valour and noble courage in the Auspurg Assembly when thus he wrote out of his Wildernesse to Spalatinus That Kings and Princes and people rage against the Christ or anointed of God I esteem it a good sign and think it much better then if they flattered For thereupon followeth that he that dwels in heaven laughes at them And when our Lord and King laughes I see no cause why we should weep before their faces He laughes not for his own sake but for ours that we rather trusting to him then to any thing else might laugh at their vain designs so much need is there of faith that the cause of faith may not be looked upon without faith But he that begun this worke he began it without our counsell and contrivance And he himself will forward with it and finish it without and beyond all our counsels and devises of this I make no question I know and am assured hereof He in whom I beleeve is able to do above all which we can aske or conceive Though Philip Melancthon contrive and desire that God should work according to and within the compasse of his counsels that he might have wherein to glory and say Surely thus the businesse should be carried Thus would I have done But this is not well spoken I Philip would have it so This I is too flat and dull too low a style It must be thus The God who saith I am that I am this is his name I am He will have it so It is not yet seen who he is but he will appear as he is and we shall see him But I have done Be you valiant in the Lord and put Melancthon in minde from me that he set not himself in Gods place but fight against that ambition of Deitie which was inbred and took root in us in Paradise by the devils suggestion for that is an affectation not furthering the businesse now in hand The desire of being like God thrust Adam and Eve out of Paradise and it alone doth trouble us and turn us out of the course of Peace We must be mortall men and not Gods Thus in briefe If we think otherwise everlasting unquietnesse and anguish of heart will be our reward Luther was ready for Martyrdom once or twice and thought his adversaries would have him to it whereupon at his going to Auspurg An. 1518. thus he wrote to his deare freind * Melanct. Shew your selfe a man of resolution as you already doe Teach the students Gods truth I am going if God so please to be sacrificed for them and you For I had rather die and never more enjoy which thing alone would be most grievous to me your most sweet societie then to recant and revoke any truth which I have preached and give occasion to overthrow the right course of studies And elsewhere he thus wrote * to Spalatinus I had rather as I have often sayd die by the hands of the Romanists alone And would by no meanes that Charles and his Counsellours should interpose themselves in putting mee to death I know what misery befell Sigismund the Emperor after the martyring of Hus how nothing prospered with him afterward how he died without issue male how his daughters sonne Ladislaus also died and so had he his name extinguished in one age of men besides Barbara his Queen became a dishonour to the royall place she held and other matters which you well know But yet if it so please God that I shall be delivered into the hands not only of the Papists spiritual Governours but of Temporal Magistrates also the Lords will be done Amen And againe thus to Lambert Thorn imprisoned I rejoyce with you most heartily and give thanks to our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ that he hath not onely graciously given me the knowledge of his word but made me see a plentifull and glorious encrease of his grace in you Wretched man that I am It is reported that I first taught those things for which you suffer and yet shall be the last or perhaps shall not be vouchsafed at all to be made partaker of your imprisonments Martyrdoms Yet herein will I challenge something and comfort my selfe in this that your miseries your bondes and imprisonments the fires prepared for you are mine also and so indeed they are seeing I professe and preach the same things with you and suffer and rejoyce together with you God by Luther and his fellow workmen opened and cleared the necessarie doctrin of Gods Church concerning the Mediatour and justification of man before God of the differences of the Law and the Gospel of worship pleasing God of Invocation and other points He was wont often to deplore the ungodly praying to the Saints departed and said That there were many reasons why that invocation was execrable and that this was one chiefe namely that by that profane custome the Testimony of Christs Divinity was obscured to whom both the writings of the Prophets and Apostles attribute the honour of invocation These are the Idols which sharpen the barbarous sword of the Turk to cut of our neckes Nor will he ever be kept from shedding our bloud except in godly manner those things be reformed For how wicked and impious those hymnes be which are sung in the Popes Quires who knoweth not O Mary thou Mother of grace defend us from our enemie and in the houre of death receive us And a gaine Saint Dorothy create a new heart within us Saint Catharin translate us from the troublesome sea of the world to the pleasures of Paradise open Paradise for us And that Gods truth might be propagated to posterity with continuall and great labour and study he so plainly and perspicuously out of the originall texts translated the Bible into the German tongue that his translation may well serve in steed of a Commentary He often speaketh of the labour and difficulty of this taske As in his letter to Wenceslaus Lincus We are now busied in translating the Prophets a worke God knoweth of great paines and industry to bring Hebrew writers to speake the German tongue to leave their Hebrew idiom and expresse themselves in our barbarous language This is as if the Nightingale should be compelled to imitate the Cuckow to leave her warbling melody and fall into an unisone And again to Spalatinus In translating Iob we are put to very great paines in regard of the loftinesse of the style that this book may seeme more impatient of our translation then Iob himselfe of his friends comforting him He may seeme yet still to sit upon the dunghill Vnlesse perhaps the Author of the booke desired that it never should be translated This is the reason why the Presse maketh no better hast in this part of the Bible In this worke he used the paines and counsel of his colleagues whom elsewhere we have named that they might be witnesses of his faithfull care in
