soar'd-up to heaven on Concords day Which tended Luther thither on his way Deare Christ since Discord followed with Coates rent Give to thy Spouse Elijahs ornament Upon his Tomb-stone the Universitie of Wittenberg as to her beloved father engraved The body of Martin Luther Doctour of Divinity lieth here interred who in An. 1546. the 12. of the Kalends of March died in Isleben the place of his birth when he had lived 63. yeeres 3. moneths and tenne dayes MARTINI LVTHERIS THEOLOGIAE D. CORPVS H. L. S. E. QVI ANNO CHRISTI M. D. XLVI XII CAL. MARTII EISLEBII IN PATRIA S. M. O. C. V. AN. LXIII M. III. D. X. Thus Luther ran his course this was the period of his travels When first Melancthon heard newes of his death he utttered these sacred words of the scripture The Charriot and horsemen of Israel is gone and tooke his death most heavily For they had lived together 28. Melancthons sorrow for Luthers death yeeres in most religious manner so that Melancthon truely loved him for his admirable vertues and was a faithfull mate and helper to him in clearing the doctrine of the Gospel Their intire love faithfull society For though those times were prone to distractions and mens wavering mindes desirous of dissention yet when as each knew others infirmities there never fell any jarre betweene them which caused any alienation of their affection or parting their company and fellowship But what and how great stormes rose in Germany after the death of Luther out alas What followed Luthers death each Christian knoweth So that Luther said truly and often foretold That whilst he lived by Gods help See Mathel Serm. on Luthers life there would no warre be raysed in Germany but when he was dead the age to come would see the event Concerning the doctrine of the Gospel he uttered this heavenly truth These things will be a great bane to Christian Religion First What will be great hinderances of Christian Religion forgetfullnesse of Gods blessing on us in restoring to us the Gospel Secondly security which already commonly and every where raigneth Thirdly worldly wisdome which would bring all things into good order and cure the publique stirres with wicked Councels There was in this worthy man of God a quicke and prudent understanding Luthers vertues a magnanimous and noble Spirit He was ever constant in known truth His constancy in the truth from the confession whereof he could never be removed with threats or promises So that when upon a time one Papist demanded of another Why do you not stop the mans mouth with gold and silver The other answered See this German beast careth not for money There appeared in him a singular proofe of his valour and noble courage in the Auspurg Assembly when thus he wrote out of his Wildernesse to Spalatinus That Kings and Princes and people Luthers couragious speech about the Gospels successâ— at the Assembly at â—dâ—â—pâ—â—g 1530. 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 rooâ— 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 * Tom. 1. epist p. 85. 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 * Tom. 1. epist p. 297. and Tom. 2. p. 340. 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 The Emperour Sigismund unhappy after Hus his 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 Tom. 2 Epist 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
EFFIGIES DOCTISSIMI UIRI MARTIN LUTHER THEOLOGI OBYT 17 FEBRUA Aº 1546. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Dr MARTIN LVTHER The Passages whereof haue bin taken out of his owne and other Godly and most Learned mens writings who liued in his time MVLIER AMICTA SOLE HABENS LVNAM SVB PEDIBVS CORONATA XII STELLIS Eâ—â—â—esia Milvâ—â—â— 1. Thess 5 12 13 Wee beseech you bretheren to know them 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 1641. 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 Ann. Dom 1628. and once since that time 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 Nehem. 1. 2. Nehemiahs minde of the lamentable estate of Ierusalem in his time Your compassionate and tender affection was and is still much moved to c Segnius irritant aâ—imos demissa per aures quam que sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus Hor. observe the living stones of the New Ierusalem lying in the dust or drencht in their own blood some of her Priests and their flocks 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 As the good Samaritan not only pitied but took care of the wounded man 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 Christians shold be peaceable one with another the devill and the world raise stirs too many to molest the Church 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 This by severall instruments signed by them will plainly appear 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 weightie 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 considerable 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 When walled Cities and Castles are taken Villages must yeeld Isor 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 He left his wife and three children in want and distresse too manifest a signe thereof 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist inabled rightly and soundly and gravely and not k Some who know nothing doâ—e about questions and strife of worâ—â— c. 1 Tim. 6.4 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 * The cause required it And God sweetly â—â—oderated Luthers vehemency with P. Melancthons mild and calm temper 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
