About the blessed death of Prince Frederick the Wise during the Peasants' Revolt, and about his burial.
795 U. Georg Spalatin's consolation to the Elector Frederick of Saxony at his end. May 5, 1525.
This writing is found in the Wittenberg edition (1569), vol. IX, p. 217; in the Jena edition (1585), vol. II, p. 5116; in the Altenburg edition, vol. II, p. 887; and in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXII, p. 496.
1. grace and peace beforehand, most gracious lord, e. churfl. G. do not allow anything on earth to challenge them, but only hold fast to Christ, and remember His comforting word, grasping it and holding it in a strong faith, trust and hope, as especially Christ says Matth. 9, 12. 13.: "The strong have no need of a physician, but the sick; I have come to call sinners to repentance, and not the pious."
2 He also so kindly draws them to Him, Matthew II:28, saying, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you."
Now one comes to Christ by faith alone, if we believe that God is gracious to us, that He means us faithfully and well, that He has forgiven all our sins, that Christ has been sufficient for all our sins, that we are God's children and heirs, whether in life or death. Thus Christ himself says John 6:35: "He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
4 Such a person is not harmed by sin, death, hell or the devil, nor can he be condemned, but is eternally saved through faith and heartfelt trust in God's true word and unfathomable grace, goodness and mercy. Thus Christ himself says John 5:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
It is very comforting that a Christian man passes through temporal death into eternal life. Yes, a Christian will not feel or taste death, as Christ Himself says John 8:51: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man taste my
Word will keep," that is, abide by it, not doubting it, but firmly believing that through me and for my sake he has a gracious, kind, and merciful Father in heaven, "who will not see death forever."
This is the kind will of God the Father and God the Son, that such a person, who remains in faith and trust in God's grace and word, will be preserved and saved eternally, and that the world, sin, hell, death and the devil will not harm him any more than they did not harm Christ Himself. Thus Christ Himself says John 6:37-40: "All that My Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and whosoever cometh to Me I will not cast out: for I am come down from heaven, not to do My will, but His that sent Me. Now this is the will of the Father who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but that I should raise it up at the last day. Now this is the will of him that sent me, that whosoever seeth the Son, and believeth on him, shall have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
7 This was also the command of Christ, our dear Lord and Savior, here on earth, to preserve eternally all those who believe in Him. He himself says John 3:16-18: "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved; he who believes in Him will not be judged."
(8) He who believes in Christ, that he has been saved through Him, has obtained by faith all things that the eternal Son of the eternal God Himself is, has, can and is able to do. Thus St. Paul says Rom. 8, 31-34: "What shall we say then? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who also did not spare His own Son, but gave Him for us all; how shall He not with Him give us all things? Who will accuse the elect of God? God is here who makes righteous. Who wants to condemn? Christ is here, who died, who is at the right hand of God, and represents us."
(9) Therefore, just as Christ has victoriously overcome death, sin, the devil, and hell, so a Christian man should and will overcome all these things, and all these things will harm him as little as they harmed the Lord Christ. Thus Christ Himself says John 16:33: "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world you are afraid, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Whoever lives and dies in faith overcomes sin, death and the devil. Thus says St. John 1 John 5:4: "Our faith is the victory that overcame the world." And the victory Christ, our pious Beatificator, has purchased for us by His death. Thus says St. Paul 1 Cor. 15, 57. "Thanks be to God, who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Yes, neither sin, death, hell nor the devil can take such a person away. Thus Christ himself says John 10:27-29: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. The Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand."
Therefore a man can do nothing but commit his spirit into the almighty hand of God the Father, and say with Christ Luc. 23, 46: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," for in the hand of God no soul can ever be lost. For as Christ Himself says John 15:9: "As My Father loveth Me, even so do I love you"; and as Christ there goes on to say John 17:21-23: "I have given them the glory which Thou gavest Me, that they may be one, even as We are one: that I in them, and Thou in Me, may be perfect in One; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, even as Thou hast loved Me."
