Report on Whether Secular Authority Should Suppress the Writings of Enthusiasts

trust / If one does not / then one must endure Christ as Judge / who in His own time will surely know how to punish all blasphemers and mockers of His Word and Sacrament.

For this is the bottom lineOriginal Latin: summa summarum. / that whoever deviates a hair’s breadth from the Word and from the practice of the Sacrament / loses all the blessings of Christ / even though he may meanwhile (like the holy EnthusiastsOriginal: Schwermer. A derogatory term used by Martin Luther and his followers for reformers who relied on "inner spirit" or reason to interpret the Bible metaphorically, particularly regarding the Lord's Supper.) perhaps have good / glorious / yet merely human thoughts. O, would to God / that all Enthusiasts would take this to heart / they would then gladly believe with us Christians in simple faith everything that the Word of God brings with it. But they do not wish to submissively and obediently subject themselves to the Word of God / They also do not want to take their understanding from the Word / but instead flutter outside of the Word into the air / From this it comes / that they then strike out against God / against the Word and Sacraments / and fall into so many manifold errors / that they cannot easily be counted.

Therefore, let everyone beware of their spirit / for let all the factionsOriginal: Rotten. Often used to describe radical or splinter groups during the Reformation. and sects devise whatever they will / it is nonetheless all fanaticismOriginal: schwermerey. and the deception of Satan / even if they meanwhile walk about in humility / like holy angels.

And since now / honorable / wise / favorable dear Lords and Friends / I see and notice / that God the LORD not only graciously protects Your WisdomsOriginal: E. W., abbreviation for Eure Weisheiten, a highly formal honorific address used for city councilmen or magistrates. from all sorts of sects and errors / but has also granted by grace / that