After this preface, Luther mentions five reasons which the devil alleged against the sacrifice of the mass; reasons extremely frivolous in themselves, but which Luther considered of sufficient weight to justify his yielding to them, saying to those who might blame his conduct, that "if _they_ had heard the devil reasoning in the same forcible manner as _he_ had done, they would take care not to appeal from his arguments to the practice of the Church, and the usages of antiquity, which would never satisfy them." This conference may be seen in three different editions of Luther's works, printed by the care of his disciples, viz., (Wittemberg, T. 7, p. 479. Jenæ, Ed. Germ. per Thomas, p. 82. Attenberg, T. 6. p. 86.) Really, most Reverend Gentlemen, this is a very strange history. _Certain_, however, _it is_, that _Luther_ omits _nothing_ to persuade us of its truth: for he mentions the very words which the devil used, the tone of his voice, the nature of his arguments, the impression which the conference made on his body and soul, which sometimes follow from debating with this king of the lower regions. After the death of Luther, his disciples, and especially Melancton, took care to insert the conference in the collection of Luther's works, printed in Latin at Wittemberg, and the writers of the Luthern and Calvinistic party agree, that it was _certainly the production of Luther_.[K] (Hospinian, par. 2. Hist. Sacramentariæ, p. 26, et. p. 131.) Now Luther either _had_ or _had not_ this conference with the master of lies. If he _really had_, Luther ought to have known, that _such_ a master was not very likely, to teach him anything _very good_, and that he was not a very _fit_ person, to convince him of the idolatry of the mass. For if the mass, had _really_ been idolatry, I think the devil, would _rather_ have encouraged, _than_ tried to overturn it. But if Luther _had not_ this conference, then the ambition of Luther, for having wished to appear connected with so bad a master, indicates so strange and exotic a genius, so depraved and bad a taste, that it reflects _almost_ as much dishonour on Luther, as if this conference had really taken place.