your noble and highly-esteemed Princes, whose reputation, through the grace of God, is daily increasing, being a sweet savour to all.
The Lord be with you. Written while your Weller is conducting the music during supper.
Martin Luther (Schütze.)
CCCII
To Andreas Osiander
Dissensions still continue among the Nürnberg clergy, especially between Osiander and Link.
October 8, 1533.
Grace and peace in Christ! I read your former epistle, and also that to the Nürnberg magistrate, my excellent brother in Christ, as well as the letters and pamphlets of the other party, and Christ knows what a martyrdom these divisions and scandals are to me. But from what I can gather from these writings, it seems as if no one would yield. And why? If no one will admit being convinced by the other party, will you quarrel through all eternity, to the grief of all pious souls? But it it be a matter of conscience with you, then you merit forgiveness. Still, if the other side also cannot violate their convictions, then they too must be treated with forbearance. So let there be mutual forgiveness, and each bear the other`s burden, according to the law of Christ, and thus the misunderstanding will be cleared away, and the question cease to be publicly discussed, and so, through time, it will die a natural death.
Meantime, cleave to your own opinions, and do not be disturbed by the continuance of public absolution in your congregation. Let the others also keep to their own opinions about absolution till time softens the feelings, and the former unity is re—established, and then a decision can be arrived at without bitterness. At present, with the strong feeling, nothing good can be achieved, and these dissensions might easily cause an beam to be made out of the mote, and a great disturbance ensue, which,
