or eloquence of style, the wisdom and the truth that are in it will contribute grace and illumination. For this book proves that Philip is a true and a wise man, unless Christ, Whom it breathes and teaches, is not truth and wisdom, though he prefers to be and to be called a fool with Christ. Would that we, too, might be fools with them, that we might boast "The foolishness of God is wiser than men." *
I am glad indeed that John Oecolampadius is lecturing on Isaiah,' though I hear that many are not pleased, but that is the fortune of Christian teaching. Christ will give us by this man some light upon the prophets, a thing our age greatly needs. Farewell in Christ, my dear Gerbel, and pray for that sinner and fool, Luther. Greet all our friends in the Lord.
590. LUTHER TO THE PRINTERS. Erlangen*, xiii, 2. (Wittenberc;, before June 7, 1523.)*
I ask all those who write down and take notes on my ser- mons, for Christ's sake to refrain from printing and publishing them, unless they have been prepared by my own hand, or first printed here at Wittenberg on my authority. It does no good to publish the Word of God so carelessly and badly that we only cause it to be mocked and detested. I had hoped that people would henceforth pay more attention to the Holy Scriptures themselves, and let my books go, now that they have served their purpose and led men's hearts into and up to the Scriptures, which was my reason for writing my books. What is the use of making many books, and yet always stay- ing away from the chief book ? Drink rather from the foun- tain itself than from the rill that has led you to the fountain. But if it cannot be otherwise than it is, then, in God's name, let no one publish anything under my name without my knowl- edge and consent. I would to God that I had most of my books back here at home, especially those in which I make
^I Corinthians i, 25.
■C/. infra, no. 591.
- In June, 1522, Luther preached on the Gospel of Dives and Lazarus. The
Luther then published an authorized edition of the sermon, with this introduction, addressed to the printers. On June 7, 1523, he preached again on the same subject, and referred to the sermon as "already in print." C/. Weihnmr, zl, 227£F, and xii, 5296?.
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