In addition to a short account of both forms of the holy sacrament, instituted by Christ.
To all dear friends of Christ at Halle, Martinus Luther, D., grace and peace in Christ JEsu, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
I have long since resolved, my dear gentlemen and friends, to write to your love an admonition and consolation against the accident which Satan has inflicted on you by the murder which he committed on the good, pious man, Magister Georg Winkler, of Bischofswerda etc. and thus deprived you of your faithful preacher and God's word. However, all sorts of things have prevented me so far, especially my weakness; and although I am not quite out of it yet, I can no longer forgive. And even if we do not want to console ourselves in this case, it would be unreasonable to keep silent about such a shameful, treacherous murder and thus let it go on, and bury such blood in the ground, so that the holy word of God is witnessed and known.
(2) Therefore I will put it in writing and help him to cry out to heaven, so that, as much as is in us, such murder may never be concealed until God, the merciful Father and righteous Judge, hears such a cry as he heard the blood of Saint Abel, and brings justice and vengeance upon the murderer and deceiver, the old enemy, who has done such a thing, and gives that Magister George's blood may be a
He will be the divine seed that he sowed in the earth by the hands of Satan and his members, and will bear fruit a hundredfold, so that instead of one murdered George, a hundred other right preachers will arise who will do Satan a thousand times more harm and suffering than the one man did; And because he did not want to suffer or hear one, that he must suffer, hear and see many and many; just as it happened to the pope through John's coughing blood, which he did not want to let moan in a corner and must now let him cry out in all the world, until Rome itself and almost the whole world has become too narrow for him, and yet there is no end to it, amen.
But let this comfort and satisfy you and us, dear friends: First, that it is no wonder that such murders and calamities happen on earth; for this life is not a life, but a pit of murder, subject to the devil; as Christ saith, Joh. 14, 30. 16, 11. that he is "a prince of the world"; and Joh. 8, 44. saith that he is "a murderer from the beginning, and a liar." Now if we want to live on earth and have to, we must also consider that we are guests and lie in such an inn, since the host is a false innkeeper and his house has the sign or shield over the door and is called "to murder and to lie"; for such a sign and emblem Christ has given him.
1962 T- 22,296-298. III. Main st. - 0. from the father-our esp. 7. request. W. X, 2262- 2265. 1963
stus himself hung over his door and on his house, saying, John 8:44, that he is "a murderer and a liar"; a murderer to strangle the body, a liar to deceive the soul; this is his action and his deed, so he keeps house, this is how it is done in this inn, nothing else will be done; and whoever is his servant must help him, but whoever is his guest must expect and dare such things.
We see this in all experience; for he proves himself to be a murderer, that in the world so many murders take place at sea, in the field, at home, at court: here one is stabbed, here this one's neck falls in two, here one drowns, there another burns; this one is beaten to death by a wall, this one is eaten by wolves, and so on are innumerable ways and cases of death, which are all works of the devil by himself or his servants. Without which he first rages and sets princes and kings on each other, so that in all the world there is endless war and murder, strife and bloodshed; just as if men were born to nothing but murder and could not die otherwise, they would have to strangle and murder themselves among themselves. And especially he loves to murder those who want to act on Christ's word in his inn, because they are not to be suffered, they make his inn suspicious to him and betray him that he is a murderer and liar.
(5) Likewise, he also honestly proves his lies by saying that in the world there is so much error, unbelief, perversion and heresy in all places; all of which are also the devil's works to deceive and condemn souls, without any of his secret challenges, so that he challenges everyone in particular in his faith with doubts, with false beliefs, with false consolations, with false terrors (2c).As he is a father, that is, a master and a thousandfold artist, to devise and model lies, so that where God does not hold strong and graciously over us, "even the elect fall into error," Matth. 24, 24.
(6) He is doing the same to you now in Halle. Seeing that through his guest, the pious man, Mr. George, his lies were to be exposed and the truth of the holy gospel to come to light, he knew
He could not help it, because he did as his kind does and strangled him as a murderer, so that his lies might reign in Halle without any contradiction of truth and keep the souls in damnation.
