doctrin with lies as if it was the most erroneous that ever was heard Of it also Brentius saith The cost bestowed in all assemblies within the memory of men are not a sufficient price for the excellent treasure of the Confession and Apology Conf. Theolog. Melanct. pag. 438. Tom. 2. epist. pag. 196. 250. Of the Lords Supper thus Luther writeth I neither can nor will deny this that if Carolostadius or any other man within these five yeeres could have perswaded me that there was nothing in the Sacrament but bread and wine he should have done me a singular kindnesse For I have laboured much and been most studious about this points discussion I have endeavoured with all possible intention of minde to cleare and fully open this matter because I well saw that hereby I could especially wound the Papists Besides I had two others who wrote to me more soundly and acutely of this point then Carolostadius nor did so wrest the words to the conceit of their own humour But I saw my self fast taken and had no way left to escape For the Text of the Gospel is so cleare and powerfull that it cannot be shaken much lesse be overthrown with words and glosses suggested by addle heads Of this question he wrote a large Epistle and indeavoured to prove That Christs flesh was not only eaten spiritually Tom. 2. epist pag. 196. but corporally And whereas elsewhere he speaketh otherwise of this matter there be some who affirm that he opened his minde thereof a little before his death For t is said Mellific Histor part 3. pag. 450. that as he was fitting himself for his journey to Isleben Ian. 23. An. 1546. he affirmed to Melancthon that he confessed that he had gone too farre in the Sacramentary controversie And when Melancthon perswaded him to explicate his minde by publishing some book he answered that by this course he should derive a suspition on all his doctrin as faultie but Melancthon might do as he saw cause when he was dead The witnesses of this his speech are Melancthon Herbert de Langen Daniel Burenius Cons of Breme and others When Antonius Musa the Pastor of Rochle on a time complained that he himself could not beleeve what he taught others Luther answered I thank God that I heare others to be affected to the Papists doctrin as I was He was wont to say that a preacher should beware of bringing three dogs into the pulpit with him pride covetousnesse envie This rule he gave concerning government of ones selfe in preaching When saith he You see the people heare most diligently conclude that they will go away more cheerefully He judged them in Princes Courts to undergoe the greatest labours who are compelled to drink so extreamely that they cannot rest night or day When a Stone was brought unto him out of the Mansfeild Stone-pits wherein was the image of the Pope with a triple Crown Lo said he the Pope must be revealed and extold by Metal Mines and diggers of Metals Three things said he make a Divine Meditation prayer tentation And that three things were to be done by a Minister 1. He must read the Bible over and over 2. Pray earnestly 3. Alwayes be a learner And that they were the best preachers to the people who spake as to Babes in Christ in the ordinary strain popularly and most plainly When he visited the Churches in Saxony and a countrey man repeated the words of the Creed in the vulgar tongue saying I beleeve in God the Father Almightie He asked the countrey man what was meant by Almightie who answered I know not Luther said neither do I nor any learned man know it Onely beleeve thou that God is thy father and that he can and will preserve thee and thine He tooke delight to expresse some things in his owne tongue and in Ryme Of which some were to this sense and meaning Eate what is sodden well Drinke what is pure and cleare That thou the truth doth tell To all let it appeare Speake not to all what ever thou doest know If thou be well keepe wisely were thou art Conserve with care what ever is thine owne Mischance sure-footed comes like th' nimble Hart. Be silent in due time abstaine sustaine Hold up thy head Of need to none complaine Despaire not of Gods helpe thy state to stay Who sends assistance to us every day He was in his private converse of such behaviour that his life was a patterne of vertue Luthers private life 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 His temperance 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 Tom. 1. ep p. 2â—5 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 His zeale in prayer 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 His recreations 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 Tom. 2. ep p. 293. and 334. 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 Tom. 2. ep p. 365. the Psalter requireth a whole man preaching to the people might
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 extant before others but sparingly in English set forth all of them worthy of everlasting 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 Vrne 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 rore 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 Luthers parentage and spred into divers parts of the Territories of the Earle of Mansfield It consisted of the middle degree of Men. The Parents of Martin Luther first lived in Isleben a town in that Earldome thence they went to dwell in Mansfield Thence M. Luther went to Isenak Lu. Epist Tom. 1. pag. 227. the place of which the Earldome took its name There Iohn Luther father of Martin possessed Mettle Mines bore office and for his integritie was in good esteem among the best Citizens Margaret Lindeman was the wife of Iohn Luther and Mother of Martin she was a woman commendable for all vertues beseeming a worthy Matron especially for her modesty feare of God and calling on his name So that she was a pattern of vertue to many others The birth of Luther An. 1483. Martin Luther was born of Isleben Ann. Dom. 1483. Novem. 