A08486:163
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers…A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers…
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.
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⟩