communicants, begging our spiritual Junkers and tyrants to permit those simplecreatures to enjoyit in peace, and showing them how their tyranny has almost put an end to confession.
But they will not listen to reason I have seen more bubbles than they " a dreadful smoke, which threatened to obscure the sun, but the smoke has vanished longago, and the sun stillshines.
I shall continue to declare the truth fearlessly.Neither of us is yet over the mountain, but I have one advantage, God make the truth victorious.
Luther sends Spalatin some writingsto be printed.
I have not only received your long epistle, dear Spalatin, but that of CEcolampadius,and now send you the " complete,with the pamphlet on Confession dedicated to I should like printedfirst.
Psalm is off to the printers.See if no alterations be necessary, for I do not yet know if I shall annex the 119th Psalm to something else,but I hear what you all think.
Latomus of Louvain, who makes so much of his lord the Pope.
I marvel greatly at CEcolampadius, not because he is pleasedwith what I do, but that he is so full of joy,and so brightand
God maintain and strengthen him.
I am at one and the same time both idle and very busy.
Hebrew, and write without ceasing. My present host entertains me much better than The illness from which I suffered in Worms is worse, so that I almost despairof recovery.
I may never be without the cross.
His name be praised.Amen I am surprised that the ImperialEdict has never been made public. It is said here that Schifer is dead, and has left a million guldento
He would indeed be a bold Christian who would not dread such a mountain of gold.
I have not repliedto the young Prince's letter,seeing my abode is to be kept secret, so I must not betrayit by constant writing.
Pray earnestly for me, as I have everythingin abundance.
It is nothingto me how the world treats me.
Lord, and greet all who ought to be greeted. From the isleof Patmos.
Luther blames his friend for missinghim so much.
I am displeased with your letter for two reasons Because you do not bear the cross patiently, yielding to your emotions, as is your wont
; (2) That you ascribe so much to me, as if I alone could look after God's concerns, for here I sit,careless and idle,consumed by my fleshly desires.
Instead of beingardent in spiritI am the prey of sinful appetites " laziness and love of sleep. For eight days I have neither prayed nor studied,throughfleshly temptations. If Erfurt and consult the physicians, for I can endure my malady no longer. And even
God seems to tempt me, by making me wish to escape from this wilderness.
Amsdorf to do it,if he is not too good for such filth.
I shall put your apologyfor the Parisian asses with all their drivel into German, with annotations.
I wish you could issue CEcolampadius's book on German to annoy the Papists. I am German, and when enough are ready shall send them to the press.
When things are going so well with you Why do you not spare yourself.'* I warn you alwaysof this,but you remain deaf.
As to the lawfulness of the sword, I abide by my opinion. You expect me to quote a Gospel command on the subject.I agree with you that no such command or precept is to be found in the Bible.
It would not be seemlythat it should ; for the Gospel is a law unto the free,and has nothingto do with the rightsof the sword, althoughsuch a rightis not forbidden,but rather praised,which does not apply to anything merely permitted.
For outward ceremonies are neither commanded nor commended in the Gospel,even as too great carefulness about earthlythings is not considered justifiable.
For the Gospel laysdown no hard and fast rule in this matter, for its domain is the spirit, and not the letter.
But are they therefore not to be used.f^ Do not the necessities of this life rather justify their use " such ideas would be very well.
If the sword were sheathed,how long would the Church stand in the world, for neither life nor goodswould be safe.
But what do you make of Abraham, David, and the saints under the old dispensation, using the sword And they were good men.
And strange to say, it is not forbidden in the Gospel,but the believingsoldiers who asked John for counsel were rather confirmed in its lawfulness.
Philip,I reap more satisfaction from what I have written to you than you will derive from it.
There is no passage in Scripturewhere we are commanded to despise those in authority, but rather to honour and pray for them.
Amsdorf much happinessupon becoming rich,but it would bringhim even more happinessshould he prove willing to yieldup an apostle.
You have alreadyenough,and I do not see why you long so for me, or why my services are so necessary to you.
Amsdorf lectures, and Do you wish the kingdom of God to be proclaimed to you alone ?
Must the gospelnot be preached to others ^ Antioch not contribute a Barnabas to helpthe Spirit's work I tell you plainly, that althoughI love to be with you,
Erfurt,Cologne, or wherever God might graciously open a door for me, to proclaimthe One must not think of oneself,for the harvest is great.
I know nothingof my return.
You know with whom that rests.
Spalatinwrites that the Prince commands a part of the Confession to be kept intact,at which I am much displeased.
Pray do not regulateyour actions by the will of the I have hitherto done.
The half would not have been accomplishedhad I always listened to such counsel.
They are only human like ourselves.
Such complaisanceencourages our opponents and shows our cowardice.
My best wishes for your health.
This letter has long been finished, but he who promised to take it has forgotten.All of you pray for me.
I shall be immersed in sin in this solitude.
Luther relates his experiences at a hunt.
I have received the third sheet of Spalatin,Philipsendingit along with the first; but the printingis execrable.
See he does not printmy German postils, but rather returns what I shall get them done elsewhere.
I work so hard only to have thingsturned out in so slovenly a manner I should not like the Epistles, etc., to be so sinned against, so shall send no more at present,althoughI have ten largesheets