#1869-To the Council in Herford

To the honorable and wise Lord Mayor and Council of the city of Hervord in Westphalia,my favored Lords and Friends.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honored,wise, dear Lords! It has come to me how one wants the Sisters and those in the Brother-house to forsake their position and garments and this is according to the Parish-head and Preacher's opoinion. Without doubt be it known that innovations in divine matters especially are very dangerous because the Lords and
Great ones are motivated by everything which should yet serve and increase quiet and peace. Because the Brothers and Sisters (who were the first among you to begin in the Gospel) lead an honorable life, have a honorable, chaste community where the pure Word is faithfully taught and supported it is my friendly request E.W. (your wisdom i.e. the Council) would not establish something unrest and bitterness in this matter and that they may yet wear spiritual clothing and practice ancient, praiseworthy customs which are not against the Gospel. Such Cloister and Brother-houses for the most part please me. And would to God that all cloisters were so and thus all Parish-heads, cities and lands would well advised. If I am not mistaken E.W. would be Christianly and honorable to proceee since neither the Parish-heads or parish are harmed but it is mostly useful and they are benefited by it. Herewith be commended to God. Dated at Wittenberg, last (31st-ultima) of January anno MDXXXII. D. Martinus Luther. Mpp. aeger (sick).
NOTE: Mpp. =by his own hand?

#1867-Johann Bugenhagen to ML

[The St.Louis Edition provides the summary of this letter of 24 January 1532 by Bugenhagen from Luebeck.] The summary is in Burkhardts Briefwechsel, p.201.]
Pommer shares his concern over the rumors of the bad health of Luther and his joy over the report now of his well-being; also that he has received the Psalms (ML's commentary?}; reports the deaths of Zwingli and Oecolampadus; reports a message dispatched from Luebeck to Schwebe.

#1867-To Abbot Friedrich Pistorius in Nuernberg

To the honor-worthy and recognized for scholarship man, Herr Friedrich, Abbot at St. Aegidus in the famous Nuernberg, his dear brother in Christ.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have postponed, higly-honorable man, the written wish for the happiness of your marriage and that there is just cause for this and that you will take this with an upright disposition easily because it has a lot to do with the condition of my health, with the publishing of books, with the writing of letters, dealing with many matters, with favors to friends and with many countless similar things. Among these are, though perhaps less and more seldom recently with the household and church situations, I am concerned with silencing the plagues of Satan and enemies. Yet, nonetheless, through prayer and cheering with delight and friendly wishes for happiness
and now I finally wish also through this letter wish happiness not only that this fellowship which God has created and sanctified with blessings in all things would be easy for you but rather more and more with constancy of mind and faith of the heart would always carry the conviction that this is the primary way of life which above all pleases God and that more and more you be constant because HE(God) supports it and finally that it is the highest and the most to be exalted. Then what were kingdoms and sovereignties when Adam and the patriarchs lived only as married people? Now then how many and how rich kingdoms have gone under while the estate of marriage throughout the world remains inviolate! Finally, what gross monstrosites, wars and shameful deeds of kingdoms are each day rebuked by God while the very lowly works of marriage, which are most beneficial and serve only to peace, He glorifies with everlasting crowns! And what estate is more fit for the sovreignty over all things if not the estate of marriage?and although though the evil of men made it necessary for the use of force as a way of exercising authority this has been mainly misused and this authority is more ready for the service of war while marriage is the very simplest and an authority of peace. Rejoice and say thank you to God that you have been presented with this way of life and you as it were were taken from the sea into the harbor and set into paradise out of this world. It may always be as Paul says (1 Cor.7:28) that in this estate there is tribulation of the flesh but there is at the same time the consolation of the spirit as Solomon speaks (Proverbs 18:22):"He receives joy from the LOrd." Further what is the single life -which all the more desires marriage and is confused- other than not only tribulation but a sea and and a storm, yes a hell of tribulation?So now may the error bound world rage and because they would not bear one tribulation may they instead have oceans and storms of tribulations to love and what they love they will find. Christ holds us and supports us in a better manner in helping us overcome several troubles with so many good things that we possess in the arrangement
of life so that one or another evil we do experience even at all . These people are so very drunken that for one good or a little honor do not experience the countless evils of their condition like a soldier puts forth his life for a gold-gulden giving up the salvation of body and soul. We should be so drunken with our goods that when an evil is there or steps in we consider it as something good.
See, whereto I am counseling! Do I appear to you to be drunken or sober? I rejoice very much hereon: God's works to praise and, when I can, with many words. The LOrd Jesus Christ bless you in spirit and in body and grant you what I have been thinking about in your prayers. I want that your Friedrichin (wife of Friedrich) be greeted as appropriat in my name but take care that it is only with Latin words and the rest she will understand with her sharp wit already. Given on January 17 during the mealtime and in haste. Therefore you will forgive the verbosity and also one who is enjoying a
meal time (coenato so I say)and neither carousing or drunken.Most worthy Lord, Your Martin Luther.

