The Popes’ Covetousness
The covetousness of the
Popes has exceeded all others’, therefore, said Luther, the devil made choice
of Rome to be his habitation; for which cause the ancients have said, “Rome is
a den of covetousness, a root of all wickedness.”
I have also read in a very
old book this verse following:
Versus Amor, Mundi Caput est, et Bestia Terræ.
That is (when the word Amor
is turned and read backward, then it is Roma), Rome, the head of the world, a
beast that sucketh out and devoureth all lands.
Truly at Rome is an
abominable trading with covetousness, for all is raked to their hands without
preaching or church-service, but only with superstition, idolatry, and with
selling their good works to the poor ignorant lay-people for money; therefore
St. Peter describeth such covetousness with express and clear words when he
saith, “They have an heart exercised with covetous practices.”
I am persuaded a man cannot
acknowledge the disease of covetousness unless he knoweth Rome; for the deceits
and jugglings in other parts are nothing in comparison of those at Rome;
therefore, anno 1521, at the Imperial Diet held at Worms, the State of the
whole Empire made supplication against such covetousness, and desired that his
Imperial Majesty would be pleased to suppress the same.
MartinLuther, Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther
Photo: Pixabay/Walkerssk
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