Martin and Kaethe

#1720-To Landgraf Philipp of Hesse

(This is ML's answer to Philip's letter of Oct.20,1530 #1717)
Grace and peace from Christ. Most illustrious, high-born Prince, gracious Lord! I have received EFG's (your princely grace) writing and several instructions (from the Hessian theologians).Firstly, that EFG desires that I put out a pamphlet for the comfort of the weak I do not want it to be unknown to EFG that I have composed and am putting out a pamphlet in brief wherein I warn each conscience touching the departure and inept undertaking of the princes that no subject should be guilty, should the Imperial Majesty be insistent, of allowing such obedience but rather, as much as can be done with the pen, to shrink from such obedience and that no one should betake himself to such blasphemous, murderous, and devilish assaults and God grant that it will bear much fruit,Amen.

Secondly, I am hoping that God will strike upon a means so that there will be no blood-shed over these matters. Thus also have I (if it should come to that, God forbid) indicated to my most gracious Lord, the Elector, my opinion regarding the counter-defense which, without doubt, is not unknown to EFG and I recognize and note that one should have a common (secular) counsel on such a matter and for me an ecclesiastic to do so in writing would be dangerous for many reasons.
So may it please EFG not to neglect that we have in several articles repeatedly volunteered suggestion regarding fasts, celebrations, meats and singing to be adopted and but we knew that they could not accept them for the most part and that only served that we all the more exalted our suitability and in my pamphlet have all the more pointed to their inappropriateness. So it is no blunder on our part since it has to an extent been adopted. Herewith be to God commended,Amen. From Torgau on the day of Simon and Jude [28 Oct.] EFG's willing one, Martinus Luther.

#1584-Martin Luther (in Coburg) to Hausmann (at Zwickau): June 25, 1530

(This was the day of presentation of the Augsburg Confession at the Diet of Augsburg. Luther probably hadn't heard of any results as yet.)

To the highly-honorable man in the Lord, Herr Nicolaus Hausmann, Bishop of the people at Zwickau, his brother and superior.

Grace and peace in Christ! I have ordered mine in Wittenberg, worthy man, to send to you all the news which they receive from us from which you will learn what transpires at Augsburg from the Diet.

I hope that everything will get to you as I do not have time to write everything to every single individual. Only let us fervently pray, as we previously have done being mindful how our fathers were saved. "The hand of the Lord is not shortened" [Isaiah 59:1], so then the matter is not ours but His; He will surely hear us.

I have also written to your brother Valentine and comforted him as much as I am able; you, therefore, take care that the letter is delivered to him. (The letter is not extant). I now have leisure and have taken up the translation of Ezekiel and meanwhile I have also resolved several other things. The Papists rage mightily in fact but our Prince is gifted with a remarkable constancy and confesses Christ openly. Like also the Markgraf Georg. The unbelievable leniency of the Emperor is exceedingly praised; he appears to have been provided with a good angel by God. The rest you will learn from Wittenberg. Meanwhile, pray for me you man of God; by His grace be it well with you forever, Amen.

From the wilderness on the Saturday after John the Baptist's Day (25 June) 1530. Your Mart.Luther.

(Notes: Walch translated Sabbatho by Sonntag (Sunday). Coming up letters by Melanchton and Joneas to Luther on June 25, and there is one from the Elector to Luther on the same day but in Vol.XVI which might bear looking into.)

