To Duke John Frederick of Saxony. March 18, 1522.
Serene Prince, Gracious Sir. E. F. G. is at all times aware of my subservient services. Gracious Sir, I have read the Scriptures and grace with all humble gratitude and have taken them to heart; however, I hereby express my humble opinion to Your Holiness that I desire instruction in the Sacrament in both forms and whether to receive it with my hands, as some have begun to do here. I have directed my letter in both forms and with hands, so that the consciences should be instructed on the first of freedom, and the prison of danger should be avoided.
The Church is not to be destroyed by the Pope's laws, for it is undoubtedly left to us by God to attack it with our hands or with whatever we want, so that it is not to be required or written in any way by law. But because the common man does not yet know this, one should make oneself like the community in love, because there is no danger in it, until it also learns such freedom, so that it does not take offense at our freedom for the sake of its imprisoned weak conscience. We are Christians not because we attack the Sacrament or not, but because we believe and love. Freedom is to be kept only in
The first thing is to be conscience-stricken and to preach publicly, but at the same time to bear the weak consciences that do not understand this, and not to destroy them until they come up. In this my Wittenbergers have made a great mistake. They have taught rightly, but they have not used the teaching rightly. Art is rich with them, but love beggars with them. This is also true of eating meat and the like. It is said: Omnia mihi licent, sed non omnia expediunt (I have it all power, but it is not all beneficial). In such matters, which are free and not necessary, one must keep an eye on one's neighbor's illness, preach much about the fact that the spirits of one's neighbor are to be protected.
The consciences are free beforehand, so that they may follow. So E. F. G. power to enjoy both forms would be the finest; but if those who are present do not also know or understand such things, their weak consciences should be given way to; considered that our strength loses nothing in this. This is St. Paul to the Romans, Cap. 14, 1., Opinion, and 1 Cor. 8, 9. Hereby I command E. F. G. God's grace. Given at Wittenberg on Tuesday after Reminiscere 1522.
E. F. G.
most subservient