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diff --git a/9841-h/9841-h.htm b/9841-h/9841-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f713a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/9841-h/9841-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3946 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther, by Martin Luther</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + P.gutsumm { margin-left: 5%;} + P.poetry {margin-left: 3%; } + .GutSmall { font-size: 0.7em; } + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4, H5 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + table { border-collapse: collapse; } +table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} + td { vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid black;} + td p { margin: 0.2em; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-weight: normal; + color: gray; + } + img { border: none; } + img.dc { float: left; width: 50px; height: 50px; } + p.gutindent { margin-left: 2em; } + div.gapspace { height: 0.8em; } + div.gapline { height: 0.8em; width: 100%; border-top: 1px solid;} + div.gapmediumline { height: 0.3em; width: 40%; margin-left:30%; + border-top: 1px solid; } + div.gapmediumdoubleline { height: 0.3em; width: 40%; margin-left:30%; + border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} + div.gapshortdoubleline { height: 0.3em; width: 20%; + margin-left: 40%; border-top: 1px solid; + border-bottom: 1px solid; } + div.gapdoubleline { height: 0.3em; width: 50%; + margin-left: 25%; border-top: 1px solid; + border-bottom: 1px solid;} + div.gapshortline { height: 0.3em; width: 20%; margin-left:40%; + border-top: 1px solid; } + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + img.floatleft { float: left; + margin-right: 1em; + margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } + img.floatright { float: right; + margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: 0.5em; } + img.clearcenter {display: block; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: 0.5em} + --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Selections from the Table Talk of Martin +Luther, by Martin Luther, Edited by Henry Morley, Translated by Henry Bell + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther + + +Author: Martin Luther + +Editor: Henry Morley + +Release Date: August 10, 2014 [eBook #9841] +[This file was first posted on October 23, 2003] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SELECTIONS FROM THE TABLE TALK OF +MARTIN LUTHER*** +</pre> +<p>This eBook was prepared by Les Bowler.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/coverb.jpg"> +<img alt= +"Book cover" +title= +"Book cover" +src="images/covers.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span +class="GutSmall">CASSELL’S NATIONAL LIBRARY</span></p> + +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<h1><span class="GutSmall">SELECTIONS FROM THE</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Table Talk</span><br /> +<span class="GutSmall">OF</span><br /> +MARTIN LUTHER.</h1> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="GutSmall">TRANSLATED +BY</span><br /> +CAPTAIN HENRY BELL.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/tpb.jpg"> +<img alt= +"Decorative graphic" +title= +"Decorative graphic" +src="images/tps.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p style="text-align: center">CASSELL & COMPANY, <span +class="smcap">Limited</span>:<br /> +<span class="GutSmall"><i>LONDON</i></span><span +class="GutSmall">, </span><span +class="GutSmall"><i>PARIS</i></span><span class="GutSmall">, +</span><span class="GutSmall"><i>NEW YORK & +MELBOURNE</i></span><span class="GutSmall">.</span><br /> +<span class="GutSmall">1886.</span></p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> +<p><span class="smcap">martin luther</span> died on the 18th of +February, 1546, and the first publication of his “Table +Talk”—<i>Tischreden</i>—by his friend, Johann +Goldschmid (Aurifaber), was in 1566, in a substantial +folio. The talk of Luther was arranged, according to its +topics, into eighty chapters, each with a minute index of +contents. The whole work in a complete octavo edition, +published at Stuttgart and Leipzig in 1836, occupies 1,390 +closely printed pages, equivalent to 2,780 pages, or full +fourteen volumes, of this Library.</p> +<p>The nearest approach to a complete and ungarbled translation +into English was that of Captain Henry Bell, made in the reign of +Charles the First, under the circumstances set forth by himself; +but even that was not complete. Other English versions have +subjected Luther’s opinions to serious manipulation, +nothing being added, but anything being taken away that did not +chance to agree with the editor’s digestion. Even the +folio of Captain Bell’s translation, from which these +Selections have been printed, has been prepared for reprint by +some preceding editor, whose pen has been busy in revision of the +passages he did mean to reprint. In these Selections every +paragraph stands unabridged, exactly as it was translated by +Captain Bell; and there has been no other purpose governing the +choice of matter than a resolve to make it as true a presentment +as possible of Luther’s mind and character. At least +one other volume of <i>Selections from the Table-Talk of Martin +Luther</i> will be given in this Library.</p> +<p>Johann Goldschmid, the Aurifaber, and thereby true worker in +gold, who first gave Luther’s Table-Talk to the world, was +born in 1519. He was a disciple of Luther, thirty-six years +younger than his master. Luther was born at Eisleben in +1483, and his father, a poor miner, presently settled at +Mansfeld, the town in which Goldschmid afterwards was born. +Johann Goldschmid was sent by Count Albrecht of Mansfeld, in +1537, to the University of Wittenberg, where Luther had been +made, in 1508, Professor of Philosophy, and where, on the 31st of +October, 1517, he had nailed his ninety-five propositions against +indulgences to the church door at the castle. Luther had +completed his translation of the Bible three years before Johann +Goldschmid went to Wittenberg. In 1540 Goldschmid was +recalled from the University to act as tutor to Count +Albrecht’s children. In 1544 Goldschmid was army +chaplain with the troops from Mansfeld in the French war; but in +1545 he was sent back to Wittenberg for special study of +theology. It was then that he attached himself to Luther as +his <i>famulus</i> and house-companion during the closing months +of Luther’s life, began already to collect from surrounding +friends passages of his vigorous “Table Talk,” and +remained with Luther till the last, having been present at his +death in Eisleben in 1546. He then proceeded steadily with +the collection of Luther’s sayings and opinions expressed +among his friends. He was army chaplain among the soldiers +of Johann Friedrich, of Saxony; he spent half a year also in a +Saxon prison. He became, in 1551, court preacher at Weimar; +but in 1562 was deprived of his office, and then devoted himself +to the forming of an Eisleben edition of those works of Luther, +which had not already been collected. In 1566 he was called +to a pastorate at Erfurt, where he had many more troubles before +his death. Aurifaber died on the 18th of November, +1575.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">H. M.</p> +<h2>THE TESTIMONY OF JO. AURIFABER, DOCTOR IN DIVINITY, +CONCERNING LUTHER’S DIVINE DISCOURSES.</h2> +<p><span class="smcap">And</span> whereas hitherto I have caused +certain tomes of the Books, Sermons, Writings, and Missives of +Luther to be printed at Eisleben, so have I also now finished +this tome of his Discourses, and have ordered the same to be +printed, which at the first were collected together out of the +Manuscripts of these Divine Discourses, which that Reverend +Father Anthony Lauterbach himself noted and wrote out of the holy +mouth of Luther, and afterwards the same by me were collected +into sure and certain Loci Communes, or Common-places, and +distributed.</p> +<p>And whereas I, Joannes Aurifaber, in the years 1545 and 1546, +before the death of that most famous Divine, Luther, was much +with and about him, and with all diligence writ and noted down +many most excellent Histories and Acts, and other most necessary +and useful things which he related: I have therefore set in order +and brought the same also into this tome.</p> +<p>Now, forasmuch as very excellent declaration is made in this +tome of all the Articles and chief points of Christian Religion, +Doctrine, and Faith; and also therein are found necessary Rules, +Questions and Answers, many fair Histories, all sorts of +Learnings, Comforts, Advices, Prophecies, Warnings, and +Admonitions: I have therefore thought it a thing fitting to +dedicate the same to your Highnesses, Graces, Honours and +Worships, etc., as special favourers, protectors, and defenders +of the Doctrines which God, through Luther, hath cleared again, +to the end that by diligent reading therein, you may be +president, and give good examples to others, to your subjects, +citizens, etc., diligently to love, to read, to affect the same, +and to make good use thereof, as being fragments that fell from +Luther’s Table, and therewith may help to still, to slake, +and to satisfy the spiritual hunger and thirst of the soul. +For these most profitable Discourses of Luther, containing such +high spiritual things, we should in nowise suffer to be lost, but +worthily esteem thereof, whereout all manner of learning, joy, +and comfort may be had and received.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Dr. +Aurifaber</span>, in his Preface<br /> +to the Book.</p> +<p><i>Given at Eisleben</i>, <i>July 7th</i>, <i>1569</i>.</p> +<h2>CAPTAIN HENRY BELL’S NARRATIVE:</h2> +<p style="text-align: center"><span +class="GutSmall">OR,</span></p> +<p class="gutsumm"><span class="smcap">Relation of the Miraculous +Preserving of Dr. Martin Luther’s book, entitled +“Colloquia Mensalia,” or, “His Divine +Discourses at his Table,” held with Divers Learned Men and +Pious Divines; such as were Philip Melancthon, Casparus Cruciger, +Justus Jonas, Paulus Eberus, Vitus Dietericus, Joannes +Bugenhagen, Joannes Forsterus, and others</span>:</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span +class="GutSmall">CONTAINING</span></p> +<p><i>Divers Discourses touching Religion</i>, <i>and other Main +Points of Doctrine</i>; <i>as also many notable Histories</i>, +<i>and all sorts of Learning</i>, <i>Comforts</i>, +<i>Advices</i>, <i>Prophecies</i>, <i>Admonitions</i>, +<i>Directions</i>, <i>and Instructions</i>; <i>and how the same +Book was</i>, <i>by God’s Providence</i>, <i>discovered +lying under the Ground</i>, <i>where it had lain hid Fifty-two +Years</i>; <i>and was a few years since sent over to the said +Captain Henry Bell</i>, <i>and by him translated out of the High +German into the English Tongue</i>.</p> +<p>“I, <span class="smcap">Captain Henry Bell</span>, do +hereby declare, both to the present age, and also to posterity, +that being employed beyond the seas in state affairs divers years +together, both by King James, and also by the late King Charles, +in Germany, I did hear and understand, in all places, great +bewailing and lamentation made, by reason of the destroying and +burning of above fourscore thousand of Martin Luther’s +books, entitled <i>His Last Divine Discourses</i>.</p> +<p>“For after such time as God stirred up the spirit of +Martin Luther to detect the corruptions and abuses of Popery, and +to preach Christ, and clearly to set forth the simplicity of the +Gospel, many Kings, Princes, and States, Imperial Cities, and +Hans-Towns fell from the Popish Religion, and became Protestants, +as their posterities still are, and remain to this very day.</p> +<p>“And for the further advancement of the great work of +Reformation then begun, the aforesaid Princes and the rest did +then order that the said Divine Discourses of Luther should +forthwith be printed; and that every parish should have and +receive one of the aforesaid printed books into every Church +throughout all their principalities and dominions, to be chained +up, for the common people to read therein.</p> +<p>“Upon which divine work, or Discourses, the Reformation, +begun before in Germany, was wonderfully promoted and increased, +and spread both here in England and other countries besides.</p> +<p>“But afterwards it so fell out that the Pope then +living, viz. Gregory XIII., understanding what great hurt and +prejudice he and his Popish religion had already received, by +reason of the said Luther’s Divine Discourses, and also +fearing that the same might bring further contempt and mischief +upon himself and upon the Popish Church, he therefore, to prevent +the same, did fiercely stir up and instigate the Emperor then in +being, viz. Rudolphus II., to make an Edict throughout the whole +Empire, that all the aforesaid printed books should be burned; +and also that it should be death for any person to have or keep a +copy thereof, but also to burn the same: which Edict was speedily +put in execution accordingly, insomuch that not one of all the +said printed books, nor so much as any one copy of the same, +could be found out nor heard of in any place.</p> +<p>“Yet it pleased God that, anno 1626, a German gentleman, +named Casparus Van Sparr, with whom, in the time of my staying in +Germany about King James’s business, I became very +familiarly known and acquainted, having occasion to build upon +the old foundation of a house, wherein his grandfather dwelt at +that time when the said Edict was published in Germany for the +burning of the aforesaid books; and digging deep into the ground, +under the said old foundation, one of the said original books was +there happily found, lying in a deep obscure hole, being wrapped +in a strong linen cloth, which was waxed all over with beeswax, +within and without; whereby the book was preserved fair, without +any blemish.</p> +<p>“And at the same time Ferdinandus II. being Emperor in +Germany, who was a severe enemy and persecutor of the Protestant +religion, the aforesaid gentleman and grandchild to him that had +hidden the said books in that obscure hole, fearing that if the +said Emperor should get knowledge that one of the said books was +yet forthcoming, and in his custody, whereby not only himself +might be brought into trouble, but also the book in danger to be +destroyed, as all the rest were so long before; and also calling +me to mind, and knowing that I had the High Dutch Tongue very +perfect, did send the said original book over hither into England +unto me; and therewith did write unto me a letter, wherein he +related the passages of the preserving and finding out the said +book.</p> +<p>“And also he earnestly moved me in his letter, that for +the advancement of God’s glory, and of Christ’s +Church, I would take the pains to translate the said book, to the +end that that most excellent divine work of Luther might be +brought again to light.</p> +<p>“Whereupon I took the said book before me, and many +times began to translate the same, but always I was hindered +therein, being called upon about other business, insomuch that by +no possible means I could remain by that work. Then, about +six weeks after I had received the said book, it fell out that I +being in bed with my wife one night, between twelve and one of +the clock, she being asleep, but myself yet awake, there appeared +unto me an ancient man, standing at my bedside, arrayed all in +white, having a long and broad white beard hanging down to his +girdle-stead, who, taking me by my right ear, spake these words +following unto me:—‘Sirrah! will not you take time to +translate that book which is sent unto you out of Germany? +I will shortly provide for you both place and time to do +it;’ and then he vanished away out of my sight.</p> +<p>“Whereupon, being much thereby affrighted, I fell into +an extreme sweat, insomuch that my wife awaking, and finding me +all over wet, she asked me what I ailed. I told her what I +had seen and heard; but I never did heed nor regard visions nor +dreams; and so the same fell soon out of my mind.</p> +<p>“Then about a fortnight after I had seen that vision, on +a Sunday, I went to Whitehall to hear the sermon, after which +ended I returned to my lodging, which was then in King Street, at +Westminster, and sitting down to dinner with my wife, two +Messengers were sent from the whole Council-board, with a warrant +to carry me to the keeper of the Gatehouse, Westminster, there to +be safely kept until further order from the Lords of the Council, +which was done without showing me any cause <a +name="citation17"></a><a href="#footnote17" +class="citation">[17]</a> at all wherefore I was committed. +Upon which said warrant I was kept there ten whole years close +prisoner, where I spent five years thereof about the translating +of the said book; insomuch as I found the words very true which +the old man, in the aforesaid vision, did say unto me: ‘I +will shortly provide for you both place and time to translate +it.’</p> +<p>“Then, after I had finished the said translation in the +prison, the late Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Laud, +understanding that I had translated such a book, called <i>Martin +Luther’s Divine Discourses</i>, sent unto me his chaplain, +Dr. Bray, into the prison, with this Message +following:—</p> +<blockquote><p>“‘Captain <span +class="smcap">Bell</span>,</p> +<p> “‘My Lord Grace of Canterbury +hath sent me unto you, to tell you that his Grace hath understood +that you have translated a book of Luther’s, touching which +book his Grace, many years before, did hear of the burning of so +many thousands in Germany by the then Emperor. His Grace +therefore doth desire you, that you would send unto him the said +original book in Dutch, and also your translation; which, after +his Grace hath perused, shall be returned safely unto +you.’</p> +</blockquote> +<p>“Whereupon I told Dr. Bray that I had taken a great deal +of pains in translating the said book, and was very loth to part +with it out of my hands, and therefore I desired him to excuse me +to his Grace, that I could not part from it; with which answer he +at that time returned again to his master.</p> +<p>“But the next day after he sent him unto me again, and +bade him tell me that, upon his honour, the book should be as +safe in his custody, if not safer than in mine own; for he would +lock it up in his own cabinet, to the end no man might come unto +it, but only himself. Thereupon I, knowing it would be a +thing bootless for me to refuse the sending of them, by reason he +was then of such great power that he would have them, <i>nolens +volens</i>, I sent them both unto him. Then, after he had +kept them in his custody two months, and had daily read therein, +he sent the said Doctor unto me, to tell me that I had performed +a work worthy of eternal memory, and that he had never read a +more excellent divine work; yet saying that some things therein +were fitting to be left out; and desired me not to think long +that he did not return them unto me so soon again. The +reason was because that the more he did read therein, the more +desire he had to go on therewith; and so, presenting me with ten +livres in gold, he returned back again.</p> +<p>“After which, when he had them in his custody one whole +year, and that I understood he had perused it all over, then I +sent unto his Grace, and humbly desired that his Grace would be +pleased to return me my books again. Whereupon he sent me +word by the said Dr. Bray, that he had not as yet perused them so +thoroughly over as he desired to do; then I stayed yet a year +longer before I sent to him again.</p> +<p>“In which time I heard for certain that it was concluded +by the King and Council that a Parliament should forthwith be +called; at which news I did much rejoice. And then I sent +unto his Grace an humble petition, and therein desired the +returning of my book again; otherwise I told him I should be +enforced to make it known, and to complain of him to the +Parliament, which was then coming on. Whereupon he sent +unto me again safely both the said original book and my +translation, and caused his Chaplain, the said Doctor, to tell me +that he would make it known unto his Majesty what an excellent +piece of work I had translated, and that he would procure an +order from his Majesty to have the said translation printed, and +to be dispersed throughout the whole kingdom, as it was in +Germany, and as he had heard thereof; and thereupon he presented +me again with forty livres in gold.</p> +<p>“And presently after I was set at liberty by warrant +from the whole House of Lords, according to his Majesty’s +direction in that behalf; but shortly afterwards the Archbishop +fell into his troubles, and was by the Parliament sent unto the +Tower, and afterwards beheaded; insomuch that I could never since +hear anything touching the printing of my book.</p> +<p>“The House of Commons having then notice that I had +translated the aforesaid book, they sent for me, and did appoint +a Committee to see it and the translation, and diligently to make +inquiry whether the translation did agree with the original or +no; whereupon they desired me to bring the same before them, +sitting then in the Treasury Chamber. And Sir Edward +Dering, being Chairman, said unto me that he was acquainted with +a learned minister beneficed in Essex, who had lived long in +England, but was born in High Germany, in the Palatinate, named +Mr. Paul Amiraut, whom the Committee sending for, desired him to +take both the original and my translation into his custody, and +diligently to compare them together, and to make report unto the +said Committee whether he found that I had rightly and truly +translated it according to the original: which report he made +accordingly, and they, being satisfied therein, referred it to +two of the Assembly, Mr. Charles Herle and Mr. Edward Corbet, +desiring them diligently to peruse the same, and to make report +unto them if they thought it fitting to be printed and +published.</p> +<p>“Whereupon they made report, dated the 10th of November, +1646, that they found it to be an excellent Divine Work, worthy +the light and publishing, especially in regard that Luther, in +the said Discourses, did revoke his opinion, which he formerly +held, touching Consubstantiation in the Sacrament. +Whereupon the House of Commons, the 24th of February, 1646, did +give order for the printing thereof.</p> +<p>“Thus, having been lately desired to set down in writing +the relation of the passages above-said concerning the said book, +as well for the satisfaction of judicious and godly Christians, +as for the conservation of the perpetual memory of God’s +extraordinary providence in the miraculous preservation of the +aforesaid Divine Discourses, and now bringing them again to +light: I have done the same according to the plain truth thereof, +not doubting but they will prove a notable advantage of +God’s glory, and the good and edification of the whole +Church, and an unspeakable consolation of every particular member +of the same.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">“Given under my hand the 3rd +day of July, 1650.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">“<span class="smcap">Henry +Bell</span>.”</p> +<h2>A COPY OF THE ORDER FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.</h2> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>24th</i> <i>February</i>, +<i>1646</i>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Whereas</span> Captain Henry Bell hath +strangely discovered and found a Book of Martin Luther’s, +called his Divine Discourses, which was for a long time very +marvellously preserved in Germany: the which book the said Henry +Bell, at his great costs and pains, hath translated into the +English out of the German Tongue, which Translation and substance +thereof is approved by Reverend Divines of the Assembly, as +appears by a Certificate under their hands:</p> +<p>It is Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled +in Parliament, that the said Henry Bell shall have the sole +disposal and benefit of Printing the said Book translated into +English by him as aforesaid, for the space of fourteen years, to +commence from the date hereof. And that none do Print or +Re-print the same but such as shall be licensed by the said +Captain by Authority under his hand.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Henry +Elsyng</span>.</p> +<p>(Vera Copia.)</p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Luther’s Table-Talk</span>.</h2> +<h3>OF GOD’S WORD.</h3> +<h4><i>Of the Word of God</i>; <i>or the Holy Scriptures +contained in the Bible</i>.</h4> +<p><span class="smcap">The Bible</span>, or Holy Scripture, said +Luther, is like a fair and spacious orchard, wherein all sorts of +trees do grow, from which we may pluck divers kinds of fruits; +for in the Bible we have rich and precious comforts, learnings, +admonitions, warnings, promises, and threatenings, etc. +There is not a tree in this orchard on which I have not knocked, +and have shaken at least a couple of apples or pears from the +same.