as he came what they thought of the Seat of Rome They not knowing the force of this speech answered What know we whether at Rome ye sit on wooden or stone seats He further required of Luther that he would have a regard to the Churches peace and promised to endeavour that the Pope should do the like Luther freely promised most readily to doe what ever he could with a safe conscience in regard of Gods Trueth and affirmed that himself was desirous and studious of peace and that it was not his fault that these stirres arose for necessitie had urged him to do what he had done Multitius also called unto him Tecelius the cheife original of these debates Multitius reproveth Tecelius and with sharp wordes and threates so daunted the man Tom. 1. ep Luth. p. 152. and 208. Tecelius his death till now a clamorous unaffrighted bold face terrible to all so that ever after he languished and with heartes griefe pined away Luther wrote a consolatory letter to him in this case but for feare of the Popes indignation he died Frederik the Elector a prudent and Religious Prince neither yeelded to the Popes desire nor vouchsafed his Rose any respect though Multitius wonderfully boasted of it at Dresa sayd Doctour Martin is in my power About this time the Bohemians sending a booke written by Iohn Hus to Luther encouraged him to constancy and patience The Bohemians encourage Luther and confessed that the Divinity taught by Luther was sound and right Matters being growne to this height of dispute and Luther having many adversaries at Leipsick a towne in Misnia belonging to George Duke of Saxony Cosen german to Prince Frederik Carolostadius dispute with Eckius in the 19. yeere a disputation was held Thither came Andreas Carolostadius accompanied with Luther Melanchthon and Barninus Duke of Pomerania He at that time was in office in the University of Wittenberg Thither came also Iohn Eckius a Divine of Ingolstad Hereupon the 17. day of June Iohn Eckius and Carolostadius began the disputation about free-will Namely whether there be in man any free will to doe good as of himselfe that is as they say whether in congruitie we deserve grace when we doe what is in us to doe Eckius granted that there is not in man a genuine and naturall power and abilitie to doe a good worke but an acquired On this point eight dayes were spent by his playing the Sophister Luther could by no meanes obtaine leave of Duke George freely with his safety to dispute and thereupon came not as a disputer but an as Auditor to Leipsick under the protection granted to Carolostadius Whereupon Eckius comming to Luthers Lodging said Luther invited by Eckius to dispute that he heard that Luther refused to dispute Luther answered How can I dispute seeing I cannot obtaine protection from George the Duke To this Eckius replied If I may not dispute with you I will no longer dispute with Carolost adius For I came hither to dispute with you If I can obtaine for you the Dukes leave will you dispute When Luther assented thereunto Eckius presently procured for him a publique grant of safety and liberty to dispute This Eckius did out of an assured confidence of victorie and renowne to himselfe by confirming that the Pope is the Head of the Church Whether the Pope be head of the Church Jura Divino Iure Divino by Divine right which Luther denied Hence Eckius tooke occasion at large to flatter the Pope and demerit his favour and to derive much hatred and envie on Luther This the bold champion stoutly attempted in the whole disputation but was not able to make good his cause or confute Luther Eckius chiefe arguments were Eckius his argument that the Church could not be without an head seeing it was a body consisting of severall members Then he produced the place in Matthew Thou art Peter c. and some speeches of St Ierome and Cyprian and the Councel of Constance where against the Articles of the Hussites it was concluded That it was necessary to salvation that men should beleeve that the Pope was the Oecomenicall Bishop or Christs vicar over the whole world Afterward they entred into dispute about Purgatorie and Indulgences but in briefe about repentance about remission both of sin and its punishment and about the power of priests The two last dayes Carolostadius disputed againe and on the 14. day of July the disputation ended This disputation was set forth afterward by Luther who granted that the Pope by humane right was head of the Church Epist Tom. 1. p. 176. Whereupon Duke George inviting Luther and Eckius to dinner and embracing both of them sayd Whether the Pope have his authority