Luther said that he had little hope for a favorable outcome in a campaign against the Turks.
Printed in the Altenburg edition, vol. VII, p. 721; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXII, p. 570; in Walch, vol. XXI, 447; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 389 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 329.
Grace and peace. My dear, good friend! 1) Although I have little hope of attacking the Turk, and would rather see him stay behind. For when one sets out to attack such a mighty enemy, it seems to me as if one wants to tempt God, as the Gospel says. That 100,000 are sent against 20,000, even 50,000, and yet we, laden with sins, unrepentant, especially the king and the papists, have our hands full of innocent blood, cannot be the people through whom God could or would do miracles or great things. Therefore, I say once again, I do not like to see good people sacrificed to the flesh bank in vain, as has happened several times so far. And all in all, I have neither heart nor hope, so that I cannot ask for victory against the Turk, but only so much that God would save those who are to be saved and help them. I would like Ferdinand to have better luck and a gracious God. But since you want to continue to help poor people, I hereby grant your request with my fortune, as you find here. Hiemit GOtt befehlt, Amen. Sunday after Laurentii [Aug. 14], Anno 1541.
1) After this beginning, it seems that this letter is only partially communicated to us in the editions. Köstlin, Martin Luther (3.), vol. II, p. 682 ad p. 574, notes: "This letter is completely in D. Weber Archiv für sächsische Geschichte 1876."
Letters from the year 1541. no. 2825. 2826. 2827.
No. 2825.