The Saints Encouragement in Evil Times, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Martin Luther.
HE was born on St Martins day, and therefore called*Three Martins have much opposed the Papists, Martin Luther, Martin Bucer, and Martin Chemnicius. Martin Luther. He was though strong in body, yet sparing in diet; I saw him (saith*Melanct. Praefat. ad …dum volumen Lutheri. Melancthon) when he was in good health, four whole daies eating and drinking nothing at all, I have often seen him at other times to be content many daies with a little bread and herring daily.
When he recreated himself, and took his minde off his studies, he was delighted with the play of Chesse, and was skilfull at it.
He was almost beyond measure liberall toward the poor: it happened once that a student asked some money of him, he bad his wife to give him something, but she excusing the matter in regard of their penury at that time, he took a silver cup which stood near to his hand, and gave it to the scholler, wishing him to sell it to the Goldsmith, and take the mon… to himself.
Erasmus saith,Homo affectibus suis nimium indulgens, qui ipse animi suiaestum praeproperum saepe agnoscit. Rai…ol. de lib. Appoc. praelect, quarta vide Gesner▪ B…bliothecam. Lenitatem se in … desider are, He wished him more moderation and temper in his writing Erasmus also often said, That God gave to this last age a sharp Physitian because of the greatnesse of their diseases. Intemperans aeger crudelem medicum fecit.
He was by nature fiery but placable; therefore when Melancthon came once to him being vehemently moved, he rehearsed this verse to him the rest being silent,
Vince animos iram que tuam qui caeter… vincis.
Overcome thy minde and anger▪ which overcomest other things.
Calvin *Saepe dicere solitus sum: etiamsi me Lutherus diabolum vocaret, me tamen hoc illi honoris habiturum, ut insignem Dei servum agnosca…: qui tamen ut pollet eximiis virtutibus, ita magnis vitiis laborat, Vehementian autem quae illi est ingenita, utinam in hostes veritatis semper contulisset, non etiam vibrasset in servos Dominitutinam recognescendis suis vitiis plus operae dedisset. Cal. Bul.saith, Though Luther should call him a devil, yet he would honour him as a famous servant of God, who as he excels with great vertues, so he hath also great vices, but I would (saith he) he had alwaies exercised his vehemency which was imbred in him on the enemies of the truth, and not also on the servants of God, and that he had spent more pains in acknowledging his own faults.
He was of a just stature, a strong body, of such a Lion-like vivacity of eyes that many could not endure to look directly upon him. He had good health, except that towards his later end he was often troubled with a pain in his head; whence he: Valemus omnes praeter Lutherum ipsum, qui corpore sanus, foris à toto mundo, intus à Diabolo patitur & omnibus angelis ejus. We are all well save Luther himself, who being sound in body suffers outwardly from the whole world, inwardly from the devil and all his angels.
A great deal of money was given him by Dukes and Princes, so that I began (saith he) to fear least God would herereward me, sed protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo, but I protested that I would not so be satisfied by him.As for sedition, for ought I know me thinks I should not need Christ if I might so say.
He saith somewhere of himself, that he was never in all his life tempted to covetousnesse, one that was so great a reformer as he was, had need to have a spirit disingaged from the world.
When upon a time one Papist demanded of another,Latimers 3d Serm. before Edw. the 6 why do you not stop the mans mouth with gold and silver? The other answered, Hem, Germana haec bestia pecuniam non curat. See, this Germain beast careth not for money.
He was the first that opposed the Popish Indulgences.Rivet. Iesuit. vap▪ Occasione nundinationis Indulgentiarum pretio numerato,Lutherus initio fuit permotus ad hoc quod suscepit reformaetionis opus.
In the same year*About the year 1517. when Martin Luther began, Pope Leo the tenth did create one and thirty Cardinals: In which year and day of their creation, there fell a tempest of thunder and lightning in Rome, which so shook the earth when the Cardinals were made,Foxes Acts and Mon. 2d. Tom. out of I. Bale. that it removed the little childe Jesus out of the lap of his mother, and the keyes out of S. Peters hands, which thing many then did interpret to signifie and foreshew the subversion and alteration of the Sea of Rome.
Erasmus told Frederick Duke of Saxony, The spirit of Luther was raised by opposition. Concurrimus utrin que , illi extremo …urore, & ego summo cō temptu, & vincet mea audacia.That in Luther were two great faults: First, That he would touch the bellies of the Monks. Secondly, That he would touch the Popes Crown, which two matters in no case are to be medled withall.
Luthers friends disswading him from going to Worms, some crying that by the burning of his books it appeared he was condemned in the judgement of the Papists: others instancing in the examples of John Hus and Savanarola: Luther thus answered *Melch. Adam. Si scirem tot Wormatiae esse diabolos quot tegulae in tectis▪ tamen essem ingressurus., As touching me, since I am sent for, I am resolved and certainly determined to enter Worms in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, yea although I knew there were so many devils to resist me,He might more fitly be called Doctor resolutus then the schoolman as there are tiles to cover the houses … Wormes.
