[Sidenote: LUCAS CRANACH. THE POPE IN EFFIGY.] Not contenting himself with prose, Hütten had recourse to verse also. He published his Cry on the Burning by Luther.[361] Appealing to Jesus Christ, he prayed him to consume, with the brightness of his countenance, those who dared to deny his power. He began, moreover, to write in German. "Hitherto," said he, "I have written in Latin, a language which all could not comprehend, but now I address myself to my country." His German rhymes laid open and enabled the people to read the shameful and voluminous record of the sins of the Roman Court. But Hütten was unwilling to confine himself to mere words; he was impatient to bring his sword into the struggle, for he thought that by the swords and halberds of the many valiant warriors, of which Germany was proud, the vengeance of God was to be accomplished. Luther opposed his infatuated projects. "I would not," said he, "that men should fight for the gospel by violence and carnage. I have written so to Hütten.[362] [361] "Quo tu oculos, pie Christe, tuos, frontisque severæ Tende supercilium, teque esse ostende neganti Qui te contemnunt igitur, mediumque tonanti Ostendunt digitum, tandem iis te ostende potentem. Te videat ferus ille Leo, te tota malorum Sentiat inluvies, scelerataque Roma tremiscat, Ultorem scelerum discant te vivere saltem, Qui regnare negant" ...(In Incendium Lutheranum Exclamatio Ulrichi Hütteni Equitis Mar. Carrac. L. Op. Lat. ii, p. 176.) [362] Nollem vi et cæde pro Evangelio certari; ita scripsi ad hominem. (L. Ep. i, p. 243.) The celebrated painter, Lucas Cranach, published, under the title of the _Passions of Christ and Antichrist_, engravings which represented, on the one hand, the splendour and magnificence of the pope, and on the other, the humility and sufferings of the Redeemer. Luther wrote the inscriptions. These engravings, executed with great spirit, produced an astonishing effect. The people withdrew from a church which appeared so opposed to the spirit of its Founder. "This work," said Luther, "is excellent for the laity."[363] [363] Bonus est pro laicis liber. (L. Ep. i, p. 571.) It would be worth while to make a new impression of this work; I found a copy of it in the library of Zurich. Several, in opposing the Papacy, had recourse to arms which ill accorded with the holiness of the Christian life. Emser, in replying to Luther's tract, entitled, 'To the Goat Emser,' had published one entitled, 'To the Bull of Wittemberg.' The name was not ill chosen. But at Magdeburg, Emser's book was hung on the gallows, with this inscription, "The book is worthy of the place;" and a rod was placed beside it, to indicate the punishment which the author deserved.[364] At Doeblin, there was written under the Papal bull, in derision of its impotent thunders, "The nest is here, but the birds are flown."[365] [364] Publico infamiæ loco affixus. (Ibid. p. 560.)