In short, it is impossible for a Christian to be lost who has such faith. Thus St. Paul says Rom. 5:8-11: "Therefore praise God for His love toward us, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, so much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him, having been justified by His blood. For if we are reconciled to God through the death of His Son, while we were still enemies, much more shall we be saved through His life, if we are now reconciled; not only so, but we boast
also of God" (that is) that God is ours, and we are his, "through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." "Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's," as St. Paul writes Rom. 14:8. Therefore a man cannot do wrong, but with God's help surrender to God's will amicably and willingly, he departs from this false, wretched world and from sins through death to his Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST into eternal life, from which neither sin, hell, death, nor the devil can or can prevent him for eternity; for us the Lamb of God, Christ, who took upon Himself all the sin of the whole world, is good enough for whom be thanksgiving and praise forever and ever.
796: Some questions to Luther and Melanchthon on how Prince Frederick should be buried, together with an expert opinion in the margin.
From Cyprian's Documents, vol. II, p. 326.
Interrogatoria.
To remember. To the following secular practices, which have been practiced in the case of the great lord's death, to make a Christian change, because our prince has taken his leave after Christian abandonment, that also the memorial night be ordered and carried out in God's order by his grace, and what is considered unchristian, or to annoyance, to do away with it.
The receipt of the ge
The common mockery of the
That some people carry the coffin, covered with delicacy. placet.
1) The words: "by his grace" will have to refer to Duke John, the brother of the Elector. The same will have asked these questions through Spalatin to Luther and Melanchthon as well as (in the next number) to Gabriel Zwilling, pastor in Torgau.
That the bier with the corpse, when it is carried through the cities and towns, be dewed, and the people come to meet it, placet.
Item, if the corpse to the non placet,.
standing around the stretcher with lights, bit Philip
Item, that a bishop, or great
Item that the coats of arms to the
Item that mean offering money ge
ctaculum ;
Item that among the sacrificial sunt barganges also shield is sacrificed and the dara.
Jtem, that one especially Ge- culum.
präng in the funeral drives that
one buries a sword with. ut ex more.
Item, donation of the poor people. placet.
Item, the main sermon under the
Item, whether a measurement of the time . . should and would be ordered, whether communicants were present? canant hoOder ob die Mess sollte unterlassen ras. werden?
797 Gabriel Zwilling's Concerns about the Funeral of Frederick the Wise.
From Cyprian's Documents, vol. II, p. 328.
Because our most gracious Lord has fallen asleep in Christ, it is good that his body should be buried in Christ in a lowly, simple manner, without all ostentation, as the ancient fathers did.
I. That the common people, together with their servants, go to the grave is right and proper.
II. whether to ring the bells, too, does not hurt.
III. one may well cover a shroud over the coffin.
IV. Whether to ring the bells, through which city the body is carried, nothing is attached.
V. Vigil and light are to be left outside, especially the vigil; there is not much in the way of lights, whether one burns them or not. But that one preaches in the evening to remind the people of death and to ask that God give his spirit to their future lord and rule according to God's will is well done. And whether he remains unburied through the night, nothing is in it.
VI. poor people dress is good, whether they also stand with lights around the Bahr.
VII. neither bishop nor prelate shall hold mass; all masses shall be held, if one does not want to anger God, and God shall give His grace to our most gracious lord, Duke Hansen, to rule in the future.
VIII. Neither the priest nor the altar should be clothed in black. It is good to give something to the poor people.
IX. That coats of arms are hung on the candles and bahr is not a big deal. But they should not be hung on the altars.
X. On the morrow, do not hold a mass or sacrifice, but preach and bury it in the name of God.
XI. Give the offering money to poor people.
XII. Do not drag the stallions around the altar.
XIII Let all sacrifices stand in line, be it shield sacrifice or spit breaking.
XIV Give the sword to one who has none, if you ever want to give one away.
XV. Donation is good when you are still alive.
XVI The morning sermon before burying the body is good.
