Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/328

 Greetings. Since dissimilar reports concerning the mar- riage of Luther will reach you, I have thought it well to give you my opinion of him. On June 13, Luther unexpectedly and without informing in advance any of his friends of what he was doing, married Bora; but in the evening, after having invited to supper none but Pomeranus ^ and Lucas ' the painter, and Apel, observed the customary marriage rites. You might be amazed that at this tmf orttuiate time, when good and excel- lent men everywhere are in distress, he not only does not sym- pathize with them, but, as it seems, rather waxes wanton and diminishes his reputation, just when Germany has especia^ need of his judgment and authority.

These things have occurred, I think, somewhat in this way : The man is certainly pliable ; and the nuns have used their arts against him most successfully; thus probably society with the nuns has softened or even inflamed this noble and highr spirited man. In this way he seems to have fallen into this untimely change of life. The rumor, however, that he had previously dishonored her is manifestly a lie. Now that the deed is done, we must not take it too hard, or reproach him ; for I think, indeed, that he was compelled by nature to marry. The mode of life, too, while, indeed, htunble, is, nevertheless, holy and more pleasing to God than celibacy.

When I see Luther in low spirits and disturbed about his change of life, I make my best efforts to console him kindly, since he has done nothing that seems to me worthy of cen- sure or incapable of defence. Besides this, I have unmis- takable evidences of his godliness, so that for me to con- demn him is impossible. I would pray rather that he should be humbled than exalted and lifted up, as this is perilous not only for those in the priesthood, but also for all men. For success affords occasion for the malevolence not only, as the orator says, of the senseless, but even of the wise. Besides, I have hopes that this state of life may sober him down, so that he will discard the low buffoonery which we have often censured. As the proverb runs : "A new state of life, a new mode of living."

I have enlarged on this subject that you may not be ex-

^ Bugenhagen. ' Cranacli.

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