Dedication, 1563-08-10, Johann Albrecht (Wimpinaeus) to Paulus Gmainer
| Author: | Johann Albrecht (Wimpinaeus) |
| Recipient: | Paulus Gmainer |
| Type: | Dedication |
| Date: | 10 August 1563 |
| Place: | Ingolstadt |
| Pages: | 13 |
| Language: | German |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=1893 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Johann Albrecht (Wimpinaeus), Von der Gesellschaft Jesu, Ingolstadt: [Alexander & Samuel Weissenhorn] 1563, sig. a2r-a8r [BP.Alb.1563-01]
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| CP: | Not in Kühlmann/Telle, Corpus Paracelsisticum |
| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Keywords: | Catholic Church; heresy; false prophets; Kemnitz; Zanger; Christian virtues; theology (generated by Chat-GPT) |
| Abstract: | The letter is addressed to Paul Gmayner, who is described as a skilled and godly man. The author discusses the rising number of false prophets and heretics who deceive people with their teachings. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing false prophets through their teachings and fruit. The author defends the Catholic Church against the attacks of Martin Kemnitz and Johann Zanger and calls for people to defend the teachings of the Church. He expresses his hope that Kemnitz and Zanger will abandon their false teachings and accept the Catholic faith. The author also expresses his gratitude and respect towards Paul Gmayner and requests that his writing be accepted as a reflection of his Christian zeal for the Catholic Church. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Johann Albrecht (Wimpinaeus) |
[sig. a2r] Dem Ehrwürdigen/ vnnd Gottseligen Herrn in Christo/ Paulo Gmayner/ Apt zů Nideralten/ seinem Genädigen Herrn/ vnd Mecenaten/ wünschet Gnad/ vnnd Frid/ von Christo Jesu/ vnserm Herrn vnd Seligmacher.
Wann ich die weyssagung Christi/ Ehrwürdiger/ Gnädiger Herr/ welche von dem [sig. a2v] Euangelisten Marco beschriben/[m1] mit disen vnsern zeytten vergleiche/ befinde ich/ das sich der tag/ diser zergengklichen zeyt genaigt habe/ vnd die welt zů jhrem endt eyle/ dieweil die diner Jesu yetzundt yederman verhasset sein/ von wegen dises hailsamen kostbarlichen namens/ vnd so vil falscher Christen/ vnd falscher Propheten täglich auferstehn/ die solche zaichen thůn/ das wa es müglich wer/ auch die außerwölten verfürt wurden. Dann sie stet schreien/ hie ist Christus/ dort ist Christus/ der mundt des Herrn hat geredt/ das sagt das wort Gottes/ welches warlich ein solches lindes [sig. a3r] vnd sanfftes Schafklaide ist/ das man die reissende Wölff/ die darunder verborgen stecken/ nicht wol erkennen kan/ darumb dann auch vil Schaf/ von der herd Christi in die wüste abgefürt/ darinn zerrissen/ vnnd durch newe verfürische lehr vergiftet werden. Derhalben Christus vns recht vermanet/[m2] das wir vns mit allem fleiß/ sollen für den falschen Propheten hütten/ gibt vns auch ein merckzaichen/ darbey wir sie erkennen/ nemlich jre frücht/ so nit allein im leben/ sonder auch in der lehr stehn. Wann wir dann nun jre lehr betrachten/ so erfinden wir das sie nichts anders sey/ dann eytel distel vnd dorn/ [sig. a3v] vnd künde kaine gůtte frucht bringen: Hergegen auch so wir die frücht jhrer lehr ernstlich anschawen/ so sehen wir nichts dann alles arges vnd böses: ist also der baum/ wie die frucht/ die lehr/ wie die werck: seindt nemblich baide kain nütz.
