Luther recommends the request of a pastor and complains about the great ingratitude against the gospel.
The original is in the Anhaltisches Gesammtarchiv. Handwritten in Cod. Jen. a, fol. 227 and in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 174. Printed in Buddeus, p. 239 and in De Wette, vol. I V, p. 473. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1253.
To his extremely dear brother in the Lord, M. Georg Spalatin, servant of Christ at Altenburg.
Grace and peace in Christ! I recommend this priest, my dear Spalatin, to you. You see in these letters of his what he desires. Oh about the exceedingly shameful ingratitude of our time! What else can we hope or desire but that the right Judge and our Redeemer should come. Everywhere in our country the nobles and the ballers are conspiring against the gospel, and yet they are enjoying the freedom of the gospel in the most hopeful way. Why should we be surprised that the papists have persecuted us? "Here God will judge." There is no news. May the Lord be with you. Greetings to your rib. 1533, the day after Bartholomew [Aug. 25]. Yours, Martin Luther, D.
No. 1999.