WEBVTT 00:00.160 --> 00:06.140 He arrived here in October 1518 and, upon an assurance of his safety, 00:06.260 --> 00:08.100 was admitted into the Cardinal's presence. 00:09.240 --> 00:12.900 But Luther was soon convinced that he had more to fear from the Cardinal's power 00:12.900 --> 00:17.260 than from disputations of any kind, and therefore, apprehensive of being 00:17.260 --> 00:21.680 seized if he did not submit, withdrew from Augsburg upon the 20th. 00:22.460 --> 00:26.380 But before his departure he published a formal appeal to the Pope, and, 00:26.420 --> 00:30.720 finding himself protected by the Elector, continued to teach the same doctrines at 00:30.720 --> 00:34.760 Wittenberg, and sent a challenge to all the Inquisitors to come and dispute with 00:34.760 --> 00:34.960 him. 00:36.820 --> 00:42.120 As to Luther, Miltitius, the Pope's Chamberlain, had orders to require the 00:42.120 --> 00:46.020 Elector to oblige him to retract, or to deny him his protection. 00:46.660 --> 00:51.360 But things were not now to be carried with so high a hand, Luther's credit being too 00:51.360 --> 00:52.180 firmly established. 00:53.380 --> 00:57.540 Besides, the Emperor Maximilian happened to die upon the 12th of this month, 00:57.540 --> 01:02.040 whose death greatly altered the face of affairs, and made the Elector more able to 01:02.040 --> 01:03.300 determine Luther's fate. 01:04.560 --> 01:08.220 Miltitius thought it best, therefore, to try what could be done by fair and 01:08.220 --> 01:12.060 gentle means, and to that end came to some conference with Luther. 01:13.800 --> 01:17.760 During all these treaties the doctrine of Luther spread and prevailed greatly, 01:18.140 --> 01:21.000 and he himself received great encouragement at home and abroad. 01:22.200 --> 01:26.320 The Bohemians, about this time, sent him a book of the celebrated John 01:26.320 --> 01:31.140 Huss, who had fallen a martyr in the work of Reformation, and also letters in which 01:31.140 --> 01:35.220 they exhorted him to constancy and perseverance, owning that the divinity 01:35.220 --> 01:38.820 which he taught was the pure, sound, and orthodox divinity. 01:40.000 --> 01:42.600 Many great and learned men had joined themselves to him. 01:43.800 --> 01:50.000 In 1519 he had a famous dispute at Leipzig with John Aechius, but this dispute ended 01:50.000 --> 01:54.460 at length like all others, the parties not the least nearer in opinion, but more at 01:54.460 --> 01:56.100 enmity with each other's person. 01:57.940 --> 02:02.200 About the end of this year, Luther published a book in which he contended for 02:02.200 --> 02:06.800 the communion being celebrated in both kinds, which was condemned by the Bishop 02:06.800 --> 02:09.860 of Misnia, January 24, 1520. 02:11.020 --> 02:14.840 While Luther was laboring to excuse himself to the new Emperor and the Bishops 02:14.840 --> 02:19.380 of Germany, Aechius had gone to Rome to solicit his condemnation, which, 02:19.500 --> 02:22.760 it may easily be conceived, was now become not difficult to be attained. 02:23.860 --> 02:29.220 Indeed, the continual importunities of Luther's adversaries with Leo caused him 02:29.220 --> 02:33.020 at length to publish a formal condemnation of him, and he did so, accordingly, 02:33.560 --> 02:36.120 in a bull dated June 15, 1520. 02:37.020 --> 02:40.720 This was carried into Germany and published there by Aechius, who had 02:40.720 --> 02:45.700 solicited it at Rome, and who together with Jerome Alexander, a person eminent 02:45.700 --> 02:49.000 for his learning and eloquence, was entrusted by the Pope with the 02:49.000 --> 02:49.880 execution of it. 02:50.860 --> 02:55.760 In the meantime, Charles V of Spain, after he had set things to right in the 02:55.760 --> 03:00.820 Low Countries, went into Germany and was crowned Emperor, October 21, at 03:00.820 --> 03:01.800 Aix-la-Chapelle. 03:03.800 --> 03:08.580 Martin Luther, after he had been first accused at Rome upon Maundy Thursday by 03:08.580 --> 03:13.720 the Pope's censure, shortly after Easter speedeth his journey toward Worms, 03:14.200 --> 03:18.120 where the said Luther, appearing before the Emperor and all the states of Germany, 03:18.600 --> 03:22.400 constantly stuck to the truth, defended himself, and answered his 03:22.400 --> 03:23.060 adversaries. 03:24.800 --> 03:29.440 Luther was lodged, well entertained, and visited by many earls, barons, 03:29.620 --> 03:33.300 knights of the order, gentlemen, priests, and the commonalty, who 03:33.300 --> 03:35.040 frequented his lodging until night. 03:35.040 --> 03:40.640 He came, contrary to the expectation of many, as well adversaries as others. 03:41.420 --> 03:45.220 His friends deliberated together, and many persuaded him not to adventure 03:45.220 --> 03:49.260 himself to such a present danger, considering how these beginnings answered 03:49.260 --> 03:50.960 not the faith of promise made. 03:51.700 --> 03:55.240 Who, when he had heard their whole persuasion and advice, answered in this 03:55.240 --> 04:01.180 wise, As touching me, since I am sent for, I am resolved and certainly determined to 04:01.180 --> 04:04.280 enter Worms, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 04:04.920 --> 04:08.860 Yea, although I knew there were as many devils to resist me as there are tiles to 04:08.860 --> 04:10.340 cover the houses in Worms. 04:11.640 --> 04:15.360 The next day the herald brought him from his lodging to the Emperor's court, 04:15.680 --> 04:19.600 where he abode until six o'clock, for that the princes were occupied in 04:19.600 --> 04:24.200 grave consultations, abiding there and being environed with a great number of 04:24.200 --> 04:27.000 people, and almost smothered for the press that was there. 04:27.900 --> 04:32.400 Then after, when the princes were set and Luther entered, Aecius, the official, 04:32.560 --> 04:37.960 spake in this manner, Answer now to the Emperor's demand, wilt thou maintain all 04:37.960 --> 04:41.860 thy books which thou hast acknowledged, or revoke any part of them and submit 04:41.860 --> 04:42.400 thyself? 04:43.760 --> 04:48.380 Martin Luther answered, modestly and lowly, and yet not without some stoutness 04:48.380 --> 04:53.600 of stomach and Christian constancy, Considering your sovereign majesty and 04:53.600 --> 04:58.760 your honours require a plain answer, this I say and profess as resolutely as I 04:58.760 --> 05:04.300 may, without doubting or sophistication, that if I be not convinced by testimonies 05:04.300 --> 05:08.420 of the Scriptures, for I believe not the Pope, neither his general councils, 05:08.600 --> 05:13.620 which have erred many times, and have been contrary to themselves, my conscience is 05:13.620 --> 05:16.840 so bound and captivated in these Scriptures and the word of God, 05:16.840 --> 05:20.800 that I will not nor may not revoke any manner of thing. 05:21.620 --> 05:24.960 Considering it is not godly or lawful to do anything against conscience, 05:25.560 --> 05:26.920 hereupon I stand and rest. 05:27.280 --> 05:28.920 I have not what else to say. 05:29.500 --> 05:30.640 God have mercy upon me. 05:31.420 --> 05:36.100 The princes consulted together upon this answer given by Luther, and when they had 05:36.100 --> 05:40.360 diligently examined the same, the prolocutor began to repel him thus, 05:41.140 --> 05:45.980 The emperor's majesty requireth of thee a simple answer, either negative or 05:45.980 --> 05:50.600 affirmative, whether thou mindest to defend all thy works as Christian or no. 05:51.740 --> 05:56.820 Then Luther, tending to the emperor and the nobles, besought them not to force or 05:56.820 --> 06:00.460 compel him to yield against his conscience, confirmed with the holy 06:00.460 --> 06:04.440 Scriptures, without manifest arguments alleged to the contrary by his 06:04.440 --> 06:05.040 adversaries. 06:05.520 --> 06:07.340 I am tied by the Scriptures. 06:09.240 --> 06:15.080 Before the Diet of Worms was dissolved, Charles V caused an edict to be drawn up, 06:15.160 --> 06:18.860 which was dated the 8th of May, and decreed that Martin Luther be, 06:19.120 --> 06:23.060 agreeably to the sentence of the Pope, henceforward looked upon as a member 06:23.060 --> 06:28.120 separated from the Church, a schismatic, and an obstinate and notorious heretic. 06:29.140 --> 06:34.560 While the bull of Leo X, executed by Charles V, was thundering throughout the 06:34.560 --> 06:38.080 empire, Luther was safely shut up in the castle of Wittenberg. 06:38.680 --> 06:42.840 But weary at length of his retirement, he appeared publicly again at Wittenberg, 06:43.060 --> 06:47.360 March 6, 1522, after he had been absent about ten months. 06:48.780 --> 06:52.920 Luther now made open war with the popes and bishops, and that he might make the 06:52.920 --> 06:57.720 people despise their authority as much as possible, he wrote one book against the 06:57.720 --> 07:01.840 pope's bull, and another against the order falsely called the Order of Bishops. 07:02.660 --> 07:06.460 He published also a translation of the New Testament in the German tongue, 07:06.740 --> 07:09.760 which was afterward corrected by himself and Melanchthon. 07:11.500 --> 07:15.520 Affairs were now in great confusion in Germany, and they were not less so in 07:15.520 --> 07:20.040 Italy, for a quarrel arose between the pope and the emperor, during which Rome 07:20.040 --> 07:22.080 was twice taken and the pope imprisoned. 07:23.640 --> 07:27.480 While the princes were thus employed in quarrelling with each other, Luther 07:27.480 --> 07:31.660 persisted in carrying on the work of the Reformation, as well by opposing the 07:31.660 --> 07:36.340 papists as by combating the Anabaptists and other fanatical sects, which, 07:36.640 --> 07:40.980 having taken the advantage of his contest with the Church of Rome, had sprung up and 07:40.980 --> 07:42.860 established themselves in several places. 07:45.480 --> 07:50.760 In 1527, Luther was suddenly seized with a coagulation of the blood about the heart, 07:50.860 --> 07:52.640 which had liked to have put an end to his life. 07:53.560 --> 07:58.060 The troubles of Germany being not likely to have any end, the emperor was forced to 07:58.060 --> 08:03.840 call a Diet at Spierz in 1529 to require the assistance of the princes of the 08:03.840 --> 08:05.260 Empire against the Turks. 08:06.120 --> 08:12.440 Fourteen cities, namely Strasbourg, Nuremberg, Ulm, Konstanz, Rettlingen, 08:12.860 --> 08:19.420 Winsheim, Memmingen, Lindau, Kempten, Heilbronn, Eisenee, Weissenburg, 08:19.840 --> 08:25.040 Nottlingen and St. Gaul, joined against the decree of the Diet-Protestation, 08:25.040 --> 08:28.700 which was put into writing and published April 1529. 08:29.640 --> 08:34.360 This was the famous Protestation, which gave the name of Protestants to the 08:34.360 --> 08:35.480 reformers in Germany. 08:37.180 --> 08:41.060 After this, the Protestant princes laboured to make a firm league and 08:41.060 --> 08:45.360 enjoined the Elector of Saxony and his allies to approve of what the Diet had 08:45.360 --> 08:45.640 done. 08:46.440 --> 08:50.400 But the deputies drew up an appeal, and the Protestants afterwards presented 08:50.400 --> 08:54.540 an apology for their confession, that famous confession which was drawn up 08:54.540 --> 08:57.420 by the temperate Melanchthon as also the apology. 08:58.280 --> 09:02.880 These were signed by a variety of princes, and Luther now had nothing else to do but 09:02.880 --> 09:05.880 to sit down and contemplate the mighty work he had finished. 09:06.580 --> 09:10.600 For that a single monk should be able to give the Church of Rome so rude a shock 09:10.600 --> 09:16.280 that they needed but such another entirely to overthrow it, may be well esteemed a 09:16.280 --> 09:16.980 mighty work. 09:18.680 --> 09:24.200 In 1533, Luther wrote a consolatory epistle to the citizens of Auschwitz who 09:24.200 --> 09:27.740 had suffered some hardships for adhering to the Augsburg Confession of Faith. 09:28.320 --> 09:33.400 And in 1534, the Bible, translated by him into German, was first printed, 09:33.980 --> 09:38.420 as the old privilege dated at Bibliopolis under the Elector's own hand shows, 09:38.980 --> 09:40.720 and it was published in the year after. 09:41.320 --> 09:45.400 He also published this year a book, Against Masses and the Consecration of 09:45.400 --> 09:45.840 Priests. 09:47.280 --> 09:53.860 In February 1537, an assembly was held at Smalkald about matters of religion to 09:53.860 --> 09:55.940 which Luther and Melanchthon were called. 09:56.840 --> 10:01.020 At this meeting, Luther was seized with so grievous an illness that there was no hope 10:01.020 --> 10:01.720 of his recovery. 