may perchance be kicked against and trodden on after my death This yeere the Anabaptists spread themselves over Helvetia and other parts of Germany Anabaptists at Anwerp and began to broach their fancies at Anwerp Hereupon Luther by an Epistle warned them of Anwerp to take heed of the erroneous spirit Luther writeth to Anwerp which had hindred him very much and recited the impostures of false spirits in Popery and the by-pathes of the seducing spirits of the present times There he set downe the erroneous Articles of a tumultuous spirit at Anwerp and opened the inconstancy lying boldnesse and ambitious desire of honour lurking in that Spirit and entreateth them to forbeare the question concerning Gods hidden will and to attend to The Articles of the Anabaptists and learne the necessary precepts set before us by our God The Articles were these 1. That every man hath the Spirit 2. That the Spirit was nothing else but our reason and understanding 3. That every man beleeveth 4. That there were no inferi or place of torment for mens soules but that the body onely was condemned 5. That every soule should be saved 6. That by the law of nature we are taught to do good to our neighbour as we would he should doe to us and that this will in us was faith 7. That we sinne not against the law by desiring any thing if our will consent not to our desire and lust 8. That he which hath not the Spirit hath not sin because he wanteth reason which they called the Holy Ghost Now also Luther wrote to the King of England by the perswasion of Christiern the banished King of Denmark Tom. 2. Ep. 290. Luther writeth to the King of England c. This Epistle was submissive and is extant in his Epistles He wrote also humbly to George Duke of Saxony that he would be pleased to afford him his favourable respect But the King returned him an harsh answere and objected to him his levity and inconstancy and defended Cardinal Wolsey against Luthers writing to him that hence it appeared how he hated Luther When Luther saw the Kings answer printed he was very much grieved at what he had done and that he had so much yeelded to his friends as to write in so humble a strain The like befell him upon his writing to Cajetan George Duke of Saxony and Erasmus Rotterod who by Luthers lenity were incensed rather then pacified He resolved never afterward to run into the like errour Cocleus and Eckius wonderfully also insulted over Luthers submissivenesse Wherefore Luther now printed a booke against as he called it the Ill languaged and contumelious booke of the King of England An. 1526. In the yeare 1526. Luther refused Erasmus book intituled de serve Arbitrio The delaying of his answer proceeded from the cause certified to * Tom. 2. ep 270. Amsdorf in these words I will not answer Erasmus till I have done with Carolostade who makes great troubles and stirres in upper Germany Erasmus provoketh thereby put forth his Hyperaspides Erasm his Hyperasp of which book Luther thus writeth Erasmus that viper being rouzed up will write against me again Tom. 2. epist 314. what eloquence will that most vain hunter after glory exercise to cast down Luther About the same time Duke George and the Bishops attempted many wayes to wrong Luther as appeareth by his letter to Myconius saying The wicked Papists conspire and Epist pag. 324. as Melanctheus writeth to me from Iena threaten warre against me Wherefore see you that the people admonished hereof manfully contend by faithfull and continuall prayer to the Lord that they may be overcome and withheld by the Spirit and constrained to keepe outward peace Verily I understand by the writings and speeches of many that there is very great need of earnest prayer for Satans plots are a working Wherefore I intreat you that you would perswade the people to this most necessary and prevalent work because they are endangered and exposed to Satans sword and fury encompassing them He further saith Sixe Sects of the Sacramentarians That the Sectaries were divided into sixe Sects Sixe heads in one yeere are sprung up among the Sacramentarians t is a strange spirit which so much differs from it selfe One sect followed Carolostade that is fallen a second is that of Zwinglius which is falling the third is with Oecolampadius which will fall the fourth also which is Carolostade is fallen he thus disposeth of the words That which is given for you is my body The fifth is now arising in Silesia set forth by Valentine Crantwald and Caspar Schwenkfeld who thus invert the words My body which is given for you is this that is spirituall meat These grievously vex and molest us with their writings for they are most obstreperous and full of words I wish they had my disease of the Stone they seeme so strong to undergo it The sixth is