[In the sense of “protect.” ‘The words may also mean equally well, “nothing shall be too much for]
[me.” 341t,” i.e., my spirit.]
II.—In the Midst of his Illness. Console me, Lord God, console My tongue is dumb, me! It cannot speak a The illness increases, My senses are all Pain and fear seize Therefore is it time My soul and body. ’ That Thou my fight Come to me then, Conductest hereafter; With Thy grace, O my only Since I am not consolation! So strong, that I 10 will surely save Can bravely Everyone, who Make resistance His heart’s desire To the Devil’s wiles And hopes sets erous hand. On Thee, and who besides Still will my spirit Despises all gain and loss. Constantly abide Now all 15 up. ever he rages. III.—During Convalescence. Sound, Lord God, sound! Sometime endure, I think I am Perhaps with greater Already coming back. Than would now Yes. if it please Thee, Happened,? Lord! That no spark of sin Since I came Rule me longer on earth. So near;^ ‘Then my lips must So will I still Thy praise and teaching The spite and boasting Bespeak more Of this world Than ever before, Bear joyfully for However 1t may go, the reward In simplicity and with no By Thy help, danger. Without which nothing Although I must perfect. The punishment of death
[“Tt,” i.e., Thy grace. 3 J.e., if I had died this time. [.e., to health, to myself. 4 J.e., to death’s door.]
VII Advice of One Who Desires with his Whole Heart That Due Consideration Be Paid Both to the Dignity of the Pope and to the Peaceful De-velopment of the Christian Religion
(Late summer of 1520): [Consilium cuiusdam ex animo cupientis esse consultum et pontificis dignitati et Christiana religionis tranquillitati. Translated by Mr. Henry Preble. In Schuler and Schulthess ed., iiij 26. But its authors were Erasmus, and for the “Defence” Thomas Blarer. See Egli and Finsler ed., 1., 434, n. I. See preface to this volume.] [7 is the part of a Christian spirit to be heartily devoted to the Vicar of Christ, and to desire that his authority remain intact. On the other hand, it belongs to the pious duty of the Pope to hold nothing of his own so dear as not gladly to exalt above it the glory of Christ his Lord and the general peaceful development of the Christian religion. And those who are devoted to the authority and glory of the Pope, should show wisdom in their devotion. This they will do if they champion them by means which are approved by even the unspoken judgments of the pious and good. Otherwise no one does injury to the Papal dignity more than they, who would have it guarded and defended by no other safeguards than human fear and rewards. Therefore the more zealous a man is for the Christian Religion, the more deeply he is pained by this disturbance that has arisen at the hands of certain persons who have embittered Luther into writing somewhat unre- Allusion to Tetzel, Wimpina, Prierias, and many others.
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