Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/252

 translate only two passages, the first, Enders, lines 122-137, express- ing the Catholic doctrine of the interpretation of Scripture and the second, lines 710-729, containing some personalities.

And as every Christian knows that the Holy Scripture is prized and honored before all else, I have written that no one should interpret Scripture according to his own reason, but should follow the doctrine of the Fathers. Then here comes Luther and calls it my own prating and sets up this as his goal, "that if he has a clear text he will abide by it even if the exegesis of the doctors is against it." May your Grace note the impertinence that is concealed in his cowl! That is the same principle which led all heretics astray, namely, their own self-conceit, so that they won't follow anyone else, but think that they understand better than all the holy doctors. If the text is clear he will abide by it. Is the text clear then? How, pray, did the sainted doctors not understand it? How is it then, if one thinks he has a clear text and yet errs as did the heretic Arius? I trust much more in the dear saints than in my own blunt reason.

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I know not whether Luther had a devil in his box or under his cowl; but no one at Leipsic ever heard me say anything about it. It is true that he had something on a chain, and a silver ring on one finger which caused much talk. If Dr. Luther thinks I am a slanderer and abuser of your Grace, he does me as much wrong in this as in other matters. For I was always desirous of serving your Grace, as much as I could, as an honored and famous German prince, and I offered to do so.

It is certain that the heretics rejoiced in his doctrine, for they publicly prayed for him,^ and certain of them were secretly at the debate.* But now he throws up against me this argument, and I lay it before your Grace to ask if you consider it good: The heretics in Bohemia rejoice in Luther's doctrine and turn it against the Christians, but contrariwise the pious Christians in Bohemia have conceived displeasure against his doctrine, and are wroth with it and against it.

>£ck learned thU from Poduaka's letter to Lather, cf. supra, no. i6i. This wu true; cf. Smith, op. cit., p. 67.

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