(7) This is the first piece of our consolation, that we know who the murderer is who murdered our dear brother, Mr. George; although we cannot know for certain who the nobles are who ordered it, or who the fists and weapons were that did it. For I hear the bishop of Mainz praise himself highly as innocent, which I also wish with all my heart, and let it be so. And since I know of more bishops who would do otherwise if they were allowed or able to do so in front of their chapter tyrants, I am truly inclined, if I had to believe the same, to believe that the chapter tyrants of Mainz would have committed such a murder against Mr. George. For they must have recently committed a greater murder, since they wanted to set the German princes on each other with their murderous council through the pious blood of Emperor Charles and drown Germany in murder and blood, so that they could keep their whore bellies and boy bellies safe in peace and pleasure. Whoever intends to bring a whole country into murder and blood, of course respects little whether he murders a man. But God has graciously rebuked the murderous, bloodthirsty dogs for their wickedness at that time.
8 These are the spiritual, holy people who preserve Christianity with masses and prayers and, in addition, have the whole world in mind and desire to sacrifice to the old murderer, their god, the devil, with treachery and murder. It was precisely through such assassins, I believe, that many priests were secretly drowned in the Rhine, as I have heard it said, and then found dead. I still praise the tyrants, although they also serve the devil, so by public courts, freely kill our brothers in the day, and their deeds are known; but the assassins do not have so many honest drops of blood in their bodies, that they could use their power and secular authority freely, but act with it as a
the traitors and evil-doers. But continue, dear assassins, you are on the right track, as Cain did, who also murdered his brother secretly, Gen. 4, 3. Oh, how subtly this remained hidden! So your murder, whoever you are, which you committed against Mr. George, will also remain secret and concealed; no one will know you, except those who know Cain now.
9. Well, Satan has certainly done it, the chapter of Mainz I do not know for sure, I say, to accuse; But I know this well, because they have the rule, judgment and protection of the place and they rule more than the bishop - as they have bound the hands of the bishops in all monasteries by oaths and obligations, that they are as powerful of their chapter as Roland is of his sword, that they are called bishops and are not, that bishops are bullwhistles and are not - if they do not do that such murder is sought and punished with all diligence, they will certainly approve such murder and laugh in their fists, if they have not ordered it otherwise; And they are to be reproached as highwaymen and shrub thieves on their own country road and criminals of the imperial peace, that they let a man be murdered unheard and unconvicted, against all equity and imperial rights, and do nothing about it.
10 Secondly, we are comforted in this murder that the pious Lord George was strangled in obedience to his authorities. For when he was called upon to go out from Halle to his master, he held his life in low esteem, even though many evil reports came under his eyes, so that he might be found obedient; he thus followed his right Lord, Jesus Christ, so that it may also be said of him: he became obedient even unto death. Because he walked according to the saying of St. Paul, Rom. 13, 1. 2.: "Be subject to worldly authorities", he certainly also walked in God's word and obedience and thus died in the Lord, so that we may well sing of him, Revelation 14, 13: "Blessed is he who dies in the Lord." Yes, not only was he obedient, but he also loved his Lord and demonstrated all faithfulness with life and limb in him.
For I hear miracles say how firmly and faithfully he stood by the bishop during the uprising, how he resisted the uprising with all his strength, that he was also almost dear to his master, the bishop; now all this will be rewarded to him. Such people shall be murdered by ecclesiastical foundations; but whores and knaves shall be honored for it.
Third, he was murdered not only in the service and obedience of secular authorities, but also for the sake of the gospel, mostly for the sake of the article that he taught and wanted to administer both forms of the sacrament. Satan and his assassins had to prevent the fire from spreading, and they demanded that he be taken from a foreign bishopric, such as Magdeburg, to another, such as Mainz, where he does not belong in court, and they also strangled him secretly and treacherously on the way. For I am told that he was summoned from Halle to Aschaffenburg from the assassins' attack by episcopal letters; but when he arrived there, he was kept there alone and his companion was sent back home, and he could not talk much with him without saying: Go away, I must stay here and perhaps make a Christian. He suspected, or perhaps saw and heard so much from his assassins, that he would have to serve and become Christ's martyr.
