Naumburg.
Luther gives him advice on how to behave against the pastor Nicolaus Medler, who had allowed himself arbitrary actions.
The original is in Cod. Seidel. at Dresden. Printed from the Börnersche Sammlung in Leipzig by Schütze, vol. I, p. 181 and (after the original compared for him) by De Wette, vol. V, p. 425. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1480.
To the venerable and worthy man in Christ, Mr. Nicolaus, the right, fair and faithful bishop of Naumburg, his superior who is to be highly honored.
Grace and peace! I am very displeased with Medler's imperious behavior, my best bishop. Therefore, if I were in your place, I would continue with the opposite attack and insist on silence and peace against Medler until the visitation, in which it should then be determined where the patronage right belongs. For it is unjust to snatch it from them against their will, and one must act with them, that they may
Letters from the year. 1542. no. 2873 . 2874. 2875.
renounce it of their own free will. For this is how we acted during our visitation, that we persuaded those who had the right of patronage, but let those go who did not want to be persuaded. Thus all nobles confer their parishes as they have conferred them from time immemorial, without the authority of the prince or the church. If now Medler has excommunicated those figulos, "the Töppers", then you may command, as the right and superior bishop, that they be quiet. And nöthige the Medler that he pursues what serves to the peace. It is not to be suffered that he takes the liberty to consider you a larva and a fairy tale, since the care for the church in Naumburg is imposed on you and you have to give an account of it. If necessary, I will write to him vehemently, since he is making noise in peace without cause. In the meantime, be a strong and patient man and [see to it] 1) that he cannot do anything else that God does not permit. But you have snatched this place from the devil, and the right fruits will abundantly follow. Be well in the Lord. I wrote this while my head was hurting badly all day long. Friday after the circumcision [Jan. 6] 1542.
Your Martin Luther, D.
No. 2874.