The history of the life and acts of Luther 2 Melancthon, Philip Translated by T.Frazel 1995.pdf

8/20/2019 The history of the life and acts of Luther 2 Melancthon, Philip Translated by T.Frazel 1995.pdf

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T h e D e e d s of Reverend Father Doct or Mar t i n Luther i n t he Assembl i es of Pr i nces at Worms bef ore Emper or Charl es V, t he Pr i nces, El ect ors , and the nobi l i t y of t he Empi r e f ol l ow.

I n t he Year of Our Sal vat i on 1521 af t er Mi ser i cor di a Domi ni Sunday ( Second Sunday af t er East er) , Tuesday, Doct or Mar t i n Lut her ent ered Worms, cal l ed by Emperor Char l es, he t he f i f t h Ki ng of t he Spani ards of name, Ar chduke of Aust r i a et c. who i n t he f i r st year of hi s Rei gn cel ebr at ed t he f i r st gat her i ng of Pr i nces i n t hat r oyal ci t y.

However si nce three year s bef or e Doct or Mar t i n had proposed at Worms i n Saxony cer t ai n Paradoxes agai nst t he Tyranny of t he Roman Bi shop t o be debat ed ( whi ch never t hel ess meanwhi l e were censur ed, damned and burned i n di f f erent ways by t he Papi st s, yet r ef ut ed by no one ei t her by Scr i pt ur es or by l ogi cal argument s) , t he mat t er began to i ncl i ne t owar d a di st ur bance, wi t h the peopl e watchi ng t he cause of t he Gospel agai nst t he Cl er i cs.

And f or t hi s r eason i t seemed good, wi t h t he Roman Legates st i r r i ng t hi ngs up, t hat Luther hi msel f be summoned by t he I mper i al Heral d, and he was l ed i n t hi s by t he Emperor and the pr i nces gi vi ng l et t er s of saf e passage.

He was summoned, he came, and he st opped at t he Senat e ( ?) of t he sol di er s of

Rhodes, or t hey ar e cal l ed, of t he German order , wher e he st ayed i n hospi t al i t y and was gr eet ed and sought af t er even l ate i nt o the ni ght by many Compani ons, Barons, honored Caval r y Of f i cers, and Nobl es, Pr i est s and Laymen.

But t o many men bot h of t he opposi ng par t y and t o ot her s hi s ar r i val happened di r ect l y cont r ary to opi ni on, f or even t hough he had been summoned by I mper i al messenger and by l et t er s gi ven of publ i c saf ety, Never t hel ess because, f or a f ew days bef ore he came, hi s books were condemned by l et t ers post ed publ i cl y and pr i vat el y, no one t hought t hat he woul d ar r i ve condemned by t hi s pr ej udgment .

And when i n t he nei ghbor i ng t own of Oppenhei m, where Lut her f i r st l ear ned t hese t hi ngs, a del i ber at i on was hel d by hi s f r i ends and many of t hem concl uded t hat he hi msel f shoul d not expose hi msel f t o danger , si nce he saw

t hat t hese begi nni ngs wer e done agai nst a gi ven pr omi se, Wi t h al l l i st eni ng, he hi msel f r esponded wi t h a cour ageous spi r i t , "Because I was cal l ed, i t was decr eed and i s cer t ai n t hat I t r ul y ent er t he ci t y i n t he name of t he Lor d J esus Chr i st , even i f I know t hat as many Devi l s ar e opposed agai nst me as t her e t i l es i n al l t he houses of t he ent i r e wor l d, et c. "

On t he next day af t er hi s ar r i val , Wednesday, a nobl e Man, Mast er of t he I mper i al caval r y, Ul r i ch of Pappenhei m, havi ng been sent by t he Emperor , came bef ore l uncheon, showi ng t o Doct or Mar t i n the command of Emper or Char l es t hat at t he f our t h af t er noon hour he pr esent hi mesel f bef ore t he I mperi al Maj est y, Pr i nces, El ector s, Dukes and t he r emai ni ng Or ders of t he Empi r e, he woul d hear t o what he was summoned, Whi ch Doct or Mar t i n, as he ought , accepted.

And i mmedi atel y af t er t he f our t h hour of t hat day was hear d, D. Ul r i ch of

Pappenhei m came and Caspar Sturm I mper i al Heral d t hrough Germany, ( by whi ch Tr uce- Of f i cer Doctor Mar t i n had been cal l ed f ort h f r omWi t t eber g and br ought down to Wor ms) who accompani ed t he very one cal l ed f or t h through t he gar den of t he Rhodi ans' Senat e, i nt o the l odgi ng of t he Compani ons' of Pal at i ne.

And so t hat he woul d not be exposed to t he cr owd whi ch was great i n t he j ust r oad t o t he I mper i al house, he was l ed down t hrough some hi dden st eps i n t he Audi t or i um, nevert hel ess he was not hi dden t o many, who were barel y pr event ed by f orce f r oment er i ng, and many f el l t o bl ows i n eager ness t o see Lut her .

When t her ef ore he st ood i n t he si ght of t he I mper i al Maj est y, t he Pri nces, El ector s and Dukes, i n shor t , everyone of t he Empi r e' s orders who at t ended on t he Emper or , Doct or Mart i n was at f i r st admoni shed by Ul r i ch of Pappenhei m not

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t o say anyt hi ng unl ess asked.

Then t he Or at or of t he I mper i al Maj est y, J ohannes Eck, of t he gener al Of f i ci al of t he Bi shop of Tr eves, i n a l oud and i nt el l i gi bl e voi ce, f i r st i n Lat i n, t hen i n German, by t he order of t he Emper or spoke and moved t he f ol l owi ng r esol ut i on agai nst t hat man, or one si mi l ar i n ef f ect t o i t , whi ch f ol l ows i t smanner .

"Mart i n Lut her , t he Sacred and unconquered I mper i al maj est y, on t he advi ce of al l Ranks of t he hol y Roman Empi r e, order s you t o be cal l ed hi t her t o t he seat

of hi s Maj est y, so t hat I may i nt er r ogat e you about t hese t wo poi nt s: Fi r st , do you conf ess t hat t hese books bef ore me ( a bundl e of your books i n Lat i n and your wr i t i ngs i n German havi ng been di spl ayed) whi ch ci r cul ate under your name are your s, and wi l l you acknowl edge t hose as yours or not ? And Second, whet her you want t o r et r act and r enounce t hose and t he cont ent s of t he same or r at her t o cl i ng and acknowl edge t he same?"

Here, bef ore Lut her r esponded, Doct or J erome Schur f f , who was st andi ng qui t e near Doct or Mart i n, shout ed out , "Let t he books be gi ven a name. "

Thi s Of f i ci al of Tr eves r ead out by name f r om t he books of Doct or Mar t i n Luther t hose whi ch were wr i t t en at t he same t i me at Basel , among whi ch al so were count ed t he Comment ar i es on t he Psal t er , t he Tr eat i se on good works, t he Comment ary on t he Lord' s prayer , and i n addi t i on t o these ot her

non- di sput at i ous Chr i st i an tr eat i ses.

Af t er t hese and to these Doctor Mar t i n gave t hese answers back i n Lat i n and German: "By t he I mper i al Maj est y t wo t hi ngs ar e pr oposed to me: Fi r st , Whether I wi sh t o acknowl ege as mi ne al l t he books havi ng my name; Second, Whet her I wi sh t o def end or i n f act t o denounce somet hi ng f r omt hose wr i t i ngs whi ch wer e wr i t t en and publ i shed up to t hi s poi nt by me.

"To whi ch I shal l r espond as br i ef l y as I can and cor r ect l y.