For several days they also kept his horse and put him on the fool's horse, which was called the pastor, and dispatched him with a rider to go home again. On the way, a priest wanted to keep him overnight in a village, but his rider did not want to. After that he wanted to ride another known way through the woods, but his rider did not want him again, so that he would not get out of the hands of the ordered bushwhackers. So, at two miles from Aschaffenburg, they ran into the good man and stabbed him, the noble heroes and priestly knights, and, if they do not atone, they deserve the infernal crown, which they will also receive along with their lords and the devil in hell. That much I have learned about it.
Short report of both forms of the Holy Saerament, instituted by Christ.
And because this very article of both forms of the sacrament is dealt with in this legend, I cannot leave it alone, I must speak something of it to all of us for strength and comfort with our tyrants, and yet ask why they murder and persecute the people for the sake of such an article? For it is all too certain and evident that our Lord Jesus Christ has instituted both forms, and yet he himself so highly and nobly forbade that nothing should be changed in his words, since he says, Matth. 5, 19: "Whoever abolishes one of the least commandments and teaches people thus, he shall be the least in the kingdom of heaven. 17, 5: "This is my beloved Son, whom he hears"; and in Psalm 2, 12: "Pay homage to the Son, that he be not angry" etc.; and Luc. 10, 16: "He that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me"; Joh. 7, 16: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me" etc. Lord, God the Father of the kingdom of heaven, though we accept Christ's word with all honor and fear, yet we fall far short of doing enough, so that St. Peter says, 1 Epist. 4:18: "The righteous will scarcely be saved." Where then will those remain who despise his word and change it to suit themselves? Yes, where will those go who persecute and murder others because they do not despise Christ's word together with them? It is horrible and terrible to hear.
14 These are the dry and bright words of the gospel, Matth. 26, 26-28. Cor. 11, 24. 25: "Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Take and drink, this is my blood, shed for you; this do in remembrance of me." Dear one, to whom is Christ speaking here in these words? If he speaks to the priests alone, and not to the laity: it must follow that Christ gave and shed his body and blood for the priests alone, because he says, "Given for you, shed for you." The little word "you" indicates who they are to whom he gives and commands the sacrament; thus must
Even the priests alone keep his memory, and the other Christians do not need him.
(15) Neither can it be inferred from this saying that other Christians are to be given the same form, because only the priests are meant here by Christ, and are able, indeed, even they must not receive the same form; for there is no other saying in Scripture which says that laymen and other Christians are to be given the same form. What can one say against this? Who can be so impudent as to deny this? Yes, who should henceforth with a good conscience take one form and not tremble and be frightened at these words of Christ to omit one form? Shall not my Lord Christ and his Father, who gives me the right to hear him, count as much to me as all the world, popes and councils? He tells me to take and drink; so I let it stand and do not take it, but curse it and condemn it as heresy. Does this mean to hear Christ, as the Father commands from heaven? Matth. 17, 5.
16) And even if one could interpret the evangelists to the priests alone, which is not possible, one cannot pass by St. Paul, 1 Cor. 11, 29, 30, who gives the sacrament to all Christians in Corinth, and punishes them for disorder, and says that many are sick and have died because of the unworthy eating and drinking in this sacrament; does not say: many of your priests are sick and asleep, but thus: "Therefore many are sick and have died among you" etc. And hard before, v. 28: "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of this bread, and drink of this cup"; saith not, Let the priest examine himself, but the man; that is, every one of you, according to the manner of the Hebrew language.
17 For he does not write this epistle to the priests alone, but to all Christians at Corinth, as is proven by the beginning or superscription, which reads thus, 1 Cor. 1, 2: "To the church of God at Corinth, to the sanctified in Christ Jesus, to the called saints, and to all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in all their places and in ours". etc. Here you do not hear anything about priests, but all Christians in general.
St. Paul means; therefore, everything he says in general must concern everyone in the church and everyone. What can be said against this? How will the conscience stand against this public writing in death and at the last day?
