a. Nicolaus Amsdorf's letter to Luther.
January 28, 1534.
To the venerable in Christ and true servant of Christ D. Martin Luther, his most beloved father.
After I, venerable Father in Christ, have now read over your book on the corner mass again, I find something that does not seem alarming to me, but perhaps to some pious and godly hearts, since you say: A Christian can see and hear the mass. For those of Halle and Leipzig want to gloss over their godlessness, if not defend it. That is what I dislike. The rest pleases me very much, and I have found nothing that is offensive or could be offensive to a pious and godly person. Yes, it is all of the kind that is necessary at this time; and if the booklet were not already printed, it would still have to be printed cheaply.
There is a rumor that you wanted to answer Witzeln. I wonder with what intention, since he has already been answered enough by this book about the corner mass. But he would be answered even more, if you would hand out the book of the church. Witzel has stolen all that is his' from Erasmus. One would have to answer
and despise it, so that Erasmus would be painted with the right colors. For this is the summa of his teaching: Luther's teaching is heresy, because it is condemned by emperor and pope, but his is orthodox, because bishops and cardinals, princes and kings send him and give him golden cups. If something else is in his books, I want to be of death. This is the wisdom of human reason, that we have gracious bishops, kings 2c.
I recognize God's work and see His miracles, that faith is His gift, His work, which He alone works through the power by which He raised Christ from the dead, where and when He wills. When you see these peasants (?), you see God's work, God sustain and strengthen them! Amen.
4 But do you continue to write such books for us, especially about the Church, which the adversaries defy and always accuse us of! Fare well, dear Father in Christ, and pray to God for us, especially for the brethren afflicted by the bishops. Magdeburg, Wednesday after Paul's conversion [28 Jan] in 1534.
Your Nicolaus Amsdorf.
*This letter of Amsdorf together with Luther's answer to it appeared in Wittenberg in 1534 in octavo under the title: Lxistolao Domini Meolai ^msäorüi ot D. Martini Dntüori äo Drasmo kotoroäamo. Then in the Latin Wittenberg edition, Dom. II, toi. 526. the letter of Luther's reply alone, in De . Wette, vol. IV, p. 506.