to the preachers at Soest 2c.*)
About the end of October 1535.
Luther, Melanchthon, Pomeranus, together with their related preachers at Wittenberg, 1) allow that a spiritual police, order and regiment, the Roman bishop, should be the supreme, and under him all other bishops and priesthood; and this is necessary, because this order is required for the promotion of the sound doctrine of Christ; and that the same [the bishops] should be ordered to stay, 2) also that from the same, 3) to provide for the spiritual things, and be placed in charge.
1) Marginal gloss: Not one excluded, the children, women also not 2c.
2) i.e., to maintain sound doctrine and godly conduct.
3) Instead of "dasselbige" we have put "dass selbige" and instead of "demselbigen" we have put "denselbigen". By comparing the articles of 1539, which Luther and Melanchthon are said to have admitted (Walch, old edition, vol. XVII, 342), it becomes almost a certainty that the reading we have given: "dass selbige" and "denselbigen" (i.e. the bishops) is the correct one. The punctuation of the Erlangen edition is, of course, wrong, and the sentence meaningless. In the latter, this sentence reads: "For this order is required for the promotion of the sound doctrine of Christ, and that the same is to be maintained, also that out of the same, the spiritual things are decreed and enforced. - Ambiguously, as this forgery is, it can also be understood from the last sentence that the "spiritual things", that is, the church goods, are to be placed again under the administration of the bishops. But what could be read out of the text of the Erlangen edition? But things are not much better with the other editions. Although they do not have the wrong comma before "hie geistlichen Dinge", they do not offer anything comprehensible either. In the Jena edition, the text is otherwise the same as in the Erlangen edition, except that "zuvorsehen" is contracted. The Wittenberg has: "Aufs das aus demselbigen zuuorsehen die geistlichen Ding verordent und furtgesetzt werden." Walch has made "Zuvorfehen", thus from the word a noun.
Of people's statutes, which need not be necessary after all.
Since the church cannot be without ceremonies, that is, discipline, order, they would much rather keep the old ceremonies with the old ones than start new ones; and by these means the other nations will easily unite with the teaching of Christ. But that the reported church order does not strive against the evangelical truth.
From confession.
Confession is necessary in the church, and the priest's absolution should be held; Christians are comforted by it, and because of it, the simple and ignorant are instructed and taught in confession. But besides this, the consciences should not be forced with so much anxious and detailed recounting of all sins, which is not even possible for man.
Of making man righteous.
All our righteousness comes from the merciful God, through Jesus Christ, and from faith in Him, and not from our works. In addition, the people are to be taught to adorn their faith with good works, and to make it evident by the fruit of good works that the Holy Spirit dwells in them, and that therefore all glory 4) has its origin in God.
4) Thus the Wittenberg and the Jena editions. Erlanger: "Lehre." This is the only significant variant by which the editions differ from the original print reproduced in the Erlanger Ausgabe. Now, since here it is not the teaching that is spoken of, but to whom the honor is given through the works, we hold that "alle lehre" is a printing oversight instead of "alle ehre."
*) This writing appeared first in 1535 at Wittenberg with Nickel Schirlentz under the title superior to ours. Then in the collections: in the Wittenberg (1559), vol. XII, p. 271; in the Jena (1568), vol. VI, p. 327 d; in the Altenburg, vol. VI, p. 496; in the Leipzig, vol. XXI, p. 85 and in the Erlangen, vol. 65, p. 95. The publication of the manuscript is without any doubt to be placed before November 2, 1535, as can be seen from Luther's letter to Leonhard Beier, to whom Luther sent several copies on November 2, 1535, which has been either overlooked or not correctly understood. De Wette, Vol. IV, p. 647. (Against Seidemann, who, De Wette, Vol. VI, p. 235, places this writing in November 1539). We give the text according to the. We give the text according to the Jena edition, comparing the Wittenberg and Erlangen editions.
About the Mass and both of the Sacrament.
