and they do not wish to admit that I am entitled, accordingto the usage of all universities in Christendom, openlyto discuss,not only Indulgences, but many higher doctrines,such as Power, Forgiveness, and I cannot retract, and I see what jealousyand hatred
I have roused through the explanationof my theses.
Besides,I am most unwilling to leave my corner onlyto hear harsh judgmentsagainst myself,but also because I am a stupiddunderhead in this learned age, and too ignorantto deal with such weightymatters.
For, in these golden times,when the number of the learned is dailyincreasing, and arts and sciences are flourishing, not to speak of the Hebrew tongues, so that even a Cicero were he now alive would creep into a corner, althoughhe never feared lightand publicity, sheer necessity alone drives me to cackle as a goose among swans.
So, to reconcile my opponents if possible, and satisfy the expectations of many, I let in the lightof day upon my thoughts,which you can see in my explanationof my propositions on I made them publicthat
I might have the protection of your Holiness's name, and find refugebeneath the shadow of your wings. So all may see from this how
I esteem the spiritual power, and honour the dignityof the For, if I were such as they say, and had not held a publicdiscussion on the subject, which every doctor is entitled to do, then assuredlyhis
Frederick, Elector of Saxony,who is an ardent lover of Christian and apostolictruth, would not have suffered such a dangerousperson in his Universityof Wittenberg.
And also,the beloved and learned doctors and magisters of our University, who cleave firmlyto our religion, would certainly have expelledme from their midst.
And is it not strange that my enemies not onlytry to convict me of sin and put me to shame, but also the Elector,and the whole
Therefore,most holy father,I prostrate myselfat your feet,placingmyselfand all I am and have at your disposal, to be dealt with as you see fit.
My cause hangs on the will of your I shall either save or lose my life.
I shall recognisethe voice of your Holiness to be that of Christ,speakingthroughyou.
If I merit death,I do not refuse to die,for Lord's,"and all that is therein,to whom be praiseto all eternity He preserve your Holiness to lifeeternal.
Link studied in Wittenberg,and was afterwards pastor in N Our vicar,John Lange,says that Mansfeld has warned him not to let me leave here, as some great people have given orders that I should be suffocated or drowned.
Jeremiah,the man of strife,whom the Pharisees dailytormented with new doctrines, as they called them.
I have only taughtthe pure gospel, therefore I would be a stumblingblock to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.
But it would ill become me not to do all this for the Jesus,who says to all His people, I will shew him what great thingshe must suffer for my name's sake
The more they threaten, the more confident and joyfulI become : my wife and child are provided for ; my land,house,and all I have are in order, and if they rob me of my good name, nothingremains but my miserable body.
From the beginningGod's word is on this wise,that all who cleave to it must with the apostles be hourlyprepared to suffer the loss of all things, nay, even to meet death itself.
Were it not so, then it would be no word of Christ, for it has been made known and spreadabroad, through the death of many, and will go on, beingthus maintained and renewed throughmanifold deaths.