Of Two Popish Monsters – A Popish Ass and a Monkish Calf, Part 3
HEERE FOLLOWETH THE PORtrayture or Figure of the other, that is to wit, of a Moonkiſh Calfe, calued after this faſhion in the Citie of Friberge in the countrey of Miſne. Anno. 1528.
THE INTERpretacion of Martin Luther, of the Monſter, in the figure and lykeneſſe of a Moonkiſh Calfe, drawen out in the leafe before.
AS touching the Propheticall interpretacion of this Moonkiſh Calfe, I will leaue it to the ſpirit: for I am no prophet. Yet neuertheles one may well affirme this generally of many ſuch meruayles, that God doth ſend them as preſages and forewarnings of ſorrowfull aduentures, motions, brutes, troubles and commotions to come. And I doe exhort Germany to aſſure themſelues boldly and to attende certeinely ſuch commings. But to determine of chaunces and to foreſhew how long time they ſhall continue, or in what ti…e the delyueraunce ſhall come, the ſame belongeth to the Prophet….
As for me, I will deſire willingly that the latter day were at hande: the which I alſo doe thinke, that the dayes wherein we are, are as forerunners of that bleſſed day, the which will not tary long after. And me thinketh that the cauſe that I hauehave to hope ſo, is not friuolous nor vaine. And in very déede, before time ther hath ben almoſt a continuation of certeine worlds, in which men hauehave ſéene dayly monſtrous things, and worthy of great admiration: And at this day all the worlde burning with a terrible heat, bringeth forth motions very pernicious, who commonly are not appeaſed without great chaunges & alterations of kingdoms. To conclude, that the lyght of the Goſpell, ſhineth now wonderfully, the which commonly was wont to bring with it alterations, troubles and tempeſts, bicauſe of the hard obſtination, and furious ragings of the wicked.
And truly I will not ſpeake but of things which are true: and will ſhew wherefore God hath ſet foorth ſuch a ſigne in that Moonkiſh Calfe, and for what cauſe hée hath defiled the religious habite or apparayle with one ſo vyle a ſpotte: Foraſmuch as without the habite of a Moonke hée might ſignifie and declare the euills to come as properly and well by any other ſhew or token. Euen ſo then it is not long ſithence that by his prouidence was calued at Langdesberge a certeine Canon Calfe, or a Moonkiſh Calfe. It declareth thereby, that all religious men and Moonkes ought to hauehave their eyes thereon ſtill fixed, and that he beholdeth them, and that he hath determined to puniſh them: For this ſame yeare he will vſe none other miracles, then thoſe which hauehave reſpecte vntounto ſuch holy and ſpirituall people.
For god paynting out of late that excellent MonarchDaniel 8. d of Alexander king of Macedonia vnderunder the figure and lykeneſſe of a Goate, beſides the Propheticall interpretacion of the diſcomfiture and vanquiſhing to come: he hath alſo ſet foorth and repreſented the nature of the Grecians, which are wanton as the Goates. And all that that they hauehave conceiued in their minde how high and harde that it be, they hope to bring it to paſſe, and to atteine vntounto it through good councells, through great viua…ilie and ſtou…neſſe of the minde.
In lyke manner in this figure of this Moonkiſh Calfe, beſides the Propheticall declaration, there is alſo an Image or figure of the lyfe, of the doctrine of the ſeruices and obſeruations of the Moonkes: And it is poſſible that thereby there is an aduertiſement of the cauſe of the calamities nighe at hande. That is to ſaye, that the ſuperſtitions, the deceites and wickedneſſe of the Moonkes, doe cauſe the puniſhment to increaſe, for as much as by the Phariſaycall doctrine of woorkes, they doe aboliſh the fayth which is in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and doe tranſforme and chaunge into the fleſh of a Calfe mans heart, which ought to bée the Temple of the holy Ghoſt. Furthermore, let an other drawe the propheticall ſence: as for mée for to pleaſe my order, I hauehave taken vponupon me to interpret my Moonkiſh Calfe: The Canon Calfe ſhall hauehave an other for his expoſiter.
