Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/243

 a wicked spirit. He incites all sorts of scandals in order to suppress a teaching not foreign to piety. I have the highest respect for and the greatest faith in Erasmus, but not be- yond reason^ But why should you so praise him to me, when he has not yet clearly shown in any writings in what things he thinks true piety and the righteousness of God consist? So great a doctor ought to show the world his opinion, espe- cially since Christ commanded every creature to preach the gospel. I do not ask from him, as is commonly done, that he should write against the Pope or against the monks, — for I myself hate these controversies — ^but that he should teach what Christian righteousness essentially is.

Neither does Luther disapprove the baptism of infants, and when I see circumcision enjoined on the seed of Abraham, which, according to Paul, was a sign of the gospel, I feel that our opponents rely on extremely slight arguments. . . . Three years ago, when certain men began to dispute on this ques- tion, I was gravely perturbed. But the originators of these questions are certain vainglorious and profane men, whose life is not approved by me and of whose madness the surest signs have arisen. . ..

630. THE EMPEROR TO THE DUKE OF SESSA, HIS AMBAS- SADOR AT ROME.

Bergenroth, 1509-25, no. 662. Busgos, July 18, 1524.

. . . Has received the breve of the Pope, in which his Holiness speaks of Luther, and of the decision of the Diet of Nuremberg to convoke a new diet of the whole German nation in Spires, in which the affairs concerning Luther, the war with the Turks, and other affairs are to be settled. Is very sorry that a diet has been convoked at Spires, as new and greater errors and calamities will be the only consequence of the debates which will take place. Has, therefore, sent letters to the Infante (Ferdinand), to the Rq[ents of the Empire, to the Princes Electors, the Estates General and

^lAixptPofi&v'PlvA^reh; weptiwnmtac «, Aaltif GeHiaa; Noet0s AtHcM, U SI Erasmi Adagia, Basle, 1536, p. 672. Under the adage Usque ad aram amictu Erasmus explains that when Pericles was asked to commit perjury to help « friend he remarked he was "his friend only up to the altar," i.e,, he would do anythiiiff lawful for him, but not commit a crime.

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