Several Lutheran-minded citizens in Regensburg had long demanded a Lutheran preacher, but had not been able to obtain one. Since 1526, the Anabaptists began to increase there, so they pressed the city council even more to grant their request, and also turned to Luther, who in this letter admonishes the city council to promote the gospel and to control the enthusiasts.
From Gemeiners Kirch. Reform. Gesch. von Regensburg, p. 82, in De Wette, Vol. I V, p. 547 and in Erl. Ausg., vol. 55, p. 57.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, prudent, dear gentlemen! It seems strange enough to me that I am reluctant to write to E. F.. However, so many good people have been able to help me that I have not been able to do so. Please be so diligent as to hold it against me and hear it favorably.
E. F. see and experience daily (as we do, unfortunately) how the evil enemy raises up his mobs, Anabaptists, or (as Christ says) false prophets and false teachers everywhere, and leads many countries and people into misery and distress (God wanted to protect your city from this). I cannot and will not ask that E.F. accept our doctrine and ways. But I do ask that the authorities keep a serious eye on it, so that no evil spirits take root in your city. For truly, and again truly, the devil is angry and cunning beyond all measure, so that no fuss is too much. In two years or three, he has tricked cities with the spirits of the wicked, of which I have been more certain than I am of your city. E. F. diligent to get preachers" who teach the Gospel or the Holy Scriptures with silence and tranquility, they will not err, and God will give grace to them. Our confession at Augsburg is good for this, and so pure that even our enemies must praise it and imperial majesty must not condemn it. Majesty has condemned it to the Concilium, which is a sign that it is right. But such I write, that E. F. may well promote the Gospel among you, whether our and our confession and doctrine, as a Lutheran name, be kept silent, but preached from the text of Scripture to the people, that they may learn,
that it be Christ's and his apostles' own doctrine, and be praised under the same name (without the names of all men), as it is thus found in the Gospels and Epistles of St. Paul. But I can do no more than ask the Father of all grace and mercy to give you the spirit of his grace to earnestly seek the word of his truth and also help you to do so. I am moved to such prayer by the worry that such perilous times cause me (as mentioned above) and by the great wrath of the devil, against which we all sleep too securely and some have already slept away. God help them again, amen. Hereby commanded to God, who give you and keep you a blessed, peaceful regiment, Amen. Tuesday after Peter and Paul [June 30] 1534.
E. F.
Martinus Luther, D.
No. 2070.