About the good disposition of the Anhalt princes for the gospel, which the bishop of Halle tries to counteract. About the church order.
The original is in Dessau. Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 204. From the Hanische Sammlung at Kiel in Schütze, vol. II, p. 310; in Strobel-Ranner, p. 236 and in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 527. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1417 f.
To the highly honored man Mr. M. Nicolaus Hausmann, the extremely faithful servant of the Lord in Dessau, his superior in the Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ! Gladly I hear, best man, what you also write, and this good man has told about the very good princes. Christ strengthen and complete his work in them in great and persevering spirit, amen. It is not to be wondered at that the bishop of Halle is so earnestly opposed; he feels that he cannot so easily do without the very good Lord George, who has so faithfully taken care of the affairs of his kingdom, and yet he realizes that he cannot keep him with him if he follows the Gospel and confesses the same. Therefore, he becomes a flattering siren and tempts him to deny Christ, who lives and reigns forever, and instead to obey the lies of a bishop who does not know how to be a man.
1) Lauterbach.
2) "let" put by us instead of: "let".
3) "we's" put by us instead of: "we".
moment of his life. I have often said that if there were no pope, this bishop alone would be worthy of the papacy; he is so rich in all papal virtues, which he now also demonstrates publicly; with what luck, only time will tell. Enough of this.
I was very pleased that you wrote that it was not your intention that the orders should be published. For in this way it will happen that with time the matter itself will order everything better. For such things are better written after the fact than before the fact. For the law says and it does not happen, but history happens and is said or written.
May the Lord Jesus, who willed that you should be his instrument in that place, fill you with a joyful and cheerful spirit, so that you may bear much fruit for his grace, amen. On Saturday 4) after Judica [March 28] 1534. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2047.