Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/294

 of the devil, thou enemy of all truth. "^ Why did not Paul rather flatter him to convert him than thus thunder? The consciousness of truth cannot be patient against the obstinate and unconquered enemies of the truth.

But enough of this trifling now. I see that all demand moderation from me, even my enemies who least practice it. If I am immoderate, at least I am simple and open, in which I think I am better than they who invent stories full of guile. Farewell and fear not. Brother Martin Luther.

P. S. — You write among other things that your advice was scorned, and don't remember that I wrote you that your advice came late when the books were almost printed.

229. LUTHER TO SPALATIN. Enders, ii. 324. (Wittenberg), February 18, 1520.

Greeting. Dear George, by God's grace I have courage enough against the conflagration of Meissen,' and you will see me obeying your advice to answer as gently as possible. Indeed, I will let you and your friends see a copy of my Latin answer before it is printed, which I should also have done with the German answer, had it not been printed before your letter came. But neither in this latter have I touched the ulcer of this edict on account of my reverence for the bishop, although truly the edict is blasphemous and more furious against Christ's gospel than any heresy. I shall point this out in future, and unless they beware I shall treat them as they deserve in exposing their ignorance. I will not suffer a condemned error to be assumed in God's gospel even by all the angels of heaven, much less by the idols of one terrestrial church.

If it seem good to you, let us do our enemies this favor. Write them, if there are any there who will listen to you, warning and begging them to act against Luther as prudently and cautiously as they can, for he took great care to spare them in this pamphlet. If they begin to shun the frost, per- haps they will be buried in snow. For unless God has de-


 * Acts, xiii. 10.

afsinit which Lather was publishing two answers, Latin and German.
 * /. r., the affair of the edict published by the Bishop of Meissen at Stolpen,

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