day He was in his private converse of such behaviour that his life was a patterne of vertue As he dined or supped oftentimes he would dictate matter to be preached sometimes correct the faults of the presse sometimes he would recreate himselfe and others with Musick He was by nature which Melancthon would often wonder at a moderate eater and drinker and yet had no small or weake body He hath beene seene for foure dayes together and being in health to eate and drinke nothing at set meale times and often at other times for many dayes to be content with a little bread and fish I will say nothing how in the Cloysters he macerated himselfe with watchings fasting labours Oftentimes being invited to banquets he went not because he would not lose his time I sayd he lose too much time by invitations to feasts here in the City I know Satan hath such an hand in it that I may not deny it and yet it doth me harme to accept the courtesy In company he was familiar pleasant courteous yet grave as beseemed a man of his place He was affable and studious of truth Melancthon affirmeth that he often found him at prayer with great ardency and teares imploring God for the whole Church He set apart every day a certain time for reading some Psalmes and intermixt his owne prayers and teares with them He often used to say that he was offended with them who either through idlenesse or variety of imployment sayd that it was enough to pray with groanes onely And for that end said he formes of prayer are prescribed us by the will of God that reading might inflame our minds yea that the voice also might professe what God we call upon When he recreated his mind and tooke it of from study he delighted to play at Chesse and was skilfull at it He sometimes practised the art of Turning with his servant Wolfgang and would say if the world should deny us sustenance for my paines in Gods word we would learne to get our livings with our hands Sometimes he did play on an Instrument sometimes shoote He was carefull also of the neatnesse of his garden and desired of his friends varietie of plants to furnish it So that he had no vacant time Of his imployments thus he writeth I am very full of imployment the Psalter requireth a whole man preaching to the people might well require all my paines my course of worshipping God and prayer might wholly busie me my paines in expounding Scripture by writing my writing Epistles my care of other mens affaires taketh up my time my converse with my friends which I use to call a feeding of my corps doth very badly steale away a great part of my time It was his usuall course either to meditate or to read or preach or to give good counsel to his friends so that he was never idle He was very liberall to the poore On a time when a student asked some money of him he bad his wife give him some thing and when she excused the matter in regard of their penurie at that time he tooke up a silver cup and gave it to the Scholler and bid him sell it to the Gold-smith and keep the money for his occasions When a friend sent him 200. angels of gold from the metal-mines he bestowed them all on poore students When Iohn the Electour gave him a new gowne he said that he was made to much of for if here we receive a full recompence of our labours we shall hope for none in another life When the same Electour offered him a vayne of Metals at Sneberg he refused it lest he should incurre the tentation of the Devill who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He tooke nothing of Printers for his copies as he writeth saying I have no plenty of money and thus yet I deale with the Printers I receive nothing from them for recompence of my many copies sometimes onely I receive of them one copie This I think is due to me whereas other writers yea translaters for every eight leaves have an Angel Concerning money given him thus he writeth The hundreth Angels given me I received by Tanbenhem and Schart gave me fifty that I stand in feare that God will give me my reward here But I protested that I would not so be satisfied by him I will either presently repay it or spend it For what should I doe with so much money I gave one halfe of it to P. Prior and made him a joyfull man He was very lovingly affectioned towards his children and gave them liberall education He kept in his house a Schoole-master to traine them up in good arts and a godly life When he saw Magdalen his eldest daughter ready to die he read to her that in Esay 26. 19. Thy dead servants shall rise againe together with my dead body shall they arise Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust For thy dew is as the dew of hearbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Come my people enter into thy chambers and shut thy doores about thee Hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment untill the indignation be over-past My daughter enter thou into thy chamber with peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishments hanging over the head of Germany And upon this wept plentifully But in publique when he went along with the Herse he bridled his affection and was not seene to shed one teare And as all men of excellent spirits have a zealous anger in due place So Luther by nature was vehement but yet placable As appearethin this that when Melancthon much moved to passion once came unto him and all the rest were very mute Luther uttered this verse Vince animos irámque tuam qui caetera vincis Thine owne heart