that of Peter Florus at Cullen which Melancthon will deale with I never saw ought but one letter about it O how he reprobates Luther I know saith he that Luther is forsaken of the Lord. All those Spirits differing each from other contend with subtle arguments all of them boast of revelations obtained by prayer and teares and agree onely in this that all of them fight each with other for us This Christ effecteth for us Luther wrote a consolatory letter to Iohn Husse of Breslow a Teacher of the Gospel notwithstanding the scandall raised by the Heretiks and their fighting against the Articles of our Faith and in speciall manner he animated him against Schwenfeld and Crantwald Luthers speech of comfort to Hessus saying You speak the Truth friend Hesse Hitherto the combate was about points not grounded in the Scriptures as about the Pope and Purgatory and the like Now ye come to more serious matters and to the battell already won concerning points in the Scripture Here we shall see the Dragon fighting or rather we shall combat with him Michael being our Captain in these Heavenly fights When the Dragon shall pull down the third part of the stars with his tayle to the earth then the cause will call for our strength in Christ Here you shall see what manner a warriour and how strong a champion Satan is whom yet you have not sufficiently tried or had experience of Schwenkfeld and Crantwald which I much lament are reserved for these mischiefes But the foundation of God standeth firme having this seale The Lord knoweth who are his let this be our comfort and in this let us be confident to prevaile over the gates of Hell Besides other studies of Luther Tom. 2. epist 318. he now expounded Ecclesiastes which was not easie and plain as he said for an Interpreters labour There are saith he The forme of the German Masse therein many Hebraismes and obstacles in that tongue not yet well made known Yet by the grace of God
shewed to be well decreed but could never be effected because they wanted learned men Concerning that which they decreed about books he rejected it not so that the decree did not extend to the sacred books of the Scripture the publishing whereof was in no wise to be prohibited Lastly concerning the amercing of Priests who either married or left their order the decree was too harsh and if the Gospel was purely to be preached Caesar was offended at the Decree ought to be mitigated The Emperour was somewhat offended with this decree and attempted by his Legate to take it away The Gospel propagated Tom. 2. epist pag. 121. but all in vain For this businesse was farre otherwise concluded of in heaven then at Norinberg as Luther wrote For the Princes and Cities of the Empire strove who first should admit the reformed doctrin This was done in Denmark Prussia Livonia Silesia and elsewhere In this yeere Luther set forth the book concerning the dignitie and office of the Civil Magistrate Luthers book concerning the Civill Magistrate 1523. Frederik the Elector was much delighted with this book He wrote also to the Waldenses commonly called the Picards concerning the adoring the Sacrament In which book he first mentions the opinion of Berengarius concerning the Lords Supper before he began the contention with the Helvetians He now also set forth the five books of Moses in the German tongue The German Pentateuch three thousand yeers since the death of Moses He published also a book to the Senate of Prague about ordeining of Ministers and another about avoyding the doctrine of men He wrote this yeere also to the Livonians and shewed his great joy at their entertaining the Evangelicall doctrin which many tyrants in Germany sought obstinately to oppresse and forewarned them that they must expect cruell persecutions of the same kind to the undergoing whereof he gravely and piously exhorted them encouraging them to be resolute and to persevere valiantly in the truth of the Gospel which they had received He further did instruct them briefly and plainely concerning Justifying faith and the true nature of good workes The forme of the Masse set out by Luther Chytreus in Sax. 10. pag. 282. He this yeere also set forth a forme of the Masse and Communion herein he retained all the usuall rites which were not plainly repugnant to the word of God as the preface out of the Psalmes the Kyrie the Collect the Epistle the sequence the Gospel the Creed the sermon the prayers the preface the Sanctus the Lords prayer the wordes of the Lordes supper the Elevation the agnus Dei the thanksgiving But the Canon of the Masse which transformed the Lords supper into a sacrifice for the quicke and the dead Auricular Confession he wholly omitted This was the first change of the rites though Carolostadius attempted the like before