and not according to your individual caprice. I suspect, however, there
will hardly be many among you able to refute these doctrines; for,
though but little of the so-called Lutheran teaching has come to my
knowledge, I am convinced that Luther is too great a man to be refuted
by simple men like us, for the Scriptures get their strength from no
man, but from God. Even if we have the truth on our side, 'tis folly for
us who have no arms to attack those who are well equipped, since we
should thus do nothing but expose our own simplicity.... Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good. Search the spirit to see whether
it be of God. I would urge every one to read the new doctrines. Those
who persuade or command you otherwise, appear to me to act contrary to
the Scriptures, and I suspect they do not wish the truth to come to
light.... If there be any among you whom this letter offends, let him
write to me, pointing out where I am wrong, and I will withdraw my
statements." Brask, though offended deeply, scorned the challenge.
Instead of answering Andreae, he wrote to the bishop of Skara, saying:
"Certain persons are beginning to urge that we should not banish
Luther's writings, but should study them carefully to the end that we
may write against them, as if, forsooth, we were simple enough to
trouble ourselves about the effrontery of Luther. He flatters himself
that he possesses greater wisdom than all the saints. But we shall bow
the knee to God, not man, and shall do our utmost that the kingdom be
not corrupted by this new heresy." Brask was now boiling with
indignation, and a few days later wrote a friend: "I have no fear of
Luther or any other heretic. Were an angel from heaven to predict his
victory, I should not waver."[103]

This feigned assurance on the part of Brask was not deep-set. In the
secrecy of his own cloisters he contemplated the issue with fear and
trembling. This is clear from a letter penned at this period to the
monarch. "By the allegiance which I owe you," wrote the bishop, "I deem
it my duty to urge you not to allow the sale of Luther's books within
the realm, nor give his pupils shelter or encouragement of any kind,
till the coming council of the Church shall pass its judgment.... I know
not how your Grace can better win the love of God, as well as of all
Christian kings and princes, than by restoring the Church of Christ to
the state of harmony that it has enjoyed in ages past." The same day
that