#1866-To Council at Torgau

To the honorable and wise Mayor and Council in Torgau, my favored dear Lords and Friends.G.u.F.(grace and peace). Honorable, wise, dear Lords! I have now several times pleaded for Erasmus Krautheim that E.W. (Your wisdom) would grant him a stipend by which he has previously been sustained here and thinks it should be granted as he has indicated to me that one of honorable the Councilors has said that my petition has attained acceptance. Nevertheless it is my fervent request that, as previously, E.W. would grant such stipend to him a good, fine man (who can yet well create many benefits). Up to now he has been supported by such hope and otherwise he will likely have to take up hand labor; and I yes,yes,yes, must press very hard tnat those who are fit for the preaching office should all not have to take up manual labor. I can well see and experience what a great shortage of preachers and parish-heads will occur within three years. Thereto EW would as pious Christians provide help, care and assistance; it is necessary, that God my
LOrd knows, and to whom I herewith commend E.W., Amen. The Friday after Epiphany (12 Jan.) 1532. D. Martinus Luther.

#1865-To Wenceslaus Link in Nuernberg

Grace and peace in the LOrd Jesus Christ! I have not written to you for a long time, my dear Wenceslaus, and also you have not thought it necessary that I write to you since I am so very busy. But it is for you who has more leisure to write to me more often. I hope that my thinking is wrong in that I have been been incited by some sort of rumor that among the servants of the Word in Nuernberg a secret disharmony is prevalent: there can scarcely be anything more troubly for me to hear than that there should be such an evil. I therefore pray that you whom I know and have tested to be of upright and forthright demeanor would strive with us and be watchful against such spirits (Eph.6:12) who are not only content to rage against earthly things but also but also striving against heavenly things shooting their fiery arrows to disturb the kingdom of God to which we belong. Since Osainder is yet not in agreement with us on the conditional natur of baptism: as always; we want to bear it and not press harder, as he also bears with us and is not bitter, until Christ unties this knot. We now see the judgment of God for a second time; first on Muenzer and now on Zwingli. I have become a prophet in that I said that God would not long suffer this frenzied and raging blasphemy, which has now become full, in which they ridicule our God and call us eaters of flesh, sopping up blood and of being a bloody people and calling us other horrible names. "That's what they have; you see previously before Augsburg."
You do not write anything certain about Carlstadt and I am surprised that such a story remains hidden from us so that what is coming to us is so doubtful so that we today must grant that we know nothing certain either. Philip says: If God does not sieze Carlstadt with His unlimited (absoluta) force and wisdom, he will not be caught with
ordinary (ordinata) means. So great in this horror is the dexterity to slip away, to
flee and avoid the dangers which he himself has brought about. However, he will prove
truthful who said (Sirach 3:27. Vulgate):"Whoever loves danger, he will perish thereby." Greet respectfully for me Lazarus Spengler and all of ours. Be it right well with you in Christ with yours, Amen. The third of January Anno 1532. Your Martin Luther.
NOTE: "All of ours", I think, are the fellow Augustinians, among whom is Link.
ML still has some mixed feelings about Carlstadt, though fearful that his destiny is determined, methinks. What do you think?

