Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/238

 was no chance to see Melanchthon/ The Lord Jesus direct your mind to ways worthy of His Gospel.

625. ADOLPH, BISHOP OF MERSEBURG,* TO DUKE GEORGE

OF SAXONY. Cess, i, 664. Mersebubg, May 13, 1524.

• • . We would also have your Grace know that at Leipsic we were told that Dr. Auerbach * gets everything that is printed at Wittenberg by Martin or Philip, and keeps it at his house. He then distributes it to the young instructors in the university and to men and women of the city, secretly and by night. We did not wish, however, to say anything to him or do anything about it without your Grace's knowledge. It was also told us that if your Grace did not put a stop to this business and also forbid the young instructors in the university to lecture on theology, it would be difficult, almost impossible, indeed, to put down Martin's movement there and wipe it out, for the young instructors are constantly mingling the opinions of Martin and Philip with their lectures, and thus the young students are being poisoned and led into great errors. . ..

626. DUKE GEORGE OF SAXONY TO ERASMUS. Cess, i, 673. Dresden, May 21, 1524.

... I wish that God had put it into your mind three years ago to separate yourself from the Lutheran faction, so that by publishing some book against them you might have shown clearly that you had nothing in common with them and were. I

opposed to this grave dissension. How much easier it would have been to quench a spark than to put it out now, after it has become a great conflagration. The fault, therefore — to speak out just what I think — is yours more than any- one's else; for if, when there was still time, before so many people had been seized by this malady, you had taken the position toward Luther that you now show, and had entered the lists and played the part of a true and serious contestant,

^Melanchthon was then on a visit to the Rhinelands. •C/. Vol. I, p. 90, n. I. •Henry Stromer.

�� �