Concerns in matrimonial matters of the cantor Matthäus Weißmann.
According to a copy in the Weimar Archives, Res. O, pag. 614, printed by Burkhardt, p. 485. - Burkhardt does not state what the above date set by him is based on. Cf. no. 3254.
On the witness statement in the matter concerning Matheum Weißman, Cantor, this is our Christian concern, which we send to an honorable council of Zwickau, as our
1) "Eil" put by us instead of: "vil".
We do not consider this as a sentence or judgment, but we think that it would be most convenient to bring this matter to an end in this way. And first of all we say that the worthy pastor had reason to plead the offense, because incesta consuetudo is such a cruel sin that one should not only avoid the offense, but also the suspicion and suspicion. For this reason, pastors and councilors are obliged to be more careful in such matters than in others, and the pastor should remain unchallenged on account of the plea. Secondly, although the witnesses do not say that the deed was done, and the persons are somewhat excused, therefore we cannot condemn them, nevertheless a suspicion remains, and both persons have done wrong in that the cantor, as a drunkard, lies down there in the booth (puden) and stays there until night, and that the woman allows such, goes in once and the other time; all this is annoying, although nothing else has happened. Therefore, one E. R[ath] shall demand of the cantor and give him this reproof: that he will consider God's judgment, that incesta consuetudo is a particularly terrible sin, which God punishes not only on the perpetrators, but also on the whole cities, as God speaks Levitici 18 and Amos 2. Therefore, if he, the cantor, knows himself guilty, then there is no marriage, nor will there ever be a marriage between them, and he shall refrain from these sponsaIibus altogether. And he shall be clearly told to keep his conscience before God, and not to give this answer: he should be sent away; but he shall do for his conscience what is right. But if he insists that he is innocent, we cannot prevent this marriage with the virgin, but let him be free on his conscience. But since St. Paul says, ab omni specie mala, abstinete, and especially these are things in which not only the deed but also suspicion should be avoided, our concern is that the cantor should not solemnize and hold the wedding in Zwickau, but in other places; he should also immediately live in other places and not in Zwickau; but "he" should not be forbidden the city with this. Nor shall the cantor and the other people consider this objection unreasonable, as though they had
Letters from the year 1545. No. 3282. 3283.
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quite deserves no punishment, because the annoyance is criminal. A virtuous woman should be more careful than to suffer such full, disorderly people around her. The cantor has also done wrong by causing such trouble. The world is wild and does not want to suffer restraint and discipline. According to this, we pastors should keep silent about all ailments; that is no good either. Therefore, the cantor takes this punishment upon himself, as an example to others, that other companions and wives avoid trouble more diligently, in honor of God and for the good of us all. And no person shall be injured in his honor, for this is a church punishment and fatherly discipline.
Martinus Luther, D.
Johannes Bugenhagen, Pommer, D. Caspar Crentziger, D.
Georgius Major, D. Philippus Melanchthon.
No. 3283.