On an economic matter. Luther wishes to depart.
From Cod. Gud. 214 in Wolfenbüttel in Schütze, Vol. I, p. 205 and in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 466.
Grace and peace! The money, which is received there from the castle, my dear Justns, you can send either by a random or by a hired messenger, as it will seem good to you, although the one to whom it has been given is quite poor. Besides, there was nothing that I could write. About your conversation (Dialogo) 1) at another time, when I will have received news. Here one has heard that the plague has again become more violent with you. God give us peace. Farewell, and pray for me that the Lord may grant me a good hour. I have lived enough, and the devil is weary of my life, and I am weary of the devil's hatred. On the day of Philip [May 1] 1542. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2916.
To the Landgrave Philip of Hesse.
Luther asks him to work with Duke Moritz to get the Counts of Mansfeld, as his feudatories, to get along with each other.
In von Rommel, Geschichte von Hessen, Dritten Theils zweite Abtheilung (Vierter Band) Anmerkungen. Note 157, p. 243, from the original in the Cassel government archives, and in De Wette-Seidemann, Vol. VI, p. 316.
G. and F. in the Lord. Sublime, high-born, gracious Prince and Lord! Prince and Lord! I beg, E. F. G.
1) This refers to Menius' book against bigamy. See No. 2874.
would graciously grant me this request. It moves me greatly that my dear sovereigns, Count Gebhard and Count Albrecht, have grown so quickly into one another, as E. F. G. may perceive from the enclosed print, and I, the fruit of the same country (be I good or bad), fear with great sorrow for the damage and ruin of my fatherland that may come from such discord and unbrotherly accident. I humbly request that H.F.G. do so much and be a good instigator with my lord, Duke Moritz, that H.F.G., as a feudal prince of the counts, take the matters to himself and before him, interrogate them, and separate and reconcile the counts, so that one is not oppressed by the other, or great harm may come from it. In this, the F. F. G. want to think that they, as a father Duke Moritz, may raise something, and, because God so directs, use it as a mediator and expiator, as he has also now used it in the Wurzen's displeasure. For in it E. F. G. got the name: Beati pacifici. E. F. G. wanted to affirm it also in this case, which (as E. F. G. know) pleases God and is a dear service and pleasant sacrifice to Him (as He is a God of peace). service and pleasant sacrifice, of whose grace and mercy I command E. F. G., Amen. Friday after Jubilate [May 5] 1542 E. F. G. willing
Martinus Luther.
No. 2917.
To Anton Lauterbach, pastor in Pirna.
Luther asks him to comfort the widow of Johann Cellarius, a pastor in Dresden, over the loss of her husband.
From the Kraft collection in Husum in Schütze, vol. I, p. 206 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 467. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1489 f.
To the worthy man, Mr. Anton Lauterbach, Bishop of the Church at Pirna, his extremely dear brother in the Lord.
Grace and peace! I was busy and the messenger was hurrying, my dear Anton, so that I could not answer your letter. I
2) "lift" == to raise, to align.
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2917 to 2920.
I will also write tomorrow by a new messenger. In the meantime, I beg you to comfort the poor widow as much as you can. For although she has great cause to weep, she nevertheless has a husband in heaven who reigns with Christ, and with Christ will also judge the angels and the whole world. For he now lives more strongly than he lived here; she is now only deprived of his company in this wretched and miserable life, which grieves her not without cause. But the cross is the most certain sign and characteristic of all believers. More at another time, for the messenger is leaving. Farewell. Friday after Jubilate [May 5] 1542.
Martin Luther.
No. 2918.
To Anton Lauterbach, pastor in Pirna.
Luther exhorts him to be cautious toward the great men of Meissen and advises him not to trust them in anything.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 374. Alls der Ludwigschen Sammlung zu Halle in Schütze, vol. I, p. 207 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 468. German in Walch, vol. XXI, l490.
To the man to be highly honored in the Lord, Magister Anton Lauterbach, the extremely faithful bishop of the church at Pirna, his very dear brother.
Grace and peace! What you wrote, my dear Anton, about Pistor and the episcopally minded, 1) I understood, and I am glad that you also understood it, and in the future see to it that you are careful and constantly hold on to this sentence, namely that you do not believe any words and deeds that you realize are directed at you by the bishop and his followers, but be sure that you and all of you are being sought with treachery and persecution. The landgrave himself has told me that, except for the only one, Duke Moritz himself, there should be no one who has the matter at heart. This saying imprint on you
1) episcopizantibus. De Wette remarks: "the followers of Julius Pflug". We, however, think that it refers to the Bishop of Meissen, through whom the occasion for the Wurzen feud was given. Cf. St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 1436, no. 1442.
No. 2919.