Grace and peace in Christ. We are on our way back from our meeting at Marburg, my dear Agricola, and while in the neighborhood wish to inform you in a few words what was the outcome of it. The Prince of Hesse gave us a magnificent reception and entertained us splendidly. There were present Oecolampadius, Zwingli, Bucer, Hedio, and three high coun- cilors, James Sturm of Strassburg, Ulrich Funk of Ziirich and N.* of Basle. They were humble beyond measure in asking for peace. We conferred for two days. I replied to both Oecolampadius and Zwingli, and opposed them with the pas- sage, "This is my body." I refuted all their objections. The preceding day we had had courteous private conferences, I with Oecolampadius, Philip with Zwingli. In the meanwhile An- drew Osiander, John Brenz and Stephen,* from Augsburg, arrived. To simi the matter up, the men are clumsy and in- experienced in argument. Even though they perceived that their arguments proved nothing, they were not willing to yield on the one point of the presence of the body of Christ. It was rather, as we think, from fear and shame than from malice. On all other points they yielded, as you will see from the printed page.* In the end they asked that we would at least acknowledge them as brethren, and the prince was very urgent about it, but that could not be granted. Nevertheless we gave them the right hand of peace and charity, agreeing that for the present harsh words and writings should cease, and each teach his own opinion without invective, but not without defense and refutation. Thus we parted. Tell this to Dr. Caspar Aquila,* and pray for us. The grace of Christ be with you. Amen. Yours, Martin Luther.
^Rudolf Frcy, ef, no. 853.
'Stephen AgricoU or Kastenpaur (died 1547)* a member of the Augustinian Order, who was led to adopt the doctrinea of the Reformers by his study of Atigustine's work of the Scriptures. In 152a he was imprisoned for heresy* and spent some time in Wittenberg after his release (15^3)1 going thence to Augsburg as a preacher. He was afterwards pastor at Hof, at Sulabach (i537)» and finally at Eisleben. ReolencyklopaedU,
' I.e., the printed account of the Colloquy which was published at Marburg im* mediately afterwards.
- Caspar Adler, or Aquila (1488-1560) was at this time pastor in Saalfeld. Prom
1523-27 he had lived in Wittenberg, and was one of a group that worked on the translation of the Old Testament. He was a pugracious individual whose life acems to have been chiefly a succession of combats. Realencyklopagdit.
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