Luther revoked the publication of the Dessau Church Order by printing it.
The original is in Dessau. Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 202. Printed in Schütze, vol. II, p. 308; in Strobel-Ranner, p. 234 and in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 525. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1414 f.
To the man to be highly honored in Christ, Mr. Nicolaus Hausmann, the faithful servant of the Word in Dessau, his extremely dear brother.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have read your order, my dear man, and have told Magister Forchheim 1) my opinion, namely, that it does not seem advisable that it be printed and made public. For it has long been a matter of regret to us that we have published our Reformation 2) which has set an example for all others to publish theirs as well, and so the diversity and quantity of ceremonies has grown to infinity, so that we will soon surpass the seas and forests of the papists. Rather, I have advised that the copy be withheld, and that the pastors simply be informed in writing, article by article, what and how much they should do at this time, as under the papacy the (so-called) divine . The same order was handed down, so that it would be gradually strengthened by practice and the matter itself, without handing down or writing or deception. Then, that things may be kept as even as possible with us or other neighbors, so that we do not open the mouths of the papists and souls to bark and blaspheme about our, as they highly raise it, ambiguities, as M. Georg will tell you more extensively. I beg you to excuse him; through my fault he is slow in answering you; he has been a very diligent fence-sitter, but I will not be able to answer him in front of the
1) Georg Held.
2) This will mean the "Deutsche Messe und Ordnung des Gottesdienstes. St. Louis Edition, Vol. X, L26.
Breakfast all the use of pen and paper prevented by the suffering of my head, which I do not want to irritate in this new air of the year. The Lord Jesus be with you, and offer your very good princes my poor prayer to the Lord. For their so pure and loud and earnest godliness toward Christ delights me greatly, that I cannot tell. He himself, our most sweet Christ, keep and increase their faith by his certain, holy and joyful Spirit [Ps. 51:12-14.], Amen. Pray for me, and be well in Christ. On the day before Sunday Judica [March 21] Anno 1534.
Your Martin Luther.
No. 2043.