10. at 9. a clock at night on St. Martins day and was thence call'd Martin His parents brought him up in the knowledge and feare of God according to the capacitie of his tender yeeres and taught him to read at home and accustomed him to vertuous demeanour The father of George Aemilius as Luther often hath related first put him to Schoole Aemilius put him to Schoole where though the trueth was much darkned by clouds of Popery yet God preserved still the heads of Catechisme the Elements of the Cisioian Grammar some Psalmes and formes of prayer An. Dom. 1496. John Reineck his School-fellow at Magdeburg At fourteene yeeres of age he with Iohn Reineck who proved a man of especiall vertue and authoritie in those parts were sent to Magdeburg Whence a league of intire friendship ever continued between these two either because of a Sympathy and agreement of their natures or their education together in their first studies At Magdeburg he as many others born of honest parents lived a poore Scholler for the space of one yeere Thus even the greatest matters have small beginnings and scarce any thing is highly exalted but from a lowly degree An. 1498. he went to Isenak Thence by his parents he was removed to Isenak where was a Schoole of great fame here was a Schoolemaster who as Luther by experience found and would professe taught Grammar more dextrously and truely One reason also of his being sent thither was because his Mother was born there of a worthy and ancient family How he perfected his Grammar learning There he perfected his Grammar learning and being of a very quick wit and by nature fitted for eloquence he soone surpassed his School-fellows in copiousnesse of speech and matter and excelled in expression of his minde both in prose and verse Upon this his tasting the sweetnesse of learning Luthers love to learning he was inflamed with an earnest desire to goe to some Vniversitie the well-spring of all good literature and surely had he met with good and commendable Tutors he by his piercing wit had attained all good Arts and perhaps he might by the milder studies of true Philosophy and diligence in well framing his style somewhat have tempered the vehemeneie of his nature He went to Erford An. 1501. He studied at Erford An. 1501. Where he fell upon the crabbed and thorny Logick of that age which he soone attained as one who by the sagacitie of his wit was better able to dive into the causes and other places of Arguments then others Here out of a desire of better learning His course in his reading he read over Cicero Livy Virgil and other monuments of ancient Latine Authors These he perused not as a child to glean Phrases from them but to discern what therein was usefull towards the right conforming of mans life And to that end seriously observed the counsels and grave sentences in those writers and having a faithfull and sure memory what ever he read or heard he had it still in readinesse for present use Hereby he so excelled in his youth that the whole Universitie admired his wit When at Erphord he was graced a His being M. of Arts An. 1503. or as others 1505. with the degree of Master of Arts at twentie yeeres of his age he read as Professour Aristotles Physicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Afterward his kindred seeing it fit that so worthy indowments of wit and eloquence should be cherished for the publique good by their advise he betooke b His study of the Law himself to the study of the Law But not long after when he was 21. yeeres old of a sudden besides the purpose of his parents and kindred upon an affright from his faithfull mates violent death he betook himself to the Augustine Monks c He entred the Monastery An. 1504. Colledge in Erphord But before he entred the Monastery he entertained his fellow d He taketh his leave of his fellow Students Tom. 1. epist students with a cheerfull banquet and thereupon sent them letters valedictory and sending to his parents the Ring and gown of his degree
of Master of Arts unfolded to them the reason of the change of his course of life It much grieved his parents that so excellent parts should be spent in a life little differing from death But for a moneths space no man could be admitted to speake with him Nor was it povertie but the love of a pious life which bent his minde to the Monastical life In which though he spent his time in the usual schoole learning and read the Writers upon the Sentences and in publique disputations clearly opened their inextricable labyrinths to the admiration of many yet because in this kinde of life he sought not to ennoble his fame but to further his study of a pious life he looked into those studies but upon the by and with much ease attained their Scholastical methods When on a time in the Library of the Colledge Luther meets with a Latine Bible running over the books thereof in order he met with a copie of the Latine Bible which he never saw before There with admiration he observed that there were moe Evangelical and Apostolical texts then what were read to the people in Churches In the old Testament with great attention he read the story of Samuel and Anna his mother and began to wish that he was the owner of the like book which not long after he obtained Hereupon he spent his time on the Propheticall and Apostolicall writings the fountaines of all heavenly doctrine seeking thence to enforme his minde with Gods will and to nourish in himself the feare of God and true faith in Christ from true and undoubted grounds Some sicknesse and feare whet him on to attempt these studies more earnestly It is said Luther fell into a grievous sicknesse An. 1501. A Priest comforted him The Monks used him hardly that in this Colledge Luther in his younger yeers fell into a most violent disease in so much that there was no hope of life and that an ancient Priest came to him and with these words comforted him Sir Be of good courage for your disease is not mortall God will raise you up to be a man who shall afford comfort to many others At the first the Monks handled him somewhat harshly whilest he performed the office of the Custos and was compelled to cleanse the uncleane places as also to walk up and down the Citie with a bagge or wallet But upon the request of the Universitie of which he had been a member he was eased of that burden He was often cheered up by conference with the ancient Priest to whom he revealed his feares and scruples of minde and heard him discoursing of faith at large and going on the Creed to the Article The Article of remission of sinnes explained 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 Bernard Sermon of the Annunt 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 He read St Augustine 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 c And writers on the sentences 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 yeares in the Colledge In the yeare 1507. he put on the priests hood He began to say Masse An. 1507. B. 1. Epist 1. 