Darmit aber jre sach/ ein feinen glantzenden schein hab/ geben sie für/ das jhre verfürische ketzerische lehr/ sey das pur lautter Euangelium/ das reyn vnuerfälschet wort Gottes/ vnnd die recht Chrsitenliche lehr: Hergegen aber die rechte Catholische/ Apostolische/ vnnd allain seligmachende lehr/ sey ein Baalslehr/ Bapsts- [sig. a4r] lehr/ Teüffelslehr/ menschentandt/ vnd dergleichen: verhoffen also den ainfeltigen Layen mit jhnen inn die grůben der verderbnuß zů ziehen.
Aber wa wir alle/ nach dem beuelch Christi wachen werden/[m3] vnd sein stimm hören/ da er also sagt: Wer die Kirchen nit höret/ den solt du achten als ein Hayden vnd Publicaner/ So werden wir jhnen fein künden begegnen/ vnd vns vor jhrem gifft verwaren.
Wiewol aber nun die yetztschwebende ketzermaister/ sampt jhrem grewel/ welchen sy in dz hailig ort gsetzt haben/ vnd nun mer menschliche gedancken vnd lehr/ für dz wort [sig. a4v] Gottes achten/ vnd den Apostolischen traditionibus weyt fürziehen/ zům mehreren thail der welt bekannt: yedoch seind sie in jhrem verkerten sinn/ also gar verhertet/ das sie sich nit schemenen noch fürchten/ wider den stachel zů lecken/ vnnd mit offentlichen schrifften/ die kirchen Gottes anzůfechten/ vnnd zůuerfolgen: Vnder welche freuenliche rauchlose leüt/ haben sich bede/ Martin Kemnitz/ vnd Johann Zanger eingemischet/ vnd newlich gantz lesterlich vnd trüglich/ mit giftigen schreiben/ Christo sein vnbefleckte sponß angetastet.
Demnach so wir alle mitglider sein in Christo vnserm Herren/ wie [sig. a5r] ist es müglich dz wir solche schmäliche lesterwort/ nit solten entpfinden/ so sy dem gantzen leib/ nemlich der Catholischen Christlichen kirchen sein zůgefügt?
Vnnd ist diß in der warhait/ meines erachtens/ zů vnsern zeitten nicht vnrecht/ sonder vil mehr von nötten/ das ein yedtweder/ so vil jm von Got gnad verlihen/ die lehr der Catholischen kirchen verthedige/ so auch Petrus erfordert/ das wir sollen berait sein/ einem yetwedern rechenschafft zů geben der hoffnung die in vns ist.
Derhalben nach dem ich des Kemnitz vnnd Zangers schreiben gelesen/ vnnd wie grewlich sie die [sig. a5v] diener Jesu/ vnbilligklich/ mit allem gewalt/ wider alle warhait verfolgen/ vnnd außrüffen hab vernommen/ bin ich gleichsam von meinem gewüssen dise Gottselige leüt zůuerthedigen gezwungen worden/ dieweil ye ainmal jhr lehr/ vnd leben dahin gerichtet ist/ das Gottes Nam in vns werdt gehailiget/ vnd die werck/ des flaischs/ der Welt/ vnnd des Teüffels zerstört: welches ich hie inn disem meinem schreiben hab kürtzlich gethon/ doch dermassen/ das ich verhoff/ Kemnitz vnnd Zanger/ wa sie anderst nit gar halßstarrig/ vnnd verhartet sein/ werden von jhrer verkerten mainung/ bö- [sig. a6r] sem fürsatz/ vnnd vppigklichem/ gehässigem schreiben abstehn: auß Saulis/ Pauli werden/ vnd mit vns einen Catholischen glauben von hertzen annemmen vnd bekennen.
