Luther invites the people of Esslingen to participate in a convention to be held by other cities and preachers because of the settlement negotiations.
The original is in Eßlingen. Printed in Keller, Geschichte der Stadt Eßlingen, p. 199; in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 640 and in the Erlanger Ausg. vol. 55. p. 110.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, prudent, dear lords and friends! I am heartily pleased with your writing that I notice how your hearts and minds are inclined by God's grace to the settlement among us, so that the irritation of the discord may come to an end. May our dear Lord God confirm such grace in you, and you should take it for granted that with God's help I will allow myself to be found unsaved in all things that are possible; for I have come into such hope that God has allowed such a cleavage and rift to come among us, that we might be tempted and humiliated. But He can make all things good out of evil, as He makes all things out of nothing. Therefore, please continue to pray and strive, so that such unity may become firm and lasting, and your devil may have his jaws stopped, who boasted of such disunity and immediately shouted, "Hah, won! and cried out at once.
I have written to the other cities and preachers that they want to discuss whether it should not be necessary for us preachers to meet in one place to talk about this and other things verbally. I put this into your consideration, and you will know how to act with the others and let us know. Command you hereby to the dear, faithful God eternally, Amen. Wittenberg, quinto Octobris 1535.
Eur willing
Martinus Luther.
No. 2180.