I dared to deny the authenticity of the book. Therefore, tell these wondering, or rather wonderful theologians, that they need not dispute with me what Gabriel said, or what Raphael said, or what Michael said. I know what Gabriel Bid says, and it is all very good except when he speaks of grace, charity, hope, faith and virtue ; I have not time to tell in these letters how much, with his Scotus, he is a Pelagian.^
[Here follows a defence of one of the propositions, with some details of business.] ...
21. LUTHER TO SPALATIN.
Enders, i. 62, Wittenberg, October 19, 1516.
Greeting. What displeases me in Erasmus, though a learned man, is that in interpreting the apostle' on the righteousness of works, or of the law, or our own righteousness, as the apostle calls it, he understands only those ceremonial and figurative observances. Moreover, he will not have the apostle speak of original sin, in Romans, chapter V, though he admits that there is such a thing. If he read Augustine's books against the Pelagians, especially the one on the Spirit and the Letter, also the one on the Deserts and the Remission of Sins, also the one against the two epistles of the Pelagians and like- wise the one against Julian, almost all of which are contained in the eighth volume of his works,* he will see how little he
divinity 1510, became teacher and canon. 1515 visited Rome. September 15 16 at Wittenberg published 151 theses attacking Aristotle and the scholastics, and asserting the doctrine of determinism. In 15 18 answered Eck's attack on Luther and July, 1519* debated with Eck at Leipsic as did Luther. He was excommuni- cated with Luther by the bull Exsurge Dotnine of 1530. During Luther's year at the Wartburg 1521-2, Carlstadt led a series of revolutionary innovations. On the reformer's return he was discredited, withdrew to Orlamunde 1523 and was obliged to leave Saxony in 1534. After a wandering life, in which he published much on the sacrament against Luther, he was called to Basle in 2534 and lived there as professor until his death. His life in two volumes by H. Barge, 1905. C/. MuIIer: Luther und Carlstadt, 1907.
^The Pelagians were the opponents of Augustine who maintained absolute fre« will against his determinism.
- Luther is referring to Erasmus' notes on the New Testament, which appeared
with the Greek edition about March. 15 16. Luther obtained the work soon after it was out, as may be seen by his lectures on Romans (Ficker: Luthert to the autumn of 15 16, Luther's notices of Erasmus begin with the ninth chapter.
SEdition of Basle, 1506. The De spiritu et litera enjoyed a great reputation at Wittenberg, being edited by Carlstadt Cf. A. Humbert: Originet de la tkiologU modeme. (Paris, 191 1), p. asaff.
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