Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/212

 fession is a good thing if it is made of one's own free will and not under compulsion, and the mass is not a sacrifice and a good work, but only a testament and a benefit we re- ceive from God. But this preacher is at fault because he is too ambitious at the start, and throws away his old shoes be- fore he has any new ones, and wants to put new wine in old bottles; this is not good. He ought to begin soberly, by teaching the people about faith and love ; a year from now would be time enough for these other doctrines, if the people were first brought to know Christ. Why is it that they go at the ignorant people so suddenly? I preached at Witten- berg about three years before I took the matter to the people, and these men want to do the whole thing in an hour. They do us damage enough, these ambitious fellows. Therefore I hope you will tell the collector of Oelsnitz to order this preacher to begin in a sober manner and first preach Christ, or else stop his fanatical doings and betake himself thence; but especially not to forbid and attack confession and abso- lution, and not to mix up his dlice of pastor with monkery and canonry. I see that he is a stupid fellow who has seen smoke but does not know where the fire is, and has heard the bells, but does not know where they are ringing. God have you in His keeping.

I shall not refuse your present, when it comes, and thank you kindly for it. Greet your wife for me. The grace of God be with you. Amen. I think this letter will do for the collector of Oelsnitz, too, for I am overwhelmed with writing. I wiU gladly be at his son's disposal, if he needs me, and I can.

Martin Luther.

605. LORD MORLEY TO WOLSEY.

Letters and Papers of Henry VIII, lii, no. 3546. English.

NuBEMBEBG, November 19, 1523.

. . . And as touching to Martin Luther, we understand that little mention of him, nor of his fautours, shall be spoken of, forasmoche as by the long sufferance of the princes that heresy is so rooted that, vwthout peril to themselves, it is not to be commoned of; which is great pity, forasmuch as that the good religious people be had in derision in all the country.

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