About the employment of M. Nopus as a preacher.
From the original in the preface to Kindervater's Nordhusa illustr.; in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 102, no. 159; in Walch, vol. XXI, 478; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 510 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 37.
To the honorable, prudent gentlemen, mayor and council of the city of Regensburg, my favorable gentlemen and good friends.
Grace and peace. Honorable, prudent, dear gentlemen, good friends! From your letter and request I have talked with M. Hieronymo Nopo 1) to accept your church office, that he complains of great humility. However, after M. Philip and I urged him to display such a gift of God and great understanding in the Scriptures, and to serve God with it, he surrendered in such a way, and he
1) Nopus, from Herzogen-Aurach in Würtemberg. He preached his inaugural sermon in Regensburg on February 23, 1543.
Letters from the year 1542. no. 2965. 2966. 2967.
After he had practiced little in preaching until then, he wanted to practice better on Shrove Tuesday and hear himself and let you try him; and although such attempts seemed unnecessary to us, since we know that a good schoolmaster cannot be a bad pastor, we did not want to press him harder than that he should certainly appear with you on Shrove Tuesday. But out of your food and sustenance. So I hope that those at Nuremberg can advise your foresters to friendly Christian service for as long as possible. 1) I wanted to give this to your honor as an answer. And to serve E. I am willing to serve your honor and the city. Hiemit GOtt befehlt, Amen. Monday after Catharine [Nov. 27] 1542.
Mart. Luth, D.
No. 2966.