In consequence of Ferdinand's election as King of Rome, and the news that was collecting troops in Schmalkald leaguewas formed by Hesse and Saxony, with the support of Denmark, for the protectionof
Luther sends them a preacher.
Council of Gottingen.
Grace and peace in Christ I herewith send the preacher of whom Birnstiel,and althoughhe may not be master of the Saxon tongue, still I trust he may please, as in German dialect satisfiesthem in the pulpit. The other licentiate,
BasiHus, will soon follow.
He cannot sell his glebe,implements, and cattle so hurriedly, hence the delay. The clergy are becomingscarce The harvest is great and the labourers few, so they must be treated accordingly.
Excellencies will find them learned and capable men.
Basil speaks both good I confidently recommend them.
Pray provide them with money for the journey. Meantime God grant they may bring forth much fruit,to the honour of His name and your salvation.
Lord, grace and peace It is hardlynecessary for me to write,as Jonas,a livingepistle, is startingfor you.
From him you can hear what is takingplacehere and elsewhere. are most anxious to communicate with us, and are conceding some thingsand adopting a milder tone.
We shall pray that the harmony may be complete.
Pommer is working diligently, but Satan buffets him through a maiden who is possessed.Jonas,this Demosthenes, will enlargeupon all this with his usual eloquence.I wonder that Write him to return immediately, for the livingof
Sebastian -Rotteritz is waiting for him.
I think will suit him.
I shall seek somethingelse.
Tell him he will not eat me into the poorhouse in three or four weeks ; so manage this for me.
Psalter because of the enemy's aspersions.Christ, who has begun the work, will finish it,to His honour and our salvation.
My wife and household greet you respectfully.
Luther introduces the bearer of this letter to his future colleagues.
Here, excellent brother, is one of the promised preachers,Hans Birnstiel ; the second will follow when he has sold his farm and belongings.I beseech you, further Christ's cause, and introduce no innovations into the services,if in accordance with your views.
For the common man gladlyseizes any such pretext for damaging For althoughsuch ceremonials do not promote hoHness,stillthey arrest the attention of coarser natures.
I speak chiefly of the rites connected with the mass, altars,etc., and of vestments, torches,and such-like trifles, which can be retained,if not alreadydone away with, as in Wittenberg.
If so, restore them gradually, but let God's Word have the first place, so that no one's conscience may be offended.
For they are useful for children and feeble folks,who must be considered. the highestdegreeof perfection, for love and unityreign among you.
Lord continue this ; and pray for me.
Grace and peace in Christ We read your confession of faith,and highlyapprove of it,and thank God that we are so far at least agreedthat the body and blood are really in the Supper,and given as food to the soul.
But why maintain that Zwingliand CEcolampadius are of the same opinion} Christ's body is reallyoffered as food to the soul,and that it is no contradiction to assert
He is as much offered to a Christless soul,althoughit cannot at once perceiveit,even as the sunlightilluminates the eyes of the blind as well as of those who see, I wonder you should be loath to admit that we outwardlyput the body into the mouths of the godlessas well as of the pious. For admittingthat all are allowed to partakeof it,then it cannot be denied that the body is present in several places at once.
If this opiniondoes not yet prevailamong you, then the negotiations must be stopped,awaitingfurther enlightenment from I cannot recede from this position, and if you do not feel that this idea liesin Christ's words, then how can there be an enduringunion between us unless
I am willingto sow the seeds of still greater dissensions in our congregations, thus causing a split which will prevent any unanimity.
Therefore, I beseech you, let us not ratify such a false agreement, which will cause all manner of offences,but leave the matter to God, and seek meantime to maintain this understandingthat both partiesadmit that the body of Christ is reallypresent in the sacrament, and partaken of inwardlyby believers.
For were we to do more than this,your peoplewho partakeof the sacrament with us, and ours who do so with you, would necessarily receive it