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Dr MARTIN LVTHER The Passages where of haue bin taken out of his owne and other Godly and most Learned mens writings who liued in his time 1. Thess 5 12 13 Wee beseech you bretheren to know the m. Who labour among you etc and to esteeme them very highly for there worke sake and be at peace among your selues LONDON Printed by I L for Iohn Stafford and are to be sould at his shop in Chancery lane ouer against the Rolles 1643. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sr. THOMAS ROE Knight Chancellour of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell TO whom rather should I addresse this present discourse then to your Honourable selfe who by your a Embassie extraordinary for his Majestie of England into Germany well observed the countrey and the present estate thereof where many passages here mentioned were acted And much the rather doe I humbly present it to your Honourable Patronage because upon that happie occasion it pleased our gracious God to put then into your mind and to nourish therein ever since a serious consideration of the deplorable distractions of the Christian Church as he did into good b Nehemiahs minde of the lamentable estate of Ierusalem in his time Your compassionate and tender affection was and is still much moved to c observe the living stones of the New Ierusalem lying in the dust or drencht in their own blood some of her Priests and their slocks clad in Sackcloth others with their people by sword and fire cast out and banished and which is worst of all your Honour well discerned how difficult a task it was to cure this fearfull maladie because disaffection of parties dissention of opinions unlesse God prevented the mischiefe would not admit the binding up of the wound Nor did these miserable calamities of Gods people only vex and grieve your pious and religious soule but also so rouzed and summoned up your Honours most serious thoughts that with d an heartie and godlie providence with a sincere and prudent circumspection you presentlie consulted with other most learned religious Christian lovers of Gods Church about the peace thereof so far as possiblie may be attained and so far as it lies in the power of Christian Princes of most judicious Divines and of truly zealous people guided by them both that as much as may be we may all be e of one minde and accord and think and speak one and the same thing as the sacred Scripture often and straightly giveth us in charge For this end Mr. Iohn Dury a Divine of singular pietie learning truly studious of the Churches peace and incomparably sedulous to advance the same and first interessed in the work by your Honourable means and incouragement hath so much prevailed with many illustrious f Princes States and the most eminent learned men in Germany and the parts adjoyning that the work is very wel promoted and an heartie inclination wrought towards a good correspondencie for Ecclesiasticall peace God grant your Honour life and health that to your great comfort and all true Christians joy you may shortly see the work come to more maturitie and perfection Amidst your Honours grave and vveightie intendments for this and other occasions of much concernement may you please to reflect on this discourse I conceive that there be many passages therein very confiderable for these and after times and that they will make much for the exciting of our thankefulnesse to God when we behold from what beginnings in an 100 and few moe yeares Gods truth hath risen and Papisticall and Anabaptisticall errour faln It is remarkable that the points by D. Luther mainly opposed were Indulgences the Popes boundlesse power merit of workes Purgatory Communion but in one kinde all g chiefe points and palpably and and undeniably grosse And on the other side that he stood up against the Anabaptists rebaptization of themselves their not baptizing infants as not commanded by Christ their having all things in common as had the Primitive Christians Acts 2. 44. and against the Antinomians heresies concerning the law and other like erroneous fancies It is also observable that Dr. Luther striking at the Popes unlawfull power never sought to exalt himselfe to honour or h riches For though as he saith he himselfe with other learned men executed Episcopall Authority in visiting the Churches of Saxony reforming things amisse yet he knowing his talent fittest for the Chaire of Wittenberg never would rise higher but wrote a book concerning Christian Episcopacy and installed Nicolas Amsdorf Bishop of Neoburg and George Anhaltinus Bishop of Mersburg And in regard that Luther studied and read as Professor Philosophie of divers kinds was well versed in the Fathers and in Aquinas Scotus Occam other Schoolmen and attained to the Greek and Hebrew tongues he was thereby i inabled rightly and soundly and gravely and not k ignorantly rashly or humorously to judge of these studies and of their use in Theologie It was also very commendable in him that he disliked railing discourse without solid and concluding arguments slighted foolish and groundlesse calumnies reproved young students forward and rash attempts without authority for the promoting of his cause blamed the headie and disorderly tumults raised by the Boores and vulgar sort confessed ingenuously his doubting of some points his ignorance in others and craved pardon if having beene lately a Popish Monk he should in any point erre from the truth Seeing this was D. Luthers