Luther apologizes for his long silence, sends his sermon held at Wörlitz and reports news.
The original is in Dessau. Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 165 us in Cod. Ilklnast. 94 Lidi. OukIpN. Printed by Schütze, vol. II, p. 279 (from the Hanische Sammlung in Kiel) and by De Wette, vol. IV, p. 430. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1402.
To the man to be highly honored in Christ, Mr. Nic. Hausmann, the extremely faithful servant of Christ in Dessau, his superior in the Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ our Lord! The opportunity to write to you, my esteemed husband, has already been snatched away from me three times, also very much against my will. For I have been constantly overwhelmed with writing and other work (agendo), as is evidenced both by the books and the prefaces with which we have filled this Leipzig fair. Therefore, for the sake of Christ, I ask you to interpret this delay for the best. My good will towards you is irreproachable and will always be so, even if the execution of it should be somewhat negligent. For I wish to be most favorable and serviceable to you. Therefore, after I finished writing the books this morning, I have set aside this evening to finish the letters that are to be sent to Leipzig and Nuremberg. When these are finally finished, I will take the time to write more extensively to you and to the Prince, the noble Lord George, Provost of Magdeburg, and I will make up for the delay by the amount of writing, which I hope will be good and pleasant.
I wish you happiness that your indisposition is overcome and a better state of health is restored. Christ keep you healthy and as a prayer for me.
The sermon I gave at Wörlitz has been printed, and I am sending it herewith. For I believe that you already have the other books that have recently been published, because I am firmly convinced of the diligence of Magister Georg, indeed, I have tested them, but if there is anything that you do not yet have, then show it to me, that is what I ask. Christ, as one hears here, has his enemy,1) the: Schreier zu Leipzig, just killed in the pulpit and in the middle of his blasphemy.
In Hamburg, a canon who particularly hated the gospel killed himself, and at the same time, in the same city, a sacramentarian threw himself into a vain well, and even though the water was not deep enough, and people ran to the well and called on Christ, he still willingly bent backwards and suffocated himself, despising the remedies that were lowered for him. His speech was quite similar to that of Judas: I have deceived many, therefore there is no hope. So shall your enemies perish, O Lord, since they knowingly and deliberately make no end nor measure of their lust, and run against God with their necks erect.
You will recommend me to your very good and sincere princes, to whom I will write in confidence when I have gained leisure. Christ be with you. My Lord Käthe greets you respectfully and asks that you support her with your prayers, since she is close to giving birth. On the second of January, 1533, yours, Martin Luther.
No. 1952.