10:02.620 --> 10:06.860 As he was carried along, he made his will, in which he bequeathed his detestation of 10:06.860 --> 10:08.480 potpourri to his friends and brethren. 10:09.260 --> 10:12.960 In this manner was he employed until his death, which happened in 1546. 10:13.960 --> 10:18.520 That year, accompanied by Melanchthon, he paid a visit to his own country, 10:18.620 --> 10:21.900 which he had not seen for many years, and returned again in safety. 10:22.740 --> 10:27.000 But soon after, he was called thither again by the earls of Mannfeld to compose 10:27.000 --> 10:31.320 some differences which had arisen about their boundaries, where he was received by 10:31.320 --> 10:35.400 one hundred horsemen or more, and conducted in a very honourable manner, 10:35.880 --> 10:39.060 but was at the same time so very ill that it was feared he would die. 10:39.060 --> 10:43.380 He said that these fits of sickness often came upon him when he had any great 10:43.380 --> 10:44.420 business to undertake. 10:45.280 --> 10:50.200 Of this, however, he did not recover, but died on February 18 in his sixty-third 10:50.200 --> 10:50.540 year. 10:51.940 --> 10:56.600 A little before he expired, he admonished those that were about him to pray to God 10:56.600 --> 11:00.680 for the propagation of the gospel, because, said he, the Council of Trent, 11:00.820 --> 11:05.620 which had sat once or twice, and the Pope, will devise strange things against it. 11:06.320 --> 11:10.240 Feeling his fatal hour to approach, before nine o'clock in the morning, 11:10.340 --> 11:13.520 he commended himself to God with this devout prayer. 11:14.300 --> 11:19.980 My Heavenly Father, Eternal and Merciful God, Thou hast manifested unto me Thy dear 11:19.980 --> 11:22.100 Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. 11:22.640 --> 11:27.020 I have taught Him, I have known Him, I love Him as my life, my health, 11:27.060 --> 11:31.120 and my redemption, whom the wicked have persecuted, maligned, and with injury 11:31.120 --> 11:31.860 afflicted. 11:32.320 --> 11:33.680 Draw my soul to Thee. 11:34.840 --> 11:39.940 After this, he said, as ensueth, thrice, I commend my spirit into Thy 11:39.940 --> 11:42.480 hands, Thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth. 11:43.060 --> 11:47.000 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever 11:47.000 --> 11:50.100 believeth in Him should not perish, but have life everlasting. 11:51.620 --> 11:55.220 Having repeated oftentimes his prayers, he was called to God. 11:55.720 --> 12:00.840 So praying, his innocent ghost peaceably was separated from the earthly body. 12:03.880 --> 12:11.200 Chapter 10 General Persecutions in Germany The general persecutions in Germany were 12:11.200 --> 12:14.840 principally occasioned by the doctrines and ministry of Martin Luther. 12:15.880 --> 12:20.120 Indeed, the Pope was so terrified at the success of that courageous reformer that 12:20.120 --> 12:24.500 he determined to engage the Emperor Charles V at any rate in the scheme to 12:24.500 --> 12:25.780 attempt their extirpation. 12:26.400 --> 12:32.200 To this end, he gave the Emperor 200,000 crowns in ready money, he promised to 12:32.200 --> 12:37.580 maintain 12,000 foot and 5,000 horse for the space of six months or during a 12:37.580 --> 12:41.440 campaign, he allowed the Emperor to receive one half the revenues of the 12:41.440 --> 12:45.900 clergy of the Empire during the war, and he permitted the Emperor to pledge the 12:45.900 --> 12:51.520 Abbey lands for 500,000 crowns to assist in carrying on hostilities against the 12:51.520 --> 12:52.060 Protestants. 12:53.220 --> 12:58.360 Thus prompted and supported, the Emperor undertook the extirpation of the 12:58.360 --> 13:03.560 Protestants, against whom indeed he was particularly enraged himself, and for this 13:03.560 --> 13:07.540 purpose a formidable army was raised in Germany, Spain and Italy. 13:08.860 --> 13:13.460 The Protestant princes in the meantime formed a powerful confederacy in order to 13:13.460 --> 13:15.020 repel the impending blow. 13:15.020 --> 13:20.140 A great army was raised and the command given to the Elector of Saxony and the 13:20.140 --> 13:21.040 Landgrave of Hesse. 13:21.880 --> 13:26.720 The Imperial forces were commanded by the Emperor of Germany in person and the eyes 13:26.720 --> 13:28.880 of all Europe were turned on the event of the war. 13:30.060 --> 13:34.460 At length the armies met and a desperate engagement ensued in which the Protestants 13:34.460 --> 13:39.000 were defeated and the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse both taken 13:39.000 --> 13:39.480 prisoners. 13:40.340 --> 13:45.960 This fatal blow was succeeded by a horrid persecution, the severities of which were 13:45.960 --> 13:50.860 such that exile might be deemed a mild fate and concealment in a dismal wood 13:50.860 --> 13:51.700 passed for happiness. 13:52.520 --> 13:57.000 In such times a cave is a palace, a rock a bed of down and wild roots 13:57.000 --> 13:57.860 delicacies. 13:58.740 --> 14:03.340 Those who were taken experienced the most cruel tortures that infernal imaginations 14:03.340 --> 14:07.880 could invent and by their constancy evinced that a real Christian can surmount 14:07.880 --> 14:12.140 every difficulty and despite every danger acquire a crown of martyrdom. 14:14.020 --> 14:18.400 Henry Woos and John Esch, being apprehended as Protestants, were brought 14:18.400 --> 14:19.180 to examination. 14:20.040 --> 14:24.040 Woos, answering for himself and the other, gave the following answers to some 14:24.040 --> 14:27.980 questions asked by a priest who examined them by order of the magistracy. 14:28.800 --> 14:32.880 The priest asked, were you not both some years ago Augustine Friars? 14:33.340 --> 14:34.200 Woos said, yes. 14:35.040 --> 14:38.920 The priest asked, how came you to quit the bosom of the church at Rome? 14:38.920 --> 14:42.060 Woos replied, on account of her abominations. 14:43.140 --> 14:45.620 The priest inquired, in what do you believe? 14:46.320 --> 14:48.600 Woos answered, in the Old and New Testaments. 14:49.400 --> 14:52.960 The priest continued, do you believe in the writings of the fathers and the 14:52.960 --> 14:53.960 decrees of the councils? 14:54.840 --> 14:57.640 Woos affirmed, yes, if they agree with scripture. 14:58.400 --> 15:01.960 The priest demanded, did not Martin Luther seduce you both? 15:02.600 --> 15:07.620 Woos answered, he seduced us even in the very same manner as Christ seduced the 15:07.620 --> 15:11.900 apostles, that is, he made us sensible of the frailties of our bodies and the value 15:11.900 --> 15:12.660 of our souls. 15:14.320 --> 15:15.780 This examination was sufficient. 15:16.260 --> 15:20.180 They were both condemned to the flames, and soon after suffered with that manly 15:20.180 --> 15:23.940 fortitude which becomes Christians when they receive a crown of martyrdom. 15:25.320 --> 15:29.940 Henry Sutphen, an eloquent and pious preacher, was taken out of his bed in the 15:29.940 --> 15:34.000 middle of the night and compelled to walk barefoot a considerable way, so that his 15:34.000 --> 15:35.080 feet were terribly cut. 15:35.720 --> 15:40.060 He desired a horse, but his conductor said in derision, a horse for a heretic! 15:40.420 --> 15:42.420 No, no, heretics may go barefoot. 15:43.120 --> 15:46.700 When he arrived at the place of his destination he was condemned to be burned, 15:46.980 --> 15:51.920 but during the execution many indignities were offered him, as those who attended, 15:52.120 --> 15:56.240 not content with what he suffered in the flames, cut and slashed him in a most 15:56.240 --> 15:57.020 terrible manner. 15:58.660 --> 16:03.500 Many were murdered at Huller, Middleburg being taken by storm, all the Protestants 16:03.500 --> 16:06.600 were put to the sword, and great numbers were burned at Vienna. 16:07.800 --> 16:11.920 An officer being sent to put a minister to death, pretended when he came to the 16:11.920 --> 16:15.120 clergyman's house that his intentions were only to pay him a visit. 16:16.300 --> 16:21.280 The minister, not suspecting the intended cruelty, entertained his supposed guest in 16:21.280 --> 16:22.420 a very cordial manner. 16:23.260 --> 16:26.240 As soon as dinner was over the officer said to some of his attendants, 16:26.680 --> 16:28.140 take this clergyman and hang him. 16:29.000 --> 16:33.960 The attendants themselves were so shocked after the civility they had seen that they 16:33.960 --> 16:37.780 hesitated to perform the commands of their master, and the minister said, 16:38.040 --> 16:42.080 think what a sting will remain on your conscience for thus violating the laws of 16:42.080 --> 16:42.620 hospitality. 16:43.660 --> 16:47.780 The officer, however, insisted upon being obeyed, and the attendants, with 16:47.780 --> 16:51.180 reluctance, performed the execrable office of executioners. 16:52.120 --> 16:57.420 Peter Spengler, a pious divine of the town of Schullet, was thrown into the river and 16:57.420 --> 16:57.820 drowned. 16:58.760 --> 17:02.240 Before he was taken to the banks of the stream which was to become his grave, 17:02.600 --> 17:06.980 they led him to the marketplace that his crimes might be proclaimed, which were not 17:06.980 --> 17:11.620 going to mass, not making confession, and not believing in transubstantiation. 17:12.860 --> 17:16.920 After this ceremony was over he made a most excellent discourse to the people, 17:17.380 --> 17:20.700 and concluded with a kind hymn of a very edifying nature. 17:22.120 --> 17:26.040 A Protestant gentleman, being ordered to lose his head for not renouncing his 17:26.040 --> 17:28.920 religion, went cheerfully to the place of execution. 17:29.740 --> 17:32.840 A friar came to him and said these words in a low tone of voice. 17:33.360 --> 17:38.080 As you have a great reluctance publicly to abjure your faith, whisper your confession 17:38.080 --> 17:40.280 in my ear and I will absolve your sins. 17:40.940 --> 17:45.820 To this the gentleman loudly replied, Trouble me not, friar, I have confessed my 17:45.820 --> 17:49.420 sins to God and obtained absolution through the merits of Jesus Christ. 17:50.240 --> 17:54.260 Then turning to the executioner he said, Let me not be pestered with these men, 17:54.300 --> 17:55.300 but perform your duty. 17:56.160 --> 17:58.380 On which his head was struck off at a single blow. 17:59.280 --> 18:03.620 Wolfgang Schuch and John Hugelin, two worthy ministers, were burned, 18:04.080 --> 18:08.580 as was Leonard Kaiser, a student of the University of Württemberg, and George 18:08.580 --> 18:12.960 Carpenter, a Bavarian, was hanged for refusing to recount Protestantism. 18:13.760 --> 18:18.620 The persecutions in Germany, having subsided many years, again broke out in 18:18.620 --> 18:23.000 1630 on account of the war between the Emperor and the King of Sweden, 18:23.000 --> 18:27.120 for the latter was a Protestant prince, and consequently the Protestants of 18:27.120 --> 18:31.680 Germany espoused his cause, which greatly exasperated the Emperor against them. 18:33.200 --> 18:37.800 The imperialists, having laid siege to the town of Passerwalk, which was defended by 18:37.800 --> 18:42.340 the Swedes, took it by storm and committed the most horrid cruelties on the occasion. 18:42.980 --> 18:46.200 They pulled down the churches, burnt the houses, pillaged the properties, 18:46.740 --> 18:50.920 massacred the ministers, put the garrison to the sword, hanged the townsmen, 18:51.060 --> 18:54.300 ravished the women, smothered the children, etc., etc. 18:55.380 --> 19:00.360 A most bloody tragedy was transacted at Magdeburg in the year 1631. 19:01.420 --> 19:05.540 The generals Tilly and Pappenheim, having taken that Protestant city by 19:05.540 --> 19:11.240 storm, upwards of 20,000 persons, without distinction of rank, sex or age, 19:11.320 --> 19:15.660 were slain during the carnage, and 6,000 were drowned in attempting to 19:15.660 --> 19:17.040 escape over the river Elbe. 19:18.100 --> 19:22.060 After this fury had subsided, the remaining inhabitants were stripped naked, 19:22.260 --> 19:27.040 severely scourged, had their ears cropped, and, being yoked together like oxen, 19:27.120 --> 19:27.900 were turned adrift. 19:29.160 --> 19:33.740 The town of Hoxter was taken by the Popish army, and all the inhabitants as well as 19:33.740 --> 19:35.220 the garrison were put to the sword. 19:35.640 --> 19:39.860 The houses even were set on fire, the bodies being consumed in the flames. 19:40.820 --> 19:45.900 At Griffenberg, when the Imperial forces prevailed, they shut up the senators in 19:45.900 --> 19:50.080 the Senate chamber, and, surrounding it by lighted straw, suffocated them. 19:51.580 --> 19:56.240 Fronendal surrendered upon articles of capitulation, yet the inhabitants were as 19:56.240 --> 19:58.180 cruelly used as at other places. 