(Written by Luther.)
Handwritten in Dresden in Cod. Solger. C. 351. f. 108d. (by Veit Dietrich's hand). Printed in Seidemann, Schriftstücke zur Reformationgeschichte 3 (in Zeitschrift für historische Theologie 1874, p. 120) and in Erl. There can be no doubt that this document is written by Luther, because it has been found in Cod. Solger, from Dietrich's hand the Ueber
Supplicatio ad Rusticum [Georg] ex Bohemia natum, cum 60 cives ejicere ex N. [Lipsia am Rande] vellet anno 1533. subjiundinas paschales. Dictata et a me [Veit Dietrich] excepta. 5. Aprilis 1533.
Sublime, highborn prince and lord! We, E. F. G. loyal subjects of Leipzig, have heard a serious mandate from an honorable council of Leipzig, how we are to keep to the next Easter according to old traditional Christian custom with confessions and to receive the Holy Sacrament under one form etc. Now we humbly ask E. F. G. to know that we have hitherto been gladly subject to E. F. G. with all our heart and with all our loyalty and also want to be so from now on, not only in temporal or worldly order, but also in everything that we may do with God and a good conscience; we are also ready, especially with fasting, confession, celebrations, and everything that the traditional custom of the Christian churches may comprehend, to gladly want to keep and follow; but most humbly ask E. F. G. to be a mild and merciful God. F. G. as a mild prince and gracious lord, to show mercy and space to our conscience in one piece. For we neither can nor want to do any hindrance or damage to the secular government nor to our own conscience, and E. F. G. wants to consider that we are the most merciful prince and gracious lord. F. G. will consider, because we have hitherto shown ourselves faithful to neither disobedience nor rebellion, but to all submissiveness with body and goods, as an honorable council at Leipzig itself testifies, E. F. G. out of princely, mild virtue, wanted to allow and grant us loyal subjects a few things that we no longer desire, for which the highest need, namely our conscience, compels and urges us, such as that we fast, confess, and keep everything that is pleasing to E. F. G., but are not urged to receive one form of the sacrament. F. F. G. sits in the supremacy of God and leads God's name as a prince and lord in the land. But because F. F. G. himself must pray the Lord's Prayer and ask God for forgiveness of sins, and not only for the sake of one sin alone or for the sake of undone sins, but also for all sins, present and future, we ask that F. F. G. may also forgive and graciously bear this one piece, because we are not able to change it through our imprisoned conscience, just as F. F. G. has done.
himself desires forgiveness of sins, both of which have happened and will happen in the future. For we all live in sins and remain sinners, and are entitled to forgiveness and forgiveness, both from God and among ourselves. And what good would it do the F. F. G. if we were otherwise found blameless and obedient in all matters against the F. F. G., also willing and submissive, to surrender both body and goods, and should we not be able to obtain something from our gracious sovereign, which is most important to our conscience? Must a father suffer if his child breaks a leg and remains lame, or puts out an eye and goes blind, or otherwise suffers damage to his body: should the father therefore turn away his fatherly heart and cast away his child? That would be an unnatural and horrible thing, if the poor child had gotten such an infirmity by chance, not out of disobedience or will to be brave, but for some other reason. How much more can the F. F. G. consider that it is sharp enough, if the F. F. G. would turn their gracious princely heart away from us faithful, humble, obedient subjects and disown us for the sake of a few things, which we do neither willfully nor disobediently, but are urged to do by our conscience: We still ask, as before, most humbly, that E. F. G. would keep and show a gracious, fatherly heart towards us, E. F. G. poor faithful subjects, and graciously show us favor and grace in the insurmountable matter of our conscience, and yet graciously overlook and spare in it the one piece, so that we are (be) most humbly obedient in all others and want to be. We want to be found willing to earn this in addition to and with all our assets of body and goods, and to be willing to diligently owe our poor prayer to God. Request of E. F. G. for a fatherly answer.
No. 1972a.
The deacons and ordained citizens of the city of Hamburg to Luther and Melanchthon.
They send D. Robert Barnes, the Englishman, to Wittenberg to discuss with Luther and Melanchthon the promotion of M. Joh. Aepinus, Superintendent at Hamburg, to Doctor of Theology.
Printed in the Mittheilungen des Vereins für Hamburger Geschichte, Jahrg. 8 (1885), p.65 (after the concept) and in the Erl. Briefw., Vol. IX, p. 295. - We give this letter, which is written in Low German dialect, in High German translation.
To the respectable, highly learned and notable gentlemen, Martino Lütter and Philippo Melanchtoni, divine Scripture Doctor and teacher in the Universiteten Wittenbarghe etc., our special lords and patrons.
Our willing services with fortune of all good before. Respectable, distinguished gentlemen and friends in Christ! We have instructed our special lord and friend, Antonio Anglico, 1) in the Divine Scriptures, Doctor, of some of our opinions concerning the learned Magistri Johannis Haepini, 2) our Superintendent, in which our city and us are in great need, with E. A. W., as you have heard from him: so our official request and desire is that you give and deliver complete credence to the said Mr. Antonio in all that he will report on our behalf, and that you show E. A. W. goodwill in this. A. W. in this respect good-willed and unburdened. In this E. A. W. will do our city and us a special favor, since we want to be diligently found out of our highest fortune for the sake of E. A. W., whom we command to deserve in all ways.
Date under our signete, which we use at the (the) God's box, on the XXVIII day of the month of Aprilis anno XXXIII.
E. A. W. willing
Diaks and decreed citizens of the city of Hamburg.
1) D. Robert Barnes, who took part in the doctoral thesis.
2) Joh. Aepinus, actually Huck or Hoch, born in 1499 at Ziegesar in the Mark of Brandenburg, inscribed at Wittenberg on Oct. 1, 1518, as Johannes Hugk.
de Cziesser Brandb, dioc. Imprisoned in his homeland for his reformatory efforts, after his liberation he went to England, Greifswald and Stralsund, where he worked out the new school and church regulations introduced in 1525. On October 17, 1529, he was elected pastor of St. Petri in Hamburg in Boldewan's place, and on May 18, 1532, he became the first superintendent. He received his doctorate on June 17, 1533, at the same time as Bugenhagen and Cruciger. The Elector and other princes were present at the ceremony. In 1537 he signed the Schmalkaldic Articles for Hamburg. After Luther's death, he was involved in the adiaphorist disputes, was an opponent of the Interim and sided with Flacius. In 1552 he joined his colleague Westphal in opposing Osiander. He died on May 13, 1553.
No. 1980a.