Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/190

 are converted and instructed by our sophists and Pharisees, your own experience is witness.

But when the golden light of the Gospel is rising and, there is hope that many of the Jews will be converted in earnest and be drawn completely to Christ, as you have been drawn and certain others, who are the remnant of the seed of Abraham that is to be saved by faith; for He Who has begun the work will perfect it, and will not permit His Word to return unto Him void. I thought it well, therefore, to send you this little book to strengthen and assure your faith in Christ, Whom you have lately learned to know in the ; and now that you are baptized in the Spirit you are born of God. I hope that by your labor and example Christ may be made known to other Jews, so that they who are may be called and may come to their King David, Who feeds and protects them, but Who is condemned among us with incredible madness by the popes and Pharisees, to come into this condemnation. Farewell in the Lord, and pray for me.

585. LUTHER TO NICHOLAS GERBEL IN STRASSBURG.

Weimar, xii, 56. , (early in June), 1523.

Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Once before I stole our Philip's Notes on Three of St. Paul and although he could not be angry at Luther, the thief, he thought himself abundantly avenged upon me, because, through the carelessness of the printers, the book was published with so many mistakes that I myself was almost ashamed, and was disgusted that I had deposited my booty in so poor a place. He laughed at me, hoping, perhaps, that I would learn by experience and abstain henceforth from thefts of that kind. However, I was not moved by his ridicule, and have become bolder than ever, for this time I am not stealing,