Darmit ich auch dises büchlein desto besser verfertigte/ dieweil ich kain hochgelehrter Theologus/ sonder ein einfeltiger gemainer Lay bin/ dem die grossen gehaimnuß Gottes verborgen: laß mich derhalben genügen an der milch/ die Paulus den newgebornen kindern gebeüt trincken zůgeben/ hab ich mich nicht geschemet/ inn denen sachen/ die ich aintweder nit gründtlich vnd genůgsam verstanden/ oder aber meinem verstandt [sig. a6v] zů hoch geschetzt/ andere hochberhümbte/ vnd gewaltige Theologos zů erforschen/ vnnd mich nach jrem sententz vnd spruch/ der Catholischen lehr durchauß gemäß zů halten. Kan mir derhalben diß mein schreiben inn kainem argen auffgenommen werden/ dieweil ich mir hierinn nichts zůaigne: dann allain wa ich etwann vnwissentlich (welches ich doch nit verhoff) geirret hette: was ich aber recht/ vnd Catholisch geschriben/ dasselbig schreib ich alles meiner geliebsten můtter der Catholischen kirchen/ vnd jhr getrewen lehrern zů/ welcher Maister vnd Obrister lehrer ist/ der gaist Gottes/ der vns ge- [sig. a7r] wißlich inn alle warhait fürt.
Demnach E[hrwürdiger] G[ottseliger] H[err] dieweil E[uer] G[naden] seindt von Gott/ dem allmächtigen seiner geliebsten kirchen/ für gesetzt/ vnnd eüch Christus seine Schaf hat befolhen zů wayden: darzů auch der Himmelische Haußuatter/ eüch in sein Weinberg geschickt/ denselbigen trewlich vnnd fruchtbarlich zůbawen: Hab ich vermeynet E[uer] G[naden] werden nit ein mißfallen tragen/ wann ich meinem vermügen nach offenbarte/ welche von der Catholischen kirchen abgetretten/ welche das verloren Schaf werden/ vnnd welche Weinreben keine frücht brechten/ auff das E[uer] G[naden] erkennten/ das auch [sig. a7v] die einfeltigen Layen ein mitleyden haben/ wa einer der geladener geste/ zů dem grossen Abentmal des Herren außbleibe. Bitt demnach E[uer] G[naden] gantz vnderthenigklich/ sie wöllen dises mein schreiben/ gnädigklich annemmen/ vnnd meinen Christlichen eyfer/ gegen der Catholischen kirchen/ vnd jhre getrewe diener vnd fürstender/ vnder welchen ich E[uer] G[naden] gantz hoch schetz/ von wegen der Christlichen tugent/ die Paulus/ in einem Apostolischen mann erfordert/ welche ich in eüch gespürtet/ gesehen vnd erfaren hab/ behertzigen: Thů hiemit E[uer] G[naden] inn den schutz vnnd schirm/ des All- [sig. a8r] mächtigen Gottes befelhen/ mit bitt/ E[uer] G[naden] wöllen mich/ sampt meinen Studijs auch befolhen haben. Geben in Jngolstat auff Laurenti/ des hailigen Martyrers/ Jm Tausent Fünffhundert Drey vnd sechtzigisten Jar.
E[uer] G[naden]
Vndertheniger/
M[agister] Ioannes Albertus VVimp[inaeus] Oratoriæ Professor, in Academia Ingolstad[iensi].
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT on 9 March 2023. Attention: This translation is a machine translation by artificial intelligence. The translation has not been checked and should not be cited without additional human verification.
To the venerable and godly Lord in Christ, Paul Gmayner, the skilled one in Nideralten, his gracious Lord and patron, grace and peace from Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
When I compare the prophecy of Christ, venerable and gracious Lord, which was described by the evangelist Mark, with our times, I find that the day of this fleeting time is approaching and the world is rushing towards its end, since the followers of Jesus are now hated by everyone because of this precious and valuable name. And so many false Christians and false prophets arise daily, who perform such signs that, if possible, even the elect could be deceived. For they constantly cry out, "Here is Christ, there is Christ," and the mouth of the Lord has spoken, which says the word of God, which is truly such a gentle and soft sheepskin that the ravenous wolves hidden underneath cannot be easily recognized. Therefore, many sheep are led away from the flock of Christ into the wilderness, where they are torn and poisoned by new seductive teachings.
Therefore, Christ rightly admonishes us to guard ourselves diligently against false prophets and gives us a sign by which we can recognize them, namely their fruits, which stand not only in their lives but also in their teachings. When we consider their teachings, we find that they are nothing but vain thistles and thorns and cannot bring any good fruit. On the contrary, when we seriously examine the fruits of their teachings, we see nothing but all sorts of evil. Thus, the tree, like the fruit, the teaching, like the works, are both useless.
