May 15, 1525.
To the Most Serene and Highborn Prince and Lord, Lord John, Duke of Saxony and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, my most gracious Lord, grace and peace in Christ.
Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! I certainly have reason to write to E. C. F. G. now, if only I could write. After the almighty God has taken away from us the head, our most gracious Lord, the Elector, E. C. F. G. brother, in such dangerous, dreadful times and thus left us in misery, especially E. C. F. G., on whom all this misfortune falls, so that E. C. F. G. may well say with the Psalter, Ps. 30, 13: "Accidents have surrounded me, of which there is no number, and there are more than hairs on my head, so that I can no longer see anything.
Yet God is faithful and does not let His wrath prevail over mercy in those who trust in Him, but also gives with strength to bear, and finally ways and means,
How to get rid of it, so that we may also say again with the Psalter, Ps. 118:18: "The Lord chastises me, but does not give me over to death"; and again, Ps. 34:20: "The righteous - that is, the faithful - must suffer many calamities; but the Lord delivers them from all."
So also Solomon comforts, saying, Prov. 3:11, 12: "Whom God loveth he chasteneth, and hath pleasure in him, as in a son: therefore, my son, cast not from thee the chastisement of God, and be not weary when thou art chastened of him." And Christ Himself, John 16:33: "In the world ye are afraid, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
This is the school in which God chastises and teaches to trust in Him, so that faith does not always hover on the tongue and in the ears, but also speaks righteously in the bottom of the heart. In this school, E. C. F. G. is now, of course, also, and has taken away God's head without a doubt, so that he himself might come the closer to E. C. F. G. in its place, and teach you to trust this human
and surrender and become strong and confident in his goodness and power alone, which is much more comforting and lovely.
I wrote this to E. C. F. G. in a hurry as a consolation, E. C. F. G. wanted it
graciously accept and continue to rejoice in the Psalter and the Holy Scriptures, which are full of all kinds of comfort. Hereby commanded by God. On the Monday after Cantate 1525.
E. C. F. G. subservient
Several interpretations of the seventh petition can be found in the :
I. Part, 1. B. Mos., 23. Cap., § 10-22, of the death of the patriarchs and other saints.
IV. Theil, Ausleg. der 22 ersten Ps.; 4. Ps., § 1-77, eine Unterweisung, wie man sich in Kreuz und Trübsal zu verhalten hat.
- Interpretation of the 22 first Ps.; 5. Ps., § 170-260, of trust and hope in God.
V. Theil, XXIII. Ausleg. d. 90. Ps., ein Gebet Mosis, was Sterben und der Tod, und wie man ihm entfliehe.
IX. Theil, IX. Pred. von unserer seligen Hoffnung, über Tit. 2, 13.
XI. Theil, Pred. am Sonnt. n. Christi Himmelfahrt, § 9 ff., von dem Trost, so Christus seinen Jüngern gibt bei dem Hass u. Verfolgung der Welt.
- 1 Ecclesiastes, § 12 ff, and 2 Ecclesiastes, § 43 ff, about Christ's judgment of the world and believers.
- 2. sermon on the 24th Sunday after Trinity, § 31 ff, about Christ's pronouncement of death.
XII. Theil, Kirchenpost; Pred. am 2. Sonnt. n. Trin., Vermahnung, dass sich die Christen nicht wundern sollen, wenn sie die Welt baßt.
- XXXVII. two sermons on 1 Thess. 4, 15-18. at Elector Frederick's funeral in Saxony.
- XXXIII Some short sermons; sermon on the 24th Sunday after Trinity, that death in Christ has been made to sleep.
XII. Theil, Kirchenpost; Pred. am 2. Sundt. n. Ostern, Vermahnung zur Geduld unter dem Leiden.
- Church post; 2nd sermon on the 4th Sunday after Trinity, on the suffering of the creature.
- XXXVII Two funeral sermons; 1st Serm., 2nd printing, Consolation Sermon, Directed Against Death.
- XXXVII L. Two sermons on 1 Thess. 4, 13-18; 1. and 2. sermons, on the right conduct and comfort at the death of pious Christians and relatives.
XIIIa. Theil, Pred. am Sonnt. n. Christi Himmelfahrt, § 17 ff., vom Kreuz und Verfolgung der Christen.
- At the end: The first funeral sermon, about the hope and comfort of Christians at the death of their own.
- The second funeral sermon, on the behavior of a Christian in the event of death.
See also in Luther's Reformation writings: Missive to all those who suffer persecution because of the Word of God.
Other such excellent and full of spirit writings of Luther, which he made about the manifold burnings, beheadings etc. of many holy martyrs that happened in his time, can be found in the chapter about the persecutions and can be read edifyingly there.