History of Three Renowned Reformers, History 1 – Title page

History of Three Renowned Reformers · History 1 – Title page

❧ The hyſtory of the Lyfe and Actes of Martine Luther, Doctour of Diuinitie. Faythfully ſet foorth by Phillip Melan…thon. (.¶.)

THE reuerende Father Martin Luther promiſed in hys fatall tyme, to publyſhe, aſwell the diſcourſe of hys lyfe, as cauſes of hys conſlicts: whych he reſolued to do, yf death (to greedy of her pray) had not reft vsus the ſociety of hym, and the heauens accelerated to place thys incomparable Iewell among the elect organes and veſſels of God the father. Therefore I iudge it neceſſary that the conſideracion of hys particular lyfe be luculently ſet forth. Since the ſame aboū ded with manye good examples, that may corroborate in ſyncere mindes y^e fear of god, & not to digres, if I recite y^e cauſes alſo, for that they aduertiſe poſterity of many excellent thynges. Further, by thys narracion, the ſycophancye and ſiniſtre reporte of them,…cla…nder gaynſte Luther. maye be refuted, who vaunt he was encouraged by certayne Princes and other eminent Eſtates of the ſacred Empire, to deface the dignitie of Biſhops, or prouoked wyth inordinate deſyre, he brake the band of ſeruitude in hys Monaſlical eſtate. And it had bene moſt requiſite this diſcourſe had bene wrytten by hym ſelfe. For albe it curriſh detractors would hauehave obiected thys common prouerbe.

¶ Such as wyth hawtye ſtyle, adnaunce theyr proper prayſe:

Deflect frō Sophies golden ſaw…s and ſue Morias wayes.

Yet we, that knowe what rare vertues harbored in his head, what conſtancie lodged in hys diu ne breſt: are perſwaded he would iuſtly and faithfully hauehave recited hys proper hyſtory, And many graue and godly men liue preſently, who would hauehave condemp ned hys follye, if he had forged an other hiſtorye, as Po…tes in their poeſies are wont to faine, conſidering he vnderſtode the perfect order & ſequele of hys actes were not vnknowen vntounto them. But ſince hys fatal day hath preuented the publicacion of ſuch an hiſtory: I wyl truly recite, that partlye by familiare conuerſacion I hauehave ſene, and partlye by informacion and approued teſtimonies of hys perfecte friendes I hauehave heard.

Ther is an auncient Famely, and amplye augmented, of meane degree ſurnamed Luther, in the territorie of the Noble Earles of Manſfield. Mar tine Luthers Parentes firſte inhabitedHis …o try and rentes. the Towne Iſleben, anon after they remoued to Manſfield, wher his Father Iohn Luther, exerciſed the office of a Magiſtrate, & was ſyngularlye eſtemed amonge all ſortes, for hys integrity of lyfe.

Hys Mother named Margaret, beſydes that the had vertues worthy an honeſt Matrone, thys was ſyngular. Ther ſhined in her, continency, feare of God, and inuocacion, and al other vertuous perſons conſtantly planted their eyes vponupon her, as on a patron & preſident of al moral vertues. I hauehave ſome tyme enquired of her, at what time her ſonne was borne: ſhe anſwered, that ſhe remembred the houre & the day of his natiuity, but of y^e yeare ſhe was ignoraunt. She affirmed he was borne the .x. day of Nouember at night, about a leuen of the clocke. And y^e cauſe why he was called Martin, was for that the morow after he receiued Baptiſme, was S. Martins day. But his brother Iames, an honeſt and vpright mā, ſaid: the wholeThe yeare of Luthers …rth. Famely held opinion, he was borne the yere after the Natiuity. 1483.

After he was growen to yeares of vnderſtandyng, hys Parentes diligently taught hym to feare & knowe God, and accuſtomed hym to all domeſticall duties of honeſt vertues. They foorthwith addreſſed hym to ſchoole, and George Aemilius Father led hym a lytle Infant to ſchole, who lyueth yet, and can recorde the truth.

Euen about this tyme the GrammerThe …oun…acions of …ys ſtudy. Schooles began to flooryſhe in the Townes of Sa…ony. Wherefore the ſayd Martin, fully fourtene yeres olde, was ſent to Magdeburg, wyth Iohn Keynech, who hath prooued a worthy man, and by his vertue acquired high authority in his Countrye. There cōtinued ſince a conglutinate mutual louelove betwixt Luther & Keynech, proceding either of agreement of nature, either of ſociety in chyldiſh ſtudy. And yet Martine ſtudied no lenger then one yeare at Magdeburg.

Departing from Magdeburge, he repaired to Iſenach, wher he ſtudied foure yeares vnderunder one Scholemayſter, who taught hym the Grammer more promptly and luckely, then any other. I hauehave heard Luther cōmende his wyt. He was ſent to thys towne, becauſe his Mother was borne in the ſame, of honeſt and auncient houſe. Here he atchieued his ſtudy in Grā mer. And for that he hadde a lyuelye pregnant & ſubtil wit, and paſſingly apt to eloquence: he was preferred aboue his ſchoolefeeres, and excelled the other yonge Impes that learned with him in oppoſicion of hard queſtions, in copy of wordes, in compoſition of an Oration in proſe, and in writing of Verſes.

Hauyng then taſted the ſweetenes of learning, as he was prone ther vntounto: he went to an Vniuerſitye, as to…he liueli …s of ſpi…. the fountayne of al Sciences. And yf he had founde meete and conuenient Inſtructors: he had knowen and compriſed al kyndes of Sciences orderly, ſo great was the force of his vnderſtā dyng. And it maye be ſome pleaſaunt ſtudy of true Philoſophie, and care to polyſh hys tonge, would hauehave mollefied hys natural vehemency. But at Erford, he met wyth the Dialectique of that tyme, the whych (by dexteritie and redynes of wytte, vnderſt andyng more exactly the cauſes & ſprynges of inſtruction, then others hys compagnions) he greedely deuoured, and had in memory.

And for that the excellencye of hys wyt embracing good litterature required many, & thoſe ſelected things: he priuately red diuers workes of the auncient latine Authors, as Cicero, Titus Liuius, Virgil, & others. He ſtudied not theſe as the yong ſcholers are wont, collecting onelyonly the Phraſes, but as a doctrine or repreſentacion of humayne lyfe. And therfore intentiuely applyed hym ſelfe, to vnderunder ſtande the ſence & ſentence of the Authors. And hauyng a naturall good memory, he had as it were before hys eyes preſt, all that he had learned, or hearde. He ſo excelled in hys younge yeres, that the whole Vniuerſity had hys wyt in great admiracion.

Beyng twentye yeres olde, he wasHis ſtudy in the ciui… law. graded Maiſter of Arte, and then he gaue hym ſelfe to the ſtudy of the Ciuil law, by the aduiſe of hys familiar and nygheſt friendes, in ſo much that they iudged this marueilous pregnā cy of wyt and eloquence, ought not to lurke in obſcure place: but be made notorious, hereafter to ſerue and be a nereſſary inſtrument of the publicke weale. And the next yere, which was the .xxi. of hys age, he ſadaynly, & beſydes the expectacion of hys ParentsHis entry… into y^e monaſtery. and friendes, repayred to the Couent of the Auguſtines at Erphord. Wher he entreated admiſſion, & beyng admitted, he learned wyth marueilous diligence, not onelye the doctrine of the Couent: but alſo gouerned hym ſelfe wyth a great ſeueritye of diſcipline, and ſurpaſſed al other in all exerciſes of Religion, in lections, in diſputacions, in faſtinges, and in prayers. He was naturally a ſmal feeder, wherat I hauehave muſed much, ſithe he was of ſtature tall and ſtrong of body. I hauehave conſidered in him this abſtinence:Incredible ſobriety. foure continual daies, when he was well diſpoſed and healthy, he would refraine from meate & drinke. And often tymes I hauehave ſeene, when a long ſeaſon he would dyet hym ſelf with a ſmall peece of breade and one hearyng.

The cauſe wherefore he addicted him ſelfe to this Monaſticall order ofWhat moued him to Monkery. life: was becauſe he beleued the ſame to be moſt conformable to ſincere religion, and to the vnderſtanding of Gods doctrine, as he hath related, & many hath knowen. Often tymes he was takē with great and trembling feares, when he attentiuely conſidered the wrath of God, & the marueylous examples of his puniſhmentes, that he was in a maner reft of hys wyttes. And I hauehave marked at a certaine tyme, that beyng ſore abaſhed in one diſputacion of thys doctrine, becauſe he gaue attentiue eare therevnto: he was ſodēly forced to remoue into a nygh Chamber, & ther reſting on his bed, he medled & reported ofteHis abaſhmentes at the wrath of God. this ſentence: God hath ſhut vp al vnderunder our vnbelief, to the end he might extende mercye to all. Theſe abaſhmentes encreaſed after, but thē moſt aſperouſly he felt thē, whē he loſt hys deare friende & companion, who was ſtayne, I know not by what miſhap.

Then penurye pricked hym not to this Monkerye, but the affection he had to learne to ſerue God. Albeit he learned ther the doctrine vſed in ſcholes, he red the Doctors of ſentences, and in publick diſputacions, diſtinctly expreſſed the difficulties, which other could not vnfold, whereat many muſed: Neuertheles, for y^• he ſought not in this kinde of lyfe to wyn brute according to the vertu of his wit, butHys ſtudie in the holy ſcripture. to noriſh him in the feare of God: he vſed theſe ſtudies, as one that eſteemed not to be principall of that he ſearched and eaſelye conceyued thoſe ſcholaſtical Methodes. In the meane ſeaſon he redde with great affection the fountaines of heauenly doctrine, that is, the Prophetes and Apoſtles, therby to frame hys lyfe and conuerſacion to the wyll of God, and ſo be continued in the feare & faith of God, as by manye thynges it was apparent. Yea, howe muche the more earneſtly he coueted thys exerciſe, or holy contemplacion, ſo muche the more he was troubled wyth his dolour and abaſhment.

He declared he was manye tymesHe is comforted by an old mā. confyrmed by conference with an old man in the Couent of Auguſtines at Erphord. And impartyng hym wyth hys tremblyng feares, he learned many thynges touchyng fayth, and alſo told vsus, he reaſoned wyth hym of that Article of the Simbole, whych is: I beleue the remiſſion of ſynnes. He expreſſed vntounto Luther thys Article in…re remiſſiō of ſins. thys ſort: We may not generally beleue onelye that ſynnes are or hauehave bene remitted to ſome, as the Deuils beleue, they were forgeuen Peter or Dauid: but that Gods expreſſe commaundement is, that euerye man ſhould beleue particularly his ſinnes are forgeuen. And further he ſayd, that thys interpretacion was confyrmed by the teſtimonies of Saynt Bernard, & he had ſhewed hym the placeAn excellent declaracion of▪ ſ. Bernard touchyng fayth. in the Sermon of the Annunciacion, where it is thus ſet foorth: But adde that thou beleueſt this, y^• by hym thy ſynnes are forgeuen the. This is the teſtimony, that the holy Ghoſt giueth thee in thy hart, ſaying: Thy ſyns are forgiuen thee. For this is the opinion of the Apoſtle, that man is freely iuſtified by fayth.

Luther ſayd he was not onelyonly ſtrēgthened by theſe wordes: but y^e he was alſo inſtructed of the ful meaning of ſaint Paule, who repeateth ſo many times this ſentence: We are iuſtified by fayth. And hauing read the expoſicions of many vponupon this place: he thē perceued as wel by the purpoſe of the olde man, as by the comfort he receyued in his ſpirite, the vanity of thoſe interpretaciōs, which he had beſydes him. And reading by little and lyttle, with conferring the ſayinges and examples of Prophetes and Apoſtles, & continual inuocacion of God, and excitacion of fayth by force of prayers, he perceiued that doctrine more euidently.

Then he began to reade S. Auſtens bookes, where he found many goodlyThe profit of ſ. Auſtins vokes ſentences, among other in the expoſicion of the Pſalmes, and in the booke of the Spirite and the Letter, which cōfirmed this doctrine of faith & conſolacion that was illumined in his hart. And yet he laid not a ſide the Sētenciaries. He could recite by rote word by word Gabriel and Cameracenſis. He red long tyme the bookes of Occan, & preferred his ſubtiltie aboue Thomas Aquin, and Scotus. He red alſo and reuolued Gerſō, but aboue al the reſt, he red and peruſed al ouer Saynt Auſtens workes, and committed them to perfect memory. And thus he beganne diligentlye to ſtudye at Erphord, where he continued foure yeares in the Couent of Auguſtines.

About this tyme one Staupicius aInſtituciō of the Vniuerſitye at Vitteberg famous wyght, who miniſtred hys helpe to furder the erection of an Vniuerſity in Vitteberge, endeuoured alſo to hauehave Schooles of Diuinitye founded in thys newe Vniuerſitye. When he had conſidered the Spirite and erudition of Luther, he called hym from Erphord, to place hym in Vitteberg, in the yeare. 1508. and of hys age .xxvi. There hys towardnes appeared in the ordinarye exerciſe of Schoole and predication. And as it happened that manye wyſe and learned men attentiuely heard Luther, namely the Doctor Meller…ad. The ſayd Mellerſtad woulde often tymes ſay, Luther was of ſuche a marueylous ſpirite, and ſo ingenious, that he gaue apparent ſignificacion, at one tyme or other, he woulde introduce a more compendious, facile and familiar maner of teaching, and alter and abolyſhe the order that then was vſed.

