Bttcer and the others for not answeringtheir letters.
Luther praiseshim for havingquittedthe monkish life.
CEcolampadius,not to ascribe my not writingto you to ingratitude or sloth ; for I have not heard from you since you quittedyour order,and fancied that since Christ had strengthenedyour heart through the power of the Spirit, you had overcome your superstitious conscience, and were now too great to write me, or need a letter from me.
Truly, I highlyapprove of the praiseworthy step you have taken, and Philipnever ceases speakingof you, and rejoices that you keep him in remembrance.
May the Lord strengthenyou in your great undertaking Erasmus takes no pleasuretherein.
But do not let his displeasure disturb you.
He has performed the task to which he was called " he has reinstated the ancient languages, thus defraudinggodlesslearningof their crowds of admirers.
Perhaps,like Moses, he will die in the land of Moab, for he is powerlessto guide men to those higherstudies which lead to divine blessedness.
I rejoicedwhen he ceased expoundingthe Scriptures ; for he was not equal to the task.
He has done enough in exposingthe evils of the Church, but cannot remedy them, or pointthe way to the promisedland.
Take my prolixity in good part.
I know you do not need my consolation, for Christ will not forsake you.
I am so occupied with outward thingsthat my health is in as great danger of beinginjured as my spirit.The monks and nuns who have left their cloisters rob me of many hours, for I am expectedto find homes for them all,etc.
CEcolampadius.The grace of Christ be with you Greet all who are of one mind with us.
A young patrician, who studied at Wittenberg.
Grace and peace in the I must ask your services, dear Hieronymus, on behalf of this poor young man, He wishes to settle,and asked me to introduce him to some one in Nilrnberg.Although
I could not givehim much hope,for I know every place is full,still I bade him God's name, who feeds the ravens.
Moreover, if you intend marrying Bora, make haste before she is givento some one else,for Orlamunde, is ready waiting.She has not yet got over her love for you.
I wish that you two were married.
Luther dissuades Spalatin from leaving the Court,and resigning his post, unless he wishes to marry.
As you ask my advice as to leaving You have perhaps cause to do so, but unless you have some other reason for givingup your post, the wrongdoingof others does not justify your doing it,if it be not the idea of marriage,^ which is drivingyou away
I can think of nothing else,especially as you are so at home at Court, and so useful to many princes; and if some one else got your situation,how much he would have to learn !
And even if your wish were accomplished, it would be long before 1 Spalatin married the followingyear.
Prince could have the same confidence in any other, you havingbeen so long with him.
Therefore remain, leavingonly to marry.
I fancy you are substituting another reason for the true one, but I see no objectin this,for it must become publicwhen it takes place. You can thank
Staupitz^for what she writes about marrying.
I cannot wonder at peoplegossiping about me when they do it about others.
But tell her from me that I am in the hands of the Lord, as His creature, whose heart But accordingto my present frame of mind
I have no intention of marrying,not that I am insensible to the emotions of the flesh,beingneither wood nor stone, but because
I have no desire to, and dailyexpect to die a heretic's death.
I shall not limit the power of the Lord working in me, nor depend on the stability ot my own heart.
I hope He will soon take me away.
Farewell,and pray for me.
Luther congratulates this excellent lady on her marriageto the famous preacher,Matthew Schutzin,my dear sister in Christ,Strassburg.Grace and peace
I wish you joy in having so richly received the grace of God, so that you not only behold His kingdom (which is hidden from so many), but that He has given you such a husband, from whom you can learn all that is good.
I wish you grace and strength to enjoy this good giftwith gratitudetill that day comes when we shall all meet and rejoicetogether,if God will.
Pray for me, and greet your lord A warm friend of the Reformation.
Luther again begshim to help him with I wish to follow the example of the prophets and Church fathers,and compose Psalms for the people; that is,spiritual songs, so that the Word of God may dwell among them through the hymn.
Therefore, we are seekingpoets everywhere. Hence, you being such a master of the German tongue and so eloquent,I beg you to lend a hand here, and turn one of these
Psalms into a hymn, accordingto this pattern.
Court terms, to enable the common people to understand the words, which must flow smoothly,and the languagebe pure.
But free scope is allowed, and if one understand his work, he can express himself as he will.
I have not this gift,and would not be pleasedwith my own work.
Jeduthum can be found anywhere.
I shall also ask Johann Dolzig, he beingrich in words and eloquent; so you will do your part when you have leisure.
Meantime, you have my seven Penitential Psalms, with the expositionthereupon,from which you can gather their meaning ; or, if you preferme to point out the Psalms you should take, the first might be,
" Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger,"
" Lord, hear my prayer,"the second.
Dolzig might paraphrase, ** Happy is the man," for I have alreadytranslated But if these be too difficult, take I shall leave for you.
May you prosper in the