#1767-To Johann Sutel, Pastor in Goettingen

To the highly-honorable brother, Johann Sutel, the faithful servant of the Word in Goettingen.
Grace and peace in the LOrd! We have taken care of the printing of your church-Order,my dear Sutel, which I, according to my ability, have provided with a foreword which I dedicated to your preachers. You may see whether it is somewhat useful. I see that yours (people of Goettingen) find it burdensome when they should pay the servants of the church a little more taking no consideration of these times. Likely they hope that they could have a superfluity of people to administer the preaching-office but if they are hoping for that they should not seek servants of the church from me. Since here there is a great shortage of suitable men and I am only with great effort able to raise some up here so that we in this city are beginning to suffer a shortage. Previously they squandered thousands of Gulden on numerous deceivers while now they don't want to give one a hundred. Therefore we will let them be. It is better that they should servants of the Pope and cast under the devil than that they should lord it over Christ and tread underfoot His Word with their feet. Many such things are ocurring also in other places but the LOrd knows who are His.[2 Timothy 2:19]."They think that one must be glad about them and that there would be nothing left without them." That is called not seeking the Gospel in earnest. That being the case I cannot answer you regarding what you ask whether you being unshorn and not anointed can handle the Abendmahl of the LOrd. So if there is no earnestness there you should refrain as previously but if there is earnestness there you may publicly before the altar and before the rest of the church-servants receive the authority to administer the LOrd's Supper as they give witness to you with a verse and the laying on of hands. However, pardon my brevity. So many examples of unthankfulness are made known to me that I am find it difficult to counsel in these matters and be a participant in the Jewish disgust who were disgusted about manna.[Numbers 21:5].Be it well with you, valiant in Christ. On the first of March 1531.
Martin Luther.