Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	authority_n	church_n	interpretation_n	4,397	5	10.0901	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51699	A cloud of witnesses, or, The sufferers mirrour made up of the swanlike-songs, and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the sixteenth century, in their treatises, speeches, letters, prayers, &c. in their prisons, or exiles, at the bar, or stake, &c. / collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of Eusebius, Fox, Fuller, Petrie, Scotland, and Mr. Samuel Ward's Life of faith in death, &c. and alphabetically disposed by T.M., M.A.; Cloud of witnesses. Part 1	Mall, Thomas, b. 1629 or 30.; Flavel, John, 1630?-1691.	1665 (1665)	Wing M329; ESTC R21709	379,698	602

Testament saith Exod. 20. Deut. 6. Thou shalt make no Image The New saith that Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it Matth. 5. Christ therefore hath left the commandments of the old Law unto the Church in which he saith Thou shalt not make any Image Of late years Images were in the Temple and honoured with pater noster heart and mind leg and knee Now they be applyed to another use to teach the people to be Lay-mens Books as Damascene c. saith O blasphemous and devillish Doctrine The most perfect Churches of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles used no such mean and we ought to follow them and the Word of God writ by the Prophets and Apostles The words of Gregory ad Seren. Episcop M●ssil part 10. Ep. 4. should move no man though he say Quod legentibus Scriptura hoc ideotis pictura praestat cernentibus This is but Gregory's opinion Epiphanius was not of his mind He willed the occasion of ill to be taken out of the Church as Paul commandeth 1 Thes. 5. This Doctor was as all men know of singular learning and vertue Again against the Authority of Gregory the Great I set the Authority of Athanasius the Great who denieth in express words the Images to be the Books of the Lay people Lactantius Firmianus crieth so out against Images that he saith there can be no true Religion where they be Tertullian judgeth the same Loved we God we would be content with the Scripture Shall not the Patriarks Prophets Christ and his Apostles suffice the Church of God What although many learned men have approved Images should their wisdome maintain any contrary to the Word of God Such as defend them have nothing but sophistical arguments to blind the people with The Scripture nor Apostles Church used none Had all Asia Africa and Europe and Gabriel the Archangel descended from Heaven approved the use of Images forasmuch as the Apostles never taught nor wrote any such thing their Authority should have no place the Word of God solely and onely is to be prefer'd which forbiddeth Images ch 10. The Office of Christ to sanctifie us according to Iohn 17.1 sanctifie my self that they may be sanctified doth abrogate all other things that mans constitutions attribute any holiness unto as bewitched water c. for onely Christ sanctifieth and all holiness we must attribute unto him Sacraments must be used holily yet not have this Office of Christ added to them ch 11. In the later dayes when Christ as King was to be born the Angel declared the Power and Puissance of his Kingdome He shall reign over the house of Jacob and of his Kingdome there shall be no end Luke 1. Although the Commonwealth of the Church hath no certain place appointed where it shall remain as it was appointed in the old Law yet certain we be that this Kingdome of Christ remaineth upon the Earth and shall do till the Earth be burned Matth. 16.28 1 Cor. 15. Howbeit as Christ wan and obtained this Kingdome in the later dayes without shield or spear so doth he preserve it with his holy Spirit and not with carnal weapons My Kingdome is not of this world John 18. Meaning he would not reign in this world as a Prince of this world in pomp and pride but defend his people with his holy Spirit that the Devil and the World should not break their patience though many afflictions and sorrows should fight against them for the Truth 's sake Christ doth not deny to be King of the world but he meant not to reign worldlily to the hinderance and defacing of the Emperours Dignity and Title as the Jews falsly accused him as Cyrillus l. 12. c. 10. in Iohannem saith This Kingdome shall be ever persecuted till the worlds end Isaiah the Prophet described the Church of this present life saying He will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction but he will not remove thy teachers chap. 30.20 Thus the Church shall alwayes remain but in affliction I know such as favour not the Truth will interpret my words that I condemn all Princes and Kings as enemies of the Gospel because they peaceably enjoy their Kingdomes whereas I wish them alwayes so to do to the glory of God but of the one thing I will assure every Prince of world The more sincere he is in the Cause of God the more shall be his Cross. God indeed preserveth above humane reason his Ministers as he did Iacob from the hands of Esau David from Saul Daniel from the Lions and Paul in the Ship when there was no humane hope of salvation Likewise he governeth his Church with his onely Laws The onely Law whereunto this Congregation is bound is the Gospel as Christ saith Iohn 4. The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things which I have said unto you Here Christ bindeth the Apostles and all the Church unto the things that he had taught them Such as teach the people to know the Commonwealth of the true Church by these signs the traditions of men and the succession of Bishops teach wrong Those two false opinions have given unto the succession of Bishops power to interpret the Scripture and power to make such Laws in the Church as it pleased them God hath given the Civil Magistrates power and authority to make such Laws for the Commonwealth as shall be agreeable with reason and not against Gods Law and likewise power to interpret the same Laws but this is not to be admitted in the Church unto whom God hath given the Gospel and interpreted the same by his onely Son taught the meaning and contents thereof himself The adversaries of the Truth defend many an errour under the name of the holy Church when the Church therefore is named diligently consider when the Articles they would defend were accepted of the Church by whom and who was the Author of them Leave not till the matter be brought unto the first original and most perfect Church of the Apostles If thou find by their writings that their Church used the thing that the Preacher would prove then accept it or else not Be not amazed though they speak of never so many years nor name never so many Doctors If either the Authority of Bishops or the greater part should have power to interpret the Scripture the sentence of the Pharisees should have been prefer'd before the sentence of Zachary Simion Elizabeth or the blessed Virgin Consider the true Church is many time but a small Congregation as Isaiah saith Unless God had left us a remnant we had been as Sodom Therefore the interpretation of the Scripture is not obligated to ordinary power nor the most part Beware of deceit when thou hearest the name of the Church The verity is then assaulted They call the Church of the Devil the holy Church many time Remember Christian Reader that the gift of interpreting the Scripture is

Commonwealth their minds by the sight of the outward Image might be withdrawn or wander from the matter To allow a most certain peril for an uncertain profit and the greatest danger for the smallest benefit in matters of Faith and Religion is a tempting of God and a grievous offence In the Primitive Church there were no Images in places of Assembly for Religion this the Heathens objected to the Christians for a crime as Origen and Arnobius testifie c. Lactantius saith It is not to be doubted that there is no Religion wheresoever is any Image Not onely by Varro's judgement but also by St. Augustine's approbation of Varro the most pure and chast observation of Religion and nearest the Truth is to be without Images By the judgement of this ancient Father Epiphanius to permit Images in Churches is against the Authority of Scripture meaning against the second Commandment c. Besides Epiphanius doth reject not onely graven and molten but painted Images Again he spared not the Image of Christ yea he did not onely remove it but with a vehemency of zeal cut in pieces and he is carefull that no such kind of painted Images be permitted in the Church It is manifest to them that read Histories that not onely Emperours but also divers and sundry Councils in the East Church have condemned and abolished Images both by Decrees and Examples But this notwithstanding experience hath declared That neither Councils nor Writings Preachings Decrees making of Laws prescribing of Punishments have holpen against Images to which Idolatry hath been committed nor against Idolatry whilst Images stood In his Letter to his Dear Brother and Reverend Fellow-Elder in Christ Iohn Hooper My dearly beloved Brother c. whom I reverence in the Lord c. Forasmuch as I understand by your works that we throughly agree and wholly consent together in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our Religion against which the world so furiously rageth in our dayes howsoever in time past by certain by-matters and circumstances of Religion your wisdome and my simplicity I grant hath a little jarred each of us following the abundance of his own sense and judgement Now I say be you assured that even with my whole heart God is my witness in the bowels of Christ I love you in the Truth and for the Truths sake which abideth in us and as I am perswaded shall by the grace of God abide in us for evermore Because the world as I perceive Brother busily conspireth against Christ our Saviour with all possible force and power let us joyn hands together in Christ and if we cannot overthrow yet to our power and as much as in us lies let us shake those high Altitudes