us,32 but also we would be forced to hear that by our refusal [to attend the council] we helped to strengthen all such abominations of the pope which otherwise would perhaps have been remedied.
See the devil at work in his wicked scoundrels: the papists do not want to condemn us but to wipe us out.
This means: Until now the papists have studiously used the canon, Si papa,33 and in our time the papists have spilled much innocent blood, have done all kinds of damage to many godly, honorable people, exiled them, robbed them [of their property], and treated them shamefully, only because these people received the sacrament [in both kinds],34 etc., since they definitely knew that this was right. Now the papists want to justify such spilling of blood and such persecution by means of a conciliar decree.35 And not only this, but they intend really to begin and pursue such devilish raging; in addition, they want to compel us to consider such actions to be right, and to be their yes-men, so that consequently all the spilling of blood, persecution, blasphemy, and destruction of Christendom which they have previously committed, are now still committing, and stubbornly intend eternally to commit, may be loaded on our consciences and that we, knowingly, may [thus] be pulled with them to hell. The devil may do this, as he certainly is doing through them.
All this certainly would have been sufficient reason long ago to attack and destroy the papists.36 Yet we have the advantage that (as the situation stands now) it will turn out to be a miserable, despised council which few rulers will attend,37 and that in addition the [effectiveness of the] ban (should the papists intend to pursue the matter) has long since been nullified. Also, [any] council has now come into such a bad reputation, namely, that it is able to err and has often erred; thus the council has lost its power and prestige, so that in order for the council again to be respected the papists are forced to demonstrate a high degree of fairness for everyone to see. For if this bull38 were to be made public and be commented upon, what a mockery and an absurdity this council would then be considered by all godly and honorable people! Also, this council would then be an absolute duplication of other councils, as, for instance, the Council of Constance,39 etc., the stupidity of which has now also become clear through God's Word.
[For these reasons] I shall not be afraid of this scarecrow,40 but shall let the papists continue, and let them completely pour out their foolishness.41 I also would not give a negative answer to the legate (were His
Haughtiness42 to demand an answer);43 yet I shall also not bind myself,44 for, if God grants it, the papists will also pour out the big fool after the little ones. It is not necessary to be in a hurry in this matter. One has to learn the ways of God, who does not hurry, but with great patience coaxes [the tongues of people out of their mouths] and then puts little sticks through their tongues so that people are unable to pull them back into their mouths.45
Were we unnecessarily in a great hurry, and were we to try to overtake God,46 we might labor in vain. For we whose own logic is much too weak against the devil need God's help at our side.
In addition it would create a great scandal, perhaps even also the apostasy of many good people, if we, just at this time when the Turk is again around and the Emperor is in distress,47 rejected the council.48 (To be honest, however, I think that since the papists knew what the situation would be this year insofar as the Turk and the Frenchman are concerned, the Roman scoundrels have arranged for the council precisely this year so that even if the Lutherans did not obstruct it, it would certainly be obstructed by the Turks and the French.49 Of course the Roman scoundrels would really prefer to have it said that the council had been obstructed by the Lutherans. For this would then have to be called obstinacy; but [if the papists canceled the council] then this, of course, would have had to be done out of necessity, that is, because the Turks kept them from conducting the council, etc.) In summary, they are unable to endure a council, not even one of their own, unless they are able to manipulate it as they wish.
To Mrs. Martin Luther1 [Tambach,]2 February 27, 1537