A08486:161
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martin Luther, John Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaration of Martin Luther's faith before the Emperor Charles the fifth, and the illustre estates of the empire of Germany, with an oration of his death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melanchthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martine Luther, Iohn Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaracion of Martin Luthers faythe before the Emperoure Charles the fyft, and the illustre estates of the empyre of Germanye, with an oration of hys death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melancthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.
London: printed by John Awdely, 1561London: printed by Iohn Awdely, 1561
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The sincere & godly wits shall celebrate forever, the benefits which God hath conferred to his Church by Luther, and first they shall render thanks to God, then protest, they are much obliged to his learned labours: albeit the Atheists, who universally have the church in derision, esteem an• judge these true offices and duties, a childish pastime, a mere folly, and alienation of the mind.
The sincere & godly wyts shal celebrate foreuer, the benefites whyche God hath conferred to his Church by Luther, and fyrste they shall render thankes to God, then protest, they ar much obliged to hys learned labors: albert the Atheistes, who vniuersally haue the church in derisiō, esteme an• iudge these true offices and dutyes, a chyidysh pastime, a mere folye, and alienacion of the mynde.
He hath not excitated indissoluble disputations, neither proponed to the Church, the Apple of contention, nor published obscurities & enigmes. For he is easy to the faithful & godly, and such as be of sound understanding, & slanderously will not give judgement, by conference of sentences to consider what agreeth with the heavenly doctrine. and what dissenteth. And that more is, the godly are fully resolved▪ that these differentes were long ⟨image 50⟩since appointed. For since Gods pleasure is we should behold & know his will in the Prophets and Apostles works (in the which he hath manifested himself) we may not think his words are doubtful, as the leaves of Sibilla.
He hath not excitated indissoluble disputacions, neither proponed to the Church, the Apple of contencion, nor published obscurities & enigmes. For he is easy to the faythful & godly, and such as be of sound vnderstandyng, & sclaunderouslye wyll not geue iudgement, by conference of sentences to cō sider what agreeth with the heauenly doctrine. and what dissenteth. And that more is, the godly are fully resolued▪ that these differentes were longe ⟨image 50⟩synce appointed. For since Gods pleasure is we should behold & know hys wyll in the Prophetes and Apostles workes (in the which he hath manyfested hymselfe) we maye not thynke hys woordes are doubtfull, as the leaues of Sibilla.
But some (which were not perverse) have complained that Luther was1 more vehement, then n•de required. I will not dispute against any: but I answer this that Erasmus hath often said: God hath given this last age a sharp Physician, because of y• great diseases of the same, & therefore since he hath raised such an organ against the truths enemies, and against the proud and impudent, as he hath said to Jeremiah, behold I have placed my words in thy mouth, to the end thou shouldest destroy & edify, & also hath pleased him to set before their beards this Gorgon or buckler, in vain they quarrel with God. God governeth his Church not by mans Counsels, neither will have his organs all alike. This is a common thing, mean and moderate spirits cannot brook vehement motions, whether they be ⟨image 51⟩good or evil. Aristides beholding Themistocles enterprise great matters, with a pathetical incitation of the mind, whereof he had prosperous success, although he did gratulate the common weals prosperity: yet he laboured diligently to revoke Themistocles vehement mind from y• course.
But some (which wer not peruers) haue compiayned that Luther was1 more vehement, then n•de required. I wyl not dispute against any: but I aunswer this that Erasmus hath often said: God hath giuen this last age a sharpe Phisiciō, because of y• great diseases of the same, & therfore synce he hath reysed such an organe against the truthes enemies, and agaynst the proude and impudent, as he hath said to Ieremy, beholde I haue placed my wordes in thy mouth, to thende thou shouldest destroy & edefye, & also hath pleased hym to set before their beards this Gorgon or buckler, in vaine thei quarell wyth God. God gouerneth hys Church not by mans Counsels, netheir wyll haue hys organes all alyke. This is a common thing, mean and moderate spirites cannot brooke vehement motions, whether they be ⟨image 51⟩
Neither I deny that sometimes vehement motions offend, there is none in this infirmity of Nature, void of spot. Yet if there be any such as the authentic writers have reported of Hercules, Cimon, and other, deformed & misshapen: yet apt and upright in excellent exploits. Certainly I must confess that these be good and praise worthy, and as S. Paul saith, if he do his duty well in the Church, observing faith, and a pure conscience, he is acceptable to God, and we ought to reverence him.
Neyther I deny that sometymes vehement mocions offend, ther is none in thys infirmity of Nature, voide of spot. Yet if ther be any such as the autentick writers haue reported of Hercules, Cimon, and other, deformed & misshapen: yet apt and vpryght in excellent exploictes. Certaynly I must confesse that these be good and praise worthy, and as S. Paule sayth, yf he do hys duty wel in the Church, obseruyng fayth, and a pure conscience, he is acceptable to God, and we oughte to reuerence hym.
