concerning religion, since the Markian church order was to be printed. *)
December 4, 1539.
Grace and peace in Christ and my poor Pater noster. Most Serene Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord. I have received the advertisement sent to me by E. C. F. G. and have truly received it with great joy. I thank the Father of all graces and know nothing more to do in this, except that I ask and pray from my heart that the dear God will do the work He has begun in E. C. F. G., and that I will be able to do it. C. F. G. graciously and mercifully and accomplish it for His praise and honor, that is, for the salvation and happiness of many souls. For Satan will be greatly displeased with this.
and strive against it, as he has done to us so far, with all his might and art, and also try all sorts of things. I am comforted, however, by the fact that C.F.G., as I understand from the articles he has written, reports things finely and well, so that I am not as worried about the snake's creep as I am about the lion's roar, which might move C.F.G. from high places. At present, I have not thought that the C.F.G. could or should have done such a thing, but have been under the illusion that the C.F.G. would not like to raise it, even though they would like to do so. The-
*) This letter is found in the Altenburg edition, vol. VII, p. 717; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXI, p. 342; in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 254 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 232. We give the text according to De Wette.
halben I kept quiet and E. C. F.G. neither wanted nor wanted to admonish nor incite him to this action. But it is God the Lord who does everything for our petition and defense, as St. Paul says to the Philippians. To Him be praise and glory forever and ever, amen. For we shall do nothing without him, 1) but he will do all things without us, and yet in us. So it is right and it will be done. Otherwise, if we do anything without him, 1) we become proud, but in the end we remain stuck.
I like E. C. F. G.'s preface, which is to go out in print; but the one point, which strikes me as funny, namely the procession, the votive procession and the sacrament, I have verbally expressed my opinion to E. C. F. G.'s envoy. For that one should carry the Sacrament around in one form in the procession is God's mockery, as C.F.G. himself knows, as it is a half, indeed, no Sacrament. But if one is to wear both forms, it is even worse and such a reverence is an innovation that would open the mouths and eyes of all the world and also give the papists cause for ridicule. Therefore, my humble request is: If E. C. F. G. has dared so much in the right, high, serious articles against the devil, they should also let such minor articles go, so that the devil does not cause chatter and laughter out of the whole Reformation. It might suffer with the oaths and sacraments, if it were not used in a papal way. But so that I tell E. C. F. G. my discretion, because I see that E. C. F. G. is so serious, it seems to me that one would like to keep such two pieces otherwise in the custom, but not into the
1) De Wette: him.
Reformation and let it go out by printing. For the preface states that it is to be a reformation founded in Scripture and in accordance with the customs of the churches, and that it would cause many cavillations and calumnias to those who would raise the objection. For the customs of the churches have been innumerable beyond measure from the beginning. Thus, Christ did not establish the consecration to the sacrament, nor do they keep the words of St. James in the consecration, nor does it happen any more what the words of St. James give. For at that time there was such a rite that they healed the sick physically by miraculous signs, where they prayed in faith, as the words of St. James read and Marc. 16. 2) also testifies. Carrying the sacrament to the sick may also remain in the custom (as long as it is to be done), and not necessary to include in the print or to order. For it is the order of human devotion, not God's commandment; therefore it may be kept, but sine superstitione, until it can be done better. Also that one take the sacrament from the alias in the mass, and not put it in the ciborium. However, I have verbally told E. C. F. G.'s envoys that they will know how to inform E. C. F. G.. I hereby command E. C. F. G. the dear, faithful father of our Lord JEsu Christ, and E. C. F. G. will be my gracious lord, also I, as a poor thing, will not let E. C. F. G. out of my poor prayer. Thursday after St. Andrew's Day, 1539.
E. C. F. G. williger Martinus Luther, D.
2) In the editions: Marc. 6. but Marc. 16, 18. will be meant, not Marc. 6, 56.