by divine or humane right Pope he is Luther afterward changed his opinion about this point Before this disputation at Leipsick Luther was desired by Charles Multitius to goe to Confluence there to plead his cause before him being the Popes Commissary But Luther excused himselfe and shewed that for many reasons he neither could nor ought to goe thither In the yeere 1520. upon Multitius advise Luther wrote to the Pope An. 1520. Luther wrote to the Pope and sent him his booke lately written concerning Christian liberty and offered conditions of peace About this time Frederik the Elector fell into a grievous sicknesse Whereupon Luther moved by some friends and out of Christian charity wrote the booke called Tesseradecas to comfort him Then also he wrote the book Of Confession of sins in which he took occasion to speak of vowes and deplored their torturing of mens consciences And whereas in an other Treatise written by him he had said that he judged it behoofefull if the Councel would so permit that the Lords supper should be administred to all in both kindes This speech because it directly crossed the last Lateran Councel was excepted against by many amongst whom was Iohn Bishop of Misnia who prohibited the the Churchmen under his jurisdiction to administer the Lords supper in both kindes and enjoyned them to suppresse Luthers booke Luther maintained his cause and answered his Edict In the mean time the Divines of Lovan consulting with Adrian Cardinal of Derthuse then in Spain and the Divines of Cullen by a decree censure some of Luthers bookes as wicked and worthy to be burnt The Divines of Lovan and Cullen oppose Luther and held it fit that Luther should recant his opinions When Luther heard of this he answered every particular punctually And because he found so many and so great adversaries he wrote to Charles the fifth newly created Emperour and intreating pardon for this his addresse Luther writeth to Charles the fifth Emperour humbly besought him that he would so long onely afford him protection as that he might give account of his proceedings and overcome or be overcome because it would well beseeme the Imperirial power not to permit
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 * Tom. 1. pag. 106. 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 On Saint Marks day Tom. 1. epist p. 83. What was required of him 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 defended the Pope 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 Luthers answer to the Cardinal that he gave the Church of Rome all due observance and if he had spoken any thing dissenting from the judgement of the Church be would reverse it but could reuoke 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 Tom. 1. epist p. 96. b. 99. b. 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 Cajetans Letter to the Duke of Saxony 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 Dukes answer 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 Luthers conference with the Cardinals messenger 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 Luther was intended to goe from Saxony 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 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 Tom. 1. epist pag. 120. 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 Luther appealeth from the Pope to the Councel An. 1518. 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 Charles Multitius sent to bring Luther to Rome 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 His speech concerning Luther Praef. Tom. 1. Luther Lat. worke at Wittenb 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
lay aside his sword and to take in hand the books before him for so he might be descried Sometimes he went forth a hunting with his friends Of this sport thus he writeth I was a hunting two dayes to see that lordly but bitter-sweet sport Here we took two Hares and some silly young Partridges The sport is meet for such as have nothing else to do There did I contemplate as a Divine amidst their nets and dogs Nor did the outward appearance of the game more delight me then what I conceived by it Hunting is a resemblance of the devils practise move me to pitie and griefe For what could this sport signifie and resemble but by the dogs wicked Popish divines and by the nets the cunning tricks and wiles by which they seeke to catch harmlesse Christians as hunters those silly creatures This was a most evident mysterie of the pursuing of plain hearted and faithfull souls Yet was there a more cruell mysterie presented to me When by my meanes we kept a young Hare alive and put her in my Coats sleeve and so left her in the meane time the dogs finding it broke one of her legs and taking her by the as she was in the sleeve stopt her wind Thus it is with Satan and the Pope who cruelly destroy poore souls without regard of my paines to save them I was by this time weary of this sport and thought that more pleasing where Beares Wolves Bores Foxes and such like savage creatures are strook dead with darts and arrows It