At the location indicated in the previous number. In Burkhardt, p. 435 ff, in the note.
If one would take action from the land of Brunswick, and otherwise due to other circumstances the matter would be directed to peace, whether for the sake of peace the article of religion is to be concealed and not to be disputed, or whether this article is to be respected so highly that because of it these lords and lands are to be put into strife and extreme danger and to wage wars, which no one can see an end to, from which devastation of the German nation is to be feared, as Grecia and other lands have been terribly devastated by war among themselves 2c., This is especially a difficult question, for warfare is not everyone's art,
and to conclude in such matters, the Holy Spirit alone is the right counsel; human thoughts can easily be hideously lacking in this, for divine punishments are many.
But, to speak according to the rule, this is the truth. If these lords and estates consider that they truly and fundamentally had the right to take the land of Brunswick, and that they ruled it diligently and praiseworthily, and had a serious regard for churches and schools, and thus sought God's praise, and respected their property to some extent in this way, so that they could protect the country with God's help, it is right and necessary not only not to conceal the article of religion, but also, in the event that force is taken, to protect the churches in the country as their own churches. And as David would have done wrong, if he had willingly given one or more spots to the idolaters, where he had to assume that idolatry would be established again: So in this case it is also wrong to give the land again into the hands of Brunswick, and with concealment again allow idolatry, unjust teaching and persecution, and with the weak confusion of their consciences, chasing away or murder of the Christian priests, their wives, poor children, item, others who do not want to accept idolatry again. Against this concealment actually speak these following sayings, which are rightly dressed, and are the actual rules of such things and cases. Matth. 10, 32. f.: "Whoever confesses me before men, him will I confess before my heavenly Father; but whoever denies me before men, him will I also deny before my heavenly Father." Matth. 12, 30.: "He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth." Gal. 2:18: "If I build again that which I have broken off, I make myself a transgressor." Rom. 1, 32.: The doers and the approvers are equally guilty of death. Matth. 18, 6: "If any of the least of these offend one that believeth on me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the sea, where it is deepest." Matth. 25, 24. ff. the servant is rejected and condemned [, who buries his penny.
Letters from the year 1543. No. 3074. 3075.
had]. 1) Ezekiel 34:2, "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves. Shall not the shepherds feed the flock?" Isa. 5, 22. f.: "Woe to you who speak right to the wicked" 2c.
These sayings are the rule, from both of which it is clear that one cannot consent to unrighteous teaching, idolatry, and persecution again being wrought in the land [and that one owes protection]. 2)
There are, however, a number of things attached to it, namely, that it is not a public impossibility, for in this case the gospel gives the same teaching to the rulers and the subjects, namely, that we should be ready to suffer if we are defenseless, as Christ says Matt. 16:24: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. As an example: When Maximianus persecuted the Christians in the Orient, he overran the Armenians, who had been subject to the Romans for some time, but had adopted Christian teachings. But because they saw public tyranny, and the cities nevertheless had a regiment, they faithfully joined together and protected themselves against Maximianum, their emperor, and victory and happiness were with the Armenians. This was right, for the cause was just, and there was quite a fortune. But where there is no such fortune, and human protection is gone, one must do as the prophets, apostles and many saints have done at all times.
At the same time Maximiani had a magistrate in Phrygia, Adauctus, a praiseworthy, noble gentleman who ruled well. He had adopted Christian doctrine and had abolished idolatry in his entire city, and ruled the city with Christian doctrine and discipline. This reached Maximianum, who sent a war party against Adauctum. Now there was a public impossibility of resistance. Therefore, he sent in the army, which killed him and other Christians and burned the town, as described by Eusebius in the 8th book.
1) We have substituted "etc." for Burkhardt, who notes: "For the sake of brevity, we do not give all these biblical passages in extenso. We have added them all.
2) These bracketed words were inserted by Melanchthon.
Now where this impossibility is, an authority is excused for not protecting, as Christ says, Luc. 11:41: Give elemosyns of your ability; Paul also says the same in 2 Cor. 8 [v. 11].
And especially with negation and wars, not only the ability, but also the measure of each one's grace is to be considered: as not all are simultaneously gifted by God with strength of body, with speech, so not all are made by God for blissful wars, as Alexander, Julius.
Therefore St. Paul says Rom. 12, 3: "Let each one know the measure of his grace and gift, and let him not reach higher than his gift.
Now it is not our place to know the lords' opportunity, but we can well see that this matter is not to be decided by one or two alone, but by many estates, and whether they all agree and are willing, the lords themselves will consider; but this is indicated by us, that one may know where one is indebted for protection, and that one must have patience in case of impossibility.
The people of Israel were so severely afflicted in Egypt that even their young children were killed, and the tyranny lasted for 80 years. Then God raised up Moses so that they would have a captain who would succeed. So such things are not according to human suggestions, but from divine activity, if luck is to be there.
Martinus Luther, D.
John Bugenhagen, Pomer, D. Philippus Melanthon.
No. 30 75.