Interpretation of Two Horrible Monsters  

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"Deuttung der cwo grewlichen Figuren" (Wittenberg, 1523) by is a text by Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon.

Full title: Deuttung der zwu grewlichen figuren Bapstesels zu Rom und Munchkalbs zu Freyberg in Meyssen funden

It is was translated in English as Interpretation of Two Horrible Monsters.

Full text of English translation

INTERPRETATION OF TWO HORRIBLE MONSTERS, AN ASS-POPE, FOUND IN THE TIBER AT ROME, IN THE YEAR 1496 ; AND A CALF- MONK, BROUGHT TO LIGHT AT FRIBURG IN MISNIA, IN THE YEAR 1523. BY MARTIN LUTHER AND PHILIP MELANCTHON. AND NOW TRANSLATED BY THE REV. HENRY COLE. OF CLARE HALL, CAMBRIDGE, AND LATE LECTURER OF WOOLWICH, KENT Price One Shilling APRIL 12, 1823. The corresponding Tract--The CALF- MONK. with the INTERPRETATION, by MARTIN LUTHER, is now inthe Press, and will appear in a few Days.

無業 I 168 3b INTERPRETATION OF THE ASS- POPE, BY PHILIP MELANCTHON. SEUN INTERPRETATION 2906. dd.7t OF TWO HORRIBLE MONSTERS, AN ASS-POPE, FOUND IN THE TIBER AT ROME, IN THE YEAR 1496 ; AND A CALF- MONK, BROUGHT TO LIGHT AT FRIBURG IN MISNIA, IN THE YEAR 1523. BY MARTIN' LUTHER AND PHILIP MELANCTHON. AND NOW TRANSLATED BY THE REV. HENRY COLE, OF CLARE HALL, CAMBRIDGE, AND LATE LECTURER OF WOOLWICH, KENT. London : PRINTED BY T. BENSLEY, Crane Court, Fleet Street. PUBLISHED BY J. EEDES, 2, newgate- STREET ; AND SOLD BY W. SIMPKIN & R. MARSHALL, STATIONERS' - HALL- COURT ; AND R. BAYNES, 25, IVY- LANE . 1823. MUSE BRITISH GOTE CHHOW HEPY , SHIT TAB MMOMNAO A OT TEDUDAA LIBE ARE MA ROON TATY ' WOMELEB2 HOWKISTE MO PREFACE. evati THEHE following is the commencement of Luther's Preface to his " Example of Papistical Theology and Doctrine. " - "No true Christian doubts, that all things which are either written or said to the exposure and destruction of the Papal " abomination " and tyranny, tend to shew forth the glory of Christ. For since that " abomination " has laid waste and trodden under foot the kingdom of God and of Christ, we can render no service more useful, more holy, and more pleasing unto God, than by laying waste, and treading under foot this salvation- destroying and Godprofaning " whore" in return, with all our powers : according to that word, Revelations xviii., " Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works in the cup which she hath filled, fill unto her double. How much she hath glorified herself and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her.' " The apostle is here speaking of the tyranny of the Papal " abomination." He speaks very differently from those who contend, that Popery ought not to be so perpetually inveighed against : for he saith, " double unto her double, " &c.: by which exhortation, he B vi would have us to be diligent and indefatigable in hurling at, and destroying this " abomination." " 6 Since, therefore, I am one ofthe Anti-papists, and have been called by divine revelation to the very work of laying waste, ruining, and destroying this accursed kingdom, I willingly and gladly discharge my office, as I have hitherto ever done. And therefore I have resolved to publish this ***** or ENORMITY openly, before the brazen brows and shameless faces of the Papists, that, as they have filled the whole church with enormities of this kind, they may be openly corrected of their " abomination. " But however, they are of so stiff a neck, and so impenitent a heart, that they are not only unwilling to acknowledge these things, to confess them, and to seek amendment ; but they even strive to cover and conceal them, and to adorn and set themselves off, until they shall have regained, (as they think they shall do, ) their former and accustomed show of sanctity ; and thus be enabled again to diffuse and establish these enormities throughout the church.tab- meitsvlee b " Wewill, therefore, compel them to look at these enormities, and will lay bare their turpitudes, and shameless parts ; and, as the prophet saith, " We will cast in their faces the dung of their solemnities ; " that both the people of this age, and posterity, may see and ever remember this SCARLET WHORE, and when they remember her, hate her with perfect hatred, and, with united efforts, detest and persecute her abominable fornications. " London, April 7, 1823 . H. C. INTERPRETATION OF THE ASS- POPE. S God has, at all times, represented in a wonderful manner, by certain figures, as it were with a pencil, his wrath and his mercy ; and, more especially as displayed in the series, fluctuations, increase, and ruin of kingdoms : as in Daniel, chap. viii . , where, after the fourth monarchy, the kingdom of Antichrist is foretold ; that all true Christians being forewarned of it, might beware of its impostures, its blasphemies, its idolatrous modes of worship ; which it has so craftily contrived, and set forth under so plausible an appearance of truth, that the very elect have ever been in danger of being thereby deceived and involved in errors as Christ himself affirms, Matt. xxiv. Therefore God has, during the existence of that pestiferous and tyrannical power, given forth many SIGNS of it ; and lately also , this horrible figure of an Ass- POPE, which was found dead in the Tiber at Rome in the year 1496 : which so exactly, so plainly, B 2 8 and so conspicuously represents and expresses the whole form of the Papal kingdom, that it seems impossible to have been devised by any effort of human invention. It must, therefore, be confessed, that God himself devised such a FIGURE, on purpose to expose to open view that filthy sink of abomination. It certainly is not an image or representation of grace, but a signification of vehement wrath, by which God declares his abhorrent indignation against the Papal tyranny. For the figure is not only obscene, shameless, and lewd, but it exhibits a formation of limbs and members, monstrous, huge, and confused. FIRST. -The Ass's HEAD describes the Pope. For the true church is a spiritual body, a kingdom assembled together in the Spirit ; and therefore, it neither ought to have, nor can have, any human, visible, external head, or lord, but it has Christ and him only ; who, as Head and Lord, fashions, cherishes, renews, and rules in spirit the inward hearts, through faith. Whereas, contrary to this, the Pope has made himself the visible and external head of the church : and therefore, he is represented by an Ass's Head joined to a human body. For as much as the head of an ass accords with the body of a man, just so much does the Pope of Rome, as a head, accord with the church. Moreover, the holy scriptures, by an ass, signify the external and carnal life, and " the elements of the world : " as in Exod. xiii. And as much as the brains of an ass differ from the reason of man, so much does the doctrine of the Pope differ from the doctrine of Christ. And in the kingdom of the Pope human traditions only have prevailed : it is by these that he 9 has enlarged and exalted himself, and upon this basis he stands. But as soon as he should hear