</p> +<h4><i>Proofs that the Bible is the Word of God</i>.</h4> +<p>That the Bible is the Word of God, said Luther, the same I +prove as followeth. All things that have been and now are +in the world, also how it now goeth and standeth in the world, +the same was written altogether particularly at the beginning, in +the First Book of Moses concerning the Creation. And even +as God made and created it, even so it was, even so it is, and +even so doth it stand to this present day. And although +King Alexander the Great, the kingdom of Egypt, the empire of +Babel, the Persian, Grecian, and Roman Monarchs, the Emperors +Julius and Augustus, most fiercely did rage and swell against +this Book, utterly to suppress and destroy the same, yet +notwithstanding, they could prevail nothing; they are all gone +and vanished; but this Book, from time to time, hath remained, +and will remain unremoved, in full and ample manner, as it was +written at the first. But who kept and preserved it from +such great and raging power; or, Who defendeth it still? +Truly, said Luther, no human creature, but only and alone God +himself, who is the right Master thereof; and it is a great +wonder that it hath been so long kept and preserved, for the +devil and the world are great enemies unto it. The devil +doubtless hath destroyed many good books in the Church, as he +hath rooted out and slain many saints, concerning whom we have +now no knowledge. But, no thanks unto him, the Bible he was +fain to leave unmeddled with. In like manner Baptism, the +Sacrament, and the Office of Preaching have remained among us +against the power of many tyrants and heretics that have opposed +the same. These our Lord God hath kept and maintained by +his special strength. Homer, Virgil, and suchlike are +profitable and ancient books; but, in comparison of the Bible, +they are nothing to be regarded.</p> +<h4><i>By whom and at what Times the Bible was +translated</i>.</h4> +<p>Two hundred and forty-one years before the humanity of Christ, +the Five Books of Moses, and the Prophets, were translated out of +the Hebrew into the Greek tongue by the Septuagint Interpreters, +the seventy doctors or learned men then at Jerusalem, in the time +of Eleazar the High-priest, at the request of Ptolemeus +Philadelphus, King of Egypt, which King allowed great charges and +expenses for the translating of the same.</p> +<p>Then, one hundred and twenty-four years after the birth of +Christ, his death and passion, the Old Testament was translated +out of Hebrew into Greek by a Jew, named Aquila (being converted +to the Christian faith), in the time of Hadrian the Emperor.</p> +<p>Fifty and three years after this Aquila, the Bible was also +translated by Theodosius.</p> +<p>In the three-and-thirtieth year after Theodosius, it was +translated by Symmachus, under the Emperor Severus.</p> +<p>Eight years after Symmachus, the Bible was also translated by +one whose name is unknown, and the same is called the Fifth +Translation.</p> +<p>Afterwards the Bible was translated by Hieronymus (who first +amended and corrected the Seventy Interpreters) out of Hebrew +into the Latin tongue, which translation we use to this day in +the Church. And truly, said Luther, he did enough for one +man. <i>Nulla enim privata persona tantum efficere +potuisset</i>. But he had not done amiss if he had taken +one or two learned men to his translation besides himself, for +then the Holy Ghost would more powerfully have been discerned, +according to Christ’s saying, “Where two or three be +gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of +them.” And, indeed, said Luther, translators or +interpreters ought not to be alone, for good and apt words do not +always fall to one single man. And so long as the Bible was +in the Church of the Gentiles, it was never yet in such +perfection, that it could have been read so exactly and +significantly without stop, as we have prepared the same here at +Wittemberg, and, God be praised, have translated it out of Hebrew +into the High German tongue.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Differences between the Bible and other +Books</i>.</h4> +<p>The Holy Scripture, or the Bible, said Luther, is full of +divine gifts and virtues. The books of the Heathen taught +nothing of Faith, Hope, and Love; nay, they knew nothing at all +of the same; their books aimed only at that which was present, at +that which, with natural wit and understanding, a human creature +was able to comprehend and take hold of; but to trust in God and +hope in the Lord, nothing was written thereof in their +books. In the Psalms and in Job we may see and find how +those two books do treat and handle of Faith, of Hope, of +Patience, and Prayer.</p> +<p>To be short, the Holy Scripture, said Luther, is the best and +highest book of God, full of comfort in all manner of trials and +temptations; for it teacheth of Faith, Hope, and Love far +otherwise than by human reason and understanding can be +comprehended. And in times of troubles and vexations, it +teacheth how these virtues should light and shine; it teacheth, +also, that after this poor and miserable life there is another +which is eternal and everlasting.</p> +<h4><i>What we ought chiefly to seek for in the Bible</i>, <i>and +how we ought to study and learn the Holy Scriptures</i>.</h4> +<p>The chief lesson and study in Divinity, said Luther, is well +and rightly to learn to know Christ, for he is therein very +friendly and familiarly pictured unto us. From hence St. +Peter saith, “Grow up in the knowledge of Christ;” +and Christ himself also teacheth that we should learn to know him +only out of the Scriptures, where he saith, “Search the +Scriptures, for they do testify of me.”</p> +<p>We ought not, said Luther, to measure, censure, and understand +the Scriptures according to our own natural sense and reason, but +we ought diligently by prayer to meditate therein, and to search +after the same. The devil and temptations also do give +occasion unto us somewhat to learn and understand the Scriptures +by experience and practice. Without trials and temptations +we should never understand anything thereof; no, not although we +diligently read and heard the same. The Holy Ghost must be +the only master and tutor to teach us therein, and let youth and +scholars not be ashamed to learn of this tutor. When I find +myself in temptation, then I quickly lay hold and fasten on some +text in the Bible which Christ Jesus layeth before me, namely, +<i>that he died for me</i>, from whence I have and receive +comfort.</p> +<h4><i>That we should diligently read the Texts of the Bible</i>, +<i>and stay ourselves upon it as the only true +Foundation</i>.</h4> +<p>Whoso layeth a good foundation, and is a substantial Text-man, +that is, he that is well grounded in the Text, the same hath +whereupon he surely may keep footing, and runneth not lightly +into error. And truly, said Luther, the same is most +necessary for a Divine; for with the texts and grounds of the +Holy Scriptures I dazzled, astonished, and overcame all my +adversaries; for they approach dreamingly and lazily; they teach +and write according to their natural sense, reason, and +understanding, and they think the Holy Scripture is a slight and +a simple thing; like the Pharisee, who thought a business soon +done when our Saviour Christ said unto him, “Do that, and +thou shalt live.” The sectaries and seducing spirits +understand nothing in the Scriptures; but with their fickle, +inconstant, and uncertain books which they have devised, they run +themselves into error.</p> +<p>Whoso is armed with the Text, the same is a right pastor; and +my best advice and counsel is, said Luther, that we draw water +out of the true fountain, that is, diligently to read in the +Bible. He is a learned Divine that is well grounded in the +Text; for one text and sentence out of the Bible is of far more +esteem and value than many writings and glosses, which neither +are strong, sound, nor armour of proof. As when I have that +text before me of St. Paul, where he saith, “All the +creatures of God are good, if they be received with +thanksgiving.” This text showeth that what God hath +made is good. Now, eating, drinking, marrying, etc., are of +God’s making, therefore they are good. But the +glosses of the Primitive Fathers are against this text, for St. +Bernard, Basil, Dominicus, Hieronymus, and others have written +far otherwise of the same. But I prefer the Text before +them all, and it is far more to be esteemed of than all their +glosses; yet, notwithstanding, in Popedom the glosses of the +Fathers were of higher regard than the bright and clear text of +the Bible, through which great wrong oftentimes is done to the +Holy Scriptures; for the good Fathers, as Ambrose, Basil, and +Gregory, have ofttimes written very cold things touching the +Divine word.</p> +<h4><i>That the Bible is the Head of all Arts</i>.</h4> +<p>Let us not lose the Bible, said Luther, but with all diligence +and in God’s fear read and preach the same; for if that +remaineth, flourisheth, and be taught, then all is safe. +She is the head and empress of all faculties and arts. If +Divinity falleth, then whatsoever remaineth besides is nothing +worth.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Art of the School Divines in the Bible</i>.</h4> +<p>The art of the School Divines, said Luther, with their +speculations in the Holy Scriptures, are merely vain and human +reasonings, spun out of their own natural wit and understanding, +of which I have read much in Bonaventura, but he had almost made +me deaf. I fain would have learned and understood out of +that book how God and my sinful soul had been reconciled +together; but of that there was nothing to be found +therein. They talk much of the union of the will and +understanding, but all is mere phantasy and folly. The +right and true speculation is this: “Believe in Christ; do +what thou oughtest to do in thy vocation,” etc. This +is the only practice in Divinity. Also, <i>Mystica +Theologia Dionysii</i> is a mere fable, and a lie, like to +Plato’s Fables. <i>Omnia sunt non ens</i>, <i>et +omnia sunt ens</i>—All is something, and all is nothing; +and so he leaveth all hanging in frivolous and idle sort.</p> +<p>True and upright Divinity consisteth in the practice, use, and +exercise; her foundation is Christ; she taketh hold by faith on +his passion, death, and resurrection. All those, said +Luther, that concur not with us, and have not this doctrine +before their eyes, the same do feign unto themselves but only a +speculated Divinity, according to their carnal sense and reason, +and according as they use to censure in temporal causes; for no +man can divert them from these opinions, namely, “Whoso +doth good works, and liveth an honest and civil kind of life, the +same is an upright Christian, and he is well and safe;” but +they are therein far deceived; for this is the truth indeed, +“Whoso feareth God and trusteth in him, the same most +surely will be well and safe at last.”</p> +<p>Therefore, said Luther, these speculating Divines belong +directly to the devil in hell. They follow their own +opinions, and what with their five senses they are able to +comprehend; and such is also Origen’s divinity. But +David is of another mind; he acknowledgeth his sins, and saith, +“<i>Miserere mei Domini</i>,” God be merciful to me a +sinner. At the hands of these sophisticated Divines, God +can scarcely obtain that he is God alone; much less can he find +this favour of them, that they should allow only him to be good +and just; nay, very hardly will they yield that he is an immortal +God.</p> +<h4><i>The Depths of the Bible</i>.</h4> +<p>The wise of the world, and the great ones, said Luther, +understand not God’s Word; but God hath revealed it to the +poor contemned simple people, as our Saviour Christ witnesseth, +where he saith, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and +earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and +prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes,” etc.; from +whence St. Gregory says well and rightly, that the Holy Scripture +is like a water, wherein an “elephant swimmeth, but a +little sheep goeth therein upon his feet.”</p> +<p>I remember a Fable, said Luther, which fitteth very well for +these times, and for this purpose, discoursed of before. A +Lion, said he, making a great feast, invited all the beasts +thereunto, and with them also he invited swine. Now, as all +manner and sorts of dainties were brought and set before the +guests, the swine demanded if Brewer’s grains might be had +for them. Even so, in these days it is with our Epicures; +we Preachers bring and set before them in the Church the most +dainty and costly dishes, as Everlasting Salvation, Remission of +Sins, and God’s Grace; but they, like swine, cast up their +snouts, and root after Dollars, Crowns, and Ducats; and, indeed, +said Luther, “what should a cow do with +nutmegs?” She would rather content herself with +oat-straw.</p> +<p>When we have God’s Word pure and clear, then we are +secure, we are negligent and regard it not, we think it will +always so remain; we do not watch and pray against the devil, who +is ready to tear the Word out of our hearts. It goeth with +us as with travellers, who, so long as they are on the right way, +are secure and careless; but when they go astray into woods or +by-ways, then they are careful which way to take, whether this or +that way be the right: even so are we secure by the pure doctrine +of the Gospel; we are sleepy and negligent; we stand not in +God’s fear, nor defend ourselves with prayer against the +devil. But those that entertain errors are highly busied, +yea, they are very careful and diligent how to keep and maintain +the same.</p> +<h4><i>Of the future Want of upright and true Preachers of +God’s Word</i>.</h4> +<p>In a short time, said Luther, will be such want of upright +Preachers and Ministers, that people would be glad to scratch out +of the earth these good and godly Teachers now living, if they +might but get them; then they will see what they have done in +molesting and contemning the Preachers and Ministers of +God’s Word. Of Physicians and Lawyers there are +enough, if not too many, to serve the world; but a country hath +need of two hundred Ministers where one Lawyer is +sufficient. My most gracious Lord, said Luther, the Prince +Elector of Saxony, hath enough of twenty Lawyers in all his +territories, but he must have near six thousand Preachers and +Ministers.</p> +<h4><i>That People</i>, <i>out of mere Wilfulness</i>, <i>do set +themselves against God’s Word</i>.</h4> +<p>Had I known, said Luther, when I first began to write, what I +now see and find, namely, that people had been such enemies to +God’s Word, and so fiercely had set themselves against the +same, truly I had held my peace; for I never should have been so +courageous as to have fallen upon the Pope, and to have angered +him, and almost the whole Christian world with him. I +thought at first that people had sinned ignorantly, and out of +human weakness, and not of set purpose and wittingly to endeavour +to suppress God’s Word; but it pleased God to lead me on in +the mouth of the cannon, like a bar-horse that hath his eyes +blinded, and seeth not who runneth upon him. Even so was I, +as it were, tugged by my hair to the office of preaching; but had +I then known what now I know, ten horses should scarce have drawn +me to it. Moses and Jeremiah also complained that they were +deceived.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Archbishop of Mentz</i>, <i>one of the Spiritual +Princes Electors</i>, <i>his Censure of the Bible</i>.</h4> +<p>Anno 1530, at the Imperial Assembly at Augsburg, Albertus, +Bishop of Mentz, by chance had got into his hands the Bible, and +for the space of four hours he continued reading therein; at +last, one of his Council on a sudden came into his bed-chamber +unto him, who, seeing the Bible in the Bishop’s hand, was +much amazed thereat, and said unto him, “what doth your +Highness with that book?” The Archbishop thereupon +answered him, and said, “I know not what this book is, but +sure I am, all that is written therein is quite against +us.”</p> +<h4><i>That the Bible is hated of the Worldly-wise and of the +Sophists</i>.</h4> +<p>Doctor Ussinger, an Austin Friar, with me in the Monastery at +Erfurt, said once unto me, as he saw that I diligently read and +affected the Bible, “Brother Martin, what is the +Bible? Let us,” said he, “read the ancient +Teachers and Fathers, for they have sucked the juice and truth +out of the Bible. The Bible is the cause of all dissension +and rebellion.”</p> +<p>This, said Luther, is the censure of the world concerning +God’s Word; therefore we must let them run on their course +towards that place which is prepared for them.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Errors which the Sectaries do hold concerning the +Word of God</i>.</h4> +<p>Bullinger said once in my hearing, said Luther, that he was +earnest against the sectaries, as contemners of God’s Word, +and also against those who attributed too much to the literal +Word; for, said he, such do sin against God and his almighty +power, as the Jews did in naming the ark “God.” +But, said he, whoso holdeth a mean between both, the same is +taught what is the right use of the Word and Sacraments.</p> +<p>Whereupon, said Luther, I answered him and said, +“Bullinger, you err: you know neither yourself nor what you +hold; I mark well your tricks and fallacies. Zuinglius and +Œcolampadius likewise proceeded too far in this your +ungodly meaning; but when Brentius withstood them, they then +lessened their opinions, alleging they did not reject the literal +Word, but only condemned certain gross abuses. By this your +error,” said Luther to Bullinger, “you cut in sunder +and separate the Word and the Spirit; you separate those that +preach and teach the Word from God who worketh the same; you also +separate thereby the Ministers that baptize from God who +commandeth it; and you think that the Holy Ghost is given and +worketh without the Word; which Word, you say, is an external +sign and mark that findeth the Spirit, which already and before +possesseth the heart. Insomuch, according to your +falsities, that if the Word findeth not the Spirit, but an +ungodly person, then it is not God’s Word; whereby you +define and hold the Word, not according to God who speaketh it, +but according as people do entertain and receive it. You +will only grant that such is God’s Word which purifieth and +bringeth peace and life; but seeing it worketh not in the +ungodly, therefore it is not God’s Word. You teach +that the outward Word is like an object or a picture, which +signifieth and presenteth something; you measure the use thereof +only according to the matter, like as a human creature speaketh +for himself; you will not yield that God’s Word is an +instrument through which the Holy Ghost worketh and accomplisheth +his work, and prepareth a beginning to righteousness or +justification. In these errors are you drowned, so that you +neither see nor understand yourselves.</p> +<p>“A man might vex himself to death against the devil, +who, in the Papists, is such an enemy to God’s Word. +The devil seeth and feeleth that the external Word and preaching +in the Church doth him great prejudice, therefore he rageth and +worketh these errors against the same; but I hope God ere long +will look into it, and will strike down the devil with these +seducers.</p> +<p>“A true Christian,” said Luther, “must hold +for certain, and must say, That Word which is delivered and +preached to the wicked, to the dissemblers, and to the ungodly, +is even as well God’s Word as that which is preached to the +good and godly upright Christians. As also, the true +Christian Church is among sinners, where good and bad are mingled +together. And that Word, whether it produceth fruit or not, +is nevertheless God’s strength, which saveth all that +believe thereon. And again, it will also judge the ungodly, +as St. John saith in chap. v., otherwise they might plead a good +excuse before God, that they neither ought to be nor could be +condemned; for then they might truly allege that they have not +had God’s Word, and so consequently could not receive the +same. But,” said Luther, “I say, teach and +acknowledge that the Preacher’s words, his absolutions, and +the sacraments, are not his words nor works, but they are +God’s words, works, cleansing, absolving, binding, etc.; we +are but only the instruments, fellow-workers, or God’s +assistants, through whom God worketh and finisheth his +work. We,” said Luther to Bullinger, “will not +endure these your metaphysical and philosophical distinctions and +differences, which merely are spun and hammered out of human and +natural sense and reason. You say, It is a man that +preacheth, that reproveth, that absolveth, comforteth, etc., and +that the Holy Ghost worketh; you say, likewise, the Minister +baptiseth, absolveth, and administereth the sacraments, but it is +God that cleanseth the hearts, and forgiveth sins, etc. Oh, +no,” said Luther, “but I conclude thus: God himself +preacheth, threateneth, reproveth, affrighteth, comforteth, +absolveth, administereth the sacraments, etc. As our +Saviour Christ saith, ‘Whoso heareth you, heareth me; and +what ye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,’ +etc. Likewise, ‘It is not you that speak, but the +spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.’”</p> +<p>“I am sure and certain,” said Luther, “when +I go up to the pulpit, or to the cathedral, to preach or read, +that it is not my word which I speak, but my tongue is the pen of +a ready writer, as the Psalmist saith. God speaketh in the +Prophets and men of God, as St. Peter in his Epistle saith: +‘The holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy +Ghost.’ Therefore we must not separate nor part God +and man according to our natural reason and understanding. +In like manner, every hearer must conclude and say, I hear not +St. Paul, St. Peter, or a man speak; but I hear God himself +speak, baptize, absolve, excommunicate, and administer the holy +sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, etc.”</p> +<p>Bullinger, attentively hearkening to this discourse of that +holy man, Luther, fell down flat on his face to the ground, and +uttered these words following: “Oh, happy be the time that +brought me hither to hear the divine discourse of this man of +God” (Martin Luther), “a chosen vessel of the Lord to +declare his truth! And now I abjure and utterly renounce +these my former errors, finding them convinced and beaten down +through God’s infallible Word which out of his divine +mouth” (Martin Luther), “hath touched my heart, and +won me to his glory.” After he had uttered these +words lying on the ground, he arose and clasped his arms about +Luther’s neck, both of them shedding joyful tears.</p> +<p>Ah, God! said Luther at that time, what an unspeakable comfort +a poor, weak, and sorrowful conscience might have and receive, if +it could but believe that such words and comforts were the words +and comforts of God himself, as in truth they are; therefore we +conclude, short and round, that God through the Word worketh, +which is an instrument whereby we are instructed to know him in +heart, as by this present and happy example of the conversion of +this our loving brother, Bullinger, we apparently see and +find.</p> +<p>But whereas, said Luther, the Word produceth not fruit +everywhere alike, but worketh severally, the same is God’s +judgment, and his secret will, which from us is hid; we ought not +to desire to know it. For “the wind bloweth where it +listeth,” as Christ saith; we must not grabble nor search +after the same.</p> +<p>If, said Luther, I were addicted to God’s Word at all +times alike, and always had such love and desire thereunto as +sometimes I have, then should I account myself the most blessed +man on earth. But the loving Apostle St. Paul failed also +thereof, as he complains with sighs of heart, saying, “I +see another law in my members, warring against the law of my +mind,” etc. Should the Word be false because it +bringeth not always fruit? Truly this art of determining +and knowing the Word hath been in great danger from the beginning +of the world, and hath endured much: few people there are that +can hit it, except God, through his Holy Spirit, teacheth it them +in their hearts. The Sectaries understand not the strength +of God’s Word. I do wonder, said Luther, that they do +write and teach so much of God’s Word, seeing they so +little regard the same.