which Luther held at Eisleben shortly before his end, in 1546.
The publisher's Joh. Aurifaber preface.
To the well-born and noble lords, Messrs. Albrecht and Johann Georg, cousins, counts and lords of Mansfeld, and noble lords of Heldrungen, my gracious lords.
God's grace and peace through Christ our Savior, Amen. Gracious and noble Counts, gracious Lords! I have often heard from the venerable Lord D. Martin Luther, of blessed memory, in Eisleben, that he said that he had therefore left Wittenberg at the request of His Grace. He said that he had left Wittenberg at His Grace's request so that he could have a little rest from daily work and running, and that he only wanted to preach and pray in Eisleben and exhort his sovereigns to unity and peace.
Because he did this abundantly through the bestowal of divine grace, and also preached several beautiful comforting sermons before his end there in the presence of His Holiness, which I wrote out at the same time in haste, as best I could, and have now sent out in print at His Holiness's and many others' request.
And since these are the last sermons of the venerable Lord D. Martini Lutheri, which may be held as a constant testimony to his teaching, and that he has not been tardy in his commanded office, and has not buried his pound, which was given to him by God, but has faithfully served the Lord Christ until his departure, taught and preached his word, and devoted himself to the same.
The Lord Christ (whom he had previously confessed before all the world) was also finally commanded into his hands, just as E. G. himself had heard.
Therefore, because E. G. is a witness to the teachings of this blessed man of God and also to his Christian departure from this pitiful valley, E. G. has attributed these four last sermons, which I have received from the mouth of the said doctor and which have also been diligently prepared here in Wittenberg by D. Caspar Creuziger, and want to have them published under E. G.'s name and title, humbly requesting that E. G. accept this for his gracious good pleasure. I will, to the best of my ability, be found completely willing and able to indebt E. G. with my owed and always ready services.
I hereby entrust E. G. to the gracious protection of God Almighty, who may grant E. G. a long life, and may bestow upon E. G. His Holy Spirit, so that she may happily preside over her country and dominions for the praise of God and for the welfare of her subjects. G. his Holy Spirit, that the same may preside over her country and dominions happily and well for God's praise and honor and for the welfare and prosperity of her subjects. Given at Wittenberg, on the 20th day of June, An. 1546.
E. G. willing servant
Johannes Aurifaber, Vinariensis.