#1852-To the Council of the city of Rostock

To the honorable, respectable and wise Mayor and Council of the city of Rostock, our favored friends.
Grace and peace of God through Jesus Christ. Honorable, respectable, wise, favored friends! We have received your writing concerning the disharmony of the preachers among you and along with it a list of your church ceremonies and that we should add a
friendly opinion, as much as we are able, to advise you what would serve the peace of your churches. W desire nothing more than that the right Christian doctrine be taught peacable and harmoniously to the glory of God and consolation of souls. You should recognize that there is little that we can advise or deal with in your matter since we do not know your preachers nor are we related to them. Yet we do not want to withhold our opinion. We have read the list of your ceremonies and find nothing unchristian or objectionable and especially that which concerns private absolution is good for many reasons so that the private absolution (privata absolutio) should be maintained. Because the present Misseprediger (see note)is opposed to the private confession and absolution and quarrles about others of your ceremonies as futile though yet tolerated we think that it would be good to provide him with this honorable advice that he should abstain from such bickering as reported and teach peacably the same matters for edification, fear of God, faith and confession of Christ and serve the obedience of the people. And although we think that he will not greatly respect our advice you might indicate to him from me, Martin Luther, friendly admonishing him that I have for a long time exercised the preaching office and pursued it and as also D. Johann Pomeranus has previously admonished him that he should not be so bold in spiritual matters. Such boldness is dangerous as can be shown from many examples in our times. He should also take care that there is not offense given by his futile quarreling. If he does not respond by improving through this process and admonition it is our advice that you in a friendly way dismiss him from your city and keep him from having adherents among the common people. You should exercise your office to serve the peace of the city in God's Name and not fear the rabble but trust that God will assist you so long as you seek and serve the glory of God. The rest of the preachers should admonish and instruct the people in obedience to the authority and an honorable and pious people will not set themselves against the council. We do not doubt that you have the skill, though there be several unhelpful people who desire to establish unrest, to well quiet the same.
This is our response to your request and herewith pray and admonish that through this or similar offense you will not turn away from the holy Gospel and comforting teaching of Christ but be aware that the devil brings about such offence to dishonor God and scares away the people from the consolation which they have in Christ and you should be armed and firm against the devil's poison for the praise of God and comfort of souls to preserve the Holy Gospel wherein God, for the sake of Christ, gives forgiveness of sins and salvation and promises to be our Helper in every need. Thereto may God provide His grace, Amen. Given at Wittenberg, the 10th of November anno MDXXXI D. Martin Luther. Philipp Melanchton.
NOTES: Nov.10, 1531 is ML's 48th birthday.
Some thought Misseprediger is the man's name. Likely tho it is the preacher of the early service where they had early, main service, and afternoon preachers. Also not the mass-father as some have thought. What do you think?