Auricular confession was also brought into use againe 2. Martyrs in Germany 1523 and private absolution also which Carolostadius had abandoned And when 2. Monkeâ— of the Augustinian profession were the first day of Iuly burnt by the Inquisitor first shed their bloud for the reformed doctrine of the faith Luther renowned their constancy with an hymme or Psalm and praised them as the first Martyrs of his time Of this story also Erasmus * Epist b. 21. b. 7. and b. 14. E. 4. writeth Then also Luther sent a Letter consolatory to the Augustins which is extant amidst his workes He wrote also to the Miltebergians who were then in danger for the Gospels sake Their first instructor was Iohn Draco Carolostadius Luther also comforted three noble Misnian virgins which were turned out of the Friburg Court of Henry Duke of Saxonie Other Nuns left their Cloysters elsewhere whereupon Luther wrote thus to Spalatinus There came to me those nine converted Nunnes who left Nimpschen Monastery miserable is their case but they were conducted by honest citizens of Torgaw Nunnes leaving their Cloysters namely by Leonard Coppe and his unkles sonne and Wolfius Tomitzech that there is no cause of suspition I much pity them but especially many other their like who every where in great number perish by their cursed and incestuous chastitie That sex is most weake of it selfe and by Gods and natures appointment is to be a mate for man and being by papisticall crueltie shut up from men is brought into perdition Tom. 2. Epist p. 131. Among them was Katherin de Bora who afterward was Luthers wife He writes to to the same Spalatinus elsewere of other Nunnes thus There departed 16. Tom. 2. cp p. 139. Nunnes out of the Monastery of Widderstetten under the Earle of Mansfield of which 11. came to the Quaestor of Alstet Of them Albertus received five It is now debated among them whether they ought to be entertained or rejected Tom. 2. cp p. 134. and 112. Nor yet is here an end of our newes This yeere is most fruitfull of Novelty and as I perceive still will be Luther also often was earnest with the Elector of Saxony suing to him by Spalatinus that he would demolish the Wittenbergian Bethaven that is the Colledge of All Soules And gave this reason Because almost all the Priests there not onely live wickedly but also are contemners of God and men with obstinate hearts and every night play the whoremasters and in the mornings say Masse with an impudent and brasen forehead For this he called Amsdorfe to witnesse and sayd that all of them except three were wanton persons and not to be maintained yea that it was the duty of the Magistrats to prohibite their whoredom compell them to marry For though no man can be compelled and forced to the truth yet publique wickednesse is to be taken away At the least the Masses might be forborne which were maintained at the Princes charge and were wickedly performed and to no good end Iohn the Prince of Anhalt by Doctour Ieronymus and a Franciscan warned Luther to acquite himselfe of holding a new Article with which Ferdinand of Norinberg did charge him namely that he held that Christ was the seed of Abraham Luther excusing himselfe Tom. 2. pag. 121. At the first Luther conceived that they jested with him but when he found that they spoke it sadly he was forced to give credit to their speech that he was in very deed so accused Frederik Duk. of Saxony warned to punish Luther Pope Adrian then opposed the Gospel and by his Bull as they call it very much blamed Frederik Electour of Saxony for the neglect of his duty in not punishing or banishing Luther And then warned and intreated the Prince that now at length he he would doe it and if he would not he should try how keen the Popes and Emperours swords were The same request Henry the eight King of England and Lodowik King of Hungary and Bohemia made To all these the Elector returned no other answer
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
receiveth not his authority power strength and dignitie from the scripture but the scripture from the Pope This in briefe is the summe of the whole Canon Law The Pope is God on earth supreame in all heavenly earthly spirituall and secular matters And All things are the Popes to whom none dare say what doe you Here Frederik Prince Elector obtained of the Emperour to call Luther to the Court held at Wormes in March An. 1521. Luther sene for to Wormes 1521. And goeth thither Luther receiving the Emperours graunt for his safety went from Wittenberg and was conducted thence by Casparus Sturnius Herauld and accompanied with Iustus Ionas Ier. Schurfius and Nic. Amsderfe Of the students he tooke onely Peter Suavenus a Dane as his companion who afterward being called by Christian King of Denmarke to his Court did