Martinus Luther.
1. grace and peace etc. Although I would not have thought that it should be necessary at this time to regurgitate the ABC of Christian doctrine to the people in such a childish manner, because so many (praise God!) books are available, that, if they had not been able to learn from
from our books, but should have heard and learned from the quarreling and shouting, what the things were, about which we had quarreled so far, as one otherwise learns all other public quarrels, and from both parts not only original, but also from the other.
*The title of the text to which Luther wrote this preface is: "Wie man die einfeltigen, vnd sonderlich die Krancken, im Christenthumb vnterrichten sol. By H. Friderich Mecum. Wittemberg. XXXIX." 20 leaves. At the end: "Gedruckt zu Wittemberg durch Georgen Rhaw." The preface is found in the Hallische Bande, p. 451; in the Leipziger, vol. XXII, appendix, p. 130; and in the Erlanger, vol. 63, p. 363.
Perhaps we should hope that, because they know nothing at all about the matter, they will not know or respect much the folly of the papists, and therefore the less they are poisoned by that part, the sooner they may be taught and instructed: so I have well seen that this childish way is let out by the pressure to help the poor common people with it in Christ.
But how can one pray for you bishops more and more (I would almost have said curse), that you have let the churches lie desolate and corrupt, so that the people can teach even the Lord's Prayer, faith, God's commandment, and sacrament, yes, nothing? and for that so much and so great shameful scripture,
You have been able to suffer and promote lies and blasphemy well and knowingly, therefore you yourselves have been blinded, the longer the greater fools and damned people you have become. But God will gather his people and bind you chaff, stubble and thorns to the infernal fire, as you, hardened, want to have it yourselves. So go and fight, as you began, against God and your own conscience. For you shall prosper as you have deserved, and God grant you (because you will it so) that you may continue, and not think otherwise, for you can dampen the truth with lies, come to honor before God with blasphemies and desecrations, until at last you are also considered like bathmaids before the world with lies and blasphemies, amen.