prudent and religious course I shall never marvell at his * Heroicall Spirit and impregnable confidence of Gods assistance and of the successe of his attempts and on very good ground famous and worthy Princes countenanced and assisted him as a man by his then opposites convicted of no errour doing much good service in the University offering his cause to any just triall appealing from the Pope to the Generall Counsell and in his whole course manifesting l a true correspondence of his life with his doctrine Much more I might here adde but will not longer detaine your Honour from the discourse it selfe I humbly beseech our gracious God who inabled D. Luther to be an excellent instrument for the reformation of the Christian Church for beating downe of errour and setting up of Gods Truth that he would implant in us all quiet temperate and Christian affections m and love of Christs Name still more and more perfect the setling of Truth and building up of his Church untill we all become living stones in the Spiritual Temple sitted for our God The same God of peace crowne your Honourable selfe and all sincere promoters of Christian peace with peace externall and internall here and with eternall blisse hereafter So prayeth he who is Your Honours ever to be commanded Thomas Hayne Christian Reader DAvid a man after Gods owne heart as in
certified that Luther was ready in any safe place appointed him to make his answer But Luther having setled his resolution to depart tooke his leave of the Prince Elector and by a letter sent to him Novemb. 29. thanked his Highnesse for all friendly offices of his love The Prince sent that letter to the Legate and appointed Luther to abide at Wittenberg Of this Luther thus wrote The Prince was fully minded that I should stay but what his minde now is since the Royal proceedings are published and I have appealed to the Councel I know not For he understanding by the Cardinals Letter that Judgement should passe on him at Rome he made a new Appeal saying that he was forced of necessitie to appeal from the Pope to the Councel ensuing which was in many respects to be preferred before the Pope About the same time towards the end of the 18 yeere the Pope sent Charles Multitius a Misnian Knight and bestowed on Prince Frederick a golden Rose according to custome consecrated by the Pope on the fourth Sunday in Lent and exhorted him to continue in the faith of his ancestours He was earnest with Luther to be reconciled to the Pope and had seventie Briefes Apostolicall as they call them to shew that if the Prince would deliver him out of his custody for which cause the Pope sent him the Rose in seventie Townes the seventie Briefes should be set up and so he should be brought safe to Rome But he opened the closet of his heart to Luther himself when he thus spake O Martin I conceived you to be an old man and sitting in some solitary place as an ancient Divine in some private manner to have disputed your Tenents But now I see you to be in your best age and full of vigour Had I 25000. armed men I could not be confident that I could bring you to Rome for as I came hitherward I tried how men stood affected and found that where one man stood for the Pope three stood for you against him What Multitius did in this kinde was ridiculous for he asked of women and maids in the Innes 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 and with sharp wordes and threates so daunted the man 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 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 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 acqâ—…ired 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 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 Carolostadius 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 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 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 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
calling of a lawfull Councel Afterward Io. Hogostratus a Dominican writeth bitterly against Luther exciteth the Pope to use the rounder course of fire and faggot Luther answered him in briefe and told him of his cruell bent and wittily taxed the ignorance of the man and admonisheth him not to proceed to seeke laureolam in mustaceo the laurel garland in so mean a perfection In the yeere 1518. Luther though most men disswaded him yet to shew his observance of authority went for the most part on foot to the colledge of Hidelberg At Herbipolis the Bishop entertained him courteously So also did Wolfgang the Count Palatine at Hidelberg In the Colledge of the Augustinians now cal'd the Colledge of Sapience he disputed about Justification by faith Bucer was there present and by his quicknesse in writing tooke what Luther spake and imparted all to Beat. Rhenanus who gave Luther much deserved commendations Of this disputation Luther thus speaketh The Doctours admitted my disputing with them willingly and argued the matter with me with much modesty that in that very regard I hold them worth much commendations For though they thought that Divinity strong yet they all argued seriously and strongly against it except one alone who was the fifth of them a Iunior Doctour He made all the Auditory to laugh by saying if the Rustick rout should heare this they would stone and kill us Upon Luthers returne he wrote an Epistle to * Iudocus a Divine and Philosopher of Isenac once his Tutour Where he hath this speech All the Doctours of Wittenberge in the doctrine concerning grace and good workes are of my Iudgement yea the whole Vniversity except one licentiat Doctour Sebastian even the Prince himselfe and our Ordinary Bishop and many of the Chieftaines and all the ingenious Citi zens with joynt consent affirme that before they neither knew nor heard of the Gospel nor of Christ After that he put forth in print the resolutions and declarations of his propositions about Indulgences Wch he dedicated to Pope Leo the 3. as was before said The causes of