undress, and are not to be taken as specimens of what he wrote or preached when girded up for great occasions;-though it may be observed that, like most men of genius, there was less difference in the language and manner of Luther in private and public, than is the case with those who cannot afford to be free, homely, and familiar:-a great peculiarity of both his preaching and writing was, that, despising all form and authority, he went straight to the hearts of his hearers and readers, and never hesitated to use an image or impression, however coarse or homely, provided it conveyed his meaning with liveliness and force. -We will commence our quotations by his occasional observations on this subject of preaching, which will confirm our remark.

Luther's Preaching and Opinions of Preachers.

"When I (said Luther) am in the pulpit, then I resolve to preach onely to men and maid-servants. I would not make a step into the pulpit for the sakes of Philip Melancthon, Justus Jonas, or the whole Universitie; for they are alreadie well seen in Scripture. But when preachers will direct their sermons to the high learned and deep understanding, and will breathe out altogether Rabinos and master-pieces, then the poor unlearned people present do stand like a flock of kine."-p. 289.

"Luther's wife said unto him-Sir, I heard your cousen John Palner (who attended on Luther) preach this afternoon in the parish church, whom I better understood than Doctor Pommer, that is held to be a very excellent preacher. Whereupon Luther made her this answer, John Palner preacheth as ye women use to talk; for what cometh in your mindes, the same ye also speak. A preacher ought to remain by the propounded text, and should deliver that which he hath before him; to the end, people may well understand the same. But such a preacher as will speak every thing that cometh in his minde, I liken to a maid that goeth to market, when another maid meeteth her, then they make a stand, and hold together a goose-market, &c."-p. 284.

"The defects in a preacher are soon spied; let a preacher be endued with ten virtues, and have but one fault; yet the same one fault will eclipse and darken all his virtues and gifts, so evil is the world in these times. Doctor Justus Jonas hath all the good virtues and qualities that a man may have; yet by reason that he onely often hummeth and spitteth; therefore the people cannot bear with that good and honest man."."—p. 284.

"Thereupon, answered Luther, and said, I use not to collect and fasten every point in particular, but onely the chief and head points on which the contents of the whole sermon depend, as, namely, in this sermon, I directed the admonition to God's chiefest service, as the hearing of his word. Afterwards in speaking, such things fall into my minde, of which before I never thought; for if I should com

prehend every word which I deliver, and, in particular, should speak of every point, then I should not so briefly run thorow. I much commend the expertness in Doctor Casparus Creutziger, who excellently comprehendeth and catcheth up his words: I hold (said Luther) that he goeth far beyond me."-p. 283.

"No divine in this our time (said Luther) declareth and handleth the Holie Scripture in such sort, as Brentius, insomuch that oftentimes I very much admire his Spirit, and despair of my abilitie. I verily believe none among us were able to perform what he did, in the exposition of John's Gospel, howsoever now and then he somewhat hangeth upon his cogitations, yet he remaineth in the true and upright sense and meaning, and strideth not over the plain simplicitie of God's Word; therefore, he is well to be born withall touching the other, and the same in no wise to bee upbraided."-p. 510.

The plainness and strength of the style of Luther's conversation is very evident in these extracts; the force and richness of his language, and the homeliness and beauty of his illustrations, will appear in the quotations which follow.

The Reconcilement of Fear and Love.

"I (said Luther) would fain see one that could make these two agree together: [To bee joieful] and [to be affraid]-I cannot behave myself in that manner towards God; but my little son John can shew himself so towards me; for when I sit in my studie and write, or do something else, then my boye sings me a song, and when he will be too loud, then I check him a little, yet nevertheless he singeth on, but with a more milde and softer voice, and somewhat with fear and reverence. Even so will God likewise have us to do, that we should alwaies rejoice in him, yet with fear and reverence."-p. 18.

The Bible compared to an Orchard.

"The Bible or Holie Scripture (said Luther) is like a fair and spacious orchard, wherein all sorts of trees do grow; from which we may pluck divers kinde of fruits; for in the Bible we have rich and precious comforts, learnings, admonitions, warnings, promises, and threatnings, &c. There is not a tree in this orchard on which I have not knock't (said Luther) and have shaken at least a couple of apples or pears from the same."—p. 1.

