Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther

M >> Martin Luther >> Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Of the Imperial Diet at Augsburg, Anno 1530.

The Imperial Diet held at Augsburg, 1530, is worthy of all praise;
for then and from thence came the Gospel among the people in other
countries, contrary to the wills and expectations both of Emperor
and Pope; therefore, said Luther, what hath been spent there should
be grievous to no man. God appointed the Imperial Diet at Augsburg,
to the end the Gospel should be spread further abroad and planted.
They over-climbed themselves at Augsburg, for the Papists openly
approved there of our doctrine. Before that Diet was held, the
Papists had made the Emperor believe that our doctrine was
altogether frivolous; and when he came to the Diet, he should see
that they would put us all to silence, insomuch that none of us
should be able to speak a word in defence of our religion; but it
fell out far otherwise; for we openly and freely confessed the
Gospel before the Emperor and the whole Empire. And at that Diet we
confounded our adversaries in the highest degree. The Imperial Diet
at Augsburg was invaluable, by reason of the Confession of Faith,
and of God's Word, which on our part was there performed: for there
the adversaries were constrained to confess that our Confession was
upright and true.

Of the Confession and Apology which at Augsburg was exhibited to the
emperor.

The Emperor, said Luther, censured understandingly and discreetly,
and carried himself princely in this cause of religion; he found our
Confession to be far otherwise than the Papists had informed him-
namely, that we were most ungodly people, and led most wicked and
detestable kind of lives; and that we taught against the first and
second tables of the Ten Commandments of God. For this cause, the
Emperor sent our Confession and Apology to all the universities; his
council also delivered their opinions, and said: "In case their
doctrine were against the holy Christian faith, then they thought
fitting that His Imperial Majesty should seek to suppress it with
all his power. But if it be only against ceremonies and abuses (as
now it appeareth to be) then to refer it to the consideration and
censure of learned people," etc. This, said Luther, was good and
wise counsel.

Dr. Eck confessed openly, and said: "The Protestants cannot be
confuted and opposed out of Holy Scriptures." Therefore the Bishop
of Mainz said unto him, "Oh, how finely our learned Divines do
defend us and our doctrine!" "The Bishop of Mainz," said Luther,
"holdeth our doctrine to be upright and true, but he only courteth
the Pope, otherwise long before this time he would have played
strange pranks with his Holiness."

Of the Strength and Profit of the Confession and Apology of
Augsburg.

God's Word is powerful; the more it is persecuted the more and
further it spreadeth itself abroad. Behold the Imperial Diet at
Augsburg, which doubtless is the last trumpet before the dreadful
Day of Judgment. How raged the world there against the Word! Oh,
said Luther, how were we there fain to pray the Pope and Papists,
that they would be pleased to permit and suffer Christ to live
quietly in heaven! There our doctrine broke through into the light
in such sort, that by the Emperor's strict command the same was sent
to all Kings, Princes, and Universities. This our Doctrine
forthwith enlightened many excellent people, dispersed here and
there in Princes' courts, among whom some of God were chosen to take
hold on this our doctrine, like unto tinder, and afterwards kindled
the same also in others.

Our Apology and Confession with great honour came to light; the
Papists' confutations are kept in darkness, and do stink. Oh, said
Luther, how willingly would I that their confutations might appear
to the world; then I would set upon that old torn and tattered skin,
and in such sort would baste it, that the flitches thereof should
fly about here and there; but they shun the light. This time
twelvemonths no man would have given a farthing for the Protestants,
so sure the ungodly Papists were of us. For, said Luther, when my
most gracious Lord and master, the Prince Elector of Saxony, before
other Princes came to the Diet, the Papists marvelled much thereat,
for they verily believed that he would not have appeared, by reason
(as they imagined) his cause was too bad and foul to be brought
before the light. But what fell out? Even this, that in their
greatest security they were overwhelmed with the greatest fear and
affrightments. Because the Prince Elector, like an upright Prince,
appeared so early at Augsburg, then the other Popish princes swiftly
posted away from Augsburg to Innsbruck, where they held serious
counsel with Prince George and the Marquis of Baden, all of them
wondering what the Prince Elector's so early approach to the Diet
should mean, insomuch that the Emperor himself thereat was
astonished, and doubted whether he might come and go in safety or
not. Whereupon the princes were constrained to promise, that they
would set up body, goods, and blood by the Emperor, the one offering
to maintain 6,000 horse, another so many thousands of foot-soldiers,
etc., to the end His Majesty might be the better secured. There was
a wonder among wonders to be seen, in that God struck with fear and
cowardliness the enemies of the truth. And although at that time
the Prince Elector of Saxony was alone, and but only the hundredth
sheep, while the others were ninety-and-nine, yet, notwithstanding,
it so fell out that they all trembled and were afraid. Now when
they came to the point, and began to take the business in hand, then
there appeared but a very small heap that stood by God's Word.

But, said Luther, we brought with us a strong and mighty King, a
King above all Emperors and Kings, namely, Christ Jesus, the
powerful Word of God. Then all the Papists cried out, and said,
"Oh, it is insufferable that so small and silly a heap should set
themselves against the Imperial power." But, said Luther, the Lord
of Hosts frustrateth the councils of Princes. Pilate had power to
put our blessed Saviour to death, but willingly he would not; Annas
and Caiaphas willingly would have done it, but could not.

