#1768-To Stephan Roth in Zwickau

To the highly-honorable mann,Sir Stephan Roth, Council-secretary in Zwickau, his friend.
Grace and peace in the LOrd! Although I am a very miserable man and on account of the Word of God more than enough afflicted, my dear Stephan, it troubles me not a little that you and your Zwickauers despise God and His servants so exceedingly. You have pushed out with shame Lorenz Soranus and so branded him with this public punishment though there was no public proceeding yet carried forth, not once was he heard and all openly shout that you are the promoter of this shameful deed and that you stanby to help carry it out. And though you so much may apologize there is no excusing you for using your authority and in your own outrageousness doing this and without drawing in the Pastor (Hausmann) and contrary to his will, though much was his concern, and without him giving his consent. "Do you think, you dear Junker, that you so dominate the Church and the Funds, which you did not establish, neither which are yours,that you may so incite and rob and afterward give what you as though you would be the Lord of the Church?" As surely as God lives, I will in some sort of public pamphlet make an example publicly of your shamefulness and that of these Zwickauer beasts and spell it out skillfully. Such have we merited for our great labors and battles for the Word of God the thanks you have granted, Friend! However, I want you and yours to consider it henceforth as accomplished that you are excluded from the fellowship of my LOrd Jesus Christ. "This should you and they all see" how surely despicable this has become and remains. The LOrd Jesus Christ bring you and yours in your counsel and undertaking to dishonor, Amen. The 4th of March 1531. Martin Luther. NOTES: I will tell you all about this in a short time. Is this excommunication by letter? Soranus is also known as Sorer,Soerer, von Sohra near Freiberg). He was at first at the Franciscan cloister in Freiberg where already in 1524 he preached according to the spirit of ML> It appears that the Duchess of Muensterberg first became acquainted with the writings of ML. In 1526 he was the first evangelical preacher in Reichenberg of Vogtland. In 1528 he was called to be the preacher at Catharinakirche in Zwickau. At the end of February the Council there abruptly dismissed him because "they found that they had no desire for him because of his teaching and life." The offense evidently concerned his life with his wife. An attempt to justify him had no effect and his departure ordered with provision made for his support to May 1. Hausmann tried to have him restored but without success. He and Hausmann came to Wittenberg with their complaint. This was the origin of the trouble between ML and Roth which lasted many years.