Luther's book/ I cannot prevent him from writing, but I hope he will not address any book to me, purporting that I maintain his gospel. I beg you to be cautious as to reading his books printed at Antwerp, lest you give any occasion to be thought one of his converts.
756. LUTHER TO FREDERIC PISTORIUS • IN NUREMBERG. Enders, vi, 41. (Wittenberg), April 22, 1527.
Grace and peace. We do not know each other, my dear sir, and yet I am writing you. It is the work of my f riend, and even more your friend, Wenzel Link, who sent me in your name a brass clock as a present from you to me. It is a very grateful present, but now I shall have to become a pupil of our mathematicians until I know all the forms and rules to be observed with a clock, for I have never before seen or looked at one and am altogether ignorant about these math- ematical matters. Would that I could make some reply that would correspond to your goodwill, which I perceive is clearly shown in this gift; there is nothing I would rather do. I hope that you will accept this as a token of willing friendship. Farewell, and pray for me. Martin Luther.
757. LUTHER TO WENZEL LINK AT NUREMBERG. Enders, vi, 46. (WrrreNBERC, circa May 4), 1527.
Grace and peace. The only news I have to write, dear Wenzel, is that Zwingli has sent me his foolish book with a letter written in his own hand and worthy of his haughty spirit.* So gentle was he, raging, foaming and threatening, that he seems to me incurable and condemned by manifest truth. My comprehensive book * has profited many.
1 On November i, 1526, Luther tent to Queen Mary of Hunftry Us Bsp^tiH&n of Four Comforting Psalms, Weimar, xix, 542ff> cf, Enders, v, 40jf. He states that she receiyed it kindly. Conversations with Luther, translated by Smith and Gallinger, 19 15, p. 58.
- Frederic Pistorius (1485-1553) was the last abbot of the Benedictine monastery
of St. Aegidius in Nurembergr. In July, 1525, he turned over his monastery to the City Council, as I«uther and Brisger gare orer the Augustinian home at Wittenberg to the Elector, receiving the privilege of living in the monastery and a pension in return.
•Zwingli sent his Friendly Exegesis of Chrisfs Words to Luther with a letter of April X (Enders, vi, 33). Cf, Smith, 242.
- That these Words, "This is my Body," stiU stand fmt agahut the Ranting
S^U, Weimar» xxiii, 38ff.
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