Beginning of July 1539.
The first of the Aebten 2c.
There is not much dispute here. If my lord, Duke Henry, wants to have the gospel, then H. F. G. must abolish idolatry or not leave its protection. Now all idolatry, against the. Mass, is a small thing, of which otherwise enough has been written and said. Therefore, H.F.G. should order with all seriousness to abolish the masses in the monasteries, because otherwise there is too much wrath in heaven, whether one would like to alleviate the wrath with this service of abolishing such unspeakable abomination of the masses. But if the monks want to read the horas or preach among themselves, let it go until you see where it wants to go.
The other, from the Meissen monastery.
They would have deserved better with their fine little book, 1) in which they dared to make Christ a fool and all of us little card men. But in order that the same be saved for its time, and that the unflattery not be so sharply stirred, whether they still wanted to recognize themselves, I think one should let [them], where they want, also read their Horas and preach among themselves, until one sees where out. But because H. F. G. is nevertheless the sovereign set by God and the patron, therefore 2) also God is obliged to curb such atrocious, terrible, blasphemous idolatry, by which
1) The Bishop of Meissen sent Duke Heinrich "a book about the Reformation, when he wanted to carry it out. (De Wette.) - In 1541 appeared in print, at Mainz, in 4th, "Herr Johansens, Bischoffs zu Meisten, Christliche Lehre zum Unterricht des rechten Glaubens und godtseligen Lebens." (Seidemann.)
2) In the old editions: hence he.
Just as Duke George knowingly protected the devil and condemned Christ, so Duke Henry should protect poor Christ and condemn the devil. For this reason, the S. F. G. does not have to suffer any corner mass, neither in Meissen, nor in Stolpen, nor in Wurzen. For Baal and all idolatry shall the princes, if they are able, shortly put away, as the former kings Judah and Israel, and afterwards Constantinus, Theodosius, Gratianus. For princes and lords are as much obliged to serve their God and Lord Christ with their wealth as all others.
The third.
The people and villages among the abbots and bishops are to be visited, especially because they cry out and desire this; otherwise it would sound as if they wanted to leave them. This would not be good, for the following reason: the abbots and the bishops are not shepherds over such churches before God, because they want to remain blasphemers and take all innocent blood [upon themselves], 3) they also want to defend Duke George's tyranny. So this, also according to reason, is not to be rejected, because at the time of Duke Frederick the Blessed 2c. the Bishop of Meissen also visited in the Church of Saxony, that again the Bishop of Meissen suffered much more, that Christ, through his sovereign Duke Henry, might also visit. For as Duke Frederick had the wolf visit Lochau and Torgau, so Duke Henry may have the right shepherd Christ visit all the bishop's cities. Otherwise, it is as if they always want to have five corners of the sack, and they will not let us have one.
3) The bracketed words are missing in the original.
*) The original of this draft of a "Bedenkens", in the Weimar Archives Uex. X. pax. 102. no. 38 is printed in Seidemann's Lutherbriefen p. 52 ff. In the collective editions: Wittenberger, vol. XII, p. 290d; Jenaer (1568), vol. VII, p. 353d; Altenburger, vol. VII, p. 381; Leipziger, vol. XXI, p. 309 and in the Erlanger, vol. 55, p. 232. In De Wette, vol. V, p. 191. According to Seidemann, we have included the text. -
1302 Erl. 55, SSI. "5, ILS. IX. Luther's writings Wider die Messe. W. XIX, 1587 f. 1303
lich 1) leave a thread on it. They are blind 2) leaders of the blind, God's wrath has come upon them. Therefore, as far as we
1) nerally - hardly.
2) "blind" is missing in the Wittenberg and Jena editions.
can do to it. They are lost and nothing is accomplished, but everything is hindered. 3)
3) In the editions, at the end is written: "Anno 1539. D. Martinus Luther", which is missing in the original.
The following writings still belong to this section:
Luchers Bedenken von der Winkelmesse unter dem Reichstage zu Augsburg gestellt. 1530.
Walch, old edition, vol. XVI, 1195.
Luther's letter to Spalatin from the Stillmesse. July 27, 1530.
Walch, old edition, vol. XVI, 1197.
c. Against the papal doctrine of transformation.