received an unkind, unbishop-like answer, referring me to a higher tribunal for instruction.
Although these two letters produced no effect,I send a third warning,in German, to see if this perhaps uncalled-for petitionmay avail.
Grace has againset up the idol at Halle, which robs poor simple Christians both of their money and their souls.
Perhaps you fancyyou are safe because I am out of the way, and that His Majestywill extinguish the monk.
Christian love demands, and pay no attention to the gates of hell" not to speakof the popes, cardinals, and bishops. I shall not hold my peace when the Bishopof Mayence declares it is not seemlyto instruct a poor monk who begs to be enlightened, and at the same time knows how to deal with money.
The dishonour is not mine, but must be sought elsewhere.
Therefore,I humbly request that your Grace would prove yourself to be a bishop,and not a wolf,permitting the poor flock to be robbed.
Indulgenceis sheer knavery,and that Christ alone ought to be preachedto the people. Your Highness must remember out of what a tinysparkthis great fire arose
" the whole world fancyingthat one poor beggar was too insignificant for the Pope to meddle with.
God stilllives, and no one need doubt that He can overcome the Bishop of Mayence, whose end no one can foresee.
I openlydeclare that unless the Indulgence is done away with,I must publiclyattack your Grace, as well as the Pope TetzeFs former excesses to the Mayence, and lettingthe world see the difference between a bishop and a wolf.
If I be despised another will appear who will despisethe despisers, as And it is time to rebuke the evil-doers, that offences may be driven from the kingdom of God.
Grace to leave the married priests in peace, and not rob them of what God has giventhem, else a cry will arise that the bishopsshould first take the beam out of their own eyes, etc.
Grace to take care, and permitme to keep silence, for I have no pleasure in your Highness'sshame and disgrace ; but if you are not, then
I,and all Christians, must stand up for the glory of God, even althougha Cardinal should be plunged in disgrace.I expect your
Grace's answer within fourteen days.^ If not, then my book againstthe idol in Grace's counsellors should try to prevent its circulation I shall use means to hinder this.
Electoral Highness with grace to do the right. From my desert.
A fragment. Probablywritten after Wittenberg. He disapproves of their way of reformingabuses.
I cannot alwaysbe with you.
Every one must die for himself,and look forward to the pangs of departurealone, for no one can counsel or help. I shall not be with you, nor you with me.
Whoever is then able to overcome sin,hell,and the devil is blessed " whoever cannot do so is accursed.
But no one is able to do so unless during life he has learned to appropriate and practise the consolations and maxims of the gospelagainstsin.
The soul only takes with it what it has received in the world, and nothingmore.
No one can resist the devil until he has come to a knowledge of Christ,and knows that it was specially for him God desired his salvation.
In that case that soul must become blessed, althoughall the devils were dead against it.
We were all born sinners,and ruined throughAdam's fall, so that we can do nothingbut sin,being in bondage,and *' are by nature the children of wrath,-evenas others."
These innovations have been accompaniedby attacks on the mass, pictures, and the sacrament, and other lawless proceedings, which destroyfaith and love,therebywounding the tenderest feelings of many piouspeople,which is surelythe devil's work.
1 It arrived December ; a conciliatory letter.