the voice of Christ, or suffer him to preach, he would immediately come to nothing and disappear. And therefore it is, that he so dreads a council for the investigation of truth . Nay, he has not only the brains of an ass, when compared with the word of God and the holy scripture, but even when compared with the law of nature and the light of reason. For this even the professors of civil law testify, who commonly say, that a real canon is a real ass. This also their own books abundantly confirm. So that, he who knows them , need not ask whom he should call an ass ; for a canon, an administrator of the canonical or papal law, a disciple of the Pope, who has the Pope for his master, is always so called. SECONDLY. -The RIGHT HAND, which is like unto an elephant's foot, signifies the spiritual rule of the Pope, by which, he beats down and breaks in pieces all fearful and weak consciences ; for he wounds and destroys souls by his innumerable and intolerable decrees by means of which, he burthens, plagues, and sinks such consciences with an unspeakable anguish and sense of sins ; and that, without any cause or necessity : just as that huge and terrific beast, the elephant, treads under foot, and breaks and bruises to pieces every thing that comes in his way. For, what else is that spiritual rule of the Pope, but a monstrous slaughter-house of consciences ; in which, by a forced confession, by vows of chastity, by impious masses, by a false repentance, by making laws and abrogating them again, by granting diplomas 10 and indulgences at one time, and denying them at another, and by a nugatory superstition concerning the relics of the saints, he rashly, tyrannically, and without, and contrary to the word of God, torments, tortures, ensnares, wounds, and casts down souls, and ultimately draws them aside from the true Christian life and faith, to a vain, empty, sanctity, and an hypocritical show of external works ? according to that of Daniel viii. , " He shall destroy the people of the saints ;" and that of2 Tim. iv. , " Accordingto their own lusts, shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears ; and shall turn away from hearing the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. " For the right hand denotes the internal ministry of the Pope which is exercised over those consciences and souls. And thus, where Christ only ought to reign with his sweet and gentle rule, there, this ass-headed elephantfooted monster, rules with destroying temerity, injustice, and cruelty. "" THIRDLY. - The LEFT HAND of a man, signifies the civil power of the Pope. For although Christ plainly forbade that in Popes, Luke xxii. , " The kings of the nations exercise authority over them, and are called benefactors ; but it shall not be so amongyou; yet the Pope has, by his wily subtleties, artful deceptions, cheats, and machinations at the instigation ofthe devil, gained such an ascendancy, that he not only holds the civil jurisdiction, and to a greater extent than any one of the most flourishing kings, but even sways in dominion over all human empires, and is the Lord of kings and princes ; whom he joins unto himself, in order to strengthen and extend his own monstrous power and authority ; that the pro- 11 "His power phecy of Daniel viii. might be fulfilled , shall be mighty, but not by his own power. "" And he has at length arrived at that height, and stands exulting in that variety of pomp, in that opulence and magnificence, that nothing was ever heard of like it : nor did any one of the Cæsars, or any king, ever excite, wage, and conduct so many wars, or shed so much blood. And while he ought, from the nature of his office and vocation, to be looking to, fostering, and defending the dignity of the word of God and the interests of the church, he is reaching after the principalities and empires of the world, and learning how to increase the magnificence of pomp, and kindle the fires of war: and, carried away with a bent attention to these things, he neglects doctrine, deserts the church, and suffers all things sacred and profane to be borne away, confounded together, and hurled to destruction ! Wherefore, this hand of a man is that, by which his kingdom was constituted, without the authority of the scripture, by human sagacity, design, and policy. While they continually say, It is but just and proper, that the heir of the apostolical see, and the vicar of Christ, should be subject to no one. Although, bythe goodness of God, things are now in that state, that many of the commonalty, and men of other orders, have no obscure knowledge of those most abominably iniquitous pretexts, with which the Papal herd have disgraced themselves and the Christian name. FOURTHLY. The RIGHT FOOT, like the hoof of an ox, represents the ministers of the spiritual rule, and, as it were the hod-men, who build up, and sup- 12 port the Papal kingdom in its oppression of souls. Such as the teachers of Popery, the preachers, the pastors, the confessors, the swarms of monks and vestals, but more especially, the theologians of the schools. For what are all this detestable scum engaged in, but in inculcating and driving into the people, by sermons, by doctrines and confessions, those intolerable perilous laws of the Pope before alluded to, that they might, by this means, hold captive distressed and afflicted consciences under the foot of the elephant ? These are, as it were, the basis, the pedestal, and foundation of the Papal kingdom : which, without these under-strappers at the building, could not have stood for so long a time. For what does all that theology of the schools consist of, but the most vain, fabulous, lying, execrable, satanic figments, and monstrous dreams of monks, by which they overcome, cast down, and hurl to perdition, affrighted and infatuated consciences, as in Matt. xxiv. , " There shall arise false christs and false prophets ? " &c. These have made the Pope a god upon earth ; nay, have exalted him far above God himself; and, in thee, have thrown aside, exterminated, and buried the word of God, the holy scriptures, and Christ himself. So that, one letter from the Pope, would be more terrible, than God himself thundering in his commandments and threatenings. FIFTHLY.