(18) They say that it is a custom, and a praiseworthy custom is as valid as a commandment or law (2c). Yes, there they come quite well. But ask a half-smart reasoner or a child of seven years: If God's word and custom are contrary to each other, which one should justly give way to the other? Whether God should give way to custom, or whether custom should give way to God? Let them answer here. They may not deny that here is God's word against custom, and cannot make their thing any higher than that it is a custom; a new and not an old custom, which no one knows when or where it began; as we shall hear hereafter. But therefore they must be silent, and yet remain obstinate, that they may have no excuse for their wanton error, and be justly condemned by the testimony of their own conscience.
(19) But because they are obstinate in their custom, let us deal with them by their own rights, if it will help. In the spiritual law, 6. 9. Veritate, *) they themselves teach, and must themselves teach thus: "When the truth is revealed, let custom depart. Item: Let no one prefer custom to truth." And again **): "If someone prefers the habit, it is to be noted that the Lord says, Joh. 14, 6: 'I am the way, the truth
*) This chapter Veritate is the 4th chapter of the 8th Distinction in the 1st part of Gratian's decree and reads there the passage cited here thus: Veritate manifestata cedat consuetudo veritati.... Item: Nemo consuetudinem rationi et veritati praeponat, quia consuetudinem ratio et veritas semper excludit.
D. Red.
**) In the following 5th chapter, where this passage reads: Si consuetudinem fortassis opponas, advertendum est, quod Dominus dicit: Ego sum veritas et vita. Non dixit: Ego sum consuetudo; sed: veritas. Here the canon law still adds as proof: "For Peter also, who before had been in the habit of circumcision, had to give way to Paul, who preached the truth in this respect." * D. Red.
and the life/ Does not say: I am the habit; but the truth." And again*): "A habit, however old it may be, however vile it may be, shall yield to the truth." And again**): "Because we are to hear Christ alone, we are not to take into account anything that another man has advised us to do, but what he has done who is before all, Christ; for one must not follow the custom of men, but the truth of God."
020 Behold, these sayings, and many like them, they teach themselves, and are made doctors of spiritual law, and the pope confirmeth them therein; yet will they not keep them themselves, nor suffer others to keep them. Are they not damned teachers, who teach to hold such things, which they at the same time forbid and refuse to hold? Who can serve the Lord, who is at the same time repugnant to himself, and who at the same time calls and forbids the same thing? Here I would like to hear them answer. There Christ and his apostle Paul stand, who establish and give both forms of the sacrament; in addition, the spiritual law condemns all habits that go against God's word. And this unpleasant habit of one form has no certain origin, for no one knows where it came from, who first started it, or what time it arose.
(21) For in all the pontifical laws and conciliarities there is not a single letter of it, nor do any histories speak of it. It has fallen in, like many other pieces of superstition, such as that of St. Anne, of St. Christopher, of the golden masses and such abominations. And no pope, nor
**In the 9th chapter of the same Distinction this passage reads: Si solus Christus audiendus est, non debemus attendere, quid aliquis ante nos faciendum putaverit, sed quid, qui ante omnes est, Christus, prior fecerit; neque enim hominis consuetudinem sequi oportet, sed Dei veritatem. Where it is also added: cum per Esajam prophetam Deus loquitur et dicat: Sine caussa autem colunt me etc. (since God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and says: In vain do they serve me, because they teach the statutes of men).
D. Red.
No Roman church did this without Johannes Huß attacking the piece in Bohemia; then the priests and monks agitated the pope against Johannes Huß and wanted to make a custom and right out of pure hatred and envy, that they did not want to grant Johann Huß that he should bring up and teach such God's order again, and be counted more learned than they were. Since that time, the discord over both forms has always increased and both forms have remained with the Bohemians, even admitted by the pope himself; we poor people still have to be cursed and murdered as heretics.
(22) And, what is more, their own spiritual law not only rejects the custom that is against God's word, but also in this very thing it agrees with Christ and St. Paul; confirms both forms and condemns one form: so that one may see how nonsensical these tyrants are, who not only rage against God's and St. Paul's word, but also against their own word in spiritual law; which they otherwise always hold higher than God's word. Now listen, De Consecr. dist. 2 Comperimus,*) Pope Gelasius says thus: "We learn that some, if they receive the holy body alone, leave the chalice of the holy blood pending; others, because they deal with a superstition, either receive the whole sacrament, or remain from the whole sacrament; for since it is a single sacrament, it cannot be taken in pieces without great reproach to God." Is this not said plainly enough, brightly enough, that this is a single Sacrament in both forms, and may not be divided without great reproach from God? Now the priests have not another sacrament than we have, but the same One; how then may it be divided among the laity without God's reproach? Why do they not believe and keep this saying?