19:59.240 --> 20:02.380 And at Heidelberg, many were shut up in prison and starved. 20:03.260 --> 20:08.920 The cruelties used by the Imperial troops under Count Tilly in Saxony are thus 20:08.920 --> 20:09.680 enumerated. 20:10.300 --> 20:15.480 Half-strangling and recovering the persons again, repeatedly, rolling sharp wheels 20:15.480 --> 20:20.200 over the fingers and toes, pinching the thumbs in a vice, forcing the most filthy 20:20.200 --> 20:25.160 things down the throat, by which many were choked, tying cords round the head so 20:25.160 --> 20:30.300 tightly that the blood gushed out of the eyes, nose, ears and mouth, fastening 20:30.300 --> 20:34.180 burning matches to the fingers, toes, ears, arms, legs and even the 20:34.180 --> 20:38.540 tongue, putting powder in the mouth and setting fire to it, by which the head was 20:38.540 --> 20:43.480 shattered to pieces, tying bags of powder to all parts of the body by which the 20:43.480 --> 20:47.860 person was blown up, drawing cords backwards and forwards through the fleshy 20:47.860 --> 20:53.300 parts, making incisions with bodkins and knives in the skin, running wires through 20:53.300 --> 20:57.720 the nose, ears, lips, etc., hanging Protestants up by the legs with their 20:57.720 --> 21:02.320 heads over a fire by which they were smoke-dried, hanging up by one arm until 21:02.320 --> 21:07.340 it was dislocated, hanging upon hooks by the ribs, forcing people to drink until 21:07.340 --> 21:12.360 they burst, baking many in hot ovens, fixing weights to the feet and drawing up 21:12.360 --> 21:16.940 several with pulleys, hanging, stifling, roasting, stabbing, frying, 21:17.160 --> 21:21.320 racking, ravishing, ripping open, breaking the bones, rasping off the flesh, 21:21.700 --> 21:25.500 tearing with wild horses, drowning, strangling, burning, broiling, 21:25.720 --> 21:30.060 crucifying, immuring, poisoning, cutting off tongues, noses, ears, 21:30.200 --> 21:34.700 etc., sawing off the limbs, hacking to pieces and drawing by the heels through 21:34.700 --> 21:35.260 the streets. 21:37.020 --> 21:41.140 The enormous cruelties will be a perpetual stain on the memory of Count Tilly, 21:41.660 --> 21:45.780 who not only committed but even commanded the troops to put them in practice. 21:46.820 --> 21:51.120 Wherever he came, the most horrid barbarities and cruel depredations ensued. 21:51.840 --> 21:55.980 Famine and conflagration marked his progress, for he destroyed all the 21:55.980 --> 21:59.680 provisions he could not take with him and burnt all the towns before he left them, 22:00.060 --> 22:04.220 so that the full result of his conquest were murder, poverty and desolation. 22:05.400 --> 22:11.080 An aged and pious divine, they stripped naked, tied him on his back upon a table 22:11.080 --> 22:13.940 and fastened a large, fierce cat upon his belly. 22:14.900 --> 22:18.000 They then pricked and tormented the cat in such a manner that the creature, 22:18.200 --> 22:21.340 with rage, tore his belly open and gnawed his bowels. 22:22.560 --> 22:25.980 Another minister in his family was seized by these inhuman monsters. 22:26.620 --> 22:30.700 They ravished his wife and daughter before his face, stuck his infant son upon the 22:30.700 --> 22:34.600 point of a lance, and then, surrounding him with a whole library of books, 22:34.900 --> 22:38.440 they set fire to them, and he was consumed in the midst of the flames. 22:39.900 --> 22:44.780 In Hesse-Kassel some of the troops entered an hospital in which were principally mad 22:44.780 --> 22:48.680 women, when, stripping all the poor wretches naked, they made them run about 22:48.680 --> 22:51.520 the streets for their diversion, and then put them all to death. 22:53.020 --> 22:58.500 In Pomerania some of the imperial troops, entering a small town, seized upon all the 22:58.500 --> 23:02.860 young women and girls of upwards of ten years, and then, placing their parents in 23:02.860 --> 23:07.220 a circle, they ordered them to sing psalms while they ravished their children, 23:07.540 --> 23:09.840 or else they swore they would cut them to pieces afterward. 23:09.840 --> 23:13.860 They then took all the married women who had young children, and threatened, 23:14.180 --> 23:17.700 if they did not consent to the gratification of their lusts, to burn 23:17.700 --> 23:21.720 their children before their faces in a large fire which they had kindled for that 23:21.720 --> 23:22.100 purpose. 23:23.660 --> 23:27.500 A band of Count Tilly's soldiers, meeting a company of merchants belonging 23:27.500 --> 23:32.000 to Basel, who were returning from the great market of Strasbourg, attempted to 23:32.000 --> 23:32.540 surround them. 23:33.080 --> 23:36.120 All escaped, however, but ten, leaving their properties behind. 23:36.940 --> 23:40.360 The ten who were taken begged hard for their lives, but the soldiers murdered 23:40.360 --> 23:44.340 them, saying, You must die, because you are heretics and have got no money. 23:46.200 --> 23:50.560 The same soldiers met with two countesses, who, together with some young ladies, 23:50.680 --> 23:53.400 the daughters of one of them, were taking an airing in Orlando. 23:54.140 --> 23:57.200 The soldiers spared their lives, but treated them with the greatest 23:57.200 --> 24:01.880 indecency, and having stripped them all stark naked, bade the coachman drive on. 24:03.420 --> 24:08.040 By means and mediation of Great Britain, peace was at length restored to Germany, 24:08.320 --> 24:12.140 and the Protestants remained unmolested for several years, until some new 24:12.140 --> 24:15.840 disturbances broke out in the Palatinate, which were thus occasioned. 24:16.760 --> 24:20.740 The great church of the Holy Ghost, at Heidelberg, had for many years been 24:20.740 --> 24:24.200 shared equally by the Protestants and Roman Catholics, in this manner. 24:24.820 --> 24:28.480 The Protestants performed divine service in the nave or body of the church, 24:28.880 --> 24:31.500 and the Roman Catholics celebrated Mass in the choir. 24:32.480 --> 24:37.200 Though this had been the custom from time immemorial, the elector of the Palatinate 24:37.200 --> 24:41.460 at length took it into his head not to suffer it any longer, declaring that as 24:41.460 --> 24:45.360 Heidelberg was the place of his residence, and the church of the Holy Ghost the 24:45.360 --> 24:49.960 cathedral of his principal city, divine service ought to be performed only 24:49.960 --> 24:52.560 according to the rights of the church of which he was a member. 24:52.560 --> 24:57.000 He then forbade the Protestants to enter the church, and put the papists in 24:57.000 --> 24:57.960 possession of the whole. 24:58.920 --> 25:02.460 The aggrieved people applied to the Protestant powers for redress, 25:02.920 --> 25:06.780 which so much exasperated the elector that he suppressed the Heidelberg catechism. 25:07.700 --> 25:11.760 The Protestant powers, however, unanimously agreed to demand satisfaction, 25:12.260 --> 25:16.060 as the elector, by this conduct, had broken an article of the Treaty of 25:16.060 --> 25:20.580 Westphalia, and the courts of Great Britain, Prussia, Holland, etc. 25:20.740 --> 25:24.600 sent deputies to the elector to represent the injustice of his proceedings, 25:25.140 --> 25:28.400 and to threaten, unless he changed his behaviour to the Protestants and the 25:28.400 --> 25:32.060 Palatinate, that they would treat their Roman Catholic subjects with the greatest 25:32.060 --> 25:32.600 severity. 25:33.500 --> 25:37.420 Many violent disputes took place between the Protestant powers and those of the 25:37.420 --> 25:41.040 elector, and these were greatly augmented by the following incident. 25:42.080 --> 25:45.360 The coach of the Dutch minister standing before the door of the resident, 25:45.980 --> 25:50.440 sent by the Prince of Hesse, the host was by chance being carried to a sick person. 25:51.200 --> 25:54.720 The coachman took not the least notice, which those who attended the host 25:54.720 --> 25:58.080 observing pulled him from his box, and compelled him to kneel. 25:58.080 --> 26:03.540 This violence to the domestic of a public minister was highly resented by all the 26:03.540 --> 26:07.660 Protestant deputies, and still more to heighten these differences, the 26:07.660 --> 26:11.620 Protestants presented to the deputies three additional articles of complaint. 26:11.620 --> 26:17.380 One, that military executions were ordered against all Protestant shoemakers who 26:17.380 --> 26:20.320 should refuse to contribute to the masses of St. Crispin. 26:21.080 --> 26:25.800 Two, that the Protestants were forbid to work on Popish holy days, even in harvest 26:25.800 --> 26:31.260 time, under very heavy penalties, which occasioned great inconvenience and 26:31.260 --> 26:33.540 considerably prejudiced public business. 26:34.440 --> 26:38.680 And three, that several Protestant ministers had been dispossessed of their 26:38.680 --> 26:43.260 churches under pretense of their having been originally founded and built by Roman 26:43.260 --> 26:43.820 Catholics. 26:45.340 --> 26:50.280 The Protestant deputies at length became so serious as to intimate to the elector 26:50.280 --> 26:54.220 that force of arms should compel him to do the justice he denied to their 26:54.220 --> 26:54.900 representations. 26:55.980 --> 26:59.940 This menace brought him to reason, as he well knew the impossibility of 26:59.940 --> 27:03.280 carrying on a war against the powerful states who threatened him. 27:04.540 --> 27:07.760 He therefore agreed that the body of the Church of the Holy Ghost should be 27:07.760 --> 27:09.000 restored to the Protestants. 27:09.500 --> 27:13.540 He restored the Heidelberg Catechism, put the Protestant ministers again in 27:13.540 --> 27:17.020 possession of the churches of which they had been dispossessed, allowed the 27:17.020 --> 27:21.600 Protestants to work on Popish holy days, and ordered that no person should be 27:21.600 --> 27:24.480 molested for not kneeling when the host passed by. 27:25.540 --> 27:29.360 These things he did through fear, but to show his resentment to his 27:29.360 --> 27:33.640 Protestant subjects, in other circumstances where Protestant states had 27:33.640 --> 27:38.060 no right to interfere, he totally abandoned Heidelberg, removing all the 27:38.060 --> 27:41.840 courts of justice to Mannheim, which was entirely inhabited by Roman 27:41.840 --> 27:42.260 Catholics. 27:42.260 --> 27:46.840 He likewise built a new palace there, making it his place of residence, 27:47.340 --> 27:51.580 and being followed by the Roman Catholics of Heidelberg, Mannheim became a 27:51.580 --> 27:52.540 flourishing place. 27:54.480 --> 27:59.100 In the meantime, the Protestants of Heidelberg sunk into poverty, and many of 27:59.100 --> 28:03.380 them became so distressed as to quit their native country and seek asylum in 28:03.380 --> 28:04.440 Protestant states. 28:04.440 --> 28:08.920 A great number of these coming into England in the time of Queen Anne were 28:08.920 --> 28:13.480 cordially received there, and met with the most humane assistance, both by public and 28:13.480 --> 28:14.460 private donations. 28:16.940 --> 28:23.480 In 1732, above 30,000 Protestants were, contrary to the Treaty of Westphalia, 28:23.920 --> 28:26.200 driven from the Archbishopric of Salzburg. 28:26.200 --> 28:30.020 They went away in the depth of winter, with scarcely enough clothes to cover 28:30.020 --> 28:34.180 them, and without provisions, not having permission to take anything with them. 28:35.440 --> 28:39.940 The cause of these poor people not being publicly espoused by such states as could 28:39.940 --> 28:44.900 obtain them redress, they emigrated to various Protestant countries, and settled 28:44.900 --> 28:48.660 in places where they could enjoy the free exercise of their religion, without 28:48.660 --> 28:53.260 hurting their consciences, and live free from the trammels of Popish superstition 28:53.260 --> 28:55.360 and the chains of papal tyranny. 28:59.720 --> 29:00.800 CHAPTER XI. 29:01.960 --> 29:08.000 AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS The light of the Gospel having 29:08.000 --> 29:12.420 successfully spread over the Netherlands, the Pope instigated the Emperor to 29:12.420 --> 29:16.680 commence a persecution against the Protestants, when many thousand fell 29:16.680 --> 29:21.200 martyrs to superstitious malice and barbarous bigotry, among whom the most 29:21.200 --> 29:22.660 remarkable were the following. 