January 14, 1523.
To the Lord Georg Spalatin, the evangelist at court, his [friend] in the Lord.
1. grace and peace. The promotion 1) of our fathers will take place the day after Mary's purification, and so we expect you to fulfill your promise. The reason why Amazia's idolatry should be abolished, you have seen from my previous letter. I do not know another one. In the future, the sacrament should be administered and received in both forms, as I see fit. For so far one has had enough patience with the weak, and
1) This refers to the doctorate of Fathers Johannes Westermann and Gottselig from Herford. Walch ünd Aurifaber understood this (uulu) from the "wedding". Spalatin had promised to send "Wildpret" to the Poctorschmaus. Cf. Walch, old edition, vol. XV, appendix, no. 112. In this letter also Sott thy idolatry Amazia, i.e. in the monastery at Wittenberg is mentioned. Amos 7, 13.
This is already an often repeated and well-known thing everywhere, since one is almost used to carrying even greater things. It is time for matt to give room to the gospel, because now almost no longer the weak, but rather the stubborn take offense at the use of this so well-known and much discussed thing. Let us therefore make use of our freedom in this matter.
You have perhaps already seen my letter to Duke George; for I hardly believe that he should not have spread it publicly, especially with our prince and the imperial regiment. For I will be careful not to make it known first. But I will send you his letter to me and will also send you mine if you do not have it yet. Farewell and pray for me. Wittenberg, Wednesday after Octave Epiphany 1523.
Your
Martin Luther.