[263] Verbum deserere et negare nec possum, nec volo. (Ibid.) [Sidenote: LUTHER'S LETTER TO THE POPE.] "It is true that I have attacked the Court of Rome; but neither yourself nor any man living can deny that there is greater corruption in it than was in Sodom and Gomorrah, and that the impiety which prevails makes cure hopeless. Yes; I have been horrified on seeing how, under your name, the poor followers of Christ were deceived. I have opposed this, and will oppose it still, not that I imagine it possible, in spite of the opposition of flatterers, to accomplish any thing in this Babylon, which is confusion itself; but I owe it to my brethren to endeavour, if possible, to remove some of them from these dreadful evils. "You know it; Rome has for many years been inundating the world with whatever could destroy both soul and body. The Church of Rome, formerly the first in holiness, has become a den of robbers, a place of prostitution, a kingdom of death and hell;[264] so that Antichrist himself, were he to appear, would be unable to increase the amount of wickedness. All this is as clear as day. [264] Facta est .... spelunca latronum licentiosissima, lupanar omnium impudentissimum, regnum peccati, mortis et inferni... (Ibid. p. 500.) "And yet, O Leo, you yourself are like a lamb in the midst of wolves--a Daniel in the lions' den. But single-handed, what can you oppose to these monsters? There may be three or four cardinals who to knowledge add virtue. But what are these against so many? You should perish by poison even before you could try any remedy. It is all over with the Court at Rome--the wrath of God has overtaken and will consume it.[265] It hates counsel--it fears reform--it will not moderate the fury of its ungodliness; and hence it may be justly said of it as of its mother--_We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; forsake her_.[266] It belonged to you and your cardinals to apply the remedy; but the patient laughs at the doctor, and the horse refuses to feel the bit.... [265] Actum est de Romana curia; pervenit in eam ira Dei usque in finem.... (L. Ep. i, p. 500.) [266] Jeremiah, li. 9.