We know that Luther hath been such, for constantly he hath maintained the sincerity of the Gospel, and retained an integrity of conscience. Now what is he (that hath known Luther) & is ignorant, with what1 humanity he was garnished? How af ⟨image 51⟩fable he was to all such as in familiar conference, or grave devise had to do with him. How void he was of contention & brawl, & yet among these virtues he had such a gravity, as decently became his calling. His manners were good, his words sweet and pleasant. Finally, allthings (as S. Paul saith) were in him true, honest, just, pure, amiable, & renowned, in so much that we may plainly perceive his vehemency proceeded of a zealous affection he bare to the truth, rather then of any natural sharpness, & here of not only we, but many are evident witnesses. As touching the rest of his2 life, which he prolonged to .lxiii. years, employing the same with fervent affection in the fear of God, & in all good & liberal sciences, if I had deliberated to say ought in his praise, what ample theme, what abundance of matter is ministered to me to frame an excellent & goodly Oration. No inordinate desires, no seditious counsels reigned in him. He exhorted to peace & dissuaded war. He meddled not private care with ecclesiastical causes, there by to enrich himself, or advance his friends. ⟨image 52⟩I judge this to be so great wisdom & virtue, that by humane diligence it cannot only be procured, but it behoveth high, vehement, & subtle minds (as it appeareth Luther's was) to be bridled divinely.
We knowe that Luther hath bene such, for constantly he hath mayntained the sinceritye of the Gospel, and retayned an integrity of conscience. Now what is he (that hath knowen Luther) & is ignoraunt, wyth what1 humanity he was garnished? How af ⟨image 51⟩fable he was to al such as in familiar conference, or graue deuise had to do wyth hym. How voyde he was of contencion & brawle, & yet among these vertues he had such a grauity, as decently became hys callyng. His manners wer good, his wordes swete and pleasaunt. Finally, althinges (as S. Paule saith) wer in him true, honest, iust, pure, amiable, & renoumed, in so much that we maye plainly perceyue hys vehemencye proceded of a zelous affection he bare to the truth, rather then of any natural sharpenes, & here of not onely we, but many are euidēt witnesses. As touching the rest of his
What shall I say of other his virtues? I often times came unawares1 upon him, when he with tears berayning his cheeks, prayed for the universal Church. He prescribed certain hours every day to recite some Psalms, and in pronouncing them, he expressed his affection, with mourning & tears. He rebuked ever those that through negligence, or other domestical business, said: they served God sufficiently, in making a secret zealous prayer, declaring to them that we have forms set forth by divine counsel, to the end that in reading we may awaken our minds, and with voice testify what God we call upon.
What shal I saye of other his vertues? I often tymes came vnwares1 vpon hym, when he wyth teares berayning hys chekes, prayed for the vniuersal Church. He prescribed certayn houres euery day to recite some Psalmes, and in pronouncing them, he expressed his affection, wyth mourning & teares. He rebuked euer those that through negligence, or other domestical busines, sayde: they serued God sufficiently, in makyng a secret zelous prayer, declaring to them that we haue fourmes set foorth by diuine counsell, to thend that in reading we may awaken our myndes, and wyth voyce testify what God we call vpon.
And when occasion was offered to enter in consultation about imminent dangerous, we always observed his marvellous constancy of courage, neither would he lurk appalled, neither represent any face ef ⟨image 52⟩fear, with the terror thereof. He leaned always to the Lord, as to his holy anchor, and never waved in any point of his faith.
And when occasion was offered to enter in consultacion about imminent daungerous, we alwaies obserued hys marueilous constancy of courage, neyther would he lurke appalled, neyther represent anye face ef ⟨image 52⟩feare, wyth the terrour therof. He leaned alwayes to the Lord, as to hys holye ancre, and neuer waued in anye poynt of hys fayth.
Further, he was so ingenious, that alone he considered what was necessary1 to be done in doubtful cases. Neither was he (as many suppose) negligent in the consideration of the public weal, neither ignorant of the minds and inclinations of other, but he well understood the state of the common weal, no man better, & perceived most prudently the natural dispositions and wills of them, with whom he was conversant. And albeit he was of a jolly & politic head: yet he most greedily red the Ecclesiastical Writers, old and new, & all the histories, the examples, whereof he converted with a singular dexterity, to the profit of mans life, and present affairs2
Further, he was so ingenious, that alone he considered what was necessary1 to be done in doubtful cases. Neither was he (as many suppose) negligent in the consideracion of the publicke weale, neyther ignoraunt of the myndes and inclinaciōs of other, but he wel vnderstode the state of the common weale, no man better, & perceyued most prudently the natural dispositions and wylles of them, with whō he was cōuersant. And albeit he was of a ioly & politicke head: yet he moste gredely red the Ecclesiasticall Wryters, old and new, & all the histories, the examples, whereof he conuerted wyth a syngular dexterity, to the profite of mans lyfe, and present affaires2
Of his eloquence we have everlasting testimonies, wherein certainly he was equivalent to any that excelled in art Oratory.