"To begi n wi t h, I cannot hel p but embrace as my own the books al r eady named and I shal l never i ndeed deny anythi ng of t hem. "Next , so t hat I may set f ort h what f ol l ows, whet her I want t o def end everyt hi ng i n an equal degr ee or t o r enounce, Because the i nvest i gat i on i s about t he f ai t h and sal vat i on of soul s,

and because i t concer ns t he di vi ne word t han whi ch nothi ng i s great er i n heaven as on ear t h, whi ch i s seeml y f or al l of us t o be af r ai d deser vedl y, i t was acci dent al and equal l y dangerous t hat I publ i sh somethi ng unconsi dered, si nce I coul d be abl e t o def end both l ess t han mat t er and gr eat er t han t he t r ut h, not pr evi ousl y t hought - out , ei t her of whi ch br ought me i nt o t he thought whi ch Chr i st r el ated when He sai d, ' Who deni es me bef ore me, I shal l al so deny hi m bef ore my Father who i s i n t he heavens. '

"Ther ef or e I ask, and especi al l y humbl y, of t he I mper i al Maj est y f or t i me f or del i ber at i ng about t hi s case, so that I may sat i sf y the one i nt er r ogat i ng wi t hout i nj ur y t o the di vi ne word and danger t o my soul . "

Fr om t hat a del i ber at i on of t he Pr i nces began, whi ch t he Of f i ci al of Tr eves r eport ed t hus: "Even i f you, Mart i n Lut her , have al r eady been abl e t o per cei ve

suf f i ci ent l y f r om t he I mper i al order t o what you have been summoned, and al r eady unwor t hy about t hat case, si nce a l onger del ay i s gi ven f or t hi nki ng, Nevert hel ess out of t he i nborn cl emency, t he I mper i al Maj est y gr ant s one day f or your cont empl at i on, i n or der t hat t omorr ow at t he same hour you appear i n per son and not set f or t h your wr i t t en t hought but r el at e i t or al l y. "

Af t er t hese Doct or Mar t i n was br ought back t o hi s i nn by t he Heral d.

I n whi ch mat t er i n or der t hat somethi ng not be omi t t ed, between goi ng t o hear t he Emper or ' s or der and when Lut her was al r eady i n t he ver y assembl y of nobl es, he was st r ongl y r emi nded by ot hers i n another voi ce to act manf ul l y and not t o f ear t hose who wer e abl e mer el y t o ki l l hi s body, but wer e not abl e t o ki l l hi s soul , but r at her t o f ear t hat one who coul d send bot h hi s soul and


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body i nt o hel l .

The same: When you (pl . ) st and bef or e t he Ki ngs, do not ponder what you say, f or i t wi l l be gi ven t o you at t hat hour , et c. On t he f ol l owi ng Thur sday, af t er f our i n t he af t er noon, t he Heral d came and l ed Doctor Mar t i n, havi ng been recei ved, i nt o t he Pal ace of t he Emper or , where he r emai ned unt i l si x on account of t he Pri nces' af f ai r s, ant i ci pat i ng a l ar ge cr owd of men, wi t h he hi msel f spendi ng t i me bef or e t he throng, And when t he assembl y was made and Doct or Mar t i n st ood bef or e i t , t he Of f i ci al sent f or t h t hese wor ds.

"Mar t i n Lut her , yest erday eveni ng t he I mper i al Maj est y tol d you t hi s hour , Si nce you i ndeed openl y accepted the Books whi ch we enumerat ed yest er day as your s.

"But t o t he quest i on, Do you want somethi ng of yours t o be consi dered nul l and voi d, or do you approve ever yt hi ng whi ch you acknowl edge, you sought del i berat i on, whi ch now has i t s end, Even i f by l aw you ought not have demanded mor e t i me f or t hi nki ng, you knew by so much t i me t o what you wer e cal l ed.

"And i t was agr eed by al l t hat t he busi ness of f ai t h i s so cer t ai n t hat each one havi ng been summoned at what ever t i me was abl e t o gi ve back hi s sur e and unchangi ng expl anat i on, much mor e shoul d you so gr eat and so wel l t r ai ned a pr of essor of Theol ogy.

"Come, at l east answer t he Emperor ' s demand, whose l i beral i t y you percei ved i n br i ngi ng about t i me f or t hi nki ng.

" Do you want t o r egar d al l t he books as admi t t edl y your s? or do you i n t r ut h want t o ret r act somethi ng?"

The Of f i ci al sai d t hese t hi ngs i n Lat i n and Ger man. Doctor Mar t i n hi msel f r esponded i n bot h Lat i n and German, al bei t humbl y, not cl amorousl y, and modest l y, not never t hel ess wi t hout Chr i st i an ar dor and st eadf ast ness, and t hus, so t hat hi s Opponent s desi r ed a speech and a spi r i t more di shear t ened. But much more eager l y t hey awai t a Retr act i on, t he hope of whi ch, af t er t he t i me f or del i ber at i ng was desi r ed, some men had concei ved.

Then he repl i ed i n t hi s way.

" Most Ser ene Lor d Emper or, Most Di st i ngui shed Pr i nces, Most Mer ci f ul Lor ds, obeyi ng the l i mi t determi ned f or me yest erday eveni ng I appear , beseechi ng t hrough t he mercy of God, t hat your most ser ene Maj est y, and your most di st i ngui shed Lor dshi ps dei gn t o hear mer ci f ul l y t hi s case of ( as I hope) j ust i ce and t r ut h. "And i f t hr ough my i nexper i ence I have not gi ven wort hy t i t l es t o someone or I have er r ed i n some way or ot her i n cour t l y manners and act i ons, ki ndl y f or gi ve si nce I am a man exper i enced not i n Pal aces but i n t he cor ner s of Monks, who i s abl e t o t est i f y nothi ng el se about mysel f t han t hat by t hat i ngenuousness of soul I have l ear ned and wr i t t en onl y t hi s, t hat I shoul d l ook onl y t o the gl ory of God and t he genui ne educat i on of t he f ai t hf ul of Chr i st.

"Most serene Emper or, Most di st i ngui shed Pri nces, Most Mer ci f ul Lor ds, To t hose t wo Ar t i cl es pr oposed t o me yest erday thr ough your Most ser ene Maj est y, namel y: Whether I acknowl edge t he books exami ned and publ i shed under my name as mi ne and whet her I want t o per si st i n these def ences or t o ret r act I gave my pr epar ed and cl ear answer , concer ni ng the pr evi ous Ar t i cl e, i n whi ch I cont i nue st eadf ast l y, and I shal l cont i nue i nt o et er ni t y, That t hose books ar e mani f est l y mi ne and publ i shed under my name by me, unl ess per haps i n t he meant i me i t happened t hat ei t her by the cunni ng of r i val s or by chur l i sh wi sdomsomet hi ng i n t hem was changed or was perver sel y excerpted.

"For cl ear l y I do not acknowl edge somet hi ng el se, onl y t hat whi ch i s of me onl y and wr i t t en by me al one, except t he i nt er pr et at i on of al l di l i gence of any ki nd.


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"To t he second I woul d respond, I ask, t hat your Most ser ene Maj est y and your Lordshi ps dei gn t o tur n your at t ent i on. "My books ar e not al l of t he same t ype: For t her e ar e some i n whi ch I handl ed t he pi et y of f ai t h and moral s so di r ect l y and Evangel i cal l y t hat my Opponent s t hemsel ves are f orced t o admi t t hat t hose books ar e usef ul , bl amel ess, and cl ear l y wor t hy of t he Chr i st i an text.

"But t he Bul l , al t hough harsh and cr uel , decl ares some of my books harml ess, al so per mi t s t o t hose t o be condemned wi t h a absol utel y monst r ous j udgment .

