1. to Margaretha N., widow at N.
December 15, 1528.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, virtuous woman! Your son N. has informed me of the misery and misfortune that has befallen you due to the departure of your dear Lord; I am moved by this out of Christian love to write this letter of comfort.
First of all, you should be comforted by the fact that in such a difficult struggle, in which your Lord stood, Christ nevertheless finally prevailed and won. Furthermore, that your Lord finally differed with reason and Christian knowledge on our Lord, which I myself have heard with great pleasure and joy. For in the same way Christ himself fought in the garden, Luc. 22:40, 44, and yet in the end he prevailed and rose from the dead.
But that your Lord injures himself, it may be that the devil, the members is powerful,
He has thus led his hand by force against his will. For if he had done it with his will, he would certainly not have come back to himself and been converted to such a confession of Christ. How often does the devil break some people's arms, necks, backs and all their limbs? He can be powerful in body and limbs without our will.
Therefore, be content in God and count yourselves among the multitude, of which Christ says, Matth. 5, 4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." All the saints must sing the Psalm, Ps. 44, 23: "We are killed daily for thy sake, and esteemed as sheep for the slaughter." There must be suffering and misfortune, if we are to be partakers of comfort.
Thank God also for such great grace,
2034 L. 5", 22ND ,113. III. Main st. - 0. of the Father-Our esp. 7. request. W. X, 2353-2355. 2035
that your Lord did not remain in struggle and despair, as happens to some, but by God's grace was powerfully pulled out and finally found in Christian faith and word. Of whom it is said, "Blessed are they that die in the Lord." And
Christ himself, John 11:6: "He that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live." Hereby God the Father in Christ JEsu comforts and strengthens you, Amen. At Wittenberg, Tuesday Luciae, Anno 1528.
Martinus Luther.
2. to the widow of Magister Cellarius.
May 8, 1542.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, virtuous, dear wife! Unfortunately, I have learned how God, the dear Father, has struck you, and even us, with a rod and taken away from you and us your dear husband, Johann Cellarius, your master of the house. But let this comfort you that your suffering is not the greatest among the children of men, of whom there are many who have to suffer and endure a hundred times more hardship; and even if all our suffering on earth were in one heap, it would still be nothing compared to what God's Son has done for us and for our sake.
innocently suffered for the sake of his innocence. For no death is to be counted against the death of our Lord and Savior Christ, by which death we are all saved from eternal death.
So take comfort in the Lord, who, having died for you and all of us, is much better for us than we are for our husbands, wives, children and everything. For we are his, we die or live, live in want or have, and so on. But if we are his, he is also ours, with all that he is and has, amen. Commanded here with grace. My Kate deprives you of comfort and grace in God. Monday after Cantate 1542.
3. to Georg Schultzen s surviving widow.
8 October 1544.
Grace and peace in the Lord. Honorable, virtuous Mrs. Eva, good friend! I am almost sorry for your accident, that God has taken your dear landlord from you; I can well believe that such a parting must hurt you; it would not be good if it did not hurt you, for that would be a sign of cold love.
But first of all you have the great comfort that he has passed away so Christian and blessed.
On the other hand, the will of God, our dearest Father, is the very best, who also gave His Son for us; how reasonable it is, then, that we also sacrifice our will to His will for His service and pleasure; which we not only owe, but also will have great and eternal fruit and joy.
But He, our dear Lord Jesus Christ, comfort you abundantly with His Spirit, Amen. Hereby commanded to the dear God. Wednesday after Francisci, 1544.