#1805-To the Preachers at Zwickau

To the worthy men, the srevants of the Word in the Church in Zwickau altogether and especially his highly honorable brethren.
Grace and peace in Christ! I believe enttirely, worthy men, that you in Zwickau have manifold troubles and are forced to listen to the abusive and boastful speaking against the head-pastor (Hausmann) and Cordatus. However, endure it for the sake of Christ who defends you in this matter and will judge it. Meanwhile administer faithfully the Word and Sacrament for the blessed and believing until we have the judgment of the Prince. If they should require you should declare as good their deeds against the head-pastor and Cordatus or condemn (them?) then you could say that you are not judges but that the matter is pending at the Court and one must await the judgment from there as the LOrd Himself better inspires this and everything else.
I have sympathy for the head-pastor and Cordatus. However, with these raging furies I am completely not willing so as to forever not even consider them worthy of one letter or word and to regard them as people excluded from my fellowship. May God visit their misdeeds, Amen. Christ who has begun the good work in you complete it on that day in which we will be freed from Munsterische rage and from every evil, Amen.The 21st of June 1531. Martin Luther.

#1804-To Elector Johann of Saxony

Grace and peace in Christ. Most-illustrious, high-born Prince, most gracious Lord! I should not and do not want usurp the worldly regimen, nor yet displease ECFG's officials. Because, however, the outcry rages I perceive ECFG's faithfulness and love to me for which I am greatly indebted I do want to have the name, should something go awry, as being silent to the disadvantage of ECFG; our Commander Hans Metsch has often been rightly and earnestly admonished by me that he should cease the whoredom and buberei with women which for me as a preacher at length such gross offensive behavior could not be suffered nor could I be silent. Upon that (admonition) he went forth and did it so well that the mouths, noses, eyes and ears of all the people were filled with it and also made it known to my eyes that he could not be without women. Thereupon I denied him all fellowship with me personally and privately forbid the Sacrament(to him). Now he is so entangled in the whores hair that he indicates little fear of God and I want to deal with him in preaching and judgment openly so I offer the humble opinion to ECFG that he consider graicously this instruction and cooperate with me that I stop the mouth of this offense and do not give place for others to evil. He may be a good war-man but he will not defend me in time of emergency if he does not also have God before his eyes Who previously defended us wonderfully without the striking of a sword and yet daily preserves (us).
Secondly also I want to verify my loyalty to ECFG in this way. I and others have also talked with him about the breach in the city wall in a friendly way. However because the man gave me this answer: Because I am a secretary and do not understand such matters, I regard everything as equally good. Notwithstanding whether others may advise differently as such building forement think no one dare say that I have not warned ECFG of the damage. I know very well that previously what vigorous care was taken that the gates kept the city closed in but the city is open day and night over 100 steps so that the sows and everything run in from field to the market; from the market to the field they are free to stand and defecate since the wall is broken from the ground up and nothing is built on it or stays together. And it's good and fine to let it happen! ECFG will graciously acknowledge this my report and think the matter over. My head's sorrow is that many great upright people here are children that the outlook is dangerous and should something happen by God's permission it will be something that will be wearily and in vain lamented. What is occupying my head and makes the outcry great is whether ECFG is thoroughly informed so that unrest does not arise; pious people are enduring but too much tearing open of the sack may lead easily to spark up something among the impatient whose spite ,cursing and tyranny will not be satisfied. It is a pious,peaceful,obedient city, praise God. However, the pressure and spite might turn that around so that they may not condiser an offical worthy of the fear of a land's prince. I plead once again that ECFG will receive this writing as purely obedient loyalty. I have long enough been silent in order not to disgruntle anyone. However, that is nonsense since they pursue their pleasure with the property and money of ECFG ; although ECFG likely knows everything I have wanted to demonstrate my desire to serve. God preserve ECFG against all the malice of the unpleasant ones, Amen. On the Friday after Vitus (16 June) 1531. ECFG"s obedient one Martinus Luther.
NOTES: If I am not mistaken,Hans Metsch was one of the secular leaders of a visitation team perhaps with Jonas' group. Should check that out. Might be a womanizer like certain contemporary officials and some church men. No, never!

