Luther complains about the depravity and contempt for God in Germany. Of Amsdorf's ordination; of Carlstadt's death; of Luther's literary works etc.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 320. Printed by Schütze, vol. I, p. 195 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 450 f.
To the man to be highly honored in the Lord, Jakob Probst, the right bishop in the church at Bremen, your truthful theologian, his exceedingly dear brother in faith and word.
Grace and peace in the Lord! Although I do not have time to write much, my dear Jacob, because I am exhausted by age and work, "old, cold, shapeless" (as they say), yet even so I am not allowed to rest, since I am plagued daily with so many things and writing business. I know more than you about the doom of this world. The world threatens ruin, that is certain; Satan rages, the world goes wild. Only this one consolation remains, that that day is near. It is true that after the world has grown tired of the Word of God and has begun to be extremely weary of it, fewer false propositions will be made.
1) It should read: "4 Pf.". Here there is an arithmetical error by Luther, which runs through the following.
2) Instead of "gros" we have adopted "yrer".
3) Burkhardt wrong: "15 fl.".
4) From this it can be seen that the payment of the tax was made in three installments during the year.
phets stand up. For how should those arouse heresies who despise the Word in an epicurian way? Germany has been and will never again be what it was. The nobility is intent on dominion over everything, against which the cities seek council for themselves (and rightly so); thus the empire, divided in itself, must go to meet the army of the devils raging in the Turks. And we do not care much whether we have a merciful or a wrathful Lord, since we will conquer and rule over the Turks, the devils, over God and everything through ourselves. So great is the completely frantic confidence and security of the perishing Germany. But what shall we do? In vain we complain, in vain we cry. It only remains that we pray: Thy will be done, that we pray for the kingdom and the sanctification of God's name. When this happens, let it go, fall, stand and perish as it will. Let it go as it goes, for it wants to go as it goes. Why do we torment and consume ourselves in vain because of the shameful people who will perish and have to perish? There is no injustice to the one who wants it.
I am surprised that you have not heard the news, namely that Nicolaus Amsdorf has been ordained bishop of the church of Naumburg by the heretic Luther on your Fabian's Day [Jan. 20], a Friday. A bold deed, which aroused a great deal of hatred, envy and displeasure. Now my book about this matter 5) is being printed. What will happen, God knows. The Lord Philip writes about the same matter. By God's grace he is healthy and well, but the very heaviest Atlas that carries heaven and earth. Brenz is alive, Carlstadt died of the plague at Basel, which itself was a plague for the church at Basel, as the bishops of that church write to us; they also add that, since he was ill, he was plagued by evil spirits, and that they were still making noise in his house after his burial. I always wanted and have wanted him to be blessed, but his impenitence to the end I cannot want nor approve.
5) St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 88, no. 1257.
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2898. 2899.
are called. God, the judge over all of us, will have an understanding in this. I am now engaged in the translation of a book entitled "Refutation of the Alkoran Mahomet" 1). Dear God, how great is Your wrath against the Church, but especially against the Turk and Mahomet. The beastly nature of Mahomet transcends all faith, D. Jonas still gives Christ a form (Christum format) against the will of the accursed Heinz and Meinz, the most abominable monsters. Christ can easily be given a form there, thank God. Would God that they [the people of Halle] would persevere and not despise everything proudly like us. About that at another time.
No. 2899.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther asks the Elector to take care of Count Gebhard of Mansfeld, whom his brother, Count Albrecht, is trying to deprive of his.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. N, fol. 108. 41. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 98, no. 183; in Walch, vol. XXI, 461; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 452 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 13.
To the most illustrious, highborn prince and lord, Lord John Frederick, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshal and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg. The most gracious lord is the Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg.
G. and peace in the Lord and my poor Pr. nr. Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! Although I have come at an inopportune time with this writing, necessity compels me to do so. How Count Albrecht of Mansfeld acts with his brother, Count Gebhard, I respect, be it E. C.
1) St. Louis edition, vol. XX, 2218.
F. G. unconcealed. I have read all the contracts and letters (although I have enough to do otherwise), and lament me of the good pious lord that Count Albrecht acts so shamefully with him, is even judge and part, wants to take also the goods and county from him, and so to him alone the use, or usufruct, 2) he wants to take it all, land and soil, and disinherit him of the county; a wild merchant who buys the apples and wants to take the tree and garden with him; does not do otherwise, because as a lodge he has no overlord. Where should the good count go now, if he does not have protection and help from the princes of Saxony, his sovereigns? Although the county is in fief of Duke Morizen in this part, E. C. F. G. are also heirs in the case; has therefore asked me to write to E. C. F. G., and if D. Brück had not indicated to me that I might not meet E. C. F. G. now, nor would I otherwise come at an inopportune time, I would have set out today to serve the good lord, regardless of my inconvenience. So now I humbly ask that E. C. F. G. would graciously help in this matter and have Duke Moriz act so that Count Albrecht does not make such a mess in the dominion to the ruin of the dominion and princely fiefdoms and honors. For if Duke Moriz were to do nothing here, as his profession and office require, and thus leave the good lord unprotected and unheard, it would bring E. C. F. G. an evil cry in heaven and on earth, and greatly anger God, who everywhere in Scripture prophesies against those who do not save or help the oppressed, of which I hereby also write to H. F. G.. E. C. F. G. would graciously grant me this necessary writing; for the good Count has personally come to me for the sake of these things, and desires such writing in addition to my personal journey. Hiemit dem lieben GOtt befehlt, Amen. For it seems as if all the devils in the world are otherwise idle, and have laid their hands on us Germans, because they do not want to suffer God's word. Saturday after Judica [April 1, 1542.
2) "prescribe" resolved by us by: "prescribed".
Letters from the year 1542. no. 2900. 2901.
No. 2900 .
To the Elector Johann Friedrich and Duke Moritz of Saxony and their basalts in the field camp.
See St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 1440, no. 1443. - To the locations given there, add: De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 304, where this writing is printed according to an official copy in the Dresden Archives, 9438 l. l. fol. 12 f. - Brück returned the original to Luther. By another simultaneous hand is noted on the copy: "This writing Doctor Martinus Luther wanted to send to both camps, but Doctor Brücken ultimately sent alone. 1542."
No. 2901 .