Mid-September 1519.
Translated from Latin.
This is the last letter that Luther addressed to Dungersheim. In the sixth letter, Dungersheim announced to Luther that he would have the Dialogus Wider printed. Luther left the same letter and a later one from 1528 unanswered. - In the present letter, Luther briefly discusses his opponent's views on the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers, complains about the latter's distortion of his words, admits that he has communicated his letter to others, and leaves it up to him whether he wants to have it printed against him. Luther still refers to the hostility of the Leipzigers and his previous patience, but does not declare himself averse to keeping the peace. (Seidemann.)
*) This letter is found in Dungersheim's works; in Aurifaber I, t 50d; Löscher, Reformations-Acta III, 80; De Wette I, 280.
**This letter is found in Dungersheim's äialoAus aä Martinus l,utti6rum "te. which has been included in his oyusoula. Then only m Seidemann's Lutherbriefen p. 2. This letter of Luther is, as Seidemann communicates, only recently found again by Dr. Goldhorn in Leipzig in Ochsenfurt's works. We therefore give for the first time its translation into German.
Martin Luther to Jerome of Ochsenfurt.
Hail! Truly, dear Lord, you always have the best of the tops and the worst of the bottoms. You have nothing else in your mouth but: Church, church, heretic, heretic. But when we desire the church, you show us a man, the pope, to whom you attribute everything, but you do not prove with a single syllable that he is infallible in the faith. But we come across so many heresies in his decrees as never before in the case of any heretic. This, which you alone must prove, you constantly presuppose as proven, as if you did not know that it is the most erroneous way of disputing to presuppose as proven what one should first prove (petere principium). This, I say, you should have proved that the Church of God is with you, and not also in other parts of the world. We want the Scriptures to be judges, you, on the other hand, want to be judges of the Scriptures. Desist, I beg you, from tiring me further with such things, or, as you threaten, let what you have to say be made public. If the fathers are to be read without selection and judgment, let the Scriptures be taken away. I hold of the divine figure and of the papacy as I have held, and have no doubt that I can easily meet you if you give out something about it. Don't be muthwillig, dear man; for a whole year you have undertaken many things, but have not accomplished anything great. I am not moved by the fact that you have done much, but by the fact that you have produced something well-founded; but I do not therefore accuse the saints of lying, as you and yours are wont to bring out of my words what you will when I say that the Scriptures are sometimes perverted by them. And I beg you, if you will write, beware that you do not make such conclusions and inferences and impute your meaning to my words. You will need sharp eyes. For it is not fitting for a good teacher to say that someone has lied who has hardly erred, since even Augustin admits in so many places that dark passages cause a diverse mind, while a simple mind is necessary. And I confess that it is quite ungodly to say that Augustin has gone too far.
But this, as if you do not understand it, you twist again in single words what I said about the whole doctrinal position (de summa sententiae) against the heretics. For if I am not nonsensical, I cannot deny that Augustine sometimes twisted and changed the interpretation of Scripture, to say nothing of the fact that by "reaching too far in speaking" you understand it to be the same as "lying" and interpreting in different ways, or differently from the literal sense. If you should use such word explanations (vocabulariis) against me, then you will drive nicely, yes, there will never be an end of writing and arguing, because always, if I have said something, you will assume something else as said, as also that your donkey 1) does. I don't know whether the mental disposition of the Leipzigers is such that you are so industrious readers, so bold judges, so slow to grasp what others have written. Believe [certainly], I will have [enough] of what will be said against you. You used to write against the Picards, you know with what luck. If you give something on the advice of a friend, see to it that you do not put forward much, but what is appropriate. I know that victory does not lie in the crowd, which is always exposed to slaughter, but in the art of war. You complain without reason that you have been exposed to ridicule by my doing so. I confess that I have shared your letters so that I do not judge my cause alone, which you constantly reproach me with; but if you feel somehow hurt by this, I allow you to do the same to me; I will not argue with you about it, nor will I feel hurt. If our agreement in the matter of faith were so easy, not a syllable would need to be written. But consider how much I and ours have suffered from yours and still suffer daily, which can only happen at your instigation. But see to it that God does not also repay you once again for this. This matter 2)
1) The donkey will mean Alveld.
2) Namely, Eck's disputation with Carlstadt and Luther, which the Leipzig theologians tried to prevent.
is none of your business, and until now you have always rejected it. Now, at last, you are getting in the middle of it; see to it that you do not get involved. But I also know very well, dear Jerome, as I wrote to you in Leipzig, how great things you have always done behind my back, which I have always forgiven and still forgive and do not heed. You will have to see to it that not even the patience, which you put too much to the test (laesa patientia), breaks. I am a man like you, only that you bite idly and calmly in secret, but I, overwhelmed with business, am attacked by the teeth of all and my moderation is challenged, since I alone am torn by so many greedy wolves. The whole world rushes in against me, but if I bite just a little, O God, how I am accused! but you, you do not bear it if we even stir
1) During the disputation in Leipzig, Luther wrote to Dungersheim. As can be seen from the latter's dialogue x. 12, he spoke most vehemently against Luther in the pulpit and on the chair.
(nutemur). I write this so that you may know that I would rather have peace and harmony; but if this cannot happen, then let the will of the Lord be done. By the way, it is not necessary for you to write to me about this; I understand your matters sufficiently. Only see to it that you also understand mine; you will not be able to tear it apart, so I will not suffer that either under Christ's gracious protection. Farewell and pray that we may not only have right knowledge, but also live rightly and be saved.
With regard to Dungersheim and his dispute with Luther the following letters may be consulted:
a. Luther's letter to Silvinus Egranus of March 24, 1518. Walch, old edition, vol. XV, appendix no. 42.
b. Luther's letter to Johann Lang of April 13, 1519. Walch, old edition, vol. XV, anh. no. 44, § 6.
c. Luther's letter to Spalatin of January 14, 1520. Walch, old edition, vol. XX, 2215, § 2.