[af_vet_1981]

You said in #142 "Luther actively persecuted the Jews to his last years". No proof of that.

False; there is proof in his own words.

Fifth, I advise that safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews. For they have no business in the countryside, since they arenot lords, officials, tradesmen, or the like. Let them stay at home. I have heard it said that a rich Jew is now traveling across the country with twelve horses his ambition is to become a Kokhba devouring princes, lords, lands, and people with his usury, so that the great lords view it with jealous eyes. If you great lords and princes will not forbid such usurers the highway legally, some day a troop may gather against them, having learned from this booklet the true nature of the Jews and how one should deal with them and not protect their activities. For you, too, must not and cannot protect them unless you wish to become participants in an their abominations in the sight of God. Consider carefully what good could come from this, and prevent it.

Days Before Luther Died
1. February i, 1546.
   
   To my dearly beloved housewife, Katherine Luther, owner of Zulsdorf and the SaUmarket, and whatever else she may be. Grace and peace in Christ, and my old, poor (and as I am aware), weak love to thee ! Dear Kathie, I became extremely weak when I was close to Eisleben, but it was my own fault. However, hadst thou been there, thou wouldst have said that either the Jews or their God were at the bottom of it. For we had to pass through a village close to Eisleben where many Jews lived, and perhaps they blew upon me, for there is no doubt that at the village a strong wind blew in at the back of the carriage, pene- trating through my doctor's hat, threatening to turn my brain into ice.
   
   When the principal matters are arranged, I must endeavour to banish the Jews. Count Albrecht does not like them, and has tried to expose them, but as yet no one has meddled with them. If God will, I shall help Count Albrecht, and speak about them from this pulpit. I drink Naumburg beer, which you praised so highly at Mansfeld, and it agrees with me excellently.
2. I think that hell and the whole world must at present be free from devils, who, perhaps because of me, have all now gathered in Eisleben, to such a pass things seem to have come here. It is said that at Ritzdorf, close to Eisleben, where the wind blew so fiercely upon me, four hundred Jews walk and ride out and in. Count Albrecht, who owns all the land round Eisleben, has refused his protection to the Jews. There are often as many as fifty in one house here, as I wrote to you. Still no one will injure them. The Countess of Mansfeld, widow of Solms, is looked upon as their protector. I do not know if all this be true, but I have given my opinion pretty freely on the subject to-day, whether it will help or not.
   
   Pray, pray, pray, and thus help us to right matters. To-day I felt inclined to mount my carriage and set off, but my anxiety as to my Fatherland held me back. February i, 1546.

[xone]

False; there is proof in his own words.

Where? All recommendations, all things that had been already used against the Jews in diverse places by the Catholic church. No "I did this" at all, like most words, 'active' must mean something else to a Catholic, trying to shuck for his church.