"And so i f I wer e t o begi n t o ret r act t hose, I beseech you, what woul d I do, unl ess I were t he one man of al l mor t al s t o condemn t hat t r uth, whi ch Fr i ends and Enemi es equal l y acknowl edge, t he onl y man of al l f i ght i ng agai nst a uni t ed acknowl edgment .

"Ther e i s another t ype (of my wr i t i ng) whi ch at t acks t he Pope and t he doct r i ne of t he Papi st s, j ust as agai nst t hose who by t hei r own doct r i nes and wors t exampl es have desol at ed t he Chr i st i an wor l d i n both di r ect i on by an evi l of t he soul and t he body, For no one can ei t her deny or di ssi mul at e t hi s, si nce t he wi t nesses ar e the exper i ences of everyone and the compl ai nt s of al l men, t hat not onl y the consci ences of t he f ai t hf ul have been most t er r i bl y ent r apped, harassed, and t or t ur ed t hr ough t he l aws of t he Pope and t he doct r i nes of men, but i n par t i cul ar t he money and pr oper t i es, especi al l y i n

t hi s f amous nat i on of Germany, have been devour ed by an unbel i evabl e Tyranny, and ar e devour ed t o t hi s day wi t hout end and i n shamef ul ways: si nce never t hel ess t hey t hemsel ves by t hei r ver y own l aws ( as i n di st i nct i o 9. & 25. , quaest i o 1. & 2. ) t ake car e t hat l aws of t he Pope and doct r i nes cont r ar y t o t he Gospel or t he sayi ngs of t he Father s ar e to be reckoned er r oneous and f al se.

"So i f I r et r act ed t hose, I woul d of f er not hi ng el se t han t hat I woul d i ncr ease t he st r engt h of t he Tyranny, and to such gr eat i mpi et y I woul d have al r eady opened not t he wi ndows but t he doors, r i ot i ng wi der and more f r eel y t han up unt i l now ever dared, and i t woul d be by t he test i mony of t hi s my r et r act i on, t hat t he most unr est r ai ned r ei gn and most unpuni shed f or t hei r wi ckedness, by f ar t he most i ntol erabl e t o t he wr et ched commons, never t hel ess st r ong and stabl e, especi al l y i f I boast ed, t hi s was done by me

under t he most ser ene aut hor i t y of your Maj est y and of t he ent i r e Roman Empi r e.

"O good God, how great a cover f or wi cknedness and Tyr anny I woul d then be.

"Ther e i s a t hi r d t ype of t hem, whi ch I wr ote agai nst some pr i vat e and i ndi vi dual ( as t hey cal l ) persons, agai nst t hose nat ur al l y who endeavored t o def end t he Roman Tyranny and t o dest r oy t he pi et y t aught by me.

"Agai nst t hose I admi t t hat I was har sher t han i s f i t t i ng f or r el i gi on or prof essi on, f or I nei t her make mysel f someone Hol y, nor do I debate about my l i f e but about t he doctr i ne of Chr i st .

" Nor i s i t honest f or me t o retr act t hose, because by t hi s r et r act i on i t woul d

agai n happen that Tyr anny and i mpi et y woul d rei gn by my pat r onage and r age more vi ol ent l y agai nst t he peopl e of God t han t hey ever r ei gned.

" Nevert hel ess because I ama Man and not God, I amnot abl e t o suppor t my books by anot her patr onage t han my Lord hi msel f J esus Chr i st suppor t ed hi s own doct r i ne, who when he was bef or e Annas havi ng been asked about hi s doct r i ne and r ecei ved a bl ow f r om t he of f i cer sai d: I f I have spoken badl y, pr oduce t he evi dence about t he evi l .

"I f t he Lor d hi msel f , who knew t hat he was not abl e t o si n, di d not r ef use to hear evi dence agai nst hi s own doct r i ne, even f r omt he most wort hl ess ser vant , by such much more I si x t i mes, onl y bei ng abl e to si n, ought t o seek out and hope i f anyone wi shes t o of f er evi dence agai nst my doct r i ne.


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"And so I ask t hrough t he mercy of God, Most Ser ene Maj est y and your Most Exal t ed Lor ds, f or someone f i nal l y, ei t her t he hi ghest or t he l owest be abl e t o gi ve evi dence, r ef ut e t he er r ors, gai n t he upper hand by t he Pr ophet i cal and Apost ol i c wr i t i ngs, f or I wi l l be t he most pr epar ed, i f I wi l l t aught , what ever er r or t o r et r act , and I wi l l be t he f i r st t o cast my books i nt o t he f i r e.

" From t hese I r eckon that i t i s made cl ear t hat I have consi der ed and r ef l ected on t he r i sks and danger s enough, or t he passi ons and di sagr eement s

st i r r ed up i n t he wor l d on t he occasi on of my doct r i ne, about whi ch I was gr avel y and f orcef ul l y war ned yest erday.

" Cl ear l y that condi t i on i n mat t er s i s t he most pl easi ng of al l t o me, t o see on account of t he wor d of God passi ons and di sagr eement s brought about , f or He i s t he way, t he out come and resul t of t he word, For he sai d, I di d not come to br i ng peace but a sword, For I came to di vi de the man agai nst t he f ather etc.

"Accor di ngl y we must ponder, si nce our God i s wonder f ul and t er r i bl e i n hi s counsel s, l est by chance t hat whi ch i s at t empt ed i n such gr eat st udi es, i f we begi n f r om t he condemned word of God, t urns af t erwards r ather i nto an i nt ol er abl e f l ood of evi l s, and what must be avoi ded, t hat t he Rei gn of t hi s best Yout h Char l es t he Pr i nce ( i n whom af t er God t her e i s much hope) be made mi sf ort unat e and i nauspi ci ous.

" I woul d have been abl e to demonst r ate the mat t er more f ul l y by Exampl es f r om scr i pt ur e, about Phar aoh, t he Ki ng of Babyl on, and the Ki ngs of I sr ael , who back t hen most especi al l y dest r oyed t hemsel ves, si nce they were eager t o paci f y and st abi l i ze t hei r Rei gns by t he wi sest counsel s.

" For i t i s he hi msel f who gr asps t he cr af t y i n hi s cunni ng, and he over t ur ns mount ai ns bef or e t hey know.

"And so i t i s necessary to f ear God.

" I do not say these because t here i s need ei t her f or my doct r i ne or my warni ng i n t hese whi r l wi nds, but because I ought not t o turn asi de t he obedi ence owed my Ger many.

"And I ent r ust mysel f t o these your Powers and t o your most Ser ene Maj est y, humbl y aski ng, t hat t hey not permi t me to be rendered hat ef ul t o t hemby t he ef f or t s of my Adversar i es wi t hout cause. I HAVE SPOKEN. "

To these words, t he Or at or of t he Empi r e si mi l ar t o one accusi ng, sai d, t hat Lut her di d not r espond t o t he poi nt , nor ought he have been cal l ed i nt o quest i on t hi ngs whi ch l ong ago i n Counci l s had been condemned and def i ned, For t hat r eason a si mpl e and not compl i cat ed r esponse was asked of hi m, Whet her he want ed t o r et r act or not ?

Here Lut her , "Si nce your most Ser ene Maj est y and your Powers seek a si mpl e r esponse, I wi l l gi ve that , nei t her sophi st i cal nor poi nt ed i n t hi s way: Unl ess I shal l be r ef ut ed by the t esi moni es of t he scr i pt ur es or by evi dent

r eason, ( f or I bel i eve nei t her i n t he Pope nor i n t he Counci l s al one, si nce i t i s agr eed t hat t hey have r at her f r equent l y er r r ed and have cont r adi ct ed t hemsel ves) I am def eat ed by t he wr i t i ngs pr ompted by me, and my consci ence havi ng been caught i n t he words of God, I amnot abl e t o ret r act nor do I want what ever i s nei t her saf e nor upr i ght , si nce i t goes agai nst my consci ence.