#1864-To Caspa r( Huberinus)

Grace and peace in Christ! You take care, be careful, my dear Caspar, of the Enthusiasts (Schwaermer) since you are very idle in the duties, as you indicate, of your office so as not to be partakers of their troubles. God has already twice punished: first under Muenzer, and now under the Zwinglians. I am concerned that Augsburg is about to have their part in it. If you are not able to do anything else, do as the Jews who were captive in Babylon and had to be without a temple, without worship services, without the use of their Moses (Mosaic ceremonies?)but had only the Word to suffice for seventy long years. It is not yet advisable that you should be confined to a corner as an oddity. Suffer such affliction and be consoled with reading and teaching of the h.(holy) Word and sighing and praying; as Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem, so you also with longing for the Sacrament with sighing until God sees to it. There is not so great a trouble with Baptism; one baptized all right in houses under the Papacy and you can baptize and pray there as well as in the church. Also you can bless marriages in houses
and rely upon that yet; and if it cannot be otherwise and the Council forbids such baptisms as before I was accustomed to accept the Papists' with the conditions that while we consider their Baptism valid we do not accept their faith and teaching in other matters. The Enthusiasts have neither Baptism nor Sacrament. So much in haste since I am to a great extent overburdened. Herewith be commended to God, Amen. 3 January. D. Mart. Luther.
NOTES: The year not given is assumed to be 1532 on the basis of the letter to Link which follows.

#1863-To Martin Goerlitz in Braunschweig

To the highly-respectable brother in the LOrd, herr Martin Goerlitz, the very faithful and upright Superintendent of the church in Braunschweig
Grace and peace. I have previously written (see #1857) to you, my dear Martin, that we were considering calling you. Therefore, I call you in the Name of the LOrd that you release yourself from there as soon as you can. The parish at Kahla, near Jena, which you know, awaits you as they are now without a pastor but if it does not please you, you may exchange with him at Belger or someone else. This is brief, but true. Since I am very busy. Likely Braunschwieg which is not worthy of the Word will emulate Muehlhausen or Zurich which may God prevent,Amen. D. Carlstadt is in Zurich and become a follower of Zwingli, whom is now regarded as a martyr of Christ so their blasphemy has become the maximum ,"so that it must run over". Be it right well with you in Christ. the third of January 1532. Your Martin Luther.
NOTE: Another adventure for the great Carlstadt. Zwingli was killed on October 11,1531 in an assault (battle) near Cappel.

#1860-To Justus Jonas

My dear Jonas! What gives? If you write to Spalatin, he should also himself write to the Prince about these tragic things which he wrote to us and present something of a list of particulars or at least add them to a letter of mine so that they come into the hands of the Prince. D. M. Luther.
NOTE: No date on this one.

#1862_ To Elector Johann in Saxony
To the illustrious, high-born Prince and Lord, Herr Johann, Duke in Saxony and Elector,etc.,Landgraf in Thuringia and Markgraf in Meissen etc., my most gracious Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ. Illustrious, high-born Prince, most gracious Lord! I have turned over this supplication of this good fellow Johann Memminger to the respectable Herr Doctor Brueck, Chancellor, and the Marshall Hans Dolzig to be presented to ECFG. Would that ECFG would graciously help and advise this poor fellow nearly complete and talented in vocational studies so that he henceforth be very useful and support himself for life as ECFG can perceive further from his supplication. May ECFG be graciously consider him. God, the Father of every grace and consolation, will mercifully regard and preserve ECFG from all evil through Jesus Chrst, His Son, Amen.
ECFG's odedient one Martinus Luther.
NOTE: No date on this one either.

#1859-To Nicalus von Amsdorf

Grace and peace! I believe, my dear Amsdorf, that life has begun to be for you disgusting because of the endless evil of men. The Zwinglians have contracted with the other Swiss but with shameful conditions because of the shame and defeat which they have suffered after the loss which their leader has suffered on account of their teaching. However, that is the end of their boasting which they sought through their blasphemy of the Lord's Supper. And, nevertheless, they do not repent although in the conditions for peace they have almost everything recanted and justified completetely the Papists. Yes, they are forced to break off all covenants with the external princes as with the Landgrafs, etc. "That says," [Phil.3:19]:"Their glory has become their shame."
Beyond that I have nothing to report except that there is hope on the peace-negotiations between the Emperor and ours. God do what is good, Amen. I am commending to you this Thomas whom you know. I am overwhlemed with work in writing and speaking so that there is not a third of the necessary time available. Christ be with you. On the day of the Innocent Children [28 Dec.] the year 1532 Wittenberg.Your Martin Luther.
Note: ML begins the New Year at Christmas per usual.