There fyrſt he expounded the dialectique and Phiſique of Ariſtotle, and in the meane whyle intermitted no whyt hys ſtudye in Theologye. Three yeres after he went to Rome about the differences of the Monkes, and returnynge the ſame yeare, hee was graded Doctor, at the expences of Elector Fridericke, Duke of Saxdnye, accordyng to the ſolempne maner of Schooles.

For he had heard him preach, wel vnderſtanded the quicknes of his ſpirit, diligently conſidered the vehemencyLuther paſſed Doctor of his wordes, and had in ſingular admiracion thoſe profounde matters which in his Sermons he luculently and exactly expoſed. And that al me… maye perceiue the degree of Docto… was geuen hym by precipitacion o… iudgement: it is wel knowen he was then but thirty yeare old. He declare… that Staupicius againſt his wyll enforced him to take that degre, ſaying merely vntounto him: that God had man… thinges to bring to perfection in hy… Churche, wherein he would employ… Luther. And thoughe theſe woorde were ſpoken merely: yet it came ſo t… paſſe anon after, as manye predict… ons or preſages proue true before chaunge.

After this he began to expound th… Epiſtle to the Romains, & conſequētly the Pſalmes. But howe? he declared them ſo diuinely, that it ſemed i… the iudgement of al faythfull & learned men, he was a ſhyning lyght, … bright Phebus, that began to clea… after a long cloudy and obſcure ſky… Ther he ſhewed the differēce betwixt the law and the Goſpel. He alſo confounded the errour that raygned then in ſchooles and Sermons, the whych errour taught, that men merite remiſſion of ſynnes by their proper woorkes, and that they be iuſt before God, by outward diſcipline, as the Phariſeis taught. Luther diligentlye reduced the myndes of men, to the SonneLuther taught Ieſus Chriſt of God. And as Iohn Baptiſt demonſtrated the Lambe of God that tooke away the ſynnes of the worlde: euen ſo Luther expreſſely ſhewed that ſins are freely remitted, for the louelove of the Sonne of God, and that we oughte faithfully to embrace this bountefull gift. He alſo illuſtrated diu…s other pointes of eccleſiaſtical doctrine.

Theſe happye begynnynges of ſo good matters, got him great authority, conſidering his lyfe was correſpō dent to hys profeſſion, and it plainly appeared his woordes were no lyppe labour, but proceded from the verye hart. Thys admiracion of his holye lyfe much inflected, and allured the hartes of his Auditours, and therfore many notable perſonages, familiarly knowing hym, and ſeing him innouate the vſuall Ceremonies, reſiſted hym nothing, but in reſpect of the authority, he procured before (aſ wel for that he reueled many good matters, as that his lyfe was holye) conſented wyth him in his opinions, with the which they ſaw the world deuided diuerſly, and therfore were penſine and very ſore greued.

At thys tyme Luther altered nothing in the ceremonies, but preciſely obſerued hys rule among hys fellowes, he medled no doubtful opinions, but expreſſed thys common doctrine, as principalleſt of all other, in familiar maner to all men, elucidating the ſame more and more, to ſay the doctrine of repentaunce, of remiſſion of ſynnes, of fayth, of true comfort in times of aduerſity. EueryEvery mā receiued good taſte of this ſwete doctrine, and the learned conceiued high pleaſure to behold Ieſus Chriſt, the Prophetes and Apoſtles come foorth into lyght, out of darkenes, pryſon, and other ordures, to vnderſtand the difference betwyxt the lawe and the Goſpell, betwyxt the promiſes of the Law, and the promiſe of the Goſpel, betwixt ſpirituall Iuſtice, and ciuill thynges, whych certainlye could not hauehave bene found in Thomas Aquin, Scotus, nor hys ſemblables.

He conſidered this alſo, that many were inſtigated & ſolicited by Eraſmus learned woorkes, to ſtudye the Greeke and Latine tonges, who perceiuing a more gentle & ready order of teaching the before, began to hauehave in contempt the Monkes barbarous and ſophiſtical doctrine: and ſpecially ſuche as were of a gentle nature & good diſpoſicion. Luther began to ſtudy the Greke and Hebrue tonges, to thys ende, that after he had learned the phraſe & propriety of the tonges, & drawen the doctrine out of the very fountaynes, he myghte geue more ſound iudgement.

Whileſt Luther was in this courſe of ſtudy, a certaine Dominicke Friernanied Tecel, a moſt impudent Sicophant (if euer there raygned any) cauſed the Popes Indulgences or Pardons to he caryed and ſold about the Country. Luther, much moued wyth the blaſphemous ſermons this ſhameles Friar preached, and hauyng hys hart earneſtly bent wyth ardent deſyre to mayntaine true religion, publiſhedLuthers Propoſicions of pardons. certain propoſicions of Indulgences, whych are in the fyrſt Tome of hys woorkes, and fixed them openlye on the Temple that ioyneth to the Caſtell of Vitteberg, the morrowe after the feaſt of all Saynctes, the yeare, 1517.

Thys beggarlye Friar alwayes lyke vntounto hym ſelfe, hopyng to obtayne the Popes bleſſynge, aſſembled certayne Monkes and Deuines, meanelye ſeene in Sophiſtry, in hys Couent, and foorth wyth commaunded them to wryte ſomething againſt Luther. And whyleſt he would not ſeeme to be dombe, he beganne not onelye to inueye in hys Sermons, but to thunder agaynſt Luther, and balking out hys Aſinine brayde, cryed: Luther is an hereticke, and worthye to be perſecuted wyth the fyre,The ſclaū ders of Tecel Iacobite. and beſydes thys he burned openlye Luthers propoſitions, and the Sermon he wrote of Indulgences. Thys rage and heliyſhe fury of thys bagge bearer Friar Tecel, enforced Luther to treate more amply of thinges, and to mayntaine the truth.

Beholde what were the begynnynges of thys controuerſye, wherein Luther neyther ſuſpecting ne dreamyng of anye chaunge that myghte happen in the ceremonyes, dyd not vtterly reiect the Indulgences, but required a moderacion in them. And therefore they falſelye accuſe hym, that blaſe he beganne wyth plawſible matter, and whereby he myghte get prayſe, to the ende in proceſſe of tyme, he myght chaunge the ſtate of the Common weale, and purchaſe authoritye, eyther for him ſelfe or other.

And ſure, hee was not ſuborned or ſturred by Courtiers, as the Duke of Brunſwike wrote that the Duke Fredericke was ſore effended that ſuche contencion and controuerſye ſhould aryſe, hauyng regarde to the ſequele thereof, that all be it thys begynnyng proceeded fauourablye, yet the flame by lyttle and lyttle kyndeled, woulde hauehave ſpreadde further, as Homere maketh mencion of Fame.

¶ Fame is an euil, then the whychHomere. no ſwyfter can be found:

For ſhe doth floryſh w^t her chaunge and getteth force by groun….

¶ Smal with firſt dred, then large the growes, & lifts her in y^• aire

Thus to Iones ſeat through cloudes & ſkies, ſhe blaſting doth repaire.

And as this good Duke Frederick was one of al the princes of our time that loued beſt quiet & common tranquillity,Prayſe of Fridericke Duke of Sarony. neither was aua…icious, but wyllyngly bent to referre al his counſels to the common vtilitye of all the world, as it is eaſy to be coniected diuers waies: ſo he neither encouraged nor fauoured Luther, but often repreſented ſemblant of heauines and ſorrow, whych he bare in hys hart, fearyng greater diſſencions.

But as he was wyſe, and followed not onelye prophane iudgementes, whych cōmaund the tender ſpringes of … chaunges to be ſodeinly oppreſſed: ſo takyng in counſayl the diuine rule, and wel deliberating therupon whyche enioyneth obedience to the Goſpell, and forbyddeth to reſiſt the tryed truth, and termeth it a blaſphemy, horribly cōdempned of God, partinaciouſly to repugne the truth. He dyd that many wyſe and godly wold hauehave done, he obeyed God, leauyng vntounto hym hys diuine power, he redde diligently that that was writen, and he would not abolyſh, that he iudged to be ſincere and true.

I know very wel he made inquiſicion often tymes, what wer the wiſe and learned mēs opinions touchyng theſe thinges. I knowe he gently beſought Eraſmus (in that aſſemblye whych Themperour Charles the fift made, in the City of Colein after his Coronacion) freely to tell hym hys opinion, if Luther had erred in thoſe differences, wherof he principally entreateth. Then Eraſmus ſayde, thatEraſmus approueth Luthers doctrine. Luthers opinion was good: but that he deſired moderation of ſtyle in him. Wherof Duke Frederick wrot after greuouſly to Luther, exhortyng hym to temper the vehemency of his ſtyle.

It is alſo apparēt, that Luther promiſed y^• Cardinal Caietanus to kepe ſilence, prouided alſo his aduerſaries would do the lyke. Whereby we may gather, that at that time he determined not to ſturre any newe debates, but rather coueted the cōmon quiet, and that he was prouoked by litle & lytle to other matters, throughe the excitacion of vnlearned writers.

Then followed diſputacions of differēce betwixt diuine & humain law,Declaracion of the principall poyntes of Religion. of the horrible prophanacion of y^• ſupper of our Lord, in ſelling & applieng the ſame for other purpoſes. Here he was forced to expres the cauſe of the ſacrifice, & to declare the vſe of the ſacramentes. Now the godly & faithful Chriſtians, cloſed in Monaſteries, vnderſtanding Images ought to be eſchewed, began to abandō y^• wretched thraldom, in which thei wer deteined

Now Luther, y^• plainlier to expres the doctrine of repentaunce, of remiſſion of ſyns, of faith, & of indulgēces, he added theſe matters: The differēce of diuine & humain lawes, y^• doctrine of the vſe of our Lords ſupper, of baptiſme & of vowes, and theſe were hys principal conflictes. As touching the queſtion of the Romain Biſhops power, Eccius was y^• author thereof, & for none other reſpect, thē to inflame the fyry wrath of the Pope & Princes againſt Luther. The ſimbole of y^• Apoſtles, y^• ſame of Nice & Athanaſius he conſerued in their integrity. Further he declareth in diuers his works ſufficiently, what innouaciō is to be required in y^• ceremonies & tradiciōs of mē, & wherfore they ought to be altered. And what fourme of doctrine & adminiſtracion of the ſacraments he required & approued, it is apparēt by the confeſſiō the Elector Iohn Duke of Saxony, & Prince Phillip Landgraue of Heſſia preſented to themperor Charles the .v. in the yere 1530. in the aſſembly at Auſburg. It is manifeſt alſo by y^• cerimonies of y^• Church in this City, & the doctrine y^• is preached in our Church, the ſōme wherof is fully compriſed in this confeſſion: I alledge this y^• the godly may conſider not onelyonly what errors he hath corrected & reproued, & what images he hath defaced & aboliſhed: but alſo thei may vnderſtand he hath cōprehended y^• hole doctrine neceſſary for y^• church he hath ſet y^• ceremonies in theyr purity, & geuen examples to the faithful to repurge & reforme the Churches, & it is neceſſary for poſterity to know… what Luther hath approued.

I wyl not here commemorate, whoWho were …n cauſe y^e cerimonies …ver chaunged. were the firſt y^t publiſhed both partes of the Supper of our Lord, who fyrſt omitted the priuate Maſſes, & where fyrſt the Monaſteries were abandoned. For Luther hath diſputed verye lytle of theſe before y^t aſſembly which was made in the Towne of Vangions, in the yeare 1521, he chaungedWormes. not the ceremonies, but in his abſēce Caroloſtadius and other altered thē. Then Luther returning (after that Caroloſtadius had deuiſed & done certain thinges, rather to brede mutiny then otherwyſe) manifeſted by euidēt teſtimonies, publiſhed abroade touchyng his opinion, what he approued and what he myſtyked.

We know that politike men euermore, deteſted all chaunges, and weChaunges are daungerous. muſt confeſſe, ther enſueth ſome euil of diſſencions, yea trulye moued for ryght good cauſes in thys horryble confuſion of humayne lyfe, and yet it is our duty euermore in the Church, to aduaunce Gods ordinaunce aboue humayne conſtitucions. The eternal father pronounced thys voyce of hys ſonne: This is my welbeloued ſonne heare hym. And menaceth eternall wrath to al blaſphemers, that is ſuch as endeuour to aboliſhe the manifeſt verity. And therefore Luther dyd as behoued a Chriſtian faithfully to do, conſidering he was an Inſtructor of the Church of God. It was hys office (I ſay) to reprehed pernicious errors whych Epicures table, wyth a monſtrous impudencye heaped one vponupon an other, and it was expedient hys Auditors diſſented not from hys opinion, ſynce he taught purely. Wherfore if alteracion be hatefull, and many peryls grow of diſſention, as we certaynly ſee manye, whereof we be ryght ſory: they are in fault partlye that ſpread abroade theſe errors, and partly that wyth diuelyſhe dyſdayne preſently mayntayne them.

