters Then secondly to be assuredly perswaded which though it be most difficult yet is it the most ready cure that those thoughts are not their own but Satans and therefore that they should earnestly endeavour to turn their hearts to some other thoughts and leave those evill thoughts to Satan For to insist upon them to strive with them or to struggle to overcome them is a provoking and strengthning them to a mans perdition without remedie Of men distracted and fooles this was his judgement I think that all fooles and such as have not the use of reason are vexed or led aside by Satan not that they are therefore condemned but because Satan doth diversly tempt men some grievously some easily some a longer some a shorter time And whereas Physitions attribute much to naturall causes and mitigate those evils by naturall meanes sometimes this cometh to passe because they know not how great the power and strength of the devils are Concerning the Assembly at Auspurg whose remembrance Melancthon delighted not in because there such as endeavoured the propagation of the Gospel were censured by Charles the fifth harshly and grievously Whereunto five Electors thirtie Ecclesiasticall Princes Secular Princes twentie three Abbats twentie two Earles and Barons thirtie three and thirtie nine free Cities subscribed Of this assembly I say this was Luthers judgement Though after much expense ye see nothing done at Auspurg yet thus I think though their cost had been double yet the publique confutation of the sophisters and envious persons would be equivalent thereunto for they sought to disgrace our doctrin with lies as if it was the most erroneous that ever was heard Of it also Brentius saith The cost bestowed in all assemblies within the memory of men are not a sufficient price for the excellent treasure of the Confession and Apology Of the Lords Supper thus Luther writeth I neither can nor will deny this that if Carolostadius or any other man within these five yeeres could have perswaded me that there was nothing in the Sacrament but bread and wine he should have done me a singular kindnesse For I have laboured much and been most studious about this points discussion I have endeavoured with all possible intention of minde to cleare and fully open this matter because I well saw that hereby I could especially wound the Papists Besides I had two others who wrote to me more soundly and acutely of this point then Carolostadius nor did so wrest the words to the conceit of their own humour But I saw my self fast taken and had no way left to escape For the Text of the Gospel is so cleare and powerfull that it cannot be shaken much lesse be overthrown with words and glosses suggested by addle heads Of this question he wrote a large Epistle and indeavoured to prove That Christs flesh was not only eaten spiritually but corporally And whereas elsewhere he speaketh otherwise of this matter there be some who affirm that he opened his minde thereof a little before his death For t is said that as he was fitting himself for his journey to Isleben Ian. 23. An. 1546. he affirmed to Melancthon that he confessed that he had gone to farre in the Sacramentary controversie And when Melancthon perswaded him to explicate his minde by publishing some book he answered that by this course he should derive a suspition on all his doctrin as faultie but Melacthon might do as he saw cause when he was dead The witnesses of this his speech are Melancthon Herbert de Langen Daniel Burenius cons. of Breme and others When Antonius Musa the Pastor of Rochle on a time complained that he himself could not beleeve what he taught others Luther answered I thank God that I heare others to be affected to the Papists doctrin as I was He was wont to say that a preacher should beware of bringing three dogs into the pulpit with him pride covetousnesse envie This rule he gave concerning government of ones selfe in preaching When saith he You see the people heare most diligently conclude that they will go away more cheerefully He judged them in Princes Courts to undergoe the greatest labours who are compelled to drink so extreamely that they cannot rest night or day When a Stone was brought unto him out of the Mansfeild Stone-pits wherein was the image of the Pope with a triple Crown Lo said he the Pope must be revealed and extold by Metal Mines and diggers of Metals Three things said he make a Divine Meditation prayer tentation And that three things were to be done by a Minister 1. He must read the Bible over and over 2. Pray earnestly 3. Alwayes be a learner And that they were the best preachers to the people who spake as to Babes in Christ in the ordinary strain popularly and most plainly When he visited the Churches in Saxony and a countrey man repeated the words of the Creed in the vulgar tongue saying I beleeve in God the Father Almightie He asked the countrey man what was meant by Almightie who answered I know not Luther said neither do I nor any learned man know it Onely beleeve thou that God is thy father and that he can and will preserve thee and thine He tooke delight to expresse some things in his owne tongue and in Ryme Of which some were to this sense and meaning Eate what is sodden well Drinke what is pure and cleare That thou the truth doth tell To all let it appeare Speake not to all what ever thou doest know If thou be well keepe wisely were thou art Conserve with care what ever is thine owne Mischance sure-footed comes like th' nimble Hart. Be silent in due time abstaine sustaine Hold up thy head Of need to none complaine Despaire not of Gods helpe thy state to stay Who sends assistance to us every
neglect the word of God and his work he will permit shortly a dismall day to come upon us which will bring with it whole Wain-loads of cares which we shall neither have power or meanes to escape Divers other things he also foretold He had his health competently well but that sometimes he was troubled with headach especially in his elder yeeres Whereupon he was afraid of some violent Apoplexie and when he felt a swimming in his head or noyse in his eares he used to say Lord Iesu smite me gently for I am absolved from my sins according to thy word and am fed unto life eternall by thy body and bloud Thine Apostle John and our Elector were taken out of this world by this kinde of death He endured often tentations whereupon he said All here are in health except Luther who is sound in body and without suffers at no mans hand in the world onely the Devil and all his Angels vex him He was of an indifferent stature of strong body of so Lionlike a quicknesse of his eyes that some could not endure to look directly upon him when he intentively beheld them They say that one of mild spirit who could not endure in private to talk with Luther was courteously used by Luther yet was so pierced with the quicknesse of his eyes that being amazed he knew no course better then to run from him His voyce was mild and not very cleare whereupon when on a time there was mention at table about Pauls voyce which was not very perfect and full Luther said I also have a lowe speech and pronuntiation To whom Melancthon answered But this small voyce is heard very farre and neere In wedlock he lived chastly and godly above twentie yeers and when he died left three sonnes and Catharin de Bora a widow who lived after his death seven yeeres To her it was a great grief that her husband died in a place farre from her so that she could not be with him and performe the last conjugall offices to him in his sicknesse In the time of the warre which 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 was also an Universitie But in the way when the horses 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 wch 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 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 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 there at and desired from my very heart to attain salvation In another of his writings he in a manner wisheth his books extinct 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 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 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 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 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 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