The life of Martin Luther : related from original authorities

Front matter

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

3?4.

THE

Preface

It is a well known fact, that even the best Preface will not secure a book against evil reports and calumny ; therefore the compiler renounces all intention of seeking to convince those of its merits who look for the ideal of historical science in an over-wise officiousness ; or such as have had their tastes vitiated by the deceptive arts of modern writers, (who prefer to give their own vagaries instead of letting history tell its own story, and who do not believe that any work can be instructive or profitable, unless it is tinctured with their own reasoning and arguments.)

The chief merit of this work consists in this, that all self-babbling has been totally omitted. It presents the history of Luther exclusively from authentic sources, and indeed in his own language or that of his cotemporaries . The compiler has, therefore, abstained from making any addition of his own : he has studied his authorities carefully, and has examined, compared and compiled with the utmost watchfulness. It is natural, that it was necessary often to abbreviate and condense, — that the speech should sometimes be changed from the direct to the indirect, — or that some other turn should be made ; — it was also necessary sometimes to unite two reports into one ; but a material alteration the compiler has as little allowed himself as a material addition. His entire additions confine themselves to the connection of the various authorities, the borrowed passages, &c, so that they may be compared to the string upon which the pearls are strung, or the mortar which binds the buildingstones of a house. Whoever will take the trouble to compare the authorities cited at the close of each chapter, will find this assertion verified.

This mode of representation necessarily has its defects : it is natural that the language will not be as fluent and smooth as if it had come from a single pen. But if the work has otherwise succeeded, — the gain for the reader will be greater than the loss. Here he has a Luther as he actually presented himself, and as he appeared to those who surrounded him ; — no ideal, and no caricature. It is true, that the reader must form his own judgment, but the material has been laid before him in all candour ; and as regards the language, — the freshness, originality and variety of the same, will compensate him for the lack of smoothness and symmetry.

Accordingly it is evident, that this History of Luther stands diametrically in opposition to those histories which represent him " in the light of our times" or dress him in this or that garment, according to the peculiar plan that may, perchance, be followed.

As regards the selection, made from the rich treasury which stands at the command of a biographer of Luther, the compiler does not expect to have satisfied all, nor that he has always hit upon the right. But he must also, in this respect, for the understanding ef some, remind, wherein his work differs, if not from all, still from many of its equals.

While in many biographies of Luther the whole history of the Reformation is embodied in extracts, so, on the contrary, the compiler has strictly kept in vi.

PREFACE.

view, that he only intended to write a Life of Luther ; he has therefore only so far touched upon the scenes of the Reformation as Luther was therein a participator. Thus giving in these narrow limits an unequally greater amount of details than are generally to be found in most other biographies of Luther.

The compiler has directed his particular attention to Luther's Works: whatever was found in any manner of importance, has at least received notice according to its contents ; of the more important, copious extracts, or at any rate, specimens have been given. A particular Index at the close of the volume gives information upon this point. The compiler hopes, that his work in this manner will serve as a guide to those who are unacquainted with Luther's Works.

The reader will look in vain for many of the current anecdotes which are to be found in all biographies. The reason of this is, that many fictitious tales have crept into the histories of Luther. Whatever seemed unwarranted or as not harmonizing with other authentic reports, or that which appeared doubtful, the compiler has omitted. The reader can, therefore, more safely rely upon that which has been stated ; for wherever there still existed an obscurity or an unsolved contradiction, he has directed the attention to it in the • notes.

The compiler has not disdained to describe, even in the minutest details, many less important scenes in the life of Luther, whenever the authorities gave him an opportunity to do so, in the hope that such pictures of life would enhance the intuitive contemplation of the whole. To this class belong his interview with the two Swiss, in the hotel of the Bear, in Jena, several of his sick-bed arid travelling stories, &c. &c.

The last days of Luther, his death and burial, have, perhaps, in proportion to the whole, been portrayed with too much exactness : this would probably not have happened, if the completion of the work had not taken place at the same time that the commemoration of the third centennial celebration of Luther's death was solemnized. This demanded some notice.

It may also not be amiss to remark here, that whenever the compiler could get access to the authorities in the Latin original, he never satisfied himself with the translations already at hand, but has translated independently, and diligently exerted himself to hit the antiquated colouring of the language.