I do not recite this onelyonly to defend Luther & hys Auditors, but alſo that the faythful ſpirites may cōſider nowThe gouernaunce …f y^• Church. and in tyme to come, what is the gouernaūce of the true Church of God, and what it hath alwayes bene, how God hath gathered to hym ſelfe one eternal Churche, by the voyce of the Goſpel, of thys maſſe of ſinne, that is to ſay, of the huge heape of humayne ordures, among whō the Goſpel ſhyneth as a ſparke amyd the darke. As in the tyme of the Phariſeis Zachary, Elizabeth, Mary, and many other reuerenced & obſerned the true doctrine: So hauehave manye preceeded vsus, who purely inuocated God, ſome vnderſtanding more clearely, then ſome the doctrine of the goſpel. Such a one was the old man, of whom I wrote, that often tymes comforted Luther, when his aſtoneinges aſſayled hym, … after a ſorte declared vntounto hym the doctrine of the fayth. And that God may preſerue henceforth the lyght of his Goſpell, ſhinyng in many: let vsus pray with feruent affection, as Eſay prayeth for hys Hearers: Seale the law in my Diſciples. Further, thys aduertiſement ſheweth playne, that coloured ſuperſticions are not permanent, but aboliſhed by God, and ſythe thys is the cauſe of chaunges, we ought diligentlye to endeuour, that errours be not taught ne preached in the Churche.

But I returne to Luther. Euen as at the begynnyng he entred in thys matter, w^t out any particular cupidiy:Prudenc… to diſcerne offices. ſo thoughe he was of a firy nature, & ſubiect to wrath, yet he alwayes remembred his office, onelyonly cōtendyng in his teaching, & prohibited warres to ve attempted, and diſtingued wiſely offices, wherin was any differece, to ſay: the Biſhop f…dyng the flocke of God, and the Magiſtrates that by authority of the ſword committed vn to them, repres a certayne multitude of people ſubiect vntounto them.

Wherefore when Sathan contendeth by ſcandales to dyſſipate the Churche of God, and contumeliouſly enrage agaynſt hym, and delyghteth to doo euyll, and reioyceth to behold vsus wallowe in the puddle of errour and blyndnes, ſinylyng at oure deſtruction, he ſpendeth oyle and toil to enflame and ſturre vp myſcheuous inſtrumentes, and mutining ſpirites to ſo we ſedicion, as Monetarius andMonetarius ſedicions. hys lyke. Luther repelled boldlye theſe rages, and not onelyonly adorned, but alſo corroborated the dygnitye and bandes of politicke order and ciuill gouernement.

Therfore whē I cōſider in my mind how many worthy men hauehave bene in the church, that in this erred, & were abuſed: I beleue aſſuredly y^• Luthers hart was not onelyonly gouerned by humayn diligence, but with a heauenly light, cōſidering how conſtantly he a bode wythin the limites of hys office.

He held not onelyonly in contempt the ſedicious Doctours of that tyme, as Monetar us and the Auabaptiſtes: but alſo theſe horned Byſhoppes of Rome, who arrogantly & impudently by theyr deuiſed decrees affirmed, that Saynt Peter had not the charge alone to teache the Goſpell, but alſo to gouerne common weales, and exerciſe ciuil iuriſdiction.

Moreouer he exhorted euerye man to render vntounto God that appertayned vntounto God, and to Ceſar that belonged to Ceſar, to ſay that al ſhould ſerue God, wyth true repentaunce, knowledge and propagacion of hys true doctrine, inuocacion & workes, wrought wyth a pure cōſcience. And as touchyng ciuil pollecy, that eueryevery one ſhould obey the Maieſtcates, vnderunder whō he lyued in al ciuil dutyes, & reuerences for Gods cauſe. And certenly Luther was ſuch a one, he gaue vntounto God, that belonged vntounto God, he taught God, he inuocated God, & had other vertues neceſſary for a mā that pleaſeth God. Further, in politike conuerſation he conſtantlye aduoyded al sedicious counſels. I iudge theſe vertues to be ſo excellent ornamentes, as greater and more deuine cānot be required in thys mortal life.

And al be it that the vertue of thysAſſurance of the doctrine of the Goſpell. man is worthy commen…acion, & the rather for that he vſed the gyftes of God in all reuerence: yet our duty is to render condigne thanks vntounto God that by him he hath giuē vsus the light of the Goſpel, and to conſerue and enlarge the remembraunce of hys doctrine. I weye litle the braid & ſclaunder of the Epicures and Hipocrites, who ſcoffe and condempne the manifeſt truth. But I ſtay wholy here vponupon, that the vniuerſal Churche, hath conſented perpetuallye to thys very doctrine, which is preached in our Church, where vntounto we muſt frame our lyfe and deuocion conformable. And I beleue y^t this is the doctrine, wherof the ſonne of God ſpeaketh: If any louelove me, he wyll keepe my commaundementes, and my father wyll louelove him, and we wyll come to hym, and plant our dwelling with hym. I ſpeake of the ſomme of the doctrine, as it is vnderſtāded, and explaned in our Churches, by the faithfull & learned Miniſters. For al be it that ſome one often times expoundeth the ſame more aptly and elegantly then ſome other: yet as touching the effect, the learned and faithful doo agree in all poyntes.

Then weying & perpending with my ſelfe long tyme the doctrine thatFour chaū ges ſince y^e Apoſtles. hath bene of al tymes, it ſemeth vntounto me that ſince the Apoſtles there hauehave bene foure notable alteracions after the firſt purity of y^• Goſpel. Origene had his tyme. Al be it there wer ſome of a ſound and ſacred opinion as Methodius, who reproued the furies and …otages of Origene, yet he cōuerted the Goſpell into Philoſophye in the hartes of many that is to ſaye: he aduaunced this perſwaſion, that one meane diſcipline of reaſon deſerueth remiſſion of ſynnes, and that thys is that iuſtice, wherof is ſayd: The iuſt ſhall lyue of his fayth. That age almoſt loſt the whole difference of theIgnorāce of tyme marreth y^t ſentence. Law and the Goſpel, and forgat the words of y^e Apoſtles. For they vnderunder ſtoode not the naturall ſignificacion of theſe wordes: Letter, Spirite, Iuſtice, Fayth. Now when the proprietye of wordes was …o…t, whych be notes of the very thinges, it was neceſſary that other thinges ſhould be contriued. Out of this ſeede ſprang Pedagius error, which wandred largely abrod. And therfore al be it the Apoſtles had geuen vntounto y^• Church a pure doctrine, as cleare & ſalutiferous foū taines, yet Origene medled the ſame wyth muche ordure and impuritye.

Then to correct the errors of that tyme, or at the leaſt ſome part of the.S. Auguſtine reſtorer of the doctrine. God raiſed S. Auſten, who repurged an ſome part the fountaynes, and I doubt not if he were iudge of diſſencions at this day, but he wold ſpeake for vsus, & defend our cauſe. Certenly, as concerning free remiſſion, iuſtificacion by faith, the vſe of the Sacramentes and indifferent thynges he conſenteth wholy wyth vsus.

And albeit that in ſome places he exp…undeth more eloquently and aptly that he wyl ſay, than in ſome, yet yf in readyng any do cary wyth them a godly ſpirite and quycke▪ vnderſtandyng, and al euil iudgement ceaſeth, they ſhall ſoone perceyne he is of our opinion. And where as our aduerſaries ſometime do cite ſentences ſelected out of his bookes agaynſt vsus, and wyth clamour prouoke vsus to the auncient Fathers, they do it not for any affection they beare vntounto the truth or antiquity, but maliciouſly to cloke them wyth the authority of the auncient fathers, in the preſence of their Idols, whych antiquity neuer knewe of any theſe horned beaſtes & dombe Idols, as we hauehave knowen in theſe dayes.

Neuertheles it is certain, ther wer… ſee…es of ſuperſticion in the tyme of the Fathers and auncient Doctors, & therefore S. Auſten ordeyned ſome thyng of vowes, although he wrote not therof ſo ſtraungely as other: for ſoth y^• beſt ſome tymes ſhal be ſpotted wyth the blemyſh of the follyes that reygne in theyr age. For as naturally we louelove our Country, ſo fondly we fauour the preſent faſhions, wher in we be trained & educated And very wel alludeth Euripides to thys.

What cuſtomes …e in tender youth by Natures lore receaue:

The ſame we louelove & lyke alwayes, and lothe our …uſt to leaue.

But would to God, y^• ſuch as vaunt they follow S. Auſten, wold alwaies repreſent one lyke opinion & mynoe, as S. Auſten. Certaynly they would not clyppe and mutilate hys ſentences, to ſerue their purpoſe.

And the lyght reſtored by S. AuſtēsDeprauation of Eccleſiaſtical miniſters. workes, hath much profited poſterity For Proſper, Maximus, Hugo, and ſome other lyke, that gouerned ſtudies to S. Bernardes tyme, hauehave for the moſt part imitated the rule of S. Auſten. And this whyle ſtyl the regiment and rytches of the Biſhops encreaſed, and therof enſued a mo…e thē gigantal or monſtrous raygne, prophane and ignoraunt men gouerned the Churche, among the whych certayne were enſtructed in ſciences and practiſes of the Romayne Courte, and ſome other exerciſed in pleadynges.

Then the orders of Dominicke and S. Fraunces Friers began, who beholdingThe beginning of. 2. ſortes of Friars. the exceſſe and ritches of the Byſhops, & contempnyng their vngodly maners, determined to lyue in more modeſt order, or as I myght ſay to encloſe them in the priſons of diſcipline, but firſt ignoraunce encreaſed the ſuperſticions. Then after, when they conſidered mens myndes wholy addicted to the ſtudy of y^• ciuil lawes, for that pleading at Rome aduaūced many to great authority, & enrytched them: they endeuoured to reuoke men to the ſtudy of Diuinity, but they miſſed of their purpoſe, and theyr counſayl fayled them. Albert and his ſemblables that wer geuen to Ariſtotles doctrine, beganne to conuert the doctrineThe Goſpel turned into Philoſophy. of the Churche into prophane Philoſophy.

And the fourth age, not onelye fylled with ordure the fountaines of the Goſpell: but vomited poyſon, to ſay: opinions manifeſtly approuyng all idolatries. Thomas Aquin, Scotus, and their lyke, hauehave brought in ſo manye labyrinthes & falſe opinions, that▪ the godly & ſound ſort of deuines hauehave alway deſired a more plain and purer kinde of doctrine.

Neither can we deny without great impudencye, but it was expedient to alter this kind of doctrine, when it is manyfeſt that ſuch as employed theyr whole age in this maner of teaching,The impieties of y^e Scholaſtical doctrin vnderſtoode not the great part of the Sophiſmes, in theyr Diſputacions. Further it is playne Idolatry confirmed, when they teache the applicacions of ſacrifice by woorke wrought, when they allowe the inuocation of Images, when they deny that ſynnes be freelye remitted by fayth, when of ceremonies they make a ſlaughter of conſciences. Finally, there are many other horryble and pernicious deuiſes, that when I thynke of theym, Lorde howe I tremble and quake of feare.

Let vsus render thankes vntounto God, the eternall Father of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, who hath pleaſed by the Miniſterye of Diuine and godly Luther, too purifye the Euangelicall fountaynes of all ordure and papiſticalLuther hath repurged y^• doctrine. infection, and reſtore ſiucere doctrine to the Church, wherof minding euermore, we maye conioyne our lamentable peticions, and with zeious affection beſech God to cō …rine that he hath atchieued in vsus, for hys holye Temples ſake. Th…s is thy voice and prom…ſe lyu…ng and iuſt God, eternal father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, creator of a… thinges, and of the Church: I wyll hauehave compaſſion on you, for my names ſake. I wyll doo it for my ſe…e, yea truelye for my ſelfe, that I be not blaſphe…ed. I beſeche thee w^t ardent affection, that for thy glory, & the glory of thy ſonne Ieſus Chriſt, thou wylt collect vntounto thy ſelfe in the voyce of thy Goſpell, among vsus, one perpetual Churche, and that for the d…are louelove of thy Sonne oure Lorde Ieſus Chriſt our mediator & interceſſor thou wylt gouerne vsus by thy holy Gho…, that we vnfainedly maye call vponupon thee, and ſerue thee iuſtly. Rul… alſo the ſtudies of thy doctrine, gouerne and conſerue the policies and diſcipline of the ſame, whych be the Nur…s of thy Church & ſcholes. And ſythe thou haſt created mankind that thou mayeſt be knowen & inuocated of the ſame, and that for thys reſpect thou haſt reuealed thy ſelfe by many c…are teſtimonies, permit not thys ſmal nomber and ſelected …ocke (that profeſſe …ny ſacred w…or…) to be defaced and ouercome. And the rather, for that thy ſonne Ieſus Chriſt readye to fight agaynſt death, hath p…ayed in this maner for vsus: Father, ſanctifye them in verity, thy woord is veritye. We con…oyne our prayer wyth the prayer of thys our ho…ye Pr…eſt, & we make peticion w…th hym, that thy doctrine may th…e among m…, and that we may be directed by the ſame. We heard Luther euermore pray in thys wyſe, and ſo praying, hys innocent Ghoſt peaceably was ſeparated from the earthy corps, whē he had lyued al moſt th…ee ſcore and three yeares.

Such as ſucceded, hauehave diuers monumentesThe ſōme of all that Luther taught. of hys doctrine & godlines He wrote certain inſtructing works, wherein he compriſed a ſalutiferous and neceſſarye doctrine for men, teaching the ſincere myndes penitence, the fruites of the ſame, the vſe of the Sacramentes, the difference betwyxt the Goſpel and Philoſophy, the dignity of politike order, finally the principall articles of the doctrine conducible to the Church. He compoſed certayne workes to reproue, wherin he refuteth diuers pernicious errours. He alſo deuiſed bookes of interpretacion, in which he wrote many enarracions and expoſicions of the Prophetes and Apoſtels, and in this kind his very enemies cōfeſſe, he excelleth all other, whoſe workes are imprinted and publiſhed abrode.

