Report on his stay with the Bishop of Cologne in Bonn and on the religious affairs there. About the religious conditions in that region.
Manuscript in Cod. Bav., vol. II, p. 428 and in Cod. Basil. 39, p. 51. Printed in Mel. Select. epist., p. 270; in the London edition of Mel. Epist. lib. I, op. 74; in Mel. Epist., lib. I, p. 219; and in Corp. ref. vol. V, 112.
To the highly famous and valuable man, Mr. Martin Luther, Doctor of Theology, the restorer of the godly doctrine of the Gospel, his extremely dear father,
Hail! After I came to Bonn, I understood that the bishop had given the order that a form of doctrine and customs should be drawn up in writing, which should be presented to the churches, according to the model of the Nuremberg form. And I have been commanded to carry out the work I have begun. This I have done for the last three days. The bishop wants the doctrine to be presented purely and the public customs that conflict with the doctrine to be abolished, but the canons do not refrain from opposing it, even though there are some among them who prevent the violence of the others. Some of the more stormy ones had threatened that they would chase the bishop away. Therefore, the landgrave wrote to the cathedral chapter and publicly declared that he and the other allies would take over the defense of the bishop if necessary. But the other cities, except Cologne, and the main part of the nobility demand a godly establishment of the churches, which, as you see, is truly necessary. For hardly anywhere else in Germany, I believe, has there been or still exists so much barbaric and completely pagan superstition as has existed in these regions, as is still shown by the examples of those who run to the statues. But I see that now the sermons of Bucer and Pistor are heard by a large crowd, and I perceive that both teach purely and rightly. There are also others in some neighboring towns and villages who teach rightly and administer the sacraments godly. Let us pray that God will favor and promote these beginnings. In the Jülich region, the churches are completely neglected, which tends to happen at the time of war. In the meantime, those who hate the pure doctrine in that region are also exercising their rage on this occasion, as can be seen from the letter I have enclosed, which someone from the Jülich region has written. I pray to God, the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He may preserve you unharmed and give you a long life for the benefit of His Church. I greet the honored woman, your wife, and the
dear children. Bonn, May 19. Now at this hour we hear that in Wesel the private masses have been abolished, and the administration of the Lord's Supper according to the Gospel has been introduced, and that the courtiers are threatening the Council for the sake of this cause. I will write to Mr. Dolzig about this, and if it is considered to be of use, we will arrange for the bishop of Cologne to write to the duke. 1543.
No. 3018.
To Johann Pfeffinger, pastor in Leipzig.
Luther asks him to intercede with Duke Moritz of Saxony for the estate of the widow of the pastor at Döbeln.
Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 405. From the collection of Siegmund Jakob Baumgarten at Halle in Schütze, vol. I, p. 263 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 562. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1505. In a free translation, without the name of the addressee, in the Jena edition (1562), vol. VIII, p. 172b; in the Altenburg, vol. VIII, p. 343; in the Leipzig, vol. XXII, p. 575 and in Walch, vol. XXI, 481.
To the highly esteemed and worthy man, licentiate of sacred theology, Mr. Johann Pfeffinger, the right bishop of the church in Leipzig, the extremely faithful servant of the Word, his brother who is very dear to the Lord.
Grace and peace in the Lord! As you undoubtedly know, my esteemed brother in Christ, M. Christian, 1) pastor in Döbeln, has gone to the Lord and left behind a widow and three children. She is now in misery and asks that we have mercy on her. But since I have decided, for many very important reasons, to have nothing more to do with the court of your Duke," I can be of no help to her by writing letters to Prince Moritz. Therefore, it seemed good to me to inform you of this, since you are in special esteem with this prince, whether you would deign to use yourself for her, that the prince would like to provide her with a vain alms, for the sake of the service to the word, which her husband has sown and spread in his territory and in the church at Döbeln in the most faithful and loudest way:
1) Christian Neumayer. He was married to one of Queis (Qvetz), a nun.
Christians owe twofold honor to their shepherds, even to the deceased, so that they should also show at least the simple honor to their widows. But the world is in such a mess that people seek gain from the word and the church rather than offering a penny to Christ for confession and gratitude. The end, the end, the end is near, thank God, since the so great light of God is despised with such great ingratitude. You do what you can, and, if it concerns you, take M. Anton] L[auterbach] 2) as a co-worker, who is likewise still worth something at the court. If you cannot do anything, then God must be asked to become the judge of the widows and father of the orphans, or to prove himself as such, amen. Fare well in the Lord. Monday after Urban [May 28] 1543. M. L., D.
No. 3019.