"Here I st and I can do not hi ng el se God hel p me. Amen. "

Thi s orat i on del i ver ed by Doct or Mar t i n, t he Pr i nces moved i nt o del i ber at i on. The Of f i ci al of Tr eves begi n t o at t ack the exami nat i on i n t hi s way.

"Mart i n, you have responded more i mpudent l y t han bef i t s your person, and moreover not t o the pr oposi t i on, you di vi de t he Books i n di f f er ent ways, but


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i n such a way that t hey al l cont r i but e not hi ng t o the i nvest i gat i on.

"The f act i s t hat i f you woul d have r ecant ed t hose i n whi ch t he gr eat par t of your er r ors i s, wi t hout a doubt t he I mperi al Maj est y and hi s i nborn cl emency woul d not t ol er ate t he per secut i on of t he r est of t hem whi ch ar e good.

"However you r evi ve what t he uni ver sal Counci l of Const ance, assembl ed f r om t he ent i r e German nat i on, condemned, and you want t o be def eated t hrough scr i pt ur e, i n whi ch you vi ol ent l y rant . "For what does i t matt er t o make known a new Cont r over sy about mat t er condemned f or so many ages by t he Chur ch and

t he Counci l ?

" Unl ess by chance an expl anat i on must be r ender ed t o any one about anyt hi ng what soever .

"The f act i s i f he car r i ed hi s poi nt once t hat he must be r ef ut ed by scr i pt ur es, whoever cont r adi ct s t he Counci l s and t he i deas of t he Chur ch, we shal l have not hi ng sur e or f i xed i n Chr i st i ani t y.

"And thi s i s t he reason why t he I mper i al maj est y asked of you a si mpl e and pl ai n r espone, ei t her negat i ve or af f i r mat i ve.

" Do you wi sh to support al l your wr i t i ngs as f or t he Chur ch? Or t o i n f act r et r act somet hi ng f r omt hem?"

Then Doctor Mar t i n asked t hat t he I mper i al Maj est y al l ow hi m, l ed and pr event ed by sacr ed scr i pt ur es, not t o be f or ced t o repl y agai nst hi s consci ence wi t hout t he mani f est argument s of hi s opponent s.

The r esponse sought was not sophi st i cal , but si mpl e and st r ai ght - f orwar d.

He had not hi ng el se t han what what he had al so gi ven bef ore: Unl ess by suf f i ci ent ar gument s hi s Adver sar i es l ay out t he consci ence caught by t hose, whi ch t hey t hemsel ves cal l , er r or s, nor was he abl e to get out of t he net s i n whi ch he had been i nvol ved. Not di r ect l y t r ue ar e whatever t he Counci l s have deci ded, on t he cont r ary, t he Counci l s have been mi st aken and have of t en def i ned thi ngs cont r ary t o t hemsel ves, t her ef ore t he ar gument of hi s opponent s does not car r y wei ght .

He was abl e to poi nt out t hat t he Counci l s have gone wr ong, he was not abl e to r et r act what was car ef ul l y pl ai nl y repr esent ed i n scri pt ur e.

To whi ch not hi ng was r epl i ed by the Of f i ci al , t hat not even i n t he l i t t l est poi nt , f orsooth, was he abl e to show t hat t he Counci l had gone wr ong.

Doctor Mar t i n pr omi sed t o t r ul y show t hat he was abl e and wi l l i ng.

When however dar kness covered t he ent i r e audi t or i umeach accor di ngl y went home t o hi s own home.

A good part of t he Spani ards f ol l owed af t er t he man of God, Lut her , as he was depar t i ng f r om t he I mper i al Maj est y and Tr i bunal , wi t h yel l s and mocki ng

gest ur es i n a gr eat r oar .

On Fr i day af t er Mi ser i cor di a Domi ni , when the Pr i nces, El ect or s, Dukes, and t he r emai ni ng Ranks who were accust omed t o be pr esent at consul t at i ons had convened, t he Emperor sent a Decree i nt o t he Senate contai ni ng t he f ol l owi ng: "Our ANCESTORS and t he Chr i st i an Pr i nces t hemsel ves, were i n no way l ess obedi ent t o t he Roman Chur ch than now Doct or Mart i n Lut her at t acks i t , And because he has t aken i t i nt o hi s hear t not t o depart even a hai r ' s wi dt h f r om hi s er r or s, we ar e not abl e devi at e f r om t he di gni f i ed Exampl e of our Ancest ors, i n def endi ng t he anci ent f ai t h, and by br i ngi ng ai d t o the Roman seat : Mart i n Lut her hi msel f and hi s f ol l owers we pur sue wi t h excommuni cat i on, and by ot her ways i f t hey appear f or t he ext i ngui shi ng .


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" Never t hel ess we ar e unwi l l i ng to vi ol at e the gi ven and recei ved secur i t y, r ather we ar e about t o take pai ns t hat he r etur n preser ved t o the pl ace whence he was summoned. "

Thi s st at ement of Emper or Char l es t he l eadi ng El ect ors , Dukes, soci et y of t he Empi r e, t ur ned over t hr ough t he ent i r e Fr i day af t ernoon, even an ent i r e Satur day f ol l owed, i n t hi s way, t hat Doctor Mar t i n as yet r ecei ved no response f r om t he I mper i al Maj est y.

I n the meant i me he was seen and vi si t ed by many Pr i nces, Compani ons, Barons,

Caval r y Of f i cer s, Pr i est s, r el i gi ous and l ay, nor can I say f r om t he number of t he commons, These ever occupi ed t he senate nor wer e t hey abl e t o get t hei r f i l l by seei ng. Two br oadsi des wer e even put up, one agai nst Doctor Lut her , t he Ot her , as i t seemed, f or t he Doctor.

Though by a gr eat many i nt el l i gent men, t hi s ver y deed was craf t i l y r eckoned by hi s Enemi es so t hat an occasi on woul d be empl oyed f or annul l i ng the gi ven saf e conduct .

The Monday af t er J ubi l at e Sunday ( Thi r d Sunday af t er Easter ) , bef ore di nner, t he Ar chbi shop of Treves decl ar ed to Doctor Mar t i n that he shoul d pr epar e t o appear bef ore hi m f our days at t he si xth hour bef ore l unch, havi ng agai n appoi nt ed a pl ace.

On Sai nt Gr egory' s Day, shor t l y bef ore l unch, he who was f r omt he Cl eri cs of t he Ar chbi shop of Tr eves r et ur ned t o Lut her , wi t h t he order of hi s Pri nce, seeki ng, t hat on t he next day at t he hour r ecent l y desi gnated he appear at t he i nn of hi s Lor d.

Wednesday af t er t he bi r t h of Geor ge, compl yi ng wi t h t he agr eement , Doct or Mar t i n ent er ed t he i nn of t he Ar chbi shop of Treves, l ed i n by hi s Pri est and t he I mper i al Her al d, wi t h t hose f ol l owi ng hi m who tr avel ed wi t h hi m f r om Saxony and Thur i ngi a as he came here, and some ot her cl ose f r i ends besi des, wher e bef or e t he Ar chbi shop of Treves J oachi m t he Marqui s of Br andenburg, George t he Duke of Saxony, t he Bi shops of Augsburg and Br andenburg, George t he Compani on Teacher of t he Teut ons, J ohann Bock of Ar ge?, Vuer dheymer , and Pent i nger t he Doct or s.