Then al Chriſtiās & godly myndes conceyue what prayſe he merited, but certainlye hys expoſicion of the old & new Teſtament, with vtility and labour, is equiualent to al his workes. For in the ſame is ſo much perſpicuitye, that it maye ſerue in ſteede of a Commentary, though it be red in the Germayne tonge. And yet this is not a naked Expoſition, but it contayneth verye learned Annotacions and Argumentes of euerye parte. The whych both ſet foorthe the ſomme of heauenlye doctrine, and inſtructeth the Reader the ſacred phraſe, and manner of ſpeakynge in the Scriptures, that the godlye myndes maye receyue fyrme teſtimonies of the doctrine, oute of the verye fountaynes. Hys mynde was not to keepe vsus occupyed in hys woor…es: but to guyde our Spirites to the verye ſprynges. Hys wyll was we ſhoulde heare God ſpeake, and that by hys woorde, true fayth and inuocacion myght ve kyndeled in oure myndes, that GOD myght be ſincerely honoured and adored, and that manye myghte bee made Inheritours of the euerlaſting lyfe.

It behooueth v… thankefullye to accepte hys good wyll and great labours, and to imitate the ſame as our Patron, and by hym to learne to adorne the Churche, accordyng to oure power. For we muſt referre all oure lyfe, enterpriſes, and deliberacions, to twoo principal endes. Fyrſt, to illuſtrate the glory… of God. Secondly, to profite the Churche. As touchyng the fyrſt, Saynct Paule ſayth: Doo all thynges to the glorye of God. And of the ſeconde, it is ſayde in the hūdred twenty and two Pſalme. Pray that Ieruſalem maye proſper, and there followeth a ſyngular promyſe added in thys verſic…e, that ſuch as louelove the Church, ſhal proſper and hauehave good ſucceſſe. Let theſe heauenly commaundementes, and diuine be heſtes allure all men to learne the true doctrine of the Churche, to louelove the faythful Miniſters of the Goſpel, and the true Teachers, and to employ theyr whole ſtudye and diligence to augment the true doctrine, and mayntayne concord and vnity in the trewe Church. (⸫)

Martine Luthers declaracion of hys doctrine, before the Emperours Maieſty, Charles the fyft, the Princes Electors, the Eſtates of the Empyre, in the i…urney an… aſſembly of Princes at Wormes. (⸫)

THE yere of our ſaluacion▪ 1621. about. 17. …ayes after Paſſeouer, Martin Luther entred Wormes, beyng ſent for by the Emperour Charles the fift of hys name, king of Hiſpaine & Archeduke of Auſt…ich. &c. Who the firſte yeare of his Empire, made the firſt aſſembly of Princes in this regal City. And wher as Martin Luther had publiſhed three yeres before, certayne new propoſitions, and ſuch as before were neuer proponed, to be diſputed in the Towne of Witteberg in Sarony, againſt the …ranny of the Pope (the which not wythſtanding were torne in peeces, condempned and burned by the Papiſts, and yet by no manyfeſt Scriptures, … probable reaſon conuinced) the matter began to tende to tumult and mutiny, and yet Luther mayntained a… this whyle opēly his cauſe againſt the Clergye. Whereupon it ſeemed good according to the ſollicitacion of the Romayne Legates, that Luther ſhould be called, aſſigning vntounto hym an Herauld of Armes, wyth letter of ſafe cōduct by the Emperour & Princes. Being ſent for, he came, and addreſſed hym to the Knyghtes of the Rhodes place, where he was lodged,Luther is ſent for to Wormes. wel entertained, and viſited of many Earles, Barons, Knights of thord…r Gentlemen, Prieſtes & the Cōmon…y who frequēted his lodging til night.

To conclude, he came beſides the expectacion of many, as wel aduerſaries as other. For al be it he was ſent for by the Emperours Meſſenger, & had letters of ſafe conduct: Yet for that a fewe dayes before his acceſſe, hys bookes were condempned by publicke proclamacions, eueryevery man beleued for thys preiudice he woulde not come. And y^e rather, for y^e his friendes deliberated together in a nye Village called Oppenehim (where Luther was firſte aduertiſed of theſe occurrentes) & many perſwaded him not to ſubmit himſelfe to any daunger, conſidering theſe beginninges aunſwered not the fayth of promyſe made. Who, whē he had heard their whole perſwaſion & aduiſe, he anſwered in thys wyſe: As touching me, ſynce I am ſent for, I am reſolued & certenly determined to enter Wormes, in theConſtancy in Luther. name of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt: yea, although I knew ther were ſo many Deuils to reſiſt me, as ther are tyles to couer the houſes in Wormes.

The fourth day after his repayre a Gentleman, named Vlricke of Pappenhim, Lieutenant general of y^e mē of Armes of the Empire, was cōmaūded by the Emperor before dynner, to repayre to Luther, & enioyne y^e ſame at. 4. a clock in the after noone to appeare before themperial Maieſty, the Princes Electors, Dukes & other Eſtates of thempire, to vnderſtand the cauſe of his appellation. Whereunto he willingly agreed as his duty was.

And after foure of the clocke, Vlr…k Pappen him, and Caſpar Sturm the Emperours Heraul…e (who conducted Mart…n Luther from W…teberg, to Wormes) came for Luther, and accompanied hym through the garden of the Knightes of the Rhodes place, to the Earle Palatines palaice, and leaſt the people ſhoulde moleſt hym, that thronged in frequency on the direct way to the Emperous Palaice, he was led by ſecret ſtayres to y^• place where he was appoynted to hauehave audience. Yet many, who perceiued the pretence, violently ruſhed in, and wer reſiſted to no purpoſe, many aſcended the Galleries, becauſe they deſyred to be hold Luther.

Thus ſtandyng before the EmperialLuther is …roughte …efore the …mperor. Maieſtye, the Electors, Dukes, Earles, & all the Eſtates of the Empire, aſſembled there. He was firſt aduertiſed by Vlricke of Pappenhim to keepe ſilence, til ſuch tyme as he was interrogated. Thē the Embaſſadour of the Empire named Iohn Ecke, the Byſhop of Triers general official, wyth a loud and intelligible voice firſt in Latine, then in Dutche, according to the Emperours commaundement, ſayd and proponed this ſen…ec… in maner as enſueth or lyke in effect.

Martin Luther, the ſacred and inuincible Emperial Maieſty, hath enioyned by the conſent of al the eſtates of the holy Empire, that thou ſhouldeſt be appealed before the throne of hys Maieſty, to the end I might …nterrogate thee of theſe twoo poyntes. Fyrſt, if thou confeſſeſt theſe bookesIn…errogacio…. h…e (for he ſhewed a heape of Luthers bookes, wrytten in the Latine and Dutche tonges) and which are in all places borne, intituted wyth thy name, be thyne, & thou doeſt affirme them to be thyne or no? Secondly, yf thou wylt recant and reuoke them, and all that is contayned in them, or rather meaneſt to ſtande to that thou haſt wrytten.

Then before Luther prepared to aunſwer, Maiſter Ierome Schurffe,Ierome Shurffe. appoynted Luthers Aduocate, exclamed: let the titles of the bokes be red. Forthwith the Official of Triers named certen of the bokes, & thoſe principally whych were imprinted at Baſile, among the whych he nominated his Cōmentaries in the Pſalter, hys booke of good workes, his Commentary vponupon the Lordes praier, & diuers other, which were not contencious.

After this Luther aunſwered thus in Latin & in Dutche: Two thyngesLut…ers aunſwer. are proponed vntounto me by the Emperial Maieſty. Firſt, if I wyl auow for myne, al thoſe bookes that beare my name. Secondly, if I wyl mayntaine or reuoke any thyng that hitherto I hauehave deuiſed and publiſhed. Whervnto I wyll aunſwere as briefely as I canne.

In the firſt, I can do none other thē recogniſe thoſe bookes to be myne, which laſtly wer named, & certaynly I wil neuer recant any clauſe therof. In the ſecōd, to declare if I wil wholy defend or cal backe any thing compriſed in them. For as much as there is queſtion of faith, and the ſaluacion of the ſoule, and thys concerneth the woord of God, whych is the greateſt and moſte excellent matter that can be in heauen or earth, and the whych dulye we oughte euermore to reuerence. Thys myght be accompted in me a precipitacion of iudgement, and euen ſo a moſt daungerons attempt, if I would pronounce any thing, before I better aduiſed. Conſiderynge I might recite ſomething leſſe then the matter importeth, and more then the truth requireth, if I dyd not premeditate that that I woulde ſpeake. The which, twoo thynges would ſet before myne eyes this ſentence of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, where by is ſayde Who ſo euer ſhall denye me before men, I will deny hym before my Father. I requyre then for thys cauſe, and humblye beſeche the Emperiall Maieſtye, to graunt me libertye and leaſure to deliberate, ſo that I maye ſatiſfye the interrogacion made vntounto me, wythoute preiudice of the woorde of God, and peryll of myne owne ſoule.

Whereupon the Princes beganne to deliberate. This done, the Officiall pronounced what was their reſolucion, ſaying: All beit Martine Luther, thou haſt ſufficiently vnderſtanded by the Emperours commaundement, the cauſe of thy appellacion, & therfore doeſt not deſerue to hauehave oportunity geuen thee to determyne: Yet …he Emperiall Maieſtye of hys mere clemency, … raūteth the one day to m… for thyne aunſwer, the whych to morrowe ar thys inſtaunt houre thou ſhalt repaire to render before hym co…tcionally, thou doo not exhibite thyne opinion in wrytyng, but pronounce the ſame wyth lyuely voyce.

This done, Luther was led to hys lodging by the Heraulo, but hereinLuther is exhorted to be conſtant. I maye not be obliuious, that in the way going to the Emperour, & when he was in the aſſembly of Princes, he was exhorted of other to be couragious, and manly to demeane himſelfe, and not to feare them that can kil the body, but not the ſoule: but rather to dread hym that is able to ſende both bodye and ſoule to euerlaſtyng fyre. Further, he was emboldned wyth thys ſentence: When thou art before Kynges, thynke not what thou ſhall ſpeake, for it ſhall be geuen thee in that houre.

The next day after four of y^e clock, the Heraulde came and brought Luther from hys lodgyng, to the Emperours Couet, where he abode tyi ſyxe of the clocke, for that the Princes wet occupied with graue conſultacions; a biding there and beyng enuironned wyth a great nomber of people, and almoſt ſmothered for the preace that was ther. Then after, whē the Princes were ſet, and Luther entred: the Official begā to ſpeake in this maner

Yeſterday at this houre, Themperial Maieſtye aſſigned thee to be here Martin Luther, for that thou haſt affirmed thoſe bookes, that we named yeſterday, to be thyne. Further to the interrogacion by vsus made, whether thou wouldeſt approue all that thou confeſſeſt in them, or aboliſhe & make boyde any part therof. Thou dyddeſt require tyme of deliberacion, whych was graunted, & is now expired. All beit thou oughteſt not to hauehave opportunity graunted to deliberate, conſidering it was notorious vntounto thee, wherfore we accited thee. And as concerning the matter of faith, eueryevery mā ought to be ſo prepared, that at all tymes when ſo euer he ſhal be required, he may geue certen and conſtant reaſon thereof, and thou the rather ſo highly learned, & long tyme exerciſed in Theology. Then go to, aunſwere euen now to Themperours demaūd, whoſe bounty thou haſt proued in geuing thee leyſure to perpend. Wylt thou now maintayne all thy bookes which thou haſt acknowledged, or reuoke any part of them? or ſubmit and yelde thy ſelfe? The Officiall made thys interrogacion in Latine and in Dutche.

Martin Luther aunſwered in Latine and Dutche, in this wiſe, modeſtly and lowlye, and yet not wythout magnanimily, and Chriſtian conſtā cy, ſo as hys aduerſaries would gladly hauehave had hym whuſted, and abaſed hys courage, but yet more earneſtlye they deſyred hys reuocation, and certaine of them perſwaded euen ſo, for as muche as he obtayned leyſure to deliberate.

¶ Hys aunſwer was thus.

E Emperour, and my moſt magnificent Lord, and you moſt excellent Princes, and my moſt clement Lordes, I appeare before you here at the houre preſcribed vntounto me yeſterday: yelding the obedience that I owe, humblye beſeechinge, for Goodes mercye your moſt renoumed Maieſtye, and your Graces and Honours wyll miniſter vntounto me this curteſye, to attende thys cauſe benignelye, whyche is the cauſe (as I truſt) of Iuſtice and Veritye.

And yf by ignoraunce I hauehave not geuen vntounto eueryevery of you your iuſt titles, or if I hauehave not obſerued the ceremonies and countenances of the Court, offendyng agaynſte them: it maye pleaſe ye to pardon me of your benignities. As one that onelye hath frequented Cloiſters, and not courtly ciuilities. Neyther can I geue other teſtimony of my ſelfe, but that I hauehave inſtructed and written in ſuch ſimplicity of mynde, as onelyonly I hauehave eſteemed the glory of God, and the inſtitution of the faythful Chriſtians in all ſincerity of doctrine.

Moſt magnificent Emperour, andLuther geueth accompt of hys faythe before the Emperor. you moſt noble Princes, my moſte gracious Lordes, beyng yeſterday interrogated of theſe twoo Articles obiected by your moſt excellent Maieſty If page missing ſelues ordayne by proper lawes, as in the Diſtinct. 9. and. 25. q 1. and. 2. that the Popes lawes repugnant to the doctrine of the Goſpel, and the opinions of the auncient Fathers, be iudged erron…ous and reprobate.

