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
then that Luther was first to be heard in the Councel before he was to be condemned The Popes Legate accuseth Luther The Popes Legate also accused Luther at the Norician assembly as being most like to Mahomet For as the Turkes by Polygamy so Luther taking away the vowes of Chastity doth loose the reines to all licentiousnesse and overthrow the state of the Church and therefore he might be condemned before he was heard besides as now he did shew his cruelty against the Ecclesiasticall state he would afterward doe the like against the Political In this yeere Christiern King of Denmark and his wife sister of Charles the fifth were expulsed their Kingdome for his too violent government And being in banishment at the Court of his Unkle Frederik Elector of Saxony heard Luther preach In the 24. yeere Clemens the 7. Laurent Campegius the Popes Legate made Pope in Adrians steed sent Laur. Campegius the Cardinal his Legate to Norinberg He wrote at large to Frederik the Elector and highly praysed the Popes good will and did undertake that a Councel should be called Then also Caesar and most of the Princes of the Empire pressed for the decree of Wormes Which thing when Luther had notice of he bewayled the state of Germany and complained of the blindnesse of men That yeare Erasmus Roterod. Erasmus wrote against Luther being much importuned thereunto perswaded by the King of England and Thomas Wolsey Cardinal wrote against Luther He put forth against his will as he wrote to Melancthon the Treatise concerning free-will What was Luhers judgement about the same that which he wrote to Spalatinus sheweth Tom. 2. epist 230. namely It is incredible how I disdaine the booke of Eras concerning free-will and yet I have scarce read eight leaves thereof It grieveth me to answer so unlearned a book of a man so learned That book was answered by Luther An. 1526. with which delay the mindes of learned men were held in suspence what would be the issue of the controversie This yeere was remarkable for the unhappy Sacramentary controversie The beginning and proceeding whereof is related in the life of Carolostade Zwingl and Oecolamp and I list not here to renew our griefe by opening the sore again About this time came forth the fanatick writing of Tho. Muncer of Stolberg Muncers writing against Luther and the Preacher of Alstet in which he disgorged his venemous fury against the Lutherans The book which he wrote against Luther was dedicated to Christ Prince of Princes He rayled on Luther because he wanted an Enthusiasticall spirit and had nothing in his writing but a carnall spirit The same Muncer wrote to Melancthon a letter plainly shewing his fanaticall spirit The Psalmes put forth c. Luther now put forth Davids Psalter in the German tongue a book against the seditious and an Epistle to Frederik and Iohn Princes of Saxony against the enemies of images and Enthusiasts who boasted of illumination and conference with God He also set forth a booke about the Exaltation of Benno a Bishop once of Misnia Of Benno Bishop of Misnia whose bones were on the sixteen day of May digged up at Misnia exalted and placed in a marble Tombe which act some took to be religious other jested and laughed thereat This yeere in October Luther laid aside his Monkishhood Luther casts away his monkish weed and declared his judgement concerning the Synode to be called for determination of the ceremonies saying thus I thinke it not very safe to call together a Councell of our men for the setling an uniformitie of Ceremonies Of calling a Counsel for it will set a bad example though it be attempted with a good zeale as appeareth by all Councels from the beginning So that in the Apostolicall Synode they did more treat concerning matter of action and Traditions then of faith In the Synodes after this they never disputed about faith but alwayes about opinions and questions that the name of Councels is more suspected and hated by me then the name of free will If one Church will not of its own accord imitate another in externall matters what need is there to compell them by the decrees of Councels which presently are changed into lawes and snares to intangle mens soules Rather let one Church freely follow the good example of another or let each Church enjoy her owne wayes Reformation in the Cathedal Church at Wittenberg Tom. 2. Ep. p. 246. 1525. so that the unitie of the spirit be kept intire in faith by the word of God though there be diversitie and outward ceremonies and elements of the world About this time the Priests of Wittenberg keeping their Popish rites were at length evicted and in the end of the yeere abrogating private Masse began a Reformation in the Cathedrall Church Luther had long pressed them to this and had written thus to Spalatinus in this yeere By Gods help I will abrogate private Masse or venture upon another designe The yeere 1525. The Boores rise in armes is famous by the rising of the Boores when this broyle was a hatching and the Rustick fury did not yet breake forth into taking up armes Luther did disswade all men from sedition as being a crime of very high nature He also handled the Articles of the Boores and shewed how most of them were contrary to the word of God He wrote also to the Princes and Nobilitie and put them in minde of their dutie Luther exhorts to quell them and by another Treatise exhorted all men to joyne for the subversion of the theevish insendiaries as for the quenching of a common fire This book was censured by some as too sharp but was at large defended by Luther The contention with Carolostade In the beginning of this yeere Luther answered Carolostadius his books intitling his book Against the Celestiall Prophets At Wittenberg then the chieftains of the Anabaptists were called Prophets The Anabaptists because they boasted of secret revelations and propheticall spirits the principall men were Muncer Ciconius Cellarius and his friend Carolostad Luther in the first part of his book speaketh of images private Masse and Carolostade and affirmeth that images were forbidden in the old Testament not in the new and that Carolostade was not expelled by his meanes The name of Masse and that the name of Masse was given by the Apostles to the Sacrament of the altar The subject of the second book was the Eucharist where he first dealt against Carolostades exposition of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This and then answered the Arguments of Carolostade and said that the words which is given for you have this sense The body which you eate in the bread ere long when it is not eaten shall be given for you And as it is not written Take the body and eate it so neither is it written Take the bread and eate it And that Christs speech
