have the name of
making every one a Christian.

Oh the pity, that kings and princes have so little reverence for
Christ, and His honor concerns them so little that they allow
such heinous abominations to gain the upper hand, and look on,
while at Rome they think of nothing but to continue in their
madness and to increase the abounding misery, until no hope is
left on earth except in the temporal authorities. Of this I will
say more anon,[81] if this Romanist comes again; let this suffice
for a beginning. May God help us at length to open our eyes.
Amen.

As for the slanders and evil names with which my person is
assailed, although numerous enough, I will let my dear Romanist
off without reply. They do not trouble me. It has never been my
intention to avenge myself on those who rail at my person, my
life, my work, my doings. That I am not worthy of praise, I
myself know full well. But I will let no man reproach me that in
defending the Scriptures I am more pointed and impetuous than
some seem to like, neither will I be silenced. Whoever will, let
him freely scold, slander, condemn my person and my life; it is
already forgiven him. But let no one expect from me either grace
or patience who would make my Lord Christ, Whom I preach, and the
Holy Ghost, to be liars. I am nothing at all, but for the Word of
Christ I give answer with joyful heart and vigorous courage, and
without respect of persons. To this end God has given me a glad
and fearless spirit, which they shall not embitter, I trust, not
in all eternity.

That I have mentioned Leipzig, no one should consider an affront
to the honorable city and University. I was forced to it by the
vaunted, arrogant, fictitious title of this Romanist, who boasts
that he is a public teacher of ail the Holy Scriptures at
Leipzig,[82] which titles have never before been used in
Christendom, and by his dedication[83] to the city and its
Council. If the jackanapes had not issued his book in German, in
order to poison the defenceless laity, he would have been too
small for me to bother with. For this clumsy ass cannot yet sing
his hee-haw, and quite uncalled, he meddles in things which the
Roman chair itself, together with all the bishops and scholars,
has not been able to establish in a thousand years.

I should have thought, too, that Leipzig ought to have been too
precious in his eyes, for him to smear his drivel and snivel on
so honorable and famous a city; but in his own imag