The Emperor, for his own part, is good and honest; but the Popish
Bishops and Cardinals are undoubtedly knaves. And forasmuch as the
Emperor now refuseth to bathe his hands in innocent blood, therefore
the frantic Princes do bestir themselves, do scorn and contemn the
good Emperor in the highest degree. The Pope also for anger is
ready to burst in pieces, because the Diet, in this sort, without
shedding of blood, should be dissolved; therefore he sendeth the
sword to the Duke of Bavaria, to proceed therewith, and intendeth to
take the crown from the Emperor's head, and to set it upon the head
of Bavaria; but he shall not accomplish it. In this manner ordered
God the business, that Kings, Princes, yea, and the Pope himself,
fell from the Emperor, and that we joined with him, which was a
great wonder of God's providence, in that he whom the devil intended
to use against us, even the same, God taketh, maketh and useth for
us. Oh, wonder, said Luther, above all wonders!

Of the Assembly of the Princes at Brunswick, 1531.

When the Princes (professing the Augustinian Confession) held an
assembly at Brunswick, then Luther received three letters, wherein
was shown that the Prince Elector of Saxony journeyed five days
through the Marquisate of Brandenburg, whereas Prince Henry of
Brunswick would neither give him convoy nor permit him to go through
his country. But the Prince Elector of Brandenburg, in his country,
gave him princely entertainment in every place, and many went out of
Brunswick to meet and to receive him. But the Landgrave of Hessen
went on the other side, through Goslar, without a convoy.
Christianus, King of Denmark, the second day of the assembly,
delivered up the Confession of his Faith, and was held and esteemed
a second David. Whereupon Luther said, God of his mercy assist him
for the sanctifying of his name. But, said he, the pride of the
Duke of Brunswick may easily redound to his own hurt and prejudice,
who, contrary to all law and equity, denied a safe convoy to one of
his best and truest friends. Moses likewise desired a safe convoy
to the King of the Amorites; but being denied, he thereby took
occasion to raise war against him. The Lord of Heaven grant us
peace. The same day other letters came to Luther from Brunswick,
showing that the King of Denmark in person, the Ambassadors of
England and France, and of many Imperial cities, were arrived there,
among whom, some carried themselves very strangely towards those of
the Protestant League. Luther said, under the name and colour of
the Gospel, they seek their own particular advantages, but in the
least danger they are afraid. These politic and terrestrial leagues
and unions have no hand nor share in the Gospel: God alone
preserveth and defendeth the same in times of persecution. Let us
put trust and confidence in him, and with him; let us erect and
establish an everlasting league, for the world is the world, and
will remain the world.

Of the Convention and Assembly of the Protestant State at Frankfort-
on-the-Main, 1539.

God, of his infinite mercy, said Luther, assist them at Frankfort-
on-the-Main, that they may Christian-like consult and conclude, to
the end that God's honour, the good and profit of the commonwealth
may be furthered. Indeed, it is a very small assembly; it hath a
strange aspect to be held in an Imperial city; but forasmuch as they
are thereunto constrained by the adversaries, they must be content.

The Papists, void of shame, do unwisely undertake to possess
themselves of the cities, and by fraud to draw thereunto their
adherents; then they make show of keeping peace, but in the meantime
they contrive how to separate and confuse the whole body, and of the
members to make a massacre; they secretly fall upon Hamburg, upon
Minden, and Frankfort. They might more wisely go to work, if by
open wars they assailed us. At Augsburg they openly condemned us;
and if those of our party had not been patient, it had presently
gone on at that time. Anno 1539, the 16th of February, Luther
commanded public prayers to be made for the day at Frankfort, that
peace might be confirmed. For if the Landgrave be incensed, then
all resistance will be in vain. The Landgrave neither provoketh nor
giveth occasion to wars; but, on the contrary, when he is provoked,
he still seeketh peace; whereas, notwithstanding, he is better
furnished and provided for wars than his adversary is, by 2,000
horse, for Hessen and Saxon are horsemen; when they are set in the
saddle, they are then not so easily hoisted out again. As for the
high-country horsemen, they, said Luther, are dancing gentlemen.
God preserve the Landgrave; for a valiant man and Prince is of great
importance. Augustus Caesar was wont to say, "I would rather be in
an army of stags, where a lion is general, than to be in an army of
lions where a stag is general."

The 25th of February, Luther prayed again with great devotion for
peace, and for the day at Frankfort, that through civil wars (which
are most hurtful), the religion, policy, and God's Word might not be
sophisticated and torn in pieces. Wars are pleasing to those that
have had no trial or experience of them; God bless us from wars.

Footnotes:

{1} Whatsoever was pretended, yet the true cause of the Captain's
commitment was because he was urgent with the Lord Treasurer for his
Arrears; which, amounting to a great sum, he was not willing to pay;
and to be freed from his clamours he clapped him up into prison.

{2} The name of a rich family.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8