Often enough he may not have succeeded, but frequently he has had the satisfaction, that connoisseurs have mistaken the translation for the original.

In order to be able to find any desired portion of the history, there has been appended to each part an Index and Chronological Table, arid a double Index lias also been supplied at the end of the volume.

At the tomb of Luther, then, let this work be dedicated, not to bring him laurels, which he never desired, but to preserve the memory of this exalted teacher in our minds, who has taught us the Word of God as no other has done. Let others make a vain pageant with his name and deeds : it is our duty, ye sons and daughters of the Church, to behold his end and to imitate him in his faith.

THE COMPILER.

Callenberg, Saxony, January, 1846.

Contents

PART I.— Luther's Youth.— From his birth to his entrance into the Augustinian Cloister at Erfurt, 1483-1505.

Page.

Chap. I. — Luther's Parents, Birth and Childhood, 11 II.— Luther at School, 13

III. — Luther studies at Erfurt, 14

IV. — Luther enters the Cloister, 16

PART II. — Life in the Cloister. — From Luther's entrance into the Cloister to his first testimony against Indulgences, 1505- 1517. «. " ~

Chap. I. — Luther's labours in the Cloister and consecration as Priest, . .21 II. — What inward trials Luther had in the Cloister, and how he was

III. — Luther is called to Wittenberg — teaches and preaches there, . 27

IV. — Luther's journey to Rome, and what he learnt there, . . .30

V. — Luther created Doctor of the Holy Scriptures, . . . .32 VI. — Luther contends against the Theology of the Schools, . . .35

VII. — Luther's visitation of the Cloisters and other labours, in the years

VIII. — Luther is grieved at the shameful proceedings of the venders of

Indulgences, . ._ 43

PART III.— The time of the first Testimony.— From the appearance of the 95 Theses to his imprisonment in the Wartburg.— From Oct. 31, 1517, to May 4, 1521.

Chap. L— The 95 Theses, ... 49

II. — The reception of the 95 Theses, 61

III. — Journey to Heidelberg, 64

IV. — Defence of the 95 Theses, . . . . . . . .67

V. — Citation to Rome, and hearing before Cajetan, . . . .80

VI. — Difficulties and progress in consequence of the Augsburg transac-

tions, . . 96

VII. — Beginning of the negotiations with Miltitz, . . . .103

VIII. — The Discussion at Leipzig, Ill

IX. — New Foes and new Friends, new Contests and fresh Courage, . 123

X. — Concerning several writings of Luther's, which pleased him better

than his controversial writings, 153

XI. — The last attempt at reconciliation with the Pope, . . .166 XII.— The Papal Bull, and the burning of it, 172

XIII. — Citation and Journey to Worms, 183

XIV. — Luther at the Diet 193

XV.- departure from Worms, and Imprisonment, .... 208

vii.

viii.

CONTENTS.

PART IV.— The Struggles of the Reformation.— From the

abode at the Wartburg to the close of the Diet of Augsburg. — From May 4, 1521, to October, 1530.

Page.

Chap. I. — Luther in his Patmos, ........ 213

II.— Return to Wittenberg, 228

III. — Labours and Contests in the year 1522, 257

IV. — Contests, Suffering and Sympathy.— 1523 and 1524, . . .277

VI. — Luther's Marriage, 317

VII.— Contests and Building-up.— 1525 and 1526, . . . .323

VIII. — A year of Suffering— 1527, 333

IX. — The Work of Visitation and the Catechisms, .... 346 X. — The Dispute concerning the Sacrament, and the Marburg Conference, 354

XI. — Concerning several transactions which preceded th© Diet of Augsburg, and Luther's connection with them, .... 370 XII. — Luther at Coburg during the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, . . 383

PART T.— Labours of the Reformation.— From the conclusion of the Diet of Augsburg to the Schmalkald Convention. From Oct. 1530, to the 14th March, 1537.

Chap. I.— Councils for Peace. 1531-32, 419

II. — Affliction on account of others and in his own person. 1531-33, . 436

III. — How Luther sings — teaches to pray, and preaches. 1533-34, . 458

IV. — The translation of the Bible completed. 1534, . . . .479

V. — Luther and Vergerius, or the Negotiations concerning the Council.

1535, 487

VI. — The Dispute concerning the Sacrament, and the Wittenberg

VII. — The Convention at Schmalkalden, and the Schmalkald Articles.

1537, 506

PART VI.— The Last Years of Luther's Life.— From the re-

turn from Schmalkalden to his death. — From March, 1537, to the 17th February, 1546.

