It is testified that the recipient of this letter is orthodox in doctrine, including that of the Holy Trinity.
Handwritten in Cod. Basil. 39, p. 124 and in Wolfenbüttel in Cod. Helmst. 107. from the Börner collection in Leipzig in Schütze, vol. II, p. 319 and in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 550. as by Melanchthon and datirt den 4. Juli in Cod. Mehn. III, p. 8. Printed in Manlii farrago, p. 367b and in Corp. Ref., vol. II, 737.
In Germany we have Michael Aethiops, 1) Diaconus, with whom we have talked about the Christian doctrine in confidence and heard that he agrees with the creed (symboIo), which the occidental church has, and that he has no other opinion about the Trinity than the occidental church has. Therefore we recommend him, at least as much as we can, to good people. For although the Oriental church has several deviating ceremonies, he also judges that their disparity does not cancel the unity of the church, nor does it conflict with the faith, because the kingdom of Christ is spiritual righteousness.
1) This seems to be the Arab of whom Melanchthon reports to Benedict Pauli on May 31. Corp. Ref., Vol. II, 730.
of the heart is the fear of God and confidence through Christ. We also agree with this opinion. We have also learned from him that the use we observe in the administration of the Lord's Supper and the Mass is in accordance with that of the Oriental Church. But we desire that all peoples recognize and glorify Christ, and obey him in right trust in his mercy and in the love of their neighbor. Therefore we ask good people to prove Christian love also to this guest. Given at Wittenberg, July 7, 1534.
Martin Luther.
No. 2073.