Luther rejects the advice of Erasmus and Capito that moderation and peaceableness must be practiced. About his condition. He wishes that Melanchthon be persuaded to preach.
The original is in the Anhaltisches Gesammt-Archiv. The address of the same is no longer available. Printed in Aurifaber, Vol. I, p. 355 d; in De Wette, Vol. II, p. 48 and in Erlanger Briefwechsel, Vol. III, p. 229.
JEsus.
Hail! Neither Capito's nor Erasmus' judgment moves me in the least. They do not act differently than I have long thought of them; indeed, I have also feared that I would one day have to deal with one of them, since I see that Erasmus is far from the knowledge of grace, since in all his writings he has not the cross but peace in mind. Therefore, he thinks that everything is to be treated and carried out in a polite manner and with a certain friendly benevolence; but Behemoth 2) does not care about that, and nothing improves from it.
I remember that when he said about himself in his preface to the New Testament: A Christian easily despises honor, I thought in my heart: O Erasmus, I fear you are mistaken. It is a great thing to despise honor. But he wanted to despise it in such a way that the contempt would not have been inflicted on him by others, but he would have thought the same only in himself. But the contempt of honor, if it be in words, is nothing; much less if it should be in thoughts to me, but, as Paul says, "the kingdom of GOD standeth in power" [1 Cor. 4:20.]. Therefore, I have not yet dared to boast of any thing, nor can I, except the word of truth which the Lord has given me.
(3) Therefore, the writings of those people are all inconsequential to each other, because they refrain from scolding, biting, and giving offense. For when the popes politely reminded
2) Job 40, 10. Siebe St. Louis edition, vol. VIII, 1729 Luther's marginal gloss.
they think they are being flattered, and, as if they had a right to be incorrigible, they persist, satisfied that they are to be feared and that no one dares to punish them. These people are depicted by your Plutarch in the booklet of flattery; but in a more serious and frightening way Jeremiah's [Cap. 47, 10.]: "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD carelessly," for he speaks of your works of the sword against the enemies of God. And I fear greatly, and am afraid in my conscience, that, yielding to thy counsel and that of my friends, I have subdued my spirit at Worms, and have not shown myself to those idols as an Elias. They would hear other things if I were placed before them again. But enough of that.
The elder Duke John finally knows where I am; he did not know until now. My host has secretly revealed it to him, but he will probably keep it quiet. I am doing well here, but I am sluggish and dull, and as a wretched man I am quite cold in spirit. Today, on the sixth day, I had a bowel movement of such hardness that I almost breathed out my soul. Now I sit in pain like a child beggar, torn, wounded and bloody, and will have little or no rest this night.
5. be thankful to Christ, who does not leave me without the remains of the holy cross. I would be healed from all soreness if the body were open. For what heals in four days is wounded anew when I defecate. I write this not so that you may pity me, but that you may wish me happiness and pray that I may be worthy to be fervent in spirit. For it is time to pray with all our strength against Satan, for he is planning to cause a sorrowful tragedy against Germany, and I fear that the Lord may allow him to do so.
(6) I am still sleepy and idle to pray and resist, that I am very displeased and a burden to myself, perhaps because I am alone and you do not assist me. I beg you, let us pray and watch so that we do not fall into temptation. I have nothing else to write now. You know everything about everything.
7. I am glad that Wittenberg is increasing,
mainly because it grows in my absence, so that the wicked sees it and clenches his teeth, and what he would like is lost [Ps. 112:10]. Let Christ accomplish what he has begun. I would very much like Philip to preach to the common people somewhere in the city on the feast days after midday, instead of drinking and gambling, so that it would become a habit to introduce freedom and restore it according to the form and customs of the first church.
8. for when we have broken all the rights of men, and thrown off their yoke, what care we whether he be not anointed, not circumcised, and a husband? He is in truth nevertheless a priest, and indeed gives a priest, unless the teaching of the word be not the office of a priest. Otherwise Christ would not be a priest either, who taught in schools, in ships, on the shore, on mountains, and even alone in all places and at all hours.
(9) Therefore, since he [Philip] is called by GOD and exercises the ministry of the word, as no one can deny, what is the matter if he is not called by these tyrants, the bishops, not of the churches, but of the horses, and of the courtiers? But I know the mind of man; he will not obey my coaxings. Therefore he must be called and urged by the commandment and the doings of the whole church. For if she demands and requires it, he must not and cannot refuse it.
(10) If I were present, I would certainly work with the council and the people to ask him to read the Gospel to them privately in German, as he began to do in Latin, so that he would gradually become a German bishop as he has become a Latin bishop, and I would like you to make an effort to see that this happens. For the people need the word of God above all. Since this is abundantly present in him [Melanchthon] before others, you also see that, since our conscience urges us to do so and God demands it, we are obligated to call him, so that the Word is not deprived of its fruit.
(11) You will be able to do this very well through Lucas and Christian 1) in the council, so that in this way Christ will also replace my absence and my silence with his [Melanchthon's] preaching and sound, to put Satan and his apostles to shame. Origen taught the women privately: why should he not also undertake something like this, since he can and should do it? especially since the people thirst for it and desire it.
(12) Dear one, do not be moved by his excuses; he will present the most beautiful fig leaves, as is also fitting for him. For he shall not seek it, but he must be urged and called by the church, yea, asked, that he may serve, and not do that which is profitable for him, but for many. I beg you to do this above all things most diligently, and take friends to help you, who will promote this together with you. And now live well, and remember me by the Lord. From the desert, on the day after the Nativity of the Virgin Mary [September 9, 1521]. Yours, Martin Luther.