Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/105

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title, and is used even by those to whom he is most hostile. I hate dissimulation, and I have made enough concessions heretofore; there is a time for plain speaking. Do you pray for me, and help me to tread underfoot that Satan who, in

  • the name of the Gospel, has set himself up here in Witten-

berg against the Gospel. We are fighting against an angel

\ of darknessi who has transformed himself into an angel of light. It will be hard for Carlstadt to give up his views, but Christ will force him to do so if he does not yield i>£ his own accord. We who believe in the Lord of life and death are ourselves lords of life and death. More again. Farewell, and be strong in the ministry on which you have entered.

Yours, Martin Luther.

534. JEROME SCHURFF TO THE ELECTOR FREDERIC OF

SAXONY.

Enders» iii, 306. WrrrENBERG, March 15, 1522.

Serene, high-bom Prince. My humble and submissive service to your Grace. Gracious Lord, I presented your Grace's revised copy of the letter * to Doctor Martin, who ac- cepted it submissively and humbly wrote your Grace in ac- cordance with it the letter' that I herewith obediently send your Grace.

I humbly wish your Grace to know that there is g^eat gladness and rejoicing here, both among the learned and the unlearned, over Doctor Martin's return and over the ser- mons • with which, by God's help, he is daily pointing us poor deluded men back again to the way of truth, showing us in- controvertibly the pitiful errors into which we have been led by the preacherswho forced their way among us. It is plain as day that the Spirit of God is in him and works through him, and I have no doubt that it is by the special provi- dence of the Almighty that he has come to Wittenberg just at this time. Even Gabriel * has confessed that he has erred and gone too far.

1 1,i„ the letter of Mareb 7 (De Wette, B, 141) whh the iSlector's tmendments.

  • The letter of March 12 (supra, no. 532).
  • The daily sermons of March 9-16. Cf. Smith, p. 146. The substance of the

sermons translated in Philadelphia, ii, 39 iff. « ZwilUng.

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