For ſo much the more willingly doe I take the charge to make this declaration, for that I doe ſée that the obſtinate courages and more harder then the rockes, of thoſe which ſhall bée grieued with this my explication, ſhall bée ſo much the more wounded and ſhall bée come more eger. As in very déede they doe arrogantlye deſpiſe all that whiche commeth out of my mouth, and doe babble eueryevery where, that all my woordes are as much to bée eſtéemed as the ſpittinges of heretickes. For that cauſe they ought not alſo nowThe interpretation made for to harden the heartes of thoſe vvhichwhich do giuegive no credit vntounto the aduertiſmēts of the faithfull. Eſa 6. c. 10. to giuegive any credite vntounto mine aduertiſement, but doe waxe more harde harted, and doe make themſelues more and more obſtinate, hurting and moleſting themſelues more then euer any did, and forſake not their filthy and wicked lyfe, as it is ſayde in Eſay the ſixte Chapter, harden the heart of this people, ſtoppe their eares, and ſhutte their eyes, that they ſée not with their eyes, heare not with their eares, and vnderſtande not with their heartes, and conuerte and bée healed.
Euen as then Balaam coulde by no meanes obeyThe Papiſtes hearts hardened after the example of Balaam. the woorde of God, and although hée was rebuked by his Aſſe ſpeaking vntounto him in a mans voice, yet neuertheleſſe hée could not amende it: ſo one may ſay the lyke of thoſe holy Fathers, which hauehave hetherto ſtopped their eares at the cléere voyce of the veritie of the Goſpell. Nowe they ought to beholde themſelues in this Calfe and in the Cowe, as in a glaſſe, and to conſider what they are before God, and what reputation and what voice they hauehave in heauen. And yet neuertheleſſe they ought to ſhut their eyes that they doe ſée nothing of all this, whereoff they may repent themſelues, for to auoid the horrible iudgement of God. For there is neither forewarning, word nor ſigne that couldThe hearts hardened after the example of Pharao. moue or bend the hard heart of Pharao.
Firſt, that I may ſpeak briefly, thinke not, that the ſame is a mockery or a fable, that God hath clothed a Calfe with a religious habite, & with a Moonkes coole. Wée muſt not doubt, but that he noteth by that Image or figure, a certeine aſſemble of people, of whiche one may cléerely knowe, that the Moonkery is nothing elsThe Moonkery is but a vaine appearaunce. but a vaine appearaunce and ſhewe of godlyneſſe, and outward hipocriſie of a holy lyfe allowed of God. For euen vntil this times we poore and miſerable men hauehave had this opinion and hauehave beléeued, that the holy Ghoſt dwelleth vnderunder the frocke, and that the ſame habit doth couer nothing but the holy Ghoſt.
But God hath reuealed héere, that there is nothing vnderunder that habite but a Calfe. As if he would ſhewe that there is a Serpent hid vnderunder the graſſe. For the golden calfe of Aaron, lifted vp in the wilderneſſe, vntountoThe golden Calfe of Aaron whom the children of Iſrael did repreſent & giuegive the honour that apperteined and belonged vntounto God, Exodus Exo. 32.Chapter. 32. teacheth playnelye what the Calfe may ſignifie. It is ſayde in the 106. Pſalme. TheyPſa. 106. c. 2… hauehave turned their glory into ye ſimilitude of a Calfe, that eateth hay. It is ſpoken alſo of ye Calues of Iereboam, made in Bethell and Dan. 1. Reg. Chapter. 12.…. Reg. 1… againſt whome the Prophets hauehave cryed very ſharply. In lyke manner let vsus beholde a little that ſame Moonkiſh Calfe, howe that his coole doth repreſent there a figure of all the order of Moonkes, with al their ſeruices and diuine obſeruatiōs, of which they do make ſo great accompt: as of their Pater noſter, ſo oftentimes repeted, of ye faire of their Maſſes, of their goodly ſongs, and faſtings, and other lyke.