#1719-To Nicoalus Hausmann in Zwickau

To the highly-honorable man, Nicolaus Hausmann, Bishop in Zwickau, his Superior and Brother in Christ.
Grace and peace in Christ! Dearest Hausmann, I have read your letter on the marriage-case of Petzold and promised to write to you on this matter, as I am doing, and you may relate the same to him. First, since he is at a place where the authority will not either cannot force his wife to him or does not want to, or she will not evict, but the Ecclesiastic defends the same (as he relates)so it cannot happen that he should marry another at the same place. Therefore one of these two things must happen that being that he either changes his place and marries the other or the Duke or Official forces him to restore the adulterous wife, or that she relents and gives permission and frees him to marry the other. That is my opinion.
You may greet the Preacher of the Prince in my name and say to him that he should in no way undertake to administer the Sacrament secretly since he is not called as a servant to this work and so that he does not give the opposition occasion (as Paul [Col.4,5]says: give those outside cause to blaspheme. Meanwhile those on both sides can allow what they want to allow. God will finally make an end to these things.Cordatus (assistant to Hausmann) has written to me and I have answered him. Through such cases I have come to a confident conclusion in my thinking that I almost wish that your Zwickauers would have a rest-day (Sabbatum), that is, that they be completely be denied the service of the Word temporarily including both the pastor and preacher [being withdrawn] so that these satiated and unbridled sows would likely, through hunger and want of the Word, would become curious after their
satiation and excess had made them so impudent. You might also depart from there. I will, when I can, bring Cordatus out of there. If, afterward, there is a request I will procure someone so they are not without having someone. They think that the world is so full of idle servants of the Word that they can easily support them the way they want to. However, more at another time.Greet your brother and all the brothers in Christ. From Torgau on the Wednesday after the 11,000 Virgins (26 Oct)
Your Martin Luther.
ML is at Torgau to settle dispute between the Jurists and Theologians.
The castle preacher in Zwickau (chaplain to the Prince) was Lorenz Soranus.
A Yahoo or Google search will tell you what the Day of 11,000 Virgins purports to celebrate or see previous letters written at the end of October. Cordatus will leave Zwickau the land of the heavenly prophets but I don't know about Hausmann. There may have been occasions in the LCMS when a Counselor or District President has said:"I think we should let that congregation sit (vacant) for a while," right brothers.

Things To See When You're In Wittenberg

Click here.

