(Regest.)
They complain about Luther's writing on conciliarities and churches, in which he unjustly accused Zwingli of Nestorianism. Zwingli had confessed at Marburg in the articles signed by both sides that Christ's person was undivided; likewise in the confession addressed to Emperor Carl at the Imperial Diet of Augsburg, which was written in the last period of his life. He had absolutely nothing in common with Nestorius, but was a godly man and orthodox and a very special lover of Catholic truth. Finally, they recall the letter addressed to Luther on May 4, 1538 (No. 2428), in which they promised to indicate if they missed anything about Luther, so that a firm peace could exist among them, and ask that Luther would accept a better opinion of Zwingli. Signed by: Leo Judä, Caspar Megander, Conrad Pellican, Theodor Bibliander and Heinr.
In the church archives at Zurich, Casten C, Epist. Tom. I, pag. 179 and there Casten B, Epist. Tom. I, pag. 318, from Bullinger's manuscript in the Simler Collection at Zurich. Printed in Hospinian, Historia Sacr., II, 172 (without the signatures) and in Kolde, Analecta, p. 345.
1) M. George Major.
2) Burkhardt: "mocht".
No. 2578.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Postscript to a missing letter. Ueber die Fehde des Kohlhase.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Ss. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 328.
Also, most gracious sir, E. C. F. G. subjects here in the Electorate are crying out for advice and help against the feud of the cabbage hare. I would almost have said: of the Elector of Brandenburg, if the glorious name did not hover over the person. It is only the most fearful thing that one is misled and the people are in doubt as to whether friend and foe are fighting over them. 3) Therefore all their comfort is next to God. C. F. G., who is the lord of the land and the father of the people set by God; I had to tell E. C. F. G. about this for the sake of the many dangerous speeches. Some make it small, some great, and so it goes through each other that no one knows what or how to believe. This is how the devil lives, and the world is full of cunning and unfaithfulness.
No. 2579.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther asks for the granting of a prebend for M. Georg Major, to supplement his salary.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Mm, fol. 56b. N. 11. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 329.
G. u. F. and my poor pater noster. Most illustrious, highborn Prince, most gracious Lord! E. C. F. G. know, how Magister Georg Major had to miss the prebend, so Doctor Creitz, Amtmann zu Colditz, on his life with E. C. F. G. father blessed has brought out, and nevertheless with the next settled prebend of E. C. F. G. put off. Therefore, he wants to anticipate that a cross (creitz) 4) does not fall three times, and asks E. C. F. G. for the prebend.
3) "mumschanzen" == to go mumbling, to put on carnival games.
4) Luther always wrote "creuz" or "creutz" for cross. Therefore, here is a play on the name "Creitz".
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2579. 2580. 2581.
The money lent to Joseph at Torga, called Michel, 1) by E. C. F. G., who is now being called to Torgau as a chaplain and will take his leave, as E. C. F. G. will further hear from M. Georg's writing. Now, however, M. Georg has finally decided to stay at the Theologei, has also decided to do so, and still cannot have enough with the 80 fl. 2) I have also previously written to E. C. F. G. that he is almost skilled and will make very good students at the Theologei. For although he may be of small voice, he is nevertheless a delicious reader and teacher, who can give the matter very well, and it is good to learn from him. Therefore, since the E. C. F. G. has been gifted by God to promote the Holy Scriptures, I hope that no request is necessary. The C.F.G. will know how to do it to the honor of God. Hiemit GOtt befohlen, Amen. Sunday after Egidii (Sept. 7) 1539.
E. C. F. G. Martin Luther.
No. 2580.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther asks the Elector to help promote a second visitation in Meissen.
The original is in Weimar, Reg. Ji, fol. 143 b. D. 2. 3. manuscript in Cod. chart. Goth. 462. f. Printed in De Wette, vol. V, p. 203 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 238.
G. and F. and my poor Pater-Noster. Durchl., hochgeb. F., gn. Lord! D. Jonas has ever wanted me to write to E. C. F. G. in addition to him; for he is interested in the visitation at Meissen, because he is called to it, for the sake of his conscience he has to take care of the souls, and would rather, if E. C. F. G. did not give the order, be rid of everything, as we all are,
1) This Michael was a school teacher at Torgau. (Burkhardt.)
2) Major seems to have had a very strong family, since he speaks of 11 persons, whom he had to maintain from the 80 fl. - As a result of the answer given on October 11, Major received the canonicate in St. George's Collegiate Church at Altenburg, which Magister Colditius (Alexius Chrosner von Colditz) had held. (Burkhardt.)
because one stands so coldly to it, 3) and knows neither helper nor hitchhiker, for E. C. F. G. Well, it is true, it is much too lazy to do this with the first visitation; and even if the cities with their own help are quite well ordered, there are still more than 500 pastors who are poisonous papists (as he reports), who have all remained unexamined, and confidently put on their horns and defy, because they are left like that; and if they had been abolished on Michaelmas, they would have been easier to dispose of with the income of the parishes, since one must now have more than 4000 (guilders) in excess to dispose of them, as they should also have calculated from the nobility. Should now the other and right visitation be delayed and remain, in which one must provide the church with the doctrine: then with this visitation nothing is applied to such poisonous pastors, but made worse. Therefore, for the sake of the poor souls, of whom many thousands are unaccounted for among such pastors, we ask that E.C.F.G. help as much as it can. If they want to take their own visitators from their own, then so be it; if not, the sooner, the better we can get rid of them and wait for ours. There are too few of them in such a large regiment, which they also have, but they are neglected and hinder us, because we are bombarded with letters, and there is neither a place nor a person where people can be instructed in such church matters. It is very difficult at the moment. E. C. F. G. will know well how to advise in this matter. So we also hope that there will be more leisure in Dresden after the stag rut. Hiemit dem lieben GOtt befehlt, Amen. Friday after Crucis (Sept. 19) 1539.
No. 2581.