But to make their case shine with a fine and glittering appearance, they claim that their seductive heretical teachings are the pure, unadulterated Gospel, the pure and uncorrupted Word of God, and the true Christian teaching. On the other hand, they claim that the true Catholic, Apostolic, and only saving teaching is a Baal's teaching, the Pope's teaching, the Devil's teaching, human folly, and the like. They hope to draw simple lay people with them into the graves of destruction.
But since we all must watch according to the command of Christ and listen to his voice, when he says: "Whoever does not listen to the Church, let him be regarded as a heathen and a tax collector," we will meet them with fine arguments and guard ourselves against their poison.
Although the current leaders of heresy, together with their abomination which they have set up in the holy place, now consider more human thoughts and teachings as the Word of God and disregard the Apostolic traditions to a greater extent, known to most of the world, they are in their perverse minds so hardened that they do not hesitate or fear to go against the goad and attack and persecute the Churches of God with public writings. Among these joyful, smokeless people, Martin Kemnitz and Johann Zanger have become involved and recently very slanderously and treacherously attacked Christ's immaculate spouse with poisonous writings.
Therefore, since we are all members in Christ our Lord, how is it possible that we should not feel these shameful and blasphemous words when they are inflicted on the whole body, namely the Catholic Christian Church?
And this, in my opinion, is not unjust for our times, but rather necessary, that everyone who has been granted grace by God should defend the teachings of the Catholic Church, as Peter also requires us to be ready to give an account to anyone who asks us for the hope that is in us.
Therefore, after reading the writings of Kemnitz and Zanger and hearing how they persecute the servants of Jesus so abominably and unjustly with all their might and speak out against all truth, I have been compelled by my conscience to defend these godly people, since their teachings and lives are directed towards the sanctification of God's name in us and the destruction of the works of the flesh, the world, and the devil. This I have done briefly in this letter, but in such a way that I hope Kemnitz and Zanger, if they are not entirely stubborn and hardened, will turn away from their perverse thoughts, evil intentions, and vehemently hateful writings, become like Saul who became Paul, and with us accept and confess the Catholic faith from their hearts.
In order to make this little book better, since I am not a highly educated theologian but a simple common layman to whom the great mysteries of God are hidden, I have been satisfied with giving milk to the newborn children, as Paul commanded. Therefore, in those matters that I either did not understand thoroughly and sufficiently or overestimated my understanding, I did not hesitate to investigate other highly renowned and powerful theologians and to hold myself entirely in accordance with their opinion and judgment of Catholic teaching. Therefore, this writing of mine cannot be taken in any evil sense, since I gain nothing from it. Only if I had unknowingly erred, which I do not expect, could it be considered such. But whatever I have written correctly and Catholic, I write it all for my beloved mother, the Catholic Church, and her faithful teachers, whose Master and Chief Teacher is the Spirit of God, who certainly leads us in all truth.
Therefore, venerable and godly Lord, since your grace has been appointed by God, the Almighty, to tend to his beloved Church and Christ has entrusted you with his sheep to tend to them in his vineyard, I thought your grace would not be displeased if I, to the best of my ability, revealed which have departed from the Catholic Church, which are the lost sheep, and which vineyards bear no fruit, so that your grace may recognize that even simple lay people have compassion if a guest does not attend the great banquet of the Lord. Therefore, I humbly beg your grace to graciously accept this writing of mine and to consider my Christian zeal towards the Catholic Church and her faithful servants and rulers, among whom I hold your grace in high regard for the sake of the Christian virtues that Paul requires in an apostolic manner, which I have perceived, seen, and experienced in you. I commend your grace to the protection and shield of the Almighty God, with a request that your grace may also remember me and my studies. Given in Ingolstadt on the feast day of Saint Lawrence the Martyr in the year 1563.
Your grace's obedient servant,
Magister Johannes Albertus Vimpinaeus,
Professor of Rhetoric at the University of Ingolstadt.
