Luther exhorts him to patience and forbearance against Osiander.
Handwritten in Cod. chart. 402. f. Goth.; in Cod. Closs.; in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 175 and in Cod. Helmst. 94 Bibl. Guelph. Printed in Schütze, vol. II, p. 296; in Schelhorns Ergötzlichkeiten, vol. I, p. 79; in Strobel-Ranner, p. 226 and in De Wette, vol. I V, p. 485.
Mr. Wenceslaus Link, Doctor of Sacred Theology.
Grace and peace in Christ! We will answer your council in your matter concerning public absolution, my dear Wenceslaus. I have also written to Osiander himself. Now I ask you, for Christ's sake, not to close the eyes of your mercy, together with your comrades, and to regard this man, who is caught in his opinions, as a sick person, and to be careful not to publicly disgrace and condemn him, so that this little spark may not become a conflagration, but rather, as much as possible, through your modesty and prudence, and at the same time through your patience, may still be freed and healed. Diligence must be taken in which way the soul of this brother may be won through you. I would not have believed (you will not shout this out or make it public) that you could have won him over.
Letters from 1533. no. 2007. 2008. 2009.
I have said that this man is busy with so many thoughts and, as I can see from his writing, is so far from the integrity of our teaching. But, as I have said, if he were more irritated, greater annoyances would be poured out, by which, though he would not win, he would nevertheless cause disturbances and excite quarrels, which had better be prevented. If, therefore, our counsel pleases you, we hope that in time this matter will quiet itself, and that in the meantime he will draw nearer to us. We will lose nothing by this patience and modesty, and he will, if he does not get along again, do more harm afterwards by his obstinacy. This is our opinion. May the Lord Jesus put an end to this and all troubles, amen. In him you are well, my dear brother. Greet the Lord Thomas Venatorius, and may he not be unwilling that his propositions (propositiones == theses) be postponed. There is cause why this must be postponed until these mists pass. On the eighth of October, 1533, yours, Martin Luther.
D. Pommer gives the advice, and I ask that you do not share this letter with your fellow clergymen or anyone else, except Spengler.
No. 2008.