Answer to the previous letter. Luther asks him to see to it that Johann Büchner comes to Oschatz as soon as possible.
1) The text seems to us to be out of order here. Instead of nullus we have assumed multum.
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2583. 2584. 2585.
Handwritten in Cod. Jen. a, fol. 355. Printed by Buddeus, p. 266 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 206. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1296.
To the man to be highly honored in the Lord, M. Georg Spalatin, Archbishop of the Churches [in Meissen], 1) Pastor at Altenburg, his extremely dear brother.
Grace and peace! I beg you, my dear Spalatin, that the people of Oschatz, who trust in your office, may finally receive Johann Buchner, since M. Caspar Löner writes that he does not desire this position, at the same time so that so many letters which have been sent from there to me and by me there are not thwarted and made a mockery of, so that it indeed causes me shame and annoyance that the matter has been postponed and prevented for so long, so that I will further not easily suffer that I am called to consultations about the supply of the Meissen churches or rather plagued with it, since I am more than enough overwhelmed by our worries, burdens and work. If it should not please you that Johann Buchner is sent to Oschatz, then you may answer very soon, so that I do not torture the man completely to death by delaying and postponing, and I will see to it that he is provided for elsewhere. For he is too valuable to me than that he should be martyred like this because of Oschatz, and be strolled now and then, since he would have gladly stayed both in Torgau and in Wittenberg, if he had not, driven by my counsel, agreed to change the place. Fare well in the Lord. Monday after Lamberti [22 Sept.] 1539.
Your Martin Luther.
No. 2584.
To D. Franz Herzenberger zu Sagan.
Luther jokingly apologizes for his infrequent answering and recommends a young clergyman to him.
From the Innocent News in Walch, vol. XXI, 1297; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 208 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 241.
1) Added by us.
To the honorable, highly learned gentleman, Francisco Herzenberger, the medicine Doctor zum Sagan, my favorable gentleman and good friend.
G. and Fr. in Christo. Respectable, highly esteemed, dear Doctor! I beg you not to take it amiss that I do not answer you all the time, nor do you want to take note of it, because you know how short a life I have to lead, and so short that I would probably need three hours (I would like to say more) where I have one. And calculate, whoever will, if I have to write three letters, - since I may well have an hour for each one, and yet all three have to be written in one hour, - whether I do not have to have short hours. Since another has one hour or two, I must make three or two out of one hour. Isn't that a short life? So do many other businesses for me. I jest with you, because I am now idle among the food. But I faithfully entrust you with this Johann Halsbrot, ordained by us; I hope he will bear much fruit, as he has seen our ways and experienced everything. Greet your dear house honor, also the worthy Lord, He Paulum. Hereby commanded by God, Amen. At Wittenberg, Monday after S. Francisci [Oct. 6] 1539.
Martinus Luther, D.
No. 2585.