this matter, you may indeed wish to see it done, but you neither can nor ought to hope for it.
I will put an end to those masses, if the Lord will, or else I shall try something else. If you wish to protect them, then protect them. I can no longer endure the fraud and the wiles of those two and a half canons against the unity of our whole Church. I see what they are doing because you defend the deed of one woman.* Therefore, my dear Spalatin, I beg that you will either treat us poor exiles of Christ more kindly, or else speak out your intentions roundly, so that we may know where we are going. Only let us not be compelled to confound ourselves because of this ambiguous order, of which you' afterwards take advantage, so that if we are compelled to go away, we may not be able to blame anybody but ourselves, and you may remain with all honor, as those who have both kept us and driven us out. Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin Luther.
64& LUTHER TO SPALATIN. Enders, v, 76. Wittenberg, November 30, 1524.
Grace and peace. As to giving up your office at court, dear George, my opinion is as follows. There is some cause for resigning such an office as yours when the Word is not heeded, as the Wise Man says, "Waste not your words where they are not listened to." But one should not stop preaching as long as anyone listens; otherwise I should have stopped long ago on account of the great contempt of the Word. Unless you have some other reason than the wickedness and malice of men, this is not sufficient to make you desert your place and vocation, or, indeed, to make you do an3rthing at all. I cannot imagine what other reason you have for wish- ing to resign, unless your desire to marry weighs with you. You are so experienced and know the court so well that )rou can be of great value to those about the Elector, whereas if a novice came in your place, think how long it would take him to get used to the court! Even supposing that he would be as serviceable as you in the end, it would be a great while before he could obtain the credit and good opinion of the
1 Cf. 646 ad init
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