#1717-Philipp of Hesse to ML

Dear Doctor Martinus! My desire is as before that I want you to do an admonition to all the faithful on this Diet (of Augsburg, just ended) and if you do not have a sufficient report, write to me, and I will send you all the supplemental matters.It is necessary to comfort and admonish the weak believing.
I cannot permit you, of whom I have an especially good opinion, to be uninformed that there are several who suppose that the Emperor, since we are his Dependent (seems like "Anhang" is technical term for "subjects" of the Empire) has the authority to punish us in the matter of the Gospel and since the Emperor wants to re-establish the doctrine of the devil that we should permit it since we do not have the power to resist it.
Now i recall that you counseled the Elector at the time the Alliance matter with the Bishops was at hand that one should not recognize it but if one were to be overcome that one had the right to defend oneself and you knew of nothing else.You wrote further: The Elector may well defend himself if the Emperor is about to overcome him since His Love (the Elector) is a chief member with other allies. It is now my desire that you would give me your opinion in this matter. However, i cannot fail to cite several reasonings on this matter so that you, who have many activities,might be given for your consideration much to ponder.
The first is that neither in the New Testament nor in Apostolic times, to my knowledge, is there a case in which an authority who was in charge of a land by inheritance and who having adopted a faith was afterward persecuted by a higher authroity.
Secondly, it is with the German princes much different than with the Statthalters of previous times who were bad and not hereditary lords. The Italian princes did not have such freedom nor was it customary to the extent that it was a tradition amongst us Germans.
And as that is true never did any Emperor have the power to capture any subject of the Prince and to take him away otherwise the subject of such a prince would be vulnerable as if he had done it against the Imperial Majesty's own person, body and people. Though this could be proven with many examples it also my opinion that if our preachers are legally vunlnerable we also are legally right in protecting and managed our preachers.
It is also further obvious that no Emperor has the power in German lands to order any prince with force to provide one Gulden and though demanded already it would in no way be provided. If, however, with the consent of the common estates promised something to the Emperor,they would be responsible to give it.
Thirdly, it is true that the Emperor has promised and sworn to us as we have to him,and not only to him but also to the Empire at the sane time, So now if the Emperor does not support that he becomes a common person and not to be looked upon as legal emperor but a breaker of the peace since he is not emperor by inheritance but be election.
Fourthly, the Emperor has said to every Diet and written that he does not recognize himself to be a judge in these disputed matters but that it is proper for a Council to determine and evaluate such matters. Meanwhile, he, the Emperor, who himself acknowledged the same and once renounced such a judge-office ( as though he already had the prerogative, though he did not have it but only was judge over property and body and that only to a degree) now how can he permit it that he a partisan should continue on as complaintant, judge and respondent and wants, on the other hand, neither to see, hear or accept our answer which goes beyoned all heathen laws?
I do not want at this time to indicate how the election of this emperor and the future king (Ferdinand) has been carried out and will go on.
Fifthly, although it is said: the Emperor well would not have had power if the estates had not unanimously conferred such upon him and we to that extent have not power to resist; here I say to that: First, it is not true that all the estates have conferred that upon the Emperor. I know that a portion of them have done it, as one says, out of fear of the Jews (allusion to Joseph of Arimathea-disciple of Jesus secretly out of fear. John 19:38) namely Markgraf Philip and Ernst of Baden, Duke Erich of Braunschweig, Bishop of Augsburg, Duke Ludwig of Bavaria, Graf in Valdenz;these are Evangelicals beneath. (secretly?}Now there are yet many who have not consented to this corruption of the truth namely, Mainz,Pfalz,Trier, Sachsen,Markgraf Joerg of Brandenburg, Heinrich, Duke of Mecklenberg, Duke of Holstein,Philipp,Ernst,Otto,Franciscus,Dukes in Braunschweig and Lueneburg, Landgraf of Hesse, Anhalt,Duke in Prussia, Julich; and the cities: Strassburg,Luebeck, Frankfurt, Memmingen, Schwaebish-Hall, Nuernberg,Hamburg, Lindau,Kempten, Reutlingen,Ulm, Magdeburg,Constanz, Heilbronn and more others.
From the above mentioned princes and cities (I did not mention several more Grafs) it is clear that the foremost Electors and Estates have not consented to such and therefore the expedient cannot stand that the Emperor has concluded this with the Estates in unanimity etc. Though there be more of the Estates it is by a slim margin and it comes because of finances and for their own benefit in this matter. And thereunto the Bishops who are blood-thirsty should be despised because on account of their greed they have the supreme enmity against the Gospel.Also the angry princes should be despised who on account of the hate they have for several persons who have pointed out their vice so they repay the Gospel which they find to be so clear that in truth they do not know what to say but nevertheless persecute and hate in the extremest way. Thus such vehement and self-serving people have assisted but their voices have not been heard, as, in truth, is fitting and the Emperor stands alone.
This is what I have wanted to convey to you in my simplicity for your meditation and according to the reason with which you have been gifted so highly by God and I plead for your counsel and consideration. Dated the Friday after Gallus (21 Oct,) Anno Dom.

30. In the Old Testament God did not forsake His own and will not permit a land to go under which trusts in Him.
Likewise He has helped the Bohemians and we must all acknowledge that the Bohemians were under the Emperor and a King of Bohemia one of the foremost Electors. Yet they have resisted the Emperor and King and God has granted them victory and deliverance.So also I hope from God if we remain undismayed and trust in Him.
God has also well granted further help against the Emperor and others who with force and without right have mistreated their subjects. Example: One sees a small group of Swiss who have struck several Lords of Austria and the Emperor although the matter of this example has not been heard of. Dated as above. Philpp L.z.Hesse.
nOTES: Sounds like Philip knows the coalitions of the willing and the unwilling. Joachim of Brandenburg no doubt is the Prince of vice for taking Hornung's wife.



would be vulnerable

#1583-Andreas Osiander (of Nuernberg) to Martin Luther (at Coburg)

