June 27, 1531.
To my dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christo at N. near Freiberg, to hand, grace and peace in Christo.
My dear friends! Mr. N. has told me how God has let you come into danger and distress because of the reverend Sacrament against your Lord, Caspar of N. But because there is no counsel against violence, but to pray and to call upon God, who lets Himself be called the right helper in distress and says: "Call upon me in the time of distress, and I will save you, and you shall praise me", Ps. 50, 15. 50:15. Nor does he forsake us when we call with right confidence, but either so that we are miraculously saved, or so that we are strengthened to endure.
Since your case is such that you must confess such a work and cannot deny that you have received both forms, and thus have done right and Christianly, there is no other consolation here than that you consider God and our Lord Christ and freely confess the same. But with all humility against your tyrant, who has no such power over you as he lacks, and ask and call upon God for help and strength or for his power, so that he may hinder or change the bishop and tyrant.
You should also let yourselves be driven before the bishop willingly; but not receive absolution: but give an answer and show the reason for your faith with all humility and patience, as St. Peter teaches us. Who knows how you will dare to give to God what God wants to give.
But if you should deny or recant, you can well think how an evil conscience would press your hearts after that, since God is before. It is better to do good in time than to put your soul in danger, because such danger is to be expected. I do not know how to write more in a short time and in a hurry.
But your pastors and preachers should stand with you now and comfort you to be strong, so they both leave you and you have to be erring sheep.
Therefore I pray with all my heart that your right shepherd, Jesus Christ, may graciously be with you, who shed his blood for you, and feed and govern you himself with his Holy Spirit, and comfort you in all distress, so that you may honor his name and overcome all adversity, Amen, Amen.
Tuesday after St. John the Baptist, Anno 1531.