not with carnal but with spiritual weapons Let us also prepare our selves for death by which after our short afflictions here by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall triumph together with him in eternal glory I pray you Brother salute in my Name your Reverend Fellow-Prisoner and Venerable Father Dr. Cranmer by whom since the first day that I heard of his most godly and fatherly constancy in confessing the Truth of the Gospel I have conceived great consolation and joy in the Lord. It will also be to me great joy to hear of your constancy and fortitude in the Lords Quarrel I am earnestly moved to counsel you not to hasten the publishing of your Works especially under your own Name least your mouth should be stopped hereafter and all things taken away from the rest of the Prisoners whereby otherwise if it so please God may be able to do good to many Farewell in the Lord my most Dear Brother Once again and for ever in Christ my most Dear Brother farewell Rieux Dionysius de Rieux was one of them who was first burned at Melda or Meaux in France An. 1528. for saying That the Mass is a plain denial of the Death and Passion of Christ. He was alwayes wont to have in his mouth the Words of Christ He that denieth me before men him also will I deny before my Father Rogers Mr. Iohn Rogers preaching at Paul's Cross even after Queen Mary was come to the Tower of London confirmed the Truth of that Doctrine which he and others had there taught in King Edward's dayes exhorting the people constantly to remain in the same and to beware of all pestilent Popery Idolatry and Superstition For that Sermon he was called in Question In his Examination and Answer Ian. 22. 1555. I never granted King Henry the Eighth to have any Supremacy in spiritual things as are the forgiveness of sins giving of the holy Ghost authority to be a Judge above the Word of God The Chancellor asserting That the Parliament that abolished the Popes Supremacy was with most great cruelty constrained thereunto He answered With cruelty Why then I perceive that you take a wrong way with cruelty to perswade mens consciences for it should appear by your doings now that the cruelty then used hath not perswaded your consciences How would you then have your consciences perswaded with cruelty Sir Richard Southwell telling him That he would not burn in this year when it cometh to the Purpose he answered Sir I cannot tell but I trust to my Lord God yes lifting up his eyes to Heaven I desire the hearty and unfeigned help of the Prayers of all Christs true Members the true Imps of the true unfeigned Catholick Church that the Lord God of all consolation will now be my comfort aid strength buckler and shield as also of all my Brethren that are in the same case and distress that I and they all may despise all manner of threats and cruelty and even the bitter burning fire and the dreadfull dart of death and stick like true Souldiers to our dear and loving Captain Christ our onely Saviour and Redeemer and the onely true Head of the Church that doth all in us all which is the property of an Head and that we do not traiterously run out of his Tents or rather out of the plain field from him in the greatest jeopardy of the battel but that we may persevere in the fight if he will not otherwise deliver us till we be most cruelly slain of his enemies For this I most heartily and at this present with tears most instantly and earnestly desire and bes●ech you all to pray In his second Examination and Answer Ian. 28 29. 1555. Should said the Chancellor when the Parliament hath concluded a thing any private person have authority to discuss whether they had done right or wrong No that may not be I answered shortly That all the Laws of men might not neither could rule the Word of God but that they all must be discussed and judged thereby and obey thereto and neither my conscience nor any Christians could be satisfied with such Laws as disagreed from that Word Mr. Hooper and Mr. Cardmaker were

I but the grace of God in me With which he is gone away ashamed and shall no more return And now I am sure my Battel is at an end and that without pain of body or trouble of spirit I shall shortly change this mortal and miserable life with that happy and immortal which never shall have end After one had prayed for him he was ask'd whether he heard the Prayer he answered Would to God that ye had heard it with such an ear and heart as I have done adding Lord Jesus receive my spirit With which words without any motion of hands or feet as one falling asleep rather then dying he ended his life When he was buried the Earl of Morton being near the Grave said by way of Epitaph Here lies the body of him who in his life time never feared the face of man L. Lalaeus Simon Lalaeus to Silvester his Executioner said Never saw I a man in all my life whose coming was more welcome to me then thine Silvester seeing the great faith and constancy of this blessed Martyr was converted and with all his Family removed to the Church