To the worthy man, servant of Christ, D.Martin Luther, his brother in Christ. Grace and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. Since there is the opportunity brought by this messenger, and since I am certain that he will come to you, dearest brother in Christ, I could not refrain from writing something to you, although I have nothing that is worthy of your ears and also fear that I might sin against the common good, since I know that you are never not busy. The Emperor has finally come to Augsburg; we have yet nothing new except that ours did not want to participate in the ostentation of the Corpus Christi Day, nor to give up the open preaching; I say "ours" of all those who previously had received the Word and held it fast. Nevertheless, there was a very vehement battle over the sermons, which culminated in all preachers being silent, except who those who promised, according to his order, to preach simply, but yet ours have maintained the right to preach in their own inns. However, you probably know better about this. One says that the Markgraf Georg, our neighbor, had spoken with great candor before the Emperor, saying that he would rather lose his gray head than either to deny the Word of God or be robbed of it. The Emperor replied: "not skin the the head, not skin the head!" since he understands neither the German or Latin properly, which is to our great disadvantage, as well as to his, which he also admits. He might well dispense with some other language or even kingdom if he could rightly understand German. We have no idea what might happen and have no sure advice except that we pray to God that He assist our case and the confidence that this will happpen. I am required to write a defense-document or counsel-writing how ours should be supported in their opinion, since I am thinking of traveling there (to Augsburg) (Osiander arrived in Augsburg on June 28). What will happen I do not know; surely, I can't add anything worthy to the Confession (Apologiam) of Philip which I have seen and consider to be very good. I have looked through and leafed through the Acts of the Councils and came upon a non-genuine article in a Apostolic-letter (Sendschrift = Apostolicae?) of Clement in which the community is not only advised to have wives but commanded to do so. This is the fifth and last letter and not only do the Papists verify it but also have published it. This article pleases me very much because through this basis of proof, it is established that nothing exists under the name of Clement, although I would be very happy with it as it appears to be useful in ridiculing, shaming and deriding the Papists . Your last letter, although very brief, pleased me very much and it will be of future use and benefit. For the rest, the matter is very diffficult, so we want to pray to the Lord that He will defend His Church and I know that you do this; only may you also pray for us that we do not forsake the Lord since He will not forsake us. Be it right well with you in Christ Jesus our Lord. Given at Nuernberg on 21 June Anno 1530. Your Andreas Osiander.

[Notes: Reference is to the Pseudoisidorean fifth letter of Clement I published in Paris 1523 . The Augsburg Confession was originally known as the Apology.]

#1716-To Conrad Cordatus in Zwickau

Grace and peace in Christ! I neither know what nor have I something, my dear Cordatus,with which to answer your letter as the same sort of complaints have overwhelmed me from throughout the dukedom (electoral Saxony) of our Prince. Itis a kind of secret and very harmful persecution that one so despises our preaching-office,hates and attacks it by trying to destroy it through hunger.Likely it is the fate of the Word that when it comes to its own, its own do not receive it.[John 1:11].The surrounding neighbors could not suppress the worship of God in Jerusalem but she her own self supppressed it. Christ could never have been crucified if he had stayed away from Jerusalem. "It cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem [Luke 13:33], and "no where is a prophet lacking more than in his father-land." Thus it happens also with ours. From outside the enemies can establish nothing by their rage so they must do it within where there is peace with ours by their contempt. Hate and hunger will exterminate the Word.Immediately will follow the punishment of this evil and more will yet follow namely starvation and pestilenz if it continues in this way. "If God would delight in being gracious to this German land, we must not let it happen." For this I request, my dear Cordatus, that you either endure , comforted by the example of Christ and those who are His or that you renounce your stubborn Zwickauers.I see neither any hope nor know of anyway in which they can be changed. This I say as one who has experienced it and has suffered it. It will happen that this great dukedom will be empty of the servants of the Word with hunger alone being enough to drive them out to say nothing of the suffering.More at another time since bodily I am very weak and sick. Greetings from me to Nicolaus (Hausmann), your bishop and be it right well with you in Christ, Amen. From Wittenberg on the day of Luke [Oct.18] 1530. Your Martin Luther.
Notes: ML barely escaped with his life from Zwickau when in the early twenties they were inclined to the likes of Carlstadt.
Cordatus will be one of the compilers of the Table Talks of ML.

Kaethe

Portrait of the Elector Johann Friedrich 'Der Grossmutige' of Saxony

#1582-Martin Luther to Erhard Schnepf (in Agusburg)

To the highly-honorable man, Erhard Schnepf, the faithful servant of the Word in Hesse, his very dear brother.

Grace and peace in the Lord!

