Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/361

 who shame the counsel of the poor. Neither your Grace nor any man will quench nor hinder my doctrine, which must keep on and on as it has hitherto done, for it is not mine but God's. But it pains me to see how terribly your Grace falls on the corner-stone, Christ, although God has given you dis- cernment in other matters. May God Almighty grant that I come at a favorable hour and that my letter may find a favor- able reception in your Grace's heart. If your Grace re- fuses (God forbid!) to receive my humble and hearty admoni- tion, I must commend the matter to Him.

I wish to justify myself before God and your Grace's con- science by having .done my part and by showing that I am ready and willing to do or leave undone what your Grace wills, except in regard to my doctrine, which I cannot con- scientiously abandon. Except by advocating that, I implore your Grace to say wherein I have inadvertently hurt your Grace. I forgive from my heart what your Grace has done to hurt me, and will assuredly pray the Lord to forgave what you have done and now do against His Word. If your Grace will only yield in one point all will be plain; only let Christ's Word, which I have brought to light, be free, and, without doubt all the angels in heaven will rejoice over your Grace. Let me inform your Grace that hitherto I have always prayed for your Grace, and write this letter in hopes of avoiding the necessity of praying against your Grace in future. Al- though we are a poor little flock we know that if we prayed against your Grace (which we would only do unwillingly, if compelled by your persistent persecution of the evangelical faith and its preachers), that nothing good would happen to you, for we know that Christ would keep His promise to us. Your Grace might then learn that it is a diflFerent thing to fight against Luther than it was to fight against Munzcr. But I hope your Grace will not have to learn it. I think my prayers, and those of my friends, are stronger than the devil himself, for had they not been Luther would have perished long ago. But no one observes the miracle God has done for me.

I write humbly and faithfully to your Grace (God grant not for the last time) and may God vouchsafe that your

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