#21218a-To Wenceslaus Link in Nuernberg

Grace and peace in Christ! Your letter was not so sad , my good Wenceslaus, as you might suppose, chiefly because I note that Christ has not yet forsaken you although he permits you to be tempted. I am very sad that this tragic-drama has again begun among you but if you consider both sides that it has not been perpetrated by you but by false tongues, that is, by Satan himself so you can easily bring Satan to vexation by enduring(devorare=hinunterschlucken)and overcoming this evil. Perhaps we are not sufficiently knocking on Christ in prayers and this our indolence is punished. He does not sleep while we snore. You wouldn't believe how much pride and malice of the noble people and peasants we must endure and suffer so that I am completely convinced that were you here you could less bare the perfidy among us than the maliciousness of a few there. I think, yes, I am certain the Papacy is the kingdom of the devil which is sent into the world by the wrath of God. However, no kingdom is appropriate for the world. "The world wants the devil for a god." I see now why God has permitted this horror to rise and be exalted over everything that is God: "the world wants it this way." Once the Bishops attempted to suppress this tyranny however with terrible decisions. When they tried to force the tyrants they at the same time suppressed the church of God. Now again the tynanny has begun and, if God permits, spirits again will stand up to hinder the tyranny with the same chains as the Pope has used. I will not, however, be in the counsel of such people but be a member who fear God, are patient and rather suffer death than hold to such a kingdom when our kingdom is in heaven (sursum). I am writing to reveal my heart, which is as your heart, namely that you might not forsake this church. Think about the superscription of Paul to Titus (Chap.1,1):"According to the faith of the elect of God" and again (Matthew 24:22?): "Everything for the sake of the Elect." Look at this, I plead, and despise all other men. You are a servant of the Elect of God, and a spectacle to those whom God has cast away. What is it to us what the rejected put forth if only we can serve the Elect and even the least of the brethren of Christ? Endure, therfore, my dear Wenceslaus, as much as you can, unto the End. And, although, at this time there is no one whom I would rather have at my side than you not only because of our past brotherhood but also because I always wanted to have you as a Consoler and a man of confidence who would be with me at my death still I want to yet set aside my good fortune rather than to do any harm to the church of God. Who knows what fruit God will bring forth out of this temptation? HE makes everything out of that which one does not see, out of nothing, out of contradictory things, out of that which robs us, out of that which is against us: "HE is infinite"; let us only pray and have patience sent to us.
You desire my judgment as to the Prince's determination that you should return to us. What if should go away or be banned? The Prince is very good and regarding him I am not worried. However, outside of the Prince, there is no one, whom I know, whom we would not be suspicious of (I speak of the Commander), and you can comprehend how great the love and zeal for the Word is in the world. Meanwhile I would pray that you would pray this Psalm (40th): "I exalt the LOrd." "Ach! It will be no different in glory or in shame.(2 Cor.6:8), "in offenses or error , in good and evil things,and once again," by devil and angel, through good and evil by the One Who alone is good and without evil. For this reason, my dear brother, I pray that you will only have conversation between Him and you and no one else. Although there are some very good men it may be that they have less patience than strong righteousness. Since we are all men and the flesh lusts against the spirit. Further, if the matter develops that he openly despises your person or ridicules you then it will be time for a different means. "Ach, help us God, as He permits the devil to be very strong and us so weak!" Take this in the best way and consider, that perhaps we are tempted of God so that we do not put our trust in men (even if he were a Prince) which is not blessed; and for a Christian to fear men is a shame, not to say, godless. Christ, our Life,Salvation, and Glory, be with you and with all of yours and all of us,Amen. On the Sunday of Cantate (25 April) Anno 1535. Your Martin Luther.

#2128-To Spalatin

To the,in Christ, highly-honorable man, Herr Georg Spalatin, the servant of Christ,his Superior and very dear brother.
Grace and peace in Christ! You have recommended to me this man who comes from Wuerzburg, good Spalatin; I will do what I can. On other the hand I am sending back to you this matter which is enclosed in this letter as you are the Visitor at that place. Thus, if you find that the young girl was deceived by the marriage contract then it appears to me that the first emgagement is null. You can better judge this according to your wisdom after both parties come forward and are heard; or if this is a burden for you, you can refer it to the Court (Saxon Prince's). This matter pertains to your District so we will not put the sickle in another's harvest. Be it well with you in Christ with your Berries,Grapes, and Vine, and pray for me. 1535,the Thursday Jubilate (22 April). Your Martin Luther,D.

