This and the missive of May 30 refer to the dispute which arose between the two Pomeranian dukes Barnim IX of Stettin and his nephew Philip 1 of Wolgast over the reoccupation of the bishopric of Camin, which had been terminated by the death of Bishop Erasmus Manteufel, and have the purpose of preventing the election of the seventeen-year-old Count of Eberstein proposed by Duke Barnim on the recommendation of Duke Ernst of Lüneburg.
In Diplomatariis et Scriptoribus Historiae Germ. med. aevi op. et stud. Christ. Schoettgen et Georg Christoph. Kreysig, Tom. III. Altenb. 1760. fol. p. 293. (Pomerania diplomatica No. CCCXXII); m Mohnike's Kirchen- und literarhistorischen Studien und Mittheilungen, I, 1, 186; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 649; in Erlanger Ausgabe, vol. 56, p. 91 and (as by Melanchthon) in Corp. Ref., vol. V, 381.
To the most illustrious princes and lords, Mr. Barnim and Mr. Philipps, both dukes of Pomerania and our gracious lords and envoys.
God's grace through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Savior before. Illustrious, highborn, gracious princes and lords! First of all, we ask Your Highness in submission that you graciously hear our writing, which is meant with true Christian faithfulness and to no one's detriment or advantage, and not because we want to force ourselves on others, but because we know that both Your Highness and Your Lordship, as noble Christian princes and lords, are in favor of us. F. G., as sovereign Christian princes, do not seek or desire anything higher in their government and their lives than that the right knowledge of God and invocation be planted and maintained through F. G.'s rule, and that their subjects be called to eternal blessedness and be properly instructed. And we have heard that the Duke of Camin is not in agreement about the election of a bishop, we, as we are also obliged to care for the Christian church, have considered with humble goodwill before this time to write our simple Christian remembrance to both the Duke of Camin in this matter, which we are now promoting by your, Duke Philippsen's, envoy's report, envoy's report; and we ask in submission that Your Holiness will graciously listen to this reminder,
and move with diligence, and above all promote God's glory, and the salvation and need of poor scattered Christendom; and this is our concern:
First of all, it is quite certain and without doubt that E. F. G. as Dukes of Pomerania and as God's ordained sovereigns are obliged to decree with the utmost seriousness that the churches in the entire duchy and its lands, also in the diocese of Calvin, be properly and Christianly staffed and supplied with competent persons and proper maintenance of the same; for thus says the Psalm: You princes shall open the gates of the world, that the King of honor may enter.
Now, both of them, together with their laudable regions, have considered a Christian order, especially with which form and to which office a bishop is to be elected at Camin at all times, and how the cathedral chapter, for the preservation of Christian life and other useful studies, is to remain and be preserved in its essence, which order of both of them we also consider to be good and useful, as far as we are informed, and so that the churches would not be neglected. For this is true and public, that a bishop, as an overseer, is to spread the pure Christian truth of the Gospel, and to teach it himself, as all holy bishops of old did, item, to visit the churches, to ordain competent persons, to take care of the study, to govern the marriage courts and other ecclesiastical courts, and to administer Christian discipline, for which first of all the dioceses are founded, is to be used properly, and with these mentioned ministries can work and exalt much good to God's praise; And especially in these last times, in which the world is becoming raw and wild, and the Turks are not far from us, it is highly necessary that there be diligent, serious, understanding overseers, who wisely build up the churches and keep them together, so that they may exist fervently.
Since, after the death of Bishop Erasmi, the Holy Father is now to appoint another, whose age and ability to govern are to be respected, by virtue of the established inheritance contracts and orders, we ask, in submission and for the sake of God, that both Holy Fathers unanimously appoint such a person to the episcopal office, as is reported, who will be the bishop.
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He was willing and inclined to exercise the episcopal offices, to teach the gospel, the visitation, the government, the spiritual courts and the discipline.
But that there has been disagreement in this matter, we are truly shocked, considering that this disagreement is not only harmful and annoying now, but also sets a bad example for the future; and if such disagreement has occurred now and as soon as in the first nomination after the establishment of the order, what is there to worry about for forty or more years?