But vntounto whom is that goodly ſeruice repreſented? who is honoured? of whome doth it depende? vntounto whom is it tyed and faſtened? vntounto the Calfe. For the Calfe is clothed with a frock, as we may ſée heere. And what is that Calfe? It is an Idoll forged andThe Calfe is an Idoll forged in the ſpirites of Moonkes. made, abiding and dwelling in their ſpirites full of deceites. What is that that theſe things doo? They do after this ſorte. Theſe holy Maſters hauehave an opinion imprinted in their vnderſtanding, that in their Moonkiſh and ſolitary religion, they doe ſerue and render obedienceThe religion of the Moonkes builded vponupon ceremonies and outvvard works vntounto the true God, the whiche religion they hauehave conſtituted in Ceremonies & obſeruations of certeine outward woorkes, by which they doe thinke that they hauehave well deſerued heauen: and not in the certeinty & truſt which embraceth the benefit of Ieſus Chriſt.
For it is euen thus, that there is no God, either in heauē or earth which would be ſo ſerued & worſhipped but y• diuel & the Idols. For none can ſerue nor obey the true God, but in ſpirit & truth, Iohn ye 4. Chapter: ThatIohn. 4. c. 24 is to ſay▪ in faith and true & ſpirituall mouinges of the ſpirit, the which the holy Ghoſt doth create, ſtirre vp, & quicken in vsus▪ Eſa. Chapter. …v. Wherfore theſe falſeEſa. 55. religious people cannot offer vntounto any their ſeruices, ye which they do cloak & hide vnderunder the name of God, & in the meane time turning themſelues from all the ordinancesThe ſeruice of the Monks cannot profit any man. & heauenly manifeſtations, & cannot bring them back againe, nor ſet thē vp, but in reioyſing & flattering their vaine imaginations, the which they hauehave forged of their own braine, dreaming that ſuch ſeruices & obſeruations are agréeable vntounto God. Such fooliſh and … imagination is nothing but lyings and an Idoll … and forged of their owne braine, neither more nor leſſe, but euen as the Panims or Iewes doe f… ſtraunge Gods. Beholde, this is the Calfe, this is the impietie: this is the carnal opinion couered and hid with the religious habite: this is the Idoll to the which they are bounde and tyed, the which they dooe garniſh and beautifie with Ceremonies and with a goodly kinde of ſhewes. The Calfe doth not liue but of hearbes and graſſe. For ſuch hipocrites hauehave no knowledge of the eternall goodneſſe, but doe fat themſelues with the pleaſures of this preſent lyfe: As one may playnly ſée that the moſt puiſſanteſt and ample riches,VVhat it is to be nourished & ſed vvith graſſe and the moſt greateſt pleaſures, and the moſt higheſt dignities and honours are belonging vntounto the people of the Church, as one calleth them. And euen ſo theſe Calues hauehave found graſſe for their owne tooth. And this is happened vntounto them, that they hauehave turnedPſa. 106. c. 10 their glory into the ſimilitude of a Calfe that eateth Haye. For Chriſt is our true glory, in whom wée muſt triumph, glory, and reioyce. Theſe héere cleane contrarye, doe ſéeke an other glorye in their heartes, and doe aduaunce and bragge themſelues verye proudly of the truſt of their merites and woorkes. Such a Calfe is come in the ſtéed of Ieſus Chriſt, & in vſurping the name of him, he doth blaſpheme and diſhonour it.
Secondly, the Moonkiſh apparaile rent full of holesVVhat doth ſignifie the ſkinne of this Calfe, being torne or rēt. about the thighes, féete, and belly, doe ſignifie that in that ſolytarie religion and in thoſe Ceremonies and obſeruations ful of deceits, there is no agréeing that is perfect or whole: And yet the holye Scripture requireth chiefely and before all things, that the Chriſtians and faythfull be of one felowſhippe and vnitie. As it is ſayde in the 133. Pſalme, O how good andPſa. 133. 2. 2. … ioyfull a thing it is: bretheren to dwell together in vnitie.