#2127-To Benedict (Guebe ? Baworinsky?), Archpresbyter of the Bohemian Brethren

(Threefold problem with this letter: the date, addressee, and the text. Too complicated for me to discuss but looks like as to the latter the Latin has come from either a German or Bohemian text.)

Grace and peace in Christ.Highly honorable mann, Herr Beenedict! We, M.Philippus and I, very carefully listened to these two brothers sent by you. And they will, in turn, report to you that it has exceedingly pleased us that you have laid out in the right way the faith regarding the Sacrament and the Word so that I was several times moved ,that thus interpreted ,to avow in the matter itself and the opinion satifies me sufficiently that I see no discrepancy although different words are used by us. Thus (as one says) it is vain to fight over names when in the matter itself there is unanimity. Also that by you the baptism of little children is rightly used makes us very happy. So when both Sacraments are rightly upheld everything else can be easily regulated as the brothers will elaborate. Therefore you have no reason to doubt that so long as you and we are of single mind that we will deal with you in upright love toward you in everything; and should there be a deficiency in one part or another (as in this life there are no perfect saints) we want to bear with one another in Christian patience. It is completely (uberfluessig) enough for the Holy Catholic Church if they are of one mind in faith and doctrine; necessity requires that there be differences in customs and usages. So the Apostles teach and write thus and Christ Himself orders the brothers to forgive if they be and remain only in Christ and we insist in fact on the difference between doctrine and life in the strongest way. Doctrine makes either a Christian or an heretic, life makes either a holy or an unholy people. The unholy should be rebuked or excluded , however (as Paul teaches) first admonished as brothers and not immediately cast out. Be it right well with you in Christ and pray for us as we pray for you. On Jubilate Sunday (18 April) Anno 1535. Your Martin Luther,D.

#2126-To D. Johann Carlo

(ML jokes with Carlo on his promotion to Doctor of Astronomy and Medicine. ML calls Carlo "Charon" the transporter of passengers on the rivers of Hades.A lecturer once said that he served so long that he deserved the title Pfalzgraf. Sabinus was to become the son-in-law of Melanchton in 1536.
Carlo was evidently a very heavy man.)

To the skillful and highly-delicious man, the Herr Johann Carlo, Doctor of Astronomy and Medicine, his upright and beloved friend.
Grace and peace in Christ! Your letter was acceptable to me, good Charon,and that, the good man of whom you have written I can demonstrate nothing other than my favor to him and that I give him my best wishes as he has given to me and at the same time those of that Pfalsgraf Georg Sabinus who perhaps likewise will write to you. I wish not simply happiness to you in that you have been exalted to the Doctor-dignity (Wuerde) but also to that Pfalsgraf (Palatino) that he has promoted to Doctor such a great (heavy?)and highly-developed and grand person. Beleive me, in the future he will make few doctors of such weight (Groesse) and grandeur. Charon (when you come to the bank of his river) will marvel and fear that because of the heaviness of such a great Doctor it may be damaging as to either break-up or sink the little boat belonging to the Shadow-kingdom. Or surely you being the greatness of such a heavy Doctor will have to pay a great travel fee. Therefore see to it that he who made you such a great Doctor would also provide you with a great salary and God grant that it be such a salary ( entirely in gold) because you are such a massive Doctor. So then you will also be confident with Charon who for the most part is very greedy that you may richly reward him to say nothing of paying the travel fee. This I have done joking with you because you also appeared to be joking in your letter. Commend me to your young Prince since I do not know what kind of wind his father (Elector Joachim of Brandenburg) will blow toward me. Be it well with you in the LOrd, my dear Charon and pray for me. 1535 on the Tuesday after Misericordias (13 April). Martin Luther, D.
The salt-fish sent along with your letter have been received by my Lord Kaethe and she marvels over the multitude of them and says:D.Speratus,the great Bishop, has sent a very great cask of fish. I said to her: and they were sent by the great man Charon. So she said: today everything is great.

