Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/414

 willingly let the Lx)rd's doctrine be destroyed if thereby they could crush you. If that wage is paid to the soldiers of Christ in these earthly tempests, we rightly venerate the saints, who to defend the truth suffered mockings and scourg- ings, were hewn and sawn asunder, and were slain by the sword.^ Rumor constantly tells us how little you are fright- ened by the threats of tyrants, how bravely you despise death, how much you wish to endure a thousand dangers for Christ's sake. We approve your courage and recognize the spirit of the Lord, but we fear that danger will accrue to the world through this holy alacrity of yours. For when Martin is gone another will not soon appear so mighty in the Scriptures. Make haste slowly; when the roots of holy doctrine have been more deeply planted and when success seems assured then say : "I desire to die and be with Christ."* Meantime, we want to hear you saying, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"' only on condition that you take care of your life. How many perish in war by too great rashness, who, by taking care of themselves might have saved others! For God helps us in such a way that his providence excites our own care; he wants brave but not rash followers, courageous, not audacious men. Who neglects to care for himself seems to me to tempt God. I suppose that I shall seem an im- portunate adviser; I gladly admit the fault in which I have many associates, for they think that you are incurring great danger by your forwardness, which many consider carelessness.

With my own ears I heard a lusty centaur, a canon, say in public that it would not be hard for anyone who wished, to kidnap Luther and thus deliver him into the hands of the Pope. Look around you; be Argus. You know not how many win wealth, while some are promised the titles of bishop and cardinal with immense rewards. A great multitude is inspired by hatred. If my* Colognians did not fear to bum

^Hebrewt, xi. 36.

'Philippians, i. 23.

'Romans, vin. 31.

^Crotus calls them "my" Colognians either because he itudied at Cologne or because he made fun of Gratius and other citizens of Cologne in his Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum.

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