(Regest.)
Through no fault of his own, the digamy had become public knowledge. He now asks for your advice on what he should do, whether he should perhaps explain his reasons in a public announcement etc. He expects your assistance, otherwise he would have to show your handwriting. In a special note to Luther, he asks him not to be frightened. He asked for nothing more than that they stick to their advice.
Printed in M. Lenz, Briefwechsel, vol. I, p. 363. Above regest in Kolde, Analecta p. 353.
The Hessian theologians Adam Kraft, Johannes Kymeus, Dionysius Melander, Johann Lening to Luther and Melanchthon.
They ask, under assertion of the same reasons, which the landgrave has brought forward in the previous letter, not to leave the same, and to advise them, what is to be done now.
1) The "stable" (caulam) probably means the court in Dresden (cf. No. 2658), and the "spiritual father" Duke Georg.
Grace and peace! What happened in Rotenburg 2) before the last meeting in Schmalkalden, dear fathers and teachers in Christ, you know very well. But we hoped that this matter would be concealed according to your advice, to which some of our people had subscribed. 3) We are not sure whether this is true or not. Incidentally, against the will of our prince and completely against the will of all of us, the rumor has been spread very widely, which (as is right) fills us with no small pain, since we fear that this rumor will harm the Gospel of Christ. We also hear that you will abandon our prince in this matter; 4) that you may not do so, we implore you for the sake of God's heartfelt mercy and by all that is holy. For if a separation of the allied states has been started, we fear very much that a downfall of all things, also of godliness and science, will follow. Nor does the prince wish you to defend his concubinage as a right and lawful marriage at this time, when polygamy has ceased to be in use. It will be enough if you do not regret your given advice, if you uphold it and, if the matter should require it, confess it. We are convinced that you will do this bravely and with undaunted courage. Our people have failed (we do not deny this) to publish the matter that should have been concealed and kept secret, but not less, but much more seriously (but with reservation of your judgment) we would err and sin against godliness if we left the prince, who is otherwise very good, in the lurch because of the publication of the concubinage, and gave cause for discord, which God may always avert. For who could prevent the prince, if he were abandoned in this not altogether bad matter, from entering into other relations, and being intent on such things, by which he would preserve himself and his own, as much as he could, and tear himself out of the threatening storms of war? But this is what we think of you, that since you have willingly faced much greater dangers for God, godliness and freedom before, you will not be unequal to yourselves in this matter, especially since your godly concern on the occasion of this matter 5) will not be able to be equal to yourselves.
2) Rotembergae, Rotenburg an der Fulda. Philip's marriage to Margaretha von der Sala took place there on March 3.
3) See No. 2610.
4) This will perhaps refer to No. 2667.
5) No. 2610.
Letters from the year 1540. No. 2681. 2682. 2683.
This is a document that has induced some of our people (which they would never have done otherwise) to sign it. And truly! the way of life, which the prince now observes, is much further away from infamy than before, since he (unfortunately!) corrupted himself by illicit and indiscriminate lust pestilence (promiscua venere), and there was an occasion to blaspheme the gospel.
We do not doubt your godliness. We know and revere your gifts. So far, you have sufficiently demonstrated the insurmountable majesty of your minds in the face of danger. Therefore, it does not require many words with you, whom we acknowledge and honor as our fathers and teachers in the Lord. We wish you the best of prosperity in the Lord Jesus for a long time. And again we adjure you by the mercy of God that you will not leave us or ours in this matter, because of the many dangers that might arise from it for the Gospel and the churches. And again, you should be convinced once and for all by our prince that, if Christ is gracious, he would rather lose his life and everything than fall away from the Gospel. We also ask your advice as to whether you consider it more useful to leave this matter doubtful as it is, or whether it seems more advisable to reveal to the most distinguished of the knighthood and the most respected of the cities both the deed itself and the causes of the deed that drove the prince to it, so that in these anxieties and distresses we do not carelessly subject ourselves to any matter that we might later regret in vain, when the ability to change and recant has been taken away. We also ask, as diligently and respectfully as we can and should, that you not be sorry for your counsel.
No. 2682.