They confess that the Episcopal Mass is no different from the Mass of their predecessors; but they have done away with the peculiar side Masses, because of the enjoyment and merchant's treasure that comes from them. They also say that the mass is a thanksgiving and a remembrance of the sacrifice, as the ancients also called it. However, they deny that they are intended to help the living and the dead with this work, which they call ex opere operato in Latin. And this article they desire to discuss 1) in the next future council. They request in the meantime that the one form of the sacrament be in the hands and power of the pope by human statute, and both forms of the sacrament be in the hands and power of the pope, so that the Roman bishop or pope, until the next future council, may freely use one or both forms of the sacrament.
From the Holy Honor.
The holidays of the saints, such as those kept at the times of Hieronymi, Ambrosii and Neoceni, 2) should be tolerated in the Church, that is, by the Christian people. 3) The good works and contending in the death of the saints are also to be preached to the people, for a following of them, but not to be called for themselves, in any way, because no such example is found in the Holy Scriptures. Since it is certain, however, 4) that the saints in heaven pray for us in common, just as the holy men who are still in this world do, therefore the intercession should not be completely abandoned, but its remembrance may be resisted henceforth], as the Christian church has hitherto directed and made in its petition or prayer to God Almighty, that He may show mercy through the intercession of this or that saint, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1) Marginal gloss: "Disputing". Why not rather confirm how it has been before.
2) So all editions. Instead, however, "N^ianzeni", i.e. of Gregory of Nazianzus (died 390) should be read. Cf. Seckendorf, List. lid. Ill, p. 299, Li.
3) Marginal gloss: And every day 20 fairs are sold for a penny.
4) Marginal gloss: How can it be uncertain?
From the vows and abstention 5) [of] priests marriage.
The rich houses of worship or monasteries, which are idle without the practice of doctrine, shall in due time be converted into schools, as they were in the beginning of the church. But the other poor monasteries, where discipline and doctrine are practiced, shall remain, so that, where a lack of learned people is found, skilled ones may be taken from them; they shall be allowed their free exit.
But touching the marriage of priests, because it is abolished by human statute, and is in the Pope's power 6) to change it again, because also few 7) pure chaste priests have been found: so they advise that the freedom be granted to the priests and poor who desire it, and have a heated challenge to it, that the marriage be granted to them in the name of God. However, for the sake of such marriages, there shall not be an abortive police statute and order in the church, so that the church goods shall be taken away by them, but the rich bishops and others, with whom the spiritual church goods are, shall remain without wives and marriages.
If the pope can be compared here in these articles, they say that those in the others can easily be compared with him.
Venerabili Viro
Domino Brixio Thonwerdae
et fratribus ecclesiae Susatensis, ministris fidelibus,
[i.e.: To the venerable man, Mr. Briccius Thonwerd, and to the brethren of the church at Soest, the faithful servants of the church.]
D. Mart. Luther.
Dear sirs and friends! You should not be surprised if you see or hear that the pope's servants are lying and lying. What have they done against us so far that would not have been unsworn lies? And though they have often been caught in them, and have always been disgraced, they are
5) d. i. Conservation.
6) Marginal gloss: "Violence". Oh, dear, no.
7) Marginal gloss: "Little". Oh, unfortunately, yes.
8) Thus the Wittenberg edition. Jenaer and Erlanger: "that through the church goods"; but the Jenaer makes the remark that instead of "through" perhaps "thereby" would like to be read.
yet they have never been red for it. They are such strong heroes, and how can they do otherwise, because all their teachings and beings are based on lies and deception, and their God and Lord cannot be served otherwise than with lies and murder? Just as the pagans sacrificed and served the god Hercules1) with cursing. But let them lie and murder, they have not enjoyed it much so far, nor brought it far, but are running away from themselves, and have (praise be to Christ) got a strong consumption; perhaps the drip 2) and death gland will touch them soon. For I hear all doctors say that drinking much blood is death.