Chap. L— The Antinomians. 1537 and '38, .... . 529

II.— The Leipzig Whitsuntide Festival. 1539, . . . .545

III. — Luther in the Family Circle and at the Table, . . . .561

IV. — The Last Labours, 583

V. — The Last Negotiations, 591

VI.— The Last Polemical Writings, . . . ' . . . .610

VII.— Grief in his Old Age. Preparation for Death, . . . .628 VIII.— The last days of Luther's Life, his Death and Burial, . . .637

Alphabetical Index of Subjects, 685

Index of the Works of Luther mentioned in this volume, . . . .691

PART L

LUTHER'S YOUTH.

FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS ENTRANCE INTO THE CLOISTER OF THE AUGUSTINES AT ERFURT, 1483-1505.

CONTENTS OF PART I.

Born at Eisleben of poor parents, brought up at Mansfeld, under strict discipline, as pupil at Magdeburg struggling against want, Martin Luther learns to bear the yoke in his youth. At the university of Erfurt God adds inward trials (tentatio) to his diligence in prayer and study, (oratio et meditatio,) in order thus to make of the pious young man, not a jurist but a true divine (thcologum). But both from himself as well as from his friends God's design with him is yet concealed ; in the anguish of his terrified conscience, he, yet wholly ignorant of the gospel way of salvation, suddenly, and in opposition to the wishes of his father, enters the cloister.

CHRONOLOGICAL SYNOPSIS.

1483, Nov. 10. Luther is born at Eisleben, Chap. 1

(?)1484. Luther removes to Mansfeld with his parents, " 1

1497. frequents the school at Magdeburg, - - " 2

1498. frequents the school at Eisenach, " 2

1501. enters the university of Erfurt, ----- " 3

1503. receives the degree of bachelor of arts, - " 3

1503. is taken ill and comforted, ------- 3

1505. recoives the degree of master of arts, - " 4

1505. enters the cloister, "4

Chapter I

luther's parents — his birth and childhood.

On St. Martin's eve, it being the 10th day of November of the year of Christ our Saviour 1483, 1 there was born to John Luther, by profession a miner, 2 and to Margaret, his wife, their son s Martin Luther. 3 But the place of his nativity was Eisleben* a town subject to the Counts of Mansfeld, and situate near the Harz Mountain. Now being, on the day after his birth, brought to the church of St. Peter, he was there baptized, according to the institution of Christ, in the name of the Holy Trinity, and named Martin.

From Eisleben Martin's parents removed to Mansfeld. Here his father was chosen a member of the town council, and was highly esteemed by all honest men for his uprightness. Martin's mother, whose maiden name was Lindemann, was possessed of many of those virtues that adorn the character of an honourable woman. She was especially distinguished for the propriety of her deportment, her piety and diligence in prayer, so that the other worthy matrons of the place regarded her example as one deserving of imitation.

Luther's parents, at first, lived in very straitened circumstances, his father being a poor miner, and his mother often employing herself in carrying wood on her back in order to procure a subsistence for the family ; but a kind and bountiful God subsequently blessed the father's labours, so that he became the owner of two furnaces at Mansfeld. Their son Martin they trained up in the fear of God, and, by means of their family discipline, faithfully habituated him to the performance of every good work. They, however, were very

Luther's youth.

severe with him, so that he, in consequence, grew exceedingly timid. He himself says : " My father once scourged me so severely, that I conceived for him great aversion and dislike, till he again gained me to himself. My mother, at another time, because of an insignificant nut, beat me till the blood flowed : and the austere and stern life which she led, was the cause of my afterwards entering the cloister and becoming a monk. They, nevertheless, meant it perfectly well, but were not able, as regards dispositions, to observe the distinction, according to which punishment must be meted out. For punishment must be conducted so, that the apple may be with the rod."

When the capacities of the boy were sufficiently developed, his faithful parents took care to have him learn something, and accordingly sent him to the Latin school, 5 where he diligently and speedily learned the Ten Commandments, the Children's Creed, the Lord's Prayer, besides his Donatus, or Latin grammar for beginners, his Cisio Janus, (an almanac,) and Christian Hymns.

