matter, stillI shall not accuse you of obstinacy.What am The business is a bad one on both sides.
I be mediator, I would ask these people to give up assailing you, and permityou, at your advanced age, to fall asleepin peace in the Lord.
They would do this if they considered your weakness and the magnitude of the question at stake,which is far above your head.
Erasmus, must remember their weakness, and not practiseyour powers of sarcasm on them, and where you cannot or dare not espouse our opinions,then leave them alone,patientlyawaitingthe success of your cause.
I say all this,excellent Erasmus, to prove my earnest wish that the Lord may give you a mind worthy of your great name, and if He delaydoing this,I beg of you only to be a spectator of our tragedy,and not unite with our opponents, nor write againstme, seeingI shall not publishanythingagainst you.
As to those who complainof suffering because of Luther, remember they are men, even as you and I,upon whom we should have compassion,bearingone another^s burdens.
There has been more than enough backbiting, so we must see that we are not devoured one of another.
This would be a most pitiable spectacle, as on neither side is any one really at heart an enemy of the gospelof Take my child-like simplicity in good part, and may you prosper in the Luther expresses satisfaction at the decision of the Basle againstthe Bishop'svicar.
I have nothing to write, dear brother,except to greet you, and commend myself to your prayers.
Joachim,our trusted friend,will tell you everything.
I do not know whether Philipwill come to us with the accused,whom I should like to see.