Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/262

 dear Hausmann, though it is true that my memory is some- what weakened by the variety of subjects and cases with which I have to deal, and also by advancing years/ I shall answer Erasmus,' not for his own sake, but for the sake of those who abuse his authority for their own glorying against Christ. I am putting off the book on the Eucharist, which you advised me to write, until Carlstadt shall have spread abroad his poison, as he promised me he would do,' when he accepted a gold piece from me ; * though, to be sure, I am already in possession of the greater part of his silly proofs. Zwingli of Zurich and Leo Juda, among the Swiss, hold the same opinion as Carlstadt; so widespread is this evil, but Christ reigns ; nay, He fights.

I hope for a German Mass,' but can scarcely promise it, for I am tmequal to the task, which calls for music as well as the spirit. Meanwhile I grant anyone permission to use his own judgment until Christ shall give us something else. I do not think it well to hold a council of our party for the purpose of establishing unity in ceremonies. It would set a bad example, however zealous and well-meant the effort were, as all the councils of the Church, from the very beginning, prove. Even the Apostolic Council ' dealt almost more with works and tradi- tions than with faith, but in the later councils, there was no dis* cussion of faith, but always of opinions and questions, so that the very word "council" is to me almost as suspicious and dis- tasteful as the word "free will." If one church does not wish to imitate another in these external things, why should it be compelled to do so by decrees of councils, which are soon converted into laws and snares for souls? Let one church, therefore, imitate another of its own accord, or else let it be allowed to use its own customs ; only let the unity of the Spirit be preserved in faith and Word, however great the diversity and variety in the flesh and in the elements of the world.

I believe you have seen the history of Caspar Tauber,' the

��^Luther had just passed his forty-first birthday. '/.#., Erasmus's book on the Freedom of the Will.


 * Vidt supra, no. 639.


 * Cf, Smith, p. 1 54.

' The German Mass' appeared in 1 526.


 * Acta XV.


 * Caspar Tauber, a merchant of Vienna, wa% beheaded and his body burned.

�� �