Whose undaunted minde, mos… fervent zeal, great learning (sait… *Tom. 2d l. 16. c. 15.Chamier) stirred up many who armed themselves against the errours and commonly received superstitions, among which were Zuingllus *Famous writers of the reformation, Luther & Melancthō in Saxony, Oecolampadius in Helvetia, Calvin and Beza in France, Peter Martyr and Zanchi…s from ItalyOecolampadius, Melancthon, B… cer, Calvin, and many others, whos… labours and endeavours that way… God would not suffer to be frusta… neous.
Albertus Crantzius an Historia… of the Vandales is reported to hav… said to Luther, Frater vade *Sculter. Annal Fox. Acts and Mon 2d Tom. p. 83.in cel…lam, & dic Miserere mei Deus. Brother go into thy cell, and say, Lord have mercy upon me, insinuating that an Aust…n Monke should in vai… dispute against the Pope.
His praiers were so ardent unto Christ, that (as Melancthon writeth) they which stood under his window where he stood praying might see his tears falling and dropping down.
He praied every day three hours,Tanta reverentia aliquid petit, ut cum Deo: tanta spe & fide ut cum patre & amic… se loquisentiat. Melc. Ad. and then when his spirits were most lively, Pertres horas eas que ad studia aptissimas.
When he preached they which heard him thought every one his own temptations severally to be noted and touched, whereof when signification was given unto him by his friends, and he demanded how that could be: Mine own manifold temptations (said he) and experiences are the cause thereof.He said … things make a Divine, meditation, praier, tē ptation. For from his tender years he was much exercised with spirituall conflicts, and vexed with all kinde of temptations.
Hee regarded not the threats of his adversaries the Papists, he said to Melancthon, Si nos …uemus ruet Christus una, His motto was, Sit miser, qui miser esse potest.scilicet ille regnator mundi: & esto …uat, malo ego cum Christo rue…re, quam cum Caesare stare. If we fall Christ the Lord and Ru…er of the world falleth with us, I had rather fall with Christ then stand with Caesar.
When any evil news was brought to him, he called for the 46. Psal… to comfort him.
He saith in one place, odi istud v… cabulum paenitenti… *Prius non fuerit fermè in Scriptura tota amarius mihi verbum quam paenitentia, nunc nihil dulcius aut gratius mihi sonat qua… paenitentia. Lutherus Stupitio.there was one no word so terrible unto him (while he was a Papist) and which his so…did more hate then that, Repent, b… after no word was more sweet, when he understood the Gospel.
When a certain Jew was appointed to come to destroy him by poison yet it was the will of God that Luther had warning thereof before,Foxes Acts and Mon 2d. tome. p. 88. an… by the face of the Jew sent to him by picture, whereby he knew him, an… avoided the pill.
In the garden of his houses the devil appeared to him in the form of … black bore, but he regarded it not.
Cajetan asked him whether … thought the Duke of Saxony would make warre in his behalf▪ he said,Quid (inquit) putas princi…em Frideri…ū propter tearma sumturum dixi? hoc nollem prorsus, & ubi manebis? Respondi, sub caelo. Lutherus praetat. ad Tom. primum. … would not have him: Where wil… you be then said Cajetan? Luthe… answered, I shall be sub caelo under heaven.
Erasmus wrote that there was more solid Divinity contained in one folio of Luthers Commentaries, then in many large writings of the Schoolmen and such like.
He said and taught many things truly and gravely, as concerning the sacred Scripture and its authority, Solis canonicis libris debetur fides, Ego ipse odi meos libros, & saepe opto eos interire, quod met…o ne morentur lectores, & abducant à lectione ipsius Scripturae, quae sela omnis sapientiae fons est▪ Luth. in Gen. 19.caeteris omnibus judicium. We must beleeve the Canonicall books only, and may judge all others.
He was so zealous to have the Scriptures read, that he professed, if he thought the reading of his books would hinder the reading of the Scripture, he would burn them all before he died.
His saying was, Ecclesia sanguine & oratione totum mundum convertit. When something concerning a businesse was concluded amisse at Norimberg, he said, Longe aliter in caelo quam Norimbergae hoc de negoti… erat conclusum: It was farre otherwise concluded in heaven then at Norimberg concerning that matter.
He took a liberty to himself t… speak stoutly when he was brought before the Emperour, till he hear… the pen go behinde the hangings.
He hath some high expressions in… in his writings, fiat volunt as nostra, let our will be done. Cave non tantum à peccatis sed etiam a bonis operibus. Take heed not only of sins but also of good works.Hic me prorsus renatum esse sensi, & apertis portis in ipsū Paradisum intrasse ibi …ontinuò alia mihi facies totius Scripturae apparuit. Lutherus praesat. ad pr…mum opus.
He being in an agony, and … glimpse of Christs righteousnesse being discovered to him out of Rom. 1. 17. and perceiving that it was not meant, de justitia puniente, but justificante, not of his punishing justice, but that which justifieth the ungodly, he saith, I perceived my sell regenerate, and to have entred into Paradise, the Scripture presently appeared in a new hew.
