Luther makes various suggestions for filling "pastorates" in Meissen and elsewhere.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 279. Printed in Schütze, vol. III, p. 108 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 202.
Grace and peace! It is not necessary, my dear Jonas, that it be written unto me what ye suffer of Satan, or wherein he hinders you. For I have foretold this to you before. But I am glad that you do not lack my participation (studium). But to the point. We have offered Johann Büchner to you for Oschatz with godly intentions and without prejudice to the commandments of your office. For he could not be persuaded to go to Döbeln; he prefers to stay in Torgau, so he also wrote to me from Oschatz. But since you desire others, then you wish
1) Not Bruckner, which De Wette offers. Cf. the previous letter and the one of September 22.
we certainly see that advice is given and your efforts are supported. And we name you for our Oschatz the pastor in Belgern, Jakob Pfeffinger, a person who, apart from other gifts worthy of a bishop, is also exceedingly suitable for this church building by his vocal means (vocalitate). Call him there. For there is no hope that he will remain in Leipzig; in anger he has hurried home to Belgern, but with the announcement that he is ready to be called somewhere in the world rather than to remain in Leipzig. Or call Caspar Löner, because Pfeffinger likes to stay in Belgern, unless he is called and forced to leave it. How? if you call Mr. Michael, the deacon in Kemberg, to Döbeln, if you do not like Gostorf? For he will not unwillingly accept the appointment, as I found out when I investigated him. And he is, at least according to my judgment, a man of rare spirit. I am writing this so that you will realize that I am not moved by the morose nature of your colleagues, if only the people and the church can be benefited. For I can easily imagine that they have reason why they do not want to accept any of the persons we have offered them, since they are unknown to them. And perhaps the flesh also gives them reason to believe that we seek dominion with them. How false this fiction of the flesh is, they will soon realize to their great shame and remorse. In the meantime, we will suffer and do everything in secret for the glory of God and the salvation of the Church. 2) Be well with all, and continue to be a strong man in the Lord, knowing that your work in the Lord is not in vain. Friday after Bartholomew [Aug. 29] Anno 1539. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2576.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
Invitation to submit a reflection on the admissibility of a theological book for printing.
In the Weimar Archives, Reg. O, p. W W. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 327 f.
2) Wrong with De Wette: Matth. 5, 6.
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2576 to 2579.
Our greeting before. Venerable, learned, dear devotee! The worthy, our also dear devotee, Christoph Hofman, pastor at Jene, has now sent us a Latin Commentary on the Epistle of St. Paul to Titus, so that it may be examined and printed. Since we do not doubt that such a booklet will be in accordance with the holy divine Scriptures and useful for the instruction of the common Christianity, as he also handed over a German interpretation of the same epistle, somewhat shorter, our gracious request is that you want the present preacher in our collegiate church there, Ern Jörgen Meyer, 1) go through such commentaries with diligence, and let him give you a report on them, especially on the points that might cause concern to others, 2) and then send us the booklet together with your concerns about it, and whether it should be printed or not, in the most conducive manner. You will do us the favor of our opinion. Given at Weimar, Saturday after Bartholomew [Aug. 30] Anno 1539.
No. 2577.