EFFIGIES DOCTISSIMI UIRI MARTIN LUTHER THEOLOGI OBYT 17 FEBRUA Aº 1546. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Dr MARTIN LVTHER The Passages whereof haue bin taken out of his owne and other Godly and most Learned mens writings who liued in his time MVLIER AMICTA SOLE HABENS LVNAM SVB PEDIBVS CORONATA XII STELLIS Eâ—â—â—esia Milvâ—â—â— 1. Thess 5 12 13 Wee beseech you bretheren to know them Who labour among you etc and to esteeme them very highly for there worke sake and be at peace among your selues LONDON Printed by I L for Iohn Stafford and are to be sould at his shop in Chancery lane ouer against the Rolles 1641. To THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sr. THOMAS ROE Knight Chancellour of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell TO whom rather should I addresse this present discourse then to your Honourable selfe who by your a Ann. Dom 1628. and once since that time Embassie extraordinary for his Majestie of England into Germany well observed the countrey and the present estate thereof where many passages here mentioned were acted And much the rather doe I humbly present it to your Honourable Patronage because upon that happie occasion it pleased our gracious God to put then into your mind and to nourish therein ever since a serious consideration of the deplorable distractions of the Christian Church as he did into good b Nehem. 1. 2. Nehemiahs minde of the lamentable estate of Ierusalem in his time Your compassionate and tender affection was and is still much moved to c Segnius irritant aâ—imos demissa per aures quam que sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus Hor. observe the living stones of the New Ierusalem lying in the dust or drencht in their own blood some of her Priests and their flocks clad in Sackcloth others with their people by sword and fire cast out and banished and which is worst of all your Honour well discerned how difficult a task it was to cure this fearfull maladie because disaffection of parties dissention of opinions unlesse God prevented the mischiefe would not admit the binding up of the wound Nor did these miserable calamities of Gods people only vex and grieve your pious and religious soule but also so rouzed and summoned up your Honours most serious thoughts that with d As the good Samaritan not only pitied but took care of the wounded man an heartie and godlie providence with a sincere and prudent circumspection you presentlie consulted with other most learned religious Christian lovers of Gods Church about the peace thereof so far as possiblie may be attained and so far as it lies in the power of Christian Princes of most judicious Divines and of truly zealous people guided by them both that as much as may be we may all be e Christians shold be peaceable one with another the devill and the world raise stirs too many to molest the Church of one minde and accord and think and speak one and the same thing as the sacred Scripture often and straightly giveth us in charge For this end Mr. Iohn Dury a Divine of singular pietie learning truly studious of the Churches peace and incomparably sedulous to advance the same and first interessed in the work by your Honourable means and incouragement hath so much prevailed with many illustrious f This by severall instruments signed by them will plainly appear Princes States and the most eminent learned men in Germany and the parts adjoyning that the work is very wel promoted and an heartie inclination wrought towards a good correspondencie for Ecclesiasticall peace God grant your Honour life and health that to your great comfort and all true Christians joy you may shortly see the work come to more maturitie and perfection Amidst your Honours grave and weightie intendments for this and other occasions of much concernement may you please to reflect on this discourse I conceive that there be many passages therein very considerable for these and after times and that they will make much for the exciting of our thankefulnesse to God when we behold from what beginnings in an 100 and few moe yeares Gods truth hath risen and Papisticall and Anabaptisticall errour faln It is remarkable that the points by D. Luther mainly opposed were Indulgences the Popes boundlesse power merit of workes Purgatory Communion but in one kinde all g When walled Cities and Castles are taken Villages must yeeld Isor chiefe points and palpably and and undeniably grosse And on the other side that he stood up against the Anabaptists rebaptization of themselves their not baptizing infants as not commanded by Christ their having all things in common as had the Primitive Christians Acts 2.44 and against the Antinomians heresies concerning the law and other like erroneous fancies It is also observable that Dr. Luther striking at the Popes unlawfull power never sought to exalt himselfe to honour or h He left his wife and three children in want and distresse too manifest a signe thereof riches For though as he saith he himselfe with other learned men executed Episcopall Authority in visiting the Churches of Saxony reforming things amisse yet he knowing his talent fittest for the Chaire of Wittenberg never would rise higher but wrote a book concerning Christian Episcopacy and installed Nicolas Amsdorf Bishop of Neoburg and George Anhaltinus Bishop of Mersburg And in regard that Luther studied and read as Professor Philosophie of divers kinds was well versed in the Fathers and in Aquinas Scotus Occam other Schoolmen and attained to the Greek and Hebrew tongues he was thereby i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist inabled rightly and soundly and gravely and not k Some who know nothing doâ—e about questions and strife of worâ—â— c. 1 Tim. 6.4 ignorantly rashly or humorously to judge of these studies and of their use in Theologie It was also very commendable in him that he disliked railing discourse without solid and concluding arguments slighted foolish and groundlesse calumnies reproved young students forward and rash attempts without authority for the promoting of his cause blamed the headie and disorderly tumults raised by the Boores and vulgar sort confessed ingenuously his doubting of some points his ignorance in others and craved pardon if having beene lately a Popish Monk he should in any point erre from the truth Seeing this was D. Luthers prudent and religious course I shall never marvell at his * The cause required it And God sweetly â—â—oderated Luthers vehemency with P. Melancthons mild and calm temper Heroicall Spirit and impregnable confidence of Gods assistance and of the successe of his attempts and on very good ground famous and worthy Princes countenanced and assisted him as a man by his then opposites convicted of no errour doing much good service in the University offering his cause to any just triall appealing from the Pope to the Generall Counsell
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