</p> +<p>Ferdinand, Prince Elector of Saxony, used to say he had well +discerned that nothing could be propounded by human reason and +understanding, were it never so wise, cunning, or sharp, but that +a man, even out of the selfsame proposition, might be able to +confute and overthrow it; but God’s Word only stood fast +and sure, like a mighty wall which neither can be battered nor +beaten down.</p> +<h4><i>Which are the best Preachers and the best +Hearers</i>.</h4> +<p>I, said Luther, esteem those to be the best Preachers which +teach the common people and youth most plainly and simply, +without subtlety, screwed words, or enlargements. Christ +taught the people by plain and simple parables. In like +manner, those are the best Hearers that willingly do hear and +believe God’s Word simply and plainly, and although they be +weak in faith, yet so long as they doubt not of the doctrine they +are to be holpen forward; for God can and will bear with weakness +if it be but acknowledged, and that we creep again to the Cross +and pray to God for grace, and amend ourselves.</p> +<p>David saith, “I hate them that imagine evil things, but +thy law do I love,” and will show therewith that we ought +diligently to regard the strength of the Word of God, and not to +contemn it, as the enthusiasts do, for God will deal with us by +such means, and by the same will also work in us. Therefore +the ancient Fathers say well touching this point, namely, that we +ought not to look to the person baptizing or ministering the +Sacrament, but we must look to God’s Word.</p> +<p>Our Lord God electeth from hearts, to whom he revealeth his +Word, and therewithal he giveth them mouths to speak it; +preserveth and maintaineth it, not by sword, but through his +Divine Power.</p> +<h4><i>That we ought to direct all our Actions and Lives +according to God’s Word</i>.</h4> +<p>God, said Luther, hath his measuring-lines, and his canons, +which are called the Ten Commandments; they are written in our +flesh and blood. The contents of them is: “What thou +wouldest have done to thyself, the same thou oughtest also to do +to another.” For God presseth upon that point, and +saith, “Such measure as thou metest, the same shall be +measured to thee again.” With this measuring-line, or +measure, hath God marked the whole world. They that live +and do thereafter, well it is with them, for God doth richly +reward them in this life; and a Turk or a Heathen may as well be +partaker of such rewards as a Christian.</p> +<h4><i>Where God’s Word is loved</i>, <i>there dwelleth +God</i>.</h4> +<p>Upon these words of Christ, “If a man loveth me, he will +keep my Word, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto +him, and make our abode with him,” I say thus, said Luther: +Heaven and earth, the castles and palaces of all Emperors, Kings, +and Princes, are no way sufficient to make a dwelling-place for +God; yet, in a silly human creature that keepeth his Word he will +dwell. Isaiah calleth heaven his “seat,” and +earth his “footstool,” but not his dwelling; +therefore, when we long to seek after God, we shall be sure to +find him with them that hear and keep his Word, as Christ saith, +“He that keepeth my Word, I will come and dwell with +him.”</p> +<p>A man could not speak more simply and childishly than Christ +spake, and yet he confounded therewith all the wisdom of the +worldly-wise. To speak in such a manner, said Luther, is +not <i>in sublimi</i>, <i>sed humili genere</i>: if I should +teach a child, I would teach him in this sort: “He that +loves me, will keep my Word.” Here we see that Christ +saith not, Abstain from flesh, from marrying, from housekeeping, +etc., as the Papists teach, for that were even to invite the +devil and all his fellows to a feast.</p> +<h4><i>That true and upright Christians are ready to suffer Death +and all manner of Torments for the Gospel’s sake</i>, +<i>but Hypocrites do shun the Cross</i>.</h4> +<p>Not long since, said Luther, I invited to my table, at +Wittemberg, an Hungarian Divine, named Matthias de Vai, who told +me that, as he came first to be a Preacher in Hungary, he chanced +to fall out with a Papistical Priest. Now, he was +complained of by that Priest to a Friar that was brother to the +Vaivoda, or Governor of Buda, and they were both summoned to +appear before him. The one much accusing the other, +insomuch that the Friar could not reconcile nor take up the +controversy between them, at last, and after long debate, the +Friar said, “I know a way soon to discover the truth of +this cause,” and commanded that two barrels of gunpowder +should be set in the midst of the market-place at Buda, and said +unto the parties, “He that will maintain his Doctrine to be +right, and the true Word of God, let him sit upon one of these +barrels, and I will give fire unto it, and he that remaineth +living and unburned, his Doctrine is right.” +Then Matthias de Vai leaped presently upon one of the barrels and +sat himself down thereon; but the Papist Priest would not up to +the other barrel, but slunk away. Then the Friar said, +“Now I see and know that the Faith and Doctrine of Matthias +de Vai is the right, and that our Papistical Religion is +false.” And thereupon he punished and fined the +Papist, with his assistants, for wronging De Vai, in four +thousand Hungarian ducats, and compelled him for a certain time +to maintain one hundred soldiers at his own charge; but he +licensed Matthias de Vai openly to preach the Gospel. The +Friar himself, recanting his religion, was converted and became a +Protestant; whereupon Luther said, Never yet would any Papist +burn for religion, but our people go with joy to the fire, as +heretofore hath been well seen on the holy Martyrs.</p> +<h4><i>By what God preserveth his Word</i>.</h4> +<p>God will keep his Word, said Luther, through the writing-pen +upon earth; the Divines are the heads or quills of the pens, but +the Lawyers are the stumps. If, now, the world will not +keep the heads and quills—that is, if they will not hear +the Divines—then they must keep the stumps—that is, +they must hear the Lawyers, who will teach them manners.</p> +<h4><i>That in Causes of Religion we must not judge according to +human Wisdom</i>, <i>but according to God’s Word</i>.</h4> +<p>When the Pope and Emperor, said Luther, cited me to appear at +Worms, Anno Domini 1521, at the Imperial Assembly, they pressed +and earnestly advised me to refer the determining of my cause to +his Imperial Majesty; but I answered the three spiritual +Electors, Maintz, Tryer, and Cologne, and said, “I will +rather surrender up to his Majesty his letters of safe-conduct +which he hath given me than to put this cause to the determining +of any human creature whatsoever.” Whereupon my +master, the Prince Elector of Saxony, said also unto them, +“Truly no man could offer more.” But as they +still insisted and urged me touching that point, I said, I did +not dare to presume, without great danger of running myself into +God’s wrath, and of the loss of my soul’s health, to +refer this Cause, which is none of mine, but God’s Cause, +to the censure of earthly counsel; for the same, before all ages, +hath been had in consultation, hath been determined, censured, +concluded, and confirmed by the great Council in Heaven, to be +and remain the infallible, most certain and true Word of the High +Majesty of God; and therefore altogether needless, yea, most +presumptuous now it were, either to receive or to deliver it to +the determination and censure of human and natural sense, wit, +and wisdom, which is subject to nothing more than to error, +especially in and concerning God’s Word and divine +matters. And I told them flat and plain, I would rather +expose myself to endure all the torments that this world, flesh, +and the devil were able to devise and prepare than to give my +consent thereunto.</p> +<h4><i>That in former Times it was dangerous studying the Holy +Scriptures</i>.</h4> +<p>In times past, as also in part of our time, said Luther, it +was dangerous studying, when divinity and all good arts were +contemned; and when fine, expert, and prompt wits were plagued +with sophistry. Aristotle, the Heathen, was held in such +repute and honour, that whoso undervalued or contradicted him was +held, at Cologne, for the greatest heretic; whereas they +themselves understood not Aristotle. The Sophists did much +more darken Aristotle than illustrate him; like as that Friar +did, who wasted two whole hours in a sermon about Christ’s +Passion, and concerning this question: <i>Utrùm quantitas +realiter distincta sit à substantia</i>—whether the +quantity in itself were divided from the substance? He +showed this example, and said, “My head might well creep +through, but the bigness of my head could not;” insomuch +that, like an idiot, he divided the head from the bigness +thereof. A silly grammarian might easily have solved the +same, and said, The bigness of the head, that is, the big or +great head.</p> +<p>With such and the like fopperies were petty brains troubled, +said Luther, and were instructed neither in good arts nor in +divinity. Antipho, Chusa, Bovillus, and others were +likewise miserably molested and plagued about bringing a thing +which was round into four square, and to compare a straight line +with a crooked. But we, God be praised, have now happy +times; and it were to be wished that the youth made good use +thereof, and spent their studying diligently in such arts as at +this time are green, and flourish.</p> +<h4><i>That the Jews have better Teachers and Writers of the Holy +Scriptures than the Gentiles</i>.</h4> +<p>When I read in the Psalter, said Luther, I do much admire that +David had such a spirit. Oh, what high enlightened people +were among the Jews! This David was a married man; he was a +king, a soldier, and a preacher; he was busy in temporal affairs, +yet nevertheless he wrote such an excellent surpassing +book. The New Testament was written also by men that were +Jews, and the Apostles themselves were Jews: God would signify +thereby that we should adore his Word, we should preciously +esteem thereof, reverence, and love the same. We Gentiles +have no book that ruleth in the Church, therefore we are not +comparable to the Jews; from hence it is that St. Paul maketh a +very fine distinction or difference between Sarah and Hagar, and +the two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Hagar was also a wife, but +nothing near like Sarah; therefore it is a great pride, +presumption, and wilfulness of the Pope, in that he, being but a +human creature, will presume, without Scripture, to set himself +against the Scripture, and will exalt himself above the same.</p> +<h4><i>Of Luther’s Complaint of the Multitude of +Books</i>.</h4> +<p>The multitude of books, said Luther, is much to be lamented; +no measure nor end is held in writing; every one will write +books; some out of ambition to purchase praise thereby, and to +raise them names; others for the sake of lucre and gain, and by +that means further much evil. Therefore the Bible, by so +many comments and books, will be buried and obscured, so that the +Text will be nothing regarded. I could wish that all my +books were buried nine ells deep in the ground, for evil +example’s sake, in that every one will imitate me with +writing many books, thereby to purchase praise. But Christ +died not for the sake of our ambition and vain-glory, but he died +only to the end that his name might be sanctified.</p> +<h4><i>That God’s Word will not be truly understood without +Trials and Temptations</i>.</h4> +<p>I, said Luther, did not learn my divinity at one only time, +but I was constrained to search deeper and deeper, to which my +temptations brought me; for no man, without trials and +temptations, can attain to the true understanding of the Holy +Scriptures. St. Paul had a devil that beat him with fists, +and with temptations drove him diligently to study the Holy +Scripture. I, said Luther, had cleaving and hanging on my +neck the Pope, the Universities, all the deep-learned, and with +them the devil himself; these hunted me into the Bible, where I +diligently read, and thereby, God be praised, at length I +attained to the true understanding of the same. Without +such a devil, we are but only speculators of divinity, and +according to our vain reasoning we dream that so-and-so it must +be, as the Monks and Friars in monasteries do. The Holy +Scripture of itself is certain and true enough; but God grant me +the grace that I may catch hold on the right use thereof; for +when Satan disputeth with me in this sort, namely, whether God be +gracious unto me or no? then I must not meet him with this text: +“Whoso loveth God with all his heart, with all his soul, +and with all his strength, the same shall inherit the kingdom of +God;” for then the devil presently objecteth, and hitteth +me in the teeth, and saith, “Thou hast not loved God with +all thy heart,” etc., which, indeed, is true, and my own +conscience therein witnesseth against me; but at such a time I +must arm myself and encounter him with this text, namely: +“That Jesus Christ died for me, and through him I have a +gracious God and Father; Christ hath made an atonement for +me,” as St. Paul saith, “He is of God given unto us +for wisdom, for righteousness, for holiness, and for +redemption.”</p> +<p>Tyrants, sectaries, seducers, and heretics do nothing else but +drive us into the Bible, to make us read more diligently therein, +and with more fervency to sharpen our prayers.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Advice of the Bishop of Salzburg</i>, <i>how to +qualify the Controversy between the Protestants and Papists</i>, +<i>propounded to Luther shortly before his Death</i>; <i>touching +which</i>, <i>Luther discoursed as followeth</i>:</h4> +<p>At the Imperial Assembly at Augsburg, in the year 1530, the +Bishop of Salzburg said unto me, “Four ways and means there +are to make a reconciliation or union between us and you +Protestants. One is, that ye yield unto us. To that +you say you cannot. The second is, that we yield unto you; +but that we will not do. The third is, that the one party, +by force, should be compelled to yield to the other; but +thereupon a great combustion and tumult might be raised. +Therefore the fourth way or means were to be applauded and used, +namely, that now being here assembled together, the one party +should strive to thrust out the other, and that party which shall +have the advantage, and be the stronger, the same should put the +other party into a bag and expel them.” Whereupon I, +said Luther, answered him and said, “This, indeed, were a +very substantial course to settle unity and peace, wonderful +wisely considered of, found out and expounded by such a holy and +Christian-like Bishop as you are.” And thereupon I +took letters out of my pocket, which shortly before I had +received from Rome, and gave the same to the Bishop to read, +which letter related a pretty passage that fell out there five +weeks before, between some Cardinals and the Pope’s Fool, +written as followeth:—</p> +<p>The said Cardinals had been in serious consultation how, and +by what means, the Protestants in Germany might be convinced +touching their error, and suppressed; but they saw the difficulty +of it, in that the Protestants, in their books and writings, +powerfully against the Papists, cited the sacred Scripture, and +especially they opposed and withstood them with the doctrine of +St. Paul, which were great blocks in the Papists’ way, +insomuch that they found it a business not so easily to be +accomplished. Then said the Fool unto the Cardinals, +“I know how to give you herein an advice, whereby you +easily may be rid and quitted of St. Paul, that his doctrines +shall not be approved of; as thus: The Pope,” said the +Fool, “hath power to make Saints; therefore let St. Paul be +taken out of the number of the Apostles, and preferred to be a +Saint, as then his <i>dicta</i>, or sayings, which are against +you, shall no more be held for apostolical.” +“This and your proposition,” said Luther to the +Bishop, “are of equal value.”</p> +<h3>OF GOD’S WORKS.</h3> +<h4><i>That human Sense and Reason cannot comprehend nor +understand God’s Works</i>.</h4> +<p>In all things, and in the least creatures, yea, also in their +members, God’s almighty power and great wonderful works do +clearly shine. For what man, how powerful, wise, and holy +soever, can make out of one fig, a fig-tree or another fig? or, +out of one cherry-stone, can make a cherry or a cherry-tree? or +what man can know how God createth and preserveth all things and +maketh them grow?</p> +<p>And truly we find and see printed the Holy Trinity in all good +arts and creatures, as the almighty power of God the Father, the +wisdom of God the Son, and the goodness of God the Holy +Ghost. Neither can we conceive or know how the apple of the +eye doth see, or how understanding words are spoken distinctly +and plainly when only the tongue is moved and stirred in the +mouth, all which are natural things, as we daily see and +act. How then should we be able to comprehend or understand +the secret counsel of God’s Majesty, or search it out with +our sense, wit, reason, or understanding?</p> +<h4><i>That no Man understands God’s Works</i>.</h4> +<p>No man, said Luther, is able to imagine, much less to +understand, what God hath done, and still doth without +ceasing. Although we laboured and sweated blood to write +but only three lines in such manner as St. John did write, yet +were we never able to perform it. What, then, should we any +way admire or wonder at our wisdom? I, for my part, said +Luther, will be a fool, and will yield myself captive.</p> +<p>When one asked where God was before Heaven was created, St. +Austin made answer thereunto and said, He was in himself. +And as another, said Luther, asked me the same question, I said, +He was building Hell for such idle, presumptuous, fluttering +spirits and inquisitors. After he had created all things, +he was everywhere, and yet he was nowhere; for I cannot fasten +nor take hold of him without the Word. But he will be found +there where he hath bound himself to be. The Jews found him +at Jerusalem by the Throne of Grace (Exodus xxv.). We find +him in the Word and Faith, in Baptism and Sacraments; but in his +Majesty he is nowhere to be found.</p> +<p>It was a special grace in the Old Testament, when God bound +himself to a certain place where he would be found, namely, in +that place where the Tabernacle was, towards which they prayed; +as first in Shiloh and Shechem, afterwards at Gibeon, and lastly +at Jerusalem in the Temple.</p> +<p>The Greeks and Heathens in after-times, said Luther, did +imitate the same, and did build temples for their idols in +certain places, as at Ephesus for Diana, at Delphos for Apollo, +etc. For where God built a church, there the devil would +also build a chapel. They imitated the Jews also in this, +namely, that as the most holy was dark and had no light, even so +and after the same manner did they make their places dark where +the devil made answer, as at Delphos and elsewhere. In such +sort is the devil always God’s ape.</p> +<p>But, said Luther, whereas the most holy must be dark, the same +did signify that the Kingdom of Christ no other way was to be +taken hold of and fastened, but only by the Word and by +Faith.</p> +<h4><i>That the Superfluity of temporal Wealth doth hinder the +Faith</i>.</h4> +<p>God, said Luther, could be rich soon and easily if he would be +more provident, and would deny us the use of his creatures. +If he would but keep back the sun, that it should not shine, or +lock up the air, detain the water, or quench out the +fire—ah! then would we willingly give all our money and +wealth to have the use of his creatures again.</p> +<p>But seeing God so liberally heapeth his gifts upon us, we +therefore will claim them as by right, in despite of him, and let +him deny them us if he dare. Therefore the unspeakable +multitude of his innumerable benefits do hinder and darken the +faith of the believers, much more of the ungodly.</p> +<h4><i>That God doth purchase nothing but Unthankfulness with his +Benefits</i>.</h4> +<p>God giveth sun and moon, said Luther, stars and elements, fire +and water, air and earth, and all creatures; body and soul, and +all manner of maintenance, of fruits, grain, corn, wine, and all +that is profitable for the preserving of this temporal life; and, +moreover, he giveth unto us his all-saving Word, yea, himself he +giveth unto us.</p> +<p>But, said Luther, what getteth God thereby? Truly +nothing else than that he is wickedly blasphemed; yea, that his +only Son is pitifully scorned, contemned, and hanged on the +gallows; his servants plagued, banished, persecuted and +slain. This is the thanks that he hath for his Grace, for +creating, for redeeming, sanctifying, nourishing, and for +preserving us: such a seed, fruit, and godly child is the +world. Oh, woe be to it!</p> +<h4><i>Of God’s Power in our Weakness</i>.</h4> +<p>God, said Luther, placeth his highest office very wonderfully; +he commits it to preachers that are poor sinners and beggars, who +do utter and teach it, and very weakly do thereafter, or live +according to the same.</p> +<p>Thus goeth it always with God’s power in our weakness; +for when he is weakest in us, then is he strongest.</p> +<h4><i>Howsoever God dealeth with us</i>, <i>it is always +unacceptable</i>.</h4> +<p>How, said Luther, should God deal with us? Good days we +cannot bear, evil we cannot endure. Giveth he riches unto +us? then are we proud, so that no man can live by us in peace; +nay, we will be carried upon hands and shoulders, and will be +adored as gods. Giveth he poverty unto us? then are we +dismayed, we are impatient, and murmur against him. +Therefore nothing were better for us than soon to be conveyed to +the last dance, and covered with shovels.</p> +<h4><i>Of the acknowledging of Nature</i>.</h4> +<p>Adam had no need of books, said Luther, for he had the Book of +Nature; and all the Patriarchs and Prophets, Christ and his +Apostles, do cite much out of that book; as, touching the sorrows +of women bearing children, of the fellowship and community of the +members of man’s body, as St. Paul relateth such parables, +and saith that one member cannot miss another: if the eyes did +not see, whither then would the feet go? how would they stumble +and fall? If the hands did not fasten and take hold, how +then should we eat? If the feet went not, where then would +the hands get anything? Only the maw, that lazy drone, lies +in the midst of the body, and is fatted like a swine. This +parable, said Luther, teacheth us that mankind should love one +another; as also the Greeks’ pictures do teach concerning +two men, the one lame and the other blind, who showed kindness +the one to the other, as much as in them lay. The lame +guided the blind in the way, which else he neither knew nor saw, +and the blind carried the lame, that else could not go; so that +they both were helped and came forward.</p> +<h4><i>Of God’s Goodness</i>, <i>if we could but trust unto +him</i>.</h4> +<p>Once, towards evening, came flying into Luther’s garden +two birds, and made a nest therein, but they were oftentimes +scared away by those that passed by. Then said Luther, O ye +loving pretty birds! fly not away; I am heartily well contented +with you, if ye could but trust unto me. Even so it is with +us: we neither can trust in God, who, notwithstanding, showeth +and wisheth us all goodness.</p> +<h4><i>That God made all Things for Mankind</i>.</h4> +<p>God’s power is great, said Luther, who holdeth and +nourisheth the whole world, and maintaineth it; and it is a hard +article where we say and acknowledge, “I believe in God the +Father.” He hath created all things sufficiently for +us. All the seas are our cellars, all woods are our +huntings; the earth is full of silver and gold, and of +innumerable fruits, which are created all for our sakes, and the +earth is a corn-house and a larder for us, etc.</p> +<h4><i>That God’s creatures are used</i>, <i>or rather +abused</i>, <i>for the most part by the Ungodly</i>.</h4> +<p>The wicked and ungodly, said Luther, do enjoy and use the most +part of God’s creatures; for the tyrants have the greatest +power, lands, and people in the world; the usurers have the +money; the farmers have eggs, butter, corn, barley, oats, apples, +pears, etc.; but good and godly Christians must suffer, be +persecuted, must sit in dungeons where they can see neither sun +nor moon, must be thrust out into poverty, must be banished, and +plagued, etc. But certainly it must be better one day; it +cannot always so remain; let us have but patience, and +steadfastly remain by the pure doctrine, and, notwithstanding all +this misery, let us not fall away from the same.</p> +<h4><i>That God</i>, <i>and not Money</i>, <i>preserves the +World</i>.</h4> +<p>God only, said Luther, and not money and wealth, maintains and +preserves the world; for riches and much money do make proud and +lazy people: as at Venice, where the richest people are, a +horrible dearth fell among them in our memory, so that they were +driven to call upon the Turks for help, who sent twenty-four +galleys laden with corn, all which, as they almost were arrived, +went down into the sea and sank before their eyes.