much advance good letters and did the Church good service When he came to Hidelberg he proffered to dispute publiquely with any that would Here many did dehort Luther from going to Worms Some dehort him Others said that by the burning of his books he might know what was the Popes censure concerning himselfe Others told him of the usage of Hus and Savonarola But Luther with a resolute courage lightly regarded their advise and sayd that these discouragements were but cast into his way by Satan who knew that by the profession of the truth especially in so illustrious a place his kingdome would be shaken and indamaged He further brake forth into these words If I knew that there were so many Devils at Wormes as tiles on the houses yet would I goe thither Also Francis of Sickingen one in high esteeme with the Emperour at Bucers request did invite Luther to come to his Castle at Ebernburgh where the cause might more commodiously be agitated But Luther answered that he was sent for by the Emperour not to Ebernburgh but to Wormes and thither he would goe Luther commeth to Wormes So taking his journey he came to Wormes on April the sixth which was the third Holyday after Misericordias Domini They say the Duke of Bavaria his Iester whether suborned by others or by some instinct met Luther at his entrance into the towne with a Crosse as is wont in funerals and sung with a loud voyce Welcome comest thou hither and much desired of us who sate in darknesse Presently some counselled Caesar Promise of safety to Luther was to be kept that Luther was to be delt with as they did with Hus. But Caesar thought it just to make good his promise and especially Lodowik the Elector Palatine withstood the designment and prudently sayd That if they should take that course with Luther it would set a brand of imfamy and eternall disgrace on the name of Germany On the 17. day of April at 4. Luther appeareth before Caesar a clock in the afternoon he appeared before the Emperour and many Princes his Assessours Here Iohn Eckius a Lawyer Caesars Spokesman and Officiall of Triers upon command said with an audible voyce Martin Luther there are two causes why Caesar with the consent of the Princes and States have sent for you which I now propound to you and expect your answer First What he is to answer to Whether these Books here he held up a bundle of books written in the Latine German tongues were written by you and do you acknowledge them to be yours The second Whether you will revoke and recant any thing in them or stand in defence of them Ierome Schurfius a Lawyer on Luthers part desired that the titles of the books might be recited and spoken publiquely which being done Luther briefly repeated what was desired of him Luthers answer and answered Concerning the books now named I professe and acknowledge that they be mine but concerning my defence of what I have written that I may answer rightly thereunto seeing it is a matter of very great moment I desire that I may not speake rashly and against my conscience sometime to deliberate After some debate of the matter Eckius said again Though by Caesar letters missive you might well understand the cause why you were sent for and therefore need not to delay but make your answer presently yet Caesar such is his clemency granteth you one day for to deliberate on the matter and commands that to morrow about this houre you here present your self and make your distinct answer by word of mouth and not by writing Upon Luthers desiring of respit some thought that he would not be constant but they failed in their opinion Here I may not passe it over in silence that when Luther drew neere to Caesars throne many of the Princes Counsell encouraged him Luther incouraged by divers present Mat. 10.19.20 saying that he should be of good courage and not faint Nor feare them who could kill the body onely but not hurt the soule Others put him in minde to meditate on this When ye shall appeare before Kings and Princes be not solicitous how and what to answer For in that moment it shall be given you what you shall say Luthers second answer The day following Luther appeared at the houre appointed And after that Eckius had asked him What now was his resolution he first humbly desired of the Emperour and Princes That they would grant him their gentle attention and then said Of the books which I have written some of them tend to faith and Pietie to these my adversaries give ample Testimony Should I recant these I might be justly censured as a wicked man Other of my books are against the Pope of Rome and Papisticall doctrine which both hath and still doth much trouble the Christian world and doth much mischiefe These should I revoke I should confirme their tyranny The third sort of my books are