按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 it is。 For it is not
possible for any man to write well about it； or to understand
well what is rightly written； who has not at some time tasted of
its spirit； under the pressure of tribulation； while he who has
tasted of it； even to a very small extent； can never write；
speak； think； or hear about it sufficiently。 For it is a living
fountain； springing up into eternal life； as Christ calls it in
John iv。
Now； though I cannot boast of my abundance； and though I know how
poorly I am furnished； yet I hope that； after having been vexed
by various temptations； I have attained some little drop of
faith； and that I can speak of this matter； if not with more
elegance； certainly with more solidity； than those literal and
too subtle disputants who have hitherto discoursed upon it
without understanding their own words。 That I may open then an
easier way for the ignorantfor these alone I am trying to
serveI first lay down these two propositions； concerning
spiritual liberty and servitude：
A Christian man is the most free lord of all； and subject to
none； a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all； and
subject to every one。
Although these statements appear contradictory； yet； when they
are found to agree together； they will make excellently for my
purpose。 They are both the statements of Paul himself； who says；
〃Though I be free from all men； yet have I made myself servant
unto all〃 （1 Cor。 ix。 19）； and 〃Owe no man anything； but to love
one another〃 （Rom。 xiii。 8）。 Now love is by its own nature
dutiful and obedient to the beloved object。 Thus even Christ；
though Lord of all things； was yet made of a woman； made under
the law； at once free and a servant； at once in the form of God
and in the form of a servant。
Let us examine the subject on a deeper and less simple principle。
Man is composed of a twofold nature； a spiritual and a bodily。 As
regards the spiritual nature； which they name the soul； he is
called the spiritual； inward； new man； as regards the bodily
nature； which they name the flesh； he is called the fleshly；
outward； old man。 The Apostle speaks of this： 〃Though our outward
man perish； yet the inward man is renewed day by day〃 （2 Cor。 iv。
16）。 The result of this diversity is that in the Scriptures
opposing statements are made concerning the same man； the fact
being that in the same man these two men are opposed to one
another； the flesh lusting against the spirit； and the spirit
against the flesh （Gal。 v。 17）。
We first approach the subject of the inward man； that we may see
by what means a man becomes justified； free； and a true
Christian； that is； a spiritual； new； and inward man。 It is
certain that absolutely none among outward things； under whatever
name they may be reckoned； has any influence in producing
Christian righteousness or liberty； nor； on the other hand；
unrighteousness or slavery。 This can be shown by an easy
argument。
What can it prof