Luther reassures him about the delayed printing of his book (cf. No. 3065 and No. 3075). Luther's dispute with the jurists about secret betrothals.
Handwritten in Cod. chart. Goth. 121; in Cod. chart. Goth. 451. col. 185. 4. and in Cod. Jen. a, fol. 359. Printed by Buddeus, p. 283 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 626. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1328.
To the highly famous man, M. Georg Spalatin, superintendent of the churches in Meissen, pastor of the church in Altenburg, his brother who is extremely dear to the Lord.
Grace and peace! You write, as it seems to me, a little too excited about your little book, my dear Spalatin, as if it were hiding where you know nothing about it. And I do not hold this affection for the child of your spirit against you, but rather praise it most highly, and have joked sweetly with me about your so sincere good will. But you should know that your work does not hide, since I have given it to be printed. But all the presses 1) are so overwhelmed with books that it cannot be produced as quickly as you would like. Perhaps you do not believe that we are so busy here because you, as an absentee, do not see our misery. I confess to you that in this new year I have been received in such a way that in my life I have been
1) Instead of prelo we have assumed prela.
I have never been more troubled in the whole matter of the gospel. For I get into a very fierce trade with the lawyers because of the secret engagements, and those whom I had hoped to be reliable friends of the Gospel, I experience as the fiercest enemies. Should this not torment me, I beg you, my dear Spalatin? Therefore have patience with me, or with my negligence, if you think so. For if I did not adore and love you from the bottom of my heart, I would not have written this letter to you either, with my so great plagues. Nevertheless, as much as is in me, your booklet will be taken care of, because it pleases me well, as I wrote earlier. Be well and pray for the Church, that is, for us. Internal enemies do more harm than external ones, like Judas among the apostles; but the crucified one triumphs, and the crucifier perishes, amen. Greetings to your very dear wife.
Behold, there my Käthe, if dll not have it before, sends a root against the stone, which, as it seems to me, is effective, for it has benefited both me and many others; it may also be tried. Again, be well, my dear Spalatin, and do not be moved by any suspicion, as if I despised your works. You are an old tried and tested one among my best friends, whom I would least of all despise, especially as an old man who is already at the grave. You do this again, that you interpret my customs or my ways, or (if it pleases you) my business and troubles kindly and sincerely, and do not doubt, even if some appearance should interfere, that you are and will be exceedingly dear to me. Again, be well in the Lord. Wednesday after Paul's conversion [30 Jan.] 1544.
Your M. Luther, D.
No. 3093 .