at Geneva Lambert The first Article against him was Whether he was suspect or infamed of heresie Unto your first Demand said he I answer That I am not certain what all persons at all seasons have deemed or suspected of me peradventure some better some worse The opinion of the people was never one but thought diversly of all the famous Prophets and of the Apostles yea and of Christ himself some saying that he was a very good man others said nay and called him a Seducer c. Seeing therefore that all men did not say well by Christ the Author of Verity and Truth yea Truth it self c. what should I need to regard if at some time some person for a little cause should suspect of me amiss and evil report of me c. Woe be unto you when all men speak well of you for so did their Fathers to the false Prophets In his Answer to their second Demand Our Prelates have sent out commandments that if any person shall adventure to keep any of Luther's Books they shall be excommunicated c. But this is no novelty for so did their fore-fathers the Prelates in Christs time c. When Christ went about preaching the Scribes and Pharisees who were Prelates then gave a general command That whosoever confessed him to be Christ should be put out of the Synagogue c. The Apostles were in like manner served In the Old Testament they procured of one that was a temporal Ruler at that season to have the Prophecy of Ieremy for he of all other is most vehement against the dissimulation of Priests to be burned If they had the Spirit of Christ which they claim and pretend to they would follow the counsel of the Apostles To prove all things and to retain that onely which is good refraining from all that hath semblance of evil and to try the spirits of them that should speak whether they were of God or no. The Priests saith Chrysostome on Matthew that were Pharisees in Christs time made a●● Ordinance That whosoever should acknowledge I●s●● to be Christ should be excommunicate If the Ph●risees or Priests that now do occupy their rooms should make a like Ordinance because they would not have Christs Doctrine professed for hindring their lucre should we leave off to seek after the knowledge of Christs Doctrine No verily When it was objected against Hierom that he retained by him the Works of Eusebius and Origen he bringeth to prove That it was lawful for him that passage of the Apostle Prove all things c. These things prove that I and others may safely no good Law inhibiting but Constitutions Pharisaical read the Works of Luther c. In his Answer to their fifth Demand It is evident from Christs words When you have done all things commanded say yet you be unprofitable Servants c. That he would not have us esteem our merits when we have done what is commanded by God but reckon our selves to be servants unprofitable to God forasmuch as he hath no need of our well doing for his own advancement c. and if we ought not to attend our merits in doing the Commandment of God much less in observing our own Inventions or Traditions of men unto which there is no benefit in all Scripture which Paul calleth the Word of Truth and Faith promised In his Answer to the sixth Demand That they will not suffer Marriage to be solemnized at all times of the year I think it standeth not with Christs Rule but rather is against the same It ought also freely to be administred and without mony In the Primitive Church as ancient Doctors deem and the Scripture in mine opinion recordeth the same there were no more Officers in the Churches of God then Bishops and Deacons Hierome in his Com. on the Epistles of Paul saith That those whom we call Priests were none other then Bishops and the Bishops none other then Priests c. Neither were they chosen as they be now adayes c. But they were chosen not onely of the Bishop but with the consent of the people among whom they should have their Living as sheweth Cyprian and the people ought to have power as he saith to chuse Priests c. But alas such Elections are now banished and new Fashions brought in In his Answer to the thirteenth Demand I say that there is a Purgatory in this world the Fire of Tribulation through which all Christians shall pass as testifies Paul whose testimony is full notable and true albeit that few do know it and fewer will believe it That all that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution In this Purgatory do I now reckon my self to stand God send me well to persevere unto his honour Of this speaketh St. Peter For a season ye are sundry wayes afflicted and tormented that the trial of your Faith c. though it be tried with fire might be found unto laud glory and honour at the appearing of Iesus Christ c. other Purgatory know I none In his Answer to the seventeenth Demand Forsomuch as no positive law of man made without foundation of Scripture may bind any person so that in breaking of such he shall therefore sin deadly and of this sort made by man is the Fast of Lent and other dayes ordained in your laws without authority of Scripture c. In his Answer to the one and twentieth Demand Men may be wrongfully suspected of heresie as the Bishops and Priests with their Oratour Tertullus suspected Paul c. And their Predecessors spake of the Prophets yea and of Christ himself calling him a Seducer and Preacher of heresie Men being thus suspected ought in no wise therefore to cease preaching as is evident in the instance of Peter

