Writing to the divines of Zurich, when Luther was uttering bitter things against him, Calvin thus speaks—”I can hardly counsel you to hold your peace, but I wish you all to remember how great a man Luther is;
what great endowments he possesses; what fortitude and firmness, skill and learning he has employed in routing the powers of Antichrist and propagating the true doctrine of salvation. I have often said that though he should call me a devil, I would still honour him as an illustrious servant of God to whom we are all deeply indebted. Consider, too, that all you will gain by involving yourselves in the controversy will be to afford matter of triumph to the ungodly. For when we become mutual accusers of each other, they will be only too ready not to believe us both. Dwell upon these considerations rather than on what his intemperance of speech may have deserved at your hands.”