Answer to No. 2768. Luther wishes that the negotiations progress well, but this can only happen if fervent prayers are made to God. He shares some news, but also refers to Amsdorf, who will come to Regensburg.
Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 323. From the Schmid collection in Helmstädt in Schütze, vol. I, p. 140 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 343.
To Phil. Melanchthon, the messenger of the Son of God and the faithful.
Grace and peace! We received your letter on Easter Day [April 17], in which you write that the. The deliberations of the Diet have begun, my dear Philip. May the Lord grant that they may progress happily. For what can we hope, who have so often been deceived and hindered, if the inexpressible groaning of the churches does not finally accomplish something. May the Lord who called you and sent you, whose messengers, disciples and martyrs you are in this holy cause, keep you and govern you blamelessly until the end, that you may bear much fruit. With these sighs we are with you and among you and in the midst of the wolves, and this our Lord, for whom this our desire stands, to him the sighing is not hidden, who knows what the Spirit asks for us, namely that the name, the kingdom and the work of God may be promoted forever. When this 2) is achieved, Christ will again take care of our bread, our guilt, our temptations, our troubles, as the Psalmist says [Ps. 40:18]: "The Lord takes care of me."
I write less about our affairs because Amsdorf himself comes, although reluctantly, but not as full of the greatest hopes as the Margrave. A book 3) has been published under the name of Satan to Mezentius, who rebukes him,
2) namely, the first three petitions, Christ will take care of the fulfillment of the last four petitions. - Since this is the meaning, a comma must be placed both before and after tentationibus.
3) "Ein lustig gesprech der Teufel vnd etlicher Kriegsleute von der flucht des grossen Scharrhansen H. Heinrichs von Brunschwig 1542." 12 quarto sheets. Dramatic, in verse. Extremely rare (Burkhardt).
that he does not lie and rage more hypocritically and covertly. But a very beautiful poem 1) begins to act that it publicly boasts that the landgrave's cause known to you, if it were to take place, could be defended, but meanwhile he [the landgrave] may remain in denial. That Melsingen, the unworthy man, 2) keeps fire in his mouth more easily than his so good 3) assertions. Other things will be told by Mr. Amsdorf himself. I am still sitting there, extraordinarily deaf and impure by the flow of my ear, and not without the suspicion of a longer or worse evil. Christ lives; may he graciously take away my soul in the peace of the Lord. By God's grace I am ready and eager to be dissolved. I have lived and accomplished the course that God Himself instructed me to take, and now may my weary shadow go to heaven, 4) Amen. Be well in the Lord, whose Spirit is with you. Greet all of us respectfully. Greetings to all of us, men and women, who are all well, 5) and all is well, thanks be to God. Easter Monday [April 18].
Martin Luther, D.
No. 2773.