Doctor Voeus, f r omt he cl eri cs of t he Marqui s of Baden, began t o speak and pr ot est ed t hat Lut her hi msel f was not cal l ed i n t hi s, so that t hey woul d consul t wi t h hi m as i f i n a publ i c debat e or di sput e, but onl y out of Chr i st i an char i t y and a cer t ai n mer cy, t he Pr i nces obt ai ned f r om t he I mper i al Maj est y t hat t hey be per mi t t ed to encour age hi m mer ci f ul l y and af f ect i onat el y.

Then he sai d, "The counci l s, even i f t hey have decr eed cont r adi ct ory t hi ngs, have not never t hel ess decr eed cont r ar y t hi ngs, Because i f t hey had er r ed i n t he hi ghest degr ee, i f you wi l l , on t hat account never t hel ess t hey have not overt hr own thei r aut hor i t y, merel y so much as anybody woul d want t o st r i ve agai nst t hose t hi ngs by hi s own sense. "

I nf er r i ng much f r om t he Cent ur i on and Zaccheus, even f r om human ar r angement s, f r om Rel i gi ous cer emoni al decr ees, conf i r mi ng t hat al l t hose t hi ngs wer e

sanct i f i ed t o r est r ai n changes, accor di ng t o t he nat ur e and change of t he t i mes, nei t her ar e t he changes, accor di ng t o the nat ur e and change of t he t i mes, nor i s t he Chur ch abl e t o be wi t hout human ar r angement s.

t he t r ee i s l ear ned f r om i t s f r ui t s.Never t hel ess many good t hi ngs are sai d to ar i se f r om l aws. The f act i s t hat

Sai nt Mar t i n, Sai nt Ni chol as and many ot her Sai nt s at t ended Counci l s.

Next , Luther ' s books woul d rouse up t r emendous di st urbances and unbel i evabl e upr oar s.

Because i n the book On Chr i st i an Fr eedom t he commons i s t aken advant age of t o cast of f t he yoke, t o est abl i sh di sobedi ence: Now i t i s by f ar di f f er ent t han


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when t her e was one hear t and soul t ogether among t he f ai t hf ul , so t here i s need f or l aws. Besi des i t must be consi der ed t hat si nce he had wr i t t en many good works, and wi t hout a doubt i n good spi r i t , e. g. Concer ni ng t he Thr eef ol d J ust i ce, and other s, t he Devi l al r eady works t hi s t hr ough hi dden ambushes, so t hat al l hi s wor ks be condemned f or et er ni t y. For f r om t hi s whi ch he wr ot e l ast , i t t r ul y i s j udged how t he t r ee not f r om t he f l ower but f r om t he f r ui t si s r ecogni zed.

Then he added wor ds about t he mi d- day Devi l and the wor k by wal ki ng i n dar kness and the f l yi ng ar r ow.

The ent i r e speech was exhor t at ory, f ul l of r het ori cal commonpl aces about honest y, t he ut i l i t y of Laws, and consci ence f r om t he r egi on of danger s, and communal and i ndi vi dual sal vat i on.

At t he begi nni ng, t he mi ddl e, and t he end r epeat edl y i mpr essi ng that t hi s admoni t i on was made wi t h the most wel l - di sposed wi l l and a cer t ai n except i onal mercy by t he Pr i nces.

Concl udi ng, he added t hr eats i n t he Epi l ogue, sayi ng t hat i f he wer e t o per si st i n t he pr oposi t i on, t he Emper or woul d pr oceed t o expel hi m f r om t he Empi r e, admoni shi ng hi m t o ref l ect and wei gh out t hese and t he r emai ni ng t hi ngs.

Doct or Mar t i n r epl i ed, "Most Mer ci f ul and I l l ust r i ous Pri nces and Lor ds, Concer ni ng t hat most mer ci f ul and ki ndl y wi l l , f r omwhi ch t hi s admoni t i on began, I t hank you as humbl y as I can.

"For I r eal i ze t hat I am a l i t t l e man f ar l ower t han t hat I shoul d be r emi nded by Pr i nces so gr eat . "

Then he bol dl y pr ocl ai med that He di d not r epr oach al l t he Counci l s but onl y t he Counci l of Const ance, f or t hi s r eason above al l , because i t condemned the wor d of God, whi ch J ohn Hus made mani f est i n the Ar t i cl e condemned ther e, t hat t he Church of Chr i st i s t he company of t he pr edest i ned.

I t i s cer t ai n t hat t he Counci l of Const ance condemned t hi s Ar t i cl e and t hus consequent l y t hi s Ar t i cl e of our f ai t h: I bel i eve i n t he hol y Chur ch,

Uni ver sal .

Accor di ngl y he sai d t hat he was not abl e t o r ecant and t hr eaten hi s l i f e and bl ood, t her ef ore he was not now r educed t o bei ng f orced to r et r act t he evi dent wor d of God.

For i n thi s def endi ng he ought t o obey God r at her t han men.

And he sai d he was not abl e to avoi d the Scandal of f ai t h on thi s occasi on, f or t he Scandal was t wof ol d, of char i t y and of f ai t h. Of Char i t y, because i t consi st s of mor al s and l i f e, of Fai t h or , i n t r ut h, of doctr i ne, because i t consi st s of t he word of God, and he was not now abl e t o avoi d t hi s, For i t was not i n hi s power so that Chr i st not be t he r ock of Scandal .

I f t he sheep of Chr i st wer e f ed by t he pur e f ood of t he Gospel s, t he f ai t h of Chr i st t r ul y pr eached, and t he Eccl esi ast i cal Magi st r at es wer e t r ul y good and pi ous, who woul d f ai t hf ul l y do t hei r dut y, t her e woul d be no need t o bur den t he Church wi t h human t r adi t i ons et c.

He knew t hat Magi st r at es and ones i n power must be obeyed even though t hey l i ved evi l l y and unj ust l y.

He knew t hat i t must be yi el ded t o one' s own sense, and he taught t hi s i n hi s wr i t i ngs, and he woul d most obedi ent l y mai nt ai n al l t hese, onl y he woul d not be dr i ven t o deny t he wor d of God. Af t er Doct or Mar t i n l ef t , t he Pr i nces di scuss what shoul d be answered t o t he man.


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Accordi ngl y he was recal l ed i nt o t he di ni ng- r oom, t he Doctor of Baden sought t he ear l i er mat t er s agai n, admoni shi ng t hat he submi t hi s own wr i t i ngs t o the j udgement of t he Emper or and the Empi r e. Doct or Mar t i n repl i ed humbl y and modest l y t hat he nei t her al l owed nor woul d he al l ow t hat he be sai d t o have r un away f r om t he j udgement of t he Emper or , Nobl es and Ranks of t he Empi r e. For he was so f ar f r omavoi di ng t hei r exami nat i on t hr ough f ear t hat he woul d al l ow hi s own t o be wei ghed most exact l y r ather by t he l east , onl y l et t hi s be done by the aut hori t y of t he di vi ne word and sacr ed scri pt ur e.

However t he word of God was so evi dent on hi s behal f t hat i t woul d not al l ow t o yi el d unl ess havi ng been t aught t hi ngs bet t er t han t he word of God.

For he l ear ned t hat Sai nt August i ne wr ote t hat t hi s honor hol ds onl y i n t hose books whi ch ar e cal l ed Canoni cal , so he woul d bel i eve t he t r ue ones; t he Ot her Doct ors i n t r ut h woul d be val ued f or ever so gr eat sanct i t y or doct r i ne, i f t hey wr ote t r ue thi ngs - - onl y t hen woul d he bel i eve t hem: On t hese poi nt s Sai nt Paul wr ote to the Thessal oni ans, Exami ne everyt hi ng, what i s good keep.