If then I ſhall reuoke theſe, I can doo none other but augment for…e …o theyr tyranny, & not onelyonly open w…ndowes, but wyde gates, to ſuch an in fernal i…ety, the whych wil extend more wyde, and wyth more libertye, then yet ſhe …ſt. And by the teſtimony of this my R…tractacion, theyr …aſo…ent and mali…ious kingdome ſhall be made moſt licencious, and leſſe ſubiect to puniſhment, moſt intollerable to the common people, and yet confyrmed and eſtabliſhed, ſpectal…y if thys be bruted, that I Luther hauehave done thys by the author…tye of your moſte excellent Maieſtye, and the ſacred Romaine Emp…re. Oh Lorde, what a couer or ſhadowe ſhall I be then? to cloke theyr naughtynes and tyrannye.

The reſt or third ſort of my bookes are ſuche, as I hauehave wrytten agaynſt ſome priuate, and ſome (as thei terme them) ſyngular parſons, to ſaye, agaynſt ſuch as wyth toothe and nayle laboured to protect the Romyſhe tyrannye, and deface true Religion, whych I hauehave taught and profeſſed. As touchyng theſe, I playnelye confeſſe I hauehave beene more vehement, then my Religion and profeſſion requ…red. For I make my ſelf no ſaint, and I diſpute not of my lyfe, but of the doctrine of Chriſt.

And theſe I can not wythout preiuoice call backe for by thys Recantacion, it wyll come to paſſe, that tyranny and impiety ſhal raygne, ſupported by my meanes, and exercyſe cruelneſſe agaynſte Goddes people, more violentlye and raginglye, then before.

Neuertheles, for that I am a man,He requireth to be inſtructed if he hauehave erred. and not God, I can none otherwyſe enterpryſe to defend my bookes, then my verye Lorde Ieſus Chriſte hath ayded hys doctrine. Who beyng exam…ne… of hys doctrine before Annas, and hauyng receyued a buffet of the Miniſter, ſayde: If I hauehave ſpoken euyll, beare wytneſſe of euyll.

If the lord (who was aſſured he could not erre) refuſed not to hauehave teſtimony geuen againſt his doctrine, yea of a moſt vyle ſeruaunt: how muche the more I that am but vyle corruption, and can doo nothyng but erre, ought earneſtly to entreate and attende, yf any wyll beare wytnes agaynſte my doctrine.

Therefore I requyre for Gods mercy, your moſt excellent Maieſty, your Graces, and right honourable Lordſhyps, or what ſo euer he be of hyghe or low degree beare wytnes, if ye can proue I hauehave erred, or if ye ſurpaſſe me in the knowledge of the prophets and Apoſtles writings, cōuince mine errours, and I wyl be moſt ready (yf I be ſo inſtructed) to reuoke any maner of error. Yea & the fyrſt that ſhall cōſume my bokes with flaming fyre.

I ſuppoſe by theſe it is apparent, that I hauehave perpended, & wel weyed, the peryls and daūgers, or the diuers opinions and diſſentions that hauehave ryſen and growen throughoute the whole worlde, by reaſon of my doctrine, of whych I was v…hemently & r…bukefully admoniſhed. As touching my ſelfe, I conceiue no greater delectacion in any thing, then when I behold diſcordes and …iſſencions, reſuſcitated for the word of God. For ſuch is the courſe an… iſſue of the Goſpell, Ieſus Chriſt ſaith: I cam not to ſend peace, but a ſword. I came to ſet man at variaunce againſt his Father.

And further, we muſt thynke that our God is marueilous and terryble in hys counſels, leaſt perhaps y^• that we endeuour with earneſt ſtudy to atchieue & bryng to perfection (if we begyn, after we hauehave condempned the word of God) that ſame turne not to a huge ſea of euyl, and (wherof we had neede to be prouident) leaſt the Empire of thys younge and bounteous Prince Charles (in whom next after God, we all conceiue ſingular hope) be lamentable, vnfortunate, and myſerably begonne.

I could e…emplify this with authorities of the Scriptures more effectually, as by Pharao, the Kyng of Babilon, and the Kinges of Iſrael, who then moſt eclipſed the bright Sunne of theyr glorye, & procured their own ruine, when by ſage counſels they attempted to pacify and eſtabliſhe theyr gouernments and Realmes. It is he that entrappeth the wyly in their wylin…s, and ſ…buerteth mountaynes, ere they feel… hys myght. Wherefore feare is the woorke of God.

I ſpeake not thys, ſuppoſyng that ſo politicke and prudent heades hauehave neede of my doctrine or admonicion: but becauſe I would not omit to profit my country and offer my dutye or ſeruice that may tend to the aduaūcement of the ſame. And thus I humbly commend me to your moſt excellent Maieſty, & your honorable Lordſhips, beſeching I maye not incurr… your diſpleaſures, neither be contemned of you, throughe the purſute of my aduerſaries. I hauehave ſayd.

Theſe wordes pronounced the EmperoursLuther ſollicited agayne to ſubmyt hym ſelfe. Embaſſadour, who made ſemblant of good wyll to checke Luther: ſayde that Luther had not aunſwered to any purpoſe, neither it behaued him to cal in queſtion, thinges in tyme paſt condempned and defined by generall Councels. And therfore they required of hym a playne and no crooked aunſwer, whether he would reuoke or no.

Then Luther aunſwered: Conſidering that your ſoueraigne MaieſtyLuthers abſolute anſwer. and your Honours requyre a playne aunſwer, I wyll geuethe ſame, neyther crooked ne contumelious in this maner: that if I be not conuinced by teſtimonies of the ſcriptures, and by probable reaſon (for I beleue not the Pope, neither general Councels) be ouercome in the ſcriptures alledged by me, and the certitude therof is not found in the word of God, I wil not, nor I may not reuoke any manner of thing, conſidering it is not godlye ne lefu…l to doo anye thing agaynſt conſcience. Here vponupon I reſt, I knowe not what els I ſhould ſay. God helpe me. So be it.

The Princes conſulted together vponupon this aunſwere geuen by Luther, And when they had diligently examined the ſame, the Officiall of Triers Embaſſadour of the Empyre, began to repel hym thus.

Martin, thou haſt more immodeſtly anſwered, then beſemed thy perſon, & alſo euyl to purpoſe. Thou deuideſt thy bokes in thre ſortes, in ſuch order that al that thou haſt ſaid, maketh nothing to the interrogacion proponed. And therfore if thou haddeſt reuoked thoſe, wherein the greateſt part of thyne errours is conteined: the Emperial Maieſty, and the natural bounty of other woulde not hauehave ſuffered the reſt that be ſounde, to be perſecuted wyth fire. But thou reſuſcitateſt and bryngeſt to lyght, al that the general councel of Conſtance hath condempned, the whych was aſſembled of al the nacion of Germany, & requireſt to be conuinced with ſcriptures, wherin thou erreſt greatly. For what a…ay…eth it to renue diſputacion of thinges ſo long tyme paſt condempned by the Church and Councels, vnles it ſhoulde be neceſſarye to geue a reaſon to eueryevery man of eueryevery thyng. That if all ſuche as impugne, that which was decreed by the Churche, and Councels may once get thys aduauntage, to be cōu…nced by the ſcriptures, we ſhall hauehave nothyng certain and eſtabliſhed in Chriſtendome.

And th…s is the cauſe wherfore the Emperial Maieſty requireth of thee a ſymple aunſwer, either a negatiue, or an affirmatiue, if thou wilt defend al thy workes as Chriſtian, or no?

Then Luther beſought the Emperial Maieſty not to cōpell him to yeld againſt his conſcience, cōfirmed w…th the holy ſcriptures, without manifeſt argumentes, alledged by hys aduerſaries, & declared his anſwer was not crooked, but ſymple, and direct, & further he had not to ſay, then he aduertiſed before, that if his enemies could not extricate wyth ſufficient argumentes hys conſcience occupyed (as they ſayd) with errours, he was not able to ryd hym ſelf out of the ſnares wherin he was entangled. And wheras the general Councels hauehave ordeyned certain thynges, thoſe therefore not to be tru, for that thei hauehave erred, & often tymes gaynſayd them ſelues, & for thys cauſe the enemyes argument was of no ſolidity. Further, he was able to prooue, and would conſtantly ſtand to the tryall the Councels had erred, and it was not meete for hym to reuoke and dyſanull that which is manifeſt, and diligently ſet forth in the Scripture.

Wherunto the Offical aunſwered ſimply to purpoſe, and ſaid: No man could proue the Councell had erred, but Luther alledged he could, & promyſed to proue. And now nyght approching, the Lordes roſe and departed. And after Luther had taken hys leaue of the Emperour, diuers Spaniards ſcorned & ſcoffed the holy man in his way to his lodging, hallowing & hoopyng after hym a …on… whyle.

The Fridaye following after, the Princes Electours, Dukes, & other Eſtates, were aſſembled: the Emperour ſent to al them that were deputed Counſeillors, one letter, contayning thys that foloweth: Our Predeceſſors,The Emperors aun…wer a…aynſt Luther. who truely were Chriſtian Princes, wer obedient to the Romiſh Church, which Martine Luther preſently impugneth. And for as muche as he is not determined to call backe his errors in any one point, we cānot without great infamy… and ſtayne of honor degenerate from the examples of our Elders, but wyl maintayn the auncient fayth, and geue ay…e to the ſea of Rome. And further, we be reſolued to purſue Martin Luther and his adherentes by excommuncacions and by other meanes that may be deuiſed to extinguiſh his doctrine. Neuertheles, we wyll not violate our fayth, which we hauehave promiſed him, but meane to geue order for hys ſafe returne to the place whence he came.

The Princes Electors, Dukes and y^• other Eſtates of the Empire, ſat & cōſulted vponupon this ſentence, Friday all the after noone, and Saturdaye the whole day, ſo that Luther yet had no aunſwer of the Emperour.

During this tyme diuers Princes, Earles, Barons, Knyghtes of the order, Gentlemen, Prieſtes, Monkes with other the La…tye and common ſort viſited hym. All theſe were preſent at all houres in the Emperours court, and could not be ſatiſfied with the ſight of hym. Alſo ther were hyls ſet vp one againſt Luther, & the other as it ſemed w^t him. Notwithſtanding many ſuppoſed, & eſpeciallye ſuch as wel conceiued the matter, y^• this was ſubtilly done by hys enemies, y^• therby occaſiō might be offred to infringe the ſafeconduct giuen him, the which the Romayne Embaſſadours with al ſedulity, endeuoured to bring to paſſe

The monday folowing, before ſupper, the Archbyſhop of Triers aduertiſed Luther, that on wedneſday next he ſhould appeare before him at ſyxe of the clocke before Dynner, & aſſigned hym the place. On Saint Georges day, the Archbiſhoppe of Triers great Vicar, about Supper tyme cam to Luther, by the commaundement of hys Prynce, ſygnifieng that at the houre and place preſcribed, he muſte the morrow after hauehave acceſſe to hys Mayſter.

The morrow after S. Georges day Luther obeying the Archbiſhops commaundement, entred his palaice, beyng accompanied thyther wyth hys ſaid great Vicar, and one of the Emperours Herauldes, and ſuch as cam…la…cions made to Luther to ſeduce …. in hys companye out of Saronye to Wormes, w^t other his chiefe friends Where as Doctor Voeus, the Marques of Bades Chaplein began to de clare and proteſt, in the preſence of the Archbiſhop of Triers, Ioachyme Marques of Brandeburge, George Duke of Sarony, the Byſhoppes of Auſburg & Brandeburge, the Earle George, Iohn Back of Straſburge, Verdeheymer & Peutinger Doctors, that Luther was not called to be conferred with, as of a different or diſputacion, but onelye that the Princes had procured licence of Themperors Maieſty, through Chriſtian charity, to hauehave liberty graunted vntounto the, to exhort Luther benignely & brotherly.

He ſaid further, that albeit the Coū cels had ordeyned diuers thinges, yet they had not determined contrarye matters. And albeit they had greatly erred, yet their aucthoritye was not therfore abaſed, or at the leaſt not ſo erred, that it was lawfull for euerye man to impugne their opinions. Further, he alledged certayne thinges of Zacheus & the Centurion, of the decrees and tradicions of men, & of the ceremonies ordeined, affirmyng that al theſe were eſtabliſhed to repres the vices, according to the quality & reuolucion of tymes, and that the Church could not be deſtitute of humayn conſtitucions. Further, that the tree is knowen by the fruit, the lawes hauehave much profited, and S. Martin, Saint Nicholas, and many other Sayntes hauehave aſſiſted the Councels.

Moreouer that Luthers bokes wold brede great tumult, & incredible troubles, & that be abuſed the cōmon ſort wyth hys booke of Chriſtian liberty encouraging them to ſhake of theyr …oke, and to confirme in them a diſobedience. That preſently the worlde was at an other ſtay, …he when y^• beleuers wer a… of one ha…t & ſoule, & therfore it was expedient to hauehave lawes.

Thys was worthye conſideracion, that albeit he ha… wry…t… many good thynges, and dout…es wyth a goodly ſpirit, as of Triple Iuſtice and other: yet now the deuil attempted by wyly meanes, that al hys workes for euer more ſhould be cōdempned, and that by theſe hys laſt workes it is eaſye to knowe the …re… by the fruite, and not by the bloſſome.