</p> +<p>Therefore, said Luther, great wealth and money cannot still +the hunger, but rather occasioneth more dearth; for where rich +people are, there it is always dear, and things are at high +rates. Moreover, money maketh no man right merry, but much +more pensive and full of sorrow; for they are thorns which do +prick people, as Christ calls riches; yet is the world so mad +that they will set thereupon all their joy and felicity.</p> +<h4><i>That God’s corporeal Gifts are but little +regarded</i>.</h4> +<p>One evening, Luther saw cattle going in the fields, in a +pasture, and said: Behold, there go our preachers, our +milk-bearers, butter-bearers, cheese and wool-bearers, which do +daily preach unto us the faith towards God, that we should trust +in him, as in our loving Father; he careth for us, and will +maintain and nourish us.</p> +<h4><i>That God nourisheth all the Beasts</i>.</h4> +<p>No man, said Luther, can account the great charges which God +is at only in maintaining the birds and such creatures, which in +a manner are nothing or little worth. I am persuaded, said +he, that it costeth God yearly more to maintain only the sparrows +than the yearly revenue of the French King amounteth unto. +What then shall we say of all the rest of his creatures?</p> +<h4><i>That God is skilful in all Manner of Trades</i>.</h4> +<p>God, said Luther, is skilful in all occupations and trades, in +a most perfect and excellent manner; for, like a skilful tailor, +he makes such a coat for the stag, which he wears nine hundred +years together, and of itself it is not torn; also, like a good +shoemaker, he gives him shoes on his feet, that last longer than +the stag himself, etc.</p> +<p>God gives this world, with all his works, to those people who, +as he knows before, will anger, contemn, and blaspheme him. +What, then, may we think, will he give to those that through +faith are justified, and do know that they, so justified, shall +live and remain with him everlastingly?</p> +<h4><i>That God will be praised in all Languages</i>.</h4> +<p>“All that hath breath, praise the Lord,” saith the +Psalm; thence it followeth that in all and every language, +speeches, and tongues we should preach and praise the Lord. +Why then, said Luther, have the Pope and the Emperor forbidden to +sing and pray in the German tongue?</p> +<h4><i>That God is willing we should make use of his +Creatures</i>.</h4> +<p>Our loving Lord God is willing that we eat, drink, and be +merry, and make use of his creatures, for therefore he hath +created them. He will not have that we should complain, as +if he had not given sufficient, or that he could not maintain our +poor carcases; only that we do acknowledge him for our God, and +thank him for his gifts.</p> +<h4><i>That God fills the Bellies of the Ungodly</i>, <i>but he +gives the Kingdom of Heaven to the Good and Godly</i>.</h4> +<p>We believe, said Luther, that God will give to us no better +things than he giveth to the rich ungodly wretches in this world, +to whom he gives an overplus, and the fill of good wine, money, +wealth, power, honour, and all things that they would have or can +desire. But the best wealth and treasure, which they do not +desire, he denies them, namely, himself. But he that hath +not God, let him have else what he will, so is he, +notwithstanding, more miserable than was Lazarus, that lay at the +rich man’s gate and was starved to death. But it will +go even so with them as it went with the glutton, that they +everlastingly must hunger and want, and shall not have in all +their power so much as the least drop of water, etc.</p> +<p>If, then, said Luther, the almighty and liberal God in such +wise doth heap blessings upon his worst enemies and blasphemers, +with all manner of temporal goods and wealth, and gives to some +also kingdoms, principalities, etc., then may we, that are his +children, easily conceive what he will give unto us, who, for his +sake must suffer—yea, what he hath already given us. +He hath given unto us his only-begotten Son, and with him hath +bestowed all things upon us, so that through him we are +God’s children, and also heirs of his celestial treasure, +and are co-heirs with Christ according to hope.</p> +<h4><i>Court Cards</i>.</h4> +<p>God regards ungodly great Potentates, Kings, and Princes even +as children regard playing at cards. While they play, and +have good cards, they hold them in their hands; then, afterwards, +when they have bad cards, they are weary of them, and throw them +under the bench. Just so doth God with great +Potentates. While they are in the government, and rule +well, he holds them for good; but so soon as they do exceed, and +govern ill, then he throws them down from their seat, as Mary +sings, and there he lets them lie. <i>Ut Regem +Daniœ</i>.</p> +<p>The Queen of Denmark, that was sister to the Emperor Charles +and King Ferdinand, died at that time when her husband, King +Christian, was taken prisoner, who was kept in prison twenty +years. And his son, who was the only heir of the kingdom, +and was in the Court of the Emperor, died also at the Imperial +Diet held at Ratisbon the same year, 1541. God hath taken +up and gathered together a fine and glorious game at cards, all +of mighty Potentates, as Emperors, Kings, Princes, etc.; they +scuffle and fight one with another; touching which, said Luther, +I could show many examples done in our time, etc.</p> +<p>“The Pope,” said Melancthon, “for the space +of these certain hundred years, hath been held for the principal +Head of all Christendom. When he did but wink or hold up +one finger, so must the Emperors, Kings, and Princes have humbled +themselves and feared; insomuch that he was Lord of all Lords, +King of all Kings on earth; yea, he was an earthly god. But +now comes Almighty God, throws down the Pope, and wins that great +king with the ace (Luther), and there he lies. This is +God’s government, as Mary sings in her Magnificat: +<i>Deposuit potentes</i>—He puts down the mighty from their +seat, etc.</p> +<p>“If I were rich,” said Melancthon, “I would +have artificially made me a game at cards, and a chess-board all +of gold and silver, in a remembrance of God’s game at +cards, which are all great and mighty Emperors, Kings, and +Princes, where he always thrusteth one out through another. +N. is the four of diamonds, the Pope is the six of diamonds, the +Turk is the eight of diamonds, the Emperor is the king in the +game.</p> +<p>“At last comes our Lord God, divides the game, beats the +Pope with Luther (he is the ace). But the Pope is not yet +quite dead; Christ hath begun to slay him with the spirit of his +mouth, so that he is dead in the hearts of believing +Christians. I hope it is almost come so far that, in less +than two hundred years, God will quite make an end of him, and of +that antichristian idolatry, by his glorious coming.”</p> +<h4><i>Whoso from his Heart can humble himself before God</i>, +<i>he hath gained</i>.</h4> +<p>Whoso can earnestly humble himself from his heart before God, +he hath gained. For God can do nothing but to be merciful +towards them that humble themselves. For if God should +always be stern and angry, so should I, said Luther, be afraid of +him as of the executioner. And seeing that I must stand in +fear of the Pope, of the Emperor, of the Papistical Bishops, and +of other tyrants, which are God’s enemies, to whom then +should I fly and take my refuge, if I should also be afraid of +God?</p> +<h4><i>That God preserves Nurture and Discipline</i>.</h4> +<p>God’s works and actions will be where good nurture and +discipline is maintained, especially in wars, where a good +government is settled; otherwise it goeth strangely, dissolutely, +and ill, as in this time we see too well.</p> +<p>When God will confound the wisdom of the wise, he makes them +first mad and furious in their proceedings, as he dealt with the +Popish Princes and Bishops at the Imperial Diet held at +Augsburg.</p> +<p>Let the adversaries rage and swell their fills, said Luther, +and as long as they can. God hath set the sea her bounds; +he suffers the same to beat and rage with her waves, as if they +would over-run, cover, and drown everything; yet, +notwithstanding, they must not pass the shore and banks, although +God keeps the waters in their compass, not with iron, but with +weak walls of sand. This discourse Luther held at that time +when letters were written unto him from the Assembly at +Frankfort, concerning the Papists, with their practices and +exploits, intending to fall upon the Protestants in all +parts.</p> +<p>The second Psalm, said Luther, is one of the best +Psalms. I love that Psalm with my heart. It strikes +and slashes valiantly amongst the Kings, Princes, Counsellors, +Judges, etc. If it be true what this Psalm saith, then are +the allegations of the Papists stark lies. If I were as our +Lord God, and had committed the government to my son, as he hath +done to his Son, and that these angry gentlemen were so +disobedient as they now are, I would, said Luther, throw the +world into a lump.</p> +<p>Mary, the poor child-maid of Nazareth, also combateth with +these great Kings, Princes, etc., as she sings, “He hath +put down the mighty from their seat,” etc. No doubt, +said Luther, she had an excellent undaunted voice. I, for +my part, dare not sing so. The tyrants say, “Let us +break their bonds asunder.” What that is, said he, +present experience teacheth us; for we see how they drown, how +they hang, burn, behead, strangle, banish, and torture; and all +this they do in despite of God. “But he sits above in +heaven, and laugheth them to scorn.” If, said Luther, +God would be pleased to give me a little time and space, that I +might expound a couple of small Psalms, I would bestir myself so +boldly that, Samson-like, I would take all the Papists away with +me.</p> +<h4><i>By reason of our stiff-necked Hardness</i>, <i>God must be +both harsh and good too</i>.</h4> +<p>I was, said Luther, very lately sharply reprimanded and taxed +by a Popish flattering Courtier, a Priest, because with such +passion I had written, and so vehemently had reproved the +people. But I answered him and said, “Our Lord God +must first send a sharp pouring shower, with thunder and +lightning, and afterwards cause it mildly to rain, as then it +wetteth finely through. In like manner, a willow or a hazel +wand I can easily cut with my trencher-knife, but for a hard oak +a man must have and use axes, bills, and such-like, and all +little enough to fell and to cleave it.”</p> +<h4><i>What that is</i>, <i>God is nothing</i>, <i>and yet he is +all Things</i>.</h4> +<p>Plato, the Heathen, disputed of God, that God is nothing, and +yet he is all things; him followed Dr. Eck, and the Sophists, who +understood nothing thereof, as their words do show, which no man +could understand. But, said Luther, we must understand and +speak of it in this manner: God is incomprehensible and +invisible, therefore what may be seen and comprehended, that is +not God. And thus a man may speak also in another manner +and wise: As God is either visible or invisible; visible he is in +his Word and Works, but where his Word and Works are not, there a +man should not desire to have him, for he will be found nowhere +else than where he hath revealed himself. But these and +such-like will find and take hold of him with their speculations, +so that instead of God they take hold of the devil, and find him, +for he will be also a god. But I do truly admonish and warn +every one that they abstain from such speculations, and not to +flutter too high, but remain by the manger, and by the +swaddling-clothes wherein Christ doth lie (in the Holy +Scriptures), “in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the +Godhead bodily,” as St. Paul saith (Col. ii.). There +a man cannot fail of God, but finds and hits upon him most +certainly. I would willingly that this rule might be +observed after my death, namely: Human comfort and Divine comfort +are of two sorts: human comfort consisteth in external visible +help, which a man may see, hold, and feel; but Divine comfort +consisteth only in words and promises, where there is neither +seeing, hearing, nor feeling.</p> +<h4><i>That Children are God’s special Blessings and +Creatures</i>.</h4> +<p>Dr. Jonas, inviting Luther to a dinner, had caused a bough, +with ripe cherries, to be hung up over the table where they +dined, in remembrance of the creation, thereby to put his guests +in mind to praise the glorious God in his blessing and creating +such fruits, etc. But Luther asked him why he did not +rather remember the same by his children that were the fruit of +his body. For, said he, they surpass and are far more +excelling creatures of God than all the fruits of trees. By +them we see God’s Power, Wisdom, and Art, who hath made +them all out of nothing, hath given them in one year life and all +members, so exquisitely hath created and will maintain and +preserve them. Yet, notwithstanding, we do not much regard +it; nay, we are in such gifts of God blind and covetous, as +commonly it falleth out that people when they have got children +grow worse and more covetous; they rake and rend all they can, to +the end enough may be left for their children. They do not +know that before a child comes to the world, and is born, it hath +its lot; and already is ordained and determined what and how much +it shall have, and what shall be thereout. In the state of +matrimony we learn and find that begetting and bearing of +children stands and consists not in our wills and pleasures, for +the parents can neither see nor know whether they be fruitful or +no, nor whether God will give them a son or a daughter. All +this is done without our ordaining, thinking, or +foreknowledge. My father and mother did not think that they +should have brought a superintendent into the world; it is only +God’s Creation which we cannot rightly understand nor +conceive. I believe, said Luther, that in the life to come +we shall have nothing else to do than to meditate of our Creator, +and of his celestial creatures, and wonder at the same.</p> +<h3>OF THE NATURE OF THE WORLD.</h3> +<h4><i>Of the World</i>, <i>and of the Manner thereof</i>.</h4> +<p>The world, said Luther, will neither have nor hold God for +God, nor the devil for the devil. And if a man were left to +himself, and should be suffered to do after his own kind and +nature, then would he willingly throw our Lord God out at the +window; for the world regards God nothing at all, as the Psalm +saith, <i>Dixit impius in corde suo</i>, <i>non est +Deus</i>. On the contrary, the god of the world is riches, +pleasure, and pride, wherewith they abuse all the creatures and +gifts of God.</p> +<p>The Monks and Friars, in times past, boasted much of their +contemning of the world, and they made use of that speech of St. +Paul (Rom. xii.), “Be not conformed to this world;” +from whence they would touch no money, as if it were against God +to make use of riches, money, and wealth; whereas St. Paul and +the whole Scriptures forbid but only the abuse of heart, wicked +lust, desire, and inclination; as there is ambition, +incontinency, revenge, etc., which lusts do hang on the world; +yea, they altogether flow and flourish.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Manner of People in Eating</i>.</h4> +<p>We have the nature and manner of all wild beasts in +eating. The wolves eat sheep; we also. The foxes eat +hens, geese, etc.; we also. The hawks and kites eat fowl +and birds; we also. Pikes do eat other fish; we also. +With oxen, horse, and kine, we also eat sallets, grass, etc.</p> +<h4><i>The Unthankfulness of Husbandmen and Farmers</i>.</h4> +<p>The husbandmen and rich farmers, said Luther, are not worthy +of so many benefits and fruits which the earth doth bear and +bring unto them. I give more thanks to our Lord God for one +tree or bush than all rich farmers and husbandmen do for their +large and fruitful grounds. Yet, said he, we must except +some husbandmen, as Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Isaac, who went out +to see their grounds, to the end they might remember God’s +gifts in his creatures. (Gen. xxiv.)</p> +<p>The world will have night owls, said Luther, that is, +sectaries, seducers, and unbelievers, about whom the birds do +fly; that is, the world wonders at them, entertains them with +great honour, and gives them money and wealth enough.</p> +<h4><i>The Gospel discovereth the Wickedness of Mankind</i>.</h4> +<p>As the cold, said Luther, is always greater and more piercing +in winter when the days begin to lengthen, and when the sun draws +near unto us, for that maketh the cold thicker, and presseth it +together: just so the wickedness of mankind is greater, that is, +more visible, and breaks out when the Gospel is preached; for the +Holy Ghost reproveth the world of sin, which the world neither +can nor will endure.</p> +<h4><i>The World’s Unthankfulness towards the Servants of +God</i>.</h4> +<p>He must be of a high and great spirit that undertaketh to +serve the people both in body and soul, and nevertheless must +suffer the utmost danger and highest unthankfulness. +Therefore Christ said to Peter, Simon, etc., “Lovest thou +me?” and repeated it three times together. Afterwards +he said, “Feed my sheep,” as if he would say, +“Wilt thou be an upright Minister and a Shepherd? then love +must only do it; thy love to me must do the deed, otherwise it is +impossible.” For who can endure unthankfulness? to +study away his wealth and health, and afterwards to lay himself +open to the highest danger and unthankfulness of the wicked +world? Therefore he saith, “It is very needful that +thou lovest me.”</p> +<p>The Pope and Turk, said Luther, have thoroughly revenged our +cause, and have done to the world a great deal of right, as by +scourging experience they have thoroughly been taught, for so the +world will have it. Upright and true servants of God they +will not endure, nay, they murder them, therefore they must have +such fellows, yea, and moreover, they must maintain and hold them +in great honour and esteem, and yet nevertheless must by them be +cursed and deceived.</p> +<h4><i>The World must have stern and fierce Rulers</i>.</h4> +<p>The world, said Luther, cannot be without such stern +Governors, by whom they must be ruled. King Ferdinand, with +his Popish tyranny, is even a fine liquorish bit for the world; +therefore said God, through the Prophet Samuel, to his people of +Israel that prayed for a King, He would give them a King, but +this shall be his rule: “He will take your sons, and +appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his +horsemen, and will take your daughters to be cooks,” +etc. As Ferdinand, the Prince Elector of Saxony, returned +home from the election of the Emperor Charles at Cologne, he +asked me how I liked the news, that they had elected Charles, +King of Spain, to be Roman Emperor. I answered him and +said, “The ravens must have a kite.”</p> +<h4><i>The World’s highest Wisdom</i>.</h4> +<p>The highest wisdom of the world is, said Luther, to trouble +themselves with temporal, earthly, and vanishing things; and as +it happeneth and falleth out with those things, they say, +“<i>Non putâram</i>” (I had not thought +it). For faith is a certain and a sure expectation of that +which a man hopeth for, and maketh no doubt of that which he +seeth not, as the Epistle to the Hebrews saith: Faith looks to +that which is to come, and not to that which is already +present. Therefore a true Christian doth not say, +“<i>Non putâram</i>” (I had not thought it); +but he is most certain that the beloved Cross is near at hand, +and will surely come upon him; therefore he is not afraid when it +goeth evil with him, and he is tormented. But the world, +and those that live securely in the world, cannot brook +misfortunes; they go on continually leaping and dancing in +pleasure and delight, like the rich Glutton in the Gospel. +He could not spare the scraps to poor Lazarus, but Lazarus +belonged to Christ, and he took his part.</p> +<h4><i>The Language and Doings of the World</i>.</h4> +<p>Albertus, Bishop of Mentz, had a physician attending on his +person who was a Protestant, and therefore the less in the +Bishop’s favour; the same, being covetous and puffed up +with ambition, recanted his religion and fell to Popery, uttering +these words: “I will, for awhile, set Christ behind the +door, until I be grown rich, and then I will take him to me +again.” Such and the like blasphemous words do +deserve the highest punishments, as befell that wicked +dissembling wretch, for the same night he was found in his bed in +a most fearful manner, with his tongue torn out of his mouth, as +black as a coal, and his neck wrung in twain. Myself, said +Luther, at that time coming from Frankfort to Mentz, was an +eye-witness of that just judgment of God. If, said he, a +man could bring to pass, and at his pleasure could set God behind +the door, and take him again when he listed, then was God his +prisoner. They were words of a damned Epicure, and so +accordingly he was rewarded.</p> +<h4><i>Luther’s Comparison of the World</i>.</h4> +<p>The world seems to me like unto a decayed house. David +and the Prophets are the spars; Christ is the main pillar in the +midst that supporteth all.</p> +<h4><i>The World seeketh Immortality with their Pride</i>.</h4> +<p>Whereas all people do feel and acknowledge, yea, do see, that +they must die and vanish away, every one therefore seeketh here +on earth immortality, that he may be had in everlasting +remembrance. Sometimes great Princes and Kings sought it by +causing great columns of marble stone and exceedingly high +pyramids, buildings, and pillars four square to be erected, as at +this time they do with building great churches, costly and +glorious palaces and castles, etc. Soldiers do look and +hunt after great praise and honour by overcoming and obtaining +famous victories. The learned seek an everlasting name in +writing books, as in our time is to be seen. With these and +such-like, people do think to be immortal. But on the true, +everlasting, and incorruptible honour and eternity of God, no man +thinketh nor looketh after the same. Ah! we are poor, +silly, and miserable people!</p> +<h4><i>What is to be considered in the executing of +Offices</i>.</h4> +<p>If, said Luther, the great pains and labour which I take +sprang not from love and for the sake of him that died for me, +the world could not give me money enough to write only one book, +or to translate the Bible. I desire not to be rewarded and +paid of the world for my book; the world is too poor and simple +to give me satisfaction. I have not desired the value of +one penny of my master the Prince Elector of Saxony, so long as I +have been in this place. The whole world is nothing else +but a turned-about <i>Decalogus</i>, or the Ten Commandments +backwards, a wizard, and a picture of the devil. All +contemners of God, all blasphemers, all disobedient; whoredom, +pride, theft, murder, etc., are now almost ripe for the +slaughter; neither is the devil idle, with Turk and Pope, +heresies and other erroneous sects. Every man draws the +Christian liberty only to carnal excess, as if now they had free +liberty and power to do what they list; therefore the kingdom of +the devil and Pope is the best government for the world, for +therewith they will be governed with strict laws and rights, with +superstition, unbelief, etc.</p> +<p>The world grows worse through the doctrine of God’s +Grace and preaching of the Gospel; for when they hear that after +this life there is another, they are well enough content with +this life, and that God should keep the other to himself; if they +may have here but only good days, honour, and wealth, that is all +they care for or desire.</p> +<p>At the time of my being in Rome, said Luther, there died a +Cardinal very rich, and left behind him great store of money; +shortly before his death he made his will, and laid it in a chest +where the money was. After his death the chest was opened, +and therein, by the money, was found lying a bull, written on +parchment, with these words:</p> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: center"><i>Dum potui</i>, +<i>rapui</i>; <i>rapiatis</i>, <i>quando potestis</i>.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">(I extorted and oppressed as long +as I was able; while ye have power, get what you can.)</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Oh! said Luther, how finely, think you, must this Cardinal +have departed and died?</p> +<h4><i>The World is full of Dissemblers and Blasphemers</i>: +<i>How many Sorts there be</i>.</h4> +<p>Luther discoursing, in the presence of the Prince Elector of +Saxony and other Princes, of the many sorts and differences of +wicked persons, said: Colax, Sycophanta, Cacoëthes; these +sins and blasphemies are almost alike the one to the other, only +that they go one after another, as a man going up the stairs and +steps ascends from one to another.