Authorities. — M. John Mathesius, (minister of the gospel at St. Joachimsthal, and formerly resident in the family of Luther,) Leben Luthers, (in sermons), first printed in 1565, Serm. 1. M. Phil. Melanchthon, Vita Martini Lutheri, (according to the edition of Heumann Gotting, 1746,) p. 3-5. Luther's Tischgesprache, edition of Stangwald, 1700, fol. 673, a and b.

Notes. — 1.) Luther's mother, whom Melanchthon (p. 4,) repeatedly questioned on the subject, distinctly remembers the day, was not certain, however, as to the year ; but his brother Jacob stated, that they had always in the family regarded the year 1483 as that of his brother's birth. Luther himself regarded it so ; for in a Hebrew psalter, preserved in the council library at Dantzig, he has written : " Anno 1483 natus ego."

2.) Not originally, however; Luther himself writes : " I am the son of a farmer. My father, grandfather and great-grandfather, all were farmers. Subsequently my father removed to Mansfeld, and there was engaged in mining." (Hall. ed. vol. 22, p. 2264.)

.3.) In older records the name is likewise found written Luder, Liider, Luter. Luther. At first Luther himself wrote it in different ways ; sometimes too he played upon the word, often, in the beginning of the Reformation, writing : Mart. E-leutherius, once M. Luther, Christi lutum. The derivation of the name he gives in his " Namensbuchlein." (Hall, ed. of his works, vol. 16, p. 1284.)

4.) It afforded Luther pleasure to think of the place of his birth, and he was often heard to remark: " Hrcc est Islebia ! There is life!" What the occasion was of his parents removing to this place from Mora, is not known. The account derived from M. Nicholas Rebhan (sup. at luther's youth.

Eisenach, in the beginning of the 17th cent.), and first found in Seckendorf, (Historia Lutheranismi, p. 20, Add. I.), namely : that Luther's parents had gone from Mora to Eisleben, on the occasion of an annual fair, and that the pregnant mother was here unexpectedly confined, improbable already in itself, is sufficiently disproved by the statement, that Eisleben never had a fair in the beginning of November.

5.) Conrad Schliisselberg, in his Oratio de Vita Lutheri, says : that he had often heard from Luther's relatives at Mansfeld, how his father frequently had, before the bed of the child, aloud and fervently prayed God, to grant this his son grace, that, being mindful too of his own name, (" Luther v signifies " pure," Seckendorf, German, by Elias Frick, p. 48), he might be instrumental in advancing pure doctrine; how he further, as a friend of godliness and the sciences, and because of his son, had cultivated the society of the ministers of God's Word, of school-teachers and others.

Chapter II. Luther At School

The Saxon Latin schools of that day were of quite a respectable character. Martin, therefore, being now in his fourteenth year, was sent to Magdeburg, where he attended the school of the Null-brethren, (that is, the Franciscans). John Reineck, 1 who, afterwards too, always remained a faithful friend of his, accompanied him and entered the school at the same time. At this place Martin too went around begging his bread and crying his " panem propter Deum." In after years he himself remarked : " I would not have those lads despised that stand at the doors, saying their panem propter Deum, and singing their bread-song. I too was such a fragment-gatherer, 2 and obtained my bread at the doors of the houses, especially in my dear town of Eisenach." For to the latter place the boy had betaken himself, after he had been only one year at Magdeburg ; his parents consenting to the change and desiring it, as it would place him among his mother's relatives, who resided in that town. Having here too for a time obtained his bread by singing at the doors of the houses, a pious matron 3 at last took him to her table, she entertaining for the boy, because of his singing and earnest prayer at church, a cordial affection.

In the school at Eisenach, he, for the space of four years, enjoyed the instruction of a teacher, 4 who taught grammar better and more ably than was done elsewhere. There too he finished his grammatical studies. Being quick of comprehenluther's youth.

sion and having distinguished talent for eloquence, he soon was in the advance of his fellow pupils, excelling them both in oral and written exercises, in verse as well as prose.

Authorities. — Melanch. p. 6. Mathes. 1. Pred. Luth. Works, vol. 22, p. 222.

Notes. — 1.) John Reineck subsequently was overseer of a foundry at Mansfeld, and several letters of Luther's are addressed to him.

