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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	church_n	pope_n	rome_n	4,587	5	6.8117	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A06524	A treatise, touching the libertie of a Christian. Written in Latin by Doctor Martine Luther. And translated into English by Iames Bell; Von der Freiheit eines Christenmenschen. English	Luther, Martin, 1483-1546.; Bell, James, fl. 1551-1596.; Leo X, Pope, 1475-1521.	1579 (1579)	STC 16996; ESTC S108948	46,058	126

to be nursed and cherished in the laps and armes of maydens lest they perish in whom being growne to riper yeares were no small perill of safety to frequent the company of maydens Euen so is it requisite to lock vp the ranging yéeres of licencious youth within the Cloysters yea within iron clossets of such ceremonies and exercises whereas they may bee restrained and abide correction lest their insolent courage draw them headlong into wickednesse Which ceremonies do neuertheles procure death vnto them if they perseuere in opinion to bee iustifiable by them whereas they ought rather to bee instructed that they were clogged with such restraint not for any such cause as to bee made righteous or to merit much thereby but to the end they should not rush wilfully into vices and so bee the more tractable trained to the righteousnesse of faith which they would in no wise endure through the outrage of their youth vnlesse the same had béene tamed and brought low Which doth argue that ceremonies ought not to be of any other price and estimation in the life of a true Christian man than as amongst Carpenters and Artificers certaine old postes logges or platformes are framed to direct raise vp buildings by which bee not made to the end they should serue and remaine to any speciall vse but because without such by-helpes buildings and workes cannot easily bee raysed for when the work or building is finished those deuises are laid aside So that here you sée that ceremonies are not vtterly abrogated but rather earnestly required but the vaine perswasion and presumption of them is contemned because no man accompteth them to be a true and permanent building If any man would bee so notably senselesse as to regard nothing else in his whole life but to direct those preparatiues with all honour with all diligence with all continuance and would neuer bende his cogitations to the very building it selfe stroking smoothing and vaunting himselfe in these preparatiues and vaine rotten proppes would not all men lament his madnesse and thinke within themselues that whiles he employed this cost to no purpose he might haue builded some matter of better substance So now we do neither abandō ceremonies nor works but rather doe allow them neuerthelesse we doe vtterly abhorre the vaine opinion conceiued of them lest that any man perswade himselfe that to obserue them is the true righteousnesse as Hypocrites doe which doe abuse and mispend their whole life in these exercises neuer reach vnto the substance in respect whereof they are practized or as the Apostle speaketh Alwayes learning and neuer comming to the knowledge of the Truth For they séeme as though they had a will to build and alwayes prepare themselues thereunto and yet they neuer build persisting alwaies in the glittering shadow of godlinesse but neuer attaine to the power and substance thereof Yet do they wonderfully flatter themselues in these exercises presuming also arrogantly to iudge all others whom they sée not glittering in the like brauery of workes whereas they might otherwise bee able to atchieue matters of greater importance to the singular comfort of themselues and others with this vainely imployed ostentation and abuse of Gods gifts if they were indued with a right and true faith But whereas the nature of man and reason as they tearme it naturall is naturally inclined to superstition and pursuing all Lawes and works is proue of herselfe to fall into vaine presumptiō of obtaining iustification through them adde moreouer herevnto because it is accustomed and inured to conceiue so highly of the same workes through the vsuall admiration of all earthly law-makers it is not possible surely of her owne strength to cleare it selfe from this seruile bondage of workes and to bend her force to know the liberty of faith Therefore it is requisite that we flée to prayer that the Lord would vouchsafe to draw vs and make vs instructed vnto GOD that is to say apt Schollers for God and that himselfe will vouchsafe to write his Law in our hearts as hee hath promised otherwise we doe all come to confusion For except he doe engraffe in our soules this maruellous Wisdome hidden in a mystery Nature cannot choose but condemne it and adiudge it for an Heretique because shée is offended 〈◊〉 and appeareth foolish in her eyes Euen as we saw to haue hapned in times past to the Prophets of GOD and the Apostles and euen as the wicked blinde Prelates and their false flatterers doe now vnto mee and others like vnto mée vnto whom and to vs also GOD bee mercifull and shew the light of his countenance vpon vs that wee may know his way vpon the earth and his sauing health amongst all generations Who be blessed for euer and euer Amen FINIS The Decrees doe prohibite to appeale to the generall Councels The cause why Luther wrote these Letters to the Pope How Luther behaued himselfe towards the Pope Why Luther was so vehement against his aduersaries Paul and the Prophets be sharpe against the tenderlings The delicate manners of our age Luthers variance The Court of Rome What stuffe hath issued from Rome into the world The Church of Rome Sathan raighneth at Rome not the Pope Eugenius was Pope sometimes Schollar vnto Bernard One only remedy remaining in the corrupt Romish Church Who did prouoke Luther to pursue the trecheries of the false deceiuers Cardinall Caietane Charles Militius Iudges of Luthers cause chosen Eccius The disputation at Lypsia The flatterer Eccius did hurt the Court of Rome more than the most mightiest enemy else could doe Luther will not recall any thing He will not suffer the theeues to make lawes for interpreting Gods word He councelleth the Pope not to he are flatterers What a Vicar is John 4. The popositions 1 Cor. 12. Rom. 13. 