</p> +<p>Colax, in my opinion, is he that in Terence they name Gnatho, +an ear-scratcher, a dissembler, a trencher-licker, one that +talketh for his belly’s sake, and is altogether a +man-pleaser. This is a sin of mankind, whose intent is to +get all they can though others are hurt thereby.</p> +<p>Sycophanta is such a dissembler, traitor, and backbiter that +would earn a grey coat. This sin is nearer allied to the +devil than to mankind. Gnatho acts his part in the +comedies, but Sycophanta in the tragedies. Phormio, in +Terence, is a very honest person, nothing, or very little, +stained with the other two vices.</p> +<p>Cacoëthes is a wicked villain, that wittingly and +wilfully prepareth mischief.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Wealth and Treasure of the World</i>.</h4> +<p>The Fuggars <a name="citation97"></a><a href="#footnote97" +class="citation">[97]</a> of Augsburg, on a sudden, said Luther, +are able to levy one hundred tons of gold (one ton of gold is one +hundred thousand rix dollars, making, in English money, +two-and-twenty thousand pounds sterling, and more), which neither +the Emperor nor King of Spain is able to perform. One of +the Fuggars, after his death, left eighty tons of gold. The +Fuggars and the money-changers in Augsburg lent the Emperor at +one time eight-and-twenty tons of gold for the maintaining of his +wars before Padua.</p> +<p>The Cardinal of Brixen, who died at Rome very rich, left no +great sum of ready money behind him, but only there was found in +his sleeve a little note of a finger’s length. This +note was brought to Pope Julius, who presently imagined it was a +note of money, and therefore sent for the Fuggars’ factor +that was then at Rome, and asked him if he knew that +writing. The factor said, “Yea, it was the debt which +the Fuggars did owe to that Cardinal, which was the sum of forty +hundred thousand rix dollars.” The Pope asked him how +soon he could pay that sum of money. He answered and said, +“Every day, or, if need required, at an hour’s +warning.” Then the Pope called for the Ambassadors of +France and England, and asked them if either of their Kings, in +one hour’s space, were able to satisfy and pay forty tons +of gold. They answered, “No.” +“Then,” said the Pope, “one citizen of Augsburg +can do it.” And the Pope got all that money. +One of the Fuggars being warned by the Senate of Augsburg to +bring in and to pay his taxation, said, “I know not how +much I have, nor how rich I am, therefore I cannot be +taxed;” for he had his money out in the whole +world—in Turkey, in Greece, at Alexandria, in France, +Portugal, England, Poland, and everywhere, yet he was willing to +pay his tax of that which he had in Augsburg.</p> +<h4><i>Covetousness is a Sign of Death</i>; <i>we must not rely +on Money and Wealth</i>.</h4> +<p>Whoso hath money, said Luther, and depends thereon, as is +usual, it neither proceeds nor prospers well with that +person. The richest monarchs have had bad fortune, and +lamentably have been destroyed and slain in the wars; on the +contrary, poor and unable people, that have had but small store +of money, have overcome and had great fortune and victory. +As Emperor Maximilian overcame the Venetians, and continued wars +ten years with them, who were exceedingly rich and +powerful. Therefore we ought not to trust in money and +wealth, nor to depend thereon. I hear, said Luther, that +the Prince Elector, George, begins to be covetous, which is a +sign of his death very shortly. When I saw Dr. Goad begin +to count his puddings hanging in the chimney, I told him he would +not live long, which fell out accordingly; and when I begin to +trouble myself about brewing, malting, and cooking, etc., then +shall not I drive it long, but soon die.</p> +<h4><i>The Popes’ Covetousness</i>.</h4> +<p>The covetousness of the Popes has exceeded all others’, +therefore, said Luther, the devil made choice of Rome to be his +habitation; for which cause the ancients have said, “Rome +is a den of covetousness, a root of all wickedness.” +I have also read in a very old book this verse following:</p> +<h4><i> Versus Amor</i>, +<i>Mundi Caput est</i>, <i>et Bestia Terræ</i>.</h4> +<p>That is (when the word Amor is turned and read backward, then +it is Roma), Rome, the head of the world, a beast that sucketh +out and devoureth all lands. Truly at Rome is an abominable +trading with covetousness, for all is raked to their hands +without preaching or church-service, but only with superstition, +idolatry, and with selling their good works to the poor ignorant +lay-people for money; therefore St. Peter describeth such +covetousness with express and clear words when he saith, +“They have an heart exercised with covetous +practices.” I am persuaded a man cannot acknowledge +the disease of covetousness unless he knoweth Rome; for the +deceits and jugglings in other parts are nothing in comparison of +those at Rome; therefore, anno 1521, at the Imperial Diet held at +Worms, the State of the whole Empire made supplication against +such covetousness, and desired that his Imperial Majesty would be +pleased to suppress the same.</p> +<p>At that time, said Luther, my book was presented to the German +nobility, which Dr. Wick showed unto me. Then the Gospel +began to go on well, but the Pope’s power, together with +the Antinomians, gave it a great blow, and yet, notwithstanding, +through God’s Providence, it was thereby furthered.</p> +<p>The Pope’s power was above all Kings and Emperors, which +power I opposed with my little book; and therewith also I +assaulted the Bull on the Pope, and, by God’s assistance, +overthrew it. I did not write that book on purpose against +the Pope, but only against the abuses of Popedom; yet +nevertheless it startled them quickly, for their consciences +accused them.</p> +<h4><i>Princes do draw and tear Spiritual Livings unto +them</i>.</h4> +<p>The proverb is, said Luther, “Priests’ livings are +catching livings,” and that “Priests’ goods +never prosper.” This we know to be true by +experience, for such as have drawn spiritual livings unto them +are grown poor thereby, and become beggars, therefore this Fable +I like very well:</p> +<p>There was an Eagle that made amity and friendship with the +Fox; they agreed to dwell peaceably together. Now when the +Fox expected from the Eagle all manner of good offices and turns, +he brought his young ones and laid them under the tree on which +the Eagle had his nest and young ones; but the friendship between +them lasted not long, for so soon as the Eagle wanted meat for +his young (the Fox being out of the way), he flew down and took +the young Foxes and carried them into his nest, and therewith fed +his young Eagles. When, therefore, the old Fox returned, +and saw that his young were taken away, he made his complaint to +the great god Jupiter, desiring that he would revenge and punish +that injury of <i>Jus violati hospitii</i>. Not long after, +as the Eagle again wanted meat to feed his young, he saw that on +a place in the field they sacrificed to Jupiter. The Eagle +flew thither, and quickly snatched away a piece of roast from the +altar and brought the same to his young, and flew again to fetch +more; but it happened that a hot coal hung to one of the pieces; +the same, falling into the Eagle’s nest, set it on fire; +the young Eagles, not able to fly, were burned with the nest and +fell to the ground. Even so it usually fareth with those +that rake and rend spiritual livings unto them, which are given +to the maintaining of God’s honour and service; such at +last must lose their nests, that is, they must be left destitute +of their temporal goods and livings, and besides, must sustain +hurt of body and soul. Spiritual livings have in them the +nature of Eagle’s feathers, for when they are laid to other +feathers they devour the same. Even so, when men will +mingle spiritual livings (<i>per fas aut nefas</i>) with other +goods, so must the same likewise be consumed, insomuch that at +last nothing will be left.</p> +<p>I have seen a pretty dog, at Lintz, in Austria that was taught +to go with a hand-basket to the butcher’s shambles for +meat; now, when other dogs came about him, and would take the +meat out of the basket, he set it down, bit and fought lustily +with the other dogs; but when he saw they would be too strong for +him, then he himself would snatch out the first piece of meat, +lest he should lose all. Even so doth now our Emperor +Charles, who, after he hath a long time defended the spiritual +livings, and seeth that every Prince taketh and raketh the +monasteries unto himself, doth also now take possession of +bishoprics, as newly he hath snatched to himself the bishoprics +of Utrich and Luttich, to the end he may get also <i>partem de +tunica Christi</i>.</p> +<h4><i>A fearful Example of Covetousness</i>.</h4> +<p>A covetous farmer, well known at Erfurt, said Luther, carried +his corn to sell there in the market; but holding it at too dear +a rate, no man would buy of him nor give him his price; he being +thereby moved to anger, said, “I will not sell it cheaper, +but will rather carry it home again and give it to the +mice.” As he came home therewith, an innumerable +number of mice and rats flocked about his house and devoured up +all his corn. And the next day following, going out to see +his grounds, which were newly sown, he found that all the seed +was eaten up, and no hurt at all done upon the grounds belonging +to his neighbours. This certainly, said Luther, was a just +punishment from God, and a token of his wrath against the +unthankful world.</p> +<h4><i>Wealth is the least Gift of God</i>.</h4> +<p>Riches, said Luther, is the smallest thing on earth, and the +least gift that God hath bestowed on mankind. What is it in +comparison of God’s Word? yea, what is it to be compared +with corporeal gifts, as beauty, health, etc.? nay, what is it to +the gifts of the mind, as understanding, art, wisdom, etc.? +Yet are men so eager after it that no labour, travel, nor danger +is regarded in the getting of riches; there is in it neither +<i>Materialis</i>, <i>formalis</i>, <i>efficiens et finalis +causa</i>, nor anything else that is good; therefore our Lord God +commonly giveth riches to such from whom he withholds all +Spiritual good.</p> +<h4><i>Giving to the Poor that truly stand in need of our +Help</i>.</h4> +<p>St. John saith, “He that hath this world’s goods, +and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of +compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in +him?” And Christ saith, “He that desireth of +thee, give to him;” that is, to him that hath need and is +in want. He saith not to every idle, lazy, and wasteful +companion, which commonly are the greatest beggars, to whom +although one gave much and often, yet were they nothing helped +thereby. In this town, said Luther, no men are in greater +want than the students and scholars. The poverty here +indeed is great, but idleness and laziness are far greater. +A man can scarcely get a poor body to work for money, and yet +they will all beg. There is, said he, no good +government. Though I were able, yet I would not give to +those idle beggars, for the more one helpeth and giveth them, the +more and oftener they come. I will not cut my bread away +from my wife and children, and give it to such; but when one is +truly poor, to him I will give with all my heart, according to my +ability. And no man should forget that Scripture which +saith, “He that hath two coats, let him part with +one,” etc.; for the Holy Scripture, in naming a coat, +meaneth all manner of apparel that one hath need of, according to +his state and calling, as well for credit as for necessity. +As, also, by “the daily bread” is understood all +maintenance necessary for the body, therefore “a +coat,” in Scripture, is signified to be all usual +apparel.</p> +<h4><i>The World will always have new Things</i>.</h4> +<p>Before I translated the New Testament out of the Greek, said +Luther, every one longed after it, to read therein, but when it +was done their longing lasted scarce four weeks. Then they +desired the Books of Moses; when I had translated those, they had +enough thereof in a short time. After that they would have +the Psalter; of the same they were soon weary; when it was +translated, then they desired other books.</p> +<p>In like manner, said he, will it be with the Book of +Ecclesiasticus, which they now long for, and about which I have +taken great pains in the translating thereof. All are +acceptable, so long and until our giddy brains be satisfied; +afterwards they let them lie, and seek after new things; +therefore in the end there must come errors among us.</p> +<h3>OF THE LORD CHRIST.</h3> +<h4><i>That Christ warreth with great Potentates</i>.</h4> +<p>On the 18th of August, 1535, Luther, receiving letters from +Frankfort relating to the great preparations of the Emperor +against the Protestants, said: Our Saviour Christ will not wage +wars with beggars, but with great and powerful Kings and Princes, +as it is written, “Kings of the earth stand up, and the +rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his +anointed.” Well, on, said Luther, they will find +their counsels altogether vain and frivolous, for Christ shall +win the field. We see also how the Prophets contended and +strove with Kings, as the Kings of Babel and Assyria, etc. +In like manner Daniel, one of the chief Prophets, wrestled and +strove with Kings, and they again resisted the Prophets. +All those Kings are gone, and lie in the ashes, but Christ +remaineth, still, and will remain a King for ever.</p> +<h4><i>That it doth not follow because Christ did this and +that</i>, <i>therefore we must also do the same</i>.</h4> +<p>At this time, said Luther, there are those that allege Christ +by force drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple; +therefore we also may use the like power against the Popish +bishops and enemies of God’s Word, as Muntzer and other +seducers, in the time of the common rebellion, anno 1525. +Christ did many things which we neither may nor can do after +him. He went upon the water, he fasted forty days and forty +nights, he raised Lazarus from death after he had lain four days +in the grave, etc. Such and the like must we leave +undone. Much less will Christ have that we by force should +set against the enemies of the truth, but he commanded the +contrary, “Love your enemies, pray for them that vex and +persecute you,” etc. But we ought to follow him in +such works where he hath annexed an open command, as, “Be +merciful, as your Father is merciful;” likewise, +“Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and +humble in heart,” etc., also, “He that will follow +me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow +me.”</p> +<h4><i>That the weak in Faith do also belong to the Kingdom of +Christ</i>.</h4> +<p>The weak in faith, said Luther, do also belong to the kingdom +of Christ, otherwise the Lord would not have said to Peter, +“Strengthen thy brethren,” Luke xxii.; and Rom. xiv., +“Receive the weak in faith;” also 1 Thess. v., +“Comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak.” +If the weak in faith should not belong to Christ, where then +would the Apostles have been, whom the Lord oftentimes (also +after his resurrection, Mark xvi.) reproved because of their +unbelief?</p> +<h4><i>That Christ is the only Physician against Death</i>, +<i>whom notwithstanding very few do desire</i>.</h4> +<p>A cup of water, said Luther, if a man can have no better, is +good to quench the thirst. A morsel of bread stilleth the +hunger, and he that hath need seeketh earnestly thereafter. +So Christ is the best, surest, and only physic against the most +fearful enemy of mankind, the devil, but they believe it not with +their hearts. If they knew a physician who lived above one +hundred miles off, that could prevent or drive away temporal +death, oh, how diligently would he be sent for! No money +nor cost would be spared. Hence it appears how abominably +human nature is spoiled and blinded; yet, notwithstanding, the +small and little heap do stick fast to the true Physician, and by +this art do learn that which the holy old Simeon well knew, from +whence he joyfully sang, “Lord, now lettest thou thy +servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy +salvation,” etc., therefore death became his sleep; but +from whence came his great joy? Because that with spiritual +and corporeal eyes he saw the Saviour of the world—he saw +the true Physician against sin and death. Therefore it is a +great trouble to behold how desirous a thirsty body is of drink, +or one that is hungry of food, whereas a cup of water, a morsel +of bread, can still hunger and thirst no longer than two or three +hours, but no man, or very few, are desirous, or do long after +the most precious Physician, although he lovingly calleth and +allureth all to come unto him, and saith, “He that is +athirst, let him come to me and drink” (John vii.); so, +“He that believeth in me, from his body shall flow streams +of living water.”</p> +<h4><i>Of the Temple of all the Gods (except Christ)</i>, <i>at +Rome</i>, <i>called Pantheon</i>.</h4> +<p>In the year 606, Emperor Phocas, the murderer of that good and +godly Emperor Mauritius, and the first erector of the +Pope’s primacy, gave this temple Pantheon to Pope Boniface +the Third, to make thereof what he pleased. He gave it +another name, and instead of All-Idols he named it the Church of +All-Saints; he did not number Christ among them, from whom all +saints have their sanctity, but erected a new idolatry, the +Invocation of Saints.</p> +<p>In my chronicle, said Luther, I expound the name of Bonifacius +thus: Bonifacius is a Popish name, that is, a good form, fashion, +or show, for under the colour of a good form and show he acted +all manner of mischief against God and man.</p> +<p>As I was at Rome, said Luther, I saw this church; it had no +windows, but only a round hole on the top, which gave some +light. It was vaulted high, and had pillars of marble stone +so thick that two of us could scarcely fathom one about. +Above, on the vault, were portrayed all the gods of the heathen, +Jupiter, Neptune, Mars, Venus, and how else they are +called. These gods were at a union, to the end they might +fool and deceive the whole world; but Christ they cannot endure, +for he hath whipped them out. Now are the Popes come, and +have driven Christ away again; but who knoweth how long it will +continue?</p> +<h4><i>That the World knoweth not Christ</i>, <i>nor those that +are his</i>.</h4> +<p>Even as Christ is now invisible and unknown to the world, so +are we Christians also invisible and unknown therein. +“Your life,” saith St. Paul (Coloss. iii.), “is +hid with Christ in God.” Therefore, said Luther, the +world knoweth us not, much less do they see Christ in us. +And John the Apostle saith, “Behold, what love the Father +hath showed unto us, that we shall be called God’s +children” (1 John iii). Therefore we and the world +are easily parted; they care nothing for us, so we care less for +them; yea, through Christ the world is crucified unto us, and we +to the world. Let them go with their wealth, and leave us +to our minds and manners.</p> +<p>When we have our sweet and loving Saviour Christ, then we are +rich and happy more than enough, we care nothing for their state, +honour, and wealth. But we often lose our Saviour Christ, +and little think that he is in us, and we in him; that he is +ours, and we are his. And although he hideth himself from +us, as we think, in the time of need for a moment, yet are we +comforted in his promise, where he saith, “I am daily with +you to the world’s end;” the same is our best and +richest treasure.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Name Jesus Christ</i>.</h4> +<p>I know nothing of Jesus Christ, said Luther, but only his +name; I neither have heard nor seen him corporeally; yet +notwithstanding I have, God be praised, learned so much out of +the Scriptures that I am well and thoroughly satisfied; +therefore, I desire neither to see nor to hear him +corporeally. And besides this, when I was left and forsaken +of all men, in my highest weakness, in trembling and in fear of +death, when I was persecuted of the wicked world, then I +oftentimes felt most evidently the divine power which this name +(Christ Jesus) communicated unto me; this name (Christ Jesus) +oftentimes delivered me when I was in the midst of death, and +made me alive again. It comforted me in the greatest +despair, and particularly at the Imperial Assembly at Augsburg, +anno 1530, when I was forsaken of every man; insomuch that, by +God’s grace, I will live and die for that name.</p> +<p>And rather than I will yield, or through silence endure that +Erasmus Roterodamus, or any other whosoever he be, should too +nearly touch my Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus with his ungodly +false doctrine, how fairly coloured soever it be trimmed or +garnished, I say I will rather die; yea, it should be more +tolerable for me, with wife and children, to undergo all plagues +and torments, and at last to die the most shameful death, than +that I should give way thereunto.</p> +<h4><i>That Christ and the Pope are set on</i>, <i>the one +against the other</i>.</h4> +<p>I, said Luther, have set Christ and the Pope together by the +ears, therefore I trouble myself no further; and although I come +between the door and the hinges and be squeezed, it is no matter, +though I go to the ground; yet notwithstanding Christ will go +through with it.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Pre-eminence of God’s Word</i>.</h4> +<p>Christ once appeared visible here on earth, and showed his +glory, and, according to the divine counsel and purpose of God, +he finished the work of redemption and the deliverance of +mankind. I do not desire that he should come once more, +neither would I that he should send an angel unto me; and +although an angel should come and appear before mine eyes from +heaven, yet would I not believe him; for I have of my Saviour +Christ Jesus bond and seal; that is, I have his Word and Spirit; +thereon I do depend, and desire no new revelations. And, +said Luther, the more steadfastly to confirm me in the same +resolution, and to remain by God’s Word, and not to give +credit to any visions or revelations, I shall relate the +following circumstance:—I being on Good Friday last in my +inner chamber, in fervent prayer, contemplating with myself how +Christ my Saviour hung on the Cross, how he suffered and died for +our sins, there suddenly appeared upon the wall a bright shining +vision, and a glorious form of our Saviour Christ, with the five +wounds, steadfastly looking upon me, as if it had been Christ +himself corporeally. Now, at the first sight, I thought it +had been some good Revelation: yet I recollected that surely it +must needs be the juggling of the devil, for Christ appeareth +unto us in his word, and in a meaner and more humble form; +therefore I spake to the vision in this manner: “Avoid, +thou confounded devil; I know no other Christ than he who was +crucified, and who in his Word is pictured unto me.” +Whereupon the image vanished.</p> +<h4><i>That Christ is the Health and Wisdom of the +Faithful</i>.</h4> +<p>Alas! said Luther, what is our wit and wisdom? for before we +understand anything as we ought, we lie down and die; therefore +the devil hath good striving with us. When one is thirty +years old, so hath he as yet <i>Stultitias carnales</i>; yea, +also <i>Stultitias spirituales</i>; yet it is much to be admired +that, in such our imbecility and weakness, we achieve and +accomplish so much and such great matters; but it is God that +giveth it. God gave to Alexander the Great, <i>Sapientiam +et fortunam</i>, Wisdom and good success; yet, notwithstanding, +he calleth him, in the Prophet Jeremiah, <i>Juvenem</i>, a youth, +where he saith, “<i>Quis excitabit juvenem</i>” (A +young raw milksop boy shall perform it: he shall come and turn +the city Tyrus upside-down). But yet Alexander could not +leave off his foolishness, for oftentimes he swilled himself +drunk, and in his drunkenness he stabbed his best and worthiest +friends; yea, afterwards he drank himself to death at +Babel. Neither was Solomon above twenty years old when he +was made King, but he was well instructed by Nathan, and desired +wisdom, which was pleasing to God, as the text saith. But +now chests full of money are desired. “Oh!” say +we now, “if I had but money, then I would do +so-and-so.”</p> +<h3>OF SINS AND OF FREE-WILL.</h3> +<h4><i>Of the Fall of the Ungodly</i>, <i>and how they are +surprised in their Ungodliness and False Doctrine</i>.