Luther's Sermon on the Sacrament of the Body of Christ. *)
December 27, 1519.
To the Highborn Prince, Lord Frederick, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Vicario, Duke of Saxony, my friendly dear cousin, into his hands.
Highborn Prince, friendly dear cousin, a printed booklet arrived to me on Christmas Eve, which contains a sermon, which Doctor Martin Luther let go out, from the holy reverend Corpus Christi of our Lord. If I overlooked it and somewhat overread it, and especially if it came before other scholars, 1) it was considered to be almost pragmatic, and basically to bring much heresy and annoyance with it; especially because it is Germanized, and thus brought among the common, poor and simple man, it is considered more to break than to build.
2 Because I know that your beloved would not like that our holy faith should be subverted by strangers, I rather think that your beloved would like to have it much more disliked by those who are in your small towns and cities, and especially because Doctor Martin is a highly famous man in E. L. University in Wittenberg, he would like to bring a great rumor to E. L. and all the lands of Saxony where something should arise that would be contrary to our holy faith and a strength of the Bohemian faith. L. University in Wittenberg, it would bring a great rumor to E. L. and all the lands of Saxony, where something [should] arise that should be contrary to the Christian faith and a strength of the Bohemian heresy.
3. for it is considered by many that the figure of the two monstrances and the writing are supposed to give indications of a coincidence to those who, under both figures, with many other articles, are considered so unchristian.
4. i am also credibly reported that the
1) Wittenberger, Jenaer and Löscher: would.
2) together with two burghers of Leitmeritz, have been with Dock. Martin, also had many times message with him; which are nevertheless arch-heretics. So I am also credibly reported that over six thousand people in Bohemia have been under both figures more than before the time of his preaching.
(5) Therefore I am very worried by his coincidence and his great presumption, which he shows by always printing his sermons. Sermons, as if there had never been anyone of this mind, and no one had had the grace to speak the truth, because he [he] would thereby also introduce a damage in my and all countries, which would hardly be repaired, and if E. L. thought that E. L. had the Doctor Martin at Wittenberg, then he would be Bishop or Heresiarcha at Praga; which I would be faithfully sorry for, and would especially not like that it should happen with E. L. in my last days.
6 I have no doubt that E. L., as the oldest and most Christian Elector, will understand and take note of this deal as well as I can write about it, and will take note of my letter, which I truly mean in good faith and good, for the best, and will undoubtedly do what is best, so that there will be no annoyance and damage in Christendom.
7 I will have kindly asked for this in abundance and will earn it in a very friendly way, to which I am willing to render friendly service. Given hastily on the day of John in the holidays at Dresen in 1520. 3) Year.
George Duke of Saxony.
2) In the old editions: Leitmaritz. The city of Leitmeritz in Bohemia is located approximately in the middle between Prague and Dresden.
3) Dec. 27, 1519, according to the custom of beginning the new year with Christmas.
*) This letter of Duke Georg together with the following number, the answer of the Elector to it, is found in the Wittenberg edition (1569), vol. IX, p. 87; in the Jena edition (1564), vol. I, p. 209; in the Altenburg edition, vol. I, p. 545; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XVII, p. 281; and in Löscher's Reformation Acta, vol. Ill, p. 920. As both Löscher and Walch have noted, the year 1520 is set in both letters because, according to the old chancery style, the new year began with the day of Christ's birth. We have followed the Jena edition.