-The LEFT FOOT, like the claw of a griffon, represents the ministers of the civil power : that is, the canons, the tribe engaged in the canonical 13 jurisdiction, who of themselves declare, that the most holy canons carry with them the foulest stench of avarice and ambition. And as griffons seize every thing with their claws, and do not easily let go that, which they have once got hold of; so these satellites of the Pope have, with the grapples, as it were, of the canons, dragged together the property of all Europe, which they hold fast with tenacity, mordacity, and indefatigability. So that, this fatal harpy, has sponged the whole world of its souls, its bodies, its fortunes, and its honours, and has marred them and driven them on the road to ruin. SIXTHLY. -The BELLY and BREASTS ofaa WOMAN represent the body of the Pope : that is, the cardinals, the bishops, the mass-priests, the monks, and other spiritual and most holy martyrs, and all the lechers and fattened epicurean swine of the same tribe, who regard nothing else throughout their whole life but eating, drinking, exciting lusts, and indulging and wallowing in pleasures of every kind with every sex ; and that too, with impunity, secured by an unbounded licence and privilege. And even as this AssPope has its female belly naked and unblushingly exposed to the public view ; just so, do they shamelessly lead an abandoned life, stained with every species of vice and profligacy, to the abhorrent offence and corruption of youth and of all nations ; as the fact itself testifies, and as this representation, which may be found in Daniel, plainly describes. And Paul also saith, in his 2 Tim. iii. , " Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. " And Phil. iii., " Whose God is their belly," &c. 14 MoonAnd what does Peter say in his 2d Epistle, chap.ii. , " But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed ; they are not afraid to speak evil of those who excel in honour. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of those things that they understand not ; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption ; and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day-time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they feast with you ; having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin ; beguiling unstable souls ; an heart they have exercised with covetous practices ; cursed children, which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness ; but was rebuked for his iniquity ; the dumb ass speaking with man's voice, forbade the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water ; clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lust of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption," &c. This is drawing out the Pope in lively colours indeed this is giving us some light into the female belly with a witness. And this is just as those impure, L 15 filthy, unmarried ones, who speak to the degradation of matrimony in the chaste, ought to be set forth. For most certainly holy wedlock cannot be represented by a FIGURE SO shameless, lascivious, and meretricious ; because, that is always adorned with the word, the divine blessing, and particular miracles ; is clad in becoming garments, and placed in a becoming situation. Other men, indeed, sin and pollute themselves with open turpitude : such as the Heathens, the Turks, and many of the profane among Christiansadulterers, whoremongers, beasts, &c. These, however, dare what they dare at the expense of their reputation, at their peril, to their infamy and to their cost; never free from the fear of being either dragged to punishment, universally evil spoken of, despised by every one, hissed at by all, and lacerated with universal insult. Whereas, these effeminate ones, these impure, impudent, ungodly bellies, shroud themselves under the cover of the name of Christ. Nor do they desire only to indulge their lusts with full licence, and without the fear of punishment, of reproof, or of contempt, but to be called at the same time spiritual, holy fathers, and the catholic church. And not content even with this, they would persecute, punish, and spit upon others for a " gnat " or a mole," and yet not be in the least noticed, called to account, or rebuked, for their own " camel " and " beam ; " but would have their own vile blemishes covered, cloked, and ornamented with the titles of Christ and of the church. Thus no other plunderer, no other cut-throat, no other sacrilegious culprit, no other strumpet, abuses 16 the majesty of Christ and of the church to nefarious crime and turpitude, but this one meretricious belly of ANTICHRIST. -Wherefore, the murders, the lusts, the enormous iniquities of this IDOL, far surpass the crimes, the cruelties, and the fury of Nero himself ! SEVENTHLY.-The FISH-SCALES which are down the arms, feet, and neck, but not on the breast or the belly, denote the civil potentates and lords. For the sea, in the scriptures, denotes the world ; and the fishes, the men of the world ; as Christ himself interprets the net of Peter, Matt. iv. , where he saith, " I will make you fishers ofmen. " € Moreover, scales denote adhesion and embrace ; as the Lord saith, Job xli. , " His body is as of cast shields, compacted together with scales so closely joined, that the one sticks to the other, and not even a breath of air can pass between them. " And thus have the princes and potentates of the earth ever adhered to, and thus are they to this day knit to, the Pope and the pontifical power. And although they cannot approve, conceal, commend, or palliate his gluttony, his luxury, his lusts, his unlawful pleasures, (for there are in this FIGURE no scales over the breast or the belly, because the abominations are notorious) yet, by their dissembling, conniving, and tolerating, they stick the more closely to his neck, his arms, and his feet ; that is, they embrace, defend, and protect his greatness, power, and station, as though it were legitimate and delivered from heaven by the voice of God. And therefore, he proudly, insolently, and contumaciously lifts up his head and raises his crest. -Add to this, that they confirm his spiritual and po- · 17 litical rule ; they support his intolerable decrees, his doctrines, and his canons ; and they give stability to his royal power and pomp. Farther : In order that the basis and foundation of this abomination, ANTICHRIST, might be the more firm and durable, they authorize, ordain, and constitute, monasteries, colleges of celibates, and temples ; which are, as it were, marts, halls , and theatres of the whole tribe ofsophists, preachers, confessors, doctors, canons, and theologians, which bellow forth all the corruptions of the divine truth. In a word, the powers, the riches, the excellencies of the whole world so adhere to him, that they cannot be separated or torn asunder to make a single breathing place for any one spiritual doctrine, or any one word of God. EIGHTHLY. The OLD MAN'S HEAD onthe hip, denotes the declining and withering age, and fall of the Popish kingdom. For in the sacred writings, the front parts, or the face, signifies a rising or a progress ; but the back, or the hinder parts, a dying or falling away, as saith the apostle, Hebrews viii. , Now that which decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to vanish away. " 66 This head shews, therefore, that the popish tyranny has arrived at its extent and height, and that it will decay and rot without a sword, or external violence ; as it is predicted Daniel viii. , " He shall be broken without hand." For such a huge mass of superstition and vice only arose, that it might, of necessity, fall by its own weight ; and that the sighs, cries, and groans of all nations might be heard, until the word and truth of God should discover and lay 18 open its impiety, malice, and bitterness, to the eyes of all men. Sie So the world's glory dies like smoke away! And when the farce is o'er, we wondering say, What is all I' have seen ! Wherefore we see, that this FIGURE exactly agrees. with the whole prophecy of Daniel viii. , and that neither the prophecy nor the FIGURE differ in the least degree from the papal kingdom. NINTHLY.