Of hys eloquenc•e we haue euerlasting testimonies, wherein certaynly he was equiualent to any that excelled in arte Oratory.
Then with good cause we may lament the lack of him, who in wisdom and liveliness of spirit was so ⟨image 53⟩excellent, so garnished with doctrine▪ so exercise▪ with vie, so adorned with many & those heroical virtues, so elected of God, for the restoration of the Church, and finally with so paternal affection, loving and embracing us, we are like Orphelius, deprived of a faithful and famous father. And albeit necessarily we must obey divine order: yet let us endeavour the memory of his benefits & virtues may remain immortal with us. And let us rejoice that presently he is in the blessed & sweet company of God & his well-beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prophets and Apostles,1 whose so[…]etye through the faith he had in the Son of God, he hath daily desired, and attended. Whereas now he heareth his labours only approved by the judgement of God, and the testimony of all the heavenly Church, which he sustained for the propagation of the Gospel: but also taken out of this mortal body as out of a prison, and entered into a school adorned with more excellent doctrine, he beholdeth the essence of god, the two natures conjoined in the Son, ⟨image 53⟩and all the couns•• of h[…] creation and redemption of the church. The which divine m•ste••es ••r•ked, and with compendious oracles proponed he considered here only by faith, out now more •u•••nt. y veholdyng them, he rejoiceth & fervently inflamed with the love of God, he rendereth thanks for this so great & singular benefit.
Then wyth good cause we may lament the lacke of hym, who in wysedome and lyuelynes of spirite was so ⟨image 53⟩excellent, so garnished with doctrine so exercise wyth vie, so adorned with many & those heroyical vertues, so elected of God, for the restauration of the Curch, and finally with so paternal affection, louyng and embracing vs, we are lyke Orphelius, depriued of a faythful and famous father. And albeit necessarelye we must obey diuine order: yet let vs endeuour ye memory of hys benefites & vertues may remayne immortal wyth vs. And let vs reioyce that presently he is in the blessed & swete company of God & his welbeloued Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ, the Prophetes and Apostles,
There he learneth wherefore the Son of God is called the word and Image of the eternal Father, & how the holy ghost is the band of mutual love, not only betwixt the eternal Father and the Son, but also betwixt them and the Church. For he had learned the rudiments and principles of this doctrine in this mortal life, and mentioned oftentimes these celestial matters, the difference betwixt true and false invocation, the true knowledge of God, beholding the divine manifestations, & the discerning of the true God, from forged and invented Gods, & these matters he disputed very wisely & grave••
There he learneth wherefore the sonne of God is called the woord and Image of the eternal Father, & how the holy ghost is the band of mutuall loue, not onelye betwyxt the eternall Father and the Sonne, but also betwyxt them and the Church. For he had learned the ru••mentes and principles of thys doctrine in thys mortal lyfe, and mencioned oftentimes these celestiall matters, the difference betwyrt true and false inuocation, the true knowledge of God, beholdyng the diuine manifestacions, & the discernynge of the true God, from foreged and inuented Gods, & these matters he disputed very wisely & graue••
Many in this Auditory have heard him at certain times expressing this sentence: Ye shall see the heavens opened, ⟨image 54⟩and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. In the exposition of this, he exhorted his Auditors to plant in their hearts this singular consolation, the which affirmeth that the heaven is opened, that is to say, way made open for us to pass to God, the bar of Gods wrath removed from such as have recourse to the Son, that God is familiarly conversant with us now, and that he receiveth, governeth and conserveth such as invocate him. He admonished that that1 decree of God, which the Atheists exclaim to be fabulous, ought to resist all those human doubts & dreads, which keep back the wandering minds, that they dare not invocate God, and repose in him.
Many in thys Auditory haue heard hym at certayn times expressing this sentence: Ye shal see the heauens opened, ⟨image 54⟩and the Aungels of God ascendyng and descending vpon the sonne of man. In the exposicion of thys, he exhorted hys Auditours to plant in theyr hartes thys syngular consolacion, the whyche affirmeth that the heauen is opened, that is to say, way made open for vs to passe to God, the barre of Gods wrathe remoued from suche as haue recourse to the Sonne, that God is familiarlye conuersaunt wyth vs now, and that he receyueth, gouerneth and conserueth such as inuocate hym. He admonished yt that1 decree of God, which the Atheistes exclame to be fabulous, ought to resyst al those humaine doubtes & dreades, whyche keepe backe the wanderyng myndes, that they dare not innocate God, and repose in hym.
