The first letter dated June 17, 1525.
God's grace and peace in Christ. I am sending you the booklets again, sealed with my hand, as well as I could. Pray for me, dear Michael, that God the Lord may graciously bless and sanctify the new order I have begun, the holy matrimony. For the wise men of the world, even among our own, are vehemently angry about it.
They must confess that the married state is God's creation and work; but the larva of my and the Virgin's person makes them foolish, and drives them to think and speak against God. But the Lord lives, who is greater in us than he who is in the world; also there are more of them with us than with them,
2 Kings 6:16: Fare well in Christ, amen.
May the Lord prosper and bless your endeavors and work. For he, the father of the fatherless and the judge of widows, says, Ps. 68, 6: "I will not leave you nor forsake you," Hebr. 13, 5, so that we can confidently say to him: "The Lord is my helper, therefore I will not fear; what can man do to me? Ps. 56, 12. 118, 6. Commend me to your commander. At Wittenberg, on the Saturday after the Holy Trinity, Anno 1525.
Martin Luther.
The other letter from
Grace and peace in Christ. Be strong in the Lord, my dearest Lord and brother Michael, and in the power of his almighty strength. If my married state is God's work, what wonder is it that the world resents it? Does it not also resent, as St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:23, that its God and Creator has taken our flesh and blood and given it to Himself for salvation and food. If the world did not take offense at me, I would have to take offense at it and worry that what I am about to do is not of God. But since it is angry with me and is violently angry and impatient with me, I am strengthened and comforted by it and made sure that what I am about to do is right and divine. So do you also to him.
This night I had thirteen nuns taken away from Duke George's power and gave the raging tyrant these
September 29, 1525.
Spoils of Christ robbed. - Our princes now publicly confess and obey the gospel.
Magister Eberhard becomes Bishop of Altenburg with Georg Spalatin. We handed over the pension and interest of our monastery income to the sovereign. I now live on like another householder and remain in the monastery as long as Christ wills. For I have not taken a wife because I intend to live a long time, but because I think that it will almost be the end of me, because I see that everyone, both high and low, rages against me and rages that I leave my teaching, which will perhaps be suppressed after my death, confirmed with my own example, behind me for the consolation of weak consciences. Be well and pray for me. Greetings to your wife and son. Wittenberg, on the day of Michaelmas, Anno 1525.
g. Brief concern as to whether one owes it to his poor friendship to abstain from marriage?
I am of this opinion about your friend's marriage: The soul is more than the body, and the spirit more than the belly, Matth. 6,25. Cap. 16, 25. 26. Because here his soul, and there only the belly of his friends is in danger, you can see which one he should choose, namely, that he should choose the one that is more than the body.
take a wife and counsel his soul first. If anything remains for him to help his friendship's belly and need, he shall do it; if not, he shall command her to God and gain his soul, and in this case do not tempt God his Lord, Deut. 6:16.
h. A Christian writing to Wolfgang Reißenbusch, the Right Doctor and Preceptor at Lichtenberg, Order of St. Anthony, to enter into matrimony.
1. God's grace and peace in Christ, Respectable, Venerable Lord! I am moved by some good friends, and by my own favor, so I have come to Your Esteemable Reverence".
I am tempted to send this letter to E. A. E. concerning marital status, after I had also spoken to E. A. E. about it earlier and noted that E. A. E. was not the only one to do so.
and inclined, but also by God Himself, as created, compelled and urged to do so.
Now I do not consider that E. A. E. should prevent the law and vows of the Order, since E. A. E. is aware without any doubt that no vow is valid nor keeps, except for two things. The first is that it is possible and within our power. For who wants to vow impossible things? Who also wants to demand it? Therefore all vows in Scripture alone are described as being in human likeness, already given by God, as oxen, sheep, house, field, body etc. Now chastity is not in our power, as little as all other miracles and graces of God; but all are created for marriage, as the body shows and the Scripture says, Gen. 2, 18: Non est bonum homini esse solum, faciam ei adjutorium coram eo; that is, it is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helpmate to be around him.
(3) Whoever thinks himself to be a man and believes that he is understood under the word man, let him hear what his God and Creator decides about him and says: he does not want to be lonely, but should increase; and creates for him a help that is around him and helps him so that he is not lonely. And this is the word of God, by which power in the body of man seed is created and preserved for fruit, and the fervent natural inclination for the wife, which neither vows nor laws can prevent, for it is God's word and work. But whoever wants to be alone, let him take away the name man and prove or create that he is an angel or spirit. For God does not allow a man in any way. Therefore, it is rightly said of the holy virgins that they did not lead a human but an angelic life, that they were able to live in the flesh without flesh through the high graces of God.
(4) For our bodies are in great part the flesh of women, as they are conceived and grown in them, and are born, suckled, and nourished in them; so that it is impossible to abstain from them. And all this by the word of God, who makes it so and wills it so.