-The DRAGON, putting forth his head. from the hinder parts of the Ass- Pope, and threatening a fiery torrent with open jaws, represents the threatening, virulent, and horrible bulls, and the abusive letters which the Pope, together with the minions around him, vomit forth throughout the, whole world, when he sees that his fate is impending, and that destruction daily threatens him. This is the last-pushing, and the most maddened fury of ANTICHRIST, this is his last effort the attempting to hold his abomination safe and flourishing by terror-striking and thundering bulls, and if they fail, by the lies, calumnies, execrations, cavillings and low abuse of his ape-rhetoricians and scribblers ; as Eccius, Faber, Emser, Wicelius, &c. But But no such aid, no such defenders now Can aught avail ; Rome and Rome's strength are gone ! The dragon vainly champs the wind, and fires the air with his jaws ; for now, no one dreads these 19 venomous bulls, nor those abusive letters, because of the burning and shining light ofthe truth. TENTHLY. As this Ass-Pope was found at Rome, and no where else, it makes it evident, that what has been said can be understood of no power but that of Rome. For there never was any power at Rome at any time, superior or equal to the Papal power. Moreover God, has ever shewn forth signs in those places, where something was to happen which those signs prefigured and foretold ; as was the case with Jerusalem. Again, as this Ass- Pope was found dead, it was a signification, that the end of the Papal power was approaching, and that it should fall, not by sword, or by human powers, but of itself, through an interference from on high. For this MONSTER was not killed by the counsel or act of man, but was found a dead body, and brought to light by God himself. LASTLY. I would admonish every one not to despise so great and portentous a SIGN proceeding from the divine Majesty, but to beware of the deadly. contagion of ANTICHRIST and his members, and to flee and abhor them. For with respect to God himself, he has, indeed, dealt most kindly with us, in setting ANTICHRIST before us, under so filthy, so polluted, and so deformed a FIGURE thus represented in a picture, that we might plainly see and be acquainted with it. And God would have us think of it seriously, that we may escape from this detestable sink of deadly impiety and error. But as to the Papists, they, as their headlong madness deserves, are given up not to think, or to be concerned about any of these things, or to be warned, 20 terrified, or edified by any signs from God, any threatenings, or any miracles ; but, like the fearless hero Titans of old, to stare thunderings and lightnings in the face, and to follow the steps of their forefathers Pharaoh and Korah ; who were at last overwhelmed with waves and earthquakes, and drowned and swallowed down to the deepest abyss of hell. We, however, may rejoice and take comfort, and consider this SIGN in the number of those which proclaim to us the wished for, healthful, and blessed day of the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the meantime, let us allow our adversaries thus daringly to " kick against the pricks " and let us look unto God, waiting to see, whether they be not heaping up wrath upon themselves. Though as to myself, I do not feel much rage against them while they are thus furiously raving and confounding heaven and earth. For, as the good Lord liveth, I do not think I could bear it, if I were to be represented by him under a FIGURE so hateful and filthy ; I should dissolve away with fear ; or, if I had a heart of steel and adamant as they have, I should burst in sunder with rage, indignation, and fury. Who therefore, either by commanding or by advising, would endeavour to obtain of them to pardon in Christ the insulting contempt with which they are treated in this REPRESENTATION, when they are so exasperated at the letter only of the divine word in which they are described ? No ! Let God rather suffer them to insult him, how indignantly and cruelly soever they may treat his word. And even if they were represented under the figure of the devil, • 21 for open derision, every good man would think that it was right in the church of God, and done at his command. Nay, no good man would dare to believe or think otherwise unless he wished all the pains, the torments, the rage, the fury of hell, and the whole burning lake to fall upon his own head. For their madness is beyond all atonement. It is moreover mighty, because they are gods exalted above all gods : according to Paul and the prophet Daniel. This Ass- Pope, therefore, a FIGURE monstrous, loathsome, and horrible in itself, grows the more horrible the more it is examined. And what makes it the most horrible of all, is, that God himself formed out, and revealed a REPRESENTATION SO dire and monstrous. For had it been devised, engraven, or painted by any human art, it might justly have been accounted nought, and held in derision. But since the all- sacred divine Majesty devised and set before us such a REPRESENTATION, it behoves all men, whenever they think of it, to fear and tremble : because, we gather from it an idea, by no means obscure, of the thoughts, the counsel, and the will of God ! Who is there that does not tremble with horror when any demon or spectre is seen, or when any noise, roaring, or sighing of spirits is heard ? All, however, are but as a common mask, and childish play, in comparison of this monster ; in which, God discovers himself in so awful a way, and shews himself so severe and implacable. For the indignation of God must, of necessity, most seriously and vehemently rage against that idol ANTICHRIST : which indignation, the whole Popish herd irritates, as it were, from determined design. C 22 And therefore, as the beginnings are so signal, and all things so awfully agree, there can remain no doubt whatever as to what will be the end. For when Sodom had, by the most enormous iniquities, for a long time provoked the wrath of God ; and when, as the destruction was impending, there remained but a short time for repentance ; at that very time, it plunged itself into every species of wickedness, and put on such an air of security, as even to insult God openly, and to mock him with more than the giant audacity. But in the morning, before the sun was risen, it was gone ; being swallowed up in the opening jaws of the earth ! The same path, precisely, is the Popish herd treading. Having hitherto let loose the reins to every lust, they are now become fighters against God and all human powers ; and like their brethren Epicureans, they believe nothing ; and thus they are sunk beneath the devils, who, as the scriptures declare, "tremble." Nay, they understand no more of divine things, and are no more concerned