Luther: I Have Given Up on Germany

Here's another obscure Luther quote used by a defender of Rome:

"I have well nigh given up all hope for Germany, for . . . the whole host of dishonesty, wickedness, and roguery are reigning everywhere . . . and added to all else contempt of the Word and ingratitude." (in Janssen, ibid., vol.16, 19. From Wilhelm M. L. De Wette, Letters of Luther, Berlin, 1828, vol. 5, 398, 407; Letter to Anton Lauterbach, November, 1541) [link]

I came across a defender of Rome using this quote five different ways. First, it was used as an example of "The Agony of Luther" over "the State of Early Protestantism." Second, that during the Reformation "Catholics were no more ignorant or impious or wicked than, for example, Lutherans, according to the descriptions of Luther himself." Third, it was used as proof Luther was not a "champion of religious freedom and freedom of conscience." Fourth, it was used to prove Luther "lamented often about the actual course of his 'Reformation' in Germany, thus perhaps revealing a sense of failure and guilt." Fifth, it was used as proof the Reformation caused the "decline of morals" and that Luther was disgusted by the "state of Protestant morality." That's one quote, five different applications!

Documentation
There are multiple items of documentation provided. The first item refers to Johannes Janssen's History of the German People From the Close of the Middle Ages Volume 16. On page 19 Janssen states:

The older Luther grew the more frequent were his complaints of the moral anarchy in social life, and of the increase of vice even in his own immediate neighbourhood. On September 8, 1541, he wrote to Link at Nuremberg, who had complained of the 'contempt of the Word' in that town, that he might comfort himself with the thought that the worst of all evils was now reigning, unbridled licentiousness of life without law or religion: 'Our people will now neither hear nor heed the Word of God, a state of things which cannot fail to produce vice.' Two months later he sent a wail to the preacher Anton Lauterbach in Pirna: 'I have well nigh given up all hope for Germany, for greed, usury, tyranny, discord, and the whole host of dishonesty, wickedness, and roguery are reigning everywhere — at the courts, in the towns and villages, and added to all else contempt of the Word and ingratitude.'

The next tidbit of documentation refers to "From Wilhelm M. L. De Wette, Letters of Luther, Berlin, 1828, vol. 5, 398, 407; Letter to Anton Lauterbach, November, 1541." This information has been sifted from Janssen. Working backwards, "Letter to Anton Lauterbach, November, 1541" appears to be based on Janssen providing the date "September 8, 1541" and then saying, "Two months later he sent a wail to the preacher Anton Lauterbach in Pirna." Janssen then documents the quote, "De Wette, v. 398, 407."

It's here where Rome's defender has botched the documentation by not checking the sources. De Wette v. 398 refers to a letter cited by Janssen but not cited by Rome's cyber-defender (September 8, 1541). Page 407 is the only text that's being cited. Also, by actually checking the source an actual fixed date is found: November 10, 1541. The letter states, 

This letter was not included in Luther's Works, English edition (LW). However, a translation is included in  The Life and Letters of Martin Luther By Preserved Smith (p. 411 - 412).

Context

To Anthony Lauterbach at Pirna

(Wittenberg,) November 10, 1541.

Grace and peace. Although I have nothing to write, dear Antony, yet I prefer to write that I have nothing to write rather than leave your letter unanswered. May God strengthen Duke Maurice in the true faith and in sound policy. Perhaps you have heard all the news of the Turk. I almost despair of Germany since she has received within her walls those true Turks or rather those true devils, avarice, usury, tyranny, discord, and that whole cesspool of perfidy, malice, and iniquity, in the nobles, the palaces, the courts of justice, the towns and the villages; worst of all is contempt of the Word and unexampled ingratitude. With these Turks ruling us savagely and cruelly, what success can we hope against the human Turks? May God have mercy upon us and make the light of his countenance to shine upon us. For while we pray against our enemies the Turks, it is to be feared that the Holy Ghost will understand us to pray against ourselves and yet for our good. For I see that it will come to pass that unless the tyranny of the Turk terrifies and humbles our nobles, we shall have to bear worse tyranny from them than from the Turks. Verily the nobles think to put chains on our princes and fetters on the burghers and peasants, and most of all on books and authors. Thus they avenge the papal slavery by subjecting the people to a new slavery under the nobles. But enough. My Katie sends her greetings to you and to your wife and daughter, as do we all, and we all pray and beseech the Lord together to give us the pestilence instead of the Turkish scourge, for without the special help of God our arms and armies can do nothing.

Yours, Martin Luther

Conclusion
Preserved Smith says this letter displays Luther's "despair at the moral conditions of the people" in strong terms (p.411). While the general population of Germany is included in this letter, the primary charge against Germany from Luther was against its leadership. While it's true (as I've stated in previous entries) Luther was displeased over the general morality of his times, this letter is specific to Luther's displeasure over Germany's rulers and their morality. Luther laments that "avarice, usury, tyranny, discord, and that whole cesspool of perfidy, malice, and iniquity" rule over the world, and were ruling the political world. This was true then, and it's true now. For Luther, the mastermind of this evil was the Devil. For Luther, it was very near the end of the world, and he expected such to be the case.

When Rome's defenders claim the quote proves the agony of Luther over the state of early Protestantism, the lament of Luther is directed towards the rulers of Germany, not Protestantism in general. Perhaps it would be better stated that Luther lamented over the rulers of Protestant territories.
As to this quote proving "Catholics were no more ignorant or impious or wicked than Lutherans," the actual comparison should be directed towards rulers. As to this quote disproving Luther was a champion of religious freedom, it actually says quite the opposite. Note Luther's complaint: "Verily the nobles think to put chains on our princes and fetters on the burghers and peasants, and most of all on books and authors. Thus they avenge the papal slavery by subjecting the people to a new slavery under the nobles." Does this quote serve as an example of Luther admitting his failure and guilt over the Reformation? No. Does this quote prove Luther was disgusted over the decline of Protestant morality? I find it quite interesting that Luther made virtually the same charges against the morality of his times throughout his career.

Addendum (2016)
This blog entry is a revision of an entry I posted back in 2010. The original can be found here. Because so many sources are now available online, I'm revising older entries by adding additional materials and commentary, and also fixing or deleting dead hyperlinks. Nothing of any significant substance has changed in this entry from that presented in the former.