your own works and regardour Saviour as a cruel judge and tyrant, from whom we must flee to Mary and the saints for the comfort
But we now know the fathomless mercy of our Heavenly Father, and that Jesus is our Bishop,dailyinterceding for us in God's presence so that all who call upon Him may partakeof His consolation, for He bare our sins on the tree, so we may boldlyapproachHim, calling
Him by the sweet name of Saviour and Therefore,joyfully thank the Lord for such tokens of His grace.
He who has begun the good work will graciously finish it.
For we are powerlessto help ourselves.
We cannot conquer sin,death,and the devil by our own works, but there is One who can, and who says, I have overcome the world."
I live,ye shall live also ; and your joy no man taketh from you."
God of all consolation grant you a firm,joyfulfaith,so that you may overcome this,and all other distress, and at last experience the truth of these words,
I have overcome the world.'* I commend you, body and soul,to All your children pray for you, also my Some weep, others eat and say,
*' The grandmotheris very ill."
Cordatus to visit the I am delighted with your call to Eisleben, my native town, for then you will be an antagonistof Wicelius, towards whom you have a righteoushatred.
But you should first go and inquire into everything, and if you are pleased,then you need not regret leavingthat terrible hole.
God's will be done is my sole desire.
There you would perhapsbreathe a purer atmosphere,which is cleansed by the furnaces burningnight and day, and not, as in Zwickau, inhale such damp fumes.
You know the proverb, " Imagination often makes thingsappear real."
God you feel a little better.
But lay aside these fancies,which have made you think you had many serious illnesses.
I have often to contend with these fancied ailments also,for our adversarythe devil winds himself about us, not only to devour our souls,but to martyr our bodies with tormenting thoughts.Knowing well that the health of our soul dependsvery much on that of the body
" a merry heart doeth good like a medicine,but a broken spirit drieth the bones I can talk beautifully to you, but do not follow my own counsel.
Letter of consolation. know well, God be praised,that many among you are deeply grieved that your two preachersare being so badly treated.
Truly they have learned the gospelwrong when they act thus towards their pastors.
But it must ever be so that His servants are treated thus, outwardlythrough tyranny, inwardlyby false brethren and ungratefulpeople.
My advice is,let the creatures muddle themselves with drink while you possess your souls in patience.They are God's enemies, and so God is their enemy, and it is punishment enough for them to have so powerful an enemy, whom they at present despise, but who will in His own time let them feel His wrath.
As for you, remain true to the doctrine you have embraced, and wait on the ministrations of your faithful pastor and the sacraments tillyou see what the Prince will do.
St. Katherine's to service and for the sacrament, or put up with the preacherin the Listen to them in so far as their preachingis pure,