about eternal salvation, than the Arcadian Ass : for they consider the Gospel to be a mere fable, and Christian faith a trumpery song : according to that grand oracle of Epicurus All things are smoke : all things are a laugh all things are nothing. ' And even now, before their fall and destruction come, while they are called to repentance by so many stupendous signs from on high, they fight the more against God and give more rein to their desires : and to such a degree do they feed, foster, and increase their security, pride, and profanation, that they can scarcely support their own audacity and lusts. They act as though no 23 divine vengeance, no power of God could stop their career, and proudly contemn these terrible SIGNS, as mere fleeting smoke or airy dreams. Such a confidence and security, I say, are an evident argument of the unspeakable wrath of God, which will on a sudden fall upon and consume those Epicurean swine, and those asses. Then they will, for the first time, be terror- struck, and will learn to howl and lament. But God will turn away his heart and ears as he saith, Proverbs i. , " Ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity, and will mock when your fear cometh." It is fully evident, that Satan is a great and powerful spirit, who, holding the minds of men as captives, turns, twists, and impels them with such force, that they not only plunge themselves into vices (for this is only the work of the children-devils, as it were, ) but knowingly fight against God. For consider only how great that tyranny, how great that fury must be, where a vile creature of a man, from an urging conscience, is compelled to utter these words, and to make this confession - ‘ That is the truth of God I know, without doubting. But if even the Son of God himself should speak it, and the apostles should preach it to me, yet I will shut it out from my eyes and ears, I will fight against it with my hands and feet, I will reject, persecute, and condemn it as a most pernicious heresy. And if any one will yield to God, will believe the Gospel, and will not agree with, obey, and follow me against God and his word, of that man I will be the death ; I will cast him out ofhis country, and will suffer him to rest no where.' 24 Could I think, when I first began to maintain this Cause of Christ, that I ever should, during my whole life, see such enormous sins, and such madness and bitterness in the enemies of the Gospel ? But now, alas ! I do see them, while I am compelled to hear the word of God, and the confessed and known truth, called heresy, and thrust down to the lowest hell. Such vipers as these are justly represented by the dragon's head, which puts itself forth from the hinder parts of the Ass- Pope, and vomits out its sink of contents . But thanks be to God, it is a mere dead carcass, together with the Ass- Pope itself, nor will they ever recover their life and strength, or regain their dignity and tyranny which they promise themselves, although the devil reigns in them. For the Creed saith, " I believe in God Almighty." And, greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world. Letthen the devil be magni-potent, yet he never shall be omnipotent. This is a canon infallible !- FINIS. T. BENSLEY, Printer, Crane Court, Fleet- Street, London. INTERPRETATION OF THE CALF- MONK, BROUGHT TO LIGHT AT FRIBURG IN MISNIA, IN THE YEAR 1523. BY Martin Luther. AND NOW TRANSLATED BY THE REV. HENRY COLE, OF CLARE HALL, CAMBRIDGE, AND LATE LECTURER OF WOOLWICH, KENT Price Nine-pence.

3906. dd . 71. INTERPRETATION OF THE CALF-MONK, BY MARTIN LUTHER. SEP BRITISH TALHEU RIVILLIM HOUR - QYTE

SEP ADVERTISEMENT. THOS THE Translator desires to take this opportunity of informing those Friends who have favoured him with their Names in support of the Publication announced in the PROPOSALS, that he has, after much deliberation, deemed it advisable to send the Work forth in Numbers of EIGHTEENPENCE, instead of a SHILLING each. Many friends intimated to him their thoughts, that the length of time which it must take to bring the whole to a completion in Numbers of One Shilling each, would be somewhat objectionable. In compliance with their wishes, therefore, and under a conviction of the propriety of their intimations, he has made the alteration : and by so doing has, consequently, shortened the time ONE THIRD.- -This alteration, he hopes, when the important reason assigned is considered, will not be disapproved by the Friends in general. Those who may favour the Translator with their Names as Subscribers, are moreover respectfully informed, that the arrangements of the Publication are such, as to require each Number to be paid for ON DELIVERY. Just published, TWO VERY REMARKABLE TRACTS ON POPERY, The productions of LUTHER and MELANCTHON in conjunction. These Tracts are of a very singular, striking, and important nature. Each contains an extraordinary Wood- cut Figure, with a scriptural interpretation, and an appeal and warning to all true Christians. That by Melancthon, is a representation of the WHORE OF BABYLON that by Luther, of MONKERY. : To be had of J. EEDES, 2, Newgate-street ; W. SIMPKIN and R. MARSHALL, Stationers' - hall- court ; and R. BAYNES, Ivy Lane. Just published, in One Vol. 8vo. Price 10s. in Boards, Martin Luther ON THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL. Lay WRITTEN IN ANSWER TO THE DIATRIBE OF ERASMUS of Sant lenta 171 ON FREE- WILL. FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1525, AND NOW TRANSLATED BY THE REV. HENRY COLE, OF CLARE HALL, CAMBRIDGE, REVESTIMI RAND LATE LECTURER OF WOOLWICH, KENT. It is not ofhim that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Rom. ix. 16. London:-Printed for W. SIMPKIN and R. MARSHALL, Stationers' -hall-court ; And sold by J. EEDES, No. 2, Newgate- street. This admirable work, which has never before been published in the English language, was characterised by the late Rev. A. M. TOPLADY as a masterpiece of composition. He had even commenced a translation, the completion of which was only prevented by the termination of his valuable life. The present Translation has been undertaken at the request of many friends, who were desirous that the plain sentiments and cogent arguments of Luther upon this important subject, should be presented to the Church in a faithful English version-without Note or Comment! Heloisa 2 AMKHA BRITISH SEP NOW PUBLISHING IN MONTHLY NUMBERS, Of 1s. 6d. each, A TRANSLATION OF A CHOICE SELECTION FROM THE EXPERIMENTAL WORKS OF Martin Luther: WHICH WILL CONTAIN, I. "His Christian Liberty" -(Description of the Soul Liberty of a Christian by Faith. ) II. His Exposition of the Fifty- first Psalm. III .-Selections from, his Preface to the Epistle to the Romans, from his Commentary on the Galatians, and the Epistles by St. Peter, and other Works ; intended to give, at one view, his Description of the experience of a Child of God, and of Soul-justifying and delivering Faith. IV. His Description of real and spiritual Prayer. V.-His Sermons on, The Rich Man and Lazarus-The Good Shepherd- The Power and Increase of Faith and Love, Ephes. iii . 