And that in the one nomination the young Count of Eberstein, who is known to us, is appointed, although we do not know how to punish the said Count and Lord, as a young gentleman of his manners, in this his youth, and we grant him all the best, nevertheless his age and mind is not yet capable of the episcopal office for many years, therefore it is fair to reject this nomination of the young Count for the following reasons:
First of all, if one wants to elect church regents, everyone is obliged to follow Paul's rule, which he wrote to Timotheo, primae Timoth. tertio, and Tito ad Titum l. and earnestly commanded to elect such a person who can perform the office himself; and without sin no one can consent to appoint or elect such a person whom he knows to be still long unfit for the office, and not so earnestly studied as to be afterwards fit to preach, teach, shut up the adversaries of the gospel with the truth of the holy Scriptures, and to advocate pure truth, also to exercise other church offices 2c.
For this commandment in St. Paul's writings is not to be dismissed and disregarded as words that should be spoken only for appearances, but they are serious divine commands, the disregard of which is punished with eternal wrath, if one persists in sin, and with temporal plagues, as the examples are before us, where the great lords have given the bishoprics to children and other unlearned and despisers of Christian offices. There the right doctrine has been destroyed, and idolatry and fornication have grown, which God punishes with wars and various disruptions.
On the other hand, Paul says 1 Timothy. 5: Thou shalt not easily ordain any man to the church office, nor make thyself partaker of the sins of others. Whoever then appoints or elects a person who cannot hold the office, what that person fails to do and corrupts, he who has exalted him to it is guilty of.
Now we ask, E. F. G. want to hear and accept this warning, and not to put themselves in this way before God, so that they make themselves guilty of all negligence, which would follow from the knowing nomination of an unintelligent boy, and also do not want to make themselves guilty of annoyance. For with such an unjust nomination, the previous examples of despised election 1) would be approved, and the like would be strengthened for the time being, as we know that in several other places in German lands at this time, much unreasonable practices are being carried out with the episcopal election.
Thirdly, in the confession of the praiseworthy and Christian princes, which was made for the glory of God and the betterment of the churches, this abuse is especially punished, that the bishoprics are not provided with persons capable of the office, from which error and great sins and punishments have resulted in Christendom. Now, we have no doubt that both institutions are finally intent on keeping the articles of the Confession and not to act against them. However, this choice of children would cause a great rupture in a noble article of the Confession, and would not only strengthen the previous abuses, but the crude nature of this time would cause greater harm. For although in former times the bishops and officials did not respect the doctrine, the same time the officials, because of their enjoyment, had a fuss about some ceremonies and gross annoyances. Now there are no officials, and all episcopal government, in large and small parts, lies in the mire; and if there is not a Christian ordination and visitation of the churches and schools, and an attention to the discipline and income of the churches, maintenance and protection of the
1) At De Wette and in the Erlanger: "Verächter- Wahl".
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If the churchmen and schools are to be established with great seriousness, it is to be feared that a miserable pagan darkness and desolation will follow. And all men, kings, princes, noble and ignoble, scholars and unscholars, each in his profession and according to his ability, are truly guilty before God to take precautions against this pagan darkness now and to care for the descendants.
Both of them, as noble Christian princes, want to consider this diligently, and not against God's command and against the Christian confession, to the detriment of the churches, to handle and strengthen the old abuse, especially because the damage is public.
Both of them know that nowadays many churches, especially in the bishop's territories, stand desolate, without pastors, as if they were heathens, and that otherwise the visitation and church court are highly needed in the country. To rebuild so many fallen parishes, and to arrange the visitation and ecclesiastical court properly and usefully, truly requires a faithful, learned, understanding, experienced and practiced person. And are E. F. G. themselves owe this service to God, that they help in this Christian work with all seriousness.
Fourthly, since this is the first example, according to established princely treaties of nomination, in which F. F. G. should present a praiseworthy example to all other countries that they seek God's honor and keep their own promise without sophistry, it would be exceedingly annoying if F. F. G., according to old abuse, wanted to nominate a person who, because of his youth and lack of understanding, is not yet capable. F. G. would want to nominate, according to old abuse, a person who, because of his youth and ignorance, is still lukewarm, or if, despite divine command and their own well-considered and Christian contracts, they did not want to compare themselves in the right way.
