they have familiar conversations with God, that they see the future; in short, that they are prophetic and apostolic men. I cannot easily say how it is that I am moved by them. I cer- tainly have great reasons not to despise them. For it appears that there are in them certain spirits, concerning which no one save Luther can easily judge. Wherefore, since it is a question of danger to the Gospel and of the glory and peace of the Church, it is highly desirable that these men should have the opportunity to meet Luther, for they appeal to him- I should not write this to your Highness if the importance of the matter did not demand haste. We must take care on the one hand not to quench the Spirit of God, and on the other not to be possessed by Satan. The Lord preserve your High- ness long for the safety of His Church.
Your Illustrious Highness's devoted
Philip Melanchthon.
521. MELANCHTHON TO SPALATIN AT LOCHAU. ARC, VI (1909, 38s). (Wittenberg), December 2^, (1521).
Dear Spalatin. I greatly fear lest something will happen to them/ as in the Acts of the Apostles. You will think us drunken,' who either invent or believe such things, when you read the letter I have written to the Elector. I sent it open on purpose for you to read it before you give it to him. Believe me, I write of things by no means contemptible. There is a spirit of some kind or other in these men of whom I write; they are doing things which, unless Luther intervenes, will end I know not where. I am aware that this is an inop- portune time to apply to the Elector for a chance to see Luther. But where shall I turn in this difficulty? . . .
Your Philip.
522. FELIX ULSCENIUS TO WOLFGANG CAPITO AT
MAYENCE.
ARG., vi (1909), 390. Wittenberg, January i, 1522.
. . . There has come to us a certain man * with a great deal of the Spirit and so exceedingly well versed in Holy Scripture that even Melanchthon cannot satisfy him. He adduces such
^The Zwickau prophets. 'Acts ii, Z3f ZS* 'Mark Thomae Stfibner.
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