comforted me again for I took it as a mystery resemblance of salvation that Hares and harmless creatures are taken by men not by Beares Wolves and ravenous Hawkes who resemble Popish Bishops and Divines because by these may be signified a devouring by Hell by those an eating of them as food for heaven He passed also to Wittenberg from his Patmos making few acquainted therewith He came privately to Wittenberg Tom. 1. epist pag. 367. Luthers infirmitie Tom. 1. epist pag. 361. and lodged with Amsdorf here he spent some few dayes and was merry with his friends without the Electors knowledge In his retirednesse he was much troubled with costivenesse having the benefit of naturall ease that way but once in foure or five dayes Then also was he tried by some devillish tentations which much disquieted him This disease he overcame by exercise and medicines sent him from Spalatinus Then read he also the Hebrew and Greek Bibles and besides the books above mentioned he wrote many letters to his friends which be now printed At length not enduring further delay and innovations he returned from his Patmos to Wittenberg He returned to Wittenberg without the knowledge of the Electour March the sixth Ann. 1522. he rendred these reasons of his return to the Electour Tom. 2. epist pag. 47. First said he I am call'd back by the Letters of the Church and People of Wittenberg and that with much solicitation and entreaty Secondly at Wittenberg Satan hath made an inrode into my flock and raised such stirres that I cannot well represse and quiet them with my writing alone but of necessitie I must live there be present among them and both heare them and speake to them goin and out before them and do what I can for their good Besides I feare that some great and violent sedition will arise in Germany and make Germany undergo grievous punishment for its contempt and ingratitude I thought it therefore needfull to do doe what I ought and could for them in this regard by my counsell and endeavour to teach admonish and exhort them thereby to avert Gods anger and judgement or at least to stay them awhile Furthermore Luthers confidence and relying on God I know well and am verily perswaded that my preaching and my proceeding to divulge the Gospel of Christ is not of my own motion but the worke of God Nor shall any kinde of death or persecution shake this my confidence and make me thinke otherwise and I conceive that I rightly divine that no terrours or crueltie can put out the light already shining And in an other Epistle I return to Wittenberg under a more sublime and strong protection then the Elector of Saxonie can give me Nor did I ever minde to sue for defence from your Highnesse Moreover did I know that your Highness would and could defend me verily I would not returne No sword can advance and maintaine this cause God alone can order and promote it without any mans excessive care and helpfull hand Therefore in this cause he that most strongly trusts to Gods assistance he most surely defendeth himself and others Seeing therefore I perceive your Highnesse to be weake in faith I can by no meanes attribute so much to your Highnesse as to be perswaded that I can be defended and freed from danger by you I will keep your Highnesse person your minde and body and estate safe from all danger and damage in this my cause whether you beleeve me or not Let your Highnesse then be assured and not doubt at all that this matter is farre otherwise concluded of in heaven then at Norimberg For we shall finde that they which think they have devoured all the Gospel and queld it in the rising are not yet come to the Benedicite I have to deale with another manner and more powerfull Prince then our Duke He knoweth me and I him conveniently well Did your Highnesse beleeve you should behold the wonderfull works and glory of God Whereas you not yet beleeving see none of these things To God be glory and praise for ever This and much more to this purpose he wrote shewing his full assurance and plerophory of faith most admirable He also wrote thus to Melancthon concerning the cause of his return Provide a lodging for me Another cause of Luthers return for the Translation of the Bible compels me to return to you pray to God that it may stand with his good pleasure I desire to conceale my self as much as I can yet will I proceed in my worke resolved upon He wrote the like to Amsdorf That for the translation of the Bible he must return to Wittenberg that therein he might use other mens counsell and help Luther being returned from the Lords Day first in Lent that whole weeke every day preached one Sermon these are extant and in them he shewed what he liked or disliked in the alterations made in his absence He found fault with them who had abrogated private Masse and Idols and administred the Lords Supper in both kinds and taken away auricular confession differences of meats invocation of Saints and other the like matters not because they had done impiously but because they proceeded not herein orderly He affirmed that he condemned the Papisticall Masse the worshipping of Images the rules of auricular confession prayer to Saints the Popish fasting but he did condemne them onely by the Word of God
