Luther declares that he will confidently continue in the assertion of truth and will answer the Prierias even more sharply if the latter does not desist; then he reports on matters of the Wittenberg University and finally on the reasons that led him to publish the Sermon on the Ban.
1) per öik 6tä Traaül- == through two octaves.
2) Already on April 25, the Elector had written to Reuchlin about the appointment of a Greek and Hebrew teacher, Seckendorf, Hist. LutU., lid I, A34, aä6.2. Reuchlin's answer of May 7 in Oorp. Lek., I, x. 27, no. 14.
This letter is found in Aurifaber, vol. I, p. 78d; in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, vol. II, p. 624; in De Wette, vol. I, p. 137 and in Erlanger Briefwechsel, vol.I, p. 223.
To the venerable and dear father, Johann Staupitz, 3) Vicar of the Hermits of St. Augustine, his patron and superior to be highly venerated in Christ.
JEsus.
Hail! Do not doubt, my venerable father, that I will be free in investigating and treating the Word of God. For I am not in the least moved by that citation 4) nor by the threats that have been issued. I suffer, as you know, incomparably worse things, which require me to consider these temporal and momentary flashes as quite light, except that I sincerely want to honor the ecclesiastical power. If I am now banished by a man, I fear only to give offense to you, to whom, as I confidently believe, God has given a right and reliable judgment in things.
You will see that the explanations 5) and my answers are freer in some places than perhaps you could approve of, also that they are intolerable to the Roman flatterers; but the explanations were out, otherwise I would have moderated them. But if this Silvester and uncouth (sylvestreus) sophist should begin to continue and challenge me with other posts, then I will not play again, but let my head and my pen shoot the reins, and show him that also in Germany there are people who understand their and the Roman tricks, and wish that this should happen the sooner the better. For a long time and all too much 6) the Romans have been mocking us as their fools and dolts by their endless intrigues and twists and tricks, and do not deceive us both by trickery and by
3) Staupitz was in Rappoltsweiler in Alsace on August 28.
4) Luther's citation to Rome arrived on August 7.
5) The "Explanations" on the Theses on Indulgences are found in the St. Louis edition, vol. XVIII, 100; Luther's "Reply to the Dialogue >of the Prierias," idia. col. 344.
6) Aurifaber: Minis, probably a printing error instead of: nimis.
they lead us openly and unashamedly on a fool's rope.
3. for their thoughts and aspirations, as I see, are that the kingdom of truth, which is Christ's, should not be the kingdom of truth, since they pursue with unanimous rage that the truth should not be heard and acted upon in their own kingdom. I wish to be a part of this kingdom, if not with a true life, then certainly with a true tongue and heart, which at least confesses in truth that which is in any case improved. And I learn that the people are groaning for the voice of their shepherd Christ and that even the young people are glowing with an extraordinary desire for the holy Scriptures. The Greek lecture has been started among us, and we are all doing Greek for the sake of understanding the Bible. We are also expecting a Hebrew 1) and the prince is taking care of it.
I preached a sermon at Wittenberg on the ban, which was very necessary for the people because of the harsh tortures of the officials against our people. Although all our jurists and theologians approve of it, it is nevertheless astonishing how great a conflagration the all-grateful laureates have endeavored to arouse from it, which they have caught from my mouth and then put into extremely spiteful articles 2) and have spread everywhere and are still spreading, to the great persecution of my name. Yes, at Augsburg it is going around among the great and embittering many. In Dresden, my sermon has been reproached to my face, 3) by citing some of its articles. Behold how hatefully I am sought, and how I am fenced in on every side with thorns; but Christ lives and reigns yesterday and today and forever. My conscience testifies to me that I have taught the truth, and if I speak the truth, I shall be judged for the sake of it.
1) Johann Böschenstein.
2) Some points from this sermon were put into thesis form and spread everywhere, also, provided with a very bitter epigram about the Roman Gerz, came to Augsburg to the Imperial Diet and to Dresden and reached the hands of the two Roman legates, as Spalatin wrote to Luther on September 5 (Burkhardt, p. 11).
3) From Emser, when Luther was in Dresden on July 25.
hated all the more for its sake. 4) It is the body of Rebecca: the children must bump into each other in it, so that the mother is also in danger.
Behold, this was the cause that I issued this sermon 5) in order that I might counter those poisonous articles, or give light to what had not been rightly understood. You pray for me that I may not be too cheerful and confident in this challenge. I pray that God may not impute it to those. They also have zeal for God, as I also testify to them, but a completely unlearned zeal, until Jesus Christ also enlightens them with the same light of ours. May He keep you in His honor and His Church for salvation, Amen. On the day of Aegidius [Sept. 1] 1518.
Brother Martin Luther.