But theſe madde braynes, ſuperſticious and too holy Moonkes knew very well to forge, inuent & finde out ſo many differences of ſectes and opinions, as there is of diuers apparayle among them. The Cordehers, that is of the order of Sainct Fraunces, doe magnifieThe frocke deuided into many ſects. their order: The Iacopins, that is of the order of ſaint Dominicke, their rule: The Benedictines will in no caſe looſe their honour: The Auguſtines do goe on the right ſide: The Charterhouſe Moonkes on the lefte: The Celeſtines doe keepe their company: To conclude, there is not one but that he thinketh himſelfe very fine and trimme in his apparel. So we ſeing that the frocke is rent and torne about the thighes and féete of that Calfe: Although that all were of one will and did agrée well, aſmuch as concerneth the apparell of the Calfe: that is to ſay, although that all did nouriſh that obſtinate opinion in their hearts: to wit that they did doubt or diſtruſt of the merciemercy of God: and on the contrary did leane and ſtay vppon the affiaunce and carnall aſſurance of their woorkes, according to their obſeruations.
We ſhall know this more cléerely, if wée doe vnderſtandeThe thighes do ſignifie extremitie. the ende and extremitie by the thighes, and i… we will make of the féete proppes by the which this Calfe, that is to ſay, this falſe Maſke, is holden vp and maynteined. For there was neuer ſo many ſects, ſo many houſholds, ſo many differences, ſo many names, ſo many orders, or rather diſorders brought in, as hauehave bene ſéene in our time, when the ende is nigh, and that that byle ſhould breake: ſéeing that the vanitie, and the deceits are vncouered and made knowen, …o ſhall wee ſee all this infection to fall downe.
The féete doe ſignifie thoſe bolde bretheren and other… ▪ VVhat … of this Calfe do ….thoſe Sophiſters, and our worſhipfull maſters … hauehave the preheminēce aboue other: & which are …, and the moſt ſkilfull or cunningeſt …, who do know full well to kéepe, amplifie and eſtabliſh the dignitie and great authoritie of that … religion, eyther by writings, preachings, lectures, diſputacions or doctrines: and doe endeauour themſelues with all their ſtrength thereto, and doe imprint it into the heartes of the people throughout the whole world. For eueryevery trifling thing they fall out and diſagrée among themſelues: and as many as there beThe Moonkes diſagreeing in opinions. The Calfe doth counterfait the Moonkish Preachers. of heads among them, ſo many opinions there be.
Thirdly, this Calfe repreſenteth the geſture and countenaunce of a Preacher. For he ſtandeth vpright vppon his hinder féete: and of the two fore féete, he caſteth the right after the manner of a Preacher, and holdeth backe the lefte, hée hath his heade lyfted vp: he putteth out his tongue: there is nothing in him, which doth not repreſent thoſe greate Cryers in the fleſh.
Euen then as the Popiſh Aſſe hath bene an ImageThe Moonkes the Apoſtles of the Pope. or figure of the Papiſticall kingdome, ſo this Moonkiſ… Calfe doth repreſent the Apoſtles and Diſciples of the Pope, in ſuch ſort that all the world doth well ſée what Doctors or Preachers they hauehave heard vntil this preſent time, and what they doe heare at this day.
For can any man finde an Apoſtle more fit for the braine of an Aſſe, then the head of a Calfe? This is a fit couer for the pot.
The carnall gouernment hath alwayes a carnall doctrine. And therefore the Calfe is yet without eyes, or blinde, for to figure thoſe of whome Ieſus Chriſt ſpeaketh off in Saint Mathew the 23. chapter, ſaying.Mat. 23. b. … Wo be vntounto you Scribes and Phariſies, blinde guydes. And Eſay in his. 56. chapter ſayth. All hisE…. 56. c. 10 watchmen are all blinde, they hauehave altogether no vnderſtanding, they are all dumme Dogges, not being able to barke, they are ſlippery: ſluggiſh are they, and lye ſweating: they are ſhameleſſe Dogges that be neuer ſatiſfied. The ſhepheards alſo in lyke manner hauehave no vnderſtanding.