14-21 -The Ten Lepers-The Lost Sheep-The Summary of the Christian Life, 1 Tim. i . 5 , 6, 7-The Coming of Christ, and the Signs that shall precede the Last Day ( his " Word of Consolation to the Church, ") Luke xxi. 25. VI.-His Exposition of the 17th Chapter ofthe Gospel by St. John. VII. His " Seven Burthens of the Heavy Laden, and their Seven Consolations ." VIII .—His " Last Words of David, " (Exposition of 2 Sam. xxiii. 1-7. ) IX. His " Three Symbols, or Confessions, of the Christian Faith, ” and his " True Marks of the Church ; what it is, which it is, and where it is." X.-His valuable Exposition of the 15 Psalms ofDegrees. XI. Other choice Matter, that may seem adapted to the present State and Wants of the Church, and desirable to form the completion of the Work. BY THE REV. HENRY COLE, OF CLARE-HALL, CAMBRIDGE, AND LATE LECTURER OF WOOLWICH, KENT. ged It is impossible for the Translator to say, precisely, to what extent this Work must, of necessity, be carried ; but he judges it will not exceed TWENTY NUMBERS . Nos. 1 and 2, containing " Christian Liberty," and the commencement of the " Exposition of the Fifty-first Psalm, " are now published. If the Translator be asked the reason why he proposes to bring forth such a Work, he has no other answer to give, than that, from many particularly directing Circumstances, he was led to believe it would, under the divine blessing, be useful to the Church of God in the present day.- -He wishes it to bear this TitleSELECT WORKS OF Martin Luther. AN OFFERING TO THE CHURCH OF GOD IN "THE LAST DAYS." 2 Tim. iii . 1 . As the Translator considers that the Work will, from its Design, fall principally into the hands of those who are unacquainted with the language of the original, he does not publish the Latin Text ; but those who desire it may have the Latin, together with the Translation, if the number of such Subscribers shall amount to 300. The Price of each Number, with the Latin, will be 3s. 6d. The Translator may probably bring forth some of the Pieces of MARTIN LUTHER on POPERY, when the present Work shall have been completed, or it may be, during its Publication ; and, if this offering be blessed with a reception, and his life be spared, and time set apart for such a purpose, he has it in desire to publish in numbers also, that last, matured, and invaluable Production of LUTHER, his " Commentary on the Book of Genesis :" but of these Works due notice will be given in some of the numbers of the Translation now proposed. London: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY T. BENSLEY, Crane Court, Fleet Street ; And sold by J. EEDES, No. 2, Newgate Street; W. SIMPKIN and R. MARSHALL, Stationers' - hall- court; R. BAYNES, 25, Ivy Lane; BAYNES, 80, South- bridge- street, Edinburgh; and by W. CLARKE, 26, Exmouth-street, Spa Fields. Subscribers' Names are received also by Mr. SPARKES, Brewer-street, Woolwich; and by Mr. R. DAWKINS, Romsey. BRITISH MUSEUM: 15 SEP

INTERPRETATION OF THE CALF- MONK. THE prophetical interpretation of this Calf- Monk I leave to the Spirit, for I am not a prophet. This, however, may in a general way be affirmed concerning the greatest part of such SIGNS as these that God, by them, forewarns of destroying events, and of future commotions and shakings : and such I command Germany to promise herself, and to expect, to a certainty. But to foretel these events particularly, and to determine how long they shall last, and the time of deliverance from them, belongs to the prophets. As to myself, I should hope, (and indeed I seem to have no insignificant ground for myhopes, ) that the day of final judgment is at no great distance behind these forewarning events. For, age after age, there has been, as it were, a miraculous series of portentous SIGNS : and now, the whole world, as though swollen with a raging tide, has produced great commotions, which cannot possibly subside without mighty revoluB2 4 tions, and a signal shaking of kingdoms. Add to this, the light of the Gospel has again shone with a peculiar brightness, and has brought along with it a continued series of turbulent storms and commutations, which have arisen from the opposing obstinacy and fury of the ungodly. But however, I will now only touch upon those things which are most certain ; and will shew, why God has set before us such, a SIGN as this CALFMONK, and has defaced the world with this religiously withth clothed, abhorrent, and filthy " spot, " when he might, with equal effect, have shadowed forth the evils that are to come, by some other portentous sign, not clad in a monastic habit. For he lately, at Landsberg, concealed a calf under a canonical dress ; and this year, indeed, he wills to use sacred and spiritual SIGNS only, whereby he might plainly declare, that he has his eyes fixed upon the order of those religious ones, and is meditating their extermination. 66 Thus, aforetime, when he set forth the mighty monarch Alexander, Dan. viii. , under the figure of an he-goat " of the fold, besides the prophetic signification of the future destruction which he conveyed under that figure, he by it represented also the character and genius of the Grecian nation ; that is, their lewdness and impudence, in which they resembled hegoats for they could conceive in their imaginations nothing so sublime, so arduous, or so perilous, which they did not confidently persuade themselves they could mount up to, go through with, and escape from, by the acuteness of their genius, the excellency of their reason, and the wisdom of their management. So here, besides the prophetic signification, there + 15 SEP 5 is set before us a representation of the monastic life, doctrine, and habits ; and we are, perhaps, at the same time, instructed concerning the cause of the impending calamities ; that judgments are heaping up by the superstition, impostures, and enormous iniquities of the Monks ; because, they are abolishing faith in Christ . by their pharisaical and carnal doctrine of works, and are turning the human heart, which ought to bethe temple of the Holy Ghost, into calf's flesh. But however, let some other dive into the prophetic signification ; my purpose is, to interpret this CalfMonk of mine for the benefit of my order, that the CANONICAL CALF may not be without an interpreter. This interpretation I enter upon the more willingly, because I know the effect will be, that the obstinate minds of those who will be cut at by my explanation, which are harder than the very rocks of Caucasus, will be the more sorely galled, and the more bitterly exasperated ; because, they arrogantly despise every thing which is of my production, and say, it is full of heretical venom . Wherefore, if they remain in the same state, they will give no heed to my warnings, but will become the more and more hardened, offended, and confounded ; lest they should come to the acknowledgment of the truth, and cease from their ungodly life ; as it is written, Isaiah vi. , " Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes ; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed . " Therefore, as Balaam, when he did not give heed to the word of the Lord, was rebuked by the ass speaking, and yet did not amend his ways ; so, our fore- 6 fathers and their successors, having hitherto, down to the present time, stopped their ears like adders against the all-clear voice of evangelical truth, have now to behold themselves in the figure of a CALF or a Cow, as in a glass, that they might see what they are in the sight of God, in what estimation they are held above, and what judgment is passed upon them there. And yet, they will shut their eyes, lest they should see any ofthese things, and, bythem, be brought to repentance and to escape the terrible judgment of God. Sọ obstinate Pharaoh, was moved neither by words nor by`signs. First. To make a summary and general remark : Take heed that thou consider it not a mere joke or jest, that God has put upon a CALF a religious garment ; that is, a most holy hooded cloak; for under this FIGURE, he has, without doubt, represented a certain set of men ; and by it, MONKERY, is most evidently exposed to public view, and made manifest to be nothing but an outside empty show of piety, and an hypocritical counterfeit of that life which is holy and approved of God. Whereas, we poor creatures have hitherto always taken it for granted, that the Holy Spirit dwelt under a hooded cloak ; and that, that garment covered nothing but Spirit. God, however, here makes it manifest, that it covers a Calf and nothing else : as though he had said There is a snake in the grass ! ' For what a Calf signifies , the golden Calf of Aaron in the desert, to which the people of Israel paid divine honors, most clearly teaches us, Exod. xxxiii. ; " Thus, they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth hay, " Psal. cvi.: 7 and also the calves of Jeroboam in Bethel and Dan, 1 Kings xii. , against which the prophets cried with such uplift voices. ་ After the same manner, behold this CALF-MONK -The hood conveys a description of the whole order of those religious ones, together with all their forms of worship, upon which they set the highest value ; such as, their vain repetition of muttered prayers, their public vending of masses, their chantings, their fastings, &c. But, to whom is all this worship paid? Whom does it honour ? On whom does it depend ? With whom does it rest ? A CALF ! For the hooded cloak, as yousee, covers and adorns a Calf. But what is this Calf?-An imaginary idol, enthroned in their own deeply deluded minds ! But how can these things be ?--They are thus they have impressed on their minds an imagination, or a persuasion, that by this their solitary religion, they serve God only : which religion, they place in ceremonies of external works, for the doing of which they think heaven is due to them as their desert, instead of placing all in a believing confidence which embraces the saving benefits of Christ. Now, there is no God, either in heaven or in earth, who wishes himself to be thus worshipped, but the devil or an idol ! For no one can worship the true God in any other way, than " in spirit and in truth," John iv.; that is, in faith, and in the true and spiri tual motions of the mind, which are created, stirred up, and moved into lively exercise in us bythe Holy Spirit, Isaiah lv. These falsely religious ones, therefore, having departed from the divine command and revealed will, can, in reality, perform this worship to 8 no one, and offer it up and direct it no where, but to the pleasing of that imagination which they have formed out to themselves ; and which dreams, that these devoted services please God. This imagination is a lie, and a figment-idol, set up in their own hearts ; just as the heathens, or the Jews, formed out deities to themselves . Behold ! This is the CALF, this is the impiety—a carnal imagination covered with a religious habit ! This is the idol to which they cleave, which they embrace, which they adorn with a decorous observance of ceremonies and gestures, and with garments of a singular shape ! Moreover, a Calf feeds on his own grass : so, such hypocrites, enjoy no future and eternal good, but grow fat on the good things of the present life. And as it is evident, that the most extensive power, the most precious riches, the most exquisite pleasures, and the most exalted honors, are in the hands of the Ecclesiasties (as they are called) therefore, the calflips have their dainties . And thus it happens unto them, that they " change their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth hay." For Christ is our true glory, in whom we ought to triumph, exult, and rejoice. Whereas these, on the contrary, form to themselves, instead of him, a glory in their own hearts, whereby they glory in a confidence in their own works and merits. Such a Calf it is which has taken the place of Christ, and which has usurped and disgraced his name. SECONDLY. -The monastic habit being torn about the hips, down by the feet, and on the belly, signifies, that in this solitary religion, and these nugatory ceremonies, there is nothing concordant, united, or whole. 2 66 Whereas, the scripture requires first, and before all things, that Christians should be of the same mind:" as in Psalm cxxxiii . , “ Behold how good and joyful a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity. " But these superstitious and religious spirits, have invented as many differences of opinions and sects, as there are distinctions of colours in their garments. Hence, the Franciscans boast of their rule, the order ofpreachers of theirs ; theAugustinians turn to the right hand, the Carthusians to the left ; in a word, each boasts of his own. And therefore it is, that you see the hooded cloak torn about the hips, and down by the feet of the Calf; although all agree unanimously and exactly as to the worship and habit of the Calf; that is, all foster and confirm, by their devoted observance of ceremonies, their doubting and distrust in the mercy of God, and their carnal confidence and security in their own works. These things will appear in a still more striking light, if the hips, be understood to signify the end and ruin of monkery ; and the feet, the hod-men by whom this Calf, that is, this delusive imagination, is propped up and sustained. For never did so many sects, fraternities, distinctions, and denominations of religionists appear, as have begun to shew themselves in our time, when their end is approaching ; and when, from the exposure of its vanity, this abomination is falling away, and declining into ruin. The FEET, therefore, represent those audacious brethren, and those eminent sophists and teachers of ours; and also, those more learned inhabitants of monasteries ; who, by preaching up, writing of, reading of, disputing on, and teaching the dignity and authority 10 ofthis solitary religion, to the utmost extent of their abilities, and throughout the world, preserve, increase, and establish it. And yet, they all differ from each other, and frame labyrinths of varying opinions. As many heads, so many opinions.' THIRDLY.