And t o t he Gal at i ans: Even i f an Angel comes f r om heaven and pr eaches somethi ng di f f erent , l et hi m be anathema, and so he must not be bel i eved: For t hat r eason he humbl y asked that t hey not urge hi s consci ence bound by t he chai ns of scr i pt ur e and t he di vi ne word t o deny the word of God so cl ear and

t hat t hey consi der hi m commi t t ed and t hey especi al l y br i ng about bef ore t he I mper i al maj est y that he not be f orced t o do anyt hi ng i n t hi s mat t er agai nst hi s consci ence, otherwi se he woul d do ever yt hi ng r ather most obedi ent l y.

As he was sayi ng these t hi ngs t he Marqui s of Br andenbur g, El ector J oachi m, asked hi m whether he had sai d t hat he woul d not yi el d unl ess r ef ut ed by sacr ed scr i pt ur e.

Doct or Mar t i n r epl i ed, "Al so, most mer ci f ul Lor d, by the cl ear est and evi dent pr oof s possi bl e. "

So when t hi s Meet i ng was adj our ned, t he rest of t he Pri nces set out i nt o the Senat e, t he Ar chbi shop of Treves summoned Doct or Mar t i n t o hi s own

Di ni ng- r oom, wi t h J ohannes Ecki us hi s own Of f i ci al and Cochl eus havi ng been sent : Doctor J erome Schur f f and Ni chol as Ambsdor f f were st andi ng by Doctor Mart i n Lut her .

There t he Of f i ci al t hen began t o adduce pr oof j ust as a Sophi st and a Canon Lawyer , def endi ng t he case of t he Pope.

heresi es al most al ways arose f r omsacred wr i t i ngs, as Ar r i ani sm f r om t hi s passage of t he Gospel : J oseph di d not know hi s wi f e, unt i l she bor e hi s f i r st - bor n.

Next havi ng pr ogr essed so f ar , i n or der t o st r i ve to t ear l oose t hi s pr oposi t i on, t hat t he Chur ch uni ver sal i s t he company of t he Sai nt s, He even dar ed t o make wheat f r omt are, and Li mbs f r om t he excrement s of bodi es.

Af t er maki ng publ i c t hese and si mi l ar r i di cul ous and wort hl ess i deas, Doct or Mart i n and Doct or J er ome Schur f f r epr oved t hem, sober l y never t hel ess, as havi ng nothi ng t o do wi t h t he matt er i t sel f , J ohannes Cochl eus somet i mes maki ng noi se i n t he mi dst of t hi s, he t r i ed t o per suade Doct or Luther t o desi st f r omwhat he began and t o abst ai n compl et el y f r omwr i t i ng and t eachi ng t her eaf t er .

At l ength t hey depart ed.

Ar ound eveni ng of t he same day, t he Ar chbi shop of Treves announced to Doct or Mart i n, t hr ough hi s agent Ambsdor f f , t hat t he publ i c saf et y was l engt hened by t he Emper or i nt o t wo days, so t hat he woul d meanwhi l e be abl e to t al k wi t h


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hi m.

So on t hi s next day, Doct or Peut i nger and Doct or Baden woul d come to hi m and he hi msel f woul d i ndeed t al k wi t h hi m.

Ther ef ore on Thur sday, Sai nt Mark' s Day i t sel f , bef ore Noon, Peut i nger and Baden at t empt ed t o persuade Doct or Mart i n t o al l ow wi t hout r eser vat i on and compl et el y t he j udgement by the Emper or and t he Empi r e on hi s own wr i t i ngs.

He repl i ed: He woul d do and al l ow ever yt hi ng i f onl y they rel i ed on t he

aut hori t y of sacred scr i pt ur e: For other wi se he woul d commi t t o nothi ng l ess.

For God spoke thr ough the Pr ophet , Do not t r ust i n pr i nces, i n t he sons of men, i n whomt here i s no sal vat i on.

The same: Accur sed i s he who t r ust s i n man.

To the more vehement ur gi ngs he r epl i ed t hat nothi ng l ess shoul d be al l owed t o t he j udgement of men than t he wor d of God.

So they went away sayi ng t hat t hey woul d return bef ore l unch so t hat he coul d del i ber at e how he woul d repl y bet t er.

Af t er l unch they r eturned, t hey at t empt ed i n vai n the same thi ng whi ch bef or e Noon.

They begged t hat he submi t hi s wr i t i ngs at t he l east t o the j udgement of a f ut ur e Counci l .

Lut her al l owed t hi s, but on t hi s condi t i on, t hat t hey t hemsel ves shoul d show t he excer pt ed Ar t i cl es f r omhi s own books whi ch woul d be submi t t ed to t he Counci l , i n such a way nevert hel ess t hat t hey gi ve j udgement about t hose f r om t he Scr i pt ur es and t hat t hey pr ove t he cont r ar y f r om t he t est i moni es of t he same.

And so af t er t hose men l ef t Doctor Mar t i n, t hey tol d t he Ar chbi shop of Treves t hat Mart i n pr omi sed t hat he woul d commi t hi s wr i t i ngs t o t he Counci l , i n some Ar t i cl es, and meanwhi l e he woul d be si l ent about t he same.

Whi ch Doct or Mar t i n had never consi der ed, he who had never been abl e to be persuaded by nei t her any warni ngs nor t hreat s t o want t o ei t her r enounce hi s Books or submi t t hemt o t he j udgement of men, books whi ch he had f or t i f i ed by cl ear and evi dent Scr i pt ur al t est i moni es, unl ess he wer e pr oven i ncont est abl y by sacr ed wr i t i ngs and pl ai n ar gument s t hat he had err ed.

So i t happened by a si ngul ar gi f t of God t hat t he Ar chbi shop of Treves who was about t o l i st en t o hi m personal l y summoned Doct or Mart i n, When, si nce he had percei ved a cont r adi ct i on whi ch Peut i nger and Baden had sai d, he asser t ed t hat he woul d not under t ake a cost l y case, unl ess he had l i st ened t o hi m: For ot her wi se he was about t o approach the Emper or at once and woul d say what t he Doct ors had repor t ed.

The Ar chbi shop of Treves i n f act act ed most mer ci f ul l y t owar d Doctor Mar t i n, f i r st , by r emovi ng al l t he Wi t nesses, both f r omt he Emper or and the Empi r e and i n par t i cul ar f r om t he cour t of t he Counci l .

Doct or Mar t i n conceal ed nothi ng f r omTr eves i n t hi s conver sat i on, mai nt ai ni ng t hat i t woul d hardl y be saf e t o ent r ust so gr eat a matt er t o those men, who af t er at t acki ng wi t h new commands t he one cal l ed f or t h under t he pr ot ect i on of saf e- conduct , condemned hi s own opi ni on and approved t he Bul l of t he Pope.

Then af t er hi s Fr i end was admi t t ed, t he Ar chbi shop of Treves asked f or r emedi es f r omDoct or Mart i n wi t h whi ch he woul d be abl e to answer t hi s case, Luther r epl i ed, "Ther e ar e not bet t er r emedi es t hat about whi ch Gamel i n Act s 5 has sai d, wi t h Sai nt Luke as wi t ness, I f t hi s need t he counsel of men, l et


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i t be di ssol ved, I f i n t r ut h i t i s f r om God, ye wi l l not be abl e t o di ssol ve i t .

"The Emper or and the r anks of t he Empi r e can wr i t e to t he Roman Pont i f f t hat t hey know f or cer t ai n, i f t hi s pr oposi t i on of hi s i s not f r om God, i t wi l l peri sh of i t s own accor d wi t hi n t hr ee nay t wo year s. "

When Tr eves sai d what woul d he do, i f t he Ar t i cl es were excer peted t o be summi t ed t o the counci l , Lut her r epl i ed: "Provi ded t hey ar e not t hose whi ch t he Counci l of Const ance condemned. "

The Ar chbi shop of Treves says t hat he i ndeed f ear ed t hose ver y ones woul d be submi t t ed.

