Intercession for a deposed preacher. About Myconius' and Luther's state of health.
The original is in Wolfenbüttel. Printed by Schütze, Vol. I, p. 258 and by De Wette, Vol. V, p. 554.
To the worthy and in the Lord highly venerable man, Friedrich Mecum, the extremely faithful servant of Christ, Superattendent in Thuringia, his very dear brother.
Grace and peace! This Conrad has wrung this letter from me, my dear Friedrich, who has been dismissed by you from the service at the word in Elsroda, as he reports. He complains that after working for so many years with five children, he will be cast into extreme beggar poverty. In order to free myself, I send him back to you again and ask that you hear him once more and, as much as you can, advise him so that he does not perish from hunger. I have not allowed complaints against you, since I have always thought only good of you, but I was forced to hear his lamentation.
If you are restored, I rejoice and pray that the Lord will keep you here longer. I have died so many times this year, but I still breathe as a useless burden of the earth. May the Lord give me a good hour and come himself soon, even sooner, in the most glorious day, so that the world may cease to rage against his name and his word, amen. Thursday after Quasimodogeniti [April 5] 1543.
Your Martin Luther.
No. 3008.