A08486:28
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.
Luther said he was not only strengthened by these words: but ye he was also instructed of the full meaning of saint Paul, who repeateth so many times this sentence: We are justified by faith. And having read the expositions of many upon this place: he then perceived as well by the purpose of the old man, as by the comfort he received in his spirit, the vanity of those interpretations, which he had besides him. And reading by little and little, with conferring the sayings and examples of Prophets and Apostles, & continual invocation of God, and excitation of faith by force of prayers, he perceived that doctrine more evidently.
Luther sayd he was not onely strēgthened by these wordes: but ye he was also instructed of the ful meaning of saint Paule, who repeateth so many times this sentence: We are iustified by fayth. And hauing read the exposicions of many vpon this place: he thē perceued as wel by the purpose of the olde man, as by the comfort he receyued in his spirite, the vanity of those interpretaciōs, which he had besydes him. And reading by little and lyttle, with conferring the sayinges and examples of Prophetes and Apostles, & continual inuocacion of God, and excitacion of fayth by force of prayers, he perceiued that doctrine more euidently.
Then he began to read S. Austens ⟨image 11⟩books, where he found many goodly1 sentences, among other in the exposition of the Psalms, and in the book of the Spirit and the Letter, which confirmed this doctrine of faith & consolation that was illumined in his hart. And yet he laid not a side the Sentenciaries. He could recite by rote word by word Gabriel and Cameracensis. He red long time the books of Occam, & preferred his subtlety above Thomas Aquin, and Scotus. He red also and revolved Gersō, but above all the rest, he red and perused all over Saint Austens works, and committed them to perfect memory. And thus he began diligently to study at Erphord, where he continued four years in the Convent of Augustines.