e: The Arguments of the Romanists--1. Luther a Heretic
and a Fool]

The first, and by far the strongest, is, that he calls me
names--a heretic, a blind, senseless fool, one possessed by the
devil, a serpent, a poisonous reptile, and many other names of
similar import; not simply once, but throughout the book, almost
on every page.[15] Such reproaches, slanders and calumnies are of
no account in other books. But when a book is made at Leipzig,
and issued from the cloister of the bare-foot friars, by a
Romanist of the high and holy observance[16] of St. Frauds, such
names are not merely fine examples of mediation, but likewise
strong arguments with which to defend papal power, indulgences,
Scripture, faith and the Church.[17] It is not necessary that any
one of these should be proved by Scripture or by reason; it is
quite enough that they have been put down in his book by a
Romanist and holy observant of the order of St. Francis.

And inasmuch as this Romanist himself writes that the Jews had
overcome Christ on the cross with such arguments, I, too, must
surrender, and acknowledge that as far as cursing and scolding,
abuse and slander are concerned, the Romanist has surely beaten
Dr. Luther. On this point he doubtless wins.

[Sidenote: The Argument from Reason]

The second argument, to express it tersely, is that of natural
reason.

This is the argument: A. Every community[18] on earth, if it is
not to fall to pieces, must have a bodily head, under the true
head, which is Christ.

B. Inasmuch as all Christendom is one community on earth, it must
have a head, which is the pope.

[Sidenote: The Futility of the Argument]

This argument I have designated with the letters A and B for the
sake of clearness, and also to show that this Romanist has
learned his A-B-C all the way down to B. However, to answer this
argument: Since the question is whether the pope's power is by
divine right, is it not a bit ridiculous that human reason (that
ability which is drawn from experience in temporal things) is
brought in and placed on a level with the divine law, especially
since it is the intention of this poor presumptuous mortal to
bring the divine law against me. For the teachings of human
experience and reason are far below the divine law. The
Scriptures expressly forbid us to follow our own reason,
Deuteronomy xii, "Ye shall not do...every man whatsoever is right
in his own eyes" [Deut. 12:8]; for human reason ever strives