2. ) The German is " Partekenhengst," being a nickname given to such poor pupils as went around singing before the doors of the houses and asking for alms, especially for provisions, (particulse, fragments).

3. ) She is said to have been the wife or widow of John Schweickard Kotta, and daughter of Henry Schellen or Schalken, burgomaster of Ilefeld. Compare Uckert, Luther's Leben, vol. 1, p. 64.

4. ) Most probably the rector John Trebonius. Compare Loscher's Reformationsacten, vol. 1, p. 206.

^ CHAPTER III.

LUTHER STUDIES AT ERFURT.

In the year 1501, Luther's parents sent him to the university of Erfurt, maintaining him there from the honest proceeds of their mine, as he himself with praise relates of his father: "He showed me all due love and kindness, maintaining me at the university of Erfurt by his strenuous exertions and labours, and enabling me thus to become what I am."

At Erfurt he came in contact with the cavilling dialectics of those times, 1 and with his ready powers of perception he speedily made himself master of them. As his earnestly-inquisitive spirit, however, longed for different and more substantial food, he privately read most of the ancient Latin authors, the works of a Cicero, Virgil, Livius and others. And this he did not merely after the manner of schoolboys, on account of the words, but for the sake of the instruction which they afford, and the mirror of human life which they hold up. This caused him more attentively to weigh the sense and the meaning of these writers, and, being gifted with a faithful and sure memory, he always had at his command most of what he had read or heard. Yet with all this, and though he was naturally of a lively and joyous disposition, he notwithstanding every morning began his studies with earnest prayer and attendance at church; in reference to which too he was accustomed to remark : " By diligently praying, one studies more than half." Nor did he ever either doze away or neglect any lesson, but sought opportunities to make inquiries of his teachers, respectfully conversing with them; often, too, reviewing with his chamber-fellow 2 what had been learned ; and whenever there were no public lectures, he could always be found in the university library.

Thus it happened that, on one occasion, as he was engaged in examining the books one after another, in order to inform himself of those that were valuable, that he met with the Latin Bible, a copy of which book, though he was then in his twentieth year, he had never seen before ! With great astonishment he now perceived, that there were many more texts, epistles and gospels contained in it, than were usually explained in the ordinary postils or in the churches from the pulpits. Then carefully turning over the leaves, he came to where in the Old Testament the account of Samuel and his mother Hannah is given ; eagerly perusing this with heartfelt pleasure and joy, and finding it all to be new to him, he began most earnestly to wish that a faithful God would one day likewise make him the owner of such a book !

Shortly after this he was taken severely and dangerously ill, so that he began wholly to despair of his life. But he was visited by an aged priest who comforted him and said : " My baccalaureus, 3 do not despair, you will not die of this illness, our God will yet make a great man of you, and you shall comfort many people. For God early permits those whom he loves and whom he wishes to use for great and good purposes, to bear the holy cross ; and those, that in this school of trial patiently submit, learn much."

It was at this time too, (about 1503,) that another misfortune befell him. On the 3d Easter holyday) he was on his way to his parents. As he was journeying along, he accidently struck his foot against his sword, which flew out of its scabbard, and wounding him severely, severed one of the larger blood-vessels. He was about half a (German) mile from Erfurt, having with him but a single companion. The blood gushed forth at a fearful rate and could not be checked. He therefore placed himself on his back, at the same time raising up his leg and pressing his finger against the wound. But now the leg began to swell up excessively. At length a surgeon arrived from town and bandaged the wound. But Luther, in view of death, cried :

" Mary, help ! " And when during the night the wound opened and he fainted away, he again called only upon Mary. " At that time," said he, afterwards, " I would have died in full reliance on Mary ! "

Authorities. — Mathes. 1. Pred. Luther's Works, vol. 22, p. 222. Melanch., p. 6, sq. Colloquia L — i, Msta., in Dr. Martin Luther's Reisegeschichte by Lingke., Leipzig, 1769, p. 12. (See further, Uckert, P- «•)

Notes. — 1.) Particularly celebrated among his teachers was M. Iodocus Truttvetter, whom Luther highly revered, and during whose rectorate he was inscribed in the records as : Martinus Ludher ex Mansfeld.

