Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/89

 we be Christians, when we are asleep, for instance, or busy at something? Cannot God, then, likewise keep faith in infants

'^during the whole period of infancy, as though it were a con- tinuous sleep? Good, you say; that confutes our opponents on the subject of infused faith. But this is sufficient, too, to show that they are the kind of people who prove nothing and are moved by a false spirit. . ..

To present a child for baptism, then, is nothing else than to

^ offer it to Christ, as though He were present on earth with

'open hands of grace, and He has showed us by many proofs that He accepts what is offered ; why should we doubt it ? This one thing at least we have won from the "prophets"; they cannot prove their contention, for they have neither testimo- nies nor illustrations, but we have both, and their testimony does not contradict us. For who will argue, — "We must be- lieve and be baptized ; therefore infants must not be baptized" ? They cannot draw that conclusion from that text, for it does not prove that infants do not believe; but I presuppose thai; tnerefore they ought to prove it otherwise, and cannot. For

■^what is not against the Scriptures is for the Scriptures and the Scriptures are for it. . . . More when I see you. I have al- ways expected Satan to touch this sore, but he did not will to do it by the papists. Among ourselves and between our friends he stirs up this grievous schism ; but Christ will quickly tread him down under our feet. . ..

Keep my book against the Archbishop of Mayence to come out and rebuke others when they go mad. Prepare me a lodg- ing, because my translation of the Bible will require me to return to you, and pray the Lord that I may do so in accord- ance with His will. I wish to keep hidden as long as may be ; in the meantime I shall proceed with what I have begun.

Yours, Martin Luther.

525. DUKE GEORGE OF SAXONY TO ALL THE OFFICIALS

OF HIS DUCHY.

Gcss, 1, 269. German. Nuremberg, February 10, 1522.

We doubt not that you have for some time heard and known what Doctor Martin Luther and others, followers of his teach- ings, have been attempting to accomplish by their preaching

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