Martin Luther’s Letters
497 letters
The first
extant letter of Luther.
He invites
Braun to come to his ordination as priest in Erfurt.
April 22,
1507.
To the
saintly and Right Reverend Priest in Christ, John Braun, vicar in Eisenach, my
beloved friend in Christ, grace and peace in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I would be afraid, best of friends, to
trouble you with my letters and requests, did I not know from the many benefits
you have showered upon me how kindly you feel towards me. Therefore I have no
hesitation in addressing you, confident that our mutual friendship will secure
the favorable consideration of these lines.
For seeing the holy God has, of His manifold
goodness, so highly exalted me, an unworthy sinner, and deemed me worthy to
enter His service, then I must be grateful, and try, as far as I can, to
fulfill the duties entrusted to me.
My father has arranged that, with God’s
help, I shall be consecrated to the office of the priesthood on Sabbath four
weeks.
The day has been fixed to suit my father.
Perhaps I may be presuming too much on your love, when I humbly beg for your
presence also. I do not ask you to make this troublesome journey because of any
services I may have rendered you, for I know of none, but because I experienced
so much of your goodness when with you lately. You will then, perhaps, best
beloved father, lord, and brother (the first title belongs to your age and office, the second to your merits, and the third to
your order), if your clerical and domestic duties permit, honor me by standing
by me with your dear presence and intercession, so that my offering may be
acceptable in God’s sight.
And, lastly, I would remind you that you
pass our cloister, and must not seek other quarters! But one of our cells must
content you.
May you be preserved in Christ Jesus our
Lord! In our cloister at Erfurt.
Martin of
Mansfeld.
I scarcely
like to moot it, but if it were not beneath the dignity of their order, and did
not give too much trouble, I would esteem the presence
of the members of the College at my ordination at Erfurt a great honor.
Luther had
been hurriedly summoned by Frederick the Wise, on the recommendation of
Staupitz, to be Professor in Wittenberg in 1508; he apologizes for not bidding
adieu.
March 17,
1509.
To the
saintly and Right Reverend Father in God, Herr John Braun, priest in Eisenach,
my beloved lord and father.
Greeting from Brother Martin Luther, the
Augustinian monk!
Stop wondering, honored father, that I stole
secretly away from you as if no friendship existed between us, or as if I had
been ungrateful enough to root out of my heart all remembrance of your great
kindness to me, or let a rough north wind blow away my love for you. Indeed it
is not so, although my actions may lead you to suppose this.
I have certainly left – that I must confess,
and yet I have not gone away, for the best part of me, at all times, remains
with you.
For although I have departed in body, I am
ever with you in thought wherever you are, and I hope you will never feel
differently towards me from what you do now. But to come to the point. In order
to get quit of the dreadful idea that your love might perhaps begin to doubt my
fidelity to you, I have torn myself away from my manifold occupations to write
you, as it is so difficult to convey anything. And what do you think is my sole
object in writing, but to send you my love, and ask you to have as much
confidence in me as I have in you! And although I cannot compare myself with
you in anything good, still my love for you is very great, and having nothing
else to bestow, I once more assure you of it. For I
know your generous heart desires nothing from me, but that we may be one heart
and soul in the Lord, even as our faith is one and the same in Him. But you
must not be offended at my leaving so quietly, for my departure was so sudden
that even those in the house scarcely knew. I always intended writing, but had
no time. However, I felt very sorry not to see you.
I am now, by God’s command or permission,
settled in Wittenberg, and very well, only the study of philosophy is most
disagreeable to me; for from the first I would have preferred theology, viz.
the theology which goes to the kernel of the nut and touches the bone and the flesh.
But God is God, and man often errs in his
judgment. He is our God, who will guide us lovingly to all eternity. Kindly
note all this, which has been written in the greatest haste.
And when you have a messenger you will honor
me with a line, and I shall do the same. With all good wishes from first to
last, and credit me with what you would like to believe of me. Once more
farewell.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Wittenberg.
Luther
attains the height of his ambition, having been invited to accept the dignity
of Doctor of Theology, which enabled him to expound the Holy Scriptures.
September 22,
1512.
Grace and
peace, honored and beloved fathers! St. Luke’s day is approaching, when I, in
obedience to my superiors and highly esteemed Vicarius, am to be solemnly set
apart to the dignity of Doctor of Theology – which I trust you have heard,
through the honored Prior in Wittenberg.
I will not apologize for accepting it, or
talk of my unworthiness, as if by my humility I were seeking my own glory.
God knows, and my conscience also, whether I
feel worthy of such almost fulsome expressions of honor.
Therefore, I plead with you, for Christ’s
sake, to commend me to God with one accord, for you know, according to the
rights of love, it is your duty to do so – that His holy will may be
accomplished in me; also, that you would, if possible, honor me, and show this
respect to our order, to be present on the occasion. I would not ask you to
take such a toilsome journey and incur so much expense had I not been deputed
to do so by the honored Prior, and also, I would consider it most unseemly not
to let my Erfurt friends know the day of my promotion, and invite them to be
present. Doubtless you will act as we hope and expect, and we shall remember
the kindness with gratitude. May you prosper in the Lord, to whom all of us
commit you and your brothers in prayer.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Wittenberg.
In this year
began Luther’s acquaintance with Tauler’s works. This letter contains an
exquisite passage on true righteousness.
April 7,
1516.
Grace and
peace in God and the Lord Jesus Christ! Dearest Brother George! I write to let
you know that I have realized two gulden and a half, for what I sold for you.
One florin for the Brussels robe, half a florin for the Eisenach volume, and
one for the cowl, etc. We cannot dispose of the rest, so have handed the money
to the honored Prior for you. Regarding the half-gulden you still owe him, you
must see to the paying of it, or let him remit the debt. This will not be
difficult, as the esteemed father is well disposed to you. Now I would like to
know how it is with your soul, if it has at length learned to despise its own
righteousness and seek comfort and joy in Christ’s.
For, at present, the temptation to rest in
one’s own works is very powerful, especially with those who long to be good and
pious. They are ignorant of God’s righteousness, which has been so richly
bestowed on us in Christ without money and price, and try to do good of
themselves, till they fancy they can appear before God adorned with every
grace. But they never get thus far. You, yourself, when with us in Erfurt
suffered from this illusion, or rather delusion, and I also was a martyr to it,
and even yet I have not overcome it. Therefore, dear brother, learn Christ and
Him crucified. Praise and laud His name, and despairing of self, say to Him,
“Thou, Lord Jesus, art my righteousness, but I am Thy sin. Thou hast taken what
is mine, and given me what is
Thine. Thou hast assumed that which Thou wert not, and given me what I had
not.”
Beware, my brother, at aiming at a purity
which rebels against being classed with sinners. For Christ only dwells among
sinners. For this He came from heaven, where He dwelt among saints, so that He
might also sojourn with the sinful. Strive after such love, and thou wilt
experience His sweetest consolation. For if by our own efforts we are to attain
peace of conscience, why then did Christ die?
Therefore thou wilt only find peace in Him when thou despairest of self and
thine own works. He, Himself, will teach thee how in receiving thee He makes
thy sins His, and His righteousness thine. When thou believest this firmly (for
he is damned who does not believe) then bear patiently with erring brothers,
making their sins thine. If there be any good in thee, then receive ye one
another, even as Christ received us, to the glory of God. “Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it
not robbery to be equal with God.” Be thou the same. If thou esteem thyself
better than others, do not pride thyself on that, but be as one of them,
bearing their burdens. For he is a pitiable saint who will not bear patiently
with those worse than himself, and longs only for solitude, when he, through
patience, prayer, and example, might be exercising a salutary influence over
others. This is burying his Lord’s talent, and not giving his fellow-servants
their due. Therefore, be thou a lily or rose of Christ, knowing that thy walk
must be among thorns.
Only see that through impatience, hasty
judgments, or secret pride, thou dost not thyself become a thorn! “Christ’s
kingdom,” says the psalmist, “subsists in the midst of its enemies.” Why then
rejoice in being surrounded only by faithful friends? If He, thy Lord, had only
lived among the good, or had died only for His friends, for whom then would He
have died, or with whom could He have lived? Remember this, brother, and pray
for me. The Lord be with thee.
Farewell, in
the Lord!
Your brother,
Martin Luther, Augustinian.
Luther
comforts a brother in Erfurt.
April 15,
1516.
Salvation in
the Lord, most cherished Brother. I hear that your brotherly love is deeply
tried by manifold waves of temptation. But God, the Father of mercies and all
consolation, has placed over you the best of comforters and advisers, Father
Bartholomew. Only see that you keep a tight hand over your thoughts, and make
room for His word in your heart.
For I know from my own experience, as well
as from that of all troubled souls, that it is solely our own self-conceit
which is at the root of all our disquietude.
For our eye is a knave, and, alas, what misery
he has caused me, and still plagues me to the utmost. The cross of Christ is
distributed through the whole world, and each receives his portion. Therefore
pray do not cast thy portion from thee, but cherish it as a precious relic,
certainly not enshrined in a casket of gold or silver, but in a golden heart
filled with loving charity.
For, even as the wood of the cross is
consecrated through coming in contact with the flesh and blood of Christ, so
that henceforth they are esteemed to be the costliest of relics, how much more will the injustice, persecution, and hatred of men,
whether it be right or wrong, not through contact with His flesh, but through
union with His loving heart and Divine will, which consecrates everything which
is in touch with it, thereby transform the curse into a blessing, suffering
into glory, and the cross into a crown of joy. Farewell, dearest friend and
brother, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian
Wittenberg.
Luther thanks
him for his kindness to a fugitive monk.
May 1, 1516.
Honored and
beloved Prior. I was sorry to hear that Baumgaertner, from our cloister in
Dresden, who had fled in a hurried manner, and for good reason, had found
refuge with you. I must thank you for receiving him so kindly, so that the
scandal might be put an end to.
He is my lost sheep, who belongs to me,
therefore I must try to restore the erring one, if God will. So, I beg you, by
our common faith in Christ, and the order of St. Augustine, that you will
either send him to Dresden or to Wittenberg, or lovingly try to persuade him to
return of his own free will. I shall receive him with open arms, if he come; he
need have no fear on account of having injured me.
I know that offenses will come, and it is no
marvel when a man falls, but it is a miracle when he recovers himself and
remains steadfast.
Peter fell, so that he might know he was
human. Even in the present day the cedars of Lebanon, whose branches almost
reach heaven, fell.
Yes, even an angel in heaven fell, which was
indeed a marvel – and Adam fell in paradise.
So, is it to be wondered at that the reed
should bend before the storm, and the glimmering torch be extinguished? May the
Lord Jesus enable you to perfect this good work. Amen. Farewell. From our
cloister in Dresden.
Martin
Luther.
June 8, 1516.
Thanks for
your good wishes, dear Spalatin. Through the grace of God I reached home in
good health, at least bodily. God knows if also spiritually.
All this I owe to your love. I got your
letter from the brothers. You write that our Serene Prince wishes to make our
esteemed Vicar-General (Staupitz) a bishop, and desires your cooperation. You
are acting uprightly as a friend, but I would like that your entreaties with
the honored father were not so full of fire; for I shall act differently, so
that he who is being over-praised may hesitate in his purpose. Do you wonder at
this? Certainly not because I despise your counsel, but because love prompts the
desire, consequently the judgment is in abeyance. “For true love,” says
Chrysostom, “seldom judges aright.” I say this because you are swayed by the
Prince’s favor, and I do not wish the esteemed father to do what you urge to
please the Prince. Your Prince is fascinated with much that appears lovely in
his sight, which is far from pleasing to God.
Frederick the Wise is very clever in worldly
things, but in those pertaining to God and the salvation of souls I consider
him sevenfold blind, even as your Pfeffinger.
I do not say this in a corner to malign
them, but to their faces at every opportunity. Were I certain that your project
came from God, then, would that you had a tongue of fire, and the Pater were
pure stubble! But remember that what you and the Prince are discussing secretly
is known, for before I got your letter I heard that the esteemed father would
be made Bishop of Kimsche.
These happy times are long gone by when it
was considered a grand thing to be a bishop, but now there can be no more miserable position, for it means leading a life of
gluttony and debauchery such as that of Sodom and Rome. You see this when you
compare the life and work of the old bishops with ours.
How many are immersed in wars, while their
homes have become a very hell of insatiable greed!
Notice how far this man is removed from such
vices, so that when the time comes for him to be lured into the terrible vortex
of the Bishop’s courts you will try to prevent the calamity.
But enough of this! If your petition really
admits of no delay tell me at once, because the esteemed father does not return
from Antwerp till autumn, so I must send a special messenger to Cologne, where
he told us to forward his letters. Farewell in the Lord, and pray for us. From
the cloister at Wittenberg.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Augustinian
Prior in Neustadt, whom Luther deposed because he could not keep the peace with
the brethren.
June 22,
1516.
Salvation and
peace! But not such peace as is manifest to the natural man, but that which
lies beneath the cross, viz. the peace which passeth all understanding. Thou
art longing for peace, but in the wrong way; for thou seekest it as the world
gives it, and not as Christ does. Dost thou know, dear father, that in this
matter God deals in a wondrous manner with His people, having placed His peace
in the midst of dispeace, nay, in the very thick of temptation and dissensions.
“Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” Therefore it is not he whom no one
disturbs who has peace – that is the world’s peace, but he who is troubled on
every side, and bears all quietly and joyfully. Thou sayest with Israel,
“Peace, peace, and there is no peace.” Cry rather with Christ, “Cross, cross!”
And yet there is no cross. For, as soon as thou canst joyfully say, “Blessed
cross, of all kinds of wood there is none like unto thee.” Then, in that
moment, the cross has ceased to be a cross. See, then, how graciously the Lord
is leading thee to true peace in surrounding thee with
so much of the cross. For he who seeks peace will find it. And the best way to
seek it is, when affliction overtakes you, to receive it with joy, as a sacred
relic, and cease searching vainly for a peace which commends itself to your
lower nature. For God considers any such peace far inferior to His peace, which
is inseparable from the cross and the troubles of this life. Farewell, and pray
for me, dear father. May the Lord reign in you.
Martin
Luther, Vicar.
Wittenberg.
It was in
Lange’s church in Erfurt, still standing, where the first evangelical sermon
was preached. Luther begins lecturing on Galatians.
October 26,
1516.
I would
require two secretaries, for I do nothing almost all day but write letters,
therefore if I repeat myself you will understand why it is.
I am lecturer in the cloister, reader at
meals, preach daily, and direct the students’ studies, am the Prior’s vicar
(which means being vicar eleven times over), inspector of fish-ponds at
Leitzkau, must espouse the Herzberg people’s cause at Torgau, expounder of St.
Paul and the Psalms, besides my letter-writing. Behold what a leisurely man I
am, and in addition am plagued by the temptations of the world, the flesh, and
the devil.
I sent several of the brethren you sent me
to Magister Spangenberg, to take them away from this pestilential air. I felt
much drawn to the two from Cologne, and having such a high opinion of their
abilities, kept them with me, although at much expense. We support twenty-two
priests, forty-two youths, etc., out of our poverty. But the Lord will provide.
You write that you began to lecture on the
Sentences yesterday. I shall begin to expound the Epistle to the Galatians
to-morrow, although I fear that with the plague here I shall not be able to
continue. It has already robbed us of two or three, but not in one day. The
smith opposite lost a son, who was in good health yesterday, and the other is
infected. Yes, indeed, here it is, and is beginning to rage
with great vehemence especially among the young. You counsel me to flee for
refuge to you. But why?
The world will not come to an end although
Brother Martin perish. But if the plague spread, I shall send the brothers out
into the world. As for me, seeing I have been placed here, my vows of obedience
demand that I remain till I am ordered elsewhere. Not that I have no fear of
death, for I am not the Apostle Paul, but only his expounder, and I still hope
the Lord will deliver me from this fear also.
Farewell, and think of us. Amen.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
This letter
shows Luther’s modesty, Scheurl espoused Luther’s cause, though later he became
estranged from it, when practicing law in Nurnberg.
January 17,
1517.
I have
received your letter, my excellent Christoph, which was most agreeable, and yet
displeasing to me. Why knit your brows over this? What could please me more
than to hear you praise our Staupitz, or rather the Lord Jesus, who dwells in
our Vicar-General, so highly? Nothing could rejoice me more than to hear
Christ’s voice resounding through him, and bearing fruit. But, on the other
hand, what could be more disagreeable than that you
should strive for my friendship by loading me with praise? I will not be your
friend, for my friendship can be no credit to you, if the proverb be true, “Friends must have all things in common.” Now, if what
I have became yours, you would only be richer in sin, folly, and ignominy. For
these are my possessions which you dignify by very fine names. Still, I know
you mean to say, “It is not you, but Christ I admire in you” – to which I
reply, “How can Christ who is pure righteousness dwell alongside sin?” And is
not this the greatest pride when a man imagines himself to be the temple of
Christ? Only an apostle dare boast of this. I wish you joy in the friendship of
our Vicar-General, but do not drag yourself down through my friendship. No
doubt our honored father praises me everywhere, to my great grief and peril,
saying it is Christ he lauds in me, and people try to make me believe this.
Truly a hard demand! The more of such
eulogists one has, and the closer they cleave to us, the more
hurtful they are. “A man’s foes shall be they of his own household,” etc. For
God’s favor decreases as that of man increases. God will either be all or
nothing. And the worst of it is, the more thou
humblest thyself, and puttest praise and favor from thee, the more do these
pursue thee to thy great injury. Oh, how much are hatred and blame to be preferred
to praise! For hatred only injures us once, while love threatens us with double
danger. I do not write thus to thee, best of all friends, because I scorn your
noble heart, but because I have so little confidence in my own. You act like a
true Christian who lightly esteems no one except himself. For all are not
Christians who esteem others for their learning, virtue, piety, and renown (for
the heathen do this also), but it is they who love the poor, needy, and sinful,
who are Christ-like.
The psalmist calls those blessed who
receive, not the learned, wise, and pious, but the poor and needy.
And, lastly, Christ declares that what is
done to the least of His little ones is done to Him, when He might have said
the opposite. But what is great in man’s eyes is often despicable in God’s
sight. Now, if you would be my friend, do not cause me to be despised of God,
by praising me both to myself and others. But if you cannot refrain from
praising Christ in me, then mention His name, and not mine.
Why should Christ’s cause not have the stamp
of His name upon it, or be branded with mine? You see how eloquent I am! So, be
patient, my friend.
From our
cloister in Wittenberg.
Martin
Luther, of the Augustinian Order.
About
Erasmus.
March 1,
1517.
I am at
present reading our Erasmus, but my heart recoils more
and more from him. But one thing I admire is, that he constantly and learnedly
accuses not only the monks, but the priests, of a lazy, deep-rooted ignorance.
Only, I fear he does not spread Christ and
God’s grace sufficiently abroad, of which he knows very little. The human is to
him of more importance than the divine.
Although unwilling to judge him, I warn you
not to read blindly what he writes. For we live in perilous times, and every
one who is a good Hebrew and Greek scholar is not a true Christian; even Dr.
Hieronymus, with his five languages, cannot approach Augustine with his one
tongue, although Erasmus views all this from a different standpoint. Those who
ascribe something to man’s freedom of will regard those things differently from
those who know only God’s free grace.
From our
desert Wittenberg.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Luther’s
modesty as to his own classical attainments.
May 6, 1517.
My greeting!
To begin with, best of friends, I must thank you for Staupitz’s pamphlet, but I
am quite ashamed that the honored father should circulate my insignificant
writings among you.
Truly I did not write them for the cultured
Nurnbergers, but for our rough Saxons, for whom religious instruction must be
broken into infinite particles.
Even were I to do my utmost, I never could
furnish anything which would find favor with men so versed in classical
literature, and how much less in your eyes, seeing my sole endeavor is to bring
myself down to the capacity of the common people. Therefore, pray keep what I
write from the learned; and I took great pains, according to your instructions,
to write a friendly letter to Eck, avoiding everything disagreeable. I do not
know if he has received it.
I send you these theses or propositions, and
through you to Link, or to any one who may like such trifles. If I do not
deceive myself; they are not Ciceronian, but those of our Carlstadt, rather of
St. Augustine, which are far more sublime and superior
to those of Cicero, even as Augustine, or rather Christ, is exalted above
Cicero.
These propositions are a standing reproach
to the ignorance of those who consider them paradoxes (very striking ones), rather
than look upon them as orthodox (that is, in accordance with the pure doctrine
of the Church universal), not to speak of those who are shameless enough to
malign them as errors, a class of people who neither read St. Paul’s Epistles,
or, at least, read them without comprehending them, thus leading themselves and
others astray.
To modest men who do not quite see through
them they appear wonderful, and I regard them as fundamental truths in their
primitive purity.
Praise be to God who causes light to arise
out of the darkness. I presume our father vicar is not with you. We hope he may
come to us. Dr. Christian Reuter has departed this temporal life. May God give him eternal life.
Amen. Amsdorf and all friends greet you.
Farewell.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Wittenberg.
Luther boasts
that true theology is flourishing in Wittenberg.
May 18, 1517.
Our theology
and that of St. Augustine, by the grace of God, is making rapid progress in our
university. Aristotle is continuing to fall from his throne, and his end is
only a matter of time; and all object to hearing lectures on the text-books of
the Sentences, and no one need expect an audience who does not expound this
theology, viz. that of the Bible or St.
Augustine, or some other of the honored
Church teachers. Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Master
Christian Goldschmidt, who is here, sends greeting.
Salvation!
See that you, with the father confessor and his friend, come about nine
o’clock. If Herr Christopher, the ambassador, is with you, bring him also, for
I have given orders to invite him. Farewell, but see
that you procure wine for us, as you are aware that you are coming from the
court to the cloister, and not from the cloister to the court.
Martin
Luther.
September 11,
1517.
To my highly
esteemed Herr Christoph Scheurl, my greeting. Although I have no pretext for
writing to such an excellent man as you, still I think the fact of having recently
acquired such a warm, upright friend is reason enough for doing so. And even
should one, once in a while, have to complain of getting no letters, surely
even this silence would merit a few jocular lines, and how much more a regular correspondence to maintain the friendship,
not to say rivet it closer. Even the holy Hieronymus begged his friend that he
would at least write to say he knew of nothing to write about. Therefore I
determined to talk nonsense, rather than be silent. But, dear God, how seldom does
this Brother Martin, who has been falsely called a great theologian, take up
the pen without prating? But it seems as if I would write a book instead of a
letter. My object in addressing you was to show how highly I esteemed you, and
not to cause you to express a similar opinion of me, but only to convince you
that you might trust me as you would yourself.
It just occurs to me, that in sending me the
writings of our Vicar-General through Ulrich Pindar, I owed you two ducats; I
have partly sold them, and given some to the esteemed friends of this good man.
The money which I drew from those I sold I
gave, according to your directions, to the poor, viz. to myself and my brother
monks. For, upon God’s dear earth, I know of no one poorer than myself. I now
beg you to send me a gulden more of those writings,
and I shall remit the money when I have sold them. There are still many who
wish them. At the same time, I send you my singular propositions, which seem
quite unreasonable to many. You can direct the attention of our learned and
thoughtful Eck to them, so that I may know what faults he finds in them. All
your friends here, of whom Herr Licentiate Amsdorf and Dr. Hieronymus are the
dearest, send greetings, also Peter the Barber, whom you honor with your friendship.
Farewell, and
pray for me.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian Cloister.
Wittenberg.
On this day
Luther nailed the ninety-five theses on the door of the Schloss Kirche in
Wittenberg, being the first time he opposed the Church authorities.
October 31,
1517.
To the Right
Reverend Father in Christ, Lord Albrecht, Archbishop of Magdeburg and Mayence,
Mark-grave of Brandenburg, his esteemed lord and shepherd in Christ. The grace
of God be with him.
May your Electoral Highness graciously
permit me, the least and most unworthy of men, to address you. The Lord Jesus
is my witness that I have long hesitated, on account of my unworthiness, to
carry out what I now boldly do, moved thereto by a sense of the duty I owe you,
right reverend father. May your Grace look graciously on me, dust and ashes,
and respond to my longing for your ecclesiastical approval.
With your Electoral Highness’s consent, the
Papal Indulgence for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s in Rome is being carried
through the land. I do not complain so much of the loud cry of the preacher of
Indulgences, which I have not heard, but regret the false meaning, which the
simple folk attach to it, the poor souls believing that when they have
purchased such letters they have secured their salvation, also, that the moment
the money tingles in the box souls are delivered from purgatory, and that all
sins will be forgiven through a letter of Indulgence, even that of reviling the
blessed Mother of God, were any one blasphemous enough to do so. And, lastly,
that through these Indulgences the man is freed from all penalties! Ah, dear
God! Thus are those souls which have been committed to your care, dear father,
being led in the paths of death, and for them you will be required to render an
account. For the merits of no bishop can secure the salvation of the souls
entrusted to him which is not always assured through the grace of God, the
apostle admonishing us “to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling,”
and, that the way which leads to life is so narrow, that the Lord, through the
prophets Amos and Zechariah, likens those who attain to eternal life to brands
plucked from the burning, and above all, the Lord points to the difficulty of
redemption. Therefore, I could be silent no longer.
How then can you, through false promises of
Indulgences, which do not promote the salvation or
sanctification of their souls, lead the people into carnal security, by
declaring them free from the painful consequences of their wrong-doing with
which the Church was wont to punish their sins?
For deeds of piety and love are infinitely
better than Indulgences, and yet the bishops do not preach these so earnestly,
although it is their principal duty to proclaim the love of Christ to their people.
Christ has nowhere commanded Indulgences to be preached, but the Gospel. So to
what danger does a bishop expose himself, who instead of having the Gospel
proclaimed among the people, dooms it to silence, while the cry of Indulgences
resounds through the land? Will Christ not say to them, “Ye strained at a gnat,
and swallowed a camel”?
In addition, reverend father, it has gone
abroad under your name, but doubtless without your knowledge, that this
Indulgence is the priceless gift of God, whereby the man may be reconciled to
God, and escape the fires of purgatory, and that those who purchase the
Indulgences have no need of repentance.
What else can I do, right reverend father,
than beg your Serene Highness carefully to look into this matter, and do away
with this little book of instructions, and command those preachers to adopt
another style of preaching, else another may arise and refute them, by writing
another book in answer to the previous one, to the confusion of your Serene
Highness, the very idea of which alarms me greatly. I hope that your Serene
Highness may graciously deign to accept the faithful service which your
insignificant servant, with true devotion, would
render you. The Lord keep you to all eternity. Amen. Wittenberg, the night before
All Saints’ Day 1517.
If agreeable to your Grace, perhaps you
would glance at my enclosed theses, that you may see the opinion on the
Indulgences is a very varied one, while those who proclaim them fancy they
cannot be disputed.
Your unworthy
son,
Martin
Luther, Augustinian, set apart as Doctor of Sacred Theology.
November
1517.
My greetings!
I had decided, dear Spalatin, to tell no one of the dialogue with Erasmus, my
sole reason being that it was so delightful, so full of humor, so clever, and,
I would almost say, woven together in such an Erasmus-like manner, that the
reader is tempted to laugh and enjoy the failings in the Church of Christ,
which ought rather to grieve all Christians, and be borne before the Lord in
prayer. But seeing you plead so earnestly to see it, here it is, and after
perusing it, return it to me. You write that the Prince has promised me a robe,
so I would like to know to whom he has entrusted the matter.
From our
cloister.
BROTHER
Martin, Augustinian.
Wittenberg.
The founder
of Wittenberg University, who did so much to protect the pure gospel, – upon a
tax levied.
November or December 1517.
Most gracious
and dear lord, Elector Frederick of Saxony. Some time ago I was promised,
through Dr. Hersfelder, a new robe, so I now wish to remind your Grace of it.
But I would beg, gracious lord, that if Pfeffinger is to arrange the matter, as
he did before, he would do it in reality, for he is very good at spinning fine
words, but these do not always produce good cloth.
I have heard through Prior Lange at Erfurt
that your Electoral Grace is displeased with our worthy Father Staupitz because
of something he has written. So I called upon him when he came to see you at Torgau,
and said I could not bear to think His Excellence was in disgrace with your
Grace. I soon found that no one had such a high place in his heart as the
Elector of Saxony, and he does not know how he can have offended except by
loving you too much. I pray your Grace would continue to him your favor, even
as he has ever been loyal to you. Thus I wish to prove my fidelity to you, to
let you see I merit my Court dress.
I have also heard that at the end of the
present financial year your Grace purposes laying another and heavier tax upon
us, so I beseech you do not despise a poor beggar’s prayer, for my heart, as
well as the hearts of many who love you dearly, are, because of the extra tax,
very heavy, and it has robbed your Electoral Highness of much of your good name
and favor among the people.
God has endowed your Grace with great
wisdom, so that no one sees farther in these matters than you; but sometimes
God wills it so that great wisdom may learn something from one with less, so
that one may depend on God alone, who, it is to be hoped, may spare you to us for our good, and afterwards preserve your
soul unto life eternal. Amen.
Your
Electoral Highness’s obedient chaplain,
Martin Luther.
Luther’s
first German letter; his extant letters till this date are all in Latin.
Luther at the
General Assembly of Augustinian monks at Heidelberg, where he publicly defended
his theses. Luther cited to appear at Rome, but the Elector arranged he should
appear at Augsburg instead, before Cajetan.
February 15,
1518.
About the
motives which should accompany good works. Salvation! What you write, or rather
prescribe to me to do, that I am doing, most excellent Spalatin. And I thank
the most Serene Prince, through you, for the princely piece of venison that he
sent our new magister, and I have told them what an honor it is. But I am the
one who is most delighted, for human nature loves a cheerful giver.
You ask me two questions. The one, “If one
wishes to sacrifice something, or do a good work, what ought to be his motive?”
I answer briefly, a man must be animated in all he does by a feeling of despair
as well as confidence. The despair appertains to thyself and thy work, but the
joyous confidence is founded on God and His mercy. For the Spirit says, “The
Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, and in those that hope in his
mercy.” The other question concerned the power of the Indulgence, and what it
can accomplish. This matter is still doubtful, but I shall say privately to you
and our friends that I consider present-day Indulgences as a deceiving of
souls, and of no use except as an encouragement to lazy Christians. And this is
beyond dispute, my enemies and the whole Church being obliged to admit it is,
viz. that alms and kindness towards one’s neighbor are far higher than the
Indulgences.
Therefore, I admonish you to buy no
Indulgences, as long as you have poor neighbors to whom you can give the Indulgence money.
If you act otherwise, I am blameless; the
responsibility is yours. I firmly believe that those who neglect the poor and
purchase Indulgences merit condemnation.
I shall tell you a great cause of annoyance
to me, viz. the busybodies have invented a new mode of attack, by circulating
everywhere that our Serene Prince is at the bottom of all I do, as if he caused
me to make the Archbishop of Magdeburg hated! Dear one, advise me how to act,
for I am deeply grieved that the Prince should come into ill-repute through me,
and I fear being the cause of dispeace between such great princes. But I shall
gladly permit the Prince to lead me into a disputation, or place me on my
trial, if he would openly give me a safe-conduct, but
I dislike the innocent Prince being blamed on my account. They are truly
perverse people who love the darkness and hate the light.
They have traversed three lands to lay hold
of John Reuchlin, and have dragged him hither against his will, while I am at
the door, and pleading to be taken, and they leave me alone and whisper in
corners that which they cannot defend. Farewell, and forgive
me for making so many words about this, for I am talking to a friend.
From our
cloister.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian. (Both free and bound in the Lord.)
Luther
laments the spread of his theses.
March 5,
1518.
To the
learned Herr Christoph Scheurl, my esteemed friend in Christ, my greeting! I
have received two letters from you, a Latin and a German one, nay good
Christoph, along with a present from that superior man, Albrecht Durer, and my
Latin and German propositions. You wonder I did not tell you of them. But I did
not wish to have them widely circulated. I only intended submitting them to a
few learned men for examination, and if they disapproved of them, to suppress
them; or make them known through their publications, in the event of their
meeting with your approval. But now they are being spread abroad and translated
everywhere, which I never could have credited, so that I regret having given
birth to them – not that I am unwilling to proclaim the truth manfully, for
there is nothing I more ardently desire, but because this way of instructing
the people is of little avail. As yet I am still uncertain as to some points,
and would have gone into others more particularly,
leaving some out entirely, had I foreseen all this.
From the rapid spread of the theses I gather
what the greater part of the nation think of this kind of Indulgence, in spite
of them having to disguise their opinions for fear of the Jews; still I must
have the proofs of my propositions in readiness, although I cannot publish them
yet, having been delayed through the Bishop of Brandenburg – whose advice I
asked – being so long in returning them. Yes, when the Lord grants me leisure,
I purpose issuing a book on the use and misuse of the Indulgences, in order to
suppress the before-mentioned points. I have no longer any doubt that the
people are deceived, not through the Indulgences, but through their use. When I
have finished these propositions I will send them to you.
Meantime, pray remember me to Albrecht
Durer, that excellent man, and assure him of my continued gratitude. But I
expect both of you to discard your exalted opinion of me, and not to expect more from me than I can render, for I am nothing, and can do
nothing, and am daily becoming more of a cipher. I wrote lately to Dr. John
Eck, to you, and to all the others, but fear you have not received the letter.
I am most anxious that the pamphlet of our highly esteemed vicar “Upon Love,”
which appeared the other day in Munich, and made such
sensation, should be reissued among you. For we all hunger and thirst after
love.
I commit you
to God.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther
complains of his opponents raging against him.
March 21,
1518.
The vendors
of Indulgences are thundering at me from the pulpit, so that their stock of
insulting epithets is exhausted. They tell the people that I shall be burned in
fourteen days – another makes it a month. They are also issuing
counter-propositions, so that I fear ere long they will burst with fury. I am
advised not to go to Heidelberg, so that they may not accomplish through deceit
and wiles what they are unable to achieve through force. But I shall render
obedience, and come on foot, and, if God will, pass through Erfurt; but do not
wait for me, for I shall scarcely be able to start till the Wednesday after
Quasimodo.
Our Prince, who devotes much time to the
study of this theology, and loves it, is a warm protector of Carlstadt and me,
and will not permit me to be lured to Rome.
They know this, and are furious at it. So
that you may not have an exaggerated account of the burning of Tetzel’s theses,
I shall tell you the facts. The students, who are heartily sick of sophistical
teaching and longing for the sacred Scriptures, are most favorable to me.
Having heard that Tetzel, the originator of them, had sent a man from Halle,
they immediately went and asked how he dared bring such things here. Some
bought a few, while others robbed him of several, and burned the rest – about
eight hundred copies – after proclaiming that the burning and funeral of
Tetzel’s answer to them would take place at the Market at two o’clock. And all
this was done without the knowledge of the Prince, the Town Council, or any of
us. We all think it very bad of our people treating the man so. I am innocent,
but feel certain I get all the blame. It has caused much talk, especially among
Tetzel’s followers, who are naturally very angry. I do not know how it will all
end, only it has placed me in a more perilous position.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
To Staupitz,
his Superior and Father in Christ Jesus.
March 31,
1518.
My greeting!
Although overwhelmed by business, I feel constrained briefly to address my
father in the Lord.
To begin with, I am quite willing to admit
that my name is in bad odor with very many. For these good folks assert that I
despise psalters and other forms of prayer, nay, even good works themselves.
But St. Paul himself was often treated in the same way, some accusing him of
saying, “Let us do evil, that good may come.”
But I have kept firm to Tauler’s theology
and that other treatise which you had printed through our Aurifaber. I teach
that man must trust solely in Christ Jesus – neither in prayer, merit, nor
works, but hope for blessedness only through God’s mercy.
It is from this that these people extract
poison and disseminate it everywhere, as you see. Only as it was neither good
nor bad report which made me act so, therefore I take no notice of all this,
although it is those things which bring down the hatred of the schoolmen about
my neck.
Because I prefer the mystical writings and
the Bible to them, their wrath and jealousy are unbounded. I do not read the
scholastics blindfolded, as they do, but ponder them. The apostle told us to
prove all things, and hold to that which is good. I do not despise all theirs,
neither consider it all good. But these creatures generally kindle a fire out
of a spark, and make an elephant out of a flea. When it was permitted to a
Thomas to stand out against the whole world, and a Scotus, Gabriel, and others
to contradict him, and when, even among the scholastics, there are as many
sects as there are heads, or rather every single head daily builds up a new
system of divinity, why should I not have the same liberty? But when God lifts
up His hand no one can stay it, and when He rests no one can arouse Him.
Farewell, and pray for me, and for the cause
of divine truth wherever it may be hidden.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther begs
his Vicar-General, who hated theological strife, to send his “Resolutiones” to
Pope Leo X.
May 30, 1518.
I remember,
reverend father, that among the many comforting words with which you consoled
me, was that of Repentance – that word with which the Lord Jesus in such a
marvelous manner was wont to strengthen His people. I received your word as a
voice from heaven. True repentance always begins with a longing after
righteousness and God. This your word pierced me like a sharp arrow, and I, at
once, began to compare the portions of Scripture which treat of repentance,
and, behold, what a treat was in store for me – the words with that meaning
crowding upon me, from all directions, so that this word, which up till now had
been the bitterest in the Bible to me, sounded dearer and sweeter than any
other. (Here follows an exhaustive analysis of the Greek for repentance, which
means a change of disposition – consequently not primarily of works, but a
revolution of sentiment.)
Then just as my heart was filled with such
thoughts, there began to resound around us proclamations of Indulgences for the
forgiveness of sins, but no exhortation to true
spiritual conflict with sin. In short, not a word was heard of true repentance, but the Indulgence-mongers were bold enough
to glorify and praise themselves, while hurling invectives against repentance.
I had to listen to all this lauding of self in a way hitherto undreamt of, and
certainly a most unimportant part of confession. In addition, they taught so
many godless lies boldly, that whoever differed from them was at once denounced
as a heretic, condemned to the flames, and counted worthy of eternal damnation.
Not being able to check their madness, I set myself modestly to throw doubts on
their teaching, confident in the testimony borne by the doctors and the whole
Church, who, from time immemorial, thought it better to repent than purchase
Indulgences. Having discussed the matter openly, I unfortunately roused the
opposition of all who are concerned about the dear gold, or shall I say, the
dear souls? For these dear folk are wondrous cunning, and being unable to
refute me, they declare the Pope’s authority will be injured through my
disputation. This is the traffic, most esteemed father, which compels me with
much personal danger to come to the front – I, who have ever loved obscurity,
and would vastly prefer being a spectator of the lively game which these worthy
and learned men are carrying on at present, than be the center of observation
and ridicule.
But I see weeds grow up among cabbage, and
black is placed alongside white, to make it more
attractive. Therefore I beseech you to forward my poor “Resolutiones” to the
good Pope Leo X., so that they may plead my cause with His Holiness against the
wicked intrigues of evil-disposed persons.
Not that I wish to lead you into danger, for
I take the entire responsibility of all I do. May Christ judge whether I have
said what is His, or my own, without whom even the Papal tongue can utter
nothing, and in whose hand is the heart of kings. I expect to receive Christ’s
verdict through the Papal throne. For the rest, I can only answer the warnings
of my friends with Reuchlin’s words: “He who is poor need fear nothing, for he
has nothing to lose.” I have neither gold nor possessions, nor do I desire
them.
If I had a good reputation and honor, I am
being robbed of them by Him who gave them. My useless body, weakened by many
hardships, still remains. If they deprive me of this in God’s service, they
only render me poorer by an hour or two of life. My sweet Redeemer is
sufficient for me. I shall praise Him all my life. May He keep you through all
eternity, my dearest father. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther writes
submissively to the Pope, in whose justice and love of truth he seems to have
implicit confidence.
May 30, 1518.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian monk, desires everlasting salvation to the Most Holy
Father, Leo X.
I know, most holy father, that evil reports
are being spread about me, some friends having vilified me to your Holiness, as
if I were trying to belittle the power of the Keys and of the Supreme Pontiff,
therefore I am being accused of being a heretic, a renegade, and a thousand
other ill names are being hurled at me, enough to make my ears tingle and my
eyes start in my head, but my one source of confidence is an innocent
conscience. But all this is nothing new, for I am decorated with such marks of
distinction in our own land, by those honorable and straightforward people who
are themselves afflicted with the worst of consciences. But, most holy father,
I must hasten to the point, hoping your Holiness will graciously listen to me,
for I am as awkward as a child.
Some time ago the preaching of the apostolic
jubilee of the Indulgences was begun, and soon made
such headway that these preachers thought they could say what they wished,
under the shelter of your Holiness’s name, alarming the people at such
malicious, heretical lies being proclaimed to the derision of the spiritual
powers. And, not satisfied with pouring out their venom, they have disseminated
the little book in which their malicious lies are confirmed, binding the father
confessors by oath to inculcate those lies upon their people. I shall not
enlarge upon the disgraceful greed, which call never be satisfied, with which
every syllable of this tiny book reeks. This is true,
and no one can shut his eyes to the scandal, for it is manifest in the book.
And they continue to lead the people captive with their vain consolation,
plucking, as the prophet Micah says, “their skin from off them, and their flesh
from off their bones,” while they wallow in abundance themselves. They use your
Holiness’s name to allay the uproar they cause, and threaten them with fire and
sword, and the ignominy of being called heretics; nay, one can scarcely believe
the wiles they use to cause confusion among the people. Complaints are
universal as to the greed of the priests, while the power of the Keys and the
Pope is being evil spoken of in Germany. And when I heard of such things I
burned with zeal for the honor of Christ, or, if some will have it so, the
young blood within me boiled; and yet I felt it did not behoove me to do
anything in the matter except to draw the attention of some prelates to the
abuses. Some acted upon the hint, but others derided it, and interpreted it in
various ways. For the dread of your Holiness’s name, and the threat of being
placed under the ban, was all-powerful. At length I thought it best not to be
harsh, but oppose them by throwing doubts upon their doctrines, preparatory to
a disputation upon them. So I threw down the gauntlet to the learned by issuing
my theses, and asking them to discuss them, either by word of mouth, or in
writing, which is a well-known fact.
From this, most holy father, has such a fire
been kindled, that, to judge from the hue and cry, one would think the whole
world had been set ablaze.
And perhaps this is because I, through your
Holiness’s apostolic authority, am a doctor of theology, and they do not wish
to admit that I am entitled, according to the usage of all universities in
Christendom, openly to discuss, not only Indulgences, but many higher
doctrines, such as Divine Power, Forgiveness, and Mercy.
Now, what shall I do? I cannot retract, and
I see what jealousy and hatred I have roused through the explanation of my
theses. Besides, I am most unwilling to leave my corner only to hear harsh
judgments against myself, but also because I am a stupid dunderhead in this
learned age, and too ignorant to deal with such
weighty matters. For, in these golden times, when the number of the learned is
daily increasing, and arts and sciences are flourishing, not to speak of the
Greek and Hebrew tongues, so that even a Cicero were he now alive would creep
into a corner, although he never feared light and publicity, sheer necessity
alone drives me to cackle as a goose among swans.
So, to reconcile my opponents if possible,
and satisfy the expectations of many, I let in the light of day upon my
thoughts, which you can see in my explanation of my propositions on
Indulgences.
I made them public that I might have the
protection of your Holiness’s name, and find refuge beneath the shadow of your
wings. So all may see from this how I esteem the spiritual power, and honor the
dignity of the Keys. For, if I were such as they say, and had not held a public
discussion on the subject, which every doctor is entitled to do, then assuredly
his Serene Highness Frederick, Elector of Saxony, who is an ardent lover of
Christian and apostolic truth, would not have suffered such a dangerous person
in his University of Wittenberg.
And also, the beloved and learned doctors
and magisters of our University, who cleave firmly to our religion, would
certainly have expelled me from their midst. And is it not strange that my
enemies not only try to convict me of sin and put me to shame, but also the
Elector, and the whole University? Therefore, most holy father, I prostrate
myself at your feet, placing myself and all I am and have at your disposal, to
be dealt with as you see fit. My cause hangs on the will of your Holiness, by
whose verdict I shall either save or lose my life. Come what may, I shall
recognize the voice of your Holiness to be that of Christ, speaking through
you. If I merit death, I do not refuse to die, for
“the earth is the Lord’s,” and all that is therein, to whom be praise to all
eternity! Amen.
May He
preserve your Holiness to life eternal.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Wenzelaus
Link studied in Wittenberg, and was afterwards pastor in Nurnberg.
July 10,
1518.
Our vicar,
John Lange, says that Count Albrecht of Mansfeld has warned him not to let me
leave here, as some great people have given orders
that I should be suffocated or drowned.
I am like Jeremiah, the man of strife, whom
the Pharisees daily tormented with new doctrines, as they called them. But I
have only taught the pure gospel, therefore I always knew that I would be a
stumbling-block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. But it would ill become
me not to do all this for the Lord Jesus, who says to all His people, “I will
shew him what great things he must suffer for my name’s sake!”
The more they threaten, the more confident and joyful I become: my wife and child are
provided for; my land, house, and all I have are in order, and if they rob me
of my good name, nothing remains but my miserable body.
From the beginning God’s word is on this
wise, that all who cleave to it must with the apostles be hourly prepared to
suffer the loss of all things, nay, even to meet death itself.
Were it not so, then it would be no word of
Christ, for it has been made known and spread abroad,
through the death of many, and will go on, being thus maintained and renewed
through manifold deaths. For our Bridegroom is a blood-stained Bridegroom.
Therefore pray that the Lord Jesus may
strengthen the confidence of His faithful sinners. I preached the other day
upon the tyranny of the officials and vicars, etc. The people marveled that
they had never heard anything of this before. We now wait to see what I shall
have to endure on this account. I have lighted a new fire, but the word of
truth does this also, the sign that shall be spoken against. I do not concern
myself about the faultfinders.
To Christ alone I shall defer in the
ministry.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Melanchthon
was only twenty-one when sent by Reuchlin to teach Greek at the Elector’s
request.
August 31,
1518.
To the
learned George Spalatin, my faithful friend in Christ, salvation!
What you wrote of our Philip has all come to
pass, and will also be verified in the future, as you know. The fourth day
after his arrival he gave a learned and eloquent address, to the delight of all
who heard him, so you need not laud him to us, for we have already formed the
highest estimate of his person and intellect, and are most grateful to the
Prince for conferring him upon us, and also for your services in the matter;
and see how skilfully you can praise him to the Prince.
So long as he lives I desire no other
teacher in Greek. I only fear that our coarse food will not suit his delicate
constitution, as I hear he is getting too small a salary, so that the Leipsic
people are already boasting that they will deprive us of him. For they wished
him at first.
I, and others, fear Herr Pfeffinger has been
too faithful a steward, as usual, to his Electoral Highness, in giving Philip
as little as possible. Therefore, dear Spalatin (I speak freely, for it is with
my best friend I talk), see that you do not lightly esteem his youth and boyish
appearance, for the man is worthy of all honor. And I do not wish that we and
our University should do such a mean thing, thereby causing our detractors to
speak evil of us. I send you my hurried opinion of the coarse and rude
Sylvestrum (high official in the Pope’s household), my sophistical opponent,
for I scarcely deem him worth my attention. I thank God and you for protecting
me and my cause.
Farewell, and
love me in Christ.
Martin
Luther.
Luther at the
Diet of Augsburg. Preached in Weimar before the Elector on the way thither.
October 11,
1518.
Salvation!
There is nothing new here, only every one is talking of Dr.
Luther who has lighted such a great fire.
Show yourself a man, and teach the young people what is right, but I go hence
to offer myself up for them and you, if God wills it.
For I will rather die
and be deprived of your dear society, hard as that would be for me to all
eternity, than be the means of ruining the liberal studies and elegant
learning, thus causing the enemy to triumph. Italy is, as Egypt was long ago,
enveloped in thick darkness, being entirely ignorant of Christ and all that
appertains to Him, and yet we must submit to them ruling over us, and teaching
us in their own way both faith and morals.
Thus does God manifest His wrath towards us
in the lament of the prophet, “I will give children to
be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.”
Farewell in the Lord, dear Philip, and turn
away the wrath of God through your fervent and earnest prayers.
Martin
Luther.
Augsburg.
Carlstadt had
never seen a Bible when he became Doctor of Theology in Wittenberg in 1510.
Later he destroyed the images in churches.
October 14,
1518.
May you have
all good for time and blessedness hereafter, esteemed Herr Doctor! I am pressed
for time, but shall write more again. My cause has
assumed a very dismal aspect these three days, so that I have lost hope of
returning to you, fully expecting to come under the ban.
For the Legate is determined I shall not
hold a public disputation, refusing to argue with me alone, and declares he
will not be my judge, but will treat me as a father. Nevertheless, the only
words he will listen to from me are, “I recant, and confess I have erred,” and
I was unwilling to say those words.
But the keenest discussion has been over
these two articles: First, that I have said that the Indulgence is not the
treasure (Schatz) of the merits of our dear Lord and Savior Christ; and the
next, that the man who desires to approach the Lord’s holy table must believe.
After the Legate had dealt with these
matters with a high hand, I have, through the intercession of many, got
permission to answer in writing. And if harshly dealt with by the Legate I
purpose publishing my answer to the two propositions, to let all see his
ignorance and tactlessness. For many heretical and extraordinary ideas proceed
from his standpoint regarding the two articles.
Although he may be a so-called Thomist, he
is a muddle-headed, obscure, and incapable theologian, or Christian, and as
incapable as an ass of judging this matter.
So, seeing my affairs are in such jeopardy
through having judges who are not only full of enmity and deceit, but unable to
understand my cause, I may well tremble. Be this as it may, God the Lord lives
and reigns, to whom I commit all, and have no doubt that help will come through
the prayers of God-fearing people. On these I rely as firmly as if they were offered
for me alone. Therefore, I shall either return to you uninjured, or seek refuge
elsewhere; so farewell. Continue steadfast, and exalt Christ with all
confidence.
I enjoy the favor of all men, except those
who cleave to the Cardinal, who calls me his dear son, and tells my vicar that
I have no better friend than he, and I know he would be highly pleased with me
if I would only say, “I recant,” but I shall not become a heretic, through the
change of opinion by which I became a Christian. I shall sooner die, be burned, banished, and persecuted.
Farewell, dearest sir, and show my letter to
our divines, Amsdorf, Philip, etc., so that they may pray for me, also for you.
For your cause too is being discussed here,
viz. faith in our Lord Jesus and in the grace of God.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Staupitz and
Link tried to allay the strife by getting Luther to yield, so Luther wrote this
letter to see what abject humility would accomplish.
October 17,
1518.
Highly esteemed
in God the Father! I approach you once more, not in
person, but in writing. And you will graciously lend me your ear.
Dr. Johann Staupitz has urged me to humble
myself, and give up my own opinions, submitting them
to the judgment of pious people whose characters are above suspicion, and he
has so lauded your fatherly love, that I am convinced that you are anxious to
do your utmost for me, and that I may commit myself to your loving care.
I rejoice to hear all this from the
messenger, for this man (Staupitz) is worthy of my confidence, for I know no
one whom I would more gladly obey.
My beloved brother, Dr. Wenzelaus Link, who
studied with me, has also tried to influence me in the same way.
I now confess, honored father, that I have
not been humble enough, and have been too vehement, not treating the superior
Bishop with sufficient reverence.
And although I had good cause for all this,
I now confess I should have been more gentle, and
treated His Eminence with more respect; but it is done, and I admit that it is
not always wise to answer a fool according to his folly, and thus become like
him.
I am very sorry for all this now, and plead
for mercy, and will point out all this now and again to the people from the
pulpit, as I have often done.
And with God’s help I shall henceforth be more careful how I speak.
Yes, I am quite ready to think no more about this traffic in Indulgences, and when things have
quieted down to return to my repose, but my opponents must also be compelled to
keep silence, for it was they who began the whole disturbance, and caused me to
interfere in the matter.
Your
Excellency’s submissive son,
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Luther left
Augsburg October 20, and on November 28 appealed from
the Pontiff to a General Council. Even Luther’s opponents admit this letter to
be a masterpiece of eloquence.
November 29,
1518.
Most Serene
and Gracious Lord! I have received with great joy a pamphlet from my dear
friend, George Spalatin, along with a copy of the esteemed Cardinal’s letter to
you, which gives me an opportunity of explaining all the details of my case to
your Electoral Highness.
I merely humbly plead that your Grace would
graciously listen to an insignificant, despised mendicant brother, and take my
uncouth relation in good part. (Here follows a particular account of his
dealings with the Legate in Augsburg.) Therefore I once more
beseech your Electoral Highness not to believe those who declare that Brother
Martin said what was not right, and taught what was wrong, without definite
proof that this was the case.
St. Peter erred even after he had received
the Holy Ghost, so a cardinal can also err no matter how learned he may be.
Therefore your Grace will, I hope, make it a
point of conscience and honor that they do not send me to Rome, for this your
Electoral Highness could not insist upon, let the man be what he may, for I
would not be safe in Rome. If your Grace did this it would be betraying an
innocent Christian’s blood, and becoming my murderer. Even the Pope is not sure
of his life for an hour. They have paper, pen, and ink in Rome, and notaries
enough, so it would be easy to write down in what I have erred. It would cost
much less to instruct me at a distance than to demand my presence, and make an
end of me through their cunning and wiles. One thing vexes me greatly, and that
is, that the Legate should sneeringly insinuate that I have acted as I have in
reliance upon your Electoral Highness; and some liars among ourselves falsely
assert that I undertook the disputation on the Indulgences by your Grace’s
advice, when the fact is, that not even my dearest friends were aware of it,
except the Cardinal of Mayence and the Bishop of Brandenburg.
For I admonished these two, whose office it
was to prohibit the scandal, most humbly and respectfully in writing, before I
let the disputation come to the light of day.
But now that the Legate is trying to stain
your Grace’s honor and that of the noble house of Saxony, and bring it into bad
repute with His Holiness, I will explain how they go about it. People nowadays
believe firmly that Christ is buried, and cannot now speak even through an ass;
hence they imagine that His disciples and their followers will also be obliged
to be silent, even should the stones cry out.
Therefore, that no evil may befall your
Serene Highness, which I do not wish, I shall leave your Grace’s land in God’s
name, and will go wherever the everlasting and merciful God directs, and shall
submit to His divine will, letting Him do with me as He will.
Herewith I bless and greet your Electoral
Grace, in deep humility, committing you to the merciful God, and thanking you
with all my heart for the benefits you have bestowed upon me. And wherever my
dwellingplace may be, I shall never to all eternity forget your Grace’s
goodness to me, or cease to pray earnestly for your Highness’s salvation and
prosperity.
At present I am full of joy and gratitude to
God, that His dear Son counted a poor sinner like me worthy to suffer
tribulation and persecution for His good and sacred cause. May He maintain your
Electoral Grace to all eternity. Amen.
Your Grace’s
unworthy chaplain,
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
The great
German humanist, who was the first to spread the knowledge of Hebrew in
Germany.
December 14,
1518.
The Lord be
with you, my valiant hero! I praise the mercy of God, which dwells in you, my
learned and esteemed sir, through which you have at length stopped the mouths
of those who spoke against you. Certainly you are an instrument of Divine
Providence, although you may not know it.
But those who have the cause of sacred
learning at heart have for long earnestly desired one such as you, and God’s
purposes were very different from what your actions would have led people to
suppose they were. I was one of those who greatly desired to be with you, but
the opportunity never presented itself. Still I have been ever with you, with
my wishes and prayers, but what was not possible for the young comrade has been
granted in rich measure to his successor.
I am now being attacked by the Behemoth, who
are anxious to avenge upon me the disgrace they have suffered at your hands.
Doubtless I am forced to encounter them with much feebler weapons of wit and
learning, but with as much courage and delight as you. They will have no
dealings with me, so determined are they only to use force against me.
But Christ lives, and I can lose nothing;
for I have nothing. However, the horns of these animals have rather lost effect
through your courage. For God has achieved this through you – that the lord of
the Sophists has found that the righteousness of God must be met with
gentleness, so that Germany, through the teaching of the Holy Scriptures,
which, alas, for so many hundred years has been smothered and suppressed, has
again begun to breathe. But it is presumptuous of me discussing matters so
confidentially with such as you. It is because I am so devoted to you – both
for yourself and your books. It was Philip Melanchthon, whom I am proud to call
my dearest friend, who persuaded me to write, saying you would not take it
amiss, however poor the production might be. So blame him if you do not
perceive that it is written to prove my devotion to you.
Farewell, my
much honored master.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Wittenberg.
Leo the X.
now sent his chamberlain, Karl von Miltitz, to gain over Luther, and they met
in Spalatin’s house in Altenburg. His Holiness also sent the “Golden Rose” to
the Elector Frederick by Miltitz, who persuaded Luther to write a conciliatory
letter to the Pope.
Luther
narrates negotiations with you Miltitz, whom the Pope had sent to convert this
son of Satan.
January 1519.
Most Serene
High-born Prince, Most Gracious Lord. It is really too bad that your Electoral
Highness should have so much annoyance through being involved with my affairs;
but seeing necessity and God have willed it so, I beseech you graciously to
take it in good part. Herr Karl von Miltitz pointed out yesterday the disgrace
and disturbance which have accrued to the Roman Church through me, and I have
offered to do all I can to atone for it. So I beg you to ponder the matter, as
I wish to do something.
To begin with, I shall do nothing more in
the affair, and let it, so to speak, bleed to death (if the other party are
also silent), for, if my writings had been allowed to circulate freely, the
whole thing would have died a natural death long ere now, for all are sick of
it. So see to it, for if this precaution be neglected, the matter may assume
alarming proportions, and disgrace ensue. For my weapons are ready. Therefore I
deem it best that there should be a truce.
In the second place, I shall write His
Holiness, and submit humbly to him, confessing that in the past I have been too
vehement, although I did not intend to injure the Church, but only to show the true reason of my opposition, in combating, as a faithful
son of the Church, the blasphemous teaching which has occasioned so much
mischief, and aroused the general indignation against the Roman See.
In addition, I shall issue a pamphlet
exhorting the people to cleave to the Roman Church, and be obedient and
respectful, and not consider this writing as tending to disgrace the Holy Roman
Church, but rather to exalt her; and I shall also admit that I expressed the
truth in a too vehement manner, and perhaps at an inopportune time. In the
fourth place, Magister Spalatin has proposed that the matter be referred to the
verdict of the Archbishop of Salzburg, along with other learned people, whose
reputation is above suspicion, while I keep to my appeal. But I fear the Pope
will not put up with a judge, and I, too, will not submit to the Pope’s
verdict.
So, if the first means fail, then the result
will be, that the Pope will draw up the conditions, and I shall supply the
glossary thereto. This would not be good.
I have also talked it over with Karl von
Miltitz, who does not think this would suffice, yet does not demand a
revocation, but wishes all to express an opinion on the question under
discussion.
If your Grace thinks I can do anything more, will you graciously tell me how to act? I shall gladly
do or suffer anything that I may not again have to enter the arena of conflict.
For nothing will come of the revocation.
Your
Electoral Highness’s obedient chaplain,
Martin
Luther.
The vehement
enemy of Luther and the Reformation, which seemed to him like revolution.
February 19,
1519.
My poor
prayers are ever at the service of your Royal Highness, Most Serene High-born
Prince, Most Gracious Lord! The worthy Dr. John Eck writes that he has besought
your Grace, graciously to permit a disputation in Leipsic, in your Grace’s
University there, with the excellent Carlstadt But seeing Dr. Eck professes to
desire the disputation with Dr.
Carlstadt, whose opinions he has scarcely
attacked, while he has combated my doctrines with all his might, I shall appear
myself in defense of my propositions, or to receive instructions in the better
way.
Therefore, I humbly request your Grace, out
of love for the truth, to allow this disputation. For the highly esteemed gentlemen of the University have just
written me, that they have promised Dr. John Eck (which I had heard) to refuse
my request.
They accuse me of having made known that a
disputation was to be held before I received your Grace’s permission thereto,
but my excuse must be, that I hoped I would not be denied what Dr. Eck was
boasting had been already granted to him.
I plead that your Grace will graciously forgive my offense. May God mercifully spare
and uphold your Highness. Amen.
Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient chaplain,
Martin Luther.
Wittenberg.
February 20,
1519.
My greeting!
I often reproach myself, my excellent Herr Doctor, for writing so seldom,
having received so many kind messages from you. But my excuse must again be the
mass of work which weighs me down.
Up till now our Eck has been able to
restrain his wrath against me, but now he is letting it have full scope.
God alone, who is in the midst of the gods,
knows what will be the outcome of this conduct. Neither Eck nor I am working
for ourselves alone. It seems to me as if all this proceeded solely from the
will of God. I often say that up till now it has only been child’s play. But
from henceforth I must proceed in earnest against the Roman pontiff and Romish
pride.
I commend to you, most warmly and in all
unselfishness, Udalrich, our Pindar, that excellent and learned man. You will
try to help him, seeing he is your compatriot, and speak highly of him to your
counsellors – perhaps they may deem him worthy of some assistance.
We hear that the Suabian league is rebelling
against the Duke of Wurtemburg. Melancholy outlook!
May God not rebuke us in His wrath, but
chasten us according to His tender mercy. Amen! Greet all our friends.
I herewith
commend you to God.
Martin
Luther,
Wittenberg.
Augustinian.
Luther’s
conciliatory letter to the Pope.
March 3,
1519.
Most Holy
Father. Necessity once more compels me, the most unworthy and despicable
creature upon earth, to address your Holiness. Therefore, would you, in
Christ’s stead, graciously bend your fatherly ear to the petition of me, your
poor sheep. The esteemed Herr Karl von Miltitz, your Holiness’s treasurer, has
been here, and complained bitterly to the Elector Frederick, in your Holiness’s
name, of my insolence towards the Roman Church and your Holiness, and demanded
a recantation from me.
When I heard this I felt aggrieved that all
my efforts to do honor to the Roman Church had been so misrepresented, and
considered foolhardiness and deliberate malice by the Head of the Church.
But what shall I do, most holy father? I am
quite at sea, being unable to bear the weight of your Holiness’s wrath or to
escape from it. I am asked to recant and withdraw my theses. If by so doing I
could accomplish the end desired, I would not hesitate a moment.
But my writings have become far too widely
known, and taken root in too many hearts – beyond my highest expectations – now
to be summarily withdrawn. Nay, our German nation, with its cultured and
learned men, in the bloom of an intellectual reawakening, understands this
question so thoroughly that, on this account, I must avoid even the appearance
of recantation, much as I honor and esteem the Roman Church in other respects.
For such a recantation would only bring it into still worse repute, and make
every one speak against it.
It is those, O holy father, who have done
the greatest injury to the Church in Germany, and whom I have striven to oppose
– those who, by their foolish preaching and their insatiable greed, have brought
your name into bad odor, sullying the sanctity of the sacred chair, and making
it an offense; and it is they who, in revenge for my having rendered their
godless endeavors abortive, accuse me to your Holiness as the originator of
their plots. Now, holy father, I declare before God that I have never had the
slightest wish to attack the power of the Roman Church or your Holiness in any
way, or even to injure it through cunning. Yes, I declare openly, that there is
nothing in heaven or on earth which can come before the power of this Church,
except Jesus Christ alone – Lord over all. Therefore do not believe those
malicious slanderers who speak otherwise of Luther. I also gladly promise to
let the question of Indulgences drop and be silent, if my opponents restrain
their boastful, empty talk. In addition, I shall publish a pamphlet exhorting
the people to honor the Holy Church, and not ascribe such foolish misdeeds to
her, or imitate my own severity, in which I have gone too far towards her, and
by so doing I trust these divisions may be healed. For this one thing I
desired, that the Roman Church, our mother, f9 should not be sullied through
the greed of strangers, nor the people led into error, being taught to regard
love as of less importance than the Indulgences. All else, seeing it neither
helps nor injures, I regard of less importance.
If I can do anything more
in the matter I am willing to do it.
May the Lord
Christ preserve your Holiness to all eternity.
Martin
Luther, Doctor.
Altenburg.
Luther
excuses himself for his discussion with Eck.
March 13,
1519.
My poor
prayers are always at the service of your Grace, Most Serene High-born Prince,
Most Gracious Lord.
God knows that I was most anxious that the
game should be at an end. So eager was I for this, that I kept my agreement,
even after your Electoral Highness’s chaplain, Herr Magister Spalatin,
forwarded some points to me, at the instigation of the Pope’s commissioner,
Herr Karl von Miltitz, and I left Herr Sylvester Prierat’s reply unanswered,
although there was much in it which would have been a good pretext for breaking
my resolution; but I refrained from doing so, even against the advice of my
friends – therefore our agreement made at Altenburg has
not been broken – that I would be silent, if my opponents would also be silent,
and this Herr Karl knows.
But now that Dr. Eck thus attacks me without
any provocation, seeking not only to disgrace me, but the whole University of
Wittenberg, it is not right that I should disregard such cunningly devised
assaults, and permit the truth to be held in derision. For, should my mouth be
bound, while every one else is free to speak, your Electoral Highness can well
believe that I shall expose myself to all manner of attacks from those who
might otherwise not have presumed to raise their eyes towards me. I am still
inclined to follow your Grace’s counsel and be silent, if others will do the
same, for I have other things to occupy me, and find no pleasure in such dissension.
But if this be not possible, I beg your
Grace not to be displeased with me, for my conscience will not allow me to
leave the truth in the lurch. For although in my disputation with Eck I shall
have to dispute the assertion that the Church of Rome is superior to all
others, I shall do so with the reservation of full submission and obedience to
the Holy See. May God graciously spare your Electoral
Highness. Amen.
Your
Electoral Highness’s most humble chaplain,
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Wittenberg.
Luther begs
to be allowed to build an addition to the cloister, and pleads for two cowls.
May 1519.
Most Gracious
Lord. We are compelled to build an addition to our cloister. We humbly begged
the councillors to do this, but have received no answer. Therefore we pray that
your Grace will graciously grant our request. I also beseech your Electoral
Grace to present me at the Leipsic Fair with a white and a black cowl.
Your Grace owes me the black cowl, and I
humbly plead for the white one. For two or three years ago your Highness
promised me one, and I have never received it, although Pfeffinger agreed to
it, but perhaps he has been deterred by other matters, or has delayed doing so,
as people say he is very unwilling to spend money. At any rate I had to procure
one, so up till now your Grace’s promise remains unfulfilled. In my present
need I now humbly beg for one – if the Psalter merits a black cowl, and if the
Apostle be worthy of a white one. Please let me have it, but do not depend
again on Pfeffinger giving it.
Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient chaplain,
Martin
Luther,
Augustinian
at Wittenberg.
Luther tells
his friend of his proposed disputation with Eck over the Pope’s supremacy,
which lasted from June 25 till July 15. In June Charles V. was elected Emperor
of Germany.
May 30, 1519.
To my beloved
friend in the Lord. You, above all, have a good right to marvel, nay, to be
offended, most honored father, that up till now I have not sent you a single
line. Although I am not without excuse for thus acting, I shall rather confess
my fault. Concerning your horse, I hope, through the mediation of our esteemed
vicar, you will have mercy on me.
For, without doubt, you presented it to God,
and not to me. I was delighted to hear from our vicar that we are soon to have
the pleasure of seeing you here again. I fancy you have already heard of my
proposed disputation at Leipsic, and other things as well. I am lecturing upon
the Psalms for the second time, and with good results. The town is crowded with
students, and Rome is longing for my downfall; while I laugh at their malice. I
hear that the paper Martin has been publicly burned there, and openly cursed
and condemned. I anticipate their wrath.
The Epistle to the Galatians is now actually
in the press – you will see it in a few days. In other respects we are peaceful
and contented here, and not so badly off as formerly. Our Heldt looks after
things well, but only kitchen matters, for he is always much concerned as to
what he is to eat and drink, and will continue so. I have read what you wrote
me about the tattler M–, but I am used to the sting of envy. The whole world
seems to be in motion, both physically and morally, and what the outcome will
be God alone knows. I predict murders and wars. God have mercy on us.
Farewell, and
pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther says
how despisers of the gospel should be treated.
August 26,
1519
Grace and
peace to my beloved brother in the Lord! Regarding what you have written to me,
my dear man of God, about these godless scorners – this is my opinion. Even as
no one can be compelled to accept the gospel, so no magistrate must suffer any
one to traduce it, but, if any one do so, the magistrate must have him up and
admonish him, and hear his reasons for acting as he does. If he can give none,
then he must be bound over to silence, so that the seeds of dissension may not
be sown. For whoever will speak against it must do so openly – the magistrate
being called upon to put down all private disputes with all his authority. This
is how we do in Wittenberg, and counsel others to do the same. From this you
will see that the magistracy dare not tolerate what you speak of in the
community. For it is nothing short of a secret scandal. Therefore call them out
to the light of day, so that they may either justify themselves or be vanquished.
Along with the Decalogue and the Catechism,
inculcate civil (burgerliche) and domestic virtues, and these ought most
frequently to be the subject topics of preaching, and the people be compelled
to attend, so that they may be instructed as to the duties of a subject and
social life, whether they approve of the gospel or not, to prevent them
becoming a stone of stumbling to others, by deliberately setting at naught
political laws. For if they live in a community they must learn the laws of the
same and obey them, even against their will. And they must do this, not only on
account of their possessions, but for the sake of their family. Christ, who
will sustain you, will teach you all else.
Martin
Luther.
This year
Luther issued the three great Reformation treatises:
I. “To the
Christian Nobility of the German Nation.”
II. “On the
Babylonian Captivity of the Church.”
III.
“Concerning Christian Liberty,” or “The Freedom of a Christian Man.”
Luther places
himself under Charles’s protection as being the defender of truth and
righteousness.
January 15,
1520.
Grace and
peace from our Lord Jesus Christ! Doubtless every one marvels, most gracious
Emperor, that I presume to write your Imperial Majesty. For what is so unusual
as that the King of kings and Lord of lords should be addressed by the meanest
of men? But whoever can estimate the enormous importance of this subject, which
so intimately concerns the divine verities, will not wonder.
For, if it be worthy of being brought before
the throne of His Majesty, how much more before that
of an earthly prince; for even as earthly princes are an emblem of the
heavenly, so it becomes them to follow their great example: viz. to look from
their heights upon the lowly of the earth, and “raise the poor out of the dust,
and lift the beggar from the dunghill.”
Therefore, I, poor miserable creature, throw
myself at your Imperial Majesty’s feet as the most unworthy being who ever
brought forward a matter of such importance.
Several small books I wrote drew down the
envy and hatred of many great people, instead of their gratitude, which I
merit: (1) Because against my will I had to come forward, although I had no
desire to write anything, had not my opponents, through guile and force,
compelled me to do so. For I wish I could have remained hidden in my corner.
(2) As my conscience and many pious people can testify, I only brought forward
the gospel in opposition to the illusions or delusions of human traditions. And
for so doing, I have suffered for three years, without cessation, all the
malice which my adversaries could heap upon me. It was of no avail that I pled
for mercy and promised henceforth to be silent. No attention was paid to my
efforts after peace, and my urgent request to be better instructed was not
listened to.
The one thing they insisted upon was, that
I, with the whole gospel, should be extinguished. Therefore seeing all my labor
lost, I appealed to the example of St. Athanasius, to see if perhaps God might not,
through your Imperial Majesty, support His cause. Hence, O lord, prince of the
kings of the earth, I fall humbly at your Serene Majesty’s feet, begging you
will not take me, but the cause of divine truth (for which cause only God has
put the sword into your hand) under the shadow of your wings, protecting me
till I have either won or lost the cause.
Should I then be declared a heretic I ask
for no protection, and only plead that neither the truth nor the lie be
condemned unheard. For this is only due to your Imperial throne. This will
adorn your Majesty’s empire! It will consecrate your century, and cause its
memory never to be forgotten, if your Sacred Majesty do not permit the wicked
to swallow up him who is holier than they, nor let men, as the prophet says,
“become as the fishes of the sea – as the creeping things that have no ruler
over them!”
I herewith commend myself to you, hoping for
all that is good from your Sacred Majesty, whom may the Lord Jesus preserve to
us, and highly exalt to the everlasting honor of His gospel. Amen.
Your Imperial
Majesty’s devoted servant,
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther
dedicates a little book of consolation to the Elector, for the comfort of
believers under disappointment.
February
1520.
Most Serene
Lord. Our beloved Savior has commanded us to visit the sick, liberate the
prisoner, and perform works of mercy towards our neighbor, even as our Lord
Himself set the example of marvelous love, in descending, from the Almighty
Father’s bosom, to share our captivity, and take our sins and weaknesses upon
Himself.
Whoever despises this most blessed type and
command will at the last day hear the words, “Go into everlasting fire: I was
sick, and ye did not visit me.”
This is my apology for compiling this small
book, so that I may not be accused of ingratitude in being unable to recognize
my Lord Jesus’ image, in the illness with which your Electoral Highness has
been smitten by my Lord God, and I cannot pretend not to hear God’s voice from
the person of your Grace, which says, “I am sick.”
For when a Christian is ill, it is not he
alone who suffers, but Christ our Savior, in whom the Christian man lives. As
Christ Himself says, “What you have done unto the least of my disciples ye have
done unto me.” And although this command of Christ refers to the whole human
brotherhood – still, it is specially applicable to our brothers in the faith,
and above all, must be exercised towards our friends and relatives.
Besides, it is incumbent upon me, with all
your Grace’s subjects, to sympathize in all your afflictions, as our head on
whom all our prosperity depends.
But I, who for many reasons am entitled to
look upon you as my protector, could, in my poverty, find nothing worthy of your
acceptance, till my dearest friend, George Spalatin, put it into my head to
prepare you a little book of spiritual consolation drawn from the Holy
Scriptures.
Therefore I present this booklet (Tafel) to
your Grace, which is divided into fourteen chapters. It is not a tablet of
silver, but a spiritual one, not to be placed in the churches, but in the
heart.
The first part consists of seven meditations
upon evil, trial, and disappointment; the second part also contains seven
meditations – upon prosperity and things pertaining thereto.
May your Electoral Grace, with your usual
princely benignity, graciously receive this my little treatise. And I humbly
commend myself to you.
Your
Electoral Grace’s humble servant,
Martin
Luther.
Encouraged by
the Elector’s gracious acceptance of his little book, Luther dedicated his
large German treatise, Sermon on Good Works, to his brother Prince John.
March 29,
1520.
Most Serene
High-born Prince, Gracious Sir. My humble service and poor prayers are ever at
your Grace’s disposal.
For long I have wished to show my devotion
to your Grace by offering you some of my spiritual wares; but always thought
them too insignificant for your Highness’s acceptance. But seeing my gracious
lord, Frederick, Herzog of Saxony, and Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire, etc.,
your Grace’s brother, received my little book so graciously, I presume once more on the royal blood, trusting you will not disdain my
humble offering, which I consider the most important of all my small books –
such a commotion having arisen on the great question of good works, through
which more deception is being practiced and more simple people are being led
astray than by any other means.
And our Lord Jesus has commanded us to
“beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves.”
Although I know that many despise my
poverty, and say I only make little books and sermons for the unlearned laity,
I am not upset by this. Would to God that I had devoted my whole life to the
improvement of one layman – I would have thanked God, and let my books perish.
I leave others to judge if writing many large books is a science, and tends to
the improvement of Christendom. If I desired to write large books, perhaps with
the Divine help I could do so, with better results than they could imitate me
in writing a little treatise. If we cannot all be poets, we would all like to
be judges. Gladly do I leave the honor of accomplishing great things to others,
and am not ashamed of writing and preaching German for the unlearned, although
not very qualified to do so. And it seems to me that if we had done this
hitherto Christendom would have derived no little advantage therefrom, much more than it has reaped from the large books and learned
discussions in the universities. Besides, I have neither asked nor compelled
any one to read my works.
I have served the people freely with what
God has given me, and whoever does not care for this can read something else,
which would not distress me greatly. For it is more
than enough if some of the laity, including those of high rank, demean
themselves to read my sermons. And if for no other reason, this is sufficient,
that your Grace appreciates such little books, being anxious to know more about good works and faith, and it behoves me to be as
useful as possible to you in this matter.
Therefore, I humbly beg your Highness will
graciously accept my good intentions, till, if God give
me the time, I shall publish an exposition of faith in German. On this occasion
I have tried to show how faith must be exercised in all good works, and how it
is the best work of all.
Again, if God will, I shall discuss the
question of faith, and how we should daily pray and practice the same. I
herewith commend myself to your Grace.
Your Grace’s
obedient chaplain,
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Wittenberg.
Luther’s
friend Amsdorf was Professor in Wittenberg, and later Bishop of Naumburg.
June 23,
1520.
The grace and
peace of God! Honored dear sir. The time to be silent is past, and the time to
speak has come, as we read in Ecclesiastes. I have put together some
observations, as we agreed upon, to place before the Christian nobility, to see
if God will help the Church through the laity, seeing the clergy, whose duty it
is, have become indifferent. I send this to your Excellence for approval, and,
if need be, correction. I know that I, poor despised creature, will be accused
of presumption in haranguing such exalted people upon such weighty matters, as
if there were no other than Dr. Martin Luther to espouse the cause of
Christianity and give advice to such learned men.
Perhaps it was decreed I should one day commit a folly in the eyes of God and
the world, and this is the time I have chosen, and if I succeed, I may at
length become Court fool, for I must verify the saying, “A monk must be present
at whatever is being done in the world.” More than once a fool has uttered wise
sayings, and wise people have often talked foolishly, as St. Paul says,
“Whoever will be wise in this world, let him become a fool.” So, seeing I am
not only a fool, but a sworn doctor of divinity, I am happy to fulfill my oath
in this foolish fashion.
Please apologize to those of ordinary
understanding for me, for I do not know how to gain the favor of the
intellectual, which I was wont long ago to desire so eagerly, but which I now
despise.
God help us not to seek our own, but solely
His glory. Amen. In Augustinian cloister.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther heard
from von Schaumburg that one hundred Franconian knights were ready to defend
him.
July 10,
1520.
I herewith
send the letter of the Franconian knight, Sylvester von Schaumburg, and should
like it alluded to in the Prince’s letter to Cardinal St. Georgio, so that they
may know, that although they banish me from Wittenberg with their ban they will
only make bad worse.
For, even in Bohemia, there are people who
will protect me, if I am exiled, against the enemy’s thunderbolts. And then
with such protection I might attack the Papacy still more
vehemently than I can from my theological chair in the Prince’s domain. Unless
God prevent, this will happen. So let them know that the reason I have not yet
attacked them is solely due to my great respect for the Prince and the
interests of the students in the University.
For me the die is
cast, and I despise Rome’s displeasure as much as her favor. I shall never be
reconciled to her, let her condemn or burn me as she will! But if I can get a
fire I shall publicly burn the whole Papal code, this serpentine piece of
treachery, and make an end of the humility I have hitherto displayed in vain,
so that the enemies of the gospel may no longer vaunt themselves on account of
it.
The more I think of the Cardinal’s letter
the more I despise those who, through cowardice and an
evil conscience, breathe out defiance with their last breath, trying to hide
their ignorance through violence. But the Lord, who knows I am a wicked sinner,
will conduct His cause through me, or some one else.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
July 30,
1520.
At first I
had no intention of writing you, most excellent sir, as Herr Schleupper, our
common friend, could tell you everything better than I.
For he knows all that is going on, only he
insisted I should send a line, so I obey. A great many pamphlets are being
issued against me in Germany and Italy, but it does not put me about, for they
are written by the most stupid of the stupid, who affront themselves through
their work. I am pretty well in body and mind, only I should like to sin less,
and yet I sin more and more every day.
The faction of the Dominicans are now
keeping quiet, for they were forbidden writing against me, but their place has
been filled by the Bishop of Bavaria.
If they overcome, they do so through
coarseness and audacity. I never read such stuff, for they do not mind whether
they win or lose. How sad for the people who have such wolves set over them!
But the Lord sees it, in whom may you find refuge.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Staupitz,
Lange, and Link all begged Luther to suppress his dangerous book, To the German
Nobility, but it was already in the press.
August 18,
1520.
If my little
book, that you, my father, name a trumpet (Posaune), is really so fierce, I
leave you and others to judge. No doubt it is vehement and fearless, but it
pleases many, and is not displeasing to our Court! I am no judge in this
matter. Perhaps I am the forerunner of our Philip, whose way I am sent to
prepare. We firmly believe here that the Papacy is the personification of Antichrist’s
throne, and feel we are justified in resisting their deceptions and wiles for
the sake of the salvation of souls. I declare that I only owe the Pope the
obedience due to Antichrist. Philip is marrying Catherine Crappin, and I am
blamed for promoting it. I did it for his good, and do not let the outcry
disturb me. May God give His blessing. I hate men’s
sins, and abhor the child of destruction, with all his kingdom of sin and
hypocrisy.
Farewell in
the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther
dedicates his treatise on the Babylonian Captivity to Tulich.
October 6,
1520.
Whether I
will or not I am becoming more learned daily, as the
esteemed doctors, time about, insist upon my taking up the cudgels. Two years
ago I wrote on the Indulgences, and now that the book is out I regret it.
For then I was steeped in superstition, and
thought the Indulgence not to be despised, as I saw so many enlightened men
take it.
But later, thanks to Sylvester and his comrades,
I saw the Indulgence was only pure deception of the Papal flatterers through
which faith in God was destroyed.
Therefore I would like the printers, and
those who have read the little book, to destroy it, and read instead what I
have written on this subject.
Eck and Emser opened my eyes as to the
Pope’s sovereignty; for although at first I maintained his right to the human
title, I now see that the Papacy is the kingdom of Babylon, and the tyranny of
Nimrod, the mighty hunter. I must now go and lecture on giving the sacramental
cup to the laity, and deny the seven sacraments, retaining only three –
Baptism, Repentance, and the Lord’s Supper, in all which the Roman Court has
imposed a miserable captivity upon the Church. The Indulgence is sheer tyranny
of the Roman flatterers.
Martin
Luther.
Luther had
seen the Papal bull condemning him. He sent the book on the Freedom of a
Christian Man to the Pope.
October 13,
1520.
To the Most
Holy Father in God, Leo X., Pope in Rome, all blessedness in Christ Jesus our
Lord! In consequence of the disputes in which I have been embroiled for three
years, through some worthless men, I have had occasion to look towards you, as
it is thought you are the cause of this dissension. For although I have been
driven by some of our godless flatterers to appeal from your Holiness’s
judgment to a general Christian Council, still I have never been so alienated
from you that I did not pray earnestly for the welfare of the Roman See. And I
declare I am not aware of ever having spoken of you except with great respect.
I have called you Daniel in Babylon, and any one can tell you how I stood up
for your innocence against your defamer, Prierias. Your good name has been far
too highly lauded by eminent men everywhere, to make it possible for any one to
attack it, however high he may be, so I am not fool enough to belittle him whom
every one praises. No doubt I have eagerly attacked my opponents for their
unchristian teaching; and in this I have Christ’s example, who speaks of His
enemies as serpents, “Ye fools and blind”; and St. Paul says, “Children of the
devil, full of all subtilty and all mischief,” and some false prophets he names
“dogs” and “deceivers,” etc.
Were any fastidious people nowadays to hear
such language they would say, “No one was so bitter as the Apostle Paul.” And
who are more so than the prophets?–Jeremiah cursing
the man who doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully.
Therefore, most holy father Leo, pray accept
my apology, and be assured I never attacked your person, although I confess to
having spoken against the Roman See, the Court of Rome, which not even thyself
can deny, that it has been a very Sodom, Gomorrha, and Babylon, and is, so far
as I can see, in a hopeless state.
