MARTIN LUTHER'S JUDGMENT OF
ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM TO A CERTAIN FRIEND.
Grace and
peace in Christ,
I
RECEIVED your last letter gladly, my excellent friend, because I
believe you wish well to, and are concerned for, the state of the
Christian cause. And I wish and pray, that the Lord would perfect
that which he hath begun in you.
I am
grieved at hearing, that among you also this cruel persecution is
carried on against Christ. But it will come to this:- either that
cruel tyrant will change his fury of his own accord, or you will
change it for him, and that shortly.
Concerning Predestination, I knew long ago, that Mosellanus agrees
with Erasmus: for he is an Erasmian altogether. My fixed opinion is,
however, that Erasmus knows less about Predestination, (or rather
pretends to know) than even the schools of the Sophists have known.
Nor have I any need to fear a fall, while I maintain my sentiments
unchanged. Erasmus is not to be dreaded on this point, nor indeed on
any essential point of Christianity. Truth is more powerful than
eloquence; the Spirit is far above human talent; faith is beyond all
erudition; and, as Paul saith, "the foolishness of God is wiser than
men!" (I Cor. i. 25). The eloquence of Cicero, was often overthrown
by inferior eloquence, in the discussion of public causes. Julian,
was more eloquent than Augustine. In a word, the victory is in the
hands of lying eloquence! - As it is written, "Out of the mouth of
babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, that thou mightest
still the enemy and avenger" (Ps. viii. 2; Matt. xxi. 16).
I will
not provoke Erasmus, nor will I even when provoked once or twice,
return the blow. And yet I do not think he shews his wisdom in
directing the powers of his eloquence against me. For I fear he will
not find in Luther a Faber of Picardy, nor be able to exult over me,
as he does over him, where he says, 'All congratulate me upon my
victory over the Gaul.' But however, if he will enter the lists with
me, he shall find, that Christ fears neither the powers of the air,
nor the gates of hell. And I, a most weak-tongued babe will meet the
all-eloquent Erasmus with confidence, caring nothing for his
authority, his name, or his reputation. I know well what is in the
man; seeing that, I am well acquainted with the thoughts of Satan;
though I expect he will daily manifest more and more that
disposition towards me which he fosters in his heart.
I express
myself thus plainly, that you might have no fear or concern on my
account, nor be frightened at the great and swelling words of
others. I wish you to salute Mosellanus in my name: for I am not
therefore ill-affected towards him, because he leans to the side of
Erasmus rather than to mine.
Nay tell
him to stand by Erasmus firmly: for the time will come, when he will
think otherwise. In the meantime, the weakness of an excellent heart
is to be borne with. And may you also prosper in the Lord.
Wirtemberg, 1522.
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