18 October 1523.
Grace and peace in Christ, esteemed, respectable, dear Mr. Chancellor. We have read over the booklet by D. Strauss' booklet and give you our opinion, which you should make known to my most gracious lord.
First of all, it is true that the purchase of interest, especially as it has been in vogue and customary up to now, is usurious, and not well possible, because the common world is stingy and always seeks its own; that it should always be well drawn up and brought into good use, that its abolition alone is the only and best means of advising it, and that it would be a noble Christian work for princes and lords to act together and abolish it.
But Doctor Strauss does too little in this, that he runs on top and does not sufficiently treat the interest, which is the only ornament and auxiliary of this purchase; because of this the book would not hold the sting, if it should be contested by the opponents; although it makes a good mouth to the common man, who cannot contest it, with lofty words; perhaps he thinks that all the world are Christians, or that Christ's word should ever be such a common thing that it must live as soon as he has spoken it.
But the most dangerous thing in this booklet is that it teaches that the interest man does not owe the debt to the usurer; otherwise he would agree to the usurer and sin with him. This is not right. For the interest man has done well and is excused if he denounces the usury to the interest lord and confesses the wrong; but still he should not avenge himself, but agree to give the unjust interest or usury;
Just as I should agree to give body, honor and goods to the murderer, Matth. 6,39. 40.; for of course no interest man would agree to give interest where necessity does not compel him.
But that Doctor Strauß means that he should believe that God will feed him, that is what he who is robbed would also like to say, that he should not allow himself to be robbed, nor should he allow God to redeem him.
Therefore it is necessary, where he would have preached such a thing, that my most gracious lord would have him talk the people out of it again. For although true Christians have not been offended by it, the common rabble is otherwise so insolent, and does not like to hear and do such things other than for their own benefit.
But how the princes are to do so that the purchase of interest comes to an end is now to be indicated too briefly. For the purchase of interest is so confused, in one principality from another, that it is not possible to go into it in this way. However, the people are to be held to suffer such damage for a while and to pass on the interest until it gets better.
Or, if they are justified in resisting it, they may be brought before the court for interrogation and complaint, and judged and sentenced according to the law and the gospel. Otherwise, I do not know whether one could issue a common edict about such things; the devil has woven it too whimsically; the gospel must help better. Hereby commanded by God. On the Sunday of St. Luke, at Wittenberg, Anno 1523.
Martin Luther, D.
See also about this same matter Duke John Frederick of Saxony's inquiry to Luther (page 352, § 4-6) and his answer to it (p. 355, § 4).
914 E. W, igg-202. B. Of the ten commandments in particular. Seventh commandment. W. X, 1090-109g. 915