A08486:35
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.
At this time Luther altered nothing in the ceremonies, but precisely observed his rule among his fellows, he meddled no doubtful opinions, but expressed this common doctrine, as principallest of all other, in familiar manner to all men, elucidating the same more and more, to say the doctrine of repentance, of remission of since, of faith, of true comfort in times of adversity. Every man received good taste of this sweet doctrine, and the learned conceived high pleasure to behold Jesus Christ, the Prophets and Apostles come forth into light, out of darkness, prison, and other ordures, to understand the difference betwixt the law and the Gospel, betwixt the promises of the ⟨image 13⟩Law, and the promise of the Gospel, betwixt spiritual Justice, and civill things, which certainly could not have been found in Thomas Aquin, Scotus, nor his semblables.
At thys tyme Luther altered nothing in the ceremonies, but precisely obserued hys rule among hys fellowes, he medled no doubtful opinions, but expressed thys common doctrine, as principallest of all other, in familiar maner to all men, elucidating the same more and more, to say the doctrine of repentaunce, of remission of synnes, of fayth, of true comfort in times of aduersity. Euery mā receiued good taste of this swete doctrine, and the learned conceiued high pleasure to behold Iesus Christ, the Prophetes and Apostles come foorth into lyght, out of darkenes, pryson, and other ordures, to vnderstand the difference betwyxt the lawe and the Gospell, betwyxt the promises of the ⟨image 13⟩Law, and the promise of the Gospel, betwixt spirituall Iustice, and ciuill thynges, whych certainlye could not haue bene found in Thomas Aquin, Scotus, nor hys semblables.
He considered this also, that many were instigated & solicited by Erasmus learned works, to study the Greek and Latin tongues, who perceiving a more gentle & ready order of teaching the before, began to have in contempt the Monks barbarous and sophistical doctrine: and specially such as were of a gentle nature & good disposition. Luther began to study the Greek and Hebrew tongues, to this end, that after he had learned the phrase & propriety of the tongues, & drawn the doctrine out of the very fountains, he might give more sound judgement.