Page:Thirty-five years of Luther research.djvu/161

Rh vince them by means of biblical disputations. But the Jews did not show up. The years 1524-36 form the transitory period. Luther had disagreeable experiences with Jews. These and their attacks against his Bible translation cooled him off. In 1536 the Elector expelled the Jews from his territory and Luther refused to intercede; in 1538 he wrote his "Brief wider die Sabbather," which is followed by other writings of increasing severity: "Von den Juden und ihren Luegen," "Vom Schem Hamphoras," "Von den letzten Worten Davids," "Die Vermahnung wider die Juden."

It has already been mentioned that in the last years of Luther's life new fuel was heaped on the sacramental controversy. The year 1545 brought another sharp attack against Rome. By means of a series of circulars containing pictures and satirical verses Luther waged an immoderate and coarse attack against the papacy. C. Wendeler has proved that the nauseating representation of the "papist-child's" birth in the most offensive picture was not Luther's fault, but solely that of the painter for Luther was only responsible for the verses and not the pictures.89

His "Pabsttreu Hadriani IV u. Alexanders III gegen Kaiser Friederich Barbarossa geuebt" reminds us of his knowledge in church history, and of what Schaefer and Luther has devoted a good deal of his time to historical studies. Especially in his writing "Von den Conciliis und Kirchen" he shows an historical knowledge surprising by its wide range and real thoroughness.

In 1556 Hardenberg, of Bremen, stated that Luther had changed his views on the Eucharist in his last discussion with Melanchthon, and had said: "There has