his printing them were as he said to mitigate his adversaries to satisfie some mens request and not to suffer some to conceive that the whole businesse was determined For he confessed that of many things he yet doubted of some things he was ignorant and did pertinaciously affirme nothing but did humbly submit all to the Popes determination Hereupon Maximilian the Emperour being solicitous of the event of disputations of this nature moved the Pope to interpose his own authoritie The Pope by Tho. Cajetan Cardinal cited Luther to Rome This he also desired of Frederick Elector of Saxony Luther having notice hereof mainly indeavoured that the cause might be handled in Germany under competent Judges and at length he prevailed by the mediation of Wittenberg * Vniversity to the Pope and by Charles Multitius a German the Popes Chamberlain and the mediation of the Elector of Saxony to Cajetan then the Popes Legate that at Auspurg before the Legate himself Luther might plead his own cause About the beginning of October Luther came on foot to Auspurg in his hood borrowed of Wenceslaus Linkius and much wearied with the journey and upon assurance of his safetie was admitted to the Cardinals presence Who admonished him first To become a sound member of the Church and to recant the errours which he had divulged secondly to promise that he would not again teach his former doctrines thirdly that he would abstain from other doctrines which would disturb the peace of the Church Here also it was objected to him that he denyed the Merit of Christ to be a treasure of Indulgences and that he taught that faith was necessary for all which should come to the Sacrament Cajetan proved his own opinion by the decree of Clement the sixth and at large extolled the authoritie of the See of Rome as being falsly preferred before all Scriptures and Councels After much debating the matters Luther intreated some time to deliberate thereon and returned the next day and in the presence of some witnesses and a Scribe and foure of the Emperours Counsellors professed that he gave the Church of Rome all due observance and if he had spoken any thing dissenting from the judgement of the Church he would reverse it but could revoke no errour being not yet convicted by Scripture of any and did appeale to the judgement of the Church Hereupon the Legate sharply chiding Luther dismissed him and dealt with Staupicius to bring Luther to revoke what he had taught But Luther not convinced as yet by Scripture persisted in the trueth Yet at length fearing least the Cardinal should make more use of his power and greatnesse then Scholarlike disputations he appealed to Rome and departed from Auspurg Octob. 20. Because the Cardinal charged him not to come into his presence unlesse he would recant Yet Luther left behind him an epistle to the Cardinal and affixed thereunto a formal appeale unto the Pope Cajetan took Luthers departure in ill part and wrote to the Duke of Saxony that he would either send Luther to Rome or banish him out of his territories and intreateth him not to give credit to Luthers defenders and to take heed of staining the illustrious Family whence he was descended The Elector returned answer That now it was not in his power to do this because Luther was not convicted of any errour and did much good service in the Vniversitie and did offer his cause to triall and disputation The resolution of the Duke was more confirmed by an Epistle of Erasmus and the intercession and vote of the Vniversitie of Wittenberg Here I may not passe over a notable proofe of Luthers Heroike courage When Luther came to Auspurg he by the counsell of such as the Prince Elector sent with him waited three dayes for to have the Emperours Letters for his safetie In the mean time the Cardinal sent one for Luther but he denyed to come untill the Emperour granted what he desired At this the messenger was offended and said Do you think that Prince Frederick will take up armes in your behalfe I desire it not said Luther in any wise Then the Partie Where then will you abide Luther answered Vnder the cope of Heaven The Italian replyed Had you the Pope and the Cardinals in your power what would you do I would said Luther give them all due honour and reverence At this the Messenger after the Italian manner biting his thumbs went away Upon these dealings Luthers spirit fainted not yet least he should cause detriment or danger to any one or derive suspicion on his Prince and that he might more freely deale with the Papall crue would have gone into France or some other countrey But his friends on the contrary counselled him to stick firmely to Saxony and that the Popes Legate should be
Festivall times in his private Chappell Some times Luther for his healths sake went forth into the strawberry groves and somewhat farther into the Monasteries which were neere taking upon him the name Iunker George a noble man and accompanied onely with one attendant who was faithfull and secret and would often warne Luther in the places where they were entertained not presently to lay aside his sword and to take in hand the books before him for so he might be descried Sometimes he went forth a hunting with his friends Of this sport thus he writeth I was a hunting two dayes to see that lordly but bitter-sweet sport Here we took two Hares and some silly young Partridges The sport is meet for such as have nothing else to do There did I contemplate as a Divine amidst their nets and dogs Nor did the outward appearance of the game more delight me then what I conceived by it move me to pitie and griefe For what could this sport signifie and resemble but by the dogs wicked Popish divines and by the nets the cunning tricks and wiles by which they seeke to catch harmlesse Christians as hunters those silly creatures This was a most evident mysterie of the pursuing of plain hearted and faithfull souls Yet was there a more cruell mysterie presented to me When by my meanes we kept a young Hare alive and put her in my Coats sleeve