#1794-To Nicolaus Hausmann in Zwickau

Grace and peace in Christ! I have read your letter for your relative Georg Pocher and listened extensively to the man. Because you request my advice in this matter I have spoken with Master Philip (Melanchton) and it seems advisable to us that if the danger is so great and is of such a nature that he in justified fear (justo metu as the jurists say) cease living with his wife until perhaps the time comes she is openly declared to be guilty or not guilty. This would be case similar to that in 1 Cor.7 where angry married people separate from one another. A divorce in which both may marry (remarry?) is however, not to be undertaken without a public judgment-hearing in which both parties may accuse and be accused. This is not for us to advise and it does come under the limitations of conscience. The conscience is safe however to refrain from dwelling with the wife so long as there is the obvious fear that there is great danger possible. Though the fear of danger is clear it presupposes that it is clear that the morals, character and reputation of the man is such that he is not notorious for frivolity or malice and has a good reputation for being earnest in morals; thus it is if, as you write, the man would suffer everything except this danger though the wife is known to be of opposing morals and character. If this is certainly clear he may not be forced into danger regardless of the offense (taken?). Such a great indication of danger (although the wife denies it) as he relates is express enough to arouse justified fear. That is enough about this. We see in such cases the true actual works of the devil. The LOrd be with you. Greet Herr Cordatus in the LOrd. On the the 10th of May 1531. Martin Luther.
If your Council wants to judge this case we would happy to be free of it and yield to them; we only want to advise the conscience in the matter of a temporary separation.
NOTES: Looks like ML finds some good in the Zwickau city council after all.
Cordatus will soon be out of Zwickau too. Later he will be one of the recorders of ML's Table Talks.