The flesh profiteth nothing The flesh profiteth nothing is to be taken as spoken not of the flesh of Christ but of the sense of the flesh which is death Rom. 8. That the breaking the bread is the distribution of the body and that the bloud of Christ which is powred out for us now sitteth at the right hand of God but that the efficacy of that effusion of his bloud is for ever And finally that it is unknown how the bread becometh and is the body of Christ and that we must stick to the very words of Christ Against this Zwinglius and Oecolampadius wrote as is said in its due place Now also Luther renewed the ordination of Ministers of the Gospel in the Church Ordering of Ministers Of whom George Rorarius was the first and now first the Masse was celebrated at Wittenberg in their mother tongue And now was set forth a booke of German songs composed by Luther and others the last yeere German songs and a book of the abomination of the Masse in which he galled the Popish sore backtjades Luther writeth to Strasburg about Carolostade and made many of them kick against him He wrote also a letter to them of Strasburg where he heard that Carolostade abode and disswaded them from devouring his poyson On the contrary Strasburg sent George Caselius the Hebrew Professor and entreated Luther that he would not break the unitie of the Church for the controversie of the Eucharist that he would acknowledge Zwinglius and Oecolampadius learned men and of good fame for Brethren that he would write of the Lords Supper and shew what he taught was consonant to the truth Luther returned this answer by Caselius Namely Luthers answer That nothing was more to be desired then peace but to be tyed to a continuall silence was not safe that answer could not be made without condemning them and that the word condemn was censured as opprobrious That he was censured of those most modest men as a Cannibal and a worshipper of God turned bread and eatable that he liked not the advise of the Divines Strasburgh concerning silence about the question of the bodily presence and preaching faith and other parts of the word That either he himself or they were ministers of Satan and that therefore in this case there was counsell to be taken and no mean between both to be followed That the reasons brought to make the speech tropicall were of no force And that it must be proved that the verb est not in other places of Scripture but here is in effect significat that where Paul saith The rock was Christ he speaketh not of the corporall but the spirituall drink for he addeth the drank of the spirituall rock And that there was a manifest mistake in that This Lambe is the Lords Passeover for this phrase is no where extant in the Scripture and therefore he besought the brethren for Christs sake that they would avoyd this errour Luther marrieth Luther being fortie two yeers old of a sudden and unexpectedly married Katherin a Bora a noble virgin late a Nun and this was the occasion Luther had a purpose that this Katherine should have been married to M. Glanus the Pastor of Orlamund Of this she having intimation acquainted Amsdorf Luthers inward friend therewith and by him intreated Luther to alter his determination and to signifie to him that she would enter into the honourable estate of Matrimony with any other rather then with Glanus When Luther heard this and what Ierom Schurfius had said namely that if that Monk should marry her the whole world and the devill himself would laugh thereat and so the Monk should undoe all that formerly he had done Here Luther to grieve the world of Papists and the devill and gratifie her father perswading him thereunto Cameratius in the life of Melancthon resolved to marry her And on the 13. day of Iune inviting to supper Pomeranus and Apelles the Lawyer and Luke the Limmer was betrothed to her and not long after married her This Luthers enemies much disliked so did his friends also not because they thought the marriage unlawfull but because they wished it had been done at some other time For thus writeth Camerarius It fell out that when these turbulent and dangerous broyles were not yet pacified Martin Luther married not long after the death of Frederik the chiefe of the seven Electors of the Empire Philip Melancthon much grieved at Luthers marriage not that he condemned it as unlawfull but because hereby an occasion was given to Luthers enemies and ill willers who were many rich and of great power to speak against him bitterly and with open mouth to reproach him when especially the very time did help forward and set them on who were minded so to do And of what power the conveniency of time is in every action all know full well But when he perceived that Luther himself was somewhat troubled with the same thoughts he not onely moderated his passion but did cheere up Luther and endeavoured to ease his griefe and sorrow with pleasant conference and thereby brought