Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/42

 such of his printed works as could be found, whether in Ger- man or Latin, would be burnt in the market place of Worms.

492. DUKE JOHN OF ELECTORAL SAXONY TO THE

ELECTOR FREDERIC.

Kolde, Friedrich d. IVeise, 47. CoBUiu;, May 29, 1521.

. . . Concerning the whereabouts of Dr. Martin I can give

your Highness no reliable information, for it was told me

yesterday that he is said to be not far from France, hidden

away in a castle of Francis von Sickingen's; but if this is true,

I know nothing of it. . ..

403. LUTHER TO FRANCIS VON SICKINGEN.* Weimar, vii, 158. German. Patmos (Wartburg), June i, 1521.

God's grace and peace in Christ our Lord. Honored Sir, we read in the Book of Joshua that when God led the people of Israel into the promised land of Canaan and smote all the people of that land, namely, thirty-one kings and all their cities, there was no city humble enough to ask for peace save only Gibeon, though Israel has command from God to offer and accept terms of peace. In their presumption they were all hardened, and fought against Israel, so that it is written in the nth chapter: "There was no city that made peace with the people of Israel save Gibeon ; but they were all taken with battle"; for it was determined of the Lord that they should be bold to fight against the people of Israel, and thereby be destroyed and find no favor." *

It seems to me that this history ought to be an example for our papists, bishops, scholars and other spiritual tyrants, who clearly see and understand that people know them and have had enough of them, and that the bright light is everywhere revealing their deceitful and seducing ways, so that all the covers have become too short and too narrow. Yet they neither humble themselves nor sue for peace ; nay, when peace is oflFered them it is refused ; they screw up their courage and undertake to quench the light by force, thinking they are so

Beicht, ob dit Pafst Macht habe su gebietcn. Cf. supra, no. 483, p. 28, n. x.
 * Cf, VoL I, p. S75, n. a. This letter is tbe dedicttion of the tract. Von dir
 * Joshua xi, 19!.

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