To Lampert Thorn.*) 19 January 1524.
To the faithful disciple of Christ, Lampert Thorn, who is in bondage for the sake of the Gospel, to his most beloved brother in the Lord, grace and peace in the Lord!
Christ, who is with you, my dear brother Lampert, gives me a strong testimony that you need my comfort neither by word nor by scripture. For he suffers and is glorified, he is imprisoned and reigns; power is given to him and yet he triumphs in and with you, who has also abundantly given you his knowledge, which sanctifies and justifies, hidden and unknown to all the world. Who also strengthens you not only inwardly by his Spirit in your bodily afflictions, but also by the true salvific example of the two brothers, Henry and John, who were burned in Brussels in 1523 because of their constant confession of divine truth,
you are a great comfort to me, a sweet savor to all Christendom, and a glorious adornment and ornament to the gospel of Christ. How could I possibly weigh you down with my cold, powerless consolation? And who knows why the Lord did not want you to perish with those two; perhaps he has preserved you because he wants to create something special through you.
I am therefore heartily refreshed and rejoice with you, and also thank the faithful Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, that He has not only graciously granted me to know His Word and to taste the firstfruits of His Spirit, but has also allowed me to experience and see a rich, glorious flourishing of His grace in the three of you.
I may well consider myself unfortunate against you, of whom it is praised that he was the first to teach this doctrine, for which be-
1926 L. 53.231ST; 56, 105TH III. Main st. - 0. of the Father-Our esp. 7. petition. W. X, 2215-2218. 1927
But in this I consider myself to be the last, that I have not yet suffered and endured such persecution and tribulation - like you three and others, praise God! more - and will perhaps never again be worthy to suffer persecution and shame for the sake of Christ's name and word.
But I will reckon this my wretchedness with the fact that I can comfort myself that your bands are my bands, your dungeon my dungeon, your fire my fire. Moreover, I preach and confess publicly before the wicked world, its prince and his angels, the very word for which they were burned and you are imprisoned and bound; for which reason I also suffer and rejoice with you.
But the Lord Jesus, who began to show His glory in you, will also accomplish it until the day of His glorious and joyful appearing, Phil. 1, 6. Therefore, my dear brother in the Lord, pray for me, as I also pray for you, and think that you not only suffer, but that he also suffers with you, who says, Ps. 91:14: "I am with him in trouble: he desires me, and I will help him; he knows my name, and I will protect him." Yes, all of us together with the Lord are with you, and neither he nor we will leave you. But wait for the Lord, be confident and undaunted, and wait for the Lord,
Ps. 27:14, who said, "In the world you are afraid; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world," John 16:33.
Do not dispute with Satan, but turn your eyes steadfastly to the Lord. Be firmly grounded in the true, pure faith; be sure and do not doubt that we are justified and saved only through the precious blood of Christ, the innocent and unblemished Lamb. Our works and human commandments, as little as they can be Christ's blood, so little can they take away sin and make us righteous; so neither do they condemn nor make us guilty of any sin.
With us, in our Elector's country, there is good peace, praise God! On the other hand, the Duke of Bavaria and the Bishop of Trier have many people killed, persecuted and chased away. Other bishops and princes are not bloodhounds; nevertheless, they plague their people with threats and do them great harm. Thus Christ is once again "a mockery of the people and contempt of the people," Ps. 22:7, which limb you have become through the holy calling of our Father in heaven, which he also fulfills in you to the honor of his word and name, amen.
Fare well in Christ, my brother; all our people and our whole congregation, especially Jakob Probst and the brothers of Antwerp, greet you and entrust themselves to your prayers. At Wittenberg, Tuesday after Antonii, Anno 1524.
Martinus Luther, D.