To the worthy man, Wenceslaus Link, the faithful servant of Christ in Nuernberg, his Superior.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have received two letters from you, my dear Wenceslaus, in which you report news. I, however, have nothing new to return to you except the evil report that in Friesland the false teaching of the Sacramentarians rules. And the Graf (Enno of Friesland) who resisted valiantly previously has broken down and now permits anyone to teach anything. It seems to me that God is punishing the unthankfulness of the world and that again He (repays) by returning that unthankfulness in a backwards way. Yet He will have mercy on us,Amen.
That you asked recently: whether it is true that we have advised that it is permissible to offer resistance to the Emperor and you indicate that this has been reported to you by letter-we in no way, in fact, have advised this. There are however several who say that the theologians should not be asked about this for it is a matter for the jurists who say that it is allowed so on my part I say: I advise as a theologian; if, however, the jurists teach that according to their laws it is permitted I would grant that they may use their laws; they must see to that. If the Emperor in his laws has ordered that in these cases there may be reistance he must suffer under the law which he has given; only I do not want to judge over or beyond this law but I will stay with my theology.
I perhaps should well consider it proper as it is the truth that the Prince as Prince is a worldly person and as such does what he does not as a Christian who is neither a Prince nor yet a man or any sort of person like there is in the world. If he as a Prince is free to exercise resistance to the Emperor that should be left to the judgment of the conscience of every man. For the Christian nothing is ever free as he has died to the world. This much (I) have dwelt with herein and this much you can indicate to Herr Lazarus laying out my opinion though I see that no matter how we cry out their determination is so fixed that they may offer resistancee and will in no way moderate their opinion that thus my preaching is in vain that God will so assist us so that no resistance is necessary; as He in fact has assisted us so that that the Diet could accomplish nothing and they have undertaken nothing to this present day. Would that God would continue to do the same! However, faith is not everyone's thing. Yet, I take comfort in this that there is less sin and that they are on a surer ground when they make this a matter of citizen-rights, though they do not accept our advice, than when they operate compeltely against conscience and with a determined will against Scripture. Meanwhile they believe that they do not act contrary to Scripture if they are not acting against their civil laws. "Thus I let them do what they do.", I am free.
Greet Herr Spengler and our Friend. The sickness of the head which came on through the old wine of Coburg is not yet by the beer of Wittenberg alleviated. Therefore I am forced to do little work and to give the head a Sabbath Day of rest which for me is a difficult leisure and very unacceptable to the printers. I have completed the Explanation (several words missing here) and the Psalter is done over for the last time because we did not have any copies (of the previous effort) at hand. We are devoting our efforts not to make David better than before but only that he speaks a plainer German by which we have given in our translation the slanders opportunity to vent and sharpen their raging hate but yet not be satiated. Greet your Treasure (several words missing probable "your wife and children"). My Lord (Herrin=Kaethe) greets you. Wittenberg on January 15,1531. Martin Luther.
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