Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/289

 ===CCXLIX=== TO WENZEL LINK

Luther defends Melanchthon against Baumgartner and Osiander, who complained he was too yielding in the union negotiations. The Elector’s lawyers would have given way for the sake of brotherly love, but the Elector was firm, saying it was not a case for Christian love.

September 20, 1530.

Grace and peace! Be angry and sin not. I have read your heavy accusation against my Philip, dear Link, and had I not learned from our people’s letters from Augsburg last Saturday that they had committed our cause to the Emperor I would have been much shocked.

I trust you now know that our business bears quite a different aspect from what it did then. If it were not so, I would write sharp letters to them, which Spangenberg would forward.

But I have already let it be understood that I was not inclined to approve of such articles and conditions. I fancy they now see for themselves that these are disgraceful church-robbing conditions with which our opponents, those bold, impudent gentlemen, try to mock our weak little party. But Christ, who has permitted them to become so blinded and hardened as not to believe the gospel, is thus preparing them for the Red Sea!

They are on the brink of irremediable ruin, and must perish, for they will have it so. The Lord be with us! Therefore lay aside your wrath. Philip is still negotiating some points, but nothing is yet arranged.

But I believe Christ has used such false appearances to mock our revilers, by filling them with false joy and hope, and making them believe we would give way, and then they would conquer.

But afterwards they would see they were only being befooled. I am certain that, without my consent, theirs is useless. And even were I to consent to such godless monstrosities, the whole Church and the gospel teaching