put upon it the interpretation that is worst, not best, for your Grace. It is even possible that they may persuade the Fiscal to take measures against your Grace. There is a party here that does not care much about the whole matter, and would rather help it than hinder it, but they would yield to any de- mands. I should be heartily sorry to see or hear of any blame or injury coming to your Grace because of this. It would not be a bad plan, therefore, for Doctor Martin to keep him- self quiet and hidden a little while longer, either at Witten- berg or elsewhere, until things take another turn, or at least until this proposed diet shall have come to some decision. * . •
539. LUTHER TO WENZEL LINK* AT NUREMBERG. Enders, iii, 315. Wittenberg, March 19, 1522.
Greeting. In order that you may know that I am at Witten- berg, reverend father in Christ, I wished to write to you with my own hand. Satan has broken into this flock of mine and has taught that the liberty of the Spirit should be made an occasion to the flesh, that the servitude of love should be cast off and everything turned upside down by schisms. Carlstadt and Gabriel* were the authors of these monstrous teachings, though Gabriel has come to himself in a measure and has become a different man ; what will become of the other * I do not know. It is certain that he will be forbidden to enter '^ the pulpit, of which he took possession by his own boldness, without any call and against the will of God and man. As he did not come from God, so he did not teach the things of God, and the fruits of his teaching prove whose word he spoke and whose glory he sought. "He whom God hath sent speak- eth God's words," * and again, "He who seeketh the glory of Him that sent him, the same is true." " This cause compelled me to return to Wittenberg, so that, if it were Christ's will, I might destroy this theater of Satan. The decree of your synod * pleased me marvelously. I think
- C/. Vol. I, p, as, n. a.
' Zwilling.
'/.«., Carlstadt: but r/. inira, no. 547.
- John iii, 34.
■John vii, 18.
- The General Chapter of the Auffustinian Order, held in Wittenberg on Janu-
ary 6. C/. SMpra, no. 518, n. a.
��\
�� �
