Luther instructs Hausmann how to preach on baptism in the presence of the Cardinal of Mainz.
The original is in Dessau. Handwritten in Cod.
Goth. 185. 4. and in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 201. Printed in Schütze, vol. II, p. 305; in Stroebel-Ranner, p. 232 and in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 504. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1412 f.
To the man to be highly honored in Christ, Mr. Nicolaus Hausmann, the extremely faithful and pure servant of the Word in Dessau, his superior.
Grace and peace in Christ! M. Georg Held has asked in your name, dearest householder, that I should indicate to you what you should preach about baptism, especially since your prince demands this, and the bishop of Mainz with his brother 2c. will be listeners. And although you do not need much help from me in this matter, since you are richer in spirit by the grace of God, at the same time also because M. Georg may have sent to you what I have preached in these days in four sermons about baptism; but the poor must
1) "1534", as already noted, put by us instead of: "1539". Perhaps "IV" is read into "IX".
serve you, so I too will serve you with my work.
First, I would advise that you speak of our doctrine without controversy and refutation of the opposing doctrine, lest these godless tyrants think you are preaching to provoke them. Therefore, explain baptism in the same way as the papists do not seem to have taught anything else, although they have taught in an exceedingly cold way. However, I do not want you to name them, so that you do not seem to flatter them, but to treat the matter simply as it is. For the boasts of baptism are these:
That it is a divine water given by the Word of God from His command, not by a mouthful of men; that it is a new covenant of God with all peoples to eternal blessedness; that it is a work of God, not of men, therefore let it not be stained by the sins of those who misuse it.
That it is one, and cannot be repeated without a blasphemous denial of the first baptism, as if it were not the work of God, which must be received and held in faith, and otherwise is not useful.
That it should be outwardly adorned with fruits of faith throughout life; that it should be higher than all the vows and works that otherwise are or can be done, even higher than obedience to parents and overlords.
That it had been honored in the manifestation of the Father by the voice, of the Son by the humanity, of the Holy Spirit by the dove; this manifestation is now included in these words, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
I have treated this passage: "This is my dear Son" 2c. in this way: the Son is offered and declared to us by the Father as the Lord over all and as the bishop of souls, in whom everything is pleasing, without whom everything we do is nothing; he alone is the King, because the Son is the heir of all things; he alone is the bishop, because in him everything is pleasing. The rest will be said by M. George. On the Sunday of SIXDAYSIME [8 Feb] Anno 1534.
Your Martin Luther, D.
Letters from the year 1534. No. 2036. 2037. 2038.
No. 2036.