and Iohn c. which is written without doubt for our instruction so that thereby you may see when men be wrongfully suspected or in●amed of heresie and so prohibited by Bishops to preach the Word of God that they ought for no mans commandment to leave or stop c. In his Answer to the two and twentieth Demand Priests have two names in Scripture Pres●yteri Sacerdo●es They are most usually called Presbyteri who are set to be Prelates in the Church to guide the same by his blessed Word And Priests thus called Presbyteri in the Primitive Church what time were but few Traditions and Ordinances to let us from the strait institution made by Christ and his Apostles were the very same and none other but Bishops As many as are in this wise Priests ought to preach freely the Word of God in all places and times convenient c. Others be called Priests by this word Sacerdotes and thus be all Christians c. These ought not all to preach openl● in general Assemblies c. yet privately are they bound for instruction of their Servants Children Kinsfolk c. to speak that should be for the destruction of vice and upholding and increase of vertue c. Notwithstanding this I say both by supportation of Gods Law and also of Laws written in the D●crees that in time of great necessity Lay people may preach c. In his Answer to the four and twentieth Demand Excommunication bindeth before God if it be lawfully denounced if the persons be guilty and if it be done with the consent of others gathered with the Bishop in Christs Name for the behoof of Christs Church for so used St. Paul in excommunicating the incestuous Corinthian and Christ requireth c. So that excommunication ought to be done as methinketh by the Congregation assembled together with their Pastour whose advice they ought principally to esteem and follow if it be vertuous and godly In his Answer to the thirtieth Demand Where you speak of Prelates Deputies I think such be little behoveful to Christs flock It were right and necessary that as the Prelates themselves will have the Revenues c. they should themselves labour and teach diligently the Word of God and not shift the labour from one to another till pity it is all be left undone Such doth Saint Iohn call thieves and murtherers c. God would have every man get his living by the sweat of his own face i. e. by his labour according to his estate and calling In his Answer to the five and thirtieth Demand That one singular person may judge more rightly then a great multitude assembled in a Council appeareth by Gods Law and by the Law of man Caiaphas is one instance A whole Council did submit to his Sentence Gamaliel is another Agreeable to this we find in the Decrees Dist. 31. the whole Council of Nice commending the Sentence of Paphnutius and upon this that Paphnutius did resist and prevail against the whole Council the Gloss notes that one singular person may gain-say an universal generality having a reasonable cause on his side Panormitane also gives his suffrage I would saith he rather believe one Lay person bringing in for him authority of Scripture then universal Council that ordaineth a thing without Scripture In his Answer to the five and fortieth Demand Concerning opinions or conclusions I can tell you of none other then I have shewed The sum whereof I think concluded in these two Scripture Propositions 1 Christ is the Head corner-stone of our faith whereupon it should be grounded neither is there salvation in any other c. 2 Men do worship God in vain teaching doctrines and precept or laws humane Thus I certifie you of all the opinions and conclusions which I intend or have intended to sustain and not to decline from neither for fear nor yet for love of man or men These Answers of Mr. Lambert the five and forty Articles against him were directed and delivered to Dr. Warham Arch Bishop of Canterbury about the year 1532. From the danger he was in at that time he was delivered by the death of Dr. Warham but falling into fresh Troubles through the indiscretion of Dr. Tailor and Dr. Barnes to make the quicker work following the precedent of St. Paul appealing to Caesar he appeals to the King who having lately taken upon him the Title of the Supreme Head of the Church of England would shew that Head had a Tongue could speak in matters of Divinity In Whitehall the place and day is appointed where an Act-Royal was kept the King himself being Opponent and Lambert the Answerer When the King commanded him to declare his mind c. He gave God thanks which had so inclined the heart of the King that he himself would not disdain to hear and understand the controversies of Religion for that it