To the court preacher Jakob Stratner in Berlin. Jan. 11, 1541.
Grace and peace in Christ to the Venerable Jacob Stratner, the upright servant of the Word, his brother most beloved in the Lord!
In Christ I say, not in the world, in which we are afraid, as the Lord, our peace, has proclaimed to us, John 16:33. I have great compassion for you, my dear Jacob, because of your many tribulations, of which Magister John Seifried told me, and I also heard in part from your letter.
First of all, you can be sure that as Mag. Grickel (Agricola) started, so he will be and remain for and for. He has lied so often, not to men, but to the Holy Spirit, Apost. 5, 4. that now for the third time I have no hope at all of his recovery, which I have let myself reconcile so often before. Finally, I will follow St. Paul's advice, as he says, Titus 3:10, 11: "Avoid a heretical man when he has been admonished once and again, and know that such a one is perverse and sins as he has condemned himself." You do the same, let go what does not want to stay. Why should we care much for their sake and look after them, who will neither advise nor help them; let them always go where they belong. As is the prince, so is his preacher. Great fools must have great bells. Morals and spirit are with each other, that is what I have already said.
often experience. They may go to their place. "Demas," says Paul, 1 Tim. 4, 10., "has left me," but in his place comes an Onesimus, and Matthias follows Judas in the apostleship, Apost. 1, 26.
Finally, if you realize that you can create any benefit and fruit in the church in Berlin through the gospel, I admonish and beg you to tolerate these Judases and demagogues - that I speak like this - for a while for the sake of a few who are to be converted and saved among this great multitude, for whose sake the gospel is preached now and then on earth. But if the people also be like the priest, what shall ye do otherwise than as the gospel teacheth? "Shake the dust from your feet and walk away" etc. In this matter you yourselves will be your better counselor and judge, as he who is present will see how it is to be done henceforth; otherwise you can easily notice what our opinion is, namely, that we should and must serve the weak and unlearned, even in the midst of the unruly and perverse generation, by honor and dishonor, by love and contempt, by praise and rebuke. You understand well what I say, and the Lord will give you greater understanding also in this. Herewith I wish you well, which I wish you with all my heart. Given on the Tuesday after Epiphany, Anno 1541.
Martin Luther.
1618 ve 263rd; 241st III. Main st. - 0. of the father-our esp. 1. request. W. X, 1880-1892. 1619