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The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

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I said before, where we in this point (hierin) have not come fully to an<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing, (wir nicht ganzlich verstünden,) the best thing for the<br />

present (itzt) is that we. be friendly to each other, that we put the best<br />

construction on each others' acts, (das beste zu ein<strong>and</strong>er versehen,) till the<br />

mire (Glüm) that has been stirred up settles. On our side, <strong>and</strong> I speak<br />

especially for my own person, (sonderlich mein person halben,) we will,<br />

from the heart, dismiss all unkindness <strong>and</strong> regard you with confidence <strong>and</strong><br />

love. When we have done all in our power, we still need God's great help<br />

<strong>and</strong> counsel. We need not indulge the disposition to suspect each other,<br />

<strong>and</strong> stir up strife, for Satan, who hates us <strong>and</strong> the Concord, will find his<br />

own, to throw trees <strong>and</strong> rocks on the way. Let it be our part to give each<br />

other our hearts <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s (die herzen und h<strong>and</strong> ein<strong>and</strong>er reichen) to hold<br />

fast with equal firmness, lest the after state of things be worse than the first.<br />

May the Holy Ghost fuse our hearts together in Christian love <strong>and</strong><br />

purpose, <strong>and</strong> purge away all the dross of suspicion, to the glory of His<br />

sacred name, <strong>and</strong> to the salvation of many souls." 125<br />

A similar spirit is breathed in Luther's letter of reply to the Council<br />

of the Reformed Churches of Switzerl<strong>and</strong> held in Zurich, 1528: "I beseech<br />

you that you go on, as you have begun, to aid in consummating this divine<br />

work, of the peace <strong>and</strong> unity of the Christian Church, as I doubt not ye are<br />

ready with all joyfulness to do." 126 To the Council at Strasburg, Luther had<br />

written (May 29, 1536): "<strong>The</strong>re shall be nothing lacking on my part,<br />

whether of act or of suffering, which can contribute to a genuine, thorough,<br />

steadfast unity, for what are the results of the dissensions of the Churches,<br />

experience, alas! has taught us." 127<br />

Luther's cordial spirit toward the Waldenses, his fervent appeals to<br />

them when it was rumored that they were about making peace with Rome,<br />

his noble witness to his fellowship with<br />

125 Luther's Briefe, De Wette, v. 83: Leipz. xxi. 107. Walch. xvii. 2594. In Latin: Hospinian. H. S. i. 275. Buddeus:<br />

258.<br />

126 L.'s Briefe, De Wette, v. 120. Leipz. xxi. 110. Walch. xvii. 2617. Latin: Hospin. H. S. ii. 164. Buddeus, 292.<br />

127 Briefe, De Wette, iv. 692. Leipz. xxi. 106. Walch, xvii. 2566. Latin: Buddeus, 251.

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