About the petition of some citizens in Arnstadt for their expelled preacher (see No. 3064).
Printed in the Altenburg edition, vol. VIII, p. 276; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXII, p. 575; by Walch, vol. XXI, 488; by De Wette, vol. V, p. 623 (who compared Cod. Goth. 185. 4.) and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 81, everywhere as "to an unnamed person". Mörlin's life in the Act. Borussia, II, 482, gives an explanation of this letter (Seidemann in De Wette, vol. VI, p. 633, note 5).
Grace and peace in the Lord. My dear friend! That such a writing of the four citizens of Arnstadt to the count should be inflammatory is impossible for me to understand, because it is a humble
1) Thus Seidemann in De Wette. Vol. VI, p.633; Luther calls him in No. 3093: "a citizen" (civem).
This is a pleading writing, addressed to no one else but to their proper superiors for a faithful, learned preacher, in which they should be praised rather than scolded, unless it should not be held against them, even if they had persuaded themselves somewhat in words. But if one wants to the dog, he has eaten the leather. It has pleased me beyond measure on the council of Arnstadt that they chase away such an excellent man and thereby reject Christ himself; and if it were up to me, they should not get a pastor forever; and whoever accepts it after this D. Mörlin, he shall not be in my community until they get along with D. Mörlin in a Christian way. Should not a parishioner suffer a little if he is punished for sin, just as if we did not deserve it much worse, and have allowed ourselves to be flayed under the papacy, and have learned vain lies and condemnation for it. To write to the Elector is (I worry) too long, perhaps also in vain, to the fact that S. C. F. G. has sent himself to the Imperial Diet. But I hear that the Grase will write to us: if it happens, he shall find me at home, God willing, because I have D. Mörlin's trade with me. Hiemit GOtt befehlt, Amen. On the day of St. Paul's Conversion [25 Jan.] 1544.
Martinus Luther, D.
No. 3089.