About the annoyances Lauterbach had with his pastor. By Johann Aureus (Gülden).
From the Ludwig Collection at Halle in Schütze, vol. III, p. 24 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 37. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1452 with an appendix which, as Seidemann notes in De Wette, vol. VI, p. 534, note 1, is also in Cod. Dessav. C, in German language.
To the brother in Christo, Mr. Anton Lauterbach, the faithful and loud servant of the word in the church of Leisnig.
Grace and peace in Christ! So you shall do, my dear Anton: Be strong in silence and hope [Is. 30, 15.], and through Christ you will overcome this word twister (Grammaticosophistam) ("with silence one can answer for many things", especially in such matters), until we can free you from this profession in a suitable way and transfer you elsewhere, as we certainly intend to do. In the meantime, it is better and more honorable for you to suffer the injustice of that one than to inflict it on him. "Right is found at last."
You have made me doubtful about Johann Gülden (Aureo Johoanne) 2). For I have been informed that he is a prisoner at the castle of Leuchteuburg 3) unless,
1) Although neither Seidemann nor Burkhardt have commented on this time determination given by De Wette, it seems to us that this letter is more correctly placed in the year 1535: firstly, because it was customary to begin the new year with Christmas; secondly, because Johann Aureus, of whom we read in this letter that he was a prisoner in the Leuchtenburg castle, was recommended by Melanchthon, who had held an interrogation there as visitator on January 13, 1536. January 1536, as visitator, had held an interrogation, is recommended to the grace of the Elector on January 19 (Corp. Ref., Vol. III, 17). It can hardly be assumed that he was held prisoner until December 1536.
2) Walch translates: "wegen des werthen Johannes" 2c.
3) In Saxony-Altenburg near Kahla. In Latin: Leuchtenberg.
that this letter was written lukewarmly before. God convert him and bring him back to the right 4) way.
5) "I send my regards to your wife Hagnes. Mittwochen in Weihnachten" [27.Dec.] 1536 (1535).
Your Martin Luther.
No. 2328.