and so left her in the meane time the dogs finding it broke one of her legs and taking her by the as she was in the sleeve stopt her wind Thus it is with Satan and the Pope who cruelly destroy poore souls without regard of my paines to save them I was by this time weary of this sport and thought that more pleasing where Beares Wolves Bores Foxes and such like savage creatures are strook dead with darts and arrows It comforted me again for I took it as a mystery resemblance of salvation that Hares and harmless creatures are taken by men not by Beares Wolves and ravenous Hawkes who resemble Popish Bishops and Divines because by these may be signified a devouring by Hell by those an eating of them as food for heaven He passed also to Wittenberg from his Patmos making few acquainted therewith and lodged with Amsdorf here he spent some few dayes and was merry with his friends without the Electors knowledge In his retirednesse he was much troubled with costivenesse having the benefit of naturall ease that way but once in foure or five dayes Then also was he tried by some devillish tentations which much disquieted him This disease he overcame by exercise and medicines sent him from Spalatinus Then read he also the Hebrew and Greek Bibles and besides the books above mentioned he wrote many letters to his friends which be now printed At length not enduring further delay and innovations he returned from his Patmos to Wittenberg without the knowledge of the Electour March the sixth Ann. 1522. he rendred these reasons of his return to the Electour First said he I am call'd back by the Letters of the Church and People of Wittenberg and that with much solicitation and entreaty Secondly at Wittenberg Satan hath made an inrode into my flock and raised such stirres that I cannot well represse and quiet them with my writing alone but of necessitie I must live there be present among them and both heare them and speake to them go in and out before them and do what I can for their good Besides I feare that some great and violent sedition will arise in Germany and make Germany undergo grievous punishment for its contempt and ingratitude I thought it therefore needfull to do doe what I ought and could for them in this regard by my counsell and endeavour to teach admonish and exhort them thereby to avert Gods anger and judgement or at least to stay them a while Furthermore I know well and am verily perswaded that my preaching and my proceeding to divulge the Gospel of Christ is not of my own motion but the worke of God Nor shall any kinde of death or persecution shake this my confidence and make me thinke otherwise and I conceive that I rightly divine that no terrours or crueltie can put out the light already shining And in an other Epistle I return to Wittenberg under a more sublime and strong protection then the Elector of Saxonie can give me Nor did I ever minde to sue for defence from your Highnesse Moreover did I know that your Highness would and could defend me verily I would not returne No sword can advance and maintaine this cause God alone can order and promote it without any mans excessive care and helpfull hand Therefore in this cause he that most strongly trusts to Gods assistance he most surely defendeth himself and others Seeing therefore I perceive your Highnesse to be weake in faith I can by no meanes attribute so much to your Highnesse as to be perswaded that I can be defended and freed from danger by you I will keep your Highnesse person your minde and body and estate safe from all danger and damage in this my cause whether you beleeve me or not Let your Highnesse then be assured and not doubt at all that this matter is farre otherwise concluded of in heaven then at Norimberg For we shall finde that they which think they have devoured all the Gospel and queld it in the rising are not yet come to the Benedicite I have to deale with another manner and more powerfull Prince then our Duke He knoweth me and I him conveniently well Did your Highnesse beleeve you should behold the wonderfull works and glory of God Whereas you not yet beleeving see none of these things To God be glory and praise for ever This and much more to this purpose he wrote shewing his full assurance and plerophory of faith most admirable He also wrote thus to Melancthon concerning the cause of his return Provide a lodging for me for the Translation of the Bible compels me to return to you pray to God that it may stand with his good pleasure I desire to conceale my self as much as I can yet will I proceed in my worke resolved upon He wrote the like to Amsdorf That for the translation of the Bible he must return to Wittenberg that therein he might use other mens counsell and help Luther being returned from the Lords Day first in Lent that whole weeke every day preached one Sermon these are extant and in them he shewed what he liked or disliked in the alterations made in his absence He found fault with them who had abrogated private Masse and Idols and administred the Lords Supper in both kinds and taken away auricular confession differences of meats invocation of Saints and other the like matters not because they had done impiously but because they proceeded not herein orderly He affirmed that he condemned the Papisticall Masse the worshipping of Images
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
