Luther invites him, who was suffering from temptations, to come to him.
In the Unsch. Nachr. 1722, p. 538; by Strobel-Ranner, p. 269 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 115 f.
To his extremely dear brother, Mr. Bernhard voll Dölen, the disciple and faithful servant of the crucified Lord.
Grace and peace in the Lord! I have not yet been able to answer your last letter and the temptations, my dear Bernard, because the messenger left while I was obliged to teach. And what can I write to comfort you now, but that you, if you hear my advice, may come here to me as soon as possible; for perhaps your temptation is too violent to be alleviated by short writings, and, God willing, it will be better healed by the living voice and personal intercourse. In addition, I do not know what kind of trouble you are in, from what cause it comes, whether from conscience or from weakness of faith, and therefore I cannot write anything in particular; only that in the meantime, until you come to me, you should believe that it is not you alone who suffers such arrows, then that Christ himself is tempted in all things, so that he undoubtedly felt this temptation of yours, otherwise he would not be tempted in all things. But He is tempted in all things [Heb. 4:15.], that we may know and have confidence that all temptations are overcome for us through Him, as He says, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." GOD himself, the victor over sorrow, over death and hell, who comforts and sustains your heart through his Holy Spirit, Amen. Pray for me, who am also afflicted, as I pray for you, who are afflicted. Monday after Vocem Jucunditatis [27 May] 1538.
Your Martin Luther.
Letters from the year 1538. No. 2441.
No. 2441.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther, asked to give his opinion on the Turkish war, advises the Elector to take part in it.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. H, fol. 45. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 84, no. 150; in Walch, vol. XXI, 408; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 116 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 202.
To the most illustrious, highborn prince and lord, Mr. Johann Friedrich, Her
Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire's Archmarshall and Elector, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, and Burgrave of Magdeburg, my most gracious lord.
G. ll. F. in Christ, our Lord and Savior. Sublime, highborn Prince, most gracious Lord! By E. C. F. G.'s order, as reported to me by D. Brück, on account of the march against the Turks 2c., since E. C. F. G. also desires my concern, these are my thoughts. Since Germany is full of blood debts and blasphemy, since they rage and rage against their conscience and recognized truth, that it is impossible (where God lives and reigns otherwise), [that it] should go without great punishment, and God lets King Ferdinandus go to the beginning of such loose and clumsy both regiment and being: for his sake there is no hope, but vain sorrow, yes certainly vain misfortune. Now that it is true that the Turk himself is up with all his might, I believe that the rut is bound, which will not be resisted: therefore I command all things to God, and with prayer I will deal with the things that will happen or come to pass. For methinks, as they stand, God will not give them much happiness, because they do not want to visit E. C. F. G. for help, nor give peace in such distresses. As in all this, because in this great distress not Ferdinand nor others of our enemies, but also our fatherland and many pious, faithful people will have to suffer with it: so I think (if E. C. F. G. will be called and requested to do so), E. C. F. G. should help to comfort and help the poor bunch (not the tyrants) cheaply and with a good conscience, I feel guilty, so that the conscience does not have to sigh afterwards, and according to the law, I should be able to help them.
Why did you not protect the poor when you could have, and let the small matter of the tyrant's discord hinder you? For even if we were to fear that our adversaries would strike the Turk (which I do not believe), they would turn the tables on us, we know that they cannot do so, for the mob would not follow, as happened before, when the Turk had to withdraw from Vienna, and yet nothing was done against us. And although it is to be feared that they might do so, as they would certainly like to do, there is nothing to be done or left for such an uncertain game that might be annoying and dangerous to our conscience afterwards. For it is in God's hands, not in their will, what they should do to us or what we should suffer, as we have experienced so far; and if we are not and will not be helped for this reason, whether we are firm or strong against them (yes, this should be the first thing missing); we are also not abandoned or lost for this reason, whether we are weak or despised, as is still the case today. Even if one does not want to ask E. C. F. G. for help (which would be a terrible sign of hopefulness and presumption, which the Turks would almost like to be proud of), I hope that E. C. F. G. would nevertheless let happen that other princes and states, related to E. C. F. G., would go along to save the fatherland and poor people. For necessitas has no legem, and where there is need, everything that is called law, alliance or treaty ceases, for need prevails over everything; although I almost fear, because such shameful treachery is needed for separation, that ours will also be sacrificed on the flesh bench (where God does not work miracles and will preserve King Jehoshaphat in the army of Achab). But we must dare good and evil with our brothers, like good companions, like husband and wife, like father and children with each other, and digest sweet and sour; God will nevertheless know how to find His own even in death. Such are my theological thoughts, which I cannot be a counselor in such high matters, because I do not know the opportunity of the people and things, but by the grace of God, I drive in the dark and counsel, as I want to do, where it (not further reported) concerns me.
