THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

This altogether venomous, devilish abuse and slander exceeds all bounds. Now a person would rather be upbraided for being full of devils than have a “baked God.” Yet we must not be praised for our forbearance or moderation in putting up with this. Our servants of Christ will not be vilified by it, nor our people offended. We must call it pure praise and progress, joy and gladness, when they revile us! But if one looks sideways at them or displeases them—oh, that is hindering the glory of Christ, defaming the servants of Christ, offending the whole world; there you have suffering, there you have forbearance, there you have all the martyrs’ crowns in a single heap! And even when they are not chided openly, they torture a casually written word and wring from it a complaint over their suffering, dragging the subject in by the ears… in order that they may praise their forbearance. A person simply dare not speak with them without their raising a howl and a moan, doubtless because of their great forbearance and holiness. -Martin Luther