and Cicero! His mouth and eyes, or rather his whole face, would make you think him a butcher or Carian soldier rather than a theologian. He has a fine memory; were his under- standing only equal to it he would possess all nature's gifts. The man cannot grasp a thing quickly nor judge it acutely, so that his other talents are vain. This is the reason why in debate he brings together all his arguments and texts of Scripture and quotations from authors without any selection, not considering that many of them are inept and impertinent to the subject, and that some are apocryphal or mere sophistr)*. He only tries to discharge a copious mass of matter, thus deceiving his audience, most of whom are stupid, and from whom he thus wins the opinion that he is victor. Add to this incredible audacity covered by admirable craft. If ^^ thinks he is falling into the snares of his adversary, he turns the debate into another channel, sometimes embracing ^^^ opponent's opinion, clothed in other words, as his own, a^^' with equal guile, imputing his own absurdities to ^^^ antagonist. . . .
205. ULRICH ZAZIUS TO CONRAD MUTIAN AT GOTHA- Krause, 647. Freiburg, December 13, 1519-
... I should like to know your opinion of Luther, O most candid of all men, for I know that you cannot judge good men amiss. There is among our Germans a marvellous vari- ety of opinions about this man, whom I might well call a hero. AH those instructed in the pure doctrine follow Luther without reserve. But the monks and scholastic theologians, except a few good men, condemn him. Two of the best approved and most learned theologians of our university, John of Breisgau and George Wagelin [Achaeus] receive, bless and favor Luther and compare him to the ancient and true theologians. The whole of Switzerland, Constance, Augs- burg, and a good part of Italy adhere to Luther. If we dis- agree with some ecclesiastical lawyers and some litigious slaves of business, we have to fight for the man now in this way, now in that. I accept Luther with reservations. For I do not approve his calling the decretals "vain," by which he intends to overthrow Leo's claims. And it is not necessary
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