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

monks upon the belly." He then added, in a serious manner, that the
doctrine of Luther was unexceptionable. He solicited the ministers of the
Emperor to favor the cause of Luther, and to persuade him not to begin the
exercise of his imperial dignity with an act of violence. To Frederic he
presented the following Axioms for his consideration: 'That only two
Universities had pretended to condemn Luther;' 'That Luther made very
reasonable demands, by offering to dispute publicly once more. That,
being a man void of ambition, he was the less to be suspected of heresy.'
The Pope's agents, finding Erasmus so obstinately bent to defend Luther,
endeavored to win him over by the offer of abbeys, or bishoprics: but he
answered them, 57 "Luther is a man of too great abilities for me to
encounter; and I learn more from one page of his, than from all the works
of Thomas Aquinas." The Lutherans acknowledged their obligations to
Erasmus for these favors, by a picture, in which Luther and Hutten were
represented carrying the Ark of God, and Erasmus, like another David,
dancing before them with all his might. 58
That Erasmus went thus far, is wonderful; that he would have gone
much farther, if he had simply acted out his convictions, is certain. "But if
Luther," he says, (1521,) "had written everything in the most
unexceptionable manner, I had no inclination to die for the sake of the
truth. Every man hath not the courage requisite to make a martyr; and I
am afraid, that if I were put to the trial, I should imitate St. Peter." 59 "I
follow the decisions of the Pope and Emperor
57 Melchior Adami, Vita Lutheri.
58 Critique de 1'Apol. d'Erasme, quoted by Jortin, p. 242. Seckendorf gives the same facts in still ampler detail.
59 Letter to Pace, quoted in Jortin, p. 273.