Feast without any difficulty, far beyond my hopes and the hopes of others.
We hear of all sorts of dangerswhich are to be dreaded from the peasants, who have become bolder through the Emperor's successes, and think they can achieve something even againstthe will of the I not be able to come to Leipsic, could you tell me where we could meet
" either in the Eulenburg Castle (which we can easilyget from the Herzog),or at Schopfeldt'sin Wiltow, between Dibon, or if you know a more suitable spot tell me
Leipsicagain,but perhaps,for certain reasons, you do not care to go there.
Our meeting could easilybe arranged somewhere in our neighbourhood.I write to you early,as, if my journey be prevented,which I would not like,another place could be arranged. Farewell, dearest brother in Christ and most honoured
Bishop,because of your great services to the Luther offers his friend a post.
Grace and peace in the I do not at present, dear Medler, most honoured sir,comfort you under your heavy cross, with which the Lord has crucified you.
Saviour is good and kind.
You know this well, and tell others that our Heavenly Father, whose goodness is infinite,and whose will is always the best, althoughthe flesh and reason cannot see it,isonlychastising us, that we may learn how good and lovingthe
And this can never be learned arightunless the flesh be lacerated in every way, so that the spirit may be driven to sighand long to see the Lord in the land of the living.
This is God's way of teaching, but it is to be hoped it may not be much needed by you.
I have somethingto tell you.
The highlyesteemed and much Amsdorf, bishop,has written me that there is a theological lectureship vacant in Naumburg, which he desires you to fill.
I beg of you, if possible, at once to accept the post, for your reputationmerits it,or to answer by return, that I may appointsome one else.
I write very briefly, as I have much to do, for it is only a few dayssince I was raised from the dead.
I have preachedtwice since,with no difficulty, which has been a wonder to many.
May you and yours prosper, and be assured that all of us have been plungedin almost as deep grief as yourself over the loss of your dear son of such highpromise.
But he has been taken away from the evil so that he might not become corrupted. God's ways are other than ours, and at all times far better.
Diet of Worms was held during this year. was present, but none of the Wittenberg theologians.
Spalatin died January i6.
First part of Luther's book, Againstthe Papacy in Rome^ Founded by the Devil^appeared. Lukas Cranach at once issued a series of woodcuts,turningthe Pope into ridicule.
Zurich divines issued a treatise on the sacrament.
Luther,in readingCalvin's pamphlet on the subject, said the author must be a learned and pious man, and if CEcolampadiusand
Zwingli had so expressedthemselves, no discussion v^^ould have arisen.
Luther w^as a great sufferer this year, and this may be why he took a gloomy view of life and leftWittenberg,intendingnever to return, and telling his wife to selltheir house.
BrQck tried to console the Elector by sayingthe house-selling might be a slow process.
Luther a beautiful letter, stillextant, lamentingthat he had not let him know his intention, in order that he might at least have supplied him with money for the journey.
Luther was softened at once, and returned with Bugenhagen,who had been sent by the University to bringhim back.
Luther concluded his ten years' course of lectures on God send some one after me to expound them better.
I can do no more, for PrayGod to grant me a blessed release."
Projectedvisitation in Naumburg.
Grace and peace in Christ Lord bless you out of Zion, and grant you your heart's desire,honoured father in Go on in the name of the Lord, attending thoroughlyto the duties of your office,and doing the work of a bishop,to which you are called,by at least visiting the churches under your jurisdiction, over which you have full authority. The " objectsto you holdinga visitation, then you are not to blame, but as the Gospel teaches, shake the dust from off your feet over them.
I shall alter the prefaceto the book on Visitation, but it will take time.
As soon as the printersreturn from the fair {Messe) I shall arrange with Johann Luft and the booksellers to set to work.
Later it may be found that some alterations must be made because of the Naumburg bishopricconstitution, and of the dissimilarity of the circumstances.
It was after the visitation our people first issued the visitors'
And it will be no great hardship for the clergythemselves althoughtheydo not get copies at once.
Pope's Bull, and consider it a farce.
Court that the Pope has brought a singular monstrosityinto the world, and that he will soon openly worship the Sultan, and even the devil, before he will improve matters, or act accordingto the We have had abundant proof of this already. But the Jesus,who slaysHis enemy by the His mouth, will overthrow him through the splendourof
His appearing. Still I shall never cease to portray this Bestie to the life,if I live long enough to do so.
Jews and petitionfor the sons of Buchholzer, Provost of Berlin.
Grace and peace in the Lord, and my poor prayers, Serene High-bornPrince,most graciousLord George Buchholzer, Provost in Berlin,gave me your graciousgreeting, and wonders that I have not written you.
He tellsme also that you wish me to write againstthe double-dealers.
Many thanks for your graciousgreeting.But your Grace must not impute my not writingto any unwillingness to do so ; for,I have no ill-feeling to any one on earth,and I pray dailyfor you princesand lords,as St. Paul inculcates in i Tim.
I see how tryingit is to be a ruler in those scandalous times when there is so much treacheryamong those in power Court devil is such a powerful lord, who causes so much dissension among kings and princes. Hence
I had no cause to write your Grace, so you must not ascribe it to ill-feeling, I have often said and preachedthat I have no ill-willeven to the Archbishop of Mayence, not wishinghim even an hour of my catarrh, althoughI make furious onslaughts on him, as I do not like to see him hurryingon to hell,as if he feared he might arrive too late if he went at an ordinarypace.
But warningis vain there.
Grace may fall a prey to some of the Jews' tricks,but as you have such confidence in them, I know no credence will be givento my warning.Therefore
Margrave from their wiles,that your trust may not be betrayed, to our great sorrow.
Provost is so severe on those Jews,which is a proofof his loyalty to your I encourage him to continue in the path he has chosen, for this practising of alchemy is a disgraceful deception, for all know money cannot be made by such sophistry.
George has also asked me to request your