W LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Let 5"
turbed by the wicked and sacrilegious doings of that son of perdition ? Not so, Spalatin ! Not so, Elector ! For the sake of the sheep of Christ we must resist that grievous wolf with all our might as an example to others, and so I am send- ing you the tract against him, which was all ready when your letter came. The letter has not moved me to change anything in it, though I had le'ft it to Philip's judgment to change it as he pleased. Be sure to give the book to Philip, therefore, and do not try to dissuade me from publishing it. The question is settled and I will not listen to you.
The fact that we and our friends are in bad repute with our opponents and with those who are too worldly-wise in divine things ought not to move you, for you know that Christ and . the apostles were not men-pleasers, and I have not yet heard our party accused of any crime, but only of despising impiety and false doctrine, though I do not like the conduct of the students who gave the legate of St. Anthony such a warm re- ception,* but who can hold everybody in check everywhere and all the time? Are they to do no wrong at all? Even the disciples had to bear the reproach of Judas Iscariot, and evil- doers are tolerated all the time in all communities. Of us alone it is required that no dog growl. I hope you will not expect me to apologize to everybody who is displeased with Wittenberg, for that would be impossible.
The Gospel will not go to destruction because a few of our people sin against the proprieties. As for those who are alienated from the Word because of it, they have not been adherents of the Word, but of the glory of the Word. Those who are adherents of the Word for the Word's sake will not be torn from it, even by the gates of hell. He that is alienated, let him be alienated. Why does he not consider the good* things and the strong things in us? Why does he look only on our faults and weaknesses? Does anybody accuse Philip and his friends of this offence? Then why condemn all because of a part? It is a smaller sin to hiss a wicked preacher than to accept his doctrine; but the latter sin is
- The Brothers of St. Anthony were a society of ecclesiasticsl beggars whose
representatives went the rounds of the German cities. One of these representa- tives was mobbed in Wittenberg in October, isai. Cf. Duke George to Duka John, November 21 (Gess i, aog).
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