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 He was removed to Wittenberg An. 1508. 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 Mellurstads Judgement of Luther 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 He was professor of Philosophy at Wittenberg and inveyes against Arist Tom. 1. Epist 10. He went to Rome An. 1510. What manner of Masses at Rome Tom. 6. Ien. Germ. pag. 88. 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 controver-among 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 remaine 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 of Divinitie A. 1512. 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 Staupicius would have him Doctour and why 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 Luther expoundeth the Epistle to the Romans 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 He recal'd men to Christ 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 His manners and doctrine agreed 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 The Prophets and Apostles cleared 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 Erasmus writings 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 And now also Luther betook himselfe to the study of the Greeke and Hebrew tongues Luther studieth Greeke Hebrew that upon his knowledge of the phrase and proprietie of the originall he might more exactly judge of doctrines grounded thereupon An. 15 16. Jo. Tecelius sold Indulgences Luther being thus busied into Misnia and Saxonie Iohn Tecelius a Dominican frier brought indulgences to be sold This Tecelius was adjudged to death by Maximilian the Emperour and commanded to be throwne into the river Oenopente but was pardoned at the request of Frederike Duke of Saxony who as it befell was in those coastes at his condemnation This Tecelius averred as other matters so especially that he had so large a commission from the Pope that though a man should have defloured the Blessed Virgin for money he could pardon the sinne And further he did not onely give pardons for sins past but for sins to come And not long after an Edict was set forth with Albertus the Archbishops arms which enjoyned the officers in especiall manner to commend the validitie of the indulgences The Pardoners also at certain rates gave license on dayes prohibited to eate milke cheese egges flesh Luthers Godly zeale being inflamed with these proceedings Luthers propositions about Indulgences The day of Indulgences confusion Tom. 2. epist. pag. 345. Tecelius his opposing Luther set forth certaine propositions concerning Indulgences These he publikely affixed at the Church next to the Castle of Wittenberg on All Saints Eve An. 1517. Hereupon Tecelius persisting in his old course and hoping thereby the more to oblige the Pope to himself calleth a Senate of Monks and Divines of his own stamp and sets them on work to write something against Luther In the meane time he himself might not be silent Nor would he onely preach against Luther but with open mouth cryeth and thunders that Luther was deservedly to be burnt as an Heretick and withall publikely cast Luthers propositions and his Sermon concerning Indulgences into the fire These violent courses of Tecelius and his complices Luthers temper in this cause necessarily put Luther upon a more copious declaration and defence of the Trueth Thus began these Controversies in which Luther aymed not at nor so much as thought of the change which followed nor indeed did altogether disallow of the Indulgences but desired a moderation in their use Yea it appeared that Luther would have been quiet so that his adversaries had been injoyned silence But when he saw that whatsoever the Popes crafty mony-gatherers insinuated to Albertus Archbishop of Mentz was defended and beleeved by the common sort and yet knew not that Tecelius was hired by Albertus to make those Sermons for the purchasing of his Bishops roab He the day before the Calends of Novemb. An. 1517. complained to the Archbishop by writing concerning their impious clamours and intreated that he by the authoritie of his place would call in their libels and prescribe to the Preachers some other forme of preaching their pardons so Luther Tom. 1. epist. p. 37.6 Luther writes to the Archbishop who answered him not himself saith At the same time Luther sent him Propositions concerning Repentance and Indulgences which he then first set forth These are extant Tom. 1. of Luthers works The Archbishop returned no answer to Luthers epistle Tecelius opposed contrary Positions made by Conrade Wimpin and others at Franckfort on Viadrus and compared the Pope with Peter and the crosse erected by the Pope with Christs crosse Tecelius his Theses burnt by the Students of Wittenb At Hal in Saxony the Students of Wittenberg publikely burnt in the market place Tecelius his Theses of