Meantime, thou sittest, most holy father,
like a sheep among wolves, and like Daniel in the lions’ den, and Ezekiel among
scorpions. What canst thou do against such like? And even if there be three or
four pious and learned Cardinals, what are they among so many? God’s wrath lies
upon the Court of Rome, for it will not submit to a General Council, nor to
counsel or reform, so what was predicted of her mother may be fulfilled in her,
“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed,” etc. It should be thy
work, and that of the Cardinals, to put an end to this miserable state of
things; but the malady defies the remedies, the horse and carriage pay no heed
to the driver. I have ever regretted, thou pious Leo, that thou shouldst now be
Pope, when thou wert worthy of better times. The Roman See is not worthy of
thee – the Evil Spirit should be Pope, who rules more
than thou in this Babel. Oh that thou wert free, and could live from thy
paternal inheritance! Such a post should be reserved for Judas Iscariot and
such like, whom God has cast away. The Roman Court surpasses that of Turkey in
wickedness. Once it was a gate of heaven, now it is the very jaws of hell. This
is why I have attacked it so mercilessly, most holy Leo!
And my efforts not having been vain, the
Evil Spirit raised up John Eck, a special enemy of the truth, and persuaded him
to draw me unawares into a disputation at Leipsic, about a word I dropped as to
the Papacy – and all under the pretext of disputing with Dr. Carlstadt. And
then at Augsburg, when Cajetan, to whom I committed my cause, dealt so unjustly
with me, and after him came Karl von Miltitz, also sent by your Holiness, who,
after much running to and fro, tried to arrange matters, and it is at his
request, and at that of the Augustinian fathers, who will not believe the cause
is lost, if the holy father Leo would stretch out his hand to help, that I now
write to your Holiness. I long for peace that I may have quiet to devote to
better studies. I now plead that a limit may be set to
the flatterers, the enemies of all peace. It is needless to ask me to retract,
for I will not, nor can I suffer any interference with my expositions of
Scripture; because the Word of God must not be bound. If this be conceded I am
ready to do and suffer anything. Therefore, most holy father, do not listen to
the sweet music of those who tell thee thou art not a mere man, but a mixture
of God and man, who has everything at his disposal.
This is not the case. Thou art not lord over
all. For a Pope in whose heart Christ does not reign, instead of being Christ’s
viceregent – is Antichrist.
Perhaps it is presumptuous of me to try to
teach so exalted a personage, but I do it from pure love and a sense of duty,
for my neighbor’s good, and in this I follow St. Bernard’s example, when he
gave his book to Pope Eugene – a book every Pope should read.
In conclusion, and not to come empty handed
before your Holiness, I bring a little book, which came out with the sanction
of your name, in the fervent hope that it might be the beginning of better
times, and to let your Holiness see the sort of profitable work I love to
pursue, if your flatterers would give me leisure. It
is a tiny book (The Freedom of a Christian Man) in respect of paper, but it
contains the whole kernel of a Christian life. I am poor, and have nothing else
by which I can show my devotion to your Holiness, but thou requirest only
spiritual wares for your higher welfare. I herewith commend myself to your
Holiness, and may Jesus keep you to all eternity. Amen.
Luther does
not sign this, his third letter to the Pope, evidently not wishing the
consideration due to an Augustinian monk to be taken into account.
Luther
rejoices that Spalatin at length sees one cannot rely on man. The Pope’s Bull
reached Wittenberg on October 11.
November 4,
1520
Salvation! I
wonder how it is, my dear Spalatin, that you do not get my letters, for I have
written twice and got no answer. I am glad you now see that the Germans’ hopes
are in vain, and that you are learning not to trust in princes, and are
disregarding the world’s judgment whether it praises or condemns my cause. If
the gospel could be promoted or maintained by worldly powers God would not have
committed it to fishermen.
No, my dear Spalatin, it is not the work of
the princes and high priests of this world to protect the Word of God –
therefore I crave no one’s protection, for they would rather require to help
one another against the Lord and His Christ.
But I am sorry for those who have heard and
known God’s Word, for they cannot, without risking everlasting perdition, deny
or forsake the same, and it is much to be feared that many, with ourselves, may
be found among them – therefore let us pray for courage.
It is very hard to be of a different opinion
from all the bishops and princes, but it is the only way to avoid God’s wrath
and hell.
I would, if you did not so press me, commit
the whole business to God, so that He might arrange matters according to the
counsel of His will.
Do what the Spirit bids you, and farewell.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Wittenberg.
Luther
determined to stand by his appeal from an ill-informed to a better-instructed
Pope, in spite of Herzog George.
November 28,
1520.
To the
honored John Lange, Doctor of the Holy Scriptures in Erfurt, my friend in the
Lord.
My greeting! We rejoice over our Prince’s
return, and I beseech you, honored father, to pray for our cause. Herzog George
is foolish – very mad. We duly expect thunder and lightning from that quarter.
I am determined to stand by the appeal. I see troublous times ahead. May God
direct all well! We have read your Prince’s learned and judicious answer to the
Papal delegates, Aleander and Marinus, from which we see they have achieved
nothing in that quarter. I shall send them to you soon. This Aleander has been
mercilessly attacked in a witty lampoon because of his many vices. My writings
have been burned in Cologne and Louvain.
Farewell in the Lord. Our father vicar has
set off for Strenberg, under the escort of the lay brother Johannes.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
The Emperor
wrote to the Elector, asking him to bring Luther with him to Worms, to be
judged by learned men. On 10th December Luther burned the Pope’s Bull at the
Elster gate, Wittenberg, in presence of hundreds of students, who flung Eck and
Emser’s works into the flames, and then sang the “Te Deum.”
December 21,
1520.
You ask what
I shall do if the Emperor demands my presence. If I am summoned, I declare I
shall be borne thither sick, if I am not well enough to go, for if the Emperor
call me, doubtless it is God’s call.
But if they use force towards me, which is
probable, for they will not summon me in order to be enlightened, then the cause
must be committed to God, who still reigns – to Him who upheld the three youths
in the king of Babylon’s fiery furnace. But if He will not deliver me, then my
head is of no importance compared to the shameful death which was meted out to
Christ. For, in a matter such as this, neither danger nor prosperity must be
considered, – for we must only see that the gospel is not turned into ridicule
by the godless through our conduct – or that our opponents should be able to
boast that we had not the heart to confess, nor the courage to shed our blood,
for the doctrines we taught. May the merciful Jesus guard us from such
cowardice, and them from such boasting.
We cannot know whether our life or death may
be most beneficial to the gospel. You know that the truth of God is a rock of
offense set for the fall and rising again of many in
Israel. We have only to pray God that Charles’s reign may not be desecrated
through the shedding of my blood, or any one else’s, and as I have often said,
I would rather perish in Papal hands than have him and his entangled in this
matter. I know the misfortunes that befell the Emperor Sigismund through Huss’s
murder. He never after had any prosperity – dying without children – and his
name blotted out, while his consort Barbara became a reproach among queens. But
if it be decreed that I am to be delivered, not only to the high priests, but
to the heathen, the will of the Lord be done. Amen.
This is my opinion and counsel. You can
fancy anything of me but flight or recantation. I shall not flee, and much less
recant, if the Lord Jesus give me the power thereto.
For I could do neither without danger to holiness and the welfare of many
souls. Farewell, and be strong in the Lord. Wittenberg, on St. Thomas the
Martyr’s day, as many believe.
Martin
Luther.
This is the
year of Luther’s grand appearance at Worms, after which the Elector had him
spirited away to the Wartburg, where he began his greatest work, the
translation of the Bible.
January 25,
1521.
Most Gracious
Lord and Patron, Most Serene Prince! My poor prayers and most humble service
are ever at your Grace’s disposal. Having been informed, through your Highness,
of the opinions and intentions of His Roman, Imperial, and Spanish Majesty
regarding my affairs, I offer His Majesty and your Electoral Grace my most
humble thanks, and rejoice that His Majesty will espouse the cause which, if
God will, is that of God, a universal Christendom, and of the whole German
nation, and not that of a single man, much less mine. Therefore I am still
ready to do or leave undone all that is consistent with the glory of God and a
Christian’s honor, or whatever the Holy Scriptures command. So I humbly beseech
your Grace to beg His Majesty to provide me with a safe-conduct against all
violence, and to command that the matter may get a judicial hearing before
learned Christian men, lay and clerical, whose characters are above suspicion,
and who are well grounded in the Bible, knowing how to distinguish divine from
human laws, and that these men may be forbidden to proceed against me till it
has been proved that I have acted wrong. And as a worldly head of a sacred
Christendom is to preside over this Assembly, my opponents the Papists must
meantime cease raging against me in such an unchristian manner, laying snares
for my honor and life, before I am refuted or even tried. So, although hitherto
my anxiety has been mainly to save the honor of the gospel rather than my
unworthy self, I hope I shall henceforth be excused if I use means for my own
protection, as well as for the safety of the Divine Word. To enable me to do
this, I look confidently to the protection of the Emperor and your Electoral
Highness.
For I am ready, whenever I get a
safe-conduct, to appear at the Diet of Worms before learned, pious, and upright
judges, so that all may see I have not acted thoughtlessly, or sought worldly
honor or my own advantage, but obeyed conscience, as a humble teacher of the Holy
Scriptures, to the praise of God, and for the salvation of a common
Christianity, the good of the German nation, and the deliverance of a united
Christendom out of an abyss of tyrannical narrowness and blasphemy against the
Most High.
That your Electoral Highness, along with His
Imperial Majesty, may extend a loving, watchful eye over the troubled condition
of Christendom, is ever my earnest prayer, as is only the duty of a poor humble
chaplain and subject. At Wittenberg. On the day of St. Paul’s conversion.
Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient chaplain,
Martin
Luther.
The Pope
accused Staupitz to the Archbishop of Salzburg of being an adherent of Luther,
and Staupitz agreed to submit to the Archbishop’s verdict.
February 9,
1521.
I rejoice
that you have been assailed by Pope Leo X., and can now let the world see how
the cross which you have so often preached to others may be borne. For I do not
desire that wolf to derive more satisfaction from your
too complaisant answer than he should receive, else he would fancy that you
have repudiated me and mine when you suffer him to be umpire.
Therefore, if you love Christ, may this
letter lead you to recant, for all you have preached and taught up till now of
the mercy of God is condemned in this Bull.
And it appears to me that as you are well
aware of this, you cannot, without insulting Christ, appoint one of His
opponents as judge – one whom you see emptying the vials of his wrath against
the word of grace, – for it was your duty to rebuke him for such godlessness.
This is no time for cowardice, but for
raising the alarm when we see our Lord Jesus slandered and condemned.
Hence, as you admonish me to humility, so
much the more would I exhort you to pride. For, you
are far too humble, while I am too proud. This is a serious matter.
When we see the beloved Savior, who gave
Himself for us, being held up to derision everywhere, ought we not to fight for
Him, and offer up our necks for Him?
My dear father. The danger is greater than
many suppose. The gospel begins thus: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me
before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which
is in heaven.”
I would not be ashamed of being accused of
any vices, or being called an enemy of the Pope, if no one can accuse me of
keeping a godless silence when the Lord cries: “I looked on my right hand, and
beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared
for my soul” ( <19E204> Psalm 142:4). For I
hope, through the power of such a testimony, to be purified from all my sins.
And this is why I have so joyfully showed the horns against this Roman idol and
true Antichrist. For the Word of God is not one of
peace, but of the sword! Behold the simple teaching the wise! I write this in
all good faith to you; for I much fear that you will hover in suspense between
Christ and the Pope, although they are at open defiance with each other. But
let us pray that the Lord Jesus may destroy this child of perdition with the
breath of His mouth! So if you do not follow now, let me go on alone. If God
will, I shall not be silent as to this monstrosity.
Your declension has indeed vexed me not a
little, and showed me another Staupitz than he who was wont to preach free
grace and the cross. Had you acted thus before you knew of this Bull and
Christ’s reproach, it would not have grieved me so. Von Hutten and many others
write boldly on my behalf, and songs are being daily produced which will
certainly not be cause of rejoicing to that Babel. Our Prince is not only
acting judiciously and believingly, but is also steadfast. Philip f11a sends
greeting, and wishes you a greater and more joyous
spirit. Please greet Dr. Ludwig the physician, who has written very learnedly
to me. I had not time to write him, for I have to superintend three
printing-presses, all alone. Farewell in the Lord, and pray for me.
Your son,
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
March 10,
1521.
To the Serene
High-born Prince, John Frederick of Saxony, Gracious Lord. I have received your
Serene Highness’s gracious letter, with its comforting contents, with great
pleasure.
As I have been so long hindered through my
opponents’ attacks in expounding the “Magnificat,” I now take the opportunity
of sending these few lines with the little book.
I need not enlarge upon the causes of the
delay, which I acknowledge with shame, for it might wound the tender
susceptibilities of your Highness, whose heart is inclined to all that is good,
for the furtherance of which may God grant His grace. How important it is that
so great a prince, upon whom the welfare of so many depends, should be
graciously directed of God, for how much mischief may one left to himself do!
For although the hearts of all men are in
God’s hands, it is not without cause, we are told, that the king’s heart is in
the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water, He turneth it whithersoever He
will.
The actions of other men mostly affect only
themselves, at most bringing joy or sorrow to a limited number, but lords are
set over us who are intended to be useful or prejudicial to a larger or smaller
number of people according to the size of their land.
Hence God-fearing princes are called “angels
of God” ( 1 Samuel 29:9) in the Bible – nay, even
“gods” ( Psalm 82:6). On the other hand, wicked princes are called “roaring lions” ( Zephaniah 3:3), “dragons” ( Jeremiah 51:34), which
God Himself numbers among His four plagues: pestilence, famine, war, noisome
beasts ( Ezekiel 14:13-19).
Therefore it is most necessary that all
rulers should fear God, seeing they do not require to fear men, and should
recognize His works, and walk circumspectly, as St. Paul says. Now, I know
nothing in the Bible so well adapted for the instruction of the kings and
rulers of the earth, as well as for all, than this sacred song of the holy
Mother of God. It sings so sweetly of the fear of the Lord, and of His great power,
and of His mode of dealing with high and low. Let others delight in worldly
songs, but let princes and lords listen to this pure maiden singing her
spiritual, pure, and salutary song.
It is not inappropriate that this grand hymn
should be daily sung in all the churches at vespers, and should frequently at
other times be substituted for other hymns.
May this tender Mother of God have imparted
to me of her spirit, so that I may be able to expound in a practical manner her
song, from which your princely Grace, and all of us, may derive assistance to
lead a praiseworthy life, and afterwards to all eternity praise and sing this
everlasting “Magnificat.” So help us God. Amen. I herewith humbly commend
myself to your princely Grace, begging your Highness will graciously accept my
poor effort.
Your
Electoral Grace’s humble chaplain,
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther
promises to visit him at Erfurt.
March 29,
1521.
My greeting!
Next Wednesday or Thursday I shall visit you, most honored father, on my way to
Worms, with my spiritual escort Ehrenbold – if nothing prevents my coming to
Erfurt. Be sure to meet me on my way from Eisenach. Thanks for the ducats you
sent. You see from the enclosed treatise how I have welcomed my ass Emser.
Martin
Luther.
Spalatin was
so alarmed at Luther’s temerity, that when near Worms he sent a messenger to
him to remind him of Huss’s fate. Luther sent him back to say that he would
come to Worms if there were as many devils there as tiles on the house-tops.
April 14,
1521.
Health! We
come, my dear Spalatin, although Satan has tried to prevent me through illness.
For the whole way from Eisenach to here I have been very weak, and am still
much weaker than I ever felt before.
But I also perceive that the Emperor
Charles’s mandate has been printed in order to fill me with fear. But Christ
lives! and we shall enter Worms in defiance of the gates of hell and all the
powers of the air!
When once there we shall see what is to be done,
and Satan need not puff himself up, for we have every intention of frightening
and despising him.
So get a lodging ready for me.
Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Frankfort.
The
celebrated painter, and warm friend of the Reformation, who accompanied his
Elector, John Frederick, into banishment, and died at Weimar, in 1553.
April 28,
1521.
To the
excellent Meister Lukas Cranach, painter in Wittenberg. My dear co-sponsor and
friend, I commend you to God.
I shall submit to being hidden away, and as
yet do not know where. I would have preferred being put to death by the
tyrants, especially by the furious Herzog George, but was obliged to follow the
advice of friends, and wait my time.
They did not expect me to go to Worms, and
you all know how they kept faith with me, as to the conduct, demanding that my
writings should be delivered up.
I imagined His Imperial Majesty would have
assembled many doctors, who would have overcome me in a straightforward manner,
but they only cried, “Are the books yours?” “Yes.” “Will you retract them or
not?” “No.” “Then get away.” Oh, we blind Germans! How childishly we act –
imitating the Romans in such a pitiful way. f12 Greet your dear wife, my
co-sponsor, and say I hope she is well. The Jews must sing, Jo, Jo, Jo. Easter
day will come to us also, and then we shall sing “Hallelujah.”
But we must first suffer a little. “A little
while and ye shall not see me,” says Christ, “and again a little while and ye
shall see me.” I hope that it shall be even so now. But God’s will is the very
best, and may it happen here, even as in heaven. Amen.
Greet Meister Christian (the goldsmith) and
his wife, and thank the Town Council for the conveyance to Worms.
If Licenciate Feldkirche is no table, ask
Amsdoff to preach. He will gladly do so. I commend you to God, and may He keep
your hearts in peace in Christ, in presence of the Romish wolves with their
followers. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
FRANKFORT-
ON-MAIN.
Luther
relates proceedings at Worms.
May 3, 1521.
Most Gracious
Lord. Herr Rudolph von Watzdorf (the Count’s steward) begged me to send a
private account, of what happened to me at Worms.
To begin with, they did not expect me to
appear, for although I had a safeconduct I was condemned before I was tried,
and asked if I would disown my books. You know my answer. His Majesty,
indignant, wrote with his own hand, ordering the States to proceed against me,
as was seemly for a Christian Emperor and Defender of the Faith to act to a
hardened heretic.
I was admonished by some magnates of the
realm to submit my books to the Emperor and Diet, and was then summoned before
the Bishop of Treves, Elector Joachim, etc.
The Elector of Baden gave me a most
ingenious admonition, saying they did not intend disputing with me, but would
just admonish me in a brotherly way, begging me to consider what confusion had
arisen through me, and that I should honor the powers that be, and yield in
much – even although the authorities may at times have erred, and such like. I
said I was willing to submit my books, not only to His Majesty, but to the
least of his subjects, provided nothing should be decreed against the gospel,
and also that I had never taught any one to despise the authorities, and was
not attacking Pope or Council for their evil lives, but for false doctrine. For
where false doctrine is, there obedience has no sway.
I pointed out the article condemned in
Constance: “There is only one universal Church, which is the company of the
elect.” This being an article of our faith, I would not have condemned it. We
say, “We believe in one holy Christian Church.”
We must avoid offense in works, but cannot
in doctrine, for God’s Word is ever an offense to the great, the wise; and the
saints, even as Christ Himself was made of God, a sign
which was spoken against.
Therefore my Lord of Treves, in despair,
summoned Dr. Hieronymus Behns, Amsdorf, and myself. It was a miserable disputation,
their sarcastic allusions missing their aim entirely. I said the Christian must
judge for himself, even as he must live and die for
himself, and that the Pope was not umpire in spiritual things – God’s Word
being the property of all believers, as St. Paul says, and so we parted.
Once more Dr. Peutinger wished me to submit
my books to His Majesty, for I ought to believe they would come to a Christian
conclusion. When hard pressed, I asked the Chancellor if they would counsel me
to trust the Emperor and others, as they had already condemned me and burned my
books. Afterwards my Lord of Treves sent for me alone; for all through His
Grace was more than gracious, and brought up the old
topic, but I knew no other answer, and he dismissed me.
Then a count came with His Majesty’s
Chancellor, as notary, and bade me leave Worms, with a safe-conduct of
twenty-one days, and His Majesty would treat me as seemed good to him. I
thanked His Majesty, and said, “It has happened as the Lord willed. His name be
praised!” I was forbidden to preach or write on my journey, and promised all,
except to let God’s Word be bound.
And thus we parted. I am now in Eisenach –
but watch! They will accuse me of preaching at Hersfeld and Eisenach. For they
take it literally. I commend myself to your Grace.
Your
Excellency’s chaplain,
Martin
Luther.
Hastily
written in Eisenach on the day of the Holy Cross, 1521.
Luther writes
from the Wartburg.
May 12, 1521.
All hail! And
you, my Philip, what are you about meantime? Are you praying that my enforced
seclusion may draw down some great thing to the glory of God, and therefore I
wish to know if you approve of it. I feared it might look as if I were fleeing
from the conflict, but I thought it best to give in to
those who had arranged it thus. I long earnestly to encounter my enemies and
vanquish them in the strife.
While sitting here, I ponder all day long on
the state of the Churches as represented in the 88th Psalm. “Why hast Thou made all men in vain?”
What a dreadful picture of the wrath of God
is the cursed kingdom of the Romish Antichrist; and I lament my
hard-heartedness, that I do not weep rivers over the destruction of the
daughters of my people. Is there no one who will arise and plead with God, or
become a wall for the defense of the house of Israel, in those last days of the
wrath of God? Therefore be up and doing, ye servants (Dieher) of the Word, and
build up the walls and towers of Jerusalem till they close round about you. You
know your calling and gifts. I pray earnestly for you, if my prayers may avail
(which I hope they may). Do the same for me, and let us share this burden.
We are still alone upon the field. When they
are done with me they will seek you.
Spalatin writes that a terrible Edict has
been issued, making it a matter of conscience for every one to search out my
writings to destroy them. The Dresden Rehoboam rejoices, and is eager to promote such doings.
The Emperor has also been instigated to
write to the King of Denmark not to favor the Lutheran heresy, and my enemies
now chant, “When will he be destroyed, and his name perish?” Hartmann von
Kronenberg has renounced his pay of 200 ducats, and told the Emperor that he
will serve him no longer. I believe this Edict will have no effect, except with
the abovementioned Rehoboam, and with your neighbor who is afflicted with a
great love of honor. God lives and reigns to all eternity. Amen. God has
visited me with great bodily suffering. I have not slept all night, and had no
rest.
Pray for me, as this evil will become
unbearable if it go on increasing as it has hitherto done.
The Cardinal of Salzburg accompanied
Ferdinand, the fourth day after our return, to his bride at Innsbruck.
It is said Ferdinand was not greatly pleased
with his convoy, and neither was the Emperor, Spalatin writes. Write
particularly how things are going on with you. And may you be happy with your
wife. In the region of the birds.
Martin
Luther.
Amsdorf
accompanied Luther to Schloss Altenstein, near Waltershausen, where an armed
force captured him.
May 12, 1521.
Health! Grace
be with you! I wrote you all a few days ago, dear Amsdorf, but I listened to
counsel, and tore up what I had written, as it was not considered safe to send
letters. I have now written about the books and sheets to Dr. Hieronymus, and
am also writing to the Prior about them in this letter.
You will order what is necessary. God is
trying me sorely, but pray for me, because I always pray for you, that God
would strengthen your heart.
Therefore be of good cheer and proclaim the
Word of God with joy, as often as you have the chance. Tell me about your
journey, and what you heard at Erfurt. Philip has Spalatin’s letter to me. On the
day I was torn from you, I reached here
Here I sit, a free man among the bondmen.
Beware of the Rehoboam in Dresden, and the Benhadad in Damascus, your neighbor.
For a terrible Edict has been issued against us, but the Lord will laugh at
them! May you prosper in the Lord. Greet all our friends. In the region of the
air.
Martin
Luther.
Luther asks
his friend who lived with him in Wittenberg how the gospel was progressing
there.
May 12, 1521.
Health!
Although I believe that all I have written to Philip and the others has fallen
into your hands, still I seem to feel that since my departure my friends have
almost become strangers to me, which God forbid! So I write direct to yourself.
Accept my best love, and meditate on these words, “The servant is not greater
than his Lord.” Greet all your relations and your wife from me. The Lord be
gracious to her.
I am a wonderful prisoner, for I sit
willingly, and yet against my will here – with good-will, because it is the
will of the Lord; against my will, because I long to be free, in order to
defend the gospel, although not worthy of this honor. Wittenberg is hated by
its neighbors, but the Lord will laugh her enemies to scorn. Write about the
preaching, and what part each takes, so that I may know what to hope or fear
regarding the gospel.
But you that have been called to preach to
the children, see that you do it faithfully, and bear what. God lays upon you.
May you and yours prosper!
In the abode of the birds.
Martin
Luther.
A
comprehensive letter.
May 26, 1521.
Dear Philip –
I forget what I wrote in my sealed letter, so will just answer yours. I am
unwilling to answer Jacob Latomo, for I prefer peaceful studies, and it is most
annoying to have to reply to such a prolix and illwritten document.
I intended to expound the Epistles and
Gospels in German, but you have not sent me the postils, which are now in
print. I send you the psalm which was sung today at our great feast, which, if
the press is empty, you can print, for I worked at it just to occupy my time as
I had no books, or give it to good friends and Christian Aurifaber to read, or
place it in Amsdorfs hands. I do not grudge Dr. Lupino a blessed exit out of
this life, in which, would to God, we did not live. Still I feel his loss
deeply, and think of Isaiah’s words, “The righteous perisheth, and no man
layeth it to heart.”
Our OEcolampadius has been before us with
the Sermon on Confession, having written a bold treatise on that subject, which
will be a fresh trial to Antichrist and his crew. I fancied Spalatin would have
sent it to you, or I should have done so, with you Hutten’s letters to the
Bishops and Cardinals at Worms. I shall, if possible, supplement it with
something in German. I am surprised that the new husband in Cambray has so
fearlessly stepped into the fray. May God mix some pleasure in his bitter cup.
Why have you not sent me your Method of Teaching (Lehrart) now that it is
printed? I wish to know who fills my pulpit oftenest, and if Amsdorf is still
sleepy and idle? May God maintain and increase the progress of learning!
Amen. Do not be anxious about me, for I am
very well, but my weak faith still torments me. My withdrawal from the scene of
conflict is of no great moment; for, although glad to be excluded from the
heavy responsibility connected with God’s Word, yet for the honor of that Word
we would rather burn amid fiery coals, than rot solitary and half-alive, if it
were God’s will.
We have often talked of faith and hope, so
let us try for once to put our theory into practice, seeing God has brought it
all about, and not we ourselves. If I perish it will be no loss to the gospel,
for you far surpass me, and as Elisha was endued with a double portion of
Elijah’s spirit after his ascension, so may you be enabled to follow on. Amen!
Do not be troubled in spirit; but sing the
Lord’s song in the night, as we are commanded, and I shall join in. Let us only
be concerned about the Word. If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant! If
any man perish, let him perish! But we must see that no one can lay the fault
at our door. Let the Leipsic people boast; this is their hour. We must go out
from our land, and our kindred, and sojourn for a time in a strange land. I
still hope to come to you again; but if the Pope seize all who agree with me,
then Germany will raise a hue and cry. And the more he attempts this, the
sooner will he and his perish, and I reappear. God rouses many hearts, even
those of the populace, so it is not likely this business can be frustrated by
force, or, if they try to do so, it will become ten times as powerful as
before.
Murner is silent. What the he-goat (Emser)
will do, I know not, but I do not believe that you will write. You would be led
astray, which would be the bitterest news I could hear. So long as you and
Amsdorf, etc. are there, there is no lack of shepherds. Do not anger God by
speaking thus, and make us appear ungrateful. Would that all, even cathedrals,
had a fourth part of the teachers of the Word that you have. So thank God for
enlightening you. I have expended many words on you.
The Cardinal of Mayence has a hundred sworn
enemies, and Dr. Schifer is very ill with fever. Some say he is dead. A bishop
who was very hostile to me at Worms has come to grief. I have no other news,
for I am a hermit, a very monk without cowl and robe; you would see a knight
and scarcely recognize me.
Tell Amsdorf that the pastor in Hirschfeld
(Feldkirche), an upright man, has also married, so it is not you alone who have
a newly married provost.
I fear that the provost in Cambray may be
dismissed, and now that there may be other mouths to fill it would be serious.
If he can only believe that the Lord, the universal Shepherd, still lives, who
will not suffer even a bird to starve. Greet and admonish him, and I shall do
the same, so that all may rejoice together. By doing so you will do me a favor,
and it will be a joy to God, and a grief to the devil and his followers.
Your despondency is my greatest trial, your
joy is mine also; so live at peace in the Lord, to whom I hope you commit me
even as I do you. Maintain the Church of Christ over which the Holy Ghost has
made you bishops, but not gods. Give all my friends my love, of whom there are
many. You need not greet M. Eisleben, or the fat Flemmischen, for I am writing
them. But remember Johann Scherdfegeru, Peter Suaven, and all the church in
your house, Henricus Zutphen, and all the brothers.
I have written to the Prior. Also greet M.
Lucano and Christianum, Dr. Eschhausen, and whoever occurs to you. Just look at
this miserable paper which I have to use. Once more farewell!
In the region of the birds who sing
beautifully on the trees, praising God night and day, with all their might.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
dedicates his treatise on Confession to this knight.
June 1, 1521.
The grace of
God and peace in Christ be with you! We read, worshipful sir, in Joshua, how
God led the children of Israel into the promised land of Canaan, overthrowing
thirty-one kings with their towns, and no town save Gibeon was humble enough to
sue for peace. In Joshua, 11th chapter, it is written – “There was not a city
that made peace with Israel, save Gibeon: all other they took in battle. For it
was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in
battle, that he might destroy them utterly,” etc. The historian seemed to wish
to set them up as an example to our Papist-Bishops, and other spiritual
tyrants, who now see that the people are tired of their ways, the light of the
gospel having exposed their doings. And yet they will not humble themselves to
seek peace, and thus at last they perish. They blame me, and yet they must know
how I have often begged for peace, and offered to answer any questions, and
even went to a second Imperial Diet, but all has been of no avail.
In order not to be idle in my Patmos, I have
written an Apocalypse, which I shall send to prove my gratitude to you. It is a
sermon on Confession. In the next fasting time I shall issue a book of
instructions for young communicants, begging our spiritual Junkers and tyrants
to permit those simple creatures to enjoy it in peace, and showing them how
their tyranny has almost put an end to confession....
But they will not listen to reason – well –
well! I have seen more bubbles than they – and even once – a dreadful smoke,
which threatened to obscure the sun, but the smoke has vanished long ago, and
the sun still shines. I shall continue to declare the truth fearlessly. Neither
of us is yet over the mountain, but I have one advantage, I am single.
God make the truth victorious. I commend
Ulrich you Hutten and Martin Bucer to your Worship.
Given in my
Patmos.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
Spalatin some writings to be printed.
June 10,
1521.
All hail! I
have not only received your long epistle, dear Spalatin, but that of
OEcolampadius, and now send you the “Magnificat” complete, with the pamphlet on
Confession dedicated to Franz von Sickingen, which I should like printed first.
The 21st Psalm is off to the printers. See if no alterations be necessary, for
I do not yet know if I shall annex the 119th Psalm to something else, but I
shall decide when I hear what you all think. I must also answer Latomus of
Louvain, who makes so much of his lord the Pope.
I marvel greatly at OEcolampadius, not because
he is pleased with what I do, but that he is so full of joy, and so bright and
Christ-like. God maintain and strengthen him. I am at one and the same time
both idle and very busy.
I study Greek and Hebrew, and write without
ceasing. My present host entertains me much better than I deserve.
The illness from which I suffered in Worms
is worse, so that I almost despair of recovery. The Lord tries me sorely, so
that I may never be without the cross. His name be praised. Amen!
I am surprised that the Imperial Edict has
never been made public. It is said here that Schifer is dead, and has left a
million gulden to Dr. Carola. He would indeed be a bold Christian who would not
dread such a mountain of gold.
I have not replied to the young Prince’s
letter, seeing my abode is to be kept secret, so I must not betray it by
constant writing.
Pray earnestly for me, as I need nothing
else. I have everything in abundance. It is nothing to me how the world treats
me. I am here at peace. Farewell in the Lord, and greet all who ought to be
greeted.
From the isle
of Patmos.
Hinricus
Nesicus. [pseudonym. Nesicus = Unknown / Undefeated]
Luther blames
his friend for missing him so much.
July 13,
1521.
I am
displeased with your letter for two reasons: (1) Because you do not bear the
cross patiently, yielding to your emotions, as is your wont; (2) That you
ascribe so much to me, as if I alone could look after God’s concerns, for here
I sit, careless and idle, consumed by my fleshly desires.
Instead of being ardent in spirit I am the
prey of sinful appetites – laziness and love of sleep. For eight days I have
neither prayed nor studied, through fleshly temptations. If I do not improve I
shall go to Erfurt and consult the physicians, for I can endure my malady no
longer. And even God seems to tempt me, by making me wish to escape from this
wilderness. I shall not answer Emser; ask Amsdoff to do it, if he is not too
good for such filth. I shall put your apology for the Parisian asses with all their
drivel into German, with annotations. I wish you could issue OEcolampadius’s
book on Confession in German to annoy the Papists. I am also putting the
Gospels into German, and when enough are ready shall send them to the press.
When things are going so well with you I am not needed. Why do you not spare
yourself? I warn you always of this, but you remain deaf. As to the lawfulness
of the sword, I abide by my opinion. You expect me to quote a Gospel command on
the subject. I agree with you that no such command or precept is to be found in
the Bible. It would not be seemly that it should; for the Gospel is a law unto
the free, and has nothing to do with the rights of the sword, although such a
right is not forbidden, but rather praised, which does not apply to anything
merely permitted. For outward ceremonies are neither commanded nor commended in
the Gospel, even as too great carefulness about earthly things is not
considered justifiable. For the Gospel lays down no hard and fast rule in this
matter, for its domain is the spirit, and not the letter. But are they
therefore not to be used? Do not the necessities of this life rather justify
their use? Were all Christians – such ideas would be very well. If the sword
were sheathed, how long would the Church stand in the world, for neither life
nor goods would be safe. But what do you make of Abraham, David, and the saints
under the old dispensation, using the sword? And they were good men….
And strange to say, it is not forbidden in
the Gospel, but the believing soldiers who asked John for counsel were rather
confirmed in its lawfulness. I fear, dear Philip, I reap more satisfaction from
what I have written to you than you will derive from it. There is no passage in
Scripture where we are commanded to despise those in authority, but rather to
honor and pray for them. I wish Amsdorf much happiness upon becoming rich, but
it would bring him even more happiness should he prove willing to yield up an
apostle.
You have already enough, and I do not see
why you long so for me, or why my services are so necessary to you.
You lecture (leset), Amsdorf lectures, and
Jonas also. Dear one! Do you wish the kingdom of God to be proclaimed to you
alone? Must the gospel not be preached to others?
Will your Antioch not contribute a Silas,
Paul, or Barnabas to help the Spirit’s work? I tell you plainly, that although
I love to be with you, I would settle in Erfurt, Cologne, or wherever God might
graciously open a door for me, to proclaim the Word. One must not think of
oneself, for the harvest is great.
I know nothing of my return. You know with
whom that rests.
Spalatin writes that the Prince commands a
part of the Confession to be kept intact, at which I am much displeased.
Pray do not regulate your actions by the
will of the Court, which I have hitherto done.
The half would not have been accomplished
had I always listened to such counsel. They are only human like ourselves.
I shall make Spalatin speak out.
Such complaisance encourages our opponents
and shows our cowardice.
My best wishes for your health. This letter
has long been finished, but he who promised to take it has forgotten. All of
you pray for me. For I shall be immersed in sin in this solitude.
From my
desert.
Martin
Luther, Augustinian.
Luther
relates his experiences at a hunt.
August 15,
1521.
I have
received the third sheet of Confession, dear Spalatin, Philip sending it along
with the first; but the printing is execrable. Would that I had sent nothing
German. See he does not print my German postils, but rather returns what I have
sent you, and I shall get them done elsewhere. For why should I work so hard
only to have things turned out in so slovenly a manner? I should not like the Epistles,
etc., to be so sinned against, so shall send no more at present, although I
have ten large sheets ready, and till these shameless money-makers, the
printers, cease looking solely to their own interest, no more shall be sent.
Philip has sent me three sheets of Latomus, with which I am much pleased. I
wish Carlstadt would write in a more polished way against celibacy, for I fear
he will affront us. If he were only better adapted for the praiseworthy work he
has undertaken; for our opponents slander the very best that can be written, so
we must be careful not to bring discredit on the Word, for we are a spectacle
unto the world, as St. Paul teaches.
Perhaps I am mixing myself in things that do
not concern me; but what can be more dangerous than to incite people to
matrimony? I would like the question of matrimony left free according to
Christ’s command, but I am powerless in the matter. Do not trouble yourself as
to my bearing my exile patiently. It is all one to me where I am, if I am not a
burden to these people, but I fancy I live here at the expense of the Prince,
or I should not remain an hour longer if I thought I were consuming this good
man’s substance, although he supplies my wants abundantly. Try to shed light on
this, for he always declares it comes out of the Prince’s pocket. I am so
constituted that I worry incessantly for fear of burdening any one.
I followed the chase for two days last week,
to get a taste of the pleasures which fine gentlemen love so well. We caught
two hares and a few poor roes. Truly a worthy occupation for idle people! Amid
the nets and the dogs I pondered over theological matters. I could not but feel
sad at the deep mysteries which lay concealed beneath the gay scene. For, does
not the devil with his dogs, those godless teachers, bishops, etc., thus pursue
and take captive innocent creatures – those poor believing souls; but worse is
still to come. I had managed to save a poor hare, and hid it under my coat, but
the dogs discovered it, and bit its leg through the coat, and choked it, so we
found it dead. Thus do the Pope and Satan, despite my efforts, try to ruin
saved souls. I have had enough of this kind of hunting, and think it finer to
slay bears and wolves, and godless creatures such as these.
See that at Court you learn to hunt for
souls, so that one day you may find yourself in Paradise – a piece of game
which it gave Christ, the best huntsman, much trouble to catch and keep.
I have changed my mind and send the rest of
the postils. But let them be printed on good paper, with Lotter’s letters, for
it will be a large book, and I’ll spread it over the four quarters of the year,
so that it may not be too heavy. But it must not be as I wish, but as you can
arrange there. Let the MS. be returned to me. I know what Satan is after.
I wonder if my “Magnificat” will ever be
ready.
Farewell, and
pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
With this
letter Luther sends an exposition of the 37th Psalm.
Possibly in
August.
To the poor
little company of Christians at Wittenberg, Dr. Martin Luther sends grace and
peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ.
St. Paul, who preached in many places, and
now sat as a prisoner in Rome, never ceased to pray for those who had been converted
through his means, and to comfort them by his writings, to which his Epistles
bear ample testimony. Following his example, I cannot refrain from anxiety on
your behalf (seeing it is partly through me, poor creature, that it has been
revealed to you) that wolves may follow me into the sheepfold. And although, by
the grace of God, many have taken my place, which might make such anxiety
unnecessary, yet I cannot overcome it.
We are not worthy (I especially, alas) to
suffer anything for the truth, let alone having hatred, shame, reproach, envy,
and all manner of ignominy heaped upon us by the Papists. Had God not withstood
them, those bloodthirsty murderers of souls would have swallowed us up quick,
and torn us with their teeth. Till now they have merely called us Wycliffites,
Hussites, heretics, venting their wrath upon us by calling us evil names, and
attacking our Christian profession. But let them do it, dear friends. He is
above – the Judge of all! We may rejoice that so far we have never dreaded the
light, as they do – even as an evil conscience trembles before a law court. It
must be a great trial to them that I have three times appeared before my
enemies to testify of our faith: First at Augsburg, before the Cardinal; then
at Leipsic, before those who would gladly have extinguished us, and yet their
rage and cunning were of no avail; and now at Worms, where bishops and doctors
did their best to get me to recant.
But God enabled me to resist the efforts of
princes and dignitaries, so that I withstood all their power.
Had it been otherwise, I should have been
ashamed of my German land, allowing the Papal tyrants thus to befool us. But we
all know that the devil was at the bottom of it. Now, I do not boast of these
three appearances, as if the glory were ours; but to acknowledge the grace of
God in order to trust Him at all times.
And, as I do not pretend to be St. Paul, who
out of the abundant riches of his spirit could comfort his spiritual children,
I have taken it upon me to put into German the 37th Psalm, which is full of
consolation, and send it to you, it being so suited to our circumstances, for
it exhorts us to “cease from anger, and forsake wrath,” assuring us “that yet a
little while, and the wicked shall not be.” Certainly our enemies resemble
those who are rebuked in this Psalm, and we are comforted. For we, who by God’s
grace cleave to the Scriptures, are those who are feared and hated by those who
blaspheme the truth. But let them! Had they been worthy of the truth they would
long ago have been converted through my numerous writings.
I teach them; they revile me. I pray for
them; they despise my prayers. I scold them; they scorn me. What more can I do?
for Christ says, “As he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him;
he clothed himself with cursing like as with a garment.” What does not belong
to heaven, no one can take into it, although he tore it into pieces. But that
which is destined to get in shall enter, in spite of the efforts of the whole
army of devils to prevent it. But we must pray for the poor little company who
are being led astray by them, that they may be delivered out of the claws of
the murderer of souls at Rome, and of his apostles. I commit you to God, and
may your faith and confidence be graciously preserved in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Amen. (Exposition of 37th Psalm follows.)
I send you this Psalm, dear friends, for
your consolation and instruction, according to St. Paul’s precept, “Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, staging and making melody
in your heart to the Lord;” “Giving thanks always for all things,” etc. I send
this for the benefit of those who are weak in the faith; for, as to the strong
ones among you, I would rather learn from them. Therefore take comfort and
remain steadfast. Do not be alarmed through the raging of the godless; for, God
be praised, we have beaten them so far that they can only rage, which shows
they are ignorant of divine things; and the longer they act thus the blinder
they become, and display their folly all the more.... I commend you to God.
Pray for me. I do not concern myself about my enforced absence from you. By
God’s grace I am as courageous as ever. Be of good cheer, and fear no one. The
grace of God be with you. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
congratulates him on his marriage.
November 1,
1521.
Grace in
Christ! Your letter, dearest Gerbel, written before Ascension, only reached me
at Michaelmas, and this is All Saints’ Day. When will it reach you? Perhaps
before next Ascension Day, or the Greek Kalends – never.
You see the cause of my silence. I risk much
in writing. Attribute all to the hidden will of God. I hope you have already
received an answer from others to your anxious inquiries as to my condition.
I have withdrawn from our common cause by
the advice of good friends – very unwillingly, it is true, and uncertain as to
whether I had acted rightly towards God. For my part, I fancied one was bound
to sacrifice his neck in the universal fray.
But this was not desired, so I was borne off
by horsemen, in the disguise of a knight, on my way from Mohra, and placed in a
secure spot, in reigned imprisonment, where I am treated royally. But believe
me, in this solitude, with nothing to do, I am the prey of a thousand devils.
It is much easier to fight a devil in the flesh (men) than evil spirits in
heavenly things (or under heaven). I often fall, but the right hand of the Most
High raises me again.
So, willingly as I would strive for freedom,
I shall remain where God has placed me. It is not safe to send you my writings,
therefore I have written to Spalatin to arrange this. Meantime I have written a
treatise against Antichrist, also one on Confession in German, and have sent it
as a letter of consolation, with an exposition of the 37th Psalm, to the Church
in Wittenberg.
Philip has issued a pamphlet against the
Parisians which I have translated into German. This too is printed.
I am writing a German Exposition of the
Epistles and Gospels, which will be printed all through the year. I have also a
public castigation of the Cardinal of Mayence ready because of the Indulgences,
which he has once more erected in Halle; and in addition, a disquisition on the
gospel of the ten lepers: all in German.
I am born for my Germans, whom I desire to
serve. I should like to write openly against the universities, but as yet have
decided upon nothing.
I have made up my mind not to expound
Matthew.
I had begun to lecture upon both Testaments
in a popular manner in Wittenberg, and had reached the 32nd chapter of Genesis,
and in the Gospels had got to the voice of John the Baptist. At this point my
voice was quenched. Now that is all you wished to know.
Give my best love to your dear one, and I
hope that she may love you dearly, and that you too may love her.
It is good that your former state of
celibacy, with all its accompanying evils, has been replaced by marriage.
Endure all that this condition of God’s
appointment brings with it, and thank God. I am daily gaining more insight into
the godless lives of the unmarried of both sexes, so that nothing sounds worse
to me than the words monk, nun, priest, for I regard a married life of deep
poverty as paradise in comparison. Greet Brunsfels, Caspar Urzigereum, and all
Evangelicals from me.
From my
hermitage.
Martin
Luther.
Luther tells
his father that he is now free from his monkish vows, and sends him his book on
the Vow.
November 21,
1521.
To his dear
father, Hans Luther, from Martin Luther, his son.
My reason for dedicating this book to you
was not to honor your name before the world, thus disobeying St. Paul’s
admonition, not to seek honor after the flesh, but to explain its contents.
It is almost sixteen years since I took the
monk’s vows without your knowledge or consent. You feared the weakness of my
flesh, for I was a young fellow (Blut ) of 22 (I use Augustine’s word) and full
of fire, and you know the monkish life is fatal to many, and you were anxious
to arrange a rich marriage for me. And for long this fear and anxiety made you
deaf to those who begged you to be reconciled to me, and to give God your
dearest and best. But at last you gave way, although you did not lay aside your
care; for, I well remember telling you I was called through a terrible
apparition from heaven, so that, when face to face with death, I made the vow,
and you exclaimed, “God grant it was not an apparition of the Evil One that
startled you.” The words sank into my heart as if God had uttered them, but I
hardened my heart against it, till you exclaimed, “Hast thou never heard that
one should obey his parents?” In spite of this most powerful word I ever heard
out of a human mouth, I persevered in my own righteousness, and despised you as
being only a man.
But were you then unaware that God’s command
must be obeyed first of all? Had you been able, would you not then have
exercised your paternal prerogative, and dragged me from beneath the cowl? Had
I known, I would have suffered a thousand deaths rather than have acted as I
did. For my vow was not worth such deception.... But God, whose mercy is
boundless, has brought about great good through my errors and sins.
Wouldst thou not rather have lost a hundred
sons than not have beheld such marvelous blessing? Satan must always have
foreseen this, for he has poured out the whole vials of his fury upon me....
But God willed that I might learn the wisdom
of the high schools and the sanctity of the cloisters for myself....
Dear father, do you ask me to renounce
monkish orders? But – God has been before you, and has brought me out
Himself... and has placed me, as thou seest, not in the miserable, blasphemous
service of monachism, but in the true divine worship, for no one can doubt that
I serve God’s Word.
Parental authority must yield before this
divine service; for, “whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy
of me,” says Christ. Not that parental authority ceases with this; but where
Christ’s authority clashes with that of parent’s, the latter must give way.
Therefore I send you this book, from which
you will see how miraculously Christ has redeemed me from my monkish vows, and
endowed me with such freedom, that although I am the servant of all men, I am
subject to Him alone. For He is my sole Bishop, Abbot, Prior, Lord, Father,
Master! I know no other. I trust He has deprived you of your son, so that,
through me, He may help the sons of many others, and prevent you rejoicing
alone.
I know you will do no more in this matter.
Although the Pope should assassinate me, and cast me into hell, he cannot raise
me up again to slay me once more. For should he condemn me, and burn me, my
heart and will shall still stand out against his absolution. I hope the great
day is approaching when the kingdom of wickedness will be cast down and
destroyed. Would to God we were considered worthy to be burned by the Pope,
that our blood might cry out for vengeance, and thereby hasten his end.
But, if not worthy to testify with our
blood, let us cry to Him alone, and plead for mercy, so that through our life
and voice we may bear witness that Jesus alone is our Lord and God – blessed to
all eternity. Amen. In Whom may you be blessed, dear father – and the mother –
thy Margaret, along with our whole connection – all of whom I greet in Christ
Jesus.
From the
wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
Out of
deference to Spalatin and the Court, Luther had kept back his book against the
idol at Halle, but now tries to stop the scandal.
December 1,
1521.
My services
are ever at your disposal, esteemed lord! Doubtless your Electoral Grace
remembers that I wrote you twice in Latin. First when those lying Indulgences
were issued, under your Grace’s name (October 31, 1517), warning you against
those corrupt, money-loving preachers, and their heretical books. And although
I could have traced the whole uproar to your having given your sanction to the
publication of these books, still I have spared your Grace, and the House of
Brandenburg, fancying your Highness did it out of ignorance, led astray by
false flatterers, whom I attacked as you know. But my faithful admonition was
turned into ridicule, and my services repaid with ingratitude instead of
thanks.
The other occasion (February 4, 1520), I
humbly begged to be instructed by your Grace, in answer to which I received an
unkind, unbishop-like answer, referring me to a higher tribunal for
instruction. Although these two letters produced no effect, I send a third
warning, in German, to see if this perhaps uncalled-for petition may avail.
Your Grace has again set up the idol at Halle, which robs poor simple
Christians both of their money and their souls. Perhaps you fancy you are safe
because I am out of the way, and that His Majesty will extinguish the monk. I
do not object; but shall do what Christian love demands, and pay no attention
to the gates of hell – not to speak of the popes, cardinals, and bishops. I
shall not hold my peace when the Bishop of Mayence declares it is not seemly to
instruct a poor monk who begs to be enlightened, and at the same time knows how
to deal with money. The dishonor is not mine, but must be sought elsewhere.
Therefore, I humbly request that your Grace would prove yourself to be a
bishop, and not a wolf, permitting the poor flock to be robbed. You know that
the Indulgence is sheer knavery, and that Christ alone ought to be preached to
the people. Your Electoral Highness must remember out of what a tiny spark this
great fire arose – the whole world fancying that one poor beggar was too
insignificant for the Pope to meddle with. God still lives, and no one need
doubt that He can overcome the Bishop of Mayence, whose end no one can
foresee....
Therefore I openly declare that unless the
Indulgence is done away with, I must publicly attack your Grace, as well as the
Pope – tracing Tetzel’s former excesses to the Archbishop of Mayence, and
letting the world see the difference between a bishop and a wolf. If I be
despised another will appear who will despise the despisers, as Isaiah says.
And it is time to rebuke the evil-doers, that offenses may be driven from the
kingdom of God.
I also beg your Grace to leave the married
priests in peace, and not rob them of what God has given them, else a cry will
arise that the bishops should first take the beam out of their own eyes, etc.
So I beg your Grace to take care, and permit me to keep silence, for I have no
pleasure in your Highness’s shame and disgrace; but if you are not, then I, and
all Christians, must stand up for the glory of God, even although a Cardinal
should be plunged in disgrace. I expect your Grace’s answer within fourteen
days. f19 If not, then my book against the idol in Halle will appear; and if
your Grace’s counsellors should try to prevent its circulation I shall use
means to hinder this. May God endow your Electoral Highness with grace to do
the right. From my desert.
Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
A fragment.
Probably written after Luther had been in Wittenberg. He disapproves of their
way of reforming abuses.
Perhaps
December 1521.
I cannot
always be with you. Every one must die for himself, and look forward to the
pangs of departure alone, for no one can counsel or help. I shall not be with
you, nor you with me. Whoever is then able to overcome sin, hell, and the devil
is blessed – whoever cannot do so is accursed. But no one is able to do so
unless during life he has learned to appropriate and practice the consolations
and maxims of the gospel against sin. The soul only takes with it what it has
received in the world, and nothing more. No one can resist the devil until he
has come to a knowledge of Christ, and knows that it was specially for him
Christ died, because God desired his salvation. In that case that soul must
become blessed, although all the devils were dead against it. We were all born
sinners, and ruined through Adam’s fall, so that we can do nothing but sin,
being in bondage, and “are by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
These innovations have been accompanied by
attacks on the mass, pictures, and the sacrament, and other lawless
proceedings, which destroy faith and love, thereby wounding the tenderest
feelings of many pious people, which is surely the devil’s work.
Doubtless it would be a very good thing were
such changes made, were it generally desired, and no one objected. But this
will never be the case. We cannot all be so learned as Carlstadt, therefore we
must give in to the weak, else those who are strong will run into all excesses,
and the weak who cannot keep up with you will perish. God has been very
gracious to you in Wittenberg, giving you the pure Word, so you should have
patience with those who never heard it, or where is your love?
We have many brothers and sisters in
Leipsic, Meissen, and elsewhere, and these we must take to heaven with us.
Although Herzog George, etc., are very angry with us at present, still we must
bear with them, and hope for the best. They may become better than we.
You have gone about the business in a way of
which I cannot approve, using your fists, and if this happen again I shall not
take your part. You began without me, so carry it on without me. What you have
done is wrong, no matter how many Carlstadts approve of it.
You have injured the consciences of many who
have taken the sacrament, and attacked it, tearing down pictures, and eating
eggs and meat. You are to blame for this, and yet you consider yourselves
Christians, and better than others.
Believe me, I know the devil well, and he is
at the root of all this, and has led you to attack the sacrament, etc., so that
he might injure God’s Word, and meantime faith and love are forgotten.
Now we shall examine the nature of the
things which have been done in my absence. There are things which God has
commanded, and these must be kept, for no man, be he pope or bishop, has power
to alter them. Other things God has left free to us, such as eating, drinking,
marrying, etc. God has not forbidden these. Popes and bishops have tried to
deprive us of this freedom, by setting up priests and monks, to whom marriage
is forbidden, appointing fast days, and suppressing true fasting, thereby
leading many to the devil, of whom St. Paul says, “In the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of
devils.... forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,” etc.
For no magistracy nor any man has power to
change the Word of God, therefore anything popes or bishops may ordain is of no
account whatever.
Still, one must not insist upon these free
things being carried out to the letter. When the Pope says, “Thou shalt not eat
meat or eggs on Fridays,” then it is a sin to do so; but if it be anything
vital, you must resist, saying, “How shall I eat, for you have forbidden what
God permits?” Deal thus with the obstinate, but be kind to the weak, feeding
those who are young in the faith with milk, even as a new-born babe is fed on milk
to begin with, afterwards getting soup, bread, and cheese. And it is the same
with weak Christians. Leave your neighbor alone till he too becomes strong, and
thy equal. When St. Paul was with the Jews he suited himself to them, and when
with the Gentiles he lived as a Gentile. In these open questions act according
to the circumstances.
If a sick person cannot eat fish, then he
gets meat. If Rome permits this for money, I may do it when necessary without
payment. It is the same with marriages and such like. But the kingdom of heaven
does not consist in eating and drinking. St. Paul says, “If meat make my
brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my
brother to offend.” So, no one must go against God’s Word – whether he be Pope,
Bishop, Emperor, or Prince. Listen to this simile. The sun has great brilliancy
and heat. Its brilliancy neither Emperor nor King can avert, so the Word of God
can no one hinder; but one can escape from the hot rays of the sun into the
shade, and this is what love does when it yields to its neighbor.
I would do even as much for my enemies (in
the hope of their conversion) and for the weak, and would think nothing of
wearing this cowl if it would do them any good.
Martin
Luther.
The first
intimation Luther gives of putting the New Testament into German.
December 18,
1521.
I do not
approve of the stormy breaking up, for you might all have parted in peace and
friendship. You who propose attending the Imperial Diet, see that you defend
the gospel.
I shall remain here in seclusion till
Easter, and write postils, and translate the New Testament into German, which
so many people are anxious to have. I hear you also are occupied therewith. Go
on with what you have begun. Would to God that every town had its interpreter,
and that this book could be had in every language, and dwell in the hearts and
hands of all. You will get all the rest of the news from the Wittenbergers. I
am, God be praised, sound in body and well cared for, but much tried by sins
and temptations. Pray for me, and go on prospering.
From the
wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
Concerning
monastic vows.
December 20,
1521.
Grace and
peace! Most excellent Wenzel, I am delighted that my answer to the Catherinas
pleased you, for I value the verdict of an upright man.
But remember, whoever starts with good
premises cannot repudiate the conclusions to which they lead, and the results
you now see in this cloister.
For if it be contrary to the gospel that one
sin in the use of meats, etc., what would become of vows, cloisters, kingdoms,
etc.? Whose obedience would you compel? Whom would you recall, after quitting
the cloister?
Whom would you accuse as a disturber of the
peace, when you are bound over to teach that such freedom or license is no sin?
You perhaps ask my advice in this matter, and I tell you that you do not
require my counsel. For I know you will undertake nothing, nor permit anything
that is in opposition to the gospel, although all the cloisters should be
destroyed.
I am indeed deeply displeased at the stormy
upheaval of which I have heard. For they should agree to let them leave in
peace, but perhaps this may be the punishment of unrighteous vows, wickedly
cast aside, so that what was bound together through an evil unanimity might be
abruptly severed. But to recall them does not seem to me expedient, even
although they have not acted wisely. And I do not believe you can forbid it.
But if there are some still who wish to
leave the cloister, it would be best not to retain this chapter (capital), and
following the example of Cyrus, give those who wish to leave their freedom
through a public edict, without expelling any, or forcing any to remain.
But meanwhile you will continue to share the
government of this Babel with Jeremiah. For I should like the dress and usages
of the order to be retained. I see no other way, for I do not wish to represent
a lawless body, or to be a ringleader of unrighteousness. If you read my pamphlet
on the Vow you will find my opinions.
I was in Wittenberg, but did not dare enter
the cloister.
You must help us, for the times and God’s
cause demand this. I must admit that unheard-of things are happening, but it is
against our will.
This is clear as the sun to me. In addition,
you have Philip Melanchthon, and others, whom you can easily ask for counsel.
For we would like if you retained the capital (chapter) at Wittenberg.
Where our dearest Father Staupitz is I do
not know. But I hear he is at the Court of the Salzburg god.
I compassionate the excellent man; still you
may give him my love. For, from my writings, he must already have seen who I am
and what I am doing.
I am busy at the Church postils and the
German translation of the Bible.
Farewell.
From the wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
Pope Leo X.
died. The German Hadrian succeeded. Luther returned to Wittenberg, March 7, and
preached against image-breaking, etc.
Luther
informs him why he was about to leave his Patmos.
January 17,
1522.
Health! I
have received all, my Spalatin, even the packet, although rather late. It is
not because of the Zwickau prophets I have come, nor will they influence me in
the least. But I do not wish our people to put them in prison.
Rumors have been set afloat as to the
Eulenbergers regarding innovations in the Lord’s Supper. I was so angry that I
determined to go to Wittenberg and see for myself, but I am daily hearing far
more important things.
Therefore, if God will, I shall soon return,
if not to Wittenberg, certainly elsewhere, or wander about.
I do not wish the Prince to be anxious about
me, although I wish he had my faith, or I his power. If so, doubtless he would,
without bloodshed, extinguish the smoking firebrands.
The unhappy Herzog George acts in this
matter, even as He who is terrible in His judgments towards the children of men
has determined. He cannot see that his rancor against this party is pure
hatred. May the Lord have mercy on him, if he be worthy of it.
See that our Prince does not soil his hands
with the blood of the Zwickau prophets. Farewell, and pray for me. Neither the
Bishop’s nor Capito’s letters please me, because of their duplicity. I have
written to Faber that I know his spirit. I grieve over the destruction of the
pictures, because I became surety for their preservation.
From the
wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
admonishes the Elector to steadfastness and patience.
End of
February or March.
To my Most
Gracious Lord Frederick, in my own hand. Grace and prosperity from God the
Father to the new relic! Such is my greeting to you, most gracious lord,
instead of sending you my sympathy. Your Electoral Highness has for long been
trying to procure sacred relics from all lands, but God has now granted your
desire, and without money or trouble has furnished you with a cross, fully
equipped with nails, spears, and scourges.
Once more, I repeat, prosperity from God to
the new relic. Do not let your Highness fear, but stretch out your arms
cheerfully, and let the nails be firmly inserted; nay, give thanks and be
joyful, for thus must it be with all who love God’s Word – they must put up
with the rage of Annas and Caiaphas, and remember that Judas, too, was an
apostle, and Satan appeared among the children of God.
Your Grace must only be wise and prudent,
and not judge according to human wisdom, nor with respect of persons…. And
above all, do not despair, for Satan has not accomplished what he meant to do.
If your Grace would only believe a fool like me; for I am too well acquainted
with such like assaults of Satan to fear them, and that vexes him greatly. As
yet it is all pretense. Let the world raise a hue and cry, let those who fall,
fall –even if it be St. Peter and the apostles – they will reappear on the
third day when Christ rises from the dead.
For 2 Corinthians 6 must be fulfilled in us,
“As chastened and not killed.”
Your Electoral Highness will take this in
good part; for, in my great haste, the pen has run away with me, and I have no
more time, for I am anxious to be there myself, if God will. Your Electoral
Grace must not trouble with my affairs.
Your
Electoral Highness’s humble servant,
Martin
Luther.
Written in
Borna on the way to Wittenberg, in answer to a letter from the Elector, trying
to dissuade Luther from coming. His courage is displayed.
March 5,
1522.
To the Serene
High-born Prince Frederick, Elector of Saxony, etc. Grace and peace! Most
gracious lord. Your Electoral Grace’s writing and kind remembrance reached me
on Friday evening, the night before I began my journey. That your Electoral
Highness had the best intentions towards me is manifest. And this is my answer.
Most gracious lord, I herewith desire to make it known that I have not received
the gospel from men, but from heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ, so that I
may well (which I shall henceforth do) glory in being able to style myself a
servant and evangelist.
That I desired to be cited before a human
tribunal to have my cause tried was not because I had any doubts as to its
truth, but solely because I wished to allure others. But now that I see my
great humility only serves to abase the gospel, and that Satan is ready to occupy
the place I vacate, even if it be only by a hand-breadth, my conscience compels
me to act differently. I have done sufficient for your Grace this year in
remaining in my forced seclusion. For the devil knows it was not done out of
fear. He saw into my heart, when I came into Worms, that although I had known
there were as many devils ready to spring upon me as there were tiles on the
house-roofs, I would joyfully have sprung into their midst.
Now Herzog George is far from being equal to
one devil, especially seeing the Father has, out of His loving-kindness, made
us, through the gospel, joyous lords over all the devils and death itself, and
has permitted us to call him beloved Father. Your Grace can see for yourself
that it would be the greatest insult one could pay to such a Father not to
trust Him entirely, showing that we are lords over Herzog George’s wrath. Were
things in Leipsic as they are in Wittenberg, I would nevertheless ride in, even
if it were to rain Herzog Georges for nine days, and each was nine times more
vehement than this one is. He looks upon my Lord Jesus as a man of straw.
But I confess I have often wept and prayed
for Herzog George that God would enlighten him. And I shall once more weep and
pray for him, and then never again.
And I beseech your Electoral Highness to
help me to pray that we may be able to avert the judgment which is hanging over
him continually.
I write all this to let your Grace see that
I come to Wittenberg under higher protection than that of the Elector, and I
have not the slightest intention of asking your Electoral Highness’s help. For
I consider I am more able to protect your Grace than you are to protect me;
and, what is more, if I knew that your gracious Highness could and would
protect me I would not come.
In this matter God alone must manage without
any human intervention.
Therefore he whose faith is greatest will
receive the most protection. So, as I see your faith is very weak, I cannot
regard you as the man who could either protect or save me. And seeing your
Grace wishes to know how to act, as you seem to fancy you have done too little,
I would respectfully inform you that you have already done too much, and must
now do nothing at all. For God will not suffer your Electoral Highness’s or my
worrying and activities. He wishes it to be left to Him, to Him and no other,
so let your Grace act accordingly.
If your Electoral Highness believes this,
then he will be in security and peace; if not, I do and must allow your
Electoral Grace to be tormented by care, which is the portion of all who do not
believe.
Therefore, seeing I decline to follow your
Grace, then you are innocent in God’s sight if I am taken prisoner or killed.
Your Electoral Highness shall henceforth act thus regarding your duty towards
me as Elector. You must render obedience to the powers that be, and sustain the
authority of His Imperial Majesty with all your might, as is only seemly for a
member of the Empire, and not oppose the authorities in the event of their
imprisoning or slaying me. For no one must oppose the authorities except He who
has instituted them; for it is rebellion against God.
But I hope they will be sensible, and
recognize that your Electoral Highness is born in a higher cradle, and should
not be expected to wield the rod upon yourself.
If your Grace abide by the Electoral
safe-conduct, then you have done enough to show your obedience. For Christ has
not taught me to be a Christian to the injury of others.
But should they command your Grace to lay
hands on me yourself, then I shall say what to do.
I shall protect you from injury to body,
soul, and estate because of my affairs, whether your Grace believes it or not.
I herewith commit you to the mercy of God,
and shall discuss things when necessary. I have written this hurriedly, so that
your Grace may not be upset by my arrival; for I must rather be a comfort to
every one than occasion of injury if I wish to be a true Christian.
I am dealing with a very different man from
Herzog George, with one who knows me well, and whom I do not know at all badly.
Were your Grace only to believe he would see the glory of God, but as he has
not yet believed, he has seen nothing. To God be love and praise to all
eternity.
Amen.
Given at
Borna by my escort.
Your Electoral
Grace’s obedient servant,
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s
touching letter to the pious lawyer in Strassburg.
March 18,
1522.
I take it for
granted, my beloved Gerbel, that you got my letter from the desert through
Philip, but although you have not answered it, I cannot let your good clerk
return without a few lines from me, to send you my love and beg for your
prayers. For Satan rages as well as those about me, and threatens me with death
and hell, and tries to destroy my flock. Therefore I cast myself alive amidst
the fury of Emperor and Pope to try to drive the wolf from the fold, and my
only protection is from above, while I dwell among my enemies, who can destroy
me any hour. But Christ is Lord over all, the Father having put all things
under His feet, even the wrath of Emperor and devils. If He wishes me to be
killed let them do it in His name; but if not, who then can destroy me?
Cleave to the gospel with fervent prayer,
for Satan wishes to root out the gospel and deluge Germany in its own blood.
And he will do it, for no one is ready to
stand as a wall towards God for the house of Israel, and because of our deep
ingratitude in proclaiming the gospel only in words, not sweetened by love. So
let all pray earnestly, for danger is ahead, and the devil means to assail us
with incredible cunning and all his might. May you be happy with your beloved
wife, and greet all our friends.
Martin
Luther.
March 28,
1522.
Greeting!
Without doubt you did not leave the cloister without good reasons for doing so,
although I wish you had risen above all reasons. Not that I dispute your right
to do so, but because I do not wish to give our opponents occasion for
slandering us, even as St. Paul preached the gospel in Achaia without being
chargeable to any man, thus retaining his apostolic freedom, etc. But I remind
you of all this too late. When I have time I shall write to the Church in
Erfurt, although you and yours far surpass us in knowledge of the Word. But the
power of the Word is either very faint or quite latent within us, else we
should not be so cold, hardened, bold, quarrelsome, and drunken. In short, the
old tokens of Christian love are not visible, St. Paul’s words being inverted,
“We have the kingdom of God in words, but not in power.” I cannot come to you,
for it is not right to tempt God by needlessly running into danger, especially
as I have enough here; being attacked through the Papal and Imperial Edict, and
enjoy as much freedom as the birds of the air, whose only protection is God
Almighty. I see that many of our monks leave the cloister for the same reason
they enter it, viz. to indulge their sensual appetites, through which Satan
brings the gospel into evil repute. But they are idle creatures, so are better
to go to ruin without the cowl than beneath it. Greet all friends, for I do not
know who may be with you just now. Carry our cause and the life of our Elector
to the Lord in prayer, else I fear he may not be able to hold out long. And if
this our head were away, there might be an end to the salvation which God may
give to our Syria.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther wishes
names of precious stones.
March 30,
1522.
All hail! I
send you the letter you were expecting, my Spalatin. I cannot remember what I
wrote to Herzog John Frederick, except that I advised him not to introduce
innovations unless it could be done without giving offense to the weak, and
that all must be done in love. I wrote the same to Herzog Karl.
I have not only translated the Gospel of St.
John in my Patmos, but the whole of the New Testament, and Philip and I are now
busy correcting it, and, with God’s help, it will be a splendid work. Meantime
we need your help, to find out proper words, therefore be ready to supply us
with the common terms for some things we require, but not those used at Court,
for this book is to be written in the simplest language that all may understand
it; and so that I may begin at once, send the names of the precious stones
mentioned in Revelation chapter 21, and would that you could get permission
from Court to let us have the loan of some to see what they are like.
I am busy with a treatise upon the gospel
method of receiving the sacrament, and although it is a most troublesome piece
of work, yet I am not afraid. Christ lives, and for His sake one must not only
be a sweet savor in them that are saved, as well as in them that perish, but
also be willing to be slain for Him.
Farewell, and
greet all at Court.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther sends
letters from the Low Countries about good works.
April 14,
1522.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I herewith send you what Jacob, the Prior of Antwerp, who
was delivered by a miracle, and is now with us, brought me from the Netherlands.
I have received the New Testament up to St. John’s last sermon, with other
things.
I fancy Amsdorf has answered your inquiries
as to good works; for one single passage lights up the whole. An evil tree
cannot bring forth good fruit. For as the fruit can never make a tree good, so
works can never make a man pious. On the contrary, according to the tree, so is
necessarily the fruit; thus it is after the man is pious that good works
follow, not that they make him good, but they prove that he is good. So what
the Bible says concerning good works must be thus understood, that the man does
not become good thereby, but that they testify he is good. Therefore, at the
last day Christ will cite good works in proof that those who practiced them
were pious. Farewell, and pray for me. There is nothing new here except the
Chancellor of Baden’s booklet against me, because I exposed him for twisting my
meaning to the Bishop of Trier, as you are aware.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther
recommends Gabriel Zwilling (Didymus), formerly Augustinian monk in Wittenberg,
as preacher in Altenburg.
April 17,
1522.
Most
excellent Gentlemen and Friends. The grace and peace of God and my most willing
service be with you! Honored sirs. I was glad to receive your letters about a
pastor, and to see how eagerly you long for the Word of God. Therefore I am
most willing, and consider it my duty to give you any assistance and counsel I
can.
There is one called Gabriel, now in Dueben,
who is considered an excellent preacher with much experience, so I would advise
you to take him. No doubt some feel a slight aversion to him, because he left
the order, and now goes about in the dress of an ordinary priest, but it was
well that he should come out, so that many might have the benefit of his
ministration, to the edification of their souls. If you do not feel shy of him
on this account, then I do not know how I can advise you better. And I have
written him to place himself at your disposal, so that you may see him and
judge for yourselves. But if you are not pleased, there are still two secular
(weltliche) priests here, capable men; so if your Excellencies let me know, I
shall help you to get one or other of them. Were it possible I would rather
come to you myself, to satisfy your ardent longings, than see you at a loss.
But if you get Gabriel you have no need of
me. I herewith commit you to the grace of God, who can enrich you with faith
and love through His Holy Word.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther
advises him to accept the call to Altenburg.
April 17,
1522.
Grace and
mercy from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
The Town Council of Altenburg asked me to
recommend an Evangelical pastor to them; so if you are chosen, accept the call,
looking upon it as a call from God. For I have recommended you to them.
So I plead in the name of the Lord Jesus,
who through me and Philip calls you to accept it. Go thither in peace, and may
you be a blessing to many thousands. But see that you behave in a circumspect
manner, going about in an orderly priest’s dress; and for the sake of the weak,
do away with that broad angular monstrosity of a hat, remembering that you are
sent to those who must still be fed with milk-till they are freed from the
meshes of the Pope; and this you cannot achieve without the Word, as I have
often told you, and which you will see in the last small book I have issued.
The Father desires to draw people to Himself
through Christ, not to coerce them through ordinances of ours. One must first
instill in them a hatred of all godless ways. Then godlessness will fall away
of itself, without compulsion. A love and longing for purity must first be
implanted-then piety will follow, and the kingdom of heaven will suffer
violence, and the violent will take it by force. The Lord give you wisdom and
understanding, that you may be a worthy servant of His Son, and may He bless
you in the proclamation of His Word. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
him a specimen of his translation of the Bible.
May 10, 1522.
All hail! I
send you the beginning of our Bible, but on no account let it be printed. I am
expecting the precious stones, which we shall take the greatest care of and
faithfully return. Also pray ask Bernard Hirsfeld to petition His Electoral
Highness to persuade his Chancellor to remit a certain sum, which our Prior is
due upon a valuable possession, and for which I am security, till we can pay
it. And there has been no remission of interest. And now that it is not
customary to beg (for the cloister), we are 300 florins a year poorer. Here
there is nothing but love and friendship.
May all
prosper with you, and send a favorable answer.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
presses Link to take up his abode in Wittenberg.
July 4, 1522.
Grace and
peace! You must either, dearest father, be able to give a good reason for
keeping away from us, or you must hate our society. For why sit there? Both
north and south are shut up to you, so there is no place where you can be more
secure or better cared for than with us. Or does the reputation of our order
frighten you, and do you fear association with us banished ones, in case of
offending those who seem born to seek cause of offense in Christ?
But come speedily, for God’s sake, so that
we may enlist you in the Lord’s service. We are waiting for you; see that you
do not turn us into ridicule.
We wish your advice on many necessary
matters connected with our faith, to promote the general weal.
Farewell in
Christ.
Martin
Luther.
Luther is
busy translating the New Testament.
July 4, 1522.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I hope, dear Spalatin, that you have received the Gospel of
St. Mark and the Epistle to the Romans, with letters from good friends. The
Gospel of St. Luke and the two Epistles to the Corinthians will soon be
finished. I must reply to the growling lion who calls himself King of England.
The ignorance the book displays is not to be wondered at in a royal author, but
the bitterness and lies are gigantic. How Satan rages! But I shall embitter him
more.
The Picardy people sent to ask my advice as
to their faith. I object to their obscure way of expressing themselves, instead
of using biblical phrases.
And they underestimate infant baptism, while
using it, and also re-baptize some who come from us, and teach the seven
sacraments. As to their celibate priesthood, I am pleased in so far that they
let every one do as he sees fit.
But pure doctrine is a rare thing. Whether
they highly esteem faith and works I do not know, but am doubtful of it. I do
not think them wrong about the Lord’s Supper, unless they use deceptive words,
as they do with Baptism.
Farewell, and pray for me. I do wish you
would try to have Philip set free from teaching grammar, and devote himself to
theological lectures. It is highly improper, as I have written, that he should
earn one hundred gold gulden with grammar lessons, while he is giving two
valuable theological lectures. We have teachers enough who can give grammar
lessons as well as Philip, who are being deprived of the work. May God root out
all false teachers, so that the money may be better spent. I highly commend
this Nurnberg Prior to you.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
a book for his host in the Wartburg.
September 25,
1522.
Grace and
peace! I beg of you to send this copy of my book to the John in the region of
the birds, viz. to my host, as I wished him to have it before more came.
For I am really angry at the Lotter
business, and am not yet on speaking terms with him.
You will see what our Wenzel writes.
I ardently desire that the Prince would only
attend to his own affairs, and leave me to manage Satan and his hosts. As I
have already written, the heaven will not fall although I fall. If His Grace
does not believe this, I do, and am sure of it.
But why make so many words? Who does not see
that through this present work of God He has turned their threats into
ridicule? He who has done this will do so to the end. The whole business is
conducted at my risk, and will continue to be so conducted. Farewell, and pray
for me. Greet our friends. I am just starting for Leipsic, because I have been
so often entreated to come.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
recommends a poor man.
October 4,
1522.
Grace and
peace! I found your letter when I returned, dear Spalatin, but the dog had
bitten a piece out of it upon the table, so that I could not make out the words
about the Lord’s inheritance.
But the other part about the Lord’s kingdom
and righteousness runs thus: “The kingdom of God is the Church of Christ, which
must be ruled through the Word of God.” “The kingdom of God is righteousness
and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” “The kingdom of God is within you.” The
righteousness of God is faith. For in the Greek one reads clearly, “The kingdom
of God and his righteousness.” So let us seek first the kingdom of God, so that
the knowledge of Christ may be spread abroad, and all worldly things will be
added thereto, for the laborer is worthy of his hire.
I would like you to help this man according
to your ability, for he seems poor and needy. Johannes Pomeranus is to be
married shortly, and we beg you to speak a good word for him, that he may be
supplied with game for the occasion, not only on his own account, for certainly
he is worthy of it, but because of us, his guests, as to whom you are able to
judge whether we deserve it or not. So try to procure some, so that others may
see that we are held in some estimation at Court, and may inspire them with
hope for the future.
Something definite will soon be announced as
to his lectures. For you know yourself that he is a stranger and poor, for
which reason he should receive more, and will certainly repay it in the future.
Of that I am certain.
Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
announces that he preached publicly in Weimar and Erfurt, and will publish an
exposition of Hosea
November 3,
1522.
I have no
notes of what I preached in Weimar and Erfurt, and do not require to write
them, for you know all already, because I have taught nothing but faith and
love there – except that I was asked in Weimar to make public what I had once
preached about the kingdom of God and worldly authorities. It has been printed
and dedicated to Prince John.
The passage Hosea
As to Lengmann and Pomeranus, we shall do
what we can.
In the translation of the Old Testament I
have reached the third book of Moses (Leviticus). For it is incredible how I
have been hindered by letterwriting, business matters, company, and many other
things. Now I shall shut myself up at home, and hurry, so as to have Moses in
the press by January. For we shall publish it separately, and afterwards the historic
books, and lastly the prophets. For the size and the price of the books compel
us to issue them piecemeal. Pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Pope Hadrian
died. Reformation progresses. The first martyrs, Heinrich Voes and Johann Esch,
burned at Brussels. Birth year of the German hymn.
Herzog George
asked Luther if he really wrote to von Kronberg. Luther admitted he did.
January 3,
1523.
Cease fuming
against God and His Christ, on account of what I have done, most ungracious
Prince!
I have received your ungracious document,
along with my letter to you Kronberg, and have paid particular attention to the
part of which you complain, as injuring your soul, honor, and good name. As you
wish to know the meaning I attach to my words, I answer, that it is all one to
me how your ungracious Highness may take them.
For, however I may act or speak against your
ungracious Grace, whether secretly or openly, I consider I am entitled to do
so, and mean to maintain the right.
For were you really in earnest, and did not
tell so many lies as to injuring your soul, honor, and good name, you would not
slander and persecute the truth so shamefully as you do. And this is not the
first time that you have maligned me, so that I have more cause to complain of
you. But I am silent as to all this, for Christ commands me to be kind to my
enemies, and hitherto you have had my poor prayers and service, and if that be
treating you with contempt then I can do no more, nor shall I be frightened by any
water bubble. But if my Lord Jesus will, He can enlighten the heart of your
most ungracious Highness, and turn you into a gracious and kind Prince towards
me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
promises to come to his wedding.
April 8,
1523.
Grace and
peace! I, Philip, the Provost, Dr. Hieronymus, Pommer, our Prior, and Jacob,
and also James, will certainly come to your wedding, if the Lord will.
Carlstadt is from home, but Hieronymus, Trappe, and Meister Lukas will also
come. Whether the wives of the Provost and Hieronymus may accompany them is
uncertain. I heard yesterday that nine nuns have left cloister Nimpschau, their
prison, among whom are the two Sessatzers, and the Staupitz. May you prosper
with your bride.
Martin
Luther.
Hausmann,
like Bugenhagen, had the gift of Church organization, and insisted on the
inseparable connection between doctrine and life. He died when preaching his
first sermon in Freiberg in 1538. Deeply mourned by Luther.
May 24, 1523.
Grace and
peace! This man returns to you, and brings as much as I could spare, but
insisted upon having a letter to you. Do then as Christ teaches.
As to the rest I am well in body, but
outwardly so occupied with business, that my soul is well-nigh quenched for
want of time to attend to it.
Pray that I may not be swallowed up by
fleshly concerns. Greet all our companions in the faith, and may you prosper in
the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
comforts the three Freiberg young ladies who had been banished from Court for
reading his books.
June 18,
1523.
To the
honored and virtuous Hanna von Draschwitz, Milia von Olsnitz, and Ursula von
Feilitzin, my special friends in Christ. Grace and peace!
Honored ladies. Herr Nicolas vou Amsdorf has
told me of your disgrace because of my books, and begged me to write you a
letter of consolation.
But although I do not like writing to people
I do not know, and you do not need comfort from me, still I could not refuse
his request. First, I beg you, as a friend, to let your hearts rest in peace,
and not wish evil to those who have brought this upon you, but “being reviled
bless,” as St. Paul says. And Christ says, “Bless them that curse you,” etc.,
so do the same, seeing you are illumined by the grace of God, and they are
blinded and are injuring their own souls by running against God, not seeing how
they are destroying themselves, when they fancy they are injuring you. Only
wait and let Christ manage matters. He will abundantly requite your reproach,
and raise you even higher than you desire, if you commit your cause entirely to
Him. And even if your conscience tell you that you are in fault, you must not
despair on that account. For it is a precious sign that God has so soon led you
to repentance. And reflect that if even you wished to injure them, you could
accomplish nothing. For it is a sacred matter for which you suffer, which God
will permit no one but Himself to revenge. “He that toucheth you, toucheth the
apple of his eye,” He says. I fancy that miserable blinded creature, Dr. Wolf
Stehlin, is master there, but he will become entangled in a way he does not
dream of in other matters. So act thus, my dear sisters, and the peace of God
shall be with you. Amen! And take my letter in good part.
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s
first poetical effusion was in honor of the two martyrs Heinrich Voes and
Johann Esch, Augustine monks.
July 1523.
Praise to the
Father of mercies for permitting us anew to see His marvellous light, which has
been hidden from us because of our sins. But the time has again come for the
voice of the turtle to be heard in our land, and the flowers to appear on the
earth. What a joy it is, dear ones, that you should yield us this great
delight! For to you it has been given, not only to confess Christ, but to be
the first to endure shame, imprisonment, and reproach for His name’s sake, and
now you have proved the strength of your faith by sealing your testimony with
your blood. And also that Christ’s two precious gems, Heinrich and Johann in
Brussels, should have held their lives of so little account as to yield them up
to His honor.
Oh, how shamefully were these two souls slain,
but how gloriously shall they reappear with Christ, and judge them by whom they
have been unrighteously slaughtered. What pleasure the angels had in these two
souls ! How eagerly the fire freed them from this sinful life to open the door
into everlasting glory! God be praised to all eternity that we have lived to
see holy martyrs.
We up here have not yet been esteemed worthy
to become such a precious offering to Christ, although many of us have not been
without persecution, and are still enduring it.
Therefore, well beloved, let us be joyful in
Christ, and render thanks for this great miracle which He has begun to work
among us. Pray for us, and for one another, that we may reach out a helping
hand to each other, and let all cleave with one mind to Christ our Head, who
will strengthen you with His grace, and perfect you to the honor of His holy
name, to whom be praise from all of us, to all eternity. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
A peculiarly
beautiful letter.
September 1,
1523.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Most gracious sir. Vincent Wernsdorfer has persuaded me, a
stranger, to write expressing my Christian sympathy with you in your trial.
Therefore I trust your Excellency will graciously appreciate the motives which
prompt me. He tells me how, since the departure of your dear consort to God,
you have constantly occupied yourself with good works, particularly masses,
vigils, etc., for the repose of her soul, thereby showing your love and loyalty
to one who, through her life, certainly merited it; and he begged me to write
you – a request I could not refuse, as it was meant for your Excellency’s good.
You must recall Job’s words, “The Lord gave,
and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” Thus must you
sing to your loving God, who first bestowed such a faithful wife upon you, and
has now removed her. She was His before He gave her, and she is still His, even
as we all are – now that He has taken her.
Therefore, although this is a great grief,
that He has recalled His own, still the heart can find sweeter consolation in
His most perfect will than in all His gifts – so to fulfill His will is
something higher than to possess the best and noblest wife. Although one cannot
feel this to be so, still faith does perceive it.
Therefore may God give you grace to be
joyful, and acquiesce in the rich exchange you have made, having now, instead
of a tender loving wife, the will of a tender loving God – and God Himself in
addition.
Oh how blessed would we be if we could go
on, making such exchanges with God! And we could do this if we understood how.
