Luther speaks out about his theses from the vows he sends along; he rebukes Carlstadt and expresses the wish that Melanchthon explain the Bible in public German.
Handwritten in Ooä. L. 24. n, k. 182. Printed in Aurifaber, vol. I, p.358; in De Wette, vol. II, p.52 and in Erlanger Briefwechsel, vol. Ill, 232.
JEsus.
(1) I am sending the sentences of the vows. 1) Although there is nothing new in them that you seek, yet when they come out they will be new and terrifying to the adversaries. Philip relies on the fact that a vow should be annulled because of the impossibility. I have not dealt with this, nor do I believe that it can be dealt with now, as something on which consciences could confidently and safely rest, for that is what we have in mind.
(2) I have here treated the cause which is reliable and sufficient to make consciences secure and free from the vow, namely, ungodliness and godliness. I will also send other sentences in which there is a more extensive discussion about lawful and godly vows, how far they are to be kept, but which are derived from the same cause of godliness and ungodliness.
3) I suffer because of Carlstadt. 2) Although he can be easily resisted, our adversaries will be given cause to boast because of our internal disunity, to the great annoyance of the weak.
4 I have written to Spalatin that he should make it possible for our Philip to recite the Gospel in German to the common people in some place, such as a lecture hall (collegio), on feast days, so that you will gradually return to the old way of reciting the Gospel.
1) This is the writing: "Luthers kurze Schlußreden von den Gelübden und geistlichen Leben der Klöster", St. Louis edition, vol. XIX, 1480. The other sentences promised in the following paragraph can be found there Col. 1490.
2) namely because of the poor substantiation of his theses.
to preach the gospel. You have a beautiful reply if someone wanted to prevent a layman from speaking the gospel in the corner, namely, that he does so in the place of the university and on his own authority. Then who can forbid that he speak German and that the common man and the women hear him? Who could prevent the whole city from hearing his lectures if they understood Latin or if he read German?
I would not want this advice to be despised, especially since there is no hope for my return to you. 3) Who knows what God wants to do through me? Fare well and pray for me. I give thanks for the song. On Monday after [the] Nativity of Mary [September 9] 1521. Yours, Martin Luther, D.
No. 98.
Wittenberg. Approximately between December 5 and 8, 1521.