Here he added ſomethynge of the noone Dyuell, of the Spirite commynge in the darke, and of the fliyng arrowe. All hys Oracion was exhortatorye, full of common places of Rethoricke, of honeſty, of vtility, of lawes, of the daungers of conſcience, and of the common and particular healthe, repeatyng oft thys ſentence in the Proeme, myddle, and … p…o… of hys Oration. That thys adm…n…on was geuen hym of a ſingular good wyl and great clemency. In the ſhutting vp of hys Oration, he added m…na…inges, ſaying: that yf he would abyde in hys purpoſed entent, the …mp…rour would procede further & exterminate hym the Empire, perſwadyng hym deliberatlye to ponder and aduiſe theſe and other thynges.

Martine Luther aunſwered: Moſt noble Princes, & my moſte gracious Lordes, I render moſt humble thankes for your benignities and ſyngular good wylles, whence proceedeth thys admonicion. For I knowe my ſelfe to be ſo baſe, as by no meanes I can deſerue a…monicion of ſo great Princes.

Then he frankely pronounced, heThe councel of Conſtance condempned y^e woorde of God. had not reproue… all Councels, but onelyonly the Councel of Conſtance, and for this principal cauſe, that the ſame condempned the word of God, whych appeared in the …n…empnacion of thys Article proponed, by Iohn …uſſe. The Churche of Chriſt is the Communion of the P…e…inate.

It is euident the Counc…l of Conſt…c… aboliſhed thys article, & conſequently thys article of our faith: I beleue the holy Church vniuerſall. And that he was ready to ſpend lyfe and bloud, ſ… he were not compelled to call backe the manyfeſt word of God, for in defence therof, we ought rather to obey God then men.

And that in thys he coulde not ad-2noyde the ſcandale of fayth, for there is two ſcandales or offences, to ſaye, of Charity & of Fayth. The ſcandaleScandale of Fayth & Charity. of Charity conſiſteth in maners & in lyfe. The ſcandale of Fayth or doctrine reſteth in the word of God, & as touching thys laſt, he could eſcape it no maner of wayes, for it laye not in his power to make Chriſt not y^• ſtone of ſcandale. If Chriſtes ſh…pe wer fed wyth pure paſture of the Goſpell. If the fayth of Chriſt wer ſincerely preached, & if ther were any good & Eccleſiaſtical Maieſtrates, who duly executed their office: we ſhould not nede to charge the Church with mens tradiciōs. Further he knew wel we ought to obey the Maieſtrates & higher powers, how vniuſtly & peruerſ… ſo euer they lyued. We ought alſo to geue place to our iudgmet, al which he had taught in al hys workes, adding further, he was ready to obey them in al pointes, ſo that they inforced him not to deny the woord of God.

Then Luther was byd ſtand aſide, and the Princes con…u…ed what aunſwer thei might geue him. This done they called him into a Parlour, wher as the Doctor of Bade repeated hys former matters, admonithyng Luther …o ſubmyt hys writinges to the Emperour and Empires iudgement.

Luther aunſwered humbly and modeſtly, he coulde not, neyther woulde permit that men ſhould ſay he would thunne the iudgement of the Emperour, Princes, & ſupreme Eſtates of the Empyre, weying ſo ſ…lenderlye their examinacion, that he was contented to ſuffer his writings moſt diligently to be read ouer, conſidered & iudged of the ſimpleſt, ſo y^• this were done, with the authority of the word of God, & holy ſcripture. And that the word of God made ſo much for hym, and was ſo manyfeſt vntounto hym, that he woulde not geue place, vnles they taught ſound doctrine, then the word of God. And y^• S. Au…ten wryteth, he had learned to geue this honor onelyonlyThe word of … onelyonly true. to thoſe bookes, which are called Canonicall, that he beleued them to be true And as touching the other Doctors, albeit in holynes and excellency of learning, they paſſed, he would not credit them, vnles they pronounced truth. Further, that Sayncte Paule had wrytten to the Theſſalonians, proue all things, folow that is good. And to the Galathians: although an Aungel ſhould deſcend from heauen, if he preach otherwyſe, let him …e accurſed, and therfore not worthy to be beleued. Finally he mekely beſought them not to vrge his conſcience, faſtened with the …andes of the woorde of God and holy ſcripture, to deny that ſame excellent word. And thus he cō mended hys cauſe and hym ſelfe to them, and ſpecially to the Emperors Maieſtye, requiring their helpe, he myghte not be compelled to do anye thyng in thys matter agaynſte hys conſcience. And otherwyſe he would ſubmyt hym ſelfe in all cauſes moſt obedientlye.

And anſwering thus, Ioachime Elector, Marques of Brandeburge, demaunded if he had ſayd he would not yelde, vnles he were conuinced wyth the ſcripture Yea trulye ryght noble Lord (quoth Luther) or els by auncient and euident reaſons.

Thus the aſſemble brake, and the Princes repayred to the Emperours court. The Archbiſhop of Triers abode, accompanied with hys Official Iohn Ecke, & Cochleus, & cōmaūded Luther to come into hys chamber, Ierome Schurff, & Nicholas Ambſdorff aſſiſted to mayntaine Luthers cauſe. Then the Official began to frame an argument like a Sophiſt & Canoniſt, defending the Popes cauſe: That for the moſt part at al tymes holy ſcriptures hauehave engendred errors, as theFalſe argumentes for y^• Pope ſame of Heluidius the Arian, out of that place in the Goſpel, where is expreſſed, Ioſeph knew not his wyfe til ſhe was deliuered of her fyrſt chylde. Further, he grew to ouerthrow thys propoſiciō, that the Catholik Church is the Cōmunion of Sayntes, preſuming alſo of Cocle to make wheat, & of bodily excremēts to cōpact mēbers.

Martin Luther & Ierome Schurffe reproued theſe folyes, & other vaine and ridiculous matters, whych Ecke brought forth but modeſtli, as things not ſeruing to the purpoſe. Somtyme Cochleus would entermedle his murmuring chattes, and laboured to perſwade Luther, to deſiſt from hys purpoſe, & vtterly to refraine thenceforth to wryte or teach, & ſo they departed.

About euening, the Archbyſhop of Triers, aduertiſed Luther by Ambſdorff, the Emperours promiſe made vntounto him, was prolonged two daies, & in the meane ſeaſon he would conferre wyth him the next daye, and for that cauſe he woulde ſende Doctour Peutinger & the Doctor of Bade the morrow after to hym, and he himſelf would alſo talke with hym.

The Friday then that was Saynt Markes day, Peutinger, & the Doctor of Bade trauailed in the forenone…. to perſwade Luther ſimply and abſolutely to ſubmit the iudgement of his writinges to Themperor & Empire. He aunſwered he would do & ſubmyt any thing they woulde hauehave hym, ſo they grounded with the authoritye of holy ſcripture, otherwyſe he woulde not conſent to do any thing. For god ſayd by his Prophet (ſaith he:) Truſt ye not in Princes, nor in the children of men, in whom there is no health. Alſo, curſed be he that truſteth in me And ſeyng them vrge him more vehemently, he aunſwered: We ought to ſubmit no more to the iudgement of men, then the word of God doth. So they departed, and prayed hym to aduiſe for better aunſwer, and ſaid they would returne after Dynner.

After Dynner they returned, exhortyng as before, but in vayne. They prayed him at the leaſt he would ſubmit his writyng to the iudgement of the next general Councel. Luther agreed therunto, but wyth this condicion, that they them ſelues ſhoulde preſent y^e Articles collected out of his bookes to be ſubmitted to the Councel, in this maner, notwythſtandyng that the ſentence awarded by the coū cel, ſhould be authoriſed by the ſcripture, and prooue the contrary wyth the teſtimonies of the ſame.

Then leauing Luther, they departed and reported to the Archbiſhop of Triers that he had promiſed to ſubmyt hys wrytings in certayn articles to the next Coūcel, and in the meane ſpace he would kepe ſilence, whyche Luther neuer thought, who neyther wyth admonicions, ne yet menaces could be induced to denye or ſubmyt hys bookes to the iudgements of mē, he ha… ſo fortified them with cleare & manifeſt authorities of the ſcripture, vnleſſe the… coulde prooue by ſacred Scripture and apparent reaſons he had erred.

It chaunced then by y^• ſpecial grace of god, that the Archbiſhop of Triers ſent for Luther, reſolued preſently to heare hym. And when he perceiued otherwiſe then Peutinger, & the Doctor of Bade had tolde hym, he affirmed that Luther ſhould not hauehave reuoked for a great deale, that he had ſayd, vnles he had heard him ſpeake, but that ſtraight he would hauehave gone to the Emperour, and declared what the Doctors had reported.

Then the Archbyſhop treated andFamiliar talke betwene the archbiſhop & Luther. conferred wyth Luther very gently, fyrſt remouyng ſuch as wer preſent, as well of the iudgement of the Emperor and Empire, as of the ſentence of the next general Councell. In this conference Luther conceled nothyng from the Archbiſhoppe, affirmyng it was daungerous to ſubmyt a matter of ſo great importance to them, who after they had called hym vnderunder ſafeconduct, attempting hym wyth newe commaundementes, condempned his opinion, and approued the Popes Bull.

Moreouer, the Archbyſhop bedding a friend of hys drawe nygh, required Luther to declare what remedye myghte bee miniſtred to helpe thys. Luther aunſwered: There was no better remedy, then ſuche as Gamali…lCounſel… Gamali…l▪ alledgeth in the fy…te▪ Chapter of the Apoſtles, wytnes Saynte Luke, ſaying: If thys councel or this worke procede of men, it ſhall be dyſſolued, but if it be of God, ye cannot diſſolue it. And that the Emperour and the Eſtates of the Empyre myghte aduertyſe the Pope that he knewe certaynelye yf thys hys enterpryſe proceeded not of God, it woulde be aboliſhed wythin three, yea wythin two yeares.

The Archbiſhoppe enquired of hym what he would do, if certain articles wer taken out of his bookes to be ſubmitted to the generall Councell. Luther aunſwered: So that they be not thoſe, which the councel of Conſtāce condempned. The Archbiſhop ſayd I feare they wyll be the very ſame: but what then? Luther replied: I wyl not nor I cannot hold my peace of ſuche,…uthers cō …ncy. for I am ſu…e by their decrees the the woord of God was condempned. Therfore I wyl rather loſe head and life, then abandon the manyfeſt word of my Lord God.

Then the Archbiſhop, ſeing Luther would in no wyſe ſubmit the word of God to the iudgement of men, gently bad Luther farewell, who at that inſtant prayed y^• Archbiſhop to entreate the Emperours Maieſtye to graunt hym gracious leaue to depart. He anſwered: he would take order for hym, and ſpeedelye aduertiſe the Emperours pleaſure.

And within a ſmal whyle after, the Archbiſhops Offical, in the preſence of the Emperours Secretarye, who was Maximilians Chauncelour, ſaid vntounto Luther in his lodging, by the cō maundement of the Emperour: that ſyn…e he had ben… admoniſhed diuerſly of the Emperial Maieſty, the Electors, Princes, & Eſtates of the Empire, and that notwythſtandyng he would not return to vnity & concord, there remayned that Themperour as aduocate of the Catholike faith ſhuld procede further. And that it was the Emperours ordinaunce, he ſhoulde wythin .xx. dayes, returne ſecurely… vnderunder ſafeconduct, and be ſafely garded to the place whence he came, ſo that in the meane whyle he ſtirred no commocion among the people in hys iorney, eyther in conference or Sermons.

Luther hauing vnderſtanded thys, aunſwered very modeſtlye & Chriſtianly: Euen as it hath pleaſed God, ſo is it come to paſſe, the name of the Lorde be bleſſed. He ſayd further, he thanked moſt humbly the Emperors Maieſty, & all the Princes & Eſtates of the Empire, that they had geuen to hym benigne & gracious audience, and graunted ſafeconduct to come & to returne. Finally he ſaid: he deſired none other in them, then a reformacion, accordyng to the ſacred woorde of God, and conſonancy of holy ſcriptures, whych effectually… in hys hart he prayed. Otherwyſe he was preſt to ſuffer al accidentes for the Emperiall Maieſty, as lyfe and death, good fame and reproch, reſeruing nothyng to hym ſelfe, but the onelyonly woorde of God, whych he would conſtantly confeſſe, to the latter end, humbly recommending hym to the Emperours Maieſtye, and to all the Princes, and other Eſtates of the ſac…e… Empyre.

The morrowe after whyche was the .xxvi. daye of Apryll after heeLuthers …parture … Wormes. had taken hys leaue of ſuche as ſupported hym, and other hys ben…uolent friendes, that o…t…n tymes viſited hym, and broken hys faſt, at ten of the clocke, he departed from Wormes accompanyed wyth ſuche, as repayred thyther wyth hym. The Emperours Heraulde Caſpar Sturme followed and ouertooke hym at Oppenhim beyng commaunded by the Emperonr to conduct hym ſafely home. (⸫)

¶ The prayer which Martyne Luther was accuſtomed dayly to ſay.

COnfyrme (O God) in vsus that thou haſte wrought, and perfect the woorke that thou haſte begone in vsus to thy glorye. So be it.

❧ An intimacion, geuen by Philip Melancthon to hys Auditorye, at Vitteberg. The yeare 1546. Of the deceaſe of Martyne Luther. (⸫)

THE Scholers aſſembled to heare the Lecture of the Epiſtle to y^e Romaynes, Phyllip Melācthon recited publikly, thys that foloweth, at nyne of the clocke before noone, aduertiſyng he gaue thys informacion, by the counſayle of other Lordes, for that the Auditors vnderſtandyng the expreſſe truth (for ſo much as y^e lords knew certainly Fame woulde bl…we ſclaunderous blaſtes eueryevery where of the death of Luther) ſhould not credit flying tales and falſe reportes.

