Concerning your question, the M. at Nordhausen, so left by her husband B. H., we have read diligently, and is on it our concern and Christian council:
Because such abandoned persons are to be helped in such a way that their consciences are secure, that thence they may not be challenged by the opposite, one must act publicly in the light, properly and according to Christian rule.
Therefore, although H. has run away in this way and cannot be found at any particular place, the pastor at Nordhausen shall nevertheless cite him, so that the citation is publicly posted at the church, in which the dates are set approximately as three months.
If he appears or someone appears on his behalf, it is well known how to proceed. In the event that he does not appear, however, M. shall have her testimony read publicly that she has kept herself honorable in other places, and several pious, honor-loving neighbors of hers in Nordhausen shall also give testimony before the pastor that she is of a chaste nature and has no malicious gossip. If the M. can also indicate something that H. was notorious with others, then the matter is all the clearer.
But even though she cannot prove any adultery on his part, and solely because of the sacrilegious and final abandonment, she seeks to be pronounced free of H., and her he
If the M. would be allowed to become a Christian free woman, according to the rule of Paul, 1 Cor. 7, she shall be pronounced free of the H., as he has left her unjustly and now in the third year does not show that he desires her attendance, thereby confessing that he finally fled from her.
And by virtue of Paul's sentence, the M. should again be allowed to be free as a Christian, as was also the case in Christianity at first, as Eusebius cites a similar case from Justinus, lib. 4, and the case of Fabiola indicates.
And if the woman would be honorable and Christian free according to this sentence, an honorable council is obliged to protect her; and it is good that such is also indicated to a council, so that the expired H. does not afterwards make new incorrectness. However, the authorities are often unwilling to provide this reasonable protection, etc.) therefore they should be reminded of their duty by the preachers, item the woman should also be admonished to be careful and not to marry lightly, but also to think of a pious, steady, sedentary husband.
Martinus Luther, Doctor. Caspar Creuziger, Doctor. Georgius Major.
Philip Melanchthon.