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TO Beginne first at their patriarch Luther you must vnderstand that he was a Monke and prossed Frier of the order of S. Augusti∣ne, Ingendred (as Lindanus writteth) by a Deuill called Incubus transformed in the shape of a man.
This forelorne man did breath his 3. Religous vewes made to God pouertie chstitie and obedience for the disotdai∣ned loue he bare to honours, riches and volpties of this word.
He confesseth that Sathan did teach him that the Messe was but Idolatrie & Eull of it selfe for thus he writteth in his booke Intitituled de Missa priuata et vn∣ctione Sacerdotum tom 7. vvitimberg anno 1558. saying: contigit me semel sub ne∣diam noctoni subito Expergefieri Ibi Sathan me∣cum coepit huiusmodi disputationem, audi Inquit Luthere Doctor perdocte, nosti enim te quindecim annis Celebrasse Missas priuatas horrenda essent Idolatria, quid si ••bi non adfuisset Corpus & Sanguis Christi sed tantum Panem et vinum ado∣rasses et alis adhoerandum proposuisses: Cui Ego Respondi sum vnctus Sacerdos accepi vnctio∣nem et consecrationem ab Episcopo.
That is to say: it hapned me once about midnight to be suddenly awakned out of my sleepe, there Sathan begoud this disputation with me, heare me (said he) most learned Doctour Luther, thou knoewest thou hast al most daylie Celebrated Masses these 15 yeeree by pass? what yf such priuie Masses were horible Idolatrie? what yf the Bodie &
Blood of Christ were not reallie there, but only that thou didest adore bread and wine, & offer the same to by adored by others? whome to I did answere, that I was a Priest, and that I hade reciued vnction & consecration from a Bishope.
after these words Luther reharseth the arruments which Sathat did bring in to disprooue the Masse, and that the Prot∣starts peruse to day for the same effect. this is the cause wherefore I can not Esteeme but good of the Masse seeing that Sathan (which euery where doth procure the damenation of man) did disprooue the same.
Now good Reader thou mayest easily surmise how this woefull Prophete of the Protestants was send by Sathan to disturbe and vexe the Church of God with his heresies and not from Iesus Christ to refrome the same.
He confesseth that he did withstand and resist his conseience the space of ten yeeres to giue assent to his erroneous doctrine which he did learne from Sath∣an and did persuad his Bretheren of VVitemberge to doe the same in abolis∣hing the Masse.
Beholde this foresworne Monke enne∣Ennemie
to truth condem̄eth as S. paul sayeth by his proper Iudgment and light of his owen conscience.
VVhat edification, may you receiue by his Example, but to learne from him to with stond our owen consciennce when wee haue any Euill tourne to doe.
He confesseth that he was mooued with hatred and Enuy to depairt from the Romaine Church, because the pro∣mulgation of the Indulgences was not graunted to the Religious order of S. Augustine.
he confesseth that he was citizen of the Romaine Church and after his dep∣airting thence he sheweth not to what Church he did retire, but graūtetd that he was that time him selfe alone. Thus Luther was in no Church at all.
He confesseth that he was mooued to Excogitate new Errours against the doctrine of the Romaine Church for the great hatred he bare against the Pope of Rome.
He teacheth in his cōmentaies vpon the 50. of Genesis that yf the wyfe re∣fuse to come the hand maid shalbe wel∣come a fine Example of Edifitation to all such as are prone to abuse weemen by
Luther graunteth that yf he hade bene in the time of the Potriarch Noe that he wold not haue beleeued God threatning the destruction of the world by the gen∣erall flood,
Luther confesseth that he did hate God in his heart, beholding the seuiritie of his Iustice in the punition of sinners.
Luther confesseth in his dispate at Lipsia against Doctour Eckius before ••he Duke of Saxonie that his purpose was not begune for the reuerence of God ••or yet should end for his hōnour.
Luther confesseth that he could no more stay him selfe from venus game then he could doe from spittinh,
This apostata Frier againe did rate him ••elfe so much that he thought no shame ••o say that a Thousand Cyprians and a Thnusand Augustins were not to be ••ompared to him in doctrine belonging ••o Saluation.
To shewe that he did climbe to the ••ope of pride he thought no shame to ••y with a braisen front that he wold ••ot admite the Angells of Heauen to be ••dges to his doctrine althought he was ••ached by Sathan (according to his
owen confession) to abrogate the Masse
Thus good Reader thou mayest easily surmie whether this new Gospeller was rulled with the humble Spirit of Christ or by the the proud Spirit of Sathan.
Luther writteth againe that good works make no man good nor Euil wo∣rkes make no man Euill, and that no sinne how great so euer it be can cond∣emne the man but only Infidelitie.
Luther writtetg againe: let vs take heede to keepe our selues from sinne, but much more from good workes. be∣holde the councell of this new Euange∣list to be altogether Sathanicall.
As concerning his auditours he con∣fesseth that they are more auaritious, vnmercifull, luxurius, stubborne vn∣Godly, and much more worse since the time that the light of the Gospell was reuealled vnto them, then men were in the time of Pope rie. Musculus lib. de Prophetia Christi: and smidelinus con∣clhis. 4. de Planetis Errantibus affirmed the same.
Lastly he affirmeeth with Caluin that all the workes of Iust men are but deedly sinnes▪ so according to Luthers & Cal∣uins doctrine and Theologie it is all a
like to be faithfull and deceitfull, to giue Almes to a poore man and spoile hem of his goods, to sleepe with his owen wife or his nigbours, for so much that all the workes of lust men are but deadly sinnes, ••nd their faith so Effectuall in Christ ••hat it shall blotte all thir sinnes away (••s they say) with the twinckling of on ••ye.
when Luther did Endeuour him selfe ••o driue away an vncleane spirit out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 possessed person, the Deuill terrified ••im in such a fashion that he was cons∣••rained to take the flight him selfe, and ••ue his owen life from the daunger of ••at Deuill. Staphilus his Disciple as he ••we this miracle did wrote the apolog 2
And to confirme this pestiferous doc∣••ine disordained life, and leud maners ••readfull death did come to him (after ••e was well whitled and drunke of the ••pper before) so suddenly in lying in ••s bedde, to charge him to compeare ••efore the fearefull Iudgment of God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make account of his works, that he ••de not time & space to cry for meicy ••r his sinnes, as sundrie Autors worthie ••credence wrote of his finall end.
So yf Sathon hade come out of hell in
the shape of a man to preach in a pulpit as Ministers doe what greater shewe o•• reason could he haue sette doune to giu•• the raines of licentius libertie to th•• vnruilled nature of man to deliueur th•• selues to all kind of vncleannesse, Ig•• nominie, malicc wickednesse Enu•• mischiefe murther contētion, trecheri•• murmuring, backbitting, pride, dissen••tion, dissobediencc, crudelitie, and i•• other sinnes of like kind, and since pe••suade sillie soules that their only faith i•• Christ shall deface & put away all the•• fromer and suchlike other sinnes in th•• moment of an houre.
This is the Edification which Eue•• one may learne as much from the doc••rine of Luther as from his former life.
Thus much of Luther Patriarch to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Protestants.
lib. de seruo ar∣bitrio. Tom. 2. Luther fighceth against his o••ven consciēce
In prnfat Tom. 1.
in cōment in cap. 30. gsnes pag. 455
his infid∣elitie Tom. 6. cōment in cap. 7. Genes. pag. 105
praefat. Tom. 2. his hatr∣ed agai∣nst God