Preacher at Eisenach. *)
(?) Sept. 3, 1526.
Translated from Latin.
To the Magister Thomas Neuenhagen, evangelist of the church at Eisenach, the servant of Christ, his [friend] in the HErrn.
Grace and peace in the Lord. I have talked with George, your pastor, about the things you have desired, dear Thomas, and I think that you should treat the evangelical freedom with the word, then also use the ceremonies quite freely and despise Satan with his brawlers, knowing that he is Satan. Furthermore, I would rather that you, to the annoyance of the ostrich and his followers, do too four on this side than that you should step even one finger on his side. If they talk much against thee, despise them confidently, as if thou hadst heard and known them.
not. They will boast that you are no match for Ostrich and far inferior to him; you take this as praise and thank God that you are being hounded through because you are not to be compared to a harmful and quarrelsome, even a rebellious man. You shall serve Christ; he served Satan. Hall the consciences freely by the word, and that with diligence. The ceremonies are not worth quarreling over; but, lest we become servants to the quarrelers, we must maintain them [the ceremonies] firmly against them. Be well and pray for me. George will tell you the rest.
The 3rd of September Anno 1526.
Martin Luther.