Mittheilungen über das Colloquium zu Regensburg, besonders über das gottlose Verhalten der gegnerischen Collocutoren.
From a copy in Cod. Monac. 90, no. VII, p. 197, in Corp. Ref. vol. VI, 52.
To the highly famous restorer of godly doctrine, D. Martin Luther, his lord and patron to be revered in Christ.
Hail in Christ! Although, venerable father, D. George Major writes to you in detail what we suffer here in our assembly in truth more than what we do, I have nevertheless, because we do not doubt that you unite your prayers with ours, wanted to unite with his letter also mine to your reverence.
There are different opinions about our action. But I believe that it is a clear example of the success of human counsel. For this colloquium is scheduled to be a preparation for establishing harmony in the ecclesiastical disputes. The collocutors of the opposing party seem to intend not only to preserve that ungodly doctrine which has a certain appearance of godliness, but also to restore that which was previously rejected by the more reasonable of their own party. They give us eulogies on the scholastic teachers and theologians. They teach that the ungodly can prepare themselves by good works to receive the grace by which they are justified. They say that in the Church of Christ it is commanded that there should be a twofold righteousness, of faith and of works. They preach to us that they consider it no small error that God should impute to man what he does not have and not impute to him the sin that he has. For it is a judgment of God against the truth. Yes, since the article of justification was simply presented in our Confession, they, being unacquainted with this article, have accused us of almost more errors than the article contains words. These are the sweet sermons which we are forced to hear at this time, and I have no doubt that if you were sitting invisibly in a corner and heard such ungodly words and sermons, you would not only pity us, but also wonder that we, having feet, do not immediately hasten from their midst. Therefore, it is indeed very wisely done
Letters from the year 1546. No. 3315 to 3318.
that Philip has been kept at home by you. But we respectfully ask you to help us with your prayers to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we may be delivered from these vipers and real devils. We pray that Jesus Christ may keep you unharmed for the Church for a long time, Amen. From Regensburg, February 17, 1546.
Your Brenz.
No. 3316.