Letters from the year 1538. No. 2441. 2442. 2443.
would meet. 1) Christ our dear Lord will guide and lead E. C. F. G., as he sees further in such high matters, for which we faithfully ask, as we owe: to the same I cordially command E. C. F. G. in prayer, Amen. Wednesday after Vocem Jucunditatis [May 29] 1538.
E. C. F. G. subservient
Mart. Luther.
P. S. Even if the other estates, E. C. F. G.'s relatives (not requested by E. C. F. G.), want to move, E. C. F. G. would like to have this done, with such an obligation that they are thus not separated from E. C. F. G. and E. C. F. G. is not affected. C. F. G. nevertheless. Although my thoughts are much different than that it should go as you might think. But God will do everything so that He Himself will not be disgraced, nor will they be honored with the devil, amen.
No. 2442.
To Georg and Joachim, Princes of Anhalt.
Because of Luther's journey to Wörlitz.
First printed in 1830, after the original, in Lindner's "Mittheilungen," II, p. 46; in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 211 and in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 198.
To the noble, highborn princes and lords, Mr. Georgen, provost of Magdeburg, and Joachim, brothers, princes of Anhalt, counts of Ascanien and lords of Bernburg, my gracious lords.
G. and Peace. Serene, highborn princes, gracious lords! Where I remain by God's grace of health and fortune, I will arrive at Wörlitz in the evening of the next midweek [June 5], as E. F. G. has now written to me and requested. Hiemit GOtt befohlen, Amen. Saturday pt. 2) Ascensionis [June 1] 1538.
E. F. G. williger
1) "auträfe" set by Us instead of: "thun wollt" in the original.
2) The Erlanger offers: ,,pr." (=pro) instead of: "pt." (= post), has also not resolved the date.
No. 2443.
To Anton Unruhe, judge at Torgau.
Thanks for the right provided to a poor woman and for a gift of beer.
In Lingke, Luthers Geschäfte zu Torgau, p. 92; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 119 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 205, with the wrong date: "June 12".
To the honorable and wise, Mr. Antonio Unruhe, judge at Torgau.
G. u. F. through Christ our Lord. Honorable, wise, dear favorable Lord and friend! Timete Dominum, erudimini, judices terrae [Fear the Lord, "be chastened, ye judges of the earth". Ps. 2:10]. This is the word which shall be the judge's daily sentence, and I believe it to be yours; for such a pious and Christian judge are you, as all who have known you before testify. Thank you, my dear Antoni judex, that you have been helpful to Margaretha Dorsten, and that you have not let the noble Hansen take away the poor woman's property and blood. You know that Doctor Martinus is not only a theologian and defender of the faith, but also an advocate of the right of poor people who flee to him from all places and ends. It is his aim to obtain help and intercession from him to the authorities, so that he would have enough to do with it, if there were no other work pressing on his shoulders. But Doctor Martinus serves the poor gladly, as you are accustomed to do; for you fear God the Lord, love Jesus Christ, search the Scriptures and God's Word, and still learn your catechism daily as well as the children in your school. The Lord Christ will remember you again. But, dear Judge Antoni, was it not enough that you heard my plea and intercession, and gave me a comforting report of your love and willingness? Did you also have to live in remembrance of me with a gift? and even with a whole tank of Torg's beer, your brew. I am not worthy of the good deed, and even though I know that you are not poor, but that God has blessed you with goods and abundance, I would have preferred that you had given the beer to your poor, who with their prayers would have given you more....
Letters from the year 1538. No. 2443 to 2448.
blessings together than poor Martinus alone. But thanks be to you for your favorable will, and God reward you, to whom you are hereby commanded. Dat. Wittenberg, Thursday after Pentecost [June 13] 1538. Martinus Luther.
No. 2444.