My friendes, ye know that we hauehave enterpriſed to expound Grammatical lye the Epiſtle to the Romaynes, in the which is contayned the true doctrine of the Sonne of God, the which our Lord by hys ſingular grace hath reuealed vntounto vsus at thys preſent by the reuerend Father, & our dearelye beloued Maiſter Martin Luther. Not withſtanding we hauehave receiued heauy newes, which hauehave ſo augmented my dolour, that I am in dout if I mai continue hencefoorth in ſcholaſticall profeſſion, and exerciſe of teachyng. The cauſe wherefore I commemorate thys thinge, is for that I am ſo aduiſed by other Lordes, that ye may vnderſtand the true ſequele of things leaſt your ſelues blaſe abroade vayne …ales of this fatal chaūce, or geue credit to other fables, which cōmonly ar accuſtomed to be ſpred eueryevery where.

Wedenſday laſt paſt, the. 17. daye of February, Doctor Martin Luther ſyckned a litle before Supper, of hysThe ſycknes of Lother. accuſtomed malady, to ſay, the oppreſſion of humors in the orifice or opening of his ſtomacke, wherof I remē ber I hauehave ſenhim oft diſeaſed in this place. Thys ſickenes occupied him after Supper, with the which vehemētly contending, he required ſeceſſe into an next chamber, & there he reſted on bed two houres, whiles the paines encreaſed, Doctor Ionas lying in his chamber, Luther awakened, & praied hym to ryſe, and call vp Ambroſe hys Childerns Schoolemaiſter, to make fyre in an other Chāber. In y^t which beyng newly entred, Albert Earle of Manſfeld wyth hys wyfe and dyuers other (whoſe names in theſe letters for haſt, were not expreſſed) at that in ſtant came into hys Chamber. Finally, feelyg hys fatal houre to approch, before. 1…. of the clock in the morning the. 18. of Februarye, he commended him to God, wyth this deuout praier.

My heauenly father, eternal & mercyful God, thou haſt manyfeſted vntounto me thy deare Sonne our Lord Ieſus Chriſte. I hauehave taught hym, I hauehave knowen hym, I louelove hym as my life, my health, and my redempcion, whō the wycked perſecuted, maligned, and wyth iniury affected. Draw my ſoule to thee. After thys he ſayde thys that enſueth, thryſe.

I commende my Spirite into thy handes, thou haſt redemed me God of truth. God ſo loued y^e worlde, that he gaue his ouelye Sonne, that all thoſe that beleue in hym, ſhoulde hauehave lyfe euerlaſtyng. Iohn. 3.

Hauyng repeated often tymes hysHisdiſeaſ… prayers, he was called to God, to the eternal Schole, and perpetual ioyes, in the… which he enioyeth the ſocietye of the father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt, al the Prophets & Apoſtles.

He…as, the conductor and Chariot of Iſrael is dead, who hath gouerned the Churche in thys laſle age of the worlde, for the doctrine of remiſſion of ſynnes, and of the fayth of God, hath not beene compreheneed by bumayne wyſedome, but God hath manifeſted the ſame by thys holye man, whom we hauehave ſene rayſed of God.

Let vsus louelove the memory of thys mā and the doctrine that he hath taught. Let vsus learne to be moreſt & meeke. Let vsus conſider the wretched calamities, and marueilous chaunges y^• ſhal folow this myſhay & doleful chaunce.

I beſeche thee O Sonne of God, crucified for vsus, & reſuſcitate Emanuel; gouerne, conſerue & defend thy Churche.

(⸫)

¶ Philip Melancthons Oracion, made and recited for the Funeralles of the Reuerens man Marrin… Luther at Vitteberge. (⸫)

AL beſt in thys common ſorrow my voyce ſhalbe troubled wyth dolour & teares: yet I muſt ſaye ſomewhat in thys frequent aſſembly, not (as the Paganes ſolemne cuſtome was) to ſing the Encomye of the dead, but rather to admoniſh this companye of the marueilous gouernment, & perils of the Church, that we may conſider for what cauſes we ought to be careful & penſiue, what thinges we hauehave ſpecial neede of, & to what examples we ought to direct our lyfe. For although prophane men beholding this horrible confuſion in thys mortall eſtate, ſuppoſing althinges are tranſported by aduenture, and gouerned by Fortune: yet we confirmed wyth many euident teſtimonies of God, letThe ſōm of …uther doctrine. vsus ſeparate the Church from the vngodly multitude, let vsus perſwade our ſelues the ſame hath bene preſerued, and ruled by diuine prouidence, & …et vsus perpen… what is the policye of the ſame. Let vsus acknowledge the true gouernours, and endeuour to frame our cou…e conformable to theirs. Let vsus …ec… Guides & coue…ent Inſtructors, whom we maye godly imitate & hauehave in reuerence. It ſhalbe moſt expedient for ſo meditate and ſpeake of theſe waighty & graue matters, as of ten & when mencion ſhall be made of the Reuerend man Martine Luther, our dearely beloued Maiſter. Whom we muſt tenderly louelove & commende, ſynce we know that he was diuinely reyſed to be a Miniſter of the Goſpel, although many prophane mē, & ſuche as contempned the Goſpel, hated him deadlye. We ought alſo to collect teſtemonies,The gouernment of y^e churche. whereby we may demonſtrate his doctrine contayned no ſedicious opinions iniuriouſly and wyth temerarious affection ſowen, as the Epicurean ſect imagineth, but that by hys doctrine, the wil and faythful worſhipping of God, & hys holy ſcriptures ar expreſſed, & the word of God y^• is, the glad tidyngs of Ieſus Chriſt ſincerely announced. Al be it in theſe Dracions accuſtomably made in this place, we wer wōt orderly to depaint the particular ornamentes of them, whō we prayſed: yet I omit…yng that member of Oration, entend to treate only of this principal article, Eccleſiaſtical function. For the wiſe & godly wyll deliberate & determine in them ſelues reſoluteli this: If Luther hath manyfeſted the neceſſarye doctryne of ſaluacion in y^• Church, great thankes are to be geuen to God, who hath raiſed him, & we muſt commend hys induſtry, faith, conſtancy, & many other hys celeſtiall vertues, and endeuour the memory of thys man may be embraced and reuerenced of eueryevery man.

Let thys then be the Proeme of my Oration. The Sonne of God (as Paule ſayth) ſitteth at the right hand of the euerlaſting father, & miniſtreth good things to men, that is, the voice, of the Goſpel, & the holy ghoſt, and to diſtribute theſe giftes, he rayſeth Prophets, Apoſtles, Doctors & Paſtors, … taketh theſe out of our congregacion, ſuch as do learne, who profeſſe, heare & embrace the Prophetes & ApoſtlesDoctour ſent of go to gouer… y^• Church writings. And calleth not only thoſe to this warfare, which hauehave ordinari power, but alſo he denounceth warre againſt them often times, by Doctors choſen of an other eſtate. It is moſte comfortable, & a pleaſaūt ſpectacle to conſider the Churche of all ages, & to remember the bountye of God, who from time to time hat ſent ſucceſſiuely godly Doctors, to thend that when the firſt were in battayl conſumed, other might ſupply theyr rankes to atchieue that the former begonne.

The cōtinual order of y^• firſt fathersThe fyr… Guides … the chur… Adam, Seth, Enoch, Mathuſalē Noe Sem is notorious. This Sem liuing & inhabiting the country nigh to Sodome, when the people had forgotten the doctrine of Noe, & eueryevery wher honored Idols, Abraham was rayſed to be Sems compagniō to aſſiſt hym, to performe this great worke. After ſucceded Iſac, Iacob Ioſeph, y^• which Ioſeph in y^• vniuerſal territori of Egipt (which thē excelled all other kingdōs in y^• world) illumined the light of doctrine. Then folowed Moſes, Ioſue, Samuel, Dauid, Elias, Elizeus, whoſe Auditor was Eſay. After Eſay cam Ieremy, after Ieremye, Daniel, after Daniel Zachary, immediatly ſucceded Eſoras and Omas, after Onias the Machabees. Then after enſued Simeon, Zachary, Iohn Baptiſt, Ieſus Chriſt, & the Apoſtles. It is conuenient to conſider thys continual ſequele, for that it is an euidēt teſtimonye of Gods preſence in the Church.

After the Apoſtles followed an otherThe ſucſſors of apoſtles flocke, the whych albeit weaker, yet adorned wyth the teſtimonyes of God, as Policarpe, Ireneus, Gregory Neoceſariē, Baſile, Auſten, Proſper, Marimus, Hugo, Bernard, Tau lerus, and many other in diuers places. All be it thys laſt age was more groſſe, and ſtuffed wyth ordures, yet God preſerued alwayes ſomme remaintes. And it is cleare the Goſpell hath receiued much light by the preachyng of Luther.

Then muſte we collocate hym among this ſelect & bliſful Troupe of godly and excellent Mirrours, whom God hath ſent to gather & reſtore hys Church, that we may vnderſtand this was the principal flower of humaine kin… ▪ Solon, Themiſtocles, Scipio. Auguſtus, were excellent & woorthy men, who eſtabliſhed and gouerned large Realmes & great Empires: yet were they mu… inferiour then theſe our Guides. Eſa… Iohn Baptiſt, S. Paule, Auſten, and Luther. It is neceſſary for vsus to vnderſtand theſe differentes in the Church.

What then are the abſolute & true matters y^• Luther hathe manifeſted, which geueth great glory to his workes, and maketh hys praiſe liue in the mouth of men? Many cry out that the Church is diſturbed, & controuerſies planted in them, not eaſy to be vnfolded. I aunſwer to theſe: Suche is the gouernment of the Churche, when the holy Ghoſt argueth the worlde, many diſſentions growe through the peruers ſtubbornes of the wycked, & they are in fault, y^• wyll not heare theLuther hathe manifeſted y^• doctrine. Sonne of God, of whom the Father pronoūceth: Heare hym. Luther hath reueled the true & neceſſary doctrine, for it is moſt certain, ther was wonderfull groſſe darknes in the doctrine of repentannce. This diſcuſſed, he declareth what is perfecte penitence, which is the truſty port & aſſured comfort of the ſpirite aſtonyed with the felyng of Gods anger. He hath illumined S. Paules doctrine, whych treateth, ma is iuſtified by fayth. He hath expreſſed what difference is betwyxte the Law & the Goſpel, betwixt ſpiritual & ciuil Iuſtice. He hath explaned what is the true inuocacion of God, and reuoked the Church wholy from al Pagane and prophane lunacy and furor, who fayne that God is inuocated, when the ſpirites oppreſſed wyth Academical douts, flee God. He hath exhorted to praier in pure cōſcience, & hath guided vsus as it wer by the hand to the onelyonly mediatour the Sonne of God, ſyttynge at the ryghte hande of God the Father, and interceadynge for vsus, & not to Images and dead me, as the Infidels moued wyth horrible madnes inuocated Idolles and ſenceles Stockes.

He hath alſo inſtructed other dutyes acceptable to God, and ſo a dourned and fortefied ciuil life, as none to thys day wyth more perfection. Further he hath ſequeſtred childiſh inſtituciō of humain ceremonies, y^• cuſtoms aud lawes lettyng true inuocation from neceſſary workes. And that this heauenly doctrine manyfeſted might come to poſteritye, he tranſlated the Prophetes and Apoſtles workes, into hys maternal tong, wyth ſuch perſpi…uitye, that hys traduction geueth more lyght to the Readers, then the Commentaries of diuers other.

Hereunto he hath added manye Enarrations, the whych as EraſmusEraſmus teſtimonye of Luther. in tyme paſte affirmed, paſſed all others, that be extant. And as it is reported of ſuch as reedified Ieruſalem that they buylded with one hand, and held the ſword wyth the other: euen ſo Luther fought agaynſt y^• enemyes of Chriſtian doctrine, and at that inſtant deuiſed enarracions, repleniſhed wyth heauenlye doctrine, and inLuthers conf…i…tes. thys exployte, he hath comforted and releued the conſciences of many with faythfull Councels.

And as it appeareth the greateſt part of his doctrine, ſurmounteth the compaſſe of humayne capacity, as the doctrine of remiſſion of ſyns & fayth. So muſte we neceſſarilye confeſſe he was taught of God, and diuers of vsus hauehave ſene his conflictes, in the which he learned, that we ſhould perſwade our ſelues this, that by fayth we are heard and receaued of God.

The ſincere & godly wyts ſhal celebrate foreuer, the benefites whyche God hath conferred to his Church by Luther, and fyrſte they ſhall render thankes to God, then proteſt, they ar much obliged to hys learned labors: albert the Atheiſtes, who vniuerſally hauehave the church in deriſiō, eſteme an… iudge theſe true offices and dutyes, a chyidyſh paſtime, a mere folye, and alienacion of the mynde.

He hath not excitated indiſſoluble diſputacions, neither proponed to the Church, the Apple of contencion, nor publiſhed obſcurities & enigmes. For he is eaſy to the faythful & godly, and ſuch as be of ſound vnderſtandyng, & ſclaunderouſlye wyll not geue iudgement, by conference of ſentences to cō ſider what agreeth with the heauenly doctrine. and what diſſenteth. And that more is, the godly are fully reſolued▪ that theſe differentes were longe ſynce appointed. For ſince Gods pleaſure is we ſhould behold & know hys wyll in the Prophetes and Apoſtles workes (in the which he hath manyfeſted hymſelfe) we maye not thynke hys woordes are doubtfull, as the leaues of Sibilla.