overcome thy fury tame VVho all things els hast stoutly overcame And then smiling said we will not further dispute of this matter and turned his speech to other occasions He foresaw and foretold many things as the combustion which rose in Germany saying I am very much afraid that if the Princes give eare to Duke George his ill counsell there will arise some tumult which will destroy all the Princes and Magistrates in all Germany and ingage in it all the Clergy Of the death of Frederik Elector of Saxony thus he writeth If God in heaven hath resolved in wrath to deale with us that neither our prayers nor counsels of amendment can hinder it let us obtain this that our Josias may sleep in peace though the world be left to go into its Babylon Of the covetousnesse of Germany and the dearth there thus he speaketh We feare famine and we shall suffer it and finde no remedie for it And when as without necessitie we are solicitous to prevent famine like wicked and incredulous Gentiles and
other respects so especially in not forgetting any of Gods benefits but frequently and sweetly descanting on them in his sacred songs of praise among many other blessings mentions Gods gracious leading his people out of Egypt teaching them by the ministery of Moses and Aaron The like thankfulnesse to God should we shew in our a hymns of glorie to God as for infinite other favours in these later times so especially for our comming out of the spirituall Egypt by the Ministery of Dr. Mart. Luther The goodnesse of God to the Israelites and Us is much alike in both these our deliverances For when Egypts tyrannie was growne to extremity and Romes heresies at full maturity God seasonably put to his hand and by Moses then bred up in Pharaohs Court and by D. Luther lately trained up in Monkery shewed alike mercy to us both However men did project to bend the excellent endowments of these worthy men to their owne purposes God turned them to better use and seasoning them with his grace fitted them for the confusion of the Old New Egypts God will be b plainly knowne to have matters of great importance at his owne disposing He of his great goodnesse directs to the right object his servants ardent zeale to do good as in judgement he lets the malicious and envious zeale of both Egypts persist in an evill course to their overthrow Hence it was that as God took off S. Paul from his blinde and unseasonable zeale for Moses Law in the Pharisaicall way and bent it to the advancing of the Gospell So he quelled Luthers raging fury and intent c to vex and kill the opposers of the Pope and put a zealous spirit in him for the maintenance of sacred Truth and the downfall of Popish superstition And indeed rightly did Erasmus judge that d those corrupt times called for a sharpe and launcing and searing Chirurgion to cure their long festered maladies For the worship of God and the truth of Religion was then as amongst the Israelites in Elias time much depraved and defaced and required a magnanimous and undaunted spirit like to that in Elias to reforme matters extreamly out offrame Erasmus saw full well how difficult a taske D. Luther underwent and for his owne part and undertaking was assured that if the e knowledge of good Arts of polite Learning of the Originall tongues of the Sacred Scripture florisht that the dark fogs of Popery could not long continue undispel'd And therefore he complyed with all f Princes and g men studious of good letters whatsoever to make a knowing world and would in no wise though earnestly set upon both by loving intreaties and kinde usage as also by bitter calumnies and harsh railings of the Pontificians doe any thing of speciall moment against Luther He was confident that if Luther being violently opposed and maliced should faile yet the Truth of Christ by the light of all good literature and Gods blessing would maugre all the Papists malice get the upper hand and spread it selfe But God was abundantly gracious to D. Luther and made him as Ieremy h a defenced citie an iron pillar and a vvall of brasse against which his Antagonists could in no wise prevaile Had a spirit of pride or contention or any by-respect set Luther on work against the Pope or had he stood upon questions litigious or of an indifferent nature he could never have begun with that courage gone forward with that confidence come off with that honour which he did The blessing of God and a good conscience bore him out to take such incredible paines in reading preaching translating commenting disputing writing advising the Politicall State directing the Ecclesiasticall restraining the Papists fury from open war counselling some Protestants from too hastie proceedings preventing tumultuous designes avoiding secret traps set for him and in daily praying to God for the prosperity of the Gospell All true Christians will heartily blesse God for him and his resolute and happy beginning of Reformation if Papists who notoriously defamed and standered him in his life time persist still to calumniate him after his death * God in the last day will be judge betweene them Luther was and who is not subject to such weaknesses as humanity makes incident to the best men He knew his slips he acknowledged them he craved pardon for them Yea he considering that he was a man and might erre intrusted his learned and faithfull friend i Melancthon to revise and moderate some of his Tenents after his decease In briefe Luthers faith was admirably strong in his God his