a personal representative and by his chancellor/ a scholarly man, to write a little book on religion for his people.* They support a preacher of the Word* and rejoice in having the Gospel. Thus Christ passes over from the Jews to the Gentiles, and when the descendants of Abraham persecute Him, sons of Abraham are made out of the stones.* John, Count of Anhalt,* has advised me, through Dr. Jerome* and a certain Francis,' to clear myself of a charge that Ferdinand has openly made against me at Nuremberg, viz., that I teach the new doctrine that Christ is of the seed of Abraham.* At first I took this crazy charge as a jest, but they are so insistent on it that I have been compelled to believe it is true. See what
571. DUKE GEORGE OF SAXONY TO ERASMUS.
Gess, i, 450. Dresden, January 25, 1523*
Erasmus's letter to the Duke (supra, no. 555) remained long un- answered. December 5, 1522, Erasmus wrote a second letter, express- ing the fear that the first had been lost, and enclosing a copy (Gess, i, 393). The Duke was still in no hurry to reply.
You were not deceived, my learned Erasmus, in the sus- picion that your former letter, a copy of which you lately sent, had been intercepted, for it was not delivered before, though for what reason we do not know. We no longer wonder that you so avoid and refuse the task of writing against Luther, now that we have learned that in his writings you have hit upon so many good things for which you fear, and very many things altogether Christian, and that you think there is no better way to stop this tragedy than the way of silence. Henceforth we shall cease urging you to the task
ijohn Lohmulller of Riga.
'This Luther did. Vide infra, no. 598.
'Andrew Knopken (1490-1539).
- Cf, Matthew iii, 9.
- John (September 14, 1 504-Pebruary 4, Z55i)f a son cf Margraret of Anhalt,
on whom cf. Vol. I, p. 944. He knew Luther through her and because Luther had preached at Zerbst on May x8, 1522. Many letters from Luther to him are deterred. Cf, Endert, ix, 924, and RGG., i, 479ff.
• Schurff.
'Probably Francis Burkhard« professor at Wittenberg, 1525-36. He receired hit B.A. there in June, 1521, his A.M. in February, 1524. Cf, N. MuUer, Pttgr Beskwndorf, in Au* Deutrchkmds kircMichgr Vgrgangenhtit, 1912,
- Suprt, not. 564 and 566.
�� �
