From a letter to Melanchthon dated October 27, 1527. *)
Pray sincerely and earnestly for me, the poor rejected worm, who is so severely afflicted with sadness and melancholy of spirit, but according to the good, gracious will of the merciful Father in heaven, to whom be praise, honor and glory even in my great anguish and distress.
This is my only glory, that I have taught God's word purely and unadulterated it, praise God, not to gain honor and good by it. I hope that the gracious God, who has begun to have mercy on me, will continue until my end, because I seek nothing else, nor desire with great hunger and thirst, but to have a gracious God. Now he is ever gracious and merciful, as the Scriptures testify of him, not only to those who fear him and hope in his goodness, but also offers to be so to those who are at present his despisers and enemies, if they convert [as he speaks through the prophet, and confirms with a solemn oath: "As I live, says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but that he should convert and live", Ezek. 18, 23. and 33, 11.].
Greet all brothers and command me to them
in their prayer. Christ, who has abundantly given us his knowledge and opened his mouth to teach us his gospel against the raging, furious Satan, may he also give us grace and power, so that through his sure and joyful Spirit we may also grasp the word with faith, hold fast to it, and confess it continually in the midst of the unrighteous and perverse generation.
I have not yet read Erasmus' book, which he had printed against me. And what should I, a sick servant of Christ, read when I am barely alive, let alone plan or write anything? Does the Lord then urge me with all his floods? And the very ones who should have compassion on me seek to execute me, who am already more afflicted than I can bear. May God have mercy on them and convert them, amen. Given on the evening of Simonis and Jude. Anno 1527.
*Erasmus had published on Luther's writing de servo arbitrio (that the free will is nothing) against him a new writing under the title: Hyperaspistes diatriba, adversus servum arbitrium M. Lutheri.