</h4> +<p>Our Lord God, said Luther, suffereth the ungodly to be +surprised and taken captive in very slight and small things, when +they think not of it, when they are most secure, and live in +delight and pleasure, in springing and leaping for joy. In +such a manner was the Pope surprised by me, in and about his +indulgences and pardons, which was altogether a slight +thing. The Venetians, likewise, were taken napping by +Emperor Maximilian.</p> +<p>That which falleth in Heaven is devilish, but that which +stumbleth on earth is human.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Acknowledgment of Sins</i>.</h4> +<p>It can be hurtful to none, said Luther, to acknowledge and +confess their sins. Have we done this or that sin, what +then? Let us freely in God’s name acknowledge the +same, and not deny it; let us not be ashamed to confess, but let +us from our hearts say, “O Lord God! I am such-and-such a +sinner,” etc.</p> +<p>And although thou hadst not committed this or that sin, yet +nevertheless thou art an ungodly creature; and if thou hast not +done that sin which another hath done, so hath he not committed +that sin which thou hast done; therefore cry quittance one with +another. It is even as one said that had young wolves to +sell; he was asked which of them was the best. He answered +and said, “If one be good, then they are all good; they are +like one another.” If, said Luther, thou hast been a +murderer, an adulterer, or a drunkard, etc., so have I been a +blasphemer of God, because for the space of fifteen years +together I was a Friar, and have blasphemed God with celebrating +that abominable idol the Mass. It had been better for me +that I had been a partaker of other great wickednesses instead of +the same; but what is done cannot be undone; he that hath stolen, +let him henceforward steal no more.</p> +<h4><i>What our Free-will doth effect</i>.</h4> +<p>I, said Luther, oftentimes have been directly resolved to live +uprightly, and to lead a true godly life, and to set everything +aside that would let or hinder; but it was far from being put in +execution, even as it was with Peter, when he swore he would lay +down his life for Christ.</p> +<p>I will not lie nor dissemble before my God, but will freely +confess I am not able to effect that good which I do intend, but +must expect the happy hour when God shall be pleased to meet me +with his grace.</p> +<h3>OF THE CATECHISM.</h3> +<h4><i>Of the Virtues and Vices concerning the Ten +Commandments</i>.</h4> +<p>The <i>Decalogus</i>, that is, the Ten Commandments of God, +are a looking-glass, and a brief sum of all virtues and +doctrines, both how we ought to behave towards God and also +towards our neighbour, that is, towards all mankind.</p> +<p>There never was at any time written a more excellent, +complete, nor compendious book of virtues.</p> +<p>The duty of the First and Second Commandment is to fear God, +to love and to trust in him; the contrary is sin and vice, an +ungodly life, contemning of God, hatred, despair, etc.</p> +<p>The duty of the Third Commandment is to acknowledge and to +preach the doctrine of God’s Word; the contrary is +blaspheming of God, to be silent and not to confess the truth +when need requireth.</p> +<p>The duty of the Fourth Commandment is the external service of +God, as the preaching of God’s Word, hearing, reading, and +meditating on the same, to the end we may make proof of our +faith; the contrary is the despising of God’s Word and the +outward service of God, as the Holy Sacraments.</p> +<p>The duty of the Fifth Commandment is obedience towards +parents, tutors, and magistrates in those things which are not +against God; the contrary is disobedience and rebellion.</p> +<p>The duty of the Sixth Commandment is meekness, not to be +desirous of revenge, not to bear malice; against this is tyranny, +rage, hatred, envy, etc.</p> +<p>The duty of the Seventh Commandment is continency and +chastity; against the same is lasciviousness, immodest behaviour, +adultery, etc.</p> +<p>The duty of the Eighth Commandment is to do good, to give and +lend willingly, to be liberal; the contrary is covetousness, +stealing, usury, fraud, and to wrong in trading and dealing.</p> +<p>The duty of the Ninth Commandment is to love the truth, not to +backbite and slander, to speak well of all men; the contrary is +lying, backbiting, and to speak evil of another.</p> +<p>The duty of the Tenth Commandment is righteousness, to let +every one possess his own; the contrary is to be miserable and +unjust.</p> +<p>The duty of this Commandment is to be without all covetous +desires in the heart, to be content with that which one hath; +against that are the lustings of the heart. St. Paul saith +the end of the Commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and +of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.</p> +<h3>BRIEF SENTENCES OF THE CATECHISM, ACCORDING AS LUTHER USED TO +TEACH AND INSTRUCT HIS FAMILY AT HOME.</h3> +<h4><i>Of the Ten Commandments of God</i>.</h4> +<p>As the Faith is, so is also God.</p> +<p>God stayeth not quite away, though he stayeth long.</p> +<p>Despair maketh Priests and Friars.</p> +<p>God careth and provideth for us, but we must labour.</p> +<p>God will have the heart only and alone.</p> +<p>Idolatry is the imagination of the heart.</p> +<p>God giveth by creatures.</p> +<p>God’s Word placeth before our eyes the world, to the end +we may see what a fine spark it is.</p> +<p>God’s Word is our sanctification, and maketh everything +happy.</p> +<p>Works of obedience must highly be regarded.</p> +<p>All that govern are called Fathers.</p> +<p>Shepherds of Souls are worthy of double honour.</p> +<p>Magistrates belong not to the fifth Commandment.</p> +<p>Wrath is forbidden in every man, except in the +magistrates.</p> +<p>All occasions of death are forbidden.</p> +<p>Matrimony proceedeth freely in every state and calling.</p> +<p>Matrimony is necessary and commanded.</p> +<p>Matrimony forbidden and disallowed is against God’s +command.</p> +<p>Matrimony is a blessed state, and pleasing to God.</p> +<p>To steal is what one taketh unjustly.</p> +<p>Unfaithfulness is also stealing.</p> +<p>Thieving is the most common trade in the world.</p> +<p>Great thieves go scot-free, as the Pope and his crew.</p> +<p>Falseness and covetousness prosper not.</p> +<p>Backbiting is meddling with God’s judgment.</p> +<p>Censuring, and to speak evil behind one’s back, +belongeth only to the magistrates.</p> +<p>We must censure and reprove no man behind his back.</p> +<p>We must judge charitably in everything.</p> +<p>There are no good works without the Ten Commandments.</p> +<p>To fear God, and to trust in him, is the fulfilling of all the +Commandments.</p> +<p>The first Commandment driveth on all the rest.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Creed</i>.</h4> +<p>The Creed teacheth to know God, and what a God we have.</p> +<p>In all cases we must make use of faith.</p> +<p>God giveth himself unto us with all creatures.</p> +<p>We must always drive on the article of Jesus Christ.</p> +<p>The Holy Ghost bringeth Christ home unto us; he must reveal +him.</p> +<p>Where the Holy Ghost preacheth not, there is no Church.</p> +<p>The works of the Holy Ghost are wrought continually.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Lord’s Prayer</i>.</h4> +<p>To pray is to call upon God in all need, which is made +precious through God’s command, and necessity stirreth up +earnest and devout prayers, which are our weapons against the +devil.</p> +<p>The devil, the world, and our flesh is against God’s +Will.</p> +<p>The devil hindereth and destroyeth the daily bread and all the +gifts of God.</p> +<p>God careth for our bodies daily.</p> +<p>No man can live in the world without sin.</p> +<p>No man can bring his own righteousness before God.</p> +<p>We must forgive, as God forgiveth us.</p> +<p>To forgive our neighbour, assureth us fully that God hath +forgiven us.</p> +<p>We are tempted three manner of ways—of the devil, of the +world, and of our flesh.</p> +<p>Temptations serve against the secureness of our flesh.</p> +<p>Temptations are not overcome through our own strength.</p> +<p>The devil would hinder all that we pray for.</p> +<p>The devil goeth about to bring us into all manner of need.</p> +<h4><i>Of Baptism</i>.</h4> +<p>Faith is annexed to Baptism.</p> +<p>Faith must have before it some external thing.</p> +<p>Faith maketh the person worthy.</p> +<p>Baptism is not our work, but God’s.</p> +<p>Baptism is right, although no man believeth.</p> +<p>No man must build upon his faith.</p> +<p>Unbelief weakeneth not God’s Word.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Lord’s Supper</i>.</h4> +<p>The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is of God’s +ordaining.</p> +<p>The Word maketh a Sacrament.</p> +<p>Christ in the Sacrament is spiritual food for the soul.</p> +<p>Remission of sins is obtained only through the Word.</p> +<p>Faith receiveth the forgiveness of sins.</p> +<p>The Sacrament consisteth not in our worthiness.</p> +<p>Faith and human understanding are one against another.</p> +<p>Faith dependeth on the Word.</p> +<p>As we hold of Christ, even so we have him.</p> +<p>Faith is a Christian’s treasure.</p> +<p>The Gospel is the power of God.</p> +<h4><i>Good Works</i>.</h4> +<p>Good works are nameless.</p> +<p>A Christian’s work standeth for the good of the +neighbour.</p> +<p>Faith in Christ destroyeth sin.</p> +<p>The Holy Scriptures only give comfort, they forbid not good +works.</p> +<p>Christ is a general good.</p> +<p>Christians do pray for and desire the last Day of +Judgment.</p> +<p>The Church heareth none but Christ.</p> +<p>Christ is of a mean estate and small repute.</p> +<p>In adversities we should show ourselves like men, and pluck up +good spirits.</p> +<p>Our whole life should be manly; we should fear God and put our +trust in him.</p> +<p>Faith maketh us Christ’s heritage.</p> +<p>We should aim at celestial honour, and not regard the +contemning of men.</p> +<p>Christ spareth us out of mere grace through the Word.</p> +<p>The Gospel is altogether joyful.</p> +<p>Grace condemneth all people’s own righteousness.</p> +<p>Salvation is purchased and given unto us without our +deserts.</p> +<p>Regeneration is the work only of the Holy Ghost.</p> +<p>Human reason cannot comprehend nor understand the goodness and +benefits of God.</p> +<p>Good works are the seals and proofs of faith; for, even as a +letter must have a seal to strengthen the same, even so faith +must have good works.</p> +<p>Faith hath regard to the Word, and not to the Preacher.</p> +<p>The Preacher and the Word are two Persons.</p> +<p>This natural life is a little piece of the life +everlasting.</p> +<p>Own imaginations and conceits spoil all things.</p> +<p>The Gospel cometh of God, it showeth Christ, and requireth +Faith.</p> +<p>The Gospel is a light in the world, which lighteneth mankind, +and maketh children of God.</p> +<p>False Preachers are worse than deflowerers of virgins.</p> +<p>Righteousness is obtained through faith, and not through +works. Works make faith strong.</p> +<p>A Preacher is made good through temptations.</p> +<p>A Prince is venison in heaven.</p> +<p>A person must be good before his works can be good.</p> +<p>We must not be dejected, but believe and pray.</p> +<p>No State or Calling is of any value to make one good before +God.</p> +<p>Faith endureth no human traditions in the conscience.</p> +<p>The Saints oftentimes erred like men.</p> +<p>We must distinguish offices from the persons.</p> +<p>We hate punishment, but we love sin.</p> +<p>God preserveth the sanctified, yea, even in the midst of +errors.</p> +<p>No great Saint lived without errors.</p> +<p>A Christian’s life consisteth of three points—of +faith, love, and the cross.</p> +<p>We command a Christian in nothing, he is only admonished.</p> +<p>We must curb ourselves in our own wills and minds.</p> +<p>All revenge among Christians is taken away; they must grow up +and increase in the fruits of the spirit, among which love is the +greatest, for she goeth about with the people.</p> +<p>Human reason comprehendeth not, nor understandeth that Christ +is our brother.</p> +<p>Christ is given unto us that believe with all his benefits and +works.</p> +<p>Christ cometh unto us by preaching, so that he is in the midst +of us.</p> +<p>Without the Cross we cannot attain to glory.</p> +<p>The Gospel cannot be truly preached without offence and +tumult.</p> +<p>The Holy Ghost maketh one not instantly complete, but he must +grow and increase.</p> +<p>We lose nothing by the Gospel, therefore we should venture +thereupon all we have.</p> +<p>To believe the Gospel, delivereth from sins.</p> +<p>Works belong to the neighbour, faith to God.</p> +<p>Those that censure and judge others, condemn themselves.</p> +<p>Such as is the Faith, such is also the benefit.</p> +<p>To doubt is sin and everlasting death.</p> +<p>We know Christ when he himself is a schoolmaster in our +hearts, and breaketh bread unto us.</p> +<p>God’s Word kindleth Faith in the heart.</p> +<p>Faith is to build certainly on God’s mercy.</p> +<p>Christ requireth no seeming godliness, no hypocrisy nor +dissembling, but the godliness of the heart.</p> +<p>We are saved merely by grace and mercy, if we trust thereupon, +but God must alter our hearts.</p> +<p>The Law is nothing but a looking-glass.</p> +<p>Christ carrieth us upon his back before his Father.</p> +<p>Love regardeth not unthankfulness.</p> +<h3>OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL.</h3> +<h4><i>That we ought to beware of Sophistry</i>.</h4> +<p>If, said Luther, we diligently mark the world and the course +thereof, we shall find that it is governed merely by weenings or +conceits, <i>Mundus regitur opinionibus</i>. Therefore +sophistry, hypocrisy, and tyranny do rule and have the government +in the world.</p> +<p>The upright, pure, and clear Divine Word must be their +handmaid, and be by them controlled; this the world will +have. Therefore let us beware of sophistry, which +consisteth not only in a double tongue, in doubtful and screwed +words, which may be construed any way, but also it blossometh, +and flourisheth in all arts and vocations; it will likewise have +room and place in religion; it hath usurped and got a fine +painted colour, under the name of holy writ.</p> +<p>Nothing is more pernicious or hurtful than Sophistry; every +one knoweth it not; moreover, we are by nature prone and willing +to believe lies rather than the truth. Few people do know +what an evil sophistry is. Plato, the Heathen writer, made +thereof a wonderful definition. For my part, said Luther, I +compare it with a lie, which is like to a snowball, the longer it +is rolled the greater it becomes.</p> +<p>Therefore I do not approve of such persons as do pervert +everything, do under-value and find fault with other men’s +opinions, although they be good and sound; I like not such brains +which can dispute on both sides, and yet conclude nothing +certain. Such sophistications, said Luther, are nothing but +crafty and subtle inventions and contrivances to cozen and +deceive people.</p> +<p>But I like and love an honest and a well-affected mind, that +seeketh after truth simply and plainly, not to go about with +phantasies and cheating tricks.</p> +<h4><i>Whether we should preach only of God’s Grace and +Mercy</i>, <i>or not</i>.</h4> +<p>Philip Melancthon demanded of Luther whether the opinion of +Calixtus were to be approved of, namely, that the Gospel of +God’s Grace ought to be continually preached. For +thereby, doubtless, said Melancthon, people would grow worse and +worse. Luther answered him and said: We must preach +<i>Gratiam</i>, notwithstanding, because Christ hath commanded +it. And although we long and often preach of grace, yet +when people are at the point of death they know but little +thereof. Nevertheless we must also drive on with the Ten +Commandments in due time and place.</p> +<p>The ungodly, said Luther, out of the Gospel do suck only a +carnal freedom, and become worse thereby; therefore not the +Gospel, but the Law belongeth to them. Even as when my +little son John offendeth: if then I should not whip him, but +call him to the table unto me, and give him sugar and plums, +thereby, indeed, I should make him worse, yea, should quite spoil +him.</p> +<p>The Gospel is like a fresh, mild, and cool air in the extreme +heat of summer, that is, a solace and comfort in the anguish of +the conscience. But as this heat proceedeth from the rays +of the sun, so likewise the terrifying of the conscience must +proceed from the preaching of the Law, to the end we may know +that we have offended against the Laws of God.</p> +<p>Now, said Luther, when the mind is refreshed and quickened +again by the cool air of the Gospel, then we must not be idle, +lie down and sleep; that is, when our consciences are settled in +peace, quieted and comforted through God’s spirit, then we +must show also and prove our faith by such good works which God +hath commanded. But so long as we live in this vale of +misery, we shall be plagued and vexed with flies, with beetles, +and with vermin, etc., that is, with the devil, with the world, +and with our own flesh; yet we must press through, and not suffer +ourselves to recoil.</p> +<h4><i>Against the Opposers of the Law</i>.</h4> +<p>I do much condemn, said Luther, the Antinomians, who, void of +all shame, reject the doctrine of the Law, whereas the same is +both necessary and profitable. But they see not the effect, +the need, and the fruit thereof. St. Austin did picture the +strength, the office and operation of the Law, by a very fit +similitude, namely, that it discovereth our sins, and God’s +wrath against sin, and placeth them in our sight; for the Law is +not in fault, but our evil and wicked nature, even as a heap of +lime is still and quiet until water be poured thereon, but then +it beginneth to smoke and to burn, not that it is the fault of +the water, but it is the nature and kind of the lime, which will +not endure water; but if oil be poured upon it, then it lieth +still and burneth not. Even so it is with the Law and +Gospel. It is an exceedingly fair similitude.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Children’s Faith</i>.</h4> +<p>The little children, said Luther, do stand on the best terms +with God Almighty concerning their lives and faith. We old +doting fools do torment ourselves and have sorrow of heart with +our disputings, touching the Word, whether it be true or not: +“How can it be possible?” etc. But the children +with simple pure faith do hold the same to be certain and true, +without all doubting.</p> +<p>Now, if we intend to be saved, we must, according to their +example, give ourselves only to the Word. But the wicked +and crafty spirit, before we be aware, can, master-like, draw the +same away from us, by presenting new dealings and business to +keep us in action. Therefore best it were for us soon to +die, and to be covered over with shovels.</p> +<p>The loving children do live innocently, they know of no sins, +they are without malice, wrath, covetousness, and unbelief, +etc. Therefore they are merry and possess a good +conscience; they fear no danger, whether wars, pestilence, or +death.</p> +<p>They will take an apple rather than a crown; what they hear +concerning Christ, of the life to come, etc., the same do they +believe simply and plainly, and prattle joyfully thereof. +From whence Christ speaketh unto us old ones earnestly to follow +their examples, where he saith, “Whosoever shall not +receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise +enter therein.” For the children believe aright, and +Christ loveth them with their childish sports. On the +contrary, he is an enemy to the wisdom of the world (Matt. +xi.).</p> +<h4><i>Of an Example of Faith in the Time of Dearth</i>.</h4> +<p>At Eisleben, said Luther, I was well acquainted with a godly +matron, who, in the time of the last dearth, with two children, +had suffered extreme want and need. Now, when she had spent +all her provision, and had nothing more to live upon, she trimmed +herself with her children, and went towards a well or fountain to +drink. In her going she prayed that God would be pleased to +preserve and keep her in that fierce time of dearth. Upon +the way a man met her, questioned and disputed with her whether +she thought to get something to eat at the fountain. She +said, “Yea, why not? for all things are possible to God and +easy to be done; he that fed the great multitude of the people of +Israel forty years with manna in the wilderness, he can also +preserve me and mine with drinking of water.” Now, as +she remained steadfast in that mind, the man said unto her, +“Behold! seeing thou art so confident in faith, go home, +and thou shalt find three bushels of meal,” etc. And +according to the man’s word, so she found it.</p> +<h4><i>That Faith is the only Rule in Divinity</i>.</h4> +<p>There is but one only rule and article in divinity. He +that knoweth not well the same is no divine: namely, upright +faith and confidence in Christ. Out of this article all the +others do flow and issue forth, and without this article the +others are nothing. The devil, said Luther, hath opposed +this article from the beginning of the world, and would long +since willingly have rooted it out, and instead thereof have +laughed in his fist. Sorrowful, broken, tormented, and +vexed hearts, said Luther, do well relish this article, and they +only understand the same.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Consequences of Faith</i>.</h4> +<p>Believest thou? then thou wilt speak boldly. Speakest +thou boldly? then thou must suffer. Sufferest thou? then +thou shalt be comforted. For, said Luther, faith, the +confession thereof, and the cross do follow one after +another.</p> +<h4><i>That the Enemies of the Gospel must bear Witness to the +Doctrine of Faith</i>, <i>that thereby we only are justified +before God</i>.</h4> +<p>John Frederick, Prince Elector of Saxony, told me himself, +said Luther, that as Prince John, the eldest son of Prince +George, was near the time of his death, he desired to receive the +communion under both kinds. But when his father was +informed thereof, he caused an Austin Friar to be called to his +son, to give him good instructions for his soul’s health, +and to advise him to receive the Sacrament <i>sub una specie</i>, +or under one kind, and that he should tell his son he was the +same Friar who was privately acquainted with Martin Luther, and +was very conversant with him; and, the better to make the Prince +believe him, the Friar said that Luther himself lately had +advised certain persons to receive the communion under one +kind. Now, when this good and godly Prince was thus +pitifully induced to give credit to the Friar’s false +information, he then received the communion under one kind.</p> +<p>But when the Prince, his father, saw that his son drew near to +his last gasp, and must needs die, then he comforted his son with +the article of justification by faith in Christ, and put him in +mind to have regard only to the Saviour of the world, and utterly +to forget all his own works and deserts, and also that he should +banish out of his heart the invocating of the saints.</p> +<p>Now, when the son in his conscience felt great solace and +comfort by these his father’s admonitions, he asked his +father why he did not cause the same comfortable doctrine to be +preached openly through all his countries. His father +answered and said, “Loving child, we must say thus only to +those that are dying, and not to the sound and +healthful.”</p> +<p>Whereupon, said Luther, I told the Prince Elector that his +Highness might perfectly discern how wilfully our adversaries do +oppose the known truth. Albert, Bishop of Mentz, and Prince +George do know and confess that our doctrine is according to +God’s Word, and yet, because it proceedeth not from the +Pope, they refuse it; but their own consciences do strike them +down to the ground, therefore, said Luther, I fear them not.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Love towards the Neighbour</i>.</h4> +<p>The love towards the neighbour, said Luther, must be like a +pure and chaste love between bride and bridegroom, where all +faults are connived at, covered, and borne with, and only their +virtues regarded.</p> +<p>Respecting ceremonies and ordinances, the kingdom of love must +have the precedency and govern, and not tyranny. It must be +a willing love, and not a halter love; it must altogether be +directed and construed for the good and profit of the neighbour; +and the greater he be that doth govern, the more, said Luther, he +ought to serve according to love.</p> +<h4><i>Of that Sentence</i>, <i>“Give</i>, <i>and it shall +be given unto you</i>.<i>”</i></h4> +<p>This is a true speech which maketh people poor and rich; it is +that which maintaineth my house. I ought not to boast, said +Luther, but I well know what I give in the year. If my +gracious lord and master, the Prince Elector, should give a +gentleman two thousand guilders, yet he should hardly maintain my +housekeeping one year, and I have but three hundred guilders +pension per annum; yet God giveth sufficient and blesseth it.