2 Cor 4. Gala. 5. In what things Christian liberty Gods word necessary for the soule Iohn 11. Iohn 8. Matth. 4. Dauid Famine of Gods word an horrible plague Amos. Psal. 107. Which is the word of God. Rom. 1. Rom. 10. Rom. 1. Faith only iustifieth Iob. Rom. 2. Rom. 10. Man is not iustified by any externall thing 1 Pet. ult Iohn 9. Faith a treasure inestimable Mark. 16. Rom. 10. The Scriptures haue commandements and promises Osee All the commandements be equally impossible to be accomplished by vs. The Law must be satisfied We accomplish all by faith Rom 11. God only commandeth and performeth The first arme of faith Iohn 1. Another arme of faith The greatest honor The greatest reproach Perfect obedience Rebellion God doth honour them that beleeue on him 1 King 5. Rom. 4. The third arme of faith The vniting of the soule vnto her spouse Behold inestimable treasures Ose 2. The Maiestie of this royall marriage Cor. 1. the 15. chapter For what cause faith is so much esteemed The true worship of God. Faith maeeth works The prerogatiue of the first birth Whereof the kingdome of Christ doth consist Christs Priesthood Priestly office Paul to the Hebrues How it is to be taken that faithfull Christians be Priests 1 Pet. ● Christian kings Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 3. Note The spirituall kingdome We be Priests for euer All things euill to the vnbeleeuer The liberty of Christians 1 Cor. c. 4. To what issue the ministry Ecclesiasticall is come How Christ ought to be preached The fruit of true preaching The demand of them which doe not conceiue Luther yea rather which doe not conceiue what faith is Rom. 8. From whence works take their beginning The only worke of the inward man. Galath 5. Of what minde wee ought to be in doing good works How the body ought to be chastised Note A notable similitude Gen. 2. Faith doth restore into Paradise Another examples Two notable sayings Another example Only faith iustifieth The vnbeleeuing person is not made euill by works Heb. 11. Works do make a man good but that is in the sight of men Matth 7. The originall of some mens errour 1 Tim. 3. Rules to vnderstand the doctrines of many The reason of Luthers Doctrine The work of Leuiathan Preachers must exhort to Faith. From whence repentance or Faith doe proceed Rom. 10. Psalm 29. Of works towards our neighbours Rom. 14. Baruch 3. A Christian must apply himselfe to all men To what end the body must be cherished The true Christian faith The deprauers of the Apostles doctrine A Christian ought to conforme himselfe to Christ Gal. 1. The confidence of a Christian man. The fruit of Faith. Behold gentle Reader how worthily is Luther reproched We ought to know how great things are giuen vs. The glory of a Christian life In what respect we be named Christians The holy Mother of Christian example of Faith. Luke 2. Paul doth teach workes Gal. 3. An example of our Lord Christ Take hold of Luther all ye Religious and admit him to be your teacher The knowledge of a true Christian The difference betwixt the good and the euill pastors Good aduice Only faith must be attended vnto A rule touching brotherly loue 1 Cor. 13. A Christian man doth liue in himself and in his neighbour Against the liberty of the flesh Against the confidence in workes Gal. 1. How we ought to deale with the obstinate Aspides The simple Rom. 4. Against the lawes and law-makers Rom. 14. To the yong in yeares Danger in the ceremonies Of what estimation ceremonies be Against them that be notably suspitious From whence the law of wisdome doth proceede

inueighed against this chaire of pestilence for it is so farre off from my thought to grow in outrage against your personage as that I would hope to obtaine your fauour and bee deemed a stout patrone of your safety if I would manfully and valiantly crush in pieces the Gates of this your dungeon or of this your Hell rather for howsoeuer the generall force of all pollicie can possibly imagine to worke the vtter ruine of the most horrible Court of this age the same shall redound al to your person to the preseruation of your estate and to the safety of many others together with you Such as doe worke her confusion doe execute your function They do aduance the glory of Christ which doe by all meanes possible detest her To conclude they be right Christians which are least Romanists But to speake hereof more at large There neuer came any such thought into my head as to enueigh against the Court of Rome or to discourse thereof any thing at all For when I perceiued that all preseruatiues were medicinable to procure her amendment I withdrew mee from her and deliuering her a libell of diuorce I spake vnto her in this wise Hee that is filthy let him continue in his filthinesse still and he that is vncleane let him continue in his vncleanesse still yeelding my selfe