About the matter discussed in the previous letter.
From the collection of a preacher Pagendarm in Heyen in Schütze, vol. II, p. 323 and in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 561 f.
To Brother Gerhard of Xanten, the faithful and upright servant and disciple of Christ, who is highly honored in Christ.
Grace and peace in Christ! I, my dear Gerhard, have always thought that your way of life, after it was free from your papal filth and the bonds of conscience, pleased me very well to instruct the faithful in the fear of God and discipline. Therefore, I do not wonder alone, but
Letters from the year 1534. No. 2085 to 2088.
I am also sorry that you are still being troubled by these new hypocrites of the Gospel, who, since they do nothing, neither for the schools nor for the church, only want to appear inclined to your words when they destroy everything and build nothing. I have written, and rightly so, that the monasteries used to be and should be schools, but I do not see any of them yet that have been made into the form of a school. And I have spoken of those monasteries which are endowed by the treasures of princes and kings, and which idle people make into places of lust with the donated interest. Your monastery is a private house that feeds itself by its own labor, as if a private citizen had his children educated. But those are public institutions and monasteries and cathedral convents founded by common expenses. Of these I speak. Why do they require you to serve from what you have earned? Why do they themselves give nothing of theirs, or do they not use those common goods for this purpose? I write about this matter to your council, and at the same time I ask them to praise our word: "that time itself will find counsel. For I would very much like to see your way of life preserved as long as it serves and benefits many under the freedom and grace of Christ through love. Greet from me all your [brothers] and your [sisters] in Christ. Magister Philippus is absent, D. Pommer sends you his greetings. Given on the Saturday after Lucä [Oct. 24] Anno 1534. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2086.