Accordingly, I have sent these articles, which you sent to me, to you again under my name, so that you can comfort yourselves and shut the mouths of others. It is true that at the Diet of Augsburg we offered ourselves highly in many things (especially myself), as the booklet "Admonition to the Clergy" testifies; but they would gladly accept if we wanted to offer much, and yet yield nothing that we ask and desire in return. This is the kind of thing that this prankster, or peeler, who wrote these articles, did. They have finely picked out from our writings, or perhaps from some trades, what they would like to have, and have invented more about it than they have read or heard, but at the same time keep quiet about what we have asked for. As, I still want to say and admit, if the pope wants to let the gospel go freely and purely, as he is obliged to do, then I will let him be what he himself wants, what more shall I offer him? But that he likes to hear that I say he should be what he wants; but that he should let the gospel go freely and purely according to his duty, and also promote it, that he does not like to hear. For he smells mice, and tastes the brew.
1) to Lindos on the island of Rhodus. Cf. Walch, St. Louis edition, vol. XVIII, 575, note 2.
2) Probably from a proverbial saying: "Let the drip beat you. According to an old fable, man has three drops in his brain; one on the right, one on the left and one in the middle. If the one on the right side falls, the right side becomes lame; the same is true for the one on the left side. But if the one in the middle falls, the person must die in 24 hours. (Seidemann in De Wette, Vol. VI, 236.)
The Pope, who is well aware of this, worries that he could not remain pope with it.
(2) Therefore you cannot do wrong, because these articles are falsely put forward and carried about or boasted of under our name, for that you again say and boast: If the pope and his own want to let the gospel go freely and purely, they shall have all their will in me. Then you will find out that they would like to have all their will in us and should even confidently boast of this (more than these articles). But to release the gospel, they will have the ears of a magistrate and act as if they did not hear it, because the word "free gospel" is vain poison, death, hell and devil in their ears. They cannot suffer, and yet they must finally suffer. For this, lying and killing will not help them, because it is said: Deus noster ignis consumens est. Et, verbum Domini manet in aeternum.
It looks to me as if the devil would like to cause a discord among us internally, because he realizes that he cannot break in to us from the outside. But my Lord Jesus Christ has so far, over twenty years 3) preserved me in this great matter against so many spirits who want to have me overmastered and subjugated to the pope, that I hope, with the help and grace of his spirit, it will not be necessary. And even if I would not be worthy in his eyes to remain in such a work that I have begun and accomplished so far (since his gracious mercy is in favor of it), my confession of the Christian faith is still there, now printed many times over. On it I have remained and intend to remain, which, if God wills, no one shall take from me. For no one may and shall think or intend that I will become one with the pope and papists, unless he and they become one with the Gospel. I know that they do not consider my gospel to be the gospel, and I do not consider their gospel to be the gospel.
4th Therefore I say, Except they receive that, that, the gospel, which I have
3) This is counted from the time when Luther became Doctor of Theology, namely 1512.
and have known it with so much torment and travel, there is no hope of agreement between me, the poorest of sinners, and the most holy Father, let him be as great as he can, and I, as small as I am; for I know that they know it, and I have caught their own conscience, that their gospel is man's teaching, and they must confess that my gospel is God's teaching and the holy Scriptures. And because they know this, that God and His word is against them, and the Scripture with us, it cannot fail that their defiance is a secret despair, and our fear a secret comfort. If it comes to a meeting after that, God will be the right judge and show them publicly what they are now afraid of. But if they could hear, they would be advised to stop blowing into the fire,
and fear God, for they must know that he is angry with them. But if they will not, let them go as God wills, they will find it.
5 But what we do gently in this, we do for the good and service of those who, still imprisoned under the pope, are also to be called by God's word, as St. Paul says, all for the sake of the elect. Our dear Lord Christ, who began this thing of his without my thought and foreknowledge, and who has brought it to this point beyond all my hope, will also continue to promote it and bring it to an end, above all our thoughts and desires, as St. Paul says: "It is he who does more than we can think or ask. Hereby commanded by God, pray for us, as we do for you and all Christians.