hapneth oftentimes through the cruelty of the Bishops that many good and innocent men in many places are privily murthered and put to death without the Kings knowledge But now forasmuch as that High and Eternal King of Kings in whose hands are the hearts of all Princes hath stirred up the Kings mind that he himself will be present to understand the Causes of his Subjects I do not doubt but that God will bring some great thing to pass through him to the setting forth of the glory of his Name When the King was worsted and wearied Arch Bishop Cranmer supplied his place arguing though civilly shrewdly against the truth and saith Dr. Fuller his own private judgement which was worse saith the same Author then keeping the clothes of those who killed Stephen seeing this Arch Bishop did actually cast stones at this Martyr in the Arguments he urged against him Yet after his whole body was reduced to ashes his heart was found entire and untouched an argument of his cordial integrity to the Truth though fear too much prevailed and too often on him After the Dispute was ended the King said unto him What sayest thou now Art thou yet satisfied Wilt thou live or die what sayest thou Thou hast yet free choice Mr. L●mbert answered I commend my soul unto the hands of God but my body I wholly yield and submit to your clemency The King notwithstanding commanded the Lord Cromwell to re●d the Sentence of Condemnation against him And it is very observable that through the pestiferous and crafty counsel of Gardiner Satan who oftentimes raiseth up one Brother to destroy another brought about the death of this Martyr by such viz. Tailor Barnes Cranmer and Cromwell who afterwards suffered the like for the Gospels sake After his legs were consumed and burned to the stumps he lifting up such hands as he had and his fingers ends flaming with fire cried unto the people in these words None but Christ none but Christ. Mr. Clement Cotton in his

that morning came into her Chamber and told her bluntly That she had but one hour to live she was somewhat abashed but being told by a friend that she had great cause to praise God that he will so speedily take her out of this world c. She said Mr. Sheriff your message is welcome to me and I thank my God that he will make me worthy to adventure my life in his quarrel In her Prayer as she was going to the Stake she desired God most instantly to abolish the idolatrous Mass and to deliver this Realm from Popery To which most of the People said Amen yea the Sheriff himself Lucius He said to Urbicius a corrupt Judge threatning death I thank you with all my heart that free me and release me from wicked Governours and send me to my good and loving Father Luther How devoted Dr. Martin Luther was to the Pope when he first appeared and what brought him upon the Stage he himself tells us Above all things I desire the pious Reader and that for the sake of our Lord himself Christ Iesus not onely to read these things with judgement but with much pity knowing I was a Monk and a most mad Papist when I undertook this Cause so drunk with yea drowned in Popish Doctrines that I was most ready to kill and to co-work with the Murderers of all those who withdrew their obedience from the Pope in the least So great a Saul was I as there be yet many more I was not so cold in defending the Papacy as was Eccius himself and such as he c. So that thon wilt find in my first writings very many and great things humbly conceded to the Pope which now I account highest blasphemy and do abominate At first I was alone and most unfit and unable to handle so great matters I call God to witness that his Providence not my own will and purpose engaged me so far When in the year 1517. Indulgences were sold most shamefully I was then a Preacher and a young Doctour of Divinity as I was called and began to disswade the people from hearkning to the Sellers of Indulgences and therein I thought surely I had the Pope for my Patron and upon that confidence was very valiant seeing he doth in the Decrees condemn the immodesty of the Gatherers of money so he calleth the Preachers of Indulgences Thereupon I writ two Letters one to the Arch Bishop of Moguntz who had one half of the money for the Indulgences I knew not then that the other half did belong to the Pope the other to the Bishop of Branderburg beseeching them to restrain the impudence and blasphemy of the Gatherers of the money But the poor Monk was contemned Being contemned I published a short Disputation and a Sermon concerning Indulgences and afterwards my Resolutions and that for the Popes honour not that Indulgences might be condemned but that good works of charity might be preferred before them This was accounted troubling of Heaven and setting the world on fire I am accused unto the Pope and am cited to appear at Rome and against single me rise up the whole Papacy These things were done in the year 1518. whilst Maximilian the Emperour held a Council at Ausburg in which Cardinal Cajetane was the Popes Legate Him Prince