Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/84

 46 Readings in European History fingered it through double thick gloves ; a sixth will bring along his hood so old and nasty that no sailor would venture to protect himself with it. . . . But Christ shall interrupt their boastings: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees! I left you one great precept, but of that alone I hear nothing from you. I told you plainly in my gospel, with no disguis- ing parables, that my Father's kingdom was promised, not for cowls, petitions, and fastings, but for deeds of love. I know them not who rely on their own merits." . . . When the monks and friars shall hear these things and shall see simple sailors and carters preferred to them, how shall their faces fall as they look at one another ! III. The "Letters of Obscure Men" Origin of the John Reuchlin, the famous Hebrew scholar, became Obscure Men mv °l ve d in a controversy with some of the more fanat- ical and intolerant monks and theologians, who were bent on seizing and destroying the books of the Jews, which they declared were full of attacks on Christianity. Reuchlin thought that only harm could come from such a policy, and he was led to defend himself and his position w r ith much warmth in a little book which he called the Augenspiegel. This came into the hands of the theological faculty of Cologne, which drew up a list of heretical propositions found therein ; and Ortuin Gratius, one of the members of the faculty, added an appendix of Latin verses. Reuchlin was summoned be- fore Hochstraten, the inquisitor general, to answer the charges against him, but appealed to the pope, who referred the case to the bishop of Speyer. This prelate declared the book free from heresy. Then Hochstraten, in his turn, appealed to Rome, where the case was pending when the Letters of Obscure Men appeared.