neither read nor write.
Christ, our consolation and joy, be with you to all eternity.Amen.
Luther comforts him on his son's death.
Dear friend,you will now have heard of your son's death " who was studyinghere.
He was seized with serious illness, and althougheverything was done for him, the disease got the upper hand and bore him away to our
He was very dear to all of us, especially to me (forhe shortened many an eveningfor me by singingtreble in my house),and in addition he was quietand well behaved, and a diligent student
; so his death was a great griefto us, for we would gladlyhave retained him ; but he was even dearer to God, who desired to have him.
So it is only natural his fate should affect you and your dear wife,seeingit has grievedme so.
God for giving you such an amiable pious son, upon whom all your trouble and expense were so well bestowed.
But comfort yourselveswith the thoughtof his falling asleepwith such a testimonyof his faith on his lips, which was a marvel to us, so that there is as littledoubt that he is with God, his true father,as that the Christian religionis true.
And be gratefulthat he like so many others did not come to an untimelyend, and even had he lived,your means could have helped him to nothinghigherthan a profession of some kind.
And now he is in the place he would not exchangefor the whole world.
So take comfort that he is not lost but only sent on before to be kept in everlasting bliss; therefore " we must not sorrow as those which have no hope."
Dietrich will comfort you with a few of the beautiful sayingshe uttered before his death.
But my love for the pious boy causes me to send you My not writingyou, dear Amsdorf, was caused by the state of my head, but in answer to your prayers it is now gettingbetter.
I am sorry to hear that you have been ill.
Christ restore and preserve you to us for long. do not know what to hope for regardingthe peace negotiations between the Emperor and us in religious matters.
Our folks wrote that the Turk was advancingwith an enormous army on Pope is French, and he and the King of France refuse helpagainst the Behold this money, which the Popes have been collecting from the Indulgences for so many centuries,to use againstthe
It is said that the Emperor will appeal to the German princes for the promised help,so the Diet and peace negotiations may soon be ended.
Carlstadt has gone to Friesland to seek a fresh hiding-place, having only got the post of land overseer in Switzerland of which he had more than enough here.
Lord do what is well-pleasing in His eyes, to whom Luther rejoiced in the accession of the Anhalt Grace and peace in the Lord, Most
Hausmann, comes to your I humbly commend him to you.
He is an excellent man of the highestcharacter,and a faithful expounder of God's Word, which he loves with his whole heart.
Christ cause him to bring forth much fruit.
I do not doubt you will cherish him.
God, and if my poor prayers are of any avail,they are ever offered on your Ferdinand most unwillingly signed a religioustruce, knowing it would strengthenheresy, so the Elector succeeded in having the Church recognised for the firsttime.
Grace and peace, honoured friend !
Hausmann have told me how God has not only blessed you in temporalthings, but what is a thousand times better,has quickened you spiritually with love for the gospel, which I am delighted to hear,and pray
God to strengthenand maintain you in this gracious condition till His appearing. For these are dangerous times, owing to seditious persons, false doctrines,and teachers.
These mischievous persons creep about everywhere, and Satan does the same, tryingto overthrow our faith ; and at all times our reason blindlystrugglesagainst the truth, annoyed that our cause rests solelyin
God's power and strength. I can only write a few lines now, for we are all in deep griefat the departureof the pious Prince from this vale of tears.
I commend you to the grace of God our Saviour,and beseech you to help poor Christoph Stroebel in any way you can, which Christ will requiteas done to I shall thank you when told of it.
Luther pleadsfor the captiveKing Christian of Denmark.
Grace and peace in Christ our Lord, who died for our sins,and rose againfor our life!
Majesty must perceive how God is the true and graciousJudge,seeing you alwayswished to be at peace with your cousin,King
God has ever given you the victoryover him, for which you warmly thanked God, as well as used the victoryin a God-fearingway
I am moved by the miseryand the complaintsof my graciousLord, King Christian,and the fear of your proceedingagainstthe captive,therebydamaging his faith in God, humbly to pleadthat your
Majestymay follow Christ's exampleand have mercy on your captivecousin.
His enemies, while we are only expectedto show them mercy.
For had he been taken prisonerin battle,instead of after he had thrown himself upon your mercy, you would doubtless have treated him in a cousinlymanner.
How much more now, seeinghe has resignedall and yielded himself up, like the prodigalson, to you as his father ?
We must all plead for mercy from Majesty will do a gloriousservice in God's sightby treatingthe poor prisonergraciously ; and such an act will be a source of consolation to you on your deathbed and a well-spring of joy in heaven, besides bringingyou honour and gloryon earth.
For it is a noble work when great persons act nobly in high affairs, and is an example to all the world as well as a joy to the saints in heaven, and well-pleasing to the Divine
Majesty. So act thus,as a fruit of your faith and a thank-offering to God, and for the prisoner's consolation, and a delightto us all.
Majesty will confess with gratitude how grievedyou would have been had you done otherwise.
Spirit to act according to His good pleasurein everything. And pray