labours and studies of singular benefit to Gods Church his books and writings very many and learned his life most pious and therefore his death full of comfort and blessed Accept good Reader this Treatise now presented unto you in an English dresse out of the leerned and laborious work of Melchior Adamus and expect the Lives of other most godly and reverend Fathers in Gods Church and worthy Champions against the enemies of Gods truth both English and forraine Some whereof were never extani before others but sparingly in English set forth all of them worthy of ever lasting memory for their promoting of Gods glory and their love to Christian Truth These will shortly appeare from the Pens of sundry reverend religious and faithfull Divines amongst us God make all these labours usefull to Gods people and us all thankfull for his Divine and gracious goodnesse to these last and worst times Yours in all Christian offices Tho. Hayne To the pretious Memory of Dr. Mart. Luther WElfare those gentle Quils whose ere they be Whose meritorious labours shall set free The Urne imprisoned Dust of that renown'd Thrice famous Luther Let his head be crown'd With sacred Immortality and rais'd Much rather to be wondred at then prais'd Let Babes unborne like fruitfull plants bring forth To after dayes new Monuments of his worth And time-outlasting Name that Babels Whore And all her bald-pate panders may ev'n roro For very anguish and then gnaw and bite Their tongues for malice and their nailes for spite Whilst men made perfect in his well knowne story May all turne Patrons and protect his Glory Francis Quarles WHen blackest clouds of Romish errours base Had quite ore-spred Truths amiable face And Antichrists ore-topping tyrannie Had chain'd all Europe to Idolatry Then suddenly and strangely God did raise To Romes deepe admiration and amaze Renowned Martin Luther dauntlesly To vindicate his Truth and Rome defie He maugre all their spight and fury fell Did Papall fogs of Errour cleane expell Clearing the Sun of Truth to such pure light As ever since hath shone abroad most bright Of Hercules his Club what talk we then Since Rome is ruin'd with great Luthers Pen I. Vicars THE LIFE AND DEATH of Dr. Martin Luther THE Family of the Luthers was ancient and spred into divers parts of the Territories of the Earle of Mansfield
on in the Creed to the Article I beleeve the Remission of sins Which he thus explained Namely that a man must not onely in generall beleeve that sinnes are remitted to some men as to David and to Ester for this the devils beleeve but that God commands that we should each man in particular beleeve that our sinnes be forgiven us in Christ Jesus This exposition said he is confirmed by St. Bernard and shewed him the place in his Sermon upon the Annuntiation where these words are to be found But adde this and beleeve this also that thy sins are forgiven thee for Christs sake This is the Testimony in thy heart which the spirit of God giveth saying Thy sins are forgiven thee For the Apostle thus determines of the matter That a man is freely justified by faith Luther said that he was not onely confirmed in the truth but also put in minde of Saint Paul ever in these words asserting this trueth We are justified by faith Concerning this point after that he had read the expositions of divers men he further said that from the speeches of Paul he observed to accrew unto himself much comfort and great light to discerne the vanitie of other interpretations which then were used Then he began to read St Augustines workes where both in his Comment on the Psalmes and in the booke Of the Spirit and letter he found many evident places which confirmed this doctrine concerning faith and the comfort which was before kindled in his breast Yet did he not utterly cast of the reading of Gabriel and Camaracensis writers on the Sentences but was able to recite them by heart in a manner He spent much time in often reading Occam and esteemed him for acutenesse of wit before Thomas Aquinas and Scotus also he studiously perused Gerson But chiefly he read often Austins workes and kept them well in memory This earnest prosecution of his studies he began at Erphord and spent there five yeers in the Colledge In the yeare 1507. he put on the priests hood The first Masse which he celebrated was May 2. Domini Cantate Then was he 24. yeares old In this course he continued 15. yeares to the yeare of our Lord 1527. At that time Io. Staupicius who endeavored to promote the university of Wittenberg lately begun desired that the study of Theologie should there flourish and well knew the wit and learning of Luther and removed him to Wittenberg An. 1508. when he was 26. yeares old Here in regard of his daily exercises in the schooles and his sermons the eminency of his good parts did more and more shew themselves And among other learned men who attentively heard him Martinus Mellurstad commonly cal'd Lux mundi the light of the world often said of Luther that there was in him so noble a straine of wit that he did verily presage that he would change the vulgar course of studies which at that time was usuall in schooles and prevailed At Wittenberg Luther first explained Aristotles Logick and Physickes yet intermitted not his study of Divinitie Three yeares after that is An. 1510. he was sent into Italy and to Rome in the behalfe of his Covent for the deciding of some controveramong the Monkes There he saw the Pope and the Popes palace and