To Anton Lauterbach letter 4 - Martin Luther

TO ANTON LAUTERBACH

The conference of Roman Catholic and Protestant delegates which discussed Church union at Worms was as barren of results as that of Hagenau had been. Calvin was present there also.

November 27, 1540.

Grace and peace! My wife had left for her new possession before your letter came, so I must thank you, my Anton, instead for the cheese. But I am not greatly enamoured of that kind of cheese, being pleased with our own simple cheese, made of the commonest material, so you need not take so much trouble on our behalf. It is sufficient that we enjoy your goodwill, of which we can take advantage when necessary, and do so perhaps too often. We have heard no more from Worms, except that a great number of learned people from France, Spain, and Germany have met, and Philip writes that for no other Papal council have such extensive preparations been made. What may further take place God

knows. If the Emperor means honestly, as we presume he does, this gathering, without being dignified by the name of Council, may turn out to be a true provincial Council, under the appellation of a special Conference, so that the Pope may not feel insulted at the name of Council failing. He has meanwhile appointed the Bishop of Valitra (Thomas Campegius) as his legate, whom our people will neither acknowledge as judge nor as president, even were the Pope himself present, for they have been forbidden so to do. Let us pray, pray! And let all pray. For it appears as if a great crisis were imminent. May all go well with you and yours. Written in great haste, and overwhelmed with work.

MARTIN LUTHER . (Walch, 21. 1474.)