But ſome (which wer not peruers) hauehave compiayned that Luther wasLuthers vehemēcie excuſed. more vehement, then n…de required. I wyl not diſpute againſt any: but I aunſwer this that Eraſmus hath often ſaid: God hath giuen this laſt age a ſharpe Phiſiciō, becauſe of y^• great diſeaſes of the ſame, & therfore ſynce he hath reyſed ſuch an organe againſt the truthes enemies, and agaynſt the proude and impudent, as he hath ſaid to Ieremy, beholde I hauehave placed my wordes in thy mouth, to thende thou ſhouldeſt deſtroy & edefye, & alſo hath pleaſed hym to ſet before their beards this Gorgon or buckler, in vaine thei quarell wyth God. God gouerneth hys Church not by mans Counſels, netheir wyll hauehave hys organes all alyke. This is a common thing, mean and moderate ſpirites cannot brooke vehement motions, whether they be good or euyll. Ariſtides beholdynge Themiſtocles enterpriſe great matters, wyth a patheticall incitacion of the minde, wherof he had proſperous ſucceſſe, althoughe he dyd gratulate the cōmon weales prſperity: yet he laboured diligētly to reuoke Themiſtocles vehement mynde from y^• courſe.

Neyther I deny that ſometymes vehement mocions offend, ther is none in thys infirmity of Nature, voide of ſpot. Yet if ther be any ſuch as the autentick writers hauehave reported of Hercules, Cimon, and other, deformed & miſſhapen: yet apt and vpryght in excellent exploictes. Certaynly I muſt confeſſe that theſe be good and praiſe worthy, and as S. Paule ſayth, yf he do hys duty wel in the Church, obſeruyng fayth, and a pure conſcience, he is acceptable to God, and we oughte to reuerence hym.

We knowe that Luther hath bene ſuch, for conſtantly he hath mayntained the ſinceritye of the Goſpel, and retayned an integrity of conſcience. Now what is he (that hath knowen Luther) & is ignoraunt, wyth whatLuthers humanity humanity he was garniſhed? How af fable he was to al ſuch as in familiar conference, or graue deuiſe had to do wyth hym. How voyde he was of contencion & brawle, & yet among theſe vertues he had ſuch a grauity, as decently became hys callyng. His manners wer good, his wordes ſwete and pleaſaunt. Finally, althinges (as S. Paule ſaith) wer in him true, honeſt, iuſt, pure, amiable, & renoumed, in ſo much that we maye plainly perceyue hys vehemencye proceded of a zelous affection he bare to the truth, rather then of any natural ſharpenes, & here of not onelyonly we, but many are euidēt witneſſes. As touching the reſt of hisLuthers integrity. lyfe, whyche hee prolonged to .lxiii. yeares, employing the ſame with feruent affection in the feare of God, & in al good & liberal ſcieces, if I had deliberated to ſay ought in hys prayſe, what ample theame, what abundāce of matter is miniſtred to me to frame an excellent & goodly Oratiō. No inordinate deſires, no ſedicious coūſels raigned in him. He exhorted to peace & diſſwaded war. He medled not priuate care w^t eccleſiaſtical cauſes, ther by to enrich himſelf, or aduaunce hys friendes. I iudge this to be ſo great wyſdome & vertue, that by humayne diligence it cannot onelyonly be procured, but it behoueth high, vehement, & ſubtil mindes (as it appeareth Luthers was) to be brydeled diuinely.

What ſhal I ſaye of other his vertues? I often tymes came vnwaresLuthers earneſt prayers. vponupon hym, when he wyth teares berayning hys chekes, prayed for the vniuerſal Church. He preſcribed certayn houres eueryevery day to recite ſome Pſalmes, and in pronouncing them, he expreſſed his affection, wyth mourning & teares. He rebuked euer thoſe that through negligence, or other domeſtical buſines, ſayde: they ſerued God ſufficiently, in makyng a ſecret zelous prayer, declaring to them that we hauehave fourmes ſet foorth by diuine counſell, to thend that in reading we may awaken our myndes, and wyth voyce teſtify what God we call vponupon.

And when occaſion was offered to enter in conſultacion about imminent daungerous, we alwaies obſerued hys marueilous conſtancy of courage, neyther would he lurke appalled, neyther repreſent anye face ef feare, wyth the terrour therof. He leaned alwayes to the Lord, as to hys holye ancre, and neuer waued in anye poynt of hys fayth.

Further, he was ſo ingenious, that alone he conſidered what was neceſſarySubtilty of hys Spirite. to be done in doubtful caſes. Neither was he (as many ſuppoſe) negligent in the conſideracion of the publicke weale, neyther ignoraunt of the myndes and inclinaciōs of other, but he wel vnderſtode the ſtate of the common weale, no man better, & perceyued moſt prudently the natural diſpoſitions and wylles of them, with whō he was cōuerſant. And albeit he was of a ioly & politicke head: yet he moſte gredely red the Eccleſiaſticall Wryters, old and new, & all the hiſtories, the examples, whereof he conuerted wyth a ſyngular dexterity, to the profite of mans lyfe, and preſent affairesHys eloquence.

Of hys eloquenc…e we hauehave euerlaſting teſtimonies, wherein certaynly he was equiualent to any that excelled in arte Oratory.

Then wyth good cauſe we may lament the lacke of hym, who in wyſedome and lyuelynes of ſpirite was ſo excellent, ſo garniſhed with doctrine▪ ſo exerciſe▪ wyth vie, ſo adorned with many & thoſe heroyical vertues, ſo elected of God, for the reſtauration of the Curch, and finally with ſo paternal affection, louyng and embracing vsus, we are lyke Orphelius, depriued of a faythful and famous father. And albeit neceſſarelye we muſt obey diuine order: yet let vsus endeuour y^e memory of hys benefites & vertues may remayne immortal wyth vsus. And let vsus reioyce that preſently he is in the bleſſed & ſwete company of God & his welbeloued Sonne our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, the Prophetes and Apoſtles,Feliciti in the other lyfe. whoſe ſo…etye throughe the fayth he had in the ſonne of God, he hath dayly deſyred, and attended. Whereas now he heareth hys labours onelyonly approued by the iudgement of God, and the teſtimonye of all the heauenlye Church, whyche he ſuſteyned for the propagation of the Goſpell: but alſo taken out of thys mortal body as out of a pryſon, and entred into a ſchoole adourned wyth more excellent doctrine, he beholdeth the eſſence of god, the two natures cōioyned in y^e ſonne, and al the counſ… of h… creation and redemption of the church. The which diuine m…ſte…es …r…ked, and wyth compendious oracles proponed he cō ſidered here only by fayth, out nowe more …u…nt. y veholdyng them, he reioyceth & feruently enflamed wyth the louelove of God, he rendreth thankes for this ſo great & ſingular benefyt.

There he learneth wherefore the ſonne of God is called the woord and Image of the eternal Father, & how the holy ghoſt is the band of mutuall louelove, not onelye betwyxt the eternall Father and the Sonne, but alſo betwyxt them and the Church. For he had learned the ru…mentes and principles of thys doctrine in thys mortal lyfe, and mencioned oftentimes theſe celeſtiall matters, the difference betwyrt true and falſe inuocation, the true knowledge of God, beholdyng the diuine manifeſtacions, & the diſcernynge of the true God, from foreged and inuented Gods, & theſe matters he diſputed very wiſely & graue…

Many in thys Auditory hauehave heard hym at certayn times expreſſing this ſentence: Ye ſhal ſee the heauens opened, and the Aungels of God aſcendyng and deſcending vponupon the ſonne of man. In the expoſicion of thys, he exhorted hys Auditours to plant in theyr hartes thys ſyngular conſolacion, the whyche affirmeth that the heauen is opened, that is to ſay, way made open for vsus to paſſe to God, the barre of Gods wrathe remoued from ſuche as hauehave recourſe to the Sonne, that God is familiarlye conuerſaunt wyth vsus now, and that he receyueth, gouerneth and conſerueth ſuch as inuocate hym. He admoniſhed y^t thatThe Aungels whyche aſcend & deſcend. decree of God, which the Atheiſtes exclame to be fabulous, ought to reſyſt al thoſe humaine doubtes & dreades, whyche keepe backe the wanderyng myndes, that they dare not innocate God, and repoſe in hym.

Further, he ſayd that the Aungels aſcending and deſcending in the body of Ieſus Chriſt, wer the Miniſters of the Goſpel. Who firſt by Chriſt their Guide, aſcended to God, & receiued of hym the lyght of the Goſpell, and the goly Ghoſt. Then after they deſcended, that is to ſay, thei had the charge to profeſſe and enſtruct among men.

He added thys interpretacion, that the very heauenly ſpirites which we commonly cal Angels, beholding the ſonne, are inſtructed & r…oy…e in this merueylous con…unction of twoo natures, & for that they war vnderunder the Lord for the defence of the Churche, they be alſo gouerned by hys hand.

He preſently beholdeth theſe ſo excellent thynges, and as before he aſcended and deſcended among the Miniſters of the Goſpell, by the conduction of Ieſus Chriſte, ſo nowe he ſeeth the Aungels ſent by hym, & hath equal fruicion wyth them of the contemplacion & conſideracion, of the diuine wyſdome and marueylous workes of God. We remember wel what incredible pleaſure he conceiued in recityng the policies of the Prophetes, theyr counſels, daungers and deliueraunces, and how learnedlye he conferred al tymes of the Church, that he wel declared wyth what burnyng deſyre he longed to be in the ſocietye of theſe excellent perſonages. He embraceth theſe now & reioyceth to hauehave mutual conference in lyuelye voyce. Theſe ſalute their louyng companiō newly repayred to them, and ioyntly yeld thankes to God, that he aſſembleth and conſerueth hys Church.

Let vsus not doubt, but that Luther is in happy & bleſſed eſtate. & let vsus lament the loſſe & …acke of ſo vertuous & heauely a father, & as duty byndeth vsus to obey the wyt of God, who hath reft vsus ſuch a rare …ewel: ſo let vsus vnderſtand Gods pleaſure is, we ſhould cōſecrate to etern…, y^• memory of his vertues and benefites. Let vsus …hen in thys apply ou… diligence, let vsus imitate as we be able, his vertues which is expediet for vsus to know, that is, the feare of God, fayth, feruecy in praier, cleannes in miniſterye, chaſtity, diligence to eſchew counſels tendyng to ſedicion, and deſyre to learne. And as it behoueth vsus, to remēber the other faythful gouernours of the Churche, whoſe hiſtories we reade, as Ieremy Iohn Baptiſt, & S. Paule. So let vsus conſider oftentymes the doctrine and order of thys reuerend father, & herewyth let vsus adde prayer, and action of thankes, as it becōmeth vsus now to do in thys aſſembly.

WE render thankes vntounto the, OA prayer of thankes geuyng. moſt puiſſant God, eternal father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, founder of thy Church, together with thy ſonne coeternall our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, & the holye ghoſt, wyſe, good, mercyful, ryghteous iudge, mighty & hauing power ouer althings, for that thou ga…her…ſt vntounto thy ſonne an enheritaunce, & conſe…ueſt the miniſtery of the Goſpel, & now by Luther haſt reſtored the ſame. And we pray thee with feruent affection that thou wilt conſerue and gouerne henceforth the church, & ſeale in vsus thy true doctrine as Eſay prayeth for his Diſciples, & that thou wylt illumine our vnderſtā ding by thy holy ghoſt, y^t in truth we may cal vponupon thee, and lyue holyly.

Furthermore, becauſe the deceaſe of excellent gouernours is oftē a preſage or foreſhewing of great inconue niēces to come to ſuch as ſhal ſuccede I and al thoſe that profeſſe miniſtery require you to conſider the daungers wherunto the whole world is ſubiect The Turkes inuade of one ſide, & on the other domeſtical enemies, threatē inteſtine wars. Ther …urke alſo eueri where licencious & inſolent heades, who after they ſhal ceaſe to feare Luthers cenſure & ſeuere correction, wil not ſtycke audaciouſly to corrupt this doctrine of vsus faythfully taught.

Finally, that God may withdraw ſuch inconueniences, let vsus apply our diligence to lyue wel, & to ſtudy, & let vsus retein this ſetēce alwaies impreſſed in our mindes that as long as we ſhal conſerue, heare, learn & louelove the pure doctrine of y^• Goſpel, we ſhal be the houſe & church of God as the ſōne of God ſayth: If any louelove me, he wyll obſerue my word, and my father wylIohn. 14.John 14 louelove him, & we wyll come to hym and make our abode with hym. Let vsus be allured with thys ſingular promyſe, to learne the heauenly doctrine, & let vsus be throughly perſwaded, that mā kinde & ciuil gouernments are cōſerued becauſe of y^e church. Let vsus pōder this in our minde, & be encouraged w^t y^• imortality y^• is cōming, to y^e whych God hath called vsus, who truely hath not in vayne manifeſted himſelf vntounto vsus by ſo many teſtimonies, nor with out good reſpect ſent hys ſonne, but tenderly loueth & careth for ſuche as make accompt of his ineſtimable benefites. I hauehave ſayd.

¶ A famous & godly hiſtory contaynyng the liues and actes of Iohn Ecolampadius and Huldericke Zuinglius, excellent Diuines, ſet foorth by Wolfangus Faber Capito, Simon Grineus, and Oſwaldus Miconius, and Englyſhed by Henry Bennet Calliſian. (:)

¶ Anno. 1561. The laſt of Nouember. (⸫)