Item, there c. Quid sit,**) says the pope Gregory: "The blood of Christ will not henceforth fall into the hands of the unbelievers, but-
*The chapter Comperimus is the 12th of the 2nd Distinction in the 3rd part of the decree of Graetian. D. Red.
**The 73rd chapter of the same Distinction, in § 1.
D'. Red.
poured into the mouths of the faithful." Is this not clear enough that Christ's blood should be poured into the mouths of the faithful? What does the mouth of the believers mean? does it mean only the mouth of the priests? What does Christ's blood mean? does it mean only one form? Do you see that the ancient popes and the Roman church of old gave both kinds of blood and gave it to all Christians, and thus knew nothing of this custom, but kept Christ's order? But whether they were as pious and holy as we would like to be now? Alas, it is madness and the devil's will with us.
24) There, in A quibusdam,*) Pope Soter says thus: "Some of them leave the sacrament to be taken on Green Thursday, which on the same day is to be received by all the faithful, without whom it is forbidden because of great vices; as this proves the custom of the church; because also those who do penance are reconciled on the same day, that they receive the sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord. Do you hear here that even the sinners who do penance have taken both forms? But are not the penitents also laymen, or have they been priests?
Item, there (in the 15th) chapter Si non, St. Hilarius says: "If one does not have such a great sin that he would be banished, he should not abstain from the medicine of the Body and Blood of our Lord. Tell me if Hilarius is speaking here of priests alone and not of all Christians in general who need the Sacrament's medicine? I will be silent here about the other holy fathers' sayings, such as Cyprian's, who also gave both figures to the children; item, Irenaeus, Tertullianus, Chrysostom etc.For now I alone will guide the spiritual law, the popes and the Roman Church, on which order, custom and habit they themselves so highly insist and urge, and yet do not keep it themselves; but torture the people with their foolish, uncertain, unfounded, blasphemous new custom, which they themselves do not know where it came from, and
must also confess that it is contrary to God's word, contrary to Christ's institution, contrary to Paul's teaching, contrary to the ancient popes and Roman church custom, contrary to all holy fathers and teachers, and also contrary to their own doctrine and spiritual law.
026 But if they be thus overcome with violence, and resist not such light, let them, as the Jews, stop their ears, and bite with their teeth, and shake their heads, and cry out, saying, Nevertheless we will have our heads, and keep our custom, if thou be true to the scripture and to the law. For our sake it is thus written, that our faith may be sure and strong, that we, teaching and taking both forms, may do right and obey God, follow Christ, keep company with Paul, agree with the holy fathers, and be of one mind and custom with the holy Roman church, and have spiritual right on our side. But you, as the denied Christians, blasphemers, apostate people, have nothing to follow but the erroneous spirit of Satan.
(27) I must also make a statement from the spiritual law to confirm our doctrine not only in this certain part, but also in all the others, which we base on the holy Scriptures, purely and firmly. Dist. 63. c. Quia sancta,*) the pope Stephen thus speaks: "The Holy Scripture says that when King Jehizkiah broke down the idols, and overthrew the altars, and cut down the groves, he also broke the brazen serpent which Moses had made; and this because the people began to honor and worship the serpent which God had commanded to be made, lest the people perish by the biting of serpents; so it was when he broke the serpent which he had made by God's command. Therefore, the power of the Christian church is to be esteemed so great that, although some of our forefathers and fathers had created something that might have been blameless at the time, but afterwards was turned into error and superstition, the descendants shall keep it without any
Delay with all power abthun." Haec ille. (As far as that one.)
(28) Although this sentence is set by the pope against the emperor for his own benefit, there is hardly a finer sentence in all spiritual law, and perhaps it was given to the pope by the Holy Spirit, as Balaam was given to speak the best of the people of Israel, and as Caiphas was given to prophesy the holy gospel of Christ in the most beautiful way.