To me also, as well as you, it portends to joy , my dear Erhard, that your Prince [Philip of Hesse] has not despised this Diet but is in attendance and to have done otherwise would have burdened not only him with intolerable hatred but also the matter of the Gospel which already is sufficiently suppressed by these enthusiastic spirits [Schwarmgeister]. The Lord witnesses through such proofs that He is with us and we see that our sighing has brought this about so that the God of the humbled and perplexed does not forsake us in the end but brings a win over the temptation in the end [1 Cor.10:13]; to Whom be praise and glory forever, Amen.

I have written this letter to your Prince which you see before you and which, when you have opportunity, deliver it to him and if necessary, add the power of your words. I am neither hopeful or despiring regarding his faith; therefore likely I have not been insistent in admonishing duly as befits the matter of him avoiding the plague of such people and the nothingness of the allurements of Satan. Were it not that Christ Himself has promised to hear our prayers I would myself have given up in this matter; so it stands written [Psallm 145:18]: " The Lord is near all who call upon Him, those who earnestly appeal"; and again [Ps.34:18]: "When the righteous cry, then the Lord hears." Yes, He commands the same and says [Ps.50:15]: "Call upon Me in need, so I will save you, and you should praise Me." This should be a brass wall, Amen.

The grace of God be with you; be strong in Him and be it right well with you in Him and at the same time be mindful of me in your prayers just as I am mindful of you.

From the wilderness [Coburg] on the 20th of June 1530. Your Martin Luther.

[Notes: Luther's letter to Philip of Hesse on the same day is in Vol.XVII, p.1960.]

Philipp of Hesse

#1715-To Landgraf Philipp of Hesse

Grace and peace from Christ. Illustrious, high-born Prince, gracious lord! I have received EFG's (your princely grace) writing and admonition gladly and happily and thank EFG for such a faithful and earnest admonition and since I see that the oppositon party is hardened, I, for as much rests on me, will yield to no appeal or means but rather the longer it goes on will yield less. Thus I also find with ours (praise God) that they are inclined to yield little although I have not dealt with them yet on every article. However, I want that mine will, with all their abilities,do all, in addition, that they can since I hope that God who has begun will also completely carry it through. The Same One strengthen and support EFG in His grace, Amen. From Wittenberg on the Saturday after Calixtus [15 Oct.] 1530. EFG's willing Martinus Luther.
Notes: ML is back in Wittenberg after being at the fortress Coburg since June during the Imperial Diet of Augsburg.
Philipp is a stalwart and signer of the Augsburg Confession.

#1576: Martin Luther (from Coburg) to Peter Welller (in Wittenberg)

To the learned and at the same time blessed learned in law Peter Weller, his brother in the Lord. "Grace and peace!"

Since the messenger, contrary to expectation, has postponed his departure for an hour, I want to send this letter as greeting since we outside Augsburg have no certain news to report.

First, I thank you that together with your brother during our stay in a foreign place have come to our house and become a companion and protector of my [family] so that they may be secure and live in good hope. I am happy also that they are commended to your trust, and, however I can, would want nothing better than to please you and your brother. I actually am quite well except that previously I suffered not only a ringing in the head but a thunder-bolt for which the cause cannot be discovered. More at another time about this.

The great ones of our Diet run about sprightly or rather travel and sail through the air with their congenital oar. Early they start out speedily for war armed with inconquerable beaks; thus, they would guarantee the day of peace to us in their boastful victory songs while they plunder, rob, lay-waste, devour, as they all have become men of war against the fruits of the earth. In the evening, they return with great triumph, joyful and full of conquest, and they sleep tired but glorious and victorious, [not at all] meek. But they are fearful, very troubled for they are suspicious that we are come to destroy their artifacts: there is a cry and shuddering, a miserable countenance of anguish. When we see that we such great Achilles and Hector-like fear instill, we clap our hands, throw our hats high, that we can so ridicule them and in many ways scare them simply by our movements and demeanor. So much for the revenge. This in jest, but I do believe that it is something of an allegory [allegoriam esse] or a prophecy that the Word of God makes every rapacious bird [Harpyias] shudder, not the dohlen [Dalen], but to turn the word around, the nobility [Adeligen] who now in Augsburg shriek [the Latin is a self-made word by Luther-"quiritisantes"] and "papenzen". God grant that, Amen. Be it right well in the Lord. Greet Georg von Grumpach. From my wilderness on 19 June 1530. Your Martin Luther.