E. F. G. want to consider God's wrath in this, who does not let such contempt go unpunished, if someone thinks that there is nothing great about the parishes, the visitation and other church matters, it is much more stately, if a principality raises their counts and the nobility to great estates, for which the bishoprics and cathedral chapters are to serve.
But that God wants to show a serious wrath over this papal and pagan contempt, is very publicly proven by all the
great wars and plagues that are before your eyes. Woe to you, says Esaias on the 5th, who seek great goods, pleasures, splendor and dominions, and neglect the offices that God has commanded you.
And if one wants to argue against this, although E. F. G. were not compared to the nomination half of this time, then both E. F. G. would nevertheless have been ready for it. had already arranged, by virtue of established princely treaties, according to which each part had nominated a person, that this error would be decided by lot, therefore there is no need for another nomination, but one should leave it at this, and wait, to whom the lot will fall, that the same will be accepted and confirmed for a bishop, as given by God for this purpose, because God would certainly send it so, that the most suitable and useful person would be chosen, because the Scripture Proverb. 16 says: "The lot is cast by the Lord" 2c.; on the other hand, E. F. G. want to consider that in this whole matter not to play thus, and to tempt God, but that the said E. F. G. treaties are thus established and of the opinion that after a right Christian election and nomination of two persons, who by age and skill are fit for the episcopal office, the lot shall be cast, and in this the laudable example of the Apostles' election Actor. 1, according to which there is no doubt that these contracts are thus considered and ordered by E. F. G.. For there we see that the apostles first named and presented two such men from among many persons, whom they considered to be the most capable, and then cast the lot over them with an appeal to God, so that he would show which of these two he would prefer to such an office. God has been present, and still wants to be present, and to give his blessing to it, where such an example is possible: If one seeks otherwise, then one must seek to know which of the two he would prefer to this office. But where one seeks otherwise, there will be little blessing and good.
Therefore, only humbly and for the sake of God, we ask both E. F. G., as we are obligated to do so in our office, to please use our indicated opinion and cause for God's praise and own blessedness and for the benefit of the countries and people, which also may be
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are the people and souls for whom Christ shed his blood and suffered death, and grant our request and admonition. We know well how far our office and ability stretches, and do not presume higher than is due to us; we both ask and admonish and remind E. F. G. of God's earnest command. If our petitioning, exhorting and reminding does no good, we must command the matter to God. Nevertheless, we are urged by our office to complain about the princes' negligence and to punish those who mislead the princes in this matter to the detriment of Christianity through avarice with harsh writings. For we are certain that no one with God and a good conscience can advise or consent to such a choice of children. A properly ordered bishopric would be a useful jewel of the whole duchy and land of Pomerania and its neighborhood.
Therefore, we again ask and admonish E. F. G. in submission and for the sake of God, that they do not want to nominate and elect a sham bishop or monkey work, but a true bishop who will take the office seriously. For in this nomination not only the preservation of the goods is to be considered, but first of all the office is to be considered, in which many great things are included, namely the teaching office, which a bishop himself is obliged to do, the interrogation of priests, examination and ordination, supervision of the teaching and ceremonies, visitation of the churches and schools, preservation of Christian discipline, with punishment of blasphemies, adultery, etc., Appointment of ecclesiastical courts in matrimonial cases, and in case of disputes concerning the law, and in sum, preservation of Christian law and discipline, so that it may be inherited by the descendants and not become pagan desolations.
These things both want to consider E. F. G. of great importance, and to mean God's honor, their own bliss, and E. F. G.'s dukedom and lands benefit and welfare. F.G.'s dukedom and lands, and not to throw away the diocese as a party, regardless of the office. And finally, as we have no doubt, we both ask the F. G. to graciously hear this faithful and well-meant writing of ours, which is intended for no one's advantage or disadvantage, but only for God's glory. The
eternal God the Father of our Savior JEsu Christ may E. F. G. always preserve and rule, Amen. Date Wittenberg, May 14 Anno 1544?)
Ew. fürstl. Your Grace Martinus Luther, D. Joh. Bugenhagen Pomer, D. Caspar Creuziger, D.
Philip Melanthon.
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