29 Now I do not think anything of spiritual law, nor do I want to introduce these sayings to confirm it or base myself on it, since I have clear divine Scripture enough for my teaching, without which spiritual law could give me little comfort; but it, without spiritual law, teaches and comforts abundantly enough, as St. Paul says. Paul, Rom. 15,4. 2 Tim. 3, 16. says, but because I convince the adversaries with their own right and strike them with their own sword, for our strength and comfort. For they themselves call the spiritual law by such a name, that it is called Concordantia discordanti arum, that is, agreement or union of the repugnant sayings, and is its right title, no one could have called and baptized it better; For the whole of this book contains nothing else than how in Christianity there were so many ways in the past, so many bishops, or churches, or concilia, that one bishop held himself this way, the other that way in outward conduct, and was a very wild, savage forest with the outward regiment; as St. Augustine himself complains.
(30) The master of this book, Gratianus, wanted to bring these desolate, disparate ways and pieces together in one way, and so he carries all kinds of bishops, fathers, conciliar sayings and orders on a pile, and makes it sour for him to compare them (bring them into agreement): for he does not take the Scriptures, but the pope and the Roman church as a model and form, where everything should be directed and sent. It does not want to do so; there is a stagnation and blocking over the good sayings, and yet it cannot bring them anywhere into line. Because in such a desolate, disgusting trade, it must happen that some of the fine words are not used.
Gratianus does not let the good sayings go according to the Scriptures, since they read according to them; but interprets them according to the pope and follows the worst sayings, as reason is wont to do.
(31) Such is this fine saying of Pope Stephen, which shoots straight away: What was good before times and has now become evil, harmful to the faith, should be changed and abolished without delay and with all power; and he gives such a fine example that it is a pleasure, namely the king Jehizkiah, who broke Moses' brazen serpent, which was good before times, when it helped the Jews from the fiery serpents, but now harmful, because it had become an idol, 2 Kings 18, 4. 18, 4. Just as God also abolished His good law, given through Moses, through Christ, because the Jews wanted to become godly through his works and despise His grace, when the law was given to praise Christ and His grace, Rom. 5, 10. Gal. 4, 4.
(32) Do you not think that from this saying one may also conclude against all abuses of the papacy? The masses may have been good and right in times past; but now that they have become a blasphemous fair to the detriment of the faith, why should they not be cut off without delay and such our brazen serpent also broken? Monastic life and vows may have been good in former times, as I have often indicated; but since now there is so much danger of unchastity and so many vows, and since they are made in error as a life of salvation, contrary to the faith of Christ, who saves us by grace and not by our works, Titus 3:5, why should not such things be condemned and destroyed without delay and with all thirst? Church decoration and spiritual manner in worship may also have been good; but because it has now all turned into such shameful public abuse and dishonor to God, why should it be tolerated any longer?
33 Thus, even if one form of the sacrament had been equally good and a laudable habit, as never before can have been
and would now be recognized as error and abuse; why should one not change it, if here the pope himself states and teaches that one should do it? I am talking to the papists, who should follow their own teacher: for we have Scripture enough, yes, even reason teaches us: what is harmful to the soul's salvation and may be changed without sin, that one only changes it freshly and confidently, and abandons it, regardless of the devil, the world and all its attachments. For no doubt King Jehizkiah also suffered a great deal of evil speech from the wicked, as if the worship of God were contrary, as Rabshakeh reproached him (2 Kings 18:4).), and especially that he dared to break the holy serpent of God, for which he should have trembled more cheaply to attack it, as a divine work, commanded by God's word and received so far from so many kings and prophets, who may have been holier and more enlightened than he. How then the wicked know how to sharpen and grind their words, and cry out: Thinkest thou that all the former teachers knew nothing? Must all our fathers be fools to thee? Have you alone remained the nest of the Holy Spirit for this last time? Should God have let His people err for so many years?