</p> +<p>There is in Austria a monastery which in former time was very +rich, and remained rich so long as it willingly gave to the poor; +but when it ceased in giving, then it became poor, and is so to +this day. It fell out that, not long since, a poor man came +thither and desired alms, which was denied. The poor man +demanded the cause why they refused to give for God’s +sake. The porter belonging to the monastery answered and +said, “We are become poor;” whereupon the poor man +said, “The cause of your poverty is this: ye have had in +this monastery two brethren; the one ye have thrust out, and the +other is gone secretly away of himself. For after the one +brother, ‘Give’ (<i>Date</i>), was put out and +cashiered, so hath the other brother, ‘So shall be +given’ (<i>Dabitur</i>), also lost himself.”</p> +<p>And indeed the world is bound to help the neighbour three +manner of ways—with giving, lending, and selling. But +no man giveth, but robbeth, scrapeth, and draweth all to himself; +would willingly take and steal, but give nothing; neither will +any man lend but upon usury. No man selleth but he +over-reacheth his neigbbour, therefore <i>Dabitur</i> is gone, +and our Lord God will bless no more so richly. Beloved, +said Luther, he that intendeth to have anything, the same must +also give; a liberal hand was never in want nor empty.</p> +<h4><i>That giving must be done with a free Heart</i>, <i>without +expecting a Requital</i>.</h4> +<p>In an evening, Luther, walking abroad to take the air, gave +alms to the poor. Doctor Jonas, being with him, gave also +something, and said, “Who knoweth whether God will give it +me again or no?” Whereat Luther, smiling, answered +him and said, “You speak as if God had not given you this +which you have now given to the poor. We must give freely +and willingly.”</p> +<h4><i>Of the expounding of the Prophet Isaiah’s +Speech</i>: <i>“In Quietness and in Confidence shall be +your Strength</i>.<i>”</i></h4> +<p>This sentence was expounded by Luther in this way: If thou +intendest to vanquish the greatest, the most abominable and +wickedest enemy, who is able to do thee mischief both in body and +soul, and against whom thou preparest all sorts of weapons, but +canst not overcome, then know that there is a sweet and loving +physical herb which serveth for the same, and that herb is named +<i>Patientia</i>.</p> +<p>But thou wilt say, “How may I attain to this +physic?” Answer—Take unto thee faith, who +saith; “No creature can do me mischief without the will of +God.” Now, in case thou receivest hurt and mischief +by thine enemy, the same is done by the sweet and gracious will +of God, in such sort that the enemy hurteth himself a thousand +times more. From hence floweth unto me, a Christian, the +love which saith, “I will, instead of the evil which mine +enemy doth unto me, do him all the good I can; I will heap coals +of fire upon his head.” This, said Luther, is the +Christian armour and weapon, wherewith to beat and overcome those +enemies that seem to be like huge mountains. In a word, +love teacheth to suffer and endure all things.</p> +<h4><i>Of Comfort against Envy</i>.</h4> +<p>A certain honest and God-fearing man at Wittemberg lately told +me, said Luther, he lived peaceably with every one, hurt no man, +but was still and quiet; yet notwithstanding, said he, many +people were enemies unto him. I comforted him in this +manner, and said: Arm yourself with patience, and give them no +cause of envy. I pray, what cause do we give the +devil? What aileth him to be so great an enemy unto us? but +only because he hath not that which God hath. I know none +other cause of his vehement hatred towards us. Therefore +when God giveth thee to eat, then eat; when he causeth thee to +fast, have patience; giveth he honour, take it; hurt or shame, +endure it; casteth he thee into prison, murmur not; will he make +thee a lord, follow him: casteth he thee down again, so care thou +not for it, nor regard it.</p> +<h4><i>That Patience is necessary in every Particular</i>.</h4> +<p>I, said Luther, must have patience with the Pope; I must have +patience with heretics and seducers; I must have patience with +the roaring courtiers; I must have patience with my servants: I +must have patience with Kate my wife; to conclude, the patiences +are so many, that my whole life is nothing but patience. +The Prophet Isaiah saith, “In being silent and hoping +consisteth our strength;” that is, have patience under +sufferings: hope, and despair not.</p> +<h3>OF PRAYER.</h3> +<h4><i>What Power Prayer hath</i>.</h4> +<p>No human creature can believe, said Luther, how powerful +prayer is, and what is it able to effect, but only those that +have learned it by experience.</p> +<p>It is a great matter when in extreme need, as then one can +take hold on prayer. I know, as often as I have earnestly +prayed, that I have been richly heard, and have obtained more +than I prayed for; indeed, God sometimes deferred, but +notwithstanding he came.</p> +<p>Ecclesiasticus saith, “The prayer of a good and godly +Christian availeth more to health, than the physician’s +physic.”</p> +<p>O how great and upright and godly Christian’s prayer is! +how powerful with God; that a poor human creature should speak +with God’s high majesty in heaven, and not be affrighted, +but, on the contrary, knoweth that God smileth upon him for +Christ’s sake, his dearly beloved Son. The heart and +conscience, in this act of praying, must not fly and recoil +backwards by reason of our sins and unworthiness, and must not +stand in doubt, nor be scared away. We must not do, said +Luther, as the Bavarian did, who with great devotion called upon +St. Leonard, an idol, set up in a church in Bavaria, behind which +idol stood one who answered the Bavarian and said, “Fie on +thee, Bavarian”; and in that sort oftentimes was repulsed, +and could not be heard: at last, the Bavarian went away, and +said, “Fie on thee, Leonard.”</p> +<p>But when we pray, we must not let it come to, fie upon thee; +but must certainly hold, conclude, and believe, that we are +already heard in that for which we pray with faith in +Christ. Therefore the ancients finely described prayer, +namely, that it is, <i>Ascensus mentis ad Deum</i>, a climbing up +of the heart unto God, that is, lifteth itself up, crieth and +sigheth to God: neither I myself, said Luther, nor any other that +I know, have rightly understood the definition of this +<i>Ascensus</i>. Indeed, we have boasted and talked much of +the climbing up of the heart; but we failed in <i>Syntaxi</i>, we +could not bring thereunto the word <i>Deum</i>; nay, we flew from +God, we were afraid to draw near unto him, and to pray through +Christ, in whom the strength of prayer wholly consisteth; we +always prayed in Popedom <i>conditionaliter</i>, conditionally, +and therefore uncertainly.</p> +<p>But let us pray in heart, and also with our lips; for prayer, +by our loving God, supporteth the world; otherwise, without +prayer, it would stand in a far more lamentable state.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Power of Prayer</i>, <i>and of the Lord’s +Prayer</i>.</h4> +<p>Our Saviour Christ, said Luther, most excellently, and with +very few words, comprehended, in the Lord’s Prayer, all +things both needful and necessary; but without trouble, trials, +and vexations, prayer cannot rightly be made. Therefore God +saith, “Call on me in the time of trouble,” etc., +without trouble it is only a cold prattling, and goeth not from +the heart; the common saying is “Need teacheth to +pray.” And although the Papists say that God well +understandeth all the words of those that pray, yet St. Bernard +is far of another opinion, where he saith, “God heareth not +the words of one that prayeth, unless he that prayeth heareth +them first himself.” The Pope is a mere tormentor of +the conscience. The assembly of his greased and religious +crew in praying was altogether like the croaking of frogs, which +edified nothing at all. It was mere sophistry, and +deceiving, fruitless, and unprofitable.</p> +<p>Prayer is a strong wall, and a fort of the church; it is a +godly Christian’s weapon, which no man knoweth nor findeth, +but only he who hath the spirit of grace and of prayer.</p> +<p>The three first petitions in our Lord’s prayer do +comprehend such great and celestial things, that no heart is able +to search them out. The fourth petition containeth the +whole policy and economy, or the temporal and house-government, +and all things necessary for this life. The fifth prayer +striveth and fighteth against our own evil consciences, against +original and actual sins, which trouble the same, etc. +Truly they were penned by wisdom itself; none but God could have +done the like.</p> +<p>We cannot pray without faith in Christ the Mediator. The +Turks, the Jews, and the ungodly may rehearse and speak the words +of prayer after one, but they cannot pray. And although the +Apostles were taught this prayer by Christ, and prayed often, yet +they prayed not as they should have prayed: for Christ saith, +“Hitherto ye have not prayed in my name;” whereas, +doubtless, they had prayed much, and spoken the words. But +when the Holy Ghost came, then they prayed aright in the name of +Christ. If praying and reading of prayer be but only a bare +work, as the Papists hold it to be, then the righteousness of the +law is nothing worth. The upright prayer of a godly +Christian is a strong hedge, as God himself saith, “And I +sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and +stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not +destroy it, but I found none,” etc. Therefore, said +Luther, when others do blaspheme, let us pray. David saith, +“He doth the will of them that fear Him, and heareth their +prayers.”</p> +<h4><i>That we must daily go on in Praying</i>.</h4> +<p>I, said Luther, have every day enough to do to pray. And +when I lay me down to rest, I pray the Lord’s Prayer, and +afterwards take hold on two or three sentences out of the Bible, +and so betake myself to sleep, then I am well satisfied.</p> +<h4><i>That Preachers ought to join their Prayers +together</i>.</h4> +<p>Dr. Aepinus, Superintendent of Hambrough, coming to Wittemberg +to speak with Luther, who, after his dispatch, and at his taking +leave, said, I commend myself and our church at Hambrough to your +prayers. Luther answered him, and said, Loving Aepine, the +cause is not ours, but God’s: let us join our prayers +together, as then the cause will be holpen. I will pray +against the Pope and the Turk as long as I live: and I like it +well that you take such course at Hambrough, earnestly to pray +against Mahomet and the Pope.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Power of Prayer</i>.</h4> +<p>God always giveth more than we pray for; when we truly pray +for a piece of bread, so giveth God a whole acre of land. +When my wife, said Luther, was sick, I prayed to God that she +might live, so he not only granted that request, but also +therewith he hath given us a goodly farm at Zolfdorf, and hath +blessed us with a fruitful year. At that time my wife said +unto me, Sir! how is it, that in Popedom they pray so often with +great vehemence, but we are very cold and careless in +praying? I answered her, the devil driveth on his servants +continually; they are diligent, and take great pains in their +false worshipping, but we, indeed, are ice cold therein, and +negligent.</p> +<h4><i>Of Luther’s Prayer for a gracious Rain</i>.</h4> +<p>In the year 1532, throughout all Germany was a great drought, +the corn in the fields in a lamentable way began to wither. +On the ninth of June the same year, Luther called together the +whole assembly into the church, and directed his prayer, with +deep sighs, to God in the manner following: “O Lord, behold +our prayers for thy promise sake; we have prayed, and our hearts +have sighed, but the covetousness of the rich farmers doth hinder +and hem in thy blessing; for seeing that through thy gospel they +are unbridled, they think it free for them to live and do what +they please; they now fear neither death nor hell, but say, +‘I believe, therefore I shall be saved;’ they become +haughty spiteful Mammonists, and accursed covetous cut-throats, +that suck out land and people. Moreover, also, the usurers +among the gentry in every place deal wickedly, insomuch, as it +seemeth, thou, O God, wilt now visit us, together with them, with +the rod; yet, nevertheless, thou hast still means whereby to +maintain those that are thine, although thou sufferest no rain to +fall among the ungodly.”</p> +<p>After he had said thus, he lifted up his eyes towards heaven, +and said, “Lord God, thou hast through the mouth of thy +servant David said, ‘The Lord is nigh unto all that call +upon him faithfully; he doth the will of those that fear him, and +heareth their prayers, and helpeth them in their +distress.’ How is it, Lord, that thou givest no rain, +seeing we have cried and prayed so long unto thee? +‘Thy will be done,’ O Lord! we know that although +thou givest not rain, yet, notwithstanding, thou wilt give us +something better, a still, a quiet, and a peaceable life. +Now we pray, O Lord, from the bottom of our hearts. If +thou, O Lord, wilt not be pleased to hear and give us rain, then +the ungodly will say, Christ thy only Son is a liar. For he +saith, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye pray +the Father in my name, the same he will give unto you,’ +etc. Insomuch that they will give thy Son the lie. I +know, O Lord, that we do cry unto thee from our hearts, with +yearning and sighing, why then dost thou not hear +us?” Now, even the same day, and within the space of +half an hour after the people went from church, it began to rain +so sweet and mildly, which continued for a whole fortnight, so +that the grounds thereby were changed and refreshed in a most +miraculous manner. This happened June 9, 1532.</p> +<h4><i>Of Papistical Prayer</i>.</h4> +<p>The praying in Popedom, is a mere tormenting of the +consciences, it is only a prating and tongue threshing, no +praying, but a work of obedience. From thence proceeded a +confused sea-full of <i>Horas Canonicas</i>, the howling and +babbling in cells and monasteries, where they read and sang the +psalms and collects without all spiritual devotion, insomuch that +they neither understood the words, sentences, nor the +meaning.</p> +<p>In what manner, and how I tormented myself, said Luther, with +those <i>Horis Canonicis</i> before the Gospel came, which, by +reason of many businesses I often intermitted, I am not able to +express. On the Saturdays I used to lock myself up in my +cell, and accomplish what the whole week I had neglected. +But at last I was troubled with so many affairs, that I was fain +oftentimes to omit also my Saturday’s devotions. At +length, when I saw that Amsdorff and others derided such manner +of devotion, then I quite left it off.</p> +<p>It was a great torment, from which we are now delivered by the +Gospel. Although, said Luther, I had done no more but only +freed people from that torment, yet they might well give me +thanks for it. Innumerable laws and works were taught and +imposed upon people without the spirit, as in the book, +<i>Rationale Divinorum</i>, many abominable things are +written.</p> +<h4><i>To Pray for Peace</i>.</h4> +<p>Luther receiving a letter written unto him, from the Imperial +Assembly, by Philip Melancthon, after the reading of it, he said, +What Philip Melancthon writeth hath hands and feet, hath +authority and gravity, it is of weight, contained in a few words, +as always I have found by his letters. But, I perceive, we +must have wars; for the Papists would willingly go on, but they +want a good stomach, neither may we endure the case to stand upon +these terms. Let it therefore proceed <i>in nomine +Domini</i>; I will commit all things to God, and will be +<i>Crito</i> in the play. I will pray that God would +convert our adversaries. We have a good cause on our +side. Who would not fight and venture body and blood, +<i>pro Sacris</i>, for the Holidom, which is God’s +Word? And, besides, the temporal laws and statutes of +policy do also concur and agree with our proceedings; for we +always have desired and called for peace, but our Princes are +provoked and drawn to defend themselves and their subjects, and +of necessity must resist their power; our adversaries will not +suffer us to live in peace. This letter, said Luther, was +written ten days since; by this time it is concluded what shall +be done. The everlasting merciful God give His grace +thereunto! Let us watch and pray, for Satan sleepeth +not.</p> +<h4><i>Of Temporal Peace</i>.</h4> +<p>Worldly and outward peace is one of the highest gifts of God; +but we abuse it too much; every one liveth after his own will and +pleasure, against God and the Magistrate. Oh, how soundly +will our gentry and farmers, in Germany, pay for this before one +hundred and fifty years come to an end, as already they have done +in Hungary and in Austria; but afterwards God will restore them +again, and beat down Popedom. Let us not cease to pray.</p> +<h4><i>Of Unity and Concord</i>.</h4> +<p>Through concord small things and wealth do increase, as the +Heathen said; but dissension is dangerous and hurtful, especially +in schools, in professions, high arts, and in the professors +thereof, wherein the one ought to reach the hand to the +other—should kiss and embrace each other. But when we +bite and devour one another, then let us take heed lest we be +swallowed up together. Therefore let us pray and strive; +for the word of faith, and the prayers of the just, are the most +powerful weapons; moreover, God himself sendeth his holy angels +round about them that fear him. We ought valiantly to +fight, for we are under a Lord of Hosts, and a Prince of War; +therefore with one hand we must build, and in the other hand take +the sword—that is, we must both teach and resist.</p> +<p>It is now time to watch, for we are the mark they shoot at; +our adversaries intend to make a confederacy with the Turk; they +aim at us, we must venture it; for Antichrist will war and get +the victory against the saints of God, as Daniel saith. We, +said Luther, stand outwardly in the greatest danger, by reason of +treachery and treason; the Papists endeavour with money to grease +and corrupt our captains and officers. An ass laden with +money may do anything, as Cornelius Tacitus writeth of us +Germans; we have taught them to take money; there is neither +fidelity nor truth on earth.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Power of Prayer</i>.</h4> +<p>The prayer of the heart, said Luther, and the sighs of the +poor and oppressed, do make such an alarum and cry in heaven, +that God and all the angels must hear the same. O, our Lord +God hath a sharp listening ear.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Sighing of the Heart</i>.</h4> +<p>When Moses, with the children of Israel, came to the Red Sea, +then he cried with trembling and quaking, yet he opened not his +mouth, neither was his voice heard on earth by the people: +doubtless, said Luther, he cried and sighed in his heart, and +said, “Ah, Lord God! what course shall I now take? +Which way shall I now turn myself? How am I come to this +strait? No help nor counsel can save us: before us is the +sea; behind us are our enemies the Egyptians; on both sides high +and huge mountains; I am the cause that all this people shall now +be destroyed,” etc. Then answered God, and said, +“Wherefore criest thou unto me?” As if God +should say, “What an alarum, a shrieking, and a loud crying +dost thou make, that the whole heavens must ring +therewith!” etc. But, alas! said Luther, we read such +examples as dead letters; human reason is not able to search this +passage out. The way through the Red Sea is full as broad, +and wider far (if not further) than Wittenberg lieth from Coburg, +that is thirty Dutch miles, 120 English at least: doubtless the +people were constrained in the night season to rest, to bait and +eat therein; for six hundred thousand men, besides women and +children, would require a good time to pass through, although +they went one hundred and fifty in rank and file.</p> +<h4><i>God’s hearing Prayer</i>.</h4> +<p>It is impossible that God should not hear the prayers which +with faith are made in Christ, although God giveth not according +to the measure, manner, and time which we dictate unto him; he +will not be tied. In such sort dealt God with the mother of +St. Austin. She prayed to God that her son Austin might be +converted, but, as yet, it would not be; then she ran to the +learned, entreating them to persuade and advise him +thereunto. At last, she propounded unto him a marriage with +a Christian virgin, that thereby he might be drawn back, and +brought to the Christian faith; but all would not do as +yet. But when our Lord God came thereto, he came to +purpose, and made of him such an Austin, that he became a great +light to the Church. St. James saith, “Pray one for +another, for the prayer of the righteous availeth much,” +etc. Prayer, said Luther, is a powerful thing; for God hath +bound and tied himself thereunto. Christ taught the +Lord’s Prayer according to the manner of the +Jews—that is, he directed it only to the Father; whereas +they that pray in the same manner, are heard for the Son’s +sake. This was done because Christ would not be praised +before his death.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Power of Prayer</i>.</h4> +<p>As the King of Persia, said Luther, laid siege to the city +Nasili, the bishop that was therein saw that he was too weak (by +man’s help) to defend the city against so mighty a king; +wherefore he went upon the wall, lifted up his hands to Heaven, +and prayed, in the sight of his enemies. Whereupon +immediately the eyes of the horses in the whole army in such sort +were pestered with an innumerable multitude of flies stinging +them, that with their riders they ran away, and so raised the +siege, whereby the city was preserved. In such a manner +could God divert the wicked enterprises of the Papists against +us, if we would diligently pray.</p> +<h4><i>That a True Christian Prayeth Always</i>.</h4> +<p>The prayers of upright Christians are without ceasing; though +they pray not always with their mouth, yet their hearts do pray +continually, sleeping and waking; for the sigh of a true +Christian is a prayer. As the Psalm saith, “Because +of the deep sighing of the poor, I will up, saith the +Lord,” etc. In like manner a true Christian always +carrieth the cross, though he feeleth it not always.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Strength of the Lord’s Prayer</i>.</h4> +<p>The Lord’s Prayer, said Luther, bindeth the People +together, and knitteth them one to another, insomuch that one +prayeth for another, and together one with another; and it is so +strong and powerful that it even driveth away the fear of +death.</p> +<h3>OF THE CONFESSION AND CONSTANCY OF THE DOCTRINE.</h3> +<p>The word and article of justification (how we are justified +and saved before God) expelleth and overcometh all sorrow, all +perplexities, misfortunes, and adversities; and without this +article there is neither help nor advice.</p> +<p>We read in the histories of the Church, said Luther, that +Julian the Emperor forced his servants and soldiers to deny +Christ; but when many of them refused to do the same, he caused +them to be executed with the sword, and they went joyfully to +their deaths. Among them was a proper youth, for whom +earnest intercession was made, that he might be the first to +die. But Julian commanded to release him, in order to try +whether he would remain constant or no. Now, when he +kneeled down and offered his neck to the block, the executioner +was charged not to strike, but to let him rise again. Then +the youth stood up, and said, “Ah, sweet Jesu! am I not +worthy to suffer for thy sake?” These were words of a +great faith, which overcometh the fear of death.</p> +<p>When governors and rulers are enemies to God’s Word, +then our duty is to depart, to sell and forsake all we have, to +fly from one place to another, as Christ commandeth. We +must make and prepare no uproars nor tumults by reason of the +Gospel, but we must suffer all things.</p> +<h4><i>What Christ Requireth of us</i>.</h4> +<p>Christ requireth nothing more of us, than that we should +confess him, and speak freely and undauntedly of him. But +here thou wilt say, “Yea, if I do so, then I shall be +struck on the lips.” Christ answereth thereunto, and +saith, “Call upon me in the time of trouble, so I will hear +thee, and thou shalt praise me.” And “He shall +call upon me, and I will hear him, yea, I am with him in trouble, +I will deliver him, and bring him to honour,” etc.</p> +<p>There is no lighter nor more easy work on earth than the +upright and true service of God, to do what God commandeth in his +Word; we should only believe and speak, but then certain it is +that we shall suffer and be humbled with persecutions; but Christ +hath promised to be with us, and to help us.