Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/223

 I will show you another way to tickle him. It is the thing he fears the most. He knows very well that there is a little verse in the Psalter which says, Ex ore infantium et lactantium fundasti virtutem, ut aboleas inimicum et ultorem, "Thou hast laid a strong fotmdation by the mouths of babes and sucklings, that Thou mayest make an end of the enemy and the aven- ger."* This verse threatens him not only with sorrow and misery, but with destruction; and that not by great power, which would be an honor, but by weak sucklings, who have no strength. It bites and hurts this proud and mighty spirit that his great power, his fearful raging, his wild revenge shall be cast down without the use of force, by the weakness of chil- dren, and he not be able to prevent it. Let us help this good work in earnest. We are the babes and sucklings, if we are weak and allow our enemies to be strong and mighty over us, and do and say what they will for their cause ; but we must keep silent about our cause and suffer as though we could neither do nor say anything, while they act like mighty heroes and giants. But meanwhile by our mouths God speaks His Word, which praises His grace. That is a rock and a sure foundation against which the gates of hell can do nothing. Where it remains, it happens at last that some of our enemies are converted. They are the devil's scales, and when these scales are stripped off him by the Word of God, he is naked and becomes weak. Thus it comes to pass, as this verse says, that it makes an end of the enemy and the avenger. That is a joyful victory and conquest, won without sword and fist; therefore it pains the devil. For it only pleases him if by his servants he can move us to wrath, vengefulness, impatience and sadness; but if the result is joy and praise of God and glory for His word, that is the devil's true hell.

"But," someone will say, "it is forbidden to mention the Word of God on pain of death and confiscation." Well and good! If a man is strong, let him not keep this command- ment, for they have no right to make such a prohibition. God's Word ought not, and must not, and will not be bound. But if anyone is too timid and weak, I will give him other coun- sel. Let him be joyful in secret, thank God and praise His Word,

1 Ptalm iriH. a.

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