198 LUTHER'S CX)RRESPONDENCE AND Let SJfr
more do you wish me to do? Even though I were to despise my own life, I do not see what more could be done. On some points you disagree with Luther; Oecolampadius also disa- grees with him ; shall I put myself and my books in peril for the sake of his doctrine? I have refused all the offers made me to write against him. The Pope, the Emperor, kings and princes, and my most learned and dearest friends have urged me to it, nevertheless it is sure that I shall either not write at all, or shall write in such a way that my writing will not please the Pharisees. You do not need to cite witnesses to prove that you have a right to admonish me; the admonition of learned men has always been grateful to me. Oeco- lampadius had proposed certain theses for discussion^ and had even published them, but was bidden postpone it till another time; now he has been given permission to hold the discussion when he likes. He is a good man, but impatient of advice, even from a friend. Luther has written him " that I vehemently objected to his lecturing on Isaiah, though there is no one I am fonder of than Oecolampadius. He adds that not much attention must be paid me in the things of the Spirit; what that means I do not understand. He said, too, that I, like Moses, have led Israel out of Egypt, but would die in the plains. Would that he were the Joshua who would lead us all into the land of promise. . . .
Oecolampadius held his disputation to-day, with good re- sults, and will dispute again next Sunday. Luther has written Oecolampadius that not much attention must be paid me in those things that are of the Spirit.* I should like to learn of you, my learned Zwingli, who that "Spirit" is, I for I think I have taught almost everything that Luther teaches, only I have not done it so fiercely and have abstained from certain riddles and paradoxes. I hope, indeed, that much fruit may some day come from them, but I prefer present fruit. . . .
Yours, Erasmus.
��* Cf. Corpus Reformaiorum, x!v, ii6, n. i.
- Supra, no. 591.
- The parts of this letter must have been written at two different times, which
would account for the repetition, and for the two refereneet to Oecolampadaus' diipntation.
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