Luther consoles him in his grief over the annoyance of the landgrave's double marriage. - Response to No. 2675.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 299. Printed in Schütze, vol. III, p. 137 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 293.
Grace and peace! I have understood from your letter, my dear Philip, that your journey seems uncertain to you, and with joy
2) "with ichtem" == any.
Letters from the year 1540. No. 2679.
I wish that this will be certain, that the journey will be uncertain, amen. A few days ago I wrote to D. Brück how sorry we are that we did not talk about your journey earlier, since the Hessian (Macedonicum) trade did not let us realize how dangerous it would be for you to send sheep in the midst of the wolves, especially since the memory of it finally scourged us, that you have so severely injured and provoked against your head those most lupissimos and cruel 1) wolves and satans, 2) that now, just the other way around (vice versa), they will begin to think or suspect that you are hostile to them, but I am more favorably disposed. Therefore, your danger will be twice as dangerous as mine, since you now appear to have deliberately deceived them, which you know, and we know, is quite wrong. But Satan is the interpreter there, that is, a slanderer, and a devil worthy of his name (diabolus == slanderer). Therefore, you will take care that you are not sent there, if only for the sake of your weakness. But if you have to go, because God resists our wishes, our Father will still be with you. It is extraordinary how much we desire to see you, and God, who does wonderful things always and everywhere, does not despise our requests. Send thou all, that thou mayest be trustworthy and bold. We are with you, and you with us, and Christ is here and there with us. Fear not; we shall prevail, and we shall live, though we be sinners. "He is the Advocate with the Father," says John [1 Ep. 2:1], "in our stead and for us.
I would like you not to grieve too much over the Hessian (Macedonian) deal, after the matter has come to the point that it can neither be advised by mourning nor by cheerfulness. Therefore, why do we kill ourselves in vain or hinder the knowledge of the victor over all death and sorrow through sadness? For he who overcame the devil and judged the prince of this world, does he not also
1) Instead of suavissimos we have assumed saevissimos.
2) by the writings mentioned in No. 2677.
With him, will this trouble be judged and overcome? For even if this present trouble ceases, he will afterwards cause other and perhaps greater troubles, which we, if we live, will nevertheless overcome and also laugh at through the same victor. There is nothing of calamity, not even hell, of which He did not say and want to be understood [John 16:33]: "I have overcome the world, be of good cheer!" Then, if the emperor and the empire wanted, as they will finally be forced to want, they could easily counter this offense either by a renewed edict or by a newly decreed edict that this deed should not be allowed to become either a right or an example. You know that in this case it was presented as if it were a case of extreme necessity, which either suffers no law, or at least mitigates it. Therefore, I beg you for the sake of Christ, be of good and calm mind, and let those whose cause it is do something, and bear their burden, and not burden us alone. Since they know that we are sincere and faithful, they cannot accuse us of any offense, except for mercy or the kindest compliance. And what evil is there that these princes do not commit through the emperor's compliance? although their misdeeds should not be misdeeds as long as they are hostile to us. Our virtues, however, are shameful deeds as long as we do not worship Satan with them. But let Satan have a good year! For his sake let us mourn nor be grieved; but in the Lord Christ let us rejoice and be glad; he will destroy all our enemies. We are not yet in the case of David, whose cause was much more desperate; yet he has not fallen, nor will this cause fall. Why then do you torment yourself, since the final cause (causa finalis) is certain, namely the victory of Christ, although the formal and middle cause is somewhat disfigured by this trouble. My Käthe also calls you to be strong and cheerful. We, who sincerely love you, will pray diligently and vigorously for you. Fare well in Christ and do not fear or worry.
Cast all your care on him [1 Petr. 5, 7], who wants to be concerned for us and has commanded and demands that this be believed. How I hate this stable 1) which is corrupted by devilish wisdom, you know enough; we will have more to deal with these serpents and monsters of wisdom than with all public and private enemies, just as it was with their spiritual (mystico) father, whose seed is mighty in this land. May GOD curse him, and in a short time, amen. But this shall be established, "I have overcome the world," and [John 14:19.] "Ye shall live, because I live." Again, be at ease, and be joyful and quiet, I beseech thee, as we desire, rather as the LORD hath commanded. Here, by God's grace, all is well, to whom alone be the glory. Friday after Viti [June 18] 1540.
Your Martin Luther.