For God meets us daily, but we are not ready to welcome Him. And I would beg of
you, gracious sir, to cease from masses, vigils, and daily prayers for her
soul. It is sufficient if your Excellency pray once or twice for her, for we
are told that if we believe we shall receive what we pray for. Otherwise, if we
always ask for one thing, it is a sign we do not believe God, and thus anger
Him more through unbelieving prayer.
But I particularly beg you would leave off
the vigils and masses for the soul, for it is most displeasing to God, there
being neither reality nor faith in them, but a mere mummery.
Oh, people must pray otherwise if they wish
anything from God. God ridicules such vigils – primarily, because God did not
institute the mass for the dead, but as a sacrament for the living, and it is a
dreadful thing for man to presume, without God’s permission, to turn a
sacrament for the living into a sacrifice for the dead. Beware of becoming a
partner in this terrible error, which the priests and monks have instituted for
the sake of their bellies.
For a Christian must do nothing that God has
not commanded, and there is no command as to such masses and vigils, but it is
solely their own invention, which brings in money, without helping either
living or dead.
Your Excellency can inform yourself as to
all these things by applying to the before – mentioned Wernsdorfer, who has a
deep interest in you, impelling me to write you… May Christ illuminate and
strengthen you in Christian faith and love towards your neighbors.
Your
Excellency’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther asks
if Francis Lambert would be likely to find a living in Strassburg.
December 4,
1523.
Grace and
peace! Although this letter may be useless, my beloved Gerbel, I must write, as
I heard you were in Strassburg at present. We have a Frenchman with us just
now, Francis Lambert, who was a preacher among the apostolic Minorites, as they
call them, and he has taken a wife here, and thinks he would be better off
nearer France, and will not be advised, being so full of his own affairs.
I believe there are many with you not too
prosperous, who feel more inclined to come here, than we have people wishing to
go to you. But if I am to have any peace I must do him this favor.
Therefore pray say if there is any prospect
of him earning sufficient to live upon. He is already pretty well versed in the
Bible, although not up to our Barnabas and Paul. He hopes later to put my
writings into French in order to make money on French soil.
Our Prince often presents him with silver
money, and this year he has fleeced him of forty ducats.
If you do not reply, neither of us shall
have any peace. So you can see what I suffer from such people who, through me,
become a burden to my good friends.
May you live prosperously with your wife.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
expresses dislike of the famous or infamous Thomas Munzer.
December 26,
1523.
I begged the
official of Alt-Stadt to beware of Munzer’s spirit of prophecy.
What has happened meantime I do not know,
but I cannot endure such a spirit, whoever the man may be. He lauds my
doctrine, and yet tries to tear it to bits. Then he talks and prays in such an
insipid manner, using such unscriptural expressions, that any one would fancy
he was mad or drunken.
He insists upon an interview with me, and
boasts beyond measure. I therefore begged the official to arrange a meeting
with him, to discuss his teaching. I do not know if he will manage it. We are
not of such a spirit that he need fear having his teaching put to the test.
Farewell, and
pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
approves of Hesse’s Latin paraphrasing of Ecclesiastes. This, the real
birth-year of Church hymnary, mostly founded on the Psalms.
[No date.]
Grace and
peace! Accept my greeting, thou preacher of Ecclesiastes, but see that you and
he preach the same thing. For I too will hear his voice in you, and certainly
read it. So send us your Commentary upon this book. It is desirable that it
should be translated into the mother tongue; therefore I take the opportunity
of admonishing you to this, in advance, that when the spirit moves you to the
work you may let me know at once. I saw the man you sent me. It is no new
thing, that many should wish to make the gospel a source of profit. In was so
in St. Paul’s days, and how much more in ours! Freedom is regarded as a cloak
for evil. But there is One who will speedily judge them. Farewell, and pray for
me.
Martin
Luther.
First German
Hymn-Book appeared. Peasants’ War. Luther more distressed by this, and the
disturbances caused in Wittenberg by the fanatics, than by Charles V. declaring
that the Edict of Worms should be enforced.
The
Augustinian monk, Thorn, suffered a martyr’s death in the Netherlands.
January 19,
1524.
Grace and
peace! Christ, who is with you, my dear brother, bears witness within me that
you need no comfort from me. For He suffers, and is glorified; He is captive
and reigns; He suffers violence, and yet triumphs both in and with you, having
made you just and holy, through the knowledge of Himself, which is hidden from
the world, but which He has so richly bestowed upon you.
Thereby you are not only strengthened
inwardly by His Spirit in your affliction, but by the example of the two
brothers, Heinrich and Johann.
Both you and they have been a great comfort
to me, and a sweet savor to all Christendom, and a glorious ornament to the
gospel of Christ. Who knows why the Lord did not permit you to perish with
them? Perhaps He spared you that He might do some mighty work through you. This
encourages me much, that the faithful Savior has not only permitted me to come
to the knowledge of His truth, but has allowed me to see His grace flourishing
so gloriously in you three.
I might deem this a misfortune, for it was I
who first brought this teaching – for confessing which these two were burned,
and you now sit in captivity – to the light of day. I fear I shall not be
counted worthy to suffer such tribulation as you three for Christ’s sake.
Nevertheless, I shall comfort myself thus – that your bonds are my bonds, your
prison my prison, and your fire my fire. In addition, I shall preach, and
openly confess, before the godless world, princes and angels, the Word for
which these two were burned and you sit in captivity, and because of which I
both suffer and rejoice with you. But the Lord Jesus, who has begun the good
work in you, will perform it until the day of His glorious appearing. But pray
for me, as I do for you, and remember you do not suffer alone, but He who says,
“I will be with him in trouble; he shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I
will set him on high, because he hath known my name,” suffers with you. Only
wait upon Him who has said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of
good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Do not dispute with Satan, but turn
your eyes to the Lord. Be firmly rooted upon the pure faith, and never doubt
that we shall be justified and sanctified through the precious blood of Christ,
the spotless Lamb of God. Our works can as little make the man righteous, as
they can be mistaken for Christ’s blood – neither can they condemn us or lay
sin to our charge.
God be praised, in our Elector’s land we
have peace.
The Duke of Bavaria and the Bishop of Trier
cause many to be slain, and banish some. There are other bishops and princes
who are not bloodhounds, although they worry their people through threats, and
do them much injury. So Christ is again despised of the people, whose member
you now are, through the holy calling of our Father in heaven, and may He
perfect this call in you, to His honor and glory. Amen.
All our people greet you, especially Jacob
Praepositus, and the brethren from Antwerp, etc. They commend themselves to
your prayers.
Martin
Luther.
A marriage
case. Luther complains of the unruly Carlstadt.
January 30,
1524.
Grace and
peace! Most excellent Herr Chancellor. M. Wolfgang has told me of the sad
separation case.
The man accuses his wife of wicked
desertion, declaring he can prove he is blameless. But he has not done so as
yet, so one must act according to Matthew 18, as the man has hitherto been too
modest to prove his wife’s guilt in her presence, or bring forward the
testimony of the whole town that she left her husband without cause. For it is
not right to condemn her unheard, or without having convicted her of guilt.
It seems AEgidius of Erfurt only heard part
of the matter, and then gave his opinion, which is even more contrary to the
gospel than to law. In the next place, best of men, pray submit the following
to your Prince at my request. Carlstadt has set up a printing-press at Jena in
order to print what he pleases, desiring to indulge his weakness for teaching
where he is not wanted, and maintaining a persistent silence where he has a
call to act.
Although this cannot do much injury to our
ministerium, still it is apt to bring dishonor upon our Prince and University,
as both have promised that nothing should be published without censorship by
proper parties.
Seeing the Prince and we have kept the
bargain, Carlstadt and his adherents cannot be allowed in the Prince’s land to
emancipate themselves from all authority. Would the Prince, therefore, order
him to send any work to any censor he pleases, or suppress his undertaking, so
that we may not come into bad odor through breaking our promise?
Farewell in
the Lord, and give my respects to the Prince.
Martin
Luther.
The first
evangelical hymn-book appeared this spring in Wittenberg, containing eight
hymns – four by Luther. “Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu Dir” (Psalm 130) was in
this collection.
February 23,
1524.
Grace and
peace! I write, dear Spalatin, only because I wished to write you. For you are
sitting at Nurnberg as still as if you were in Rome, so that we do not know
whether you may not all be sound asleep, somewhere. I got a letter from you
long ago, but now all is so quiet that we do not know whether to expect a Pope
or a Diet.
But by Easter we expect that the princes
will be so stirred up by their priests and father confessors that as a worthy
way of celebrating the sacrament of the Lord Jesus they will begin a fresh
persecution of the gospel.
I am waiting to hear if you have put some of
the Psalms into metre as I suggested. Everything goes well here.
The translation of Job gives us immense
trouble on account of its exalted language, which seems to suffer even more,
under our attempts to translate it, than Job did under the consolations of his
friends, and seems to prefer to lie among the ashes.
Evidently the author never wished it to be
translated. Meanwhile this hinders the printing of the third part of the Bible.
Do write and let us know what is going on in the world.
May all go
well with you, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
Melanchthon to be set apart to expound the Holy Scriptures.
March 23,
1524.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Most Serene High-born Prince, etc. Doubtless your Grace knows
that by the grace of God we have many promising youths among us, from distant
lands, all thirsting for the Word of God, while enduring many hardships, some
living merely on bread and water.
Now I have been urging M. Philip to lecture
on the Holy Scriptures, because he is so much better qualified to do so than I.
For although I would gladly do it, it would necessitate my giving up the
translation of the Bible into German. But whenever we plead with him to do so –
the whole University desiring it – he defends himself thus, that he was
appointed and is paid by your Grace to teach Greek, and must do so. Therefore I
am requested by all to beg your Electoral Grace, for the sake of the dear young
people, and for the furtherance of God’s Word, to see if it be not possible to
have his salary directed for the exposition of the Holy Scriptures, as there
are many young people qualified to teach Greek; and it is not seemly that his
time should be taken up with elementary teaching, while higher work, which
might produce much fruit, and could not be repaid with money, be left undone.
Would we had more who were thus fitted to lecture, for, alas, there are enough
who think themselves able, and occupy the place of others, because they happen
to be there.
But the time will come, as was formerly the
case, when such work, no matter how unwillingly, must be left undone for the
want of the right people to do it.
Hence we must now train people while we can,
and do our utmost for our successors, and if it be your Grace’s good pleasure,
I beg you to bind over the said Philip to lecture on the Bible, even if he
require a larger salary to do so. I commend your Electoral Grace to the tender
mercies of God.
Amen.
Your Grace’s
obedient servant,
Martin
Luther.
Luther turns
lovingly to Erasmus, and forgives him for his want of courage in espousing his
cause.
April 1524.
Grace and
peace from our Lord Jesus Christ! I have remained silent long enough, dear Herr
Erasmus, waiting till you, as the greater and elder, should break the silence,
but having waited so long in vain, charity impels me to take up my pen.
I do not reproach you for having kept aloof
from us, knowing you did not wish to complicate the cause you were maintaining
against my enemies the Papists. And I even have not taken it greatly amiss,
that in order to conciliate the favor of some, or instigate the fury of others,
you have issued pamphlets in which you attack us with a bitterness we did not
expect from you. For we perceive that you have not been endued by God with such
steadfastness and courage that you can confidently go forward with us to combat
this monstrosity – hence we do not expect what is beyond your ability to
render. But we have borne your weakness patiently, and highly appreciated your
gifts.
For the whole world must confess that it is
through you there has been such a revival in letters, through which people have
got access to the Bible in its purity, and that you possess great and glorious
talents, for which we must ever be grateful. Hence I have never wished you to
mingle in our affairs, to the detriment of your gifts; for although your common
sense and eloquence might accomplish much, still, if you do not heartily enter
into it, it is better that you should only serve God with the talent committed
to you. But I fear our enemies might persuade you to condemn our doctrine, and
then we would have to contradict you to the face. We have hitherto prevented
some entering into conflict with you through their writings, therefore I wished
that Hutten’s challenge had not appeared, and still less your Schwamm, which,
without doubt, you have learned for yourself.
How easy it is to talk of modesty, and blame
Luther for want of it; and, on the other hand, how difficult, nay, impossible
it is to act accordingly, except through a special gift of the Spirit. If I,
who am easily moved to wrath, have often in the heat of the moment written too
bitingly (beizend ), I have only done it to stubborn people. And I can testify
that my tenderness towards the godless, no matter how unjust and stupid they
may be, has not only the testimony of my own conscience, but has been
experienced by many. Up till now I have held my pen in check, in spite of your
conduct towards me, and have also written to friends, that I would restrain
myself till you attacked me openly.
For although you were not of us, and
rejected some of the principal points pertaining to everlasting blessedness, or
hypocritically refused to give your opinion on the matter, still I shall not
accuse you of obstinacy. What am I to do? The business is a bad one on both
sides. If I be mediator, I would ask these people to give up assailing you, and
permit you, at your advanced age, to fall asleep in peace in the Lord. They
would do this if they considered your weakness and the magnitude of the question
at stake, which is far above your head.
But you, too, dear Erasmus, must remember
their weakness, and not practice your powers of sarcasm on them, and where you
cannot or dare not espouse our opinions, then leave them alone, patiently
awaiting the success of your cause. I say all this, excellent Herr Erasmus, to
prove my earnest wish that the Lord may give you a mind worthy of your great
name, and if He delay doing this, I beg of you only to be a spectator of our
tragedy, and not unite with our opponents, nor write against me, seeing I shall
not publish anything against you. As to those who complain of suffering because
of Luther, remember they are men, even as you and I, upon whom we should have
compassion, bearing one another’s burdens.
There has been more than enough backbiting,
so we must see that we are not devoured one of another.
This would be a most pitiable spectacle, as
on neither side is any one really at heart an enemy of the gospel of Christ.
Take my child-like simplicity in good part, and may you prosper in the Lord.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
expresses satisfaction at the decision of the Council at Basle against the
Bishop’s vicar.
April 1524.
Grace and
peace! I have nothing to write, dear brother, except to greet you, and commend
myself to your prayers.
Joachim, our trusted friend, will tell you
everything.
I do not know
whether Philip will come to us with the accused, whom I should like to see.
I have
written Erasmus, expressing a desire for peace and unity, so that this
melancholy spectacle may come to an end, and you will do your best to achieve
this.
We have had
enough of disputing, and both of us have lost our tempers, so it is high time
that Christ should come to the rescue, and compel Satan to make way for the
Holy Ghost.
The decision
of the Council and magistrates of Basle against the Bishop’s vicar has
delighted me beyond measure. And pray for me.
Farewell in
the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Luther now
begins to interest himself in education.
April 25,
1524.
Grace and
peace! You must not imagine, best of men, that I have not the highest opinion
of you; for, I know, through the glorious power of the gospel, that we have
been raised above everything else I beseech you to lay to heart the instruction
of the young; for the gospel is threatened with untold evils through neglecting
this duty. It is one of the most important duties. Greet Schalb and Schultetus
in my name. I would have written them, but it is incredible how I am
overwhelmed with all sorts of work, scarcely being able to overtake my
correspondence, not to mention other things. The globe seems to rest on my
head, so that I wish either to die or be borne away from the world, in order
not to be quite annihilated. Greet your wife and child, and smile sweetly upon
them in my name.
Bear with your weak health, as is seemly,
seeing you are in God’s hand.
Pray for poor me, and farewell. St. Mark’s
Day, without celebrations or procession.
Martin Luther.
Luther
rejoices that the gospel is dominant in Strassburg.
May 6, 1524.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! Although I have nothing to say, dear Gerbel, I could not let
the messenger leave without sending love to the brethren in the Lord, and
commending myself to your prayers.
For I hear that the Word of God prevails
with you. With us, the more hindrances that are put in its way the more it
spreads. It has now reached Magdeburg and Bremen, and will soon be in Brunswick,
I hope, as Prince Henry, who was once its bitter enemy, is now a changed man.
Satan has founded another sect among us, who are neither acknowledged by the
Papists nor by our own people. They boast that they are animated by celestial
spirits, and are independent of the witness of the Spirit within them.
From this we may perceive that our word is
the Word of God, for it suffers not only from violence, but from fresh
heresies. May God grant you and your loved ones health.
Greet all in
the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Luther denies
that Bucer and he are not friendly, etc. Capito was Praepositus in St. Thomas’s
Church, Strassburg.
May 25, 1524.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! If you and Bucer did not so persistently declare that some
people said your actions were condemned by us, and that we differed entirely in
opinion from you, I would attribute this to your weakness and jealousy on
account of our silence; for the letter which the brothers brought three days
ago declared the same thing.
But seeing Christ reigns in you, you have
nothing to fear, although our opinions might differ from yours, or that we
should despise those you hold.
Still, it is almost unbearable for me to
hear that our differences have been the topic of conversation, especially when
such perfect unanimity of spirit reigns among us. This is specially trying to
me, for I gladly conceal and overlook, as much as I can, any difference of
opinion among ourselves; hence how much less dare I put up with these
suspicions which are thrown upon our Christianity and spiritual peace?
Therefore, if I were not so much occupied, I would, through the public press,
expose such lies, and prove that in the things pertaining to Christ we are at
one.
I am delighted to hear of the marriages of
the priests, monks, and nuns among you; and that the former are now husbands in
defiance of Satan, and am pleased when they get livings. What more shall I say?
Am sorry I have heard nothing further of you. Go on and prosper, for all bear
witness to your wonderful teaching; the people being struck down under it amid
the enemies of the King.
I think, hitherto, too much consideration
has been allowed for the weak; so, as they are daily becoming more hardened,
one must speak plainly to them.
For some day I shall cast aside the cowl,
which I have hitherto worn, to strengthen the weak, and turn the Pope into
ridicule. They are blind leaders of the blind.
I believe the report of our dissensions has
arisen out of my letters to you translated into German. It is enough to terrify
me from writing when they are immediately borne away to the printers against my
will; for among close friends one writes more confidentially than it would be
advisable to spread abroad.
But then you were a different man, and a
courtier, while now you are Christ’s freeman, and a servant of the gospel, and
belonging to me, and I to you. Greet M. Bucer from me in Christ, with his dear
wife and children, and all the recently made husbands, especially Hedio. Our
Church greets you.
Grace be with
you.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – Please
apologize to Bucer and the others for not answering their letters. I shall
write when I have time.
Luther
praises him for having quitted the monkish life.
June 20,
1524.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I beg you, dearest OEcolampadius, not to ascribe my not
writing to you to ingratitude or sloth; for I have not heard from you since you
quitted your order, and fancied that since Christ had strengthened your heart
through the power of the Spirit, you had overcome your superstitious
conscience, and were now too great to write me, or need a letter from me.
Truly, I highly approve of the praiseworthy step you have taken, and Philip
never ceases speaking of you, and rejoices that you keep him in remembrance.
May the Lord strengthen you in your great
undertaking – the exposition of Isaiah – although I know Erasmus takes no
pleasure therein. But do not let his displeasure disturb you. He has performed
the task to which he was called – he has reinstated the ancient languages, thus
defrauding godless learning of their crowds of admirers. Perhaps, like Moses,
he will die in the land of Moab, for he is powerless to guide men to those
higher studies which lead to divine blessedness. I rejoiced when he ceased
expounding the Scriptures; for he was not equal to the task. He has done enough
in exposing the evils of the Church, but cannot remedy them, or point the way
to the promised land. Take my prolixity in good part.
I know you do not need my consolation, for
Christ will not forsake you.
Pray for me, for I am so occupied with
outward things that my health is in as great danger of being injured as my
spirit. The monks and nuns who have left their cloisters rob me of many hours,
for I am expected to find homes for them all, etc. Farewell, dear
OEcolampadius. The grace of Christ be with you! Greet all who are of one mind
with us.
Martin
Luther.
A young
patrician, who studied at Wittenberg.
October 12,
1524.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I must ask your services, dear Hieronymus, on behalf of this
poor young man, Gregorius Keser. He wishes to settle, and asked me to introduce
him to some one in Nurnberg. Although I could not give him much hope, for I know
every place is full, still I bade him God-speed, in God’s name, who feeds the
ravens. Moreover, if you intend marrying Katherine vou Bora, make haste before
she is given to some one else, for C. Glatz, pastor in Orlamunde, is ready
waiting. She has not yet got over her love for you. I wish that you two were
married.
Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
dissuades Spalatin from leaving the Court, and resigning his post, unless he
wishes to marry.
November 30,
1524.
Grace and
peace! As you ask my advice as to leaving Court, dear Spalatin, I would say:
You have perhaps cause to do so, but unless you have some other reason for
giving up your post, the wrongdoing of others does not justify your doing it,
if it be not the idea of marriage, which is driving you away; and I can think
of nothing else, especially as you are so at home at Court, and so useful to
many princes; and if some one else got your situation, how much he would have
to learn! And even if your wish were accomplished, it would be long before the
Prince could have the same confidence in any other, you having been so long
with him.
Therefore remain, leaving only to marry. I
fancy you are substituting another reason for the true one, but I see no object
in this, for it must become public when it takes place. You can thank Argula
von Staupitz for what she writes about
marrying. I cannot wonder at people gossiping about me when they do it about
others. But tell her from me that I am in the hands of the Lord, as His
creature, whose heart He can turn whither He will.
But according to my present frame of mind I
have no intention of marrying, not that I am insensible to the emotions of the
flesh, being neither wood nor stone, but because I have no desire to, and daily
expect to die a heretic’s death. However, I shall not limit the power of the
Lord working in me, nor depend on the stability of my own heart. But I hope He
will soon take me away. Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
congratulates this excellent lady on her marriage to the famous preacher,
Matthew Zell, in Strassburg.
December 17,
1524.
To the
virtuous Katherine Schutzin, my dear sister in Christ, Strassburg.
Grace and peace!
My dear friend. I wish you joy in having so
richly received the grace of God, so that you not only behold His kingdom
(which is hidden from so many), but that He has given you such a husband, from
whom you can learn all that is good. I wish you grace and strength to enjoy
this good gift with gratitude till that day comes when we shall all meet and
rejoice together, if God will. Pray for me, and greet your lord Herr Matthew
Zell from me. I commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
specimen of new edition of the New Testament, and begs for an income for
Bugenhagen.
1524.
Grace and
peace! Here you have the whole of the New Testament for yourself and the
Elector, except the preface to the Romans, which will be ready tomorrow. I also
send a copy to the young Prince (John Frederick), which you may praise to your
heart’s content.
Lukas Cranach and Christian counsel this. I
fancy Wolfgang Stein has already sent one for the old Prince (Johann).
And I hope you will undertake to persuade
the Elector to bestow one of the bursaries, or stipends, on Johann Pomeranus,
which was so badly bestowed upon the sophist; for, next to Philip, he is the
first theological lecturer in the town, indeed, in the whole world. I am most
anxious to keep him here, for it is said – and it is true – they wish to have
him in Erfurt, and who knows how long I may be allowed to remain! More of this
again.
Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
In this year
Frederick the Wise died in the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church. John the Steadfast
was a warm friend to Luther. Luther finishes lecturing on Deuteronomy. Luther
married in June. Peasant revolt.
Luther sent
Brismann to Konigsberg to promote the Reformation in Prussia, which he did.
January 11,
1525.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! It is the letter-carrier’s fault, my Brismann, that you have
not heard from me, and I almost lost this chance also.
Carlstadt, who is quite given over to the
devil, rages against me, having issued various writings full of poison. He,
with his followers, denies that the body and blood of Christ are present in the
Sacrament. I am ready to confute him, although through artifice, as he has led
many astray in different places.
I shall answer Erasmus as soon as I have
leisure.
That Amand has forsaken our party does not
grieve me; perhaps I am rather glad, as he seems to be animated with
Carlstadt’s spirit. Our Henry von Zutphen, the Bremen evangelist, was hanged
and burned with cruel fanaticism in Dietmarschen. These prophets’ turbulent
doings prevent me getting on with my Deuteronomy.
All else pursues its everyday course. We
have received the highly esteemed Peter Weller with joy.
Thomas Munzer is meandering about, uncertain
where to settle. He made a dangerous disturbance in Muhlhausen. The prophets
are increasing steadily, a trial for true believers. The Papists rejoice over
our differences, but God will expose Carlstadt in His own time. For it seems as
if Carlstadt despaired of becoming a partaker of Christ’s kingdom, and has cast
himself away, in order to plunge many others into destruction, and with a great
following hurry on to hell, which he has been actually heard to declare.
Pray for me, and remember me with the
highest esteem to Herr Bishop. I am much occupied, and over and above am a
prisoner through a burning abscess on the thigh.
Perhaps you do not yet know that Anna
Graswitzinn vou Sausselitz, with three others, Barbara Beckenberg, Catherine
Taubenheim, and Margaretha Zirstorf, have escaped from their prison. The first
of these remained here, and married Hans Scheidewind.
She desires me to send you her compliments.
Herzog George himself undertook to visit the cloister, and seeing the
abominable excesses, at once banished the brothers, fathers, bridegrooms, or
rather relations of those noble ladies, from the place. Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
congratulates him on his marriage.
January 17,
1525
Grace and
peace! I have delayed wishing you happiness on your marriage, esteemed sir, and
am sure you believed I had cause for this, and I had. I have been ill, and had
books to publish, letters to write, friends to help, etc., and, in addition,
the things most nearly concerning the house and Church – not to speak of the
worries caused by Satan and my enemies.
But I have remembered you in my prayers, and
rejoiced over your happiness, and trust you may receive much blessing in this
estate ordained of God, and therefore see clearly that it has been instituted by
Him who will maintain it to His own glory.
For where were the kingdoms and rulers of
the world when Adam and the patriarchs lived simply as married men? For how
many kingdoms have come and gone since then, and marriage continues over all?
Therefore, thank God for bestowing this
privilege upon you, and conducting you out of the stormy billows into the
haven, and from the world into Paradise. In such a relation there may be
trouble in the flesh at times, as St. Paul says, but there is consolation of the
spirit, and, as Solomon says, he will receive joy from the Lord.
And why are the powers that be so averse to
marriage? Is it not because they dread the troubles which may ensue? The world
is cowardly enough to avoid it for that reason, but by and by they will most
surely experience that evil in themselves which they always considered peculiar
to matrimony.
May Christ give us a better spirit, and
enable us to overcome tribulation, disregarding drawbacks, because of the many
benefits it brings with it.
Many so love a little glory or worldly
advantage that they are insensible to the countless evils of celibacy.
They resemble the soldier who is so prodigal
of his life, yet prizes a golden gulden more than his temporal and spiritual
welfare.
So let us enjoy present blessings, that when
misfortune comes we may consider it a blessing in disguise.
My pen runs away with me when I extol God’s
works.
May the Lord bless you, and ever remember me
in prayer.
Give my kindest regards to your Frederika,
but in Latin; the rest she will understand for herself. Written in great haste
at supper, so forgive me if I have eaten too much, or been too prolix…
Martin
Luther.
This letter
acted like the dew of the morning on his friend.
May 3, 1525.
Grace and
peace in Christ, who has said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but in
me ye shall have peace. Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
I write this to you, dear Frederick, as one
stranger to another, because I would gladly share with you all the consolation
I enjoy in Christ.
So, seeing that Christ has overcome the
world, then all which is done, except by Him, is mere outward show; and the
victory is His alone, and His will be the glory, when the world with all its
pomp has passed away. No one who believes in Christ can really doubt this.
I pray Him to counsel you with His Spirit,
and strengthen you and yours by His Almighty power. Persevere, dear Frederick,
in the Lord. Greet and admonish my Basil in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
So early as
1518 the new teaching was proclaimed in Dantzic, and Johannes Knade, preacher
in the Marien Church, married that year. Luther wrote of the “wonderous” things
Christ had done in Dantzic” in 1521.
May 5, 1525
Grace and
peace through Christ our Savior! Honored dear sirs and friends.
In accordance with your request I have done
my best to send you an able preacher. But it was not to be that you were to
have Johann Pomeranus, for whom you asked, and whom I would have gladly sent to
you. But our congregation here would not part with him, wishing to retain such
as he to train others who may do good service in other towns.
So I send M. Michael Hanlein, an excellent
and learned man, whose equal I do not know, and hope that you will cherish him,
and like him the better the longer you know him. I commend him to your tender
care and wisdom, seeing that he leaves us to go into a strange land.
And I hope you will attend to his bodily
comforts in a Christian manner, as Christ and St. Paul so often inculcate,
“They which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple,” and
“They which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”
I beseech you also, my dear sirs and
friends, do and suffer everything in order to preserve peace among yourselves,
and to prevent fanatics getting in among you, who, alas, have done much
mischief among us in North Germany, as your Excellencies may perhaps have
heard.
If there be anything to alter or destroy,
such as pictures, or whatever it may be, see that it take place through an
order from the Council, and do not let the mob attack them, which has happened
elsewhere, and which has led to the magistracy being held in contempt, whom God
commands to be feared and honored.
But in particular, see that you are not
taught to bear rule according to the law of Moses, and still less according to
the gospel, which is a spiritual law, and must be kept entirely apart from a
worldly government, and proclaimed through the mouths of the preachers.
And no one must be coerced in spiritual
matters, each exercising his own free will as to what he shall believe; for, it
is not the sword which must bear rule here, but the spirit of God. I have
discussed all these matters with your pastor, Herr Michael, who will instruct
you, and whom you must obey. I commend you to God, who will strengthen and
prosper you, to His praise and honor.
Martin
Luther.
Letter of
consolation on the death of his uncle, Frederick the Wise.
May 15, 1525.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I must try to console your Grace when the Almighty has so
tried us; for we have not only lost peace in the land, but also our head, of
whom we stand greatly in need at present. God is wonderful in His working,
sending at once misfortune, and then removing it, so that we may strengthen
ourselves in Him, singing with Christ in the Psalter, “I am desolate and afflicted.”
But we must remain steadfast. It is impossible the old Adam should not suffer
through all this, being too weak to bear the trial, but the inner man finds
comfort in God’s words that He is nigh unto those that are of a broken heart.
There can be no other consolation than God’s Word, which bids us trust and call
upon Him in all our affliction: “Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will
deliver thee,” etc.; and again, “I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver
and honor him,” and such like sweet loving words, of which the Psalms are full.
And, indeed, our Prince’s death has nothing
mournful in it in itself, for it seems as if God had taken him away, like King
Josiah, from the evil in the world, because he ruled in a peaceable, quiet way,
deserving his name “Friedrich” (peace).
And one rejoices when such peace-loving
souls are not forced to live on amid such confusion, which would grieve us more
than to see his last days passed amid war.
Still it is a great affliction, and we hope
God will abundantly compensate us for the great loss. Amen.
I have tried to prove my devotion in this
letter, although I believe your Grace is too firmly rooted in Christ to need
any encouragement from me, and I pray as time passes there may be even less
need of it.
I herewith
commend myself to your Grace.
Martin
Luther.
The first
German Prince who died in the Evangelical faith.
May 15, 1525
Grace and
peace in Christ! Serene Prince. If able to write at all I have good cause to do
so, seeing the Almighty’ has taken our gracious lord, your Grace’s brother,
from us in such trying times, leaving us to mourn his loss, which falls
heaviest upon you, so that with the Psalmist you may exclaim, “Innumerable” evils
have compassed me about: they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my
heart faileth me.”
But God is faithful, and does not let His
wrath rest on those who trust in Him, but inspires them with courage, enabling
them again to exclaim with the Psalmist, “The Lord hath chastened me sore: but
he hath not given me over unto death”; and once more, “Many are the afflictions
of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” And Christ
Himself says: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I
have overcome the world.”
This is the school in which God chastens His
people, and teaches them to trust Him, so that their confidence may not always
hover on the tongue, but in the heart.
Your Electoral Grace is most surely in this
school also, and doubtless God has removed the head in order that He Himself
may take His place, and teach you to derive strength and consolation solely
from His goodness and power, which is far above all human love and consolation.
I have hurriedly written all this to comfort you. May you graciously receive
it, and delight yourself more and more in the Psalter and the Holy Scriptures,
which are full of all sorts of consolation. I herewith commit you to God.
Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient,
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s
brother-in-law, a lawyer in Mansfield. The peasant insurrection endangered the
Reformation more than anything else had ever done. About the Elector’s death.
May 15, 1525.
To the
learned John Ruhel, my good, kind brother-in-law. God’s grace and peace! I
thank you, dear sir, for your last news, which I was glad to hear, especially
about Munzer. I should like to hear how he was taken prisoner, and how he
behaved, for it is well to know how such haughty spirits act.
That the poor creature should be so treated
is pitiable. But what can we do? and it is God’s will that fear should be
instilled into the people. If this were not done, then Satan would do even more
mischief. The one misfortune is preferable to the other. It is the judgment of
God. He who takes the sword shall perish by the sword. So it is a consolation
that this spirit should be made manifest, to let the peasants see how badly
they have acted, and perhaps they may cease plotting and improve. Do not take
all this so to heart, for it may be for the good of many souls, who, through
fear, may desist.
My gracious lord, the Elector, died between
five and six on the day I left you, just as they were desolating Osterhausen.
He passed quietly away, retaining his senses to the last, having partaken of
the sacrament in both forms, but without extreme unction. His funeral was a
most imposing sight, although we performed no masses or vigils over him. Some
stones were found in his lungs, and three elsewhere, which was strange So he
really died of stone. He did not know much about the insurrection; but wrote to
his brother, Prince John, that he must use every means to pacify the people
before he resorted to arms.
His was a Christ-like and blessed death.
The signs of his death were a rainbow which
Philip and I saw one night last winter over the Lochau, and a child was born
here in Wittenberg without a head.
I herewith commit you to God, and greet your
vine (Hansreben ) with her fruit (Trauben ). Also comfort Christofel Meinhardt,
and beg him to suffer the will of God, which can only promote our highest
welfare, although we are not yet aware of it. Now is the time to keep quiet and
let God act, and soon we shall see peace.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s
marriage had really taken place on 13th June. He now invites Spalatin to the
wedding feast.
June 16, 1525
Grace and
peace! Do not forget, dear Spalatin, that my marriage will be on Wednesday, and
the great banquet at mid-day. Therefore see that the game does not arrive too
late, but let us have it in time, by tomorrow evening, if possible.
For I wish the whole entertainment to be
over in one day. I write this to you, for L. Koppe did not gather from my
letter that you were not in the same position. Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
It was Koppe
who rescued the nine nuns from the cloister near Grimma, among whom was
Katherine von Bora.
June 17,
1525.
Grace and peace
in Christ! I wish you to read this very depressing letter, honored sir, to see
if you know of no one who could help in this matter, for it is too much to
expect one in your high position to do so. If you know of none, then return the
letter, so that I may seek help elsewhere, for I am quite unhappy about the two
children.
Most worthy Father Prior, you know what has
happened to me, viz. that the nun that with God’s help you carried off from the
nunnery two years ago is nevertheless returning to the cloister, not this time,
however, to take the veil, but as the honored wife of Dr. Luther, who, up till
now, has lived alone in the old empty monastery of St. Augustine at Wittenberg.
So pray come to my home-coming, which is on the Tuesday after St. John’s festival,
but without any wedding present.
Martin
Luther.
Invitation to
feast and request for game which the Elector sent through Spalatin.
June 21,
1525.
To the
excellent Johann Doltzig. My gracious lord and good friend!
Doubtless the outcry has reached your ears
that I have actually ventured to enter the married state.
Although my change of condition seems very
strange to myself, being as yet scarcely able to believe it, still the fact is
attested by so many honored witnesses that I must believe it to be true, and in
order to put the seal of certainty upon it, I am giving a collation next
Tuesday, and expect my father and mother and other good friends (Link of
Altenburg, Amsdorf of Magdeburg, Ruhel from Thuringen, Muller from Mansfeld,
Koppe from Torgau, Spalatin, etc. etc.). Therefore I beg of you, in a friendly
manner, if it be not burdensome to you, to see that we are supplied with game,
and to be present yourself, to help to imprint with joy the seal upon the
transaction, and all that appertaineth thereto. I herewith commit you to God.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
This letter
was written by request of the fugitive King Christian of Denmark.
September 1,
1525.
Grace and
peace in Christ our Lord! Most Serene King. Although I might well fear to write
your Majesty, having deeply offended you through my little book hurriedly
written at the instigation of people unfriendly to your Royal Highness, still I
am impelled to do so by your natural goodness of heart, which I hear daily
praised, and also knowing that your Majesty, being aware he is mortal, will not
keep an undying enmity, and over and above, I am informed by trustworthy people
that the little book against me, so far beneath the dignity of the King of
England, issued under your Majesty’s name, was not really written by you, as
those crafty sophists dare affirm. They surely do not know the danger of thus
dishonoring your royal name, and bringing into notice that monstrosity, hated
of both God and man, the Cardinal of Eborack, the destroyer of your Majesty’s
kingdom.
And through shame I can scarcely raise my
eyes towards you for having been swayed by such wicked people against so mighty
a potentate, compared to whom I am a very worm.
Further, contemptible as I am, still I am
prompted to write, because your Majesty was well disposed to the gospel to
begin with, which news was a very evangelium to my heart, that is, tidings of
great joy.
Therefore, I throw myself at your Majesty’s
feet with my writings, entreating forgiveness for the sake of Christ’s
sufferings, and to be told how I have offended you, even as Christ commanded us
to forgive one another. And in the next place, if your Majesty be agreeable, I
shall issue another book to the honor of your name in contradiction of the
last.
For, although I am a mere nobody compared to
your Majesty, still I feel it would be no injury to the gospel, nor to the
glory of God, were I to write on gospel subjects to His Royal Grace of England.
God grant that He may perfect in you the
good work He has begun, so that you may obey the gospel with all your heart,
and shut your ears to those poisonous tongues and soft-spoken hypocrites who
decry Luther as a heretic. But rather say, “What ill can Luther teach when he
only maintains that we attain to everlasting blessedness through faith in the
Son of God, who suffered, died, and rose again for us, as the Gospels and
apostles’ writings testify ?” For this is the corner – stone of my doctrine,
after which I teach brotherly love and obedience to the powers that be, and
crucifixion of the flesh, as Christ taught. So what is wrong in such doctrines?
One must wait and listen, and then judge. Why should I be condemned without
being refuted? I would also punish the tyranny of the bishops, who twist the
articles of our Christian faith, meantime striving after dividends, pomp,
sensuality – nay, even kingdoms, principalities, etc., – so that no one can
wonder that even the common man sees and condemns it. Let them repent, that
they may not be hated and punished.
Your Majesty must see for yourself how many
Princes in Germany, as well as town councils, and highly intellectual people,
are unwilling, God be praised, to permit the gospel doctrines which I have
brought to light to be condemned. Would to God that Christ may class you among
this number.
Is it any wonder that the Emperor and some
Princes rage against me? ( Psalm 2:2).
Is it not almost a miracle when a king or
prince loves the gospel? Oh, how I long to be able to rejoice over such a
miracle in your Majesty! Would that God, before whom I write this, would endue
my words with power, so that the King of England may, ere long, become a
devoted disciple of the Lord Christ and a confessor of the gospel, and also
Luther’s most gracious lord.
Amen. If it please your Majesty, I await a
favorable answer.
Your
Majesty’s obedient,
Martin
Luther.
Luther begs
the Elector to espouse the cause of the University.
September 15,
1525
To my most
gracious lord, etc. Grace and peace in Christ! Although I with others have
entire confidence in your Electoral Grace’s gracious promise regarding our
University, yet we cannot but see how its fulfillment is being hindered through
many needful things, especially the Diet, therefore I would humbly beg you to
send either Doltzig or some one else, or give directions in writing that
matters here should be inquired into – for many classes have gone down, while
others are unpaid – the teachers having gone away, so that it will soon be
impossible to keep those going that remain. For the treasury is empty, hence
longer delay will be fatal. I felt I could not keep your Grace in ignorance of
all this. I believe the University intends writing your Grace itself. I commit
you to God.
Your Grace’s
obedient,
Martin
Luther.
September 26,
1525.
Grace and
peace! What is all this, dear sirs, that one should openly rob and steal what
belongs to the other, thus ruining one another? Have you now become street
robbers and thieves? Or do you really imagine that God will bless and cause you
to prosper through such knavery? I have gone on with the postils up till
Easter, when they were secretly abstracted from the printing-press by the
compositor, who maintains himself by the sweat of our brow, and who himself
conveyed my writings to your most estimable town, where they were hurriedly
printed and sold before the whole was finished, to the great detriment of all
concerned. But I would even have put up with all this injury, had they not
treated my books as they did – printing them so hurriedly and falsely – that
when they reach my hands I scarcely know them to be mine. Some bits are left
out, here they are displaced, there falsified, and other parts not corrected.
And they have learned the art of writing Wittenberg on the top of some which
have never seen Wittenberg. This is downright knavery. So let every one beware
of the postils for the six Sabbaths, and let them sink into oblivion, for I do
not acknowledge them as mine. Therefore take warning, my dear printers, who
thus steal and rob. Other towns on the Rhine – Strassburg, etc., do not do
this; and even if they did, it would not harm us so; for their publications do
not reach us in the same way as yours do, being so much nearer. For you know
what St. Paul says to the Thessalonians: “That no man go beyond and defraud his
brother in any matter, because that the Lord is the avenger of all such.” One
day you will experience this. Should not a Christian out of brotherly love wait
for a month or two before he copies his work? We have put up with this till it
has become unbearable, and has prevented us going on with the printing of the
prophets, as we do not wish to see them spoiled, so greed and envy are delaying
the spread of the Divine Word, and the fault lies at your door. Indulge your
greed as much as you will, till we Germans are called brutes, but pray do not
do so in the name of God. The judgment will most surely descend. May better
times soon come. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther asks
Beier’s intercession for a daughter.
October 8,
1525.
Grace and
peace in Christ ! Among the other maidens who lately escaped from the cloister,
and who are staying with me, is a certain Gertrude von Mylen, whose mother or
grandmother lives beside you in Guben, to whom she writes by this messenger.
Now it is your duty to admonish her to receive her daughter or grand-daughter,
or if she refuse to do so, I shall see to her trousseau, which might perhaps
afterwards offend her. Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Four young
noblemen, who blamed Luther for their sister’s escape from their convent, were
lying in wait to murder him.
November 11,
1525
Dear Spalatin
– Gladly would I be present at your wedding to rejoice with you, but a
hindrance has come in the way, which I cannot overcome, viz. the tears of my
wife, who believes you would be deeply grieved were my life imperilled. She has
a presentiment that my life is in danger, having dreamed last night that
murderers were looking out for me on the way. I think this not unlikely, since
I hear that the rescue of the Freiberg nuns has roused the wrath of the nobles
in Herzog George’s lands.
Although well aware that, wherever I may be,
I am under the Almighty’s protection, without whom not a hair of my head can be
injured, still I am full of pity for my dear Kathie, who would be half-dead
with anxiety before I returned. So do not grieve that I cannot be with you on
the occasion of your wedding. May God’s grace and blessing rest on you.
Martin
Luther.
Luther, at
the Elector’s request, gives his opinion as to how the Church livings should be
visited and maintained.
November 30,
1525.
God’s grace
and peace in Christ! Most Serene Highborn Prince. Your Electoral Grace has
replied to my letter as to a general visitation of the Church livings. Now, I
never meant that all the funds for their support should come out of your
Grace’s treasury; but being asked for my opinion, I humbly venture to suggest
that you should order all the churches in your dominions to be visited; and
where the people desire Evangelical preachers, and the funds are unable to
maintain them, let them receive so much yearly, either from the town council or
elsewhere.
For when the people desire pastors, it is
your Grace’s duty to see they reward them; for “the workman is worthy of his
hire,” as the Gospels say.
This visitation might be arranged by your
Grace dividing your domains into five parts, and sending two visitors either
from the nobility or the officials to each part, to examine those livings, and
find out what is necessary for the pastors; and then arrange that so much of
the yearly taxation be set aside to augment their incomes. But if this were too
much trouble and expense to your Grace, then you could summon the citizens of
certain towns and discuss the matter. Only do what seems best in your eyes.
Also, one must consider the old pastors, and
where these are pious men, and not disinclined to the gospel, they may be
allowed to read the Gospels, along with the postils, themselves to the people
(when they are not qualified to preach), thus ministering instruction to their
flocks, so that they may be obliged to maintain them; for it would be wrong to
eject those who have been long in office, who are friendly to the gospel,
without compensation. I have taken the liberty of pointing out those things at
you Electoral Grace’s request. I commit you to God. Amen.
Your
Electoral Grace’s humble servant,
Martin
Luther.
At the Diet
of Speyer the Evangelical Princes ranged themselves for the first time as
adherents of the new doctrines, and it was agreed that “in religious matters
each State shall live, govern, and behave itself as it shall answer to God and
His Imperial Majesty.” Spalatin and Agricola preached regularly before the
Elector in his own house at Speyer.
Concerning
Gertrude von Mylen.
January 9,
1526.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I am delighted and approve highly of your intention to marry
Gertrude von Mylen, if God gives her to you. You have my best wishes for your
success. I prefer her in many ways to her companions. Therefore I comply with
your request to write her mother.
May the Lord give His blessing. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
About
Melanchthon’s salary.
February 9,
1526.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Serene High-born Prince, Most Gracious Lord.
In the re-organization of the University
your Grace ordered that Melanchthon should have 200 gulden a year as salary.
Now the man (Mensch ) objects to accept so much when he cannot undertake with a
clear conscience to expound the Scriptures daily. It is useless my speaking to
him, for he declares your Grace expects him to lecture regularly. Therefore I
humbly beg you to let him know that you will be satisfied if he help with the
theological lectures and disputations as before, even should it be only once a
week. For even should your Grace present him with this salary for a year or
two, he is well worthy of it. For he expounded the Scriptures with great
success for about two years without any salary, and perhaps to his injury.
I am most anxious to have the Bible spread
abroad here, for it is being eagerly inquired after from all directions. I
herewith commend you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Teacher in
Eisleben, died as Court preacher in Berlin 1556. Oecolampadius and Zwingli
refuted. Queen of Denmark’s death.
February 18,
1526.
Grace and
peace! Although I have really nothing to write about, still I wish to greet you
and your wife, dear Agricola; for you must now know what you asked about in
your letter, viz. fresh heresies. May God convert them!
For the most learned men in Swabia have
written against OEcolampadius and Zwingli, and the book has been printed here.
I fear they will not be pleased now with what they were so proud of before. The
one heresy has given rise to five different sects, all of whom believe the same
thing; but for different reasons, they will soon disappear.
Queen Elizabeth – the consort of the King of
Denmark – has passed away, as King Christian himself has written. But she departed
joyful in the faith, after receiving the Holy Communion in a truly Christian
fashion, inspite of the efforts to make her return to the Papal faith. But
Christ evidently wished to have a queen in heaven for once.
Pray remember the royal children’s tutor
(Hofmeister) in your prayers, and greet your Elsie and all belonging to you. My
Kathie also respectfully greets you all, and always holds you in esteem.
Wishing you
the best of health.
Martin
Luther.
In June of this
year an Evangelical alliance was signed in Torgau, the Elector John and his
heir being present.
March or
April 1526.
Grace and
peace! As Oswald your vice-burgher-master is always travelling back and forward
to you, dear Frederick, I wished to send you my love.
For I am full of joy when I hear of your
well-being, and that the Word of God is taking effect among you. Thank God we
are well, but I commend myself to your prayers that Christ may not suffer us to
be overcome of temptation.
You will perceive how Satan is at present
raging among the Catholic priests, and we hear the godless bishops are
conspiring together, and Philip writes that in Jena they are threatening me
with war. Therefore, exhort the people to be steadfast in the faith, and pray earnestly
to God to overcome the Wicked One, so that peace may be maintained.
From what I hear I see plainly that it is
necessary to be constantly in prayer, for Satan is up to some mischief.
Therefore, pray call the people’s attention to this very weighty matter to
convince them that they are in the greatest danger; being suspended between
unsheathed swords and the fury of Satan.
May you be sustained through the grace and
power of God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
May 11, 1526.
To my brother
in the Lord, John Grickel, in Eisleben. Grace and peace! I send you this
crystal goblet mounted with tin before it gets another owner, for my Kathie has
a great fancy for it. I am pleased with your estimate of Erasmus, and still
more with that of the head of your educational establishment. Thus, even in
those trying times one hears something cheering.
Your Wenall, the schoolmaster, will soon
start from Halle to you. I have written him enclosing your letter. Invite him
to your house, for you know he merits this.
Tell your Elizabeth, if she does not already
know it, that Dr. Drache is now married, and that Syrus has come here with
similar intentions. May you keep well, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Petition for
retired pastor.
May 14, 1526.
Grace and
peace! Serene High-born Prince, Most Gracious Lord. The bearer of this letter,
Herr Bigand, gave up the living of Waltershausen to the Council, as the result
of an arrangement with your Grace that he should receive thirty florins yearly
from the church funds. Now, it seems he does not get this money; probably
because the Council cannot get it out of the living. But your Grace will learn
the true reason. Meantime, the poor old man must run to and fro for his
maintenance. So, as he is my schoolmaster, it is my duty to render him all
honor, therefore I humbly plead that you will not permit him to lie out of the
money, but will graciously help him to get it, to prevent him going abegging in
his old age. I herewith commit you to God. Amen.
Your Grace’s
obedient servant,
Martin
Luther.
About a
teacher. Luther busy with Habbakuk.
June 2, 1526.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! The maiden, Hanna, who was here has returned to her people,
so the school is vacant. Perhaps she did not feel equal to the duties, so left.
But at present we know of no one so well educated and fit for the post.
Philip would have brought the Prophet
Habbakuk with him, but it will not be ready for eight days. There is nothing
new at present except that our town is being fortified, although we know of no
enemy. My wife, Jonas, and the rector (Cruciger) greet you, as well as the
others. My Kathie is devoted to your memory on account of the handsome glass
you sent her.
Farewell, dearest Nicolas.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
announces the birth of his son.
June 8, 1526.
Grace and
peace! I herewith send you the Psalter, dear Herr Doctor and Brother-in-law,
and shall proceed with the Psalms with all my might.
Will you say to M. Eisleben (Agricola) from
me that my dear Kathie presented me with a Hans Luther yesterday at two
o’clock, and then he will not marvel that I send this message, for at this time
of day he will know what it is to have sons. Greet your dear wife from me, and
Eisleben’s Elsie. I herewith commit you to God. Amen. I must stop, for the sick
Kathie is calling for me.
Martin
Luther.
The Diet of Speyer
closed 27th August, where the foundations of the German Evangelical Church were
laid.
September 20,
1526.
Grace and
peace! I write you, my excellent Johannes, merely to say I have nothing special
to write about, as Philip, a living epistle, is with you. I was glad he went to
let the people see of how much importance such things are, and that we are
looking after these in earnest. God grant that your olive branches may thrive.
Greet Elsie and your superiors, as well as inferiors, also your Anna and
Philip.
Do let us have some more of those berries,
for my Kathie likes them greatly, also Frau Eber. Give my respects to Count
Albrecht if you have the opportunity. Greet Dr. Johann Ruhel and his wife,
Conrad the scribe, and Johann Durer.
I now thank the last for the fur coat! I
have just received it. It is far too expensive. I shall write him.
Farewell to all in the Lord. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
About his
literary work.
October 14,
1526.
Grace and
peace! I have nothing new, dear Nicolas, to send you, for the little book about
war is not through the press yet. I intend beginning Zechariah after Habbakuk
and Jonah are finished.
Ecclesiastes gives us an immense deal of
trouble, just as if he did not wish to be read, and yet was compelled to
submit. It has been much too long in obscurity. You are right in saying the
world is going to ruin.
But I hope the day of the coming of the
Great God is approaching, for we hear only of fires, murders, and fury over
all. May all go well with you, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Sister of
Charles V. Her husband fell fighting against the Turks in August. Luther
dedicated Psalms 37,62, 94, and 109 to her.
November 1,
1526.
To Her Serene
Highness Frau Maria, born Queen of Spain, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. My most
gracious lady! Grace and comfort from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Most gracious queen. I determined, at the instigation of some pious people, to
dedicate those four Psalms to your Majesty as an exhortation, joyfully, to
maintain and further God’s Holy Word in Hungary; for I received the good news
that your Royal Highness was inclined towards the gospel, but that godless
bishops, who have all the power in Hungary, tried to hinder it spreading and
turn you away from it. Also, that they have shed innocent blood, and set
themselves in array against the truth of God.
But seeing, alas, that the matter has taken
another turn through the providence of God, and the Turk has caused so much
misery by slaying that noble young monarch King Ludwig, your Majesty’s beloved
husband, I now regard things otherwise. Had the bishops allowed the gospel to
spread, all the world would have declared that these evils came upon Hungary
because of the Lutheran heresy, and what a scandal that would have been! We
shall see whom they will now blame, for God has mercifully prevented such an
accusation being made. St. Paul writes that the Holy Scriptures were written
for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Spirit, might
have hope, so I have published these Psalms to comfort your Royal Highness
(with such comfort as God pleases to give) in this great and sudden affliction
with which the Almighty God has seen fit to visit you, not in anger, as we have
every right to hope, but as a chastisement so that your Royal Highness may
learn to trust only in the true Father which is in heaven, and to be comforted
by the one Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, who is also our Brother, nay, our very
flesh and blood, and to find your delights with your true companions the dear
angels whoever surround and care for us.
For although it was a bitter trial for your
Royal Highness to be left so early a widow, and robbed of your dear husband,
still there is much consolation to be found in the Scriptures, particularly in
the Psalms; and the Father and the Son will show you abundantly where
everlasting life lies hidden.
And truly, to whomsoever it is given to see
and feel the Father’s love towards us in the Scriptures can easily endure all
the misery which may be in the world, while whoever does not really feel this
can never be truly joyful, although he may be revelling in all its pleasures
and delights.
No such affliction can overtake any one so
great as what God endured in seeing His beloved Son rewarded for all the
miracles and good deeds He did to sinful man by being maligned, scorned, and at
last subjected to the most shameful death on the cross.
Each thinks his own cross the heaviest, and
takes it more to heart than the cross of Christ, even although He had endured
ten crosses. This may be because we are not so patient as God is, therefore a
much smaller cross is infinitely more painful to us than Christ’s cross.
But the Father of all mercies and the God of
all consolation will comfort your Royal Highness in His Son Jesus Christ, and
through the Holy Ghost, so that you may soon forget your present misery or be
able to bear it bravely. Amen. At Wittenberg at the first winter moon.
Your
Majesty’s obedient servant,
Martin
Luther.
The church
visitation.
November 22,
1526.
Grace and
peace! Most Serene High-born Prince. For long I have asked nothing of your
Grace, so the requests have accumulated, therefore your Grace must have
patience with those I proffer. The complaints of the clergy everywhere have
reached a climax. The farmer will give nothing, and there is so much
ingratitude among the people for the Word of God that there is no doubt He will
send a plague among us. And if I could reconcile it with my conscience, I would
prevent them getting a pastor at all, and let them live like swine, as they are
doing.
There is neither fear of God nor discipline
because of the Papal ban, and every one does as he likes.
But as we are commanded, especially those in
authority, to look after the poor children, and train them in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord, it is necessary to have teachers and preachers.
If old people do not wish these they can
always go to the devil. But when the youth are neglected it is the fault of the
authorities, and the land will be filled with lawless people, who not only
disobey God’s commands, but bring us all into dire distress.
But now that the Papal rule is at an end in
your Serene Highness’s land, and all the cloisters have reverted to you as the
head, then these bring obligations with them – the setting of them in order –
duties which devolve on you, and which no one else should take up.
Having discussed all this with your Grace’s
Chancellor and Herr Nicolas, we think it will be necessary that you, being
appointed of God for such a purpose, arrange for four persons to visit all the
country – two who understand business matters, land and interest (Zinzen ), and
two who understand teaching and preaching – so that they, by your Serene
Highness’s command, may establish and see to the maintenance of schools and
Church livings. Where any town or village is able, then your Grace can compel
them to maintain churches, manses, and schools.
If they are not willing to do so for the
sake of their future well-being, then your Electoral Highness, as guardian of
the youth and all who require it, is quite justified in compelling them to do
it, even as the law obliges people to make bridges, roads, etc., for the public
benefit.
Now, the most necessary of all is to educate
those who come after us and are to bear rule.
Should this press too heavily on the people,
then there are the cloister possessions, which were founded mainly for this
purpose, and still can be appropriated for the common weal. For, your Electoral
Highness can well imagine the outcry which would through time arise were the
schools and benefices to be permitted to run waste while the nobility were
appropriating the riches of the cloisters, which, it is said, some are already
doing.
So, as your Electoral Grace is deriving no
advantage from such goods, and as they were instituted to maintain the public
service of God, they should, first of all, be applied to this purpose.
Then with what remains your Grace could
supply the needs of the land and the poor.
And another point. Dr. Carlstadt has begged
me to write to your Highness to ask if he might be allowed to live in Kemberg;
for, he cannot exist any longer in the villages, on account of the wickedness
of the peasants, as you can read in his pamphlets, and also learn from Hans von
Grafendorf, and yet he shrinks from writing to you himself.
Although almost one of ourselves, he has not
complained openly as yet. I beg, if it seem good to your Electoral Highness, to
ask the Provost of Kemberg to look after him. Although I know your Grace has
already done enough to create much talk on the subject, yet I would earnestly
entreat you to permit this also. God will requite it all the more richly. He
will see to his soul and body, and we should do good to His people. The grace
of God be with us. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Cordatus now
entered into the circle of Luther’s most intimate friends.
November 28,
1526.
Grace and
peace! You write me truly wondrous things of your Liegnitz friends – of the
power of the spirit and of the flesh in that place, where the one part of the
people seem to love intellectual pursuits, while the others live after the
flesh.
The greatest evil here is lukewarmness,
indifference, against which we must constantly strive. Who knows if God has not
turned it upside down with you, so that when the gospel has been warmly
received at first it cools down through time, while here, on the contrary, and
at variance with all precedent, it is embraced coldly to begin with, and then
slowly gathers strength, till at last it bursts forth in flame.
God grant this people may resemble that son
who at the beginning refused to go into the vineyard, and afterwards repented
and went. He will be preferred to him who at first promised to go and
afterwards did not.
So go on your way unweariedly, and the Lord
will be with you, and do not be afraid of those highly enlightened spirits (in
their own eyes). Nothing is more foolish in God’s sight than such self –
deception. May the Lord Christ ever be with you. Write as often as you can.
Your letters will always be welcome, partly because they testify to the
uprightness of your heart, which is so much needed by your people as well as
ours, and partly because they contain so much information calculated to satisfy
our curiosity. I herewith commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
This was the
year of the first church visitation in Electoral Saxony. Plague in Wittenberg.
Sack of Rome
January 1,
1527
Grace and
peace! Kathie, my wife and commander, ordered me to thank you for the cloth you
sent, but such a costly gift is not seemly for poor people like us. It is just
as it should be, that Elizabeth should enter your Elizabeth’s service. God
grant that she may be truly obedient. We are all well, and amusing ourselves by
beautifying Wittenberg, so that it may have a uniform appearance, while we are
becoming lamentably indifferent to the Word of God. I am at present preparing
to attack the fanatics abroad.
Pray to God for me that He may crush Satan.
Otherwise there is nothing new here. May you and yours prosper. All here greet
you.
Martin
Luther.
The Elector
accedes to church visitation.
January 10,
1527.
Grace and
peace in Christ, dear Nicolas! I have no news, except that the Elector wishes
the church visitation begun at once. And after the churches are put on a good
footing we can settle the question of excommunication (Bann ). It would be
impossible to do that now, when all is in confusion.
Zechariah is in the press, and the book is
daily growing under my hand.
I am also attacking the Sacramentarians.
Pray Christ to guide my pen so as to refute
Satan successfully. I am greatly rejoiced over your testimony that you are
untainted by such rubbish. But I never doubted you. I am grieved that that
estimable man OEcolampadius has fallen into the mire through such childish
nonsensical ideas. Satan urges him on. May God save him! Urbanus Rhegius also
inclines the same way, or has fallen in. May God preserve His own!
You will have heard that the Emperor has
been successful in Italy. The Pope is beset on all hands, so that he may be
demolished, for his hour has come, although persecution is rife, and many are
being burned. My Kathie greets you respectfully.
Martin
Luther.
February 1,
1527.
Grace and
peace! You ask me, my worthy Eberhard, to send you eight gulden; but where am I
to get them? You know the state of my finances, and this year alone I have
contracted 100 gulden of debt through my wretched management. I have pledged in
one quarter three goblets for gulden. The Lord who thus punishes my folly will
again draw me out of the net. In addition, Lukas (Cranach) and Christian will
take no more such pledges from me, for they know they will either receive
nothing or I be ruined. At length I pressed a fourth goblet upon them for 12
gulden, which they lent me, upon my word of mouth, to give to the fat Hermann.
How could I let myself be so drained, and plunge my small belongings in such
debt?
Now, it would not be giving my own, but
other people’s money as alms.
So no one can say I am mean or greedy seeing
I have been so lavish to others.
Now I shall arrange thus. I shall talk it
over with them, and perhaps satisfy them, and if I can lay hands on more money
I would not hesitate to advance it. And, lastly, I would like to visit you myself,
and talk over matters with you, and see your glebe. Why not let your empty
house? It would have brought in a bit of money. Farewell.
Yours,
Martin
Luther.
The
visitation of the churches and schools began in February. Melanchthon Schurf,
and two nobles were sent to the Wittenberg district.
May 2, 1527.
To the
honorable and virtuous maiden, Elsie von Kanitz. My dearest friend in Christ!
Grace and peace in Christ! I have written
your dear aunt, Hanna von Plausig, to let you come to me for a time, as I could
employ you in teaching young girls, and thus set an example which others might
follow.
You would live in my house and eat at my
table, so you would be safe and free from all care; therefore pray come.
I hear the Evil One is tormenting you with
evil thoughts. Oh, dear young lady, do not let that trouble you, for those who
suffer from the devil here will not be troubled with him above; so this is a
good sign. Christ also had to endure the same, and many holy prophets and
apostles, as the Psalms plainly show. Therefore take comfort, and gladly suffer
the Father’s rod. He will deliver you in His own time. When you come I shall
discuss the subject fully with you.
I commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Who was
imprisoned and finally burned for his religion.
May 20, 1527.
To the
esteemed dear brother in Christ, the faithful servant and prisoner of Christ,
Leonhardt Kaiser.
Grace and peace! That your old man should be
a prisoner, dear Herr Leonhardt, is the will of Christ your Savior, who gave
Himself up for you and your sins into the hands of the godless, so that He
might redeem you with His blood, and make you His brother and co-heir of
eternal life.
We are in deep sorrow on your account, and
pray earnestly that you may be set free, not so much for your sake as for the
benefit of many and the honor of God, if it be His will.
But if it be the will of Heaven that you
should not be free, still you are free in spirit. Only see that you are strong,
and constantly overcome the weakness of the flesh, patiently bearing with it in
the strength of Christ, who is with you in your cell, and will stand by you in
all your affliction, as He has promised: “I will be with him in trouble.”
Hence you must confidently call upon Him in
prayer, sustaining yourself with Psalms of consolation amid Satan’s fury, so
that you may be strengthened of the Lord, and not succumb too readily to the
teeth of Behemoth ( Job 40:15). For you know he cannot injure you if you cry to
Christ, whose presence and power are over all.
As St. Paul says, “if God be for us, who can
be against us?” and He will help all who are tempted. Therefore, my beloved
brother, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, so that you may
recognize, endure, love, and praise out of a full heart the fatherly will of
God, whether free or not.
To enable you to do this, the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ will work in you, according to the riches of His glory, who
is the Father of all mercies and the God of all consolation. Amen. I herewith
commit you to God; also pray for us.
Martin
Luther.
In July,
Melanchthon, Myconius, and Menius of Erfurt, with three lawyers, began church
visitation in Thuringia.
July 13, 1527
To the
esteemed Nicolas Hausmann of Zwickau.
Grace and peace! The church visitation has
begun in earnest. Eight days ago Herr Hieronymus and Magister Philip set off.
May the Lord guide them. Amen.
Rome has been devastated in the most
merciless manner. Christ has so overruled it that the Emperor, who, because of
the Pope, persecuted Luther, should now be obliged to overthrow the Pope on
Luther’s account. So all things have been made subservient to the welfare of
God’s people against the adversary. I have no other news.
My Kathie and my Hans greet you. Farewell in
the Lord. I have had a terrible attack of giddiness, so that I can neither read
nor write.
Martin
Luther.
In this
visitation the Elector legally established the office of superintendent, to
keep an eye on the efficiency of the clergy.
August 15,
1527.
I am glad to
hear you are again well, and thank God for this. Pray that I may be kept in
health, if it be the will of God our Savior.
The Prince sent me the report of the
visitation to see if it was worth printing. It is all right, if they only stick
to what is arranged. The plague is certainly here, but it is not bad. However,
the people are so terrified that they are running away in every direction.
I have never seen Satan so successful. The
more he can frighten them the happier he is; and that he has scattered our
University is a great joy to him.
But only eighteen have died. In the fishers’
quarter no one has died of it, but all are buried there. Today we have buried –
‘s wife, who died yesterday, almost in my arms. This is the first death in the
middle of the town. The other eighteen are round about the Ester Gate. Among
them was Barbara, your Eberhardt’s daughter, who was marriageable, and John
Kronenberg’s daughter. Hans Luft has recovered, and many others get better if
they take medicine. But many are so excited they will do nothing, and die
defiantly. Justus Jonas has lost his son Johannes. He, with his household, has
gone to his fatherland, but I remain here, as the people are in desperation. So
Pommer and I are here alone with the chaplain, but Christ is with us, who will
overcome the old murderous serpent, who brought sin into the world, even
although he may bruise our heel. Pray for us, and may God protect you.
Martin
Luther.
August 19,
1527.
The
visitation will not be allowed to drop, dear Nicolas, so let us be of good
cheer. We hope the plague may soon be over. It plagues us in manifold ways,
especially me, weakening my faith and loading me with care. The pest has been
three times in the house. The little son has been eight days ill, and is only
kept alive by liquids; but now he is recovering.
For many months I have suffered from
faithlessness. Pray that our faith may not fail. My Kathie sends money for
linen. I do not wish to trouble you. Pommer, who comforts me in my solitude, as
the plague took the chaplain’s wife away, greets you warmly. Kathie also
commends herself to your prayers.
Farewell,
beloved brother.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
rejoices over his friend’s recovery.
September 2,
1527.
Accept my
greeting, for I have really nothing to write. But I would thank my Lord Jesus,
my excellent Hausmann, that He has restored you to us.
Praised be His name to all eternity for
doing this! Amen.
I hope that the visitors will, after a short
rest, go on with their work.
Meantime comfort yourself in patience. At
the same time pray for us, so that the Lord may remove the epidemic and gather
again the scattered ones, that His Word may be spread abroad more and more. God
grant this.
I commit you to Him.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
expresses joy over his friends’ intercession for him, on account of the absence
of his helpers in Jena.
September 2,
1527.
To my honored
brother in Christ, Gerhardt Xantis. Grace and peace! The other day I wrote to
Montanus, and not to you. Now I write to you, and not to Montanus, for I
perceive you are one heart and soul in the Lord.
Therefore show him this letter, and thank
him on my behalf for being so constantly remembered in prayer. All of us, and
especially myself, stand much in need of such intercession, and I rejoice that
such pious men feel so deeply interested in me.
The Commentary upon Zechariah, which was
half finished, has been delayed because of my health. The Prophets, which we
had begun to translate into German, have again been obliged to hang their
harps, through the dispersion of our colleagues by the plague.
Let our Jacob know this, that he may pray
more earnestly for us, that Christ, our Physician, may allay the fear, not so
much of the frequent deaths, as of a most infectious disease, so that our
people may again return and our work be resumed. It is Satan himself who has
spread these evil reports and fears to impede the gospel, but Christ will, in
answer to your prayers, tread him under our feet. God grant this.
Our wives are full of joy, and thank you for
your present, and good heart.
Melanchthon unites in thanking you with me.
The High School has been removed to Jena.
Pommer and his wife greet you warmly, and also mine.
And I greet you warmly, and promise, with
God’s help, to do what you prescribe. And yet one more greeting from my son.
I herewith commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Halle long
shut to the Reformation, because of Herzog George, although in 1527 their
Evangelical preacher, George Winkler, was murdered by order of the Archbishop
of Mayence.
September
1527.
To the dear
friends of Christ in Halle. Grace and peace in Christ our Savior! Amen.
Dear sirs and friends – I have long intended
writing you a letter of admonition and consolation under the trials with which
Satan has visited you, through the murder of that good man, Magister George,
thus robbing you of a faithful pastor, who declared to you the Word of life.
But one thing after another has prevented me, especially my weak health, and
although not yet well I can delay no longer.
But although unable to derive any comfort
from such an untoward event, still it would be wrong to allow such a perfidious
murder to be passed over in silence, and let such blood rot in the earth instead
of bearing witness to God’s Holy Word.
Therefore I shall help it to cry to Heaven,
in order that so much as in us lies, such a murder may never be forgotten till
God the merciful Father and righteous Judge hears the cry, as He heard that of
righteous Abel’s blood, and executes justice upon the murderer.
And God grant that Magister George’s blood
may be a divine seed, which although sown in the earth by the hands of Satan
and his members, may bring forth seed an hundredfold, so that instead of the
murdered George a hundred other faithful preachers may arise, who will injure
Satan a thousand times more than the one man has done; and because he would
neither suffer nor listen to the one he will be obliged to suffer and listen to
many others, even as happened to the Pope through Huss’s blood, whom he would
not permit to exist quietly in a corner, but must now hear its cries over the
whole world, till it has reached Rome itself, and there seems no prospect of
its being silenced. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
About
Leonhardt Kaiser’s death.
October 22,
1527.
Grace and
peace! I have received the history of Leonhardt Kaiser, but meantime his cousin
has sent me all his writings in his own hand. I shall have them printed at
once.
Pray earnestly that Christ may not forsake
me, for I am driven almost mad by the assaults of Satan’s angels.
Miserable creature that I am! How unlike
Leonhardt! I preach the gospel with many words, but he is a powerful doer of
the Word. Oh that I were counted worthy to be endued, not with the double but
with the half of his spirit, so that I might be able to overcome Satan and quit
this life. God be praised that amid so much evil He has granted us poor
miserable creatures a glorious glimpse of His loving-kindness as a token that
He has not forsaken us.
Pray for me, my brother Michael, and may
Christ grant that we too may be followers of Leonhardt. He is not called a
king, but a kaiser, for he has overcome him whose power is so great that no one
on earth can be compared to him.
In addition, he is not only a priest, but a
true bishop, nay pope, who has offered up his body as a sacrifice well pleasing
to the Holy God. Also, he is rightly named Leonhardt, that is, lion-heart, for
he has proved himself to be a strong and fearless lion. All that this name
signified was foreseen when he received it. He is the first of his race who has
so consecrated the name.
Give your dear wife my thanks, and my little
prattling Hans must send his respects to you. I and my Kathie hope that she may
live happily with her child in Christ.
Pommer greets you warmly.
Farewell in
Christ.
Martin
Luther.
A letter full
of complaints.
November 1,
1527.
Grace and
peace! Dear Amsdorf. – It seems to be God’s will that I who up till now was
wont to comfort you all, now need it greatly myself.
Meantime my sole petition is that you will
help me to pray that Christ may perfect His gracious will in me; so that I may
be well pleasing in His sight, and never be ungrateful to Him, after having up
till now zealously preached His gospel and honored His name, although often
having grieved Him with my sins. Satan begs that a Job may be delivered into
his hands, but Christ bids him spare his life. And to me He says, “I am thy
salvation,” which makes me sure that He will not forever be wroth over my sins.
I should like to answer the Sacramentarians, but if I do not get stronger I
cannot.
My house has been turned into a hospital.
Augustine’s Hanna had the plague inwardly, but is now better. Margaret Mochim
alarmed us with a sore and other bad symptoms. I am also very anxious about my
Kathie at present. My Hans has been three days ill, and eats nothing. Some say
it is the teeth, and both seem in danger.
The wife of George, the chaplain, is also
ill of the plague, and her condition is perilous. May Jesus be gracious to her.
So there are rightings without and fears within.
Truly, the Lord is trying us sorely. Our one
consolation is, and with this we can defy Satan, that we have God’s Word,
through which believing souls can be saved, although He consumes the bodies. We
send greeting to the brethren and yourself, and beg you to pray for us that we
may patiently endure God’s chastening hand, and withstand Satan’s power and cunning,
both in life and death. Wittenberg, All Saints’ Day. In tenth year of the
overthrow of the Indulgence, to whose memory we are drinking a toast, and to
both our healths.
Martin
Luther.
A sad letter.
Jonas in Nordhausen during the plague.
November 10,
1527.
Grace and
peace in God our Savior! Thanks, dear Jonas, that you pray for us, and
sometimes write.
I hope you got yesterday’s letter. I have
not read Erasmus’s writings nor those of the Sacramentarians, except something
by Zwingli. They only do right in trampling a miserable creature like me under
foot, thereby following Judas’s example, and making me utter my complaints to
my Lord Jesus of being persecuted on all sides, and having to bear God’s
indignation for having sinned against Him. The Pope, Emperor, Bishops, and the
whole world attack me; and as if this were not enough, my very brethren plague
me, nay, even my sins, death, and the devil with his angels, rage without
measure.
So then what would become of me were Christ
to forsake me because of whom all these are my enemies? But He will not desert
me, poor miserable sinner, for I esteem myself the least of all men.
Would that Erasmus and the Sacramentarians
experienced for one quarter of an hour the sorrows of my heart, then I would
declare they were truly converted. But now my enemies are mighty, and heap
anguish on him whom the Lord chastens.
But enough of this, so that I may not seem
impatient under God’s rod, who chastens and heals, kills and makes alive again.
Let His holy and perfect will be praised now
and forever! Were we of the world it would love its own. I am also very anxious
about my wife. The Lord has done great things for me, so I must suffer great
things. May Christ be my rock and my strength. Amen.
My Hans can send no greeting in his
sickness, but begs for your prayers. For twelve days he has lived only on
fluids. He now begins to eat a little. The child would gladly play as he used
to do, but is not able.
Margaret Mochim’s abscess was opened
yesterday, and she is now a little better. I do not wish Rome to be burned;
that would be a marvellous sign.
Would to God that we could meet again in our
homes, and work at Ecclesiastes, so that it may be issued before we die. I
commend myself to your prayers. We Wittenberg people are hated of all, and they
are terrified on account of the pest. As the Psalm says, “We are a byword among
the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people,” but we hope a joy and
crown of the angels and saints.
Martin
Luther.
Luther thanks
him for comfort received.
November 17,
1527.
Grace and
peace in Christ! May our Lord Christ one day, dear Nicolas, comfort you with
the comfort you have given me. But I, poor sinner, thank my Lord that up till
now He has not permitted Satan to do as he pleased with me, although he has
tried with all his might and cunning to do so.
Pray that Christ may overcome him and his
onslaught upon me. I do not believe that it is one devil that is attacking me,
but that the very prince of devils has risen against me, so great is his power
of assailing me with Scripture, so that my own knowledge of the Bible does not
suffice for my protection if I were not strengthened by words of Scripture out
of the mouths of my friends.
This is why I ask so earnestly for your
prayers; and if ever you are in the same position, the sport of the devil, you
will understand my request. May Christ be with you. Amen.
Martin Luther
Luther longs
for his friend’s return.
November 29,
1527.
Grace and
peace! That you are so earnest in your prayers for me, dear Jonas, is a very
great boon to me, poor tortured creature. I also pray much for you that Christ
may take pity on you, for I hear you suffer from stone.
I would counsel you to return to us, for
Christ be praised, the plague has abated, and our townspeople are beginning to
marry and live in security.
Your quarters since – ‘s death are now quite
purified up to the Pfarr church and the market. May the Lord guide you to what
is well pleasing to Him and good for yourself. Amen.
Greet your Kathie and Justelchen.
Augustine’s wife is better. If only Margaretta Mochim would recover, but now we
have hope. She has been some weeks ill, and can scarcely hear or speak.
P.S. – Your house, which is now clean, I
have lent to the other chaplain’s wife and family, for she was so distressed
over the death of her friend, the chaplain’s wife, that it was the only way to
comfort her, but the two husbands sleep here in the manse. I hope you will
excuse us making so free with your belongings, but I promised that if the
plague attack any of them they shall at once be brought back here. Meanwhile
may Christ give you a house in Nordhausen, as we in our dire need had to take
yours.
Our Brunoni’s little son will not live over
the day, for death has marked the orphan for his own.
Farewell in
Christ.
Martin
Luther.
Walther was
three weeks in Luther’s house helping to arrange the Church music, the Reformer
himself composing the melodies for the German hymns, to Walther’s amazement.
Luther said Virgil had taught him this.
December 21,
1527
Grace and
peace! From this letter you will see, my Walther, that I answered your last, as
I wished to offer you help and counsel. The messenger should have fetched this
letter early in the morning, as you write, but how can I know where they spend
the night, or run after them?
It is their custom, when they have given the
letters to my servants, to disappear, as if carried away by the wind, and they
do not reappear.
Therefore I write once more, as you request.
I herewith commit you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
expects the return of the University from Jena.
December 29,
1527.
Grace and
peace! I marvel much, my Jonas, that you have not yet returned, seeing the
plague is gone.
You might at least have paid us one visit in
our affliction – of course, at our expense.
The people who had fled are now returning in
shoals – indeed, the whole of the citizens.
Tomorrow the Town Council will also be here,
and we expect the University shortly, as Magister Philip writes. God has
manifested His love towards us in a marvellous manner, letting us perceive that
our earnest prayers are acceptable in His sight, although we ourselves are
sinners.
Margaretta Mochim is restored from the jaws
of death, for we had given up hope, as she could neither hear nor understand.
Otherwise we are all well.
My Kathie, with the little baby Elizabeth,
is well, and sends you greetings, but is longing to see you all here again in
good health.
I am well in body, also in mind, so long as
my Lord Christ upholds me, and the slender thread by which He keeps hold of me,
and I of Him, is not snapt asunder.
But Satan has tried to drag me down with
powerful cart ropes and ships’ cords into the abyss, but the weak Christ has
overcome as yet, through your prayers, and struggles bravely for the victory!
Go on and cause the weak Christ within me to
become strong through your prayers, that He in His weakness may defy the might
and insolence of the devil. Revenge me on him, and turn his pride into shame,
which I have exposed through the discovery of his arts and cunning.
We are all one in Christ. May you prosper
much in Him! Greet all your people, and return speedily.
Martin
Luther.
The second visitation
of the churches began in October – Spalatin, Melanchthon, Luther, Jonas,
Myconius, taking part. The following year the Elector ordered Luther to remain
at home, as Wittenberg lost one hundred students through his and Melanchthon’s
absence.
January 1,
1528.
Grace and
peace! I received your last letter of consolation with much joy, my Gerhardt.
Many thanks. May Christ comfort you for this. No doubt this temptation, which
has afflicted me from my youth up, is very great, but I could not have believed
that it should so have gained the upper hand.
Nevertheless, up till now Christ has always
conquered. I commend myself to your prayers and those of the brethren. I have
helped others, but cannot help myself.
Praise to my Christ, who, amid poverty,
murmuring against God,: and even in death, will gather us together into His
kingdom.
Meantime we know, that firmly as we may
trust His Word and work, these will not justify us. We are ever faithless,
although we may boast of having led a Christian life in this world, in spite of
its accompanying trials. But one thing is certain, Christ is our life and
righteousness, and it is hidden in God. (How difficult, how alien to the flesh,
is it to comprehend this.) I am glad I now understand St. Peter’s allusions to
being partakers of Christ’s sufferings, which are the portion of our brethren
in this world; but as life draws to a close they become more bitter. Greet
Montanus and all the brothers.
Martin
Luther.
The little
book on the Visitation.
March 2,
1528.
Grace and
peace! The book on the Visitation is not finished, for the printers ran short
of paper, but it will soon be ready. I am delighted to hear your good opinion
of Herr Paul, Abbot of Sagan, and that he sent you such an honest answer. May
we with one heart and mouth praise the Father to all eternity. Amen!
There is nothing new here, except the
terrible threats of the priests, who hope much from the Regensburg Diet. Pray
earnestly with your people for the Princes of Germany, that God may endue them
with grace, so that they need not always require to come together at such great
expense, and in vain, but may desire peace and righteousness, as is seemly.
We have had so many diets lately, and see no
results, because God has forsaken us; while the devil hinders all that is good.
Farewell, and greet Paul your evangelist in the Lord, with all the brethren.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
invites his friend to Wittenberg, as he thinks he cannot be happy in King Ferdinand’s
land.
March 6,
1528.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! Dearest Cordatus – I have known for long that you had left
Austria, and were living on the estate of Gluck in Silesia, waiting to be
recalled by that noble lady in the Riesengebirge, who promised to send for you,
but I fancy will not do so.
If you are not comfortable there, do not
hesitate to hasten to me, or wherever you would like to go. If it should ever
occur to the lady to recall you, she can find you as easily with us as anywhere
else, and I thought you could have more congenial society here than among
people so unlike yourself. For my part, I have no hesitation in begging you to
set aside the lady’s promises and begin work in the Lord’s vineyard. So come
with your wife and sister till Christ arranges something else.
The Papists, triumphant through Ferdinand’s
mandate, are waxing bold, and probably will not grant the gospel’s servants any
authority in these lands; and why should you buoy yourself with vain hopes? It
is now three months since the plague left Wittenberg, God be praised! I hope
you have read my treatise against the Anabaptists. I flatter myself that I have
rescued some from their errors. The rest you will hear from our Rorar, Christ’s
faithful servant.
The grace of
God be with you!
Martin
Luther.
Luther
invites him to Wittenberg.
March 7,
1528.
Grace and
peace! When Satan rages, my Leonhardt, he is only acting in accordance with his
office and name. For, as the Scriptures say, nothing else is to be expected
from him. But be steadfast, and struggle and pray against him in spirit and in
deed.
There is One who is mighty, and He dwells
within us. To God be honor and glory. If you be driven away, a refuge is
waiting for you here, and all that the Lord has given us is at your service.
For many (Exultanten ) who have to flee from Ferdinand’s kingdom settle among
us, who at least resemble Christ in His poverty. I commend myself to your
prayers and those of your friends.
Farewell in
the Lord.
Martin Luther.
Luther
announces his arrival in Borna.
March 18,
1528.
Grace and
peace! I have this moment arrived in Borna, dear Spalatin, almost frozen, and
starving of hunger. What a dreadful journey we have had, but we have done it in
two days, having crawled rather than traveled, for we were determined to sup
with you tonight. I write this in order that you may excuse us to the Prince.
For, the letter demanding our presence only
arrived the other night, and we hurried as much as we could, but the roads,
wind, and cold hindered us.
So, if God will, we shall breakfast with you
tomorrow. Pommer and Jonas are my travelling companions, as they did not wish
me to go alone. May you prosper in the Lord!
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
books, and tells of the Electress of Brandenburg’s flight.
March 28,
1528.
Grace and
peace! I have given Johann Hoffmann copies to distribute among you, against the
Sacramentarians. God grant that they bring, forth much fruit, for I have
resolved to stop writing against them, for they do not understand logic, so it
is impossible to bring them to reason or convince them that they have been
refuted.
The Electress has, with the help of her
brother the King of Denmark, fled from Berlin Schloss to our Prince here, her
uncle; for it is said the Elector intended walling her up on account of her
having partaken of the sacrament in both kinds. Pray for our Prince. The pious
and good-hearted man is much plagued, and deserves the help of our prayers. May
you prosper with wife and child!
Martin
Luther.
Consolation
to one doubting his election to eternal life.
July 20,
1528.
Dear sir and
friend – I wish you above all the grace and mercy of God through his Son Jesus,
our sole Savior. Some days ago, my brother, Caspar Cruciger, doctor of the Holy
Scriptures, informed me that you were afflicted with strange thoughts as to
God’s omniscience, and had become quite perplexed, so that it was feared you
might take your own life (which may God Almighty prevent).
