To Duke John Frederick of Saxony. May 15, 1525.
Grace and peace in Christ, our Lord and Savior. Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! I should comfort E. F. G. at this time, when the Almighty God is attacking us as the saying goes: No misfortune alone; that we have not only lost peace and tranquility in the country, but are also deprived of our main, which we now need at most. God is so strange in His works that He sends misfortune at the same time as He moves us away from what we should hold on to and strengthen ourselves, so that we also sing with Christ in complete abandonment, yes, howl in the Psalter: "I am miserable and lonely. Now we have to stand by; that this should not hurt the old Adam is not possible. He cannot be comforted in this either, he is too weak to endure the puff; but the inner man still finds comfort and remedy, that he may be refreshed and strengthened, namely in the Scriptures, where God promises: He will be near to all who are sorrowful in heart, and will refresh them.
Here, too, no other better comfort can be found than God's Word, which calls us to trust, to hope, to call upon Him in all distress and temptation, as to a faithful Father and Savior, as He says, Ps. 50:15: "Call upon me in distress, and I will give you the answer.
I will help thee, and thou shalt praise me"; and again, "I am with him in tribulation, and will save him, and set him in honor"; and such sweet, lovely words, of which the Psalms are full. And indeed such a death of this prince is almost bearable in himself because of him, for it seems as if God has moved him away, like King Josiah, so that he does not see such evil in the world, because he has led a peaceful, quiet, calm regiment all his life, that he was called Peace and proved his name by deed, and it is also to be granted to such peaceful souls that they do not live in such strife and turmoil, and perhaps we would lament more if we should see that his last days should be found in such turmoil. But still we have suffered and been afflicted, which God, through His grace and Word, will repay abundantly, as we are obliged to trust and hope. Amen.
I have written these things to E. F. G. for your kind service, although I believe E. F. G. to have comforting courage in Christ that there is no need for my consolation, and I also pray that from day to day there will be even less need, amen. Hereby command me E. F. G. In Wittenberg, on the Monday after Cantate 1525.
Martinus Luther, D.
2046 D. 54,2S3; 55,112. III. Main st - 0. From the Father-Our esp. 7. request. W. X, 2366-2370. 2047