Luther comforts him in his melancholy.
From Beckmann's anhalt history, vol. V, p. 175, in De Wette, vol. V, p. 36 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 159.
Christ our dear Lord comforts E. F. G. Herz with his bodily incarnation, which he has put on to comfort and please all men, as the dear angels sing today: "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and goodwill toward men. I hope that E. F. G. Herz will not have any doubt or sadness because of the faith or the Gospel, as now it is well reported what the truth is against the devil's and his pope's lies. But if the doctrine and the faith are well established, then let hell and all the devils fall upon us, what is more? What can afflict us but perhaps our sin and evil conscience? but Christ has taken that away for us, though we sin daily. Who can frighten us but the devil? But He is greater, who dwells in us, neither is he, though faith be weak. Let the devil be holy and without sin, we 1) need the dear Savior; let the devil be vain strength, and need nothing of Christ's help and strength! We should and will gladly be weak in ourselves, so that Christ's strength may dwell in us, as S. Paul says: Virtus Christi in infirmitate perticitur. S. F. G. have not yet denied the dear Lord nor crucified him, and even if the same had happened, he nevertheless remains merciful, and has also prayed for the crucifiers. Therefore be confident, and strengthen yourself in Christ against the evil spirit, which can do nothing but falsely afflict and terrify or murder. May the dear Lord Jesus Christ, our joy and consolation, be with our heart and do not let it be desolate.
1) "we" put by us instead of: "and".
Letters from the year 1536. No. 2326. 2327. 2328.
No. 2326.