Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/124

 For all the while the legate would not allow me to debate publicly nor privately with him alone, meantime boasting that he will not be my judge, but will act as a father towards me in everything. None the less, he will hear nothing from me except, "I recant, I revoke, I confess that I erred," which I would not say.

Our chief difficulty was over two articles, i. That I said indulgence was not the treasury of the merits of our Lord and Saviour Christ. 2. That a man going to the sacrament must believe, etc.*

Against these propositions the Legate brought forward the decretal Unigenitus* relying on which he became extremely presumptuous as though I were wholly refuted and wished thereupon to force me to a recantation. He alleged for his side the common, though insane, opinion of the schoolmen on the power and effect of the sacrament, and also the uncer- tainty of the recipient of the sacrament.*

Since the legate wished to act by force alone, I have to- day, through the intercession of several persons, obtained permission to send in my answer in writing, in which the aforesaid decretal Unigenitus is dealt with and turned against the legate and his purpose, as I hope, by divine counsel. It shamed the legate, who let all else go and during my ab- sence desired to speak alone with the reverend father vicar Dr. Staupitz. When the vicar came to him he w^s right friendly. But we don't trust the Italian further than we can see, for, perhaps, he is acting treacherously.

But I have drawn up an appeal, as well drafted and grounded as possible, and suited to the occasion. It is also my intention, if the legate tries to use force against me, to publish my answer on the aforesaid two points, so that the whole world may see his foolishness. For truly from his opinion various senseless and heretical positions may be de-

V. €., Luther asterted that the efficacy of the sacrament was dependent on the faith of the recipient, whereaa the Catholic doctrine was that it acted automatically,
 * tx opere operate."

Kanan Law, lib. 5, tit. 9, cap. 6. Reprinted in B. J. Kidd: Documents of the ConiinentiU Reformaiion, p. x.

know whether he had sufficient faith and therefore whether' the sacrament did hlffl any good or not.
 * f. t., Cajetan said that according to Luther's doctrine a man would nerer

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