2. ) Uckert, (on the authority of Unschuld, Nachrichten, vol. 20, p. 568,) without giving further particulars, calls the subsequent pastor at Nordhausen, Laurentius Suss, Luther's chamber-fellow. The truth of his having been this, however, remains very questionable. But this Suss was without doubt a fellow inmate of the cloister at Erfurt.

3. ) The degree of bachelor, Luther (according to Motschmann Erfordia litterata, p. 698,) had received in the year 1503.

Chapter IV. Luther Enters The Cloister

In the year 1505, Luther, whose genius began to excite the admiration of the whole university, obtained the degree of master of arts, and, in accordance with the advice of his relatives, who meant to cultivate his extraordinary talents for public life and the service of the state, he now applied himself to the study of law.

But not long after this, 1 he, contrary to the expectation of his parents and relatives, all of a sudden entered the cloister qj the Augustines at Erfurt. The reason why he chose this mode of life, which he regarded as the one most favourable for growth in piety and the acquisition of divine knowledge, was this : he had repeatedly already, on more earnestly considering the wrath and severe judgments of God, been suddenly seized with such terror, as nearly to expire under the influence of it. Melanchthon himself was witness how, even in afterlife, during a conversation on a doctrinal point, he became so lost in thought and grew so dispirited, that he cast himself upon a bed in a chamber near by, and again and again in his prayer, repeated to himself the words : *' He has concluded all under sin that he might have mercy upon all." These terrors of conscience he experienced first, or at least most intensely, at the time when an intimate friend of his was assassinated, and a heavy gust and fearful clap of thunder so greatly terrified him, that he fell prostrate on the ground and made a vow to enter into a cloister, there to serve and to appease God by saying mass, hoping thus to earn eternal salvation by means of monastic holiness. 2 It was not deliberately or willingly, therefore, that he became a monk, but, as he himself states, being of a sudden encompassed with the terrors of death, he made a reluctant and forced vow.

To carry out his intention, he secretly one evening, after a repast to which he had invited his countrymen and friends, suddenly entered the cloister, and on the following day sent letters to his parents and friends, informing them of the step he had taken. It grieved them even to tears, that a genius of so high an order should be buried alive in the cloister. His fellow students and friends accordingly beset and literally besieged the cloister for two days, in the hope of regaining Luther ; but the doors were locked and bolted ; and for a whole month no one was permitted to come to him. His father returned a written reply to his letter, and addressed him with " Du," (thou) whilst before, because of his being magister, he had addressed him with "Ihr," (you) ; he besides declared to him his withdrawal of all favour and paternal good-will. Soon after this an epidemic disease proved fatal to two of his sons, and he was informed that Martin, too, had fallen a victim to it. His friends on this occasion insisted and urged him to sacrifice his personal wishes, and to give his consent to his son's entering the holy order and becoming a monk. But he hesitated and refused, till finally he was persuaded and said : " Be it so ! God grant that he may do well ! " Yet he did not consent freely or with a willing heart.

Luther, now, according to the custom in cloisters, laid aside his baptismal name" Martin, and was thenceforth called Augustinus, a change which he afterwards greatly abhorred, and regarded as a denial of Christ and of baptism.

Authorities. — Melanchthon, p. 7, sqq. Mathes. 1. Pred. Ratzenberger in Seckend, p. 21, Add. III. a. Luther's Works, vol. 18, p. 55 — vol. 2, p. 820. Nic: Selnecceri, VitaL-i (edit. Mayeri Witteb. 1687) p. 18. Fragment of a sermon of Luther's, on 2 Epiph. 1544, " Against secret betrothments," taken from the MS. of Valent. Bavarus, and con.

luther's youth.

tained in W". E. Tenzel's historical report concerning the beginning and the progress of the Reformation, and published by I)r. E. S. Cyprian, 3d edition. Leipzig, 1718, chap. 3.

Notes. — 1.) The chronology in this as well as in the earlier part of Luther's life, generally is rather unsettled ; yet it is certain that in 1501 he entered the university, that in 1503 he received the first philosophical degree, that of Bachelor, and in 1505 that of Master, although Melanchthon departs from the latter statement. He entered the cloister most probably even before the close of the year 1505 : with this Luther's own statement (Works, vol. 18, p. 55,) can at least be made to agree. If he actually entered on the day of Alexius, it cannot have been till 1506.