Hence we also see that those who are unfit for fruit, even to women, are nevertheless full of the natural inclination; indeed, the more unfit, the more and the better they are for women; as it is of all nature that one desires most where one can have least.
(5) For this reason, he who desires to be alone makes an impossible confrontation, so that he takes upon himself the word of God and the creature as it is created, sustained and driven by his word, and confronts them. They also succeed, after which they struggle, so that they become full of fornication and all uncleanness of the flesh and finally drown in it and despair. Therefore, such a vow against God's word and work, as an impossible one, is not valid. God also condemns it, just as if I vowed to become God's mother or to create a heaven.
The other is that it is not contrary to God and Christian faith, against which is everything that is built on works and not purely on God's grace, as it is written in Hebrews 12. This is useful, that one's heart be fixed on grace, not on food, that is, on works and law, which are set by food, drink, and the like. Now of the nature of all ordinances are vows, that they should build up their hearts and consciences upon works, and not upon grace; relying thereon, and thereby forsaking and denying Christ and the faith.
7 I say that E. A. E. is undoubtedly well aware of this and certainly does not prevent it, but I fear that human timidity and stupidity lie in the way; as they say: it must be a bold man who is allowed to take a wife. Therefore it is necessary that E. A. E. be held to it, admonished, urged, hurried and made bold. Now, my dear sir, I ask, what will E. A. E. forgive and deal much with thoughts etc. ? it must, should and will not be otherwise. Thoughts out of mind and cheerfully up! Your body demands it and needs it; God wants it and forces it. Where does E. A. E. want to pass by?
(8) It is also an excellent and noble example that will benefit many stupid people, so that the railroad will gain more and larger space, and many others of the flesh as well.
flee from the danger and follow you. What is the harm in saying: Has the preceptor of Lichtenberg taken a wife? Is it not a great glory and Christian virtue, whether E. A. E. thereby becomes an honest cover of shame for the others? After all, Christ has become the lid of shame for all of us. Yes, what do I say, a lid of shame? It is a disgrace among the frenzied and senseless, who do not respect fornication and mock the marriage state, the divine work and word. Is it shameful to take wives, why are we not ashamed of eating and drinking, if there is equal need on both sides, and God wants both?
9 Oh, what more shall I say of this? It is to be pitied that a man should be so mad as to wonder that a man should take a wife, or that anyone should be ashamed of it; for no one wonders that men are wont to eat and drink. And this need, where the human being comes from, is still to be doubted and wondered at. Nothing better, because the sooner all senses are turned to God's work and word, the more blessedly he wants to have us, or, if we remain outside in disgrace and wrath, he wants to punish us both with sins and hell.
(10) Dearly beloved, let us not fly higher nor be better than Abraham, David, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, and all the archfathers, prophets, and apostles, and so many holy martyrs and bishops, who all acknowledged that they were created men by God, and were not ashamed to be men and to be called men, and also held themselves to be so, that they were
have not remained lonely. Whoever is ashamed of marriage, let him also be ashamed that he is a man and is called; or do it better than God has done it. Adam's children are and remain human beings, therefore they should and must beget and bring forth human beings again.
(11) Dear God, we see every day how much effort it takes to remain in marriage and to maintain conjugal chastity, and do we still want to practice chastity outside of marriage, as if we were not human and had neither flesh nor blood? But it is the god of the world, the devil, who has made the marriage state so slandered and shameful, and yet allows adulterers, whores, and brats to remain in great honor beside it; so that it would be fair, in defiance of him and his world, to become married, and to accept and bear his shame for the sake of God.
(12) I ask you, Venerable Lord, to accept my faithful Christian admonition and to follow it most carefully, so that you will no longer tempt God. If you follow God's grace and trust, you shall see that, as you honor His work and word, He will honor and adorn you again. It is about a small hour of shame, after which years of honor will follow. Christ, our Lord, grant his grace that this my writing may become alive and strong in your hearts through his Spirit and bear fruit to the praise and honor of his name and word, amen. At Wittenberg, on the Monday after Lätare 1525.
E. A. E. willing
Martinus Luther.
i. Letter and Christian exhortation to the Cardinal and Elector Albrecht of Mainz to enter into matrimony.
June 2, 1525.
To the Most Serene, Highborn Prince and Lord, Lord Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg 2c, Elector 2c, Margrave of Brandenburg 2c, my gracious Lord.
1. grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Through hose
Most gracious, highborn prince, most gracious lord! I have tried several times to write to E. C. F. G. on account of other people. Now I am forced to write on behalf of E. C. F. G.; and I humbly ask that E. C. F. G. accept it in good faith, as faithfully as I mean it.
