Luther rejoices that the gospelis dominant in Strassburg.
Grace and peace in the Although I have nothingto say, dear Gerbel,I could not let the messenger leave without sendinglove to the brethren in the Lord, and commending myselfto your prayers.
I hear that the Word of God prevails with you.
With us, the more hindrances that are put in itsway the more it spreads.It has now reached Bremen, and will soon be in Brunswick, I hope,as Henry, who was once its bitter enemy, is now a changed man.
Satan has founded another sect among us, who are neither acknowledgedby the Papistsnor by our own people. They boast that they are animated by celestial spirits, and are independentof the witness of the From this we may perceive that our word is the Word of God, for it suffers not only from violence,but from fresh heresies.
God grant you and your loved ones health.
Greet all in the Lord.
Luther denies that BUcer and he are not friendly, etc.
Praepositus in St. Thomas's Grace and peace in the BUcer did not so persistently declare that some people said your actions were condemned by us, and that we differed entirelyin opinion from you,
I would attribute this to your weakness and jealousy on account of our silence ; for the letter which the brothers broughtthree days ago declared the same thing.
But seeingChrist reignsin you, you have nothingto fear,althoughour opinionsmight differ from yours, or that we should despise those you hold.
Still, it is almost unbearable for me to hear that our differences have been the topicof conversation,especially when such perfectunanimityof spiritreignsamong us.
This is specially tryingto me, for I gladlyconceal and overlook,as much as I can, any difference of opinion among ourselves ; hence how much less dare
I put up with these suspicions which are thrown upon our Christianity and spiritual peace.'*Therefore, if I were not so much occupied,I would, through the public press, expose such lies,and prove that in the thingspertaining to Christ we are at one.
I am delighted to hear of the marriagesof the priests, monks, and nuns among you ; and that the former are now husbands in defiance of Satan, and am pleasedwhen theyget livings.What more shall
I have heard nothingfurther of you.
Go on and prosper, for allbear witness to your wonderful teaching ; the people beingstruck down under it amid the enemies of the King.
I think, hitherto,too much consideration has been allowed for the weak ; so, as they are dailybecoming more hardened, one must speak plainlyto them.
For some day I shall cast aside the cowl, which I have hitherto worn, to strengthenthe weak, and turn the Pope into ridicule.
They are blind leaders of the blind.
I believe the report of our dissensions has arisen out of my letters to you translated into German.
It is enough to terrify me from writingwhen they are immediately borne away to the printersagainstmy will ; for among close friends one writes more confidentially than it would be advisable to spreadabroad.
But then you were a different man, and a courtier, while now you are Christ's freeman, and a servant of the gospel,and belongingto me, and Bacer from me in Christ,with his dear wife and children, and all the recentlymade husbands, especially