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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
those flatterers who are enemies of peace； while they pretend
peace。 But there is no reason； most blessed Father； why any one
should assume that I am to utter a recantation； unless he prefers
to involve the case in still greater confusion。 Moreover； I
cannot bear with laws for the interpretation of the word of God；
since the word of God； which teaches liberty in all other things；
ought not to be bound。 Saving these two things； there is nothing
which I am not able； and most heartily willing； to do or to
suffer。 I hate contention； I will challenge no one； in return I
wish not to be challenged； but； being challenged； I will not be
dumb in the cause of Christ my Master。 For your Blessedness will
be able by one short and easy word to call these controversies
before you and suppress them； and to impose silence and peace on
both sidesa word which I have ever longed to hear。
Therefore； Leo； my Father； beware of listening to those sirens
who make you out to be not simply a man； but partly a god； so
that you can command and require whatever you will。 It will not
happen so； nor will you prevail。 You are the servant of servants；
and more than any other man； in a most pitiable and perilous
position。 Let not those men deceive you who pretend that you are
lord of the world； who will not allow any one to be a Christian
without your authority； who babble of your having power over
heaven； hell； and purgatory。 These men are your enemies and are
seeking your soul to destroy it； as Isaiah says； 〃My people； they
that call thee blessed are themselves deceiving thee。〃 They are
in error who raise you above councils and the universal Church；
they are in error who attribute to you alone the right of
interpreting Scripture。 All these men are seeking to set up their
own impieties in the Church under your name； and alas！ Satan has
gained much through them in the time of your predecessors。
In brief； trust not in any who exalt you； but in those who
humiliate you。 For this is the judgment of God： 〃He hath cast
down the mighty from their seat； and hath exalted the humble。〃
See how unlike Christ was to His successors； though all will have
it that they are His vicars。 I fear that in truth very many of
them have been in too serious a sense His vicars； for a vicar
represents a prince who is absent。 Now if a pontiff rules while
Christ is absent and does not dwell in his heart； what else is he
but a vicar of Christ？ And then what is that Church but a
multitude without Christ？ What indeed is such a vicar but
antichrist and an idol？ How much more rightly did the Apostles
speak； who call themselves servants of a present Christ； not the
vicars of an absent one！
Perhaps I am shamelessly bold in seeming to teach so great a
head； by whom all men ought to be taught； and from whom； as those
plagues of yours boast； the thrones of judges receive their
sentence； but I imitate St。 Bernard in his book concerning
Considerations addressed to Eugenius； a book which ought to be
known by heart by every pontiff。 I do this； not from any desire
to teach； but as a duty； from that simple and faithful solicitude
which teaches us to be anxious for all that is safe for our
neighbours； and does not allow considerations of worthiness or
unworthiness to be entertained； being intent only on the dangers
or advantage of others。 For since I know that your Blessedness is
driven and tossed by the waves at Rome； so that the depths of the
sea press on you with infinite perils； and that you are labouring
under such a condition of misery that you need even the least
help from any the least brother； I do not seem to myself to be
acting unsuitably if I forget your majesty till I shall have
fulfilled the office of charity。 I will not flatter in so serious
and perilous a matter； and if in this you do not see that I am
your friend and most thoroughly your subject； there is One to see
and judge。
In fine； that I may not approach you empty…handed； blessed
Father； I bring with me this little treatise； published under
your name； as a good omen of the establishment of peace and of
good hope。 By this you may perceive in what pursuits I should
prefer and be able to occupy myself to more profit； if I were
allowed； or had been hitherto allowed； by your impious
flatterers。 It is a small matter； if you look to its exterior；
but； unless I mistake； it is a summary of the Christian life put
together in small compass； if you apprehend its meaning。 I； in my
poverty； have no other present to make you； nor do you need
anything else than to be enriched by a spiritual gift。 I commend
myself to your Paternity and Blessedness； whom may the Lord Jesus
preserve for ever。 Amen。
Wittenberg； 6th September； 1520。
CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
Christian faith has appeared to many an easy thing； nay； not a
few even reckon it among the social virtues； as it were； and this
they do because they have not made proof of it experimentally；
and have never tasted of what efficacy