ness, so pleases them and is so much read and cited, why should I a Christian so displease them by giving them a taste of something like their gentle Aristotle ? Does a drop of vice displease in me, when a whole sea of it pleases in Aristotle?
Then I wonder that they do not hate and condemn them- selves. For what are those schoolmen of yours except critics, Aristarchuses* and dumb Momuses? They may judge the opinions of all, only to me is it forbidden. Finally I ask, if my judgment displeases them and they so praise moderation, why do they still judge me and exercise moderation in waiting for the end ? . . .
Thus you see that I do not esteem those ghosts of Momuses more than the ghosts they are, nor am I moved by what they think or do not think. ... I only beg from you and your theologians, that, apart from the faults of the author^ you would let me know what you really think of my theses, and show me whatever errors may be in them. . . .
I do not wish that they should expect from me the same humility — that is hypocrisy — that they once thought I ought to show towards their advice and decrees, for I do not wish that what I produce should be by the operation and advice of man, but by that of God. For if the work is of God who will forbid it? If it is not of God who will bring it to pass? . . .
Brother Martin Eleutherxus, or rather the servant and captive, Augustinian of Wittenberg.
44. RECTOR AND COUNCILLORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MAYENCE TO ALBERT, ARCHBISHOP AND ELECTOR OF MAYENCE.
Ed. Herrmann, Zeiischrift fiir
Kirchengeschichte, xxiiii. 266. Mayence, December 17, 1517.
Albert on December i sent Luther's Ninety-five Theses to the Uni- versity of Mayence with a request for an opinion, and received the following answer:
Most reverend Father in Christ, most illustrious and gra- cious Prince and Lord! We promise our devoted obedience. We have received with due humility the theses posted at the famous university of Wittenberg by a professor of the order
- Another prorerbUlly severe critic.
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