Frederick Duke of Saxony prevailed with that I should not be compelled to go to Rome but have my business heard and composed by himself Being called before him poor I came on foot to Ausburg upon the cost of and with Letters of Credence from Prince Frederick to the Senate and some other good men who disswaded me after I was come from going to the Cardinal till I had Caesars safe conduct When the Cardinals Oratour was told by me so much he was angry What said he do you think that Prince Frederick will take up Arms for you I answered That I would by no means Where then said he will you abide I answered Under Heaven But said he if you had the Pope and Cardinals in your power what would you do I would said I give them all reverence and honour At my meeting with the Cardinal I made the following Protestation I Martin Luther an Augustine Frier protest that I do reverence and follow the Church of Rome in all my sayings and doings present past ond to come and if any thing hath been or shall be said by me to the contrary or otherwise I count it and will that it be counted and taken as though it never had been spoken Having before this writ to Pope Leo the Tenth thus I offer my self prostrate under the feet of your Holiness with all that I am and have Save me kill me call me recall me reprove me condemn me even as you please I will acknowledge your voice the Voice of Christ residing and speaking in you Here see men in my case how hard it is to rise out of errours generally received and by long custome becomes as it were natural How true the Proverb is It is hard to leave customes and custome is another nature and how truly Austine saith Custome if it be not resisted will become necessity I who had then seven years read and taught the Scriptures most diligently privately and publickly and had some taste of the knowledge of Christ viz. That we were justified and saved not by works but by faith in Christ and now defended publickly he means in his Dispute with Eccius at Lipsia in the year 1519. that the Pope is not by Divine Right Head of the Church yet I did not see what naturally followeth thence viz. That the Pope is therefore of necessity from the Devil for what is not of God is necessarily of the Devil I was I say so corrupted by example and the title of holy Church and Custome that I granted to the Pope an humane right which yet if it be not underpropt with Divine Authority is a lye and divelish for we must obey Parents and Magistrates not because they command but because it is the Will of God Hence I can better bear those that do even pertinaciously cleave unto Popery especially if they have not read the Scriptures seeing I that so many years most diligently read them did notwithstanding stick thereunto so firmly In the year 1519. the Pope sent Prince Frederick a golden Rose by Charles Miltitius who perswaded me earnestly to be reconciled to the Pope and to study the things of peace I promised that I would most willingly do whatsoever truth and my conscience would allow and assured him that I was most desirous of and studious for peace and seeing I was drawn and necessitated to do what I did what I did was not my fault Charles is accounted unwise and the course he took imprudent but in my judgement if the Bishop of Moguntz and the Pope before he had condemned me unheard had taken the same course the business had never come to this These things I

to confute me by the Scriptures of the Prophets or Evangelists and Apostles and I will be most ready when taught to recant any Errour yea will be the first that shall cast mine own Books into the fire I suppose hereby it is manifest that I have well weighed the perils and dangers as also the divisions and dissentions which have risen through the World by occasion of my Doctrine of which I was yesterday gravely and sharply admonished As for me the face of things is very pleasant when I see discords and dissentions stirred up upon the account of the Word for such is the course the lot and event of the Gospel for Christ saith I came not to send Peace but a Sword I came to set a man at variance with his Father The Emperours Prolocutor telling him That he had not answered to the purpose neither ought he to call in question what hath been in time past defined and condemned in Councils and therefore a plain and direct answer whether he would recant or no was demanded of him Seeing therefore said Luther your most Excellent Majesty c. require a plain answer I will give one and that without horns or teeth Unless I shall be convinced by Scripture testimonies or evident reason for I believe neither Pope nor Councils onely seeing it is evident that they have often erred and contradicted themselves I am so evercome by the Scritures which I have alledged and my Conscience is so captiv'd to the Words of the Lord that I may not neither will I recant at all and that because it is neither safe nor honest to act against Conscience Here I stand I have nothing else to say God be merciful to me The Princes consulted together