I think that if the corpse of our most gracious lord were carried to the grave in a bad way, the students would go ahead and sing some good songs, and some of the nobility would carry the corpse, and the other court servants along with the common people would follow the corpse, and thus greet him in the name of God that it would be best, and then, when the corpse was buried, preach an admonition or sermon to the people. As indicated above, to remember the death and to ask God with earnestness for a godly prince; as we already hope that he has given him to us.
798 Georg Spalatin's personal report on how Prince Frederick was buried in Wittenberg on May 10 and 11, 1525, following advice from Luther and Melanchthon.
From Spalatin's manuscript printed in Kapp's Nachlese, vol. II, p. 667.
How my most gracious lord, Duke Frederick of Saxony 2c, blessed and laudable memory, funeral here at Wittenberg Wednesday and Thursday after Jubilate has been held, with D. Martini, Philipp Melanchthon's 2c. Council. 1525.
Wednesday after Jubilate.
In the year of Christ, the birth of our dear Lord and Savior, 1525, the introduction of my most gracious Lord, Duke Frederick of Saxony, Elector 2c, of blessed and praiseworthy memory, as follows, took place here in Wittenberg.
Early in the morning the body of my most gracious lord, laudable and blessed memory, bequeathed in a coffin, was carried and placed by eight noblemen to the Lochau 1) from his C. F. G. room into the castle chapel, and the office left there, and after the office ordered by the eight noblemen touched to the sedan chairs, and thus started to carry to Wittenberg.
From the castle to Lochau the cortege is accepted by the inhabitants with the procession, with the song: "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin" 2c. and "Aus tiefer Noth" 2c.
Likewise in Jessen with all the bells in the procession, and the procession, accepted by the priesthood and the common people, also with Christian chants, also to the Eylstern 2) and thus following brought to Wittenberg.
At II o'clock, Count Wolfgang von Warbey, Mr. Hans, Noble of Plavenitz, 3) and Mr. Hans von Minkwitz, both knights, rode from Wittenberg, together with several of the nobility, as much as was required of them, to accept the body of my most gracious lord, of blessed memory, as they did. Then, between 11 and 12 o'clock, the large bells were rung in the parish and in the monastery, and the people gathered in the parish church, together with the students.
However, the people of the collegiate church have gathered in front of the collegiate church, and one has seen the
1) Is now called Annaburg (Walch).
2) "Eylstern" will probably mean the magpie. Jessen is located on the black Elster.
3) This name is spelled differently: Planitz, Plaunitz, Plawnitz; here Plavenitz.
Collegiate Church, until the procession come to prevent the crowd, not unlocked.
When the students, university, council and the common people come in front of the collegiate church, the people of the collegiate church also went into the procession in their order.
And touched all have kept the order in going out, as in the introduction of my most gracious Lord, the Elector of Saxony 2c., of blessed memory.
As follows: First a cross was carried, then the disciples went, of which there were six and fifty. After that, the monks, then the body of my most gracious lord, the Elector of Saxony 2c., first bequeathed in a coffin, and covered with a black cloth, and with a white cross of linen, and five coats of arms on the coffin, and covered with a black velvet, and pinned coats of arms, eighth carried, all dressed in mourning coats and hats with black silk tails, as namely:
Count Wolf von Warbey. Mr. Hans, Noble of Plavenitz, Knight. Mr. Hans von Minkwitz, Knight. Kum Rabil. Christoph Gross. Friedrich Brandt. Georg von Hulda, and Matches Loser.
Next to the corpse twenty men walked, all dressed in black, with burning torches and hanging on them the high coat of arms of my most gracious lord.
After the corpse, before my gracious lord Duke Franciscus of Brunswick and Lüneburg, Hans von Döltzck, Marshal, Bernhard von Hirschfeld, Councillor of Beimelburg and Bastei went. Then my gracious lord, Duke Franciscus of Lüneburg 2c.
The following is the preceptor at Liechtenburg.
Secretarii 2c.
After that the court and landed gentry, soon after the university, of which some have been counted one hundred and eight and sixty pairs. Then the council, then the commoners. Then the women and virgins. Finally, the travelers after all the people.
