Jeremiah 25:11, “‘This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.'”

2 Timothy 2:24-26, “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

Not Done Quickly

Counseling Luther to move more temperately, Erasmus judged that ancient institutions could not be quickly changed and would yield more easily to persuasion than condemnation. We can agree that Luther, not Erasmus, “understood the times,” and still appreciate the truth Erasmus stated.

Benjamin Rush disgustedly resigned after he repeatedly failed to get needed medical reforms through…