him to his wonted cheerefulnesse again What Luthers adversaries did about this marriage Luthers adversaries not onely observed the time of the marriage but proclaimed the marriage to be incestuous in which a Monk married a Nun. Hereupon the King of England in his Answer to Luther stiles this marriage incestuous and there saith among other opprobries put upon Luther that he could not have committed a sinne of higher nature Conradus Collinus Prior of Cullen and Ierome Emsenus * Chaplain to George Duke of Saxony the best Divine among the Papists wrote virulently and disgracefully of this marriage Yea some there were whom Erasmus gave credit unto who laid a sinne to Luthers charge from which the time of his childs birth did acquit him Against these disgraces Luther thus animated himself saying Luthers answer to their opprobries If my marriage be a work of God what wonder is there if the flesh be offended at it It is offended even at the flesh which God our Creator took and gave to be a ransome and food for the salvation of the world if the world was not offended with me I should be offended with the world and should feare that it was not of God which I have done Now seeing the world is vexed and troubled at I am confirmed in my course and comforted in God The cause of Luthers marriage So do you The cause of his marriage he there also relateth saying We resigned the revenew of the Monastery to the Prince I who abode in the Monastery so long as it pleased God now like a private housekeeper I have not married to prolong my life but seeing my dissolution neerer approaching and people with their Princes to rage against me that I might leave mine own doctrine for the weaks sake confirmed by mine own example for my doctrine
may perchance be kicked against and trodden on after my death This yeere the Anabaptists spread themselves over Helvetia and other parts of Germany Anabaptists at Anwerp and began to broach their fancies at Anwerp Hereupon Luther by an Epistle warned them of Anwerp to take heed of the erroneous spirit Luther writeth to Anwerp which had hindred him very much and recited the impostures of false spirits in Popery and the by-pathes of the seducing spirits of the present times There he set downe the erroneous Articles of a tumultuous spirit at Anwerp and opened the inconstancy lying boldnesse and ambitious desire of honour lurking in that Spirit and entreateth them to forbeare the question concerning Gods hidden will and to attend to The Articles of the Anabaptists and learne the necessary precepts set before us by our God The Articles were these 1. That every man hath the Spirit 2. That the Spirit was nothing else but our reason and understanding 3. That every man beleeveth 4. That there were no inferi or place of torment for mens soules but that the body onely was condemned 5. That every soule should be saved 6. That by the law of nature we are taught to do good to our neighbour as we would he should doe to us and that this will in us was faith 7. That we sinne not against the law by desiring any thing if our will consent not to our desire and lust 8. That he which hath not the Spirit hath not sin because he wanteth reason which they called the Holy Ghost Now also Luther wrote to the King of England by the perswasion of Christiern the banished King of Denmark Tom. 2. Ep. 290. Luther writeth to the King of England c. This Epistle was submissive and is extant in his Epistles He wrote also humbly to George Duke of Saxony that he would be pleased to afford him his favourable respect But the King returned him an harsh answere and objected to him his levity and inconstancy and defended Cardinal Wolsey against Luthers writing to him that hence it appeared how he hated Luther When Luther saw the Kings answer printed he was very much grieved at what he had done and that he had so much yeelded to his friends as to write in so humble a strain The like befell him upon his writing to Cajetan George Duke of Saxony and Erasmus Rotterod who by Luthers lenity were incensed rather then pacified He resolved never afterward to run into the like errour Cocleus and Eckius wonderfully also insulted over Luthers submissivenesse Wherefore Luther now printed a booke against as he called it the Ill languaged and contumelious booke of the King of England An. 1526. In the yeare 1526. Luther refused Erasmus book intituled de serve Arbitrio The delaying of his answer proceeded from the cause certified to * Tom. 2. ep 270. Amsdorf in these words I will not answer Erasmus till I have done with Carolostade who makes great troubles and stirres in upper Germany Erasmus provoketh thereby put forth his Hyperaspides Erasm his Hyperasp of which book Luther thus writeth Erasmus that viper being rouzed up will write against me again Tom. 2. epist 314. what eloquence will that most vain hunter after glory exercise to cast down Luther About the same time Duke George and the Bishops attempted many wayes to wrong Luther as appeareth by his letter to Myconius saying The wicked Papists conspire and Epist pag. 324. as