Luther tells him that he cannot agree with him in the calculation of the imminent arrival of the Last Day.
Handwritten at Wolfenbüttel, Cod. Gud. 214 and in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 172. Printed in Innocent News 1701, p. 227 and in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 462 f. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1251.
Grace and peace in Christ! I hear that you are very upset, my dear Michael, that I do not agree with your calculations, although you know very well my sincere love for you. Then I have always said that I do not have different opinions, but that I do not understand, and I do not believe that you want to force me to say that I understand what I neither understand nor grasp. For what should this false assertion serve me or you? Certainly, I do not suppose that you could get so excited 4) about this thing, in which nothing is at stake (indifferent).
4) Compare Table Talks, Cap. 37, § 144 and Cap. 51, §§ 1 and 2.
Letters from the year 1533. no. 1985. 1986.
For if this day should come before Michaelmas, you sin nothing who believe and say this; if it should not come, we sin nothing who believe that it can come at any hour. For whoever believes that he can come at any hour also believes that he can come before Michaelmas. Now if we are perhaps mistaken in what we do not know, and confess that we do not know whether he will certainly come before Michaelmas, as you say, then this error is without danger for us, just as all your certain knowledge, if you have any, is without danger for you. Why do you torture yourself for the sake of such a thing, which is safe and without danger on both sides? I tell you that this agitation of yours arouses the suspicion in me that Satan may desire to see you. For he who excites your passion (affectum) so without cause can also confuse your mind without anything factual lying at the bottom (sine re). 2) Therefore, I beg you to put away this agitation of the mind and come to us, and not leave or change our old friendship. Fare well in Christ. Wittenberg, on the day of St. 3) John [June 24] 1533.
No. 1986.