Luther consoles Lauterbach in the temptations he has to suffer from the great ones at the ducal Saxon court, namely from D. Pistorius (Becker) and Carlewitz.
The original is in Cod. Seidel. at Dresden. From the Börnersche Sammlung at Leipzig, fol. 413, in Schütze, vol. I, p. 284 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 598.
To the worthy man, Mr. M. Anton Läuterbach, pastor of the church at Pirna and bishop of the place, his brother in the
HErrn.
Grace and peace! I read your letter, my dear "Auto", happily, especially the part where you write that Doctor Pistorius said: "You should let us keep the Canons 2c. Of course we would like to" let these. We certainly want to let these sows keep their bran, "and the hellish fire with it. Fire to it", as they want and seek. Again, "they shall let us keep our Lord, the Son of God, and the kingdom of heaven with it. We are soon parted, like a ripe dirt and a wide asshole". But my joy is this, that finally the thoughts of this exceedingly evil hypocrite and his kind have been revealed. Now, with a happier and safer conscience, they may be taken by us for lost slaves of Satan, who cannot be believed, even if they swear a hundred times, for see what this quite wicked "Becker" thought to bake 4), since he, communicating under both guises, and putting forward good words, ridiculed God and mocked you. Don't you remember that I was slow to believe your praises with which you adorned him to me? 5) Now you have what Doctor "Becker" is, Carlewitz and this yeast at your
4) So pinsere will have to be translated here, because of the allusion to Pistorius. Pinso also has pistum in the supinum.
5) Cf. no. 2909.
Letters from the year 1543. No. 3059. 3060.
Court. Therefore be strong against it, and despise the devil in these devils and devil's children and the seed of the serpent, until they cast you out. The earth is the Lord's, and all that is therein, without doubt Dresden also, and all that is therein 2c. If D. "Becker" misses that heaven is his and all that is in it, then hell and its constricted narrowness will be all too close for him shortly after these days, amen, where he will dine with Duke George and become partaker of his canons and the dung of Satan, as he is worthy. May the Lord Jesus (as he began) do his work in us and continue to scatter those who are hopeful in their hearts, amen. Take heed that thou be not sad or humble before them, but that thou deal safely and cheerfully in the cause of Christ. By such cheerfulness you will crucify them and Satan with them, for he intends to overthrow and afflict us, but we want to throw him, spoken in German, into his mouth. He may want to or not, so he will be forced to suffer the one who crushes his head, however much he may bite and threaten with his terrible teeth to devour us. The seed of the woman is with us, which we teach, confess, and want to reign. In it, be well and pray for me. The third of November, 1543, yours Martin Luther, D.
Postscript.
Give my best regards to Mr. Daniel, the pastor in Dresden, and what I have written to you, I want to have written to him as well. I know that I replied to his last letter. 1) If the letter has not been delivered, it has undoubtedly been caught by the Becker family.
No. 3060