condemning. As none of us is free from error, why should / we be so hard on other men's slips? Why should we prefer / rather to conquer a man than to heal him, to crush him rather^ than to teach him? Even he who alone is free from all error does not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax.^ Augustine did not wish the Donatists, who were worse than heretics, to be compelled, but to be taught, and he protected from the sword of the magistrate the necks of those who sought to assassinate him. But we, whose special business it is to instruct, prefer to use force, for it is easier.
I write this more freely, most illustrious Duke, because I have no concern in Luther's cause. As it is your Highness's duty to protect Christianity, you should exercise caution not to let an innocent man, under the protection of your justice, be sacrificed to the impiety of others on the pretext of piety. Pope Leo desires the same, for he has nothing more at heart than that innocence may be safe. He loves to be called father, nor does he love those who under his name act tyrannically. Nor does anyone better obey Leo's wishes than he who follows justice. What they think of Luther at Rome I know not. Cer- tainly I see that here his books are eagerly read by the best men, though I have not yet had time to peruse them. Farewell. May Christ, most good and great, long keep your Highness for us safe and prosperous.
Your Highness's most devoted
Erasmus.
142. ERASMUS TO MELANCHTHON AT WITTENBERG. AJIcn, iiL 539. Corpus reformatorum, i. 77. Louvain, April 22, 1519. . . . Everyone here approves Luther's life; there are vari- ous opinions of his doctrine. I myself have not yet read his books. Some of his criticisms and proposals are certainly^) right, but would that he expressed them with as much felicity I as freedom. I have written about him to the illustrious " Elector Frederic,* at the same time taking occasion to ask him how he liked my dedication to him of the Lives of the Caesars. . . .
Usaiali, xlii. 3.
- Supra, no. 141.
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