The offence of the Cross


Spencer.
Luther was offered to be made a cardinal if be would be quiet. He answered, "No, not if I might be pope," and defends himself thus against those that thought him haply a proud fool for his pains: "Let me be counted fool, or anything, so I be not found guilty of cowardly silence." The Papists, when they could not rule him, railed at him, and called him an apostate. He confesseth the action, and saith, "I am indeed an apostate, but a blessed and holy apostate — one that hath fallen off from the devil." Then they called him devil; but what saith he? "Luther is a devil; be it so: but Christ liveth and reigneth; that's enough for Luther: so be it." Nay, such was the activity of Luther's spirit, that, when Erasmus was asked by the Elector of Saxony why the pope and his clergy could so little abide Luther, he answered, "For two great offences — meddling with the pope's triple crown and the monk's fat paunches." And hence was all the hatred.

(Spencer.)

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