#1814-Brenz to Luther

[This replies to #1813-ML's postscript to Melanchton's letter to Brenz.]
Heil in Christ! I know that you, honorable teacher in Christ, are so busy with holy activities to edify the Church that you do not have long to be occupied with my trifles. Therefore, I first of all briefly greet you very much in Jesus Christ, our Salvation and indicate to you that what you recently attached to the end of the letter of our Herr Phillip is very acceptable to me. I now understand very well just as our opposition makes idols out of their works which they lean on instead of Christ that also the work of faith may be erected as an idol and faith ,instead of Christ Himself Whom we must receive in faith, is relied upon. So that I do not avoid the Charybdis and advocate the Scylla I hold the following: faith only accepts the justification, namely Christ and not because of the worthiness of its (faith's) work partakes of justification. And if one says that faith purifies the heart I do not understand by that the work, merit or worthiness of faith but Christ who is laid hold of by faith. Yet more about this in a letter to Phillip. The wise of this world were in many ways disturbed by your German book on the Edict of the Emperor. Very much it is about calling things by their right name and when they require of us that when they declare a robber to be a robber so that they exercise in a lawful way the punishment of the sword they can also justify their unacceptable actions and declare them good though an unpleasant duty but they do not have the brains that the lawful words of an ecclesiastic are not abuse-words but justifiable reprimands and they are not revilings but fitting discipline and godly judgments which fall upon the godless.However, they might have one good year before, if they want it so, they go down to the ground. You press forward, as you do, strenthening the Church of Christ so long as possible that you are kept strong in spirit and healthy in body.Pray for me. Be it well with you. From [Schwaebish] Hall on the Friday after Peter and Paul (30 June) in the year of Christ 31. Your Brenz.
NOTE: ML's German writings referred to by Brenz are "Luther's Warning to his dear Germans" and "Glosses on the supposed imperial edict."