Schenck's Preaching characterized.

"Anno 1538, the 18 of September, Luther (having notice that the preaching of Jacob Schenck everie where was extolled and praised) said, O! how acceptable were these sayings and reports to me, if with his preaching he brought not in such sweet-mouthed, smooth and stately words (of which St. Paul complaineth to the Romans) whereby the hearers most of all are deceived. They are like to the winde Čecias, which bloweth so mildely and still, so soft and warm, that thereby the blossoms of trees and other herbs and flowers are

enticed to spring forth to their destruction. Even so likewise doth the Divel, who when he preacheth Christ in his ministers, even then he intendeth therein to destroie Christ; and although he speaketh the truth, yet even therewith he lieth. An honest man may well go up the stairs, when a knave lieth hid behinde them: for the devil can well endure that Christ sitteth upon the tongue, when in the mean time he lieth hid thereunder; insomuch that the people's ears are tickled and enflamed with what they willingly hear: But (said Luther) such smooth tattling lasteth not long; for Satan through the Gospel will pervert the Gospel, in regard presumptuous and secure spirits acknowledge not their sins. And where no matter or tinder is to make it apt to catch, there Christ hath no room or place wherein he may work; for he onely is come to them that are of perplexed, broken hearts and spirits, as he saith." To the poor is the Gospel preached. -p. 429.

Why Luther liked Chymistry.

"The upright Art of Alchimie (said Luther) liketh me very well, and indeed, it is the Philosophie of the antient. I like it not only for the profit's sake which it bringeth in melting of the metalls, in excocting, preparing and extracting, also in distilling herbs, roots, and in subliming. But also, I like it for the sake of the Allegorie and secret signification, which is surpassing fair; namely, touching the Resurrection of the dead at the last daie. For like as in a furnace the fire extracteth and separateth that which is the best out of the matter, yea it carrieth upwards the spirit, the life, the sap, and strength, so that it possesseth the uppermost part of the Still, it cleaveth thereon, and then trickleth downwards; insomuch, that the fat swimmeth above, and the best thereof hovereth alway uppermost; but the unclean matter, or the dregs, is left at the bottom like a dead carcase and worthless thing."-p. 480.

Luther compares the Preaching and the Gray Friers.

"Luther took in his hand a young sparrow, and said, Thou barefoot frier with thy graie coat, thou art the most mischievous bird. I would wish that some one would write a declamation of a passage that happened at Erfurt, in the time of my being there in the monasterie, namely, a preaching frier and a bare-foot wandered together into the countrie to beg for the brethren, and to gather alms. These two plaied upon one another with unprofitable words in their sermons. The bare-foot frier preaching first, said, Loving countrie people, and good friends! Take heed of that bird the swallow, for it is white within, but upon the back it is black; it is an evil bird, alwaies chirping, but profitable for nothing; and when it is angred, so is it altogether mad; it pricketh the kine, and when it fouleth, so maketh it people blinde, as in the book of Tobit ye read thereof. This bare-foot frier hereby intended to paint out the preaching friers that wear on the outside black coats, inward they wear white bandillions. Now as in that afternoon the preaching frier came into the pulpit, he plaied likewise upon the bare-foot frier, and said,-Indeed (loving friends!) I neither

may nor can well defend the swallow, but the graie sparrow is far a worse and more hurtful bird; for he robbeth, stealeth, and devoureth all he can get, as, oats, barlie, wheat, rie, apples, pears, peas, cherries, &c.; moreover he is a lustful and leacherous bird; his greatest art is to crie, Scrip, scrip, scrip, &c."-p. 416.

Luther worn out.

"At Coburg, I went about and sought me out a place for my burial, I thought to have been laid in the Chancel under the Cross, but now I am of another minde; I know I have not long to live, for my head is like a knife from which the Steel is wholly whetted away and is become merely Iron, the Iron will cut no more, even so likewise it is with my head; Now loving Lord God, I hope my hour is not far, God help, and give mee a happy hour, I desire to live no longer."— p. 472.

Luther of Popery, Law, and Lawyers.