29:24.140 --> 29:28.400 Wendelinutter, a pious Protestant widow, was apprehended on account of her 29:28.400 --> 29:32.360 religion, when several monks, unsuccessfully, endeavoured to persuade 29:32.360 --> 29:33.180 her to recant. 29:34.020 --> 29:38.300 As they could not prevail, a Roman Catholic lady of her acquaintance desired 29:38.300 --> 29:42.200 to be admitted to the dungeon in which she was confined, and promised to exert 29:42.200 --> 29:46.340 herself strenuously towards inducing the prisoner to abjure the reformed religion. 29:47.400 --> 29:51.720 When she was admitted to the dungeon, she did her utmost to perform the task she 29:51.720 --> 29:57.080 had undertaken, but finding her endeavours ineffectual, she said, Dear Wendelinutter, 29:57.260 --> 30:01.280 if you will not embrace our faith, at least keep the things which you profess 30:01.280 --> 30:04.620 secret within your own bosom and strive to prolong your life. 30:05.400 --> 30:09.500 To which the widow replied, Madam, you know not what you say, for with the 30:09.500 --> 30:13.740 heart we believe to righteousness, but with the tongue confession is made 30:13.740 --> 30:14.620 unto salvation. 30:15.820 --> 30:20.480 As she positively refused to recant, her goods were confiscated and she was 30:20.480 --> 30:21.540 condemned to be burned. 30:22.760 --> 30:27.960 At the place of execution, a monk held a cross to her and bade her kiss and worship 30:27.960 --> 30:32.940 God, to which she answered, I worship no wooden God but the Eternal God who is in 30:32.940 --> 30:33.180 Heaven. 30:34.360 --> 30:39.060 She was then executed, but through the before-mentioned Roman Catholic lady, 30:39.480 --> 30:43.640 the favour was granted that she should be strangled before fire was put to the 30:43.640 --> 30:44.060 faggots. 30:46.500 --> 30:49.560 Two Protestant clergymen were burned at Collen. 30:50.440 --> 30:55.300 A tradesman of Antwerp named Nicholas was tied up in a sack thrown into the river 30:55.300 --> 31:00.100 and drowned, and Pistorius, a learned student, was carried to the market of a 31:00.100 --> 31:03.200 Dutch village in a fool's coat and committed to the flames. 31:05.280 --> 31:09.480 Sixteen Protestants having received sentence to be beheaded, a Protestant 31:09.480 --> 31:11.620 minister was ordered to attend the execution. 31:12.380 --> 31:15.820 This gentleman performed the function of his office with great propriety, 31:16.320 --> 31:20.140 exhorted them to repentance and gave them comfort in the mercies of their Redeemer. 31:21.140 --> 31:24.940 As soon as the sixteen were beheaded, the magistrate cried out to the 31:24.940 --> 31:27.900 executioner, There is another stroke remaining yet. 31:28.020 --> 31:29.020 You must behead the minister. 31:29.600 --> 31:33.240 He can never die at a better time than with such excellent precepts in his mouth 31:33.240 --> 31:35.400 and such laudable examples before him. 31:36.180 --> 31:40.600 He was accordingly beheaded, though even many of the Roman Catholics themselves 31:40.600 --> 31:44.020 reprobated this piece of treacherous and unnecessary cruelty. 31:46.640 --> 31:51.480 George Schurter, a minister of Salzburg, was apprehended and committed to prison 31:51.480 --> 31:53.800 for instructing his flock in the knowledge of the gospel. 31:54.800 --> 31:59.020 While he was in confinement, he wrote a confession of his faith, soon after which 31:59.020 --> 32:03.120 he was condemned, first to be beheaded and afterward to be burned to ashes. 32:04.000 --> 32:09.040 On his way to the place of execution, he said to the spectators, That you may 32:09.040 --> 32:11.720 know I die a true Christian, I will give you a sign. 32:12.620 --> 32:16.680 This was indeed verified in a most singular manner, for after his head was 32:16.680 --> 32:21.040 cut off, the body, lying a short space of time with the belly to the ground, 32:21.520 --> 32:25.960 it suddenly turned upon the back, when the right foot crossed over the left, 32:26.320 --> 32:28.440 as did also the right arm over the left. 32:29.000 --> 32:31.980 And in this manner it remained until it was committed to the flames. 32:34.620 --> 32:40.980 In Ljubljana, a learned man named Persinal was murdered in prison, and Justus 32:40.980 --> 32:44.340 Innsberg was beheaded for having Luther's sermons in his possession. 32:46.400 --> 32:50.940 Giles Tillerman, a cutler of Brussels, was a man of great humanity and piety. 32:51.760 --> 32:55.660 Among others, he was apprehended as a Protestant, and many endeavours were made 32:55.660 --> 32:57.640 by the monks to persuade him to recant. 32:58.500 --> 33:02.840 He had once, by accident, a fair opportunity of escaping from prison, 33:03.300 --> 33:07.580 and being asked why he did not avail himself of it, he replied, I would not do 33:07.580 --> 33:11.580 the keepers so much injury, as they must have answered for my absence had I gone 33:11.580 --> 33:11.900 away. 33:13.380 --> 33:17.440 When he was sentenced to be burned, he fervently thanked God for granting him 33:17.440 --> 33:20.420 an opportunity by martyrdom to glorify his name. 33:21.800 --> 33:26.100 Perceiving at the place of execution a great quantity of faggots, he desired the 33:26.100 --> 33:30.480 principal part of them might be given to the poor, saying, A small quantity will 33:30.480 --> 33:31.760 suffice to consume me. 33:32.800 --> 33:36.620 The executioner offered to strangle him before the fire was lighted, but he would 33:36.620 --> 33:41.260 not consent, telling him that he defied the flames, and indeed he gave up the 33:41.260 --> 33:45.300 ghost with such composure amidst them that he hardly seemed sensible of their 33:45.300 --> 33:45.760 effects. 33:48.140 --> 33:55.220 In the year 1543 and 1544, the persecution was carried on throughout all Flanders in 33:55.220 --> 33:57.220 a most violent and cruel manner. 33:58.120 --> 34:01.440 Some were condemned to perpetual imprisonment, others to perpetual 34:01.440 --> 34:06.380 banishment, but most were put to death either by hanging, drowning, immuring, 34:06.720 --> 34:09.180 burning the rack, or burying alive. 34:10.440 --> 34:15.500 John de Boscarne, a zealous Protestant, was apprehended on account of his faith in 34:15.500 --> 34:16.720 the city of Antwerp. 34:17.420 --> 34:21.060 On his trial he steadfastly professed himself to be of the reformed religion, 34:21.560 --> 34:23.720 which occasioned his immediate condemnation. 34:24.840 --> 34:29.200 The magistrate, however, was afraid to put him to death publicly, as he was popular 34:29.200 --> 34:33.400 through his great generosity, and almost universally beloved for his inoffensive 34:33.400 --> 34:35.220 life and exemplary piety. 34:35.960 --> 34:40.940 A private execution being determined on, an order was given to drown him in prison. 34:41.560 --> 34:46.620 The executioner accordingly put him in a large tub, but Boscarne struggling and 34:46.620 --> 34:50.420 getting his head above the water, the executioner stabbed him with a dagger 34:50.420 --> 34:52.660 in several places until he expired. 34:54.400 --> 34:58.460 John de Buisson, another Protestant, was about the same time secretly 34:58.460 --> 35:01.580 apprehended and privately executed at Antwerp. 35:02.320 --> 35:06.620 The numbers of Protestants being great in that city, and the prisoner much 35:06.620 --> 35:10.920 respected, the magistrates feared an insurrection, and for that reason ordered 35:10.920 --> 35:12.520 him to be beheaded in prison. 35:14.240 --> 35:15.320 In A.D. 35:15.640 --> 35:21.820 1568, three persons were apprehended in Antwerp, named Scoblant, Hoos and Coumans. 35:22.920 --> 35:26.300 During their confinement they behaved with great fortitude and cheerfulness, 35:26.840 --> 35:30.960 confessing that the hand of God appeared in what had befallen them and bowing down 35:30.960 --> 35:32.540 before the throne of his providence. 35:34.100 --> 35:38.560 In an epistle to some worthy Protestants, they expressed themselves in the following 35:38.560 --> 35:39.040 words. 35:39.860 --> 35:43.780 Since it is the will of the Almighty that we should suffer for his name and be 35:43.780 --> 35:48.600 persecuted for the sake of his gospel, we patiently submit and are joyful upon 35:48.600 --> 35:49.220 the occasion. 35:49.820 --> 35:53.960 Though the flesh may rebel against the spirit and hearken to the counsel of the 35:53.960 --> 35:58.420 old serpent, yet the truths of the gospel shall prevent such advice from being 35:58.420 --> 36:01.380 taken, and Christ shall bruise the serpent's head. 36:02.180 --> 36:04.860 We are not comfortless in confinement, for we have faith. 36:05.400 --> 36:09.600 We fear not affliction, for we have hope, and we forgive our enemies, for we have 36:09.600 --> 36:10.060 charity. 36:11.100 --> 36:12.840 Be not under apprehensions for us. 36:13.180 --> 36:17.840 We are happy in confinement, through the promises of God, glory in our bonds, 36:18.100 --> 36:21.400 and exult in being thought worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ. 36:21.400 --> 36:24.570 We desire not to be released, but to be blessed with fortitude. 36:25.540 --> 36:29.660 We ask not liberty, but the power of perseverance, and wish for no change in 36:29.660 --> 36:33.120 our condition but that which places a crown of martyrdom upon our heads. 36:35.360 --> 36:37.300 Scoblant was first brought to his trial. 36:37.780 --> 36:41.720 When, persisting in the profession of his faith, he received sentence of death. 36:42.780 --> 36:46.720 On his return to prison, he earnestly requested the jailer not to permit any 36:46.720 --> 36:50.920 friar to come near him, saying, They can do me no good, but may greatly 36:50.920 --> 36:51.800 disturb me. 36:52.880 --> 36:56.960 I hope my salvation is already sealed in heaven, and that the blood of Christ, 36:57.080 --> 37:01.140 in which I firmly put my trust, hath washed me from my iniquities. 37:01.900 --> 37:05.480 I am going to throw off this mantle of clay, to be clad in robes of eternal 37:05.480 --> 37:09.520 glory, by whose celestial brightness I shall be freed from all errors. 37:10.200 --> 37:14.880 I hope I may be the last martyr to papal tyranny, and the blood already spilt found 37:14.880 --> 37:19.120 sufficient to quench the thirst of popish cruelty, that the Church of Christ may 37:19.120 --> 37:21.820 have rest here, as His servants will hereafter. 37:23.580 --> 37:27.220 On the day of execution, he took a pathetic leave of his fellow prisoners. 37:28.060 --> 37:32.100 At the stake he fervently said the Lord's Prayer, and sung the 40th Psalm, 37:32.600 --> 37:36.040 then, commending his soul to God, he was burned alive. 37:38.480 --> 37:43.320 Hoose, soon after, died in prison, upon which occasion Coumans wrote thus to 37:43.320 --> 37:47.020 his friends, I am now deprived of my friends and companions. 37:47.580 --> 37:51.220 Scoblant is martyred, and Hoose dead, by the visitation of the Lord. 37:51.840 --> 37:56.040 Yet I am not alone, I have with me the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. 37:56.540 --> 37:58.660 He is my comfort, and shall be my reward. 37:59.200 --> 38:03.480 Pray unto God to strengthen me to the end, as I expect every hour to be freed from 38:03.480 --> 38:04.640 this tenement of clay. 38:06.600 --> 38:11.320 On his trial he freely confessed himself of the reformed religion, answered with a 38:11.320 --> 38:15.840 manly fortitude to every charge against him, and proved the scriptural part of his 38:15.840 --> 38:16.800 answers from the Gospel. 38:17.840 --> 38:22.820 The judge told him the only alternatives were recantation or death, and concluded 38:22.820 --> 38:25.860 by saying, Will you die for the faith you profess? 38:26.440 --> 38:30.400 To which Coumans replied, I am not only willing to die, but to suffer the most 38:30.400 --> 38:35.100 excruciating torments for it, after which my soul shall receive its confirmation 38:35.100 --> 38:37.900 from God himself in the midst of eternal glory. 38:39.920 --> 38:44.100 Being condemned, he went cheerfully to the place of execution, and died with the most 38:44.100 --> 38:46.440 manly fortitude and Christian resignation. 38:49.770 --> 38:53.110 William of Nassau fell a sacrifice to treachery. 38:53.930 --> 38:58.490 Being assassinated in the fifty-first year of his age, by Balthasar Gerard, 38:58.630 --> 39:01.130 a native of Ranche-Comte in the province of Burgundy. 39:02.010 --> 39:06.930 This murderer, in hopes of a reward here and hereafter for killing an enemy to the 39:06.930 --> 39:11.130 King of Spain, and an enemy to the Catholic religion, undertook to destroy 39:11.130 --> 39:11.950 the Prince of Orange. 39:12.570 --> 39:16.670 Having procured firearms, he watched him as he passed through the great hall of his 39:16.670 --> 39:19.050 palace to dinner, and demanded a passport. 