Luther consoles him against the rumor that King Ferdinand wants to drive all married clergymen out of his kingdom.
Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 418. From the Thomass collection at Halle in Schütze, vol. I, p. 290 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 609.
The man to be revered in the Lord, Johann Mathesius, the extremely faithful servant of the Word.
Grace and peace in the Lord! I have been told by M. Caspar that you are somewhat concerned about the tyranny and rage of Ferdinand, the exceedingly sad and miserable king, who has decided to expel from his kingdom all servants of the Word who are husband and wife. And although I wonder if the Bohemians consent to his raging, - but they may consent, after all, what then? Is Ferdinand's kingdom alone on earth? Has not Christ elsewhere a hospitable place of his grace, and left the kingdom of Ferdinand to be a place of his wrath, which shall smite the kings? What then dost thou fear, or art full of sorrow?
1) We have deleted the comma after fieri, and put it before it.
Be confident and undaunted. Despise this water bubble, which does not know whether it will be a king or a worm tomorrow. But we shall reign forever with Christ; they shall burn in hell with the devil. Herewith be at ease in the Lord. December 14, 1543.
Your Martin Luther.
No. 3072.