Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/380

 news; it flies too fast of its own accord. Christ has begun to weary of this world's course, therefore He has given it over to Satan, who will punish it for its ineffable contempt of the Word of grace. Hence these raging heresies; hence these enemies in arms and downfalls of great kings! In a word, the world is hastening to ruin, doubtless a great sign that the last day is at the door.

I have been challenged by Oecolampadius ; ^ I would prepare an answer* if there were time. So it goes! When a man has finished, then he b^[ins. I am heartily sorry for Oecolam- padius. He is very much of a man, but held captive in that sectarian sacrilege by empty and worthless arguments. God have mercy on him.

But you, man of God, be strong and pray for us. Little Luther is well, and so is his mother, who sends you a reverent greeting. Farewell in Christ. Remember me to our friends.

Mart. Luther.

740. LUTHER TO JOHN HEERWAGEN AT HAGENAU.

Enders, v, 384. (WrrrENBERc), September 13, 1526.

In 1525 and 26 Bucer translated Luther's KirchenposHUe into Latin. The work was published in parts, and in Part IV Bucer took occasion to introduce into the text of his translation certain statements of his own concerning the Lord's Supper. He also wrote a special preface to the exposition of the Epistle for Septuagesima, correcting some of Luther's views that he regarded false, and ordered this preface printed in Part IV. Luther protested in this letter, which, in turn, gave the theologians of Strassburg, Basle and Zurich some additional polemical material. John Heerwagen (1497-1560) was the printer who pub- lished the Latin Postil.

Grace and peace. I am not sorry, my dear Heerwagen, that you are publishing the four voltmies of my so-called Postils, which Bucer has translated into Latin, in the hope that the book may produce some fruit in Christ for men of other tongues, and this I, too, ardently desire. I was satisfied and still am satisfied that the translation should be made by

^Agricola's German translation of the Syngrammo Suevicum, with an intro- dttction by Luther, was published in June, 1526. Oecolanipadiu« immediately (July, 1526) prepared an answer to it, which is the ''challenge" here mentioned.

'This "answer** was not published until the following year. It is the treatise Dass ditst Wortt, Das ist mein Leibt etc. . . . festsUhen,

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