39:19.950 --> 39:23.990 The Princess of Orange, observing that the assassin spoke with a hollow and confused 39:23.990 --> 39:27.930 voice, asked who he was, saying that she did not like his countenance. 39:27.930 --> 39:31.890 The Prince answered that it was one that demanded a passport, which he should 39:31.890 --> 39:32.750 presently have. 39:34.170 --> 39:38.050 Nothing further passed before dinner, but on the return of the Prince and 39:38.050 --> 39:42.090 Princess, through the same hall, after dinner was over, the assassin, 39:42.490 --> 39:46.810 standing concealed as much as possible by one of the pillars, fired at the Prince, 39:47.210 --> 39:51.150 the balls entering at the left side and passing through the right, wounding in 39:51.150 --> 39:53.390 their passage the stomach and vital parts. 39:53.950 --> 39:58.690 On receiving the wounds, the Prince only said, Lord have mercy upon my soul and 39:58.690 --> 40:01.790 upon these poor people, and then expired immediately. 40:03.390 --> 40:07.510 The lamentations throughout the United Provinces were general, on account of the 40:07.510 --> 40:10.850 death of the Prince of Orange, and the assassin, who was immediately 40:10.850 --> 40:14.990 taken, received sentence to be put to death in the most exemplary manner. 40:15.590 --> 40:20.410 Yet such was his enthusiasm, or folly, that when his flesh was torn by red-hot 40:20.410 --> 40:24.370 pincers, he coolly said, if I was at liberty, I would commit such an action 40:24.370 --> 40:25.010 over again. 40:26.770 --> 40:30.210 The Prince of Orange's funeral was the grandest ever seen in the Low Countries, 40:30.450 --> 40:34.810 and perhaps the sorrow for his death the most sincere, as he left behind him the 40:34.810 --> 40:38.810 character he honestly deserved, namely, that of father of his people. 40:40.870 --> 40:44.730 To conclude, multitudes were murdered in different parts of Flanders. 40:45.470 --> 40:50.050 In the city of Valence, in particular, fifty-seven of the principal inhabitants 40:50.050 --> 40:54.170 were butchered in one day, for refusing to embrace the Romish superstition, 40:54.330 --> 40:58.150 and great numbers were suffered to languish in confinement, until they 40:58.150 --> 41:00.490 perished through the inclemency of their dungeons. 41:03.430 --> 41:12.710 CHAPTER TWELVE THE LIFE AND STORY OF THE TRUE SERVANT AND MARTYR OF GOD We have now 41:12.710 --> 41:17.670 to enter into the story of the good martyr of God, William Tyndale, which William 41:17.670 --> 41:22.450 Tyndale, as he was a special organ of the Lord appointed, and as God's mattock to 41:22.450 --> 41:27.430 shake the inward roots and foundation of the Pope's proud prelacy, so the great 41:27.430 --> 41:31.570 Prince of Darkness, with his impious imps having a special malice against him, 41:32.170 --> 41:36.870 left no way unsought how craftily to entrap him, and falsely to betray him, 41:36.910 --> 41:41.130 and maliciously to spill his life, as by the process of his story here 41:41.130 --> 41:42.430 following may appear. 41:44.330 --> 41:48.690 William Tyndale, the faithful minister of Christ, was born about the borders of 41:48.690 --> 41:53.050 Wales, and brought up from a child in the University of Oxford, where he, 41:53.190 --> 41:57.430 by long continuance, increased as well in the knowledge of tongues, and other 41:57.430 --> 42:01.690 liberal arts, as especially in the knowledge of the Scriptures, whereunto his 42:01.690 --> 42:03.270 mind was singularly addicted. 42:04.370 --> 42:09.710 Insomuch that he, lying then in Magdalen Hall, read privily to certain students and 42:09.710 --> 42:14.410 fellows of Magdalen College, some parcel of divinity, instructing them in the 42:14.410 --> 42:15.890 knowledge and truth of the Scriptures. 42:17.010 --> 42:21.350 His manners and conversation being correspondent to the same, were such that 42:21.350 --> 42:25.250 all they that knew him reputed him to be a man of most virtuous disposition, 42:25.690 --> 42:27.130 and of life unspotted. 42:29.030 --> 42:33.730 Thus he, in the University of Oxford, increasing more and more in learning, 42:33.870 --> 42:38.570 and proceeding in degrees of the schools, spying his time, removed from thence to 42:38.570 --> 42:42.690 the University of Cambridge, where he likewise made his abode a certain space. 42:44.070 --> 42:48.450 Being now further ripened in the knowledge of God's word, leaving that university, 42:48.930 --> 42:53.230 he resorted to one master Welsh, a knight of Gloucestershire, and was there 42:53.230 --> 42:56.450 schoolmaster to his children, and in good favour with his master. 42:57.610 --> 43:02.150 As this gentleman kept a good ordinary commonly at his table, there resorted to 43:02.150 --> 43:06.930 him many times sundry abbots, deans, archdeacons, with divers other doctors, 43:07.130 --> 43:11.650 and great benefist men, who there, together with master Tyndale, sitting at 43:11.650 --> 43:16.430 the same table, did use many times to enter communication, and talk of learned 43:16.430 --> 43:20.590 men, as of Luther, and of Erasmus, also of divers other controversies, 43:21.290 --> 43:22.650 and questions upon the scripture. 43:24.910 --> 43:29.290 Then master Tyndale, as he was learned and well practised in God's matters, 43:29.910 --> 43:34.510 spared not to show unto them simply and plainly his judgment, and when they at any 43:34.510 --> 43:38.330 time did vary from Tyndale in opinions, he would show them in the book, 43:38.750 --> 43:42.290 and lay plainly before them the open and manifest places of the scriptures, 43:42.790 --> 43:45.550 to confute their errors, and confirm his sayings. 43:46.550 --> 43:50.830 And thus continued they for a certain season, reasoning and contending together 43:50.830 --> 43:55.910 divers times, until at length they waxed weary, and bare a secret grudge in their 43:55.910 --> 43:56.810 hearts against him. 43:58.310 --> 44:03.470 As this grew on, the priests of the country, clustering together, began to 44:03.470 --> 44:08.350 grudge and storm against Tyndale, railing against him in alehouses and other 44:08.350 --> 44:12.810 places, affirming that his sayings were heresy, and accusing him secretly to the 44:12.810 --> 44:14.970 Chancellor, and others of the Bishop's officers. 44:16.610 --> 44:20.870 It followed not long after this, that there was a sitting of the Bishop's 44:20.870 --> 44:24.630 Chancellor appointed, and warning was given to the priests to appear, 44:25.150 --> 44:27.990 amongst whom Master Tyndale was also warned to be there. 44:29.330 --> 44:33.790 And whether he had any misdoubt by their threatenings, or knowledge given him, 44:34.050 --> 44:37.550 that they would lay some things to his charge, it is uncertain. 44:38.530 --> 44:42.870 But certain this is, as he himself declared, that he doubted their privy 44:42.870 --> 44:47.590 accusations, so that he, by the way, in going thitherwards, cried in his mind 44:47.590 --> 44:52.170 heartily to God, and to give him strength fast to stand in the truth of his word. 44:54.610 --> 44:58.730 When the time came for his appearance before the Chancellor, he threatened him 44:58.730 --> 45:03.390 grievously, reviling and rating him as though he had been a dog, and laid to his 45:03.390 --> 45:07.630 charge many things whereof no accuser could be brought forth, notwithstanding 45:07.630 --> 45:09.690 that the priests of the country were there present. 45:10.610 --> 45:14.990 Thus, Master Tyndale, escaping out of their hands, departed home and returned to 45:14.990 --> 45:15.890 his master again. 45:17.750 --> 45:22.930 There dwelt, not far off, a certain Doctor, that had been Chancellor to a 45:22.930 --> 45:26.810 Bishop, who had been of old familiar acquaintance with Master Tyndale, 45:26.890 --> 45:27.950 and favoured him well. 45:29.890 --> 45:33.870 Unto whom Master Tyndale went, and opened his mind upon Diver's questions 45:33.870 --> 45:37.650 of the Scripture, for to him he durst be bold to disclose his heart. 45:38.370 --> 45:42.810 Unto whom the Doctor said, Do you not know that the Pope is very Antichrist, 45:42.810 --> 45:44.310 whom the Scripture speaketh of? 45:44.630 --> 45:48.630 But beware what you say, for if you shall be perceived to be of that opinion, 45:48.750 --> 45:49.890 it will cost you your life. 45:51.850 --> 45:55.930 Not long after Master Tyndale happened to be in the company of a certain Divine, 45:56.130 --> 46:00.010 recounted for a learned man, and in communing and disputing with him, 46:00.330 --> 46:04.830 he drove him to that issue, that the said great Doctor burst out into these 46:04.830 --> 46:09.550 blasphemous words, We were better to be without God's laws than the Pope's. 46:10.850 --> 46:15.430 Master Tyndale, hearing this, full of godly seal and not bearing that 46:15.430 --> 46:20.170 blasphemous saying, replied, I defy the Pope and all his laws, and added, 46:20.590 --> 46:25.170 If God spared him life, ere many years he would cause a boy that driveth the plough 46:25.170 --> 46:26.890 to know more of the Scripture than he did. 46:28.290 --> 46:32.090 The grudge of the priests increasing still more and more against Tyndale, 46:32.450 --> 46:37.170 they never ceased barking and rating at him, and laid many things sorely to his 46:37.170 --> 46:38.730 charge, saying that he was a heretic. 46:39.770 --> 46:43.910 Being so molested and vexed, he was constrained to leave that country and to 46:43.910 --> 46:44.770 seek another place. 46:46.010 --> 46:49.570 And so coming to Master Welch, he desired him of his goodwill that he 46:49.570 --> 46:53.590 might depart from him, saying, Sir, I perceive that I shall not be 46:53.590 --> 46:57.390 suffered to tarry long here in this country, neither shall you be able, 46:57.530 --> 47:01.330 though you would, to keep me out of the hands of the spirituality, what 47:01.330 --> 47:05.730 displeasure might grow to you by keeping me, God knoweth, for the which I should be 47:05.730 --> 47:06.290 right sorry. 47:07.890 --> 47:11.110 So that in fine Master Tyndale, with the goodwill of his master, 47:11.210 --> 47:15.990 departed, and Eftsoons came up to London and there preached a while as he had done 47:15.990 --> 47:16.590 in the country. 47:18.230 --> 47:22.770 Bethinking himself of Cuthbert Tonstal, then Bishop of London, and especially of 47:22.770 --> 47:28.010 the great commendation of Erasmus, who in his annotations so extolleth the 47:28.010 --> 47:32.450 said Tonstal for his learning, Tyndale thus cast with himself that if he 47:32.450 --> 47:35.050 might attain unto his service he were a happy man. 47:36.190 --> 47:39.830 Coming to Sir Henry Guildford, the King's Comptroller, and bringing with 47:39.830 --> 47:43.910 him an oration of Isocrates, which he translated out of Greek into English, 47:44.470 --> 47:48.870 he desired him to speak to the said Bishop of London for him, which he also did, 47:49.250 --> 47:52.970 and willed him moreover to write an epistle to the Bishop and to go himself 47:52.970 --> 47:53.470 with him. 47:54.310 --> 47:58.250 This he did, and delivered his epistle to a servant of his, named William 47:58.250 --> 48:00.830 Hepethwaite, a man of his old acquaintance. 48:01.970 --> 48:08.070 But God, who secretly disposeth the course of things, saw that was not best for 48:08.070 --> 48:12.590 Tyndale's purpose, nor for the profit of his church, and therefore gave him to find 48:12.590 --> 48:14.310 little favour in the Bishop's sight. 48:14.890 --> 48:19.250 The answer of whom was this, his house was full, he had more than he could well find, 48:19.250 --> 48:23.430 and he advised him to seek in London abroad, where he said he could lack no 48:23.430 --> 48:23.850 service. 48:25.610 --> 48:29.810 Being refused of the Bishop, he came to Humphrey Mummoth, Alderman of London, 48:29.950 --> 48:33.730 and besought him to help him, who at the same time took him into his house, 48:34.230 --> 48:38.690 where the said Tyndale lived, as Mummoth said, like a good priest, studying both 48:38.690 --> 48:39.430 night and day. 48:40.370 --> 48:44.950 He would eat but sodden meat by his goodwill, nor drink but small single beer. 48:44.950 --> 48:48.830 He was never seen in the house to wear linen about him, all the space of his 48:48.830 --> 48:49.410 being there. 48:51.030 --> 48:55.610 And so remained Master Tyndale in London almost a year, marking with himself the 48:55.610 --> 48:59.610 course of the world, and especially the demeanour of the preachers, how they 48:59.610 --> 49:04.390 boasted themselves and set up their authority, beholding also the pomp of the 49:04.390 --> 49:09.090 prelates, with other things more which greatly misliked him, insomuch that he 49:09.090 --> 49:13.430 understood not only that there was no room in the Bishop's house for him to translate 49:13.430 --> 49:17.670 the New Testament, but also that there was no place to do it in all England. 