Luther recommends Sebastian Schaufel, is pleased that Aegidius Mechler did not go to the Duchy of Saxony, and expresses his displeasure with the Leipzigers,
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 297. Printed in Schütze, vol. III, p. 132 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 283.
To the excellent man, Mr. Johann Laug, Doctor of Theology.
Grace and peace in the Lord! I recommend this Sebastian Schaufel to you, my dear Laug, so that you, if you are able to do something, may provide him with a position. He is a good and worthy person whom we would like to see promoted. I am glad that Aegidius will be kept with you. Oh, what a great pain it would have been if I had learned that you, too, Laug, had left Erfurt. Laug, had been lured away from Erfurt to Henry's duchy. The duke is very good, but he is an old man unfit for such a great reign, and meanwhile such people rule to whom I would not send a dog, not even a fly. You should tell that to everyone you can. I hate the Leipzigers (the common people, of course, I quite like).
1) "It is to read Quick instead of: Scharf." (De Wette- Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 559, note 4.) This remark is erroneous, since Luther did not address the Elector about this fief until May 10, so Schnell did not yet have it. Cf. the previous number.
good), so that I hate nothing under the sun more: so great is there the arrogance, the presumption, the rapacity, the usury. And what more shall I say? The worst ejection (sentia sentinarum) of the worst people prevails there, so that if mau did not have to serve the lowly people, they would have long since ceased to have a preacher, except for harmful Epicureans, who are their equals, and Papists, in that I at least admonish and discourage all such. God have mercy on the good, and curse this cursed city for eternity. You are doing well. On the day before Pentecost [May 15], Anno 1540, Martin Luther.
No. 2656.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
Answer to No. 2653: The Elector grants the transfer of the fief from Georg Scharf to Georg Schnell.
The concept is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Mm, fol. 78b, No. 29. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 354.
Our greeting before. Venerable and reverend, dear devotee! We have received your letter, in which you have informed the old preacher at Herzberg, Ern Georgen Schnell, of the fief or prebend at Wartberg, which Mag. We have received and read your letter, in which you request the old preacher at Herzberg, Ern Georgen Schnell, of the fief or prebend at Wartberg, which Mag. Georg Scharf has had as his studio until now, who is now going to Herzberg in the place of the aforementioned Schnell, and he, Schnell, should be willing to study again in the place of Scharf, and at such your request we are graciously inclined to pardon the aforementioned Ern Georgen Schnell with such a fief, and to have the prescription changed from Scharf to him. For this reason we graciously request that you have our prescription sent to you, and that you send it to us in our office, so that we may have it directed to Schnell and executed, and that you may subsequently have it delivered to him, which we graciously do not wish you to do, and we are graciously inclined to do so. Date at Torgau, Saturday on the holy Pentecost [May 15] 1540.
Note. 2)
As for the enclosed note from Magister Philippi Melanchthon's servant, we will graciously comply with your request.
2) This note has been lost.
No. 2657.
Ordination certificate for Heinrich Bock.
From the original signed by Luther and his colleagues, which is kept in the Nicolai Church in Reval (where Bock's tomb is still located), in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 283 and in the Corp.
Since the council of the city of Reval in Liefland has appointed Magister Heinrich Bock from Hameln, a man of excellent godliness and scholarship, to govern their church, he has also requested that our judgment of him be made known to him. But we desire most of all that godly, serious and learned people be placed before the churches of Christ. Therefore, we have approved this appointment with the greatest willingness, and have admonished Magister Heinrich to take upon himself the leadership of the church in Reval. Since he has lived in the school of our church for more than ten years and in the meantime has led the Saxon Collegium in Erfurt with great praise, we have learned that he is of honorable and godly manners and has diligently exempted the church doctrine. However, he holds the unanimous doctrine of the general church of Christ, which our church also confesses, and abhors all fanatical opinions, which are condemned by the judgment of the general church of Christ. Furthermore, the knowledge of the arts, which includes philosophy, is of some service in teaching. Since Magister Heinrich has applied good diligence to all parts of philosophy, he wisely and correctly distinguishes ecclesiastical doctrine from philosophy, and applies the right manner and skill in explaining it, which is worthy of a learned man. He has also promised that he will constantly and diligently present to the people the pure doctrine of the Evangelist which our church confesses. Therefore, so that there would be a public testimony of our judgment, we have commanded him in the church the office of teaching the gospel and administering the sacraments instituted by Christ, according to his calling. We testify to this by this public letter, and commend him to the church at Reval, and ask that it lovingly receive him, nurture and care for him, and protect him. The greatest good deed of God on earth is the public office of the
God wants it to shine in the cities and in the society of the people. Therefore, the cities do an extremely pleasant service to God, which order the churches properly and provide and protect godly and well-instructed teachers. We therefore exhort the city of Reval to keep this very good and extremely learned man, Magister Heinrich, in a godly manner, and to support and protect him in such a great government. Given at Wittenberg, May 17, 1540.
The pastor of the church at Wittenberg and the other ministers of the gospel in the same church,
Martin Luther, D.
Johann Bugenhagen, Pomeranus, D. Justus Jonas, D.
Philip Melanthon.
No. 2658.