(34) And many such things as our wicked also do now. When they can no longer do anything against the truth and the Scriptures, they say: I will continue in the old faith; should you alone see that which no one else has seen? But Jehizkiah asked nothing of it, and went on all the same, and let the idol of the serpent remain, whoever would. So do we. Whoever wants to keep the pope as an idol, he remains a pope idolater and pope heretic; we want to do away with everything with Jehizkiah that has become false, whether it was a bronze or a gold serpent before: Christ alone shall remain, praised and blessed forever, amen.
35 Let this be enough; let us return to ourselves and to Master George and comfort and rejoice even more in the fact that Christ has made him worthy to die for the sake of his word and truth. For without doubt, where the desire for change would be given to him
If he were given the chance to come back to life or to remain alive, he would certainly not do so and would rather punish us and say: "If you loved me, you would certainly rejoice that I have passed with wisdom from death to life. For what is certain in this life? Today one stands, tomorrow he lies; today one believes right, tomorrow he falls into error; today one hopes, tomorrow he despairs. How many fine people now fall daily into the errors of enthusiasts? How much more will they fall through this and other future mobs? Here we stand, as St. Cyprian says, daily and without ceasing under the spears and knives of the devils, who go about day and night like fierce lions, stabbing and cutting among us, as in a forest, that one sees the axes flashing above, as the Psalter laments, Ps. 74:5, and desperately want to have God's house, that is, His own, to the ground and ashes.
(37) And if we open the right eyes, which Christ our Lord enlightens us with, and look upon his murderers with them, we shall rather be moved to thank them than to be angry with them. For though the wretched people have thought that they are the Master's
Although George was powerful enough to create their favor with him at that hour, it is basically the other way around, and they have been his most useful servants at that very hour without their thanks, knowledge and will. For it is they who, by God's grace and fatherly order and by the devil's fierce hatred, have helped the good man from all such aforementioned danger. And even though their wickedness and the devil's will are not yet praised in this, one must still see, hear and praise the abundant grace and goodness of the Father of all mercy in their wickedness, so that he can use the devil's wickedness and his members' unrighteousness so wonderfully for his chosen ones for the very best and to the detriment of the devil himself and his members.
38 Therefore I myself, when I look at the terrible danger of our time and think that Magister George, where he should have lived, may also have fallen into error; then I truly thank from the bottom of my heart first of all our most loving Father in heaven, then also the murderers, as weapons that are used for such a work, and sing from my heart the beautiful comforting saying, Wis. 10, 10. ff.: "He who pleased God and was dear to Him is taken away while he lived among the wicked: he is taken away because of this, so that accident did not change his mind or deceive his soul. For the spiteful evil darkens the good, and the restless lust seduces even the innocent. He became perfect in brevity, and thus he directed many years; for his soul pleased God, therefore He hastened to lead him out of iniquity. But the people who see it do not realize it, nor do they consider it, that God's grace and mercy are with His saints, and His eye is "upon" His elect; for they see the end of the pious, but they do not realize what God thinks about him, and why God cuts short his life: they do not see and respect his; but the Lord mocks them."
39. again, it is a terrible thing against the wicked, when God decrees that His beloved saints shall thus shamefully perish and be taken away; for it is a sure sign that a great evil is at hand.
is that which shall pass over the world, out of which God shall first pluck His own, lest, being taken therein, they also perchance fall with the wicked and be lost. Just as it happened in Genesis 19:24, when he led Lot out of Sodom, it soon followed that all five cities were engulfed in brimstone and fire. And since he wanted to destroy the world by the flood, he pulled Noah out through the ark, Gen. 6 and 7. And since he wanted to destroy Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, the pious king Josiah had to be buried with peace beforehand, 2 Chron. 35, 24. 35, 24. and so on he snatched all his own from the ungodly crowd beforehand and then let his wrath go against the ungodly with all his might, 2 Chron. 36, 17.
40 Because now also in German lands many of the pious Christians are taken away and shamefully killed, we have nothing more certain before us than that there is great misery over Germany, from which he first takes away his own, so that they do not also perish with the wicked. And indeed, the spirits of the wicked lift up such afflictions by force and cut off the hearts from one another. This will be followed by physical disunity and war, so that Satan's prelude and prelude through the mint may be fulfilled.
