A survey of the spiritual antichrist opening the secrets of familism and antinomianism in…A survey of the spirituall antichrist opening the secrets of familisme and antinomianisme in…

Doctor Martin Luther, Against Antinomians. To the Reverend and most Learned M. Gasper Guttill, Doctor and Pastor at Eisleben his singular good friend in Christ. Loving Mr. Doctor I Suppose you received long ago the disputations against those new spirits, the Antino. which have undertaken to thrust the law of God, or the ten commandments out of the Church, and to remit them to the secular court: which kind of proceeding in points of divinity, I never imagined, that it should have entered into any mans purpose, much less into his practise. But God warns us by such passages, to take heed▪ to our selves, and not to fan•y▪ the Devil so far from us, as those secure daring spirits presume. Verily, God must incessantly be implored, with fear, humility, and earnest supplications, that we may have his assistance and protection; Otherwise truly it may soon come to pass, that the Devil will present before our eyes, such a Phantasm, that we should swear it were the true Holy Ghost it self, as not only those ancient Heretics, but in our time also examples (which have been and still are great and dreadful) do forewarn. I could indeed have easily forgotten all these things, which had so much grieved me, but that I rested in hope, that by means of those forementioned disputations, I had performed my part, and defended my self. But Satan would not be ⟨p. 70⟩content with this, but still he brings me upon the stage, as if matters stood not so ill betwixt me and them. I am afraid that had I dyed at Smalkalden ▪ I should have been proclaimed forever the Patron of those Spirits, because they appeal to my Books, although they have done it behind my back, without my knowledge and against my will. Nor did they afford me so much respect, as to show me one word or syllable of it, or to confer with me about it. I was therefore necessitated to convent more then once M. John Agricola, besides my former dealings with him in the disputation it self, And in the presence of our Doctors and Divines (because he had been the beginner and Master of this Game) I did let him know all my mind, that he might be throughly sensible, what a pleasure he had done to my Spirit, which I repute also to be of good proof.

Doctor Martin Luther, Against Antinomians. To the Reverend and most Learned M. Gasper Guttill, Doctor and Pastor at Eisleben his singular good freind in Christ. Loving Mr. Doctor I Suppose you received long agoe the disputations against those new spirits, the Antino. which have undertaken to thrust the law of God, or the ten commandements out of the Church, and to remit them to the secular court: which kind of proceeding in points of divinity, I never imagined, that it should have entred into any mans purpose, much lesse into his practise. But God warnes us by such passages, to take heed to our selves, and not to fany the Devill so farre from us, as those secure daring spirits presume. Verily, God must incessantly be implored, with feare, humility, and earnest supplications, that we may have his assistance and protection; Otherwise truly it may soon come to passe, that the Devill will present efore our eyes, such a Phantasme, that we should sweare it were the true Holy Ghost it selfe, as not onely those ancient Hereticks, but in our time also examples (which have beene and still are great and dreadfull) do forewarne. I could indeed have easily forgotten all these things, which had so much greived mee, but that I rested in hope, that by meanes of those forementioned disputations, I had performed my part, and defended my selfe. But Satan would not be