concerning christian liberty-第2章
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corrupt； more pestilential； more hateful； than the Court of Rome？
She incomparably surpasses the impiety of the Turks； so that in
very truth she； who was formerly the gate of heaven； is now a
sort of open mouth of hell； and such a mouth as； under the urgent
wrath of God； cannot be blocked up； one course alone being left
to us wretched men： to call back and save some few； if we can；
from that Roman gulf。
Behold； Leo； my father； with what purpose and on what principle
it is that I have stormed against that seat of pestilence。 I am
so far from having felt any rage against your person that I even
hoped to gain favour with you and to aid you in your welfare by
striking actively and vigorously at that your prison； nay； your
hell。 For whatever the efforts of all minds can contrive against
the confusion of that impious Court will be advantageous to you
and to your welfare； and to many others with you。 Those who do
harm to her are doing your office； those who in every way abhor
her are glorifying Christ； in short； those are Christians who are
not Romans。
But； to say yet more； even this never entered my heart： to
inveigh against the Court of Rome or to dispute at all about her。
For； seeing all remedies for her health to be desperate； I looked
on her with contempt； and； giving her a bill of divorcement； said
to her； 〃He that is unjust； let him be unjust still； and he that
is filthy； let him be filthy still；〃 giving myself up to the
peaceful and quiet study of sacred literature； that by this I
might be of use to the brethren living about me。
While I was making some advance in these studies； Satan opened
his eyes and goaded on his servant John Eccius； that notorious
adversary of Christ； by the unchecked lust for fame； to drag me
unexpectedly into the arena； trying to catch me in one little
word concerning the primacy of the Church of Rome； which had
fallen from me in passing。 That boastful Thraso； foaming and
gnashing his teeth； proclaimed that he would dare all things for
the glory of God and for the honour of the holy apostolic seat；
and； being puffed up respecting your power； which he was about to
misuse； he looked forward with all certainty to victory； seeking
to promote； not so much the primacy of Peter； as his own
pre…eminence among the theologians of this age； for he thought it
would contribute in no slight degree to this； if he were to lead
Luther in triumph。 The result having proved unfortunate for the
sophist； an incredible rage torments him； for he feels that
whatever discredit to Rome has arisen through me has been caused
by the fault of himself alone。
Suffer me； I pray you； most excellent Leo； both to plead my own
cause； and to accuse your true enemies。 I believe it is known to
you in what way Cardinal Cajetan； your imprudent and unfortunate；
nay unfaithful； legate； acted towards me。 When； on account of my
reverence for your name； I had placed myself and all that was
mine in his hands； he did not so act as to establish peace； which
he could easily have established by one little word； since I at
that time promised to be silent and to make an end of my case； if
he would command my adversaries to do the same。 But that man of
pride； not content with this agreement； began to justify my
adversaries； to give them free licence； and to order me to
recant； a thing which was certainly not in his commission。 Thus
indeed； when the case was in the best position； it came through
his vexatious tyranny into a much worse one。 Therefore whatever
has followed upon this is the fault not of Luther； but entirely
of Cajetan； since he did not suffer me to be silent and remain
quiet； which at that time I was entreating for with all my might。
What more was it my duty to do？
Next came Charles Miltitz； also a nuncio from your Blessedness。
He； though he went up and down with much and varied exertion； and
omitted nothing which could tend to restore the position of the
cause thrown into confusion by the rashness and pride of Cajetan；
had difficulty； even with the help of that very illustrious
prince the Elector Frederick； in at last bringing about more than
one familiar conference with me。 In these I again yielded to your
great name； and was prepared to keep silence； and to accept as my
judge either the Archbishop of Treves； or the Bishop of Naumburg；
and thus it was done and concluded。 While this was being done
with good hope of success； lo！ that other and greater enemy of
yours； Eccius； rushed in with his Leipsic disputation； which he
had undertaken against Carlstadt； and； having taken up a new
question concerning the primacy of the Pope； turned his arms
unexpectedly against me； and completely overthrew the plan for
peace。 Meanwhile Charles Miltitz was waiting； disputations were
held； judges were being chosen； but no decision was arrived at。
And no wonder！ for by the falsehoods； pretences； and arts of
Eccius the whole business was brought into such thorough
disorder； confusion； and festering soreness； that； whichever way
the sentence might lean； a greater conflagration was sure to
arise； for he was seeking； not after truth； but after his own
credit。 In this case too I omitted nothing which it was right
that I should do。
I confess that on this occasion no small part of the corruptions
of Rome came to light； but； if there was any offence in this； it
was the fault of Eccius； who； in taking on him a burden beyond
his strength； and in furiously aiming at credit for himself；
unveiled to the whole world the disgrace of Rome。
Here is that enemy of yours； Leo； or rather of your Court； by his
example alone we may learn that an enemy is not more baneful than
a flatterer。 For what did he bring about by his flattery； except
evils which no king could have brought about？ At this day the
name of the Court of Rome stinks in the nostrils of the world；
the papal authority is growing weak； and its notorious ignorance
is evil spoken of。 We should hear none of these things； if Eccius
had not disturbed the plans of Miltitz and myself for peace。 He
feels this clearly enough himself in the indignation he shows；
too late and in vain； against the publication of my books。 He
ought to have reflected on this at the time when he was all mad
for renown； and was seeking in your cause nothing but his own
objects； and that with the greatest peril to you。 The foolish man
hoped that； from fear of your name； I should yield and keep
silence； for I do not think he presumed on his talents and
learning。 Now； when he sees that I am very confident and speak
aloud； he repents too late of his rashness； and seesif indeed
he does see itthat there is One in heaven who resists the
proud； and humbles the presumptuous。
Since then we were bringing about by this disputation nothing but
the greater confusion of the cause of Rome； Charles Miltitz for
the third time addressed the Fathers of the Order； assembled in
chapter； and sought their advice for the settlement of the case；
as being now in a most troubled and perilous state。 Since； by the
favour of God； there was no hope of proceeding against me by
force； some of the more noted of their number were sent to me；
and begged me at least to show respect to your person and to
vindicate in a humble letter both your innocence and my own。 They
said that the affair was not as yet in a position of extreme
hopelessness； if Leo X。； in his inborn kindliness； would put his
hand to it。 On this I； who have always offered and wished for
peace； in order that I might devote myself to calmer and more
useful pursuits； and who for this very purpose have acted with so
much spirit and vehemence； in order to put down by the strength
and impetuosity of my words； as well as of my feelings； men whom
I saw to be very far from equal to myselfI； I say； not only
gladly yielded； but even accepted it with joy and gratitude； as
the greatest kindness and benefit； if you should think it right
to satisfy my hopes。
Thus I come； most blessed Father； and in all abasement beseech
you to put to your hand； if it is possible； and impose a curb to
