The Smalcald Articles | Page 4

(as
they all are poisoned) who will not hear or notice what we write, but
solely exercise themselves with all diligence how they may most
shamefully pervert and corrupt our word in every letter. These I let the
devil answer, or at last Gods wrath, as they deserve. I often think of the
good Gerson who doubts whether anything good should be [written and]
published. If it is not done, many souls are neglected who could be
delivered: but if it is done, the devil is there with malignant, villainous
tongues without number which envenom and pervert everything, so that
nevertheless the fruit [the usefulness of the writings] is prevented. Yet
what they gain thereby is manifest. For while they have lied so
shamefully against us and by means of lies wished to retain the people,
God has constantly advanced His work, and been making their
following ever smaller and ours greater, and by their lies has caused
and still causes them to be brought to shame.
I must tell a story. There was a doctor sent here to Wittenberg from
France, who said publicly before us that his king was sure and more
than sure, that among us there is no church, no magistrate, no married
life, but all live promiscuously as cattle, and each one does as he
pleases. Imagine now, how will those who by their writings have
instilled such gross lies into the king and other countries as the pure
truth, look at us on that day before the judgment-seat of Christ? Christ,
the Lord and Judge of us all, knows well that they lie and have [always]
lied, His sentence they in turn, must hear; that I know certainly. God
convert to repentance those who can be converted! Regarding the rest it
will be said, Woe, and, alas! eternally.
But to return to the subject. I verily desire to see a truly Christian
Council [assembled some time], in order that many matters and persons
might be helped. Not that we need It, for our churches are now, through

God's grace, so enlightened and equipped with the pure Word and right
use of the Sacraments, with knowledge of the various callings and of
right works, that we on our part ask for no Council, and on such points
have nothing better to hope or expect from a Council. But we see in the
bishoprics everywhere so many parishes vacant and desolate that one's
heart would break, and yet neither the bishops nor canons care how the
poor people live or die, for whom nevertheless Christ has died, and
who are not permitted to hear Him speak with them as the true
Shepherd with His sheep. This causes me to shudder and fear that at
some time He may send a council of angels upon Germany utterly
destroying us, like Sodom and Gomorrah, because we so wantonly
mock Him with the Council.
Besides such necessary ecclesiastical affairs, there would be also in the
political estate innumerable matters of great importance to improve.
There is the disagreement between the princes and the states; usury and
avarice have burst in like a flood, and have become lawful [are
defended with a show of right]; wantonness, lewdness, extravagance in
dress, gluttony, gambling, idle display, with all kinds of bad habits and
wickedness, insubordination of subjects, of domestics and laborers of
every trade, also the exactions [and most exorbitant selling prices] of
the peasants (and who can enumerate all?) have so increased that they
cannot be rectified by ten Councils and twenty Diets. If such chief
matters of the spiritual and worldly estates as are contrary to God
would be considered in the Council, they would have all hands so full
that the child's play and absurdity of long gowns [official insignia],
large tonsures, broad cinctures [or sashes], bishops' or cardinals' hats or
maces, and like jugglery would in the mean time be forgotten. If we
first had performed God's command and order in the spiritual and
secular estate we would find time enough to reform food, clothing,
tonsures, and surplices. But if we want to swallow such camels, and,
instead, strain at gnats, let the beams stand and judge the motes, we
also might indeed be satisfied with the Council.
Therefore I have presented few articles; for we have without this so
many commands of God to observe in the Church, the state and the
family that we can never fulfil them. What, then, is the use, or what

does it profit that many decrees and statutes thereon are made in the
Council, especially when these chief matters commanded of God are
neither regarded nor observed? Just as though He were bound to honor
our jugglery as a reward of our treading His solemn commandments
under foot. But our sins weigh upon