Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/258

 November 22. The "1520" is found in the first edition of the epistle, entitled ''Revocatio Martini Lutheri ad Sanctam Sedem/' but it is certainly a misprint here, as shown by allusions Luther and others make to it as early as August, 1520. Luther mentions it in the begin- ning of his Babylonian Captivity (Weimar, vi. 498; Werke, ed. Clemen, i. 427).

The author of the work was simultaneously identified by Kalkoff (Zeitschrift fur Kirchengeschichte, xxxii. 49ff), and by F. Lauchert: Die Italienischen Gegner Luthers, 20off. Isidore Isolani of Milan en- tered the Dominican cloister in that city, taught theology 15 13 at Pavia, 1515 at Verona, 1517 at Milan, 1519 apparently at Cremona, and 1521 again at Pavia. In this year he also took his doctorate at Bologna* He died between April 22 and July 9, 1528, at Milan. He published various things, the first the Immortality of the Soul in 1505. He attacked Luther again in his Disputationes Catholicae, 1522.

Amiable brother, I am greatly astonished that a man of such excellent parts as you, one who has penetrated the deep mysteries of divine writings, and who has been initiated into the family of the holy mendicant order, should be so obstinate and so bound by the chains of a mind wandering out of the paths of salvation, and that, although publicly anathematized, you * should not amend, but should rely on the uncer- tain protection of a future oecumenical council. Unlearned wise man, endowed with noble mind, do you really do this and worse? Do you try to execute so mad a plan, O man of candid mind and clear eloquence? Alas! alas! why, more savage than any wild beast, do you turn your hand and sword against your own bowels? Why do you hold down the truth of God in unrighteousness?* When you know God, why do you not glorify him, instead of using up your powers in your vain thoughts?* Your foolish heart is weeping and mourning and quenched in hell. . ..

There is little light in your two letters to the very reverend legate.' Walk while you have the light, that the darkness overtake you not.*. ..

200. LUTHER TO SPALATIN. Enders, ii. 265. (Wittenberg, before November 29, 1519.)

Greeting. First, if you cared at all for my opinion, you

^Romaiw, i. 18. 'Romans, i. ai.

The two letters of October 14 and 18, isi8» bad teen pttUiahed in the Acta Amgnstana, 1518. *Johii» zil. js*

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