and would eat as much as two clowns or threshers were able to eat. When one touched it, then it cried out: When any evil happened in the house, then it laughed and was joyful; but when all went well, then it cried, and was very sad. I told the Prince of Anhalt, if I were prince of that country, so would I venture Homicidium thereon, and would throw it into the river Moldaw. I admonished the people devoutly to pray to God to take away the devil; the same was done accordingly, and the second year after, the changeling died.

In Saxonia, near unto Halberstad, was a man that also had a Killerop, who sucked the mother and five other women dry; and, besides, devoured very much. This man was advised that he should, in his pilgrimage at Halberstad, make a promise of the Killcrop to the Virgin Mary, and should cause him there to be rocked. This advice the man followed, and carried the changeling thither in a basket. But going over a river, being upon the bridge, another devil that was below in the river called, and said, "Killcrop, Killcrop!" Then the child in the basket, that never before spoke one word, answered, "Ho, ho." The devil in the water asked further, "Whither art thou going?" The child in the basket said, "I am going towards Hockle stad, to our loving mother, to be rocked." The man, being much affrighted thereat, threw the child, with the basket, over the bridge into the water. Whereupon the two devils flew away together, and cried, Ho, ho, ho," tumbling themselves one over another, and so vanished.

Such Changelings and Killerops (said Luther) supponit Satan in locum verorum filiorum; for the devil hath this power, that he changeth child

ren, and in stead thereof, layeth devils in the cras dles, which prosper not, only they feed and suck: But such changelings live not above eighteen or nineteen years.

XXV.

CONCERNING SAMUEL, THAT APPEARED
TO KING SAUL.

It was not the Prophet Samuel, which, at Saul's | request, the witch caused to appear unto him, but it was a sprite, or an evil spirit, (said Luther) which hereby is proved:-God commandeth in Moses, that the truth should not be inquired after by the dead, &c. Therefore it was a delusion in the shape and likeness of that man of God. Like as that conjurer (the Abbot of Spanheim) brought to pass, that Maximilian, the Emperor, saw walking in his bed-chamber all the deceased great Hea then Emperors, and how every one of them in his life time was proportioned and apparelled; among whom was Alexander the Great, Julius Cæsar, also the spouse of Maximilian, which Charles Gibbosus took away from him.

XXVI. A FEARFUL HISTORY OF A SCHOLAR,

WHO GAVE HIMSELF OVER TO THE DEVIL.

Anno 1538, the 13th of February, a young stu dent of Wittemberg, named Valerius, of Leipsic, by myself (said Luther) was absolved in the Sacristy, in the presence of the deacon and his tutor, George Major. The same was very rude and disobedient to his tutor. At last, being examined and asked, why he lived so lewd and dissolute kind of life, fearing neither God nor man? He therefore confessed, that five years past, he had given himself over to the devil with these words, “ I renounce and deny thy faith, O Christ, and henceforward will be entertained by another Master."

Touching these words, (said Luther,) I examined him, and chid him sharply, and I asked him if he had spoken any words more to the devil? He answered, "No." Then I asked him, if he was sorry for it, and if now he would return again to our Saviour Christ? Whereupon he answered, and said,

Yea," and earnestly persisted in praying. Then I laid my hand upon him, and with the rest that were by, I kneeled down, prayed the Lord's prayer, and afterwards said,

"Lord God, Heavenly Father, who, through thy well-beloved Son, hast commanded us to pray, and in thy holy Christian Church hast ordained and instituted the office of preaching, that with meek spirit we should instruct, and recover again, such of our brethren, which, through some fault, might be overtaken-And Christ, thy only Son, himself saith, I am not come, but only for the cause of sinners: wherefore we pray thee, for this thy servant, that thou wouldst pardon and forgive him his sins, and inclose him again in the Article of Remission of Sins, and receive him again into the bosom of thy Holy Church, for thy dear Son's sake, Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen."

Afterwards I spoke these words following to the youth, in the High German tongue, (which he spoke after me): "I Valerius, confess before God and all his holy Angels, and before the Assembly of this Church, that I did renounce and deny the faith of my God, and gave myself over to the devil: The same is grievous unto me, and I am heartily sorry: I will henceforward be a professed enemy to the devil, and I will conform myself to the will of my Lord God, and amend myself. Amen." Hereupon I admonished him to repentance, and

God's fear, and that henceforth he should in godliness, civility, and in obedience, live, and should, by faith and prayer, resist the counsels of the devil: And when the devil should take hold on him with wicked cogitations, then should he arm himself with God's word, and presently should repair to his tutor, or minister, discover the same unto him, and should reject the devil, with his counsels and advices. This young student, (said Luther,) from that time forward, grew and became a very good and godly Christian.

XXVII. OF GOOD AND EVIL ANGELS.

The angels (said Luther) are near unto us, and to those creatures whom, by God's command, they are to keep and preserve, to the end they receive no hurt of the devil, and be made away. And withal, they behold God's face, and stand before him. Therefore, when the devil intendeth to hurt us, then the loving holy angels do resist and drive him away; for the angels have long arms, and although they stand before the presence of God and his Son Christ, yet, notwithstanding, they are hard by and about us in our affairs, which by God in our vocations we are commanded to take in hand, The devil (said Luther) is also near about us, and every twinkling of an eye deceitfully tracketh after our lives, our saving healths, and salvation: But the protection of the holy angels does defend us from him, insomuch that he is not able to work us such mischief as willingly he would. Many devils are in woods, in waters, in wildernesses, and in dark pooly places, ready to hurt and prejudice people. Some (said Luther) are also in the thick black clouds, which do cause hail, lightning, and thunderings, do poison the air, the pastures, and

grounds; when these things happen, then the philosophers and physicians do say, it is natural; they ascribe it to the planets, and shew I know not what reasons for such misfortunes and plagues as proceed and fall thereout.

XXVIII. THAt the angelS ARE LORD'S PROTECTORS.

It were neither good nor fitting for us to know, how earnestly the holy angels do strive for us against the devils, how hard a strife and combat it is; for, (said Luther,) if we should see that one only devil made and prepared work for so many angels, and put them to it, then we should be discouraged. Therefore the Holy Scripture, with few and plain words, saith, "he hath given his angels. charge over thee," &c. Also, "the angel of the Lord campeth himself round about those that fear him," &c. But, said Luther, thou, whosoever thou art, that feareth the Lord, be of good courage, take thou no care, neither be faint-hearted, nor make any doubt of the angels' waking, watching, and protection; for most certainly they are about and by thee, and do carry thee upon their hands. But how and in what manner it is done, take thou no care for that. God saith it, therefore it is most sure and certain. In Job it is written, " Behold, among his servants there is none without wandering And in his messengers, or angels, he findeth foolishness, namely, in the evil spirits."

Concerning angels (said Luther,) this is my opinion, whereupon I stand stiff and stedfast. I do verily believe, that the angels already are up in arms, they are putting on their harness and girding their swords about them. For (said he) the day of judgment draweth near, and the angels prepare