Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/264

 dear my own conscience, and, so far as I may, to quench the fire which now glows in the tinder.

Since, then, you know the mind of my gracious Lord, that his Electoral Grace is not offended if you do what is right ; and since, moreover, you ought to know and do God's will; and since, therefore, you cannot excuse yourselves either by getting behind the Prince or by pleading ignorance, but are possessed by the devil's power, with nothing else than defiant self-will; therefore it is my kindly request and earnest desire of you that you put an end to all this factional and sectarian business, like masses and vigils, abolish everything that is contrary to the Holy Gospel, and accept such rules that our conscience can stand before God and our good name before the world, as those of men who are minded to avoid and to flee your devil's-com- munion.

But if you refuse to do this, you may well imagine that, by God's help, I shall not rest until you are compelled to do it against your will. From this you will know how to act. I desire a straight, direct and binding answer, yes or no, to this before next Sunday, so that I may be guided accordingly. God give you His grace to follow His light. Amen.

Martin Luther, Preacher at Wittenberg.

647. LUTHER TO SPALATIN.

Enders, v, 74. (Wittenberg), November 27, 1524.

Three of the canons of the Castle Church entered formal protest with the Elector against Luther's proposed interference. This resulted in an order to Luther to abstain from any extreme measures, which called forth this angry reply. On the same day Luther preached the sermon Against the Abotnination of the Mass, which led to the aboli- tion of the masses in the Castle Church. Jonas was provost of the chapter and shared Luther's desire to reform it

Grace and peace. What has come over you, my dear Spalatin, that you write so threateningly and imperiously? Have not you and your prince treated Jonas' with enough con- tempt, or are you going on to stab this good man through and through? Surely there is no need that you should hold

^As proTOSt of the Castle Church, Jonts sided with Lather in his eontrorersy with the canons.

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