#1726-Johann Brenz to ML

{Evidently ML had written a glowing foreword, in Brenz's opinion, to his commentary on Amos.]
To the highly renown man, Herr Martin Luther, in Christ, his ever highly-honorable father.
Heil in Christ! I have received my Amos, most honorable father, but what you have written in the foreword I neither accept nor admit to. Rather, to be sure, I would wish from my innermost being that the Spirit of Christ, the all-worthy Shepherd (Amos was a Shepherd) would dwell in me but I do not know how you can ascribe to my lack of eloquence some sort of art and loveliness (nitorem)- and when I read that I become red as a beet with shame since I very well know that I never had such gifts not even in (my)dream. You yourself indicate thereby in a marvelously worthy way have very humbly disparaged yourself below me and equally about my eloquence so that the Word of Christ [Luke 22:26] is fulfilled: "Who would be the greatest, let him be the least."
As to the rest I believe you accurately know how it stands (rationem) with the Diet in Augsburg and likely you laugh that in such a long time so much was attempted and with so many dealings so little was completed. However, I am of the opinion that never in any sort of Diet with so many dealings has been more accomplished than in this one in which nothing was completed. You ask: WHAT Are these things which were accomplished? I will tell you in a few words. Our opponents in this Diet have been made known and revealed for true Pharaohs and Anti-Christs. Previously one yet hoped that in these opponents there would yet be a fleshly heart, that they would do some sort of penance; now, however, though all have sought every means of compromise and those of ours for this cause suffered often the most evil reports the opponents have never acknowledged this nor repented of it but have done the opposite in condemning and raging; do not they thus reveal themselves as Pharaohs and Anti-Christs? If there were a trace of godliness in the entire Papal body it surely would have been known in the attempted means (of reconciliation) of these (the Evangleicals) people.
In addition there is this that previous Diets have often freely admitted that in their church there were many errors and abuses but now however they will not stipulate any at all. They make themselves out to be such a pure and holy people in the presence of the Emperor. This is the way they write in the Article on the Holding of a Council: Because perhaps there are some errors in the Church we want to hold a Council."etc.Did you hear that well? They don't say anything more as the previous Diets: There are errors in our Church but rather:"Perhaps there are errors." Oh, for the shamelessness! Therefore, now not from the Scriptures but also from experience can it be proclaimed and publicly preached that the Papists are first of all Pharaohs who neither enter the promised land nor permit the people of God to go in. Secondly, they are Anti-christs who forbid the doctrine of blessedness and command godlessness. And this has been brought forth at the Diet of Augusburg so that surely you cannot say it is "nothing". Since they have written of the Holy Scriptures in so many words, so many sentences, in so many chapters, in so many books as it were the Anti-christ writing. These have been revealed at the Diet of Augsburg in a very few days.However the LOrd will bring this child of perdition to the ground and free us in Christ Jesus. Be it well with you in the LOrd and I commend myself at every opportunity to the prayers of your love. From Schwaebisch-Hall on 4 November Anno 30.Your Joh. Brenz