You find difficulty in believing that the
Almighty knew from all eternity who should be saved, whether they were already
dead, alive, or as yet unborn. Now, all must admit this, for He knows all
things, and nothing is hidden from Him who counts the stars in the heavens, the
leaves of the trees, nay, even the hairs of men’s heads, from all which you
seem to fancy you may do what you will, good or evil, for if God has ordained
whether you shall be saved or not (which is true)your thoughts are more taken
up with damnation than salvation, and you sink into despair and become a prey
to despondency. So I, as my Lord Christ’s servant, send this letter of
consolation to let you know God’s thoughts towards you, whether you be destined
to blessedness or perdition.
Although the Almighty knows everything, and
no one can go against the decrees of His will, still it is His earnest desire,
nay command, decreed from all eternity, that all men should be partakers of
everlasting joy, as is clearly seen from Ezekiel 28:23 – “Have I any pleasure
at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord; and not that he should
return from his ways, and live?”
Seeing He desires the salvation of sinners,
who swarm beneath heaven’s lofty vault, why will you with your foolish thoughts
prompted by Satan separate yourself from them, thereby cutting yourself off
from the grace of God? “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is
His mercy toward them that fear Him,” and cry for help. For He is rich toward
all who call upon Him. But it is only strong filth which can drive away such
despairing thoughts as in Romans
Further, He says “to me !”
who knows every foot of the way, and will not let thy foot slide. Why wander
aimlessly about? But who are to come? The weary and heavy laden! And what kind
of company would that be? I do not know Messrs. Weary and Heavy Laden. They
ought to have high-sounding names, such as burgher-master, and such like –
these master minds, who love to grovel in God’s Word with their human reason,
like the sow in a turnip field ! Not at all. It is he who is weary and heavy
laden, borne down with sad thoughts direct from the Evil One, who is called, –
the man who does not know to what hand to turn, and is ready to sink into
despair. So that is why He says “heavy laden,” as if He had known our burdens,
and wished to help us to bear them, nay, even relieve us of them entirely.
And consider that God Almighty created and
elected us, not to damnation, but to everlasting life, even as the angels in
the first sermon proclaimed to the shepherds on the field: “Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” And it was inner, not
bodily peace they meant. It was not from those who injured them, but from the
world, the flesh, and the devil, they were to be delivered. Hence one can see
from the Scriptures how great is God’s mercy, and these and such like thoughts
can enable him to form an opinion as to God’s foreseeing, and then there is no
occasion for a man to torture himself, nor would it avail even were he to worry
his flesh from his bones.
What business is it of yours that God causes
the dear sun to shine over good and bad, over arid and green? God has ordained
that the sun should endue the moisture of the ground with its vital powers,
thus causing the roots and branches of the trees to fructify and yield fruit.
And if a dried-up tree should nevertheless remain impervious to the rays of the
sun, still the tree is not so much at fault as the soil which is marshy. For
“good ground, good corn,” as the proverb says. Thus, where the preaching is
good and full of consolation, there are sure to be tender consciences and
joyful hearts. Therefore as you cannot hinder the natural sun, which is a tiny
spark compared to the starry firmament, – the smallest star being larger than
the whole world, – from spreading her rays abroad, still less can you limit
God’s grace, being fathomless, having neither beginning nor end.
Dear one, do not reckon so close with God.
Fancy if the Son of God had asked the high priests and Levites at the
crucifixion if He should receive the malefactor into Heaven, what would they
have said? Doubtless the answer would have been: “If thieves and murderers
desire to enter Heaven we do not object,” and might have added, “If he belong
to Paradise we should not have hung him upon a gallows, and it is as likely he
will enter Heaven as that you are God.”
Thus speaks a scornful world and man’s
reason.
How well Christ answered His disciples who
asked, as John lay asleep on His bosom, “What shall this man do ?” “If I will
that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” as if to warn him not to
fall. “Let every one sweep before his own door, and then we shall be saved!”
This would prevent much heart-burning as to what God in the eternal counsel of
His will has decreed concerning those who should be saved or lost. He who will
not accept a certainty for an uncertainty will at length come away emptyhanded,
besides being the object of ridicule. He who will not be counselled in time and
despises God’s Word will fall a prey to a raging devil as sure as God is God.
If things went with us according to our thoughts, prompted by the flesh and the
devil, we should all be given over to death, therefore we have the word of
promise: “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred
and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt
rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.”
If we persevere to the end we may console
ourselves that devilish thoughts shall be expelled, and we may raise our hearts
in faith to God, and be certain that we have received forgiveness of sins, and
shall be, nay, are justified, according to Christ’s promise, by faith of Jesus
Christ, as St. Paul testifies in Galatians
That is when we are cast down, and every
path seems shut up to us, we shall once more stand erect
in faith, resting on God’s promises of Christ, or in Christ. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Invitation to
Mary Mochim’s marriage.
July 31,
1528.
Grace and
peace! We have betrothed Mary Mochim to Herr ,Georgio, and the marriage takes
place on St. Lawrence Day. As we think this is a good opportunity for you to
visit us, we plead with you to come, when, if God will, we shall have a joyous
wedding feast. As to the rest – pray to Christ for us in whom your soul
flourishes. Amen.
Martin Luther.
Luther thanks
him in his boy’s name for toys.
August 5,
1528.
Grace and
peace! My Hanschen thanks you, dear Nicolas, for the beautiful toys, which he
is very proud of.
I purpose writing about the Turkish war. My
little daughter Elizabeth has been taken away from me, leaving me almost in
womanly sorrow, so deeply am I grieved. I never dreamt that a father’s heart
could have been so soft towards his children.
Pray to God for me, and may you prosper in
Him!
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – As to
the Freybergerin, the escaped nun, being carried away, I have my own thoughts,
so let it rest.
Request to
appoint M. Stiefel as pastor in Lochau.
September 3,
1528.
To the Most
Serene High-born Prince, Elector John. Grace and peace!
Most gracious lord! M. Franciscus, the
pastor in Lochau, has fallen asleep in God, and the people have asked – to be
appointed. But I have referred them to your Grace, as I have nothing to do with
that.
Now, I am most anxious to retain Michael
Stiefel in the land, for he is pious and well acquainted with the Scriptures,
and a good preacher. So, if it please your Highness, we all think he should
meantime be settled in Lochau, till perhaps another turn up, for the good man
is quite unhappy in case he is a burden to me (he is here just now, but I can
scarcely prevent him leaving). I am most anxious to have pious learned people
about us, for we lose so many such.
Were he to become pastor in Lochau we would
try to get him to help the poor widow with her two children, she being left in
great poverty, perhaps by marrying her, but if not – God’s will be done. I
relate all this to your Electoral Highness and beg a favorable answer. But it
occurs to me that you know M. Stiefel, who traveled with us to Weimar; you
presented him with five gulden. May Christ ever be with you! Amen.
Your Grace’s
obedient
Martin
Luther.
Melanchthon
in Thuringia on the visitation.
October 25,
1528.
Grace and
peace! Philip is absent on the visitation, so we are deprived of his counsel in
seeking a schoolmaster.
But I shall consult Milich and George Major
to see if one can be sent at once, although I am told that Veit was with you
before, whom meantime you could have again. Within eight days we shall tell you
what we have arranged.
I am just starting for Lochau to marry M.
Stiefel to the widow of the Bishop of Lochau, and to introduce him to his new
charge. One thing always seems to come upon the top of another. I could not
keep the man (Mensch ) with me, for he was far too modest, fancying he was a
burden to me, so preferred living anyhow elsewhere, thus compelling me at
length to let him go. He herewith sends you by me some letters inviting you to
his marriage. I fear they are a little late, but dispose of them as quickly as
possible. Farewell to your Hans Albert and the other branches of your vine.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
comforts him over calumnies caused by his marriage.
October 29,
1528.
You must not
vex yourself over the outcry your marriage has caused, but rather rejoice; for
it is a condition which has God’s approval, and is lauded by the angels, and
held in honor of all saints. In addition it has this seal, that it is
distinguished by the cross being vilified by devils and false brethren, to
which every word and work of God are subjected.
Therefore regard the priestly utterances as
so many precious stones which blacken you in the world’s eyes, but make you
all-glorious in the eyes of a pure God, and comfort yourself that the world is
not esteemed worthy to perceive the glory of such a work of God as you are
permitted to see. Let the world with its princes indulge in their foolish,
presumptuous judgments and blasphemies. The wicked must be rooted out, so as
not to see the glory of God. I have no doubt the priests are hurrying you into
Bethaven, but be that as it may, you have received the office of the
visitation, and have a gracious Lord who will not suffer you to want the
necessaries of life. May the Lord Jesus strengthen you by His Spirit ! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Petition for
longer leave for Bugenhagen.
November 11,
1528.
Grace and
peace! Honored and learned Herr Doctor! A messenger has just arrived from the Town
Council of Hamburg to ask permission from my gracious lord that Herr Johann
Pommer may be allowed to remain longer there, as the enclosed documents
testify. Although I had written to the good man not to worry as to overstaying
his leave, if God’s work required it (for our lord has no desire to hinder the
Word of God, if Bugenhagen’s presence can further it), but the good man had no
peace till our gracious lord himself assured him of it. Therefore, pray procure
a writing from my lord, asking him to return as soon as he can, without
imperilling God’s work through his haste, but empowering him to defer his
return if necessary. Your Excellency will know how to manage it, and send it by
this messenger. I commit you to God.
Your
Excellency’s obedient
Martin Luther
Luther
rejoices in his friend’s happiness.
November
1528.
Grace and
peace! I am delighted, dear Michael, that you are so pleased with your wife and
her children, and that she loves you. May God maintain this unity! Will you say
to the overseer that it is impossible for me to come to his marriage, as I have
not a free hour that day. I expected we would have been in Schweritz then, and
could sacrifice half a day in his honor, but the business connected with the
church visitation has increased so enormously that all our plans have been
upset. So please apologize for me.
Greet your Eve with the olive branches
committed to your care. The evening I got your letter.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
letters to his friend, who is on the visitation.
November 30,
1528.
Grace and
peace! I send you, as well as Lukas Cranach, letters which have lain long here.
The Chancellor will tell you the rest. Say
to Lukas that gloves and a black cap were sent with the other things from
Augsburg. If any of the letters tell you for whom they are, let them write. For
we have received all our things, but did not wish to open any of the letters.
Today I am again a prey to the tempter. Do
pray in such times of sifting for me as I do for you, that my faith may not
fail. We have paid all due honor to the Chancellor. Your family and ourselves
are all well. My Kathie greets you respectfully, and longs for your return. May
Christ be with you! Amen.
I trust all our folks who are with you may
keep well.
Martin
Luther.
Consolation
on the death of her husband.
December 5,
1528.
Grace and
peace in Christ Jesus! Honored and virtuous lady ! Having heard from your son
of the great trial with which you have been visited, viz. the death of your
husband, I am moved out of Christian love to write this letter of consolation
to you.
First, you must take comfort that in the
hard conflict which beset your lord (Herr), the Lord Jesus at length gained the
victory, and that your husband at last passed away full of trust and confidence
in the Lord, which I was delighted to hear.
For even thus did Christ Himself struggle in
the garden and rise again from the dead.
It is even possible that your husband
inflicted an injury upon himself, for the devil has power over the members of
the body, and may have forcibly guided his hand against his will. For if he had
done it willingly, it is unlikely he would have come again to himself and
turned to Christ with such ample confession of sin. How often does the devil
break arm, neck, back, and all the limbs? He can gain the mastery over all the
members, therefore be satisfied in God, and rank yourself among those of whom
Christ says, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted!”
All the saints must sing Psalm 44.: “For thy
sake we are killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the
slaughter.” There must be suffering and misfortune if we are to partake of the
consolation.
Therefore thank God for His great mercy in
not suffering your husband to linger in conflict and despair, as is the case
with so many, but he was by God’s grace delivered and at length restored to the
Christian faith, and numbered among those of whom it is said: “Blessed are they
who die in the Lord.” And “He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live.”
May God the Father comfort and strengthen
you with such words in Christ Jesus! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
In this year
the Diet at Speyer was held, also the Conference at Marburg, between the German
and Swiss divines, on the question of the Lord’s Supper. Luther’s Larger and
Shorter Catechisms appeared simultaneously.
February 12,
1529.
That you are
pleased with my little book against Herzog George is a great pleasure to me.
For all are down upon me, forgetting how he has treated me, and act towards him
as if he were innocent. I shall not show them your letter, or they would class
you with me. Henceforth I shall not answer the tyrant, as he asks me to let him
alone in future. Much is being said here about Ferdinand’s tyranny and
extortion. Pray that God may strengthen me that I may not be left in Satan’s
hand. The Lord Jesus maintain and bless you! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
February 15,
1529.
I am
delighted that the church visitation has come to such a happy end among you.
May other church matters soon be arranged. We sing the Litany both in Latin and
German here. Perhaps a printed form may soon be issued. Then the days of humiliation,
the ban, and the other liturgical arrangements connected with our congregations
will follow. This is enough to begin with.
I have been suffering from giddiness, not to
mention what I endure from Satan’s emissaries. Pray that God may strengthen me.
I shall never again answer Herzog George.
My sermon against the Turks would have been
printed long ago had not the first printed sheets been lost through the
servant’s carelessness. My Kathie greets you, also Jonas and Philip. We fear
Pommer will not return before Ascension. Christ be with you! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
complains of temptations.
March 3,
1529.
Grace and
peace! The Catechism is not ready, but it will soon be, my Hausmann, also the
sermon against the Turks. But in spite of my soul being well, I am always ill,
so dreadfully does Satan plague me by preventing me studying, for I must have
society to hinder him attacking me in my solitude. Pray for me. Now that your
Paul has been dismissed as Spalatin wrote, you must be thinking of a successor.
If you have none in view, I think Cordatus would be the most suitable. He is an
excellent and learned man, and a staunch confessor of his faith. Farewell, and
pray for the impending Diet.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
a letter inviting him to Holstein.
March 21,
1529.
Grace and
peace! From this letter you will see what the Herzog wishes regarding you. But
as I do not think it would be Christian-like to tear you away from Magdeburg so
soon, it would be better to serve him otherwise.
Show this document to Stein and Klotz in the
Council, and let them see you may accept, which may bring them to reason, and
cause them to do something for the schools. Do let them think you are in
earnest. And if they plead with you to remain do not be too easily persuaded to
do so. For I am still doubtful whether your departure would grieve them. You
will know that Langefeld has been called away, and that Marcus Scharrte in
Hesse is dead.
Martin
Luther.
At Diet of
Speyer the Elector and Princes protested against the Edict against the
Lutherans, hence the word Protestant.
March 29,
1529.
Grace and
peace! I am pleased that you proved Stein thus, and have found neither him nor
others wanting. Now that I have a pretext I shall write, and earnestly exhort
them to promote learning. Go on as you are doing, and help the good work as
much as you can. The bridegroom Bruno has asked me to invite you to his wedding
on Thursday. The bride (Gersa von Krosse) will come to my house on Tuesday, or
rather to my wife’s. So arm yourself, not with sword of steel, but with gold
and silver, for you shall not escape without a present. No news from Speyer,
but you hear everything. Farewell in Christ. Pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Cordatus,
Hausmann’s assistant, brought this letter.
March 31,
1529.
Herewith,
behold the sharer in your ministerial cares and helper in your work, Herr
Licentiate Cordatus, an estimable man. I hope he will help you, and do much
good in your parish. Although ignorant people may not be satisfied at first
they will appreciate his worth afterwards. May Christ comfort you in all your
tribulations! It is a miracle that we are not swallowed up of the devil in our
impotence. Those who have eyes to see must behold in us one of God’s greatest
works, that we insignificant creatures have been enabled to withstand so many
powerful enemies and remain steadfast. Outwardly we are much harassed, and
inwardly Satan takes up his abode among the children of God. But it is only a
reigning Christ who can triumph over us weak ones, and will at length give us a
glorious deliverance on the great day. God grant it. Christ will teach and
confirm it out of Cordatus’s mouth. Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
A marriage
case.
May 4, 1529.
This is what
I should recommend. Do not believe this faithless bridegroom.
I agree with you to send him back, either to
prove that he has never promised (which he is trying to do), or to take the
bride, or remain unmarried. I have told him this. But if matters be as you say,
then he must not marry for a punishment, unless he marries her.
We know nothing definite as to the
Reichstag. We daily expect Philip Melanchthon. I can scarcely lecture because
of my cough. Yesterday and today I expounded Isaiah, but was very hoarse. Pray
for us.
Martin
Luther.
Thanks for a
gift, etc.
May 6, 1529.
Grace in
Christ! The watch, dear Wenzel, has arrived all right. But it is either weary
with its journey or not accustomed to its new owner, for it has stopped.
However, with time, it appears inclined to run. I thank you warmly for it, but,
being a poor man, can make no return. For the books which came out lately you
must already have, and they are of such a nature that they cannot be called
gifts. They are only old things brought out afresh.
God has given me a little daughter
Magdalena, and the mother is very well.
The Diet is at an end, and almost without
result, except that the persecutors of Christ, the tyrants of souls, could not
vent their fury on us as they desired, and we could expect no more from God.
There is talk of a Council, but it will be
fruitless. There is a Venetian here just now, and he says that in the last
French war against the Pope there were eight hundred Turks, of whom three
hundred were uninjured, and being tired of the war returned home. I thought you
did not know these dreadful things, as you took no notice of them. Soon
Martin
Luther.
Luther begs
the Elector to recall Bugenhagen from Hamburg.
May 12, 1529.
Grace and
peace! Serene High-born Prince. Herr John Pommer has written from Hamburg that
he has arranged to return, but the people are holding him so fast that he
cannot get away, and he says they intend writing your Grace to let him remain
always. I have written him to resist such action, and hope they will not thus
requite our goodness in lending him to them.
So he now writes, begging that your
Electoral Grace would write demanding his presence in Wittenberg, to prove his
hurrying home is not his own wish. Therefore we humbly request your Grace would
furnish us with such a document to forward, with those from the University,
ordering his return, for the classes have lain long enough waste, especially as,
God be praised, students are daily arriving, principally from Saxony, so
Bugenhagen cannot be longer spared. Your Grace will know how to act in the
matter.
Martin
Luther.
May 25, 1529.
I commend to
you this Scotchman, my Wenzel, who has been banished from his fatherland
because of the gospel. He begged me to write you, hoping he might get some
assistance. He seems of good family, and well grounded in scholastic theology.
Could he speak German we could find plenty
for him to do, and, despite our poverty, have kept him with us, but he has
reasons for wishing to try his fortune elsewhere.
In Philip’s absence, and during my illness,
I translated the book of Wisdom (Proverbs), which Philip had taken in hand. It
is in the press. That which Leo Judais of Zurich has translated is miserable in
the extreme. Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
About Erasmus
of Rotterdam.
May 28, 1529.
Grace and
peace! I am well aware, my Jacob, of all you tell me of Erasmus, who rages
against us.
I gathered as much from his writings, for in
them he displays the soreness of the wound he has received. But I despise him,
and do not consider the creature worthy of any other reply, and should I write
shall only refer to Erasmus in the third person, and doing this more to condemn
his opinions than to refute them, for he is a thoughtless “Indifferentist,” who
ridicules all religion in his Lucian fashion, and is only in earnest when he
wishes to gratify his revenge. We are all well here, thanks to your prayers.
Thanks for the present – a proof of your good feeling. I shall send you my
latest works. Farewell in Christ, and continue praying for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther agrees
to a Conference with OEcolampadius and Zwingli.
June 23,
1529.
Grace and
peace! Serene Prince, Most Gracious Lord! I have received your Grace’s
invitation to Marburg to the disputation with OEcolampadius and the other Swiss
divines, to see if we cannot see eye to eye regarding the sacrament. Although I
have little hope of this, still your Grace’s anxiety for unity and peace is
most laudable, and I am willing to cooperate in such vain and for us perhaps
dangerous efforts, for the other party must not have the glory of outstripping
me (if God will) in the desire for unity. I beseech you to learn if they feel
inclined to yield their opinions, to prevent the evil becoming worse. It seems
as if they were trying, through your Grace’s zeal, afterwards to boast that
they had moved great princes to interfere to prove that they wished peace while
we were its enemies.
God grant I am no prophet, but if they were
really in earnest they do not need such mighty princes to represent them; for,
God be praised, we are not such worthless characters.
They might have written us long ago, saying
how they wished peace, or could still do so, for I cannot yield to them, being
convinced our cause is right and theirs wrong. Therefore pray consider whether
this Marburg conference will do good or harm; for if they do not yield we shall
part without fruit, and our meeting, as well as your Grace’s outlay and
trouble, have been in vain. And then they will boast, and load us with
reproach, as is their wont, so things would be worse than ever. Regarding your
Grace’s fears that bloodshed would ensue from such discord, you know that
whatever happens we are innocent, and God will bring our innocence to the light
of day. If this spirit of union should result in bloodshed, such action is in
accordance with its nature, as was seen in Franz von Sickingen, Carlstadt, and
Munzer; and there, too, we were blameless. I write all this to prove how ready
I am to serve you. May Christ tread Satan under our feet!
Amen.
Your Grace’s
obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther says
the gospel messenger must suffer persecution.
July 14,
1529.
Grace and
peace! Be strong in Christ, my Cordatus, in order to put up with those
ungrateful people in Zwickau. Do not think of changing your post.
This is a more testing temptation than any
you have had. The world is the enemy of God and His Word. It is therefore a
miracle if among God’s enemies any are friendly to His children. The world
loves its own, so we may know that we are not of this world when she hates and
despises us.
Hence you have merely to put up with an
incarnate devil, who, through the flesh, his sluggish tool, harasses and
enervates you, but cannot, much as he wishes, injure you. But resist him with
all your might. Therefore you act in a brotherly way in comforting me so
lovingly and wishing me all good.
Continue so to do and pray, as I do for you,
that we may be set free, and till that day comes, bring forth fruit in
patience. God grant this! Greet your beloved other half in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Luther hears
that Amsdoff is not satisfied with his post.
August 1,
1529.
Grace and
peace! Although you have not complained to me, my Amsdorf, I hear how little
you have benefited from the promotion you have received from the Prince. But be
steadfast. The Lord will make an end of the trouble. The Court is the devil’s
seat. If things do not improve I shall support you by word and deed, so that
you may leave Zwickau, and shake its dust from off your feet – you and Cordatus
also.
I shall consider Paul’s affairs; meantime
put up with all, showing yourselves men among those troublesome people. You did
not leave Cellarius’s notes on Isaiah here. I searched everywhere, and found
nothing.
Perhaps he will pass your way and visit you.
Pray to Christ for me, a poor sinner. Kathie sends friendly greeting.
Martin
Luther.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Dear Jonas – Last Sabbath God the Lord took away from our
Philip one of his children, called George; so you can imagine how much we have
to do in trying to comfort this tenderhearted and emotional man. He is grieving
too much over the loss, not being used to such trials. Pray that the Lord may
comfort him, and then, in your best rhetoric, write him a letter of
consolation. You know how important it is for us that he should be spared in
health. We are all sick and sad in his sickness and sadness. I can think of
nothing but him, except the most intimate concerns of my daily life. But the
God of the humble and afflicted will not allow him to be vanquished, although
he is still very weak.
I shall write of other things when the grief
is a little assuaged.
Farewell in the Lord, and greet your
fellow-bishops respectfully in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
thanks for present of garments.
August 17,
1529.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Most Serene High-born Prince, Most Gracious Lord! I have
delayed long in returning thanks for the garments your Grace has so kindly sent
me.
But I humbly beg you not to believe people
who try to make your Electoral Grace think I am in want. I have, alas, more
than I can reconcile it with my conscience, especially from your Electoral
Highness, to accept. And as a preacher it is not seemly for me to have
superfluity. Therefore I sometimes tremble because of your Grace’s generosity
towards me, incase I may be found in this life among those to whom Christ says,
“Woe to you rich: for you have your reward here.”
But to use common language, I have no desire
to be burdensome to your Grace, for you have so much to give away that I know
you have little over, and the purse may be rent asunder if so many demands be made
upon it.
It was superfluous sending the
leather-colored cloth, but I feel much indebted to your Grace for it, and I
shall wear the black coat in honor of your munificence, although too costly for
me; and were it not your Grace’s gift I would never appear in such a garment.
Therefore, I beseech your Grace to wait till I myself complain and beg, so that
your kindness may not make me shy of asking favors for others who are much more
worthy of your bounty.
For your Grace loads me with too many
benefits. Christ will graciously reimburse you for all this. I pray for this
with my whole heart. Amen.
Your Grace’s
humble servant,
Martin
Luther.
Luther
praises his exposition of Amos, etc.
August 29,
1529.
Grace and peace
in Christ! I perused your Amos, my esteemed and learned Brentius. Far be it
from me to suggest any alterations, for I cannot set up as a master in the
divine writings.
I only wish to be a learner in that school.
The friend to whom you entrusted its publication intentionally delayed it,
fearing attacks from the printers. But it shall be printed, if he’ll listen to
me.
Concerning the Hesse Conference, of which
you write, and to which you are summoned, you are right. Nothing good is likely
to ensue from such a hole-and-corner coming together of the Churches of God.
Therefore I beg of you not to appear, and, if you have not promised to go,
remain away. At first we absolutely refused, but as this young Hessian
Alexander so worried our Princes, we had to promise, but persisted it would
result in no good, and only make matters worse. But he stuck to his point, so
we yielded; if he would also invite some talented Papists, who could bear
witness against these boasters and remarkable saints who are to be there! Although
I long to see you, I shall rather forgo the pleasure than enjoy it to the
detriment of the cause. May Christ build you up to His own glory! Amen. Pray
for me a sinner.
Martin
Luther.
In September
Zwingli, with the Greek professor in Zurich, started for Marburg, Bucer, Hedio,
OEcolampadius, etc., joining them in Strassburg. On September 30, Luther,
Melanchthon, Jonas, Cruciger and Myconius, Osiander, Brenz, etc., also came.
October 4,
1529.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Dear Kathie – Our friendly conference at Marburg is almost
ended, and we have agreed upon nearly all points, except that our opponents
maintain that only the bread and wine are present in the sacrament, although
admitting Christ’s spiritual presence in the elements. Today the Landgrave is
making every effort to unite us, or at least to make us consider each other
brethren and members of Christ’s body. He is doing his best to accomplish this.
But although we object to be brethren, we wish to live at peace and on good
terms. I fancy we shall set out tomorrow or next day, and go to your gracious
lord in Vogtland, whither His Electoral Grace has summoned us.
Say to Herr Pommer that Zwingli’s argument
was the best: “Corpus non potest esse sine 1oco, ergo Christi corpus non est in
pane”; that of OEcolampadius was: “Sacramentum est signum corporis Christi.”
I consider God has blinded them, that they
cannot achieve anything good. I have much to do, and the messenger waits. Good-night
to all, and pray for us. We are all well and lively, and living like princes.
Kiss Lenchen and Hanschen for me.
Your obedient
servant,
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – They
are all quite excited over the sweating sickness. Fifty were seized yesterday,
of whom two have died.
October 28,
1529.
Grace in
Christ! I commend Magister Wolfgang to your love, my Lange, so that if possible
you may help him to a situation. He is a good man, and well up in the sciences,
and thoroughly grounded in our faith, so is well fitted to be pastor,
secretary, or teacher. You know how the Turks destroyed Vienna, and then fled
in their despair from Germany, which we regarded as a miracle of God.
Only we dear Germans slumber on. Farewell in
Christ, and give your little son, as well as his mother, many kisses as a
greeting.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
to hear of John Hilten in Eisenach.
November 7,
1529.
Grace and
peace! Your letters, my Frederick, were most welcome, being full of brotherly
love, and also a proof of your kindness in finding out what I wished.
I expect your promised letter shortly. You
will already know all about the Turks. God fought for us, driving them away
through a marvellous fright.
We must beg God to be our wall, and send His
angels to help us. We cannot sufficiently laud your faith, in praying against
the Turks and the gates of hell, with your congregation. God hear you in our
day of trouble; even as the angel could not destroy Sodom because of one Lot,
so may it be with us on account of the many pious people here. Amen. There is
nothing new here. Philip is from home, or he would have written. He and Amsdorf
are honoring the marriage of Herr Trutleben in Freyberg with their presence. Many
greetings from my Kathie, the head of the house.
Greet your wife, who may be your lord as
well, and our hostess, and Basilius, and your justiciary, and may you prosper
greatly in Christ!
Martin
Luther.
About the
Turkish war, etc.
November 10,
1529.
Grace and
peace! Be strong in the Lord, my dear Nicolas, and do not be afraid of the
Turks. Christ lives, and the Prophet Daniel (which Philip and Jonas are at
present publishing), so we hope he will not be able to subdue Germany, although
he is punishing us for our neglect of the gospel. For it is really a miracle
that the Turk has vanished from his camp, leading people to believe that the
day of judgment is at hand, when Gog the Turk and Magog the Pope, the political
and the spiritual opponents of Christ, will both be overthrown. I wish you much
happiness on being ridiculed as a pietist, and that you are deemed worthy of
Satan’s hatred, who can only injure you by stirring up poisonous tongues
against you. Laugh at his impotence, for you cannot wound him more than by
being invulnerable to his sting. I wish the bride Christina joy, and when
looking for a wife I trust you will be as fortunate; but if you have no desire,
and can do without one, you will be far happier, and I shall wish you joy all
the same. Not that I would malign matrimony – that God-appointed institution –
but because you are free from manifold troubles and household cares; to this I
wish you joy. May Christ teach you and keep you well, and cause you to pray for
me! Farewell in Him.
Martin
Luther.
Request to
have Emser’s New Testament suppressed. Rostock became Evangelical in 1527
through the earnest preaching of Sluter, the Rostock reformer, who was poisoned
in 1532.
November 23,
1529.
To the Serene
High-born Prince, the Elector John of Saxony. Grace and peace in Christ! Some
prominent citizens of Lubeck have written informing us that some Lollards have
caused Emser’s New Testament to be printed in Rostock, in Saxon, through which
they fear much mischief may be done, and have begged me to request your Grace
to petition the Herzog of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, for God’s honor and the good of
souls, to forbid its publication.
For although I have nothing against the
Emser Testament, whose contents the rascals have wickedly stolen from me (for
it is precisely my text, with a few harmless alterations), yet since he has
reissued it, so scandalously mangled with his annotations, and accompanied by a
glossary which prevents it bearing any fruit, but rather does harm, I beseech
your Electoral Grace graciously to present this petition to the highly esteemed
Herzog Heinrich, and let us have the answer by the messenger who brings this,
for as much as in us lies we must defend ourselves against the devil. May
Christ our Lord be with your Grace to all eternity! Amen.
Your
Electoral Highness’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
promises a gospel sermon.
December 2,
1529.
Dear Sister –
I see from your letter to me how earnestly your heavily laden conscience longs
for an Evangelical sermon of consolation, and, if possible, in your own church
in Rossla.
I am delighted to hear this, and have made
up my mind, in God, to come to you on the approaching Christmas Eve, and to
preach, with God’s help, the first gospel sermon at Rossla and upper Rossla as
a memorial. Greet your husband and the little Margaretta, to whom I shall bring
something with me. I commit you to God.
Martin Luther.
(Date
doubtful.)
December 29,
1529.
To the much
honored in Christ, Herr Friedrich, superintendent in St. OEgidius, Nurnberg, my
superior in the Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have nothing,
and yet a very great deal to write to you, my honored friend in Christ.
Concerning myself I have nothing, except to commend myself to your sacred
prayers, but in regard to the bridegroom, your fellow-citizen, that most
excellent young man, Conrad Mauser, I have a great deal. Doubtless your large
heart will know that were I to write a letter at all commensurate with the
greatness of this burning love which has been kindled in the bridegroom’s
heart, perhaps the whole world could not contain it. But I am only joking in order
to gain your sympathy for Mauser’s marriage. For he desires through you to gain
his parents’ consent to his happy union.
This will certainly be accomplished if you
can make the father see that his son has really chosen a pretty and, what is
even better, a capable and virtuous maiden, and I would add Christian, if the
value of the term had not sunk in the estimation of the people through its
indiscriminate use, although it is not so with us.
And the bride’s father is not nearly so
badly off as the most of the burghers are here, but is a member of the Town
Council and well-to-do – in short, a most honorable man, who looks well to the
ways of his household, and has a most industrious wife, who is universally
loved because of her amiability.
You will have the goodness to bring all this
to the knowledge of Mauser’s father when you have the opportunity, so that he
may not grieve his son, but cause him to rejoice through his consent, without
which he will not marry.
It is much to be desired that the father, to
show his approval, should appear at the wedding. And we are most anxious to
have your presence also, but we fear to present an impossible request to you.
May the kindness of your heart prompt you to do what is right in your eyes, and
may you prosper in Christ! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Diet of
Augsburg held. The Elector started for Augsburg, April 3, with a brilliant
retinue. Luther was left at Coburg. Charles V. made his grand entry into
Augsburg, June 15. The Augsburg Confession read on June 25, and the Roman
Catholic Confutation of the same was presented August 3.
Melanchthon prepared the “Apology” of the
Augsburg Confession, a noble and learned document, which the Emperor refused to
receive till many alterations were made upon it.
February 16,
1530.
To my dear
father, Hans Luther, burgher of Mansfeld. Grace and peace!
My brother Jacob has written saying how ill
you are. I am very anxious about you, as things seem so black everywhere just
now. For although God has hitherto blessed you with good health, still your
advanced age fills me with concern. I would have come to you had I not been
dissuaded from tempting God by running into temptation, for you know how interested
both lords and all are in my welfare. It would be a great joy to us if my
mother and you would come here. My Kathie and all ask this with tears; and we
would nurse you tenderly. I have sent Cyriac to see if you are able.
For I should like to be near you, and, in
obedience to the Fifth Commandment, cherish you with child-like kindness to
show my gratitude to God and you. Meantime I pray God to keep you through His
Spirit, so that you may discern the teaching of His Son, who has called you out
of the blackness of error to preserve you to Christ’s joyous appearing. For He
has set this seal to your faith, that He has brought much shame, contempt, and
enmity upon you for my sake.
For, these are the true signs of our
likeness to Christ, for as St. Paul says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign
with Him.” So remember in your weakness that we have an Advocate with the
Father who died to take away our sins, and now sits with the angels, waiting
for us, so that when our hour comes to leave the world we need not fear being
lost, His power over death and sin being so complete. He who cannot lie has
said, “Ask, and ye shall receive.” And the Psalms are full of such precious
promises, especially the 91st., which is so suited for sick people. I write
thus because of your illness, and as we do not know the hour…so that I may be a
partaker of your faith, conflict, and consolation, and gratitude to God for His
Holy Word, which He has so abundantly bestowed on us at this time. If it be His
Divine Will not to transplant you at once to that better life, but let you
remain a little longer with us for the help of others, then He will give you
grace to accept your lot in an obedient spirit.
For this life is truly a vale of tears,
where the longer one remains the more wickedness and misery one sees; and this
never ceases till the hour of our departure sounds and we fall asleep in Jesus,
till He comes and gives us a joyful awaking. Amen! I herewith commit you to Him
who loves you better than you do yourself, having paid the penalty of your sins
with His blood, so that you need have no anxiety. Leave Him to see to
everything.
He will do all well, and has already done so
in a far higher degree than we can imagine.
May this dear Savior be with you, and we
shall shortly meet again with Christ, as the departure from this world is a
much smaller thing with God than if I said farewell to you in Mansfeld to come
here, or if you bade adieu to me in Wittenberg to return to Mansfield. It is
only a case of one short hour’s sleep, and then all will be changed.
I hope your pastors render you faithful
service in such matters, so that my chatter may not be needed, but I could not
refrain from apologizing for my bodily absence, which is a great trial to me.
My Kathie, Hanschen, Lenchen, Muhme Lene, all salute you and pray for you. Give
my love to my dear mother and all the relations.
Your dear
son,
Martin
Luther.
Luther speaks
of his Biblical work, etc.
February 25,
1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Your last letter, dear Hausmann, was a great pleasure to me
because of that noble simplicity of spirit which characterises all you write,
as well as being an expression of your hearty goodwill towards myself. Please
draw out once more a list of what your church requires. For it must always be
before me, as I cannot burden my memory with it, so that when I have leisure
and the opportunity I might fulfill your desires. My mind being so occupied
with my daily concerns, it is forgotten, and time passes without your wishes being
attended to.
We are busy with the publication of Daniel,
as a consolation in those latter days. We have also undertaken Jeremiah and the
rest of the prophets.
We shall offer the New Testament for sale at
the approaching Fair (Messe ) in Frankfort, and in such a way as to create
fresh alarm among the Papists.
For we have written a long preface to the
Apocalypse, and furnished it with notes. Continue to pray for us.
My Kathie sends friendly greetings.
Martin
Luther.
March 5,
1530.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I am delighted with your zeal as to the true teaching of the
sacrament, and read your treatise. Perhaps your ideas on…are a little sharp,
but what of that when nothing will convince them?
When I have time I shall write on the 6th
chapter of John; and is it strange if I sometimes write vehemently?
Were you in my place, perhaps you would be
more violent. Every man is differently constituted, hence the impressions which
outward things make on him vary. There has been no discussion among you, so you
only see things from afar, but “opportunity makes the man,” as the proverb
says.
That our Marburg Conference should have
offended many is no wonder, for the other party would not let themselves be
instructed.
The Zwinglians have been convicted of so
many errors, even according to their own showing, that it is provoking one
article should have prevented them agreeing with us. But can we force the
vanquished to a confession?
For Christ, in spite of having often
convicted the Pharisees and Sadducees of sin, could never get them to confess
their faults. Your best plan is not to listen to such people, who always look
for offenses, while they studiously avoid having an open eye for what is good,
and from which they might profit. I dislike coming in contact with such people,
who always find something to calumniate.
I commit you to God; pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – I have
written to the Prince of Liegnitz, but have little hope of arranging anything
through letters.
This letter
accompanied Amsdorfs defense of Luther against Erasmus.
March 12,
1530.
Grace and
peace! I return your notes on Erasmus, as you request. I was struck by your
remark that Erasmus had long ago declared before Luther that faith without good
works justified a man, but that he said later, this was how he understood the
Mosaic law. If Erasmus really said this I know not, but I know you were always
very sure of what you asserted, that you might not play into the hands of our
enemies. Now be brave, for Agramus is writing in defense of Erasmus. But likely
it may end as Eck’s defense of the Pope did. If the fools kept silence it would
be better for Erasmus, but God sends him such champions in His wrath. If spared
I shall comb their locks for them in a way they will feel. I have still weapons
in my armory which they have not. May you prosper in the Lord Jesus, who lives
not only during Erasmus’s life, but to all eternity! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Regarding the
coming Diet.
March 14,
1530.
All hail! The
Elector has written to you, Pomeranus, Philip, and me, to leave everything and
arrange by next Sunday all that is needful for the Imperial Diet.
For the Emperor Charles will, according to
his proclamation, be at Augsburg himself to try to come to an amicable
settlement. Therefore today and tomorrow we three shall work as hard as we can
in your absence (on the visitation).
Nevertheless enough will remain for you to
do to justify you in leaving your college work and joining us tomorrow. For we
must hurry. God grant that all may redound to His glory! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
The
theologians tried to prevent the Elector going to Augsburg, but he said, “I too
shall confess my Lord Christ along with you.”
April 2,
1530.
Leonhardt has
brought me the book you have written. I shall discuss it with my friends, for I
admit that were Christ’s history and deeds to be reproduced before the children
in a dramatic form it might interest the young and win their love. I accompany
the Prince to Coburg with Philip and Jonas till we know the course of events at
Augsburg.
Meantime, you with your congregation must
pray earnestly for this Diet, also for me.
Martin
Luther.
April 18,
1530.
Grace and
peace! Cordatus will have told you that we are still in Coburg, and do not know
when we may go further. For we heard yesterday that the Emperor keeps Easter at
Mantua, and that the Papists are trying to prevent the Reichstag, fearing what
might be decreed against them there. And the Pope is angry at the Emperor, who
wishes to hear both sides, interfering in spiritual matters.
His Holiness intended him only to be his
executioner against the heretics, and restore his authority. For the Papists’
sole wish is that we should be condemned and they reinstalled in their former
position; and thus they shall perish! The Prince has ordered me to remain at
Coburg, while the others go to the Diet. Florence has neither been taken nor
reconciled to the Pope, a grief to His Holiness; for those inside declared for
the Emperor therefore those outside would not proceed against them, but raised
the blockade.
You see what our prayers can achieve.
The Turk promises peace next year, but
threatens to return to Germany, and even bring Tartars with him.
But God’s Word and our prayers shall fight
against them. Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
April 22,
1530.
So far we are
sitting quietly in Coburg, knowing nothing certain about the Reichstag or the
Emperor’s arrival.
You will perhaps have more reliable news
than we have. Although my good friends may follow the Elector to Augsburg, he
is determined that I shall remain. You will meet Philip, Jonas, Elsieben, and
Spalatin there, and learn from them if the Diet still goes on.
Martin
Luther.
April 22,
1530.
Grace and
peace in Christi We have at last reached our Sinai, my dear Herr Philip, but
out of this Sinai we shall make a Zion and build three tabernacles: one to the
Psalter, one to the Prophets, and one to AEsop. But time is needed for this.
This is a most agreeable spot, most suitable for study, only I miss you
greatly.
I get quite excited when I think of the
Turks and Mahomed, and of the diabolic fury which they vent on our bodies and
souls. But at such times I shall pray fervently till He who dwells in Heaven
shall hear my petition. I see you are much distressed at the sight of those
cowled monks who seem quite at home. But it is our fate to be spectators of the
fierce onslaughts of these two realms and remain steadfast; and this onslaught
is a sign and harbinger of our redemption. I pray that you may have refreshing
sleep, and keep your soul free from care and from the fiery darts of the Evil
One.
Amen. I write this to while away my idle
time, as my box with papers, etc., has not arrived. I have not seen the castle
steward yet.
Meanwhile I want for nothing necessary to a
solitary being. The great building which projects from the castle has been
placed entirely at my disposal, and the keys of all the rooms have been put
into my hands. There are over thirty men in the castle, among whom are twelve
watchmen and two warders for the towers. But why write all this? only I have
nothing else to write. Greet Dr. Caspar Cruciger and Magister Spalatin from me.
I shall greet Eisleben and Adler through Dr. Jonas. From the region of the
birds.
Martin
Luther.
Luther writes
about the birds which enliven his solitude, although Veit Dietrich and his
nephew were with him.
April 22,
1530.
Grace and
peace! At last we are sitting here up amongst the clouds, in the kingdom of the
birds, whose harsh tones, all screaming together, produce a very Babel, the
daws or ravens having taken up their quarters before our eyes, forming a forest
in front of us.
I can assure you there was a shrieking. It
goes on from four in the morning far into the night, so that I believe there is
no other place where so many birds gather as here.
And not one is silent for a moment, old and
young, mothers with daughters, singing a song of praise.
Perhaps they sing thus sweetly to lull us to
sleep, which God grant we may enjoy tonight. The daw is to my mind a most
useful bird. I fancy they signify a whole army of sophists, etc., who have
assembled from the ends of the earth so that I may profit by their wisdom,
enjoy their delicious song, and rejoice in their useful services in both the
secular and spiritual realm. At present the nightingale is not to be heard,
although its forerunner and imitator, the cuckoo, is raising its exquisite
voice.
I am scarce of news, but rather send a
jocular letter than none, especially as the daws fill heaven and earth with
their melody. The Lord be with you!
Let us pray for each other, for we need it
urgently. Greet all friends.
Farewell. from the kingdom of the daws.
Martin
Luther.
April 28,
1530.
Grace and
peace, my dear Kathie, sirs, and friends!
I have received all your letters telling me
how you get along. I must now inform you that I, Magister Veit, and Cyriac are
not to be at the Diet, although we have one here. For there is a thicket just under
our window like a small forest, where the daws and crows hold their diet, and
such a running to and fro, and screaming night and day, that I often wonder
they are not hoarse.
As yet I have not seen their emperor, but
the courtiers are always prancing about dressed simply in black, with grey
eyes, and all sing the same melody. They pay no heed to castle or hall; for
their salon is vaulted by the beautiful canopy of heaven, while their feet rest
on the broad fields with their green carpet and trees, the wails of their house
reaching to the ends of the earth. They are independent of horses and
carriages, for they have leathered wheels by which they escape the sportsmen’s
bullets. I fancy they have come together to have a mighty onslaught on corn,
barley, wheat, etc.
Many a knight will win his laurels here.
So here we sit, watching the gay life of
song led by princes, etc., preparatory to a vigorous attack on the grain.
I always fancy it is the Sophists and
Papists I see before me, so that I may hear their lovely voices and their
sermons, and see for myself what a useful kind of people these are who consume
all the fruits of the earth, and then strut about in their grand clothing to
while away the time.
Today we heard the first nightingale. The
weather has been splendid. I commit you to God; see well to the house. From the
Diet of malt Turks.
Martin
Luther.
Luther writes
about his work.
May 8, 1530.
Grace and
peace! You accuse me, dear Wenzel, of silence, even of indifference, and blame
me, although you have had four living epistles from me, besides the letter
about John Ernest. So I have good cause for putting you in the wrong, for
volumes would not answer my four epistles.
Otherwise I have complete repose and enjoy
every luxury here, and have begun translating the remaining Prophets, having
finished Jeremiah.
Perhaps I shall issue some Psalms with an
exposition so as not to be idle.
I also propose translating AEsop’s Fables
for the German children. So I now see how to fill up the time, although I
should prefer being with you.
But I am pleased with what God wills.
Certainly, I would have been more useful at home, through teaching and counsel,
but I dared not withstand the call.
There is nothing new at Wittenberg except that
Dr. Pommer writes that the Lubeck and Luneberg people are embracing the gospel,
and that the preaching there is most earnest and faithful. God be praised!
I fear God may pour out the phials of His
wrath on North Germany, as I hear of nothing but murders and contempt of God
and His Word. Pray for me, as I do for you. For the Turk is not arming himself
for nothing.
From the diet of the daws, which is being
held here.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
complains of headache, probably from overwork.
May 12, 1530.
Grace and
peace! Dear Herr Philip – On May 8 I began to answer your letter from Nurnberg,
but was prevented finishing it.
I have sent my admonition to the clergy to
Wittenberg.
Besides, I have translated the two chapters
in Ezekiel, concerning Gog, with a preface. I then began translating the
Prophets, intending to have them finished by Ascension, along with AEsop, and
would have managed it, so smoothly did the work proceed, when, alas suddenly
the outward man collapsed, unable to sustain the fervor of the inner renewed
man.
I felt a loud buzzing and roaring, like
thunder, in my head, and had I not stopped at once I would have fainted, and
was useless for two days.
The machine will do no more, my head having
dwindled into a short chapter, which by degrees will shrink into a tiny
paragraph, and then into a single sentence.
This is why I sit in idleness, but the noise
in my head is subsiding through medicine. This accounts for the delay. The day
your Nurnberg letter came I had a Satanic embassy with me, and, to make matters
worse, I was quite alone, neither Veit nor Cyriac being here, so Satan remained
so far master of the Held, compelling me to seek society.
I impatiently await the time when I shall
behold the almost sublime majesty of this spirit.
So much for our own little concerns, while
weighty events are taking place.
You say that Eck along with – are beginning
a conflict. What are they about in the Reichstag? The coarse asses palaver
about important affairs in our churches. We hope their downfall shall be
hastened thereby.
Magister Joachim has sent me dried figs and
raisins, and writes me in Greek! When better I shall reply in Turkish, to let
him have something to read which he cannot understand. Why should he write to
me in Greek?
Shall write more again in case of tasking my
head now. Let us pray for each other.
I must write to the Electoral Prince about
the Landgrave, as you advise, and also to the Elector. The Lord be with you.
Take care of your health, and do not injure
your head, as I have done. I shall request our friends to try to prevent you
overstepping the limitations which your health demands; spare yourself, so that
you may not be a selfmurderer, and then declare that God willed it so.
One can serve God in repose, and there is no
better way of serving Him.
This is why He insists on the Sabbath being
strictly kept. Now do not throw this counsel to the winds.
It is God’s Word I write you.
Martin Luther.
Concerning
Evangelical preaching in Augsburg. It was here the Elector won the name of
“Steadfast” through refusing to allow Evangelical preaching to be suppressed.
May 15, 1530.
Most Serene
High-born Prince! I have read Philip’s Apology, with which I am delighted, and
do not think it can be improved, or require any alteration; and it would be
unseemly for me to try to do so, for I could not word it so softly and sweetly.
May Christ our Lord grant that it may bring
forth much fruit, as we hope and pray. Amen.
As to the question whether, if His Imperial
Majesty forbids the Evangelical preaching, you should submit, my opinion is
still the same. The Emperor is our lord, the town and all being his, so that as
no one should disobey you in your own town of Torgau, neither should it be done
in Augsburg. No doubt it would be well if he were humbly asked not to forbid
the preaching without hearing it, but to send some one to hear how they preach
before condemning it. Certainly His Majesty should not forbid the pure
preaching of the Word, as nothing seditious is being proclaimed. If this do not
avail, then might must stand for right. We have done our best, and are
blameless.
I have humbly tried to answer the question.
May the Lord mercifully support you through His Holy Spirit! Your Electoral
Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther begs
him to tell Justus Jonas of his child’s death.
May 15, 1530.
Grace and
peace! I ordered this letter to be given to you, for I knew of no other way of
letting Justus Jonas hear of his son’s death.
Communicate it to him very gently. His wife
and famulus certainly prepared him for it. My people wrote that they stood over
his death-bed, and he died of the same illness which so lately deprived him of
his first Fritz.
The child was always sickly. I shall delay
writing in case of increasing his sorrow. I am tormented on all sides, but we
shall not let our courage sink.
This is our hour of sorrow, but, like the
woman who rejoiced when her son was born, we too shall look forward to a joyful
time. So let us bid adieu to our foolish lamenting; for our cause, prayers, and
hopes rest with Him who is faithful to His promises. Speak comfortably to the
man who, in the world’s eyes, is bowed down with sorrow, causing it to rejoice
in our affliction. The Lord be with you!
Martin
Luther.
The Elector
would not permit the preaching to be stopped.
May 20, 1530.
Grace and
peace! Most Serene Prince! I have delayed answering your most gracious letter
from Augsburg, with all its news and admonitions not to let the time hang on my
hands. It is most kind of you troubling about me, and here we are most anxious
about your Serene Highness, and pray constantly for you. I do not find the days
long. We live like lords, and this last week seems hardly three days.
But your Grace is at present in a most
tiresome spot. Your Highness is certainly enduring all this trouble, expense,
danger, and ennui solely for God’s sake, as no one can find any fault with you
except on account of the pure Word of God, for all know you to be a blameless,
pious, and quiet Prince. And it proves that God loves you dearly, seeing He
considers you worthy to suffer so much enmity for conscience’ sake. For God’s
friendship is more precious than that of the whole world put together.
Besides, the merciful God is displaying His
loving-kindness in making His Word so fruitful in your Grace’s land.
For there is a greater number of excellent
pastors and preachers therein than in any other land, who teach the truth, thus
helping to preserve peace.
The young people, too, are so well
instructed in Scripture and Catechism that I feel quite touched when I see
young boys and girls praying and talking more of God and Christ than they ever
could do in all the cloisters and schools of bygone days.
Truly your Grace’s land is a beautiful land
for such young people, and God has, so to speak, erected this paradise in your
Grace’s lap as a special token of His favor, placing them under your protection
that you may be their gardener. For God, whose bread all your subjects eat,
wishes you to care for them, even as if God Himself were your Electoral Highness’s
daily guest.
One sees the injury young people receive at
the hands of godless princes, who, out of this paradise of God, make idle,
sinful servants of the devil.
For with all their wealth God does not think
them worthy to spread His work, or even give a cup of cold water – nay, they
had nothing better to give the Savior on the cross than vinegar and gall to
drink.
In conclusion, your Electoral Grace has ever
had the earliest prayers of all Christians in your lands especially, and we
know our prayers will be heard, because what we ask is good.
Oh that the young people may join, and with
their innocent petitions commend you, as their dear father, to the merciful
God! Your Grace will graciously accept this letter, for God knows I speak the
truth and do not dissemble. I am sorry that Satan is grieving your heart. He is
a doleful, disagreeable spirit, who cannot bear to see any one happy,
especially in God, so how much less will he suffer your Electoral Highness to
be of good courage, for he knows how many depend on you for edification through
the living Word in your domains!
So we must stand by you with our prayers and
love, for when you are joyous, then we live; but when you sorrow, then we are
sick.
But our dear Savior will send the Holy
Ghost, the true Comforter, who will protect your Grace against the poisoned
darts of this sour, bitter spirit.
Amen.
Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther speaks
of the pilgrimage to Coburg.
June 2, 1530.
Yesterday
Hans Reinecke from Mansfeld and George Romer were with me, and today Argula von
Staufen.
Now that so many are finding their way here,
I intend either not to let it be known I am at home or go out for the day, so
that people may think I have left. Pray try to prevent people coming here. I
write in Johannine haste, for I shall remain hidden. They say the bishops will
succeed in postponing the Reichstag till, at least, the provisions are all
consumed, compelling the people to return home.
The Emperor is using every device to prevent
the Elector of Treves coming to the Diet. Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Luther speaks
of his father’s death.
June 5, 1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ! In my last I complained, my Philip, of you returning a
messenger empty handed to me, and two have come since – Appel, and now the
driver with the Coburg game. And so many of you there who have usually a mania
for writing! I do not know if it be carelessness, or if you are displeased with
me, for you know in my solitude how I long for letters, as in a dry and parched
land.
We hear the Emperor has ordered the Augsburg
people to dismiss the hired soldiers and remove the barricades.
Argula von Staufen told me of the
magnificent reception the Elector of Bavaria gave the Emperor in Munich, there
being plays and entertainments an his honor. From Nurnberg I hear the Papists
wish to prevent him visiting Augsburg.
If this be true, then it shows God’s hatred
towards them in not answering our prayers for them. Hans Reinecke writes that
my beloved father, old Hans Luther, died at one on Sabbath morning.
This death has cast me into deep grief, not
only because he was my father, but because it was through his deep love to me
that my Creator endowed me with all I am and have, and although consoled to
learn that he fell asleep softly in Christ Jesus, strong in faith, yet his loss
has caused a deep wound in my heart.
Thus are the righteous taken away from the
evil to come and enter into rest. I am now heir to the name, being the eldest
Luther in the family, so it behemoth me to follow him into Christ’s kingdom,
who gave him unto us.
I am too sad to write more today, and it is
only right to mourn such a father, who by the sweat of his brow made me what I
am.
But I rejoiced that he lived to behold the
light of the truth. Amen. Greet all our friends.
Martin
Luther.
Luther again
blames his friends for not writing.
June 11,
1530.
Grace and
peace! I now see that you have all entered into a compact to torture us by your
silence. But I herewith announce that we shall now vie with you in your
silence, although possibly that will not disturb you.
I must praise the Wittenberg people, who,
although as busy as you, have written thrice before you sluggards wrote once. I
have received letters of condolence from every quarter, on my father’s death.
If you wish, you can hear the particulars from Michael Coelin’s letter.
I lay down the pen, so that my constant
writing may not drive you into a more persistent silence.
Greet our people. The grace of God be with
you! Amen. My wife writes that the Elbe is dry, for no rain has fallen. Much
water, many adventures.
Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Von Teutleben
was a brother-in-law of Amsdoff, and managed the Elector’s business in Rome.
June 19,
1530.
Grace and
peace! Esteemed and deeply learned Doctor and good Friend – I was delighted to
hear that your Sophie and you are well. I have nothing new to write, for our
silent Junkers send no letters from Augsburg, which annoys me greatly. And I
know your brother-in-law, my good friend Herr Nicolas Amsdorf, would be
indignant if he knew they had become so taciturn, especially at this time. He
can be their judge.
From hearsay I learn that Venice has sent
several thousand gulden to the Emperor, and Florence offered him five tons of
gold, which cannot be accepted, as the Pope has promised to supply him with all
that is needful, and the French, with their “par ma foi,” have done the same –
truly a good joke; but who would rely on such promises?
But I have heard from Dr. Martin Luther
himself that even were Venice, the Pope, and Francis loyal to the Emperor, and
not each thinking of his own advantage, still they are three different beings
in one person, each of whom has an inconceivable hatred against His Imperial
Majesty, meanwhile deceiving him, through hypocrisy and lies, till they either
perish themselves, or drag that pious, noble youth into difficulty and
distress. For “par ma foi” cannot forget the defeat at Pavia, and the Pope,
being an Italian, and a Florentine to boot, and a child of the devil, cannot
forget the disgrace of the plunder of Rome, no matter how cheerful he tries to
appear; and as for the Venetians – they are only Venetians – and excuse their
wrath under the pretext of revenging Maximilian’s death. May God help the pious
Charles, who is truly a sheep among wolves! Amen. Greet your dear Sophie from
me. I commend you to God. From the desert.
Martin
Luther.
On June 15
Charles entered Augsburg, the Elector of Saxony bearing the sword before him.
June 19,
1530.
Grace and
peace! I write, dear Conrad, to show you I have not forgotten my promise. For I
sit here, and there is little hope of my being called to the Reichstag; but,
should I go, I shall let you know.
Your dear vicar (colleague), Herr Hausmann,
tells me that you are determined to go, but I question if it would be
expedient, as your work would suffer; and it is still doubtful if the religious
question would be dealt with, and if it is, whether it may not be in secret, as
the Emperor has forbidden a public discussion. We hear no news, as our Augsburg
friends never write; but it seems certain that the Emperor entered the town on
June 15. May Christ give His blessing thereto! Let us pray without ceasing.
The Lord Jesus still lives and reigns. By
the grace of God and your petitions I am pretty well, although Satan troubles
me with a buzzing in my ears, but in spite of this I have put Jeremiah into
German. Now I shall begin Ezekiel, but first of all must send a few things for
our poor printers, among them my “Confitemini,” which I shall finish in two
days. Greet my dearest Herr Hausmann, and say I shall answer his letter very
soon.
Martin
Luther.
Luther thanks
him for looking after his son.
June 19,
1530.
Grace and
peace! I have received two letters from you, my beloved Hieronymus, two
charming letters, the second of which was the most delightful, in which you
speak of my son Hans as his pedagogue, and he your diligent pupil.
God grant I may some day be able to requite
you for this. May Christ make up for my shortcomings!
Magister Veit tells me that at times you are
a prey to a spirit of melancholy – a temptation which is most prejudicial to
the young. The Scripture says: “A broken spirit drieth the bones.” And the Holy
Spirit, in various parts of the Bible, bids us try to banish these forebodings.
In Ecclesiastes we read, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart
cheer thee in the days of thy youth.” “Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,”
etc.
A joyful heart is life to a man, and an
unceasing fountain of health, and prolongs his years. Many have allowed themselves
to be consumed of grief, and it has been of no avail. But be sure that these
black thoughts proceed from the devil, for God is not a God of sadness, but of
consolation and joy.
Is not joy in the Lord real life? So drive
away such thoughts. The struggle is hard to begin with, but it gradually
becomes easier; and it is common to all the saints, but they struggle and
achieve the victory. The great secret in this conflict is to disregard these
thoughts and despise their hissings as if they were a flock of geese, and pass
by. Remember the Israelites, who overcame the fiery serpents by directing their
gaze to the brazen serpent.
This is certain victory in this conflict.
Therefore beware, my Jerome, of letting them
lodge in thy heart. A wise man, in reply to one sorely tempted, said: “You
cannot prevent birds fleeing over your head, but you can hinder them building
in your hair.”
God takes no pleasure in such sorrow. Sorrow
over our sins is very different. It is a sweet sorrow, in view of forgiveness;
but that which proceeds from the devil has no promises annexed. It is of no
avail.
When I return we shall discuss this. Greet
your brother, to whom I have begun a letter, but the messenger waits. May Christ
comfort and cheer you! I commend you to your pupils.
Martin
Luther.
June 19,
1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ be with thee, my dear little son! I am very pleased to see you
so diligent, and also praying. Continue to do so, my child, and when I return I
shall bring you something from the great Fair (Messe ). I know a beautiful
garden, where there are many children with golden robes. They pick up the rosy
– cheeked apples, pears, plums, etc., from under the trees, sing, jump, and rejoice
all day long. They have also pretty ponies with golden reins and silver
saddles. I asked whose garden it was, and to whom the children belonged. The
man said, “These are the children who love to pray and learn their lessons.” I
then said, “Dear sir, I also have a son, Hanschen Luther; might not he too come
into the garden and eat the beautiful fruit, and ride upon these pretty ponies,
and play with those children?” “If he loves prayer and is good,” said the man,
“he can, and Lippus and Jost; and they shall get whistles and drums, and all
sorts of musical instruments, and dance, and shoot with little cross-bows.”
And he showed me a lovely lawn, all ready
for dancing, where whistles, flutes, etc., hung. But it was early, and the
children not having breakfasted, I could not wait for the dancing, so I said to
the man, “Dear sir, I must hurry away and write all this to my dear little son
Hans, and tell him to pray and be good, that he may come into this garden; but
he has an Aunt Lene, whom he must bring also.” “That he can,” said the man;
“write him to do so.” Therefore, dear little sonny, learn your lessons and
pray, and tell Lippus and Jost to do so too, and then you will all get into the
garden together. I commend you to God, and give Aunt Lene a kiss from me. Thy
dear father,
Martin
Luther.
June 19,
1530.
As the
messenger has delayed his departure for an hour, I shall greet you by letter,
although we have no reliable news of the Augsburg proceedings.
First of all, accept my best thanks for you
and your brother staying in my country house to protect my family, who are
delighted to have such protection.
I only hope I may some day be able to repay
the service. For myself I am pretty well, although I suffered from – not a
buzzing, but a roll of thunder in my head, and cannot think whence it came.
Our heroes at the Diet are running about
helter-skelter, or rather driving about in carriages, steering through the air
with their rudders. They enter the arena of conflict early, then give us a
truce during the day, and with the sound of the trombone proclaim their victory
in our ears, while they plunder, steal, and devour everything, being at war
with the fruits of the ground.
At night they return home and snore
peacefully till morning. Lately we made a raid into their palaces to catch a
glimpse of the splendor of their realm, startling them greatly, for they
fancied we had come to frustrate their plans and cunning Court devices. What
terrified cries ensued! When we saw how frightened these Achilleses and Hectors
were, we waved our hats in the air. We had seen enough, and were more than
pleased to have turned them into ridicule, for even our presence terrified
them. But this is all a joke, although it might serve as an allegorical picture,
or a sign that these daws, nay, these harpies, tremble before God’s Word, or,
to put it otherwise, that the noble lords at Augsburg whimper like children and
Papists. Greet George von Grumbach from me. From my solitude.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
letters to his friend.
June 27,
1530.
Grace and
peace! The messenger who appeared scarcely gave me time to write to our people
in Augsburg. But he begged so for letters that we send you those received from
Wittenberg. Please see that our Augsburg friends get them.
I fancy you can easily do this, as you have
so much communication with that town. The exposition of the Psalm “Confitemini”
is being sent to the Wittenberg printers, with an exegesis which is a
disappointment to me because of its length. Meanwhile greet Dr. Spengler, Abbot
Michael, Joachim, Coban Hesse, Osiander, from me. If you can procure from your
good friends threescore (Schock ) oranges for my Catherine, I shall gladly pay
for them, as there are none in Wittenberg.
May you and yours prosper, and be in health.
From my quiet solitude.
Martin
Luther.
One of those
remarkable letters by which Luther tried to cheer his friend.
June 27,
1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ! In Christ, I say, and not in the world. Amen! As to the
Apologia being the cause of your silence, of that I shall speak again, dear
Philip.
From the bottom of my heart I am inimical to
those worrying cares which are taking the very heart out of you and gaining the
upper hand. It is not the magnitude of the cause, but the weakness of our faith
which is at fault; for things were much worse in John Huss’s days than in ours.
And even were the gospel in as great danger now as then, is not He who has
begun the good work greater than the work itself, for it is not our affair? Why
then make a martyr of yourself? If the cause be not a righteous one, then let
us repudiate it; but if it be, why make God a liar in not believing His wonderful
promises, when He commands us to be of good cheer and cast all our care upon
Him, for He shall sustain us? “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon
Him,” etc. Do you think He throws such words to the winds? It is your
philosophy, not your theology, which is such a torment to you, and it torments
your friend Joachim in the very same way, just as if by your useless
forebodings you could achieve anything. What more can the devil do than slay
us? I plead with you, for God’s sake, to fight against yourself, for you are
your own greatest enemy, and furnish the devil with weapons against yourself.
Christ has died for sin once for all, but
for righteousness and truth He will not die, but will live and reign. Why then
worry, seeing He is at the helm?
He who has been our Father will also be the
Father of our children.
I pray earnestly for you, but am only sorry
that you should court sorrow as eagerly as the leech does blood, thus
nullifying my prayers. As for me (whether it proceed from God’s Spirit or from
stupidity, my Lord Jesus knows) I do not torment myself about such matters. God
can raise the dead, and He can also maintain His cause, although it looks ready
to fall; and He can even raise it up again if it has fallen. If we do not lend
our assistance towards its maintenance, others will; and if we do not console
ourselves with the promises, who then can give us consolation in the world?
More of this again, although I may only be carrying water to the sea. May
Christ comfort, strengthen, and teach you by His Spirit.
If I hear you are still desponding I shall
scarcely be able to prevent myself hurrying to you to see how dreadful it is to
be in the fangs of the devil, as the Scripture says, “Wilt thou play with him
as with a bird ?”
Martin
Luther.
Luther tries
to cheer his friend after hearing the joyful news of the public reading of
Melanchthon’s Apology.
June 29,
1530.
Grace and
peace, dear Herr Philip! I have read the beautiful speech in which you
apologize for your silence, and meanwhile I have sent two letters
satisfactorily explaining my not writing. Today your letter came, full of
unmerited reproaches, as if by my silence I had increased your work, danger,
and tears. Do you really imagine that I am sitting in a garden of roses and not
sharing your cares? Would to God that I could indulge in tears. Had your
letters not come the evening they did, I would have sent a messenger at my own
expense to find out whether you were dead or alive.
Herr Veit can testify to this. I have
received your Apology , and wonder at your asking how far one may yield to the
Papists. For my part I think too much has been conceded. If they do not accept
it, what more can we do?
I ponder this business night and day,
looking at it from all sides, searching the Scriptures, and the longer I
contemplate it the more I am convinced of the sure foundation on which our
teaching rests, and therefore am becoming more courageous, so that, if God
will, not a word shall be withdrawn, come what may. I am pretty well, for I
fancy through all your prayers the spirit which has been tormenting me is
beginning to give way, but I feel very languid.
We might arrive at great honor if we only
denied Christ, but “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God.”
I am not pleased that you say you have
followed me, as you regarded me as the principal adviser in this matter. I will
not be regarded as such.
Is not this business yours as much as mine?
And I shall allow no one to lay the responsibility on me, but if it be mine
alone I shall act for myself.
I tried to comfort you in my last letter.
God grant it may be a life-giving epistle, and not a dead letter. What more can
I do? You are torturing yourself over the issue of the event because you cannot
comprehend it; but if you could comprehend it I would not like to be a partner
in the concern, much less its author.
For God has placed it in a spot which is not
to be found in your rhetoric nor your philosophy. This spot is called faith,
and includes all one does not see or understand, and whoever tries to
understand all this receives tribulation and tears as his reward, as you know.
The Lord has said “He would dwell in the
thick darkness,” and “He made darkness His secret place.” Whoever wishes
something different can try to find it. Had Moses waited till he understood how
Israel could elude Pharaoh’s armies, they might have been in Egypt still.
May God so increase your faith that the
devil and the whole world may be powerless against you. Let us comfort
ourselves with the faith of others if we have none ourselves. For some have
faith, else there would be no Church on earth; and Christ would have ceased to
dwell with us. For if we are not the Church, or a part of it, where is it? Are
the Dukes of Bavaria, or the Pope, or the Sultan the Church? If we have not
God’s Word, who then has it? I pray without ceasing that Christ may be with
you. Amen!
After sealing this I find I have not
answered your question very fully as to how much should be conceded to the
adversary. But you do not say definitely what they expect from us.
I am as ready as ever to grant them
everything if they only leave us a free gospel, but I cannot give up the
gospel. What else can I say?
Martin
Luther.
Luther
inspires him with courage.
June 30,
1530.
To the Serene
High-born Prince, Herr Johannes Friedrich, Duke of Saxony. Grace and peace in
Christ, most gracious Lord! Your Grace sees with his own eyes what kind of lord
the devil is, who leads captive through his wily ways so many great people.
Although I know that your Highness is well armed (thank God) against his wicked
devices, yet I, in my anxiety for you, write humbly to beg you not to worry
over the wicked onslaughts of your nearest blood relations. For when the devil
is powerless to do more, he makes the heart heavy through our friends’
persecution.
The 37th Psalm is an excellent medicine
against such trials. It exposes the malice of Satan’s emissaries, who
unceasingly try to provoke us to an impatient word, act, or gesture, so that
thereby he may accuse us of disobedience and rebellion. But it is written, “If
God be for us, who can be against us ?” And we must put up with the knavery of wicked
people and “overcome evil with good.”
No doubt the Emperor is a pious man and
worthy of all honor, but what can one man do against so many devils if God do
not give him His powerful help? I am sorry that your Highness’s blood relations
behave so disgracefully; but I must have patience, else I would be wishing all
manner of evil. How much worse then must it be for your Grace? But for God’s
and the dear Emperor’s sake be patient, and pray for the miserable creatures
who have not yet conquered. If I err in saying your Grace has suffered through
your friends’ malice, it is a great joy to me, and you will forgive me, as I
said it out of the goodness of my heart, for as I sit here I think “so-and -so
will feel this,” and make him unhappy, “and another that,” for I attribute all
wickedness to the devil. I commit your Princely Highness to God. Amen. Given at
Coburg. Your Princely Highness’s devoted servant,
Martin
Luther.
In 1525
Friedrich made over his cloister possessions to the poor. Learned men often
dedicated their books to him, as Luther did his commentary of the 118th Psalm.
July 1, 1530.
To the
esteemed Herr Friedrich, Abbot at St. Ilgen, Nurnberg. Grace and peace in
Christ our Lord and Savior! Dear sir and patron, I wish to show my gratitude
for your love and favor to me, but as the world goes I am only a poor beggar.
And although I had much I would scarcely presume to send anything to such as
you. So having searched my possessions, which are my riches, I have selected my
dear psalm, the lovely Confitemini, and have committed my thoughts on it to
paper as I sit idle in my desert, because at times I must rest my head and stop
my great work of putting the prophets into German, which I hope to finish
shortly. I present and dedicate these thoughts to you, for I have nothing
better. Although some may consider it a useless medley, I know there is nothing
evil in it, for it is the psalm which I love. Although the Psalter and Holy
Scriptures are all dear to me, being my only consolation and life, still I am
specially attached to this psalm. For it has helped me out of many a sore
trouble when the help of emperor, kings, learned men, saints, etc., was of no
avail. And it is dearer than any riches or honor that Pope, Turk, or Emperor,
or all the world could bestow on me; indeed, I would not exchange it for them
all put together. But should any one deem it strange that I boast of this psalm
being mine, which is the property of the whole world, let him know that what no
one seems specially taken up with is my own. But Christ is also mine, and is
still the Christ of all the saints; and would to God the whole world would
claim this psalm as I do, and then there would arise such a friendly rivalry,
to which no unanimity or love could be for a moment compared. But, alas! there
are few who could say to any portion of the Bible or to a psalm, “Thou art my
favorite book” or “My own dear psalm.”
And it is truly sad that the Holy Scriptures
are so despised, even of those whose office it is to expound them. All other
things, art, books, etc., occupy people night and day; and they never weary of
the trouble, while the Scriptures are left lying as if they were of no use. And
when people do them the honor of reading them, how quickly they get through
them. There is no book upon earth which is so easily mastered by all as the
Holy Bible.
And they are really the words of life, not
written for speculation, but to be acted on in life. But why complain, for no
one pays any attention.
May Christ our Lord help us through His
Spirit to honor His gracious word. Amen. I herewith commend myself to your
prayers. From the desert.
Martin
Luther.
On June 25 the
Augsburg Confession was publicly read by Chancellor Bruck in Latin, and by
Christian Beyer in German, before the Emperor, Elector John Ernest of Luneburg,
Philip of Hesse, etc.
July 6, 1530.
Grace and
peace, much-loved man! Our Horning will tell you more minutely what is taking
place at Augsburg and here than I can. After coming here, Dr. Jonas wrote
telling me that our Confession, which our Philip drew up, was read by Dr.
Christian Beyer before his Imperial Majesty and the Princes and Bishops of the
Roman Empire in the Emperor’s palace. The Elector of Saxony, Margrave George of
Brandenburg, John Frederick the Younger, Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, the towns
of Nurnberg and Reutlingen, etc., all signed the Confession.
The Imperial party is now debating whether
they shall answer it or not.
Many bishops wish peace, and pay no
attention to Eck’s and his friends’ proposals. One bishop said at a private
gathering, “It is only the truth – we cannot deny that.”
The Archbishop of Mayence is much praised for
his love of peace; and Duke Henry of Brunswick said to Philip, whom he invited
to dine with him in an easy way, that he could not deny the articles of the
bread and wine in the sacrament, the marriage of the priests, etc. And we hear
that no one at the Diet was kinder and more moderate than the Emperor, who
entertained our princes sumptuously and paid them every attention. Philip
writes, one cannot express the great love every one feels towards the Emperor.
God grant that, as the first Emperor was the worst of Emperors, this last may
be the best. Let us only go on praying. For the power of our prayers is being
manifestly displayed at present. Tell Cordatus and the others this, for it is
their due. The Lord be with you. Greet all friends.
Martin
Luther.
The reading
of the Confession.
July 6, l530.
Grace and
peace! You have here, my dear Cordatus, a living and a dead letter, viz.
Horning’s and my letter to your Bishop, from which you will learn all I know
about the Diet. Jonas was present during the two hours’ reading of the
Confession, and watched its effect upon the countenances of those present, the
details of which he has promised to give me verbally.
The enemies tried to prevent the Emperor
accepting it and having it read.
Of course it was not read before the
populace; this they were determined to prevent, and did prevent; but it was
afterwards read before the Emperor and the States of the Empire. I rejoice to
have lived to see the day when Christ was proclaimed by so many dear
confessors, in such a distinguished assembly, through the reading of this
glorious Confession, thus verifying the words of Scripture, “I will speak of
thy testimomies also before kings.”
Yes, and what follows will also be
fulfilled, “and will not be ashamed.” “For whosoever shall confess Me before
men,” says He who cannot lie, “him also will I confess before My Father which
is in heaven.” Of other matters you will have heard, for an account of the Emperor’s
grand entry into Augsburg has been printed. I see plainly that God answers
prayer (Psalm 62.). The whole world proclaims the fact. So pray on,
particularly for the dear young Emperor, so loved by both God and man; and do
not forget our gracious Elector and patient cross-bearer, and our Philip, who
burdens himself with all sorts of cares. If I am called, you may rely on me
sending for you. The Lord be with you. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther thinks
peace will ensue through the Diet.
July 9, 1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ! We have received many letters from you, dear Jonas, and this
is our sixth after our long silence. Your letters are a great pleasure to us.
Things are now being put on a proper basis, and we expect a satisfactory conclusion,
while the enemy dreads the opposite. There can never be entire unanimity in
doctrine. For how can one reconcile Christ and Belial? Perhaps the marriage of
the priests and the Sacrament in both kinds may be left an open question, but
this is after all only a “perhaps.” Still, I hope that the religious question
may be deferred, and meantime a worldwide peace be established. If by Christ’s
blessing this be achieved, then much has been accomplished at this Diet.
First, and greatest of all, Christ has been
publicly proclaimed through our glorious Confession, so that the great ones of
the earth cannot boast that we have fled and were afraid to confess our faith.
Only I grudge you the privilege of being present at the reading of this grand
Confession. For it has been my lot, even as it was that of our great warriors
at Vienna last year; they had no share in defending it against the Turks, so
none of the honor of the victory was theirs.
Nevertheless I am well pleased that my
Vienna has been defended by others. How can we hope for good from the Emperor,
as he is surrounded by numberless devils? Christ lives, and does not sit at the
Emperor’s, but at God’s right hand, else we would have been lost long ago.
Would that Philip, when his faith fails, could share this, my belief. But
perhaps it is Augsburg alone which is disputing about there being a right hand
of God, so that we may be forced to believe that Christ has, through the
Sacramentarians, been cast down from God’s right hand, and that the Papists have
given another rendering of David’s psalm. If this be so, we know nothing of it
at Coburg. So, dear Jonas, tell me if this be the case, for then I shall seek
another Christ, and compose another psalm whose every line will not mock me.
But a truce to this blasphemous jesting. May you believe that Christ is Lord of
Lords and King of Kings. If He have lost the title in Augsburg, He has lost it
neither in heaven nor on earth. Amen.
From the wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
explains the device on his seal.
July 1530.
Grace and
peace! Honored dear sir and friend – As you wished to know the real meaning of
my seal, I shall write my thoughts on my coat-of-arms as indicative of my
theology.
The first thing is a cross, black on a red heart,
to remind me that the blood of the Crucified One makes the man blessed. Whoever
believes this is justified. Now, although it be a black cross and inflicts
pain, it does not kill, but rather makes alive. Such a heart is placed on a
white rose, to show that faith yields joy, consolation, and peace, and not the
peace and joy of the world; and that is why the rose is white and not red.
For white is the color of the angels and the
spirits. This rose should be placed on a field tinted with the hues of heaven,
to signify that the joy and faith of the world to come have already begun to
bloom here below, and through hope we are even now in possession of that which
is only manifest to the eye of faith. And on such a field there is also a
golden ring, to show that the bliss of heaven endures forever, and that its
joys and possessions are far above all earthly pleasures, even as gold is the
most precious of metals. May Christ, our dear Lord, be with your spirit till it
attain to this life. From the wilderness of Coburg.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
admonishes him to steadfastness.
July 13,
1530.
Grace and
peace! Dear Dr. Jonas – I sit here planning and sighing for you, now that
things are coming to a climax, but hope for the best. Only let us not be timid,
for that would only make them prouder. I am sure they think you will yield, if
they stand by what the Emperor commands. But it is manifest that the Emperor is
only reeling to and fro. So if you remain steadfast they will change their
opinion. Let us insist upon them giving us back Leonhardt Kaiser and others,
whom they made away with in so disgraceful a manner. Let them restore to us the
many souls which were led astray through their false teaching, and return to us
the possessions they deprived us of through their letters of Indulgence and
other modes of deceit. Let them again bestow upon us the honor of God, which
they so shamefully vilified, and the purity of the Church, which they have so
soiled.
But who can narrate all? I am not sorry that
God has so left them to their foolish devices that they are not ashamed to
bring forward such matters.
He who permitted them to do so will continue
to help us. I comfort myself thus. But perhaps you consider these old news (Old
German Theiding ).
May the Lord Jesus, our Life and Salvation,
be with you. This is my hope.
From the wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
expects no good from the Emperor.
July 13,
1530.
Grace and
peace! I also believe, dear Spalatin, that the Emperor is a good, pious man,
which you always said he was. But I have no hope of him favoring our cause,
even if he would like to. For what can one man do against so many devils?
Therefore, the Lord alone must be our
refuge, for He loves to comfort the desponding and help those who are forsaken
of the whole world. But I wish to know what has happened since I last heard
from you. For I suppose things will now be settled, and you are not only
condemned, but the enemy is heaping insults and contempt upon you. For the
opponents are boasting of their triumph at Augsburg, and despise and laugh at
us. “But be of good cheer,” says Christ, “I have overcome the world.” He who
dwells in heaven will laugh at them. I am sure this will be the case. We cannot
look for help unless we have been forsaken. We have assumed the office and
duties of those of whom it is written, “Ye will be hated of all men for My
sake,” and yet we are surprised when we are subjected to such hatred.
If we are unwilling to have this promise
verified in ourselves, we ought not to have taken this office upon us, or
should have seen that such a prophecy never was uttered. But now it is too late
to reap favor and thanks.... I am quite pleased that Herzog George should
behave thus. God will reward him according to his actions. May the Lord comfort
and strengthen you all.
From the wilderness of Coburg.
Martin
Luther.
The Emperor
was indignant at the Elector’s steadfastness, and refused to confirm him in his
Electorate and ratify his son’s engagement to Sybylla of Cleves.
July 27,
1530.
Grace and
peace! That our opponents load us with terms of reproach and are trying to get
the Emperor to buckle on his armor against us is a sure sign that they feel
they will be defeated. For it is an old device of Satan that when he is beaten
by the truth he diverts people’s attention to secondary matters, so preventing
them attending to the main thing. He did this with his emissary, Eck, at
Leipsic, in regard to Carlstadt, and in many other cases.
Let us therefore cleave to our cause and not
yield.
Now these gaping fools, as I call them, must
admit, but will not, that I exalted the authority of the Emperor and the
worldly powers at the time they were vilifying them, and hurling bans at them,
oppressing kingdoms and monarchs with their curse, as St. Peter prophesied.
Now their folly is manifest. But it is God
who is befooling them. My Staupitz was wont to say, “When God wishes to torture
any one He first shuts their eyes.” I am sure their eyes are shut, for I regard
them as devils incarnate.
No more senseless demand has ever been made
than that everything should remain as it was and their ideas be accepted, while
ours are cast aside, especially as they themselves admit that we are right in
many respects. For this is tantamount to expecting that our Apology, which even
they praised, should be disavowed by us before the whole world. Truly this
manifest vengeance of God on His enemies affords me no little consolation.
May the Lord Jesus guide you through His
Holy Spirit. God grant this.
From the wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s
ill-health and Satan’s assaults enabled him to sympathize with others in their
dark hours.
July 31,
1530.
My dear
brother, grace and peace in our Lord!
Although I have nothing to say, I did not
wish the man who brought the game to return without letters.
I believe you have all wrestled manfully
with the devil this week, and I presume this is why Weller’s and Schosser’s
messenger has not returned from you. In spirit I am very near you. But I am
sure this much-maligned Christ is even nearer. Therefore I cry earnestly to Him
to stand by you.
God grant you may not desert our cause. For
I know the adversaries try to draw away the timid and desponding.
Do not be anxious about me, for it is no
organic disease from which I suffer, so I scoff at Satan’s angel who buffets me
so severely. If I cannot read and write I can still meditate and pray; also
sleep, play, and sing. Only do not worry unduly, Philip, over a cause which is
not in your hand, but in the hand of Him who is greater than the Prince of this
world, and from whom no one can rend us, so that we may verify His Word. “It is
vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,... to eat the bread of sorrows,
for He gives it to His friends sleeping, or in sleep” (Luther’s version).
Cast your care upon God, who raises the dead
and heals the broken in heart. The God of all consolation, into whose hands I
commit you all, has chosen us to spread abroad His honor and glory. From the
castle so full of devils, but where, nevertheless, Christ reigns in the midst
of His enemies.
Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
admonishes his friend to industry at Augsburg.
August 3,
1530.
I send my
nephew Cyriac to you, my excellent Jonas, to seek Hans yon Irene in Augsburg.
Help him to find him.
I could not permit the young man to return,
when so near, without getting a glimpse of the pomp there, so that he might be
able to tell about it, the Germans being so slow at writing history. P. Weller
told me how much time you have at present. “Then why does he not write an
exposition of the Psalm, ‘Blessed are all’?” “I do not know,” he said.
But what are you about? Make use of your
head while you can, before you are afflicted with stone and unable to work. I
too have much leisure, but my head prevents my using it. Hitherto I have
overlooked your shortcomings in this respect because you write me often, for
which I am most grateful. I still expect the exposition. Do not presume to
leave Augsburg empty-handed.