-This CALF represents, in every respect, the attitudes of a preacher. He stands on his hind feet, as it were, upright ; of his fore feet, he puts forth the right hoof, like one preaching, and draws back the left ; he holds back his head, and puts out his tongue ; and, in all respects, represents one calling out to the people from a pulpit. Therefore, as the Ass-POPE was a representation of the papal kingdom, so, this CALF-MONK exactly represents the apostles and disciples of the Pope: hence, the whole world may see, what kind of preachers and teachers it has hitherto heard, and still hears to this day. And what could be more appropriate tothe brains of an Ass, than an apostle with the head of a CALF? A cover that exactly fits the dish !' A carnal church carries about carnal doctrine. Therefore, the CALF is moreover without eyes, that it might represent those, concerning whom Christ saith, Matth. xxiii., " Wo unto you, scribes and pharisees blind leaders. " And Isaiah lvi. , " His watchmen are blind ; they are all ignorant ; they are shepherds that cannot understand. " Many more particulars in this MONSTER may be appropriately applied to monks and sophists. For instance, Thehe TONGUE put out, signifies that their doctrine is nothing but tongue ; that is, a mere volubility of words, and a futile loquacity. 11 The two PROTUBERANCES, which stand out from the bald of the head, ought to become horns. Horns, signify the preaching of the Gospel ; which, subjecting us to the cross, breaks in pieces our old man. Micah iv. , " I will make thine horn iron- and thou shalt break in pieces many people." This CALF, however, has not horns, but certain obscure traces, and a kind of likeness of them only. For although they puff themselves off under the title of teachers of the Gospel, yet they pervert, and shamefully wrest it to make it accord with human traditions. Therefore, two protuberances stand out from the bald crown of the head. For whatever accords with this bald crown, that they set forth under the name of Gospel ; nor will they allow the Gospel to go beyond the bounds of this bald circle on their pate ; but it must be made to square and to agree with the sanctity of this shaven scalp ; and that, more especially, with reference to their Head, the Pope. The hooded cloak fitting so closely round the neck, denotes the incredible obstinacy of their superstition and error concerning monastic habits ; to which filth they are so conglutinated and riveted, that they can be called away by no power, and by no splendour of the Christian truth, to behold the light. This hooded cloak being close round the back, but seen open on the belly, signifies, that they make a show of piety only by this habit ; and that, inthe end, they leave behind this mask, together with all the perishable good things of this life. For as to their state in the sight of God, and with respect to the world to come, they have, in reality, naked bellies : they are unprofitable cumberers of the ground, born only to 12 consume the fruits of the earth. And many other things more filthy still does this belly contain in the sight of God, about which, here, I would rather be silent. • Moreover, as the lower parts of the face are human, and the upper parts, together with the nostrils, those of a Calf, they signify, that the doctrine of these, though altogether civil, inculcates the works of the divine law. But the whole smells of the CALF; that is, the praises of moral discipline, and of philosophical righteousness and virtue, are exaggerated beyond all bounds. For the two lips of the mouth represent two kinds of doctrine. The under lip, the expounding of the law ; and the lower, the preaching of the Gospel and divine promises. But, instead of the Gospel and promise of reconciliation, they preach the mouth of the Calf; that is, golden rewards and compensations in heaven for human works, done with devoted labour, but without faith. LASTLY. This Calf is smooth all over, and hairy no where as calves generally are. This represents the splendour and speciousness of that hypocrisy, by which they have so pleased and imposed upon all men, as to procure to themselves the estimation of holy and spiritual fathers, when they are, in reality, monstrous murderers of souls, and the very satellites of the devil. But these things are now all exposed to view in the clearest light. This Calf has at length come forth from the secret hiding places of its mother's belly. They can, henceforth, no more withdraw themselves into concealment and secrecy from the eyes and animadversions of men. No covering cloak will avail 13 1 them now. The mask will be torn off, and they will be publicly exposed, and cut in pieces by the hisses of all mankind. This INTERPRETATION I leave to the judgment of all men. And although the explanation may not seem to be sufficiently applicable or appropriate, yet it is in itself a truth, firm, and eminently founded on the testimony of the scriptures, that MONKERY is, in reality, such as I have described it to be. Since, therefore, a CALF precisely agrees and accords with the divine oracles, let every man seriously weigh, and diligently consider, what he despises when he despises my interpretation. We are by this MONSTER plainly and abundantly admonished, that God is wrath with these monastic forms of worship and habits : for if he had approved them, he would have put the hooded cloak on some more becoming object. And it is also perfectly clear, that by this monstrous object is represented, not any individual person, but a certain herd, set, and administration of many persons ; according to the nature of all the monstrous signs and visions in the prophecy of Daniel viii, Look to yourselves, then, ye Monks and Nuns, for verily this awfully concerns you. Consider not this divine warning an empty jest, or a trick of imposition. Either appease God with other sacrifices than you now offer, or leave your convents, hooded cloaks, and veils, and return to that manner of life unto which you are, by the will of God, born; before the time elapse, and the opportunity afforded from above, be passed by, and gone ! For hereafter, when you will, you shall not ; if when you may, you will not ! 14 Above all, Incall upon the families of nobles, to haste and rescue their children, their relatives, and those whose salvation is dear to them, from a way of life so horrible and perilous, as from a direful prison. Remember, they are yet bound by the ties of this human body, and are as much under the law of nature, and the common bonds of community, as the rest of mankind. For it is not in nature, nor in the law of things, for so great a multitude of celibates to live in chastity and continence, or to remain willingly and cheerfully without any thought of a married life ! I have now done my duty, and I would have you heed my warning !- BRITIS SEP 1523. FINIS. T. BENSLEY, Printer, Crane Court, Fleet-Street, London. bles, es, and wayof prison. of this w of sthe the es to gly ied eve

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