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Rh copy of it which I have seen, is a translation from the German into the English tongue by Captain Henric Bell. (London 1652.) This work, in which are “gathered up the fragments of the divine discourses which Luther held at his table with Philip Melanchthon, and divers other learned men,” bears to have been originally collected “out of his holy mouth” by Dr Anthony Lauterbach, and to have been afterwards “digested into common-places” by Dr Aurifaber. Although not sanctioned with Luther’s name, I do not know that the slightest doubts of its details have been suggested, even by such of his followers as have regretted the indiscreet communication to the public, of his unreserved table-talk with his confidential companions. The very accurate Seckendorff has not called in question its authenticity; but, on the contrary, gives it his indirect sanction, by remarking, that it was collected with little prudence, and not less imprudently printed: “” (Bayle, Article Luther, Note L.) It is very often quoted as an authority by the candid and judicious Dr Jortin.

In confirmation of what I have said of Luther’s credulity, I shall transcribe, in the words of the English translator, the substance of one of Luther’s Divine Discourses, “concerning the devil and his works.” “The devil (said Luther) can transform himself into the shape of a man or a woman, and so deceiveth people; insomuch that one thinketh he lieth by a right woman, and yet is no such matter; for, as St Paul saith, the devil is strong by the child of unbelief. But inasmuch as children or devils are conceived in such sort, the same are very horrible and fearful examples. Like unto this it is also with what they call the Nix in the water, who draweth people unto him as maids and virgins, of whom he begetteth devils’ children. The devil can also steal children away; as sometimes children within the space of six weeks after their birth are lost, and other children called supposititii, or changelings, laid in their places. Of the Saxons they were called Killcrops.

“Eight years since,” said Luther, “at Dessau, I did see and touch such a changed child, which was twelve years of age; he had his eyes, and all members, like another child; he did nothing but feed, and would eat as much as two clowns were able to eat. I told the Prince of Anhalt, if I were prince of that country, I would venture homicidium thereon, and would throw it into the river Moldaw. I admonished the people dwelling in that place devoutly to pray to God to take away the devil. The same was done accordingly, and the second year after the changeling died.

“In Saxony, near unto Halberstad, was a man that also had a killcrop, 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 Marie, 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 (which never before spake 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 Hocklestad to our loving mother, to be rocked. The man being ouch 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, ha, tumbling themselves over one another, and so vanished.” (pp. 386, 387.)

With respect to Luther’s Theological Disputes with the Devil, see the passages quoted by Bayle, Art. Luther, Note U.

Facts of this sort, so recent in their date, and connected with the history of so great a character, are consolatory to those, who, amid the follies and extravagancies of their contemporaries, are sometimes tempted to despair of the cause of truth, and of the gradual progress of human reason.