Still it is a great affliction, and we hope God will abundantlycompensate us for the great loss.
I have tried to prove my devotion in this letter, althoughI believe your Grace is too firmlyrooted in Christ to need any encouragement from me, and I pray as time passes there may be even less need of it.
I herewith commend myselfto your Prince who died in the Evangelical faith.
If able to write at all I have good cause to do so, seeingthe Almighty has taken our graciouslord, your Grace's brother,from us in such trying times, leavingus to mourn his loss,which falls heaviest upon you, so that with the Psalmist you may exclaim,
'* Innumerable evils have compassed me about : they are more than the hairs of my head ; therefore my heart faileth me."
God is faithful, and does not let His wrath rest on those who trust in Him, but inspiresthem with courage, enablingthem againto exclaim with the Psalmist,
Lord hath chastened me sore : but he hath not given me over unto death " Many are the afflictions of the righteous Lord delivereth him out of them all."
** In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be of good cheer ; I have overcome the world.*'
This is the school in which His people, and teaches them to trust Him, so that their confidence may not alwayshover on the tongue, but in the heart.
Grace is most surelyin this school also, and doubtless God has removed the head in order that He His place,and teach you to derive strengthand consolation solelyfrom power, which is far above all human love and consolation.
I have hurriedlywritten all this to comfort you.
May you graciously receive it,and delightyourself more and more in the Holy Scriptures, which are full of all sorts of consolation.
I herewith commit you to Electoral Grace's obedient, Luther's brother-in-law, a lawyerin Mansfeld.
The peasant insurrection endangeredthe Reformation more than anythingelse had ever done.
To the learned John Ruhel, my good,kind brotherin-law.
God's grace and peace I thank you, dear sir, for your last news, which I was glad to hear,especially about I should like to hear how he was taken prisoner, and how he behaved,for it is well to know how such haughty spirits act.
That the poor creature should be so treated is pitiable.But what can we do God's will that fear should be instilled into the people.
If this were not done, then Satan would do even more mischief.
The one misfortune is preferable to the other.
It is the judgment of He who takes the sword shall perishby the sword.
So it is a consolation that this spirit should be made manifest,to let the peasants see how badlytheyhave acted,and perhapstheymay cease plotting and improve.
Do not take all this so to heart,for it may be for the good of many souls,who, throughfear,may desist.
My graciouslord,the Elector,died between five and six on the day I left you, just as they were desolating He passed quietlyaway, retaininghis senses to the last,having partakenof the sacrament in both forms, but without extreme unction.
His funeral was a most imposingsight,althoughwe performedno masses or vigils over him.
Some stones were found in his lungs,and three elsewhere,which was strange He did not know much about the insurrection ; but wrote to his brother,Prince
John, that he must use every means to pacifythe peoplebefore he resorted to arms.
Christ-like and blessed death.
The signsof his death were a rainbow which I saw one nightlast winter over the Lochau, and a child was born here in Wittenbergwithout a head.
I herewith commit you to God, and greet your vine {Hansrehen) with her fruit {Trauben).
Christofel Meinhardt, and beg him to suffer the will of God, which can only promote our highestwelfare, althoughwe are not yet aware of it.
Now is the time to keep quietand let God act, and soon we shall see peace.
Luther's marriagehad really taken placeon He now invites Spalatin to the wedding feast.
Spalatin, that my marriagewill be on Wednesday, and the great banquet at mid-day.
Therefore see that the game does not arrive too late,but let us have it in time, by to-morrow evening,if possible.
I wish the whole entertainment to be over in one day.
I write this to you, for L. Koppe did not gather from my letter that you were not in the same position.
Koppe who rescued the nine nuns from the cloister near Grimma, among whom was Grace and peace in Christ !
I wish you to read this very depressingletter, honoured sir,to see if you know