Intercession for a student.
From Cod. 402. f. Bibl. Goth., in De Wette's Nachlasse, printed in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 4XVIII. In Walch, vol. XXI, 1568. Neither the old copy nor the text in Walch prove satisfactory. Better in the Jena edition of the Trostschriften, in Rödingers Erben, sheet e ij and from it in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 421. According to the latter, we give the text.
God's grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, wise, dear gentlemen! I have been approached by N. N. (whom his father honestly and honestly helped to his studio for some time and cannot extend further) and asked to write to E. W. and to make an intercession for him, which I could not refuse him out of Christian love.
Because you know that one must have people who can serve in time, both in churches and schools, so that Christian doctrine is preserved for and for and spread further, where we otherwise do not want to become Turks, and yet, unfortunately, lords and cities do little to help, but withdraw everything that is to be turned there, where they can. So do the best you can and help that the
Let the pious journeyman N. N. continue his studies, if he has started well and blessedly, for another year or two, and bring it so far that he may be useful and comforting to others.
Now that God has provided you with daily help in your common castes, you can give him such help without any difficulty, not to mention that you also owe it to God and the world to support such people, who may be necessary and useful for Christianity and our salvation.
Our most gracious lord, the Elector, has also graciously considered this, and has seriously ordered and commanded such people to help and promote it everywhere.
Because the good fellow has skill and breath for it, I hope you will not refuse him his request for the sake of your conscience, as you will do God owed honor and service and the sovereign pleasant obedience. Date etc. 1)
Martin Luther.
No. 3326.
Without year and day.