the manners of the Roman Clergie Concerning which he sayth I was not long at Rome There I sayd and heard others say Masse but in that manner that so often as I call them to minde I detest them For at the Table I heard among other matters some Curtisans laugh and boast and some concerning the bread and wine on the Altar to say Bread thou art and bread thou shalt remalne Wine thou art and wine thou shalt remaine He further addeth that the priests celebrated the Masses so hastily and perfunctorily that he left of saying Masse before he betooke himselfe to the Gospell And cried out Away with it away with it In talke with his familiar friends he would often rejoyce at this his journey to Rome and say that he would not for 1000. florens have been without it After his returne from Rome Staupicius so advising he was made Doctor in Divinity after the manner of the schooles and at the Charge of Duke Frederike Elector of Saxony For the Prince heard him preach and admired the soundnesse of his invention the strength of his arguments and the excellence of the things which he delivered Now was Luther 30. yeares old and had attained a maturity of Judgement Luther himselfe used to professe that he would have refused this honour and that Staupicius would have him permit himselfe to be graced with this degree saying pleasantly That there were many businesses in Gods Church wherein he would use Luthers helpe This speech then spoken in a complementall way at length proved true by the event Thus many presages goe before great changes Soone after he began as the place required to explaine the Epistle to the Romans and some Psalmes which he so cleared that after a long and darke night there seemed a new day to arise in the judgement of all pious and prudent men Here he shewed the difference of the Law and Gospell and refuted an errour then most frequent both in the schooles and sermons namely that men by their workes can deserve remission of their sinnes and that men are just before God by observing the discipline commanded as the Pharisees taught Luther therefore recal'd mens mindes to the sonne of God as Iohn Baptist shewed them the Lamb of God who taketh away the sinnes of the world And taught them that for Christs sake their sinnes are forgiven and that this benefit is received by faith He cleared also other poyntes of Ecclesiasticall truth This beginning made him of great authority and that much the more because his demeanor was sutable to his doctrine so that his speech seemed to come from his heart not from his lippes onely For the saying is as true as old {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A mans pious carriage makes his speech perswasive Hence it was that men easily assented to him when afterward he changed some of their rites As yet he attempted not to doe it but was a rigid observer of good order and added something more strict then usuall With the sweetnesse of this doctrine all godly minded men were inamoured and much it affected the learned that Christ the Prophets and Apostles were brought out of darknes prison that the difference of the Law and the Gospell of Gods Word Philosophy of which they read nothing in Thomas Scotus and their fellowes now was manifested At this time also young students were invited to a mote exact study of the Latine Greek tongue whereupon many worthy and ingenious men were much affected with the sweetnesse of polite learning and abhorred the barbarous and sophistical style of the Monkes
burn all the Pontifician law the sink of heresies yet I will put an end to my humble observance which I have hitherto in vaine shewed and wherewith the enemies of the Gospel are more and more incensed Luther also before he saw the Popes Bull put forth his book Of the Babylonian Captivitie In which he wished that what he had written concerning Indulgences was abolished and this proposition divulged in stead thereof Indulgences are the wicked tricks of Romes flatterers And in stead of what he wrote against the Pope this Proposition The Popedome is a robustious Hunting practised by the Bishop of Rome Then he handled the Sacraments and acknowledged but three of the seven to be Sacraments of Christs Covenant He wrote also against the execrable Bull of Antichrist and call'd the Pope Antichrist and confirmed the Articles censured by the Bull Charles the Emperour that yeere came to Aquisgran where with great solemnitie he was crowned Emperour About the Calends of Septemb. he with Frederik Elector of Saxony went to Colonia Agrippina At this time the controversies of Religion being hotly prosecuted the Elector would not suddenly do any thing of his own head in a matter of so great import but would try the votes of the most prudent and learned Clarkes and among o thers of Erasmus whom he sent for from Lovan to Collen When first he requested to heare Erasmus judgement concerning Luther and wondered that so great and extreame hatred should be raised by some Monks and the Pope against Luther whose life and carriage he conceived to be commendable and his doctrine not impious Erasmus answered in a pleasant manner That his Highnesse needed not wonder at that for Luther had in his dispu tations dealt against the Monks bellies and the Popes crowne Afterward seriously and gravely giving his opinion concerning the controversies of these times he shewed that Indulgences and other abuses and superstitions were justly taxed and that their reformation was necessary and that the