[Notes: Martin Luther writes frequently about Dohlen disturbing his sleep at Coburg. Now the birds of prey are by their name an allusion to the nobility playing on monedulas and Edelmannos. Couldn't decipher "papenzen" but may make like a pope.]

#1714-To Hieronymous Baumgartner in Augsburg

To the very dear man, Herr Hieronymous Baumgartner, Nuernberg-Councilor, his superior in the Lord. Grace and peace!

That I didn't answer your letter, better Hieronymous, is partly because there is nothing going on to write about, and partly because I postponed it until the day on which I could bid you farewell [Luther is leaving Coburg, and Augsburg and Nuernberg are nearby] on the day which I leave this wilderness. The reason [for writing] is, however, that you would take this letter [which accompanies] to deliver to the musician Ludwig Senfel, since he has requested that if I should send him something, I should send it through you, since he thinks that it would securely and conveniently [be] accomplished. Therefore, I ask that you would fulfill and strengthen the confidence that he has in you, and that you would send the accompanying here attached to him. I very much do not want the hate of my name or the danger connected with it to burden him who is a very good man so long as he lives in the present conditions.

I hear that you have become a "gross" Baumgartner so that you are hastening toward the verse of Moses [Dt.32:15]: "he has become stout and fat and strong". But may the Lord bless you so that you become fatter and stronger in spirit so that this does not follow: "and he has forsaken the God who made him," but rather, "and he holds to God, his Lord, with all his heart."

I am jesting with you because there is nothing that I have to write to you. What is happening in all the world you know before me and more accurately. The Papists are pressing on to their destiny and already Pharaoh is blinded and hardened. What is left for him other than the Red Sea? The Lord will liberate us as we believe and pray.

Greet for me your Rib [wife] and your children. I greet you in the name of my Herrin [Kaethe], your former flame; and the same I will relate to her when I return. Thus I am continuing to jest with you in the meantime. Christ be with you, Amen. From the high fortress on the 5th of October, 1530. Your Martin Luther.

[NOTES: In #769, Luther wrote to Baumgartner that he better hurry to take Kaethe to wife as there was another (Caspar Glatz) whom he had in mind but whom Kaethe refused and then told him that she had not gotten over Baumgartner. Would it have changed history if Katherine had married Jerry Baumgartner instead of Luther? Luther had just writtern Senfel (#1714) in spite of his request to do it through Baumgartner. I assume that Baumgartner is a fellow Augustinian as "Your Martin Luther" seems to be reserved for them and people like Melanchton and Catherine. Once, Luther wrote to Pistorius, that Nuernberg is the "eyes and ears of the world". But B. is still at Augsburg.

In the Latin original, Luther has "Ex Altoburgo" rightly translated from the high fortress by the St.Louis Edition "aus der hohen," and they believe Luther mistakenly wrote "prima" instead of "quinta" for the October date, i.e. October 5. Some thought that he made it to Altenburg, but Luther never writes Altoburgum for Altenburg, contrary to Erlangen, who found it twice, I think.]

#1713-To Hans von Sternberg (from Callenberg)

To the attention of Hans von Sternberg, Knight. Grace and peace in Christ. My dear Herr and Friend! If my most gracious Herr [Elector Johann] will betake himself to order Your Valiance [address to Knights-Ew. Gestrengheit] to manage the Visitation, then I want to press hard this matter: so I ask in a friendly way that the head-pastor in Helpurghausen be commended to regarding his matter. Herewith be commended to God. Amen.

[Notes: I don't remember if Sternberg was on one of the original visitation teams in 1529, but I will check back on the correspondence. Weybringer, the pastor in question, visited Luther at Coburg concerning problems with his preachers and assistants (Caplanen) and brought back with him this letter to Sternberg from Luther. Editors know from Weybringers's letter that this should be dated October 4, 1530 (next to last day for Luther at Coburg) but there is no date or signature on this "Brieflein" (little letter) as Weybringer calls it. The Visitation was to assess the needs and conditions of the churches and pastors in Electoral Saxony, ordered by Johann and administered by Luther and Jonas et al.]