Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/225

 the Bible from being printed. Write sometimes and tell us what you and the world are doing. Farewell, and pray for me. Martin Luther.

614. LUTHER TO SPALATIN. Enders, iv, 305. WmENBEBG, March 14, 1524.

Grace and peace. Lucas* has brought me the package of your letters, from which I have learned all I wished to know. I have read * Carlstadt's monstrosities with grief. God with- stood the Jews a long while and prevented them from killing His Son; but when they were unwilling to desist, He gave Him into their hands, not only to be killed, but to be con- demned to the most shameful death, so that the iniquity of the Amorites might be full' and His wrath against them perfected. This long time now Christ has withstood Carl- stadt by us, but he does not leave off, and hastens on to bring destruction on himself. I fear that in compelling us to pray against him he will at last earn God's permission to cast him- self away. May Christ prevent him with His grace. Amen. The man is consumed with an unconquerable desire for name and fame. I hope you, too, will pray for them. We shall first, in the name of the university, recall him from that place to which he has not been called, to the ministry of the Word, which he owes here at Wittenberg;* then, if he does not come, we shall bring charges against him before the Elector. Perhaps I shall also write him a letter of admoniticMi. This is a relic of the Cross and the true forttme of the Word,

■ Cranacli.

"Carlstadt's monstrosities." They are either Carlstadt's latest writings (On the Sabbath, On Confession, etc.) or they are the radical innovations which Carlstadt is introducing into the church at Orlamtinde. Barge (ii, 104) adopts the former, Enders (n. 2) the latter interpretation.
 * Or "I have read of." There is some doubt about just what Luther meana by

' Genesis xy» 16.

A Carlstadt was archdeacon of the Castle Church at Wittenberg, and his sup- port was provided for by a nominal incumbency of the parish of Orlamunde, which waa administered by a vicar. In the summer of 1523 he received permission to take personal charge of the parish, as vicar, however, not as pastor. The situ- ation was complicated by the fact that the right to nominate the vicar belonged to the University of Wittenberg. Carlstadt's radical reforms and doctrinal vagaries aroused Luther's ire, and the regularity of his position was attacked. Barge, ii, 95ff; Smith, 153! The sequel has just been brought to light by some letters pub- lished by W. Friendensburg in ARG, xi, 1914, 69-72. On May 22, 1524, Carl- stadt asked the Elector whether he wished him to remain at Orlamiinde, but en*

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