you and me, and ease our illness, as long as it pleases him to retain us in this life; and I pray him, that for the sake of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, he would lead us into the sweet communion of the heavenly Church, and grant us the enjoyment of his light and wisdom, whenever he shall be pleased to deliver us from this prison. Let us look unto that fountain of light and wisdom, and bear our present sufferings with less sorrow, in the hope and expectation of that better life." He also wrote to the Landgrave of Hesse: "My enemies have declared that they would make Germany too narrow for me, although I do not know what has filled them with this Cain-like bitterness against me, which induces them to drive me into strange lands. Your electoral highness, and many sensible men in Germany, are well acquainted with my peculiar labors, afflictions, and sentiments. If it pleases God, I am perfectly willing, not only to leave this country, but even this life, for I have remained thus long for the benefit of this school. If I must go, I am perfectly ready and willing, even as I expect death daily." The Refutation of the Frankfort Recess, already mentioned as prepared by the Weimarians, was sent to the Elector Augustus by the Dukes of Saxony. Melanchthon received it, and now prepared his "Reply to the Weimarian Document." He passes over the calumnies in it, for the sake of peace; and does not agree with them, that it is altogether improper for civil rulers to set up articles of religion; he would rather rejoice at this, and call upon others to be thankful "that they thus distinctly confess their adherence to the true doctrine, and seek unity among themselves." He refutes the various attacks upon the articles of justification and good works, of the Lord's Supper, and of the Adiaphora. As the _Synergistic_ dispute, of which we have already spoken, was also drawn in, and the Theologians of Jena intended it all as an attack upon the aged Melanchthon, although their assaults were ostensibly directed against Pfeffinger of Leipzig, the gulf was widened, and the animosity continued to increase. Both sides sent forth the most bitter publications. In Thuringia they even proceeded from mere words to deeds. For when the Dukes of Saxony had published their _Confutation_ in the beginning of the year 1559, in which all heresies, that also concerning free will, were condemned, Victorinus Strigel, and the Pastor Andrew Hugel of Jena, refused to submit to it. They were both seized and taken to the castle of Leuchtenburg. Melanchthon thus writes to a friend in regard to this: "During the night succeeding the joyous festival of Easter, the aged Pastor Andrew, together with Victorinus, were seized at Jena, and carried to the neighboring castle of Leuchtenburg, in which is the prison for robbers. The piety and moderation of these men had gained them a distinguished reputation. But Flacius is burning with rage against us.