Then, when the corpse was brought to the Elster Gate, the houseman at the castle started to count the number of deer, and all the bells in the collegiate and parish churches were rung, after which the procession started, as if touched.
With such a procession the corpse was brought to the collegiate church.
And when they came to the church, they put the body in the middle of the church.
Musmann, together with a number of Wepener, has ensured with good measure and order that no crowding results from it.
In the move-in Hai one poor people give each a penny, and this was done by master Lucas Cranach, painter, and Christianus, goldsmith 2c.
The proclamation of the entrance, burial and donation is done in the German lection in the morning in the monastery and in the parish church. As soon as the procession has begun, the monks and students are to sing in Latin before the first chant:
Si bona suscepimus.
After that: From deep distress 2c.
Following: Media Vita, Latin.
After that, the same song in German.
And when the body was brought into the collegiate church, and, as if touched, was placed in the middle of the church, the choir sang, "We all believe in One God." Then the hundred and eighteenth psalm: Confitemini Domino etc., in Latin. Following this, Magister Philipp Melanchthon made an almost good Latin speech in the church against the corpse of my most gracious Lord Blessed.
After this, Doctor Martin Luther preached a very Christian and comforting sermon, based on St. Paul's words in the first epistle to the Thessalonians in the fourth chapter, about those who have fallen asleep and died in God.
At the end of the sermon, they sang: "Now we pray to the Holy Spirit", and then Vespers and Compline were held. The body of my most gracious lord was left in the middle of the church with four burning lights and guarded by several people, but neither sung nor read. The grave was made on Wednesday evening and the following Thursday morning right under the high altar under the steps.
My gracious lord, Duke Franciscus of Lüneburg, stood over against the body on Wednesday and Thursday on the small Quer[em]porkirche 1).
The twenty men in suffering clothes with the burning torches stood next to the Bahr under the office on Wednesday and Thursday, ten on each side.
Thursday after Jubilate.
In the early days, people in the monastery used to sing the masses and other tides in such a way that everything was over between six and seven o'clock.
At seven o'clock the bells rang in the monastery and in the parish church, and people gathered again in the collegiate church.
Then the hundred and seventh Psalm: Con-
1) In the old edition: "Qverporkirchen".
fitemmi Domino, sung slowly and well in Latin. And thereupon the versicle and collects and the Fried, Deus, a quo sancta desideria, read.
Doctor Martinus then preached another almost Christian, comforting sermon, and also referred to St. Paul's words to the Thessalonians. As on the previous day, there were many people present with saddened spirits.
Soon after the sermon, my gracious lord, Duke Franciscus of Lüneburg 2c., together with the council and the nobility, went from the Quer[em]pork Church to the corpse.
Then the eight persons touched before carried the corpse, as of the previous day.
In front of the corpse, twenty men each with the burning torches, two and two, walked with each other.
Soon after the corpse have followed:
First of all my gracious lord, Duke Franciscus of Lüneburg 2c., then the councilors and the Atzel 2c.
Under the funeral the choir sang, first: Si bona suscepimus, mala autem quare non sustineamus.
And because they buried my most gracious lord 2c., the twenty men with the burning torches divided themselves, so that on each side of them stood ten.
Then they sang: "Austiefer Noth" 2c., followed by: "Wir glauben alle an Einen GOtt" 2c.
And finally: "Praise be to God and give Him" 2c.
After that they left the church and went to the table.
The same Thursday afternoon after twelve o'clock the big bells were rung in the parish church for the donation, and there they gave the donation, three pennies to each person, and there were three and a half thousand people who took the donation.
The corpse was also brought on the moat to the castle or fishermen's gate in the city and collegiate church, and to a small being, praise God, demurely and finely approached.
799: Martin Luther's two sermons at the funeral of Elector Frederick of Saxony in Wittenberg.
See St. Louis edition, vol. XII, 2032-2099.
800 D. Martin Luther's letter of consolation to Elector John on the death of his brother, May 15, 1525.
See St. Louis edition, vol. X, 2050.