We might very properly or fitly apply many other things in that Monſter, vntounto the Monkes and Sophiſters. As this: The eare tyed to the frocke, ſignifiethThe eare noteth the confeſſions. the inſupportable tyranny of confeſſions, by the which they doe caſt and throw the poore conſciences into the diuells throate, and doe put them in a terrible bondage.
The putting out of the tongue, doth ſignifie thatThe tongue all their doctrine is no other thing but the tongue. That is to ſaye, a bablyng and full of vayne words.
The two lyttle warts or knobbes which appeareThe two wart… or knobs lyke peaſon. vppon the head, ſhould hauehave bene two hornes. And the hornes doe ſignifie the Preaching of the Goſpell, the which make vsus obedient vntounto death or to the croſſe, deſtroying the olde manne: as it is ſayde by the Prophet Micheah the fourth Chapter▪ I willMicheah. 4. d. 13 make thy horne yron and thy clawes ſhall bée of braſſe, that thou mayſt grinde and cruſh in préeces many people.
Yet neuertheleſſe this Calfe hath no hornes, butThe Moonkes doe turne the preaching of ye Goſpell vntounto mens traditions onelyonly certeyne appearaunce or tokens of hornes, which doe not much appeare.
For although that thoſe dooe bragge and boaſte themſelues of that title, that they are Doctours of the Goſpell: Yet neuertheleſſe they doe tourne it foolyſhly vntounto the traditions of men. So then from the crowne of the head, which is ſhauen, doe appeare two lyttle knobbes lyke vntounto peaſe. For vnderunder the … of the Goſpell, he hydeth and couereth what him lyſteth, and cannot ſuffer or abide, that the Goſpell ſhoulde come foorth of that hull or ſhell: But it muſt agree to the ſanctitie of that ſhauen crowne: And chiefly as touching the Pope which is the head, of all thoſe ſhauen heads.
And for that the Coole is ſo faſt behinde theThe Moonkes coole or hood tyed to ye neck. necke, the ſame declareth the incredible obſtination of the ſuperſticion and of the errours of theſe doltiſhe Moonkes, concerning the obſeruations and Monaſticall ceremonyes. As in very déede they are plunged and faſtened ſo déepe within ſuch filthineſſe, that there is neyther vertue nor force, nor the lyght of the Chriſtian veritie, how great ſoeuer that it bée, which canne in any wiſe draw them foorth for to beholde the lyght.
Now for that the Coole was tyed and cloſe behindeThe Moonkes do keepe and hold faſt the hood & forſake & let go tranſitory goods at the backe, and that towards the belly or before it appeared to be open or vnſewed, doth ſignifie yt thoſe doe ſhew in their outward apparayle a certeine godlyneſſe: and it is vnderunder the coulour that they doe forſake and renounce all tranſitory goodes. But if they muſt come vntounto God, or if one would bring them to the eternall lyfe, one ſhal finde that thoſe are naked bellyes, and vnprofitable burthens for to conſume the goods of ye earth, yea committing all enormities: of which I louelove rather to holde my peace.
And whereas that the Iawes below are lyke vntounto the Iawes of a man, and thoſe aboue with the noſtrels lyke vntounto thoſe of a Calfe, the ſame ſignifieth that in their doctrine they ſpeake very oft of the ciuile workes of the heauenly law: But in the meane ſeaſon there is nothing but that it ſmelleth and ſauoreth of the Calfe: that is to ſay, that the diſcipline, righteouſneſſe and the Philoſophicall vertues are there too much prayſed.