I am busy with the 117th Psalm, “Praise the
Lord, all ye nations.” It will be a channel for my eloquence, as I had to stop
translating the prophets. I only finished Hosea, and for this had to seize
every fragment of time and every bright moment. The difficulty of translating
Ezekiel stopped me.
The attacks of Bucer and his friends please
me, for, as I have said, they who dishonor the Son of God will be brought to
shame. If you hear anything more of Carlstadt tell me. The Lord be with you.
Amen.
From the desert, where the daws have long
ago finished their diet before you had well begun your negotiations.
Martin
Luther.
Myconius said
that Bruck was more learned in the Scriptures than all the theological doctors,
although only a lawyer.
August 5,
1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Highly esteemed lord and sir – I have written several times to
you and others, as if I fancied I experienced more of God’s help and
consolation than was afforded to his Electoral Grace. But I was impelled to do
this through the depression into which some of our friends had sunk, as if God
had forgotten them. But He cannot do so unless He forget Himself first. “Can a
woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son
of her womb? Yea, she may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” “Behold, I have
graven thee upon the palms of My hands.”
Lately, I saw two wonders. First, as I
looked out of the window I saw the stars shining in God’s beautifully vaulted
heavens, and yet there were no visible pillars supporting this firmament, and
still the heavens fell not. Now there are always some who search for those
pillars to grasp them, and, failing in their quest, they go about in fear and
trembling, as if the heaven must fall because they cannot grasp the said
pillars. If they could, then all would be right, they fancy.
Second, I beheld great clouds hovering over
us, borne down by their great weight, like unto a mighty ocean, and yet I saw
no foundation upon which they rested and no shore which bounded them, and still
they did not fall, but, greeting us stiffly, fled on apace. But when they had vanished,
a rainbow feebly lit up earth and sky, till it too disappeared like a mist
among the clouds, making us fear as much for the foundation as for the
watercharged clouds above. But in very deed this almost invisible mist
supported the heavily charged clouds and protected us.
So there are some who pay more attention to,
and are more afraid of the waters and the dark clouds than give heed to the
tiny bow of promise.
They would like to feel the fine mist, and
because they cannot they fear a second flood.
I write in this jocular way to your
Excellence, and yet it is no jest, for I am much pleased to hear how courageous
you are, and what a deep interest you take in all that concerns us. I hoped we
would have been able at least to maintain worldly peace, but God’s thoughts are
far above our thoughts, and this is well, for St. Paul says He hears us, and
does above all we can ask for. Were He to hear us when we plead that the
Emperor might grant peace, then it might redound to the Emperor’s honor, and not
to God’s. So He Himself will procure peace, so that He alone may have the
glory.
These bloody men have not done half the
mischief they intended, and have not yet reached their homes.
Our rainbow is weak and faint, but we shall
see who conquers. Your Excellency will pardon my garrulity, and comfort
Magister Philip and the others. Christ will comfort and support our most
gracious lord, to Whom be praise to all eternity. Amen. I commend your
Excellency to His loving faithfulness. From the desert.
Martin Luther
Refutation of
Augsburg Confession, read August 3. Charles insisted on the Princes agreeing
with every word, for he would have no schism. Philip of Hesse responded by
secretly quitting Augsburg.
August 10,
1530.
If in my
forgetfulness I should repeat myself about melancholy, you will forgive me, for
our temptations are common to all, and doubtless you suffer for me even as I do
for you.
We are persecuted for Christ’s sake, but let
us honor Him by bearing each other’s burdens. Do not worry over what you
suffer, such a spirit being fatal to Christian joy. God has no pleasure in
self-torture. So, seeing such despondency displeases Him, we should bear
Satan’s onslaughts patiently, trusting in God. True, it is not always easy to
shake off such thoughts, but if we cast all our care upon Him they will not
gain the mastery. The Lord Jesus, that unconquerable Conqueror, will help you.
From my solitude.
Martin
Luther.
August 14,
1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ, my dear Kathie!
The messenger has scarcely a second to wait,
but I must send you a line.
Tell Pommer and the others that I shall soon
write. No news from Augsburg, but expect letters hourly. It is reported that
our answer to the Refutation will be read publicly, but they refuse us a copy
of it, to enable us to answer it.
If they are so afraid of the light, our
people will not remain long. Since St.
Lawrence’s Day I have been almost well,
having had no buzzing in my head, which enables me to do my writing, for till
lately I was much plagued with these noises. Greet everybody and everything.
More again. God be with you. Amen. Pray confidently, for your prayers will be
answered and God will help.
Martin
Luther.
August 15,
1530.
To my dearest
Kathie Luther at Wittenberg.
Grace and peace in Christ, my dear Kathie!
After closing your letter, I received letters from Augsburg, so I detained the
messenger to let him take them with him.
You will see things remain much the same in
Augsburg as I described them lately. Let Peter Weller and Herr Pommer read them
to you. May God graciously continue to help, as He has hitherto done. I can
write no more at present as the messenger is impatient. Greet our dear Sack and
Hans Luther, with his tutor, to whom I shall write shortly. Greet Aunt Lene,
and all the rest. We are eating ripe grapes although we have had much rain this
month. God be with you all. Amen. From the desert.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – I am
much annoyed at the printer’s delay in sending the proofs. I wished to send
away copies, so hope they will soon be ready.
Luther sends
him his dedication of the 118th Psalm.
August 22,
1530.
Most honored
and highly esteemed Abbot in Christ – I hereby send the psalm Confitemini,
which has appeared with your name. It is the only way in which I can
acknowledge your kindness. But I fear that having your name alongside my
execrated name may draw down as much hatred upon you as association with your
honored name increases my influence. Should this be so, I beg your forgiveness
for having done it in the innocence of my heart solely to please you, and I am
sure you’ll forgive me with your usual amiability. They have only sent me these
two copies from Wittenberg – the other I am sending to Coban Hesse; I would
have liked to send copies to those excellent men – Spengler and Link. Meantime
I have committed them to our flying messenger without even reading them, and
have not kept one. May the Lord Jesus, our salvation, keep you till His day.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Reports from
Augsburg reach Luther.
August 24,
1530.
Grace and
peace! I fancy you know ere this, dear Philip, of the new commission of
fourteen men at Augsburg, you and Eck being the principal, and Spalatin, the
scribe, which I almost wonder at. And what is more, the Pope, after the raising
of the siege of Florence, was surrounded in St.
Engelsberg, Rome, by the Roman army. We poor
hermits have nothing to do but write the news to you orators, who resemble the
frogs on the island of Seriphos.
I enclose the treatise on the schools – a
real Lutheran document, whose prolixity even its author cannot deny. It is my
nature. The little book about the Keys has the same fault. God willing, I shall
next write on justification.
I hear the plague is in Wittenberg, the
Leipsic students having brought it.
Four have died, and two houses are shut up.
No one except Lufft wrote me about it – not even my wife. The Captain and the
young Prince Hans Ernest are still there, so you need not be anxious. The Lord,
who sent you to Augsburg, make you great and glorious there! I am again
troubled with hoarseness, and fear a return of my old malady, but perhaps it is
only an onslaught of Satan, but if Christ conquers let Luther perish. Are
Cyriac and Caspar Muller with you? They left here three weeks ago and have
never written. From the wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
translation of the 118th Psalm.
August
Grace and
peace! I send my promised psalm, excellent Hesse, in the form into which my pen
has transformed it, or deformed it. I received yours along with the letter,
which I read daily. I do not expect you to be as much delighted with mine as I
am with yours, although it is the same psalm. For I never would compare myself
to such a poet. For you are the king of poets, and the poet of kings; or rather
the royal poet, and poetical king, who makes the royal poet talk so beautifully
in a strange tongue. Accept my thanks for giving me such pleasure. Out of a fat
sophist I have turned into a sordid theologian; and besides this despicable
store of theology I have nothing. Accept this instead of a present, and greet
your queen and princes tenderly from me, also Wenzel. I shall not write him
now, as last night I had such pain in a tooth that I am quite limp today. May
the Lord guide and maintain you. From the desert.
Martin
Luther.
The Emperor
uses artifice to unite the two parties.
August 26 or
27, 1530.
I got a sight
of our people’s opinion concerning our affairs, but what I wrote Philip I write
to you, that for Christ’s honor and to please me you would believe that
Campegius is a perfect devil.
I have been much upset through our
opponents’ propositions. As sure as I live this is a trick of Campegius and the
Pope, who first tried by threats to ruin our cause, and now by artifice. You
have resisted
force and withstood the Emperor’s imposing entry into Augsburg! And now you
must put up with the tricks of those cowled monks which the Rhine conveyed to
Speyer, and their arrival is closely associated with this talk of unity of
doctrine.
This is the whole secret. But He who enabled
you to withstand violent measures will strengthen you to overcome feebler. But
more of this to Philip and the Elector. Be valiant and concede nothing which
cannot be proved from Scripture. The Lord Jesus be with you. Amen. From my
hermitage.
Martin Luther.
Luther
dedicates the new edition of the 117th Psalm to the caretaker at Coburg Castle.
August 27,
1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ our Lord! Most excellent and honorable sir and friend – I
lately brought out a little book on the 117th Psalm, but did it hastily and
issued it with no dedication, so I have again placed it in the oven to have it
better fired, that it might bring forth more fruit. For the Holy Scriptures are
well worthy of being adorned and made the best of, so that they may win as many
admirers as they have enemies. I wish it to go out under your name, so that it
may receive more consideration from certain parties, who know that there are
many excellent people among the nobility.
For the majority of the upper classes are
acting so disgracefully that they are a stone of stumbling to the common man,
making him fancy that all the nobility is corrupt.
And it is most disastrous that the masses
should despise and lightly esteem those who bear rule in the world. It is
certain to bear evil fruit whenever the devil has time to stir up mischief, as
in the Munster disturbances and the Peasant Rising (1525).
We have the clergy’s example before our
eyes, who lived so securely and shamefully that they were despised of all, never
dreaming they should sink into such contempt. But this has happened, and we
must see that they never again are held in the same esteem. The nobility are
following their example, and will inherit the lot of the clergy. To prevent
such ideas taking possession of the people, it is good that those who deserve
it should be praised. For God always arranges that there should be some
excellent people in high positions so that He may not have made His people in
vain, even should there only be one Lot in Sodom.... Therefore as God has
endowed you with great love to His Holy Word and to all virtue, I could not
refrain from lauding His grace in you (for it is God’s grace and not your
merits), to see if perchance your example might not move some of the reckless nobility
to act worthy of their pedigree and not in such a boorish manner. It is the
bounden duty of those who desire to rule in the world that they set an
honorable and virtuous example to those beneath them. God demands this. I trust
your heart may have as much pleasure in this and such-like little books as
those who make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem have.
Not that I despise such a pilgrimage, for I
would gladly make the journey, and now that it is too late, I listen and read
eagerly about it, as I did lately, only we have not a very high opinion of such
pilgrimages.
And it might happen to me as it did at Rome,
when I was such a bigot as to rush through all the churches and cloisters
believing all the lies they told. I said one or two masses at Rome, and it was
actually a grief to me that my father and mother still lived, so gladly would I
have delivered them from purgatory through good works, masses, and prayers,
etc.
There is a saying in Rome, “Blessed is the
mother whose son holds a mass on the Saturday of St. John’s!” How gladly would
I have made my mother blessed! But the church was so full that I could not get
in, and I ate a kippered herring instead. Well, well, this we did, for we knew
no better, and the Papal chair did not punish such monstrous lies. But God be
praised that we have the gospels, psalms, and other sacred writings from which
we may draw refreshment with profit and bliss, and visit the true promised land
– the real Jerusalem – nay, the very paradise and kingdom of heaven, and not by
means of the graves of the saints, but may wander at will through their hearts,
thoughts, and spirits. I herewith commit you and yours to God, and forgive my
garrulity, for it is a joy to me to see pious nobility, as there is such an
outcry against them. God help us all. Amen.
Your obedient,
Martin
Luther.
September 15,
1530.
To my beloved
housewife, Katherine Luther, at Wittenberg.
Grace and peace in Christ, my dear Kathie!
The messenger is so hurried that I can only write a note, but I hope to come
soon myself, for we have letters from Augsburg saying matters have been
discussed, and they are only waiting for the Emperor’s decision.
But it is thought it will be postponed to a
future council, for the Bishops of Mayence and Augsburg are so decided that the
Count Palatine of Treyes and Cologne will not consent to dissension or war. The
others are indignant and try to stir up the Emperor. God’s will be done, if
only the Diet were at an end. We have done and conceded enough. The Papists
will not yield a hair-breadth, but one will come who will compel them to do so.
I wonder why Hans Weiss has not printed the
psalm (117). I never thought he was so particular as to refuse a second
edition, for it is a choice specimen. Send it at once to George Rhau. If the
pamphlet on the Keys pleases Herr Pommer and Cruciger, let it be printed. I
cannot understand who told you I was ill, when you see the books that I write.
I have translated all the prophets except Ezekiel, which occupies me at
present, also a treatise on the Sacrament, not to speak of letter-writing, etc.
I have no time to write more. Greet all and everything. I have a lovely large
sugar book for Hanschen Luther; Cyriac brought it from Nurnberg out of the
beautiful garden. I commit you to God and pray. Regarding Polner, act as Pommer
and Weller advise. From the wilderness.
Martin
Luther.
On September
14, Prince John Frederick visited Luther in Coburg Castle.
September 14,
1530.
Grace and
peace! Yesterday the Electoral Prince and Graf Albrecht appeared unexpectedly
on their way home. I was glad they had escaped from the turmoil, and hope that
you, too, may soon be free. You have done enough. It is now time for the Lord
to work, and He will do it. Only be of good cheer and trust Him. I am angry,
and yet glad, that Eck and our opponents make this wicked accusation against us
that in declaring the necessity of enjoying the sacrament in both kinds we are
condemning the whole Church and the Emperor himself. These miserable creatures
have no resource left them but to flee to the Emperor in their distress and
flatter him to his face. Well, let them misuse the Emperor’s name as they will,
so that they may draw down upon themselves the wrath of Him who in heaven is
preparing His bows and arrows against them. This is how the Turks talk, and yet
we must not fancy that such a mighty people shall all be damned. Were this so,
what article of our faith could we maintain were it dependent on the mob? But
why discuss this in a letter?
Only remember, my Philip, that you are one
of those who are called Lots in Sodom, whose righteous souls are vexed day and
night with the filthy communications of the wicked. But what follows? The Lord
knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. You have confessed Christ,
you have pled for peace, you have obeyed the Emperor, been loaded with shame,
and have not requited evil for evil; in short, you have conducted the sacred
work devolving on you in a way becoming a saint. You have gone long enough with
downcast head, and I would now bid you raise your eyes towards heaven as a true
member of Christ.
I long for your return, that I may wipe the
perspiration from you after this hot bath. Today my head was very bad. The
winds howling round the castle just now must have their playground in my head.
The Prince gave me a gold ring, which fell from my finger, as if to show that I
am not born to wear gold, upon which I said, “Thou art a worm and no man.” Eck
or Faber should have had it, for lead or a cord round the neck is more seemly
for me. He wished to take me home with him, but I said I must wait for you.
I pray and hope you may be of good courage,
and not distress yourself needlessly over the unpromising aspect of present
events, nor be afraid, for you know the whole matter rests in the hands of Him
who in a moment can cover the heavens with clouds, and then suddenly make the
sun shine brightly, and delights so to do, into whose bosom I, poor sinner of
sinners, commend you poor sinners, although I deny being a defender of sin.
Greet our brethren in the Lord. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – You
must not believe there is an infectious disease in Wittenberg. All goes well there,
God be praised. (Schutze and Walch,
Luther
defends Melanchthon against Baumgartner and Osiander, who complained he was too
yielding in the union negotiations. The Elector’s lawyers would have given way
for the sake of brotherly love, but the Elector was firm, saying it was not a
case for Christian love.
September 20,
1530.
Grace and
peace! Be angry and sin not. I have read your heavy accusation against my
Philip, dear Link, and had I not learned from our people’s letters from
Augsburg last Saturday that they had committed our cause to the Emperor I would
have been much shocked.
I trust you now know that our business bears
quite a different aspect from what it did then. If it were not so, I would
write sharp letters to them, which Spangenberg would forward.
But I have already let it be understood that
I was not inclined to approve of such articles and conditions. I fancy they now
see for themselves that these are disgraceful church-robbing conditions with
which our opponents, those bold, impudent gentlemen, try to mock our weak
little party. But Christ, who has permitted them to become so blinded and
hardened as not to believe the gospel, is thus preparing them for the Red Sea!
They are on the brink of irremediable ruin,
and must perish, for they will have it so. The Lord be with us! Therefore lay
aside your wrath. Philip is still negotiating some points, but nothing is yet
arranged.
But I believe Christ has used such false
appearances to mock our revilers, by filling them with false joy and hope, and
making them believe we would give way, and then they would conquer.
But afterwards they would see they were only
being befooled. I am certain that, without my consent, theirs is useless. And
even were I to consent to such godless monstrosities, the whole Church and the
gospel teaching would be against it. Pray for me, and farewell in the Lord.
Greet your Eve and the children.
Martin
Luther.
September 20,
1530.
To the
learned Philip Melanchthon, servant of the Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ! You could not
credit, my Philip, what a swarm of verbal and written complaints I received
after I got your letter, and very specially concerning yourself. I tell you
this most unwillingly, for I am tenderly solicitous not to grieve you in the
slightest, for you should receive only consolation from me, who ought to help
you to bear your burden.
And hitherto I have always tried to do so.
But now I have our people’s letters and the other party to contend with.
I defend myself thus. At first our Augsburg
friends sent me very different accounts.
But I am determined rather to believe you
than others, and hope you will conceal nothing pertaining to the cause from me.
For I am convinced that you will concede
nothing which could injure the confession and the gospel.
But to begin with, it is not necessary to
explain explicitly what the gospel and our confession really are!
But we must abide by our old agreement – to
concede everything in the interests of peace which is not at variance with the
gospel and our recent confession. I have no fear for the good cause, but
dreaded force and cunning on your account.
Pray write, via Nurnberg, all that has
happened since I got your last letter.
For the tragic letters of our people would
make us fancy that our affairs have assumed a serious aspect. The night before
last some one mumbled something like this before the Prince at supper, but I
said, with assumed indifference, that no one had written me about it. So I long
for letters. Give me a true account to stop their mouths. They pay no attention
to me. May the Lord guide and maintain you. Amen. From the desert.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
relates the course of negotiations since the Prince left.
September 23,
1530.
Grace and
peace! As you wish to hear all that has taken place in Augsburg since the
Prince’s departure, dear Nicolas, I shall briefly relate everything.
You know that certain umpires have been
chosen to deliberate over unity of doctrine and peace, and Herr Philip is among
them. But as they could not agree they again referred the matter to the
Emperor, and now await his decision, although in the last letter they said the
way was being paved for an agreement.
In our former peace negotiations our
opponents demanded we should permit private masses, retain both canons with the
glossary, and the word sacrifice, etc., and call it an open question whether
one takes the sacrament under both kinds or not, and allow the married monks to
leave their wives and return to the cloister, and cease being considered
married men. If we concede these, then they will tolerate the sacrament in both
kinds, and acknowledge the wives for the sake of the children till a future
council.
You here see Satan’s presumption, dear
Nicolas, in making such disgraceful proposals to those whom he leads captive at
his will.
But our people have not yielded, although
they have offered to restore the jurisdiction to the bishops if they will
permit the preaching, and do away with the abuses and some of the fast days.
But nothing has yet been done.
As I write, letters have come from the dear
Elector saying the Emperor permits him to leave today. The Emperor Charles is a
Christian who seeks to establish peace and unity, but whether he may be able to
do so I know not, as he is surrounded by so many masked devils (devils in
disguise).
Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Coburg.
September 24,
1530.
Grace and
peace in Christ, my dear Kathie! I hope, by God’s grace, we shall be with you
in fourteen days, although I fear our cause will not remain uncondemned.
Efforts are being made towards this end. They will have difficulty in forcing
the monks and nuns to return to the cloister.
Still –– has written; he hopes all will end
peacefully in Augsburg when they disperse. It would be a mercy if God granted
this, for the Turk is determined to be at us.
I herewith commit you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
On bidding
the Elector adieu at Augsburg the Emperor said: “Ohm, Ohm, I did not expect
this of you!” And it was most courageous to oppose Charles V., whom twenty
kingdoms obeyed.
October 3,
1530.
To the
High-born Elector John. Grace and peace, most gracious Lord! I am delighted
that your Electoral Highness is emerging from the Augsburg hell, and although
the eye of man may be displeased with this, still we hope that God may finish
the work He has begun in us, and strengthen us more and more. You are in God’s
hands, even as we are, and our enemies cannot hurt a hair of our heads except
God wills it. I have committed the matter to the Lord, who has begun it, and
will complete it, I fully believe.
It is beyond man’s power to bestow such a
gospel (Lehre ), so I shall watch to see who dare defy God in these things, for
“bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.” They may
threaten, but to carry out is not in their own power. May your Electoral Grace
be strong in the spirit of joy and steadfastness. Amen.
Also, seeing I have kept house at Coburg for
half a year, I must mention some drawbacks, but do not wish to burden your
Grace therewith, but feel it my duty to make them known, as an order from you
to the officials would be sufficient to rectify them. I heard of them through
subordinates, but have seen them myself, and all details can be had from Herr
von Sternberg and the keeper (Kastner ), both of whom privately complained to
me, being much distressed over it, and yet were powerless to make any change.
They enumerate defects in enclosed paper, and humbly plead that your Grace
would issue orders which cannot be disregarded. Your Electoral Highness’s
obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther was
now in Wittenberg. He preached before the Elector in Torgau on the first Sunday
after his return.
October 31,
1530.
Your accusing
me of not writing, most excellent Amsdorf, justifies me in retaliating upon you
for your continuous silence. For although knowing how solitary I was, you did
not send me a line of consolation, but heaped injury upon injury by persisting
in the said silence. And now you accuse me of a neglect which is not mine, but
yours.
I wonder if you have, perhaps, meanwhile
become Archbishop of Magdeburg and Primate of Germany, that you have so easily
forgotten poor me, and administer rebukes in such a high-handed fashion.
For I do not think you should blame me for
calling him of Mainz Reverend, unless you thought you were thereby being
deprived of your lawful title.
For I only used the word in Court fashion,
even as one says “Gracious Sirs” when perhaps speaking to raging devils. But
you have given me one pleasure in expressing yourself pleased with my last publication.
I could issue nothing more because of my health, and can scarcely revise it, it
being written by stealth, and much against the wish of my disease, and its
progress at the printer’s is as slow. More of this when you come to visit us,
which I hope you will do, so that we may have delightful converse before
departing this life. For I feel symptoms of approaching age. May the Lord be
graciously with you in truth. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Account of
the Emperor’s coronation at Bologna.
November 2,
1530.
Grace and
peace! Our people will have told you about our Emperor, for it is a long story.
But this is certain. He intends coming to Germany soon, and it is expected he
will be very indignant against us if the Turk does not bring him to another way
of thinking, as was the case at Vienna, where he compelled the proudest Dukes
of Bavaria to write humbly to the heretical princes for help. For the Turk is
only putting off his time in Hungary, being determined to return to Germany in
spring.
One of our ambassadors was here, who was
sent by our Princes to the Emperor, and taken captive by him. He told of the
pomp with which the Pope received his Majesty at Bologna, where he has been
crowned. After the Emperor had kissed the Pope’s feet his Holiness said: “Your
Majesty must forgive me, but I dislike having my feet kissed, but the ancient
ceremonial demands this.”
The Emperor then knelt, and the Pope kissed
him repeatedly on the cheek, after which his whole retinue was admitted to kiss
the Papal feet.
Four thousand ducats were scattered among
the people. Charles honored the Pope with a purse containing four thousand
pieces of gold, with his own and his brother’s likenesses. They were called
presentation gulden.
The canons may triumph now, for they will
soon perish, while for the disciples it is a time of sorrow. The joy will soon
come to an end. Let us only pray, and the gates of hell will not prevail.
Martin
Luther.
Charles V.
tried to get his brother Ferdinand chosen as Roman king, having bribed five
Electors with large sums which he procured from the Fuggers. The Elector John
summoned the Princes to a conference at Schmalkalden.
December 1,
1530.
To the
esteemed Wenzel Link, preacher in Nurnberg. There are no news here, for you
know more of what is taking place in Coburg than we. We hear of floods in
Antwerp and Flanders. If it be true, then it is an evil omen against both their
Majesties – the Papal as well as the Imperial. For these are signs through
which Christ is preparing for coming to judgment. The end of the world is
drawing nigh, while the reign of the saints begins to dawn. Pray that my faith
may increase. In body I am pretty well, except that I am afflicted with a
discharge in the teeth and neck. Greet all our people, Osiander and the Abbot
Dominic, Spengler, and our Veit. For I cannot write them all. For I am not only
Luther, but Pommer and Dome Provost, and Moses and Jethro, and what not! Yes,
all in all! But truly the more numerous the objects which distract his
attention, the less capable does he become of managing even one.
Pommer’s work in Lubeck is most successful,
but Satan gives him much trouble through a maiden who is possessed. The devil
tries wonderful ways of attacking people, which you will find in the enclosed
letters, which you can read and return. Greet your wife and child from me. My
Kathie greets you.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – Pray send enclosed to Strassburg, and
have it put into dear Nicolas Gerbel’s hands.
Luther
advises the Elector to vote for Ferdinand as Roman Emperor.
December 12,
1530.
Grace and
peace, Most Serene High-born Prince, Most Gracious Lord! My dear friend Dr.
Bruck has, at your Grace’s request, secretly asked my opinion as to the
election of a Roman Emperor, as His Majesty wished your opinion on this matter.
Although my mean worldly position should preclude my mixing in such high
matters, about which I cannot advise, not being sufficiently acquainted with
all the circumstances, still I shall communicate my thoughts to your Grace.
First, I think that it is most desirable that, in the choice of a king, your
Grace should, in God’s name, vote, and for this reason: If you refuse to vote,
then they might have a pretext for depriving you of your Electorate. On the
other hand, if you do vote, then you would be confirmed in the tenure of your
Electorate, and thus their cunning devices to deprive you of your lands would
be frustrated, even as God defeated their wickedness at Augsburg when they
fancied your Grace dared not appear, and then they would have had a pretext for
condemning your Electoral Highness. So again their wiles will be foiled, and
you will retain your lands with all the more glory. You may rest assured that
it is no sin to choose an enemy of the gospel in a worldly sense as Emperor, as
you cannot prevent it, and then your Grace must obey the King.
And again, should your Highness refuse to
vote, the choice might fall on Herzog George, or such another, and then the
title might descend to his heirs, and cause unending jealousy and dissension.
Therefore, should your Grace, through refusing to vote, burden your conscience
with so many evil consequences, it would be a great grief to me, and perhaps
most offensive to God.
It would be better to vote, trusting in God,
who is able to shape the future far better than we, and your Electoral Grace
can always cleave to the gospel in spite of King Ferdinand, as happened under
the Emperor, and besides God can arrange the future for the benefit of those
who believe in Him.
And I should not like your Grace’s
confidence in God, which shone so gloriously in Augsburg, to suffer injury
through fear of the future, especially as we have no Scripture warrant or
necessity for acting thus, and which might be our ruin.
The third reason is, were you not to vote,
then the kingdom is torn asunder and Germany divided, through which war may
ensue, for one party will not yield to the other unless coerced through war. God
knows these are no light matters, but may He help us not to make them harder.
The future is not at man’s disposal, as an
old History tells us, and when God is not at the helm, things turn out very
differently from what one expects. If the Pope and Emperor did not get their
own way at Augsburg, henceforth they will certainly fail, as they trust their
own wisdom. Only let us cleave to God, and not to an uncertain future, as they
did.
The Landgrave of Hesse has caused himself to
be inscribed as a citizen of Zurich, which is no cause of rejoicing to me, and
if God do not prevent, a great war may ensue, in which the error of the
sacrament may be defended and we be blamed, a calamity which may Christ avert.
For the Swiss have not yet retracted, but maintain their error. Ah, Lord God, I
am far too much of a child for these worldly affairs! I shall pray God to
protect and guide you graciously, as He has hitherto done; or should anything
untoward happen, that He may provide a way of escape. Amen.
Your Electoral Grace will take my
unintelligible prating in good part. I speak as I understand, but desire that
your Grace’s conscience may be clear, for it would be my greatest trial should
it run into danger. I herewith commit you to the grace of God. Your Electoral
Highness’s devoted
Martin
Luther.
In
consequence of Ferdinand’s election as King of Rome, and the news that Charles
V. was collecting troops in Brabant, the Schmalkald league was formed by Hesse
and Saxony, with the support of King Frederick of Denmark, for the protection
of Protestantism.
Luther sends
them a preacher.
January 11,
1531.
To the
honored Mayor and Council of Gottingen. Grace and peace in Christ! I herewith
send the preacher of whom I wrote lately, Herr Birnstiel, and although he may
not be master of the Saxon tongue, still I trust he may please, as in Brunswick
the North German dialect satisfies them in the pulpit. The other licentiate,
Basilius, will soon follow. He cannot sell his glebe, implements, and cattle so
hurriedly, hence the delay. The clergy are becoming scarce (dunne ) here. The
harvest is great and the laborers few, so they must be treated accordingly. I
trust your Excellencies will find them learned and capable men. Herr Basil
speaks both good Saxon and North German, so I confidently recommend them. Pray
provide them with money for the journey. Meantime I bade them borrow. God grant
they may bring forth much fruit, to the honor of His name and your salvation.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
About the
Sacramentarians (Zwinglians).
January 21,
1531.
Honored in
the Lord, grace and peace! It is hardly necessary for me to write, as Jonas, a
living epistle, is starting for you. From him you can hear what is taking place
here and elsewhere. The Sacramentarians are most anxious to communicate with
us, and are conceding some things and adopting a milder tone. We shall pray
that the harmony may be complete.
Pommer is working diligently, but Satan
buffets him through a maiden who is possessed. Jonas, this Demosthenes, will
enlarge upon all this with his usual eloquence. I wonder that Bernard is not
back. Write him to return immediately, for the living of Sebastian-Rotteritz is
waiting for him. It is near Leisling, and I think will suit him. If not, I
shall seek something else.
Tell him he will not eat me into the
poorhouse in three or four weeks; so manage this for me. We are reissuing the
German Psalter because of the enemy’s aspersions. Christ, who has begun the
work, will finish it, to His honor and our salvation. My wife and household
greet you respectfully.
Yours obediently,
Martin
Luther.
Luther
introduces the bearer of this letter to his future colleagues.
January 22,
1531.
Here,
excellent brother, is one of the promised preachers, Hans Birnstiel; the second
will follow when he has sold his farm and belongings. I beseech you, further
Christ’s cause, and introduce no innovations into the services, if in
accordance with your views. For the common man gladly seizes any such pretext
for damaging God’s Word. For although such ceremonials do not promote holiness,
still they arrest the attention of coarser natures. I speak chiefly of the
rites connected with the mass, altars, etc., and of vestments, torches, and
such-like trifles, which can be retained, if not already done away with, as in
Wittenberg.
If so, restore them gradually, but let God’s
Word have the first place, so that no one’s conscience may be offended. For
they are useful for children and feeble folks, who must be considered. But you
have reached the highest degree of perfection, for love and unity reign among
you. May the Lord continue this; and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Concerning
the Lord’s Supper.
January 22,
1531.
Grace and
peace in Christ! We read your confession of faith, and highly approve of it,
and thank God that we are so far at least agreed that the body and blood are
really in the Lord’s Supper, and given as food to the soul. But why maintain
that Zwingli and OEcolampadius are of the same opinion?
If we say that Christ’s body is really
offered as food to the soul, and that it is no contradiction to assert He is as
much offered to a Christless soul, although it cannot at once perceive it, even
as the sunlight illuminates the eyes of the blind as well as of those who see, I
wonder you should be loath to admit that we outwardly put the body into the
mouths of the godless as well as of the pious. For admitting that all are
allowed to partake of it, then it cannot be denied that the body is present in
several places at once. If this opinion does not yet prevail among you, then
the negotiations must be stopped, awaiting further enlightenment from God. I
cannot recede from this position, and if you do not feel that this idea lies in
Christ’s words, then how can there be an enduring union between us unless I am
willing to sow the seeds of still greater dissensions in our congregations,
thus causing a split which will prevent any unanimity.
Therefore, I beseech you, let us not ratify
such a false agreement, which will cause all manner of offences, but leave the
matter to God, and seek meantime to maintain this understanding that both
parties admit that the body of Christ is really present in the sacrament, and
partaken of inwardly by believers. For were we to do more than this, your
people who partake of the sacrament with us, and ours who do so with you, would
necessarily receive it in opposition to what they believe, thus betraying the
faith of those who do not know of the compact, or be guilty of open sacrilege
towards them who are aware of it, and whether this would be to edification or
Christ-like you know yourself. So let us be satisfied with this empty union,
rather than a closer one, which would end in a more tragic separation, and
produce all kinds of disturbance.
Would that I could convince you of what I
told you in Coburg, that I desire greatly to heal this rupture, even should it
cost three lives, for unanimity is necessary for us, and our dissensions have
injured the gospel, so that I believe all the gates of hell, the papacy, and
the Turk, along with the world and the flesh, could not do us so much harm if
we were only of one mind. Were it possible, how gladly would I give my hand
towards this end!
I expected great things from the Coburg
discussions, but my hopes have not yet been fulfilled. May the Lord Jesus
enlighten and draw us together through a real union! I pray for this. I commit
you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
This letter
shows Luther’s relation to the Strassburg people.
January 24,
1531.
To the
virtuous lady, the wife of Matthew Zell, in Strassburg. I have not yet answered
your letter, my good friend, which I received some time ago, thinking it
premature to discuss matters, but seeing (God be praised) that the situation is
slightly altered, I now write to beg you to do everything, with your husband
and others, for the maintenance of peace and unanimity (if God will). For you
know that love must go before everything, except God, who is over all, even
above love itself. Wherever God and His Word dwell, there love will have the
upper hand next to God. Such a high concern is too much for us to manage alone.
It must be committed to God in earnest prayer, for it is God’s concern, not
ours. We are impotent. Pray, pray, and let Him bear the burden. I commit you to
God. Remember me to your dear husband.
Martin
Luther.
About the
Strassburg people.
February 2,
1531.
There is
nothing new, dear Nicolas, to tell you. The Strassburgers have gone over to the
Swiss, and will oppose the Emperor Karl. I have been a true prophet, for I
always said that the Sacramentarians were filled with a spirit of secret
sedition. If God do not prevent, a new Munzer may arise among them, to their
own hurt, and they will be punished because of their contempt for the gospel.
There is a rumor that the Turks are
approaching, and another that Charles is returning to Spain. The Papists are
quite alarmed, and yet will not search their own hearts.
England is embracing the Reformation, and
the King looks at it through his fingers. The Cardinal, who was worshipped as a
demigod in England, nay, over half Europe, has been condemned to lifelong
captivity. In France and Spain God’s Word is also looking up. The
Sacramentarians hate us more than ever since the Marburg Conference, and are
sorry we have not been caught in their net. Pray for me.Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
announces that the two preachers refuse to come.
March 1,
1531.
To the wise
Mayor and Council in Gottingen. Gracious sirs and good friends, grace and peace
in Christ! I have had your form of church service printed, as you see. The
reason for the Licentiate Basilius not coming you will gather from his letter.
I do not come well out of this business in having raised the poor man’s hopes,
and then having to leave him sitting. My simplicity, or rather folly, is to
blame for not first inquiring into all the circumstances. But it is not my
first mistake, and will not be my last.
God grant that henceforth you may first be
sure of your cause, and above all unanimous, before embarking on a similar
proceeding. I herewith commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Luther complains
of the people’s meanness.
March 1,
1531.
Grace and
peace! I have had your Church Service printed, dear Gutel, and wrote a preface
for it, and dedicated it to the heads of your congregation.
See that it bears fruit. It will fare badly
with your people if they reject any more servants of the Church. I have great
difficulty in finding serviceable people, for in Wittenberg the scarcity is
very great.
Formerly thousands were squandered on
useless creatures who were deceivers in addition; now they will scarcely expend
one hundred gulden on a pastor (Seelsorger ). Therefore I will take nothing
more to do with them. They fancy we must be proud of them, and that they cannot
be wanted.
I cannot answer your inquiries as to whether
one may dispense the Holy Sacrament without tonsure and priestly consecration.
For if they are not in earnest there, I would prefer you to let it alone. But
otherwise you should openly ordain them before the altar with prayer and the
laying on of the hands of the other servants of the Word, thus empowering them
to dispense the sacrament. Excuse those hasty lines. I see so much ingratitude
that I am unwilling to advise or have anything to do with those Israelites who
are satiated with the manna. Remain steadfast in Christ.
Martin
Luther.
March 28,
1531.
Grace and
peace, honored sirs! The licentiate of whom you wrote is now beyond your reach,
having been called to Goslar. As I told you, such people are scarce and
precious, and will become more so, and I know of no one sufficiently versed in
the Saxon tongue to suit you at present. But I have discussed it with your
messenger, and he will try, with a letter from me, to arrange matters with one
Cyriac at Cothen, who till now has preached at Zerbst. If he’ll accept I’ll
promote the call. I commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Luther mourns
over the ingratitude of the Zwickau people.
May 14, 1531.
Grace and
peace! I write a few lines in the greatest haste, to beg you to come here as
soon as you can. You would be the most welcome of guests.
Do not distress yourself over your people’s
ingratitude. I am glad we have this opportunity of despising them. You must not
resign your living, but under the pretext of visiting me leave them in order to
see the issue of events. More by word of mouth. Do not worry your neighbors
through your annoyance. It is not your fault. Meanwhile, rejoice in being
reviled for the truth and blamed by these ungrateful people. The Lord be with
you!
Greet Cordatus politely from me.
Martin
Luther.
Letter of
consolation in her last illness.
May 20, 1531.
Grace and
peace in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen.
My dearly
loved mother, I have heard of your illness from my brother Jacob, and am much
grieved that I cannot be with you in person, but am with you in spirit, along
with the others.
Although I trust your heart has for long
been richly supplied with the comforts of God’s Word, and with preachers and
comforters, still I shall contribute my mite thereto, as is the duty of a child
to his mother.
First, dear mother, you know well that your
sickness is a proof of God’s fatherly love, and that the uplifted rod is a
small punishment compared to that with which the godless are visited, nay, even
that which He brings upon many of His dear children, one beaten, the other
burned, and so on, so that all must cry, “For Thy sake we are killed all the
day long.”
Therefore, all such suffering ought to be
received as a mark of God’s favor, seeing it is a mere trifle compared to that
of His dear Son, our Lord Jesus, which He endured for us.
And you, dear mother, know the foundation of
your blessedness, Christ Jesus, the corner-stone, who will never fail us, for
He is the Savior of all who in their deep need call upon His name. He says, “Be
of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” And now that death and sin have been
overcome, we may be full of joy, and when sin frightens us we may say, “I will
not listen to thy alarms, but to my Saviour’s word of consolation, ‘Be of good
cheer.’ This is my stay; upon it I will depend. It will not deceive me.” St.
Paul also glories in it, defying the fear of death, exclaiming, “Death is
swallowed up in victory.”
Occupy your heart, dear mother, solely with
such thoughts, and be thankful that God has brought you to the knowledge of
these things, not leaving you to trust in your own works and regard our Savior
as a cruel judge and tyrant, from whom we must flee to Mary and the saints for
the comfort He only can give. But we now know the fathomless mercy of our
Heavenly Father, and that Jesus is our Mediator and Bishop, daily interceding
for us in God’s presence so that all who call upon Him may partake of His
consolation, for He bare our sins on the tree, so we may boldly approach Him,
calling Him by the sweet name of Savior and Comforter, the true Bishop of our
souls. Therefore, joyfully thank the Lord for such tokens of His grace. He who
has begun the good work will graciously finish it. For we are powerless to help
ourselves. We cannot conquer sin, death, and the devil by our own works, but
there is One who can, and who says, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.” And again, “Because I live, ye shall live also; and your joy no man
taketh from you.” The God of all consolation grant you a firm, joyful faith, so
that you may overcome this, and all other distress, and at last experience the
truth of these words, “I have overcome the world.” I commend you, body and
soul, to His mercy.
Amen. All your children pray for you, also
my Kathie. Some weep, others eat and say, “The grandmother is very ill.” May
the grace of God be with us all. Amen. Your dear son,
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
Cordatus to visit the Eisleben living.
May 29, 1531.
Grace and
peace! I am delighted with your call to Eisleben, my native town, for then you
will be an antagonist of Wicelius, towards whom you have a righteous hatred.
But you should first go and inquire into everything, and if you are pleased,
then you need not regret leaving that terrible hole. That God’s will be done is
my sole desire. There you would perhaps breathe a purer atmosphere, which is
cleansed by the furnaces burning night and day, and not, as in Zwickau, inhale
such damp fumes.
You know the proverb, “Imagination often
makes things appear real.” I thank God you feel a little better. But lay aside
these fancies, which have made you think you had many serious illnesses. I have
often to contend with these fancied ailments also, for our adversary the devil
winds himself about us, not only to devour our souls, but to martyr our bodies
with tormenting thoughts. Knowing well that the health of our soul depends very
much on that of the body – “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a
broken spirit drieth the bones” – I can talk beautifully to you, but do not
follow my own counsel. Farewell in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Letter of
consolation.
June 21,
1531.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I know well, God be praised, that many among you are deeply
grieved that your two preachers are being so badly treated.
Truly they have learned the gospel wrong
when they act thus towards their pastors. But it must ever be so that God and
His servants are treated thus, outwardly through tyranny, inwardly by false
brethren and ungrateful people. My advice is, let the creatures muddle
themselves with drink while you possess your souls in patience. They are God’s
enemies, and so God is their enemy, and it is punishment enough for them to
have so powerful an enemy, whom they at present despise, but who will in His
own time let them feel His wrath. As for you, remain true to the doctrine you
have embraced, and wait on the ministrations of your faithful pastor and the sacraments
till you see what the Prince will do.
Go to St. Katherine’s to service and for the
sacrament, or put up with the preacher in the Pfarr Kirche, as it suits. Listen
to them in so far as their preaching is pure, and partake of the sacrament
without scruple, for the Word and sacrament is, and remains, a God-like thing.
But do not praise or acquiesce in their shameful doings. For, seeing they are
installed, it is not your place to remove them publicly from office or to avoid
them till the Prince issues his decree. I commit you to God, that He may
strengthen you in this and all tribulation.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
announces a visit at the cherry season.
June or July,
1531
Grace and
peace! Many greetings, dear Michael. I know of nothing to write about, so, in
case of burdening you, do not write, but wished to send you this greeting as a
letter, and to announce that, if God will, we shall shortly pay a visit to your
cherries, with a number of cherry-loving boys.
Farewell in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Concerning
the marriage of this preacher.
July 13,
1531.
Grace and
peace! My Kathie greets you, dear Bernard. She orders me to write you. What you
write of the carelessness of the preachers and the contempt of the peasants is
only too true. Here patience is not only salutary but indispensable. I laud
your resolution to marry, but see that the manse is first built, so that you
may occupy it alone with your wife. For it is an insufferable thing to lodge in
someone else’s house with a wife. I know the maiden, Hanna Zetzschin, well, and
trust she is an upright and estimable person. I also know that she has been
well brought up, for she learned housekeeping under a strict disciplinarian,
and had a great deal to do and put up with. Still you must not rely on my
judgment or that of anyone else, but must see her for yourself in favorable
surroundings. For there is nothing special in her personal appearance, it being
rather ordinary, if you wish good looks. Farewell in the Lord, and pray for me.
As yet we are, God be praised, all well.
Martin
Luther.
The Turks
threatened war. The Emperor consented to peace negotiations being opened in
Frankfort in June, but the Elector was emphatic as to purity of doctrine being
maintained, which was secured by the Schmalkald league to the Protestants.
August 14,
1531.
Grace and
peace, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord! The learned Dr. Bruck
gave me your greeting, with the request that I would pray for your Electoral
Grace. I humbly thank you for the greeting, and for all the unmerited favors
you have showered upon me. But it is my duty to pray for your Grace, and I have
always done so both in the pulpit and secretly in my closet, and shall continue
to do so as long as I live, for it would be a sin if I gave it up, knowing how
much you have to endure, both outwardly and inwardly, and how heavy your burden
is. But the great and gracious God, who has counted you worthy to suffer so
much for His Word, and to bear so many burdens connected with the State, will
not forsake you, for He has said, “Cast thy burden on the Lord, and he will
sustain thee,” which He has hitherto so marvelously done, especially in regard
to the late Diet. I shall also faithfully serve your dear son, Herzog Ernest.
May Christ guard you on your proposed journey, and forever!
Amen. Your Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
introduces Barnes to Amsdorf.
September 4,
1531.
Grace and
peace! I commend to you this Englishman, Herr Dr. Anton, my Amsdorf, for he
passes your way on his journey to Lubeck. You can hear of us from him. Simon
Hafritz is here, and I do not know in what nest to place this bird, for you
gentlemen of the Treasury have endowed his numerous family scantily. But Luther
has a broad back, and will bear this burden also. Thanks for supplying the
wants of the others you sent back here. The Lord be with you, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
invites his afflicted friend to visit him.
October 31,
1531.
Grace and
peace in Christ, who dwells above all the Zwickau disturbances!
Yes, my excellent friend, the reason I have
not written sooner to comfort you is as much due to the difficulty of sending
letters as to the multiplicity of my concerns. I am sorry that you will not
return to me, as I like so much to have you with me. Once more I plead with you
to return. You would be no burden to me, but a true source of consolation and
help. I shall have a room prepared for you and arrange everything. What
distresses me most is the ingratitude of the Zwickau people in withholding from
you what is your due after you have exhausted your means and strength in their
service, which devotion they rewarded by giving you less and less every year.
Christ will deliver you from them, and
requite them as they deserve. And this same Lord, our hope and crown, our life
and peace, will encourage and rejoice your heart, and enable you to despise
their poisonous backbiting.
It is an honor to be hated of the godless.
The grace of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
November 20,
1531.
Grace and
peace, dearest friend! The other day I again wrote begging you to come to me,
but as you have not replied I fear you have not got the letter. Therefore I
once more plead with you to come at once. An empty room is waiting for you.
Have no hesitation in coming, for you will be a comfort to me, and would to God
you could spend your whole life with me. It would be easy to entertain you, and
a good opportunity of refusing those ungrateful people their request, which
otherwise could not be denied them. This Pastor Buchholz will tell you what I
mean; but come speedily.
Do not trouble about money. Farewell in
Christ.
Martin
Luther. (Walch,
November 24,
1531.
Grace and
peace! We expect your return as soon as your wife’s health will permit. We have
served the Lubeck people sufficiently, especially through you, whose absence is
now becoming unbearable to us. For I am oppressed with work and often sick, and
the Church’s money matters suffer, as I cannot attend to them. Do you know that
the devil has just sent a wolf, a Zwinglian, to your people in Brunswick? And
now that Campanus is entering the fold of this wolf, I know not whether God is
punishing our town’s ingratitude or trying our patience to the utmost. You can
write them on the subject, or speak of it to the magistrate on your way home.
I fear this spark will light a fire with
many. But One has said to Christ, “Sit thou at my right hand!” and “Thou art my
Son!” If He lies, then we can worship Campanus and his God. Amen. The Lord has
bestowed a Martin upon me through my Kathie. Things go well with us, except
that the farmers, who are very well off this year, are causing very bad times
through their greed, as a token of gratitude for the gospel, it is said, which has
freed them from so much evil. Greet your Eve and Sarah in the name of me and
mine.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
him an exposition of the 147th Psalm.
December 16,
1531.
Grace and
peace, honored dear sir and friend! When I was with you lately you did me the
great honor to take me with you to the hunt to try if the dizziness and
weakness in my head might not be dispelled through bodily exercise.
As I sat in the carriage I undertook a
spiritual chase, and expounded the 147th Psalm (Lauda Jerusalem), which became
to me the most delightful hunting-ground where the noblest game was to be
found. Having brought it home and worked it up, I wished you to see it, so that
I might not secretly retain, to the injury of my conscience, a possession which
I acquired upon your ground. Therefore I send it to you, it being your
property, and keep it entire for me. For such game is wonderfully adapted for
distribution among friends, for each receives the whole, and no one is
defrauded. Favor me by accepting it, for I am ready to serve your Grace. I
herewith commit you to God, with your dear house vine and olive branches. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
No date.
I can only
write a few lines, my Gerbel, because Satan’s onslaughts are daily becoming
worse. I shall gladly help the Count Hohenlohe with letters to Court. We are
firmly convinced that Ferdinand will not make war on Hesse this year, for he is
rather afraid of him, and could do nothing. All of us marvel at God’s wondrous
acts, and thank Him for having turned into derision the terrible threats at the
Diet of Augsburg, so that we may enjoy peace, for all thought that a terrible
war would break out in Germany this summer. But God is letting us see that He
has the hearts of kings and all men in His hands. I commit you to God, and pray
for me.
Martin
Luther.
In this year
Luther’s good friend John the Steadfast passed away, and was succeeded by John
Frederick. The Protestants also united with Charles V. to protect themselves
against the Turks, who were happily defeated. The Reformation spread rapidly,
and the Protestants were promised a council to arrange religious matters.
January 3,
1352.
Grace and
peace! I have already written to you, my Martin, that I thought of calling you
elsewhere. I now do so in the name of the Lord. So set yourself free as soon as
you can. You are expected at the living of Kalen near Jena, which is without a
pastor at present. If this do not please you, then we shall exchange it for
that of Belger, or some other. Excuse my brevity, but I have much to do.
Perhaps Brunswick is unworthy of the pure word, and wishes to imitate
Muhlhausen and Zurich. God forbid. Amen.
Carlstadt has succeeded Zwingli in Zurich,
whom they now declare to be one of Christ’s martyrs, that they may fill up the
measure of their iniquities.
May you prosper in Christ.
Martin
Luther.
Luther had
heard with much concern of a misunderstanding among the preachers in Nurnberg.
January 3,
1532.
Grace and
peace in the Lord Jesus! I have not written to you for long, my Wenzel, and,
considering how much I have to do, my letters are not necessary to you. Still
it was your duty, seeing you have more leisure than I, to write oftener to me.
I only hope that the little rumor I have heard is not true, that there is some
misunderstanding among you servants of the gospel at Nurnberg, a calamity
almost sadder than any other I could hear of. Therefore I beseech you, for I
know the uprightness of your heart, help me to combat this evil and to keep
watch over these unruly spirits who are not satisfied with stirring up strife
on earth, but would gladly shoot their fiery darts even against the saints and
God’s kingdom, which we are – to lead us astray. If it be Osiander who does not
approve of our views of baptism, we shall have patience and not irritate him,
even as he must have patience with us and not provoke us till Christ unravels
this knot.
We are now seeing God’s judgments for the
second time – first on Munzer and now on Zwingli. I prophesied that God would
not long suffer such blasphemies, calling us cannibals, blood-drinkers, and
other horrible names. They have brought it upon themselves. Do you cleave to
the Augsburg Confession. You do not give me any reliable information about
Carlstadt, and I wonder at the story remaining so long secret and then reaching
us in such a roundabout way, so that we are not certain as to its truth. Philip
says that if God does not lay hold of Carlstadt through his wondrous power and
wisdom, He will never be able to do so by ordinary means, so manifold are the
resources of this monstrosity. But the proverb, “He who stirs up strife will himself
perish thereby,” shall be verified in him.
Greet Lazarus Spengler and all our people in
a friendly way from me. May you and yours prosper in Christ. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
The Elector
John made over the cloister buildings and garden in Wittenberg to Luther in his
last illness.
February 12,
1532.
Grace and
peace, High-born Prince and Gracious Lord! Dr. Bruck has shown me the articles
which are to be arranged by the Electors of Mayence and Pfalz – in view of a
treaty between the Princes and the Emperor, and I have given my opinion as to
the form in which they might be accepted.
Feeling certain that God has answered our
prayer by granting peace, I could not refrain from presenting my humble
petition to your Grace. For I fear the article about the King will give you
ample cause for anxiety.
But, seeing that your virtuous opposition to
his unrighteous election is known over the whole world, I would humbly beseech
you, for the honor of God, to let said articles pass and not hinder peace. For
even if it came to war, and that war were successful, peace must at last be
concluded, and the terms after all the damage done might be much harder than
now. Also, your Grace must see how firmly the towns and confederations are
holding together, their magnanimity being a marvel to all; but only let the
parties come into collision – then this unanimity will vanish like water – and
neither citizen nor town will risk life and property for the sake of a prince.
It is true if God sends human aid it is
well, but to depend on this never prospers. But now that the Emperor – the
authority of God’s appointing – commands that peace should be concluded, this
should be regarded as if God were holding out His gracious hand to us, and we
must not let Him do so in vain. It is easy for an ordinary person to look
forward to war, for he has little to lose and can crawl easier out of the mire
than the Prince he has perhaps drawn into it. But I am becoming too worldly
wise and garrulous, but it is my anxiety for my dear sovereign Prince which
prompts me. However, I believe your Grace will manage better than I fear, and I
shall cry earnestly to God for you, for it is He who must begin, carry on, and
perfect anything good. Man’s thoughts are only foolishness. Your Electoral
Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
From Torgau,
where Luther is detained by the Elector’s illness.
February 27,
1532.
To my beloved
wife Katherine. God greets you in Christ. I hope if Dr.
Bruck gets leave for me that I shall
accompany him home tomorrow or the day after. Pray God to bring us back fresh
and well. I sleep six or seven hours running, and afterwards two or three. I am
sure it is owing to the beer. But in the morning before I have eaten anything,
I am fit for nothing, as in Wittenberg. Dr. Caspar says that our gracious
lord’s foot is not mortifying further. But no prisoner on the ladder in the
tower suffers as much from Hans Stockmeister as does his Grace from the surgeons.
His whole body is as sound as a fish, but the devil has his foot in his grip.
Pray, go on praying! For God has begun to hear us.
As Johannes is leaving, honor demands that I
shall give him an honorable discharge. For you know how faithfully he has served
us, and how humbly he has behaved in accordance with the gospel, having put up
with everything, so do not let him want for anything, for it would be
wellpleasing to God. There is little available, but I would gladly give him ten
gulden if I had them – but under five you must not let him go, for his clothing
is scanty. Pray give him more if you can. The town treasury would honor itself
by giving him something, seeing I kept him for the use of their churches. But
as they will; let nothing be wanting on our part; look round to see where you
can get anything. God will requite it; that I know. Amen.
Kiss little Hans, and bid him, Lenchen, and
Tante Lene pray for the dear Prince and me. I can find nothing here, although
it is the Fair, for the children, so provide something, if I bring nothing
special.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
him joy on his partial recovery.
March 28,
1532.
Grace and
peace, Most Serene Prince, etc. I have received your Electoral Highness’s
joyful letter with great delight, and thank God who has not despised our
prayers, and has so graciously restored your Grace’s health.
We can well believe all that your Electoral
Highness writes of the strange things he has experienced in this illness. But
God, who is a God of life, of consolation, of health and of joy, will continue
and perfect what He has begun, in opposition to the devil, who is the god of
death, of mourning, and of sickness, and will compel him to stop his attacks.
Amen.
We pray earnestly that your Grace shall want
for nothing, either here or there, although you must eat a little wormwood and
bite a sour apple. Pray take these awkward lines in good part, for my head is
still in subjection to the enemy of all good and health, who at times promenades
through my brains, so that I can neither read nor write. May Christ, our
consolation and joy, be with you to all eternity. Amen. Your Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
comforts him on his son’s death.
April 22,
1532.
Grace and
peace! Dear friend, you will now have heard of your son’s death – who was
studying here. He was seized with serious illness, and although everything was
done for him, the disease got the upper hand and bore him away to our Lord
Jesus. He was very dear to all of us, especially to me (for he shortened many
an evening for me by singing treble in my house), and in addition he was quiet
and well behaved, and a diligent student; so his death was a great grief to us,
for we would gladly have retained him; but he was even dearer to God, who
desired to have him. So it is only natural his fate should affect you and your
dear wife, seeing it has grieved me so. Still rather thank God for giving you
such an amiable pious son, upon whom all your trouble and expense were so well
bestowed. But comfort yourselves with the thought of his falling asleep with
such a testimony of his faith on his lips, which was a marvel to us, so that
there is as little doubt that he is with God, his true father, as that the
Christian religion is true. And be grateful that he like so many others did not
come to an untimely end, and even had he lived, your means could have helped
him to nothing higher than a profession of some kind. And now he is in the
place he would not exchange for the whole world. So take comfort that he is not
lost but only sent on before to be kept in everlasting bliss; therefore “we
must not sorrow as those which have no hope.”
Magister Veit Dietrich will comfort you with
a few of the beautiful sayings he uttered before his death. But my love for the
pious boy causes me to send you these lines. I commit you to Christ, our Lord
and Comforter.
Martin
Luther.
June 23,
1532.
Grace and
peace! My not writing you, dear Amsdorf, was caused by the state of my head,
but in answer to your prayers it is now getting better. I am sorry to hear that
you have been ill. May Christ restore and preserve you to us for long. I do not
know what to hope for regarding the peace negotiations between the Emperor and
us in religious matters. Our folks wrote that the Turk was advancing with an
enormous army on Germany to attack Ferdinand and Charles.
The Pope is French, and he and the King of
France refuse help against the Turks. Behold this money, which the Popes have
been collecting from the Indulgences for so many centuries, to use against the
Turks. It is said that the Emperor will appeal to the German princes for the
promised help, so the Diet and peace negotiations may soon be ended. Carlstadt
has gone to Friesland to seek a fresh hiding-place, having only got the post of
land overseer in Switzerland of which he had more than enough here. May the
Lord do what is well-pleasing in His eyes, to whom I commend you.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
rejoiced in the accession of the Anhalt Princes to the Evangelical faith in
1532. He sent them Hausmann as Court preacher.
May or June
1532.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, Most Serene High-born Princes and Gracious Lords. That pious
man, Nicolas Hausmann, comes to your Highnesses as Court preacher. I humbly
commend him to you. He is an excellent man of the highest character, and a
faithful expounder of God’s Word, which he loves with his whole heart. May
Christ cause him to bring forth much fruit.
Amen. I do not doubt you will cherish him. I
commit you to God, and if my poor prayers are of any avail, they are ever
offered on your Graces’ behalf.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
On July 25
the Emperor and Ferdinand most unwillingly signed a religious truce, knowing it
would strengthen heresy, so the Elector succeeded in having the Protestant
Church recognized for the first time.
August 19,
1532.
Grace and
peace, honored friend! Herr Christoph Stroebel and Herr Nicolas Hausmann have
told me how God has not only blessed you in temporal things, but what is a
thousand times better, has quickened you spiritually with love for the gospel,
which I am delighted to hear, and pray God to strengthen and maintain you in
this gracious condition till His appearing. For these are dangerous times,
owing to seditious persons, false doctrines, and teachers. These mischievous
persons creep about everywhere, and Satan does the same, trying to overthrow
our faith; and at all times our reason blindly struggles against the truth,
annoyed that our cause rests solely in God’s power and strength. I can only
write a few lines now, for we are all in deep grief at the departure of the
pious Prince from this vale of tears.
I commend you to the grace of God our
Savior, and beseech you to help poor Christoph Stroebel in any way you can,
which Christ will requite as done to Himself, and I shall thank you when told
of it.
Martin
Luther. Wittenberg
Luther pleads
for the captive King Christian of Denmark.
September 28,
1532.
Grace and
peace in Christ our Lord, who died for our sins, and rose again for our life!
Your Majesty must perceive how God is the true and gracious Judge, seeing you
always wished to be at peace with your cousin, King Christian, and God has ever
given you the victory over him, for which you warmly thanked God, as well as
used the victory in a God-fearing way; still, I am moved by the misery and the
complaints of my gracious Lord, King Christian, and the fear of your proceeding
against the captive, thereby damaging his faith in God, humbly to plead that
your Majesty may follow Christ’s example and have mercy on your captive cousin.
For Christ died for His enemies, while we are only expected to show them mercy.
For had he been taken prisoner in battle,
instead of after he had thrown himself upon your mercy, you would doubtless
have treated him in a cousinly manner. How much more now, seeing he has
resigned all and yielded himself up, like the prodigal son, to you as his
father? We must all plead for mercy from God, therefore your Majesty will do a
glorious service in God’s sight by treating the poor prisoner graciously; and
such an act will be a source of consolation to you on your deathbed and a
wellspring of joy in heaven, besides bringing you honor and glory on earth. For
it is a noble work when great persons act nobly in high affairs, and is an
example to all the world as well as a joy to the saints in heaven, and
wellpleasing to the Divine Majesty. So act thus, as a fruit of your faith and a
thank-offering to God, and for the prisoner’s consolation, and a delight to us
all. And at last your Majesty will confess with gratitude how grieved you would
have been had you done otherwise. May Christ endue your Majesty with His Spirit
to act according to His good pleasure in everything. And pray take this
presumptuous letter in good part, for thus does God command us to be solicitous
for others. Your Majesty’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
October 4,
1532.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Nowhere else is peace to be found till the Lord comes and
overthrows the archenemy of peace. Wolf Breunlein has shown me your petition to
Herzog George, with which I am much pleased; also, that you have lighted two
torches to the devil, for this will bring great confusion on that stubborn
head. If you cannot procure a certificate of your upright walk from him, still
you have achieved much, seeing both God and the world, also Herzog George’s
adherents, testify that you suffer all this because of him, and solely for
Christ’s sake, for all know that you are being persecuted because the Emperor
has granted peace to the Lutherans, which is a great grief to the miserable
creature. But stand fast!
Christ begins to reign, and will put an end
to the drama. Here no one will taunt you with being banished, or hinder your
business, for our gracious Lord stands firm by the Confession (Augsburg).
Therefore, pray speak only good words to the
madcap, and forgive nothing – even as you have so well expressed matters in the
petition. If it help, good; if not, it will do no harm, but rather further your
cause in God’s sight, who will soon make short work with the devil and his
followers. It is written, “The Lord hath respect unto the lowly, but knoweth
the proud afar off.” So take comfort, dear friends! He only can appreciate what
is sweet who has tasted the bitter.
Before attaining to glory, the heart must
suffer deeply. “Ante gloriam conteritur cor.” May God the Father strengthen you
through His own Spirit in Christ, and not in Herzog George. For Christ lives –
Herzog George dies. This is certain, and will soon be proved. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
congratulates him on his settlement in Dessau.
November 6,
1532.
Grace and
peace! I have allowed this letter to lie so long, dearest Hausmann, hoping to
get it sent away any hour, but Aurelius always said he had no reliable
messenger, till in my absence the ink-bottle was spilt over it, as you see.
Pray forgive this. For the rest, thank Christ who permitted you to reach your
destination in good health, and receive a gracious reception from the Prince.
Thank him from me, not so much for the wild boar as for his love to God’s Word,
which is a remarkable trait in this great hero. Commend me to God in your
prayers, and afterwards to this excellent Prince.
I have invited Justus Jonas, Philip, Pommer,
and Cruciger to dine with me as you wished, to celebrate the birthday of St.
Martin, of Martin the son, and Martin the father. Would that you, too, could be
present. There is nothing new here, except that, by the Prince’s command, the
church visitation will begin anew, and Justus Jonas is one of those chosen.
Afterwards the sequestration will be set
about in earnest, and I fear it will be too stringent. May our dear Lord cause
it all to turn out for good.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
counsels him how to combat his satiety of life.
November 27,
1532.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Dear sir and friend – Good friends have informed me that you
are afflicted with weariness of life, and longing for death. Oh, dear friend,
it is high time for you to mistrust your own thoughts, and listen to others who
have overcome such temptations – nay, put your ear close to our mouths, and let
our words sink into your heart, and God will comfort and strengthen you
thereby. First, you know one must obey God’s will, for He has given you life,
and as yet does not will your death; so you must submit your thoughts to the
said Divine will.
Our Lord Christ had much that was bitter in
His life, but He would not lay it down without His Father’s will, retaining it
as long as He could, saying, “My hour is not yet come.” And Elias, Jonas, and
other prophets cried for death, through their sufferings, even cursing the day
of their birth, and yet they were compelled to live on and put up with this
weariness till their hour came.
Therefore, pluck up heart, and bid defiance
to yourself, exclaiming, “My good fellow, when thou art so unwilling to live,
then thou must live in spite of thyself, for God wills it so and I also. Throw
your devilish thoughts into the abyss of hell, with their dying and death, for
they are of no avail here, and grind your teeth together, determined to repulse
those which have found refuge in your head, making you as stubborn as the worst
of peasants, or a woman – nay, even harder, for they are not made of castiron!”
If you thus struggle against yourself, God
will assuredly help, and our prayers, with those of all pious Christians, will
do the rest.
I herewith commit you to our dear Lord, the
only Savior, Christ Jesus, who will retain the mastery in your heart against
the devil, and cause us all to rejoice in the marvelous help accorded to you,
for which we hope and pray, as He has commanded and promised. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther writes
regarding her husband’s depression of spirits.
November 27,
1532.
Grace and
peace in Christ, honored, virtuous lady! I have written a hurried letter of
consolation to your husband. The devil is your enemy, and that of your husband,
because you love his enemy Christ. This is how he avenges himself on you, but
Christ says, “Because I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world
hateth you.”
The suffering of his saints is very precious
before God. In my haste I can write little now.
But beware of leaving the man a moment
alone, or leaving anything in his way, in case he do himself an injury.
Solitude is sheer poison for him, and that
is why the devil drives him to it.
But if he were entertained with all sorts of
stories and news, perhaps even with those which might turn out to be false, or
with fables about the Turks, Tartars, and such like, to make him laugh, and
then immediately after quote comforting passages of Scripture to him, all this
would do him no harm.
But whatever you do, see that he is not left
solitary, in case he sink into meditation.
Never mind although he is angry at such
conduct, look as if you were sorry, and be a little cross.
Accept these hasty lines. Christ, who causes
your heartfelt sorrow, will help you as He did lately.
Only be steadfast, for you are the apple of
His eye, and whoever touches it touches Him. Amen.
Martin Luther
Wittenberg.
Luther
approves of his intention to republish some of Athanasius’s writings, especially
that upon the Trinity.
(No date.)
Grace and
peace in Christ! Your intention, most excellent of men, to reissue some of
Athanasius’s writings upon the Trinity has my warm approval. Among these I
enjoyed immensely that which was held before an approving judge, under
Constantine the Great, viz. the disputation between Athanasius and Arius. The
very thought of the delight with which I devoured it as a young monk, when it
was put in my hands by my spiritual director in Erfurt, doubtless a true
Christian, even beneath the accursed cowl, is to this day one of my pleasantest
recollections; and yet this was only a personal pleasure for my special
benefit. But what you propose is something much greater. I behold Christ’s
spirit working in and through you in desiring to preserve and defend those
doctrinal articles concerning the Trinity in their purity in the church of God,
for whose maintenance that saintly man Athanasius did not shrink from drawing
down upon himself all the demons in hell, in the world, and the whole kingdom
of God.
Your resolution is therefore, most excellent
Pommer, salutary and good in this depraved age, when all our articles of faith
are being assailed by the emissaries of Satan, especially those on the Trinity,
which certain skeptics and epicureans are beginning audaciously to scoff at;
and they are ably assisted, not only by these Italian grammarians or
rhetoricians, which they think they are, but by certain Italian-German
serpents, who by word of mouth and in their writing scatter broadcast the bad
seed, whereby they excite the admiration of their own followers and boast of
their success.
But these Devils, or Epicureans, or
Skeptics, or Lucians, or whatever kind of adventurers, Italian or German, they
may be, are nowhere when brought into the presence of Him who said to our
servant Jesus Christ, “Thou art my Son”; and again, “Sit thou at my right
hand.” Let us await the laurels these giants will carry away with them from
those seemingly glorious assaults upon God. Such a gigantic war is nothing new;
an Euseladus or a Typhaus has nevertheless been overthrown once in a century,
while our servant Jesus Christ has nothing else to do but overthrow these
giants, and will not cease doing so till at last, as Israel says, the seed and
the root shall along with the branches be rooted up, and all the giants
destroyed. We daily look for this, and pray that it may soon take place. Amen.
The grace of God be with you.
Martin
Luther.
In this year
John Frederick spent fourteen days in Wittenberg, Luther preaching daily before
him. On June 18, Bugenhagen, Cruciger, and Apius of Hamburg were made doctors
of theology. The Elector, with his wife Sybilla, and his brother, Herzog Franz
of Luneburg, and Magnus of Mecklenburg, etc., were present at the disputation.
The Englishman, Dr. Robert Barnes, and the Scot, Alesius, along with
Melanchthon, took part. Dr. Jonas presided, and afterwards the Elector
entertained them at the Castle.
Luther,
Melanchthon, and Cruciger had visited the Anhalt Princes in November at
Worlitz. Luther found them well versed in the Scriptures, and in his own
writings, as well as in those of Zwingli and OEcolampadius. At table they
conversed on the Bible.
January 2,
1533.
Grace and
peace! Three times, most cherished friend, the opportunity of writing you has,
much against my will, been snatched from me.
I have been overwhelmed with writing, as the
books and prefaces, which will appear at this Leipsic Fair (Messe ), will
testify. Therefore I beseech you to forgive my delay. My love to you is and
ever remains unchangeable, although I may not always be able to give expression
to it, but I am ever at your service.
So, as I was finished with the books early
this morning, I wrote the letters which had to be sent to Leipsic and Nurnberg
this evening; and now that these also are dispatched, I shall devote my leisure
to write fully to you, and to my gracious lord, Prince George, Primate of
Magdeburg, to atone for my seeming neglect.
I wish you much joy on your restoration to
health. May Christ maintain you in good health, so that you may pray for me. My
last sermon at Worlitz is printed, and I enclose it.
I fancy you have all my latest books, for I
know Magister George’s zeal in such matters. It is said here that Christ has
stricken the shrieker in Leipsic in the pulpit amid his blasphemy. A canon in
Hamburg who opposed the gospel committed suicide, and a Sacramentarian plunged
into a well, and while they tried to rescue him he lay down on his back in the
shallow water, and was drowned. His last words resembled those of Judas, “I
have led many astray, therefore I have no hope.” Thus, O Lord, must thine
enemies perish! Give my respects to your good and upright Prince, to whom, when
I have leisure, I shall write a friendly letter. My Kathie greets you
respectfully, and hopes you will pray for her.
Martin
Luther.
Luther asks
him to be sponsor for his son.
January 29,
1533.
Most
excellent honored sir and co-sponsor – I entreat you for the sake of our Lord
Jesus Christ that you would humble yourself for God’s sake and for that of my
young son, whom God has bestowed upon me tonight through my dear Kathie, and
come to my help, so that he may be translated from the old Adam to the new
birth in Christ Jesus, through the holy sacrament of baptism, and thus become a
member of the Christian Church, so that perhaps God may in him raise a fresh
enemy of the Pope and the Turk. I wish him christened about vesper time, so
that he may not remain a heathen any longer, setting my mind at ease. Your
Excellence will agree to this, and help to perfect the offering to the praise
of God. I shall ever be ready to requite the obligation. I commit you and yours
to God.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
exhorts the Prince to cleave to the gospel, despite the efforts of great
Princes to detach him from it.
March 28,
1533.
Grace and
peace in Christ, Most Serene High-born Prince! Your Court preacher, Herr
Nicolas Hausmann, has told me of your heartfelt leanings towards the gospel,
and how hard it is for you to be faithful to it, not only from long habit, but
on account of several powerful Princes writing to try and detach you from it.
It is no doubt true that two such things as
these, old habits and the persuasion of great people, have influenced more
deeply-rooted Christians than your gracious Highness is yet; but we must learn
through time, if we cannot do so at once, that Christ is above all these, and
that God the Father will have Him honored over all. A council or pope may have
the Holy Ghost, and through it achieve much, but Christ has no devil. So I pray
God to teach your Grace this one thing, that Christ and His Word are higher,
greater, and more to be relied upon than a hundred thousand fathers, councils,
and popes, for the Bible classes them all under the name of sinners and lost
sheep. Therefore be bold, and not fear earth’s potentates, for Christ is
greater than all devils, and more to be feared than Princes. I commend you to
His mercy. Your Grace’s obedient servant,
Martin
Luther.
Herzog George
of Saxony was incensed at a letter of Luther’s to his Leipsic adherents, and he
asked the Burghermaster to inquire if he acknowledged it.
April 27,
1533.
To the highly
respected Burghermaster of Leipsic, my good friend. I am ready to oblige you in
any way, dear sir. I have received your letter, and understand its object, and
in reply to your petition I present a counterinterrogation.
Who bade you write such a letter to me? Was
it the clerical gentleman at Cologne, or the assassin at Dresden, or your
junker, Herzog George? When you tell me this you shall receive an answer,
printed and full of matter, if God will. For I am ready to serve you.
Martin
Luther, Doctor.
Wittenberg.
Frau Jorger
was the first lady who gave 500 gulden to Luther for bursaries for poor
students.
May 6, 1533.
Honored,
virtuous lady! Your letter concerning the 500 gulden, which should have reached
Leipsic at Easter, came too late. But I have sent your petition to Martin
Seldener to Nurnberg through Lazarus Spengler, begging him to promote the
matter through a written document and send it to Nurnberg, although I should
have preferred, as I wrote you, that you had done this yourself, which would
have been your safest plan; for I saw from your letter that you wished such
alms to be given direct to poor students rather than have it invested, and I
hope you will continue in this mind. Never mind because a preacher is making
you anxious about your son, as Herr Michael tells me, threatening him with law.
Let them go to law if they will. It is no concern of yours. The law will decide
between them, so do not burden your conscience with it. I herewith commit you
and yours to God. Your obedient,
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
July 23,
1533.
Grace and
peace! Your M. Brisger again returns to you. Would to God that we had been able
to entertain him as he deserved in Wittenberg, but as he is poor, he will have
sympathy with us. There is nothing new here, for you must have seen my little
book against Herzog George long ago. Kind regards to Brisger and you. Pray for
me. Farewell in haste.
Martin
Luther.
About Hausmann’s
health and a pamphlet.
September 24,
1533.
Your illness,
dear brother, is a great grief to me. May Christ stand by you, and not only
restore you to health, but enable you to bear your illness patiently. For He
loves you because you are suffering for Him and proclaim His word.
Be strong, and despise him who hates you and
hates Him whom you preach, Jesus Christ. By God’s help, I am so occupied that I
could not send you a line by Aurelius this morning. Herzog George has issued a
pamphlet which certainly does honor to his talents and character. But God be
thanked, who thereby lets everyone get a glimpse of his foolish heart, and
truly he has merited this through his constant persecution of the Word. He has
now become his own accuser and judge, proclaiming himself to the world as a
liar and traducer of the Word.
For our own sakes, not for his, we shall
answer him in a dignified manner.
Pray for us.
My Kathie, who holds you in affectionate
remembrance, greets you. You must give my respectful greetings to your noble
and highly-esteemed Princes, whose reputation, through the grace of God, is
daily increasing, being a sweet savor to all.
The Lord be with you. Written while your
Weller is conducting the music during supper.
Martin
Luther.
Dissensions
still continue among the Nurnberg clergy, especially between Osiander and Link.
October 8,
1533.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I read your former epistle, and also that to the Nurnberg
magistrate, my excellent brother in Christ, as well as the letters and
pamphlets of the other party, and Christ knows what a martyrdom these divisions
and scandals are to me. But from what I can gather from these writings, it
seems as if no one would yield. And why? If no one will admit being convinced
by the other party, will you quarrel through all eternity, to the grief of all
pious souls? But if it be a matter of conscience with you, then you merit
forgiveness. Still, if the other side also cannot violate their convictions,
then they too must be treated with forbearance.
So let there be mutual forgiveness, and each
bear the other’s burden, according to the law of Christ, and thus the
misunderstanding will be cleared away, and the question cease to be publicly
discussed, and so, through time, it will die a natural death.
Meantime, cleave to your own opinions, and
do not be disturbed by the continuance of public absolution in your
congregation. Let the others also keep to their own opinions about absolution
till time softens the feelings and the former unity is reestablished, and then
a decision can be arrived at without bitterness. At present, with the strong
feeling, nothing good can be achieved, and these dissensions might easily cause
a beam to be made out of the mote, and a great disturbance ensue, which would
rejoice Satan and his followers, and be very difficult to allay.
I fancy your common-sense and learning, my
friend, could advance good reasons for so acting. Still there are points on
both sides with which I am far from pleased.
We are human, and our flesh can easily lead
us astray when one will not listen to the other, being filled with
self-conceit. Therefore, I beseech you, through Christ, as I see no other way
of ending the dispute, suppress and mutually beware of opening the vexed
subject, and do not, on any account, bring it forward publicly. If you do this,
which is certainly according to the mind of Christ, then He will give the
desired peace.
I know that you too are aware of this, my
friend, and how very near my heart it lies that the manifold gifts with which
God has endowed you may be glorified. How otherwise would I have given myself
so much trouble in this matter? Therefore, do not despise my candid way of
speaking, my brother in the Lord, and strive to extinguish this spark, to
prevent it bursting into a flame which will consume us along with you. May our
comforter, Jesus Christ, direct your hearts into His love and patience!
Martin
Luther.
Upon the same
subject.
October 8,
1533.
Grace and
peace in Christ! We shall write to your magistrate concerning the dispute about
public absolution, my Wenzel, and I have also written to Osiander.
Now I beseech you and your colleagues not to
shut the eyes of your brotherly compassion upon those who have such opinions,
but treat them as sick persons, not turning them into ridicule, so that the
tiny spark may not burst into a flame, but tactfully try to reclaim them from
their errors.
One must ponder well how to redeem the soul
of this brother.
I could not have believed (but pray do not
spread this) that this man could have had so many strange opinions, and could
have strayed so far from our doctrine. But, as I say, if we irritate him
further we would only cause greater offence, and fresh disturbances would ensue
which it is better to avoid. If you are satisfied with our counsel, we trust
that this business may, through time, quiet down, and he meantime draw nearer
to us.
We lose nothing through forbearance, while,
if he do not repent, he will only injure himself through his obstinacy.
May the Lord smooth all these disturbances.
I commit you to Him, my brother. Greet Dr.
Thomas Venatorius, and I hope he will not be displeased because the publication
of his theses has been so long delayed. We have reasons for this, waiting for
this dark cloud to pass away.
Martin
Luther.
Dr. Pommer and I beg you not to show this
letter to anyone except Spengler.
Luther
dissuades him from going to Nurnberg.
January 3,
1534.
Grace and
peace! Why complain so vehemently, my Amsdorf, about my not answering your
letters, and fear you have offended me? You should rather have argued thus:
“Had I erred, he would certainly have written, pointing out my mistake. His not
writing proves that all was right, and there was no hurry to answer, especially
as I was an ailing and worried man.” This is written in the brotherly spirit of
our old and tried friendship in Christ. I fear to advise as to the Provostship
in Nurnberg. For I might err, and yet not err, and I dread greatly that this
call would not suit the open-hearted Amsdorf, who takes the direct path to the
object he has in view, and that you might soon regret the step. But I may be
wrong. Only I fear our friend might be deprived of his repose and launched into
unrest and storms.
You are a clever man, and will weigh what is
most conducive to your peace. On the other hand, I see that the wind has
changed, and the princes and towns are most anxious to get eloquent preachers,
if only to vie with and boast of to others. I am curious to hear your opinion
of my pamphlet on private mass. It is said that I have offended many good and
weak consciences. My Kathie sends greetings. I commend you to Christ.
Martin
Luther.
Hausmann
invited by the Prince of Anhalt to preach before him.
February 8,
1534.
Grace and
peace! Magister George Held asked me, in your name, to let you know how you
should preach on baptism, as the Archbishop of Mayence and his brother are to
be present.
First of all, handle the doctrine in an
amicable spirit, not trying to refute the opposite party, so that this
God-forgotten oppressor may not fancy the sermon was intended to embitter them.
And then enlarge on baptism, even as the Papists themselves would have to do,
but never name them, to avoid occasion for reproach, giving a simple exposition
of the subject.
The prerogatives of baptism are these. The
sacred water is administered according to God’s Word, and is not of man’s
invention – that it is a fresh covenant between God and the nations, to their
everlasting salvation, and is God’s work, and therefore cannot be sullied by
any sin on the part of the dispenser.
That there is one baptism, which must be
appropriated through faith to be efficacious, and dare not be repeated, except
through a blasphemous denial of the first ceremony, cannot be denied. It must
accompany us through life, adorning the walk with the fruits of faith, thus surpassing
all vows and works of any kind, even preceding obedience to parents and
guardians.
It has been glorified by the appearing of
the Father in the voice from heaven, of the Son in human form, and of the Holy
Ghost in the shape of a dove, all having been embodied in the words – “In the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” The words, “This is my Son!”
I handle thus:
That the Son has been offered us by the
Father, and glorified as Lord of all and Bishop of souls, in whom all is
well-pleasing to Him, and without whom nothing is of any avail which we do. He
alone is King, because the Son is the heir of all things. Herr George will tell
you the rest. Sunday.
Martin
Luther.
Petition for
a house for a preacher.
March 11,
1534.
Grace and
peace in Christ, Most Serene High-born Prince! Magister Leonhardt (Beier),
pastor at Zwickau, has just been here, begging me to intercede with your Grace
to let him have one of the priests’ houses in Zwickau, which is or will soon be
empty, for his wife and child, whom he cannot leave any longer behind him, as
in these times it is impossible to gather anything, and one is glad to live
from hand to mouth. His good friends at Court having promised to help him all
they can, if I would only write for them, I gladly bear testimony, as he has
grown up under me, that he is worthy of this favor. And such houses must be
cleared out, so I humbly plead, if it be not burdensome to your Grace, that you
would give him one of them. He is one of the most pious of the clergy. I am as
sure of it as it is possible to judge. Your Electoral Grace will act in a
gracious manner. May Christ strengthen and direct you. Your Grace’s humble
servant,
Martin
Luther.
April 27,
1534.
Grace and
peace, honored, virtuous lady! I wish to tell you that your money has been well
expended, and many poor have been assisted, so that I cannot doubt that God,
who prompted you to do this, is openly showing His pleasure in your thank-offering.
I could not have believed that in this
little town and university there were so many talented and pious youths who,
year in and year out, lived on bread and water, enduring frost and cold, so
that they might study the Holy Scriptures. To many of these your bursaries have
been a great boon. I have already given away the half, and received receipts
for the money, and proofs that it has been bestowed on honest fellows. I gave
Andres the most, first ten gulden, then another ten; and the others, two,
three, and four gulden, and all are delighted and grateful. May Christ be with
you and yours! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
the Prince a speedy recovery from his depression.
June 18,
1534.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, in addition to consolation and strength of body from Christ
Jesus our Savior, most gracious lord! As Magister Hausmann is again returning
to your Grace, I send a line with him, although I might have nothing to write
except good evening. For I hope betterness will soon set in, although it is
long in coming. I still repeat my poor paternoster, but always think, having
myself been so weak and help having been sent, and often more than I have asked
for, that with you it will be the same.
Of course I speak of spiritual consolation,
for no earthly comfort is of any avail unless it promote this, as David says in
the 57th Psalm, “Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp.” And all the
saints made themselves joyful with psalms and violin-playing. Therefore, I
rejoice that Herr Nicolas Hausmann comes to you now, for he will gladden your
heart with Christian converse, singing, and cheerful intercourse. I pray for
your Grace’s salvation and happiness, and that they may tend to the restoration
of your health and the overthrow of the tempter. Amen. I shall also come
myself, although I lie down and die by the way, when I can tear myself free
from the fangs of the printers. I commit your Grace to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
visited the Elector, from whom he got a warm welcome at Torgau. They talked of
many lands and times, till they should reach the better land.
