Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/375

 and intelligence, will know how to conduct yourself in such wise that you will give no offence either to Erasmus or to the many others who make the same complaint. Since, also, it is our opinion that under these circtunstances we must give Erasmus some answer to this letter, we graciously desire you to advise with Philip Melanchthon concerning Erasmus's letter and give us an opinion as regards what reply we shall make to it. We desire, too, above all things, that you will not allow the copy of Erasmus's letter to get into other hands than yours, so that it may not be printed ; for if that were to happen be- fore we had given Erasmus an answer to the said letter, he might make it the occasion of writing us again more violently. We graciously give you this information ; do you follow out our gracious wish.

733. LUTHER TO THE ELECTOR JOHN OF SAXONY. DeWette, iii, 105. German. (Wittenberg), April 2^ 1526.

... As regards Erasmus's letter,* it is our advice that your Grace should not allow yourself to be involved in the matter, as the viper intends that you shall be, but answer to this effect, viz., that he himself knows very well that your Grace neither can nor ought to be a judge in spiritual matters, and that he ought therefore to have spared your Grace the imputation, etc. If your Grace wishes to add that even if this had been a temporal matter, he had so repaid Luther in writings cir- culated throughout the world, as he knows he has done, that it would need a greater judge than any prince ; also that it is not right to punish a man on anybody's written complaint alone, but that the case must be properly tried before a court, with accusation and defence ; that is as your Grace wills. God have your Grace in His keeping. Amen.

Your Grace's humble servant. Mart. Luther*

734. LUTHER TO CASPAR MCLLER AT MANSFELD. DeWctte, iii, 113. German. (WrrTENBERc),' May 26, 1526.

Grace and peace in Christ. I should greatly like to ask my lords the counts,* to be godfathers, but I shrink from the

1 Supra, no. 732. * The Coonts of Manafeld.

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