Luther testifies to his satisfaction with the church order to be introduced there and exhorts to better pay for the clergy.
Printed in the Eisleben edition, vol. II, p. 318; in the Altenburger, vol. VI, p. 2; in the Leipziger, vol. XXII, p. 564; in Walch, vol. XXI, 363; in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 475 f. and in the Erlanger edition, vol. 55, p. 24.
Grace and peace. Respectable, honorable, wise, dear sirs! I have received and heard your order through your sent preacher together with ours, which is almost pleasing to us. May Christ our Lord have mercy on it, so that it may bear fruit most perfectly, amen. They also asked me about the punishment that has been customarily inflicted on evildoers, to which I replied that you should use your traditional law and custom, be it execution of thieves or beheading of murderers etc. For we do not want to use such ways and courts, except that we advise, where the things are too small, not to follow the strict law and severity too much; because it is also too hard to hang a place from the guilder, as often happens, so one may well punish differently.
Lastly, since God has given you such faithful preachers, I ask you to strive and think that they can stay with you; but that cannot be if they do not have a good time. You see how the spirits of the mob infiltrate, who are given enough.
and must give; you have fine men, God help that they remain with you. Hiemit GOtt befohlen, Amen. Given at Wittenberg on the Sunday [before] 1) Nativitatis Mariae [Sept. 7].
No. 2002.