Luther advises them to put an end to the disputes between the preachers in Saatfeld by removing Diaconus Jakob. (Cf. No. 2511 and No. 2512.)
From the original in Wolfenbüttel in De Wette, vol. V, p. 173 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 223.
To the worthy, strict, honorable appointed visitators of the Elector, our lord of Saxony, in Thuringia. Lord of Saxony, in Thuringia, my strict lords and friends.
G. and Fried in Christ. Worthy, strict and dear gentlemen! I have read your report between the parish priest M. Aquila and the deacon Er Jakob, that you also desire my judicium, because Er Jakob does not want to let himself be rejected etc. - But there is no need for my judicium here, so I ask you to interfere with your commanded office, and to dismiss Jacob as unfit to preach, because he has been so grossly invented in hatred, envy, ambition and pride, and also despises your admonition and command. For if our most gracious Lord, who is our only emergency bishop because no other bishop wants to help us, should be striven for without need with such displeasure, it might be considered as if you, as those who have been ordered to do so, would do nothing about it, and blame everything on E. C. F. G. Hals, who is too much burdened because of this, especially now. Always away with this Jäckel. For I worry that such hard-held grudges will not be alleviated so soon, and would become worse if they were to stay together now.
In part, I have become unhappy with the report about the measurements of Jäckel, that he deals so with lazy jokes, and still stiffly insists on it, and wants to be the master of all the world, to do everything according to his head. Hiemit GOtt befehlt, Amen. Die incarnationis filii Dei [March 25] 1539.
No. 2521.