Melanctheus writeth to me from Iena threaten warre against me Wherefore see you that the people admonished hereof manfully contend by faithfull and continuall prayer to the Lord that they may be overcome and withheld by the Spirit and constrained to keepe outward peace Verily I understand by the writings and speeches of many that there is very great need of earnest prayer for Satans plots are a working Wherefore I intreat you that you would perswade the people to this most necessary and prevalent work because they are endangered and exposed to Satans sword and fury encompassing them He further saith Sixe Sects of the Sacramentarians That the Sectaries were divided into sixe Sects Sixe heads in one yeere are sprung up among the Sacramentarians t is a strange spirit which so much differs from it selfe One sect followed Carolostade that is fallen a second is that of Zwinglius which is falling the third is with Oecolampadius which will fall the fourth also which is Carolostade is fallen he thus disposeth of the words That which is given for you is my body The fifth is now arising in Silesia set forth by Valentine Crantwald and Caspar Schwenkfeld who thus invert the words My body which is given for you is this that is spirituall meat These grievously vex and molest us with their writings for they are most obstreperous and full of words I wish they had my disease of the Stone they seeme so strong to undergo it The sixth is that of Peter Florus at Cullen which Melancthon will deale with I never saw ought but one letter about it O how he reprobates Luther I know saith he that Luther is forsaken of the Lord. All those Spirits differing each from other contend with subtle arguments all of them boast of revelations obtained by prayer and teares and agree onely in this that all of them fight each with other for us This Christ effecteth for us Luther wrote a consolatory letter to Iohn Husse of Breslow a Teacher of the Gospel notwithstanding the scandall raised by the Heretiks and their fighting against the Articles of our Faith and in speciall manner he animated him against Schwenfeld and Crantwald Luthers speech of comfort to Hessus saying You speak the Truth friend Hesse Hitherto the combate was about points not grounded in the Scriptures as about the Pope and Purgatory and the like Now ye come to more serious matters and to the battell already won concerning points in the Scripture Here we shall see the Dragon fighting or rather we shall combat with him Michael being our Captain in these Heavenly fights When the Dragon shall pull down the third part of the stars with his tayle to the earth then the cause will call for our strength in Christ Here you shall see what manner a warriour and how strong a champion Satan is whom yet you have not sufficiently tried or had experience of Schwenkfeld and Crantwald which I much lament are reserved for these mischiefes But the foundation of God standeth firme having this seale The Lord knoweth who are his let this be our comfort and in this let us be confident to prevaile over the gates of Hell Besides other studies of Luther Tom. 2. epist 318. he now expounded Ecclesiastes which was not easie and plain as he said for an Interpreters labour There are saith he The forme of the German Masse therein many Hebraismes and obstacles in that tongue not yet well made known Yet by the grace of God
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 another 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 Luthers desire to come to the Assembly Apoc. 9.8 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 The Protestants Confession was exhibited in the Latine and German tongues in Caesars palace Iun. 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 Who subscribed to it 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 Potestants and that the whole cause should be left to Caesars judgement It was commanded the Papist to confute it if they could To this last most of the Princes agreed Thereupon the Pontifician Divines of whom Iohn Faber and Eckius were chief were injoyned 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 Melancthon Luthers letter each to other 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 Luthers Exhortation 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 Luther writeth to Albertus Cardinal He sent also to Albertus of Mentz the Cardinal in the time of the Assemblies fitting 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 The refutation of the Confession read 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 The copie of it hard to be got 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 Arbiters of the cause 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 Luthers admonition 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 alwayes except the Gospel in those Articles but I feare lest afterward they should accuse us of breach of our covenant and unconstancy if we observe not what they please For they will take our graunts in the large larger largest sense and hold their own strictly more strictly and