Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/143

 138 LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Let \C^

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��such as the primitive theologians knew, praised and extoll to heaven, this theology, I say, is taught (praise be to Godf^ in the university of my elector at Wittenberg with such cess that those learned doctors of theology, Martin Luther and Carlstadt have full lecture-rooms and disciples not onl)^^'^ eager to learn, but already proficient, who do not fear evened— the greatest of the sophists. Philip Melanchthon teaches Greek^ ^^ there to about four hundred pupils. There are also not a few^^^^ scholars of Dr. John Bosschenstein,^ who teaches Hebrew. In short, the best studies are so successfully taught at Wittenberg that you would call it another Athens.

104. LUTHER TO JOHN REUCHLIN. Enders, i. 320. Wittenberg, December 14, 1518.

The Lord be with you, valiant man ! Most learned humanist, I thank God that by his mercy you have at length stopped the mouth of those speaking iniquity. For you were indeed the instrument of divine wisdom, although unconscious of it your- self, yet most welcome to all lovers of sound theology. How differently has God shaped your course from what you thought! I am one of those who longed to be with you, but had no opportunity. Yet was I always with you in prayer and fervent hope. But what was then denied to me as your ally, has been granted to me as your successor [in persecu- tion]. For the teeth of these behemoth lay hold on me, if by any means they can avenge on me the shame that they have received from you. I, too, fight them, though with far inferior resources of genius and learning than you displayed in both fighting and overcoming them, yet with a no less steadfast mind. They avoid meeting my arguments, they refuse to reply to me, but attack me murderously by mere force and violence. Truly Christ lives, and I, who have noth- ing, can lose nothing. For by your valor the horns of these bulls have been broken in pieces. The Lord worked through you, that the king of the sophists may learn to be more slow and cautious in opposing sound theology, and Germany may

^Bosachenstein (1472- 153a) came from Ingolstadt to Wittenberg as the first professor of Hebrew. He left early in 1519 under unpleasant circumstances. Enders, i. 243, ii. izf.

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