#1803-To Elector Johann of Saxony

Grace and peace in Christ. Most-illustrious,high-born Prince, most-gracious Lord.! Good people have encouraged me to write to ECFG for this Werner,about this letter of particulars which the official in Neuenstadt, Erph von Ende, has so very unjustly burdened ECFG and pressed them hard as facts. I request that since he might receive a favorable dispensation (Schied?), as I have seen and read, that ECFG would graciously take care that it is communicated and if it is so the Schied is delivered as you are nearby he would desire no (further?) petition.Because he is not seeking his own (good) but rather his oral emergency message is as a faithful guardian and ECFG himself has experienced how the official people take occasion in these fraudulent times to make of themselves Saxon Princes and to do what they want not what they should (as I unhappily indicated such) and in my submissive appeal (which I did not know how to refuse the good fellow and make him wait in line)request that ECFG will grant the mentioned Werner such a dispensation and it be given to him in the name of ECFG. Nothing more does request and even without such a request we know that ECFG would gladly do it and we all know that very well (praise God). Christ, our LOrd, strengthen ECFG with His Spirit,Amen. 8 June 1531. ECFG's obedient one, Martinus Luther.
NOTES: ML knows that Johann is Magnanimous. June of 1531 is the month for communications between ML and the Elector as we are now one year after Augsburg. More to come to and from the Court of Electoral Saxony.There were 18 points of complaint made against Nickel Werner and he was imprisoned but after the matter was reviewed he was relased according to Burkhardt.

John the Magnanimous by Cranach the Elder

#1801-To Elector Johann in Saxony

Grace and peace in Christ. Most-illustrious, high-born Prince, most gracious Lord! Wolf Hornung is also considering improving the city of Kemberg with a little house and has purchased 40 stumps of wood at the Suelicher office. I plead submissively with E.C.F.G. that from the same office 30 would be graciously added because it is not worth very much money. E.C.F.G. will well know how graciously to deal with him since I am appealing to E.C.F.G. in so many writings and as everyone is coming to have his case moved forward by me. God strengthen E.C.F.G. with His Grace,Amen. The 1st of June 1531. E.C.F.G.'s obedient Martinus Luther.
Notes: "Your Electoral Princely Grace" is always abbreviated: "E.C.F.G."
Not Wolf Hornung again! Helping Wolf might get Johann in troubl with the Elector of Brandenburg who appropriated Wolf's wife for himself.

To Nicolaus Amsdorf in Magdeburg

"Grace and peace in Christ"! I have reconciled,my dear Amsdorf, Herr Melchior and both of the others, M. Stephan and Fritzhans. Now it remains that you also deal in friendship with the man (Melchior Mirisch)as a colleague in the preaching office. He is neither an evil nor a bitter man but of a somewhat small in heartiness who is easily offended that he is disrespected; with these faults of the brothers you know better how to advise. I have asked them that they deal respectfully and in love to one another and when this happens the people are easily at peace.I gathered the opinion from him that in reference to Simon Hafritz he has composed himself and is not inclined to be so favorable to him as he was before since he was deceived by him. We are convinced however that I should summon Simon to me. "And I request herewith that you the above-mentioned Mr. Simon give him permission after I write to him, which should soon happen, as I want to give him honorable advice." This my opinion you may make known; likely it will serve to calm the dispositions if perhaps some are excited. However because I am burdened with this man so I have requested that he be provided with a suitable present from there so it is not necessary for me to provide sustenance for the man since I myself am poor. "And a friendly request together with my Kaethe that you earnestly endeavor that Dechant Erhard Kapp would let remain the cloth and ring which he promised to the other betrothed young woman."
That would be a just judgment since he has stubbornly betrayed them and also the first one blamed over a nothing matter and has prevented both of them to marry. You will make everything better than I an describe in writing." The grace of God be with you. In the the month of June of the year 1531. Your Martin Luther.
NOTES: I've never understood the German use of quotes. Sounds like there's some marital promblems among the clergy at Magdeburg.

