In so much that it may be thought, that our merciful God, pitying the miserable thraldom wherein his people under that Romish Pharaoh had long lain captived, and in his Justice, meaning at length to rid the world of those dead Flies (which did nothing else but corrupt and taint sweet Ointments) and as it were to lance those Botches and Boils, that so long had festered in the body of the Common wealth of Israel, appointed and raised up this man, to be as the Mall that should knock that blasphemous Goliath in the pate, and the Leech that should apply unto him & his greased generation such a strong Pill, which they should never be able to swallow. His life also & conversation being so unblameable, that the starkest Balaamite and spitefullest Rabbin among them (of which stamp there never wanteth store) could never justly reprove ⟨image 4⟩him of faults, other then such, as generally follow the infirmity of Man. In so much as that reverend and renowned Clerk Erasmus (whose testimony herein may stand for many, and the rather for that he somewhat to much (the more pity) for private respects, bolstered and plastered the deformities and blots of the Romish Clergy) pleasantly by way of answer to a question, moved unto him by the good Duke of Saxony, said: that the only reason why poor Luther was so deadly hated, was for none other cause, but for that, by his preaching and writing, he had taken away the Crown from the Pope and Bishops, and the Belly from the Monks: and that otherwise he was both a Godly, a learned, a virtuous, and a modest man. In the compassing and achieving whereof, little marvel was it, though in his Style and manner of writing, he seemed to some to be over crabbed, severe, sharp, and biting: For (said he) to remove sharp & gross diseases, God hath sent in this last age of the World, a sharp & austere Physician. And as we read of the Repairers of Battered Jerusalem, that with the one hand they built the Walls, and with the other held ⟨image 4⟩their sword, to be ready to encounter the enemy: So may we say of Luther, that he with the one half of his study, combated and conflicted with the Adversaries of Gods truth, and with the other half, generally benefited the Church, by penning & writing sundry notable enarrations upon the Sacred Scriptures, and Catholic Religion.
In so muche that it maie bee thought, that our mercifull God, pitiyng the miserable thraldome wherin his people vnder that Romishe Pharao had long laine captiued, and in his Justice, meanyng at length to ridde the worlde of those deade Flies (whiche did nothyng els but corrupte and tainte sweete Ointmentes) and as it were to launce those Botches and Biles, that so long had festured in the bodie of the Common wealthe of Jsraell, appointed and raised vp this man, to bee as the Malle that should knocke that blasphemous Goliah in the pate, and the Leeche that should applie vnto him & his greazed generatiō suche a strong Pill, whiche thei should neuer bee able to swallowe. His life also & conuersation beyng so vnblameable, that the starkest Balaamite and spightfullest Rabbine emong them (of whiche stampe there neuer wanteth stoare) could neuer iustlie reprooue ⟨image 4⟩hym of faultes, other then suche, as generally followe the infirmitie of Man. Jn so muche as that reuerend and renoumed Clerke Erasmus (whose testimonie herein maie stande for many, and the rather for that he somewhat to muche (the more pitie) for priuate respectes, bolstered and plastered the deformities and blottes of the Romishe Clergie) pleasauntly by waie of answere to a question, mooued vnto hym by the good Duke of Saxony, saied: that the onely reason why poore Luther was so deadly hated, was for none other cause, but for that, by his preaching and writing, hee had taken awaie the Croune from the Pope and Bishoppes, and the Beallie from the Monkes: and that otherwise he was bothe a Godlie, a learned, a vertuous, and a modest man. Jn the compassyng and atchieuyng whereof, little meruaile was it, though in his Style and maner of writyng, he seemed to some to bee ouer crabbed, seuere, sharpe, and bityng: For (saied he) to remooue sharpe & grosse diseases, God hath sent in this laste age of the VVorlde, a sharpe & austere Phisition. And as wee reade of the Repairers of Battered Hierusalem, that with the one hande thei builte the VValles, and with the other helde ⟨image 4⟩their sweard, to bee readie to encounter the enemie: So maie wee saie of Luther, that he with the one halfe of his studie, combated and conflicted with the Aduersaries of Gods truthe, and with the other halfe, generallie benefited the Churche, by pennyng & writing sundrie notable enarrations vpon the Sacred Scriptures, and Catholique Religion.