ouer to the calme and quiet study of holy Scriptures whereby I might be able to profit my brethren dwelling round about me Here now when as I could very little auaile Sathan beganne to open his eyes and to prick forward his trusty seruant Iohn Eccius a notorious enemy of Christ swelling with a certaine outragious licenciousnesse of glory chalenging me to a combate vnloked for tripping me for one very little word escaped mee vnawares touching the Supremacy of the Church of Rome This same proud prauncing Thraso frushing in his Fustian fumes vanted lustily that hee durst attempt all things for Gods glory and the honour of the holy See Apostolique And being puft vp with saucy malapertnesse of abusing your power made no surer accompt of any thing than of present conquest seeking thereby not so much the prymacy of Peters chayre as his owne primacy peerelesse amongst all the Diuines of this age for the better atchieuing whereof hee perceiued that to leade poore LVTHER Captiue would bee not the least brauery of his triumph which enterprise because it hapned vnluckily contrary to the exhortation of the foolish Sophister the man waxed incredibly furious for he perceiued that whatsoeuer infamy was raysed by mee against the Romish Church was procured by his owne onely temerity and rashnesse Vouchsafe here I beseech you right reuerend Leo that I may here once defend mine owne cause and discouer your very naturall enemies It is not vnknowne vnto you I suppose how your Legate the Cardinall of Saint Sixtus did deale with me an vndiscrete man and vnciuill nay rather a false man Into whose protection when I had yeelded my selfe and all mine estate for the reuerence that I beare to your holinesse he endeauoured not to conclude a quietnesse which hee might euen with halfe a word haue established easily when as I then promised to keepe silence and put vp my quarrell so that mine aduersaries might be inioyned to doe the like But this glorious man not satisfied with these conditions began to authorize mine aduersaries to giue them free liberty and to enioyne mee to recant which was no parcell of his commission Certesse when here the cause was yet in very good plight through his immoderate handling it began to fester worse worse wherupon whatsoeuer fell afterwards was to be imputed not to Luther but to Caietanes vndiscretenesse altogether who would not permit mee to be silent and to remaine in quiet which I did at that time most earnestly desire for what might I doe more After him came Charles Militius and he also Legate of your holinesse who trauelling many and sundry waies poasting here and there forth and backe and omitting nothing that might appertaine to the redresse of the state of the cause which Caietane had rashly and proudly disordered could scarce at the length bring it to passe though countenanced herein by the most renowned Prince Frederike the Elector that he might haue once or twice some familiar conference with me where I once againe yeelded to your authoritie contented to hold my peace not refusing either Archbishop of Tryers or the Bishop of Numburgh to be iudge in the cause which was concluded and obtained Whiles these matters proceeded thus very orderly behold the other yea a greater enemy of your estate Eccius rusheth out with his disputation at Lypsia which hee had then published against D. Conolastadius and picking a new quarrell of the supremacy of the Pope bends his shot against mee at vnawares and vtterly dissolueth this conclusion of Peace In the meane time Carolus Militius attendeth the successe Disputation beginneth Iudges are chosen yet neuerthelesse hitherto nothing was determined and no maruaile forasmuch as through Eccius false lying dissēbling false packing all things were full of vnquietnesse abounded in all melancholly and fraught of all parts with confused disorder so that which way soeuer Iudgement were giuen greater stormes would be raysed for he sought for Glory and not for the Truth And here also I omitted no part of duty that behooued me to doe And I confesse that this was not the least occasion of the discouery of the Romish trumperies yet such as it was if any offence grew thereby it was altogether to 〈◊〉 imputed to Eccius which vndertaking 〈◊〉 enterprise aboue his reach whiles he gaped ouer-greedily for his owne glory did display abroad to the view of the whole world the infamous estate of Rome This euen this same Eccius is your enemy my Leo or rather the enemie of your Court by whose onely example a man may learne sufficiently that there is none more pestilent an enemie than a flatterer for what gayned hee by his blaunching else but a mischiefe which no earthly King nor Potentate could bring to passe for the name of the Romish Court doth stincke now ouer the whole world and the Papane authoritie is very much crased notorious ignorance is generally cryed out vpon whereof wee should not haue heard any one word at all if Eccius had not turmoyled the peace agreed vpon betwixt Charles and mee which now himselfe perceiueth plaine enough all too late and in vaine storming against the imprinting of my Bookes Thus much behooued him then to haue thought vpon when like a wilde vntamed Colt hee raunged wholly for glory and when he sought naught else but his owne aduancement vnder the colour of your holinesse to your maruellous detriment and danger notwithstanding the foolish vaine man hoped that I would haue surceased and kept silence being afraid of the sound of your authority for of his wit and learning I doe not beleeue that he was so