Luther instructed him how to write to the pastor of Jáchymov about the Waldensians who, referring to Luther, teach that the body of Christ is not really present in the Lord's Supper.
Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 325; in Cod, Goth. 185 (this has gaps); in Cod. Goth. 187. 4. and in Cod. Jen. B 24. n. fol. 160. Printed by Schütze, vol. 111, p. 203 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 349.
To the highly famous man, Mr. D. Georg Major, Rector of the school at Wittenberg, his friend.
Grace and peace. My dear Rector! You will write to the pastor in Jáchymov (VaIIe) about the Waldensian brothers: that I do not yet believe that they are serious, that they are asserting the opinion in my name about the sacrament of the altar, that the body of Christ is not 1) really there, and you may order, also in my name, I ask that the pastor in Jáchymov sharply confront them, how they can so sacrilegiously dare to undertake this? Whether they do not remember how many years I have been dealing with them about this word: the body of Christ is sacramental in the bread, since this "sacramental" was suspicious to me, until they have openly and freely confessed to me that they were completely with me, namely, that the body of Christ is truly in the bread in a sacramental way, that is, in an invisible way and for our use, by the way, it is the true body as it was born of the Virgin, as it was given for us 2c. Now if I should be assured of this, that they have deceived and deceived me with their deceitful words, I will again accuse them in a public writing as deceivers, liars, hypocrites, harmful people, and
1) De Wette wants non erased and also makes other suggestions for changing the text because he did not understand the letter.
with others of their worthy names, and rid my reputation and integrity of their frauds. Be well. On Monday after Quasimodogeniti [April 25] 1541. Mart. Luther, D.
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