</p> +<h4><i>That every Christian is Bound to Confess Christ</i>.</h4> +<p>Every Christian, especially those in offices, should always be +ready (when need requireth) boldly to stand up and confess his +Saviour Christ, to maintain his faith and always be armed against +the world, the sectaries, the devil, and what else he were able +to produce. But no man will do this, except he be so sure +of his doctrine and religion, that, although I myself should play +the fool, and should recant and deny this my doctrine and +religion, which God forbid, he notwithstanding would not yield, +but say, if Luther, or an angel from heaven, should teach +otherwise, “Let him be accursed.”</p> +<h3>OF IMPERIAL DIETS.</h3> +<h4><i>Of Imperial Diets and Assemblies in Causes of +Religion</i>.</h4> +<p>In the year 1518, the 9th of July, when I, said Luther, was +cited and summoned, I came and appeared: Frederick Prince Elector +of Saxony having appointed me a great and strong convoy and +safe-conduct. I was warned in any case not to have +conversation with the Italians, nor to repose any trust or +confidence in them. I was three whole days in Augsburg +without the Emperor’s safe-conduct. In the mean time, +an Italian came unto me, and carried me to the Cardinal Cajetan; +and by the way he earnestly persuaded me to revoke and recant; I +should, said he, need to speak but only one word before the +Cardinal, namely, <i>Revoco</i>, and then the Cardinal would +recommend me to the Pope’s favour so that with honour I +might return safely again to my master, the Prince Elector. +After three days the Bishop of Trier came, who, in the +Emperor’s name, showed and declared to the Cardinal my +safe-conduct. Then I went unto him in all humility, fell +down first upon my knees; secondly, all along upon the ground; +thirdly, when I had remained awhile so lying, then the Cardinal +three times bade me arise; whereupon I stood up. This +pleased him well, hoping I would consider, and better bethink +myself.</p> +<p>The next day, when I came before him again, and would revoke +nothing at all, then he said unto me, “What? thinkest thou +that the Pope careth for Germany? or dost thou think that the +Princes will raise arms and armies to maintain and defend +thee? Oh, no; where wilt thou remain in +safety?” I said, Under Heaven. After this the +Pope humbled himself, and wrote to our church, yea, he wrote even +to the Prince Elector’s chaplain, and to one of his +counsellors, Spalatine and Pfeffinger, that they would surrender +me into his hands, and procure that his pleasure and command +might be put in execution. And the Pope wrote also to the +Prince Elector himself after the following manner:</p> +<p>“Although, as touching my person, thou art to me +unknown, yet I have seen thy father, Prince Ernestus, at Rome, +who was altogether an obedient son to the Church; he visited and +frequented our religion with great devotion, and held the same in +highest honour. I wish and would that thy illustrious +serenity would also tread in his footsteps,” etc.</p> +<p>But the Prince Elector well marked the Pope’s +unaccustomed humility, and his evil conscience; he was also +acquainted with the power and operation of the Holy +Scriptures. Therefore he remained where he was, and +returned thanks to the Pope for his affection towards him.</p> +<p>My books, said Luther, in a short time went, yea, flew +throughout Europe; therefore the Prince Elector was confirmed and +strengthened, insomuch that he utterly refused to execute the +Pope’s commands, but subjected himself under the +acknowledgment of the Scriptures.</p> +<p>If the Cardinal had handled me with more discretion at +Augsburg, and had dealt kindly with me when I fell at his feet, +then it had never come thus far; for at that time I saw very few +of the Pope’s errors which now I see. Had he been +silent, so had I lightly held my peace. The style and +custom of the Romish court in dark and confused cases, was this: +that the Pope said, We by papal power do take these causes unto +us; we quench them out and destroy them. I am persuaded +that the Pope willingly would give three Cardinals, on condition +that it were still in that vessel wherein it was before he began +to meddle with me.</p> +<h4><i>Of Luther’s Journey and Proceedings at the Imperial +Diet at Worms</i>, <i>Anno 1520</i>.</h4> +<p>On Tuesday in the Passion week, said Luther, I was cited by +the herald to appear at the Diet; he brought with him a +safe-conduct from the Emperor, and many other Princes, but the +safe-conduct was soon broken, even the next day (Wednesday), at +Worms, where I was condemned, and my books burned. Now, +when I came to Erfurt, I received intelligence that I was cast +and condemned at Worms, yea, and that in all cities and places +thereabout it was published and spread abroad; insomuch that the +herald asked me, whether I meant to go to Worms, or no?</p> +<p>Although I was somewhat astonished at the news, yet I answered +the herald, and said, although in Worms there were as many devils +as there are tiles on the houses, yet, God willing, I will go +thither.</p> +<p>When I came to Oppenheim, in the Palatinate, not far from +Worms, Bucer came unto me, and dissuaded me from entering into +the town; for, said he, Sglapian, the Emperor’s confessor, +had been with him, and had entreated him to warn me not to go +thither, for I should be burned; but rather that I should go to a +gentleman there near at hand, Francis Von Sickingen, and remain +with him, who willingly would receive and entertain me. +This plot the wicked wretches, said Luther, had devised against +me, to the end I should not appear; for if I had contracted the +time, and staid away three days, then my safe-conduct had been +expired, and then they would have locked the town-gates, and +without hearing, I should have been condemned and made +away. But I went on in all simplicity, and when I saw the +city, I wrote presently to Spalatine, and gave him notice of my +coming, and desired to know where I should be lodged. Then +they all wondered at my coming, which was so far from their +expectation; for they verily thought I would have stayed away, as +scared through their threatenings. There were two worthy +gentlemen (John Von Hirschfeld, and St. John Schott), who +received me by the Prince Elector’s command, and brought me +to their lodging.</p> +<p>No Prince came unto me, but only Earls and gentlemen, who +earnestly looked upon me, and who had exhibited four hundred +articles to his Imperial Majesty against those of the +spirituality, and desired a redress and a removing of those their +grievances, otherwise they themselves should be constrained to +remedy the same; from all which grievances they are now delivered +through the Gospel, which I (God be praised) have brought again +to light. The Pope at that time wrote to the Emperor, that +he should not perform the safe-conduct; for which end all the +Bishops also pressed the Emperor; but the Princes and States of +the Empire would not consent thereunto: for they alleged that a +great tumult thereupon would arise. I received of them a +great deal of courtesy, insomuch that the Papists were more +afraid of me than I was of them.</p> +<p>For the Landgrave of Hesse (being then but a young Prince) +desired that I might be heard, and he said openly unto me, +“Sir, is your cause just and upright, then I beseech God to +assist you.” Now being in Worms, I wrote to Sglapian, +and desired him to make a step unto me, but he would not. +Then being called, I appeared in the Senate House before the +Council and State of the whole Empire, where the Emperor, and the +Princes Electors in person were assembled.</p> +<p>Then Dr. Eck (the Bishop of Trier’s fiscal) began, and +said unto me, “Martin, thou art called hither to give +answer, whether thou acknowledgest these writings to be thy books +or no?” (The books lay on a table which he showed +unto me.) I answered and said, “I believe they be +mine.” But Hierome Schurfe presently thereupon said, +“Let the titles of them be read.” Now when the +same were read, then I said, “Yea, they are +mine.” Then he said, “Will you revoke +them?” I answered and said, “Most gracious Lord +and Emperor, some of my books are books of controversies, wherein +I touch my adversaries: some, on the contrary, are books of +doctrine; the same I neither can nor will revoke. But if in +case I have in my books of controversies been too violent against +any man, then I am content therein to be better directed, and for +that end I desire respite of time.” Then they gave me +one day and one night. The next day I was cited by the +Bishops and others, who were appointed to deal with me touching +my revocation. Then I said, “God’s Word is not +my word, therefore I know not how to give it away; but in +whatsoever is therein, besides the same, I will show +obedience.” Then Marquis Joachim said unto me +“Sir Martin, so far as I understand, you are content to be +instructed, excepting only what may concern the Holy +Writ.” I said, “Yea;” then they pressed +me to refer the cause to His Imperial Majesty; I said, I durst +not presume so to do. Then they said, “Do you not +think that we are also Christians, who with all care and +diligence would finish and end such causes? You ought to +put so much trust and confidence in us, that we would conclude +uprightly.” To that I answered and said, “I +dare not trust you so far, that you should conclude against +yourselves, who even now have cast and condemned me, being under +safe-conduct; yet, nevertheless, that ye may see what I will do, +I will yield up into your hands my safe-conduct, and do with me +what ye please.” Then all the Princes said, +“Truly, he offereth enough, if not too much.” +Afterwards they said, “Yield unto us yet in some +articles.” I said, “In God’s name, such +articles as concern not the Holy Scriptures I will not stand +against.” Presently hereupon, two Bishops went to the +Emperor, and showed him that I had revoked. Then the +Emperor sent another Bishop unto me, to know if I had referred +the cause to him, and to the Empire. I said, I had neither +done it, nor intended so to do. In this sort, said Luther, +did I alone resist so many, insomuch that my Doctor, and divers +others of my friends, were much offended and vexed by reason of +my constancy; yea, some of them said, if I had referred the +articles to their consideration, they would have yielded, and +given way to those articles which in the council at Costnitz had +been condemned. Then came Cocleus upon me, and said, +“Sir Martin, if you will yield up your safe-conduct, then I +will enter into dispute with you.” I, for my part, +said Luther, in my simplicity, would have accepted thereof. +But Hieronimus Schurfe earnestly entreated me not to do the same, +and in derision and scorn, answered Cocleus and said, “O +brave offer, if a man were so foolish as to entertain +it!”</p> +<p>Then came a Doctor unto me, belonging to the Marquis of Baden, +essaying, with a strain of high-carried words, to move me, +admonished me, and said: “Truly, Sir Martin, you are bound +to do much, and to yield for the sake of fraternal love, and to +the end that peace and tranquillity among the people may be +preserved, lest tumults and insurrections should be occasioned +and raised. Besides, it were also greatly befitting you to +show obedience to the Imperial Majesty, and diligently to beware +of causing offences in the world; therefore I would advise you to +revoke.” Whereupon, said Luther, I said: “For +the sake of brotherly love and amity I could and would do much, +so far as it were not against the faith and honour of +Christ.” When all these had made their vain assaults, +then the Chancellor of Trier said unto me, “Martin Luther, +you are disobedient to the Imperial Majesty; therefore you have +leave and licence to depart again with your +safe-conduct.” In this sort I again departed from +Worms with a great deal of gentleness and courtesy, to the +wondering of the whole Christian world, insomuch that the Papists +wished they had left me at home. After my departure, that +abominable edict of proscribing was put in execution at Worms, +which gave occasion to every man to revenge himself upon his +enemies, under the name and title of Protestant heresy. But +the tyrants, not long after, were constrained to recall the same +again.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Imperial Diet at Augsburg</i>, <i>Anno +1530</i>.</h4> +<p>The Imperial Diet held at Augsburg, 1530, is worthy of all +praise; for then and from thence came the Gospel among the people +in other countries, contrary to the wills and expectations both +of Emperor and Pope; therefore, said Luther, what hath been spent +there should be grievous to no man. God appointed the +Imperial Diet at Augsburg, to the end the Gospel should be spread +further abroad and planted. They over-climbed themselves at +Augsburg, for the Papists openly approved there of our +doctrine. Before that Diet was held, the Papists had made +the Emperor believe that our doctrine was altogether frivolous; +and when he came to the Diet, he should see that they would put +us all to silence, insomuch that none of us should be able to +speak a word in defence of our religion; but it fell out far +otherwise; for we openly and freely confessed the Gospel before +the Emperor and the whole Empire. And at that Diet we +confounded our adversaries in the highest degree. The +Imperial Diet at Augsburg was invaluable, by reason of the +Confession of Faith, and of God’s Word, which on our part +was there performed: for there the adversaries were constrained +to confess that our Confession was upright and true.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Confession and Apology which at Augsburg was +exhibited to the emperor</i>.</h4> +<p>The Emperor, said Luther, censured understandingly and +discreetly, and carried himself princely in this cause of +religion; he found our Confession to be far otherwise than the +Papists had informed him—namely, that we were most ungodly +people, and led most wicked and detestable kind of lives; and +that we taught against the first and second tables of the Ten +Commandments of God. For this cause, the Emperor sent our +Confession and Apology to all the universities; his council also +delivered their opinions, and said: “In case their doctrine +were against the holy Christian faith, then they thought fitting +that His Imperial Majesty should seek to suppress it with all his +power. But if it be only against ceremonies and abuses (as +now it appeareth to be) then to refer it to the consideration and +censure of learned people,” etc. This, said Luther, +was good and wise counsel.</p> +<p>Dr. Eck confessed openly, and said: “The Protestants +cannot be confuted and opposed out of Holy +Scriptures.” Therefore the Bishop of Mainz said unto +him, “Oh, how finely our learned Divines do defend us and +our doctrine!” “The Bishop of Mainz,” +said Luther, “holdeth our doctrine to be upright and true, +but he only courteth the Pope, otherwise long before this time he +would have played strange pranks with his Holiness.”</p> +<h4><i>Of the Strength and Profit of the Confession and Apology +of Augsburg</i>.</h4> +<p>God’s Word is powerful; the more it is persecuted the +more and further it spreadeth itself abroad. Behold the +Imperial Diet at Augsburg, which doubtless is the last trumpet +before the dreadful Day of Judgment. How raged the world +there against the Word! Oh, said Luther, how were we there +fain to pray the Pope and Papists, that they would be pleased to +permit and suffer Christ to live quietly in heaven! There +our doctrine broke through into the light in such sort, that by +the Emperor’s strict command the same was sent to all +Kings, Princes, and Universities. This our Doctrine +forthwith enlightened many excellent people, dispersed here and +there in Princes’ courts, among whom some of God were +chosen to take hold on this our doctrine, like unto tinder, and +afterwards kindled the same also in others.</p> +<p>Our Apology and Confession with great honour came to light; +the Papists’ confutations are kept in darkness, and do +stink. Oh, said Luther, how willingly would I that their +confutations might appear to the world; then I would set upon +that old torn and tattered skin, and in such sort would baste it, +that the flitches thereof should fly about here and there; but +they shun the light. This time twelvemonths no man would +have given a farthing for the Protestants, so sure the ungodly +Papists were of us. For, said Luther, when my most gracious +Lord and master, the Prince Elector of Saxony, before other +Princes came to the Diet, the Papists marvelled much thereat, for +they verily believed that he would not have appeared, by reason +(as they imagined) his cause was too bad and foul to be brought +before the light. But what fell out? Even this, that +in their greatest security they were overwhelmed with the +greatest fear and affrightments. Because the Prince +Elector, like an upright Prince, appeared so early at Augsburg, +then the other Popish princes swiftly posted away from Augsburg +to Innsbruck, where they held serious counsel with Prince George +and the Marquis of Baden, all of them wondering what the Prince +Elector’s so early approach to the Diet should mean, +insomuch that the Emperor himself thereat was astonished, and +doubted whether he might come and go in safety or not. +Whereupon the princes were constrained to promise, that they +would set up body, goods, and blood by the Emperor, the one +offering to maintain 6,000 horse, another so many thousands of +foot-soldiers, etc., to the end His Majesty might be the better +secured. There was a wonder among wonders to be seen, in +that God struck with fear and cowardliness the enemies of the +truth. And although at that time the Prince Elector of +Saxony was alone, and but only the hundredth sheep, while the +others were ninety-and-nine, yet, notwithstanding, it so fell out +that they all trembled and were afraid. Now when they came +to the point, and began to take the business in hand, then there +appeared but a very small heap that stood by God’s +Word.</p> +<p>But, said Luther, we brought with us a strong and mighty King, +a King above all Emperors and Kings, namely, Christ Jesus, the +powerful Word of God. Then all the Papists cried out, and +said, “Oh, it is insufferable that so small and silly a +heap should set themselves against the Imperial +power.” But, said Luther, the Lord of Hosts +frustrateth the councils of Princes. Pilate had power to +put our blessed Saviour to death, but willingly he would not; +Annas and Caiaphas willingly would have done it, but could +not.</p> +<p>The Emperor, for his own part, is good and honest; but the +Popish Bishops and Cardinals are undoubtedly knaves. And +forasmuch as the Emperor now refuseth to bathe his hands in +innocent blood, therefore the frantic Princes do bestir +themselves, do scorn and contemn the good Emperor in the highest +degree. The Pope also for anger is ready to burst in +pieces, because the Diet, in this sort, without shedding of +blood, should be dissolved; therefore he sendeth the sword to the +Duke of Bavaria, to proceed therewith, and intendeth to take the +crown from the Emperor’s head, and to set it upon the head +of Bavaria; but he shall not accomplish it. In this manner +ordered God the business, that Kings, Princes, yea, and the Pope +himself, fell from the Emperor, and that we joined with him, +which was a great wonder of God’s providence, in that he +whom the devil intended to use against us, even the same, God +taketh, maketh and useth for us. Oh, wonder, said Luther, +above all wonders!</p> +<h4><i>Of the Assembly of the Princes at Brunswick</i>, +<i>1531</i>.</h4> +<p>When the Princes (professing the Augustinian Confession) held +an assembly at Brunswick, then Luther received three letters, +wherein was shown that the Prince Elector of Saxony journeyed +five days through the Marquisate of Brandenburg, whereas Prince +Henry of Brunswick would neither give him convoy nor permit him +to go through his country. But the Prince Elector of +Brandenburg, in his country, gave him princely entertainment in +every place, and many went out of Brunswick to meet and to +receive him. But the Landgrave of Hessen went on the other +side, through Goslar, without a convoy. Christianus, King +of Denmark, the second day of the assembly, delivered up the +Confession of his Faith, and was held and esteemed a second +David. Whereupon Luther said, God of his mercy assist him +for the sanctifying of his name. But, said he, the pride of +the Duke of Brunswick may easily redound to his own hurt and +prejudice, who, contrary to all law and equity, denied a safe +convoy to one of his best and truest friends. Moses +likewise desired a safe convoy to the King of the Amorites; but +being denied, he thereby took occasion to raise war against +him. The Lord of Heaven grant us peace. The same day +other letters came to Luther from Brunswick, showing that the +King of Denmark in person, the Ambassadors of England and France, +and of many Imperial cities, were arrived there, among whom, some +carried themselves very strangely towards those of the Protestant +League. Luther said, under the name and colour of the +Gospel, they seek their own particular advantages, but in the +least danger they are afraid. These politic and terrestrial +leagues and unions have no hand nor share in the Gospel: God +alone preserveth and defendeth the same in times of +persecution. Let us put trust and confidence in him, and +with him; let us erect and establish an everlasting league, for +the world is the world, and will remain the world.</p> +<h4><i>Of the Convention and Assembly of the Protestant State at +Frankfort-on-the-Main</i>, <i>1539</i>.</h4> +<p>God, of his infinite mercy, said Luther, assist them at +Frankfort-on-the-Main, that they may Christian-like consult and +conclude, to the end that God’s honour, the good and profit +of the commonwealth may be furthered. Indeed, it is a very +small assembly; it hath a strange aspect to be held in an +Imperial city; but forasmuch as they are thereunto constrained by +the adversaries, they must be content.</p> +<p>The Papists, void of shame, do unwisely undertake to possess +themselves of the cities, and by fraud to draw thereunto their +adherents; then they make show of keeping peace, but in the +meantime they contrive how to separate and confuse the whole +body, and of the members to make a massacre; they secretly fall +upon Hamburg, upon Minden, and Frankfort. They might more +wisely go to work, if by open wars they assailed us. At +Augsburg they openly condemned us; and if those of our party had +not been patient, it had presently gone on at that time. +Anno 1539, the 16th of February, Luther commanded public prayers +to be made for the day at Frankfort, that peace might be +confirmed. For if the Landgrave be incensed, then all +resistance will be in vain. The Landgrave neither provoketh +nor giveth occasion to wars; but, on the contrary, when he is +provoked, he still seeketh peace; whereas, notwithstanding, he is +better furnished and provided for wars than his adversary is, by +2,000 horse, for Hessen and Saxon are horsemen; when they are set +in the saddle, they are then not so easily hoisted out +again. As for the high-country horsemen, they, said Luther, +are dancing gentlemen. God preserve the Landgrave; for a +valiant man and Prince is of great importance. Augustus +Cæsar was wont to say, “I would rather be in an army +of stags, where a lion is general, than to be in an army of lions +where a stag is general.”</p> +<p>The 25th of February, Luther prayed again with great devotion +for peace, and for the day at Frankfort, that through civil wars +(which are most hurtful), the religion, policy, and God’s +Word might not be sophisticated and torn in pieces. Wars +are pleasing to those that have had no trial or experience of +them; God bless us from wars.</p> +<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2> +<p><a name="footnote17"></a><a href="#citation17" +class="footnote">[17]</a> <i>Whatsoever was pretended</i>, +<i>yet the true cause of the Captain’s commitment was +because he was urgent with the Lord Treasurer for his +Arrears</i>; <i>which</i>, <i>amounting to a great sum</i>, <i>he +was not willing to pay</i>; <i>and to be freed from his clamours +he clapped him up into prison</i>.</p> +<p><a name="footnote97"></a><a href="#citation97" +class="footnote">[97]</a> <i>The name of a rich +family</i>.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SELECTIONS FROM THE TABLE TALK OF +MARTIN LUTHER***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 9841-h.htm or 9841-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/9/8/4/9841 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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