Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/208

 suades everybody from heaping maledictions upon their ene- mies, and utterly deprecates the practice. I have always expected that he would come to this, for it is an easy thing to become rhetorical against people's way of living. The private letter I wrote about Erasmus* has been published, and afterwards another that I had written to Fabricius.' I am very sorry for ity for although I would not be ashamed of a single word of them, if I had to defend it publicly, nevertheless I am dis- gusted that what is written privately to one's friends is made public by those importunate tale-bearers, for I do not know what else to call them.

Moreover, what Erasmus writes does not hurt me if it is against me, and I shall not put any trust in it if it is on my side. I have One Who will defend my cause, even though the whole world goes mad against me. This is what Erasmus calls my stubborn assurance. But I see that the man is so far from any knowledge of things Christian (farther even than I thought, though I suspected it now and then) that I will easily endure whatever names he chooses to call me so long as he lets my cause alone. For I have determined not to de- fend my life or morals, but only my cause, as heretofore; if anyone wishes to assail my life and morals, let him do so. Indeed, it is to these men who so atrociously malign and slan- der me that I owe my life in the body and a good part of my confident spirit; so far am I from wishing to be up- held by the glory and the reputation of Erasmus. I am downcast and fearful when I am praised, but rejoice when I am maligned and slandered. If Erasmus wonders at this I am not surprised. Let him learn Christ and bid farewell to human wisdom. May the Lord illuminate him and make Erasmus a different man, and preserve and bless us all ; this I wish from my heart so far as I can wish for an)rthing. Farewell, my dear Conrad,* and greet Erasmus for me, if he will let you.* I have no hard feeling for him, but only true

the New Testament of HrasmuSp thus precipitating a war of pens. Allen, iii, 203, with references.

^To Caspar Borner or Cabit6, supra no. 549.

'/.#., Capito; January 17, 1522 (Enders, iii» 378).

•Text. "N."

^Qraamus refers to this letter in an epistle of Norember 21, 1523, to Jolm

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