Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/171

 for mine, for I think God's counsel is directing it all. I have often said that what I have hitherto done has been mere play, but that now I will act in earnest against the Pope and Roman arrogance. • ..

Brother Martin Luther, Augustinian.

131. OTTO BECKMANN TO SPALATIN. Kolde: Analecta, 6. (Erfurt?), February 24, 1519^

... I hardly know what to promise about our Eleutherias. I wrote you before that almost everyone here approves wha-t should not be approved for the sake of seeming Lutherar»> even when they least agree with Luther, as, for example, ox^ the power of the Pope, which can neither be assailed no^ diminished by our barking. The common crowd like to hca-*' evil of ecclesiastics, especially in our time when, for our sit^^' the clergy has become a byword in society. It is said th^^ recently while preaching in the church of St. Peter, he rav^^ I know not what folly about the throne of the Pope and tl^^ power of the keys, all of which was diligently written Ao^ by enemies. You would do well to write to Amsdorf f^ admonish Martin not to speak so angrily without cause i public about the Pope and the other prelates. Some portet^ is brewing; but may Christ grant that it come not amon^^ us. We must go another road. The Church cannot be formed by our contrivance, if it has to be reformed at all. I write from my heart, knowing that you cherish the honor of the university. Yours,

Otto Beckmann.

Note. — At this point Enders (i. 442) inserts a letter from Luther to Leo X., dated "(Altenburg), March 3, 1519," and it is taken into the St. Louis edition (xxi. no. 155), dated February. It was really com- posed in January, at Luther's interview with Miltitz, but as it did not satisfy the latter it was never sent, and is therefore not included in my translation. Kostlin-Kawerau, i. 224.

132. DUKE GEORGE OF SAXONY TO LUTHER AT

WITTENBERG. Enders, i. 445. Dresden, March 4, isig.

Worthy, learned, dear and pious Sir! We have received

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