"in my own eye, and not regarding myself as CHA P. "entitled to throw the first stone at an adultress."

XIX.

1520.

After justifying the asperity with which he has Et. 45. commented on the misconduct of his adversaries, by the example of Christ and of the prophets and apostles, he thus proceeds: "I must, however, "acknowledge my total abhorrence of your see, "the Roman court, which neither you nor any "man can deny, is more corrupt than either "Babylon or Sodom, and according to the best of

my information, is sunk in the most deplorable "and notorious impiety. I have been, therefore, truly indignant to find that under your name, "and the pretext of the Roman church, the people "of Christ have been made a sport of; which I have

h It must be observed, that Luther had been in Rome, in the year 1510, on the affairs of his convent, where he had been greatly disgusted with the conduct of the clergy, and the manners of the people, in the performance of religious worship. "Ego Romæ," says he, "non diu fui. Ibi "celebravi ipse, et vidi celebrari aliquot missas, sed ita, ut "quoties recordor, execrer illas. Nam super mensam, "inter alia, audivi Curtisanos quosdam ridendo gloriari; "nonnullos in ara super panem et vinum hæc verba pro"nuntiare." Panis es, panis manebis; vinum es, vinum manebis. Ex. Luther, op. German. tom. vi. Jena, ap. Melch. Adam in vitâ, 49. Speaking of this journey in his Colloquia, he observes, that he would not have exchanged it for a thousand florins.

VOL. IV.

Ib.

H

СНАР.

XIX.

1520.

Et. 45.

have opposed, and will oppose, as

long as the spirit of faith shall remain in me. Not that I "would attempt impossibilities, or expect that my efforts could avail against such a hostile 66 throng of flatterers, and in the midst of the "commotions of that Babylon. I owe, however, "something to my brethren, and conceive that it "behoves me to keep watch that they are not "seized in such numbers, nor so violently attack"ed, by this Roman plague. For what has Rome

poured out for these many years past (as you "well know) but the desolation of all things, both "of body and soul, and the worst examples of all

iniquity. It is indeed as clear as day-light to. "all mankind, that the Roman church, formerly "the most holy of all churches, is become the "most licentious den of thieves, the most shame"less of all brothels, the kingdom of sin, of death "and of hell; the wickedness of which not Anti"christ himself could conceive.

"In the mean time you, O Leo, sit like a lamb "amidst wolves, and live like Daniel amidst the "lions, or Ezechiel among the scorpions. But "what can you oppose to these monsters? Three "or four learned and excellent cardinals! but "what are these on such an occasion? In fact,

you would all sooner perish by poison than at

tempt a remedy to these disorders. The fate "of the court of Rome is decreed; the wrath of "God is upon it; advice it detests; reformation

"it

"it dreads; the fury of its impiety cannot be c H A P. mitigated, and it has now fulfilled that which

XIX.

Et. 45.

was said of its mother, We have medicined Baby- 1520. "lon, and she is not healed; let us therefore leave "her. It was the office of you and of your cardi"nals to have applied a remedy; but the disorder "derides the hand of the physician, nec currus "audit habenas. Under these impressions I have

always lamented, O most excellent Leo, that

you, who are worthy of better times, should "have been elected to the pontificate in such days "as these. Rome merits you not, nor those who "resemble you, but Satan himself, who in fact "reigns more than you in that Babylon; would "that you could exchange that state, which your "inveterate enemies represent to you as an ho"nour, for some petty living; or would support yourself by your paternal inheritance; for of "such honours, none are worthy but Iscariots, the sons of perdition."

After pouring out these invectives, and others of a similar kind, always pointed with expressions of the most contemptuous kindness for the pontiff, Luther proceeds to give a brief history of his conduct, and of the efforts made to pacify him by the Roman court; in which he speaks of Eccius as the servant of Satan, and the adversary of Jesus Christ, and adverts to the conduct of the cardinal of Gacta with an acrimony, by no means consistent with his former professions in this respect. He

then

XIX. 1520.

CHA P. then declares, that in consequence of the representations of the Augustine fathers, who had entreated him at least to honour the person of the pontiff, Et. 45. and assured him that a reconciliation was yet practicable, he had joyfully and gratefully undertaken the present address. "Thus I come," says he,

most holy father, and prostrating myself before you, entreat that you will, if possible, lay hands "on and bridle those flatterers who, whilst they "pretend to be pacifick, are the enemies of peace. "Let no one, however, presume to think, most "holy father, that I shall sing a palinode, unless he "wishes to give rise to a still greater storm. I "shall admit of no restraints in interpreting the "word of God; for the word of God, which in"culcates the liberty of all, must itself be free. Except in these points, there is nothing to which "I am not ready to submit. I hate contention, I "will provoke no one; but being provoked, whilst "Christ assists me, I will not be mute. With

one word your holiness might silence these com"motions, and establish that peace which I so earnestly desire.

"Allow me, however, to caution you, my "good father Leo, against those sirens who would persuade you that you are not altogether a man, "but a compound of man and God, and can com"mand and require whatever you please. This, "I assure you, will be of no avail. You are the "" servant of servants, and of all mankind, are seat

"ed

"ed in the most deplorable and perilous place. c HA P. "Be not deceived by those who pretend that you XIX.

Thus

are lord of the earth, that there can be no Chris- 1520. "tian without your authority, and that you have Et. 45. any power in heaven, in hell, or in purgatory. They are your enemies, and seek to destroy your "soul, as it was said by Esaias, O my people, they "who pronounce you happy deceive you. "they impose upon you who exalt you above a "council, and the universal church; and who "attribute to you alone the right of interpreting the scriptures, and endeavour under your name to "establish their own impiety. Alas, by their means, Satan has made great gain among your predecessors. "' i

This

i The protestant writers, willing to attribute the schism of the church wholly to the rash and intemperate conduct of the Roman pontiff, have passed over in silence this provoking letter of Luther, although published in the general collection of his works. (v. Cha. Chais, Mosheim, Robertson, &c.) Others who have cited it, have supposed that Luther was serious in his professions of respect and attachment to Leo X. and that the pontiff should have considered it as a peace offering (v. Slaiden and Seckendorf) but it requires a great share either of prejudice or of dulness, not to perceive that the whole is a bitter satire, rendered more galling by the pretended anxiety of the writer for the temporal and eternal welfare of the pope. Seckendorf has also attempted to prove, that although this letter bears the date of the 6th April, 1520, it was not written till the 6th

of