ness^orjgaorance * is p artly conscience, partly good Jud^p ncPt When I read scnne 01 the things you have written I greatly fear that by some of his arts Satan has managed to deceive you; other things, again, so grip me that I could wish my fears ill-grounded. I am not willing to assert anything of which I am myself not yet persuaded, much less anything with which I do not agree. Hitherto I have consulted the interests of the Gospel better than many of those who brag about the Gospel. I see that occasion has been given for the rising up of wicked and seditious men ; I see friendships broken off, and I fear that bloodshed may come out of it. If you are really sincere, I pray that Christ may favor what you are doing. So far as I am concerned, nothing will corrupt me into abandoning the Gospel from any human motives. Hith-^ erto I have written nothing against you. I could have earned I the great applause of princes by so doing, but I saw that it I could not be done without great injury to the Gospel. On the other hand, I have repelled those who were trying in every way to persuade the princes that I am in league with you, that I agree with you in everything, and that everything you teach is in my books. Even now it is scarcely possible to get this idea out of their minds. I do not greatly care what you may write against me; so far as the world's opinion is con- cerned that would be the best thing that could happen to me. I desire to return this soul to Christ pure, and I wish everyone to have this same feeling. If you are ready to render^ to every man a reason for the faith that is in you, why do you take it amiss if anyone argues with you in order that he may learn? Perhaps Erasmus writing against you would do more for the Gospel than certain dullards writing in your behalf. They will not allow anyone to be an onlooker at this tragedy (would that it might not have a tragic end !) , but they push me over to the other side, even if the princes werg^y not already forcing me there. These men's dishonesty makes the Gospel distasteful to the prudent, and the princes will be compelled to put down their seditious uprisings; not, I fear, without injury to the innocent. They listen to nobody, not
^Ib Luther's letter of the month before (supra no. 620) » with which this reply to it should be compared throughout
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