November 17, 1524.
He promises to answer Erasmus; says why he hesitates to answer Carlstadt in the sacramental matter; Zwingli and Leo Jude in Switzerland held it with Carlstadt; he wishes that the mass be held in German, but does not want to set up an assembly for this, for certain reasons which he gives; he tells of two martyrs, Caspar Tauber and a certain bookseller in Hungary.
Grace and peace in the Lord. I have not forgotten you, my dear householder, although it is true that because of the many and various things that have gone before me, my memory also grows weaker with increasing years. I will answer Erasmus, not for his own sake, but for the sake of those who abuse his reputation for their glory against Christ. What you have already reminded me of the Last Supper, I feel until Carlstadt will publicly spread his poison, as he has promised me and has already received a gold florin from me, even though I already hold most of his tasteless conclusions. Zwingli is associated with Leo Jude in the opinion of Carlstadt in Switzerland. So far this evil spreads, only the Lord Christ rules and fights.
2) That the mass be said in the German language, I wish more than I promise, because I am not equal to this work, which requires music and a special spirit; in the meantime, I leave each one with his opinion until Christ will give something else. 1) I do not think it advisable that a meeting of our people be held for the sake of unity in church customs, for it is a matter that requires a
1) The following, from here to the end of this. §, is introduced in the old editions of the Table Talks as the third § of the 34th chapter.
The church assemblies have taught us from the beginning that in the apostolic assembly, too, almost more was said about works and statutes than about faith, but in the following assemblies nothing was ever said about faith, but always only about certain opinions and questions, so that the name of a council is almost as suspicious and hateful to me as the name of free will. If one church will not voluntarily follow the other in external matters, what need is there to impose on the people by the decisions of the conciliums things that will soon be turned into laws and ropes for the souls? So let one church voluntarily follow another, or let each one keep its customs; if only the unity of the spirit in faith and in word is preserved, then the diversity and variety in earthly and visible things does no harm.
I have no doubt that you have read the history of the new martyr in Vienna, Caspar Tauber, of whom it is written that he was beheaded and burned for the sake of the word of God. The same thing happened to a bookseller in Ofen, Hungary, named Johannes, 2) who was also beheaded and burned for the word of God.
2) In the letter to the Christians of Bremen, Walch, old edition, Vol. XXI, 96, § 2, he is called Georg Buchführer. Buchführer", as we see from our letter, is not to be regarded as a proper name, but stands for bookseller. Burkhardt, Luthers Briefwechsel, p. 77, says: In the original to "Johannes" is the remark: He was called Johannes, the servant of my brother Martin Cordatus, but the books, which he wanted to sell, had been bought for my, the Conrad Cordatus (0.6 "räi.), money.
and after him Ktrobol-UÄUner p. 106 as a separate letter. So, says De Wette, we have also found it in the Ooä. ekart. 4021. lidl. 6otU. and in the Ooä. The original of this letter is in Latin; the two pieces given by Seidemann in the 6th volume, p. 53 ff. of De Wette's edition are different translations. The former is by Aurifaber, in the old editions of the Tischreden, Cap. 34, § 3; the other by another translator. We have translated according to De Wette.
n books that were placed all around him was burned and suffered steadfastly for the Lord. Blood draws blood, which connects the pope with the kings and their kingdoms.
will suffocate. Farewell and pray for me poor sinner. Wittenberg, Thursday after Martinmas [November 17] Anno 1524.
Martin Luther.