# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1890_S18
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

18 Proceedings of the thirteenth convention

good and the wretched Christians ... for their benefit and welfare, graciously be pleased to summon and appoint some capable persons to such an office." Here Luther expressly admits that the Elector is not obliged as a prince to do this. Love is to drive him, since otherwise there is no one at hand who could set it up. And not the prince alone is to see to it, but he is to lend a hand in that which is the right and duty of all Christians.

Besides this, the following especially splendid passages from Luther's works were read in testimony to the truth of the second thesis.

Luther: "Since then it rests with each one on his own conscience how he believes or does not believe, and since thereby no harm is done to the worldly power, it too should be content and mind its own business, and let people believe this way or that, as they can or will, and force no one. Then you say again: Yes, worldly power does not compel anyone to believe, but only restrains outwardly, so that people are not led astray by false doctrine; how could heretics otherwise be restrained? Answer: That is for the bishops to do, to whom this office is committed, and not to the princes. For heresy can never be restrained by force; another grip is needed for it, and this is another kind of fight and business than one with the sword. God's Word is to fight here; if that does not accomplish it, it will remain unaccomplished by worldly power, even if it fills the world with blood. Heresy is a spiritual thing, which one cannot strike with any iron, burn with any fire, drown in any water. But God's Word alone is there, and it does it, as Paul says in 2 Cor. 10:4–5." (Treatise on Worldly Authority. 1523. X, 455. 461 f.)

Luther: "Thus each one has his own risk in it, how he believes, and must see for himself that he believes rightly. For as little as another can go to hell or heaven for me, so little can he believe or not believe for me, and as little as he can lock heaven or hell for me or unlock them, so little can he drive me to faith or unbelief. Since then it rests with each one on his conscience how he believes or does not believe, and since thereby no harm is done to the worldly power, it too should be content and mind its own business and let people believe this way or that, as they can and will, and force no one. For faith is a free work, to which no one can be compelled. Indeed, it is a divine work in the Spirit, let alone that outward force should compel and create it. Hence the common saying is taken, which Augustine also has: To faith one can and should compel no one. Besides, the blind, wretched people do not see how utterly futile and impossible a thing they undertake. For however harshly they command and however furiously they rage, they cannot press the people any further than that they, with the mouth