To the honor-worthy and recognized for scholarship man, Herr Friedrich, Abbot at St. Aegidus in the famous Nuernberg, his dear brother in Christ.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have postponed, higly-honorable man, the written wish for the happiness of your marriage and that there is just cause for this and that you will take this with an upright disposition easily because it has a lot to do with the condition of my health, with the publishing of books, with the writing of letters, dealing with many matters, with favors to friends and with many countless similar things. Among these are, though perhaps less and more seldom recently with the household and church situations, I am concerned with silencing the plagues of Satan and enemies. Yet, nonetheless, through prayer and cheering with delight and friendly wishes for happiness
and now I finally wish also through this letter wish happiness not only that this fellowship which God has created and sanctified with blessings in all things would be easy for you but rather more and more with constancy of mind and faith of the heart would always carry the conviction that this is the primary way of life which above all pleases God and that more and more you be constant because HE(God) supports it and finally that it is the highest and the most to be exalted. Then what were kingdoms and sovereignties when Adam and the patriarchs lived only as married people? Now then how many and how rich kingdoms have gone under while the estate of marriage throughout the world remains inviolate! Finally, what gross monstrosites, wars and shameful deeds of kingdoms are each day rebuked by God while the very lowly works of marriage, which are most beneficial and serve only to peace, He glorifies with everlasting crowns! And what estate is more fit for the sovreignty over all things if not the estate of marriage?and although though the evil of men made it necessary for the use of force as a way of exercising authority this has been mainly misused and this authority is more ready for the service of war while marriage is the very simplest and an authority of peace. Rejoice and say thank you to God that you have been presented with this way of life and you as it were were taken from the sea into the harbor and set into paradise out of this world. It may always be as Paul says (1 Cor.7:28) that in this estate there is tribulation of the flesh but there is at the same time the consolation of the spirit as Solomon speaks (Proverbs 18:22):"He receives joy from the LOrd." Further what is the single life -which all the more desires marriage and is confused- other than not only tribulation but a sea and and a storm, yes a hell of tribulation?So now may the error bound world rage and because they would not bear one tribulation may they instead have oceans and storms of tribulations to love and what they love they will find. Christ holds us and supports us in a better manner in helping us overcome several troubles with so many good things that we possess in the arrangement
of life so that one or another evil we do experience even at all . These people are so very drunken that for one good or a little honor do not experience the countless evils of their condition like a soldier puts forth his life for a gold-gulden giving up the salvation of body and soul. We should be so drunken with our goods that when an evil is there or steps in we consider it as something good.
See, whereto I am counseling! Do I appear to you to be drunken or sober? I rejoice very much hereon: God's works to praise and, when I can, with many words. The LOrd Jesus Christ bless you in spirit and in body and grant you what I have been thinking about in your prayers. I want that your Friedrichin (wife of Friedrich) be greeted as appropriat in my name but take care that it is only with Latin words and the rest she will understand with her sharp wit already. Given on January 17 during the mealtime and in haste. Therefore you will forgive the verbosity and also one who is enjoying a
meal time (coenato so I say)and neither carousing or drunken.Most worthy Lord, Your Martin Luther.
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