upon this Answer given by Luther and when they had examined it the Prolocutor endeavoured to refell it telling him That it nothing availeth to renew disputation concerning things condemned by the Church and Councils through so many Ages unless it should be necessary to give a reason to every one of every thing that is concluded but if this should be permitted to every one that gain ayeth the determination of the Church and Councils to be convinced by the Scriptures we shall have nothing certain and established in Christianity And therefore the Emperour required of him a plain and direct Answer either negative or affirmative to this Question Art thou resolved to defend all thy Works as Orthodox● Or wilt thou recant any thing in them Then Dr. Martin besought the Emperour that he might not be compelled to recant against his Conscience captiv'd to and hindred by the holy Scriptures without manifest Arguments to the contrary The Answer said he that is required is a plain and direct Answer I have no other then what I have already given Unless my Adversaries can deliver my Conscience from captivity to those they call Errours by sufficient Arguments I cannot get out of the Net in which I am intangled All things which Councils have determined are not therefore true yea Councils have erred and determined often things contrary to themselves and therefore the Prolocutors Argument falleth I can shew that Councils have erred and therefore I may not revoke what is plainly and diligently exprest in Scripture Hereupon the Emperour resolved to pursue Martin Luther and his Adherents by Excommunication and other means that may be devised to extinguish his Doctrine yet would not violate his Faith but intended to give order for his safe return thither whence he was called and certified the Princes Electors Dukes and the other Estates assembled so much in a Letter to them Before Luther had any Answer from the Emperour several of all ranks visited him and conferred with him among the rest the ArchBishop of Triers sent for him and Dr. Vaeus in the presence of many Nobles protested that Luther was not called to dispute but onely the Princes had procured license from the Emperour benignly and brotherly to exhort him c. To whom he gave this Answer Most gracious and illustious Princes and Lords I give you most humble thanks for your clemency and singular good will from whence proceedeth this admonition I do indeed acknowledge my self altogether unworthy to be admonished by so Mighty Princes I have not reprehended all Councils but onely that of Constence and that because that Council hath condemned the Word of God as appears in that this Article of Iohn Hus That the Church of Christ is the Company of the Elect is condemned by it I am ready to lose blood and life for you so I be not compelled to revoke the manifest Word of God in defence whereof we ought rather to obey God then man Here I cannot avoid scandal There be two manners of offences at Manners and at Faith Now it is not in my power to make Christ not to be a Rock of Offence I am ready to obey Magistrates how wickedly soever they live so that I be not inforced to deny the Word of God Hereupon Dr. Vaeus admonished Luther to submit his Writings to the Emperours and the Princes judgement He answered humbly and modestly That he was so far from fearing their Examination that he was content to suffer his Writings to be discussed most accurately of the meanest so that it were done by the Authority of the Word of God and of the holy Scripture The Word of God said he makes so clearly for me that I may not yield unless I be untaught and taught better by the Word of the Lord. St. Austin writeth thus I give this honour onely unto the Canonical Books to believe them to be altogether true as for other holy and learned Doctors I onely so far believe them as they write the truth St. Paul bids us Prove all things and hold fast that which is good He saith also Though an Angel from Heaven should preach any other Doctrine c. Wherefore I humbly beseech you not to urge my Conscience bound in Scripture bonds to deny the so clear Word of God In all other cases I will be most obedient to you The Marquess of Branderburg asking him Whether he was not resolved not to yield unless he were convinced by the holy Scripture Yes said he most noble Lord or else by clear and evident reasons Afterwards Pentinger and Dr. Vaeus endeavoured to perswade Luther to let the Emperour and Empire to pass judgement upon his Writings simply and absolutely He answered That he was ready to do and suffer any thing so that they would build on the Authority of the holy Scripture Otherwise he could not consent for God by the Prophet saith Trust ye not in Princes nor in the children c. Cursed is he that trusteth in man When notwithstanding this answer they urged him more vehemently he told them Nothing is less to be permitted to mans judgement then the Word of God Then they prayed him to submit his Writings to the judgement of the next Council He agreed thereunto