Andreas Osiander

#1796-To Andreas Osiander in Nuernberg

To Herr Andreas Osiander, preacher in Nuernberg.
Grace and peace in the LOrd! You ask, my dear Osiander, about the baptism of the children who have not yet come out of the mother's body so I am happy to give my opinion but without impairing your opinion. I have forbidden our wives to baptize a child that is not yet born. Several have cultivated the habit of baptizing the fruit when scarcely the part of the hair is showing. However, why then not baptize over the body of the mother likewise or the body of the mother herself? I have commanded that one should assist the birthing ones with prayers.However the baptism by wives of child who is danger of coming into the world because of weakness I consider good (gueltig?) but it nevertheless should be brought to the church for public prayers for the same and the laying on of hands of the servants of the church to be publicly acknowledged as a good baptism by the witness of the Church. I cannot condemn (the text is corrupt here and Editors puzzle over the seeeming contradiction with the previous letter)a conditional baptism if one has doubts about the certainty of a privately obtained baptism; it is different if there is no doubt. I write very briefly since I am suffering in the head and my hands tremble. You pray for me and be it right well with you in Christ always.Given on the 13th May Anno 1531. Your Martin Luther.
NOTES: The Editors in view of the letter to Link have substituted "Inconditionalem"for "" Conditionalem " thinking that ML made a mistake because he wasn't well. He wasn't well when he wrote to Link the day before either. It doesn't make sense that "it should be otherwise if there is no doubt." If there was no doubt how could there have been a conditional baptism to follow? This is a good reminder that a great many of the letters we are translating from German were originally in Latin and translated into German.
I couldn't think of a better word than impaired for "beeintrachtigen" but seems to mean that ML doesn't want Osiander to change his opinion because of ML's. Does this give you a headache and make your hands tremble?

#1795-To Wenceslaus Link in Nuernberg

Grace and peace! On the question which you have proposed to me in your last letter regarding conditional baptism,my dear Wenceslaus, I have spoken with Master Philip and after struggling carefully with the matter we have come to the conclusion that the conditional-way of baptism should absolutely be done away with and if one is not certain whether one has been baptized or not, or does not know, he should simply be baptized without condition as though he had never been baptized. And our basis is that a conditional-way of baptizing expresses nothing neither denying nor affirming,neither granting or taking away. Thus assume someone were conditionally baptized he would afterward be forced to say: Now I know just as little and am just as uncertain as before whether I was baptized as must anyone who baptized me. Since if the earlier baptism were valid (this is not known to me whether I want it to be or not) then the later (because it was done in the conditional manner) is nothing. Now if the earlier baptism was not valid (which necessarily I do not know) then the later baptism is nothing because it is uncertain and must be so long as the first is uncertain because it is grounded on the condition that the first which is uncertain and for this reason both remain always uncertain. However, it must be granted that the first is certain at least for the baptizer who afterwards set aside the witness of the church. It would be safer in these cases to make the mistake of baptizing again (wiedertaufen =anabaptism)if in any circumstance a mistake were made (which we do not believe) than through the offer of an uncertain baptism which actually would be sinful because then it would not truly be a repeated baptism (Wiederfaufe) but an uncertain re-baptism, that is, a true and certain baptism,we oppose to an uncertain baptism. In this way we do not become raging Anabaptists. Since they,as you know, condemn openly the certain first baptism and do not want it to be called a baptism. We,moreover, would let the fate of the uncertain baptism be left to God's judgment and offer a certain baptism. This we believe is to to act confidently and rightly. Further when someone baptizes with an altered formula, as you write, : in the name of the Father and of the Son and of Saint Michael we are certain that it is absolutely not a baptism and also not a conditional one.
With the condition-manner of the jealousy law (Numbers 5) that is a different matter. The Law and the Gospel are different things. The Gospel is a promise of God which must be certain. The Law deals with matters of our works and can be let go or held to and easily permits a condition. Then also the Law addressed the hearts of men which we cannot discern. However, the Gospel offers quite simply the things of God, whether we discern them or not, that men may benefit, though we may know or are not certain whether men have sinned against the Law.
Since I am busy I have written confusingly and hastily : you will put it in order and make the best to be brought together out this inept forest of my writing.
I thank you for the gift of oranges. There was a little wash basin included together with a two-armed light which I am not sure you have given as you did not indicate anything. Be it well with you and pray for me. Wittenberg on May 12,1531. Your Martin Luther.
NOTES: There you have the whole letter. Maybe the underlying assumption of the Church then was that to rebaptize was sinful somehow?
According to ML Nuernberg, "the eyes and ears of the world", has everything including the best oranges. I think the first spring-loaded pocket watch was invented there at St. Aegidius monastery and one given to ML several years previously
by the inventor of logrithms and ill-fated predictor of the end of the world for 1534 whose name I am trying to recall but maybe long-time readers will remember.