summe of Luthers doctrine was orthodox and that onely he seemed too vehement and violent in contending with his adversaries and that an Evangelical businesse was to be handled after an Evangelical manner Frederick the Elector being confirmed in the truth by the sage judgement of Erasmus did gravely admonish Luther to moderate his fiercenesse in disputes Then also there came to Collen Martinus Coroccialus and Leronymus Alexander who again set upon Duke Frederik in the Popes name But when the Elector answered not as they expected they said that they must deale with him according to the forme of the decree and burnt Luthers books It is reported that these advocates of the Pope did promise Erasmus a Bishoprick of rich revenew if he would write against Luther But he answered That Luther was a man too great for him to write against and that he learned more from one short page of Luthers writings then from all Thomas Aquinas bookes It is also said that Margaret the Emperours Aunt who ruled all Belgium when the Magistri nostri of Lovan complained that Luther with his writings did subvert all Christendome did demaund what manner a man Luther was when they answered that he was an unlearned Monke she replied Why then see that all you learned men being a great multitude write against that one unlearned fellow and doubtlesse the world will give more credit to many of you being learned then to him being but one and unlearned Luther knowing what was done with his writings An. 1520. Decemb. 10. called the students of Wittenberg together and in a frequent assembly of learned men before the gate of Elister neer to the great Colledge where a fire was made cast the Popes lawes and the Bull of Leo with some writings of Eckius Emser and others thereinto and said Because thou troublest Christ the holy one of God eternall fire will trouble thee The next day he expounded the Psalmes and earnestly charged his auditors that as they loved the salvation of their soules they should take heed of the Popes statutes And in writing gave a reason presently of this his action And out of the great multitude of errors in the Popes Lawes culled out these thirty 1. The Pope and his clergy are not bound to be subject and obedient to the commandements of God 2. It is not a precept but a counsel of St Peter where he saith That all men ought to be subject to Kings 3. That by the Sun the Papal power by the Moon the Imperialor secular power in a common wealth was signified 4. That the Pope and his Chaire were not bound to be subject to Councels and Decrees 5. That the Pope had in the Closet of his breast all lawes and plenary power over all lawes 6. Whence it followeth That the Pope hath power to disanull to change and determine of all Countels and all Constitutions and Ordinances as he daily practiseth 7. That the Pope of Rome hath a right to require an oath of all Bishops and to oblige them to him in regard of their palls received of him 8. If the Pope be so neglective of his owne and his brethrens salvation and so unprofitable and remisse in his place that he carry along with himself as if he was the chiefe slave of Hell innumerable people to be eternally tormented no mortall man ought to reprove him for this sinne 9. That the salvation of all faithfull men dependeth on the Pope next after God 10. No man on earth can judge the Pope or censure his determinations but the Pope is judge of all men 11. The sea of Rome giveth authority to all rights and Lawes and is it selfe subject to none of them 12. The Rocke on which Christ Matt. 16. buildeth his Church is the sea of Rome with them adjoyning 13. The Keyes were given to Saint Peter onely 14. Christs Prtesthood was translated from him to Saint Peter 15. The Pope hath power to make Ordinances and Laws for the Catholike Church 16. This sentencce what soever thou bindest on earth shall also be bound in heaven establisheth this conclusion that the Pope hath power to charge the Catholike Church even with his rash lawes 17. That his command of abstinence from flesh egges butter and other meates made of milke is to be observed else men sin and are liable to excommunication 18. The Pope forbidding all priests to marry wives inhibits all the Priesthood from Matrimony 19. Pope Nicolaus either the 3. or 4. in his Antichristian Decretal among other matters badly decreed well judged that Christ by giving the Keyes gave power over both the celestial and terrestrial kingdome 20. The Pope judgeth that loud and impious lye for a truth and requireth that it be received namely That Constantine the Great gave him the Romans provinces and Countries and power over the whole inferior world 21. The Pope affirmeth that he is the heire of the sacred Roman Empire De