Yet Lut her sai d "I am nei t her abl e nor wi l l i ng t o be si l ent about such a t hi ng, as I amcer t ai n t hat t he wor d of God was condemned by t hose Decr ess, Accordi ngl y I woul d rather l ose my l i f e and head than abandon t he word of t he Lor d so cl ear . "

The Ar chbi shop of Treves seei ng t hat Doct or Mar t i n woul d by no means submi t t he word of God t o t he j udgement of men, di smi ssed hi m merci f ul l y, And he r epl i ed t o hi m aski ng t o obt ai n a mer ci f ul l eave f or hi msel f f r om t he I mper i al Maj est y: "I wi l l pr oper l y t ake car e of t he t hi ng and I wi l l car r y back wor d of i t . "

And so not much af t er , t he Of f i ci al of Treves, wi t h a cer t ai n Maxi mi l i an Secr et ar y f r om t he Chancel l or s of t he Emper or at hand, t ol d Doct or Mar t i n i n hi s own l odgi ng, by t he command of t he Emper or , That , because havi ng been admoni shed so many t i mes by the I mper i al Maj est y, El ectors, Pr i nces, and t he Or der s of t he Empi r e i n vai n, he di d not want t o r et ur n to t he hear t and uni t y, i t r emai ns f or t he Emper or ( as Advocat e of t he Cat hol i c f ai t h) t o proceed.

So the command of t he Emperor i s t hat he r eturn to saf ety wi t hi n t went y- one days hence, under t he pr otect i on of t he saf e- passage, and, by f r eel y savi ng hi msel f , not t o upset t he commons on the way by nei t her pr eachi ng nor wr i t i ng.

When he heard t hi s, Doct or Mar t i n most modest l y r epl i ed, " J ust as i t was

pl easi ng t o t he Lor d, so t hi s was done, Let t he name of t he Lor d be pr ai sed. "

Then he added, Fi r st of al l , I , a suppl i ant , gi ve t hanks to t he Most Ser ene I mper i al Maj est y, Pri nces, and r emai ni ng Or ders of t he Empi r e, as gr eat l y as I can f or so ki nd and cl ement a hear i ng, and f or t he f r ee conduct both f or comi ng and goi ng.

For he nei t her desi r ed anyt hi ng i n them, except t he ref ormat i on t hr ough sacr ed scr i pt ur e so gr eat l y cal l ed f or by hi m. Ot her wi se he woul d suf f er ever ythi ng f or t he I mper i al Maj est y and t he Empi r e, l i f e and deat h, f ame and i l l r eput e, r et ai ni ng absol ut el y not hi ng f or hi msel f , except t he uni que f r ee wor d of t he Lord i n or der t o conf ess and bear wi t ness f or t hat : Fi nal l y, most humbl y commendi ng hi msel f t o the I mper i al Maj est y and t he ent i r e Empi r e and subj ecti ng hi msel f t o i t .

So the next day, t hat i s, t he Fri day af t er J ubi l at e, on t he t went y- si xt h day of Apr i l , af t er he sai d goodbye t o hi s Pat r ons and f r i ends who had most f r equent l y vi si t ed hi m and he br oke hi s f ast , he depar t ed f r om t her e at t he t ent h hour bef or e Noon, accompani ed al so by t hose who had set out wi t h hi m on hi s way t here, WhomCaspar St ur m t he Heral d af t er some hour s f ol l owi ng f ound at Oppenhei m, St urm pur sui ng accor di ng t o t he spoken command of t he Emper or Char l es.- - - - - - - -

The usual dai l y PRAYER of Luther .

St r engt hen God t hat i n us whi ch you have wor ked and compl et e your wor k whi ch


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you have begun i n us, f or your gl or y, Amen.

- - - - - - - - -

Phi l i p Mel cant hon To t he the St udent s of t he School at Wi t t eber g, i n the Year 1546. On t he deat h of Luther .

Doct or Phi l i p Mel ant hon publ i cl y r eci t ed t hese f ol l owi ng wor ds at t he ni nt h hour bef ore l unch, when we had assembl ed f or a r eadi ng of Paul ' s Epi st l e t o t he Romans, r emember i ng t hat he di d thi s on t he advi ce of ot her Lords, f or

t hi s r eason, so t hat r emi nded about t he t r ut h of t he mat t er we woul d not embr ace t hose f i ct i ons bei ng scat t ered ( because t hey knew t hat many t al es were ci r cul at i ng her e and t her e about t he death of Lut her ) .

O Best Young Men, You know t hat we have under t aken t o comment on t he Gr ammat i cal Expl i cat i on of t he Epi st l e t o t he Romans, i n whi ch i s cont ai ned t he t r ue doctr i ne about t he Son of God, whi ch God wi t h si ngul ar benef i t r eveal ed at t hi s t i me t o us t hr ough our most bel oved Reverend Father and Teacher Doctor Mar t i n Lut her . But on t hi s day, t he wr i t i ngs are so sad, whi ch have so i ncr eased my gr i ef , t hat I do not know whether I am abl e t o cont i nue hereaf t er i n t hese schol ast i c endeavors her e: However I t her ef ore wi sh t o r ecal l t hese t o you on t he advi ce of other Lords, so t hat you may know, how t he mat t er t r ul y i s, so t hat you your sel ves nei t her spr ead f al sehoods about t hi s deat h nor have f ai t h i n ot her t al es spr ead her e and t her e ( as i s

accust omed t o be done) . On t he day of Mer cur y ( Wednesday) , whi ch was t he sevent eent h of Febr uar y, Lor d Doct or, a l i t t l e bef or e di nner , began t o l abor under t he cust omar y i l l ness, namel y, t he pr essur e of humor s, i n the ori f i ce of t he st omach ( under whi ch I r emember he al so l abored sever al t i mes) t hi s Si ckness r ecur r ed af t er di nner , wi t h whi ch when he st r uggl ed, he sought sol i t ude i n t he near est bedr oom: And, he sl ept t here f or cl ose t o t wo hour s, unt i l t he pai ns i ncr eased, And si nce Doctor J onas was sl eepi ng al ong wi t h hi m i n the same room, Lord Doct or Mart i n cal l ed and woke hi m, and tol d hi m t o get up and make sur e t hat Ambrose t he Pedagogue of t he Chi l dren heat t he r oom si nce he woul d go i n there.

Soon Al bert Compani on f r om t he nobl es of Mansf el dt came there al ong wi t h hi s wi f e and many ot her s, whose names have not been expr essed i n t hi s wr i t i ng on account of t he hast e.

At l ast when he sensed t hat t he end of hi s l i f e was pr esent , bef ore t he f our t h hour of t he f ol l owi ng 18 Febr uar y he commended hi msel f t o God wi t h t hi s prayer .

Mei n Hi ml i scher Vater [ My Heavenl y Fat her ] ewi ger Barmhert zi ger Got t[ et ernal Compass i onat e God] Du hast mi r dei nen l i eben Sohn [ You have t o me

your bel oved Son] unser n HERREN I hesum Chr i st um of f enbaret [ our LORD J esus Chr i st r eveal ed] den hab i ch gel er t [ whomI have known] den hab i ch bekandt[ of whomI have acquai nt ance] den l i ebe i ch [ whomI l ove] und den ehr e i ch

f Yr mei nen l i eben Heyl andt [ and whom I honor as my bel oved Savi or ] und Er l sser [ and Redeemer] Wel chen di e Got t l osen ver f ol gen [ Whom t he Godl ess persecut e] schenden und schel t en. [ di ssi pat e and r epr oach. Ni m mei ne Seel e zu di r . [ Take my Soul t o you. ]

I nn dem r edet er i nn di e dr ey mal . [ He sai d t hese thr ee t i mes. ]

I n manus t uas commendo Spi r i t ummeum, r edemi st i me Deus ver i t at i s.

