Hausmann, like Bugenhagen, had the giftof Church organisation, and insisted on the inseparable connection between doctrine and life.
He died when preachinghis firstsermon in Freibergin 1538. Deeplymourned by Luther.
This man returns to you, and bringsas much as I could spare, but insisted upon having a letter to you.
I am well in body, but outwardlyso occupiedwith business,that my soul is well-nighquenched for want of time to attend to it.
Pray that I may not be swallowed up by fleshly concerns.
Greet all our companions in the faith,and may you prosper in the Lord.
Luther comforts the three Freibergyoung ladies who had been banished from Court for readinghis books.
To the honoured and virtuous Feilitzin, my special friends in Christ.
Amsdorf has told me of your disgrace because of my books, and begged me to write you a letter of consolation.
But althoughI do not like writingto peopleI do not know, and you do not need comfort from me, stillI could not refuse his request.
First,I beg you, as a friend,to let your hearts rest in peace, and not wish evil to those who have brought this upon you, but " beingreviled bless,"as Bless them that curse you," etc., so do the same, seeing you are illumined by the grace of God, and they are blinded and are injuringtheir own souls by running againstGod, not seeinghow theyare destroyingthemselves,when theyfancythey are injuring you.
Christ manage matters.
He will abundantly requiteyour reproach,and raise you even higherthan you desire, if you commit your cause entirely to And even if your conscience tell you that you are in fault, you must not despair on that account.
For it is a precious signthat God has so soon led you to repentance.
And reflect that if even you wished to injurethem, you could accomplishnothing. For it is a sacred matter for which you suffer,which God will permit no one but '' He that toucheth you, toucheth the appleof his eye,"He says.
I fancythat miserable blinded creature, Stehlin,is master there, but he will become entangledin a way he does not dream of in other matters.
So act thus,my dear sisters, and the peace of God shall be with you.
And take my letter in good part.
Luther's firstpoetical effusion was in honour of the two martyrs Voes and Johann Esch,Augustinemonks.
Praise to the Father of mercies for permitting us anew to see His marvellous light, which has been hidden from us because of our sins.
But the time has againcome for the voice of the turtle to be heard in our land,and the flowers to appear on the earth.
What a joy it is,dear ones, that you should yieldus this great delight For to you it has been given,not only to confess Christ,but to be the firstto endure shame, imprisonment, and reproach for His name's sake,and now you have provedthe strength of your faith by sealing your testimonywith your blood.
Christ's two preciousgems, Johann in Brussels,should have held their lives of so little account as to yieldthem up to Oh, how shamefully were these two souls slain,but how gloriously shall theyreappear with