Before October 1525.
Translated from Latin.
To his brothers, beloved in Christ, who preach Christ in Swabia, John Oecolampadius wishes grace and peace from God.
You yourselves know, beloved brethren, how sacred and how precious love is entrusted to us by the Lord Jesus Christ, and with what great cunning.
and violence, persecution and temptation, the old and cunning enemy endeavors to invalidate and destroy them, especially among the ministers of the Word. For he sees well how much harm is done to the church when, instead of one shepherd, many rule over it, that is, when those who are the shepherds of the church are the shepherds of the church.
*) This letter of Oecolampad is attached to the writing which he published in 1525 under the following title: Os Muuiuu vsrdoruru Ooiuiui, lios 68t Corpus M6UM, fuxta V6tu8ti88iiuo8 autorss 6xpo8itions livsr. This writing is reprinted in the ^otu st Koriptu puvlioa soolssius ^irtsruUsrAious, rss. O. EI. DkutNus, p. 41 sau., our letter ibid. p. 150. Hereafter we have improved the old translation. The letter is to be placed before the month of October 1525, because the preachers did not meet in Schwäbisch-Hall until the end of September. Compare the introduction.
If the shepherds are unanimous, they will be divided among themselves, so that the sheep will go astray without a shepherd and be exposed to the fury of the ferocious wolves. You yourselves know that nothing is so detrimental, nothing is so harmful, nothing is so distressing as this kind of trouble, you yourselves who, I do not doubt, will take all care with prayer, work, patience, gentleness and steadfastness so that the enemy does not have the upper hand, even if he has it in mind. He tries well, and in some cases he does something; but I hope that the Lord Jesus, who fights for us from above, will rebuke him and keep the victory. At least, as far as I am concerned, I would much rather die blessed than live in unchristian discord with one of my brethren, even if he were inferior to me; and for this very reason I will not refrain from anything that may serve to restore and maintain Christian friendship, although I do not see how it could be avoided that some minds should not be drawn away from me by false brethren who seek to confuse everything, if they have not already been drawn away, as I have long been told. For why should I not take care of absent ones what sometimes happens in a house, however much one tries to keep peace? Or how should a beloved brother not have to be careful not to cause offense to others? Offense to others? And it would certainly be lamentable if I should be separated from you, whose faith and godliness I have tested for a long time, and with whom I have lived in closer friendship, and as much as there is in me, and as long as the Lord Christ will be dear to both parts, I will not permit this sin.
2 There is a rumor, and the letters of certain people explain this sufficiently, that zealous people have been offended by it, who have heard that I have not joined in sermons here in the matter of the Lord's Supper to most of those who have a great reputation and are even considered pillars of the church. That it happened, I do not deny; nevertheless, love should rightly have remained unharmed, because I did not do anything untimely or other than out of love for the truth. But I will not suffer that honest hearts are angry with me for a long time, if they are otherwise angry, if Christ does not leave my groaning unheard. For why should "they be angry with a friend who loves them dearly, is innocent, and, like them, eagerly seeks Christ's honor without sparing any danger? If they are angry with me, they may also be angry with themselves, because they understand the truth, as they understand it, with the same, or with a different, attitude.
perhaps with even more burning zeal. Among Christians the saying of the comedy writer has no place: Truth makes hateful. For, as the apostle says, 1 Cor. 13:6: "Love rejoices in the truth"; and the very God who is love is also truth. Just as one does not act contrary to love through love of the truth, so also for the sake of love the truth remains unharmed. Now nothing must be done more diligently in the church than the investigation of the truth, through which one grows in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. But we all can still grow. For the Father of lights leaves many things hidden from our eyes, which he reveals in due time and discovers to those who diligently investigate, if only envy and vain glory are far from us. For the apostle writes to the Philippians [Cap. 3, 15.], "And if ye hold anything else, let GOD reveal it unto you." And again [1 Cor. 14:30.], "If a revelation be made to another sitting there, let the first be silent." How can a peace-loving person be ill pleased with this, or a "truth-loving" person take it spitefully, if one is devoted not to strife but to truth? That would be to repay good with evil. For we can create no greater benefit than if, following Christ's example and through his grace, we do not hold back the truth, especially in necessary matters, but want to communicate it to others. But whether I have done this, I leave to your judgment. Truly, you will not be able to reject such my attitude (animum); you may also examine my words as sharply as you wish. For I do not arrogate to myself the mastery of arrogance, but I must be mindful of my office; and just as I am intent on truth with all diligence, so I also want to leave nothing to love.
3. Therefore, in order that no one may be offended by a malicious and unfounded rumor, I have written this document, which was forced from me by the insolent cries of some, in my defense, and I now hand it over to you, beloved brethren, so that you may see from it whether ours is more justified or what others say; whether I reject the church fathers as they accuse me; whether I seek that which serves the glory of God or the glory of my own name. But do not judge, as you are accustomed to do, by reputation. Perhaps some think it would have been better if I had not spoken of the matter itself, what the Lord's Supper is and how the bread is the body, but only of the use of the sacrament before God.
my people. But it was not possible for me to accept their good opinion, because the papists and others imagined such nonsensical things in people's minds that it would be the greatest impiety to keep silent about it. My listeners were waiting when I would finally present my opinion. Letters from my friends arrived daily, in which they earnestly demanded an account of faith on this point from me. Yes, I still do not see how one can have the holy and pure use of the Lord's Supper, as long as the ingrained highly dangerous superstition remains untouched. I had no desire to start a quarrel, but in order to make the seed good, I had to hoe the field, which otherwise would have become full of weeds. If only others had made use of such a composure in their speech, perhaps most things would have been settled in some places, although my modesty in words did not help me at all, so that my adversaries became even more furious and mocked me in a thousand ways. Therefore, I thought it worth the trouble that I dealt with the matter, which does not shy away from the light, in public writings, such as
The good people, whom I have tried to appease but not to provoke, may be angry with me and accuse me. It is therefore pleasing to the Father in heaven to put his children to the test, so that the truth may shine forth all the brighter. He uses the sins of men according to his wisdom for the glory of his name: but let us all, brethren, take care that we be not found among the vessels of wrath, and that if ever any offence arise, it be without our fault. Let us watch over the herd against the wolves; but let us also watch over ourselves, for whom a far greater danger hangs over our heads, especially if love is not to be found among us above all things. A fault can easily be overlooked if only faith in Christ is present; but we will not reconcile discord even with our blood. For God loves those who live peacefully together in one house, and is in their midst; who also keep us always in unity through His Holy Spirit, and grant that we may have one mind in Christ, and with one mouth praise His heavenly Father. Amen. Basel, Anno 1525.