This tale against that godly man Doctor Luther, is scornful, and slanderous, blazed abroad by Pigghius, Hosius, Staphylus the renegate, and such others, only of wilful malice and hatred of the truth, and therefore not worthy to be answered. Doctor Luther showeth what terrible tentations the Devil layeth to trap man withal, taking occasion sometime of well doing, sometime of evil: sometime of trueth, sometime of falsehood. And for example he showeth that the ⟨p. 3⟩Devil on a time assaulted him, not in visible form, but by dreadful suggestions in his conscience, as it were thus calling him to remembrance: These many years thou hast said Mass, thou hast showed up bread and wine to be worshipped as God, and yet now thou knowest it was a creature, and not God. Thereof followed Idolatry, and thou weare the cause thereof. Al these things he saw to be true by the testimony and light of his own conscience, and therefore confessed he had offended, and yielded him self unto God. The Devils purpose was to lead him to despair: but God mercifully delivered him. And this is Doctor Luther's whole and only meaning in that place, that no man of him self is able to withstand such assaults, and tentations of the enemy, but only by the power and mercy of God: This (good reader) is that School of Satan: this is that wonderful Tragedy whereat M. Harding maketh such horrible exclamations. If he think it so heinous a matter for a godly man to be vexed by the devil,1 perhaps he will also find some fault with Christ, that was carried by the Devil into the mount: or with S. Paul that had the Angel of Satan to buffet him: or with a great number of his portuise Saints, whose legends are full of visions of Devils, with other like childish fables. As for Luther, y• doctrine that he taught in his school touching this point, is the very Gospel of Christ, and therefore it increaseth, and entereth into the hearts of men, and the lies and slanders of the enemies shall never be able to prevail against it.
This tale against that godly man Doctour Luther, is scorneful, and sclaunderous, blased abroade by Pigghius, Hosius, Staphylus the renegate, and suche others, onely of wilful malice and hatred of the truthe, and therefore not woorthy to be answeared. Doctour Luther sheweth what terrible tentations the Diuel laieth to trappe man withal, takinge occasion sometime of wel dooinge, sometime of euil: sometime of trueth, sometime of falseheade. And for example he sheweth that the ⟨p. 3⟩Diuel on a tyme assaulted him, not in visible forme, but by dreadful suggestions in his conscience, as it were thus callinge him to remembrance: These many yeeres thou hast said Masse, thou hast shewed vp breade and wyne to be woorshipped as God, and yet nowe thou knowest it was a creature, and not God. Thereof folowed Idolatrie, and thou weare the cause therof. Al these thinges he sawe to be true by the testimonie and light of his owne conscience, and therefore confessed he had offended, and yelded him selfe vnto God. The Diuels purpose was to leade him to despaire: but God mercifully deliuered him. And this is Doctour Luthers whole and onely meanynge in that place, that no man of him selfe is hable to withstande such assaultes, and tentations of the ennemie, but onely by the power and mercie of God: This (good reader) is that Schoole of Satan: this is that woonderful Tragedie whereat M. Hardinge maketh such horrible exclamations. If he thinke it so haynous a mater for a godly man to be vexed by the diuel,1 perhaps he wil also fynde some faulte with Christe, that was caried by the Diuel into the mounte: or with S. Paule that had the Angel of Sathan to buffet him: or with a great numbre of his portuise Sainctes, whose legendes are ful of visions of Diuels, with other like childishe fables. As for Luther, y• doctrine that he taught in his schoole touching this pointe, is the very Gospel of Christe, and therefore it increaseth, and entreth into the hartes of men, and the lyes and sclaunders of the enemies shal neuer be hable to preuayle against it.
- 1Matthaei. 4. 2. Corinth. 12.
