am altogether taken up with my reply to Erasmus.* I know that the parishes must be reformed and uniform ceremonies introduced. I am now wrestling with the problem and shall ask the aid of the Elector. I see that all our efforts are in vain unless pastors are provided, but our case to-day is like that of the Levites of old — ^people are willing to receive the ministrations of the Gospel, but are not willing to support the ministers. Our own parish is not in order to-day ; what can be done with the other parishes with whose complaints I am daily overwhelmed? Satan is busy. Inspect Schneeberg and any other places that you can, if the people call you and need you. You know that this will not displease the Elector at all.
I am putting off the catechism, for I want to get the whole thing done at one time." Farewell, and pray for us all, as you do. My rib greets you. Martin Luther.
70s. THE PREACHERS OF STRASSBURG TO LUTHER. Enders, v, 251. Strassburg, (October 8, 1525).*
Grace and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. For the preservation of the unity of the Church, we have sent you, honored teacher in the Lord, this excel- lent young man.* The Rhine churches hate the papal tyranny worse than anyone else, not only because they are nearer to Italy than the others, but also because this whole broad re- gion has been taken up by the ecclesiastics. Relying on their power, their money and the favor of the magnates, they are pushing things to extremes, farther and farther day by day. So great has been the efficacy of the Word and the power of our common agreement that while we were united we were able to stand their fiercest attacks, before which we should have fallen if we had stood apart. . . . And now everywhere, by the work of the enemy, a crop of quarrels is growing up. We can scarcely say how much harm it has done to those in France, Brabant and Flanders, and it has given
>The treatise De servo arbitrio.
- /.#., the catechism and the instruction for the visitation of the Saxon churches*
which I^uther even then had in mind.
•This letter is undated, but its bearer, Gregory Casel, took with him to Wi^ tenberg a letter of Capito to Bugenhagen (Vogt, p. 32) dated October 8.
- Gregory Casel (died 1528), teacher of Hebrew at Strassbarg.
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