Tractatus de imposturis et ceremoniis Iudaeorum nostri temporis

more vehemently than we defend the eternal and inviolable truth of God. I do not have need to dwell longer on the refutation of the horrible insults with which the book called Schemhamphoras is filled, since that business has been treated most learnedly and prudently by Luther. They assert that Christ performed miracles with the word of the Tetragrammaton the four-letter name of God, led of course by the example of their ancestors, who affirmed that he had done this very thing in the name of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. But it should not seem surprising that they babble these things, since they have fallen into such impiety that they could not be deterred from insults and blasphemies even by the most present danger to their heads or fortunes. The Psalmist, in Psalm 109, asking God that the curses and execrations of his enemies be converted into salvation and blessing, graphically depicts their characters and manners at the same time: "God of my praise, do not be silent, because the mouth of the wicked and the deceitful have opened against me; they have spoken with a lying tongue." Likewise, Psalm 55: "The words of their mouth are smoother than butter, but battle is in their hearts; their words are smoother than oil, and yet they are swords." Furthermore, Psalm 36: "He conspires to promote iniquity; all their doctrine is vain; they do not add to do good, but firmly insist on evil and iniquity; nor are they ashamed of their wickedness." And Psalm 5: "Their mouth is hypocritical, their palate like a tomb exhaling a stench, their tongues are double-edged swords." Paul, Romans 3: "The poison of asps is under their lips, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and calamity are in their ways, and they have not known the way of peace; there is no fear of God before their eyes." Again, therefore, I think he who will deny faith to my words must be warned not to resist the Holy Spirit. Let us beware, therefore, lest they deceive us with their excuses. For Jeremiah testifies that even if they swear something with Jehovah as a witness, faith is not to be attributed to them; for it is habitual for them to deceive with impure lies and perjury.