Luther wishes him luck that he is relieved of his office, through which he came into trouble with his conscience. On the Suppression of the Gospel in Austria.
Printed in Raupach's Evang. Oesterreich, 1st cont., p. 71; in Moseder, Glaubensbekenntniß, p. 72; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 729 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 131.
Grace and peace in the Lord. Dear Lord and friend! I am glad to hear that you have been released from your office and have found better peace of conscience. We gladly listened to Mr. Leopold, secretary, and offered the service and will of our small fortune, for which he needs us. The Father of all mercy must have mercy on the fact that the good word is so difficult for you. The lords are partly wicked people, and they are like King Ahaz of Jerusalem, who also, the more misfortune overtook him, the more he strove against God, that I can well think that where God will not honor His holy name, it cannot be good for the sake of the lords, so they weigh down the consciences and strengthen the enemy of Christ, the Pafft, that many souls must remain without God's word. Therefore, it is necessary to pray earnestly that the dear Father will not look at our merits and the ravings of our enemies, but at His mere grace and mercy, and honor His name in us who are unworthy, so that the Turk will not boast, "Where is your God?
For he has boasted enough, and has come up with murders and blasphemies; may God control and ward him off and make an end of him, amen. Greetings to your dear mother. Hiemit GOtt befehlt, Amen. At Wittenberg, April 17, 1545, Martin Luther.
No. 3206.