Erasmus had answered Luther's letter to Amsdorf (No. 2037), but this answer had been withheld from Luther. Luther advised to henceforth despise such people as Wicel, Crotus, Hauer and Cochläus, and to direct all attacks against their head and guarantor, Erasmus. Therefore, Amsdorf may publish his remarks against him.
From Aurifaber's unprinted collection, p. 205, in Schütze, vol. II, p. 317 and in De Wette, vol. I V, p. 544 f.
Grace and peace in Christ! Best Amsdorf, I too have not seen the answer of Erasmus 1); so they conceal this matter from me with great zeal; perhaps they fear that I will get into heat. D. Jonas, Pommer
1) It had the title: Adversus calumniosissimam Martini Lutheri Epistolam. Opp. X, 1538.
Letters from the year 1534. no. 2067. 2068. 2069.
and Philip have read it. That single copy, they say, is now in Dessau, Jonas says, in the book is almost the same what is in the letter that was sent to the valley, whose copy I have seen, and also you have seen, as you write. I would have expected great things from the one I had so challenged. I have not yet decided what I will do until I have seen his answer. But one advice you have given is 1) that we turn our weapons against Erasmus, their head and their guarantor, with contempt for such people as Wicel, Crotus, Hauer, Cochläus, so that, just as Eck promoted the pope by defending him, so these people may promote Erasmus by praising him. For he has produced these writers for us by his ambiguous and vain babblings. Therefore the attack must be directed against him who, like a butterfly, has thrown such armies of caterpillars into the garden of the church; "it is," as the Saxons call it, "Schietrupe." Therefore, it pleases me that you put out publicly your remarks against him (as you write). For it is better that the sciences fall than religion, if the sciences will not serve, but trample Christinn under foot. If we allow this, we will be guilty of the trampling of Christ, and he will (if we will not) raise up others who will be bold, for Christ will reign. Some want to bring Christ and Belial into agreement through wisdom: "Nothing will come of it. Fare well in Christ and pray for me On Sunday after John [June 28] 1534
Your Martin Luther.
No. 2068.