not, is nevertheless God's strength, which saveth all that believe
thereon. And again, it will also judge the ungodly, as St. John
saith in chap. v., otherwise they might plead a good excuse before
God, that they neither ought to be nor could be condemned; for then
they might truly allege that they have not had God's Word, and so
consequently could not receive the same. But," said Luther, "I say,
teach and acknowledge that the Preacher's words, his absolutions,
and the sacraments, are not his words nor works, but they are God's
words, works, cleansing, absolving, binding, etc.; we are but only
the instruments, fellow-workers, or God's assistants, through whom
God worketh and finisheth his work. We," said Luther to Bullinger,
"will not endure these your metaphysical and philosophical
distinctions and differences, which merely are spun and hammered out
of human and natural sense and reason. You say, It is a man that
preacheth, that reproveth, that absolveth, comforteth, etc., and
that the Holy Ghost worketh; you say, likewise, the Minister
baptiseth, absolveth, and administereth the sacraments, but it is
God that cleanseth the hearts, and forgiveth sins, etc. Oh, no,"
said Luther, "but I conclude thus: God himself preacheth,
threateneth, reproveth, affrighteth, comforteth, absolveth,
administereth the sacraments, etc. As our Saviour Christ saith,
'Whoso heareth you, heareth me; and what ye loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven,' etc. Likewise, 'It is not you that speak, but
the spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.'"

"I am sure and certain," said Luther, "when I go up to the pulpit,
or to the cathedral, to preach or read, that it is not my word which
I speak, but my tongue is the pen of a ready writer, as the Psalmist
saith. God speaketh in the Prophets and men of God, as St. Peter in
his Epistle saith: 'The holy men of God spake as they were moved by