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 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 he now expounded Ecclesiastes which was not easie and plain as he said for an Interpreters labour There are saith he therein many Hebraismes and obstacles in that tongue not yet well made known Yet by the grace of God I break thorow them This yeere he wrote a forme of the Masse in the German tongue in which he permitted some ceremonies to be used or not used at mens pleasures Among other speeches thus he saith Yet we retain those garments altars waxecandles used at the Masse till they grow old or that it seeme good to change them If it please any man to do otherwise I permit him to do as he liketh best But in the true Masse among Christians unmixt with Papists it is fit that the altar should not remain but that the Minister should turn himself to the people as Christ doubtlesse did at the first celebration of the Lords Supper But let this also await its due time He wrote also foure consolatory Psalmes to Mary Queen of Hungary upon the miserable death of her husband King Lodowick who was drowned He then also divulged other Treatises which are mentioned in his works In the 27. yeere the Anabaptists broached their new doctrin about the not baptizing of Infants and were themselves rebaptised they also taught communitie of goods Both Luther and Zwinglius wrote against them and the Magistrates punished them in divers places Luther wrote also upon the question whether souldiers lived in a kinde of life tending to happinesse In which discourse he learnedly and godly handled many things concerning warre and its discipline He dealt also against the Sacramentarians as he calleth them and in his book averreth that Christs word This is my body yet stand firme Of the book thus Luther writeth to Spalatinus I doubt not but that I have throughly moved the Sacramentarians for though my book be full of words and not so learned yet I am perswaded that I have touched them to the quick Bucer hath written most virulent letters against me unto our Jonas already they make a Satan of Luther what suppose you that they will do when they be gauled with that book But Christ liveth and raigneth Amen He also comforted them of Hall for the death of George Winckler their Pastor who was slain by conspiracy He also answered Iohn Hessus to the question Whether a Christian man may flie in time of Pestilence and to an other question namely Whether after the truth of the Gospel is made known a man may for feare of the tyrants forbeare to administer the Lords Supper in both kinds which Luther denyed against the Prischanists About the beginning of the yeere 27. Luther fell suddenly sicke of a congealing of bloud about his heart which almost kil'd him but the drinking of the water of Carduus Benedictus whose vertue then was not so commonly knowne he was presently helped But he wrastled with a farre worse agony afterward on the Sabbath after the visitation of the blessed Virgin This is recorded by Iohn Bugenhagius and Iustus Ionas who saw his affliction Here he indured not onely a corporall malady but also a spirituall tentation which Luther called a buffiting of Satan It seemed to him that swelling surges of the sea in a tempest did sound aloud at his left eare and against the left side of his head yet not within but without his head and that so violently that die he must except they presently grew calme Afterward when it seemed to come within his head he fell downe as one dead and was so cold in each part of his body that he had remaining neither heat nor bloud nor sence nor voyce But when his face was besprinckled with cold water by Jonas for so Luth. had bidden he came again to himself and began to pray most earnestly and to make a confession of his faith to say that he was unworthy of Martirdom which by his proceedings he might seemed to run upon His will and Testament concerning his wife with child and his young sonne this he made Lord God I thank thee that thou wouldest have me live a poore and indigent person upon Earth I have neither house nor lands nor possessions nor mony to leave Thou hast given me wife and children them I give back unto thee Nourish teach keep them O thou the father of orphans and Iudge of the widow as thou hast done to mee so do unto them But by using daily prayers and continuall fomentations after that he had sweat thoroughly the griefe by degrees decreased so that in the evening of that day he rose up and supped with his friends and confessed that his spirituall temptation was farre sorer then his corporall sicknesse Hereupon the day following he sayd to Iustus Ionas I will take speciall notice of the day last past in which as in a schoole I was put to the try all of my progresse And sate in a most hot sweating house The Lord bringeth to the graves mouth and fetcheth back againe He often makes mention of this tentation in his letters to his friends and consirmed the faith by receiving absolution from a Minister and the use of the Sacrament This yeere also he put forth the Story of Leonard Keisar his friend who was burnt for the Gospels sake at the Command of
dislike your excessive cares with which you say you are consumed That these raigne so much in your heart is not from the greatnesse of the cause but the greatnesse of your incredulitie For there was greater cause of this in Iohn Hus his time then in ours Then again suppose there be great cause the Agent and chief mover in it is of great power for it is not our cause Why then do you continually and without ceasing macerate your self If the cause be faultie let us revoke it and flie back if it be good why do we make God a lyer who hath made us so great promises and bids us to be of a quiet and contented mindes saying Cast thy care upon the Lord The Lord is neere unto all them who being of a troubled heart call upon him Speaketh God these things into the wind or casts he these pearles to bruits I am often troubled but not perpetually Your Philosophy and not your Divinity doth thus vexe you the same befalleth your Ioachim As if it were possible that you should effect any thing with this unprofitable care I pray you tell me what can the Divell doe more then kill us I beseech you that seeing in all other matters you are a good souldier you would wrastle with your selfe as being your owne greatest enemie by providing such store of Armour for Satan against your selfe Christ once died for sin but for Justice and truth he shall not die but live and raigne If this be true what feare is there for the truth if he raigne But it will be cast downe by the wrath of God let us be cast downe with it but let it not bee done