it he further said Lord I render up my spirit into thy hands and come to thee And again Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit thou O God of truth hast redeemed me Here as one falling asleep and without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life And when Doctor Ionas and Caelius said O reverend father do you die in the constant confession of that dectrin of Christ which you have hither to preached He answered so as he might be heard yea which was the last word he spake Thus he in his native countrey not having seen it many yeers before dyed much lamented by many This fell on the eighteen of February on the day in the Calender ascribed to Concord about three a clock in the morning in the great climaclericall yeere of his age Soone after his body put into a coffin of Lead was carried in funerall manner to the Temple of Isleben where Iustus Ionas preached Then the Earles of Mansfield desired that his body should be interred within their territories But the Elector of Saxony required that it should be brought back to Wittenberg In the return thereof which way so ever it went it was honourably attended and with much griefe accompanied out of each Princes Dominion and at length upon the 22. of February in the afternoon was brought to Wittenberg and was carried into the Temple Neere adjoyning to the Castle with such a troop of Princes Earles Nobles their living as students and other people that the like was seldome or never seene in that town When the funerall rites were performed Pomeranus preached to an assembly of many thousands And after that Melancthon with many teares and sighes made a funerall Oration When this was done the coffin with his body was put by the hands of divers learned men into the tomb neere to the pulpit in which he had made many learned Sermons before divers Princes Electors and the Congregation of many faithfull Christians In a brazen plate his picture lively deciphered was there set up with verses by it to this effect This Sepulchre great Luthers Corps containe This might suffice yet read these following strains HEer in this Vrne doth Martin Luther rest And sweetly sleep in hope to rise most blest By whose rare pains firme faith and Christs free Grace Which formerly thick Fogs of Error base And duskie Clouds of Works desert bid quite Were well reduced to their ancient Light For when blind Superstition ruled All And did faire Truth long time suppresse and thrall He by Gods Word and Spirits inspiration The Gospels Light re-spred for every Nation And well-instructed by Pauls sacred voyce choice Scorning Romes Cheats to teach pure Truth made And as Iohn Baptist in the Wildernesse Did Gods Lamb who heales Sin Preach and expresse So O Sweet Christ did Luther cleare thy book When all the World was caught with Errors hook And what the difference was betwixt the Law Whose tables Moses brake though God he saw Vpon Mount-Sinai and the Gospel sweet meet Which heales Sin-conscious hearts which Gods wrath This difference lost to th' world He did restore That so Christs gifts of Grace might shine the more He stoutly did oppose Romes Cheats and Charmes And Papal rule which wrought Gods Saints great harms Exhorting all Romes idols for to flie He many soules wan to true pietie And maugre all Romes threats and snares most slie Finisht in Faith his Course most valiantly Dying in peace his Soule with Christ doth rest Crown'd with immort all Glory truly blest For which rare Doctor let both high and low Blesse God that they so cleare Christs truth do know And pray the Lord that these his Gospels rayes May to the World shine-forth for datelesse dayes Philip Melancthon Dead is grave Luther worthy all due praise Who set forth Christ in Faith illustrious rayes His Death the Church laments with Sighs sincere Who was her Pastour nay her Patron deare Our Israels Chariots and Horsemen rare Is Dead with me let All sad Sables weare Let them their griefe in groaning verses sing For such sad Knells such Orphans best may ring Theodore Beza Rome tam'd the World the Pope tam'd Rome so great Rome rul'd by Power the Pope by deep Deceit But how more large than Theirs was Luthers Fame Who with One Pen both Pope and Rome did tame Go fictious Greece go tell Alcides then His Club is nothing to great Luthers Pen John Major By Luthers labours Leo the tenth is slain Not Hercles Club but Luthers Pen's his bane Joachim a Beust When Luther dy'd then with him dy'd most sure A Crown and credit of Religion pure His Soul 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 MARTINI LVTHERIS THEOLOGIAe D. CORPVS H. L. S. E. QVI ANNO CHRISTI M. D. XLVI XII CAL MARTII EISLEBII IN PATRIAS 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. 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 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 each Christian knoweth So that Luther said truly and often foretold That whilst he lived by Gods help 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 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 a magnanimous and noble Spirit He was ever constant in known truth from the confession whereof he could never be removed with threats or promises So that when upon a time one Papist demanded of an other 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 rage against the Christ or anointed of God I esteem it a good sign and think it much better then if they flattered For thereupon followeth that he that dwels in heaven laughes at them And when our Lord and King laughes I see no cause why we should weep before their faces He laughes not for his own sake but for ours that we rather trusting to him then to any thing else might laugh at their vain designs so much need is there of faith that the cause of faith may not be looked upon without faith But he that begun this worke he began it without our counsell and contrivance And he himself will forward with it and finish it without and beyond all our counsels and devises of this I make no question I know and am assured hereof He in whom I beleeve is able to do above all which we can aske or conceive Though Philip Melancthon contrive and desire that God should work according to and within the compasse of his counsels that