Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/337

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What impels me to write, abject as I am, is that your Majesty has b^^n to favor the evangelical cause ^ and to feel disgust at the abandoned men who oppose us. This news was a true gospel, i.e., tidings of great joy, to my heart. Wherefore in this letter I cast myself with the utmost possible humility at your Majesty's feet, and pray and beseech you, by the love and cross and glory of Christ, to deign to leave off your anger and forgive me for what I have done to injure your Majesty, as Christ commands us in His prayer to forgive each other.

If your serene Majesty wishes me to recant publicly and write in honor your Majesty, will you graciously signify your wish to me and I shall not delay but shall do so most will- ingly. Although I am a man of naught compared to your Majesty, yet we may hope that great good may come to the evangelical cause and to God's glory if opportunity is given me of writing the King of England on this subject.

Meanwhile may the Lord increase your Majesty as He has beg^, and make you favor and obey the Gospel with all your soul, and may He not let your royal ears and mind be filled with the pestilent songs of those sirens who do nothing but call Luther a heretic. Let your Majesty think for your- self : how much evil can I possibly teach who teach nothing but faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who suffered and rose for our salvation, as the Gospels and Apostolic Epistles testify? This is the head and foundation of my doctrine, on which I build and teach love of one's neighbor, obedience to the civil magistrates and mortification and crucifixion of the body of sin, as the Christian faith prescribes. What harm is there in teaching these things? Why am I condemned before I am heard ? Is there not great need of reforming the abuses and tyranny of the Pope's followers, who teach other doctrines repugnant to these, looking only to tribute, luxury, gluttony, and even the kingdoms, principalities and all the wealth of the

great hdp from Fisker, More tnd other icholars whom Wobey caused to assemble for that express purpose. Cf. English HistoriaU Rtviww, p. 659; Roper's Life of More in Utopia, ed. G. Samson (1910), p. 247; Bridgett's Life cf More, p. aai; Wolscy's letter to Henry VIII in 0*Donovan, op, «>., p. 54; Pastor-Kerr, op. «>., ▼iii, 44a.

^This was not so. Luther had probably heard a statement to that effect from Christian II of Denmark. Enders, t, S03, n. 3.

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