He would have been content at the first if they would have taken away indulgencies. He said, Brevi efficiam ut anathema sit esse Papistam: I will shortly cause it to be a curse to be a Papist. A young man about Wittenberg being kept bare and needy by his father, was tempted by way of sorcery to bargain with the devil or a familiar (as they call him) to yield himself body and soul unto the devils power, upon condition to have his wish satisfied with money, so that upon the same an obligation was made by the young man, written with his own bloud, and given to the devil: upon the sudden wealth and alteration of the young man, the matter first being noted, began afterward more and more to be suspected, and at length after long and great admiration he was brought unto Martin Luther to be examined. Foxes Acts and Mon. vol. 2d. p. 88.The young man whether for shame or fear long denied to confesse, and would be known of nothing, yet God so wrought being stronger then the devil, that he uttered unto Luther the whole substance of the cause, as well touching the money, as the obligation. Luther understanding the matter and pittying the lamentable state of the man, willed the whole Congregation to pray, and he himself ceased not with his prayers and labour, so that the devil was compelled at last to throw in his obligation at the window, and bad him take it again unto him.
He held Consubstantiation, but confessed to Melancthon that he had gone too far in the controversie of the Sacrament.Paulò ante mortem a gens cum Philippo Melancthone, fatetur in negotio cae…ae ni…um esse factum. …nold▪ de lib. Apoc prael quarta Melancthon perswaded him by the publishing of some milde writing to explain himself. Luther replied to that, that by this means he should cause his whole doctrine to be suspected, but Melancthon might do what seemed good to him after his death.
When they said he had recanted, he writing to his friend Stupitius, saith, Omnia de me praesumas praeter fugam & palinodiam: Presume any thing of me sooner then flying and retracting.
Luther so much esteemed of his book de servo arbitrio, that he gloried in it as unanswerable and wrote to Wolfangus Fabricius Capito: They offered him a cardinals hat if he would be quiet & not speak against the popish indulgencies, he answered, he would not though he might be Pope.Nullum se agnoscere justum suum librum, nisi fortè De servo arbitrio, & Catechismo, that he acknowledged none of his books for his, but those two, that de servo arbitrio, and his Catechisme.
If any of his books be to be disliked, surely that de sermonibus Convivalibus is most faulty, of which Gerhard*Loco primo de sacra Scriptura. (a Lutheran) saith thus, Liber ille Convivalium sermonum à Luthero nec visus, nec lectus, nec approbatus est, quin multoties privato quorundam arbitrio mutatus, mutilatus, auctus.
He said of the Pope, non habeo argumentum robustius, that he should fall, then quia sine cruce regnat.
Luther speaks slightly himself of his first labours. Above all I beseeeh the godly Reader, and for our Lord Jesus Christs sake, that he would reade my writings judiciously, and with much compassion, and let him know that I was formerly a Monk and a most furious Papist, when I first entred into the cause undertaken by me.Lutherus de primis conatibus petit, ut ea legatiector cū magna commiseratione & meminerit authorem fuisse aliquando monachum & Papistam insaniffimum. Luth. tom. 10. operū in praefat. Vide Melc. Ad.
He fitly called the Popes bull bullam, a bubble in respect of its vanity.
Being reproached, he said, Prorsus satan Lutherus sit, modo Christus vivat & regnet, Let Lurther be counted a devil so Christ may live and reign.
His saying was, Turcicum imperium quantum quantum est, mica tantum est quam pater-familias pr… jicit canibus, The whole Turkish Empire is but a crumme that th… master of the family throws to a dog.
He said he learnt more by one fervent prayer, then he could get by reading of many books or most intent *Ipse …go in una aliqua ardenti oratione mea plura saepedidi…i▪ quam ex multorum librorum lectione aut accuratissima meditatione co…sequi potu…s…em. Luth. tom. 1.meditation.
Melancthon in his preface to his 3d Tome reports this of him.
When he often seriously thought of the anger of God, or the wonderfull examples of punishments, suddenly he had such terrours that he was almost dead with them, and in disputing once about some points being much amazed, he lay upon a bed in the next room, where he often inserted this sentence in his prayer: He hath concluded all under sin that he might have mercy on all.
His prayer a little before his death was this, Melc. Ad.Paeter mi caelestis, Deus & Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, Deus omnis consolationis, ago tibi gratias, quod filium tuum Jesum Christum mihi revelasti, cui credidi, quem sum professus, quem amavi, quem celebravi, &c.
My heavenly Father, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of all consolation, I give thee thanks, that thou hast revealed thy Son Jesus Christ to me, whom I have beleeved, whom I have professed, whom I have loved and celebrated.
When he lay a dying, this was his will for his wife great with childe and his little son.
Domine Deus, gratias ago tibi, quod volueris me esse pauperem super terram & mendicum. Non habeo domum, agrum, possessiones, pecuniam … quae relinquam.Melch. Ad Tu dedisti mihi uxorem & filios, tibi reddo, nutri, doce, serva, ut hactenus me, O Pater pupillarum, & judex viduarum.
O Lord God, I thank thee that thou wouldst have me to be poor upon the earth, I have no house land or money that I should leave them. Thou hast given me wife and children, I restore them to thee, doe thou O father of Orphans and Judge of widdows, nourish, teach, keep them, as thou hast hitherto me.