Further, he said that the Angels ascending and descending in the body of Jesus Christ, were the Ministers of the Gospel. Who first by Christ their Guide, ascended to God, & received of him the light of the Gospel, and the golly Ghost. Then after they descended, that is to say, they had the charge to profess and instruct among men.
Further, he sayd that the Aungels ascending and descending in the body of Iesus Christ, wer the Ministers of the Gospel. Who first by Christ their Guide, ascended to God, & receiued of hym the lyght of the Gospell, and the goly Ghost. Then after they descended, that is to say, thei had the charge to professe and enstruct among men.
He added this interpretation, that the very heavenly spirits which we commonly call Angels, beholding the Son, are instructed & r••oy•e in this marvellous conjunction of two natures, & for that they war under the Lord for the defence of the Church, they be also governed by his hand.
He added thys interpretacion, that the very heauenly spirites which we commonly cal Angels, beholding the sonne, are instructed & r••oy•e in this merueylous con•unction of twoo natures, & for that they war vnder the Lord for the defence of the Churche, they be also gouerned by hys hand.
He presently beholdeth these so excellent things, and as before he ascended and descended among the Ministers of the Gospel, by the conduction of Jesus Christ, so now he seeth the Angels sent by him, & hath equal fruition with them of the contemplation & consideration, of the divine wisdom and marvellous works of God. We remember well what incredible pleasure he conceived in reciting the policies of the Prophets, their counsels, dangers and deliverances, and how learnedly he conferred all times of the Church, that he well declared with what burning desire he longed to be in the society of these excellent personages. He embraceth these now & rejoiceth to have mutual conference in lively voice. These salute their loving companion ⟨image 55⟩newly repaired to them, and jointly yield thanks to God, that he assembleth and conserveth his Church.
He presently beholdeth these so excellent thynges, and as before he ascended and descended among the Ministers of the Gospell, by the conduction of Iesus Christe, so nowe he seeth the Aungels sent by hym, & hath equal fruicion wyth them of the contemplacion & consideracion, of the diuine wysdome and marueylous workes of God. We remember wel what incredible pleasure he conceiued in recityng the policies of the Prophetes, theyr counsels, daungers and deliueraunces, and how learnedlye he conferred al tymes of the Church, that he wel declared wyth what burnyng desyre he longed to be in the societye of these excellent personages. He embraceth these now & reioyceth to haue mutual conference in lyuelye voyce. These salute their louyng companiō ⟨image 55⟩newly repayred to them, and ioyntly yeld thankes to God, that he assembleth and conserueth hys Church.
Let us not doubt, but that Luther is in happy & blessed estate. & let us lament the loss & •acke of so virtuous & heavily a father, & as duty bindeth us to obey the wit of God, who hath reft us such a rare •ewel: so let us understand Gods pleasure is, we should consecrate to etern•••, y• memory of his virtues and benefits. Let us •hen in this apply ou• diligence, let us imitate as we be able, his virtues which is expedient for us to know, that is, the fear of God, faith, fervency in prayer, cleanness in ministry, chastity, diligence to eschew counsels tending to sedition, and desire to learn. And as it behoveth us, to remember the other faithful governors of the Church, whose histories we read, as Jeremiah John Baptist, & S. Paul. So let us consider oftentimes the doctrine and order of this reverend father, & herewith let us add prayer, and action of thanks, as it becometh us now to do in this assembly.
Let vs not doubt, but that Luther is in happy & blessed estate. & let vs lament the losse & •acke of so vertuous & heauely a father, & as duty byndeth vs to obey the wyt of God, who hath reft vs such a rare •ewel: so let vs vnderstand Gods pleasure is, we should cōsecrate to etern•••, y• memory of his vertues and benefites. Let vs •hen in thys apply ou• diligence, let vs imitate as we be able, his vertues which is expediet for vs to know, that is, the feare of God, fayth, feruecy in praier, cleannes in ministerye, chastity, diligence to eschew counsels tendyng to sedicion, and desyre to learne. And as it behoueth vs, to remēber the other faythful gouernours of the Churche, whose histories we reade, as Ieremy Iohn Baptist, & S. Paule. So let vs consider oftentymes the doctrine and order of thys reuerend father, & herewyth let vs adde prayer, and action of thankes, as it becōmeth vs now to do in thys assembly.