#2125-To Frau Dorothea Joerger

Grace and peace in Christ. Virtuous,honorable, dear Frau! Mr Andreas has requested of me that he might not come to you without a writing from me. Here his body will not tolerate the air and he is forced to go away; he can very tell you about all circumstance. It goes as the the Scripture says: some hunger,others are drunken; with
you there is hunger and thrist for the Word of God but by us they are so satiated and sick of it (among many) that it must vex God. Well, the world is the world and God help all of us. Your alms (praise God) have helped many good people to persue the Scriputre eagerly; since many are driven from their lands on account of the Word and by us have bread and water and are happy that they have books and also at times can buy a little clothing for which your alms serve. Christ our LOrd is pleased that He has imparted this to your heart. With me it is as Mr. Andreas will tell you, once strong, once weak, once happy, once glum. Christ is , however, at all times the LOrd and wants, should, and must remain so, Amen. Mr. Michel Stiefel again has a parish and is better off than previously. Christ,our dear LOrd, protect, strengthen, and prepare you and all of yours for his blessed coming Day together with us all. We very much wish that it would come soon since the world wants to become exceedingly evil. It help us to pray against the same world. On the Thursday after Ambrose (8April) 1535. Martinus Luther,D.
NOTE: Stiefel, the inventor of logrithms and predicter of the end of the world was sheltered at various times by Frau Joerger.

#2124-To Augustin Himmel,Pastor in Colditz

Grace and peace in Christ! Perhaps you know, my dear Augustine,that the illustrious Prince has given the entire beneficium, which was previously divided between Herr Andreas and my Wolf, to my Wolf alone without anyone supplying him (the Prince?)but contrary to all expectation by his own enactment and his completely gracious willand I believe this has been written to you from the Court to your official. If this has not happened we will either send you the letter,with seal of the Prince, or a trustworthy copy. Therefore I request that you order the offical to send here the entire income from the beneficium. My Wolf will thank you and not without a little present so that you do not guard the grave of Christ for nothing. I would be happy if this good Wolfgang could buy a little house in which (when I die) he can stay since now he is starting to suffer from an illness of the arm so it is necessary for him to have his dwelling so that he does not after my death become a beggar and homeless and must be in a hospital. The man is known to you so it is not necessary for me to plead in many words. Be it well with you with yours and pray for me that a good hour of departure will be granted to me when my powers depart from me. On the Monday after Quasimodogeniti (5 April) Anno 1535.
NOTE: ML's hour will not come until February 1546.

#2122-To the Council of the City of Hannover

To the honorable and wise of the Council and general city Council-herrs of the city of Hannover, my especially good friends.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable and wise, especially dear lords and friends!
Your emissary whom you designated has delivered to me your church-ordinances and to the end that the same might be printed I with others have given every effort that the same work might speedily be completed.However your above mentioned emissary conversed with us and he and we think it would be well for it to be printed in Magdeburg and you will have opportunity to know all of our considerations as the emissary reports to you. And since your church-deacon and emissary have indicated to us that by God's grace you have adopted the Christian and Evangelical Doctrine, we want to earnestly appeal to God the LOrd that in your common city and in all the world richly such confession of Christ blesses and favors , and that our dear LOrd Christ give you and all His Holy Spirit, strength and grace that you may remain constant and steadfast in these tricky times and be protected against the poison, splits, and sects of the devil. I am willing to serve you and your common city.Dated at Wittenberg on 3 March Anno Domini 1535. Martinus Luther,D.

#2122-To Johann Friedrich, Elector in Saxony in collaboration with Melanchto

Illustrious,high-born Elector and Lord! At the outset we assure ECFG of our poor service in obedience. Most gracious Elector and Lord! ECFG has indication in these writings of Andreas Junius of Altenburg that he has graciously been supplied for two years twenty-two Fl. from the Scholasterei in Altenburg for his studies.Now he requests obediently an extension of this gracious help and has sought us to be a witness of his studies and character to that end. Since he is now poor , very quiet and chaste and especially because he is more exercised in debate than the other students we obediently request ECFG to extend and increase his stipend and because of his industry and chaste way of life is known one hopes that he perhaps would be used in a Christian office since he intends to study theology. May God the Almighty graciously reward the alms of ECFG and protect and preserve ECFG at all times. Date at Witteberg on the Tuesday after Oculi (2 March)Anno 1535. ECFG's obedient servants Martinus Luther,D., Philippus Melanchton.