Among other worries and undertakings, which also distress me, is the need to calm this grievous and horrible indignation, which is aroused by Satan as a punishment from God; it has occurred to me to admonish and call upon the C.F.G., in great hope and confidence, that the C.F.G. are able and can, where they only want, help considerably, in addition to devout prayer to God, so that it would be better.
3. and recently this is the opinion that the E. C. F. G. have taken the conjugal state and made the bishopric a secular principality, and let the false name and appearance of spiritual state fall and go.
4 And these are my causes: First, that the punishment of God may be forestalled and the causes of Satan's indignation taken away. For it is now in the light of day that the spiritual state is publicly against God and His glory. Therefore, there is no way to hope that God will refrain from wrath and punishment, because there is no refraining from such public abomination and dishonor of His holy name. O Lord God, if you bishops and princes had done so yourselves in time, had given room to the Gospel and had begun to change what is a public abomination, how quietly this would have been ordered and directed by public authority and power, which the devil now throws into one another with raving! But since they would neither hear nor see, and were under the command to preserve public abominations by sacrilege, God let it go, that it might perish with disgrace; that he might prove how his word is mightier than all things, and yet must go away, though the world were a thousand times more.
(5) Secondly, that even the common man has now been told and has come to understand that the spiritual state is nothing; as is well and too much proved by many a song, saying, mockery, since one painted on all walls, on all kinds of notes, finally on the card games, priests and monks, and immediately became a disgust, where one sees or hears a spiritual person. What is it, then, that one wants to fence against the current and keep, that does not want to be kept and can be kept? For that may well be grasped, because the
If spirituality is out of people's hearts and so highly despised, it is not to be hoped that there will be either peace or cessation, for it also comes out of the eyes; but the more one adheres to it, the more it is ridiculed and despised. What is it then, that by such adherence one only incites and agitates people against oneself? Especially because God Himself imposes judgment and punishment and wants to eradicate spiritualism; as He says, Ps. 10:15: "Thou destroyest the wicked, that their name also perish for ever." It is lost, the spiritual state cannot remain, much less come back to honor. God has attacked it; it must come down, that and no other.
(6) The C.C.F.G. can prevent this and do it himself, so that it will be done willingly; then it is hoped that God will be there, and that it will be done with grace in silence, so that he will not have to use the devil's grace to do it. And E. C. F. G. has greater cause for this than others, because they have offended against God and are helping to strengthen the spiritless state in Halle at great expense and in vain. But if the people would see otherwise, their hearts should also turn finely and support E. C. F. G. and help with all silence and litter, so that all things would go off graciously. But if C.C.F.G. still obstructs or delays, it is to be feared that it may not last long. For the hearts will not let go, just as little as God's wrath will let go.
Here E. C. F. G. has a beautiful example, the Grand Master in Prussia. How graciously God has sent such a change, which ten years ago could neither have been hoped for nor believed, if ten Isaiahs or Pauls had proclaimed it. But because he gave the gospel space and honor, it has given him again much more space and honor than he could have wished for.
But a much greater example would be E. C. F. G., who is, as it were, one of the greatest leaders in the midst of German lands; this would quiet and win over many people and draw other bishops after him. God would let himself be seen in honor, because C.F.G. humbled himself against him and gave way to his gospel and name and left room for it; how would this be?
He then promises, 2 Sam. 2, 30: "Whoever honors me, I will honor again; but whoever despises me will be reviled. On such a mighty, comforting promise, E. C. F. G. dares to come fresh and out of the blasphemous and unchristian state into the blessed and divine state of marriage; there God will graciously let Himself be found.
9 And even if such a common benefit of the German country, which I highly respect and which is a great Christian work, did not move C. F. G., this alone should be enough that C. F. G. must be found and confessed as a male person made by God. Now it is ever God's work and will that a man should have a wife, Gen. 2, 18: "It is not good," says God, "that the man should be alone; I will make him a helpmeet to be around him" etc.
(10) If God does not work miracles and make an angel out of a man, I cannot see how he can remain alone and without a wife without God's grace and disgrace. And it is terrible if he should be found without a wife in death; least of all that he should be of earnest mind and will to enter into marriage. For what does he want
words when God will ask: I have made you a man who should not be alone, but should have a wife; where is your wife? I am speaking of a natural man; for to whom God gives grace of chastity, I let his way go. But otherwise, no one shall pull himself out of the snare, that he would be without a wife and live his pleasure differently than God created him. I ask that E. C. F. G. graciously accept my faithful, humble admonition and consider the matter further and better than I am able to write; for I would gladly do my part, if God wanted to ward off the devil with grace and appease the mob.
In addition, let E. C. F. G. be a faithful and diligent witness to its creator, so that such work will be promoted the sooner and the more stately. For it is high time before one misses the space and may not come to it afterwards. To this end may our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our peace and blessedness, help and give his merciful grace, amen. At Wittenberg, Friday after Exaudi, Anno 1525.
E. C. F. G.
subservient
Martinus Luther.