Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/409

 Since, therefore, I have written and spoken much, not knowing that there was such blindness in the shepherds of Israel/ I deserved only that they should revile me instead of loving me, and render evil for good,' until they became so senseless to their own salvation that they publicly condemned and burnt my books at Cologne and Louvain. For they have a zeal for God above others, but not according to knowledge.' I am so far from being angry at them that I greatly pity their blindness and perdition, or rather their childish folly. For what is easier than to bum books which you cannot refute? The impious king Jehoiakim burned the books of Jeremiah the prophet,* but he was not justified thereby. Truly, as I said, this is due to our perversity and to the wicked mind to which God has given us up," that we the clei^ should condemn the truth which the laity embrace, so that those become priests who are not priests, and laymen who are not laymen.

Wherefore I thought best to address you laymen, as a new race of priests, and to bring my remarks together felicitously (God grant) under your felicitous name, to assert and strengthen all that those incendiaries have danmed with their bull so like themselves. Do you commend me in this work, or rather the Christian doctrine to yourself and all your no- bility. Farewell.

348. SPALATIN TO THE ELECTOR FREDERIC OF SAXONY. Zeiischrift fur Kirchengeschichte, ii. 121.

WrrxENBERC (December 3, 1520).

Most serene, highborn Prince, most gracious Lord. I wiB not conceal from your Grace that I arrived here at Witten- berg last evening shortly before four o'clock, and, thank God, found everything right and well. . ..

I found Dr. Martin merry, who thanks your Grace humbly for your greeting. He thinks the pusillanimity of the priests is increasing. It has occurred to him and perhaps to some others that possibly the university annoyed your Grace by

^Isaiah, Ivi. lo. 'Psalm cix. 4f.

'Romans, x. ». ^Jeremiah. xxxvL aj.

�� �