Luther shares some news and sends exegetical writings.
From the collection of the preacher Niemeyer at Hersigen in Schütze, Vol. III, p. 84. Comparing the original in Cod. Seidel. at Dresden in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 142 f.
3) "geramen," to set one's sights on something; here: to catch.
Letters from the Iahn 1539. no. 2498. 2499. 2500.
The man to be highly honored in the Lord, Mr. Nicolaus von Amsdorf, the theologian and right bishop of the church at Magdeburg, his superior in the Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have had nothing to write, my dear Amsdorf, except that I did not want the messenger to leave without a letter to you. Great things are said of the emperor's arrival, and armor. How great will be the boast of the Church of the Pabst, this afflicted and great martyr, about her Savior. Aleander, the beggar, not of cheeses (like the monks), but of kings, still runs around everywhere to catch kings. May God destroy all his plots and reward him according to his works, amen.
No. 2499.
To Johann Schreiner, pastor in Grimma.
Recommendation of a young man as a schoolmaster.
From the Willische Collection at Freiberg in Schütze, Vol. III, p. 85 and in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 143.
To the in Christ highly venerable brother, Joh. Schreiner, pastor and bishop at Grimma, his Waldheim man. 3)
I was happy to hear that M. Memminger 4) has regained consciousness and thus fallen asleep in the Lord. For the widow and the children
1) St. Louis edition, vol. VII, 1.
2) St. Louis edition, vol. V, 1580.
3) The word: Viro is marked with a question mark at De Wette.
4) Johannes Schmelz from Memmingen. Cf. no. 1353.
Christ will take care of him, amen. By the way, if your school is unoccupied and you do not yet have a schoolmaster, I ask you to do your duty and promote M. Sebastian Matthesen, 5) the son of our citizen Blasius Matthis, to this office. For even though he could live more gloriously here than at the university, it seemed good to his father that he should escape this proverb:
Est puer in patria quasi bos nutritus in aula [It is a young man in his fatherland as it were an ox fed at the court]. And I do not believe that he will stay there for many years. Only that he should be active while he is young and strong and can be useful by teaching. Fare well and pray diligently for me, for I am growing weak. Sunday after Epiphany [Jan. 12] 1539.
Your Martin Luther.
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