Luther recommends him the legal action of a friend, reports news and sends his writing against the Antinomians.
Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, fol. 266. From Benzel's collection in Stockholm in Schütze, vol. III, p. 88 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 158.
Grace in Christ! Although I know, my dear Philip, that without any reminders you have freely given the very good
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2505. 2506. 2507.
If you are favorable to the man Wilhelm Rinke in the matter against Count Albrecht, I have nevertheless also wanted to add my spur, so that you have an opportunity to object and to excuse your inclination or your impetuousness in this so just cause. For it is said that Wilhelm's adversary plagues heaven and hell with all his might, so that the judges are seduced by evil persuasions before they judge; and we know the nature of this man, that therefore much, if not everything, is at stake in your and Herr Brück's astuteness, then also in the observation of the adversary. No one doubts your loyalty and diligence; only Mr. Bridge must keep our prince well instructed, and you must not cease to instruct your pupil perfectly. But this is enough for an intelligent man.
There is no news, except that our cabbage hare (Oluslepus) has again plundered a village near writing. So told today Mr. Benedict Paul. Whether it is true, I do not know. Shall Kohlhase (xxxxx) 1) be ours, or shall we be Kohlhasen? But nevertheless this Kohlhaserei (xxxxxxxxx) is not enough for us.
nor to us to great adornment. Our captain (Hipparchus) 2) is very angry with himself, perhaps by beginning to feel something of the prince's great spell or to suffer over it. I have been told that he said to a certain person: "he wants to leave a stink behind him". Surely it is not necessary to "leave a stink behind him; he has already left much of it for himself, around him, and everywhere. We send the disputation of Eisleben with my little book against the antinomians, 3) in which I am displeased that I have been so lenient after seeing in his disputations that he clearly sticks to his opinion, especially in the 15th thesis and the following. But Paul is not lacking, who [Tit. 3,10. 11.] so surely condemns men who have condemned themselves. Fare well and pray for me. We will be authorities
1) Cf. St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 305, last line of text.
2) This will be the bailiff Hans Metzsch. (Cf. No. 2475.)
3) No. 2503.
and be everything during this carnival. Christ be with us, amen, and also with you, that you again proclaim peace and bring it with you, amen. On the day of the Purification of the Virgin Mary [Feb. 2] Anno 1539. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2506.