49:19.070 --> 49:23.930 Therefore, having by God's providence some aid ministered unto him by Humphrey 49:23.930 --> 49:27.830 Mummoth and certain other good men, he took his leave of the realm and 49:27.830 --> 49:32.750 departed into Germany, where the good man, being inflamed with a tender care and zeal 49:32.750 --> 49:37.650 of his country, refused no travail nor diligence how by all means possible to 49:37.650 --> 49:41.730 reduce his brethren and countrymen of England to the same taste and 49:41.730 --> 49:46.190 understanding of God's holy word and verity which the Lord had endued him 49:46.190 --> 49:46.610 withal. 49:47.930 --> 49:51.830 Whereupon, considering in his mind, and conferring also with John Frith, 49:52.390 --> 49:57.090 Tyndale thought with himself no way more to conduce thereunto than if the Scripture 49:57.090 --> 50:01.290 were turned into the vulgar speech, that the poor people might read and see 50:01.290 --> 50:02.930 the simple plain word of God. 50:03.490 --> 50:07.570 He perceived that it was not possible to establish the lay people in any truth, 50:07.890 --> 50:11.570 except the Scriptures were so plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue, 50:11.910 --> 50:14.030 that they might see the meaning of the text. 50:14.630 --> 50:18.830 For else, whatsoever truth should be taught them, the enemies of the truth 50:18.830 --> 50:22.950 would quench it, either with reasons of sophistry and traditions of their own 50:22.950 --> 50:27.770 making, founded without all ground of Scripture, or else juggling with the text, 50:27.950 --> 50:32.250 expounding it in such a sense as it were impossible to gather of the text if the 50:32.250 --> 50:33.990 right meaning thereof were seen. 50:35.190 --> 50:40.670 Master Tyndale considered this only almost chiefly to be the cause of all mischief in 50:40.670 --> 50:44.310 the church, that the Scriptures of God were hidden from the people's eyes. 50:45.070 --> 50:49.750 For so long the abominable doings and idolatries maintained by the pharisaical 50:49.750 --> 50:54.470 clergy could not be espied, and therefore all their labour was with might and main 50:54.470 --> 50:58.570 to keep it down, so that either it should not be read at all, or if it were, 50:58.670 --> 51:01.650 they would darken the right sense with the mist of their sophistry. 51:02.690 --> 51:07.650 And so entangle those who rebuked or despised their abominations, wresting the 51:07.650 --> 51:11.250 Scripture unto their own purpose, contrary unto the meaning of the text, 51:11.590 --> 51:16.930 they would so delude the unlearned lay people, that though thou felt in thy heart 51:16.930 --> 51:21.170 and wert sure that all were false that they said, yet couldst thou not solve 51:21.170 --> 51:22.270 their subtle riddles. 51:24.010 --> 51:28.690 For these and such other considerations this good man was stirred up of God to 51:28.690 --> 51:32.550 translate the Scripture into his mother tongue for the profit of the simple people 51:32.550 --> 51:36.910 of his country, first setting in hand with the New Testament, which came forth in 51:36.910 --> 51:37.850 print about A.D. 51:38.350 --> 51:38.910 1525. 51:40.050 --> 51:44.310 Cuthbert Tomstil, Bishop of London, with Sir Thomas More being sore aggrieved, 51:44.990 --> 51:49.450 despised how to destroy that false, erroneous translation, as they called it. 51:51.050 --> 51:55.370 It happened that one Augustine Packington, a Mercer, was then at Antwerp, 51:55.390 --> 51:56.230 where the Bishop was. 51:56.950 --> 52:00.550 This man favoured Tyndale, but showed the contrary unto the Bishop. 52:01.410 --> 52:05.630 The Bishop, being desirous to bring his purpose to pass, communed how that he 52:05.630 --> 52:07.490 would gladly buy the New Testaments. 52:08.390 --> 52:12.030 Packington, hearing him say so, said, My Lord, I can do more in this 52:12.030 --> 52:16.550 matter than most merchants that be here, if it be your pleasure, for I know the 52:16.550 --> 52:20.470 Dutchmen and strangers that have brought them of Tyndale, and have them here to 52:20.470 --> 52:24.770 sell, so that if it be your Lordship's pleasure I must disperse money to pay for 52:24.770 --> 52:28.430 them, or else I cannot have them, and so I will assure you to have every 52:28.430 --> 52:30.510 book of them that is printed and unsold. 52:31.570 --> 52:37.290 The Bishop, thinking he had God by the toe, said, Do your diligence, Gentlemaster 52:37.290 --> 52:37.870 Packington. 52:38.230 --> 52:42.450 Get them for me, and I will pay whatsoever they cost, for I intend to burn and 52:42.450 --> 52:44.230 destroy them all at Paul's Cross. 52:45.890 --> 52:50.370 This Augustine Packington went unto William Tyndale, and declared the whole 52:50.370 --> 52:56.170 matter, and so, upon compact made between them, the Bishop of London had the books, 52:56.470 --> 52:59.270 Packington had the thanks, and Tyndale had the money. 53:00.670 --> 53:05.130 After this, Tyndale corrected the same New Testaments again, and caused them to be 53:05.130 --> 53:09.490 newly imprinted, so that they came thick and threefold over into England. 53:10.150 --> 53:13.950 When the Bishop perceived that, he sent for Packington, and said to him, 53:14.190 --> 53:17.450 How cometh this, that there are so many New Testaments abroad? 53:17.690 --> 53:19.670 You promised me that you would buy them all. 53:20.330 --> 53:24.870 Then answered Packington, Surely I bought all that were to be had, but I perceive 53:24.870 --> 53:26.390 they have printed more since. 53:26.390 --> 53:29.910 I see it will never be better, so long as they have letters and stamps. 53:30.350 --> 53:33.970 Wherefore, you were best to buy the stamps too, and so you shall be sure. 53:34.510 --> 53:37.730 At which answer the Bishop smiled, and so the matter ended. 53:39.170 --> 53:44.310 In short space after, it fortuned that George Constantine was apprehended by Sir 53:44.310 --> 53:49.030 Thomas More, who was then Chancellor of England, as suspected of certain heresies. 53:49.770 --> 53:53.810 Master More asked of him, saying, Constantine, I would have thee be plain 53:53.810 --> 53:57.730 with me in one thing that I will ask, and I promise thee I will show thee favour 53:57.730 --> 53:59.850 in all other things whereof thou art accused. 54:00.830 --> 54:05.090 There is beyond the sea, Tyndale, Joy, and a great many of you. 54:05.410 --> 54:07.030 I know they cannot live without help. 54:07.330 --> 54:10.770 There are some that succour them with money, and now, being one of them, 54:10.890 --> 54:14.010 hath thy part thereof, and therefore knowest whence it came. 54:14.470 --> 54:17.310 I pray thee, tell me, who be they that help them thus? 54:18.190 --> 54:22.990 My lord, quoth Constantine, I will tell you truly, it is the Bishop of London that 54:22.990 --> 54:27.110 hath hope in us, for he hath bestowed among us a great deal of money upon New 54:27.110 --> 54:31.510 Testaments to burn them, and that hath been, and yet is, our only succour and 54:31.510 --> 54:31.870 comfort. 54:32.950 --> 54:37.190 Now, by my troth, quoth More, I think even the same, for so much I told the Bishop 54:37.190 --> 54:38.390 before he went about it. 54:40.210 --> 54:45.570 After that, Master Tyndale took in hand to translate the Old Testament, finishing the 54:45.570 --> 54:49.670 five books of Moses, with sundry, most learned, and godly prologues, 54:49.710 --> 54:52.750 most worthy to be read, and read again by all good Christians. 54:53.310 --> 54:58.230 These books being sent over into England, it cannot be spoken what a door of light 54:58.230 --> 55:02.050 they opened to the eyes of the whole English nation, which before was shut up 55:02.050 --> 55:02.630 in darkness. 55:04.270 --> 55:08.030 At his first departing out of the realm, he took his journey into Germany, 55:08.390 --> 55:10.950 where he had conference with Luther and other learned men. 55:11.550 --> 55:15.430 After he had continued there a certain season, he came down into the Netherlands, 55:15.550 --> 55:18.050 and had his most abiding in the town of Antwerp. 55:19.110 --> 55:23.510 The godly books of Tyndale, and especially the New Testament of his translation, 55:24.090 --> 55:28.490 after that they began to come into men's hands and to spread abroad, wrought great 55:28.490 --> 55:30.290 and singular profit to the godly. 55:30.630 --> 55:35.130 But the ungodly, envying and disdaining that the people should be anything wiser 55:35.130 --> 55:40.170 than they, and fearing lest by the shining beams of truth their works of darkness 55:40.170 --> 55:43.770 should be discerned, began to stir with no small ado. 55:45.350 --> 55:50.430 At what time Tyndale had translated Deuteronomy, minding to print the same at 55:50.430 --> 55:52.470 Hamburg, he sailed thitherward. 55:52.930 --> 55:56.810 Upon the coast of Holland he suffered shipwreck, by which he lost all his books, 55:57.250 --> 56:01.790 writings and copies, his money and his time, and so was compelled to begin all 56:01.790 --> 56:02.170 again. 56:02.890 --> 56:07.330 He came in another ship to Hamburg, where at his appointment, Master Coverdale 56:07.330 --> 56:11.230 tarried for him and helped him in the translating of the whole five books of 56:11.230 --> 56:11.630 Moses. 56:11.630 --> 56:16.630 From Easter until December, in the house of a worshipful widow, Mistress Margaret 56:16.630 --> 56:18.410 van Emerson, in A.D. 56:19.010 --> 56:19.550 1529. 56:21.090 --> 56:24.410 A great sweating sickness being at the same time in the town. 56:25.070 --> 56:28.590 So, having dispatched his business at Hamburg, he returned to Antwerp. 56:30.050 --> 56:34.230 When God's will was that the New Testament in the common tongue should come abroad, 56:34.750 --> 56:38.830 Tyndale, the translator thereof, added to the latter end a certain epistle, 56:38.830 --> 56:43.590 wherein he desired them that were learned to amend if ought were found amiss. 56:44.410 --> 56:48.850 Wherefore, if there had been any such default deserving correction, it had been 56:48.850 --> 56:52.430 the part of courtesy and gentleness, the men of knowledge and judgment, 56:52.610 --> 56:56.310 to have showed their learning therein, and to have redressed what was to be 56:56.310 --> 56:56.650 amended. 56:57.650 --> 57:02.490 But the clergy, not willing to have that book prosper, cried out upon it that there 57:02.490 --> 57:05.770 were a thousand heresies in it, and that it was not to be corrected, 57:05.770 --> 57:07.250 but utterly to be suppressed. 57:08.150 --> 57:11.130 Some said it was not possible to translate the scriptures into English. 57:11.590 --> 57:15.290 Some that it was not lawful for the lay people to have it in their mother tongue. 57:16.190 --> 57:17.890 Some that it would make them all heretics. 57:18.670 --> 57:23.290 And to the intent to induce the temporal rulers unto their purpose, they said it 57:23.290 --> 57:25.650 would make the people to rebel against the king. 57:26.950 --> 57:31.370 All this Tyndale himself, in his prologue before the first book of Moses, 57:31.370 --> 57:36.190 showing further what great pains were taken in examining that translation, 57:36.650 --> 57:40.350 and comparing it with their own imaginations, that with less labour, 57:40.450 --> 57:43.290 he supposeth, they might have translated a great part of the Bible. 57:44.210 --> 57:48.110 Showing moreover that they scanned and examined every title and point in such 57:48.110 --> 57:53.050 thought, and so narrowly, that there was not one I therein, but if it lacked a 57:53.050 --> 57:57.310 prick over his head, they did note it, and numbered it unto the ignorant people 57:57.310 --> 57:58.110 for a heresy. 57:59.270 --> 58:03.830 So great were then the froward devices of the English clergy, who should have been 58:03.830 --> 58:07.670 the guides of light unto the people, to drive the people from the knowledge of 58:07.670 --> 58:11.790 the Scripture, which neither they would translate themselves, nor yet abide it to 58:11.790 --> 58:12.930 be translated of others. 58:13.570 --> 58:17.350 To the intent, as Tyndale saith, that the world being kept still in 58:17.350 --> 58:21.850 darkness, they might sit in the consciences of the people through vain 58:21.850 --> 58:26.230 superstition and false doctrine, to satisfy their ambition and insatiable 58:26.230 --> 58:29.830 covetousness, and to exalt their own honour above king and emperor. 