But as little as they believe that it is God's saints who are thus taken away, so little do they believe that such great misfortune exists, but comfort themselves, and as St. Paul writes, they think that it shall now first of all be well, and say: Pax et securitas: "There is no need, it is over", 1 Thess. 5, 3, we will have good days, if only they get rid of the saints of God; just as we would not know nor be able to notice this, if Christ did not give us his eyes and thus enlighten us, so that we could see how he fetches his own with grace through the rages of the wicked.
42. but Isaiah says it out plainly and dryly, Cap. 57, 1: "The righteous perish, and no one cares; the saints are taken away, and no one notices; for the righteous are taken away from calamity" etc.; and St. Peter in the 1st Epistle on the 4th Cap. v. 17:
"Judgment now begins at the house of God, but if it first begins with us, what will become of those who do not believe the gospel? These sayings clearly show that great misfortune will befall the wicked at the door, if the pious are taken away first. But our nobles do not mean otherwise, for they are heretics and damned people who go there and do not believe that God looks at them, just as it is said above in Wis. 4, 10. 11. Therefore they cannot escape the accident, because they do not repent, but harden their hearts, and think that they are doing a service to God; that is horrible and terrible.
43 Therefore, when such stories and cases occur to us, if we are called Christians and want to be Christians, it is much more fitting for us to rejoice, praise God and give thanks for His grace, that He should so wonderfully and mercifully holet our brothers, than that we should be angry and impatient about it; again, to pray for the tyrants and the desolate and let us lament for them, as Christ teaches us, Matth. 5:44, 45: "Pray for them that revile and persecute you; bless them that curse you; do good to them that haste you: and ye shall be the children of your heavenly Father, which is kind to the wicked and unthankful."
44 He did the same and proved his teaching by praying on the cross for us and all those who crucified him, Luc. 23:34: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. The Lord's Prayer also compels us to do this, as we pray, Matth. 6, 12: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." What kind of forgiveness would that be, if we forgave only our friends and good fellows? Do not the heathen and sinners, yes, even the murderers and all kinds of boys among themselves, do the same? But to forgive our enemies their trespasses, and to pray for them, and to do them good, that is a true Christian virtue, if it be otherwise from the heart; such things the world, or flesh and blood, is not able to do.
45 Therefore, I also ask and urge you, dear lords and friends, to consider this vexatious matter, in which you are sure of woe and
Leave it to him who judges rightly, as St. Peter teaches, 1 Epist. 2:23, that Christ did, and be careful not to be hostile to anyone for it, or to bear hatred, or to speak evil, or to curse, or to seek revenge. You would do unjustly if you were so hard-hearted and did not let such murder move you, or if you approved of it and did not condemn it with all your heart. But you would be just as unjust if you cursed the murderers, desired revenge or became enemies, and did not rather pray for them. For therefore belongs the saying, Psalm 34, 14. 15., introduced by St. Peter 1. Epist. 3, 10: "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking deceit; depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Seeing that these assassins have caused no one greater sorrow and misfortune than themselves, where they do not atone; again, have done no one greater service than Mr. George and all of us.
46 We are satisfied that we have a good cause that pleases God, and we have this comfort, Matt. 5:10: "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake. We should and will punish and rebuke such iniquity and against the infernal Satan.
and His kingdom for vengeance, that Christ's kingdom may be increased; but of men let us have mercy and pray for them, that God may give them grace to atone for their murder and wickedness, as long as there is hope that they may know and amend themselves; for we are not helped by their condemnation; but we shall have great joy when they are saved by our prayer and benevolence.
(47) Such admonition your love would now accept as good, as I mean it; but Christ will no doubt continue to teach and counsel you in your hearts by his Holy Spirit, how you should keep yourselves in this and in all things. It will and cannot be otherwise, because as it is written, Apost. 14:22: "Through much adversity we must enter the kingdom of heaven." It is not willing that our head, Christ, should die on the cross and wear the crown of thorns, and that we should be saved with joy and pleasure without any suffering. But if it is to be suffered, let it be that which God inflicts upon us, and not that which we choose ourselves; for He knows best which serves us and is useful: our choosing is good for nothing and is of no use. Christ our Lord and Savior be with you with all grace, amen. And pray for us, especially for me.