Answer to No. 2846: Luther refuses to deal further with the marriage matter after it has come into the law.
Simultaneous copy in the Weimar Archives, Reg. O, pag. 591. 8. 31. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 400.
G. and F. Strict, worthy, honorable, dear gentlemen! I would like you to know that I and our parish priest have long since received from our most gracious Lord that his churf.
1) Burkhardt erroneously offers "October 18".
We wanted to take the matrimonial matters from ourselves, because we could not wait for the official office; which therefore happened, and a new ecclesiasticum consistorium was established, to which we directed such disputes and matters. But this I do and must do, where I am asked secretly and particularly about the conscience, then I judge after the confession and report. If this matter has now come into the law, or is still coming, or will come, then it is no longer my office or command, because I neither want nor should pronounce a legal judgment, as little as I also want to interrogate the part. For, as I said, I cannot wait, I have enough to do with my conscience. If this Kunz has deceived me, and only asked for the conscience, which I can well respect, because I have forgotten, and well know that my way is to reject part and legal dealings from me, then he deserves good punishment; and if you continue to follow the law, I have nothing to do with it. Hereby commanded by God. Hastily, Monday after Simonis and Jude [Oct. 31] 1541.
May you also henceforth, to spare mine and yours, be sure that I cannot wait for an unlawful 2) interrogation nor judgment; secretly I may instruct my conscience apart from interrogation and law. M. Luther.
No. 2852.
Concerns about the Naumburg bishop election.
The original of this prayer, written in Cruciger's hand, is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. B, fol. 190. It was written for the Elector in the name of the Wittenberg theologians, and Luther wrote his own remarks on it, which we alone reproduce here, with the words of the prayer to which they refer. Handwritten in Cod. Goth. 451, p. 221. (Printed in Corp. Ref., vol. IV, 683-694. Luther's remarks alone in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 289.
Regarding the words Corp. Ref, Vol. IV, 686 s.: "If it would be God's will that Prince George [of Anhalt] would be elected, and he would accept the bishopric: we consider humbly that furthermore not to argue about it" 2c. - "Of Licentiate Amsdorf we respect that he is not to be persuaded in any way to accept a bishopric."
2) That is, that is not done in the way that is right.
Letters from the year 1541. No. 2852 to 2855.
Luther's remark: "All this seems to me to be quite fine and useful, for I might well trust Prince George a great deal if I knew him and could speak humanly.
Col. 691: "The princely income is undoubtedly needed for a good part of the government. What remains, however, should be used for the common needs of the country.
Randglosse Luthers: Nihil, et regimen absumet omnia et requiret additionem, ut jam in monasteriis experimur. [Nothing, and the government will put up with everything and still require a grant, as we already learn with the monasteries].
Col. 692: "That is why we also wanted the endowment properties, which are left after the churches have been provided for, to be directed in such a way that something would also go to the nobility, so that they would serve the princes all the more willingly and stately.
Luther's marginal note: Imo ipsi soli volunt ea omnia habere, et cogitant plura ibi esse quam sunt, et principibus ideo indignantur. [Rather, they alone want to have all this, and think that there is more than there is, and for this reason they are unwilling to the princes.]
No. 2853.
Concerns about the Naumburg bishop election.
This concern was raised by the Wittenberg theologians for the Elector at Torgau. Luther, who was not in Torgau, later wrote his judgment under it, which we reproduce here alone.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. B, fol. 190. Printed in Corp. Ref., vol. IV, 697-699. Luther's remark alone in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 289.
I like this way very much, where you only want to have one capable person. That is the point. Otherwise, it is as it has always been from the beginning, even in much smaller estates, where a bishop or pastor [had] a provost or steward, 1) or as St. Stephen had a deacon over the estates, as our caste chiefs still are.
1) Added by us. - It was about the employment of a "Voigt", who had to take care of the secular affairs.
No. 2854.