is not for that reason a wise Christian, seeing that Jerome, with his five languages, did not equal Augustine with his one, although Erasmus thinks him so superior. But the opinion of him who attributes something to man's will is far different from the opinion of him who knows nothing but grace.* I much prefer to conceal this opinion for fear of confirming the enemies of Erasmus; the Lord will perchance give him understanding in his own time. Farewell and salute the pro- fessors and Leiffer, and inquire whether Trutfetter* has deigned to answer anything.*
Brother Martin Luther, Augustinian Vicar.
��31. LUTHER TO SPALATIN.
Enders, i. 89. (Wittenberg, Spring of 1517)
Greeting. As you wish, excellent Sir, I am sending you the Latin tract on predestination,* and if you wish it in German, I send you also Scheurl's translation, which is more ornate than the original. Of all the books, I have kept only The Imitation of Christ's Death* for myself, the others I have given away. Therefore use my copy and I will see if I can get some more. The third book,* the little Adam, is tmlike
- It is interesting to see that the subject of the great debate between Erasmus
and Luther, 1594*5, was thus early clearly defined.
'Jodocus Trutfetter (c. 1460-c. December i, 15 19) of Eisenach, matriculated at Erfurt 1476, became M. A. 1484, bachelor of divinity 1489 and D. D. 1504. He langht logic on which be published a number of books of the "modern," 1. e., Occamist schooL In 1507 he was called to teach at Wittenberg, where he was elected Rector at once, and on May i, 1508, Dean of the theological faculty. After a violent quarrel with some of his colleagues, he returned to Erfurt in the summer of 15 10, where he remained as professor the rest of his life. Life by G. Plitt, 1876.
- This refers to a letter of Luther to Lang, February 8 (translated Smith, 26)
in which the writer enclosed some propositions criticizing the prevalent logic and especially Aristotle, which he desired to have communicated to Trutfetter and Usingen.
^This is tlic sermon of Staupitz, Libellus de execuHone atternae praedestinationis, mentioned by Scheurl, January a, 1517. Scheurl translated it, and edited both the German, January so, and the Latin, February 6. Cf. Humbert, op, cit., 3i8ff.
^Staupitz* Bin buchiin von der nachfolgung des wiliigen sttrhent Christi. Leipzig, I5^^
'Luther means his edition of the German Theology of 1516, of which the title was: Eyn geyitlich ediet Buchleynn, von rechter underscheyd und vorstand. Was der ait •»• new mensche sey. Was Adams und was gottis kind sey. Unn wie Adam ynn uns sterben unnd Chrystus ersteen sail, Cf, Weimar, 1, 153.
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