Christian Reader:

DAvid a man after Gods owne
heart, as in other respects so especially
in not forgetting any
of Gods benefits, but frequently
and sweetly descanting
on them in his sacred songs of praise, among
many other blessings, mentions Gods gracious
leading his people out of Egypt, & teaching
them by the ministery of Moses and
Aaron. The like thankfulnesse to God should
we shew in our hymns of glorie to God,
as for infinite other favours in these later
times, so especially for our comming out of the
spirituall Egypt, by the Ministery of Dr.
Mart. Luther. The goodnesse of God to the
Israelites and Us is much alike in both these
our deliverances. For when Egypts tyrannie
was growne to extremity, and Romes heresies
at full maturity, God seasonably put to

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his hand, and by Moses, then bred up in Pharaohs
Court, and by D. Luther, lately trained
up in Monkery, shewed a like mercy to us
both. However men did project to bend the
excellent endowments of these worthy men to
their owne purposes, God turned them to better
use, and seasoning them with his grace, fitted
them for the confusion of the Old & New
Egypts. God will be plainly knowne to
have matters of great importance at his owne
disposing. He of his great goodnesse directs to
the right object his servants ardent zeale to
do good: as in judgement he lets the malicious
and envious zeale of both Egypts persist in an
evill course to their overthrow. Hence it was,
that as God took off S. Paul from his blinde
and unseasonable zeale for Moses Law in the
Pharisaicall way, and bent it to the advancing
of the Gospell: So he quelled Luthers
raging fury and intent to vex and kill the opposers
of the Pope: & put a zealous spirit into
him for the maintenance of sacred Truth, and
the downfall of Popish superstition. And indeed
rightly did Erasmus judge, that those
corrupt times called for a sharpe, and
launcing and fearing Chirurgion, to cure
their long festered maladies. For the worship
of God and the truth of Religion was then as
amongst the Israelites in Elias time much
depraved and defaced, and required a magnanimous
and undaunted spirit, like to that in Elias,
to reforme matters extreamly out of frame.
Erasmus saw full well, how difficult a taske
D. Luther underwent, and for his owne part
and undertaking was assured, that if the
knowledge of good Arts, of polite Learning,
of the Originall tongues, of the Sacred
Scripture florisht, that the dark fogs of
Popery could not long continue undispel'd.
And therefore he complyed with all Princes,
and men studious of good letters whatsoever,
to make a knowing world: and would
in no wise, though earnestly set upon both by
loving intreaties and kinde usage, as also by
bitter calumnies, and harsh railings of the
Pontificans, doe any thing of speciall moment
against Luther. He was confident, that, if
Luther, being violently opposed and maliced,
should faile, yet the Truth of Christ, by the
light of all good literature and Gods blessing,

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would, maugre all the Papists malice, get the
upper hand, and spread it selfe.
But God was abundantly gracious to D.
Luther, and made him, as Ieremy, a defenced
citie, an iron pillar, and a wall of
brasse, against which his Antagonists could
in no wise prevaile. Had a spirit of pride or
contention, or any by-respect set Luther
on work against the Pope, or had he stood upon
questions litigious, or of an indifferent nature,
he could never have begun with that courage,
gone forward with that confidence, come
off with that honour, which he did. The blessing
of God and a good conscience bore
him out, to take such incredible paines in reading,
preaching, translating, commenting, disputing,
writing, advising the Politicall
State, directing the Ecclesiasticall, restraining
the Papists fury from open war, counselling
some Protestants from too hastie proceedings,
preventing tumultuous designes, avoiding
secret traps set for him, and in daily praying
to God for the prosperity of the Gospell.
All true Christians will heartily blesse
God for him, and his resolute and happy beginning
of Reformation: if Papists who notoriously
defamed and slandered him in his life
time, persist still to calumniate him after his
death, God in the last day will be judge betweene
them. Luther was and who is not?
subject to such weaknesses, as humanity makes
incident to the best men. He knew his slips, he
acknowledged them, he craved pardon for
them. Yea, he considering, that he was a man,
and might erre, intrusted his learned and
faithfull friend Melancthon to revise and
moderate some of his Tenents after his decease.
In briefe Luthers faith was admirably
strong in his God, his labours and studies of
singular benefit to Gods Church, his books
and writings very many and learned, his life
most pious, and therefore his death full of
comfort and blessed.
Accept good Reader this Treatise now
presented unto you in an English dresse, out
of the learned and laborious work of Melchior
Adamus: and expect the Lives of other most
godly and reverend Fathers in Gods
Church, and worthy Champions, against
the enemies of Gods truth, both English and
forraine. Some whereof were never extant extant
before, others, but sparingly in English set
forth; all of them worthy of everlasting memory
for their promoting of Gods glory, and
their love to Christian Truth. These will
shortly appeare from the Pens of sundry reverend,
religious, and faithfull Divines amongst
us. God make all these labours usefull to
Gods people, and us all thankfull for his Divine
and gracious goodnesse to these last and
worst times.
Yours in all Christian offices
Tho. Hayne.