"The Papists differ among themselves, they cannot agree in their own pedleries. For Anno, 1530, in the proceeding at Auspurg, they made no mention (no, not so much as one word was spoken) of the Article of the Pope's Primacie, or Vicarage of St. Peter, which was wont to be the chiefest Article of whole Popedom. We ought (said Luther) to set upon such an evil, such an ungodly and insolent creature, we ought to preach, to teach, and to write against him. If God spare me life and health but only one half year, so will I fetch a dance with that bride over block and stone. I would wish that the lawyers also appeared in the game, so would I thoroughly tug and teach them, what Subjectum juris is. I ackowledge Jus is altogether a fair spouse, so long as she remaineth in her own bed; but when she strideth into the bed of another, (and will rule divinitie in the church) then she becometh a great strumpet and a whore, therefore, Jus must stand uncovered before divinitie. Luther (still continuing his discourse touching this Cardinal and other Bishops) said, I never read such fundamental and fearful examples of hearts hardening as even in them; they far surpass the Jews, Pharaoh, and others; in a word, they are next neighbours to the Divel, my heart panteth and quaketh when I think on them." -p. 418.

In the course of this volume there occurs a great number of hints and anecdotes of the life of Luther-more particularly of the circumstances which led him into his great contest-of the spirit and magnanimity which maintained him in it-as well as little notices of his personal character, habits, and opinions. To these we shall turn.

Luther's Resolution.

"I Martin Luther, am called out and constreined against my will to be a preacher; when I received that office, I vowed and sware to my dearest beloved, the sacred Scripture, purely and truly to preach and teach the same; upon teaching whereof, Popedom fell in my waie, in

tending to hinder me; therefore it is come to that pass with the Pope, as now apparently doth appear, and it shall go still worse and worse with him; he shall not be able to resist me. In the name of God, and of my vocation and calling, I will go upon the lion and adder, and with feet will tread under the young lion and the dragon. And the same shall begin in my life time, and after my death it shall be accomplished."-p. 537.

Luther's joyful Opposition to the Pope.

"When I (said Luther) write against the Pope, I am not melancholie; for then I labor with the brains and understanding, then I write with joie of heart; insomuch, that not long since Doctor Reisenpusch said unto mee, I much marvel that you can be so merrie; if the case were mine, it would go near to kill me. Whereupon I answered him, and said, Neither the Pope, nor all his shaven retinue, can make me sad; for I know that they are Christ's enemies; therefore I fight against him with joiful courage."-p. 388.

Luther's History, by himself.

"Neither Philip Melancthon nor no man living (said Luther) shall make me believe, that Astrologie is a sure acknowledgment and an Art, the whole business concerning Astrologie, is opposite to Philosophie: I oftentimes have discoursed with Philip Melancthon, and in order have related unto him the course and manner of my whole life, and how I have lived. I am the son of a Farmer; my father, my grandfather and great-grandfather were Farmers, but my father left his farm, and went towards Mansfield, and there he became a Miner in the Silver Mines, one mile from which place (at Eisleven) I was born and bred. But insomuch as I became a Baccalaureus, a Batchelor in Arts, a Magister, or Master, a Frier, &c. the same was not written in the Planets. Did not I (said Luther) purchase a great shame, in that I laid aside my brown beard and became a nastie Frier, which much vexed my father, and it was very grievous unto him, yet nevertheless, I fell to buffets with the Pope, and he again with me. I took a wife (a fled Nun) and on her I begat certain children; now I demand, who saw these things in the Stars? who told me before, that thus and thus it should happen with me. An Astrologer or a Star-peeper, is to be likened to one that selleth dice, and saith, Behold here I have dice that alwaies run upon twelve, the rest of the fiftie casts, they run upon 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Even thus is it with the Astrologers, when once or twice their conceits and fantasies do hit and happen, then they cannot sufficiently extol and praise the Art, but touching the other so oftentimes failing, of the same they are altogether still and silent. I accept of Astronomie (said Luther) it pleaseth me well for the sake of her manifold profits."-p. 505.

Luther was much attached to music, and almost always listened to it during dinner. This taste, together with his merry and jovial disposition, gave the adherents of papacy a handle which they did not fail to use. Every calumny which