Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/335

 1533 LETTERS OF MARTIN LUTHER 295 cccv Concerning Desiderius Erasmus In Luther's course of instruction to his children and to all Evangelical Christians for 1533. {No date.) Erasmus An enemy of all religions and a special opponent of Christ, a perfect example and copy of Epicureus and Lucian. I, Martin Luther, write this with my own hand to my dearest son, Johannes, and through thee to all the children of the Holy Church of Christ. 1534 « In this year Luther's great work, begun on the Wartburg, was finished, and issued in six parts, under the title "Biblia, the whole Sacred Scriptures. Martin Luther. Wittenberg, 1534." The Reformation introduced into Wurtemburg by Philip of Hesse, and into Pomerania through Dukes Barnim and Philip, the latter marrying John Frederick's sister. Bugenhagen compiled Confession of Faith in Low German dialect for Pomerania, a precious relic of Reformation times. cccvi To Nicolas Amsdorf Luther dissuades him from going to Nllrnberg. January 3, 1534. Grace and peace ! Why complain so vehemently, my Amsdorf, about my not answering your letters, and fear you have offended me ? You should rather have argued thus : " Had I erred, he would certainly have written, pointing out my mistake. His not writing proves that all was right, and there was no hurry to answer, especially as I was an ailing and worried man." This is written in the brotherly spirit of our old and tried friendship in Christ. I fear to advise as to the Provostship in NUrn- berg. For I might err, and yet not err, and I dread greatly that this call would not suit the open-hearted Amsdorf, who takes the direct path to the object he has