he might have wherein to glory and say Surely thus the businesse should be carried Thus would I have done But this is not well spoken I Philip would have it so This I is too flat and dull too low a style It must be thus The God who saith I am that I am this is his name I am He will have it so It is not yet seen who he is but he will appear as he is and we shall see him But I have done Be you valiant in the Lord and put Melancthon in minde from me that he set not himself in Gods place but fight against that ambition of Deitie which was inbred and took root in us in Paradise by the devils suggestion for that is an affectation not furthering the businesse now in hand The desire of being like God thrust Adam and Eve out of Paradise and it alone doth trouble us and turn us out of the course of Peace We must be mortall men and not Gods Thus in briefe If we think otherwise everlasting unquietnesse and anguish of heart will be our reward Luther was ready for Martyrdom once or twice and thought his adversaries would have him to it whereupon at his going to Auspurg An. 1518. thus he wrote to his deare freind * Melanct. Shew your selfe a man of resolution as you already doe Teach the students Gods truth I am going if God so please to be sacrificed for them and you For I had rather die and never more enjoy which thing alone would be most grievous to me your most sweet societie then to recant and revoke any truth which I have preached and give occasion to overthrow the right course of studies And elsewhere he thus wrote * to Spalatinus I had rather as I have often sayd die by the hands of the Romanists alone And would by no meanes that Charles and his Counsellours should interpose themselves in putting mee to death I know what misery befell Sigismund the Emperor after the martyring of Hus how nothing prospered with him afterward how he died without issue male how his daughters sonne Ladislaus also died and so had he his name extinguished in one age of men besides Barbara his Queen became a dishonour to the royall place she held and other matters which you well know But yet if it so please God that I shall be delivered into the hands not only of the Papists spiritual Governours but of Temporal Magistrates also the Lords will be done Amen And againe thus to Lambert Thorn imprisoned I rejoyce with you most heartily and give thanks to our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ that he hath not onely graciously given me the knowledge of his word but made me see a plentifull and glorious encrease of his grace in you Wretched man that I am It is reported that I first taught those things for which you suffer and yet shall be the last or perhaps shall not be vouchsafed at all to be made partaker of your imprisonments Martyrdoms Yet herein will I challenge something and comfort my selfe in this that your miseries your bondes and imprisonments the fires prepared for you are mine also and so indeed they are seeing I professe and preach the same things with you and suffer and rejoyce together with you God by Luther and his fellow workmen opened and cleared the necessarie doctrin of Gods Church concerning the Mediatour and justification of man before God of the differences of the Law and the Gospel of worship pleasing God of Invocation and other points He was wont often to deplore the ungodly praying to the Saints departed and said That there were many reasons why that invocation was execrable and that this was one chiefe namely that by that profane custome the Testimony of Christs Divinity was obscured to whom both the writings of the Prophets and Apostles attribute the honour of invocation These are the Idols which sharpen the barbarous sword of the Turk to cut of our neckes Nor will he ever be kept from shedding our bloud except in godly manner those things be reformed For how wicked and impious those hymnes be which are sung in the Popes Quires who knoweth not O Mary thou Mother of grace defend us from our enemie and in the houre of death receive us And a gaine Saint Dorothy create a new heart within us Saint Catharin translate us from the troublesome sea of the world to the pleasures of Paradise open Paradise for us And that Gods truth might be propagated to posterity with continuall and great labour and study he so plainly and perspicuously out of the originall texts translated the Bible into the German tongue that his translation may well serve in steed of a Commentary He often speaketh of the labour and difficulty of this taske As in his letter to Wenceslaus Lincus We are now busied in translating the Prophets a worke God knoweth of great paines and industry to bring Hebrew writers to speake the German tongue to leave their Hebrew idiom and expresse themselves in our barbarous language This is as if the Nightingale should be compelled to imitate the Cuckow to leave her warbling melody and fall into an unisone And again to Spalatinus In translating Iob we are put to very great paines in regard of the loftinesse of the style that this book may seeme more impatient of our translation then Iob himselfe of his friends comforting him He may seeme yet still to sit upon the dunghill Vnlesse perhaps the Author of the booke desired that it never should be translated This is the reason why the Presse maketh no better hast in this part of the Bible In this worke he used the paines and counsel of his colleagues whom elsewhere we have named that they might be witnesses of his faithfull care in