A08486:50
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.
I do not recite this only to defend Luther & his Auditors, but also that the faithful spirits may consider now1 and in time to come, what is the governance of the true Church of God, and what it hath always been, how God hath gathered to him self one eternal Church, by the voice of the Gospel, of this mass of sin, that is ⟨image 18⟩to say, of the huge heap of humane ordures, among whom the Gospel shineth as a spark amid the dark. As in the time of the Pharisees Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and many other reverenced & observed the true doctrine: So have many preceded us, who purely invocated God, some understanding more clearly, then some the doctrine of the gospel. Such a one was the old man, of whom I wrote, that often times comforted Luther, when his astoneinges assailed him, • after a sort declared unto him the doctrine of the faith. And that God may preserve henceforth the light of his Gospel, shining in many: let us pray with fervent affection, as Isaiah prayeth for his Hearers: Seal the law in my Disciples. Further, this advertisement showeth plain, that coloured superstitions are not permanent, but abolished by God, and sith this is the cause of changes, we ought diligently to endeavour, that errors be not taught ne preached in the Church.
I do not recite this onely to defend Luther & hys Auditors, but also that the faythful spirites may cōsider now1 and in tyme to come, what is the gouernaūce of the true Church of God, and what it hath alwayes bene, how God hath gathered to hym selfe one eternal Churche, by the voyce of the Gospel, of thys masse of sinne, that is ⟨image 18⟩to say, of the huge heape of humayne ordures, among whō the Gospel shyneth as a sparke amyd the darke. As in the tyme of the Phariseis Zachary, Elizabeth, Mary, and many other reuerenced & obserned the true doctrine: So haue manye preceeded vs, who purely inuocated God, some vnderstanding more clearely, then some the doctrine of the gospel. Such a one was the old man, of whom I wrote, that often tymes comforted Luther, when his astoneinges assayled hym, • after a sorte declared vnto hym the doctrine of the fayth. And that God may preserue henceforth the lyght of his Gospell, shinyng in many: let vs pray with feruent affection, as Esay prayeth for hys Hearers: Seale the law in my Disciples. Further, thys aduertisement sheweth playne, that coloured supersticions are not permanent, but abolished by God, and sythe thys is the cause of chaunges, we ought diligentlye to endeuour, that errours be not taught ne preached in the Churche.