the magistratebeingcalled upon to put down all private disputeswith all his authority. This is how we do in Wittenberg,and counsel others to do the same.
From this you will see that the magistracydare not tolerate what you speak of in the community.
For it is nothing short of a secret scandal.
Therefore call them out to the lightof day,so that they may either justify themselves or be vanquished.
Along with the Decalogue and the Catechism, inculcate civil (hurgerliche) and domestic virtues,and these ought most frequently to be the subjecttopicsof preaching, and the peoplebe compelled to attend, so that they may be instructed as to the duties of a subjectand social life,whether they approve of the gospelor not, to prevent them becoming a stone of stumblingto others,by deliberately setting at naught political laws.
For if they live in a community they must learn the laws of the same and obey them, even againsttheir will.
And they must do this,not only on account of their possessions, but for the sake of their family. Christ, who will sustain you, will teach you all else.
Luther issued the three great Reformation treatises:
On the BabylonianCaptivity of the Church."
Christian Liberty," or Luther placeshimself under Charles's protection as being the defender of truth and righteousness.
Grace and peace from our Doubtless every one marvels, most graciousEmperor, that I presume to write your ImperialMajesty. For what is so unusual as that the should be addressed by the meanest of men
But whoever can estimate the enormous importanceof this subject, which so intimately concerns the divine verities, will not wonder.
For, if it be worthy of being brought before the throne of His Majesty,how much more before that of an earthlyprince; for even as earthlyprincesare an emblem of the heavenly, so it becomes them to follow their great example : viz. to look from their heightsupon the lowly of the earth,and " raise the poor out of the dust,and lift the beggarfrom the dunghill."
Therefore,I,poor miserable creature, throw myselfat your ImperialMajesty'sfeet as the most unworthy being who ever broughtforward a matter of such importance.
I wrote drew down the envy and hatred of many great people,instead of their gratitude, which : (i ) Because againstmy will I had to come forward,althoughI had no desire to write anything,had not my opponents, through guileand force,compelledme to do so.
I could have remained hidden in my corner.
(2) As my conscience and many piouspeople can testify, I onlybrought forward the gospelin opposition to the illusions or delusions of human traditions.
And for so doing,I have suffered for three years, without cessation,all the malice which my adversaries could heap upon me.
It was of no avail that I pled for mercy and promisedhenceforth to be silent.
No attention was paid to my efforts after peace, and my urgent request to be better instructed was not listened to.
The one thing they insisted upon was, that I,with the whole gospel,should be extinguished. Therefore seeingall my labour lost,I appealedto the example of Athanasius, to see if perhaps God might not, through your
ImperialMajesty,support O lord, princeof the kings of the earth,I fall humbly at your Majesty'sfeet,beggingyou will not take me, but the cause of divine truth (forwhich cause only God has put the sword into your hand) under the shadow of your wings,protecting me tillI have either won or lost the cause.
I then be declared a heretic I ask for no protection, and only pleadthat neither the truth nor the lie be condemned unheard.
For this is only due to your It will consecrate your century, and cause its memory never to be forgotten, if your Majestydo not permit the wicked to swallow up him who is holier than they,nor let men, as the prophetsays,
" become as the fishes of the sea " as the creepingthingsthat have no riiler over them I herewith commend myself to you, hoping for all that is good from your
Jesus preserve to us, and highlyexalt to the everlasting honour of Majesty'sdevoted servant, Luther dedicates a little book of consolation to the Elector, for the comfort of believers under disappointment.
Saviour has commanded us to visit the sick, liberate the prisoner,and perform works of mercy towards our neighbour, even as our
Himself set the example of marvellous love,in descendingfrom the Almighty Father's bosom, to share our captivity, and take our sins and weaknesses upon Whoever despisesthis most blessed type and command will at the last day hear the words,
*' Go into everlasting fire :
I was sick,and ye did not visit me."
This is my apologyfor compilingthis small book, so that I may not be accused of ingratitudein beingunable to recognisemy
Jesus'image,in the illness with which your Highness has been smitten by my I cannot pretendnot to hear God's voice from the person of your
Christian is ill,it is not he alone who suffers,but What you have done unto the least of my disciples ye have done unto me."
And althoughthis command of Christ refers to the whole human br")therhood " still, it is specially applicable to our brothers in the faith,and above all,must be exercised towards our friends and relatives.
Besides,it is incumbent upon me, with all your Grace's subjects, to sympathisein all your afflictions, as our head on whom all our prosperitydepends.
I,who for many reasons am entitled to look upon you as my protector,could, in my poverty, find nothing worthy of your acceptance, till my dearest friend,George
Spalatin, put it into my head to prepare you a littlebook of spiritual consolation drawn from the Holy Scriptures.
I present this booklet Grace, which is divided into fourteen chapters. It is not a tablet of silver,but a spiritual one, not to be placed in the churches, but in the heart.
The firstpart consists of seven meditations upon evil, trial, and disappointment ; the second part also contains seven meditations
" upon prosperity and thingspertaining thereto.
Grace, with your usual princely benignity, graciously receive this my humbly commend myself to you.
Grace's humble servant, Elector's graciousacceptance of his little book, Luther dedicated his largeGerman treatise, Works^ to his brother
High-born Prince, Gracious My humble service and poor prayers are ever at your