May 28, 1522.
To Caspar Börner, Professor of Fine Arts at the Academy of Leipzig.
1. God's grace in Christ. Your last letter, dear sir, I have happily received.
I am pleased to receive you, since I see that you are doing well and increasing in the matter of pure Christian doctrine, and I ask and wish that the Lord may accomplish what he has begun.
*) This letter first appeared in Latin under the title: luäieiuni D. Murt. Imtiisri äs Lrusmo Kotsroäumo. kpistoiu uä uroisurri. Then in German, but not by Luther himself, in the collection: "Urtheil D. M. Luther and Phil. Melanchthonis by Erasmo Roterodam. A Christian epistle from D. M. L. to D. Wolfg. Fabrit. capitonem 2c Christ letter of indulgence" 2c Further Latin in Aurifaber, vol. II, toi. 66; in the Wittenberg edition, Toro. II, toi. 456. (gl. 424.); De Wette, vol. II, p. 200. German in a different translation from that previously given in the Wittenberg, vol. IX, toi. 176; in the Jenaer, vol. II, toi. 260 (edition of 1585 toi. 246 d.); in the Altenburger, vol. II, p. 343; in the Leipziger, vol. XIX, p. I. In the old Walch edition twice, once here, the other time vol. XXI, col. 785 in different translations. We have translated this Brie according to De Wette.
I am sorry to hear that you are raging against Christ in this way; but it will happen that either your prince 1) will change his anger himself of his own free will, or another will change it against his will and that in a short time.
I knew before that Mosellanus is like Erasmus in the election of grace, because he is completely Erasmian. But I think that Erasmus knows more about the election of grace, or he shows less knowledge than the schools of the Sophists have known so far. There is also no reason for me to fear that I would fall because I did not change my mind. Erasmus is not terrible in this matter, as well as almost not in the whole epitome of Christian doctrine. Truth is mightier than eloquence, spirit higher than understanding, faith greater than learning, and, as Paul says [1 Cor. 1:25.], "divine foolishness wiser than men are." The eloquence of Cicero has often been overcome by lesser eloquence in courtroom dealings; Julian is more eloquent than Augustine. In short, the victory is with stammering truth, not with lying eloquence, as it is written [Ps. 8:3.], "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou wrought a power for thine enemies' sake, to destroy the enemy and the revenger." I will not challenge Erasmus; indeed, if cause should be given me once or twice, I will not soon strike again. But it does not seem advisable to me that he should try the power of his eloquence on me. For I fear that he will not find a Faber Stapulensis 2) in Luther and cannot boast as he boasts about him. Everyone wishes me luck, that the Frenchman 3)
1) Duke George.
2) Jakob Faber Stapulensis (Is k'övrs ä'l^taplss), a theologian of great merit in biblical literature. Cf. Guerjcke, Kirchengeschichte, 7th ed., vol. Ill, p. 21, note 3. Not to be confused with Johannes Augustanus Faber of Freiburg in Switzerland, (lonstuntisnsis. Cf. Tischreden, cap. 28, § 12, Walch, St. Louis edition,
Vol. XXII, col. 940.
3) Latin: dalluni. We are of the opinion that this here is not a proper name, but that with it La-.
is defeated. If he gets involved in this game, he will see that Christ is not afraid of the gates of hell, nor of the mighty in the air, and I, as a miserable stammerer, will meet the exceedingly eloquent Erasmus with confidence and will regard his reputation, name and favor as nothing. I know what is in this man, since we also know what Satan has in mind; but I expect him to reveal more and more every day what he intends against me.
4 I discuss this with you in such detail, so that you may see that you have no reason to be concerned or afraid for my sake, nor to be frightened by the considerable boasts of others. But greet Mosellanus, because for his sake I am not averse to him, because he follows the teaching of Erasmus more than mine. Yes, tell him that he should only be bravely Erasmian. The time will come when he will change his mind; in the meantime, one must bear the very weak understanding of a very good heart. And you too, be at ease in the Lord. Wednesday after Urban [May 28] in the year 1522.
Your M. Luther.
Another judgment by D. M. Luther by Erasmus Anno 1533. 4)
An Enemy of All Religions / Of Epicurus and Luund/ cian's Perfect Image
a special enemy of Christ, / and pattern.
I wrote it with my own hand, M. Luther.
To you, my dear son, and to all of you, both my children and the children of the Holy Christian Church. You may well take this to heart as a matter of importance.
The name "Latomus" is used to describe Latomus, against whom Luther in June 1821 had published the great writing included in this volume No. 47. In the table speeches Latomus is also called "the Frenchman". Cf. Walch, St. Louis Edition, Vol. XXII, 945. Tischreden, Cap. 28, § 20. Likewise vol. XV, 1586, § 10 of the old edition: dallulus, the Frenchman.
4) Cf. Tischreden, Cap. 37, § 111. This verdict is found in Latin, attached to the letter, in the editions given for the previous letter, except for De Wette.