(Regest.)
The duke again exhorts Luther to be lenient with the archbishop of Mainz, adding: "that in all places broken pots will recover".
In Faber's collection of letters, p. 20. The above regest in Burkhardt, p. 312.
No. 2468.
To Georg and Joachim, Princes of Anhalt.
This letter seems to be the answer to No. 2466, since it contains Luther's advice regarding two marriage matters sent to him by the princes. Cf. Tischreden, Cap. 43, §82 (second paragraph) and § 83. St. Louis edition, vol. XXII, 1162.
In Lindner, Mittheilungen, p. 42; in the Erlanger Ausgabe, vol. 56, p. 214, and in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 208.
To the highborn, noble princes and lords, Mr. Georgen, provost of Magdeburg, and Joachim, brothers, princes of Anhalt, counts of Ascanien and lords of Berneburg, my gracious lords.
God and Peace in Christ etc. Sublime, highborn princes, gracious lords! In the two matrimonial matters sent to me by E. F. G., I know of no other way to advise than as we ourselves do here, namely:
In the first case: If a woman is betrothed, and the bridegroom commits murder, that he becomes a fugitive or civiliter mortuus and leaves his bride, does not claim her, then we do not know the bride in the
We do not send him astray or let him sit there forever, but let him sit at the church door for three or four weeks, after which we can decide whether he will be near (for if he is serious, he will not let his bride sit any longer, and he will run to the end of the world). After that we practice 1 Cor. 7, 15: Si infidelis discedit, discedat.
Non enim est frater vel soror servituti subjectus in ejusmodi etc., and they speak publicly in the pulpit free and free, regardless of what the Pope's rights, so hostile to marriage, and the driving of souls do not respect, put into this.
In the other: If a woman turns away from him through no fault of her husband, especially if one does not know where she is going and has not fled to her friendship, we also have her cited (as said above), so that it will be known to her friendship. After that we also 1) absolve them and set them free according to St. Paul's above 2) sentence. For we consider it unreasonable that one part should sit in uncertainty forever, and the other should be free forever, as often as it wishes, to run away and come back again, which freedom makes many harlots and knaves. But where the same freedom does not permit, they must leave running or mean business. That is our style. If E.F.G. also want to do so, I put it to E.F.G. at home. Hereby commanded by God. Oct. 14, 1538.
E. F. G.
Martinus Luther.
No. 2469.