against some private men who defend the Papists cause and by many calumnies upon me In these I confesse I have been too vehement and besides I confesse that I am not of an unerring perfection but yet I can not safely revoke these books unlesse I will set open a gap to the impudency of many Being a man I may erre and therefore desire any one better to instruct me by the testimony of Scripture Eckius indignation and reply When he had thus said Eckius with a sowre countenance replyed You answer not to the matter nor doth it pertaine to you to call the authoritie of the Councell into question A plaine and direct answer is required of you whether you desire that your writings should stand good Then said Luther Seeing you O Caesar and the Princes command me to answer punctually I obey This is my resolution Unlesse I be convicted by testimony of Scripture or evident reason I may not revoke any thing which I have written or spoken For I will not in any wise wound my conscience I do not conforme my beleefe to the Popes or the Councels determinations alone for they
Lords Supper is received by the worthy receivers what by the unworthy what by faith what without faith and censures Zwinglius Oecolampadius and others at Tigur who set forth an Apologie of their doctrin the yeere following Of this * In the life of Bulling and Lavat Histor Sacr. elsewhere is spoken This very yeere the 17. Luthers last Lecture of November he finished his explication of Genesis which was his last publique reading in the Universitie which he concluded with these words See Mathes Sermon concerning Luther p. 169. b. Thus end I my explication on Genesis God grant that others may more rightly and truly expound it then I have done I cannot proceed farther therein my strength faileth me pray for me that it would please God to grant me a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life This yeere in Italy was spread a most impudent lie about Luthers death The lye in Italy about Luthers death The summe of it translated out of the Italian is this A stupendious rare miracle which God ever to be praised Tom. 8. Jen. p. 206. shewed about the filthy death of Martin Luther a man damned both in body and soule so that it conduced to the glory of Jesus Christ and the amendment and comfort of godly men When Martin Luther was sick he desired the Lords body to be communicated to him which he receiving died presently When he saw that he must die he requested that his body might be set upon the Altar and be adored with divine worship But God to put an end to his horrible errours by a great miracle warned the people to abstain from the impietie which Luther invented For when his body was laid in his grave suddenly so great a stirre and terrour arose as if the foundations of the earth were shaken together Whereupon all at the funerall trembling were astonished and after a while lifting up their eyes beheld the sacred hoste appearing in the ayre Wherefore with great devotion of heart they placed the most sacred Host on the holy Altar Whereupon the fearefull noyse ceased But in the night following a loud noyse and ratling much shriller then the former was heard about the sepulcher of Luther which awaked all the Citie terrified them and almost kill'd them with astonishment In the morning when they opened the sepulcher they found neither his body nor his bones nor any of the cloathes but there came a sulphurous stinke out thereof which almost overcame the standers by By this miracle many were so amazed that they amended their lives for the honour of the Christian faith and the glory of Jesus Christ When this lye came Printed into Germany Luther did subscribe with his own hand words to this purpose I Martin Luther doe professe and witnesse under mine owne hand that I on the 21. day of March received this figment full of anger and fury concerning my death and that I read it with a joyfull mind and cheerfull countenance And but that I detest the blasphemy which ascribeth an impudent lie to the divine Majestie for the other passages I cannot but with great joy of heart laugh at Satans the Popes and their complices hatred against me God turne their hearts from their diabolicall maliciousnesse But if God decree not to heare my prayers for their sinne unto death then God graunt that they may fill up the measure of their sinnes and solace themselves to the full with their libels full fraught with such like lies This yeere Luther set forth a book intituled Against the Popedome ordained by the Devill In this he treats of the Councel appointed by the Pope and often adjourned or translated from place to place and of other plots of the Popes The Italian disgraced the Germans There he speaketh of the Campanian who comming out of Germany into Italy turned