(Regest.)
Luther writes that he will accommodate the former abbot of Chorin, who was recommended by them, as soon as the opportunity arises.
Luther was told that he would find the church in Pomerania, perhaps in Pomerania, where five expelled preachers had been recalled from Lübeck after the death of Duke George. Luther apologizes for not having written himself due to indisposition.
This regest ex Schlegelii I. c., p. 246, printed by Burkhardt, p. 326.
No. 2555.
Ordination certificate for Johann Nandelstat.
The original is at the University Library of Erlangen. Printed in J. C. Irmischers Handschriftensammlung der Universitätsbibl. zu Erlangen. 1852, p. 358 and in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 227 f.
Johann Nandelstat brought letters to us, which showed that he was called to be a minister of the Gospel in Schmolln (SmoIIen), and testified that he led an honorable and godly life. But since he desired public ordination from our church, we found, after investigating his scholarship, that he holds the pure and catholic doctrine of the gospel, which our church also teaches and confesses, and that he has an abhorrence of all fanatical opinions, which are condemned by the judgment of the catholic church of Christ. He also promised that he would faithfully present the pure doctrine we profess to your people. Therefore, since our ministry must not be lacking to the neighboring churches, and the Council of Nicaea has decided in a godly manner that ordination should be desired by the neighboring churches, we have commanded this John, by public ordination in the church, to the office of teaching the gospel and administering the sacraments, according to his calling. Therefore we commend him to the church in Schmolln and ask that the Holy Spirit govern the ministry of this John for the glory of God and our Lord JEsu Christ and for the salvation of the church. Given at Wittenberg, on July 6, Anno 1539.
The pastor of the church at Wittenberg and the ministers of the Gospel of Christ in the same church.
Martin Luther. Johann Bugenhagen Pommer.
No. 2556.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther asks that the Leipzig printer Wolrab be forbidden to reprint his German Bible.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, N, 109. 42. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 86, no. 156; in Walch, vol. XXI, 418; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 193 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 234.
To the most illustrious, highborn prince and lord, Lord John Frederick, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, my most gracious lord.
G. and F. in Christ and my poor Father Noster. Most noble, highborn prince, most gracious lord! The wicked boy Wolrab of Leipzig, who until now has printed all the disgraceful books against us, 1) and distributed them with all diligence, has undertaken to reprint our German Biblia, and to take the bread out of our mouths. Now E. C. F. G. know how unreasonable it is that the knave should use our work and food for his benefit and our harm, so that it would happen that he would earn with his wickedness that our work would still have to serve him for the best for his unpunished evil, dishonor and blasphemy. Therefore, it is my humble request that E. C. F. G. want to help that such great evil of Wolraben would not have to enjoy such a high level of his malice, and that E. C. F. G. would help that our work would still serve him for his unpunished evil and blasphemy. C. F. G. subjects would not have to pay so heavily for their food and fare. No matter what else disturbs me, that the blasphemer and disgraceful printer should so abuse my sour work, perhaps even mock it; for what he has earned with his pressure against God and us, I will command God. So it would not be unreasonable, if the printers in Leipzig, who have so far enriched themselves long enough with their defamatory books, would also have to refrain for a while from enriching themselves even more with our books and from corrupting ours; for it is good to reckon, because the markets in Leipzig can all sell a thousand copies before ours.
1) Cf. no. 2551.
hundred. E. C. F. G. will know how to find princely counsel in this. Hiemit dem lieben GOtt befehlt. On the day of Kiliani [July 8] 1539.
E. C. F. G. subservient
M. Luther.
No. 2557.
To Mrs. Ursula Schneidewein at Stollberg.
Same contents as No. 2544.
From an old copy in the library at Basel in De Wette, vol. V, p. 194 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 235.
G. & Peace 2c. Honorable, virtuous woman! I have now (it is right for me) written to you twice on account of your son John, who has asked you through me as a pious child, to show yourself motherly (as you owe), and to give your will that he may take the maiden in marriage, so that he may do his filial duty enough, as Samson did towards his parents. I have also indicated how I could no longer keep it, but consider it good, because I also mean him faithfully, that he should come out of the journey; for I see that his studies are hindered, and may nothing good come of it, where you wanted to be so hard. For I also do what I do in honor of you; and is here his equal, a legitimate child, of good people. Moreover, consider also that it is not to be suffered to move other people's children with love, and then to leave them without cause, which would be difficult for you to suffer from your children: so is it with others, especially where it is marital. I have also written further and advised that you should not refuse this, so that we are not forced to continue anyway. For I have written that children should not be free without the will of their parents, but again I have also written that parents should not hinder children. And all in all, I cannot repeat everything I wrote to you earlier, and I am quite surprised that I do not get any answer. It is difficult for me that my table companion should ape our citizen-daughter, that I still ask,
You must give a good answer quickly, or we must do as much as we can to prevent trouble. You are sufficiently requested; if parents do not want, the priest must want. If you are worried about where he will feed himself, you should think that God must be trusted, who alone feeds the married state, so I will not let John live, even though he himself, God willing, can get along well without my help. Please, therefore, let yourself be found, for I am also tired of writing so often, in which you have no reason to refuse; otherwise I should think that you would hold me against your son in this way: that would not be dear to me, because I am always cordial with yours. Hereby commanded by God, Amen. And your correct short answer! The thorn day after Kiliani [July 10] 1539.
Martinus Luther, D.
No. 2558.