Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/287

 the great before they convict me, especially as I so often promise to listen to instruction, and as I am prepared to yield on my opinion, or rather I greatly desire to be relieved of the burden of teaching and to hide in a comer?

I am compelled to teach what I have learned and read in Holy Scripture, and I am blamed for teaching what they either will not or cannot blame. Would that my most gra- cious Lord had leisure to read or hear read my works; your Reverence would doubtless then learn how foreign to mc are the charges brought against me. I have not yet heard that my writings have been condemned by any except by those who had not read or heard them, except by a few who are moved by envy to pervert whatever they read, and pre- tend that I said what I never thought of. Such are those accusations about taking the eucharist in both kinds and about the power of the Pope, in which, if they confess the truth, they really think as I do, though they pretend other- wise, as anyone can easily see who reads my writings.

Wherefore I humbly pray your Reverence by your cele- brated loving kindness towards sound learning and men of letters, that your Lordship will deign to hear me more kindly than those spies demand, not so much for my sake as for that of your own salvation and the salvation of many others, and for. the sake of Christian truth, which must needs be woimded if I am unjustly either condemned after hearing, or before I am instructed and heard.

Jesus Christ, the judge of all, is witness to my soul that I am conscious of having taught nothing save Christ and the commandments of God, and, again, that I am not so ob- stinate, but that I desire to be instructed, and when I sec my error, to change my opinion. Would that I might owe that favor to your Reverence. For hitherto I have been at- tacked by many lies, and yet after the truth was revealed shown to be innocent. Therefore I am obliged to suspect that those who attack me in other ways do not act sincerely, especially as they will not teach one ready to be taught, but only criminate him. . ..

Your Reverence's most devoted son,

Martin Luther.

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