To the Honorable Adam Adamus - Martin Luther

TO THE HONORABLE ADAM ADAMUS March 5, 1530.

Grace and peace in the Lord! I am delighted with your zeal as to the true teaching of the sacrament, and read your treatise. Perhaps your ideas on…are a little sharp, but what of that when nothing will convince them? When I have time I shall write on the 6th chapter of John; and is it strange if I sometimes write vehemently? Were you in my place, perhaps you would be more violent. Every man is differently constituted, hence the impressions which outward things make on him vary. There has been no discussion among you, so you only see things from afar, but “opportunity makes the man,” as the proverb says. That our Marburg Conference should have offended many is no wonder, for the other party would not let themselves be instructed. The Zwinglians have been convicted of so many errors, even according to their own showing, that it is provoking one article should have prevented

them agreeing with us. But can we force the vanquished to a confession? For Christ, in spite of having often convicted the Pharisees and Sadducees of sin, could never get them to confess their faults. Your best plan is not to listen to such people, who always look for offenses, while they studiously avoid having an open eye for what is good, and from which they might profit. I dislike coming in contact with such people, who always find something to calumniate. I commit you to God; pray for me.

MARTIN LUTHER .

P.S. — I have written to the Prince of Liegnitz, but have little hope of arranging anything through letters.