his bare breech towards Germany using words to the disgrace of the nation Luther published divers other Treatises as the explication of Christs speech Search the scriptures And shewed The blindnes ingratitude of the world in handling Christs complaint of Ierusalem By Luthers advice especially Georgius Anhaltinus undertooke the government of the Church of Mersberg Of this is spoken in the life of Duke George In the yeere 1546. An. 1546. Luther accompanied with Melancthon visited his owne countrey The Councel of Trent began Camerarius in vita Melanct. and returned again in safety Not long after the Councel of Trent being begun and having sate once or twice Luther was called again by the Earles of Mansfield to his owne countrey for to compose a dissention among them concerning their bounds and heritages Luther was not wont to deale in matters of this nature Luther called to Mansfield having been versed in sacred studies all his life time but because he was borne at Isleben a towne in the territories of Mansfield he was willing to do his countrey service in this kind Wherefore making his last sermon at Wittenburg the 17. He lodged at Justus Jonas his house day of Ianuary he tooke his journey on the 23. day And at Hall in Saxony lodged at Iustus Ionas his house Luthers danger where he stayed three dayes because of the roughnesse of the waters and preached the 26. of Ianuary upon Pauls Conversion On the 28. day being Thursday at Hall he passed over the river with Iustus Ionas and his own three sonnes and being in danger of drowning said to Dr Ionas Luther very sick Think you not that it would rejoyce the Devill very much if I and you and my three sonnes should be drowned When he came to the Earles of Mansfield he was entertained by a hundred horsemen or more of the Court Luthers imployment and was brought into Isleben very honourably but very sick and almost past recovery which thing he said did often befall him when he had any great businesse to undertake But using some meanes for cure of his infirmity he sate at supper with the company and so continued to do from the 29. of Ianuary to the 17. of February and treated of the differences for whose determination he came thither In this time he preached sometimes and twice received the Lords supper and publikely received two students into the sacred order of the Ministery And at his lodging used much godly conference at Table with his friends Luthers conference and every day devoutly prayed The day before his death though he was somewhat weake Whether in the other life we shall know one another yet he dined and supped with the company and at supper spake of divers matters and among other passages asked whether in Heaven we should know one an other when the rest desired to heare his judgement thereof He said What befell Adam he never saw Eve but was at rest in a deep sleep when God formed her yet when he awaked and saw her he asketh not what she was or whence she was
the worship of Saints was superstitious nor the praying to them for matters especially pertaining to the body For thus our neighbours the Pighards hereticks in Boemia conceit For we in better manner obtaine of God by his Saints any good thing for assuredly all good is Gods gift then others get by Magicians and Wisards of the Devill as the manner is But this my meaning was that it is superstitious yea ungodly wicked to beg of God and the Saints things corporall onely and to neglect the things which concerne the soule and salvation and are sued for according to Gods will As if we forgot or beleeved not his word saying Seeke first or cheifely the kingdome of God and all these things shall be added to you Yea every where Christ teacheth us to slight corporall matters and our bodies as base things in regard of our soules Concerning the adoration in the Sacrament thus he wrote I say a Tom. 2. ep pag. 72. it is free for us to adore Christ and call upon him sub sacramento under the Sacrament For he sins not who doth not adore nor doth he sinne who doth adore Concerning the administration of the Lords Supper in the vulgar tongue thus he wrote I wish the Masse b Tom. 2. ep pag. 243. might be used in the Mother tongue rather then can promise to have it so Because I cannot bring it to passe as being a matter requiring both Musick and the Spirit So in the mean time I permit every man to abound in his own sense till Christ inables me to say more He first celebrated the Masse in the mother tongue An. 1525. as he writeth to Langus and the members of Erford This day we attend the Princes command Tom. 2. ep pag. 301. the next Lords day we will publiquely sing in the name of Christ and Masse shall be in the mother tongue for the Lay people But the daily service shall be in Latine but we will have the