The name of Luther is prevalent in the ramifications of an ancient family within the lordship of the illustrious Earls of Mansfield, but Martin Luther's parents originally lived in the town. But his brother James, a man of uprightness and integrity, used to say that the opinion of the family, as to Luther's age, was that he was born in the year of the Lord 1483. After he received the degree of Master of Philosophy had attained, Luther now, at the age of twenty, applied himself to the study of law; and this he did on the advice of his friends, who thought this was such a great spirit.
Luther now began his commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; then that of the Psalms; and he illustrated these writings in such a manner that, according to the wise and good, the light of truth first shone upon them after a long night of darkness. Here he showed the difference between the law and the gospel; he refuted the error which then reigned in the schools and councils, which taught that men deserved the remission of their sins by their own works, and the dogma of the Pharisees, that men were in themselves righteous before God. In this way, Luther led people's thoughts to the Savior and, like John the Baptist, pointed out "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."
Luther made no change in the rites of the church at this time; on the contrary, he still maintained a strict discipline among his disciples, nor mingled with any of his mighty emotions, but explained them with a renewed one. At this time the attention of the students at the university was directed to the writings of Erasmus, as studies of the Latin and Greek languages; and thereby a more ingenious philosophy is shown to them, many who. He also carefully read the polemical writings of the time and was not ready to reject those who seemed to be on the side of truth.
For example, in the time of the Pharisees, Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary and many others were guardians of. Nevertheless, the seeds of superstition seem to have existed even in the ages of the fathers; thus Augustine laid down certain rules. Ignorance first fostered superstition; but afterwards seeing that the studies in the schools were directed only to forensic learning, since the practice of the law in Rome at this time increased the influence and wealth of many, they endeavored to make the public aware of the study of theology.
He published dialectical writings, containing wholesome and necessary doctrine for man, calculated also to enlighten honest minds on the subjects of "Repentance," "Faith with its true fruits," (the use of the Sacraments), " the difference between the Law and the Gospel" and.
PART TWO
Finally, when he realized that the end of his life was approaching, before four o'clock on the next day, the 18th of February, he dedicated himself to God in the following prayer:-. You revealed to me your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom I taught - whom I proclaimed to be my Lord - whom I love and whom I honor, as my precious Savior and Saviour, - who persecutes the wicked, dishonor and slander; You take my soul to Yourself.'' Three times he uttered these words. In the midst of these prayers, which are sometimes repeated, he was called to the one eternal meeting and to eternal bliss, in which he now enjoys.
Our Elias is no more, he who guided and governed the Church in the decay of this world. Human wisdom could not have discovered the doctrines of the remission of sins, and of faith in the Son of God; but he has been pleased to reveal them to us by means of this, his servant, whom we also see that God has taken to himself. Let us, therefore, cherish his memory with the peculiar teachings which he handed down to us, and let us be the more humbled in spirit when we consider the great calamities and mighty revolutions which are likely to follow this event.
You who were crucified for us, and are now the resurrected Emmanuel, that You will rule, preserve and defend Your Church.
ELEGY ON THE DEATH
The Son of God, as Paul says, sits at the right hand of the Eternal Father, and gives gifts to men; these gifts are the voice of the Gospel and of the Holy Spirit, with which, as He transmits them, He inspires Prophets, Apostles, Pastors and Teachers and chooses them from this our assembly, that is to say from those that still are. in the fundamentals of divine. It is encouraging and instructive to look back on the church through all the ages, and to contemplate the goodness of God who has sent gifted ministers from his bosom in such an unbroken series, that like the first of these deceased is, others have now followed in their footsteps. He must therefore be numbered with that blessed company, the excellencies of the earth, whom God has sent forth for the gathering and building up of his church, and whom we truly recognize as ornaments of the human race.
It is true that many exclaim "the church is in confusion," saying that inescapable controversies arise in it; to this I answer: This is the mode of divine government, for when the Holy Spirit convicts the world, dissensions arise through the persistence of the wicked; and the blame lies with those who refuse to hearken to the Son of God, and of whom our heavenly Father says, “Hear him.” That Luther illustrated the essential truths of the Gospel is evident in its dissemination, as the deepest shadows had previously obscured its teachings. For since it has pleased God to manifest Himself and His holy will in prophetic and apostolic writings, in which He has revealed Himself, we cannot suppose His word to be ambiguous, like the leaves of the Sybil.
Others, however, without any evil design, complained that Luther was unduly severe; I myself give no opinion on the subject, but answer them in the words of Erasmus: "God has favored us in this age with bitter pains because of our great infirmities." And often, when weighty considerations of the danger of the state have arisen, we have seen him endowed with a mighty the power of the soul, which fear did not overcome, and terror did not tame, for lie was resting on that holy anchor which is the power of God; nor did he allow his faith in him to be shaken. He learns why the Son of God is called the Word and image of the Eternal Father; and in what way the Holy Spirit is the bond of mutual love not only between the eternal Father and the Son, but also between them and the Church.
He also added this interpretation, that those heavenly spirits themselves, whom we commonly call angels, who beheld the Son, were enabled to comprehend and rejoice in the mysterious union of the two natures, and as they were soldiers of their Lord is in defense of His. Let us bear in mind with what joy he recited to us the management, the aims, the dangers and the deliverances of the prophets, and with what learning he was accustomed to trace the history of the church in all ages.
AMEN
On the one hand the Turks are ravaging, on the other warring parties threaten us with a civil war; indeed everywhere, we follow the realm of mismanagement; and now that the enemies of the church no longer fear the power of Luther, they will doubtless with greater boldness destroy the teaching which has been handed down to us by divine authority. That God may prevent these evils, let us be more diligent in regulating our lives and directing our pursuits, and let us always hold this sentiment in our minds, so that while we hold the pure truths of the Gospel, we may ourselves the house and constitutes the church of God: as the Son of God himself says: "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and remain with him." Encouraged by this cheering promise of our blessed Lord, let us incite one another to the acquisition of heavenly wisdom, and let us not forget that human interests and human institutions must be. Let us realize in our minds that the future eternity to which God has called us, who indeed did not reveal Himself to us in vain by such glorious testimonies, nor did He send His Son in vain, but He truly loves and preserves those who make big His grace
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