I nt o your hands I commend my Spi r i t , you have redeemed me God of t r ut h.

Unso hat Got t di e wel t gel i ebet x. And God so l oved t he wor l d etc.

Af t er r epeat i ng t hese pr ayer s sever al t i mes, he was cal l ed by God i nt o the ever l ast i ng School and i nt o ever l ast i ng j oys, i n whi ch he enj oyed t he company of t he Fat her , Son, Hol y Spi r i t , and of al l t he Pr ophet s and Apostl es.


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Ach! , t he Char i oteer and t he char i ot I sr ael di ed, who gui ded t he Chur ch i n t hi s l ast age of t he wor l d: For t he doct r i ne of t he Remi ssi on of si ns and t he pl edge of t he Son of God was not apprehended by human sagaci t y, I t was r eveal ed by God t hrough t hi s man, Whomwe saw was r oused even by God.

Accordi ngl y l et us cher i sh the memory of t hi s Man and t he t ype of Doct r i ne handed down by hi msel f and l et us be modest and l et us consi der t he enor mous cal ami t i es and great changes whi ch f ol l owed t hi s deat h.

I pr ay You O Son of God, Emanuel cr uci f i ed f or us and r esur r ected, gui de,

pr eserve, and prot ect your Chur ch, Amen.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

SOME Di st i chs f ol l ow, About t he Deeds of Lut her , whi ch compr i se t ogether t he number of year s, even a cer t ai n day i n i t sel f , as: Doctor Mar t i n was born i n 1485. Whi ch t i me i s cont ai ned i n t hi s f ol l owi ng

Di sti ch.

You wer e born of I ssl eben O di vi ne Prophet Lut her , Rel i gi on shi nes, wi t h you as Leader , t he Pope l i es dead.

MASTER' S YEAR. 1503.

The Yout h capt ur es t he ranks of Mast er i n t he ci t y of Er f or d Dwel l i ng ther e af t er compl et i ng f our l ustr a of hi s l i f e.

MONASTI C YEAR. 1504.

The empt y super st i t i on t he yout hf ul body wi t h a hood Adorns, t hi s al l was f or a decei t t o you - - good! - - O Pope.

THE YEAR i n whi ch he came t o Wi t eber g. 1508.

Wi t h Chr i st ai di ng, Luther i s sent t o Al bi or , How gr eat was the Seer ? how much

gl or y f or t he School ?

THE DOCTORAL YEAR and i n whi ch he was i n Rome. 1511.

He obtai ned the Doct or al r anks by t he or der of Staupi cus, When he came f r om t he ci t y of t he f i er ce I t al i an Wol f .

YEAR OF RESTORI NG r el i gi on. 1517.

You dr ag t he wor k of r el i gi on out of t he muck, wi t h Chr i st As l eader , O t r ut hf ul Lut her l eani ng on the r i ght hand of God.

THE YEAR OF THE CONFESSI ON BEFORE I mper i al Caj et an, whi ch i s ext ant i n Vol ume 1. page 207. 1518.

Lut her publ i cl y decl ar es Chr i st i n t he ci t y of t he Emper or Not car i ng about your l ooks O sever e l eader .

THE YEAR OF THE DEBATE at Lei pzi g. 1519.

Ecci us i s def eat ed by t he vi r t ue of J ust Lut her , As he debat es on t he J ul y day i n t he ci t y of Lei pzi g.

YEAR OF THE CONFESSI ON I N t he Senat e of Wor ms. 1521.

Bef ore t he f oot of t he Emper or, he stands bef ore t he Power f ul nobl es, t he Nei ghbor who approaches t he bank of t he Rhi ne at Wor ms.


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YEAR OF PATHMUS. 1522.

On account of t he r ages of Car l st ad he r uns back To t he Saxon homes, And he agai n snat ches t he sheep Fr omt he cr uel t hr oat s.

YEAR OF MARRI AGE AND of t he f ar mer s' Revol t . 1525.

The Revol t of t he Far mer i s quel l ed by power f ul i r on, Lut her ent er s i nt o the pur e pr omi ses of marr i age.

YEAR OF THE CONVENTI ON of Mar pur g. 1529.

At t he Mar pur g Feast he harshl y t r eat s t he enemi es of Chr i st , As al l Vi enna st ands of f f r om t he cr uel Danube- r esi dent s.

YEAR OF THE CONVENTI ON of August anus. 1530.

The conf essi on of f ai t h t o al l t he St at es of t he Empi r e I s pr oposed, t he j oyous gl or y of Chr i st r et ur ns.

YEAR OF THE DEATH of Lut her . 1546.

The l i ght st ood i n an obscur e or i gi n f or t wi ce ni ne pur i f i cat i ons, So t hat , O

br i ght Lut her , you woul d di e on your ancest r al soi l .

These Di st i chs we ( i . e. Pol l i car i us) changed f r omsome paper s whi ch my Fr i end J ohannes St ol t z of Wi t t eberg gave as a gi f t t o M. Wol f gang St ei n i n 1547.

[ Some poems of J ohannes Pol l i car i us f ol l ow: a Eul ogy of Lut her ; an Epi t aph of Lut her ; and "On t he Execr abl e and Abomi nabl e Papal Bl i ndness, f r omwhi ch God t hr ough Lut her snat ched us" ( I n Sapphi cs Stanzas) .

Pol l i car i us, t he sel f - st yl ed Cygnaeus, Swan- l i ke, wr ot e t he Pr ef ace ( Praef at i o) i n whi ch he says he col l ect ed some poems " i n pr ai se of t hi s our gr eat est Theol ogi an" and "al so added hi s Li f e, j ust as I f ound i t wr i t t en by our Doctor Phi l i pp, al ong wi t h t he Proceedi ngs of Worms" ( al i qui d Car mi ni s congessi , i n l audem hui us maxi mi nostr i Theol ogi . Adi eci quoque Vi t am ei us,

si cut i eam r eper i per scr i pt am a D. Phi l i ppo nost r o, una cum Acti s Vuor mat i ensi bus] . The Pr ef ace i s dated 20 Oct ober 1547. Pol l i car i us si gns i t t he "Pr i est of t he Word of God at Wei senf el d ( ?) " ( M. I oannes Pol l i car i us Cygnaeus apud Vuei senf el senses Ver bi Dei Mi ni st er ) .

[ Last i s a "Poem of Thanks, Because t he l i ght of t r ut h l ong si nce ext i nct on ear t h, God agai n roused up i n t hi s age i n Germany t hr ough Mar t i n Lut her , " by Geor g Fabr i ci us ( 1516- 1571) , a poet , hi st ori an, and ar chael ogi st , who was t he r ect or of t he FYr st enschul e ( Pr i nce' s School ) at Mei ssen. ]

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Thi s t r ansl at i on was commi ssi oned by Dr . Steve Sohmer c1995- 6. You may f r eel y di st r i but e, copy or pr i nt t hi s t ext f or non- commer ci al pur poses. Pl ease di r ect any comment s or suggest i ons t o: Rev. Robert E. Smi t h of t he Wal t her Li br ar y at Concordi a Theol ogi cal Semi nar y.

E- mai l : smi t hr e@mai l . ct sf w. edu

Sur f ace Mai l : 6600 N. Cl i nt on St . , Ft . Wayne, I N 46825 USA Phone: ( 260) 452- 2123 Fax: ( 260) 452- 2126 ____________________________________________________________________________


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________________________________________________________ f i l e: / pub/ r esour ces/ t ext / wi t t enber g/ mel an: l i f ec- 02. t xt .


The history of the life and acts of Luther 2 Melancthon, Philip Translated by T.Frazel 1995.pdf

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