takingthe sacrament to the sick,if not done accordingto Electoral Highnesslaysso much stress on these matters, I would humbly suggest that althoughthey may be retained for a time, they should not be embodied in the tenets of the Reformation and printed. For, as the prefacedeclares,it is a Reformation grounded on the Bible,and on the usages of the purified
For from earlytimes the Church usages became most corrupt.
Christ did not make anointingwith oil a sacrament, nor do St. James'swords apply to the present day.
For in those days the sick were often cured through a miracle and the earnest prayer of faith, as we see in James and The carryingof the sacrament to the sick, although continued, must not be imperative or put in print. For it is of human institution, and not God's command, so it can be retained tilla better way is found.
Also that the sacrament must be taken from the altar in the mass, and not put in the ciborium.
I have told the rest to your embassy. I herewith commend you to the dear faithful Father of our Christ, and pray for you.
On the same subject.To this day the white surpliceis often worn in the Marien churches,the oldest in Berlin.
Georgio Buchholzer, my dear brother in Christ,grace and peace through Christ I cannot write much because of the weakness of my head.
You will see from the letters what we think of the form of Church government of your Elector, my most gracious lord.
In regardto the things of which you complain,the cowl and surplice in the procession on feast days, and the walking round the churchyardon etc., this is my advice allows you to preach the gospel of Christ purely,without man's additions, and permits the sacraments of Christ's appointment, and does not insist upon the worshipping of the saints as mediators and intercessors,and the carrying of the host in the procession,nor upon dailymasses for the dead, nor holy water nor responses and songs,
German in the processions,then in God*s name go round with them, carrying a silver or gold cross, and cowl or surpliceof velvet, silk,or linen.
And if one of these be not enough, then put on three, as did Priest,each one more beautiful than another, from which church vestments in the Elector be not satisfied with one procession,then go round seven times, as Jerichowith the children of Israel blowing trumpets, and if your lord has any desire let him go on in front, springingand dancingwith harps and cymbals, drums and bells,as did
David when they brought the ark of the I have no objections to that.
For such things,if not abused, neither add to nor take from the gospel,but they must never be regarded as necessary nor made a matter of conscience.
As to the elevation of the elements in the Mass, this too is an open questionwhen nothing is added thereto,so in God's name raise them as long as you like.
We in Wittenberg had good reasons for making an end of the custom " reasons which may not exist in And we shall not again begin it,for it is a free thing and not ordered by God's' command alone is necessary.
Your lord's messengers will give you all further news.
Jesus Christ, whose servant you are, will support you by His name be glorified.
His kingdom come, and I pray daily. Thursday after St. Andrew's Congressof Evangelical Princes was held in Schmalkalden in March, to which the Elector,Melanchthon,Bugenhagen,Jonas, and Melanchthon was present at Emperor arrangeda conference of Melanchthon dangerously illon his way thither.
Hagenau would not listen to the proposed union between the conflictingparties, so another conference was held at Calvin,then resident in Strassburg, was present at both conferences.
Prince to remedy a cryingscandal.^ I hoped,dear sir,to have had you with us at the feast,so instead must send you a petition, beggingyou to pleadwith my gracious lord that he would forbid the nobilityactingas they do towards those for whom they stand bail in his lands.
It is a disgracethat such oppressionand robberyshould be permittedin the publicinns under princelyprotection, where the nobles behave so abominably,devouringall that comes in their way.
It is said that four nobles,throughriotous living in the inns,have squeezed300 gulden out of Martin List for a debt of 30 florins.
How much better would it have been had each given a few florins and set poor What devil has given such power to the nobility to plunder thus
Princes do not punish this, God will surelypunish them, along with us.
I think of publishing a pamphlet on the matter, and addressingit to the But my writingis of little use if you do not dihgentlyprevent this from your exalted position.
In how many ways can the devil injure us Turk do not swallow us up, or the pestilence sweep us away, or the Emperor consume us, then we devour and ruin one
When debtors did not pay, it was the custom for those who stood bail to live in the inns tillthe debt was paid at the debtor's expense.