by our selves He who is become our father will be the father of our children I pray for you earnestly and I grieve that you make my prayers the most violent sucking-leech of cares to be fruitlesse I truly as concerning the cause whether it proceed from stupidity in me or from the Spirit Christ knoweth am not troubled much yea I have a better hope then ever I expected God is able to raise the dead He is powerfull also to maintaine his owne cause now ready to fall yea to raise it againe were it fallen and to advance it if it subsist If we be not worthy let it be done by others For if we be not sustained by his promises who I pray you are there in the world to whom they doe belong But more annother time so that it be not to carry water into the Sea Christ with his spirit comfort teach and strengthen us all Amen If I perceive that the cause goeth not well with you or be indangered I shall not containe my selfe but shall come with speed unto you that I may see the gastly Jawes of Satans teeth as the Scripture calleth them From our wildernesse Ian. 25 An. 1530. After this the Confession written by Melancthon according to Luthers direction and advise was exhibited in the Latine and German tongues in Caesars palace Ian. 25. at 2. a clock in the afternoone and was read by the Chancellor of Saxony before Charls the fifth Ferdinando and all the Electors Princes being assessors that with so shrill loud a voice that not onely in that large hall but also in the Court beneath and in the places adjoyning it was well heard They who subscribed to this Confession were Iohn Duke of Saxony George Marquesse of Brandenburgh Ernest and Francis brothers Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh Philip Landgrave of Hassia Wolfgang Prince of Anhalt and two Cities of the Empire Norinberg and Reutling After it was read the Princes judgement was threefold First Some thought fit that the Decree of Wormes should be pressed and the refractary compelled to it Secondly Others would have had the Confession examined by learned and pious men and then to be delivered to Caesar Thirdly Some desired that the Papists should exhibite a confutation of it to the Protestants and that the whole cause should be left to Caesars judgement To this last most of the Princes agreed Thereupon the Pontifician Divines of whom Iohn Faber and Eckius were chief were iujoyned to prepare their confutation They wrote many things bitterly against the Protestants and rather multiplied revilings then arguments When therefore they were bid to new mould their writings the publication of the Pontifician refutation was deferred seven weekes from the exhibiting of the Confession In the mean space Luther and Melancthon conferred by their letters concerning many points controverted and discussed what might with a good conscience be yeelded to their adversaries especially concerning humane traditions and matters devised by men in Gods worship Luther also by many Epistles gravely written and by exhortations full of spirit and life which are indeed the treasures of all wholesome and powerfull comfort confirmed the hearts of the Prince Elector and of Pontanus his Chancellour and their Collegues in the prosecution of their attempts for the common safety and peace of peace of the Church and State and posterity and for curing the apparent wounds thereof preventing the distractions of the Church the confusion of Opinions He sent also to Albertus of Mentz the Cardinal in the time of the Assemblies sitting a printed Epistle He was a man of chiefe authority amongst the rest wherefore Luther endeavoured to perswade him that seeing there was small hope to setle a concord in religion he would obtaine of the Emperour at least a graunt of Political peace At the same time Erasmus wrote a letter of the same argument to Campegius At length the Refutation of the Protestants Confession was new dressed and refined and on the third day of August was in Caesars Palace publiquely read before the States of the Empire The Emperour professed that he would persist in his opinion and requested the Duke of Saxony and such as joyned with him to give an assent But when as they could hardly obtain a copie of the confutation and that with these conditions that it should not be published nor transcribed nor any reply made thereunto and could not prevaile to have these conditions omitted the Archbishop of Mentz and his brother the Marquesse of Brandenburgh and Henry of Brunswick requested of the Emperour that he would give them leave to take a friendly course for the composing the controversie When Caesar had yeelded thereunto there were of each partie seven at first and then secondly three chosen out of each seven who were to take a course for setling of concord Here when the Saxon partie seemed to yeeld too farre to the Pontifician Luther wrote thus to Melancthon Concerning obedience to be performed to the Bishops as in jurisdiction and the common ceremonies I pray you have a care look to your self and give no more then you have lest ye should be compelled again to a sharper and more dangerous warre for the defence of the Gospel I know that you
