Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/268

 human salvation, for which the good man so constantly ors, to outdo himself in paradoxes and thus give occasion his enemies to slander him by saying that he is not very Ferent from a wicked Hussite. So, though I consider ther the best of men, by whose doctrine I have learned to How Christ more truly, yet I cannot agree with what he ^s of the primacy of the pope, which can be easily con- ted. But I will not write against him, and would consider a sin to woimd him. Yet I pity the condition of humanity, lat we are so fragile and so little that even those who are \ost perfect deviate from the right way when they seem conquer and become powerful. . ..

206. LUTHER TO SPALATIN. tnders, ii. 7TJ* Wittenberg, December 18, 15 19.

Greeting. There is a rumor that Charles Miltitz yester- lay passed through here. I am surprised at it, but let it >ass. I have read what you write of his mocking me by my >icture.

I do not know whether I can write sermons on the Gospels ind Epistles for Lent, as you urge me, for I have much do and am very busy. Don't you believe it? My lectures »n the psalter require a whole man ; my sermons to the people in the gospel and Genesis need another whole man; a third s required by the little prayers and regulations of my order ; a burth might do this work you ask, not to mention my corre- pondence and my occupation with the affairs of others, in- iuding my meetings with my friends, which steals so much >f my time that I almost think it wasted. I am one man; rertainly I prepare for work, but if what you ask is to be iccomplished, all else must be omitted. Would that I could five myself quietly to this alone. I should consider it a freat pleasure, so far am I from not wanting to do it.

But there is no reason why you or any man should expect from me any sermon on the other sacraments,* until I learn

'Lather had already preached on baptism, the eucharist and penance, dedicating lia sermons to Margaret of Brunswick, supra, no. 184. middle of October. The Catholic Church also recotniized as sacraments, confirmation, orders, extreme mction and matrimony. Luther's views were expanded in his work. On the ithyionian Captivity of the Church. (1520.) Cf. Smith, op. cii., Sgi.

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