July 29,
1534.
Grace and
peace, dear Kathie! I do not know what to write you, for Herr Philip and the
others are returning home. I must remain longer here on account of the pious
Prince.
You must wonder how long I am likely to
stay, or rather how long you will get quit of me. I fancy Franciscus will set
me free, even as I have set him free, but not so speedily. Yesterday I had to
take a nasty drink, and I do not like what is not good. I keep thinking what
good wine and beer I have at home, as well as a beautiful wife, or shall I say
lord? And you would do well to send me over my whole cellar of wine and a
bottle of thy beer, or else I shall not be back before the new beer is ready. I
herewith commit you to God along with our young folks and all the servants.
Amen. Thy loving
Martin
Luther.
(Torgau.)
Complaint of
the birds in the Wittenberg wood to Luther.
(No date. )
To our good
and kind Dr. Martin Luther, preacher in Wittenberg. We thrushes, blackbirds,
linnets, goldfinches, along with other well-disposed birds who are spending the
summer at Wittenberg, desire to let you know that we are told on good authority
that your servant, Wolfgang Sieberger, out of the great hatred he bears to us,
has bought some old rotten nets to set up a fowling-ground for finches, and not
only for our dear friends and finches, but in order to deprive us of the
liberty of flying in the air and picking up grains of corn, and also to make an
attempt upon our lives, although we have not deserved such a punishment at his
hands.
Thus we poor birds humbly beseech you to
prevent him carrying out his intentions, or if that be impossible, compel him
to scatter corn for us in the evening, and forbid him rising before eight in
the morning to visit the fowling-ground, and by doing this we shall ever be
grateful to you, as it will enable us to take the route through Wittenberg. But
if he continue his wicked attacks upon our lives, then we shall pray God to
restrain him, and supply him with frogs, locusts, and snails instead of us, and
visit him with mice, lice, fleas, and bugs in the nights, so that nothing may
interfere with our freedom of flight.
Why does he not vent his wrath on the
sparrows, magpies, crows, mice, and rats which inflict so much injury on man,
stealing the corn from the barns, which we never do, for we only pick up little
fragments and single grains of corn, which we requite a hundredfold by
swallowing flies, gnats, and other insects?
We put our case before you in a common-sense
way, to see if we are not cruelly treated in having so many snares laid for us.
But we trust God will allow us to escape
from his foul rotten nets this autumn. Given in our celestial retreat among the
trees under our common seal and signature. “Behold the fowls of the air: for
they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Luther
expresses himself willing to yield in relation to the doctrine of sacrament.
October 17,
1534.
Grace and
peace, Most Serene Prince! I have received your letter, begging that I should
take the doctrine of the sacrament into Christian consideration, so that an
enduring concord might ensue between us and the Swiss. Now your Grace knows how
anxious I have always been for unity, having been much tried by such
dissension, knowing how injurious it is to Christ’s kingdom, and that the Pope
would have been humbled long ago had your Grace managed to carry through the
much-desired negotiations with Bucer and his friends. And even yet I am ready
to concede all that I can with a clear conscience, but I fancy that even among
the foreign (Swiss) preachers there are few who adhere to Bucer, and both
parties will perhaps later decry both one and the other.
Nothing could be dearer to my heart than an
enduring concord, but if its foundation be brittle and precarious, then peace
is at an end. Pray do not withhold any counsel your Grace can give. If I can do
anything against the murderers and bloodhounds, the Papists, who always boast
that they have overcome the Christians, nothing shall be wanting in my poor
prayers, efforts, speech, and pen. May Christ our Lord strengthen your Highness
to do His will in His holy Church, to the discomfiture and wrath of the
Papists. Amen. Amen! Your Serene Highness’s obedient
Martin Luther.
Letter of
congratulation.
November 17,
1534.
To my
brother, Herr N. Hausmann, grace and peace! We are almost beside ourselves with
joy at God’s goodness in bestowing a son and heir upon the best of princes.
Pray give him our warmest congratulations,
and assure him that we pray that God, who has given him this blessing, may
perfect it to His honor and for the welfare of the land. God grant this. There
is nothing new in regard to the new king in Munster and his apostles, whom he
sent to Susat, of whom eight have been beheaded.
In North Germany there seems a movement
against the Imperial ban, which the Supreme Court is about to declare against
the Zwinglian towns.
I trust they are not aiming at us. Christ
reigns and cares for us. Amen. I commit you to Him, and pray for me too.
Tuesday after St. Martin’s Day.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
to discuss peace proposals with the Zwinglians.
December 16,
1534.
Grace and
peace to you, dear Jonas, but death to your stone, through the power of Christ.
I am most anxious to have a talk with you and others before Herr Philip sets
out, only you cannot come to me, nor I to you.
What I draw up tomorrow shall be written
down, and I shall retain a copy to show you and the others. For in this I shall
not act alone, although I fear no agreement can be arrived at between them and
us.
Philip also says he will not take up this
work on his own responsibility. It is too great for even two or three of our
most prominent men to accomplish, so it seems as if our Philip’s journey would
be fruitless. I stick to my conviction even should the globe burst about my
head. Therefore come to me as soon as you can. I commit you to God.
Martin Luther.
Luther
announces the birth of a daughter.
December 17,
1534.
I wish you
happiness, my Jonas, on your ailment having left you, and I hope it may never
return. Amen. I must inform you that at twelve o’clock today my third daughter
was born.
Prince Joachim of Anhalt was to be sponsor,
but the weather may prevent his coming. I wish you could be at the feast, if
your health permit. Magister George will have informed you of my opinion, which
I communicated to Philip. The more I ponder upon it, the greater is my distrust
of this very doubtful union, for they are so divided among themselves. They
wrote me that the Herzog of Wurtemburg thinks so highly of Schnepf and Blaurer.
If this be so, what can be expected from this part of North Germany?
Martin
Luther.
Luther
retains his Roman Catholic views on baptism.
December 17,
1534.
Grace and
peace, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord! The Almighty God has
just bestowed a daughter on me through my dear Kathie. Now, as your Grace
promised to stand sponsor on this occasion, I plead that for Christ’s sake you
would not disdain performing the Christian office of helping the poor little
heathen out of her sinful state by nature into the most blessed new birth, thus
becoming her spiritual father through the sacred waters of baptism.
And the weather being so cold, I should like
to spare you the risk, if you could send someone instead from Dessau or
elsewhere.
M. Philip and M. Franciscus are not at home.
Your Grace knows how to perform your good pleasure. God will requite the
service. I should like the baptism to take place tomorrow. May God be with your
Grace! Your gracious Highness’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
A house was
offered to Luther for purchase.
December 20,
1534.
What shall I
write to you about the selling of your house, my Eberhardt?
For you know that in such transactions I am
a very novice, and you have many around you who can advise you much better than
I, not to speak of yourself, who know so much of such matters.
I can only say that I shall not as yet reply
to your offer, although I do not wish to boast of my poverty, but cannot
refrain from saying that it would be impossible for me to bring together even
the half of that sum.
I make a great appearance with the treasures
entrusted to me, but I should not like you or anyone else to be in my place
(Haut ). Therefore you will not find a purchaser in me, even if you offered it
a hundred times. But I would suggest Bruno to you, and if my opinion has any
weight, I would like you to sell it to him for four hundred and forty gulden,
which I hear is the valuation.
Why should you wish to drive such a hard
bargain with your good brother, seeing the Lord has blessed you with this bit
of property, a fact you should remember in all your dealings? The Lord can
requite you if you believe He was and is your Creator according to the flesh.
Why worry needlessly about your children’s future? Christ, who has ever cared
for us, will provide abundantly for those who trust Him. Doubtless I have many
cares for those belonging to me, as I have much less than you, but I am aware
that my cares are fruitless. Therefore I commit them to Him who has hitherto
supplied my wants so abundantly, and will continue so to do if I be worthy of
it, or take those away for whom I worry so needlessly, if He do not see fit to
provide for them. May the Lord teach you that all our anxiety will neither
increase nor lessen the necessities of life!
Martin
Luther.
The Torgau
people wished to have their excellent preachers dismissed, under the pretext
that they were not heard in church.
December
1534.
Grace and
peace! We learn from your letter to Jonas, my excellent Spalatin, that they are
pressing you and the other superintendents to remove the pastors in Torgau
because their voices are too weak to fill the churches. This is not the first
time we have heard this old song, especially as they hear Wolfgang Fuss when he
preaches. But do not let yourself be talked over, my Spalatin, into making such
a doubtful alteration solely because of the single recommendation of voice,
which would offend many.
For if we once began to permit the people to
dismiss their pastors whenever they felt inclined, how long would we retain our
pastors? Take yourself, for example. Would you allow yourself to be set aside
merely on account of your voice or health? Gabriel and the other clergy in Torgau
possess so many other good qualities that they not only cast Magister
Wolfgang’s voice into the shade, but eclipse his other properties.
Therefore pray spare us this trial, which we
feel would deeply insult us. It would not be easy anywhere to find such
superior men as those in Torgau, and it would be a disgrace to us, merely
because of their weak voices, to exchange such excellence for what is so much
worse, especially when they do so much good by their faithful teaching and
reading of the Scriptures.
The others through their loud tones tickle
the ears of the mob, but really do less good, or only benefit themselves. The
Lord be with you, my Spalatin.
Martin
Luther.
The
Conference at Cassel took place in January between Melanchthon and Bucer, etc.
The Pope sent his legate, Vergerius, to confer with Luther about a Council.
Thirteen years later Vergerius became Protestant, gave up his bishopric, and
took refuge with Herzog Christopher of Wurtemburg, where he circulated the Bible.
In December the Elector John Frederick renewed the treaty with the Evangelical
Princes at Schmalkalden for ten years, even England and France sending their
representatives.
January 18,
1535.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Certainly, my dear, good friend, I have been slow in thanking
you for the song you sent and the Vorsdorf apples. But Hieronymus is my witness
how often I intended writing, but could get no one to take a letter. Therefore
I beg you to forgive me, for I know you wish me well from your heart, and I
feel the same towards you, although it is not always easy to express it. We
sing as well as we can at table, and continue afterwards. If we make some
mistakes it is not our fault, but that of our skill, which is still very
limited, even after going over the air three or four times. But Virgil sings we
are not all alike, and we would rather sing it correctly than incorrectly. And
even if composers make it first-class, our ideas transcend even that, so we
hope you will not take offence if we do our best. My Kathie trusts you will not
take this joking amiss, and she sends you kindly greetings. I herewith commend
you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Luther begs
him not to be impatient to have a change of abode.
February 8,
1535.
Grace and
peace! I see all your motives, my Lonicer, but I cannot approve of your being
overcome of the first or even second onslaught of Satan, making you desire a
change of residence.
Satan cannot be vanquished through any such
change, for he is a spirit which roams everywhere; still, if you were to get a
call soon you would be justified in leaving. Our Junkers are almost all, if not
enemies, at least open despisers of the Word and its servants, and Christ has
suffered it thus far, but when He appears in the full glory of His power they
will have to atone for this. I know of nothing new except that there are rumors
of a future council at which religious matters will be settled.
What may be arranged God only knows, to whom
I commend you, with your house vine and olive branches.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – This youth Emmer, the bearer of these
lines, is house tutor to Dr.
Jonas’s sons, and wishes to become
acquainted with other celebrated men on his journey.
Luther begs
him to find another place for a certain Strobel.
February 24,
1535.
Grace and
peace in Christ, dear Spalatin! You are a good, kind man; therefore I beseech
you to find a good post for Christopher Strobel when you can. He is an
excellent man, as you know, and cannot live in the swamps here without injury
to his health, being used to mountain air.
Neither our meats nor drinks suit him, and
we must not be angry with him on this account, for who knows how long any of us
may be spared in Wittenberg with such strange meat and drink? With you the air
is better, and you live nearer the birds in the heavens, whereas we are too
near the fish of the sea, or rather the abysses of the earth; hence we have
worse food. I wish I could help Herr Hausmann from such a low-lying place to
better air, for it is not good that his declining years should be spent amid
the smells which abound in this place. So do help me. Greet your wife and olive
branches from me, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Concerning
the Sacrament.
March 7,
1535.
The grace of
God and peace of Christ, honored and virtuous lady! Your brother has told me
how earnestly you desire to enjoy the much-prized sacrament of the Lord’s
Supper in both kinds, and wish to know if it may be privately partaken of in
your own house. And although this was usual in the Papacy, I cannot advise it
for the sake of the example to others. For through time everyone might so take
advantage of the permission, that at length the churches would be empty,
instead of being the meeting-place of all, where they make a public profession
of their faith. But if you are set upon it, and like to risk it, your
conscience approving, then do it in God’s name, to whom I commit you with my
poor prayers.
Martin
Luther.
Luther begs
for a small house for his servant.
April 5,
1535.
Grace and
peace! You may have heard, my good Himmel, that our Serene Prince, who hitherto
divided the allowance between Dr. Andreas and my Wolf, has, of his own free
will, bestowed it solely on the latter. I hope it has been officially signed by
your Court official. If not, we shall send you a fully attested copy of the
Prince’s decree, with his seal. Therefore, pray lift the whole pension, as you
have always done, and send it to him here. My Wolf will be most grateful to
you, and send a little acknowledgment, so that you may not watch over Christ’s
grave unrequited. I should like a little house to be bought for my good Wolf,
into which he might retire after my death, as he has a weak arm, and needs a
roof of his own, so that he may not have to seek refuge in an institution, poor
and forsaken. It is not necessary for me to urge you, as you know the man. May
you and yours prosper. Pray that I may have a happy transit out of this world.
My strength is failing.
Martin
Luther.
Luther tries
to dissuade his friend from coming to Wittenberg.
April 25,
1535.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Your letter, dearest, did not depress me so much as you
expected, especially as I saw from it that, although Christ was letting you be
led into temptation, He had not forsaken you. I am grieved to hear that the old
tragedy is beginning anew, but if you would only believe that this
misunderstanding is not caused so much by you as through the tattling of a
third party, incited by Satan, you would easily be enabled to set aside the
annoyance thus caused.
Perhaps Christ is punishing us for our
sluggishness in this way for not besieging Him with our prayers. Truly He never
slumbers, even when we sink into deep sleep. You cannot think how much we have
to endure from the insolence and intrigues of the Junkers and rabble, so that I
am sure that were you here you would have more to endure from the many than you
have there from the calumnies of a single man. I am certain that the Papacy is
the devil’s kingdom, which God in His anger has sent upon the world; and what
kingdom could be more in unison with the world, for the world wills to have the
devil for its god? Once it seemed to be the duty of the Bishops to suppress
this tyranny, but the means used were too violent. For in humbling this
abomination the Christian Church would speedily have been extinguished. Now
this fury is again raising her head, but there is no lack of courageous men who
could take those tyrants captive in the very chains they have forged around the
Popes. Only I do not wander in the counsel of these people, but cleave to those
who fear God, for our kingdom is above.
I write this to you to show how my heart
beats in unison with yours, and to beg you not to leave your congregation.
Think of St. Paul’s words to Titus: “For this cause left I thee in Crete,” to
proclaim the Word to God’s elect and elsewhere, all for the sake of the elect.
Let this be your aim. You are a servant of God’s chosen ones, and the target of
the reprobate. If we only could render good service to the elect and the least
of Christ’s servants! Oh that you could endure to the end, dear Wenzel! And
although there is no man on God’s earth I would rather have near me than you,
not only because of our old brotherly friendship, but because I ever found in
you a comforter, a man full of faith in God, whom I would like to have by my
side in my dying hour, still I would rather sacrifice myself than see your
congregation suffer. Who knows what advantages God is preparing for you through
this trial? Let us only pray and arm ourselves in patience. You ask our Prince’s
opinion of your proposal. What if I came, or rather fled, to you? He is the
best of Princes; but excepting him, there is no one who would not suspect me.
From this you may see what a zeal there is for God’s Word in the world.
Meantime sing this psalm, “Wait upon the Lord.” Ah, it cannot be otherwise! We
must elbow our way through glory and shame, through reproach and error, through
evil and good, through – and ever through – devils and angels, to that only One
who alone is good.
Therefore I beseech you, dear brother,
listen to no one, but commune solely with Him alone. All others, although they
may be the best of men, have more sense of justice than endurance. For we are
all human, and the flesh combats the spirit on the battle-ground. But if it
gets the length of defying you to your face, and openly showing their hatred to
you, then it will be time to think of other remedies. God help us! How strong
God permits the devil to be, and us so weak! Do not be offended with me, and
consider that God is perhaps proving us, and that it is not perhaps a blessed
thing to trust in man, even if he be a prince, while it is shameful for a
Christian to fear men. May Christ, our life, salvation, and glory, be with you
and all belonging to us. God grant it. Sunday cantate.
Martin
Luther.
Fear of the
plague drove the University staff to Jena.
July 9, 1535.
Grace and
peace in Christ, with my poor paternoster, Most Serene Highborn Prince, most
gracious Lord! Dr. Bruck has shown me your Electoral Highness’s gracious
request, occasioned by the flight of so many here, who are in mortal dread of
death, and I humbly thank you for your solicitude and offer, of which I shall
gladly avail myself when necessary. But my weather-cock, on whom I implicitly
rely, is the overseer (Landvogt ) Hans Metsch, who has a marvelous hawk’s nose
for the pestilence, and would smell it even were it hidden five ells below
ground. Doubtless a house or two is infected, but the atmosphere is not yet
poisoned. For since Tuesday there has neither been a corpse nor a sick person.
But as the dog-days are at hand and the young boys are frightened, I have
allowed them to go out walking, to tranquilize their minds till we see how
things turn out. But I notice that the young folks like to hear this outcry
about the pestilence, for some are tired of sitting on the hard benches; some
think they get cramp from the books, while others declare scurvy is secreted
among the pens and paper. And there are those who devour their mothers’ letters,
which makes them home-sick and long for the fatherland, and perhaps there are
many more weaknesses than I am able to recount. If parents and guardians do not
try to stem the tide of these evils, perhaps we shall not be able to get
pastors and schoolmasters, till at length swine and dogs will be the best
animals remaining to us, towards which end the Papists are steadily working.
But may Christ our Lord endue your Electoral Grace, as He has hitherto done,
along with the Christian authorities, with grace and mercy, to His honor and
the annoyance of Satan, so that you may know what stringent remedies to apply
to this sickness. Your Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – I
humbly beg your Grace not to forget my poor Hieronymus Weller.
The Augsburg
people sent an embassy to Wittenberg to prove their desire for unanimity in the
matter of the sacrament.
July 20,
1535.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I would like you to learn with what pleasure I received your
letter, dear brethren, from the living letters, viz. your Dr.
Gereon Seiler and Caspar Huber, rather than
from these dead letters, for nothing has been a greater joy to me in the course
of the Reformation than to see an end of the lamentable division, and at length
to hope for an entire agreement. Herr Gereon tells me, and your letter forces
me to believe this, so that my wound, viz. my distrust, is so far healed that
not even a scar remains. Therefore I beseech you, through Christ, who has begun
such a work in you, to persevere in this fruit of the Spirit. Doubtless you
will manifest such heartfelt Christian love towards us, which shall be
responded to on our part with true love and fidelity, and lay nothing upon us
which we cannot joyfully accept. When this concord is ratified, I shall sing
with tears, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace!” For I shall
leave peace to the Church, God’s house, and the punishment of the devil, etc.
May Christ perfect this work among you, so that my joy may be full, and I may
look forward, after so many crosses, to a joyful dying hour.
Amen. Pray for me, as I pray for you.
Martin
Luther.
The Elector
threatened Ludwig Rabe for having spoken at Luther’s table of the unjust fate
of Hans Schanz.
July 31,
1535.
Repentance
and forgiveness of sins, Most High-born Prince and gracious Lord! I address
this letter to you, not in the hope that anything advantageous will come of it,
but to relieve my conscience before God and the world, in case my silence
should be construed into acquiescence of the injustice perpetrated. Ludwig Rabe
allowed me to read the letter in which your Grace threatens and forbids him
again speaking of the glorified Hans Schanz. As he is my boarder and sits at my
table, I can testify, and doubtless your Highness is also aware, that this is
not true, so I can only conclude that your Grace is stabbing me through a
fence, being angry at what good people hear talked of; for I can testify that
Ludwig Rabe sits at my table like a maiden, and often speaks more good of his
fine Archbishop than I can take in, and does not run about the town, but sits
quietly in his room. Besides, the whole town was ringing with Schanz’s
misfortune before Ludwig and I heard of it, and we could hardly credit that
Hans Schanz should be hanged in such a shameful manner by his dearest lord.
Neither Ludwig nor I invented this tale, and
the Cardinal’s name was held up to execration without our aid. As it is now thought
that the accusation is aimed at me, I now beg of you to leave my table and
house guest unmolested, for I shall rather believe what honest people say of
Schanz than listen to what your gracious or ungracious Highness (it is all one)
should assert. For I do not sit here at your Grace’s will that I should shut
the mouths and punish the lies of those who speak well of Hans Schanz and evil
of his Cardinal, and I trust your Grace will not hurry me off so swiftly to the
gallows as you did Hans! I shall always express my opinion freely, and repeat
any gossip I may hear of your Grace to good friends, even as I am compelled to
put up with your Grace’s conduct towards me.
For although I do not believe what is said
of Hans Schanz and in favor of his Cardinal (although as yet I have heard
nothing of the kind), still I shall be pardoned for such sins without any
indulgences from your Grace. And should your Grace hang all those who not only
in this but in other things speak despitefully of your Grace, there would not
be rope enough in Germany to do it, not to speak of many who would not so
easily permit themselves to be hanged, and thus some would needs remain
unhanged by the doughty Cardinal; and even the hanging of many would not
suppress the outcry. And I believe (and no cardinal hangman shall forbid this,
for thoughts are not taxable) that had Hans Schanz been tried outside Halle he
would have remained unhanged, which is the general opinion. Perhaps they may
still sing this song where your Grace has not the power to hang the people. I
further believe that had Ludwig been seized in Halle, as you tried to seize him
in Leipsic, he would have been hanged long ago, and then he would have had to
be silent about Hans. Should your Electoral Grace wish to know how long such an
outcry has existed in German lands against you, I must inform you it began
about fifteen years ago, dating from the indulgences, and all against so holy a
man. If you wish to get rid of this evil reputation forbid the outcry in other
places besides Halle, especially that regarding the Pope’s ban, which finds
little favor with the merchants, and these seldom allude to Hans Schanz’s
business. For being forcibly prevented speaking of him at Halle does not injure
his cause, but the Cardinal’s conduct does, even as the cry of Magister George
Winkler’s blood (of which I wrote your Grace) becomes, with time, the longer,
the louder, and I believe it will never be stilled till it is avenged. This is
the last letter which I shall write to your Grace, even as the Prophet Elijah
wrote to King Jehoram to justify himself, for I look for no improvement, even
as little as did Elijah from his Jehoram.
I must console myself with the thought that
your august Holiness cannot hang everyone who wishes you evil (although it would
be possible to hang all who wish you well), but permit our Lord God to let the
ring hang on the doors of His Church, and allow some to live, till the real
tormentor (Henker ) attacks yourself. Amen.
Martin
Luther, Preacher at Wittenberg.
Wittenberg.
Luther begs
the Elector to allow Melanchthon to go to France, whither the King invited him,
and other matters regarding his absence.
August 17,
1535.
Grace and
peace with my paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord! I
most respectfully beg of you, in God’s name, to allow Philip to go to France. I
am moved to make this request because of the pitiful appeal I have received
from some honored and pious people who have narrowly escaped the flames, and it
was Philip who, with infinite trouble, induced the King to make an end of the
butchery and burning.
Therefore, if these people are deprived of
their consolation, then the bloodhounds may begin their bloody work afresh, so
I do not see how Herr Philip can, with a clear conscience, desert them in their
deep need, and rob them of their much-needed consolation, especially as it
might make the King and those about him very mistrustful of all of us, for he
has graciously written himself requesting Philip’s presence, besides sending a
messenger.
Your princely Grace will, by the grace of
God, permit Philip to leave for three months. Who knows what God may mean to
do, whose thoughts are at all times higher and better than ours! For my part, I
should be very sorry were so many pious hearts deprived of the comfort for
which they so touchingly and so confidently cry and wait. And one could not
wonder if they and many others thought badly of us. Therefore I plead once more
that your Electoral Grace would most graciously grant Philip’s request. We pray
daily to God for your Electoral Highness, and by our diligent labor try to
promote your cause. May God lead and strengthen your Highness by His Holy
Spirit to do His good and gracious will! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
contradicts the report of epidemic in Wittenberg.
August 19,
1535.
Grace and
peace! I wish you joy on your recovery, my excellent Jonas. The report of an
infectious disease here is most unfounded. But Heaven seems to will it that the
devil should succeed in separating us at least bodily, and who knows by what
means. Philip has been called to France by the King, and he would gladly have
gone, but the Elector would not permit it. He then went off in rather a bad
humor to Jena. We had a small gathering of doctors on the Feast of the Holy
Cross, and a disputation on the preceding Saturday. We received a stag at my
request from our gracious Prince.
Bugenhagen was laid hold of on his way home,
and you also will soon come, and the whole Jena University, if it can be called
the Jena High School, which is really that of Wittenberg. Our town is quite
desolate, but we are in good health and spirits, except for one thing – the
beer is finished all over the town. It is well for me that I have still some in
my cellar. The other citizens have none. What is being brewed is new, and is
being consumed warm from the pans, so the brewers who can are forced to brew.
My Kathie greets you and yours. My boy Hans Luther would have answered your
Justus, but having scented the old Jonas in the letter, he could not, on
account of the press of writing, answer through the elder Luther. But he will
write ere long, as well as his years permit. Once more farewell.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – I
would gladly assist Bernard, but cannot with my own means, God having laid the
duty upon me of providing for a numerous family, and, besides, I have many
debts. I cannot help wondering why so strong a man, with such a healthy wife,
should be in such deep poverty, and an alms here and there is of little avail,
and to help with alms people who could earn something becomes impossible at
length. Give me a hint how I may help them, for I would gladly do anything for
the good man, seeing he is a guest in the Church of the Gentiles and a member
of the Jewish Church. I commend you to God.
On September
14, Hieronymus Weller, who had been called to Freiberg, and Nicolas Medlar,
chaplain to the Electress of Brandenburg, then living in Wittenberg, were made
doctors of divinity. Jocular invitation to banquet.
September 4,
1535.
Grace and
peace! I hope you have received the letters and disputations, with the
directions, sent from a very incompetent person, to teach you what to say at
the ceremony of conferring doctors’ degrees; and now our head cook, Kathie,
begs you will, with this thaler, send us birds and what you can find in your
region of the air, which creatures God has appointed for man’s use. But send us
no ravens, but sparrows in any number, and if you lay out anymore it shall be
refunded to you; and if you can get a hare, or shoot anything for nothing, or
purchase some vegetables, then send these also, for the principal thing is that
you all get something to eat, for one must not depend on beer alone, of which
my Kathie has brewed fourteen tuns, in which she has put thirty-two bushels of
malt to suit my taste. She hopes it may be good; you will judge for yourself
when you taste it. There is no other news, except that the Emperor is carrying
everything before him in Africa. But Herzog George and the Bishop of Halle have
issued an order to their people to fast three days a week for the Emperor and
receive the sacrament in one kind, so that things may improve even more. So if
the Emperor Karl should conquer Constantinople, which God grant he may, then it
will be these things and not God who has done it. But Christ lives, so let us
rejoice even amid the rage of devils and men, enjoying the good things of life,
till they come to a miserable end, especially if you confer your delightful
society upon us, with your captives, who, under the sway of the head cook, will
be consigned to the captivity of the pot. My Kathie and all greet you
respectfully.
Farewell in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Request for a
private audience for the Englishman Barnes, etc.
September 12,
1535.
Grace and
peace with our poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious
Lord! His Majesty the King of England’s messenger, Dr. Antonius, has begged me
to request your Grace to grant him a private interview, for he does not wish
his business to be known till he knows how he stands. As your Electoral
Highness knows the man, and we believe he brings good tidings, we humbly pray
that he may have a hearing. And besides, he has managed matters very well in
regard to M. Philip’s promise to the King, and has achieved much in making the
King so anxious to have him, and so unwilling that he should go to France; and
also in sending such a stately escort, with such a hostage, for a guarantee. So
we beg your Grace, if not before, then immediately after your journey to
Austria, to receive him. Who knows what God, whose wisdom is higher and His
will better than ours, may achieve. So if M. Philip, who is invited in such a
splendid manner, cannot fulfil his promise, it will be a great grief to him,
especially as he has always been overburdened with work, melancholy, and
temptations, and needs no additional sorrow. Your Electoral Grace will know how
to act in a gracious manner. Christ our Lord be with you to all eternity. Amen.
Your Electoral Grace’s humble
Martin
Luther,
Justus Jonas,
Caspar
Cruciger,
John
Pommer.
Concerning an
Evangelical service in her house.
September 12,
1535.
Grace and
peace in Christ with my poor paternoster, honored and dear lady! I have seen
Herr Andres, and received your letter, and thank you for your present,
especially the small groschen, which I would like to know if it were good, for
it looks so new it might be counterfeit. Herr Andres also tells me that you are
anxious to know if you might, with a good conscience, have preaching in your
house (as your pastor has no objections), solely for your own people, and no outsiders
belonging to the church.
If your pastor permit it, then you may have
it till it is forbidden you, for you are not expected to please everyone,
although eventually you may be compelled to give way to the powers that be.
Each one in things like these takes the responsibility upon himself. And do not
mind although the preacher may not have been consecrated by a bishop, for it is
not to the office of preacher he is set apart, but rather to the practice of
private mass, and such priests are Baals and Jeroboams. Whoever is called is
consecrated, and may preach to those who have called him; that is our Lord’s
consecration and ordination, and is a right honorable one. My housewife sends
her kind regards to you all.
I commit you to God. Amen. At Wittenberg,
Sunday.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wrote
seven letters on this day, although very weak at this time.
October 5,
1535.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Your letter, my excellent Herr Doctor, was a great joy to me,
not only for itself, but because so many dear travelers accompanied it, whom I
received as emissaries of good tidings of peace and salvation with every
respect and delight. Christ, who laid the foundation of this unanimity, will
perfect His work. Amen. At your request I communicate to all the brethren, with
every expression of esteem, my heartfelt satisfaction at the renewed efforts
for union. You can discuss my proposal for meeting together with your party,
and communicate your decision to me, so that I may let the Prince and all our
people know.
Herr Melanchthon has, for many weighty
reasons, given up his proposed journey to France. For we have been informed of
the faithlessness of the French from many distinguished men. But I am sorry for
this people who groan under so hard a yoke. Would that I could give them the
help for which they plead. Perhaps if they fled they might find a home
elsewhere.
May Christ have mercy on them, and deliver
them, and afflict those who oppress them. Amen. I commend myself to you, my
most esteemed Herr Doctor in the Lord, who, I pray, may guide and maintain you
and yours to all eternity.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Various
topics.
October 28,
1535.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Eight days ago Dr. Christian Baume departed this life. M.
Philip writes that he caught fever on a journey, and the phlegm descended from
the head to the chest. I enclose M. Philip’s letter. Bruck is not in Prague,
Philip declares. As yet we hear nothing of the Austrian journey. Last Sabbath
the plague carried away Schadewald, the best citizen in the town, but since
that all is quiet. I have catarrh, at times accompanied by a cough. Many
students have returned. I have no other news. I should like to know where the
Pope’s Ambassador is, for there seems to be a mystery in regard to the whole
council. Greet your flesh and blood from me, and pray for me. I am at present
occupied with Simon and Judas, and the preparation of the thesis against secret
mass; further, with Corinthians chapter 13, and also with some other passages
where the doctrine of justification is to be found. My Kathie, who rides,
drives, sows her fields, buys cattle, and turns them out on the meadows, and
brews, sends you her kind regards. Over and above, she has a bet of fifty
florins that she will read the whole Bible by Easter. So she is in earnest. She
has begun the fifth Book of Moses.
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s
interview with the Papal legate Vergerius.
November 10,
1535.
Grace and
peace! I thank you for the hare and the birds, my dearest Jonas.
I had much to write about, but I am very
tired, and the topics are too numerous even to touch upon with my arrears of
work. The Papal legate once more appeared among us in Wittenberg. He is now
with the Margrave. One would fancy the man flies rather than rides. He invited
Bugenhagen and me to breakfast, because the day before I had forbidden the
sacrament (Nachtmahl ) in the bath. I ate with him in the castle, but as to the
conversation, no human soul could repeat it. All through the repast I was not
only Luther, but represented the Englishman Barnes, whom he also invited, but
such language as he used towards you! But more by word of mouth.
The Frankfort people write me complaining
that the Archbishop of Mayence purposes forcing mass and the other Papal rites
upon them. How necessary is it for me to have you all here! Instead I must act
alone, decide everything, and all because of the plague, at which the devil
laughs heartily, being delighted that he has succeeded in scattering us all
solely because of a few deaths.
But God will defend and uphold His word. I
herewith send you the letter of Herr Augustine, pastor at Colditz, from which
you can catch a glimpse of this very fine Epicurean sect, but can also perceive
that God knows how to revenge contempt of His name. You need have no doubt that
our Prince has arrived safe in Prague. Melanchthon has written thrice that Dr.
Bruck is in Jena. Perhaps it is Bleikardt who accompanied the Prince, and it is
only a mistake in the name. For as Bruck had been ill, Bleikardt went instead
of him on this journey. My Kathie greets you and yours. She is going on
steadily with her Bible reading. But all the disturbance with that woman robbed
her of eight days’ time.
Concerning your proposed transaction about
the linen, she says you can easily guess what she would do in such a critical
case, especially when she was so anxious to go on with her reading, and yet so
afraid of losing this chance. My greetings to all your family. St. Martin’s
evening.
Martin
Luther.
The English
Embassy sent by Henry VIII. still lingered in Wittenberg, and in May Bucer,
Capito, Myconius, etc., also arrived, and the disputes concerning the sacrament
were happily arranged, preachers of the one communion being accepted by the
other, and both parties partook of the Lord’s Supper together. On June 2 the
Pope issued a Bull summoning a council for the following year, for the
furtherance of peace, by extirpating heresy. Charles sent his Vice-Chancellor
Held to Schmalkalden to gain over the Protestants, but he did not succeed.
Congratulations
upon his marriage.
January 14,
1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ! We rejoice greatly, my Dietrich, over the welcome news of your
marriage, and wish you much happiness. And yet not too much, so that should
your bliss exceed the ordinary lot of husbands, you may not turn St. Paul into
a liar, who snarls at us happy and complacent married men, and taunts us with
the words, “Such shall have trouble in the flesh.” If this should happen, and
you find St. Paul has been nearer the truth than you desire, then show yourself
to be a man who can bear with the faults of a wife, giving honor unto the wife,
as St. Peter commands. Rather keep the little queen in a good humor than be
always looking for righteous cause of anger against her. Still, you must not
let yourself be treated anyway. But why should I choose such an inopportune
moment as that of the burning time of first love to instruct you, especially as
I know you could guide a hundred women, among whom your wife is only first
novitiate! I wish you even more heartily happiness to your new call to your
church post. I pray you not to depart from the form of doctrine which you
imbibed here in no sparing quantities. I impressed upon Dr.
Hieronymus Weller to tell you not to be
overcome by that national weakness called self-conceit in German, although it
may sometimes tickle you. You know how we have been worried by those who were
afflicted with it and deserted us. Therefore, greet your wife from me, and say
she must exert herself with all her heart to prevent you succumbing to that
dangerous and fascinating rival called self-pleasing. She must come first, and
be the receptacle of your love. You understand what I wish.
My wife wishes you much joy in your wedded
life as well as in your new post. Pray for us.
Martin Luther
Wittenberg.
Luther thanks
him for his present. Discussion with English envoys.
January 25,
1536.
To the Serene
High-born Prince, John Frederick, Elector of Saxony. Grace and peace in Christ
and my poor paternoster! The castellan at Schwenitz has told me of your Electoral
Highness’s present of six eimers of wine, for which accept my most humble
thanks, as well as for the wild boar, although I am most unwilling to be
burdensome to your Grace, who has already enough to do in giving and in bearing
the burdens of others.
I hoped to get rid of the English Embassy in
three days, but they have no intention of leaving for a long time.
I have far more weighty matters to deal
with, and have often done as much in four weeks, whereas they have quarreled
for twelve years over this single point, and they will never, in accordance
with their present attitude, either advance or retreat unless God wills it. And
as the expense is too great for your Grace to bear alone, as they themselves
admit, they are anxious to support themselves. Your Grace will know in this
case also what is best.
And I would respectfully inform your
Highness that the Strassburg and Augsburg people have appealed to me to fix a
time for us to hold the consultation. I wished first to consult your Grace as
to the answer I shall give them, for this “Concord” cannot be concluded till we
have discussed it thoroughly among ourselves; and they write that many wish to
come, among whom would be some quarrelsome people, who would spoil all; so I
respectfully beg you to fix a place for the gathering, for they are willing to
go anywhere except to Coburg and its vicinity, where they would have to submit
to the foreign rule of the bishops; otherwise, no spot in Hesse or in your
Grace’s lands would be too remote for them.
I herewith commit you to the dear God. Amen.
Your Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther writes
of Herzog Philip of Pomerania’s marriage at Torgau to the Elector’s sister.
March 11,
1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ, beloved brother! I highly commend to you the bearer of this
letter, who hopes to get a school with you, and wished me to recommend him. I
am the more willing to do this as he has a testimonial from Count Hoya in
Westphalia addressed to me, to remove suspicion. So if you require any such
person, do your utmost for him. There is nothing new here except that I purpose
publishing a pamphlet against the crocodile in Halle. I wrote to him, calling
him the dragon and the devil’s cardinal.
Pray that Christ, who has begun to pour out
judgment upon him, may finish the work, especially as he will not cease
persecuting those who at length shall attain to the grace of God.
I can tell you nothing about the wedding at
Torgau except that it went off splendidly.
I gave the bride and bridegroom to each
other in the evening, and in the morning Dr. Pommer pronounced the blessing
upon them (as I was seized with giddiness and could not). Everything was done
as is prescribed in the Catechism, for the Prince wished it so. This royal
bridegroom is a fine accomplished young man, most temperate and modest, so that
I am charmed with his appearance, manners, and behavior. May Christ maintain
and bestow every blessing upon him, to the furtherance of all that is good in
him. Amen. My Kathie greets you respectfully. Farewell in the Lord, and pray
for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther asks
for German songs. Jocular letter.
March 20,
1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ, dear Wenzel! As it is some hundreds of years since I either
spoke or wrote Latin, I almost fear I have forgotten what I knew, and probably
you are in the same condition; so I hope such fears will justify any mistakes I
make, without any good or evil works, for you are a gracious lord towards such
offenders, even as you desire similar sins to be leniently treated by your
friends.
I had nothing to write about, but did not
wish Frau Detzelin with her daughter to leave without letters.
I should have liked to send some mountains
of gold, but in late years our Elbe has overflowed and taken all the gold sand
with it, leaving only gravel and sand behind, some of which has got a lodgment
in Justus Jonas’s body.
I must always joke whether sick or well,
weak or strong, a sinner and yet justified, well-nigh dead and yet alive in
Christ. As you are seated amid gold and silver streams, send me not poetical
dreams but songs, which will give me great pleasure. You understand.
I wish to talk German, my gracious Herr
Wenzel, if it be not too difficult or too tiresome, too high flown or too deep.
I beg of you to ask a boy to collect all German pictures, rhymes, songs, books,
etc., which have been painted, composed, and printed by your German poets and
printers this year, for I have a reason for asking this. We can make Latin
books here ourselves, but we are busy learning to write German books, which we
hope to make so good that everyone shall be pleased with them. Farewell in
Christ. Pray for me. The Lord be with you and yours. Greet all our people.
Martin
Luther.
March 25,
1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I must write shortly to you, dear Herr Brother, because for
fourteen days I have been prostrate with a dreadful cough, and have hardly
begun to recover. As to our Congress , this is our opinion.
Our Elector has chosen Eisenach as the place
of meeting, being close to Hesse. Julius Menius is superintendent there. The
fourth Sabbath after Easter seems to me the most convenient. Discuss it with
your friends and let me know. Were the third or any other more convenient for
you, we have no objections. Only let Brentius, Schnepf, and anyone else you
wish to have, hear through you.
I shall inform Osiander and the other
Nurnberg people, but leave you to inform the South Germans. May you prosper in
Christ; pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther was
tired of the discussions with the English. In March, Henry VIII. replied to the
Schmalkalden document, saying he could only agree to it if the Augsburg
Confession and the Apologia were toned down. John Frederick replied that if he
would not admit pure doctrine into his kingdom, it was no use concluding a
treaty with him.
March 28,
1536.
Grace and
peace, Most Serene Lord! We have received your Grace’s directions in regard to
the English, and will give the articles of agreement to the Vice-Chancellor,
Franciscus, from which you may see how far we have got. But as they do not know
if their King may be pleased with them, especially the last four, we have first
announced the matter to him, leaving a loophole for escape. If His Majesty
accept the conditions, the alliance shall be ratified, for the articles
harmonize with our teaching, and afterwards, if desired, an embassy may be sent
to explain things more fully to the King.
But if His Majesty will not accept, or
wishes alterations in these articles, then we cannot for his sake launch our
Church into fresh trouble when we have scarcely got it into smooth waters.
Your Electoral Highness can from all this
draw your own conclusions as to the royal marriage question, or say if it would
not be as well for us to defend ourselves in as far as we have approved of it.
In Herzog George’s affair our people have
acted most imprudently, which has incensed me greatly. But your Grace has a
good conscience, having offered to drop all enmity; God will not forget it. But
this quarrelsome, revengeful man continues bloodthirsty and longs for murder,
so that one day “his mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent
dealing shall come down upon his own pate.”
But the best of it is, he cannot even join
in prayer with those who cleave to him, for he does not need prayer, so proud
is he; while, God be praised, we can pray, forwe seek peace and forgiveness,
which God will grant if we humbly confess our sins and seek His glory. May our
dear Lord strengthen your Electoral Highness’s heart against the devil’s
threats and sour looks.
Your Electoral
Highness’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – Dr.
Caspar Cruciger begs me to ask your Electoral Highness graciously to grant him
the use of Schloss Eulenburg for his marriage, as he knows of no other place to
celebrate it, as it cannot be at Leipsic or Wittenberg. Your Electoral Grace
will know how to act graciously. For one must help in such matters.
About
agreement with the English.
April 20,
1536.
My opinion
is, dear Herr Chancellor, that as my lord wishes to know how far we may give
way to the English King regarding those articles, that we cannot concede more.
If they wish to have the articles expressed in other language I do not object,
but I shall permit no alterations in the matter of faith and teaching, otherwise
we might rather have seen eye to eye with Pope and Emperor at Augsburg, and
even now it would be disgraceful to concede more to the King than we would do
to Emperor and Pope. No doubt people should have patience, for in England
things connected with doctrine cannot so speedily be put into practice; still,
the principal articles must not be changed or given up. The ceremonials are
temporary things, which will arrange themselves through time with the help of
sensible rulers, so it is useless disputing or worrying over them till the
right foundation is laid. But if the alliance with the King is to be entered
into, although the King does not agree with us as to all the articles, then I
shall leave it to the dear lords, along with my gracious lord, for it is a worldly
matter; still I consider it to be a great danger to unite outwardly where the
people are not of one mind. But I do not wish my opinion to stand in the way,
for God knows how to turn the thoughts of the pious as well as of the enemy and
of all men to good account when He desires to be gracious.
Martin
Luther.
As Luther was
too weak to go to Eisenach, Capito, Bucer, and Myconius went to Wittenberg, May
21. Myconius relates that Luther preached on Ascension Day, “Go ye into all the
world and preach,” etc. – a glorious sermon. On the 25th the form of the
Concord was signed by all in the lodging of Christian Goldschmied’s widow, and
on Sabbath, 28th, Bucer, Capito, etc., partook of the Sacrament with the Wittenberg
people.
May 29, 1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord! I have
received two gracious communications from your Grace. The first, informing me
that God had called away your gracious father, Count Frederick, was very
pleasing to me; for I saw in what high honor you held him, seeing you announced
it to so insignificant a person as myself, for it was known how highly you
esteemed your illustrious father in his lifetime.
The other, asking about the students studying
here, many of whom your Grace supports, I can only say things are going on
well, the loitering about the streets and the noise at nights not being, God be
praised, so bad as of yore. But your Electoral Grace may depend on me letting
you know if anyone distinguishes himself in this way, and sending him home, as
I have done more than once. But I often am not told of things done in secret,
although they are diligently spread abroad. Your Electoral Grace will be kept
informed of all that is taking place here concerning the Sacrament, by the
princes, lords, and preachers who have anything to do with the matter, for
without such knowledge nothing can be satisfactorily concluded. But they have
already given way thus far that they will faithfully maintain and teach our
Confession and Apology. Still, we have discussed article by article with them,
so that no danger may lurk in corners and we may have a proper Concord. We
shall send all this to your Grace, for as you are at one with us as to the
Confession, therefore you will desire all the others to be present, or wish
them to know how such a Concord is concluded. You will do your utmost with the
preachers, so that old matters may not be raked up, thus scaring the timid
away. I consider they are in earnest, and if not, the accepted apology will be
their punishment. It is of no importance whether they condemn the Papal
processions and ciborium, which we too have not retained. I commend you to God,
and will shortly write again.
Your Grace’s
obedient
Martin Luther.
June 10,
1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ! This K. Zimmermann, who has either been banished or fled, begs
us to find a situation for him. But as poor people come here from all quarters,
there is no vacant post, so he has begged for an introduction to you. I hereby
warmly commend him, as he is a native of Altenburg. We have nothing new to
relate, except that a terrible tragedy has taken place in England. About your
Asmodi (house-devil) I shall write as soon as I can. Meantime may Christ enable
you to bear with her patiently. Greet your dear wife, and tell her we think
most kindly of her, and hope she will bear the motherly or rather step-motherly
reproofs patiently. Things will be sure to come right at last; and those who
have calumniated her will be covered with confusion. May you prosper in Christ
with all who belong to you. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
him to leave Dessau.
September 20,
1536.
To the
learned Doctor Nicolas Hausmann, servant of Christ at Dessau.
Grace and peace, dearest brother in Christ!
Only a few words, for you always know what is going on here, as news reaches
your court sooner than we get them. The two Margraves have fallen away from the
gospel.
If you did not know this, now you are aware
of it; and I know not what evil thing may be smoldering among us. I am still of
the same mind regarding you. I purpose inviting you to become an inmate of my
house, so that you may have some rest and quiet. Your brother has promised to
maintain you in my house, for I see it is impossible for you to remain where
you are. Dr. Hieronymus Weller is very happy, having left to occupy his own
house close by. This is a great pleasure to me.
The Emperor has not been so fortunate as we
expected. It is said the famine has deprived him of five thousand officers –
brave men – such as the Margrave Frederick, Caspar von Fronsberg, and I know
not who else.
The Council seems to me only a sham,
although I hear Herzog George is writing a book against the Bishops.
Our Alesius writes from England that the new
Queen, Jane, is an enemy of the gospel, and will shortly be crowned. Things
appear now quite different in that kingdom, so that Antonius is obliged to
remain hidden and keep silence. The King continues to despise the Pope; and it
has been determined, with the consent of this whole kingdom, that no one shall
start for the Diet till the King consents to it being held, which will never
take place.
So long as the King is against it, the Diet
is a myth, or at least it will not be held at the appointed time; and when that
has once gone by, who will vouch for another time being fixed? The world is
full of knavery. Farewell in Christ, and pray for me, my brother; I need it
greatly. Greet your noble Prince from me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
complains of want of benevolence.
September 24,
1536.
To the highly
esteemed George Spalatin, shepherd and Bishop of the Church at Altenburg, my
beloved in the Lord. Grace and peace in Christ! I beg of you, dearest Spalatin,
that as soon as Brisger returns, you will arrange with him to help this poor
person, Elsie von Reinsberg, and see that no one treats her harshly or speaks
unkindly to her. For who knows in what insignificant person we may have the opportunity
of honoring the Lord Jesus. I fear greatly that at length we shall be deprived
of the Word of God, because of our horrible ingratitude and our neglect of it.
Almost all the churches think, “We shall steer clear of the poor and send them
to Wittenberg,” and this we are daily experiencing. No one is willing to do
good and help the poor. Farewell, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
approves of Bishops being driven away.
December 2,
1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ our Lord, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born
Prince, most gracious King! I have received your Majesty’s letter, and am much
pleased that you have extirpated the Bishops (who are always persecuting God’s
Word and intriguing in worldly matters), and I shall reply to your Majesty’s
epistle to the best of my ability. But I most humbly beg your Majesty to
reserve sufficient funds out of the Church property belonging to the Crown for
the benefit of the churches and pastors. For if everything be dispersed how are
the preachers to be maintained? Perhaps this admonition is not necessary, for
doubtless your Majesty will act in a Christian manner; but there are so many
among us who wish to grasp everything, and if God had not given us such pious
Princes, who conscientiously see to the welfare of their subjects, many
churches and parishes would lie waste.
So if Satan should try to wrest some of the
Church funds in your lands through his emissaries, may God cause your Majesty
to remember the needs of the Church, whose office it is to proclaim the Word of
God, through which your subjects, both now and in future, may learn the way to
everlasting bliss, and how to escape eternal condemnation, for all this is
contained in the Word of God. May Christ, our dear Lord, be with your Majesty
now and forever. Amen. Your Majesty’s obedient servant,
Martin
Luther.
The
Archbishop’s complaints of Luther.
December 9,
1536.
To the
learned Dr. Bruck, Chancellor to the Elector of Saxony. Grace and peace in
Christ! After you told me that you had been ordered by my most gracious lord,
at the instigation of the Elector of Brandenburg and his cousins, to ask me as
to the proposed pamphlet against the Archbishop of Mayence, I beg to say
(although I believe the good Princes mean well, and I wish them every
prosperity) that I informed Their Royal Highnesses by word of mouth, both here
and at Torgau, that I would rather they tried to improve their cousin the
Cardinal, and prevent him casting contempt on the Lord Jesus Christ and
tormenting poor people, which would be more salutary than worrying over what I
write.
And I am convinced that I cannot be
convicted of insulting a whole race when I am forced to tell the truth to a
knave; and if the house of Brandenburg feels itself insulted through what I
have written of the Cardinal, it would be more seemly if they felt the honor of
their house injured through his conduct, and punished him themselves, instead
of leaving it to me to do.
It is really something quite new to defend
one who does evil, and persecute those who punish it. The tribe of Judah was
the highest and noblest of the whole human family, and yet it did not feel
itself insulted when King Ahab was punished by the prophet Elijah, even as
prophets punished many kings.
And there is no race so good that it has not
at times an unworthy member.
How would it be if judges, nay, even princes
and lords, were to be called traducers because they justly condemned one of
good family to be beheaded or hanged? Every thief would then have cause to say
that he was being ignominiously treated because he was to be hanged. Yes, but,
my dear fellow, why steal? Oh, dear sir, are you not, with all your wisdom,
accusing me thus? In conclusion, kings and princes are subject to God, who
first uses gentle means to reclaim them, even when they are very wicked. When
these are of no avail, then God punishes them through His wrath. If they mock
the first punishment, they must weep to all eternity over the second. If I do
the Cardinal injustice, I sit here under an Elector of Saxony to be judged.
Please accept this hasty summary of the
matter. If I had time I could, by the grace of God, do it better. But I shall
justify myself to the Cardinal himself. For he must be laughing in his sleeve
at the whole affair. I commend you to God. Amen. Your obedient
Martin
Luther.
Lauterbach
worried in his pastoral office.
December 27,
1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Act thus, my dear Anton; be strong in silence and in hope, and
so you will overcome in Christ this sophistical grammarian. Through silence one
can do much in self-defense in such cases, till we can set you free and place
you elsewhere, as we hope to do.
Meanwhile it is much more dignified to put
up with the injustice than to act. The right asserts itself at the end. As to
the excellent Johannes, you have quite upset me. I hear he is imprisoned in
Castle Leuchtenberg, from where that letter was written.
Martin
Luther.
On private
communion.
December 30,
1536.
Grace and
peace in Christ, worthy Herr Pastor! Regarding the question which your good
friend at Lintz, Sigmund Haugreuter, wished to be laid before me, this is my
answer, that it is not the duty of himself and household to communicate thus,
having no call or command to do so, although his tyrannical superior refuses to
administer the sacrament, in spite of it being his duty to do so. For he can be
saved through believing the Word.
It might become a great scandal were the
sacrament of the Lord’s Supper handed about in the different houses, and in the
long run do much harm, causing divisions and creating sects; for nowadays
people are so strange and the devil so mad. For the early Christians in Acts
did not specially partake of the sacrament in their own houses, but all came
together to do so, and even had they done it, such an example does not now hold
good, even as it is not customary now to have all possessions in common, as was
the case then, for now the gospel is proclaimed along with the sacraments.
But it is only proper that the head of the
house should teach God’s Word to those under him, for God has commanded us to
instruct our children and servants. But the sacrament and confession should be
administered by His professing servants, because Christ says it was instituted
in memory of Himself, which is, in St. Paul’s words, to show the Lord’s death
till He come; and at the same time he condemns those who wish to partake of it
alone without tarrying for one another. And no one can baptize himself.
For these sacraments belong to the Church,
and must not be mixed up with the duties devolving on the head of a house. So
although there is nothing specially said on this subject in the Bible, it must
not be lightly undertaken without special directions from God, for no good
would ensue. You may say this, dear pastor, to your friend from me. I commit
you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther,
Amsdorf, Agricola, and Spalatin had now finished the articles for the future
Diet by the Elector’s command.
(No date. )
Grace and
peace in the Lord! As Dr. Anton himself is coming to you, I have nothing
special to relate of our life and doings. See that you prove a good friend as
well as combatant to both emissaries, for the honor of their King and also of
our Prince. I am glad that Dr. Anton is at length free from the courts of
justice. For my part I already fear the worst, as the other ambassador is
lingering too long. For people’s patience might easily be exhausted,
considering what sort of gentlemen these highly esteemed Cardinals are, for
they as well as the Popes are deceivers, thieves, robbers, nay, very devils in
the flesh. Would that there were more kings of England to slay them! For the
Ambassador, Paul Vergerius, said to me here, “Ha! the King of England causes
the Cardinals and Bishops to be murdered. But...,” etc. He then made a movement
with the hands, growling and threatening the King with evils such as no
potentate has ever endured, certainly not expressed in so many words, but with
compressed lips. They are rascals through and through, even to the heart’s
core. God make you believe this.
Priest Albrecht in Halle has taken away the
Abbot’s staff at Zinna and the Monstrance in Jutterbock with other vessels,
with all due ceremony, leaving behind the written and sealed certificates
testifying they were once there. The staff and the Monstrance will bring in
great sums. He is in very deed worthy of the rank of Cardinal, one who in
cunning might successfully vie with and speedily surpass all other Cardinals if
the reins were only left in his hands. For even thus they plundered the
churches and stole altar trappings, mass money, and precious stones in Rome and
over Italy, and they continue to do so. You perhaps fancy when you read Cicero
that Verres and Dionysius were greedy vultures. But nowadays one highly
esteemed Cardinal of the Holy Catholic Church is possessed by a hundred
Verreses and a thousand Dionysiuses, not only in heart, but he openly
perpetrates such rascality, as these deeds testify.
We look for your return, and if an
unpleasant rumor reaches you, pay no attention to it. We hope that even if an
epidemic should spread abroad we shall have moderately pure air for our little
bit of sky. Things would look otherwise if it were really an epidemic.
Everywhere on the face of this earth men are liable to decay. We cannot all
remain alive here upon earth or we would never reach yonder. My wife sends you
greetings, and often thinks of you. Beware that you do not make me jealous, in
case I might revenge myself upon you in a similar manner. Farewell in the Lord,
and greet Caspar Cruciger and all our people, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
The
Protestants held their congress in Schmalkalden in February 1537, where Luther
was very ill. It was resolved to restate the articles of the Augsburg
Confession, which was considered too mild for the times, and for this it was
not Melanchthon’s smooth pen which was called into requisition, but that of
Luther. This was the origin of the so-called Schmalkaldischen articles, which
were an elucidation and supplement of the Augsburg Confession, and strengthened
the Evangelicals in their faith.
Luther sends
the articles to the Prince.
January 3,
1537.
Grace and
peace in Christ, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene Highborn Prince, most
gracious Lord! By command of your Grace I arranged with Herr Nicolas Amsdorf,
M. Eisleben, and M. Spalatin (for Menius and Myconius were too far away), who
were here about St. Innocent’s Day, to revise the articles as you wished, but
on account of my weakness, caused by Satan, I am sure, were several days over
them instead of one, as I hoped. These being confirmed and signed by them, I
now send to your Grace by our good friend, M. George Spalatin. We all humbly
plead, as some regard us with suspicion, fancying we wish to imperil you
princes and lords with your lands through our reckless projects, that your
Grace would rebuke them, for we would rather run any risk than endanger your
Grace’s lands and those of other lords. Therefore your Grace will know how far
such articles may be accepted by them, for we do not wish them to be burdensome
to any, for each must be left free to adopt them or not as he pleases.
I herewith commit your Grace to the dear
God. Your Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Written on
the way to Schmalkalden. Luther left Wittenberg January 31, staying in Torgau,
Grimma, Altenburg, Weimar (where he preached February 4), Arnstadt, and
Waltershausen.
February 1,
1537.
Grace and
peace! Although I fear this letter may be late, still I shall write to say I
firmly hope you have been free from your pain up till now, and thus my prayers
have been answered. A report has got abroad that His Holiness the Bishop of Aix
is on the way from Nurnberg to our Princes. This was written direct from Coburg
to the Princes, who replied that should he come he must be sent straight to Schmalkalden.
So if he really come he is expected there. Yes, if he really come! And if he
do, doubtless it is not from fear, but to try to get help for the Turks,
otherwise –– For what are we Lutherans but lambs who are being led to the
slaughter whenever that destroyer requires their help? We shall see. The
Emperor’s Chancellor, Dr.
Matthias Held, shall also be present.
Perhaps this convention may be more numerous than was thought. God grant it may
be an authorized council! A canon who has resigned his canonry and taken a wife
is here from Zeitz; a handsome man, who swears by all that is sacred that far
more learned men will be there than at the Mantua Church Congress, if it ever
takes place. I write this for your consolation. I know how anxious you are. Farewell,
and visit my people, and also Bugenhagen’s Rome with his little “Quiriten.” We
are all well and in good spirits, and have been sumptuously entertained in the
castles of Altenburg and Grimma.
We fancied we should have slept at our old
Pylades’ and Theseus’s. Therefore, according to our custom, we announced
ourselves through some verses. I enclose mine, and Philip, our Homer, also
sends his.
Altenburg, two o’clock in the night.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
preached before the Princes when he arrived in Schmalkalden.
February 9,
1537.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I write while I have leisure, for soon we shall have enough to
do, and there is no chance of our separating before Sabbath Latare, so sorely
are we pressed by people and work. Many believe that not even at the Mantua
Congress will more learned men congregate. Yes, doubtless more mules, asses,
and even horses, whose riders are greater asses than themselves, will assemble
there, as it is written (according to Peter Balbinus’s interpretation), “Be ye
not as the horse or the mule, who have no understanding.” Yesterday the
Landgrave and the Herzog of Wurtemburg entered in great state. Today the
Princes are having a private conference while I write.
Yesterday Spalatin preached, and I today,
before the Princes in the town church, which is so enormous that our voices
sounded like a shrew-mouse to the people. The air is good, and we are well seen
to. You must regret not seeing so many great men, and being seen by them.
Yesterday I suffered greatly, but shall be content if the pain disappear as
easily as formerly, and not torture me more. I wish you the same happiness. The
Papal legate went from Weimar to Halle to the Cardinal. Perhaps he was annoyed
not to get speaking to the Princes. He has not appeared here. It is no matter
although the Papal pride be turned into gall. I have nothing else to write
about. Greet Dr. Hans Agricola from me with his Grinkel. I fancy the boxes with
the powders and packets which were among the luggage belong to him. He must let
us know, in case we appropriate other people’s possessions. I am sure you could
easily find messengers to send by the help of the steward, if it please His
Excellency. Greet your wife and children from me.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – Pray
with Caspar Cruciger for us, and make others do so also.
Luther was
very ill. The Prince sent for the Erfurt physician, George Sturtz.
February 14,
1537.
Grace and peace
in Christ! Yesterday I wrote you, Valentine’s Eve, and today I again write on
St. Valentine’s Day itself.
St. Valentine has turned the invalid into a
convalescent. But not the St.
Valentine, the god of frail humanity, but
the one sole Valentine, who heals all who trust in Him. Hence I hope by His
grace at length to be made whole.
We are already here eight days doing
nothing. All are sick of the place and of this idleness, and long to depart.
The Princes and towns are occupied with entirely different matters from what we
imagined, and do not ask us to join. May the Lord Jesus bless their
deliberations. Dr. Benedict and Dr.
Bleikardt have become the Pope’s enemies.
Ah, how mercilessly they torture him through his own decrees! More by word of
mouth. The Emperor’s ambassador arrived last night. Today we shall perhaps hear
Dr. Held.
We are beggars here. We eat the bread of the
Landgrave and the Herzog of Wurtemburg (for these have the best bakers), and we
drink wine with the Nurnbergers. We receive meat and fish from Court. But you
know from experience that the firm, heavy bread is a seed for stone. Perhaps I
shall learn this also, for the bread both at Court and in town is the same.
They have also excellent trout, but they boil them in the same water with other
fish, and serve them up in the soup! Oh, what food! Therefore I beg the cooks
to deliver them alive, and I then have them prepared by the Nurnberg cooks.
Certainly it is the express command of the Princes that we should be supplied
with everything, and that all should be delicately cooked, but it is consumed
and spoiled by tradesmen and servants, as is the way at Court. I have nothing
else to write about. Farewell, and pray for us.
Martin
Luther.
Luther was
seriously ill. Myconius, the Elector, Melanchthon, and Spalatin prayed
earnestly at his bedside, and he was taken in a royal carriage to Tambach with
Bugenhagen.
February 27,
1537.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Meantime you must hire horses, dear Kathie, for what you
require, for my gracious lord will keep your horses, and send Herr Philip home
with them. I left Schmalkalden yesterday and drove hither in ––’s own carriage.
I was very ill in Schmalkalden, not three days well; could neither sleep, eat,
nor drink. In short, I was almost dead, and commended you with the children to
God and to my dear Lord, never expecting to see you again. If God had not had
mercy upon me, I would have been in my grave. But the earnest prayers and tears
of so many people have effected what medicine was powerless to do, and last
night I got relief, and feel as if I had been born anew.
Therefore let the dear children, with Tante
Lene, thank God, the faithful Father, without whom this father would certainly
have been lost. The pious Prince sent messengers flying in all directions for
help, but it was of no avail.
Your remedy was useless. Verily God has done
wondrous things for me this night, and will continue to do this through the
prayers of pious people.
I write all this to you, because my most
gracious lord ordered you to be sent for, fancying I would die on the road, and
wished you to see me; but now it is not necessary, so you can remain at home,
for God Himself has abundantly helped me, and I can look forward to a joyful home-coming.
Today we are in Gotha. I have written you
four times, and wonder that nothing has reached you.
Martin
Luther.
Luther calls
Tambach his Peniel, for there the Lord delivered him from his sore distress,
for the time at least.
February 27,
1537.
Blessed be
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercy and all
consolation, who saw your prayers and tears, and in the second watch of the
night, my dearest Philip, contrary to all expectation, gave the deliverance
which had been so long looked for in vain.... I send you the news at once. Let
my beloved lord and the others know.
For I know how gladly they would have helped
me. I am now prepared for whatever God may send, be it life or death, because I
am now out of the pit and have reached our own land; therefore I feel impelled
to write those hurried letters. The rest you will hear from the messenger
Tipontius, who was so elated that he wished to flee to you at once. Thank, with
me, the Father of all grace, that the dear God may perfect His work, that
through this experience we may learn to pray and look for help from heaven. May
God protect you all, and crush Satan under His feet along with all the
monstrosities of the Roman Court. Amen. At half-past two in the night in
Tambach, the spot where I was delivered, for this is my Peniel, where the Lord
appeared to me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther writes
from Wittenberg on his recovery.
March 21,
1537.
To the highly
esteemed Herr George Spalatin, Archbishop of Meissen.
Grace and peace in Christ! At last I write
you, dear Spalatin, having for many days observed Sabbatical repose with my
pen. I now begin to eat and drink, although my legs can scarcely carry my body.
I have lost more strength than I could have believed, but with rest and warm
compresses I hope to regain it. My Kathie greets you respectfully, and regrets
that she brought nothing for your dear daughters, but is having little books
bound to send as a remembrance, hoping you will take the will for the deed. She
is always extolling your benevolence. May you prosper in Christ, and pray for
us.
Martin
Luther.
About
Cordatus’s call to Eisleben.
May 12, 1537.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I am very pleased at your call to my fatherland, my Cordatus,
for there you will be an ever-present combatant against W., whom you abhor with
a just and righteous hatred. If it please you, and you can leave Nimmern
without regret, then what God has ordained and what I desire will take place.
The air may be better than on marshy soil, for it is purified through furnaces
burning night and day. I thank God that you are better, but pray curb your
suspicions, or they will cause future illnesses.
Get rid of such ideas, as I also must do,
for our enemy the devil goes about trying not only to destroy the soul, but to
weaken the body through such thoughts, for he knows that the state of the soul
depends in great measure on the condition of the body, for a mournful spirit
consumes the flesh and the bones, while a merry heart makes a joyful old age. I
tell you all this although I do not like to appear to teach you. Farewell in
the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Luther was
angry at the nobles expecting too much from the clergy.
July 9, 1537.
To the worthy
Herr Magister Johann Schreiner, pastor and superintendent at Grimma, my
gracious friend.
Grace and peace in Christ, dear magister and
pastor! Say to the nobility, which Spalatin refuses to do, that one cannot have
the clergy exactly as they wish, and they should thank God for the pure word,
which they now hear out of one book, when they think of past times under the
Pope and the nonsense they had to listen to and pay dearly for. How can the
nobles expect to procure Dr. Martins and Philips for such a beggarly service?
If nothing short of St. Augustines and St. Ambrosiuses will satisfy, then let
them supply them themselves. When a pastor pleases the Lord Jesus and is
faithful to Him, then a nobleman, who is certainly of much less importance,
ought also to be pleased with him. A prince rejoices when he has three
outstanding and competent nobles in his government, and exercises patience with
the less gifted who fill up the gaps. But they expect to have the best of
everything, forgetting they are far from that themselves, and have no desire to
be.
You must arrange these matters yourselves,
for we are overwhelmed with business from every country, so that we have no
rest. This letter may be read by princes and lords, or wherever you desire. I
have no objections.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
July 9, 1537.
My beloved
brother in Christ, grace and peace in Christ! I intended answering your letter,
dear Capito, and sending it through the Frenchmen to whom you introduced me,
but they may perhaps tell you what they have seen and heard themselves. It is a
great effort to me to arrange the different parts of my books; indeed I would
rather see them destroyed, for I scarcely care to own any of them, except that
on the bondage of the will and the Catechism. But I have remitted the matter to
Cruciger, who will see if anything can be done. I heard that you would help
also, but at the same time I prayed that the Lord Jesus would not permit you to
work in vain. I have heard about the Augsburg devil, but we shall look to Him
who began his work. He will appear at the right time and not tarry. For I am
convinced that you and Bucer are acting honestly, and all who speak or write to
me think the same. My Katherine thanks you for the gold ring, and I have never
seen her more annoyed than when she found it was either stolen or lost through
her own carelessness (which I hardly believe, although I always cast it up to
her), for I assured her that this present was sent as an omen that your church
was at one with ours, and this is a great sorrow to the poor woman. I write
thus to you to let you see our hearts are set on unity. May Christ Himself
conclude the matter. Amen.
But one thing I must add, do not send
anything else to my wife, in case of aggravating her sorrow. For Christ is
sufficient for both parties. Greet all belonging to you warmly, and bid them
think the best of us, as we do of them. May the Lord Jesus set His seal on this
desire, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory to all eternity.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther thanks
him for Latin translation of Psalter.
August 1,
1537.
To the
celebrated poet of our day, the honored Coban Hesse, my beloved brother in the
Lord.
Grace and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ,
dear Coban! I have received your Psalter, cherished brother in the Lord, and
have read it with great delight, and will always read it, so much do I prize
the labor you have expended on the book which is so dear to me. And I thank you
from the heart for enabling me to see this beautiful and sacred poetry which
was so loved by the Hebrews, in the Latin tongue. For I laud and admire the
industry of those who by translation, explanation, or other means try to
elucidate this exquisite poetry, although all may not be alike fitted for the
task, for we cannot all do everything. Therefore I praise your work with all my
heart, for perhaps you are the only one sufficiently acquainted with the Latin
tongue who could have translated this highly spiritual poetry.
You have given ample evidence in this work
that you are possessed of the true poetic spirit, which is Heaven’s gift, and
which has been more abundantly bestowed upon you than upon others; for no other
poet has known how to reproduce this royal poet as you have done, and you never
could have done it, even with your ability, had you not been impregnated with
the spirit of the whole. But such emotions of the heart do not spring from
nature, nor from the ordinary poetic gift, but are certainly a gift of the
Spirit and an impulse from heaven. Therefore I wish you not only much
happiness, but praise my Lord Jesus that He has through His Spirit qualified
you for this divine work, which will be specially useful to the young, who may
reap not only culture and poetry from this poem, but also spiritual knowledge,
through the assistance of a faithful teacher. For I confess to being much more
touched and swayed by such poetic effusions than by the spoken word, even were
it out of the mouth of a Demosthenes or a Cicero. So if I experience this with
minor poems, how much more must the contents of the Psalms move me, a book
which I have studied from my youth, and which, thank God, has never failed to
delight and benefit me. For although I would never despise the gifts of others,
yet I venture to assert in holy joy that I would not, for the thrones and
kingdoms of the world, exchange the delight I have experienced in the Psalms
through the Holy Ghost. For I have none of the foolish humility which would
deny God’s gifts to me. In myself I have truly enough to make me humble, but I
must rejoice in God as I do in my German Psalter, and now much more in your
Coban one, but all to the praise and glory of God to all eternity. May you
abide in Him forever. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg
Congratulations.
Luther makes jocular allusion to Myconius refusing him burial in Gotha, where
he took so ill on his journey from Schmalkalden to Wittenberg.
July 27,
1537.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I rejoice with you, dear Friedrich, that God has at length given
you a Fritz. Having seven daughters, I can quite believe you are delighted to
have a son. So once more I wish you happiness, and pray that he may continue
healthy, and be endowed with even richer gifts than his father. Amen. I laud
your determination not to let me be buried within your bishopric (Gotha),
although since then I have often lamented it. For now that my life has been
prolonged, I see things I would not have seen had I been at rest in God, or in
Gotha. But He who has put all things under His feet will also overcome this
insignificant evil.
Even as the angels are round about those who
believe, so those who have eyes to see find themselves surrounded by much good.
My Kathie greets you, and wishes you much happiness over the birth of your son,
and advises you strongly that all the milk that can be spared should be kept
for the little son till he can take other food, and that your wife should be
made to take very good care of herself. But as a husband you know all this
yourself, although my Kathie seems to have doubts on the subject. Farewell in
the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Request for
ground for a house for their pastor.
August 21,
1537.
Grace and
peace in Christ! Honored and prudent gentlemen and friends, I have often spoken
with your pastor as to his way of living, and what he can leave to his wife and
children. He said he was quite contented, although his Elsie would like a
little house, which is only reasonable. There is no house to be had, so they
showed me a piece of ground upon which they thought of building one, next to
the sexton’s. Now I lay this matter before my most gracious friends, thinking
it would only be praiseworthy (seeing it is in your power) to show your
gratitude to your faithful pastor, who has served you fourteen years, by
providing him with what he requires, which it is usual for the citizens to do.
So I would request you in a friendly manner either to present him or help him
to procure such a piece of ground, which may be lying neglected. By so doing
you will thereby give a proof of your love to the Word and its servants, which,
alas, too seldom receive any token of favor. I am sure you will act in a
Christian manner in this matter. I herewith commend you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Berndt, an
M.A. of Wittenberg, a widower, who afterwards married Luther’s orphan niece.
November
1537.
You are
aware, dear magister, that God’s mercy is much greater than our misfortunes.
Although, as you observe, you have good cause to mourn, yet it is only a little
vinegar mixed with your good sugar. For your wife it is far better, for she has
passed away, and now lives in Christ. Would to God I too were that length! I
would not long to return here.
Your suffering is only temporal, viz. the
natural longing for your dear one.
Although your wife is dead, she has left
pleasant memories behind her, the memory of a pious, loving, obedient inmate of
your house. You must comfort yourself with such thoughts, and let it be seen,
by not forgetting her, that you were an affectionate husband. You are a good
dialectician, and teach it to others, so now you have an opportunity of
practicing the same, and letting your friends see it being exemplified in your
present behavior. When you compare your misfortune with that of others, you
will perceive that your wife’s death is not in itself a circumstance to be
deplored, except as it affects the deepest feelings of your heart, which is
ever the case when people are deprived of parents, children, and such-like.
One would do well to recall what the Emperor
Maximilian said in trying to comfort his son Philip over the loss of a
faithful, brave, and pious man who fell in battle: “Dear Philip, you must
accustom yourself to such trials, for you will still lose many who are dear to
you.” So Christians must do the same; there is no other way.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
expresses his joy at the Swiss joining the Wittenberger Concord.
December 1,
1537.
Grace and
peace in Christ, our Lord and Savior, honored and dear sirs and friends! I have
delayed far too long in answering your letter, which I received at
Schmalkalden. But I hope you will excuse the delay, for I know you are well
aware how much rests upon my shoulders daily, especially now that I am old and
weak; and I have had to tear myself away from friends and business to steal the
time to write this.
I have again read your letter, and am highly
pleased to see that all former sharpness and suspicions have been lulled to
rest, and that you are really in earnest as to joining the Wittenberg Concord
and doing your best to promote it. The God and Father of all unity and love
will doubtless complete the good work which He has graciously begun, as it is written
in Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his
enemies to be at peace with him.”
It is evident, and cannot be otherwise, that
such great dissension as has existed between us cannot be healed all at once
without leaving rents and scars behind it. For with you, as well as with us,
there must be some who are suspicious of such Concord. But if we are in earnest
on both sides, and make up our minds to adhere to it, the dear God and Father
will grant His grace, so that others may through time give way, and the
troubled waters will again be at rest.
Therefore, I beseech you, set limits to
those among you who are raising a hue and cry against the Concord, and see to
it that competent people are appointed to teach the people the significance of
this matter, so that it may not be hindered. Even as we here, both in our
writings and sermons, avoid doing anything to inflame the people against you in
case of doing injury to the Concord, which we are most anxious to see become an
accomplished fact, and have vowed to God to make an end of the fighting and
disputing, of which we have had more than enough without any good results being
achieved.
And I would once more humbly plead, as
before, that you would believe that I mean what I say, and shall do my
uttermost for the furtherance of the bond. God is my witness that I shall do
this. For these dissensions have helped neither me nor anyone else, but have
done much harm.
Excuse the short answer I must make to your
letter, for my head is daily burdened with business, not to speak of thoughts,
so I cannot write and discuss matters with everyone as if I had nothing else to
do. I herewith commit you, with all belonging to you, to the Father of mercies
and all consolation. May He grant to both parties of us His Holy Spirit, so
that our hearts may dissolve in Christian love, and all the scum and rust of
devilish human wickedness and suspicion may be swept away, to the praise and
honor of His holy name, and to the salvation of many souls and the destruction
of the devil and the Pope, with their followers. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
encloses this letter to the Swiss, and tells of Bugenhagen’s work in
Copenhagen, where he acquired a warm friend in Herzog Albrecht of Prussia.
December 6,
1537.
Grace and
peace in Christ! At last, dear Bucer, I have answered the letter of the Swiss
which you gave me at Schmalkalden. Excuse the delay to them as best you can,
for you know, besides the sloth of age, how the care of our Church rests upon
me, as well as many hateful matters. I send you a copy of the letter, so that
you may have the rudder to steer the ship. I have referred everything to you
and Capito, else I would have had no reason for writing so lovingly as I have
done; for you two have made it difficult for me to do so, as you told me my
letter might reach the hands of some who were opposed to the Concord. But you
will settle everything according to the gift that has been given you. I have at
least written openly and honestly.
I do not approve so highly of the Latin
Confession of the Swiss as of the German one of the towns, especially in the
article of the sacrament of the altar. The other is well enough as the times
go. Greet the honored Herr Dr.
Capito from me, and all your people. Pommer
is still in Denmark, and by the blessing of God is progressing favorably with
his undertaking. He has crowned the King and Queen like a real bishop. He has
also established a school, etc. Farewell in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
The Imperial Chancellor
Held, perceiving the Protestants’ zeal, thought it time for the Catholic
Princes to act, so he managed to get Albrecht of Mayence, the Archbishop of
Salzburg, the Dukes of Bavaria and Brunswick, Herzog George of Saxony, with the
Emperor and his brother, to sign a treaty at Nurnberg to protect one another.
The Protestants received the Margrave of Brandenburg, Henry of Saxony, and the
King of Denmark into their bond. Luther published his Schmalkaldischen Articles
in this year.
John Karg,
who was later convicted of heresy, arrested on suspicion of false doctrine.
January 4,
1538.
To the Serene
High-born Prince John Frederick, Elector of Saxony. Grace and peace in Christ,
Most Serene Prince! By your Grace’s orders I at once sought an interview with
Magister George Karg in the sacristy, and spoke very sharply to him, in the
presence of Jonas, Cruciger, and Philip, concerning the note. At first he tried
to deny he had written it, but when it was found proven we ordered him to send
us his opinion in few words, which he promised to do. As we were discussing
matters an official appeared to take him to the castle and place him in
security by your Grace’s command, but upon our own responsibility we caused him
to be taken to his lodgings. But soon after the bailiff immured him in the
castle, which we are now glad of on our own account. But as Magister Karg did
not write yesterday, I sent the two chaplains to him, in my name, to demand the
promised document. At first they were refused admittance, and no one was
allowed to see him without an order from your Grace; but the bailiff changed
his mind and sent for them, and they induced him to send me the enclosed. At
his own request I went to him today myself, with Dr.
Jonas, and talked with him, and found that
the priest (Pfaff), of whom he spoke in the document, was the true knave, and
that he had been unjustly treated. I am very angry that they let him away from
Freiberg, for it put the poor young fellow up to discuss matters in a way I
never heard of before; but seeing he allowed us to point out his mistake today,
and confessed he had been twice led astray, we hope that he will be truly
converted. For he is an inexperienced youth, and perhaps at first objected to
our persons, and then to our doctrine. It has always been so with those who
differed from us. They first disparaged ourselves, and then plotted against our
doctrine.
But in order not to make light of this
peculiar assault of Satan, I shall not as yet ask your Electoral Grace to set
him free till we have sifted the matter thoroughly, for I have some strange
thoughts about certain people who are perhaps innocent. But your Grace will
know best how to conduct things in a princely manner. The devil is in earnest,
and sends his servants (among whom was certainly the Freiberg priest) among us,
who creep in ungreeted by us. I commend you to God. Amen. Your Electoral
Grace’s obedient servant,
Martin
Luther.
Agricola
abused Luther’s permission to lecture by disseminating his Antinomian errors;
Luther withdrew the permission.
January 6,
1538.
My greeting!
I announced to the school rector, my Agricola, that you should discontinue the
theological lectures which, at your request, I permitted you to deliver, and
that henceforth you should entirely renounce theology. I communicate this
decision to yourself in the present letter, so that you may know that in future
you must receive permission from the University to hold such lectures. What you
may say against us behind our backs I neither can nor will prevent, but be upon
your guard. Pray and humble yourself beneath the mighty hand of God.
Martin
Luther.
Disputations
with the Antinomians.
January 7,
1538.
To the
well-born Herr Franz Burkhardt, Saxon Chancellor. Grace and peace in Christ! As
you write that no one has sent you my thesis contained in the third and fourth
disputation against the Antinomians, I forward them to you, for you say you
have got the two previous ones; and I am astonished that no one has as yet sent
you this trifle, especially as everything else is at once transmitted to Court,
not even the news of the slightest flea-bite being forgotten.
Next Saturday I shall hold the next
disputation, and again listen to those Antinomians, if they desire it. All the
stories from Freiberg concerning Jacob agree so well that I am forced to
believe them, but with deep grief. I shall not as yet say anything to the
Prince about Meister Karg, as he may be reformed, for he receives correction
greedily, a sign of a man who has been misled. He indulges in odd fancies which
have no foundation. But more of this again. May you and yours prosper in the
Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
defends himself for not writing.
February 6,
1538.
You do well,
my Jonas, in writing so often to me. But it would be even better if you showed
consideration for my negligence. It does not proceed from laziness, but
because, as you are aware, letter-writing, like the composition of poetry, can
only be indulged in with a light heart. My brain is often so worn out with
thinking that I neither can nor dare write anything. But Christ the conqueror
lives, who has robbed the powers of these northern regions of their might, to
whom be honor to all eternity. I commend you to Him; pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther speaks
of his health and politics.
March 27,
1538.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I herewith send the two pamphlets against the Jews, and the
Cardinals’ proposals for the reformation of the Church. Dr.
Jonas has gone instead of me to Brunswick,
as I could not risk the journey on account of my health.
I have no news that you have not long known,
viz. that there is no peace between the Emperor and the French. The Venetians
are in a dilemma on account of the Sultan. He has blocked up their fleet, so
that they cannot get out to the open sea.
If the Emperor and the Italian Princes do
not come to their aid they will again be compelled to make a treaty with the
Sultan.
May God forgive our sins and hasten the day
of redemption. God grant this. Farewell in Christ, and pray for me. Greet
Meister Peter.
Martin
Luther.
Dr. Jonas
represented Luther at Brunswick.
April 8,
1538.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I shall not try to emulate you, dear Jonas, in letter-writing,
for you far surpass me in genius and rhetoric, as well as in inherited gifts;
and you have more to write about, for you are in the midst of heroes and heroic
deeds; for, I verily believe the armies of Troy and Greece would only have been
bands of cowards had they not been inflamed to heroic deeds through the
glorious poetry of Homer. We, for our part, confess Christ in quietness and in
hope, and often far too feebly, for Magister Philip and I, especially, have
been overwhelmed with cares and business of every kind, so that I, a worn-out
old man, would prefer wandering in the garden (which is the old man’s joy) to
behold God’s wondrous works, as manifest in trees, shrubs, flowers, and birds.
This is the recreation I most dearly love, but of which I am deprived, through
the sins of my youth, by being burdened with so many troublesome and fruitless
occupations. Magister Johannes from Saxony, my present messmate, will tell you
all you wish to know. In your house all are well.
Herr Philip’s daughter, Hanna, with her
husband and child, have arrived from the Halloren. Her husband is delighted to
be able to partake of the sacrament here. I hope this tragedy may yet end well,
so that we may boast it has been a tragic comedy. May Christ grant this. Say to
Myconius I shall not answer his two letters, and that I envy him his leisure,
and only wish that a healthy, strong, handsome young man such as he were only
thought worthy to have a taste of my leisure.
Martin
Luther.
The Princes
of Anhalt had offered to send a carriage to Wittenberg to take Luther to the
country for a rest.
