#1781-To Valentin Hausmann in Freiberg

Grace and peace in Christ! Your brother N[icolaus?] has let me see your writing wherein with many words you console very little and indicate sufficiently the reason whereby you are motivated; it's true that your writing has moved me to think about it. I plead with you, however, for God's sake, to consider that those of Zwickau have no more right to be considered as the witness for the prosecution since it is the word of a single person and God's Word commands that a matter should be determined by two or three men. Thus, I am, D. Martin Luther, to such a position come, that I am charged with more land and people, also more lords and authorities than is Zwickau and as little as I would do them an injustice so I would just as little do an injustice to Zwickau. There is resting on my soul more than 100,000 Zwickaus. If my doctrine is right, those of Zwickau should not continue their defiance. If I could be with you, I would should you how to answer the keen Zwickauers. Therefore I plead with you in a friendly way that you would defend your dear brother and do not believe everything from those of Zwickau because they have the reputation that they will not suffer any preacher or head-pastor and no one wants to go there as I have previously learned. You might well consider whether a good fellow should study all his life-long, consume his father's goods and suffer every
misfortune if he wants to be the parish-leader in Zwickau because they have the repute of wanting to be the lords and the parish-leader the servant who should sit all day at the pump; if Muhlpfort wants it, he may remain; if not, he must go. No, my dear sir, you cannot bring there or keep a parish-leader there; we will not suffer it to be done since they confess that they are not Christians. From heathen we would endure it and should do so but from Christians not even Christ would endure it. You and those from Zwickau, my dear lord and friend, might not give your brother sustenance and you might actually do the same. Christ is somwhat richer than the world although He is regarded as poor. It says: feed the hungry (Esurientes implebit): that's where we stand and let those at Zwickau go on.
NOTE: Cod. Goth. mysteriously ,and is followed by Eralngen , makes Nicolaus Hausmann the addresse. All others have this to Valentin Hausmann.