To Lazarus Spengler, town clerk in Nuremberg. August 15, 1528.
To the prudent and wise Lazarus Spengler at Nuremberg etc., my favorable friend and Lord, grace and peace in Christo.
1 Careful, dear sir and friend! I have read your writing together with the measurement matter
and inspect them with diligence. And although I find that you do not need my advice, because God Himself has sent you such people, I will nevertheless gladly add my voice at your request.
2. first of all, it is ever cheap, for this also well be-
that no one should be forced to the sacrament or from it, nor should a certain time or place be set aside for the singing of consciences. But since St. Paul nevertheless teaches, 1 Cor. 14, 40: "It should be done properly" among the Christians, it would seem good to me that the provosts and church servants meet and decide on this matter in a common, free way, and that an honorable council then handles it in the same way and thus maintains unity and equality. To such a way, if one would desire my advice, I would therefore advise:
3. first, that all masses be cancelled without fail, since there are no communicants, as they should be, as their report itself indicates.
4. secondly, that one or two masses be held in the two parish churches on Sundays or saints' days, depending on the number of communicants. If it were necessary or considered good, one would do the same in the hospital.
Thirdly, mass should be held during the week, if necessary, that is, if there were some communicants who would ask and desire it. In this way, no one would be forced to take the sacrament, and yet everyone would be sufficiently served.
(6) But if the ministers of the church should complain of this, as they pretend to be unconstrained, or complain of being unskilled, I would inform them that no one compels them, but God Himself by His profession. For because they have the office, they are already guilty and compelled by profession and office to administer the sacrament when it is desired of them, so that their excuse is nothing; just as they are guilty of preaching, comforting, absolving. Help the poor. Visit the sick as often as needed or requested.
(7) It is nothing for anyone to claim that he is unskilled because of his weak faith, frail life or cold devotion. Let them look to their profession and office, even to the word of God that has called them; if they are impure or unskilled, the office and profession or word is pure and skillful enough.
8. and if they certainly believe that they are called
If they are called to the church, they are also skillful enough in themselves by such faith. For whoever believes that he is called to the church office, he certainly also believes that his office and work, and he himself in such office, are pleasant and just. But if he does not believe this, then it is also certain that he does not believe that his calling and ministry are commanded to him by God.
(9) Those who doubt whether they are called to such an office should be kept far away, for they are good for nothing. But those who are sure that they have such an office, commanded by God, as required by the authorities or the request of the brethren, should approach such a profession cheerfully and confidently, regardless of their skill or unskillfulness. For Fides vocationis habet conjunctam necessario fidem justificationis, cum sit in verbum vocantis Dei fidens ac praesumens (faith in the vocation necessarily has with it justifying faith, since it trusts and dares in the word of God who calls it).
(10) He then who believes his profession will certainly have devotion, desire and thirst enough, cum sit impossibile, eum non sentire vim gratiae, qui certus est de sua vocatione (since it is impossible that he who is certain of his profession should not feel the power of grace). For such a one cannot say, I will go and commit adultery or any other evil; but must say, I will go and take care of my office. But what is this but this: I will be obedient to my God and serve my neighbor. Such a will, however, is devotion, the desire to become pious and to do good, or to improve oneself. It would not be called devotion or desire if I were willing to obey God.
(11) It is true that whoever, apart from the word of his profession and the faith of his office, wants to test himself with his thoughts and make himself skillful or unskillful, that he does nothing but rely on human work and feeling; they must lament that they are not always skillful, indeed, they are always unskillful.
(12) We have been preaching to the laity that they should not rely on their own skills.
2260 L. 54,33.; IV, 343. when u. how often the parish priests take Holy Communion etc. W. X, 2782,2783. 2261
It is not possible to pray or take the sacrament, govern or serve, or do anything else that is good, whether through ignorance or clumsiness; but to always take hold of God's promise, command, call or enticement, and to do and accomplish what is in their hands. How then should the ministers of the church, whom God calls by the Word and makes skillful, if they believe this, be unskillful? How all this, my dear sirs and friends, you know well enough to consider for yourself.
13. But that a grumbling might arise among the people from such an innovation, one must dare and command God; besides this, one must do as much as one can so that it is quieted, namely, that since the visitation is in hand, one has good reason to strongly admonish and urge from the pulpit that, since they themselves and all the world know well that there have been many abuses in the church service, which one intends to correct, they should therefore be quiet and not be angry if one would change some things; And let not every man think his own conceit best in common matters, but devoutly pray to God, who in
He does not want his church to be done according to man's own judgment, work or word, but according to his own word and work, as St. Peter teaches, so that by his Spirit all things may be blessed and well done. For nothing is made better by much judgment and after-talk, but by humble prayer and humble fellowship. How then my dear sirs will know how to do this, and how to do it mightily.
14. so it is God's work, who will be there if we desire it, and will not act presumptuously in it, as if our reason or ability should accomplish anything without God's ability and assistance, as those think who do not pray; but judge alone with iniquity and arrogate their conceit. Now I can do no better. E. W. wanted to make do with such things. But I pray God and the Father of all wisdom and power, that He may give you His Spirit abundantly to do and to work that which is good in Christ Jesus His Son. Amen. August 15, Anno 1528.