Charles Multitius sent to bring Luther to Rome His speech concerning Luther Praef. Tom. 1. Luther Lat. worke at Wittenb Multitius reproveth Tecelius Tom. 1. ep. Luth. p. 152. and 208. Tecelius his death The Bohemians encourage Luther Carolostadius dispute with Eckius Luther invited by Eckius to dispute Whether the Pope be head of the Church Jura Divino Eckius his argument Epist. Tom. 1. p. 176. Luther wrote to the Pope An. 1520. The Divines of Lovan and Cullen oppose Luther Luther writeth to Charles the fifth Emperour Luther writeth to the Archbishop of Mentz The Archbishops answer Tom. 2. Lat. Witt. pag. 48. 1520. The Duke of Saxon maliced for Luther His excuse Tom. 2. Lat. Wittemb p. 50. Ton 2. Lat. Wittemb pag. 51. c. The Popes Bull * Tom. 1. epist. pag. 249. Luther thought of a place to retire himself in Tom. 1. epist. Tom. 2. Lat. p. pag. 66. Book of Captivitie of Babyl on The Pope called Antichrist An. 1520. Erasmus judgement about Luther desired Tom. 2. Lat. Sleidan Luthers judgement Tom. 2. Lat. Luthers book burnt Erasmus is instigated against Luther Lady Margarets answer Tom. 1. Epist. p. 290. Luther burneth popish books Thirty errors of Popery Tom. 2. lat pag. 125. De Constit. c. Translat 25. 9. 1. Jdco permittexte Luther sent for to Wormes 1521. And goeth thither Some dehort him Luther commeth to Wormes Promise of safety to Luther was to be kept Luther appeareth before Caesar What he is to answer to Luthers answer Luther incouraged by divers present Mat. 10. 19. 20. Luthers second answer Eckius indignation and reply Caesars Letter to the Princes about Luthers cause The Archbishop of Triers dealing with Luther-Slcidan B. 3. Luthers departure from Wormes Luther excommunicate proscribed Luther conveyed to Wartenburgh Luthers Patmos Luthers works written in this his retirednesse Private masse taken away at Wittenberg Luthers taking the aire and his recreation Hunting is a resemblance of the devils practise He came privately to Wittenberg Tom. 1. epist. pag. 367. Luthers infirmitie Tom. 1. epist. pag. 361. He returned to Wittenberg Tom. 2. epist. pag. 47. Luthers confidence and relying on God Another cause of Luthers return Carolostade offended with Luther 1522. Luther translated the New Testament and printed it * Melanct. used about it Tom. 2. epist. p. 55. epist. 1. to Camerar a Tom. 2. epist. pag. 85. Luthers dealing with the ring-leaders of the Anabaptists Luthers harsh answer to the King of England Luthers excuse for so writing Sebastian Earl of Schlick 1523. An assembly at Norinberg A Councell to be held in Germany The hundred grievances of Germany Sleid. lib. 4. pag. 29. Luther interprets the Decree Sleidan 4. pag. 83. Caesar was offended at the Decree The Gospel propagated Tom. 2. epist. pag. 121. Luthers book concerning the Civill Magistrate 1523. The German Pentateuch Luther excusing bimselse Tom. 2. pag. 121. Frederik Duk. of Saxony warned to punish Luther The Popes Legate accuseth Luther Laurent Campegius the Popes Legate Erasmus wrote against Luther being much importuned thereunto Tom. 2. epist. 230. Muncers writing against Luther The Psalmes put forth c. Of Benno Bishop of Misnia Luther casts away his monkish weed Of calling a Counsel Reformation in the Cathedal Church at Wirtenberg Tom. 2. Ep. p. 246. 1525. The Boores rise in armes Luther exhorts to quell them The contention with Carolostade The Anabaptists The name of Masse The flesh profiteth nothing Ordering of Ministers German songs Luther writeth to Strasburg about Carolostade Luther marrieth Camerarius in the life of Melancthon What Luthers adversaries did about this marriage * Chaplain to George Duke of Saxony Luthers answer to their opprobries The cause of Luthers marriage Anabaptists at Anwerp Luther writeth to Anwerp The Articles of the Anabaptists Tom. 2. Ep. 290. Luther writeth to the King of England c. An. 1526. * Tom. 2. ep. 270. Erasm. his Hyperasp Tom. 2. epist. 314. Epist. pag. 324. Sixe Sects of the Sacramentarians Luthers speech of comfort to Hessus Tom. 2. epist 318. The forme of the German Masse His work at Jen. Tom. 3. p. 277. An. 1527. The Anabaptists Of the military life Tom. 2. epist. p. 331. What strange portent was before his death See Tom. 2. epist. pag. 337. Luther sicknesse 1527. A worse sicknesse afterward Luthers last Will Luibers recovery Leon Keisar burnt for Religion Tom. 2. pag. 354. b. An. 1527. 1528. * Tom. 2. ep. p. 394. Ibid. p. 394. Answer to Zwinglius and Oecolampadius Bucers Dialogue Carolostade Epistle to Pontanus Luthers answer * Tom. 4. Ep. Ien. An. 1529. The greater and lesse Catechisme Luthers booke against the Turk The assembly at Spire The name of Protestants Conference at Marpurg Luther called Tom. 4. Ien. p. 46â—… * The life of Oecolampadius and others Tom. 2. Ep. p. 386. Fame of the Popish Princes league Luthers letter about it * George Duke of Saxonie The letter intercepted Ep. Tom. 2. p. 389. New Broiles there upon An. 1530. The assembly at August and conformitie of Protest * Tom. 5. Jer. Germ. Chitr B. 13. Sax. Sleid. b. 2. Luther wrote the seventeen Articles Luthers Articles followed by Melanct. Joh. Elector of Saxony came first to August Luther abode at Coburg Melanct care in this assembly In his book written An. 1529. Psal. 55. Psal. 27. Joh. 16. Luthers desire to come to the Assembly Apoc. 9. 8. The Protestants Confession Who subscribed to it It was commanded the Papist to confute it if they could Melancthon Luthers letter each to other Luthers Exhortaion Luther writeth to Albertus Cardinal The refutation of the Confession read The copie of it hard to be got Arbiters of the cause Luthers admonition to Melancthen The Confession of the Protestants translated into divers tongues The issue of matters in this assembly * Luthers admonition ad Germanos Luther studies in the wildernesse at Coburgh Luthers ardent prayers Bucer goeth to Luther * See Regius his life An. 1531. An interpretation of Caesars edict An exelene Protestation of M. Luther In the book Weber den Wrucht c. * Tom. 5. of his works at Ien. p. 304 c. An. 1532. a First peace to the Protestants b Sleid. B. 8. p. 205. An. 1533. Luther comforted the Oschatz A controversie with George Duke of Saxony George the Duke call'd the Devils Angel Luther comforts the banished Citizens of Leipsick Luthers lesse Apologie Of the dispute with the Devil A letter to Frankford An. 1534. Petrus Paulus Vergerius An. 1535. P. Vergerius returneth into Germany Luthers labours Councel at Mantua An. 1536. Concord between Luther and Bucer c. In Bucers life The Assembly at Smalcald Luthers articles there approved and to be exhibited to the Councel Luther sick of the stone Luthers recovery The joy at his recovery shewed by Melancthons Letter An. 1537. Luthers booke of the Popes reformation The Popes reformation turned to smoake The Legend of Iohn Chrysostom Luther of the Helvetians The sect of the Antimonians An.