The Protestant clergy in Erfurt were challenged by the papists there about the legality of their vocation. The Wittenberg theologians exhorted them to patience.
From the Schlegel collection at Gotha in Schütze, vol. I, p. 389; in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 477 f. and in the Erl. Ausg., vol. 55, p. 25.
Doctissimis et fidelissimis Christi Praeconibus, Dn. Jo. Lango, Doctori, et Dn. M. Petro1 ) et reliquis. Evangelii ministris Erfurdiae, amicis et fratribus in Christo charissimis. [To the highly learned and exceedingly faithful heralds of Christ, Mr. Joh. Lang, Doctor, and Mr. M. Peter and the other ministers of the Gospel at Erfurt, his exceedingly the dear friends and brothers in Christ].
Grace and peace of God in Christ. Venerable, highly learned, dignified, special favorable gentlemen and friends! In response to your letter, which you confidentially sent to us in all good faith, and also in response to verbal reports, which he 2) Aegidius 3) further reported to us according to the content of your writing and instruction, we have, as much as God has granted us in His haste, and have considered these matters, and inform you that, after you have confidentially asked and requested our advice and concern, we do not consider it a good idea or know how to advise that you should leave the place in part or in whole. For what he tells Aegidius de vocatione [of the appointment], which may grieve you, shall not err you. For your vocation has been done on oath with the knowledge of the magistrate, councillors and guardians, who have ratified and promised to administer it, as it must be proved, if necessary, or, if it has now been denied by the repugnant out of hatred, it is certainly true before God that your consciences are free and safe. And even if the papist part of the council or hostes Evangelii [the enemies of the gospel] now deny or dispute your vocation, it is not the whole council or community, but only some who are opposed to the gospel. Nevertheless, your profession exists, which is done openly, not in an assassin-like manner. Nevertheless, you are true shepherds of Christ's sheep, who love your doctrine and preaching, know the voice of the true Shepherd of Christ in you, and follow it. Let us suppose that an ungodly father had 30 or 40 children, all of whom were electives.
1) M. Petrus will probably be Peter Bamberger.
2) "He" put by us instead of: "the".
3) Aegidius Mechler.
If the Father, who by divine right of the fourth commandment has power over them, 1) were in the magistrate's office, forbidding them the gospel, they would choose a preacher and shepherd for them, contrary to the Father's will; although this is not the case. Until now, the ordinary magistrate has not forbidden you to preach, nor has he exerted any power over you, even though they, as the papists among them, persecute you, want to do you harm by all kinds of subsidies and evil deceptions; even though they make your pay meager and meager enough, even though they completely despise the dear Lord Christ in you, and let you suffer hunger, misery and hardship. Behold, dear lords and brethren, what a wicked world it is now, and that such contempt is shown even to the pious, faithful pastors and preachers. It is like an ugly, horrible sight of the last times and the last fury and wrath of Satan to look at and to hear. But, dear sirs, it is true that in the time of the apostles, and soon afterward, all the evil vipers and enemies had a very bad time: they finally perished; but Christ and the gospel remained.
Therefore, dear lords and brethren, we have a heartfelt sympathy for your concern and present affliction, and with what we may be able to comfort or help you, you and your church in Erfurt shall find us willing. If you have had patience so far through God's grace and strengthening, and have also suffered with the Gospel, have patience for another year or a little while. God the Lord will strengthen you with rich divine comfort against all that you suffer for the sake of the Gospel, and we with you and with many others. God will give the ungrateful, as well as the persecutors, their certain, unmissed right reward. You know what the apostles had to comfort themselves with. Deus est Deus non solum tristitiae, tentationis, afflictionis, sed etiam
1) Added by us.
2) "Preaching" put by us instead of: "preachers".
3) "Anblick" put by us instead of: "Gubbick", according to Burkhardt, p. 215. Seidemann's conjectures in De Wette, Vol. VI, p. 494, are unnecessary.
Deus consolationis, gloriae, pacis etc.. Haec est victoria, inquit Johannes, quae vicit mundum, h. e. haec omnia, tot et tanta mala satanica et pericula et scandala infinita, fides nostra [1 Joh. 5, 4.]. Christum, quem non
videmus, diligimus et exspectamus; adversarii oderunt Christum et nos. [God is a God not only of sorrow, of temptation, of affliction, but also a God of comfort, of glory, of peace etc. "This is the victory," says John (1 John 5:4), "which overcame the world," that is, all this, so many satanic evils and dangers and innumerable aversions, "our faith." Christ we do not see, we love and expect; the adversaries hate Christ and us]. As far as the division of doctrine is concerned, we want to remind our gracious lord, the Elector of Saxony, with faithful diligence at the appropriate time, that S. C. F. G. will not refrain from taking up the matter, so that it does not have a reputation or the bad appearance, as you report. For S. C. F. G. without any doubt does not like the unholy Barefoot monk's 4) doctrine and the papists' worship. Interim valet in Domino [Meanwhile you were well in the Lord]. Witenbergae, 3. post Michaelis [Tuesday after Michaelmas (30 Sept.)) MDXXXIII.
Mart. Luther.
Philip. Melanchthon.
Justus Jonas, D.
No. 2005.