For the two lips of the mouth, do ſignifie two ſorts and kindes of doctrines: the nether lip ſignifieth the explycation of the Law: and the vpper lyp the preaching of the Goſpell and of the heauenly promiſes. But in ſtéede of the Goſpell, and of the promiſes touching the reconcilyation made by Ieſus Chriſt, they doe preach the mouth of a Calfe: That is to ſay, they doeTo preach the mouth of a calfe preach the great recompences and rewards which are giuen in heauen for mans workes dilygently done, but without faith.
Finally this Calfe is not hairy in any part, or hathThe calfe vvith out ha… no haire as other Calues hauehave, the ſame doth ſignifie the goodly and ſhining hipocriſie by the which theſe doltifh Moonkes hauehave deceiued all the world. Inſomuch that they which are the cruell homicides of ſoules, and the madde vpholders of the diuell hauehave bene notwithſtanding eſtéemed and counted holy and ſpirituall fathers.
All theſe things are now openly knowen by a cléere lyght: This Calfe is come foorth from the hidde ſecretsThe Calfe comming out of the belly of his mother. of the belly of his mother. They can no longer be kept in a ſecret place and hid from the ſight of men, nor cannot chuſe but that they muſt be perceiued. Lette them cloke or hide it aſmuch as they will, but that ſhall not lette that the maſke or diſguiſing be not taken from them, and that they be not brought foorth in the lyght and their t…pitude and filthineſſe bée not knowen or vncouered, that all men may ſhew or poynt at them with their f…er.
For I will leaue to eueryevery mans lybertie to iudge of this …nterpretation. For although that the expoſition▪ … fit inough, yet neuertheleſſe it is of it ſelfe ſound inough and very well buylded and grounded vppon the witneſſes of the holy Scripture,The expoſition of the calfe builded vppon the …riptur… that the Moonkery is ſuch in very deede as we hauehave deſcribed. Foraſmuch then as this Calfe agreeth properly with y• dwine Oracles, let eueryevery one diligently take héede or be wel aduiſed what & is y• he ſhal diſpiſe whē he ſhal diſpiſe & reiect this my interpretation. In this Mo…ſter ther is more then a ſufficient warning, for to make vsus to vnderſtand y• god is offended & angry with thoſe Moonkiſh obſeruations. For if he loued them, it isGod is angry vvith the obſeruations of the Moonkes. moſt certeine he would hauehave cloathed it with a frock of a more honeſter figure. And we muſt very well ſay that by ſuch a monſtrous figure is not ſignified or mēt any man alone: But a ſociation, a couent, a brotherhood, or a gouernment of many, according to the nature andVVhat the figure of he calfe doth ſignifie condition of all the viſions, of which is made mention in the holy Scripture, Daniel chapter. 8.
O you Moonkes and Nunnes, take you héede, your dooings are héere intreated of earneſtly: and thinke not that ſuch aduertiſement of God is a play to ieſt at, or an enchauntment.
Appeaſe God with other oblations and ſacrifices then thoſe which you hauehave: Forſake your Couents, and caſt away your frockes, and retourne vntounto that wherefore you were borne, and wherevnto you are called by God, before that this occaſion that God ſheweth vntounto you doe vaniſh away. For afterwards, when you would ye cannot: Now when you may doe well, ye will not.
Aboue all I do earneſtly beſéech the noble families and all gentlemen that they wil delyuer their children and couſins, or thoſe whoſe ſoules health they do louelove, from ſuch ſo horrible and perillous lyfe, as from a moſt filthy priſon. Thinke that they are not yet out of the bondes of mans body: and but that they are bound to the communion of men, and to the law of Nature as well as other men. For this is not graunted is Nature, that ſo great multitude of vnmariedThe gift of … not graunted … people can lyue honeſtly and chaſtly: or that they can of their own free wil liue without mariage. As for me I would gladly do that which lay in mée, and which apperteineth to mine office, and to warne you in time.
FINIS.
¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Eaſt, dwelling by Paules Wharfe, 1579.
End of the text · Philipp Melanchthon, Of Two Popish Monsters – A Popish Ass and a Monkish Calf (1579)