Report on Whether Secular Authority Should Suppress the Writings of Enthusiasts

...[preservation] of pure doctrine pure doctrine: 'reine Lere', the orthodox Lutheran teaching as opposed to Catholic or radical sectarian views and the Sacraments In this context, specifically Baptism and the Lord's Supper. As has been done by Your Worships until now; and it is impossible that such a thing should not be a pleasant and well-pleasing service to our heavenly Father from Your Worships and other Christian authorities. Why? Because for this reason He sent His dear Son to us with the holy Word and highly venerable Sacraments: so that through them we should come to the knowledge of Him, which knowledge is eternal life, as Christ says in John 17 Reference to John 17:3: "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.".

Therefore, let Christian authorities not be frightened by anything, even if people cry out against them, saying: "Because faith is every man’s own venture, the authorities should remain at peace." Or: "The authorities cannot give anyone faith, therefore they should have no right to punish anyone for the sake of faith," etc. Listen, friend: the authorities do not punish because of the views and opinions original: 'opinion'; used here to mean private, internal thoughts held in the heart, but because of the outward, blasphemous, and wrong speech that occurs in taverns and wine cellars and other places, and because of the unclean writings and books which you keep about you underhandedly and secretly—and perhaps not only you, but through which your wife, child, servants, and others might also be led astray.

Therefore, just as the authorities are duty-bound to punish other seditious speech and threats through which rebellion is actually stirred up, they are also duty-bound to punish such spiritualistic talk spiritualistic talk: 'Gaist reden', likely referring to the claims of the 'Schwenkfelders' or other radicals who prioritized personal 'spirit' over the written Bible and to clear away all writings through which God, His Word, and the Sacraments are dishonored, defiled, and...