May 12, 1538.
Grace and
peace in Christ! The Serene Princes of Anhalt asked me to fix a day on which I
might be conveyed to Coswick or Worlitz. Having no messenger I have not yet
answered, and could not in one word. Perhaps you, as a living and eloquent
Pericles, may tell them that on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday I shall be fully occupied preaching and reading lectures, as you and
Pommer are absent, and Agricola has been dismissed, not to speak of the
numberless minor matters which constantly surround me. Therefore I must almost
steal the time to bestow on the Princes, so Thursday after Cantate will be most
convenient for me, and I can start on Wednesday after the sermon, and arrive
that night, either in Worlitz or Coswick, for the place is nothing to me, only
the time. I can then remain all Thursday, returning on Friday for the Saturday.
After Vocem Jucunditatis I shall have no
more time, for I must rest the entire week except Friday. If it be necessary to
write the Princes, I shall do so tomorrow or next day. In your house all is as
you left it, except that the little Sophie is rather feverish, but in no
danger; and little Martin and Paul have begun to shiver, but the weather is
very warm here. My Kathie greets you. Greet the Princes respectfully from me.
More about the Emperor and Turks when I write direct to the Princes.
Martin
Luther.
Peace being
in prospect between Charles V. and Francis, Henry VIII. wished to unite with
the German Protestants, so, at his request, the Elector sent Burkhardt and
Myconius of Gotha to London, where they were warmly welcomed by the King.
May 12, 1538.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! As our good friends and ambassadors were being dispatched on
a journey to your exalted King, I could not refrain from giving them letters to
you, not wishing to appear forgetful in your eyes; for, besides having had the
pleasure of making your acquaintance when in Wittenberg, you have since then
done me a great service in giving me counsel regarding my enemy Calculus, a
kindness which I can never forget. We often talk of you, especially as, with so
many changes in your kingdom, you either cannot write, or the letters have gone
astray, with which possibility we try to console ourselves, for we feared that
this persistent silence was a sign of something having happened to retard the
progress of the gospel; for, some actually assert that your King, led astray by
Papal wiles, meditates a reconciliation with the Pope. Between hope and fear,
we have been praying that Satan might be crushed under your feet. As yet we are
ignorant of the state of the gospel among you. But we hope, with the return of
our embassy, to receive a joyful evangelium and to hear a veritable gospel of
your English Church. Regarding the position of Church and State in our Germany,
you can hear all the details from our people. May the Lord Jesus endue you with
more of His gifts and grace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
My Kathie sends her greetings to your
Eminence. May you prosper in Christ, and accept my respectful compliments.
Martin
Luther.
In reference
to a letter of May 12.
May 21, 1538.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I am amazed that my letter was so long in reaching you, or
that you were so dilatory in answering it. I am willing to do whatever is most
convenient for the Princes. I hope I may be able to appear on the appointed
day, and at the place fixed, of which I am doubtful, owing to the state of my
health and the assaults of Satan; but by the power of Christ I may get a
respite. The reports we have heard about the Turk are, alas, too true. We hear
the cry of blood and the voice of the oppressed against Germany. Ferdinand’s
hands are stained with blood, as he listens to the blasphemies of the Pope and
the assaults on the truth. Who will have mercy on those who provoke God and
knowingly worship lies?
But Christ will remember His poor people,
and at length manifest His power upon the proud enemy, the cruel Mahomed. God
grant it. Greet the Most Serene Princes. I shall inform you by word of mouth of
the future preacher in Zerbst. I have noted down several topics of
conversation. I can determine nothing in regard to Weller. In your house all
are well, except that your Lieschen is not yet free from fever. These paroxysms
are not peculiar to this quarter and season only. May you prosper in the Lord,
and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther thanks
him for procuring justice for a poor woman.
June 15,
1538.
Grace and
peace in Christ, dear wise sir and friend! Timete Dominum, erudimini, judices
terrae. This should be the daily motto of the judge, and I believe it is yours,
for all who know you testify that you are a pious, Christian judge. I must
thank you for helping Margaretha Doroten in preventing the noble Hans from depriving
her of all she has. You know that Dr. Martin is not only theologian and
defender of the faith, but defender of the rights of the poor, who flee to him
from every quarter seeking help and letters to the magistrates, so that he
would have enough to do with only this. But Dr. Martin serves the poor gladly,
as you also do, for you fear God, love Jesus Christ, and search the Scriptures
daily. The Lord Jesus will one day reward you for this. But was it not enough
to prove your love to me by granting my request without presenting me with a
cask of Torgau beer of your own brewing? I am unworthy of your kindness, for
although I know you are not poor, God having given you abundance, still I would
rather you had given it to your poor people, whose united prayers would have
brought down a richer blessing upon you than that of poor Martin alone. But I
must thank you for the token of goodwill. And may God reward you.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Elizabeth was
the daughter of Joachim I. of Brandenburg. She visited Luther with her mother,
who had fled from her husband.
September 4,
1538.
Grace and
peace in Christ, Most Serene High-born Princess, most gracious Lady! I and my
dear Kathie thank your Grace for the cheese. The present is most welcome
although it were much smaller, and proves that you are well inclined to God’s
Holy Word. We pray that the Father of all mercies may, through His dear Son,
richly endow and maintain you with His Holy Spirit till the day of our everlasting
redemption. We are ever your Grace’s devoted servants. Amen. I herewith send
your Royal Highness some slips of mulberry and fig trees, the only rare things
I have at present. Your Princely Highness’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
recommends a poor preacher.
September 15,
1538.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I seldom write to you, dear Jacob, and do not answer your
letters as you perhaps wish, but I know you do not take it ill, for you are
aware how I am borne down by heaps of business, work, years, and temptations;
and I also think you do not stand in need of my letters, for God has endowed
you so richly that you are able to rule and comfort both yourself and others in
this evil world, which is so full of ingratitude and contempt of God’s Word.
But enough of this! There are two upright
and learned men here from Lower Saxony, but we are very poor ourselves, and are
overrun with troops of the destitute, whom it is impossible for us to maintain,
however willing. But as they cannot be of much use here, on account of the
language, Herr Philip thinks we should send one to you, on the chance of a
vacant church, so as to prevent them being idle, especially as you are rich,
and your superfluity could be turned to good account in relieving their
poverty. But if the people about you are too ungrateful to support him till he
gets a living, then send him back to us, and we shall share what we have with
him.
The latest news is that I, an old man, so
laden with work and so weary, am becoming daily younger, because new sects are
constantly rising against me, to combat which the energy of youth is required.
If we had no other proof that we were called and chosen of God and possessed
His Word, this alone would be sufficient – that we had to put up with so many
sects, who are always brewing some mischief, some of whom proceed from
ourselves, not to speak of our spiritual conflict with the Pope and the devil,
and our friends’ scorn of the Divine Word; but we are not better than the apostles
and prophets, nor than our Lord Himself.
It is constantly being reported that the
Emperor of the French and the Venetians have united their fleets against the
Turks, and that they are very successful at sea against the arch-foe. May God
graciously hear the prayers of the Christians.
My Kathie and your godchild, my daughter,
greet you, for the latter of whom I hope you will provide a good pious husband
after my death. I write nothing about myself, except to beg that you will pray
for me, that the Lord may deliver me from the attacks of Satan’s angels, and,
if it be His will, grant me a peaceful exit from this wretched world. The Lord
be with you. Greet your dear wife from me and my Kathie.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
him joy on his marriage.
December 12,
1538.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I wish you and your bride all that is good, my Herr Nicolas,
and pray the Lord that He may be with you with His grace, and preserve you to
all eternity.
As I cannot come to your wedding myself, on
account of my health, and still more on account of my work, I send you through
Anton a remembrance, no doubt a small and insignificant one, but the portrait
of the saintly John Huss, which I hope you will appreciate, not solely because
of the thing itself, but for the sake of the feelings which prompted me to send
it, as I wish you well from the bottom of my heart. May you be happy in Christ.
Martin
Luther.
Charles V.,
after making peace with Francis I., summoned the Evangelical and Roman Catholic
theologians to Frankfort in February to try to find a basis of agreement.
Calvin joined the Council, where he met John Frederick of Saxony, Philip of
Hesse, etc. He had delightful intercourse with Melanchthon, in whom Farel and
he found an important ally. Herzog George of Saxony died this year, and Luther
had the pleasure of establishing the Reformation in Leipsic under his brother
Henry. The question of Philip of Hesse’s double marriage also came up, and he
succeeded in so far gaining the Reformers’ consent thereto, to the grief of the
Elector, that Bucer and Melanchthon witnessed the ceremony in Rothenburg on the
Fulda, March 4, 1540. Joachim of Brandenburg, whose mother was Luther’s
intimate friend, introduced the Reformation into his Electorate this year.
Luther sends
some new exegetical writings.
January 11,
1539.
Grace and
peace! I have really nothing to say, dear Amsdorf, but could not let the
messenger depart without a letter. Much is being said about the Emperor’s
arrival. It is amusing to hear the Papacy, that great martyr, boasting in her
perilous position of her deliverer. Aleander, not a cheese merchant, like the
monks, but a trafficker in kings, is running about taking kings captive. May
God render his attempts abortive. Amen.
I herewith send the annotations on St.
Matthew, a mutilated piece of work, which the printers have very properly
printed on torn and stained paper.
I send it to you because you always say that
you never get anything sent you. I also send you a copy of the exposition of
the Song of Solomon. You will perceive that it has been hastily written out by
our people, or that I have added notes in a slipshod manner. But our brethren
snatch away everything from under our hands. Farewell in the Lord, and pray for
me.
Martin
Luther.
February 2,
1539.
We have been
so led astray lately by reports of the Turks’ approach, that we scarcely know
what to believe. And in case God’s wrath should be nearer than we think, and we
should be surprised by the Turk, when, like the wolf, we have become so
accustomed to the outcry that we feel secure, let us arm ourselves through
prayer, pleading with God to keep the house and prevent such a visitation, and
forgive our great and manifold sins, to the glory of His holy name.
The Papists have long intended to ruin our
German lands, and their rage increases; and they are blinded enough to forget
that, although able to set a thing agoing, it may not be in their power to stop
it, and they themselves may perish in the general destruction. Were such a
fearful war to break out, Germany might be ruined. But as the sins of both
parties have waxed great – theirs through lying, blasphemy, murder, and
persecuting innocent blood – ours through neglect of God’s Word, ingratitude,
and avarice, I fear much that God will visit us and our land with one or both
of these scourges.
So I beg the clergy faithfully to admonish
their people, holding up before them these two plagues, for this is no jesting
matter; and I dislike playing the part of a prophet, for what I predict usually
comes to pass. Let us pray earnestly that God may graciously visit us with some
other scourge, pestilence, or whatever it may be, so that our rulers may be
spared to us, so that we may not suddenly be attacked by the Turks, or, what
would be worse, through the devil fall out among ourselves and devour one
another.
For the devil never sleeps, and the Turk
never fails to use an opportunity, and the Papists never rest, so their
bloodthirstiness will never be quenched.
As no human power can restrain these
bloodhounds, God Himself must do so, as He has hitherto done; so be pious and
pray that God may not withdraw His protecting hand, and let us receive the
penalty both parties merit for their heavy sins. The Papists do not pray, so
let us do so, and have the assurance our prayers are heard, even as we have
hitherto experienced what great things our prayers have achieved.
Martin
Luther.
Melanchthon
at the Conference at Frankfort with the Elector and Myconius, met the delegates
of the Emperor and Ferdinand. On April 19 an agreement was signed. Luther
thanked God in the church in Wittenberg on Sabbath for again granting peace.
March 26,
1539.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I am afraid this letter will not find you in Frankfort; for,
from your last letter, I gathered you were longing to get away, and besides, I
have almost given up hope of a general peace ensuing.
Still, let the issue be what it will, I do
not yet despair of our prayers being answered, and that Christ will, although
contrary to a certain rumor, cause the aspect of matters at Schmalkalden and
your own dream to be realized, in spite of our having grieved God in many ways,
and very specially through ingratitude and contempt of His Word.
And further, our farmers without cause seem
determined to starve us to death. The malignity of our corn-dealers in
concealing the grain has already driven most of our students away. Is there no
police to preserve order in the land? You know the prevailing anarchy, which
opens the door for the most unbridled lawlessness, which through time it may be
impossible to stem. But my greatest sorrow is to see the beautiful university
being gradually dispersed. May Christ crush Satan! Your family is well.
Dr. Jonas is again prostrate with his old
malady. I commend you to Christ.
Martin
Luther.
Luther asks
the Elector’s aid in the unexpected famine. A “corner” had been created in
grain.
April 9,
1539.
Grace and
peace in Christ, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene Highborn Prince, most
gracious Lord! This land has been visited by a sudden famine, so that we are
compelled to seek help and counsel from your Grace, as the lord and father of
the land. Doubtless your Electoral Highness knows the exact amount of the
provisions in the town. But at present Wittenberg is obliged to supply the
small towns of Kemberg and Schmiedeberg with bread, so that the provost
declares more bread is taken out of the town than is eaten in it. And some
believe that the scarcity does not proceed so much from lack of corn as from
the greed and wickedness of the rich Junkers. This is giving rise to much talk,
but I shall not enlarge on this. It was even said that N. N. was heard to say
that he will not sell a grain of corn till he received a gulden for the bushel,
and that is why the corn is being sent out of the land. But the Elbe is also to
blame in preventing the corn being ground, as the mill has to stand idle
because of high waters. It is a small affliction, but may become very great if
your Electoral Grace do not help and advise.
Therefore we all beseech your gracious
Highness not only to give prompt assistance in our present need, but to pass a
law preventing the nobility from trading in corn, thereby practicing usury in
such a shameless manner, to the detriment of your Grace’s land and people. They
are rich enough without this, and it is not necessary for them, solely through
greed, to slay the poor by starvation.
But your Electoral Grace will know how to
act in the matter in a princely manner. I herewith commend you to the dear Lord
Christ. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
to be kept informed of the spread of the gospel.
April 16,
1539.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I think, dear Bucer, that you must see you cannot expect so
many letters from me. For you have more leisure and fewer years, not to speak
of the work with which I am hourly overwhelmed. Therefore I answer all your
letters at once, for I flatter myself that ours is a genuine friendship, free
from compulsion, and I trust that it is the same with all your co-workers, to
whom I send my kindest regards. I am always delighted to hear of matters
pertaining to the crucified Word. The prophecy of St. Peter is being fulfilled,
“They shall utterly perish in their own corruptions.”
And now they are again breathing out
threatenings against us, and boast not without effect. God will render their
counsels of no avail, as He has hitherto done, although our sins, ingratitude,
and coldness will draw down heavy penalties. Already the winds and waters have
been so tempestuous that the oldest men have never seen the like. Our Crato
wished me to preface our postils, but as I have forgotten my Latin, having used
German so long, I wished him to apply to you, which I now also do.
Regarding the King of England, I fear he
will deceive your hopes. The English here often complain of their King, and
laud the freedom we enjoy.
May God guide his and the hearts of all
other kings to His glory. We may believe the reports of the Emperor having had
no luck since he allied himself to the God-forsaken Pope. Now we are blamed for
everything.
Greet Herren John Sturm and John Calvin
warmly from me, whose writings I read with great pleasure.
I wish that Saloder could be persuaded that
God is also the Creator of the human race outside Italy, but it is impossible
to plant this conviction in the heart of Italians, whose sole feelings in
regard to others is that of proud superiority. I commend you to God.
Martin
Luther.
The King asks
Luther for a tutor for his son, whom he afterwards made his confidant, and
raised to a high post.
April 18,
1539.
Grace and
peace, Most Serene Lord and King! Herr Nicolas, your Majesty’s excellent
ambassador, tells me he received orders to provide a good tutor for your
Majesty’s young Prince. This was a great joy to me, for I thereby perceived God
had endued your Majesty with a great love of piety and learning, fitting you to
set an example to others. For it is necessary for kings to be either by nature
more ingenious than others, or to attain to this by thorough training, so that
they may see with their own eyes instead of trusting to others’ opinion.
May Christ cause your Majesty’s work to
permeate the whole realm, especially the cathedrals, so that schools may be
opened for training young people for the ministry and service of the Church in
connection with them; for this is the chief and highest duty devolving upon
kings who love the gospel, and your Majesty has the reputation, beyond all
others, of loving righteousness. And we pray God to rule your Majesty’s heart
through His Spirit.
By the grace of God, most capable
instructors have been selected for the Prince. Herr Norman is a man of
blameless life, modest, upright, and learned, fully fitted to be the Prince’s
instructor, and I warmly commend him to your Majesty. Michael Agricola
accompanies him as travelling companion. He was born in your Majesty’s
dominions, and although young in years is very learned and sensible and of
pleasing manners, and may achieve much good in your Majesty’s lands. I pray
that Christ may have much fruit through this man, whom I hope your Majesty will
appoint to an office. May God through His Holy Spirit richly bless all your
Royal Highness’s deliberations and undertakings. Amen. Your Majesty’s devoted
Martin
Luther.
Luther begs
her to consent to her son marrying a Wittenbergerin.
June 4, 1539.
To the
honored and virtuous Frau Ursula Schneiderwein, citizen of Stolberg. Grace and
peace in Christ, my gracious good friend! I have already written you concerning
your son John, who has fallen in love with an excellent maiden, and I hoped for
a favorable answer; but no attention having been paid to your son’s request, I
am constrained to write again, for I do not wish him to lose heart and sink
into despair. But as he loves the girl so dearly, and she is quite his equal in
station, besides being a gentle, quiet creature, I think you ought to be
satisfied that he has shown his childlike obedience in humbling himself to ask
your consent to the marriage, as Samson did; and now do your part, as a loving
mother, by giving your consent thereto. For although we have written that
children should not become engaged without their parents’ consent, still
parents should not hinder their children from marrying those they love. The son
must not bring a daughter to his parents against their will, but the father
must not force a wife upon his son. They must both give way, else the son’s
wife becomes the father’s daughter against his will. And who knows what
happiness God may grant him through this maiden, a happiness which he might
never experience otherwise, because the good damsel, who is in his own
position, might in her distress utter an evil (bose ) prayer. In short, I trust
you will not withhold your consent any longer, so that the good fellow may be
at rest. I could wait no longer for your letter, but thought it my duty to
write again. But pray do not tell your son of this letter till all is settled,
in case he should become too confident and bold; for, I love him on account of
his virtues, and would not wish him to be badly advised. Therefore, do you also
act like a mother, and help him out of his martyrdom, so that he may not fall
into despair. I herewith commend you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
About
presents, and Herzog George, who died April 17, having outlived all his family.
June 23,
1539.
Grace and
peace! Knowing how plentiful the gold guldens are with you, I am all the more
delighted that the little gift I sent your wife through Herr Stromer should
have accomplished its object, and appeased your wrath, and stopped your
threats. Your long harangue was certainly of no avail; still we must excuse
you, just as if you had been justified in complaining of my silence.
So we might daily listen to similar
declamations here, and they do as little good as the gold gulden with you, only
furnishing us with material for mirth. At the same time you order me or my
Kathie to say what we wish in return. If you are determined to send something,
let it be a lamp, but not a common one, such as we used as monks, but one upon
which two or three candles could be placed; and let it be strong enough to
stand all the knocks it may receive in cleaning, or when it is thrown
downstairs, or even only sent on in advance; or, better still, if you could
find one which does not require cleaning (for you know the ways and love of
ease of the servants of the day), then it would be secure against the
ill-treatment of the maids when they are in the sulks or have a fit of
laziness. There is nothing new here that you do not already know. I had
solemnly declared that Herzog George was not entirely vicious and God-forsaken.
Certainly he was far from being as wicked as that monstrosity in Mainz. God
will perfect what He has begun if we only persevere in prayer. Truly the end is
near. May the Lord Christ receive our souls in peace, and thus shall be
fulfilled what is written, “The righteous shall be taken away from the evil to
come.” Greet all your people and ours.
Martin
Luther.
Another
allusion to Herzog George’s death.
June 23,
1539.
Grace and peace
in Christ, Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord!
Although I have nothing particular to write
about, I must thank your Electoral Grace for so kindly inquiring about my
health through your ambassador, and thank you for your solicitude in order not
to appear ungrateful or rude for your Grace’s constant concern as to my
welfare.
There is nothing new here except that God
has achieved a marvelous work in the death of Herzog George of Saxony; for, had
not God extended His protecting hand, Germany would have been plunged in
misery. But now God has given peace, and slain the wicked man with his evil
designs, although this striking manifestation of God’s wrath has not converted
him of Mainz and other bishops, whose utter ruin no entreaties or calamities
can prevent. Ferdinand and the Bavarians are now beginning to persecute the
gospel in earnest, otherwise things look peaceful in Germany; but everything
has been very dear, although we have now the prospect of a plentiful crop of
corn and fruit. God be praised for this, and may He make us grateful. I
herewith commit you to the dear God. Amen. Your Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
complains of his German Bible being pirated in Leipsic.
July 8, 1539.
Grace and peace
in Christ, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene Highborn Prince, most gracious
Lord! That wicked rascal Wolrab at Leipsic (a most unscrupulous man, who ruined
a splendid business as well as himself and family), who has hitherto been
foremost in printing all the calumnies against us, has taken it into his head
to plunder our German Bible, thereby taking the bread out of the mouths of our
printers. Your Electoral Grace knows how hard it is that the rascal should be
allowed to use our labor for his own advantage, especially after having
profited by the publication of all manner of writings against us. I would
therefore humbly request that your Grace would prevent Wolrab committing this
great evil, and reaping such great advantages at the expense of your Electoral
Highness’s own subjects.
And what particularly annoys me is that the
blasphemer and pirate should have the chance of so misusing my hard labor, and
perhaps turning it into ridicule at the same time. For what he merits at God’s
hands and ours I shall leave God to requite for his scandalous publications
against us. For it would be no hardship, seeing the Leipsic printers have so
long enriched themselves through these, should they for a time be prevented
from doing so further, and bringing our printers to ruin. For it is easy to see
that the markets being all held in Leipsic, they can sell thousands of copies
easier there than our folks can sell one hundred. Your Electoral Grace will be
able to devise a princely way out of this dilemma. I commit you to the dear
God. Your Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther
Luther writes
concerning Link’s call to Leipsic.
October 26,
1539.
Grace and
peace! I have received the lamp, my excellent Wenzel, and thank you for it. You
have interpreted my silence aright, viz. that I would have written had the
messenger come for letters. Certainly I do not wish you to give up your present
post to go to Leipsic, where they are not as yet agreed about whom they wish,
or as to how the servants of Christ are to be maintained. Although the common
man is well inclined, the upper classes still retain their old dislike to
anything pertaining to Wittenberg.
Herzog George is not yet defunct in spirit,
and it is uncertain if he will ever die. I detest this Sodom, a sink of vice,
but one must stretch out a helping hand, if it were only to rescue one Lot.
Enough is being done for the people of the town, and thus far the gospel is
spreading most satisfactorily.
A kind of epidemic is beginning to rage
among us. As yet the town is not affected, only one or two houses having been
visited. But it has now attacked the third house, after no death having taken
place for eight days.
And this is Dr. Sebald’s house, whose wife
died tonight, and he too is in great danger. But the terror occasioned by the
visitation is the worst plague of all. Neither bathers nor nurses are to be
had. I am certain the devil has entered into the people, filling them with such
disgraceful terror that brother forsakes brother, and the son the parents.
Doubtless this is the punishment for the contempt of the gospel and their
consuming greed. I have brought the Sebald’s four children into my house. Good
God! what a fearful outcry is being raised against me. Pray for us with your
congregation, and farewell in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
After Herzog
George’s death his brother, Herzog Henry, invited Luther, Melanchthon, Jonas,
Cruciger, and Myconius to come and further the work in Leipsic. They did so,
the two latter remaining for a time. Eventually Cruciger’s daughter married
Luther’s son Johannes.
November 4,
1539.
Grace and
peace in Christ, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord! The Leipsic
Town Council has written us begging that Dr. Cruciger may remain, which he has
promised to do should we consent, so the Council hopes your Electoral Grace
will grant their desire at my request.
We wrote saying we could neither promote nor
hinder the matter, so it now lies with your Highness to decide. But as Dr.
Caspar knew no other way of protecting himself against this people’s persistent
importunity than by referring them to us, he writes that he would far rather be
here; and we are certain he could be far more useful here, as there are many
more who, by the grace of God, have been trained in our schools who are waiting
to be sent out to all lands than there are, or will be, for many a long day in
Leipsic. Therefore, feeling sure that Dr. Caspar cannot accomplish as much in
Leipsic as in Wittenberg, we think it a pity he should leave so much undone
here and achieve so little there, and that little could be as well done by
someone not nearly so important; and our university must not be left destitute,
especially as I have arranged that Dr. Caspar should fill my place in the
theological department after my death. I therefore humbly request (for it all
rests with your Electoral Grace) that you will not permit Dr.
Caspar to leave Wittenberg, for who knows
what God may do shortly.
Your Electoral Highness will graciously
excuse my expressing my opinion thus freely on this subject. I herewith commit
you to the dear God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Concerning
private communion.
November 26,
1539.
To Anton
Lauterbach, Bishop at Pirna. Grace and peace! As to administering the sacrament
to the sick, dear Anton, you can read that for yourself in our Church Service,
which you know so well. For my part I wish private communion were completely
done away with everywhere, and that the people should be told in the preaching
to communicate three or four times a year, to partake of the consolations of
the gospel, and fall asleep whenever God calls them. For this administration of
the sacrament will, with time, become impossible, especially during the plague.
And it is not seemly that the Church should serve the people with the communion
as a servant waits upon her master, especially those who have so long despised
it, and then demand it at the end from her, whom they have never served.
But till this matter is settled, do the best
you can. Meantime only dispense it to the sick people, but let it thoroughly be
understood that it will not continue. For we must soon come to an arrangement
in this matter.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
P.S. – Kathie
wishes the carved house door made according to the measurements sent. The
master will take the length and breadth himself. She wishes no other door. Do
the best you can.
Luther
announces he will preach at Rossla.
December 2,
1539.
To Frau
Dorothea, Herr Balthaser Mackenrothen’s beloved wife, at Rossla.
Dear Sister – I see from your letter how
earnestly your burdened conscience longs for a gospel sermon of consolation,
and that you wish to hear for once such a sermon in your Rossla church. I am
delighted to hear this, and have now resolved – God granting me life and health
– to be with you on Christmas Eve, when I shall, with God’s help, preach the
first Evangelical sermon at Rossla as a remembrance for you all. Greet your
husband and the little Margaretta, for whom I shall bring something. I commit
you to God.
Martin
Luther.
at
Eisleben.
Luther gives
his opinion of the Church Constitution compiled by Buchholzer on the
introduction of the Reformation into Brandenburg in 1539.
December 4,
1539.
Grace and
peace in Christ, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene and High-born Prince,
most gracious Lord! I have received your Electoral Highness’s embassy with great
pleasure, and thank the Father of all grace, and pray earnestly that the dear
God may graciously perfect His good work in you to His honor and glory. For
Satan will try to hinder the good work, which he has already attempted with us.
I am delighted with your Electoral Highness’s preface to the aforesaid
document, but there is one point I object to, viz. about processions, extreme
unction, and the sacrament, upon which I have given my opinion to your Grace’s
messengers. To carry the sacrament in one kind in the procession is only
mocking God, for, as you know, it is only a half – indeed no sacrament. But
should it be carried about in both kinds, that is still worse, and will give
the Papists occasion for ridicule. So I humbly request that, as your Electoral
Highness has so far defied the devil in these grand articles, you would let
those minor matters rest, so that the devil may not make a laughing-stock of
the whole Reformation. We might permit extreme unction and taking the sacrament
to the sick, if not done according to Papal usage. Seeing your Electoral
Highness lays so much stress on these matters, I would humbly suggest that
although they may be retained for a time, they should not be embodied in the
tenets of the Reformation and printed. For, as the preface declares, it is a
Reformation grounded on the Bible, and on the usages of the purified Church.
For from early times the Church usages became most corrupt. For Christ did not
make anointing with oil a sacrament, nor do St. James’s words apply to the present
day. For in those days the sick were often cured through a miracle and the
earnest prayer of faith, as we see in James and Mark 6. The carrying of the
sacrament to the sick, although continued, must not be imperative or put in
print. For it is of human institution, and not God’s command, so it can be
retained till a better way is found. Also that the sacrament must be taken from
the altar in the mass, and not put in the ciborium. I have told the rest to
your embassy. I herewith commend you to the dear faithful Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and pray for you.
Your
Electoral Highness’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
On the same
subject. To this day the white surplice is often worn in the Nicolai and Marien
churches, the oldest in Berlin.
December 4,
1539.
To the
esteemed Herr Georgio Buchholzer, my dear brother in Christ, grace and peace
through Christ! Dear Herr Provost – I cannot write much because of the weakness
of my head. You will see from the letters what we think of the form of Church
government of your Elector, my most gracious lord. In regard to the things of
which you complain, the cowl and surplice in the procession on feast days, and
the walking round the churchyard on Sundays and at Easter, etc. etc., this is
my advice: If your lord, the Margrave and Elector, allows you to preach the
gospel of Christ purely, without man’s additions, and permits the sacraments of
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper according to Christ’s appointment, and does not
insist upon the worshipping of the saints as mediators and intercessors, and
the carrying of the host in the procession, nor upon daily masses for the dead,
nor holy water nor responses and songs, Latin and German in the processions,
then in God’s name go round with them, carrying a silver or gold cross, and
cowl or surplice of velvet, silk, or linen. And if one of these be not enough,
then put on three, as did Aaron, the High Priest, each one more beautiful than
another, from which church vestments in the Papacy are named Ornata. And if
your lord the Elector be not satisfied with one procession, then go round seven
times, as Joshua went round Jericho with the children of Israel blowing
trumpets, and if your lord has any desire let him go on in front, springing and
dancing with harps and cymbals, drums and bells, as did David when they brought
the ark of the Lord up to Jerusalem. I have no objections to that. For such
things, if not abused, neither add to nor take from the gospel, but they must
never be regarded as necessary nor made a matter of conscience. As to the
elevation of the elements in the Mass, this too is an open question when
nothing is added thereto, so in God’s name raise them as long as you like. We
in Wittenberg had good reasons for making an end of the custom – reasons which
may not exist in Berlin. And we shall not again begin it, for it is a free
thing and not ordered by God, for God’s command alone is necessary. Your lord’s
messengers will give you all further news. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, whose servant you are, will support you by His Spirit, and see that His
name be glorified, His kingdom come, and His will be done. For this I pray
daily. Thursday after St. Andrew’s Day.
Martin
Luther.
A Congress of
Evangelical Princes was held in Schmalkalden in March, to which the Elector,
Melanchthon, Bugenhagen, Jonas, and Cruciger went.
Melanchthon was present at Landgrave
Philip’s marriage on March 4. The Emperor arranged a conference of Roman
Catholic and Protestant Princes in Hagenau. Melanchthon dangerously ill on his
way thither. Protestants at Hagenau would not listen to the proposed union
between the conflicting parties, so another conference was held at Worms in October.
Calvin, then resident in Strassburg, was present at both conferences.
Luther wishes
the Prince to remedy a crying scandal.
January 3,
1540.
Grace and
peace! I hoped, dear sir, to have had you with us at the feast, so instead must
send you a petition, begging you to plead with my gracious lord that he would
forbid the nobility acting as they do towards those for whom they stand bail in
his lands. It is a disgrace that such oppression and robbery should be
permitted in the public inns under princely protection, where the nobles behave
so abominably, devouring all that comes in their way. It is said that four
nobles, through riotous living in the inns, have squeezed 300 gulden out of
Martin List for a debt of 30 florins. How much better would it have been had
each given a few florins and set poor Martin free! What devil has given such
power to the nobility to plunder thus? If the Princes do not punish this, God
will surely punish them, along with us.
I think of publishing a pamphlet on the
matter, and addressing it to the Princes. But my writing is of little use if
you do not diligently prevent this from your exalted position. In how many ways
can the devil injure us? If the Turk do not swallow us up, or the pestilence sweep
us away, or the Emperor consume us, then we devour and ruin one another through
greed and usury. God have mercy on us, and if not, then may the day of judgment
dawn. Amen. I commit you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Petition to
permit export of purchased corn.
January 7,
1540.
To the Most
Serene High-born Prince Joachim, Elector of Brandenburg.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
you, most gracious Elector and lord! We humbly desire to let your Grace know that
the church here did its utmost during the great scarcity to buy corn for the
poor, and those deputed to do this had to visit many places. But when at length
the excellent Dietrich von Rochau had secured 21 Wispel (Medlar) for our church
and the poor, he was given to understand that your Grace would graciously
permit it to be taken out of your land. Although we now know that your
Electoral Highness has interdicted this on account of the exigences of your own
domains, yet we venture humbly to plead that this statute may be modified, or
perhaps entirely set aside, in regard to your nearest neighbors for the sake of
the poor in their dire need, even as Joseph, in the great famine in the East,
distributed corn not only to the Egyptians, but to those of other lands. And
Solomon says that people shall curse him who withholdeth corn, but blessings
shall be upon the head of him that selleth it, which saying all should call to
remembrance at this time, and act upon it, so that God may bless us by giving
us once more a plentiful year, and by feeding His poor abundantly; for, we are
told that God giveth to the beast his food and to the young ravens which cry.
So we must pray earnestly that God may have pity on the poor, and for their
sakes send an abundant harvest. Therefore we trust your Electoral Grace may
show yourself graciously disposed towards the poor in those dear times, and
grant the petition we are compelled to present, viz. that permission may be
granted to Dietrich von Rochau to export the corn he has purchased. God will
surely reward this according to His promise. And we shall earnestly beseech God
to prosper and bless your Electoral Highness.
Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martinus
Luther.
Justus Jonas.
Johannes
Pommeranus.
Philippus
Melanchthon.
Topics to be
discussed at Schmalkalden sent to the Elector.
January 18,
1540.
Grace and
peace in Christ, and my poor paternoster! We herewith send your Electoral Grace
our opinions, by which we shall abide. For things have come to a desperate pass
with the Papists, even as with their god, the devil. They sin knowingly against
the truth, viz. the Holy Ghost, so one can neither hope nor pray for them.... I
would gladly go to Eisenach with our people on their way to Schmalkalden, but I
do not see that I would be of any use. It would only cause fruitless trouble
and expense; but I am ready to do what your Grace wishes, although it would
matter little if I closed my eyes once for all and never again beheld the world
in its blasphemous fury.
God be praised, surely Philip and Dr. Jonas
are quite capable of dealing with these things. I did not think it necessary to
call the members of the league (Schmalkaldischen) together again, for matters
might have been satisfactorily arranged otherwise. Hoping my advice will meet
with your Grace’s approval, I herewith commit you to the dear God. Amen. Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
February 26,
1540.
This is the
second letter I have written you, and did I not hope that your answer was on
its way hither, I would be very angry at your long silence, for it seems as if
you had been long enough away to be back again. We hear the Diet has been
postponed, therefore some of your folks have been expecting you for two days.
God be praised, all are well here, only your daughter, my Philip, gave us a
fright, as she seemed very ill for some hours.
For Fama, this sorceress, grows as it
spreads. We had two days’ sunshine, and then the bad weather returned, but the
Elbe is getting smaller. It is well I did not accompany you, for I got no sleep
last night from pain in the muscles of the arm between the shoulder and the
elbow. I do not know what it can be, for it does not pain me even if I strike
it. I fancy it is the tooth of the serpent, which will not let me bend the arm.
I often think of Hans Reinecke, who, before his death, complained of numbness
in the arm.
Nevertheless, if wanted, I shall appear
among you, for otherwise I feel pretty well, and my Kathie’s appetite is
returning, and she is creeping round the tables and chairs with her hands. May
you prosper in the Lord; pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
The great
indifference to the good cause at Dresden.
March 3,
1540.
Grace and
peace in Christ! I see clearly, my Anton, the astounding indifference which
prevails at the Court of Dresden to the cause of God and man. Pride and greed
seem to reign there. The old Prince can do little, and the young ones are
powerless. May God Himself govern His churches till He finds good instruments
to do it. There is nothing new here, except the mad pamphlet of Mezentius against
the allied Princes. The Turk is making gigantic preparations, but we dine and
amuse ourselves nevertheless. The Emperor, Francis, and Ferdinand are
banqueting in Flanders. One must pray that the day of God’s glorious appearing
may soon dawn. Yea, come Lord Jesus! Amen. My Kathie has recovered in the most
marvelous manner from the jaws of death, and is now learning to walk. It is
manifestly the work of God. She sends kind greetings to you and your Agnes and
Elizabeth. Farewell, and pray for us, as we do for you.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
excuses the Emperor’s indecision.
April 8,
1540.
Grace and
peace! You write, dear Philip, that the Emperor has promised a private
conference, and I wonder much what it signifies. I believe he does not know
himself what to undertake. His heart must have many secret recesses, being
placed among so many vipers, which makes it impossible for him to satisfy
either party. I often think what I would do were I in the hands of such people.
One must pray to God for him. It is truly a marvelous miracle that God has
restrained the Emperor’s hand for so long, although the bishops and cardinals
have been embittering and stirring him up against us, and for this we ought to
thank God. But whatever aspect matters may assume, we can achieve all through
prayer. This alone is the almighty queen of human destiny. Therewith we can
accomplish everything, and thus maintain what already exists, amend what is
defective, patiently put up with the inevitable, overcome what is evil, and
preserve all that is good. But the Papists, those despicable creatures, know
not what prayer can achieve. For they cannot repent, having stained their hands
with Christ’s blood. For although we poor sinners are still living in the
sinful flesh, still we are pure from blood, and hate those bloody men and the
god of blood who has them in bondage. I have received your letters, and hope
you will receive some. Greet all our people, and say their households are well.
We pray for you, and believe we shall be heard. I wish you were home. Your
obedient
Martin
Luther.
In Social
Germany in Luther’s Time we learn that the recipient of this letter was Nicolas
Sastrow, who, because of the Bruser- Leveling lawsuit, had for many years absented
himself from the communion table.
April 14,
1540.
Your dear
son, Magister Johannes, after expressing his sorrow at your having kept away so
long from the holy communion, which absence is a bad example, requested me to
rescue you from that dangerous path. Not one hour of our lives really belongs
to ourselves. His filial solicitude, therefore, induced me to send you these
lines. Let me, therefore, exhort you in a Christian, brotherly fashion, as is
my duty, to change your mind, and consider that God’s Son, whose sufferings
were so much greater, forgave His executioners. Remember that, at your last
hour, you will have to forgive, even as a thief on the gallows forgives. Await
the decision of the court, before which your suit is pending, but never forget
that nothing should prevent you participating in the Holy Supper. Were it
otherwise, I myself and our Princes would require to keep away from the Lord’s
Supper till our differences with the Papists were settled. Leave the lawyers to
arrange matters, and meantime appease your conscience thus, saying: “It is the
judges’ place to decide who is right, so meanwhile I forgive those who have
wronged me, and shall partake of the Holy Communion.” Thus you do not approach
the table unworthily, for, considering yourself wronged, you have appealed to
the law, and are willing to abide by its decision. Nothing can be more simple.
Pray take this admonition, prompted by your son, in a friendly spirit. I commit
you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
intercedes for his brother-in-law.
May 24, 1540.
Grace and
peace in Christ, most gracious lord! It is long since I asked for anything, but
in case the highway of intercession should become overgrown with grass, I now
approach you, humbly begging your Grace to listen to me, so that I may not be
suspected of having incurred your displeasure, which I do not think I have
deserved. Lately I was at Court, where I do not care to go, and, among other
things, I heard that your Grace was treating the proprietors of the
smelting-houses very harshly, who do not deserve this at your hands, and that,
in consequence, the earldom might forfeit its prosperity; and much was being
said on the subject which I do not think it right to conceal from you. I then
asked how it affected my relations, and I was told that my brother-in-law,
Mackerode, feared he would be reduced to beggary. “God cannot desire that,” I
said, “for they have nothing but the furnace they inherited, so I shall write
my lord on the subject”; for, my brother-in-law has not written to me about it,
only it occurred to me at Court that I once called him in jest a dross-driver
instead of a furnace-master (Schlackentreiber for Schlackenherren ), at which
he laughed, and said the time might not be far distant when such would be the
case, and went away.
Therefore I plead, most gracious lord, that
you will grant my petition, and prove a gracious lord to the good Mackerode and
his heirs, especially as your Grace must see that so great and rich a lord can
gain nothing through the poverty of good people, but would most surely draw
down God’s wrath upon him, to whom it is a very small matter to make the rich
poor and the poor rich. I do not plead for justice (as I neither know nor wish
to know the rights of the case), but for your favor, for your Grace also needs
God’s favor and protection. For if we insist too much on our rights regarding
our neighbors, without leaving room for mercy, then God will act in the same
manner towards us, and mercy will be obscured. I hope my lord will see from
this letter that I truly love my sovereign Prince, and have his welfare at
heart, therefore dislike hearing anything to his disadvantage, or be silent
when I fear God may pour out His wrath upon him. I beg for a gracious answer. I
commit you to God. Amen. Your Grace’s most obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther asks
help for a preacher with a bad wife.
June 15,
1540.
Grace and
peace! George Schaumer, for whom you have got a church, asks a letter of
introduction to you. But he has a very bad wife. If she remains here, and does
not follow her husband, as she threatens to do, we shall give her a bath in the
Elbe, or dignify her with an admonition. Should she really follow, you will
treat her as befits your office, most decidedly, thus coming to the man’s help.
And should she run away, all the better, for he will get rid of the godless
woman. See to it that she does not injure the gospel nor unfit her husband for
the pulpit. Here nothing is talked of except the strange story of the
Landgrave, which some excuse, others deny, while some give it a quite different
aspect. The sister of the Landgrave, the Princess of Rochlitz, is much blamed;
but time will declare it. Farewell, and pray for us, and let your church plead
the cause of the gospel, now being discussed at Hagenau, and for M. Philip, who
has been sent into the midst of the enemy, that God may give His angels charge
over him, and keep him in all his ways. Amen. He set off very sad and
depressed. May the Lord comfort him. My wife sends greetings. The Bible for
Magister Latomus is waiting, but I have no one to take it to him.
Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
promises to bring Melanchthon on a visit. Melanchthon nearly died at Weimar on
the way to Hagenau, and was restored mainly through Luther’s presence and
prayers.
July 2, 1540.
Grace and
peace! Now then look for us, dear Lange, either on Sunday or Monday. For it has
been arranged that we should sup at Erfurt, if God will.
Philip comes with us. We travel straight to
Hagenau to see perhaps for the last time that terrible Behemoth with which I
have had to deal, more or less, for twenty years, and over which He that
sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, which they cannot understand till the awful
conclusion of the Psalm is fulfilled in them. “They shall perish when His wrath
is kindled but a little,” because they do not pay homage to the Son. Amen. So
let it be!
They deserved what they have got. Farewell,
and pray for us. Philip is rather low after his severe illness. He was almost
dead. Through a miracle of God he now lives. Farewell.
Martin
Luther.
Written on
the way to Eisenach to meet the Elector and Landgrave Philip to discuss the
latter’s double marriage.
July 2, 1540.
Grace and
peace, my dear Kathie! I wish you to know that I am well. I eat like a Bohemian
and drink like a German, for which God be thanked.
Amen. The reason for this is that Philip was
verily dead, and, like Lazarus, has been raised from the dead. God, the dear
Father, hears our prayers.
This we can understand, although often we do
not believe it. I have written to Dr. Pommer that the Count of Schwarzburg wishes
a pastor for Greussen, so you might, like a clever lady and doctoress, confer
with Herr George Major and M. Ambrosio, to see which of the three whom I
mentioned to Pommer could be persuaded to go. It is not a bad living, but do
you be clever and make it better. I have received the children’s letters with
that of Baccalarien (who is no child), but nothing from your Grace, therefore I
trust you will answer the four letters all at once with your gracious hand. I
herewith send the silver apple to Paul, the gift of your hand, which, as I said
before, you must divide among the children, and ask how many cherries and
apples they would take for it, and pay them in ready money, and keep the stem.
Say to our dear boarders, particularly Dr.
Schiefer, with my love, that I hope they
will look after everything connected with churches, schools, and house, and
wherever necessary.
Also I trust M. Major and M. Ambrosio will
be a comfort to you in the house. And, God willing, we shall leave Weimar on
Sunday for Eisenach, and bring Philip with us. I commit you to God. Say to Wolf
that he must attend to the mulberries, and not idle his time away, and draw the
wine away at the proper time. Let all be joyful and pray. Amen.
Martin
Luther, thy well-beloved.
Weimar.
Luther in
Eisenach. The Elector would not allow him to go to Hagenau, but sent Cruciger
and Myconius. Calvin was also present.
July 16,
1540.
Grace and
peace, dear Kathie! Your Grace must know that, God be praised, we are here fresh
and well, eat like the Bohemians, drink like the Germans, but in moderation,
and are full of joy. For our gracious lord of Magdeburg, Bishop Amsdorf, is our
neighbor at table. Our only news is that Caspar (Cruciger), Menius, and
Myconius have left Hagenau for Strassburg to pass the time. M. Philip is again
all right. God be praised.
Say to my dear Dr. Schiefer that his King
Ferdinand will have an outcry raised against him, as he seems to wish the Turk
to stand sponsor to the Evangelical Princes. I hope this may not be true. It
would be too gross.
Write and say if you got all I sent you,
such as the ninety florins I sent through Wolf Paermann. I commit you to God.
Let the children pray. The heat and drought here are almost unbearable, day and
night. The Bishop of Magdeburg sends you his compliments.
Thy beloved
Martin
Luther.
July 26,
1540.
To the
wealthy lady of Zulsdorf, Frau Doctoress Katherine. Luther, wandering in spirit
in Zulsdorf! God willing, we shall start for Wittenberg tomorrow. The Hagenau
conference has turned out a farce, all the worry, trouble, and expense being in
vain; still, if we have done nothing more, we have drawn Herr Philip out of
hell, and shall bring him home with joy, as it were out of the grave. Amen. The
devil is very busy. More than a thousand acres of wood belonging to my gracious
lord has been set on fire in the Thuringian Forest, and today we hear that the
wood near Werder has begun to burn, and no water can extinguish it. This will make
wood very dear. Pray, and ask all to pray against Satan, who not only assails
soul and body, but fiercely assaults our possessions and our honor. Christ will
come from heaven and kindle a fire against Satan and his emissaries. Amen.
Being uncertain where you are I do not write
of other things. Greet our children, boarders, and all.
Thy beloved
Martin
Luther.
Epidemic in
Wittenberg. Agricola invited to Berlin by the Elector Joachim. He became Court
preacher there.
September 3,
1540.
Grace and
peace, honored Herr Doctor and Pastor! Although I am overwhelmed with work,
being a frail old man, still I am doing duty for Pastor Johann Pommer, who is
ill. Nearly all are ill here, including Dr.
Jonas and Dr. Cruciger. In my house alone
ten are lying dangerously ill.
This fever produces wonderful effects.
Epilepsy seizes many, but carries few away. M. Grickel is doing the
praiseworthy work of law and image-breaker. He slipped away secretly to the
Margrave, thus abusing the Prince’s confidence. The tree is known by its
fruits. The faithless, abandoned man will indulge his wrath by telling all
manner of lies against me there. May you prosper in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther’s wife
wishes Spalatin’s mediation regarding a present of wood.
November 10,
1540.
Grace and
peace! That which my wife talked to you about when you were here lately, she is
most anxious should be granted. She begs you to hand the addressed letter to
your Prince’s functionary, and arrange that she should receive good and useful
wood, particularly stems of oak, so that one may not (as often happens) have
cause to regret receiving the Prince’s present because of the officials’
niggardliness, sending useless wood.
God desires that all of us, especially the
servants of the Word, may be maintained in a liberal manner.
So let the treasurer know that she would
like the branches, not the brushwood, but the thicker stems which belong to the
officials, and these she would gladly purchase from the treasurer.
She wishes them for the fireplaces in her
new property of Zulsdorf.
But you know far more of these matters than
I, therefore you will faithfully discharge this commission.
We shall pay what is requisite, so that the
new proprietress may have her kingdom suitably equipped. Farewell. I enclose
the new pamphlet against the Brunswick people. There is nothing new here, not
even any news from Worms.
Once more may you and yours prosper!
Martin
Luther.
The
conference of Roman Catholic and Protestant delegates which discussed Church
union at Worms was as barren of results as that of Hagenau had been. Calvin was
present there also.
November 27,
1540.
Grace and
peace! My wife had left for her new possession before your letter came, so I
must thank you, my Anton, instead for the cheese. But I am not greatly enamored
of that kind of cheese, being pleased with our own simple cheese, made of the
commonest material, so you need not take so much trouble on our behalf.
It is sufficient that we enjoy your
goodwill, of which we can take advantage when necessary, and do so perhaps too
often.
We have heard no more from Worms, except
that a great number of learned people from France, Spain, and Germany have met,
and Philip writes that for no other Papal council have such extensive
preparations been made. What may further take place God knows. If the Emperor
means honestly, as we presume he does, this gathering, without being dignified
by the name of Council, may turn out to be a true provincial Council, under the
appellation of a special Conference, so that the Pope may not feel insulted at
the name of Council failing. He has meanwhile appointed the Bishop of Valitra
(Thomas Campegius) as his legate, whom our people will neither acknowledge as
judge nor as president, even were the Pope himself present, for they have been
forbidden so to do. Let us pray, pray! And let all pray. For it appears as if a
great crisis were imminent.
May all go well with you and yours. Written
in great haste, and overwhelmed with work.
Martin
Luther.
Luther had
little hope of a happy termination to the Worms Conference. He was busy
revising the Bible, but was often interrupted by illness, from which he
suffered during this winter.
December 7,
1540.
Grace and
peace! I was sorry, my Philip, to hear you had not received my letters. But you
are not ignorant of the Court and its ways, nor yet of Satan. I fully believed
that you had altogether four letters written with my own hand since you went to
Worms, only, on account of my indolence and my advancing years, they were all
addressed to you to save trouble.
Your last letter came to hand yesterday,
which contained an account of Granvelle’s speech, also of the articles you were
asked to supply, which seem most Christian, and not difficult to accede to;
and, last of all, our answer. I had great delight over the folly of the devil,
or rather in Christ’s mighty power, which forced these people to undertake so
foolish a cause.
If I ever indulged any hope as to the result
of this conference, for which such vast preparations were made, such hopes have
now completely vanished. What should be done? Everything that those who seem
possessed of the devil do, assuming to themselves a majesty – nay, seeking to
surround themselves with an almost angelic glitter – will only precipitate
their fall. But He will give you His Spirit, as He has promised, for it is not
you who speak. We are praying here, and hope the conference will melt into
water for them.
We have received the Imperial proclamation,
and have ordered it to be printed, that the world may learn the Emperor’s will.
At the first glance I really thought it was forged in order to complicate this
discussion. But it is more injurious to Satan himself than to us. For he must
feel that nothing has been invented, but that everything is true which has been
said against him.
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. For Thine enemies
tremble before the breath of Thy nostrils. Hasten Thy glorious appearing. Amen.
Here they will not cease punishing the incendiaries. And, by the grace of God,
Hans von Wolfenbuttel is more and more hated. You need have no anxiety
regarding your household, for all are well. We send you the printed confession
of the Englishman, Robert Barnes. May the Lord bring you back speedily and in
good health. For you will never achieve anything there, no matter how strong
you may be in Christ Jesus. For out of that wilderness and abyss you cannot
make fruitful soil. Let it remain a wilderness. In Christ we can accomplish
all, and do even greater things than He does, but in the devil we can do
nothing. Therefore we leave him alone.
I hope that you and Caspar have run your eye
over the New Testament.
We ventured to send Job, the Psalms, the
Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, and Jeremiah to the
printer without you. You will scarcely find any of Ezekiel, for, as you are
aware, I turned ill over him just as I had begun it, and perhaps this will
happen again if you do not speedily return.
Farewell, and greet all our people. My wife
Kathie sends friendly greetings.
She is brewing Wittenberg beer with which to
regale you on your return.
The Lord be with you! Amen.
Martin
Luther.
The
discussion at Worms began on January 14, 1541. Eck and Melanchthon represented
the two parties, but the Emperor, who stood urgently in need of help against
the Turks, broke it up in four days. It was resumed, April 27, at Regensburg.
Melanchthon, Cruciger, Bucer, and J. Pistorius represented the Protestants. The
Pope dispatched Cardinal Contarini as his legate – a superior man; but all
efforts to come to an agreement proved abortive, and the Regensburg Interim was
rejected.
The Reformation was now making rapid
progress in Halle, which was near Albrecht of Mayence’s favorite residence
Magdeburg. Dr. Jonas had been preaching there, and had introduced the sacrament
under both forms among the laity. It was here, too, that Winkler had preached,
whose blood, Luther often said, cried to heaven for vengeance.
Myconius had
just returned from Leipsic. He had been overworked, and wrote to Luther, his
dearest friend on earth, in his weakness. This is Luther’s answer. Long after,
Myconius wrote that the effect of this letter was magical. Myconius survived
Luther and was a comfort to many.
January 9,
1541.
To the
honored Friedrich, Bishop of the Church in Gotha and of the Thuringian
Churches, my beloved brother. Grace and peace in Christ! I have received your
letter, my dear Herr Friedrich, in which you say you are sick unto death, or,
to express it in a more Christian manner, sick unto life.
Although it is a great joy to me that you
are able to look forward so peacefully and fearlessly to death, which,
according to the Scriptures, is not a death, but a sweet sleep to the saints –
nay, that you have a great longing to depart and be with Christ, in which frame
of mind we believers should always be not only upon a sick-bed, but in perfect
health, as beseemeth Christians who have been made alive again with Christ, and
placed with Him in heavenly places, who will be the Judge of the angels, till
all that remains to be done is the drawing aside of the veil of separation and
of the dark world. Although it is a great joy to hear all this, still I beg and
plead with the Lord Jesus, our Life, Salvation, and Health, that He will not
permit this misfortune to overtake me, that I should live to see you get in advance
of me by the veil being pushed aside and you entering into rest, leaving me
behind in an evil world, the prey of wild beasts and devils, from whom I have
suffered enough for over twenty years, to merit being released before all of
you, and allowed to fall asleep in the Lord. Therefore I plead that the dear
God would smite me with illness instead of you, and command me to lay aside
this weary, worn-out frame, which can henceforth benefit no one. I earnestly
admonish you to join us in imploring the dear God, for the good of His Church
and the discomfiture of Satan, to maintain you in life. For Christ, our Life,
also sees what manner of persons and gifts His Church now and then requires.
After waiting five weeks we have received
letters from Worms, some of which George Rorer will send you. God be praised
our party is doing everything in a wise, straightforward way, while our
opponents are acting foolishly and childishly, full of cunning and lies, from
which we may gather that Satan, seeing the approach of dawn, wriggles into a
thousand corners, seeking refuge in subterfuge and lies, but all in vain, for
glory, power, and victory belong to the Lamb who was slain and rose again. We
hope our people may soon return from Worms. May all go well with you, my dear
Friedrich, and may the Lord not permit me to hear that you are dead, but allow
you to survive me.
This shall be my petition, this is my
desire, and my will shall be done.
Amen. For my will seeks the honor of the
Divine name, and not my own honor and pleasure. Once more farewell in the Lord.
We pray earnestly for you. My Kathie greets you, she, like all of us, being
much distressed at your illness.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
him joy on representing the Elector at Regensburg.
March 12,
1541.
To his Serene
Highness Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt. Grace and peace in Christ our Lord! I was
delighted to hear that your Grace requested our prayers on your journey, and
doubt not that He who put this desire in your heart will grant it. For King
Solomon’s prayer was well pleasing to God, in that he asked for wisdom, and not
for riches and such-like, and God granted his desire, and gave him all other
things in addition. So we, too, shall hover in spirit in Regensburg, and Christ,
as is His wont, shall reign among His enemies. For, unworthy as we may be of
such a cause, it must be a good and righteous one, for it is God’s own cause,
and not ours. Is He then likely to forsake it? For God cannot be the losing
party, so at length we shall conquer with Him. These words are ever true:
“Whosoever, therefore, shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also,”
etc.; so in this promise we shall trust. I thank your Grace for the goblet, and
commit you to the dear God, whose legate you now are. May He give you the heart
to know this, and then you will be full of joy. For it has always been my
comfort that the cause I conduct is not my own, but God’s, who has angels
enough to uphold me; or if they forsake me here, they will look far better after
me up there. Amen. Your obedient
Martin
Luther.
Philip
Melanchthon met with an accident on his way to Regensburg, and wrote very
dejectedly to Luther.
April 12,
1541.
Grace and
peace! My dear Philip – We received your letter, and although very sorry to
hear of your right arm being broken, we shall not believe it to be an evil omen
either for you or me. Our cause cannot be the sport of chance, but is under the
guidance of God, and not under our control. The Word flees and prayer becomes
more earnest, while hope endures and faith at length conquers, so that if we
were not flesh we could sleep in peace, pondering Moses’ words: “The Lord shall
fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” For although we might act with
all vigilance, still all would be in vain if God did not fight for us. All is
well in your home, so do not worry, for God is near. Let Henry (the Eighth),
the Bishops, nay, even the Turks and the devil incarnate, do what they will, we
are the children of the Kingdom; and although scorned by the said Henry, we
look for the appearing of the slain Savior, whom we highly honor. Farewell, and
pray for us, as we do for you.
Martin
Luther.
Luther warns
his friend against poison.
April 21,
1541.
Grace and
peace! Today, April 21, I received your letters, dearest Philip – fourteen in
all – with the joyful tidings of the Emperor’s friendly sentiments. May God
perfect what He has begun. I have always forgotten to remind you to be on your
guard at banquets. Dreadful stories are going about regarding poisoners. It was
discovered that the medicine in Erfurt and also the seasonings were poisoned.
In Altenburg twelve persons at one table swallowed poison contained in the
different dishes, and died therefrom. The devil also sends his poison-mixers to
Jena and elsewhere. I wonder that the great are not more on their guard against
Satan.
Through the grace of God all goes well here.
Dr. Jonas preached in Halle during Easter, much to the annoyance of the Castle,
but with the approbation of the Prince and the Town Council. I am still busy
with the books of Moses, and at the same time a martyr to a discharge in the
ears, at the one moment contemplating life, and at the next death. The will of
the Lord be done. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
On April 28
the so-called Regensburg Interim was at length placed before the Evangelicals,
but not accepted. The Elector urged no half-measures in religious matters, and
said even if Dr. Martin would give in, “which, God forbid, we shall not.”
May 1, 1541.
Grace and
peace! I see from the fifteen articles which you have just sent me what Satan
is attempting. But he may turn and twist as he will, his slippery nature has
led him into captivity. Only continue to act as Christ’s ambassador.
Today we heard good news of the Emperor,
which, I fancy, reached me through a letter from the Prince of Anhalt to our
people. The Emperor summoned both sets of theologians into his chamber, and
exhorted them to put aside all thought of their princes and all party spirit,
and, looking to God alone, seek for the truth only and the welfare of the
Churches and State. May God strengthen this sacred work. Amen.
I cannot write more. My hearing is gradually
returning, but the head is still useless and inflated with all sorts of stormy
winds, like the spirits incarcerated in Aeolus’s hell. Christ lives, even as we
live, amid death.
Meantime I can sleep as usual and take
nourishment. Perhaps Satan is in his bath for a time. Dr. Jonas has been
preaching Christ in Halle for over three weeks with great blessing, and with
the approbation of the people and the Mayor, although to the dissatisfaction of
some.
The Mayor continues steadfast in spite of
the fury of the monks and priests. What I write to you is meant for Philip
also. All are well at home.
May you prosper in the Lord. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Respecting
affairs in Halle, and the revision of the New Testament.
May 22, 1541.
Grace and
peace! I always expect consideration from you, whether I am long in answering
your letters or not.
My health is not such that I can read or
write for an hour without injury. I have often tried to, being so anxious to
write. Whatever my malady may have been, it was most severe. My hearing has not
entirely returned, but God will do as seemeth good to Him, and I feel rather
better. Regarding the Burgraviate, you say you had letters from Court. But the
Prince is too prudent to interfere in Halle, as it is beyond his jurisdiction,
except in the matter of the Burgraviate; and who would advise him to do so,
especially as we teach that each must attend to the things devolving on him?
And it is no small victory that the gates of hell, by the mere virtue of the
aforesaid title and the shadow thereof, should be compelled to endure your
presence, Jonas, the enemy of Satan and the Cardinal, in their midst.
Let us thank God for this! Say to those
timid ones to be at ease as to the alienation of their title. God, who calls
into being what does not exist, will make this insignificant title great, for
He makes all out of nothing. I shall be delighted to do what you ask, as I consider
it my duty to pray for the Church at Halle, and even for Balthaser himself. We
all wish that the Lord would make him alive.
In future do not expect such long letters
from me, for tomorrow I begin to revise the New Testament. The publishers, our
lords, insist upon this, for I bear about with me in my sickness the marks of
the wounds of those gentlemen, the publishers. The Lord be with you, my
beloved. Greet our friends in Christ.
Martin
Luther.
On June 9
Prince John of Anhalt, Alesius, etc., appeared before Luther by command of the
Elector of Brandenburg, at the instigation of the Emperor, to induce him to
permit the disputed articles to remain and an agreement to be made, but Luther
was as steadfast as Melanchthon.
June 25,
1541.
Grace and
peace! I shall anticipate your letter, which I daily, nay hourly, expect to
receive, and rehearse what happened in Regensburg, viz. that you were summoned
before the Emperor, who proposed that you should do your utmost at the
conference for the restoration of unity. In a Latin harangue you declared you
would do your best, but felt yourself powerless for so difficult a task.
But Eck, as is his habit, cried out, “Most
Gracious Emperor, I shall maintain that our party is right, and that the Pope
is the head of the Church!” This is all that happened.
From Cruciger’s last letter to Magister
George I saw that you and he are to meet the day after tomorrow. I rejoice that
Mayence shall be extinguished. There is a great outcry here over the rumor that
5,000 Turks have been killed at Ofen. I have no more news.
I again begin to hear by degrees, although
my dead ear still sometimes refuses to perform its functions, and the discharge
in my head and the phlegm cause me much uneasiness, but I always was, and shall
ever remain, a rheumatic man, a martyr to all sorts of catarrh. My Kathie
greets you respectfully. Love to all our friends.
Martin
Luther.
About the
Greek chair and assistance for Melanchthon.
August 3,
1541.
Grace and
peace in Christ, Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord!
It is not easy to fill the vacant chair, and
the gentlemen of the University say they would rather give it to M. Veit, not
because M. Sachse is not worthy of it, but because M. Veit is older, and has
done more for education here than anyone except M. Philip. Now all this is
true, and M.
Holstein (Sachse) did not ask for the chair,
not wishing to push himself forward before M. Veit, and he would have been
satisfied with M. Fach’s post, which I asked for him at first.
It is an unfortunate business, as your Grace
will soon see.
But you tell me that Philip will not give up
the Greek class, for he is eager to serve the University, so that the salary
for the Greek chair will revert to the University, and thus save the salary,
your Grace having given him a hundred florins additional on the new foundation.
M. Philip is so just and modest that he will
not accept this addition unless he teach Greek, so that your Grace and the
University may not be burdened with this money on his behalf. So it now depends
on your Electoral Grace distinctly saying if M. Philip may, with a good
conscience, appropriate the hundred florins although he should cease to teach
Greek, but should continue to lecture upon the Greek authors.
It appears to me he has done enough hard
work those twenty years to entitle him to a little rest, seeing there are, God
be praised, young M.A.’s who can teach Greek and look after the classes. For
your Grace knows well what a Famulus Communis he is in this University, for all
Christendom is indebted to him; and, thank God, he and his followers are now
more feared by the Papists than any of the other scholars.
Your Grace will know how to arrange all
this, for your Electoral Highness must be head rector, pastor, and director in
these lands.
I herewith commit you to God. Amen. Your
obedient
Martin
Luther.
By the
Regensburg Interim the Emperor hoped to prevent the Protestants attacking
Romish doctrines, but the Protestants rejected it, and eventually the Pope
declared against tolerance.
August 4,
1541.
Grace and
peace, Most Serene High-born Prince! I perfectly understand what your Electoral
Grace has written me concerning the pamphlet which is at present in the press;
and it was not my intention that it should appear without a preface and with no
delay. Whether those who issued it meant well in their conceited ignorance in
doing so or not, the devil’s wicked malice has foiled their efforts; for,
nothing more injurious has been undertaken against us since our gospel began to
spread, and it seems as if God, by a miraculous exercise of power, prevented
the Papists accepting it at the Diet. The reason we were so long in taking up the
matter was that Philip was on his way home, so now, by his and Dr. Caspar’s
advice, we have decided to print it; and the printers, in the hope of a preface
from me, have taken it in hand, and although, to begin with, I decided to add
no notes, now, if God spare me, I shall interlard it with as many annotations
as I can, for the devil has deserved it.
I herewith commit you to the dear God. Amen.
Your Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
rejoices over the Princes’ progress in learning, etc.
September 6,
1541.
Grace and
peace, Most Gracious Serene Princes! I was delighted to receive your
Highnesses’ letters, from which I saw what a good and solid foundation you are
laying both in the sciences and religion; and I thank God, through Christ His
Son, who has begun such a glorious work in such exalted personages, and beseech
Him to perfect the work He has begun.
And we must all ask this with our whole
hearts, for we know that your Electoral Highnesses are being trained to conduct
the highest and most weighty matters in the State as well as in the Church. For
the Evil One is ever going about with his wily artifices trying to lay
countless traps for you, especially in your own home, through false friends and
courtiers, even as we read happened to King David and every good prince. Hence
the poet’s fable of Atlas supporting the heavens, and St. Christopher carrying
the whole hemisphere on his shoulders, while he only bore the child Jesus.
Your Highnesses’ father has doubtless often
experienced this. And even although a good prince possesses genius, power,
energy, piety, and spiritual wisdom, still he constantly stands in need of the
persevering humble prayers of those about him, that God, despite the power of
Satan, may give him the victory. I commend your Highnesses to the protection of
this good God forever and ever. Keep me always in your gracious remembrance. My
son shall write again, as he has no time at present. I did not wish to send the
messenger back empty handed.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
desires his wife to return from Zulsdorf.
September 18,
1541.
Grace and
peace, dear Kathie! I am sending Urban to you, to prevent you being alarmed
through a rumor of the Turks coming in your direction. I marvel much that you
never write or send any orders, for you are aware that we are not without
anxiety on your account, because Mainz and many of the nobility in Meissen are our
sworn enemies. So sell, and arrange everything you can and come home, for it
seems to me as if God were about to visit us with the rod of His wrath. I
herewith commit you to God.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
him to execute a commission for him, etc.
September 25,
1541.
Grace and
peace! How often you have asked me for the measurements, my dear, and how often
I have been almost sending the size of the bath? But we were always waiting for
someone to urge us on, and no one did so, therefore it has remained undone. But
I now enclose the plan, which you will carry out to the best of your ability,
in accordance with your voluntary promise. I do not wish to burden you. I was
delighted to hear that your oppressors are being gradually humbled; so I trust:
things will improve. We have good hopes of Pistorius, the former Chancellor.
For they say he spoke frankly out at Regensburg, and in the end admitted that
one thing puzzled him much, viz. how Christ could be High Priest to all eternity
when He was succeeded by Peter, who was followed by the Pope, and then
succeeded by a fresh pontiff. If these things once begin to dawn upon him, then
the light of day will speedily burst upon him.
I hear you have bad news of the Turks, and
you say the truth that our insufferable Turks, and the usurers, and the mighty
of the earth, are also in a dilemma. I have no other news. Pray for us, as we
do for you. Greet your Agnes and Lischen. My Kathie also greets you. I commit
you to God.
Martin Luther.
Theological
doctor and first faithful missionary at Halle.
November 10,
1541.
Grace and
peace! I have received the two fat – nay, right fat, Martinmas geese – nay, the
very fattest I ever received. Accept my thanks for them.
Heigho! how is it that you have such
superfluity? Have you perhaps in Halle an Ethiopian banquet or Halio’s table?
But more of this again.
You ask for news of the Turks. I have none.
It is currently reported that the Emperor Charles has taken by storm a haven
called Specus from Barbarossa, and there is another rumor (which I fear is the
true one) that Andreas Doria has lost all the Imperial troops fighting against
the said Barbarossa. God have mercy on us! I am afraid that all our efforts
against the Turks will be fruitless so long as we harbor these tyrants, these
raging Turks – greed, usury, and the excesses of the nobles – with tyranny and
godlessness, even going the length of indulging in diabolic contempt of the
Divine Word, and casting into ridicule the bloodshed for us in our ingratitude.
What will it avail us, although we succeed in banishing those Turks after the
flesh, so long as we permit these spiritual Turks to occupy a place at our
firesides, whose mad fury has made Germany a more arid waste in God’s eyes than
anything the Turks could have accomplished, even as God repented having made
man on the earth, at the very moment the human race seemed fairest (Genesis
6.), because of the wickedness of the children of men, the imagination of whose
hearts was only evil continually?
It is even the same today. The earth is
destroyed through incurable vice, and will perish in the last fiery judgment.
Wolff Heinze, as I wrote, has not sent any message about his present of a
Bible, which lies by me.
Remind him. Farewell. St. Martin’s Eve.
Martin
Luther.
Luther begs
for a post for his wife’s brother.
November 17,
1541.
Grace and
peace, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, gracious Lord!
Lately I gave my dear brother-in-law a letter to you, which he lost, so I must
write again, and if the other be found, and if in every word it does not agree
with this, you will graciously point out the difference, for I keep no copies
of my letters. The matter is this. I humbly beg your Grace to provide him with
a post, however small. He is faithful and pious, that I know, also active and
industrious; but he has not enough to keep himself and child in a proper
manner. He was superintendent of a convent in Leipsic, and although they tried
to injure him, his accounts were found correct, and his enemies’ mouths were
shut. I made them admit this.
They wished to add what belonged to the
nuns, as they used to do. Perhaps he suffered on my account, as Dr. Pistorius
was again in power, and might remember the book of stolen letters. But your
Electoral Grace will deal kindly with Hans, and give him a comforting answer.
Your Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
The Bishop of
Naumburg died in 1541, and the town being Evangelical, the Elector appointed
Nicolas Amsdorf, rejecting the Cathedral clergy’s choice, Julius Pflug, in
spite of Luther’s remonstrances and the opposition of Charles V.
On January 18 the Elector, with Amsdorf,
Luther, and Melanchthon, his brother John Ernest, Herzog Ernest of Brunswick,
and a stately retinue, entered Naumburg, and on the 20th the new bishop was
consecrated. The Reformation in Halle now made rapid progress under Dr. Jonas.
War broke out in Germany. Ferdinand asked help against the Turks, but the Schmalkaldischen
Princes refused, unless an abiding peace were secured.
Luther’s daughter Magdalena died this year,
to Luther’s deep grief.
Medler,
Superintendent in Naumburg, was created Doctor of Theology in Wittenberg, where
he acted as chaplain to the fugitive consort of the Elector of Brandenburg.
January 6,
1542.
To the
honored Herr Bishop Nicolas Amsdorf at Naumburg. Grace and peace! I am very
angry at Medler’s high-handed conduct, my excellent Bishop. Were I in your
position I should act in the opposite manner and enforce silence and
conciliation towards him till the approaching church visitation, when it will
be decided who is patron. Meantime it would be imprudent forcibly to deprive
the possessor of his rights, and even more, to coerce him into resigning them.
This is how we acted in our church
visitation. Those who would not be persuaded to resign the old privileges we
permitted to abide by their decision. So the Junkers continued to give away the
livings as before, without consulting the Princes of the Church. If Medler has
placed that potter under the ban, then, as their upper shepherd, exhort them to
acquiesce, and admonish Medler to conciliatory measures. Medler must not be
permitted to treat you as a mere shadow, seeing you are responsible for the
Naumburg community, which has been entrusted to you. Should it be necessary, I
would write him sharply for needlessly breaking the peace.
Meantime be steadfast and long-suffering.
Although he will never be able to achieve anything contrary to God’s will, yet
you have managed to extract this devil’s claw, which will bring forth fruit.
May you prosper in the Lord. I have a dreadful headache, therefore write you
today.
Martin
Luther.
January 11,
1542.
Grace and
peace in Christ, Most Serene High-born Princes, gracious Lords! Although most
unwilling to be burdensome to you, still I must beg that your Serene Highnesses
would, if at all possible, send some game, for I have to help a young relative
who lives with us into the holy and divinely appointed state of matrimony.
For there is little of that sort of thing to
be had here, for the officials, and courtiers especially, have eaten up
everything, so that neither fowls nor any other sort of game are to be had, and
I have to satisfy my hunger with sausage and liver, etc.
I have never thanked your Highnesses for the
pork, but now do so, although I expressed my warm thanks by word of mouth for
the gift. For I have constantly experienced your Graces’ manifold kindnesses
towards my unworthy self; and, had the said pig arrived after the engagement,
it would have been set aside for the marriage, and you would not have been
troubled now. But you will graciously take my begging in good part. The wedding
day is the Monday after St. Paul’s Conversion, or January 30. I herewith commit
you to the dear God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther blames
the letter-carriers for carelessness.
February 6,
1542.
Grace and
peace! I repeat what I said to our excellent Herr Kilian, that you need expect
no more letters from me unless you arrange that your messengers take the
trouble to wait for an answer to yours. For they deliver them in such a manner,
or rather toss them to the first one who comes in their way, as if they were
pressed with business, or had to strangle the Turks in the interim. If you do
not see to this, then depend upon it, it is impossible for me to answer.
You know that I am too poor to send a
special messenger to you, and too busy to be always asking who is going to
Halle. So much for your last four, if not more letters. Herr Kilian was a most
welcome guest, and would have been more so had he remained as an inmate of my
house; but he was in such haste that I pled in vain. But the union of hearts is
the most delightful of banquets, no matter how far apart people may be in the
body. The communion of saints is the Church. Farewell, and pray for me. The
Lord be with you. Amen.
We all send warm greetings to your dear
wife, who has enriched your house with so many olive branches. I would like to
hear if Carlstadt died repentant. His poor wife is to be here at Easter, and
then we shall hear all.
Once more I commend you to God. Amen. P.S. –
The plague has deprived Bucer of his wife and son, and also of his daughters.
You are aware that many learned men are absent. The friend from Basel who told
me of Carlstadt’s death told me a wonderful story about him: that people were
spitting on his grave and at his house, but it is not right to speak evil of
the dead.
We hear by way of Hungary that the Sultan’s
eldest son has broken away from his father and is stirring up war in Syria,
because the father wishes to give the kingdom to the younger brother. Eck has
written a foolish pamphlet against the Regensburg proceedings, pouring out the
vials of his wrath against Bucer, although he vilifies others as well.
Martin
Luther.
Letter of
consolation.
March 10,
1542.
Grace and
peace! Wait upon the Lord and act like a man, my dear Anton.
Were there no such thing as temptation to
try Christian faith, what would become of so many over-confident, lazy, and
self-indulgent Christians?
Most certainly just what has befallen the
Papacy. Now, as temptation serves as myrrh, aloes, rhubarb, and a
counter-irritant to the fleshly sins of the Christian’s body of death,
therefore it ought not to be lightly esteemed, and we must be on our guard
against willfully choosing our afflictions, but must accept those which God
sees fit to visit us with, and which will be most salutary for us, no matter
how heavy they may be.
Therefore be steadfast, and consider that
when we have to endure temptation, as is only right, we ought gladly to endure
those that are meted out to us rather than risk being visited with severer
trials, such as fire and sword, which the Papists would gladly inflict upon us.
And do not worry about your mother because she prefers living in Stolpe, under
Papal rule, rather than at Pirna. Pray always for her, and you have done
enough. The Bishop of Cologne is beginning to reform abuses in his diocese. We
have heard nothing new of the Turk, nor of our preparations. The Emperor has
issued an Edict in the Netherlands forbidding the persecution of the Lutherans.
After a two years’ pause the Bible gradually slipped into France among other
books. When Parliament, the monks, and sophists heard this, they were so
furious that they burned fifty of them; but the populace were so enraged, that
the King, fearing an insurrection, gave way. In much haste, and pray I may have
a happy release.
Martin
Luther.
Luther thanks
the Prince for a legal decision in his favor.
March 26,
1542.
Grace and
peace in Christ, and my poor paternoster, most gracious lord! I must discharge
my debt to you, for it is long since I wrote you, and thank you for the verdict
in connection with my Kathie. We are much pleased with it, for your goodness
will do much to promote peace and harmony.
Next, I must thank you for the wine,
although it is quite a superfluous gift.
In the third place, we have let the rector
and the university know that your Grace does not wish me to be taxed upon my
house and goods, but that its valuation should be taken, for which I render my
humble thanks. But I deem it right to let you know my thoughts on the subject,
and plead for them your gracious consideration.
I would gladly estimate, if I could, the
value of the great cloister house, but I fear that after my death my Kathie or
the children might dispute the assessment, seeing I have always had difficulty
in keeping it in repair with glass, iron, etc. Hearing that the house might
through time be used for military purposes, I purchased Hans Brun’s house for
my Kathie and the children for 400 florins and 20 for repairs, but have only
paid 120 which I owe, therefore I can hardly estimate it, seeing it is bonded
up to its value.
But I humbly beg your Grace to let me value
the rest, viz. the garden for 500 florins, the court with the garden 90, and a
small garden 20 florins. I would gladly be an example to others and pay my mite
towards the Turkish war expenses, for many give grudgingly. I do not wish them
to be envious of Dr. Martinus, because he does not need to give. And who knows
if God would not be as pleased with our offering as He was with that of the
poor widow; and I wish to be among those who would injure the Turk. For were I
not too old and frail I should like to be among the warriors. Nevertheless, our
prayers have long been with those on the field, for I fear our Germans have
been too foolhardy, having, to begin with, underrated the enemy, who is by no
means to be despised, having all the devils in hell on his side; and if God
with His angels does not become reconciled to us, I place little dependence
upon our might or our preparations. I herewith commit you to the dear God.
Amen. And I hope your Electoral Grace will not be offended because I delayed in
answering, for at present I am busy trying to put Mahommed into German, which
prevented me thinking of anything else.
Your
Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther still
anxious to receive the Prince’s present.
July 13,
1542.
Although I do
not trouble myself much about food, which concerns only myself, yet as a
married man and a debtor to my household, who, if he provide not for those of
his own household, is worse than an infidel, as St.
Paul declares, I pray to you to see that I
am not again cheated out of the Prince’s gift, which I value highly. You know
those birds of prey who see to themselves, and let neighborly love go to the
wall. I fear few of those stems are to be had in this quarter, hence their
eagerness. I wish to retain those purchased by my orders, whether firs or oaks,
instead of those which have been sold, if they can be kept uninjured till I
require them.
Farewell in the Lord. In haste. Loaded with
business.
Martin
Luther.
About Bibles
being delayed, etc.
July 25,
1542.
Health and
blessing in the Lord! You are annoyed, dear Doctor, about the Bibles being so
long of reaching you, but I told you how overwhelmed our bookbinders are with
work. Thus it is that many cannot receive their copies in less than six months.
I gave three to bind, and it was with the utmost difficulty I got one of them
out of their hands a month ago; the others I do not expect to see before
Michaelmas. Great people all send theirs here to be bound, and naturally they
precede us. One must not be offended with these people, but consider the
advantages they reap from the press of business. However, you shall soon
receive your two copies.
Concerning your Genesis I can promise
nothing, for the publishers object to large works, because they know from
experience that if they do not sell it is a great loss to them. If a preface
from me can be of any service to you, why plead for it, as you know I am always
ready. You would have been wiser to give your work to Socerius or someone in
Central Germany, as I wrote you, for these do nothing at all, so I am indignant
seeing good paper, beautiful lettering, and hard work bestowed on such
contaminating writings. Bucer and such-like, who ought not to write, do so
constantly.
You understand. I commend you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
advises that St. Moritz in Halle, which the Elector Albrecht had shut up,
should be opened for Evangelical service.
August 18,
1542.
Grace and
peace! My dear Herr Jonas, why hesitate as to opening the third church? The
time has come to which we looked forward when your burghermaster and syndic,
Dr. Kilian, were here. The Son of God, who has hitherto been trampled under
foot, has at length been glorified among His enemies, having won such a victory
as neither we nor His enemies could have believed possible. Christ has been
openly manifested; and although I have no desire that the Mayence monster
should fall a victim to God’s wrath and eternal perdition, still I rejoice that
the old knave has lived to see the confusion and irrevocable failure of his
diabolic projects. Praise be to God, who is judge upon the earth, and destroys
the work of the godless, so that bloody and deceitful men shall not live out
half their days. Let him now weep as he deserves, and await his punishment for
having rejoiced in wickedness and all that is against God, as well as in all
that is Godlike. Do join with us in thanking Him with loud voice, for He has
showed us wondrous things to His own glory, and has not despised the sighs of
the destitute, but has heard their cries. Thus, Lord, shall thine enemies
perish.
Amen.
Martinus
Luther.
Johannes
Pommeranus.
Caspar
Cruciger.
Philippus
Melanchthon.
Luther wishes
his son educated at a public school.
August 26,
1542.
Grace and
peace! I send you my son Hans, as we arranged, my dear Marcus, so that he may
be instructed in grammar and music along with the other boys, and at the same
time I hope you will attend to his manners and morals. I am committing a great
trust to you in the Lord. I shall never grudge the outlay, and you will report
his progress and let me know what should be done with him. I send Florian, one
of his schoolmates, with him, for it is important that boys should have others
to vie with. But you must be more strict with the latter, and if you can, board
him with a burgher; if not, send him back. God bless your efforts. If they
succeed, then I shall, if spared, send the other two boys; for in future we
shall not easily find such unwearied instructors, especially in the languages,
and such strict disciplinarians as you. Therefore, one must seize the
opportunity, for time flies, and competent teachers disappear even more
quickly. For more advanced studies they would be better here. Farewell in the
Lord, and say to Hans Walter that I pray for his welfare, and commit my little
son to his care in music. I can train theologians, but wish my children to have
grammar and music. So once more farewell, and greet Gabriel and his family. And
for the third time I wish you continued prosperity.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
for his son to see his dying sister.
September 6,
1542.
Grace and
peace, my dear Marcus! I beg of you to conceal from my son John what I now
write. My daughter Magdalene is nearing her end, and will soon depart to her
true Father in heaven unless God see fit to spare her. She longs so to see her
brother that I send a carriage to fetch him.
They loved one another tenderly, so perhaps
a sight of him will revive her.
I do my best, so that my fatherly heart may
not afterwards be torn by remorse. Desire him therefore, without telling him
why, to return at once. I shall send him back as soon as she has either fallen
asleep in the Lord or been restored to health. Farewell in the Lord. Say to him
we must have something private to communicate. All here are otherwise well.
Martin
Luther.
Luther tries
to convince Jonas of the Elector Albrecht’s insincerity.
September 23,
1542.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I abide by my opinion, my Jonas, that the Mayence Satan will
never alienate the Burgraviate of Halle, especially at such a price, and with
the stipulation that the gospel should have free course there. Whatever this
son of perdition says and does is pure deceit and lies. You remember that I
often said that the sun had never looked down upon anything so crafty upon
God’s earth as this man. He turns our Prince into ridicule, even as he makes
fun of everyone. Therefore, I consider that you Halle people are being
needlessly alarmed through false rumors; and this monster delights in beholding
the misery of the wretched, whether the torment be real or fanciful. At your
request I have earnestly admonished your son to obey his father, and such a
father, reminding him how grateful he should feel to God for letting him enjoy
such a blessing till he is nearing the years of maturity, one who can counsel
and help him in the slippery paths of youth, in a world so full of the
machinations of the devil. He promised to follow your advice and that of his
teachers.
