Luther expresses his displeasure with the emperor and the settlement negotiations at Regensburg and advises to break them off.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 335. From the original in Schütze, vol. I, p. 148 and in De Wette, vol.V, p.369.
Grace and peace! You have seen from the last letter what I also think of this Carl. I hope that you will be recalled by the prince, for that is what I have advised. May the will of the Lord be done; for whether we sing or lament, they do not dance, nor do they grieve. "The first wrath of the best." We have heard that the emperor was sprinkled with the accursed water by the Mainzer and communicated according to papist custom, and that nothing was lacking for Christ to be mocked and ridiculed,
1) Instead of alterius we have assumed ulterius.
2) This will probably mean: until Michaelmas.
not even the [Matth. 26, 49.]: "Hail, Rabbi," and [v. 68.]: "Prophesy to us, Christe." Yes, he kissed him. Be mindful and hasten to get out of this Sodom, the final wrath of GOD is coming upon them. With regard to us, this is my opinion: whatever may come, every fate must be overcome by forbearance, and I have no doubt that it can be overcome if we let uus be found in forbearance, for He has said [John 14:13.], "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be honored in the Son." His cause, not ours, is acted upon; he will watch whether, if we fall, if he will, he will also fall; but, this is true and certain, that he will fall sooner than he should fall, 3) to the great and eternal misfortune of those people, but to our great and eternal salvation. Enough has been prayed for the emperor; if he does not want the blessing, he may suffer the curse. It cannot be the fault of the devil of Mainz alone, [it would not be so.] if he himself were not a loud hypocrite. So many complaints he has heard with a deaf ear, pretending that he goes there for the sake of religion, while he never intends to hear them [the complaints], just as if, for the sake of religion, he were not meanwhile also compelled to eat or to empty himself (cacare). How much more could he, setting aside the cause of religion, hear these complaints, indeed, while you argue uselessly and in vain, have long since settled them. It occurs to me how he acted; how he had made peace at the invasion of the Turks before Vienna, but which he broke soon after, and many other things. Meanwhile he devours Utrecht, Liège, 4) like Heinz, his comrade, Hildesheim. He will devour the whole Rhine with its bishoprics, just as his comrade devoured the whole of Saxony. But hereof orally. Break off as you can most conveniently. For I have seen nothing of the four compared articles, except the one about justification.
3) A play on words: irruet-ruet.
4) Trajectum, leodium. Cf. Tischreden, Cap. 27,
§ 134. Rebenstock, vol. I, fol. 179b. De Wette has no comma between the two words and confesses his perplexity in a note.
Letters from the year 1541. no. 2799. 2800. 2801
The only word I didn't dislike about the emperor was "non-binding, non-preemptive. Although they put it for their party, it will not be without use for us. If you cannot break off now, send Caspar [Cruciger] if you can. His wife has to take care of the house 1) and the buildings, not without harm, not to mention his other duties and work, which the church and the school have to do without in the meantime. The prince has ordered him to be dismissed if you agree; you have Mr. Amsdorf in his place, whom I believe will not be tormented to death by what upsets you, for we often remember him, since his character is well known to us. But the Lord will reward you 2) abundantly, because for his sake you endure so many punishments of the purgatory, not the papist, but the truly Christian, yes, the punishments of hell. Therefore, be strong and cheerful, and, if you can, ridicule the plots of Satan. For right fortitude has its task more in suffering than in action. GOD will put an end to these things as well. I pray and will pray, who am a very poor sinner, but yet do not despair. He will hear me at last, who listens to the inexpressible groaning of those of whom he knows that they do not groan for the sake of gold, honor and pleasure, but for his name, his kingdom and his glory. He be, yes, he is with you. Be at ease in him and return as soon as possible. For there you are wasting effort, time and money on the devil. Friday after Trinity [June 17] 1541.
Your Martin Luther, D.
No. 2800. June 18, 1541.
Duke Albrecht of Prussia to Luther.
(Regest.)
The duke recommends the Magister Jakob Metius, who is moving to Wittenberg.
A detailed regest can be found in J. Voigt, p. 12. The above regest in Kolde, Analecta, p. 376.
1s We have deleted the comma between domus and curas.
2) Instead of nobis we have assumed vobis.
No. 2801.