I hope now to write you a little, relating very briefly how my examination by the priests passed off.
The first time that I spoke with the priests, which according to my recollection, was about eight days before Whitsuntide, there came the Dean, that great, large priest, with another priest, whom we are wont to call the inquisitor (my master knows him well), and who cries and storms the most. We talked for a long time, and I reproved their idolatry, as much as the Lord by his Holy Spirit gave me utterance. Hence this priest began to speak of the Supper, and asked me, whether that was not the real body which Christ gave to his disciples, and his blood. I said: “No.” Then the priest began to clamor and to rave, and talked very abusively, saying that it were better if I had concerned myself with making my confectionery, or selling groceries, than with the Scriptures. I said: “I may concern myself with reading the Scriptures, for Christ says: Search the Scriptures; for they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39. Then the Dean said: “Hear those who have studied the Scriptures all their life.” “Yes,” said I, “they study amiss.” “I ask you,” I said, “where did Paul study or go to college? show me this with the Scriptures.” “Did he not?” “No.” “Did he not go to Ananias?” said the Dean. “Yes; but he did not study there.” Then he began again to talk abusively, and they said that the devil had me by the throat. Matt. 12:24.
While we were thus talking, there came another priest, a Jesuit, so that there were three of them sitting there. Then the priest again commenced to speak of the Supper. Therefore I asked them: When Christ gave the bread to his disciples, and said: Take, eat; this is my body: this do in remembrance of me; whether Christ himself remained sitting there? He said: “Yes.” I said: “Hence it is not to be understood so” (as you say); and I told him that he did not understand the Scriptures. I said that a carnal man cannot understand that which is spiritual, for, says Paul, it is foolishness unto him. 1 Cor. 2:14. Then he cried: “What can you say about me, am I a drunkard?” _Ans._ “Your idolatries bear witness what you are, and also the Scriptures reveal your horrible idolatry, which is an abomination in the sight of God; yes, I am sorry that you are so in error.” They cried: “You err.” The Jesuit cried every time, that the devil had me by the throat, and that I was a proud fool; and other like words. I said: “I rejoice that I am thus despised for Christ’s sake.” They clamored so loudly, that one could scarcely utter a sentence. The Dean cried to the others: “_Domine, Domine_;[343] let him go, we shall gain no laurels with him.” But the priest commenced again to talk of the Supper. I told him that he had to understand it spiritually, and proved it to him with several Scriptures, as, John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God.” Again, 15:1: “I am the true vine.”
[343] Lord, Lord.
If I were to relate all, though I had much more paper, I should cover it with writing. We then spoke of baptism; he asked me why children might not be baptized. [I replied]: Because Christ did not command it, nor the apostles teach it.
Then he adduced several Scriptures that were quite to the contrary, John 3, and others. I showed him, that Christ there did not teach water baptism, but that he had taught it in Matt. 28 and Mark 16; and I stated what baptism signified; to whom it pertains, and that it is horrible to hear that they want to save children by baptism, whereby they deprive Christ of the honor. Rom. 6:3; John 3:16; Acts 4:12. When we had talked thus for a long time, the Dean cried to the priest: “Hear, hear, Lord; Audi, audi, Domine; let him go; we waste our time with him, and he remains as obstinate as ever.” I said: “I am sorry that you will not listen to the truth; it is all in vain, it is only casting pearls before swine.” Matt. 7:6.