judgement about Luther desired and among others 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 Tom. 2. Lat. Sleidan Luthers judgement for Luther had in his disputations 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 Ieronymus Alexander Tom. 2. Lat. 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 Luthers books burnt if he would write against Luther Erasmus is instigated 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 Lady Margarets answer 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 unleâ—â—ned Tom. 1. Epist p. 290 Luther knowing what was donâ— with his writings An. 1520. Decemb. 10. Luther burneâ— popish books 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 Thirty errors of Popery Tom. 2. lat pag. 125. 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 Imperial or 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 Councels 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 De Constit. c. Translat 25. q. 1. Jdeo permittente 14. Christs Priesthood was translated from him to Saint Peter 15. The Pope hath power to make Ordinances and Laws for the Catholike Church 16. This sentencce whatsoever 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 sentent et re judic c. Pastoralis 22. The Pope teacheth that it is just and lawfull for a Christian by force to repulse force and violence 23. That inferiors and subjects may be disobedient and resist their Princes and that the Pope can depose Kings 24. The Pope laboureth to have power to dissolve and breake all oathes leagues obligements made between superiours and inferiours 25. The Pope hath power to break and alter vowes made to God De vot et vot red 26. The Pope teacheth that he that delayes to pay his vow commanded by God is not to be censured as a breaker of his vow ibid. 27. The Pope teacheth that no married man or woman can serve God 28. The Pope compareth his unprofitable lawes with the Gospels and sacred scriptures 29. The Pope hath power to interpret and unfold or expound the sacred scripture at his pleasure and will and to permit no man to interpret the same otherwise then the Pope himselfe pleaseth 30. The Pope
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
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 The chiefe points of Religion opened and cleared by Luther 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 Melancthon Tom. 6. declam 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 againe 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 Luthers worthy paines in translating the Bible 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 The difficulty of Jobs Translation 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 Luthers course in translating the Bible 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 Tom. 1 epist â—71 whom elsewhere we have named that they might be witnesses of his faithfull care in darke places Mathes Sermon concerning Luthers life p. 153. He entreated Spalatinus to send precious stones from the Court for his better knowledge of them and took care that he might know the names and differences of certain beasts and fowles and creeping things and insects He had Rams Sheep Calves kild and cut up at his house and learned the names of their joynts and the proprietie of speech about them from the butchers Oftentimes as himself relateth he spent fourteen dayes together in the interpretation of one word or line with Melancthon and Aurogallus help In their consultation this was their course Luther was President in the work performed in the Monastery and ever had by him the old Latine Translation and his new one and the Originill Text To Melancthons care was commended the Greek Bible to Crucigers the Hebrew and Chaldee other professours were imployed in the perusing the Rabbins and every one of them still came to the worke well premeditated Every one gave his judgement concerning the place to be translated they compared all together Luthers revising the first Edition of the Bible and at length concluded of the expression thereof But Luther before his death revised the first edition for one day teacheth another For this paines we owe him perpetuall thanks for it much benefits the Church and informeth such as know not the originall yea it much pleasures the learned in the tongues for conference of translations Who carped at this Yet this paines was blamed by Vicelius and Staphylus and other vassals of the Pope Luther expositions of the Bible Luther also published many learned Expositions and Comments on the Scripture Of which thus saith Erasmus Erasm judgement thereof In one leaf of Luthers Commentaries is more solid Divinitie then in many prolix Treatises of the School-men and other the like He also refined and much enriched the German tongue Luthers eloquence in his own tongue He translated out of Latine some things which other thought not possible to be rendred in the vulgar tongue and yet used most significant and proper words so that some one word might seeme to set the whole matter forth most expressely Of the Pope Luther wrote how he made use of the Masse even for the souls departed and saith that he with his Masse had gone not onely into all corners of the world but even into purgatory it self here he useth a word in the German tongue signifying the noyse * Isi binnunier gerum Pett in die helle of his tumbling down into hell Also he calleth Indulgence-Mongers pursethreshers because the Pope winnowed good money out of that chaffe There are full many such passages in his German writings Well therefore said renowned Sturnius concerning him Luther may be reputed very well the Master of our tongue whether you speake of the puritie or copiousnesse of it The counsellers of Princes the Judges of Cities all Secretaries all Embassadours and Lawyers attribute this praise to him being a Divine The cause defended by him was just and necessary and of itself deserved the victory but assuredly he shot forth the darts of his arguments with the strong armes of true Oratory If he had not revived Religion if he had preached no Sermons had he written nothing else but what he divulged of the Scriptures translated yet for this his paines he deserved very excellent and perpetuall glory For if the Greek and Latine and other translations be compared with the German they come short for clearnesse purenesse proprietie agreeing with the original I am perswaded that as no Painter could passe Apelles so not any writer can go beyond Luther for his translation in our tongue He began a matter as was conceived beyond the reach of man Luthers adversaries and