"I write to you now," continues Luther, "to believe with all of us (and that through obedience to Jesus Christ), that Campeggio is a famous demon.[775] I cannot tell how violently these conditions agitate me which you propose. The plan of Campeggio and the Pope has been to try us first by threats, and then, if they do not succeed, by stratagems; you have triumphed over the first attack, and sustained the terrible coming of Cæsar: now, then, for the second. Act with courage, and do not yield to the adversaries except what can be proved with evidence from the very Word of God. [775] Quod Campeggius est unus magnus et insignis diabolus. (Ibid. p. 147.) "But if, which Christ forbid! you do not put forward all the Gospel; if, on the contrary, you shut up that glorious eagle in a sack; Luther--doubt it not!--Luther will come and gloriously deliver the eagle.[776] As certainly as Christ lives, that shall be done!" [776] Veniet, ne dubita, veniet Lutterus, hanc aquilam liberaturus magnifice. (L. Epp. iv. p. 155.) [Sidenote: PAPIST INFATUATION.] Thus spoke Luther, but in vain: everything in Augsburg was tending towards approaching ruin; Melancthon had a bandage over his eyes that nothing could tear off. He no longer listened to Luther, and cared not for popularity. "It does not become us," said he, "to be moved by the clamours of the vulgar:[777] we must think of peace and of posterity. If we repeal the episcopal jurisdiction, what will be the consequence to our descendants? The secular powers care nothing about the interests of religion.[778] Besides too much dissimilarity in the Churches is injurious to peace: we must unite with the bishops, lest the infamy of schism should overwhelm us for ever."[779] [777] Sed nos nihil decet vulgi clamoribus moveri. (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 303.) [778] Profani jurisdictionem ecclesiasticam et similia negotia religionem non curent. (Corp. Ref. ii.) [779] Ne schismatis infamia perpetuo laboremus. (Ibid.) They too readily listened to Melancthon, and they vigorously laboured to bind to the Papacy by the bonds of the hierarchy the Church that God had wonderfully emancipated. Protestantism rushed blindfold into the nets of its enemies. Already serious voices announced the return of the Lutherans into the bosom of the Romish Church. "They are preparing their defection, and are passing over to the Papists," said Zwingle.[780] The politic Charles the Fifth so acted that no haughty word should compromise the victory; but the Roman clergy could not master themselves: their pride, their insolence increased every day. "One would never believe," said Melancthon, "the airs of triumph which the Papists give themselves." There was good reason! the agreement was on the verge of conclusion: yet one or two steps.......and then, woe to Reform! [780] Lutherani defectionem parant ad Papistas. (Zw. Epp. ii. p. 461.)