Let Your Sins Be Strong: A Letter from Luther to Melancthon
By Martin Luther

       Jesus.

       Of course, you can only know and absolve those sins which have been
       confessed to you; sins which have not been confessed to you, you
       neither need to know nor can you absolve them. That is reaching too
       high, dear gentlemen."
      
       You cannot convince me that the same is true for the vows made by
       priests and monks. For I am very concerned about the fact that the
       order of priesthood was instituted by God as a free one. Not so that
       of the monks who chose their position voluntarily, even though I have
       almost come to the conclusion that those who have entered into that
       state at an age prior to their manhood, or are currently at that
       stage, may secede with a clear conscience. I am hesitant, however,
       with a judgment about those who have been in this state for a long
       time and have grown old in it.
      
       2. By the way, St. Paul very freely speaks about the priests (1.Tim:
       4, ff), that devils have forbidden them to marry; and St. Paul's
       voice is the voice of the divine majesty. Therefore, I do not doubt
       that they must depend on him to such a degree that even though they
       agreed to this interdiction of the devil at the time, now--having
       realized with whom they made their contract--they can cheerfully
       break this contract.
      
       3. This interdiction by the devil, which is clearly shown by God's
       Word, urges and compels me to sanction the actions of the Bishop of
       Kemberg. For God does not lie nor deceive when He says that this is
       an interdiction from the devil. If a contract has been made with the
       devil it must not endure since it was made in godless error against
       God and was damned and repudiated by God. For He says very clearly
       (1. Tim. 4:1 Vulg.) that those spirits are in error who are the
       originators of the interdictions.
      
       4. Why do you hesitate to join this divine judgment against the gates
       of hell? That is not how it was with the oath of the children of
       Israel which they gave to the Gibeons. They had it in their laws
       that they must offer peace or accept peace offered to them, and
       accept into their midst proselytes and those who adhered to their
       customs. All this took place. Nothing happened there against the
       Lord or by the advice of spirits. For even though in the beginning
       they murmured, later on they approved.
      
       5. In addition, consider that the state of being unmarried is only a
       human statute and can be readily lifted. Therefore any Christian can
       do this. I would make this statement even if the interdiction had
       not come from a devil, but from a devout person. However, because
       there is no such statement by God concerning the monks, I am
       therefore not certain that I should make the same pronouncement
       concerning them. For I would not dare to presume, neither advice
       another to do so. Would God that we could do this, though, in order
       to prevent someone from becoming a monk, or leaving his order during
       the years of his virility. For we are to avoid vexations if there is
       no relevant scriptural passage available to us, even when dealing
       with things which are permitted.
      
       6. Good old Carlstadt is also citing St. Paul (1 Tim.5:9-11), to let
       go of the younger widows and select 60-year-olds, wish to God this
       could be demonstrated. Quite easily someone might say that the
       Apostle referred to the future, while in reference to the past (V.12)
       they are condemned because they have broken their first troth.
       Therefore this expression has come to naught and cannot be a
       dependable basis for the conscience. For that is what we are
       searching for. Moreover, this reasoning that it is better to be
       married than to burn with vain desire (1 Cor.7:9), or to prevent the
       sins of immorality (1 Cor.7:2), by entering into marriage while
       committing the sin of the broken troth, that is nothing but common-
       sense. We want the scripture and the witness of God's will. Who
       knows if the one who is very enthusiastic today will still be so
       tomorrow?
      
       7. I would not have allowed marriage for priests for the sole reason
       of "burning" had not St. Paul called this interdiction devilish and
       hypocritical, condemned by God. Even without the burning he urged
       that this unmarried status be cast aside simply for the fear of God.
       However, it is necessary to discuss these things more thoroughly. For
       I too would love to come to the aid of the monks and nuns. I very
       much pity these wretched human beings, these young men and girls who
       suffer defilement and burning.
      
       8. Concerning the two elements of the Holy Supper I will not give an
       example, but give testimony with Christ's words. Carlstadt does not
       show that those who have received only one element have sinned, or
       not sinned. I am concerned that Christ did not command either one of
       the two, just as He does not command baptism if the tyrant or the
       world withhold the water. So also the violence of persecution
       separates men and women, which God forbids to separate, neither do
       they agree to be separated. Therefore, neither do godfearing hearts
       agree that they should be robbed of one of the elements. However,
       those who do agree and approve: who can deny that these are not
       Christians but Papists who are sinning.
      
       9. There HE does not demand it, and here the tyrant oppresses, I
       therefore cannot agree that those who receive only one element are
       sinning. For who can exert power to take something when the tyrant
       is not willing? Therefore it is only common-sense which observes
       here that Christ's institution is not adhered to. Scripture makes no
       definition by which we could declare this act a sin. It is Christ's
       institution, given in freedom, which cannot be incarcerated as a
       whole or in part.
      
       10. It happened to Donatus, the martyr, where several people could
       not participate because the cup broke or the wine was spilled. What
       if this happens and there is no other wine available? There are other
       similar situations. In short, because Scripture does not speak of sin
       here, I therefore say there is no sin involved.
      
       11. I am quite pleased, though, that you are re-establishing Christ's
       method. For it was just that which I planned to take up with you
       first of all upon my return to you. For now we recognize this
       tyranny and can oppose it, in order not to be forced to receive only
       one of the elements.
      
       12. From here on I will no longer conduct private mass. Rather we
       should pray God to give us more of His Spirit. For I am expecting
       that the Lord will soon ravish Germany--which she deserves because of
       her unbelief, godlessness and hate of the Gospel. However, we shall
       be blamed for this chastisement, as we are made out to be heretics
       who have provoked God to this action. We shall be scorned by the
       people and disdained by the nation. Those, however, will make
       excuses for their sins, through which He will manifest that the hard-
       hearted do not become godly neither by mercy nor wrath. Let it
       happen, let the will of the Lord be done. Amen!
      
       13. If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but
       the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the
       true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only
       imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let
       your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the
       victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we
       are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We,
       however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new
       heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. It suffices that
       through God's glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the
       sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to
       kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think
       such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager
       sacrifice for our sins? Pray hard for you are quite a sinner.
      
       On the day of the Feast of St. Peter the Apostle, 1521