Lessons in the vulgar tongue These things ye shall have shortly published Luther causes Psalmed in the German tongue to be used Tom. 2. ep pag. 230. Concerning this thus he wrote to Spalatinus An. 1524. We intend according to the example of the Prophets and ancient fathers of the Church to make Psalmes or spirituall songs for the common people that the word of God may continue among the people if not otherwise yet surely in Psalmes We seeke for Poets where we may Now seeing you have attained both the free use and Elegancy of the German tongue I intreat you to take some paines with us in this businesse and try how you can turn a Psalme into verse as I have given you a pattern I would have you not to use late invented and courtly termes But make the verse to fit the simplest and most vulgar capacitie yet let the words be smooth and proper Let the sense also be cleare and as neere as may be to the originall yet may you use this freedome as to vary the words sometimes so that you keep the sense I cannot performe the worke so neatly as I would and therefore desire to try how neere you can come to Heman Asaph or Jeduthun He taught many things soundly and gravely about the Scripture and the authoritie thereof as That our faith was to be built on the Canonicall books Tom. 1. epist p. 61. the other books required our judgement Of the word the Sacraments and Ministers he taught Tom. 2. epist. p. 273. That we are planters and waterers and are Ministers of the word of life and Sacraments of salvation Tom. 1. epist pag. 11. but are not Givers of the increase Concerning our Justice he said Thou Lord art my justice I am sinne Thou hast taken what I am and given me that which was thine Thou hast taken that which thou wast not and given me that which I was not Tom. 2. epist pag. 371. Concerning ceremonies he said I condemne no Ceremonies but those which are contrary to the Gospel Tom. 2. epist pag. 28. Concerning Moses As the learned men of the world say that Homer is the father of all the Poets the fountain yea the Ocean of all learning and wisdome and eloquence so our Moses is the father and fountain of all the Prophets and sacred books that is of all heavenly wisdome and eloquence Concerning humane learning Tom. 2. epist pag. 307. I am perswaded that Theologie could not wholly be kept sincere without the skill of other Arts. For heretofore when knowledge of other learning was decayed or despised Theologie did fall and lay neglected most miserably Nay I discern that the revelation of Gods Word would never have become so glorious unlesse first the Tongues and Arts had been brought into use and flourished and made a way for Divinitie as John Baptist did for Christ And elsewhere I think they erre Tom. 1. epist pag. 360. and are extremely out of the way who think the knowledge of Philosophy and of nature to be of no use for Theologie Of Tentations thus he speaketh I would have men who are tempted thus to be comforted with faith and hope first to avoyd solitarinesse and still to have company and to sing Psalmes and talke of holy matters Then secondly to be assuredly perswaded which though it be most difficult yet is it the most ready cure that those thoughts are not their own but Satans and therefore that they should earnestly endeavour to turn their hearts to some other thoughts and leave those evill thoughts to Satan For to insist upon them to strive with them or to struggle to overcome them is a provoking and strengthning them to a mans perdition without remedie Of men distracted and fooles this was his judgement Tom. 2. epist pag. 281. I think that all fooles and such as have not the use of reason are vexed or led aside by Satan not that they are therefore condemned but because Satan doth diversly tempt men some grievously some easily some a longer some a shorter time And whereas Physitions attribute much to naturall causes and mitigate those evils by naturall meanes sometimes this cometh to passe because they know not how great the power and strength of the devils are Concerning the Assembly at Auspurg Tom. 1. epist Melanct. pag. 408. to I. Obenburg whose remembrance Melancthon delighted not in because there such as endeavoured the propagation of the Gospel were censured by Charles the fifth harshly and grievously Tom. 5. oper Jen. pag. 280. Whereunto five Electors thirtie Ecclesiasticall Princes Secular Princes twentie three Abbats twentie two Earles and Barons thirtie three and thirtie nine free Cities subscribed Of this assembly I say this was Luthers judgement Though after much expense ye see nothing done at Auspurg yet thus I think though their cost had been double yet the publique confutation of the sophisters and envious persons would be equivalent thereunto for they sought to disgrace our