58:31.270 --> 58:35.670 The bishops and prelates never rested before they had brought the king to their 58:35.670 --> 58:40.770 consent, by reason whereof a proclamation in all haste was devised and set forth 58:40.770 --> 58:45.750 under public authority, that the testament of Tyndale's translation was inhibited, 58:46.150 --> 58:47.130 which was about A.D. 58:47.570 --> 58:48.170 1537. 58:48.950 --> 58:53.490 And not content herewith, they proceeded further how to entangle him in their nets, 58:53.490 --> 58:56.950 and to bereave him of his life, which how they brought to pass, 58:57.330 --> 58:58.910 now it remaineth to be declared. 59:01.030 --> 59:05.650 In the registers of London it appeareth manifest, how that the bishops and Sir 59:05.650 --> 59:10.410 Thomas More, having before them such as had been at Antwerp, most studiously would 59:10.410 --> 59:15.110 search and examine all things belonging to Tyndale, where and with whom he hosted, 59:15.510 --> 59:19.330 whereabouts stood the house, what was his stature, in what apparel he went, 59:19.410 --> 59:24.770 what resort he had, all which things when they had diligently learned, then began 59:24.770 --> 59:26.130 they to work their feats. 59:27.850 --> 59:32.070 William Tyndale, being in the town of Antwerp, had been lodged about one whole 59:32.070 --> 59:36.150 year in the house of Thomas Points, an Englishman, who kept a house of English 59:36.150 --> 59:36.690 merchants. 59:37.790 --> 59:40.610 Came thither one out of England, whose name was Henry Phillips, 59:41.110 --> 59:45.390 his father being customer of Poole, a comely fellow, like as he had been a 59:45.390 --> 59:49.710 gentleman, having a servant with him, but wherefore he came, or for what purpose 59:49.710 --> 59:52.010 he was sent thither, no man could tell. 59:53.570 --> 59:58.530 Master Tyndale, divers times, was desired forth to dinner and support amongst 59:58.530 --> 01:00:02.750 merchants, by means whereof this Henry Phillips became acquainted with him. 01:00:03.150 --> 01:00:07.110 So that within short space, Master Tyndale had a great confidence in him, 01:00:07.350 --> 01:00:10.010 and brought him to his lodging, to the house of Thomas Points, 01:00:10.430 --> 01:00:14.790 and had him also once or twice with him to dinner and supper, and further entered 01:00:14.790 --> 01:00:19.250 such friendship with him, that through his procurement he lay in the same house of 01:00:19.250 --> 01:00:23.370 the said Points, to whom he showed moreover his books and other secrets of 01:00:23.370 --> 01:00:27.510 his study, so little did Tyndale then mistrust this traitor. 01:00:29.490 --> 01:00:34.470 But Points, having no great confidence in the fellow, asked Master Tyndale how he 01:00:34.470 --> 01:00:35.930 came acquainted with this Phillips. 01:00:36.590 --> 01:00:39.850 Master Tyndale answered that he was an honest man, handsomely learned, 01:00:39.970 --> 01:00:41.130 and very conformable. 01:00:42.150 --> 01:00:46.670 Points, perceiving that he bears such favour to him, said no more, thinking that 01:00:46.670 --> 01:00:49.150 he was brought acquainted with him by some friend of his. 01:00:50.550 --> 01:00:55.270 The said Phillips, being in the town three or four days, upon a time desired Points 01:00:55.270 --> 01:00:59.930 to walk with him forth of the town to show him the commodities thereof, and in 01:00:59.930 --> 01:01:03.890 walking together without the town, had communication of divers things, 01:01:04.230 --> 01:01:08.410 and some of the king's affairs, by which talk Points as yet suspected 01:01:08.410 --> 01:01:08.790 nothing. 01:01:09.550 --> 01:01:14.050 But after, when the time was past, Points perceived this to be the mind of 01:01:14.050 --> 01:01:18.850 Phillips, to feel whether the said Points might, for lucre of money, help him to his 01:01:18.850 --> 01:01:23.110 purpose, for he perceived before that Phillips was moneyed, and would that 01:01:23.110 --> 01:01:27.470 Points should think no less, for he had desired Points before to help him to 01:01:27.470 --> 01:01:31.770 divers things, and such things as he named he required might be of the best, 01:01:31.890 --> 01:01:33.710 for, said he, I have money enough. 01:01:35.770 --> 01:01:40.030 Phillips went from Antwerp to the court of Brussels, which is from thence twenty-four 01:01:40.030 --> 01:01:44.390 English miles, whence he brought with him to Antwerp the procurator general, 01:01:44.770 --> 01:01:48.270 who is the emperor's attorney, with certain other officers. 01:01:49.370 --> 01:01:53.490 Within three or four days, Points went forth to the town of Barois, being 01:01:53.490 --> 01:01:57.430 eighteen English miles from Antwerp, where he had business to do for the space 01:01:57.430 --> 01:02:02.150 of a month or six weeks, and in the time of his absence, Henry Phillips came again 01:02:02.150 --> 01:02:06.450 to Antwerp, to the house of Points, and coming in, spake with his wife, 01:02:06.550 --> 01:02:08.510 asking whether Master Tyndale were within. 01:02:09.290 --> 01:02:12.570 Then he went forth again, and set the officers, whom he had brought with him 01:02:12.570 --> 01:02:14.950 from Brussels, in the street and about the door. 01:02:15.910 --> 01:02:19.890 About noon he came again, and went to Master Tyndale, and desired him to lend 01:02:19.890 --> 01:02:24.690 him forty shillings, for, said he, I lost my purse this morning, coming over 01:02:24.690 --> 01:02:26.490 at the passage between this and Mecklen. 01:02:27.010 --> 01:02:31.270 So Master Tyndale took him forty shillings, which was easy to be had of 01:02:31.270 --> 01:02:35.610 him, if he had it, for in the wily subtleties of this world he was simple and 01:02:35.610 --> 01:02:36.410 inexpert. 01:02:37.370 --> 01:02:41.110 Then said Phillips, Master Tyndale, you shall be my guest here this day. 01:02:41.590 --> 01:02:45.930 No, said Master Tyndale, I go forth this day to dinner, and you shall go with me 01:02:45.930 --> 01:02:47.830 and be my guest, where you shall be welcome. 01:02:49.410 --> 01:02:54.530 So when it was dinner time, Master Tyndale went forth with Phillips, and at the going 01:02:54.530 --> 01:02:59.470 forth of Points's house was a long narrow entry, so that two could not go in front. 01:03:00.390 --> 01:03:04.670 Master Tyndale would have put Phillips before him, but Phillips would in no wise 01:03:04.670 --> 01:03:08.430 but put Master Tyndale before, for that he pretended to show great 01:03:08.430 --> 01:03:08.950 humanity. 01:03:09.850 --> 01:03:14.250 So Master Tyndale, being a man of no great stature, went before, and Phillips, 01:03:14.450 --> 01:03:19.370 a tall, comely person, followed behind him, who had set officers on either side 01:03:19.370 --> 01:03:22.890 of the door upon two seats, who might see who came in the entry. 01:03:23.870 --> 01:03:27.410 Phillips pointed with his finger over Master Tyndale's head down to him, 01:03:27.690 --> 01:03:30.730 that the officers might see that it was he whom they should take. 01:03:31.530 --> 01:03:35.170 The officers afterwards told Points, when they had laid him in prison, 01:03:35.490 --> 01:03:37.230 that they pitied to see his simplicity. 01:03:38.210 --> 01:03:40.570 They brought him to the Emperor's Attorney, where he dined. 01:03:40.570 --> 01:03:45.770 Then came the Procurator-General to the House of Points, and sent away all that 01:03:45.770 --> 01:03:49.310 was there of Master Tyndale's, as well as his books, as other things, 01:03:49.770 --> 01:03:55.090 and from thence Tyndale was had to the Castle of Filforda, eighteen English miles 01:03:55.090 --> 01:03:55.890 from Antwerp. 01:03:57.350 --> 01:04:01.070 Master Tyndale, remaining in prison, was proffered an advocate and a 01:04:01.070 --> 01:04:04.690 procurator, the which he refused, saying that he would make answer for 01:04:04.690 --> 01:04:05.130 himself. 01:04:05.730 --> 01:04:11.050 He had so preached to them who had him in charge, and such as was there conversant 01:04:11.050 --> 01:04:14.750 with him in the Castle, that they reported of him, that if he were not a good 01:04:14.750 --> 01:04:17.730 Christian man, they knew not whom they might take to be one. 01:04:19.110 --> 01:04:23.610 At last, after much reasoning, where no reason would serve, although he 01:04:23.610 --> 01:04:29.390 deserved no death, he was condemned by virtue of the Emperor's decree made in the 01:04:29.390 --> 01:04:30.590 Assembly at Augsburg. 01:04:31.350 --> 01:04:36.170 Brought forth to the place of execution, he was tied to the stake, strangled by the 01:04:36.170 --> 01:04:40.970 hangman, and afterwards consumed with fire at the town of Filforda, A.D. 01:04:41.630 --> 01:04:47.830 1536, crying at the stake with a fervent zeal and a loud voice, Lord, open the King 01:04:47.830 --> 01:04:48.830 of England's eyes! 01:04:50.070 --> 01:04:54.310 Such was the power of his doctrine and the sincerity of his life, that during the 01:04:54.310 --> 01:04:58.270 time of his imprisonment, which endured a year and a half, he converted, 01:04:58.490 --> 01:05:02.370 it is said, his keeper, the keeper's daughter, and others of his household. 01:05:03.990 --> 01:05:08.550 As touching his translation of the New Testament, because his enemies did so much 01:05:08.550 --> 01:05:13.250 carp at it, pretending it to be full of heresies, he wrote to John Frith as 01:05:13.250 --> 01:05:18.310 followeth, I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord 01:05:18.310 --> 01:05:22.770 Jesus, that I never altered one syllable of God's word against my conscience, 01:05:22.770 --> 01:05:27.810 nor would do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honour, pleasure, 01:05:27.990 --> 01:05:29.570 or riches, might be given me. 01:05:33.750 --> 01:05:40.730 Chapter Thirteen An Account of the Life of John Calvin This reformer was born at 01:05:40.730 --> 01:05:44.170 Noyon in Picardy, July 10, 1509. 01:05:44.970 --> 01:05:49.410 He was instructed in grammar, learning at Paris under Maturinus Cordirius, 01:05:50.030 --> 01:05:54.290 and studied philosophy in the College of Montaigne under a Spanish professor. 01:05:55.850 --> 01:06:00.810 His father, who discovered many marks of his early piety, particularly in his 01:06:00.810 --> 01:06:05.190 reprehensions of the vices of his companions, designed him at first for the 01:06:05.190 --> 01:06:10.630 church, and got him presented, May 21, 1521, to the chapel of Notre-Dame 01:06:10.630 --> 01:06:12.950 de la Jeusine in the church of Noyon. 01:06:14.010 --> 01:06:20.330 In 1527 he was presented to the rectory of Marseville, which he exchanged in 1529 for 01:06:20.330 --> 01:06:22.490 the rectory of Point-le-Vec near Noyon. 01:06:23.310 --> 01:06:27.910 His father afterward changed his resolution and would have him study law, 01:06:28.490 --> 01:06:32.150 to which Calvin, who by reading the scriptures had conceived a dislike to the 01:06:32.150 --> 01:06:36.550 superstitions of popery, readily consented, and resigned the chapel of 01:06:36.550 --> 01:06:39.690 Jeusine and the rectory of Point-le-Vec in 1534. 01:06:40.730 --> 01:06:44.790 He made a great progress in that science, and improved no less in the knowledge of 01:06:44.790 --> 01:06:46.770 divinity by his private studies. 01:06:47.710 --> 01:06:51.870 At Bourges he applied to the Greek tongue under the direction of Professor Vollmar, 01:06:53.390 --> 01:06:56.330 his father's death having called him back to Noyon. 01:06:56.690 --> 01:07:00.950 He stayed there a short time, and then went to Paris, where a speech of Nicolas 01:07:00.950 --> 01:07:05.670 Coppe, rector of the University of Paris, of which Calvin furnished the materials, 01:07:06.070 --> 01:07:10.590 having greatly displeased the Sorbonne and the Parliament, gave rise to a persecution 01:07:10.590 --> 01:07:15.330 against the Protestants, and Calvin, who narrowly escaped being taken in the 01:07:15.330 --> 01:07:20.450 College of Fauteuil, was forced to retire to Saint-Ange, after having had the honour 01:07:20.450 --> 01:07:24.730 to be introduced to the Queen of Navarre, who had raised this first storm against 01:07:24.730 --> 01:07:25.510 the Protestants. 01:07:26.670 --> 01:07:29.290 Calvin returned to Paris in 1534. 01:07:30.350 --> 01:07:34.730 This year the Reformed met with severe treatment, which determined him to leave 01:07:34.730 --> 01:07:38.850 France, after publishing a treatise against those who believed that departed 01:07:38.850 --> 01:07:40.510 souls are in a kind of sleep. 01:07:41.430 --> 01:07:43.990 He retired to Basel, where he studied Hebrew. 01:07:44.670 --> 01:07:49.150 At this time he published his Institutions of the Christian Religion, a work well 01:07:49.150 --> 01:07:52.970 adapted to spread his fame, though he himself was desirous of living in 01:07:52.970 --> 01:07:53.650 obscurity. 