Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/89

 84 LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Ut. to

sible to reform the Church unless the Canon Law, scholastic theology, philosophy and logic, as they are now taught, are thoroughly rooted out and other studies put in their stead I am so fixed in this opinion that I daily ask the Lord, as far as now may be, that the pure study of the Bible and the Fathers may be restored. You think I am no logician ; perhaps I am not, but I know that I fear no one's logic when I defend this opinion. . ..

60. LUTHER TO GEORGE SPALATIN. Enders, i, 191. Wittenberg, May 18, 1518.

Greeting. Dear Spalatin, with Christ's favor I have returned home, arriving at Wittenberg on Saturday, May 1 5th. I, who had gone out on foot, returned in a wagon, for my superiors forced me to ride with the Nurembergers almost to Wiirzburg, thence with the brothers of Erfurt and from Erfurt with those of Eisleben, who took me at their own expense with their own horses to Wittenberg. I was well all the way. The food and drink agreed with me remarkably, so that some think I look stronger and fatter now.

[At Heidelberg] the most illustrious Count Palatine Wolf- gang and James Symler* and Hazius,* Master of the court, received me. The count invited us, i. e,, Staupitz, our Lang, now District Vicar, and myself to a meal, at which we had a very pleasant conversation. We saw the ornaments of the castle chapel, and then wandered around that royal and noble castle, surveying the armor and almost everything it contains. Symler could not sufficiently commend the letter given by the Elector of Saxony in my behalf, saying, in his dialect: "By God, you have a fine passport."* We lacked nothing which kindness could supply.

The doctors heard my disputation gladly, and answered mc with such moderation that I was much obliged to them. For, although my theology seemed strange to them, yet they skirmished with it subtly and politely, except one, who was

^A friend of Wimpfeling, who had been tutor to Count Wolfgang and had also accompanied him to Wittenberg.

■Otherwise unknown.

'Dicens sua Neccharena lingua: ihr habt by Godd einen kystlichte Credenx. (Heidelberg is on the Neckar.)

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