#1794-To Nicolaus Hausmann in Zwickau

Grace and peace in Christ! I have read your letter for your relative Georg Pocher and listened extensively to the man. Because you request my advice in this matter I have spoken with Master Philip (Melanchton) and it seems advisable to us that if the danger is so great and is of such a nature that he in justified fear (justo metu as the jurists say) cease living with his wife until perhaps the time comes she is openly declared to be guilty or not guilty. This would be case similar to that in 1 Cor.7 where angry married people separate from one another. A divorce in which both may marry (remarry?) is however, not to be undertaken without a public judgment-hearing in which both parties may accuse and be accused. This is not for us to advise and it does come under the limitations of conscience. The conscience is safe however to refrain from dwelling with the wife so long as there is the obvious fear that there is great danger possible. Though the fear of danger is clear it presupposes that it is clear that the morals, character and reputation of the man is such that he is not notorious for frivolity or malice and has a good reputation for being earnest in morals; thus it is if, as you write, the man would suffer everything except this danger though the wife is known to be of opposing morals and character. If this is certainly clear he may not be forced into danger regardless of the offense (taken?). Such a great indication of danger (although the wife denies it) as he relates is express enough to arouse justified fear. That is enough about this. We see in such cases the true actual works of the devil. The LOrd be with you. Greet Herr Cordatus in the LOrd. On the the 10th of May 1531. Martin Luther.
If your Council wants to judge this case we would happy to be free of it and yield to them; we only want to advise the conscience in the matter of a temporary separation.
NOTES: Looks like ML finds some good in the Zwickau city council after all.
Cordatus will soon be out of Zwickau too. Later he will be one of the recorders of ML's Table Talks.

#1789-To Spalatin at Altenburg

To the worthy man, Herr Georg Spalatin, the faithful and plain Pastor of the church in Altenburg, his very dear brother in the LOrd.
Grace and peace in the LOrd! There is this Georg Tors who is with me, my better Spalatin, with the intention to find a position somewhere. There is nothing presently available and he cannot stay here at this place so he has decided to hold up somewhere outside of Wittenberg anywhere meanwhile until somewhere there is a position available. For this reason he has requested from me a recommendation writing to you and the other Visitors if you could advise to him some sort of position. Therefore, either help the man or comfort him with words which inspire confidence.
With us there is no news other than the high-expense of grain which has suddenly arisen extensively and resulted in a monstrous outcry from the people. However, what has the unbelieveable neglect of the Word merited or rather also the despising and hatred toward ours? God change our hearts and have mercy on us, Amen. Greet your Kette
(Castenam, Kethe) who is a very good wife. On the day after Georg (24 April) 1531. Your Martin Luther.
NOTES: ML likes to play on Catherine, his own and Spalatins, with the word "Kette", chain or shackles.
"YOUR", Martin Luther, is reserved for the closest of colleagues.

flyinglynn

Eilenburg Hound

#1788-To Stanislaus Hoffmann in Zwickau

To the highly honorable man, Herr Stanislaus Hoffmann, preacher of the Council in Zwickau at St.Catharine's, his friend in the LOrd.
Grace and peace in the LOrd! I hear, good man, that you are Preacher at St.Catharines in the place of the shamefully and unworthily persecuted Laurentius Soranus who neither has been accused nor remitted (?uberwiesen)and I marvel at your impudence since you know very well that the church in Zwickau is commended to Herr Pastor Nicolaus and these souls are entrusted to his faithful care and for whom he must give an account to Christ. And you, without asking him and without his will, have pushed into this office or taken it over. What do you have for a conscience to do this and to persist in this action? It may that the Council has called you but it has called you without the knowledge and consent of the head-pastor to whom the care of this city is entrusted. I write this to admonish and also at the same time to point out that I ,this action of yours or your Senate, have no part in it and neither regard it as good but have nothing to do with it and I am free of your sin if Christ should judge you over it. You look to what you have done and do not regard me for either a colleague or justifier. Be it well with you in the LOrd and take cognizance of your conscience. On the Monday after Georg (24 April) 1531. Martin Luther. NOTE: ML telling it like it is.