01:07:54.310 --> 01:07:57.510 It is dedicated to the French king Francis I. 01:07:58.710 --> 01:08:02.230 Calvin next wrote an apology for the Protestants, who were burned for their 01:08:02.230 --> 01:08:03.230 religion in France. 01:08:04.270 --> 01:08:08.350 After the publication of this work, Calvin went to Italy to pay a visit to the 01:08:08.350 --> 01:08:12.750 Duchess of Ferrara, a lady of eminent piety, by whom he was very kindly 01:08:12.750 --> 01:08:13.370 received. 01:08:14.730 --> 01:08:18.790 From Italy he came back to France, and having settled his private affairs, 01:08:18.890 --> 01:08:23.210 he proposed to go to Strasbourg or Basel, in company with his sole surviving 01:08:23.210 --> 01:08:24.790 brother, Anthony Calvin. 01:08:25.550 --> 01:08:29.330 But as the roads were not safe, on account of the war, except through the 01:08:29.330 --> 01:08:32.010 Duke of Savoy's territories, he chose that road. 01:08:33.310 --> 01:08:36.790 This was a particular direction of Providence, says Bale. 01:08:37.190 --> 01:08:41.650 It was his destiny that he should settle at Geneva, and when he was wholly intent 01:08:41.650 --> 01:08:45.810 upon going farther, he found himself detained by an order from Heaven, 01:08:45.950 --> 01:08:47.010 if I may so speak. 01:08:48.230 --> 01:08:52.410 At Geneva, Calvin, therefore, was obliged to comply with the choice which the 01:08:52.410 --> 01:08:56.250 consistory and magistrates made of him, with the consent of the people, 01:08:56.610 --> 01:08:59.470 to be one of their ministers and professor of divinity. 01:09:00.510 --> 01:09:04.770 He wanted to undertake only this last office and not the other, but in the end 01:09:04.770 --> 01:09:06.550 he was obliged to take both upon him. 01:09:07.130 --> 01:09:09.090 In August 1536. 01:09:09.730 --> 01:09:14.910 The year following, he made all the people declare upon oath their assent to the 01:09:14.910 --> 01:09:18.390 confession of faith, which contained a renunciation of potpourri. 01:09:19.250 --> 01:09:23.670 He next intimated that he could not submit to a regulation which the canton of Bern 01:09:23.670 --> 01:09:29.390 had lately made, whereupon the syndics of Geneva summoned an assembly of the people, 01:09:29.770 --> 01:09:33.550 and it was ordered that Calvin, Farel, and another minister should leave 01:09:33.550 --> 01:09:36.670 the town in a few days for refusing to administer the sacrament. 01:09:38.270 --> 01:09:42.690 Calvin retired to Strasbourg, and established a French church in that city, 01:09:43.050 --> 01:09:44.650 of which he was the first minister. 01:09:45.450 --> 01:09:48.510 He was also appointed to be professor of divinity there. 01:09:49.670 --> 01:09:53.830 Meanwhile, the people of Geneva entreated him so earnestly to return to them, 01:09:54.290 --> 01:09:59.550 that at last he consented, and arrived September 13, 1541, to the great 01:09:59.550 --> 01:10:02.210 satisfaction both of the people and the magistrates. 01:10:02.870 --> 01:10:06.770 And the first thing he did after his arrival was to establish a form of church 01:10:06.770 --> 01:10:11.570 discipline and a consistorial jurisdiction, invested with power of 01:10:11.570 --> 01:10:16.110 inflicting censures and canonical punishments, as far as excommunication 01:10:16.110 --> 01:10:17.050 inclusively. 01:10:18.870 --> 01:10:23.230 It has long been the delight of both infidels and some professed Christians, 01:10:23.550 --> 01:10:28.510 when they wish to bring odium upon the opinions of Calvin, to refer to his agency 01:10:28.510 --> 01:10:30.170 in the death of Michael Servetus. 01:10:31.210 --> 01:10:35.130 This action is used on all occasions by those who have been unable to overthrow 01:10:35.130 --> 01:10:38.790 his opinions, as a conclusive argument against his whole system. 01:10:39.590 --> 01:10:44.850 Calvin burnt Servetus, Calvin burnt Servetus, is a good proof, with a certain 01:10:44.850 --> 01:10:49.550 class of reasoners, that the doctrine of the Trinity is not true, that divine 01:10:49.550 --> 01:10:52.990 sovereignty is anti-scriptural, and Christianity a cheat. 01:10:54.530 --> 01:10:58.810 We have no wish to palliate any act of Calvin's which is manifestly wrong. 01:10:58.810 --> 01:11:03.710 All his proceedings in relation to the unhappy affair of Servetus, we think, 01:11:04.030 --> 01:11:04.930 cannot be defended. 01:11:06.050 --> 01:11:09.690 Still, it should be remembered that the true principles of religious toleration 01:11:09.690 --> 01:11:12.250 were very little understood in the time of Calvin. 01:11:12.970 --> 01:11:16.510 All the other reformers then living approved of Calvin's conduct. 01:11:17.150 --> 01:11:21.810 Even the gentle and amiable Melanchthon expressed himself in relation to this 01:11:21.810 --> 01:11:23.170 affair in the following manner. 01:11:24.370 --> 01:11:28.630 In a letter addressed to Bullinger, he says, I have read your statement 01:11:28.630 --> 01:11:32.950 respecting the blasphemy of Servetus, and praise your piety and judgment, 01:11:33.990 --> 01:11:37.830 and am persuaded that the Council of Geneva has done right in putting to death 01:11:37.830 --> 01:11:41.230 this obstinate man who would never have ceased his blasphemies. 01:11:41.770 --> 01:11:44.990 I am astonished that anyone can be found to disapprove of this proceeding. 01:11:46.530 --> 01:11:50.610 Farel expressly says that Servetus deserved a capital punishment. 01:11:51.490 --> 01:11:56.350 Butzer did not hesitate to declare that Servetus deserved something worse than 01:11:56.350 --> 01:11:56.710 death. 01:11:58.350 --> 01:12:03.370 The truth is, although Calvin had some hand in the arrest and imprisonment of 01:12:03.370 --> 01:12:06.690 Servetus, he was unwilling that he should be burnt at all. 01:12:07.310 --> 01:12:10.610 I desire, says he, that the severity of the punishment should be remitted. 01:12:11.890 --> 01:12:15.350 We endeavoured to commute the kind of death, but in vain. 01:12:16.590 --> 01:12:20.790 By wishing to mitigate the severity of the punishment, says Farel to Calvin, 01:12:21.130 --> 01:12:24.170 you discharge the office of a friend towards your greatest enemy. 01:12:25.390 --> 01:12:29.710 That Calvin was the instigator of the magistrates that Servetus might be burnt, 01:12:30.130 --> 01:12:35.130 says Turitin, historians neither anywhere affirm, nor does it appear from any 01:12:35.130 --> 01:12:35.410 considerations. 01:12:36.630 --> 01:12:40.830 Nay, it is certain that he, with the College of Pastors, dissuaded from that 01:12:40.830 --> 01:12:41.650 kind of punishment. 01:12:44.030 --> 01:12:48.170 It has been often asserted that Calvin possessed so much influence with the 01:12:48.170 --> 01:12:52.230 magistrates of Geneva, that he might have obtained the release of Servetus, 01:12:52.630 --> 01:12:54.930 had he not been desirous of his destruction. 01:12:55.750 --> 01:13:01.510 This, however, is not true, so far from it that Calvin was himself once banished from 01:13:01.510 --> 01:13:05.710 Geneva by these very magistrates, and often opposed their arbitrary measures 01:13:05.710 --> 01:13:06.270 in vain. 01:13:07.390 --> 01:13:12.290 So little desirous was Calvin of procuring the death of Servetus that he warned him 01:13:12.290 --> 01:13:16.230 of his danger and suffered him to remain several weeks at Geneva before he was 01:13:16.230 --> 01:13:16.670 arrested. 01:13:16.670 --> 01:13:21.750 But his language, which was then accounted blasphemous, was the cause of his 01:13:21.750 --> 01:13:22.530 imprisonment. 01:13:23.350 --> 01:13:27.570 When in prison, Calvin visited him and used every argument to persuade him to 01:13:27.570 --> 01:13:31.830 retract his horrible blasphemies without reference to his peculiar sentiments. 01:13:32.470 --> 01:13:35.810 This was the extent of Calvin's agency in this unhappy affair. 01:13:37.390 --> 01:13:42.930 It cannot, however, be denied that in this instance Calvin acted contrary to the 01:13:42.930 --> 01:13:44.530 benignant spirit of the Gospel. 01:13:44.530 --> 01:13:49.930 It is better to drop a tear over the inconsistency of human nature and to 01:13:49.930 --> 01:13:52.630 bewail those infirmities which cannot be justified. 01:13:53.690 --> 01:13:57.390 He declared he acted conscientiously and publicly justified the act. 01:13:58.290 --> 01:14:03.190 It was the opinion that erroneous religious principles are punishable by the 01:14:03.190 --> 01:14:08.010 civil magistrate that did the mischief, whether at Geneva, in Transylvania, 01:14:08.110 --> 01:14:12.530 or in Britain, and to this, rather than to Trinitarianism or Unitarianism, 01:14:12.530 --> 01:14:14.470 it ought to be imputed. 01:14:16.770 --> 01:14:21.590 After the death of Luther, Calvin exerted great sway over the men of that notable 01:14:21.590 --> 01:14:22.070 period. 01:14:22.650 --> 01:14:27.550 He was influential in France, Italy, Germany, Holland, England, and Scotland. 01:14:28.430 --> 01:14:34.210 2,150 Reformed congregations were organised, receiving from him their 01:14:34.210 --> 01:14:34.710 preachers. 01:14:35.950 --> 01:14:40.270 Calvin, triumphant over all his enemies, felt his death drawing near. 01:14:40.270 --> 01:14:44.310 Yet he continued to exert himself in every way with youthful energy. 01:14:45.190 --> 01:14:49.610 When about to lie down in rest, he drew up his will, saying, I do testify 01:14:49.610 --> 01:14:54.470 that I live and purpose to die in this faith which God has given me through his 01:14:54.470 --> 01:14:58.410 gospel, and that I have no other dependence for salvation than the free 01:14:58.410 --> 01:15:00.630 choice which is made of me by him. 01:15:01.670 --> 01:15:06.070 With my whole heart I embrace his mercy, through which all my sins are covered for 01:15:06.070 --> 01:15:09.290 Christ's sake and for the sake of his death and sufferings. 01:15:09.290 --> 01:15:13.730 According to the measure of grace granted unto me, I have taught this pure, 01:15:13.950 --> 01:15:18.470 simple word by sermons, by deeds, and by expositions of this scripture. 01:15:19.290 --> 01:15:22.950 In all my battles with the enemies of the truth, I have not used sophistry, 01:15:23.250 --> 01:15:26.010 but have fought the good fight squarely and directly. 01:15:27.990 --> 01:15:32.850 May 27, 1564 was the day of his release and blessed journey home. 01:15:33.290 --> 01:15:34.890 He was in his fifty-fifth year. 01:15:38.650 --> 01:15:43.070 That a man who had acquired so great a reputation and such an authority should 01:15:43.070 --> 01:15:47.010 have had but a salary of one hundred crowns, and refused to accept more, 01:15:47.430 --> 01:15:51.910 and after living fifty-five years with the utmost frugality, should leave but three 01:15:51.910 --> 01:15:56.530 hundred crowns to his heirs, including the value of his library, which sold very 01:15:56.530 --> 01:16:01.970 dear, is something so heroical that one must have lost all feeling not to admire. 01:16:03.330 --> 01:16:08.290 When Calvin took his leave of Strasbourg to return to Geneva, they wanted to 01:16:08.290 --> 01:16:12.830 continue to him the privileges of a free man of their town and the revenues of a 01:16:12.830 --> 01:16:14.470 prebend which had been assigned to him. 01:16:15.110 --> 01:16:18.330 The former he accepted, but absolutely refused the other. 01:16:19.230 --> 01:16:23.450 He carried one of the brothers with him to Geneva, but he never took any pains to get 01:16:23.450 --> 01:16:27.950 him preferred to an honourable post, as any other possessed of his credit would 01:16:27.950 --> 01:16:28.310 have done. 01:16:29.070 --> 01:16:33.290 He took care indeed of the honour of his brother's family by getting him freed from 01:16:33.290 --> 01:16:36.670 an adulteress and obtaining leave to him to marry again. 01:16:37.290 --> 01:16:40.830 But even his enemies relate that he made him learn the trade of a bookbinder, 01:16:40.930 --> 01:16:42.770 which he followed all his life after. 01:16:45.670 --> 01:16:51.950 Calvin as a friend of civil liberty The Reverend Dr. Wisner, in his late discourse 01:16:51.950 --> 01:16:55.730 at Plymouth on the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, made the 01:16:55.730 --> 01:16:56.710 following assertion. 01:16:57.450 --> 01:17:01.830 Much as the name of Calvin has been scoffed at and loaded with reproach by 01:17:01.830 --> 01:17:06.750 many sons of freedom, there is not an historical proposition more susceptible of 01:17:06.750 --> 01:17:11.250 complete demonstration than this, that no man has lived to whom the world is 01:17:11.250 --> 01:17:15.670 under greater obligations for the freedom it now enjoys than John Calvin.