Luther pleads with the congregation in Spreiten to let the preacher M. Michael Besseler stay.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, Vol. III, p. 404. Printed in Schütze, Vol. I, p. 261 and in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 559.'
Grace and peace in Christ! The council and the people of Spretten, where your M. Michael Besseler administers the ministry of the word with great fruit and extraordinary favor of the people, ask me by letter with lamentations and almost with tears. They ask me in tears, my dear Veit, to write to you, and in their name and mine, yes, in the name of the Lord Christ, to ask you to take this matter upon yourself, and to work towards this with Mrs. Margaretha, who until now has provided Mr. Michael with the necessary
2) Here we have omitted a superfluous "vnd".
3) After "befelh" Burkhardt has an incorrect comma.
The first is that they have not recalled the above-mentioned M. Michael, or the Hieronymns Baumgärtner, or whoever else has to do with it. For with the greatest difficulty they have obtained him, and if he should leave the young and weak plantation, the last would be worse than the first. They have exceedingly weighty causes, which they will perhaps write in more detail themselves. But since it is a certain thing that the Word and that church would be in danger if M. Michael were to leave, I urge you, rather it is demanded of you by the Lord Jesus Himself, whose tender sheep are to be cared for there, that you strive with all your strength, as much as you are able, to obtain a postponement from Mr. Baumgärtner and Mrs. Margaretha until the time when the work begun by M. Michael in the church at Spretten is strengthened. They know and recognize that even though they have paid for Michael's upkeep, all of them, including themselves, still owe this to spread the glory of Christ, to cooperate and fight against the devil, and to care for the flock and the churches of Christ. I do not doubt that you will do this faithfully, and that they will hear you kindly, so that it is not necessary for me to write more and to several, since I am old, sluggish, tired and almost dead, and daily await my hour for the Lord to take away my soul in peace. May you be well in Him, and pray for me and my death. May 11, Anno 1543.
Martin Luther.
No. 3017.