Luther predicts that he will have to endure many challenges during the visitation in the Duchy of Saxony. In Leipzig, a particularly strict visitation was necessary.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 274. Printed in Schütze, vol. III, p. 121 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 206, with the wrong date: "In October. The original in Dessau has the date we gave.
Grace and peace in Christ! This Jacob Rothe has desired to be recommended to you, my dear Jonas. He hopes for a better position there, just as many others do, and again the people hope for better pastors. God knows if both of them are lucky etc. I believe that you have learned that on your letter to Prince Henry and Henryess 2) (Henricae) was written to complete the visitation. If Satan did not oppose Christ, he would not be Satan. If we did our duty
2) That is, Duke. Henry's wife, Catharina.
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2551 to 2553.
we will rejoice with a clear conscience for the sake of the elect who, like Lot, are torn out of Sodom; the others, who think that Lot's voice is a game, may look on, they will be lost without our fault. But if we are certain that we have the word of God, we must suffer even greater struggles, and at least, the more certain we are, the greater will be the severe visitations. Therefore, see to it that you fortify your heart in faith and joyful confidence in Christ, for he has always wanted his power to be in weakness, and so he crushes the serpent's head, but he also lets his heel be stung by it, and that with innumerable and persistent persecutions; because it is written thus, therefore it must happen thus. Doctor Caspars writes from Leipzig that the printing of Wikel's books continues, especially his Postille,2) and that an abusive and poisonous book has been published against your visitation; therefore it is necessary that you exercise a sharp visitation there. Perhaps you will find Amsdorf in Leipzig. For he has been appointed to do so according to the advice of our Elector. I will travel to Torgau, as you request. For from there the prince has left for Weimar with the entire court and will not return for some time. We pray here with cries and inexpressible sighs, since we know how great things we have to administer, for such a great Lord, against such a great enemy. Fare well on the last of June, for tomorrow it will be convenient for you to arrange a small council at Nuremberg on the first of July.3) 1539.
Your Martin Luther, D.
1) D. Caspar Cruciger. Seckendorf, Hist. Luth. lib. III, p. 220.
2) The printer was Wolrab in Leipzig. Since he did not comply with the ban of the visitators, he was thrown into prison, but the copies were destroyed. Seckendorf 1. e. writes: "Wallrab", but see No. 2556.
3) De Wette notes: "The probably corrupted passage refers, according to Veesenmeyer's assumption, to Ruprecht von Mosham's conferences with the preachers in Nuremberg, of which Schwarz gives news in Strobel's Miscellaneen, Samml. V, p. 17-19 gives news." - The passage completed by Burkhardt, p. 331, according to the original: Vale, ultima Junii, nam cras vobis expedit Nurnbergae pro conciliolo adprimam Julii concipiendo,
seems to us to be a joke by Luther.
No. 2552.