I fancy that you have heard that my beloved
Magdalene has been reborn into Christ’s everlasting Kingdom. Although my wife
and I ought to rejoice on account of her happy end, still the tenderness of the
father’s heart is so great that we cannot think of it without sobs and sighs,
which tear asunder the heart. For the image of this most obedient and tenderly
loving daughter ever hovers before our eyes, with everything she said and did
in life as well as in death, that even the death of Christ (and what are all
deaths compared to that?) is almost powerless to obliterate the memory.
Therefore thank God for us. For has He not
honored us greatly in glorifying our child? You know how affectionate and
sensible she was, nay, how charming. Christ be praised for choosing her, and
calling her away, and glorifying her. I pray God that I and all of us may have
such a death, nay, such a life. This is my one petition to the Father of all
consolation and mercy. In Him may you and yours prosper. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Reply to
letter of consolation on Magdalene’s death.
October 29,
1542.
Grace and
peace! Many thanks, most excellent friend, for trying to console me on my
dearest daughter’s death. I loved her not only because she was my flesh, but
for her placid and gentle spirit and her dutifulness to me. But now I rejoice
that she is sleeping sweetly in her Heavenly Father’s home till that day. Alas,
for the days in which we live! And they are daily becoming worse. I pray that
we and all dear to us may be granted such a blessed hour of departure as was
her lot. I would call this really sleeping in the Lord, not experiencing one
pang of fear. This is the time of which Isaiah speaks, “The righteous is taken
away from the evil to come; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in
his uprightness,” just as when one gathers the wheat into the barn, and commits
the chaff to the flames, a punishment the world has deserved for her
ingratitude. Truly it is a Sodom. I should like to write you oftener, but you
write so seldom. I agree with you as to the reports about Heinz’s judgments and
threats. Your Meissen people are become a byword through this man at Merseburg,
where they portray themselves as so courageous and us so timid. The war
prospects give good reason for fear. I never thought we could achieve anything
against the Turks except squander our money and reap ridicule. What could God
accomplish with such tools? So we must pray without ceasing that He would
overcome this monstrosity, even as He did with the Papacy, with all its
abominations. Did you get my letter asking for a post for Dr.
Hieronymus Weller, who complains of the
indifference of the Freiberg people to the Divine Word? But as things are not
yet settled with you, this request may come at an inopportune time.
Comfort yourself in the Lord and be
steadfast, for you are Christ’s servant, who called you to this post, even if
you merely remain quietly in your place, preventing the devil occupying it,
although you should do nothing more all your life.
And thus how much more are you His servants
when you are not only not idle, but maintain a constant conflict, and purify
the people from sin through the Word of God. I commit you to God. My Kathie
greets you, although she often breathes a sigh over the memory of her beloved
and obedient daughter.
Martin
Luther.
Luther tries
to comfort his friend on the death of his amiable wife.
December 28,
1542.
Grace and
peace in Christ, who is our salvation and consolation, my dear Jonas! I have
been so thoroughly prostrated by this unexpected calamity that I do not know
what to write. We have all lost in her the dearest of friends. Her bright
presence, her eye so full of trust, all drew forth our love, especially as we
knew that she shared both our joys and sorrows as if they had been her own. A
bitter parting in very deed, for I hoped that after I was gone she would have
been the best of comforters for those I left behind. The deep longing after one
so distinguished by piety, propriety, and amiability makes me weep. Therefore I
can easily imagine your feelings.
Temporal consolation is of no avail here.
One must look solely to the unseen and eternal. She is our precursor into the
regions beyond, where we shall all be gathered on our dismissal from this vale
of tears and this corrupt world. Amen.
Mourn, therefore, as you have good cause to
do, but at the same time comfort yourself with the thought of the common lot of
humanity.
Although according to the flesh the parting
has been very bitter, nevertheless we shall be reunited in the life beyond, and
enjoy the sweetest communion with the departed, as well as with Him who loved
us so, that He purchased our life through His own blood and death. It is very
true that God’s mercy is better than life. What does it matter though we should
suffer a little here, when there we shall partake of joy unutterable? Oh, what
a gulf separates those Turks, Jews, and, still worse, those Papists, Cardinals
Heinz and Mainz, from this glory! Would they could weep now, so that they may
not mourn eternally! For we, after mourning a little while, shall enter into
joy, whither your Kathie and my Magdalena have gone, and are now beckoning us
to follow. For who is not weary of the abominations of our time, or rather of
this hell, which pains spirit and eye day and night?
I am too grieved on your account to write
more. My wife was thunderstruck when she heard the news, for she and your wife
were as one soul. We pray God to give you temporal consolation. For you have
good cause to rejoice when you know your pious wife has been snatched from your
side to enjoy everlasting life in heaven. And of this you cannot doubt, as she
fell asleep in Jesus with so many pious expressions of her faith in Him. Thus
also slumbered my little daughter, which is my great and only consolation. God,
who has tried you, will comfort you now and forever.
Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther begs
him to moderate his grief.
December 25,
1542.
Grace and
peace, my dearest Hans! I and thy mother and all the household are well. Do
endeavor manfully to conquer thy tears, that thou mayst not add to thy mother’s
distress, for she is only too prone to grieve. Obey God, who, through us,
desires you to work where you are, and then thou wilt easily overcome your weakness.
Thy mother cannot write, and does not think it necessary to repeat what she
said to you, viz. that you can come home if things go badly with you, but she
meant if you were ill. If this happen, let us know at once. Otherwise she hopes
you will cease this lamentation, and pick up heart and go quietly on with your
studies. May all go well with you in the Lord. Thy Father,
Martin
Luther.
Luther had
done away with the elevation of the sacramental elements in the Schloss Church
in 1542, and Bugenhagen had done the same in the Stadt Church. Bucer and
Melanchthon were in Cologne, promoting the Reformation there. In June the
Protestants met in Schmalkalden, and received the King of Sweden into their
bond. A new version of the Bible was published, and Matthesius gives a glimpse
of those engaged in the laborious work of supervision in Luther’s house.
Melanchthon, that master of Greek, was there, with Cruciger, so well versed in
Hebrew and Greek as well as in Chaldean, along with Bugenhagen with his intimate
knowledge of the Vulgate. And Justus Jonas and Aurogallus, Professor of Hebrew,
were also present, while George Rorer acted as corrector. Other learned guests
from afar often lent their aid.
About the
elevation of elements in the sacrament.
January 6,
1543.
Grace and
peace in Christ, esteemed, deeply learned dear sir! Your son brought me your
letters yesterday, but my head has not been in a state to look at them. I know
Dr. Stephen of Hof well, and that he has long wished for a change, but I knew
of nothing good enough or better than he now has; but so long as the Prince
will put up with him, I do not advise him to flee, for this scurrilous poem is
too trifling to make him play into the devil’s hands through flight or despondency.
For his servants go about murdering and plaguing the poor people, and he must
be willing to suffer with his brethren; for, he who will not suffer with Christ
and His saints takes the part of the devils and their angels, and he will hear
the angels in heaven laugh at him.
Concerning the elevation of the elements in
the sacrament, I shall await Philip’s return. These godless ceremonies are
giving us much more trouble than greater and more essential matters, as they
have always done. I doubt if it be wise to publish anything on the subject. I
fear we shall never agree in all the churches concerning forms of church
service, even as it was impossible to do so in the Papacy. For although we
arrange this or that here, others will not be led by us. Even the Apostles
themselves found it equally difficult with their rites, so had to leave each
free as to eating, dressing, and behaving himself. But more of this when I have
considered the matter. I commit you to God. Amen.
I beg you sometimes to plead with God that I
may have a tranquil departure. I am quite overworked and exhausted, and the
head is useless. I crave grace and mercy, and these I have received, and shall
receive increasingly. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
justifies himself. The Venetians complain of sacramental disputes, and Luther
blames the Zwinglians.
January 20,
1543.
Grace and
peace! You complain, dear one, that I do not answer your letters, and said you
had not enclosed your annotations on Moses because we scholars looked down on
such crude work. It is not very good taste to fling such an accusation in any
man’s face. You must know that I have less leisure than you. I, feeble,
worn-out old man, am without such things, overburdened with letter-writing, and
am longing for my last hour in order to rest from work. I can see no other end
of this everlasting writing and tempestuous life. And how could you fancy I
despised your work when I accompanied my remarks with a laborious preface? That
I have not thanked you, proceeds merely from weariness of writing, which may be
pardoned in an old exhausted man overwhelmed with work.
I now send you my lectures on the first
forty-one chapters of Genesis, through Mr. George Rorer, who also has his hands
full, and is himself the servant of the printer’s servants. He is not to blame
if they please you as little as they do me. They have too many words for my
taste, and more stress might have been laid on such an important subject. I
have nearly finished the first book of Moses, being at chapter 45th. May the
Lord enable me to finish the work, or take me away from this transient, sinful
life! Join me in praying for this.
I had a glimpse of the Pope’s letter to the
Emperor, and of the Bull of the Council of Trent, which opens on Sunday Latare.
May the Lord Christ once more defeat those godless scoffers! I am much pleased
with Osiander’s pamphlet against the Zwinglian rascals. Spalatin still lives,
but is so weak that he often cannot taste food. The Lord keep him. He is an
excellent man. My Kathie thanks you for the quinsy juice, and I for the poetess
you sent, and for your kind offer to serve me, which you best can do by praying
that I may have a happy exit out of this world. I am worn out and fit for
nothing. May you and yours prosper in the Lord. Amen.
Martin
Luther
Letter of
sympathy.
January 26,
1543.
Grace and
peace! I have had such severe headaches, dear Jonas, that I could neither read
nor write, so I have not yet read your translation. I can easily believe that
your recent loss is daily becoming harder to bear; and now that you are
recovering from your prostration the longing for communion with the best of
women is reviving within you. But the unalterable must be overcome through
patience. God Himself, the great Healer, will heal this wound also. Our only
news is that the Elector of Brandenburg is in very bad odor because of the war
he is waging in Hungary. And Ferdinand himself is not much better spoken of.
From all I hear the most disgraceful treachery is at the root of the whole
enterprise; and may God Himself prevent worse evils. Oh, the mad rage of the
devil!
The messenger is in haste, so I must close.
More again. I commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
rejoices at the spread of the gospel in Dantzic.
March 7,
1543.
I devoured
your letters with the greatest delight, rejoicing to hear of the wonderful
progress the Word of God is making in Dantzic. May the Lord perfect His work,
which He began through you! You say the king and bishops have forbidden the
sacrament to the people, for which they are longing. If they had sufficient
faith and courage to do God’s will, in preference to that of man, then I would
advise them to risk partaking of it.
Any magistrate who is not opposed to the
rite could find excuses for them with the king. He could say it was not his
duty to interfere in church matters or introduce innovations, or, in other
words, to teach God knowledge. For when the king forbade preaching in Dantzic
there existed another state of matters there, serious disturbances being rife
among the citizens. Now that they are at one, having received the greater, viz.
the Word of God, why should they be forbidden accepting the lesser? For, in an exigency,
one can do without the sacrament, but not without the Divine Word. But should
things be otherwise now, that outweighs the reasons for this participation in
the sacrament. Nevertheless do not desist from preaching the Word or forsake
the church, but steadfastly proclaim the doctrine of the sacraments. So, if
they cannot have the ordinance now, let believers still long earnestly for it,
and comfort themselves through their faith in it, till the Lord hear their
earnest prayer, and strengthen them to confess their faith openly, and enter
into the full enjoyment of the sacrament.
The main point has already been achieved
when the administration of the church has been reformed.
May the Lord strengthen you and all your
believing ones with His Holy Spirit, that you may have courage to bring matters
to a happy conclusion.
God grant this.
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
Luther pleads
for a deposed pastor.
April 4,
1543.
Grace and
peace! The bearer, Conrad, who declares, my excellent Myconius, that you
deposed him from his charge at Ersnod, insisted I should write you. He
complains that after long years of work he is plunged into poverty with five
children depending on him. To get rid of him I send him back to you, pleading you
will listen to him and help him to the utmost, so that he may not perish of
hunger. I am not reflecting on you in the slightest, having always had the
highest opinion of you. But I could not turn a deaf ear to his misery.
I shall be truly delighted if you are once
more restored to health; and I pray God to spare you. When I was so often at
the gates of death this year, I felt as if I were suffocated by the burdens of
the world. May the Lord grant me a blessed release and hasten that glorious
day. May it be soon – very soon, Amen – so that the world may cease to rage
against His Name and Word. God grant this.
Martin
Luther.
April 5,
1543.
Grace and
peace! Our Joachim has asked my opinion as to sacred plays founded upon Holy
Scripture, which some of our clergy disapprove of. In few words I shall tell
you what I think. All are commanded to make known the Word of God in some way
or other, not only by words but by pictures – carved work, writings, psalms,
hymns, and musical instruments; as the Psalm says: “Praise the Lord with harp,”
etc.; and Moses says: “Thou shall bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and
they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes: and write them upon the posts of
thy house.” Moses wishes God’s Word to be ever before men’s eyes, and this
cannot be more easily attained than by means of such plays, which are at the
same time serious and modest and free from the jugglery which tainted them in Papal
times.
Such plays have often more influence over
the people than public preaching. In South Germany, where Evangelical preaching
is forbidden, many have been led to receive the gospel through such
representations of the law and gospel. When given with a desire to further the
progress of truth, and represented in a serious and modest manner, they are by
no means to be condemned. May you prosper with your excellent Princes, whom I
hope God will long spare to you for the sake of His Church.
Martin Luther.
Concerning
his friend’s second marriage.
May 4, 1543.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I have no intention, my excellent Jonas, of standing in the
way of your marriage, or of anything pertaining to your prosperity, but would
rather try to promote both. I only pleaded for delay in my last letter, and
this solely because of the calumnies of the enemy and of those who try to
blacken our actions; and although such scandal does not injure us, still, as
Cato says, it is a heavy burden to bear without any cause. Still, if you feel
yourself strong enough to rise above the ill-will of the devil and his friends,
then go on in God’s name and do not dream of delay. Give up every dream of
shutting people’s mouths and of winning their favor. You need not hesitate
because of our Prince; he spoke very kindly of you lately. Still I wish you to
stir up as little malice in our opponents as possible. I have heard your bride
highly praised. God grant she may possess the many virtues of your Kathie –
nay, surpass her whose memory is sacred. May the children and stepmother love
each other dearly, and may she make up for the loss of the best of mothers.
Martin
Luther.
Luther pleads
for one behind in his payments.
August 30,
1543.
Grace and
peace! I can quite believe that you require your money. On the other hand, I
also see that with the good Bruno, I know not how, nothing seems to succeed. He
requires assistance from all quarters. The farmers are so greedy that they
grudge their pastors a bit of bread. I therefore plead with you – especially as
you can do without your money with little injury to yourself – to have patience
with Bruno. We are planning, if possible, to have him transferred to a richer
living. I would not trouble you with this request did I not think you could do
me this favor without damaging yourself.
Concerning Spalatin, I also beg you, as far
as you can, to be patient with this, in other respects, so good and excellent
man. So as Satan once upon a time appeared among the children of God – nay,
even among the angels in heaven – what wonder then if he mixes among us to sift
and winnow us?
And with Spalatin old age is beginning to
tell upon him, and especially the want of the repose which he enjoyed under
three Princes. Therefore he must be treated with the consideration due to an
experienced man, and not as a novice who can be twisted like a branch. Old
stems can be broken but not bent; and old dogs cannot be bridled. So in order
to live in peace, patience is necessary. This is merely a reminder. You know
best yourself what to do. I herewith commend you to God.
Martin
Luther.
August 31,
1543.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, honored and good friend! I have received the present of the
Bible which you sent by your manager, and I thank you for it. But seeing it is
the work of your preachers, with whom neither I nor the Church of God can have
any communion, I am sorry that their labor should be in vain. They have been
sufficiently warned to quit their errors and not take the poor people to hell
with them. But admonition is useless, therefore they must go their own way, but
never again send me any of their work. I shall be no partaker of their
damnation or damnable doctrines, but pray and teach against them to my end. May
God convert them and help the poor churches to get rid of such false, seductive
preachers. Amen. Although at present they laugh at all this, one day they shall
weep when they find themselves sharers of Zwingli’s fate, whom they follow. May
God preserve you and all blameless hearts from their spirit. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
requests his friend to prosecute his Biblical work.
November 7,
1543.
Grace and
peace! Magister Rorer, who has the mastery over me, ordered me to write to you,
my dear Dietrich. Perhaps I might have paid no attention to my master’s
command, being rather incensed against him, had he not used all his eloquence
to convince me that it was necessary to spur you on to continue your labors on
my first book of Moses. Perhaps I might have resisted him with a flow of
rhetoric, had I not at length been mollified by the dialectic commonplaces:
“When a beginning has once been made, it is disgraceful to retreat, in case
Moses himself should upbraid us in that well-known proverb, ‘Rather do not
allow the guest into the house than throw him out of the window.’ “ You also
could chant such-like phrases from the Greek. I must confess to not being at
all pleased with my works.
How much is wanting that ought to be found
in them? But I comfort myself with St. Paul’s words: “Who is sufficient for
these things?” If we refused to open our mouths till we felt qualified to do
so, then Christ would never be preached. But it is well for us that out of the
mouths of babes He prepareth strength, and through Moses’ stammering lips, or,
as it is in the original, through him who was slow of speech, he demolished the
land of Egypt and the Canaanites; and by means of unlearned apostles
transformed the face of the globe. So give ample satisfaction to my master, M.
Rorer. How can I be gracious to you if you are unjust to him? Pray for me. I
commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
regrets that his health has prevented him visiting his friend.
November 7,
1543.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I am quite indignant at myself, my honored Bishop, that I
have so often been prevented visiting you. Yesterday everything was packed for
setting off, and then something came between to prevent me. It seems as if God
permitted Satan to hinder it. Therefore, if God will, I shall hurry to your
arms on the first favorable opportunity without making previous plans. For I am
anxious to see you once again before I die. My head has been a good deal better,
and although the physicians have made a wound in my foot, that would not have
prevented my journey. They did it to try to heal my head, but as yet without
result. I fear my disease is old age, along with overwork and many conflicts,
and, above all, the assaults of Satan. Medical science is powerless against all
these. Meantime I let them do as they will, in case they look upon me as my own
enemy, or fancy I think them in error. My head is again beginning to ache with
no apparent cause. I believe it is the devil. I write all this to let you know
how I long to come to you as soon as God permits.
I have no news, and no desire to hear any.
The world is the world, has ever been the world, and will remain the world,
which knows nothing of Christ, and has no desire to. For the unspeakable
neglect of the Word and the inexpressible sighs of the pious are palpable signs
that the world is hastening to destruction, and that our redemption is near.
Amen. God grant it. Amen.
It was thus before the flood with the world,
and before the destruction of Sodom, and before the Babylonian captivity, and
before Jerusalem’s fall, and the devastation of Rome, and the calamities in
Greece and Hungary; and it will be, and now is, before Germany’s downfall. They
will not hear, therefore they must be made to feel. I should like to discuss
those matters more fully with you for our mutual comfort. Still we must sing
with Jeremiah: “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed.”
Farewell in the Lord, who is our salvation,
and who will bless us to all eternity. From the heart of
Martin
Luther.
Luther
promises to write a preface to a book of Spalatin’s.
November 23,
1543.
To the highly
esteemed Herr George Spalatin, Bishop of Meissen, faithful shepherd at
Altenburg, my superior in the Lord. Grace and peace! Your little book pleases
me greatly, dear Spalatin, except the allusion to the conventual life of the
nun, against which I shall warn the readers in the preface, or if you prefer to
do this yourself, you can have it back. Besides I do not like to cut jokes in
prefacing other people’s books; thus it shall be printed at once.
My Kathie begs that if my people require
your counsel or help, you will give it unhesitatingly. For she sends her horses
and carts to fetch the remaining pieces of wood while the weather and roads are
good. She says the eleven were hewn, but twenty-four belonging to her still
remain to be hewn. She will procure whatever may be necessary for the work. May
you and your wife prosper in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Concerning
the Hebrew Chair in Wittenberg.
December 3,
1543.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene Highborn Prince, most
gracious Lord! The Hebrew Chair is now vacant through the death of Aurogallus,
and as some may be applying for it, I would most humbly beg your Electoral
Grace to bestow it upon M. Lucas Edenberger, not only because he has difficulty
in maintaining himself in these times, but because he is well known to your
Grace and all of us as a faithful and industrious man, and zealous for the
purity of the faith, all of which are very necessary for one who is to teach
Hebrew. For there are many Hebrew scholars who are more Rabbinical than
Christian, and yet the fact is, whoever does not see Christ in the Old
Testament and in the Hebrew tongue sees nothing and talks like the blind about
color. Now M. Lucas is a thorough theologian and well qualified to teach
Hebrew, and has served your Grace. Now who knows or has proved those recently
arrived here?
Your Electoral Highness will graciously
grant my humble request, asked with good cause and from no wrong motive. I
commend you to God, who will help you and all pious princes and lords in these
difficult times, when Satan is so full of evil devices. Amen. Your Electoral
Highness’s humble
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s
former boarder, who wrote the first Life of Luther, given in a series of
lectures to a Bible Class.
December 14,
1543.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! M. Caspar writes me that you are much disquieted over the
tyranny of this most wretched King Ferdinand, who has decided to banish all
married pastors from his dominions. I should be surprised if the Bohemians
consented to this mad act. Still, they may do so.
But what would be the result? Are
Ferdinand’s the only lands in the world?
Has Christ no other land which would gladly
receive His grace? And will not He who casts down kings forsake Ferdinand’s
kingdom as the land of His wrath? Why fear nightmares? Rather be full of
confidence in God’s strength. Despise this water-bubble, who does not know
whether he may be a king or a worm tomorrow. But we shall reign with Christ to
all eternity, while he shall burn in hell with the devil. I herewith commit you
to God.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
receives a copy of the Bull condemning him in Rome twenty-five years before.
December 16,
1543.
Grace and
peace! I received your letter, my Jonas, with the enclosed copy of the Bull in
which Luther was condemned twenty-five years ago. You know what, since then,
has been written, spoken, and attempted in every way to accomplish our
destruction. And what do they still leave untried?
This fury against us is, as the Scripture
says, everlasting, like that eternal fire which will never cease, and which
awaits them. For even in hell they will not stop maligning God’s Son. Praise be
to God, who has separated us from their society through His holy calling.
Concerning the progress of the war, about which you write us, we only know that
the Emperor put the French to flight, avoiding a battle. He is probably
imitating the cunning of the Turks, who weary out the enemy, refusing to fight
unless compelled to; meanwhile the expense incurred disgusts and tires us out.
Did you hear that the Emperor said to the
Herzog of Julich: “I have paid more money for your generals than for the whole
war.” And the Prince of Nassau Orange said to his uncle: “Ah, dear uncle, what
will you gain from the Emperor? Your officers have cost him more money than all
the war.”
What will be the outcome of all this
treachery on the part of princes and kings? War is now carried on with money,
not with arms. The soldiers are paid by their princes, and receive presents
from the enemy. Through such valor was Luxemburg taken, the French general
paying 20,000 ducats to the Emperor’s mercenaries to deliver up the town and
pretend they were conquered. It is also said that Andrea von Doria concluded a
secret understanding with Barbarossa at sea, saying: “Are we among friends?
Why should we destroy one another? Thy as
well as my lord will still remain Emperor!” Truly a heroic way of bleeding
kings, princes, and peoples! What will be left for the poor man if we have to
satisfy these insatiable demands? We shall soon feel this diabolic greed in our
pockets.
And lastly, it is reported that the Turks
have massacred three thousand citizens and old men and also pastors in
Stuhlweissenburg, so that their corpses were heaped over the town walls. Satan
is becoming afraid, and rages, because his time is short. May the Lord protect
His own, or enable them through His joyful spirit to mock at his wrath, whether
they may be preserved or destroyed.
It is said that the Emperor intends to
reinstate the Herzog of Brunswick, but through what means I know not. Let us
pray for our princes. For I doubt not, if a war broke out, that our Centauren
would do as the Julich people did – after they had squeezed everything out of
our princes, they would sell them for money. Money, only money! This is the
maxim of those in power. They will sacrifice nothing for the Fatherland. They
only wish to enrich themselves, and under the pretext, or by means of the
opportunity which war affords, swallow up everything. “Devour” in the devil’s
name; hell will give you enough of this. Come, Lord Jesus, and hear the sighs
of Thy Church! Hasten Thy appearing, for the evils are coming to a height. I
have written this in order to write something. Farewell, and teach your church
to hasten the day of the Lord through their prayers. God will listen to the
sighing for the day of redemption. All the signs foretell this. Your own
Martin
Luther.
Wittenberg.
The Diet of
Speyer met on February 20. The Elector came with a brilliant retinue, and was
received with great respect by Charles V., who required help against the
French, as Ferdinand did against the Turk. The Protestants tried to gain
favorable terms for themselves. The question of secret marriage engagements
came up this year. The worry this caused, and the renewed disputes on the
Sacrament with the Swiss, made Luther ill. He said he would leave Wittenberg,
but by his birthday Melanchthon wrote joyfully to Dietrich that he, Cruciger,
Bugenhagen, Jonas, etc., had dined with him, and lovingly discussed Church
matters.
The
Wittenberg lawyers ratify Caspar Beier’s secret marriage engagement.
January 22,
1544.
Grace and
peace and my poor paternoster! I humbly desire to inform your Grace that secret
engagements are again common here. Many young people are here from many lands,
so that the maidens have become very bold, and pursue the students into their
rooms, offering them their love; and I hear some parents are ordering their
sons home, declaring that we hang women about their necks, depriving them of
their sons, and thus give this fine school of learning a bad name. I fancied
your Grace had ordered secret engagements to be done away with. So, as I sat
securely here, I was shocked by a verdict of our Consistorium upon a private
engagement.
Therefore I was moved to preach a powerful
sermon against them on the following Sabbath, saying we must adhere to the old
paths, which from time immemorial have been inculcated in the Holy Scriptures
and among the heathen, as well as among ourselves, viz. that parents shall
dispose of their children without any previous engagement, which is an
invention of the Pope, at the devil’s instigation, to undermine the God-given
authority of the parents, robbing them of their children, to their deep grief,
instead of said children honoring them according to God’s command. This would
have happened to Philip and his wife had I not preached this sermon.
They would have pined for their son, who had
been led astray by evil companions till he secretly and solemnly engaged
himself, and I had difficulty in setting him free. I also recall the case of
Herzog Philip with his son Ernest and Starstedel’s daughter, of which your
Grace knows, and something similar nearly happened in my house. Now, as these
secret vows are certainly the work of the devil and the Papacy to undermine
God’s command to prevent them entering into a happy marriage, I shall not suffer
this church of Christ, of which I am pastor, and of which I must render account
to God, the Holy Ghost, to tolerate them. I have proclaimed from the pulpit
that a child cannot become engaged himself; and that if he do, it is no
engagement, and a father must not acquiesce therein, now that we know what is
the origin of all this misery. Therefore I humbly request that your Grace would
once more, for God’s sake, exercise your authority with the princely powers
against Pope and devil, so that we may be in a better position to drive out of
our church this devil, the secret oath, so that poor parents may be able to
train and retain their children in security.
Therefore I plead that Caspar Beier, who has
appealed from the Consistorium to your Grace, should be set free before you
leave for the Diet, for it has been a slow process. I could have arranged it in
a day, but they have been at it since Whitsuntide, and have merely discovered a
private vow and the weak will of the father, who declares that he never wished
it should take place, but they seemed determined not to understand.
Certainly the son in his four years’
engagement neither asked his parents’ consent nor that of the maiden’s parents,
which is unusual when young men are in love; but let the vow fall into abeyance
till the maiden’s people appeal to the father.
Still all this is nothing so long as the
poisoned vow, the oath, remains unrefuted. Your Electoral Grace will act
wisely, for in this insignificant work your Grace will be doing a glorious
service to God and to many others, besides affording consolation to all parents
and preventing numberless dangers to many souls. May the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, to whom be praise to all eternity, help your Electoral Grace in all such
matters. Amen.
Your Electoral
Grace’s humble servant,
Martin
Luther.
Luther
accounts for delay in printing a little book, etc.
January 30,
1544.
Grace and
peace! You sometimes write in an annoyed tone, dear Spalatin, as if you did not
know where your little book was. I do not take your love towards the fruit of
your humor (witz ) in bad part, seeing you joke about your love for me. But I
must inform you that the book is in the hands of the printers. But the press is
so full that it cannot be finished as quickly as you wish. You perhaps do not
know how we are driven, but I may tell you that never in my life have I had
more worry in connection with the gospel than in the year upon which we have
entered. For I have a very hard battle with the lawyers over secret
engagements. And it is from those whom I regarded as the truest friends of the
gospel that I have had most opposition. Is that not enough to annoy me, dear
Spalatin? Therefore, have patience with my remissness, if that is what you
mean. For if I did not love you dearly, I would not be writing you now with so
much to worry me.
But your little book shall be seen to as far
as I can, for I like it well.
Farewell, and pray for the church – that is,
ourselves. Our enemies in our midst do more harm than outward foes, like Judas
among the apostles. But the crucified triumphs and the crucifiers perish. Greet
your dear wife. My Kathie sends you those roots, which you may not have, and I
think them a very good remedy against stone. It has helped me and many others.
Once more farewell, and be assured I do not despise your book. You are my
oldest and best friend, and would be the last to be lightly esteemed by me, and
I wished to explain to you all my worries, and if I may apparently sometimes be
found wanting in regard to what is due to you, still you are very dear to me,
and will always remain so. Again farewell in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
Luther thanks
her for sending a pastor to Brettin.
February 10,
1544.
To the Serene
High-born Princess Frau Elizabeth of the royal line of Denmark. Grace and
peace! I was delighted to see from your Grace’s letter that you are willing to
appoint M. Johannes Faber to a living in Brettin.
Your Electoral Highness has thereby done a
good work, and as they know him there, I hope they will accept him out of
gratitude, and that he will bring forth fruit, and God give His blessing
thereto. It is ever my duty, and I am only too willing to serve your Grace. May
the dear God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Electoral
Highness at all times. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
This letter
shows Luther’s opinion of the combatant at Gotha.
February 23,
1544.
Grace and
peace! Forgive a short letter, dear Friedrich. More again when I have more
leisure. Yours, telling me that you were faithfully fulfilling the duties of
your office in reconciling Morlin with the Arnstadt people, gave me the
greatest pleasure. For this misunderstanding placed me most awkwardly at a time
when unanimity and prayer are so necessary. Do not trouble consulting me, for I
am quite satisfied with your mediation.
Whomsoever you forgive is forgiven by me. I
quite believe some preachers are too ready to flare up, but I also know that in
towns there are many despotic people, and very many nobles who torment their
pastors. More of this again. I wish you were stronger, but when you feel you
cannot speak, I beseech you think of your health. It is better that you should
live, even if half dumb, than die with a clear voice. You can, even if half
dead, serve the Church through your counsel and position. And you must see how
necessary are the old and tried combatants for Christ, that through them the
growing and still tender generations, who are one day to fill our place, may
receive strength. For although the Holy Spirit does not need our help, still it
was not for no purpose that He called us to office, but to make us His tools to
carry out His designs. Farewell in the Lord, and pray for me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
comforts her under her husband’s absence at Speyer.
March 30,
1544.
To the Serene
High-born Princess and Lady, etc. My most gracious lady, grace and peace! I
would most humbly thank your Electoral Grace for asking so particularly after
my health and about my wife and children, and also for all your good wishes.
God be thanked that things are much better with us than we deserve.
That my head should at times be good for
nothing is not to be wondered at. Old age brings many ailments with it. The
pitcher that goes long to the well breaks at last. I have lived long enough.
God grant me a peaceful end, so that the useless, moth-eaten carcass may come
underground to its people, and the worms not be done out of their due. Just
watch. I have seen the best I shall ever see upon earth, for it looks as if
evil times were at hand. God help His own! Amen. That your Royal Highness finds
herself very solitary in the absence of her husband I can easily understand,
but seeing it is necessary for the good of Christianity, we must patiently
submit to the Divine Will. And with others we have our dear God’s Word, which
comforts and sustains us in this life, and promises us blessedness in the life
to come. And we have also prayer, which (as your Grace writes) we know is well
pleasing to God, and will be heard at the right time. Two such unspeakable gems
neither devil, Turk, nor Pope can have, and thus they are poorer than any
beggar upon earth. For these great blessings we must thank God, the Father of
all mercies in Christ Jesus, His dear Son, that He has given us such a costly
treasure, and called us through His grace, unworthy as we are, to such an
inheritance, so that we may not only be able to endure patiently the passing
evils of this blinded, miserable world, but may have compassion on those
exalted heads who have not been considered worthy to partake of such grace. May
God yet enlighten them, so that they also may, with us, see, know, and
understand it. Amen. My Kathie offers her poor paternoster on your behalf, and
humbly thanks your Electoral Grace for so kindly thinking of her. I herewith
commit you to the dear God. Amen. Your Royal Highness’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
requests Peutinger’s removal from Sweden.
April 12,
1544.
To the Mighty
Serene High-born Prince Christian of Denmark, Holstein, etc. Grace and peace
and my poor paternoster, mighty and gracious king!
The poor forsaken wife, Katherine Peutinger,
has asked me to write your Majesty about this matter. There is a wicked
scoundrel with the King of Sweden who calls himself Dr. Peutinger, and through
his lies and arts is now Chancellor, and I hear lives like a lord. This same
rascal is a furrier’s son at Frankfort-on-Main, is no doctor, and has wandered
through the land practicing all sorts of knavery, among which is this, that he
married Frau Katherine, of good family, living with her openly, and deserted
her some years ago, leaving her destitute. Over and above, he boasts that he
has been divorced from her (which is not true) through Dr. Luther and M.
Philip, and has married another – of the Kockeritz family – who is now with him
in Sweden. Now His Majesty has been written to on the subject, and I also have
written him, but the fellow knows how to make away with letters. Therefore the
only hope of reaching His Majesty of Sweden is through your Majesty. Hence it
is my most humble request that you would perform this work of mercy, and
graciously see to it that those letters come into the hands of the King of
Sweden, for no one doubts that did His Swedish Majesty know the truth
concerning this rascal, he would see that he got justice. May your Majesty
graciously take this, my humble petition, in good part. I could not refuse to
write you, for the matter is notorious, both land and people being able to
vouch for its truth, and the poor wife has almost to beg her bread of penury
from her friends. I herewith commit you to the dear God. Amen. Your Majesty’s
obedient servant,
Martin
Luther.
Luther
purposes visiting Amsdorf.
May 23, 1544.
Grace and
peace! It is not necessary, most esteemed father in the Lord, to send an escort
to meet me. I intend travelling over our Prince’s lands by Grimma and Borna.
When I leave Borna (close to my villa Zulsdorf) for Zeitz I shall let you know.
I purposed leaving the Monday after Exaudi, but as there is to be a creation of
doctors that week I must alter my plans. But I shall start as secretly as
possible the Wednesday after Ascension if my health, years, and time permit.
Farewell, and pray that nothing may prevent my longed-for journey. I am telling
no one, and do you the same. I once more commit you to God.
Martin
Luther.
Journey
deferred.
June 4, 1544.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I was resolved to be in Leipsic today, whence I would have
written regarding the escort, as I never dreamed of being sent to Dibon. I
purposed travelling to Leipsic in one day. If my letter which Dr.
Bruck handed to the Prince’s messenger has
not arrived, I must inform you that the Prince himself will be in Zeitz in
fifteen days, when Dr. Bruck and I shall meet you.
Dr. Bruck has told me this by the Prince’s
desire, so we must obey him, else the Prince might fancy we slighted his
wishes. I hope this may hasten rather than delay my journey, so you must have
patience. Dr. Bruck thinks it unsafe to travel at present, as the peasants are
again seized with a fresh paroxysm of rage against the Prince, and it is feared
they intend assaulting him, so we must not tempt God. May Christ prosper our
meeting.
Farewell. Late on evening I received your
letter.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
comforts her under her husband’s imprisonment.
July 8, 1544.
Grace and
peace in our dear Savior, honored and virtuous lady! God, who hears my sighs,
knows how I grieve over your misfortunes. Yes, all feel deeply for the good man
who has fallen into the hands of the enemy. May God hear our prayers and those
of all pious hearts. For many supplications are ascending for him, and such
prayers are always answered, being agreeable to God. Meantime let us comfort
ourselves with the Divine assurance that He will never forsake His own. The
Psalms are full of this, and we know that our Hausherr is strong in the faith
that is in Christ Jesus, being adorned with many lovely fruits of the same.
Therefore it is impossible that God should cast him from His presence, having
called him through His sacred Word, so He will ever keep him under His
protection.
He is the same God who has protected him all
his life long till this misfortune befell him, and remains the same, although
for a little He may appear otherwise to try our faith and patience. He said in
John, “Ye shall weep and lament,” etc. And our sufferings are nothing in
comparison to those of His dear Son. We would not be true Christians if we did
not suffer with Christ. The devil and his angels, who now rejoice over our
misfortunes, will one day have to howl and weep, while ours will be the
glorious assurance that “all things work together for good to those who love
God.” Therefore, dear lady, suffer and be patient, for you do not suffer alone.
Many godly hearts sympathize with you, who will fulfill Matthew 25:43: “In
prison, and ye visited me.” Yes, truly, thousands of us visit dear Baumgartner
in captivity – that is, we cry unto the Lord, who is taken captive in His
member, that He would deliver him, and let us all rejoice with you. May the
same Lord Jesus comfort and strengthen your heart, through His Spirit, in a
patient endurance to a blessed conclusion of this misfortune and all
misfortunes, to whom be praise and honor and glory to all eternity. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther just
home from Zeitz, weak and weary.
August 27,
1544.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord! I would
gladly come to Bernburg, but have just returned from Zeitz, so tired of driving
that I can neither walk nor stand, and scarcely even sit, from which I augur
the speedy approach of death. May God graciously help. Therefore I must keep
quiet and rest till I improve, whether through life or death, as God wills it.
May our dear Lord Jesus impart to my gracious Prince George the rich spirit of
grace to rule his bishopric, for there has been much to do, and the work has
been much neglected by the former Bishops. But He who has begun will perfect
the work.
Amen. Commending you to the dear God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
A letter of
thanks.
August 27,
1544.
Honored
Father in the Lord – In the first place make my excuses to your steward. I was
most anxious for him to return when we reached Borna, and still more so when we
came to Eulenburg, for then I was almost at my own door, but he persisted in
accompanying me to Wittenberg. And I must accuse you also of having borne the
whole expenses of the journey, so that I have not spent a farthing. And your
episcopal possessions are not as yet so great that you can afford to be so
lavish. In addition you have, unknown to me, put a silver cup and spoon, as did
the patriarch Jacob’s host, thereby almost making me the thief of your
belongings against my will, perhaps wishing to follow Joseph’s example, who
caused his cup to be placed in his brother Benjamin’s sack. But you are aware
how ill it befits me, a poor divine, born and living in a small place, to drink
out of gold or silver, thus giving cause of offence to many of the enemies of
the Word among ourselves. Should I become lifted up thereby, I shall blame your
injudicious prodigality. Thank you very warmly for your kindness, and if the
prayers of an old sinner have any power, they shall not be wanting on your
behalf, although it is my duty to remember you at all times, without any
presents, according to the Divine command and the extreme need of all of us.
Farewell in the Lord, and may He guide your
steps and prosper the work of your hands to the benefit of many. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wishes
Dr. Jonas to be left at Halle.
November 8,
1544.
Grace and
peace and my poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious
Lord! My dear friend Dr. Jonas is here and has told me all, so I give him this
letter, with my humble opinion of the matter. In the first place, the lectureship
must be filled up at once, as was arranged, and no one can presume to interfere
with the manner in which your Grace does it.
But as Dr. Jonas cannot, without injury to
the church at Halle, be removed, it is advisable to let him remain there, as the
wicked worm in Mayence still lives, who must be kept in constant uneasiness so
long as Jonas is there, who deprives him of his adherents and annoys him more
than he likes. This is how the matter stands, if your Electoral Grace will only
permit him to remain at Halle, giving him for eight or nine years 140 florins
yearly. My dear Dr. Bruck has also written about this to your Grace, and Dr.
Jonas will give you the letter, so if it be settled that he be set free from
his chair, your Grace will graciously grant him the said number of florins for
these years. He will always be ready to obey any call hither, as member of the
Theological Faculty, not only in the service of your Grace, but of the whole
University, for he does not wish to be loosed from the University here, and
Halle would gladly fall in with this arrangement. Therefore I humbly request
your Grace to accede to this, for he is now one of the oldest members (Dieners)
both in church and schools, and is worthy of this, and far more, and who knows
how God will requite it. His children are growing up, and there is much to
consider. Your Grace will know how to act in a gracious and Christian manner. I
commend you to the dear God.
Saturday.
Your
Electoral Grace’s humble servant,
Martin
Luther.
Luther
complains of overwork and old age.
December 2,
1544.
You are
always urging me to write a little book upon Church Discipline, but you do not
say where I am to find leisure and strength to do so, now that I am an old and
worn-out man. And I am burdened with letter-writing without end; besides, I
promised the young princes a sermon upon drunkenness. I have promised others to
write upon secret engagements and against the Sacramentarians; while again some
demand I should leave everything else alone and write a commentary upon the
whole Bible, while meantime, with so many importunities, I do nothing.
I fancied that I, a used-up old man, would
not have been grudged a little quiet and peace before I fell asleep. But thus I
am pressed on all sides to lead a life of worry. But I shall do what I can, and
the rest must be left undone. Many thanks for all your kind feelings towards
me. May you prosper in the Lord, and pray for me, as I do for you all. I am
sorry to hear that Dr. Daniel (Gresser) is thinking of leaving the flock at
Dresden. May the Lord do what pleaseth Him. Greet your dearest wife from me.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
complains of bad times, and speaks of his daughter’s illness.
December 5,
1544.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I shall write you very shortly, my dear Probst, to let you
hear from me in case you might fancy I had forgotten you or did not esteem you.
I am weary, tired, and chilled; in short, an old man who is of no more use. I
have run my race, and nothing now remains but that I should be gathered to my
fathers, and the worms and corruption receive their prey. I have lived long
enough, if this be life. Pray for me that the hour of my departure may be well
pleasing to God and salutary for me.
The Emperor and the whole kingdom does not
concern me, except that I commend them to God in prayer.
It appears to me as if the world itself were
approaching its end, and, as the Psalm says, waxing old like a garment that is
soon to be renewed. Amen.
The Princes are no longer inspired with the
courage and virtues of heroes, but are filled with godless hatred and discord,
greed and selfishness. The State can no longer boast of possessing men, and its
head and members resemble those described by Isaiah in the third chapter of his
prophecies.
So there is nothing good to hope for, except
that the day of our great God and our redemption should speedily dawn.
My daughter Margaretha thanks you for your
gift. She, along with all her brothers, took measles, but the latter are well
long ago, while she has been combating an attack of fever for ten weeks, and it
is still doubtful whether she may recover. I shall not rebel against God if He
take her to Himself, away from this devilish world, from which may He soon
release me and mine. I long for this everyday, and to see an end of the fury of
Satan and his followers.
Farewell in the Lord Jesus Christ. A
greeting to you and yours from my Kathie and all our folks.
Martin
Luther.
To my good
old friend, Nicolas OEmler, who more than once carried me in his arms to and
from school, neither of us then being aware that one brother-in-law carried
another.
Anno 1544.
Martin
Luther.
Luther
promises to visit him again.
December 27,
1544.
Grace and
peace, most worthy Bishop in Christ! I write this letter to Dr.
Medler about the theological lectureship, of
which you kindly reminded me, and I fancy you will find it easier to send it to
him than I, as at present there is a scarcity of messengers. Moreover, I have
firmly decided, if at all possible, to come to you at the Leipsic Fair, for
head and feet are pretty well just now considering my years.
Through the grace of God I have preached
twice during the Feast without any difficulty, far beyond my hopes and the
hopes of others.
We hear of all sorts of dangers which are to
be dreaded from the peasants, who have become bolder through the Emperor’s
successes, and think they can achieve something even against the will of the
Prince. But should I not be able to come to Leipsic, could you tell me where we
could meet – either in the Eulenburg Castle (which we can easily get from the
Herzog), or at Herr Theodore von Schopfeldt’s in Wiltow, between Leipsic and
Dibon, or if you know a more suitable spot tell me?
I should like to see Leipsic again, but
perhaps, for certain reasons, you do not care to go there.
Our meeting could easily be arranged
somewhere in our neighborhood. I write to you early, as, if my journey be
prevented, which I would not like, another place could be arranged. Farewell,
dearest brother in Christ and most honored Bishop, because of your great
services to the Church.
Martin
Luther.
Luther offers
his friend a post.
December 27,
1544.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I do not at present, dear Medler, most honored sir, comfort
you under your heavy cross, with which the Lord has crucified you. But the Lord
and Savior is good and kind. You know this well, and tell others that our
Heavenly Father, whose goodness is infinite, and whose will is always the best,
although the flesh and reason cannot see it, is only chastising us, that we may
learn how good and loving the Lord is. And this can never be learned aright
unless the flesh be lacerated in everyway, so that the spirit may be driven to
sigh and long to see the Lord in the land of the living.
This is God’s way of teaching, but it is to
be hoped it may not be much needed by you. And now I have something to tell
you. The highly esteemed and much loved of God and man, Nicolas Amsdorf,
bishop, has written me that there is a theological lectureship vacant in
Naumburg, which he desires you to fill.
Therefore I beg of you, if possible, at once
to accept the post, for your reputation merits it, or to answer by return, that
I may appoint someone else.
I write very briefly, as I have much to do,
for it is only a few days since I was raised from the dead. I have preached
twice since, with no difficulty, which has been a wonder to many. May you and
yours prosper, and be assured that all of us have been plunged in almost as
deep grief as yourself over the loss of your dear son of such high promise.
But he has been taken away from the evil so
that he might not become corrupted. God’s ways are other than ours, and at all
times far better.
Martin
Luther.
The Diet of
Worms was held during this year. Charles V. was present, but none of the
Wittenberg theologians. Spalatin died January 16. First part of Luther’s book,
Against the Papacy in Rome, Founded by the Devil, appeared. Lukas Cranach at
once issued a series of woodcuts, turning the Pope into ridicule. The Zurich
divines issued a treatise on the sacrament.
Luther, in reading Calvin’s pamphlet on the
subject, said the author must be a learned and pious man, and if OEcolampadius
and Zwingli had so expressed themselves, no discussion would have arisen.
Luther was a great sufferer this year, and this may be why he took a gloomy
view of life and left Wittenberg, intending never to return, and telling his
wife to sell their house. Dr. Bruck tried to console the Elector by saying the
house-selling might be a slow process. The Elector wrote Luther a beautiful
letter, still extant, lamenting that he had not let him know his intention, in
order that he might at least have supplied him with money for the journey.
Luther was softened at once, and returned with Melanchthon and Bugenhagen, who
had been sent by the University to bring him back. In November Luther concluded
his ten years’ course of lectures on Genesis, saying, “May our Lord God send
some one after me to expound them better. I can do no more, for I am weak. Pray
God to grant me a blessed release.”
Projected
visitation in Naumburg.
January 9,
1545.
Grace and
peace in Christ! The Lord bless you out of Zion, and grant you your heart’s
desire, honored father in Christ. Go on in the name of the Lord, attending
thoroughly to the duties of your office, and doing the work of a bishop, to
which you are called, by at least visiting the churches under your
jurisdiction, over which you have full authority. The Lord be with you. When
this or that “centaur” objects to you holding a visitation, then you are not to
blame, but as the Gospel teaches, shake the dust from off your feet over them.
I shall alter the preface to the book on Visitation, but it will take time. As
soon as the printers return from the fair (Messe ) I shall arrange with Johann
Luft and the booksellers to set to work. Later it may be found that some
alterations must be made because of the Naumburg bishopric constitution, and of
the dissimilarity of the circumstances. It was after the visitation our people
first issued the visitors’ Book on the Visitation. And it will be no great
hardship for the clergy themselves although they do not get copies at once.
I have seen the Pope’s Bull, and consider it
a farce. They say at Court that the Pope has brought a singular monstrosity
into the world, and that he will soon openly worship the Sultan, and even the
devil, before he will improve matters, or act according to the Word of God. We
have had abundant proof of this already. But the Lord Jesus, who slays His
enemy by the Word of His mouth, will overthrow him through the splendor of His
appearing. Still I shall never cease to portray this Bestie to the life, if I
live long enough to do so. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Warning
against the Jews and petition for the sons of Buchholzer, Provost of Berlin.
March 9,
1545.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, and my poor prayers, Most Serene High-born Prince, most
gracious Lord! The highly esteemed Herr George Buchholzer, Provost in Berlin,
gave me your gracious greeting, and wonders that I have not written you. He
tells me also that you wish me to write against the double-dealers. Many thanks
for your gracious greeting. But your Grace must not impute my not writing to
any unwillingness to do so; for, I have no ill-feeling to anyone on earth, and
I pray daily for you princes and lords, as St. Paul inculcates in 1 Timothy
chapter 2. For I see how trying it is to be a ruler in those scandalous times
when there is so much treachery among those in power; and the Court devil is
such a powerful lord, who causes so much dissension among kings and princes.
Hence I had no cause to write your Grace, so you must not ascribe it to
ill-feeling, I have often said and preached that I have no ill-will even to the
Archbishop of Mayence, not wishing him even an hour of my catarrh, although I
make furious onslaughts on him, as I do not like to see him hurrying on to
hell, as if he feared he might arrive too late if he went at an ordinary pace.
But warning is vain there. I fear your Grace may fall a prey to some of the
Jews’ tricks, but as you have such confidence in them, I know no credence will
be given to my warning. Therefore I pray God to protect your Grace and the
young Margrave from their wiles, that your trust may not be betrayed, to our
great sorrow. I am glad that the Provost is so severe on those Jews, which is a
proof of his loyalty to your Grace; and I encourage him to continue in the path
he has chosen, for this practicing of alchemy is a disgraceful deception, for
all know money cannot be made by such sophistry.
Herr George has also asked me to request
your Grace graciously to grant a bursary to his two sons for the prosecution of
their theological studies, for it would be a pity should they be forced to give
them up. In short, your Grace must not consider me an enemy; but I cannot
believe that your Grace really imagines that the Jews are dealing uprightly
with you, and the alchemists are certainly befooling you, that they may gain
all, and your Grace nothing. I herewith commit you, with the young Princes, to
the dear God. Your obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
introduces the son of an East Prussian Grand Ducal Counselor to the Herzog. Von
Kunheim’s son, George, married Luther’s daughter, Margaretta, in 1555, and took
her to East Prussia, where she and her children lie buried in her husband’s
burying-ground of Muhlhausen, 12 miles from Konigsberg.
May 2, 1545.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, Most Serene Highborn Prince! Albrecht von Kunheim has
requested me to write to your Electoral Highness. Although I had nothing
special to say, I seize this opportunity to do so in introducing Albrecht von
Kunheim to you. Although I have nothing new to communicate I know your Grace
has always great patience with my letters.
One says the Turk is approaching, another
that he will remain outside. But one thing is certain, neither Emperor, King,
nor Princes make any preparations. The Emperor is beginning to persecute the
gospel vehemently in the Netherlands. May God avert his wrath. Amen. The Bishop
of Cologne remains steadfast by the grace of God. The Count Palatine Frederick
has embraced the gospel with us, and the Electress has publicly partaken of the
sacrament with us, this Easter, in both forms. To God be the praise and glory,
and may He strengthen them all. Amen. The Papal monstrosity continues to mock
the Emperor and empire with the promise of a council, which has again been
deferred till Michaelmas; but it is said in Ferrara that it will be a very long
time till then, and for once these liars have spoken the truth, for a council
is a thing they will never suffer to all eternity. I herewith commit you to the
dear God. Amen. I also commend this von Kunheim to your Grace as a most
superior young man, who was highly thought of in Wittenberg. Your Electoral
Highness’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s
celebrated letter to the Halle Town Council, in which he admonishes them to
persevere in their zeal for, and loyalty to the gospel.
May 7, 1545.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, honored and circumspect gentlemen and good friends! I have
talked over your affairs with my dear friend, Dr.
Jonas, and I was delighted to hear from him
that the church in Halle is increasing and flourishing, through the blessing of
the Holy Ghost; that the people behave well; and that the teachers are united
among themselves, being of one heart and mouth, while the Council is favorable
to the gospel.
May the merciful Father of all joy and
harmony graciously maintain this blessing among you, and perfect the work He
has begun in you against that day.
It is a very precious thing when a town can,
with one accord, sing “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity!”
For I daily see how very rare such a gift
is, both in town and country.
Therefore I could not refrain from
expressing to you my joy, and also admonishing you, as St. Paul did the
Thessalonians, to continue as you are doing, and not be weary in well-doing,
but ever increase in strength. For we know Satan is against us, as he cannot
bear to see God’s work prosper, but goes about seeking whom he may devour. So
we must watch and pray, that we may not be surprised by him. For we are not
ignorant of his devices, and how he carried them out upon Moritzburg and at
Aschenburg; and just now he has blessed, or rather cursed, two nuns (God will
redeem their souls). All this proves the mischief he is anxious to do.
Therefore I have pled earnestly with my dear Dr. Jonas, that he would try to
keep church, council, preachers, and schools closely united, so that through
earnest prayer you may withstand the devil, and prevent him doing further
mischief, which Dr. Jonas has up till now faithfully done. I hereby commit preachers,
sacristans, and schools to your Christian love, especially Dr.
Jonas, from whom we were most unwilling to
part. I especially, for I would gladly always have him beside me. We daily
experience how precious such faithful, pure preachers are. They are very dear
to God Himself, who says “the labourers are few.” Therefore He commands them to
be treated with double honor, and acknowledged as a peculiar gift of God, with
which He honors the world, as the 68th Psalm sings, “Thou hast received gifts
for men,... that the Lord might dwell among them.” And it is no small gift that
God has given you the heart to call such men, and love, cherish, and honor
them.
In many places such men would be lightly
esteemed, and be obliged to go elsewhere, nay, even be compelled to flee.
Afterwards, when too late, they see what they have done, and think of the
proverb, “I know what I have, but do not know what I may get.”
It is easy to make a change, but to improve
matters is always dubious. May the Father of our dear Lord Jesus Christ
strengthen you against the wickedness of Satan, and preserve you from his
cunning devices, and at length give you ease and relief from the insidious
attacks of flesh and blood. Amen. Your Excellencies’ obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther writes
about a peculiar kind of fox, and concerning the conduct of the authorities of
Nurnberg.
June 3, 1545.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, honored father in Christ! I have communicated your opinion
of this prodigy among foxes to those conversant with the hunt, and they, to
begin with, said it could not be true.
But when they saw your letter, they were
greatly astonished, and all agreed in saying that the fox is sly enough not to
harm the spot where he has his lair, and adduced as a proof of this that when
they make their nest (nisteln ) in the moat round the town, they do no injury.
I do not know what all this portends, except
it be that a mighty change, for which we long and pray, is imminent. Amen. I am
not concerning myself about the Reichstag and councils. I believe in nothing, I
hope for nothing, and think of nothing. All is vanity of vanities. The Nurnberg
people have taken a certain nobleman prisoner in order to procure the release
of their Baumgartner. If God do not step into the breach, this seems to be a
spark sent to kindle a great fire in the future, for the punishment of the
German lands. But God will remove us before then. There is no justice and no
government in the land, which is, in very deed, only the dregs and end of the
kingdom.
Your nephew George has showed me the
painting of the Pope. But Meister Lukas is a coarse artist. He might have
spared the female sex for the sake of God’s creatures and our mothers.
Otherwise he might have painted the Pope more worthily, that is, representing
him in a more diabolic form. But you can judge better in the Lord. Farewell in
Christ.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – The
Emperor has ordered the Augsburg people again to restore the Cardinal and the
principal bishops, along with the clergy and the Papal ceremonies. But they
will defend themselves by force of arms if necessary. The priests do not desire
peace, nor do they even wish to enjoy their own in peace.
A letter of
consolation.
June 3, 1545.
Grace and
peace in Christ, who is our consolation and our very own, even as we are His,
“for whether we live or die,” as St. Paul says, “we are the Lord’s.” We have
heard, my excellent Osiander, that you have again been visited by a cross, and
a twofold cross, through the deaths of your dear wife and beloved daughter. I,
too, know from the death of my dearest child how great must be your grief. I
often marvel that I am unable to forget the loss of my Lenchen, although I know
she is in the regions above, in the new life, saved and redeemed, and that God
has thereby given me a true token of His love in having, during my life, taken
my flesh and blood to His Fatherly heart. But this love of which I speak is
only natural love, which, although good and natural, must still be crucified
with us, so that the gracious will of God may be done. For which cause His dear
Son, through whom and by whom all things exist, freely gave His life, unto the
death. I write all this to testify that we are partakers in your trial, even as
God has made you true and faithful participants of our faith and doctrine. Thus
you must yield up your Isaac as a burnt-offering, for a sweet savor to God; not
your daughter nor your wife, for these live and are happy in the Lord, but that
natural strong and imperious love which asserts itself too powerfully in us.
Farewell, and believe that we love you.
Martin
Luther.
Luther wrote
this letter while in great suffering.
June 15,
1545.
Many thanks,
my honored father, for the present of wine. I neither slept nor rested the
whole of last night, the pain caused by Satan’s executioner was so intense.
Hence I am good for nothing today, and the pain has not yet gone; for, this
thorn in my flesh still lies concealed in my body, but not without letting
itself be felt. I do not know when I shall get rid of it, for I abhor this
agony. Nevertheless, if it be the will of the good God that I should depart
amid such pain, He will give grace to bear it, and if not to pass away
pleasantly, still to die cheerfully.
Enough of this. If I live I shall see that
the painter, Lukas Cranach, exchanges this indecent painting for a more
becoming one.
I had commenced the second part of the book
against the Papacy, and also the pamphlet against the Sacramentarians when,
behold, I am seized by my illness. Would to God that the Pope and all the
Cardinals had a taste of what I suffer, so that they may learn that they are
human. Farewell in Christ. Your devoted
Martin
Luther.
Luther
desires him to inquire about a youth who was wooing his niece in Wittenberg.
July 5, 1545.
My beloved
brother in the Lord, there is a certain youth here, my Anton, who calls himself
Ernest Peuchter, from beyond Dresden. This individual has made up to the widow
of Ambrosius Bernardi, my niece Magdalena, and has won her with grand-sounding
words, so that it looks as if under the pretext of marriage he was after her
little bit of money. Since hearing this I have been very uneasy, for it seems
to me as if this unknown and very young fellow (under twenty) is preparing a
pitfall for me; for, without consulting us, or producing a testimonial from his
parents or guardians, he is trying to delude the poor foolish woman. Therefore,
I beseech you, find out about his parents and guardians, and what are their
means, and especially if they know what he is after. For he may have written
that he has the run of my house and my consent. Tell them this is a lie, for we
shall oppose it with all our might. For this proposal would suit neither the
one nor the other; and I would like the parents to recall their son before I am
driven to harder measures, for my office will not permit that he, without his
parents’ knowledge, should enter the married state in this church, much less
with my niece, as years ago I condemned the lawyers in a similar case.
Therefore write me minutely. For I shall
prevent this marriage under the pretext that up till now he has not got his
father’s consent, and thereby sets my authority at naught. And thus I shall
elude the devil, who wishes to make me and my church a laughing-stock.
Farewell, and do as I wish.
Martin
Luther.
Luther writes
respecting private engagements, and the partaking of the sacrament.
July 14,
1545.
My best
beloved Lange, grace and peace in Christ! I am very much pleased with your
views on private engagements, not only because you are on our side, but because
your university, which is in high repute, shares our opinions, which must be a
trial to the Papists, who were not aware of the side your school took, and may
now fancy others are of the same way of thinking. Be courageous for the truth,
for this is the path to heaven.
Regarding the other question you are right.
Those who aspire to be Christians should confess, at least once in the year,
that they belong to Christ, although all through life they should do so. But
they who excuse themselves by saying they feel no need of it, thereby show they
have conceived a nausea of the grace of God and of the heavenly manna, being
spiritually dead, and are longing for the foods of Egypt, and therefore cannot
be considered Christians any longer. Those again who as a pretext for not
communicating adduce the prolonged war, these also cannot be exonerated,
because at any moment they may become the prey of death; and what would they
then do in the face of death? Would war and disputes not be placed in the
background? For the soul meantime cannot be left without faith, without Christ,
and without the Word; therefore such pretexts as war, etc., would not hold
valid then. Thus they deny Christ and the faith, for through war and disputes
all these things are hindered. I also have had much dissension with the
Papists, as well as with the lawyers here, for a year past, and have appealed
to the Elector, but this has not prevented me, nay, it has rather caused me, to
partake oftener of the sacrament. You have now my opinion.
But you, with your gifts, know much better
how to act in this matter than I. May you be blessed in Christ, and pray for
me, a dying sack of worms!
Martin
Luther.
Luther writes
about a gathering of ecclesiastics at Trent and an embassy to the Sultan.
July 17,
1545.
Grace and
peace in the Lord! I am not at all disquieted, most honored in Christ, at what
has taken place. All say no attention must be paid to dreams, and the
Scriptures teach this also, unless one be a prophet (Numbers chapter 12.). But
this sacristan is no prophet, and I saw the Prince’s statue in wood in Lukas’s
house before it was erected in Torgau.
It is no wonder it fell, but rather a marvel
that it has stood so long.
Everyone said it would fall next day, even
without wind, so badly was it put together.
They write from Trent that twenty-three
bishops and three cardinals are there, and are so idle that they know not what
to do. The Bishop of Mayence, the knave of knaves, has sent an under-bishop,
along with a certain African, there. I know not whether he means to ridicule
them or us by this laughable embassy, such a great man to send such people to
so many distinguished men. But the Council is worthy of such an abortion.
Their courage will ooze away when God’s
wrath descends upon them.
Now listen to this. The Pope, the Emperor,
Francis, and Ferdinand have sent a gorgeous embassy to the Sultan laden with
precious gifts to sue for peace, and the best of it is each has discarded his
paternal costume and donned long coats such as the Turks wear, in order not to
be an offence in his eyes. It is said they sailed from Venice on June 21.
These are the people who hitherto decried
the Turk as the enemy of Christianity, and under this pretext extorted money
and roused their lands against the Turks.
And the Roman Satan has, through no end of
devices, robbed the people through indulgences and exhausted the world. Oh, can
these be Christians?
Nay, they are rather the devil’s demons. I
hope this is a joyful sign of the end of the world. So long as they worship the
Turk we shall pray to the true God, who will hear us and humiliate the Turk,
along with themselves, through His glorious appearing. Amen. Your most devoted
Martin
Luther.
Luther writes
asking his wife to sell his house, and retire to Zulsdorf.
July 28,
1545.
Grace and
peace, dear Kathie! Hans will give you all the details of our journey; but as I
am not yet sure whether I shall not keep him with me, then Dr. Caspar Cruciger
and Ferdinand will give you all the particulars.
Ernest von Schonfeldt entertained us most
hospitably at Lobnetz, and Hainz Scherle still more royally at Leipsic. I would
gladly arrange not to return to Wittenberg. My heart is so cooled towards the
place that I do not care to live there any longer, so I would like you to sell
garden, land, house, and courtyard; and then I shall restore the large house to
my most gracious lord, and it would be your best plan to retire to Zulsdorf
while I am in life, and could help you to improve the property with my income.
For I trust my most gracious lord would continue my salary for at least one
year of my closing life. For after my death the four elements will not suffer
you to remain in Wittenberg; therefore it would be better to do during my life
what would be necessary afterwards. Perhaps the powers at Wittenberg may
eventually find themselves seized not with St. Vitus’s dance, nor with St.
John’s, but with the beggar’s dance, now that they are permitting the wives and
maidens to expose their necks and shoulders before and behind, and no one
forbids it, thereby bringing the Word of God into derision.
Only to get away and clear of this Sodom! I
have heard more in the country of the proceedings in Wittenberg than there;
hence I am weary of the town, and shall not return, God helping me.
The day after tomorrow I drive to Merseburg,
where Prince George has warmly urged me to come. Therefore I shall wander
hither and thither, and rather eat the bread of penury than make my last days
miserable through the disorderly proceedings at Wittenberg, with the loss of
all my hard work. Do as you like about letting Dr. Pommer and Magister Philip
know of this, and if Dr. Pommer herewith pronounces a blessing on Wittenberg I
have no objection, for I cannot control my indignation and grief any longer.
I herewith commit you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
Caution
against worrying over the doctrine of election. Luther ordained Prince George
of Anhalt as Bishop of Merseburg on August 2, and preached there and at Halle,
where his colleagues overtook him.
August 8,
1545.
My dear
friend N. tells me that at times you are tempted to doubt the decrees of God’s
eternal providence, and requested me to write you on the subject. No doubt this
is a severe temptation, but we must remember that we are forbidden to inquire
into such mysteries. For what God desires to keep secret we must not wish to
know; because this was the apple, the eating of which brought death to Adam and
Eve, with all their posterity.
Even as murder, theft, and swearing are
sins, so it is also sinful to try to investigate such matters, and the devil is
at the root of this, as he is of all other sins.
On the other hand, God has given us His Son
Jesus Christ, whom we should make our example, daily meditating on Him, which
will cause God’s decrees to assume a most lovely aspect in our eyes. For
without Christ everything is vanity, death, and the devil; but with Him all is
pure peace and joy. For if a man is constantly tormenting himself as to the
decrees of Providence, he only reaps anxious forebodings. Therefore eschew such
thoughts as coming from the serpent in paradise, and instead look at Christ.
May God preserve you.
Martin
Luther.
Letter of
consolation.
August 9,
1545.
Grace and
peace in Christ, who is our sole consolation and Savior! Most Serene High-born
Prince – I have been informed of the serious accident which has befallen your
Grace’s consort, for which I am deeply grieved.
May Christ cause it to conduce to our
release from such troubles. But her ladyship must remember that she is still
here below with all the saints, in this valley of tribulation, and has not yet
attained to our eternal Fatherland, which we hope to reach. Therefore we cannot
expect to be better off than our brethren in the world, who sail in the same
ship with us, who suffer at the hands of the devil from the winds and the
storms. We have no cause of offence against him if he be the means of making us
cleave closer to Christ.
Your Grace must not be too timid to do this.
We have a God who can arrange everything better than we can conceive, and give
far more than we could ever dream of. Let us commit ourselves to Him, putting
our affairs into the hands of Him who careth for us, as St. Peter admonishes.
And David, too, tells us to commit our way unto the Lord; and if we do not do
this then our cares are in vain, for our fruitless worrying only prevents God
from caring for us. May my dear Lord Jesus comfort and strengthen your Grace through
His Holy Spirit to do and to suffer His holy will. Amen. I offer my poor
paternoster on your behalf, and wish you and my gracious lord, Prince Joachim,
all that is good, and thank both of you for the game.
Martin
Luther.
Luther sends
a petition on behalf of their pastor, Gabriel Zwilling.
August 18,
1545.
To the
honored and wise citizens and Council of Torgau. My gracious lords and friends,
grace and peace in the Lord! Your pastor, M. Gabriel, has begged me to present
this petition for him. He having received a present of one cask of beer from
the honored Council, and having purchased two in addition, and being obliged to
purchase a fourth, we desire that the fourth should also be a gift. Although I
am sure he could have got this without my intervention, he wished me to
intercede for him.
As the honored town and Council know how
long and faithfully he has served, and has enlarged his house without any
special assistance, I beg of you to present him with the fourth cask of beer
also. For he is one who should receive twofold honor, as St. Paul inculcates. I
would not ask this did I not know it could be easily granted. I am ever ready
to help the Council in any way. I herewith commit you to the dear God.
Martin
Luther.
P.S. – I
fancy I have thanked the honored Council (for in the multitude of my thoughts
and business I forget) for the present of the cask of beer. If not, I now do so
most warmly, for it was excellent.
Luther
returns thanks for generous presents.
November 8,
1545.
Grace and
peace and my poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious
Lord! Early this morning I received your Grace’s handsome present, viz. a half
cart of Suptitzer, the same of Gornberger, four pitchers of Jena wine, in
addition to three score carps and a hundredweight of pike – beautiful fish. It
is far too much to send all at once. One of them would have been enough. Well,
I render your Grace my most respectful thanks. Our Lord God will recompense
your Highness. I do not know how to merit all the favors which your Grace daily
so richly bestows upon me.
But I shall do the best I can, according to
my poor ability. I herewith commit you to the dear God. Amen. Your Grace’s
obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther
recommends a certain George Stur.
November 26,
1545.
Grace and
peace in the Lord, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene Highborn Prince, most
gracious King! Magister George Stur, a native of the principality of Schleswig,
begged me to write you after receiving your Majesty’s promise of a stipendium,
part of which money he has received, and pleads that your Majesty would
graciously remember him and complete the matter. For he has a very good name
here, being pious and honest, a diligent student, and one from whom we expect
much; therefore I could not refuse his request for a recommendation to you.
Therefore I humbly plead that your Majesty would graciously keep him in remembrance,
which would be a good work, well pleasing to God, who gives richly, and
requites all that is done for Him. To Him I recommend your Majesty, along with
the young Princes, land, and people, with the whole Government. Amen. Your
devoted
Martin Luther.
P.S. – I have
received your Majesty’s gracious gift of 50 thalers through Dr. Pommer, and
send my warmest thanks for it. May God reward you abundantly here and there.
Kostlin, in
Luther’s Life, says that Luther and Melanchthon spent Christmas in the Castle
of Mansfeld, but Luther had to hurry home on account of Melanchthon’s poor
state of health. Luther preached in Halle on their way back.
December 6,
1545.
To the high
and noble lord, Herr Albrecht, my gracious and dear lord.
Grace and peace in the Lord, and my poor
paternoster! Once more I intended being with you next Monday, as I previously
announced, but I have this moment received a note from Graf Philip and Graf
Hans George, in which, to my great joy, they graciously answered my last
communication by requesting me to fix a day after the Leipsic Fair.
So once more I must remain here instead of
spending Christmas at Mansfeld, as I intended. As they so politely request, I
shall come after the Leipsic Fair to Mansfeld, leaving you two parties to name
a day yourselves, and to say whom you wish to accompany me and to have with
you. But I must have a margin of eight days, because there is so much to do, so
that I may lie down joyfully in my coffin after I have seen my dear Lords
reconciled to each other, and again one heart and one soul.. I do not doubt but
that your lordships will fulfil your promise and be glad to see these
dissensions at an end. I herewith commit you to the dear God. Your obedient
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s last
year. Diet of Regensburg opened in January. The Emperor conceded this to humor
the Protestants till he was ready to compel them to submit to the Council’s
decrees. Luther’s last undertaking was to reconcile the Counts of Mansfeld. He
preached for the last time on February 14 at Eisleben. On 17th he signed a
paper, and the Counts begged him to rest. At supper he was very bright,
discussing death and everlasting life. After supper he was much oppressed, and
Aurifaber fetched Countess Albrecht, who tried remedies. He slept till one,
when Dr. Jonas tried to persuade him that the cold sweat he complained of was
salutary. “No,” he replied, “it is the cold sweat of death.” He prayed
constantly, and said three times in Latin, “God so loved the world,” and Psalm
68:20, committing his spirit into God’s hands. He died before three, in
presence of Dr. Jonas, Colius, Aurifaber, and his two sons.
Luther wishes
Melanchthon to remain in Wittenberg.
January 9,
1546.
Grace and
peace in Christ, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene Highborn Prince, most
gracious Lord! I ask respectfully whether it be necessary to send M. Philip to
the present vain and fruitless discussion at Regensburg. For they have no man
on their side who is worth anything, and Dr. Major is more than sufficient for
all that is needed, even should he only be able to say “Yes” or “No” to what is
being enacted. What would be done were Philip dead or ill, as he really is, so
that I truly rejoice that I got him home alive from Mansfeld? Hence he must now
be spared, for he is of more use lying in bed here than at the Diet. He is
willing to risk his life if it be desired, but who would counsel that? It would
be a tempting of Providence. The young doctors must come to the front, for when
we are gone they must proclaim the Word. As Dr. Major and others are able to
preach and teach, it will be easy for them to dispute with such sophists, for
they have daily to combat and withstand the devil himself. I respectfully write
this for your Electoral Grace’s consideration. May the Lord Christ make you act
in accordance with his Divine will. Amen. Your Electoral Grace’s obedient
Martin
Luther.
Concerning
the dispensing of unconsecrated wafers.
January 11,
1546.
Grace and
peace in Christ! As Dr. Cruciger and Dr. Major are absent, Pommer and I must
answer you. First. It is not heedlessness, but rightdown wickedness of that
curate to declare that consecrated and unconsecrated wafers (Hostien ) are the
same. Let him go to his Zwinglians. It is not necessary that a man who is not
one of us should be kept in prison, whose word, and even oath, cannot be
believed. Further, he who has partaken of an unconsecrated wafer has not
sinned; for his faith has saved him, because he believed that he received the
true sacrament, and trusted in God’s Word, just as he who believes is baptized,
although he who baptizes him plays with the ordinance, or uses some other fluid
for the purpose. But we need not discuss this so minutely, in case of inflaming
unenlightened consciences. It is enough that all is possible to him who
believes.
Regarding adulterated wafers, it would be
well to burn them, although really not necessary, because they are no sacrament
except in their actual use. Even as baptismal water, except in its application
in the rite, is no sacrament, even so Christ in this sacrament only operates on
those who eat and believe. But on account of the scandal, the vicar has done
well to burn it. M. Philip left for Torgau yesterday. The Prince wishes to send
him to the Regensburg Conference, from which I have tried to dissuade him with
all my might, as Philip is too ill to be sent on such a useless errand, where
we shall only be made a fool of, and time and money be wasted. They think we
are asses who do not understand their coarse jokes, which is only less foolish
than the laughable wisdom of the Meissen folk. Farewell in the Lord.
Martin
Luther.
On this day
Luther preached for the last time in Wittenberg, warning the people against the
lovely syren, the devil’s bride, Reason (Vernunft).
January 17,
1546.
Grace and
peace! I, old, weary, lazy, worn-out, cold, chilly, and, over and above,
one-eyed man, now write you. And when I flattered myself that, half-dead as I
am, I might be left in peace, it looks as if I had neither written nor done
anything heretofore, so overburdened am I now with writing and talking. But
Christ, who is all in all, is almighty, to whom be praise to all eternity.
Amen.
I am delighted with what you tell me about
the impertinent and bold way the Swiss write about me, condemning me as the
most miserable slave of reason. For this is exactly what I wished when I wrote
the pamphlet which has so enraged them – that they should openly avow
themselves my enemies. I have achieved this, and, as I say, I am glad. I, the
most despicable of men, am more than satisfied to be a partaker of the
blessedness of the Psalm, “Blessed is the man who does not wander in the
counsel of the Sacramentarians, nor standeth in the way of the Zwinglians, nor
sitteth where the Zurich people sit.” You now have my opinion. You beseech me
to pray for you, which I do, and I also ask you to do the same for me; and, as
I have no doubt of the efficacy of your petitions, I am convinced you have as
little of mine, and if I depart before you, which I desire, I shall draw you
after me. And if you pass away before me, then you will do the same for me. For
we believe in one God, and wait with all the saints for our Savior’s appearing.
I intend, God helping me, to write against
the Louvain people. For I am more indignant at the senseless asses than it is
seemly for such a theologian as I am to be, and an old man to boot.
Nevertheless, Satan’s partisans must be encountered, even should I expend my
last breath upon them. Farewell, and remember that you are not only one of my
oldest and best friends, but that I love you for Christ’s sake, whom we both
teach and love. Amen.
We are sinners, but He is our righteousness,
who lives to all eternity.
Amen. We all greet you and yours with much
respect.
Martin
Luther.
Luther arrived
in Halle on the 25th with his three sons, their tutor, and a servant. He
preached there next day on St. Paul’s conversion.
January 25,
1546.
To my kind
and dear Kathie Luther at Wittenberg. Grace and peace in the Lord, dear Kathie!
We reached Halle today at eight o’clock, but could not go on to Eisleben; for,
we encountered a great Anabaptist, with huge water-billows and great blocks of
ice, covering the land, and threatening us with a rebaptism. Neither could we
return on account of the Mulda; therefore we have to remain quietly at Halle
between the two rivers. Not that we have any desire to drink the water, for we
regale ourselves with good Torgau beer and Rhine wine, and let the Saale rage
at its will. We did not risk embarking on the river, as we and our servants and
the ferryman were much afraid, and we did not wish to tempt God. For the devil
is enraged against us, and he dwells in the water floods; and it is better to
evade him than afterwards to complain of him; besides, it is needless to delight
the Pope and his emissaries through our death. I could not have believed the
Saale could have made such a boiling noise, bursting over the paved stones,
etc. No more at present. Pray for us and be pious.
I believe, had you been here, you would have
advised us to do exactly what we have done, and so for once we should have
followed your counsel. I commend you to God. Amen.
Martin
Luther.
A jocular
letter. On January 28 Luther left Halle, accompanied by Dr. Jonas. A stately
cavalcade welcomed him into the Mansfeld land. He preached on Sunday, January
31, in Eisleben.
February 1,
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, penetrating through my
doctor’s hat, threatening to turn my brain into ice.
When the principal matters are arranged, I
must endeavor 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.
Thy sons left Mansfeld the day before
yesterday, as Hans von Jene seemed determined to have them with him. I do not
know what they are about. If it is cold they may help us. But now that it is
mild they must do or suffer what they will. I herewith commend you and all at
home to God, and greet all the boarders. Vigilia purificationis.
Martin
Luther, thy old lover.
On the same
day Luther wrote to Melanchthon, who was left at home because of his health.
About riches being called thorns.
February 6,
1546.
To the deeply
learned lady, Katherine Luther, my gracious consort at Wittenberg, grace and
peace! Dear Kathie – We sit here in martyrdom, longing to be away, but I fancy
that cannot be for eight days. Ask M. Philip to correct his exposition, for he
does not seem to understand why the Lord calls riches thorns. This is the
school in which to learn that. But it is disagreeable to me that the thorns
should always be threatened with fire in the Scriptures; therefore I should be
the more patient in order, with God’s help, to be able to achieve something
good. Thy sons are still at Mansfeld.
We have enough to eat and drink, and would
otherwise have a very good time if this troublesome business were only at an
end. It seems as if the devil were mocking us, but God will requite him with
the same. Amen.
Pray for us. The messenger is impatient.
Martin
Luther.
Luther jokes
over his wife’s anxiety about him.
February 7,
1546.
To my dear
wife, Katherine Luther, doctoress and self-tormentor at Wittenberg, my gracious
lady. Grace and peace in the Lord!
Do thou read, dear Kathie, the Gospel of St.
John and the little catechism of which you once said, “This book tells all
about me”? For thou must needs assume the cares of thy God, as if He were not
Almighty, and could not create ten Dr. Martins if the old one were suffocated
in the Saale or in the stove, or... Leave me in peace with thy cares! I have a
better Protector than thou and all the angels. He it is who lay in the manger
and was fondled on a maiden’s breast, but was at the same time seated on the
right hand of God, the Almighty Father. Therefore be at rest. Amen! 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 today, whether it will help
or not. Pray, pray, pray, and thus help us to right matters. Today I felt
inclined to mount my carriage and set off, but my anxiety as to my Fatherland held
me back. I have now become a lawyer (jurist ), but that will lead to nothing.
It would have been better had they allowed me to remain a divine. If spared, I
should like to appear among them as a hobgoblin, so that I, through the grace
of God, might set bounds to their pride. They try to pose as God, but they
would be wise to retreat in time before their Godhead is changed into a devil,
as happened to Lucifer, who could not remain in heaven on account of his pride.
Well, well, the will of the Lord be done! Let M. Philip read this letter, for I
have not time to write to him, so you may comfort yourself that I love you
dearly, since, as you know, I always write when I can, and he will understand
this, having a wife himself.
We live well here, and the Council sends me
for every meal about a hogshead of good Rhine wine. Sometimes I drink it with
my friends. The Naumburg beer is also very good. The devil has ruined all the
beer in the land with pitch, which causes the phlegm to accumulate in my
breast, and with you he has destroyed the wine with brimstone. But here the
wine is pure, except what is made in the district. And know that all the
letters thou hast written have arrived, and today I have received those you
wrote last Friday along with M. Philip’s, so that you may not be angry.
Thy beloved
lord,
Martin
Luther.
Luther again
teases his wife as to her useless worrying over him, and the narrow escape they
had made. He says that he is well, but longs to return.
February 10,
1546.
To the
saintly, anxious lady, Katherine Luther, owner of Zulsdorf, at Wittenberg, my
gracious dear wife. Grace and peace in Christ! Most saintly lady doctoress, we
thank you kindly for your great care for us, which prevented you sleeping, for
since you began to be so anxious we were nearly consumed by a fire in our inn
just outside my room door; and yesterday, doubtless on account of your anxiety,
a stone fell upon our heads and almost crushed us as in a mouse-trap; and over
and above, in our own private room, lime and mortar came down for two days, and
when the masons came – after only touching the stone with two fingers – it
fell, and was as large as a large pillow, and two hand-breadths wide. We had to
thank your anxious care for all this, but happily the dear, holy angels guarded
us also. I fear if you do not cease being anxious, the earth may at last
swallow us up and the elements pursue us. Is it thus thou hast learnt the
catechism and the Faith? Pray and leave it to God to care for us, as He has
promised in the 55th Psalm and many other places, “Cast thy burden on the Lord,
and He shall sustain thee.” Thank God we are fresh and well, except that we are
getting tired of the whole business, and nothing would satisfy Dr. Jonas but to
have a sore leg also, having knocked it against a chest; so great is the power
of human envy, that he would not permit me to be the sole possessor of a lame
leg. I herewith commit you to God. We would gladly be free and set out on our
homeward journey, if God permitted it.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Your obedient
servant,
Martin
Luther.
Luther’s last
letter to his wife is preserved in the room in which he died in Eisleben. He
preached for the last time on Matthew
February 14,
1546.
To my dear,
kind wife, Katherine Luther, at Wittenberg. Grace and peace in the Lord! Dear
Kathie – We hope to return home this week, if God will. God has richly
manifested His grace towards us here, for the lords, through their Council,
have arranged everything, except two or three things, one of which is that the
two brothers, Counts Gebhardt and Albrecht, should again become brothers, which
I shall try to accomplish today, through inviting them to be my guests – so
that they may converse with one another, for till now they have been dumb,
embittering each other with letters.
In other respects the young gentlemen have
been very happy, riding out together on sledges with the tingling of fools’
bells, the young ladies accompanying them, all joking and in high spirits,
Count Gebhardt’s son being among the number.
From this one may see that God is the hearer
of prayer.
I send you some trout, which the Countess
Albrecht has sent me. She is delighted with the reconciliation. Thy sons are
still at Mansfeld. Jacob Luther will see well to them. We are provided with
meat and drink like lords, and have every attention paid us –indeed too much,
so that we might forget you at Wittenberg. I am very well.
But Dr. Jonas’s leg has been very bad, holes
appearing in the skin, but God will help. You may show this to Magister Philip,
Dr. Pommer, and Dr.
Cruciger! It is reported here that Dr.
Martin has been snatched away by the devil. The report comes from Leipsic and
Magdeburg. It is the invention of these wiseacres, your countrymen.
Some declare that the Emperor is thirty
miles from here, at Soest in Westphalia; others that the French are enlisting
recruits, and the Landgrave also.
But let us say and sing, that we shall wait
and see what God will do. I commend you to God.
Martin
Luther.