CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
example alone we may learn that an enemy is not mre baneful than a
flatterer. For what did he bring about by his flattery, except evils which
n king could have brought about? At this day the nam of the Court of
Rome stinks in the nostris of the world, the papal authority is growing
weak, and its notorious ignorance is evil spoken of. We shuld hear none
f these things, if Eccius had not diturbed the plans of Miltitz and
mysf for peace. He feel th clearly enough helf in the indignation
show, to late and in vain, against the publiatio of my boks. He
ought to have reflected on this at the tim when he was all mad for
renown, and was seeking in your cause nothing but his o objects, and
that wth the greatest peril to you. The foolish man hoped that, from fear
of your name, I should yield and keep silenc; for I do nt think he
presumed on his talents and learning. Now, when he sees that I am very
confidet and speak aloud, he repents too late of his rashss, and sees-if
indeed he does see it--that there is One in heaven who rests the
proud, and humbles the presumptuous
Since then we were bringing about by this disputation nothing but
the greater confusion of the cause of Ro, Charles Miltitz for the third
time addresd the Fathers of the Order, assembled in chapter, and
sought their advice for the settlemet of the case, as beg no in a mt
troubled and perius state. Sice, by the favour of God, there was no
hope of proceeding agait me by force, some of the more noted of their
number wre sent to me, and begged me at least to show respect to your
pers and to vidicate in a humble letter both your incence and my
own. They said that the affair was not as yet in a poti of extreme
pe, if Leo X., in h inborn kindliness, would put his hand to it.
On this I, who have always offered and wished for peace, in order that I
mght devote myself to calmer and more useful pursuits, and who for
this very purpose have acted wth so much spirit and vehemence, in
order to put do by the strength and impetuosity of my words, as w
as of my feelings, men whom I saw to be very far from equal to myself--
I, I say, not only gladly yielded, but eve accepted it with joy and
gratitude, as the greatet kindness and benefit, if you should think it right
to satify my hopes.
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