whole Christian world with him. I thought at first that people had
sinned ignorantly, and out of human weakness, and not of set purpose
and wittingly to endeavour to suppress God's Word; but it pleased
God to lead me on in the mouth of the cannon, like a bar-horse that
hath his eyes blinded, and seeth not who runneth upon him. Even so
was I, as it were, tugged by my hair to the office of preaching; but
had I then known what now I know, ten horses should scarce have
drawn me to it. Moses and Jeremiah also complained that they were
deceived.


Of the Archbishop of Mentz, one of the Spiritual Princes Electors,
his Censure of the Bible.

Anno 1530, at the Imperial Assembly at Augsburg, Albertus, Bishop of
Mentz, by chance had got into his hands the Bible, and for the space
of four hours he continued reading therein; at last, one of his
Council on a sudden came into his bed-chamber unto him, who, seeing
the Bible in the Bishop's hand, was much amazed thereat, and said
unto him, "what doth your Highness with that book?" The Archbishop
thereupon answered him, and said, "I know not what this book is, but
sure I am, all that is written therein is quite against us."


That the Bible is hated of the Worldly-wise and of the Sophists.

Doctor Ussinger, an Austin Friar, with me in the Monastery at
Erfurt, said once unto me, as he saw that I diligently read and
affected the Bible, "Brother Martin, what is the Bible? Let us,"
said he, "read the ancient Teachers and Fathers, for they have