by Casel in His own Spirit, may tell you our desires for you. The matter is too great* for such brevity and for the little time I have to give it. Be wise, beloved ; Satan is not a man nor yet the world, but he is the god and prince of the world. Who does not rejoice in the praise that you accord to the sanctity of Zwingli and Oecolampadius and to their churches? But see where Zwingli comes to in his doctrine of original sin. Just what you mean by "sanctity" and "churches" I do not know, so different are the impressions that your letters make on me. We should not venture to make the same as- sertions of ourselves, and would that you reigned without us. We venture to boast that Christ was first preached by us to the people, but Zwingli now slanders us by saying that we deny Him. We are fallible, but what if you, too, are in error? But you will hear everything from Casel. The Lord do what is good in His eyes. Amen. Mart. Luther.
713. LUTHER TO GREGORY CASEL
Enders, v, 263. (WrrxENBERG, November 5, 1525.)
This letter was given to Casel along with the preceding. The first letter was to be delivered to the Strassburg clergy, this one was to be the basis of Casel's oral report on Luther's attitude toward the teach- ings of Zwingli and Oecolampadius.
Tell my lords and brethren, my dear Casel, the things which you have seen and heard. First, since they themselves perceive that this matter will set a great Rre burning, let them acquiesce in this admonition of the Spirit, and reverence it, so that hereafter they may not lament, with vain groanings of conscience, that they disregarded the Spirit's warning. We desire nothing more than to have peace, as we have hitherto taught, and we have been careful to keep peace with all men so far as in us lay, as their own conscience must bear witness. We were not the beginners of this tragedy, and answer only because we are forced to do so. But it is not right to keep silence forever, especially since by their published writings they (I mean Zwingli and Oecolampadius) are stirring up men's minds; unless, of course, they wish us to give up the ministry of the Word and the cure of souls. It is intolerable
^The translator lias followed the St Ixrais editors (xrll, 1533) in adopting the reading suptrat in place of Enders' tutpirat.
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